The Albanys Go Camping

A photographic essay of our beachside camping trip (yes you read correctly!) to Munmorah State Conservation Area.

Loading up a 7 seater with 6 people, camping gear and 4 bikes. Quite a feat!

Packed to the b rim

The first gleam of our camp site at Freeman's Campground

And the ten man tent is up!

Enroute to check out Frazer Beach

Frazer Beach

Let's go find pippies

Eski on th ready

Err...pump busted!

Yup...definitely not working!

Let's keep on driving instead!

Our next stop to check out

Our first camp meal!

Time to do some laundry

Erm....ok

I shall stay right!

The way to the beach

Gorgeous Birdie Beach

Looking for treasures

Heading to the lake for a change where the water is nice and calm

And where there is shade!

Daddy hot chocolate

Boardgames!

So many hidden treasures in the area!

Another well equipped picnic area next to prime waterfront

Let's give fishing a go!

The 2 youngest children fishing together

Soup and bread...

How to kill a fish...not!

Still more areas to explore

Australia definitely has the best beaches!

Sunrise

Caves Beach

Secret passageway

Where does it lead to?

Imposing cliffs

Look! A beach!

Last stop before time to head home

Introducing Alana Evie Bahari

She arrived in a great hurry! So ecstatic to welcome another niece into the family!

Alana

Totem

As part of our "See and Enjoy Sydney" campaign, we bought ourselves tickets to see Cirque Du Soleil - Totem. It was an incredibly enjoyable show on so many levels. The acts were creative, thrilling and jaw-dropping. The music, as usual, was phenomenal. The children were glued to the action before them.

We were not allowed to take photos anywhere inside so this is as good as it gets!

Dinner at the Bavarian Bier Cafe pre-show. Schnitzel...so good

Tasting platter...even better!

Some fun in the playground waiting for the show to start

Room With A Pew

We received an email about St Davids Presbyterian Church selling their pews. On a whim we bought two hoping that it might provide an abundance of outdoor seating for us. Then came the dilemna of how to actually transport them!

Malcolm found a company that would provide us with a rental van large enough to fit the pews...just. We had 6 hours and 75kms to play with. The pews turned out to be relatively easy to move and they were soon placed in their new home. We thought we would attempt to move the Balinese daybed that we bought years ago. It had been living quietly in my parents garage awaiting its moment. Today was the day!

With my mother happily shouting out instructions to the troops consisting of 6 adults, 2 children and a team of dollies, we managed to move the damn heavy daybed from one house to the neighbouring house. Mission accomplished!

Removalist team of 2 in red

It just squeezed it with centimetres to spare!

The two church pews in place looking like it was designed to be there...

The Balinese day bed in daylight!

2015...A New Start

A new start on so many levels...the most obvious one is the resurrection of this blog for the umpteenth time. With such an eventful 2014 the blog was sadly again left by the wayside. 2015 promises to be a better year. How could it not with 2 Disney trips planned?!? Yes you read correctly, after our hiatus from international travel, we are finally able to plan with gusto once more! Our first trip will be to Canada and Alaska to help Malcolm fulfil his lifelong dream of playing golf at Banff. The one at the end of the year hopefully will be to visit Japan. And guess what is in Japan...Tokyo Disney Resort! The children will be able to tick off their last Disney castle before Shang Hai Disneyland comes into the picture. Last but but least, 2015 will be the year of spiritual and intellectual rejuvenation. With that here are my resolutions:

1. Delight in the word of the Lord.

I am determined to set aside time to read the bible rather than doing it "whenever" I can squeeze it in. I am most aware of how children model their behaviour based on those around them. Hopefully I am able to instil in them a love for the bible rather than just an obligatory read.

2. Live for Jesus every day.

Not just on Sundays after I'm inspired by the sermon...but everyday. Borrowing the words of Paul Tripp, I would like to make those 10,000 little decisions everyday in life based on living for Jesus

3. Enjoy God's creation.

God made the world and it is good. I am determined to work hard, play hard and rest as God intended us to. As a family we are also determined to enjoy the natural beauty that Sydney has to offer and do our bit to protect this amazing creation.

4. Learn Japanese

Ok so relearn could be more a accurate description

5. Lose the last 2.5 kg that I need to lose

Couldn't resist throwing the last one in...

Happy Birthday Elliot

Once again, it has been a while since we've celebrated Elliot's birthday at home! In the past years, the lucky child has celebrated Christmas in New York, the French Alps and the Caribbean! It was time to resurrect the traditional boxing day BBQ at the Albany's. Malcolm has painstakingly prepared satay skewers of all sorts...pork, beef, chicken, kangaroo, duck. Elliot has had a great year achieving in sports and music as well as scoring the role of the scarecrow in the Yr 6 productions of the Wizard of Oz! Here's to a great start to high school Elliot!

Elliot 12 years ago...

Satay round 2!

The year 6 production of the Wizard of Oz. Elliot scored the role of the scarescrow!

Merry Christmas

It has been a while since we've celebrated Christmas at home. With Malcolm's mother in hospital after spinal surgery, the celebration was low key but special nonetheless. A family lunch at Brian's consisting of food brought back from Jakarta as well as home made satay was not what you'd call traditional Christmas fare but it was no less delicious.

Hope...is what we have with the birth of Jesus

We've finally managed to find the more pieces for our nativity set

I guess the message got through...

But presents are still a part of Christmas!

A new game!

What every girl needs... matching golf clubs with Dad but in pink!

Books for the bookworm!

Presents round 2!

Time for Christmas lunch...satay!

Food direct from Jakarta

Even Dad got an awesome present

Oma is ready to use the lap pool

It fits!

Hey that's my bike!

The family get together