Family Fair

Last Friday night the kids had the school family fair on. It is held every two years as a fundraiser. I think the Sumo wrestling was the high light this time round. It is something that they haven't had before but judging by the reaction of the kids it will certainly become a bit of a favourite. I seem to have as many photos lately of the Jessies as I do of my own kids.

Paddy's yr 7 graduation

For Paddy's graduation we had a roudy but fun dinner at Billy Mac's. The kids then went up to the school hall for a bit of a groove around for a couple of hours before we rejoined them there for their presentions. Afterwards they had to dance with either mum or dad, some of them enthusiastically, some not.

Grandfinal winners...

Brendan coached Paddy's basketball team to a win in the finals this season.

A very dry year

This is the creek the boys are usually fishing out of this time of year. With the exception of a few small patches where the really deep pools were the whole thing is like this. And they are trying to tell us there is no drought. At least it uncovers some interesting old stuff like this old cart that has been buried underwater for goodness knows how long.

Shadows.

Seamus and my shadow, along the Naracoorte creek, or what's left of it anyway.

Don't forget...

That if you want to see any photos a bit larger just click on them.

Rewards.

Today I got to take a group of 5 boys (I owned one of them) down to the swimming lake on its first day of official opening as a treat for them for completing their school rewards chart. All of us really enjoyed the morning, I got to sit on my chair with a book (with one eye on the boys of course) enjoying the sun and gentle breeze (which turned into strong wind not long after we left) and the boys got to have a great time too. We followed up with pizza and chips. Now why wasn't school like thais when I went/

Just a rose...

Joseph's zoo photos.

Some photos Joseph took at the Monarto zoo just before the camera battery went dead. It must be a bit faulty because it was fully charged before he left. Hopefully we will get some people shots from some of the others that went. He had a fantastic time, the zoos being the highlight but he loved it all. We heard about mad monkies and mating meercats and sandcastle competitions, the lot. After a good old yapping session telling us everything he did he curled up on a chair and fell asleep, very cute. It only lasted an hour though as he had to play basketball at 7. Here are some of the giraffe's, a meercat and some bilbies.

Joseph, off to camp

Lucky Joseph just about to head off to Adelaide for his anual camp. The year 4/5 kids are heading to the city to do both the Monarto zoo and theAdelaide zoo, science centre, aquatics centre, picture theatre and whatever else fun happens to drop into their path along the way. I did wonder if I might be able to sneak on the bus and go too but then who'd cook the meals at home lol. Just hoping the weather is not too bad up there for them, it's blowing a gale here with hot wind and a few fires about the area so with luck the change will come through a little earlier for them(and us).
I think one of the kids is pointing out the bright pink 'FitzGerald' writen on the strap of my backpack that Joseph borrowed, probably not a good look for a boy. This is the only photo I got for the morning, busy busy. He has also borrowed my P&S digital camera so hopefully it comes home in one piece with lots and lots of photos on it.

B&W

Just a black and white version of Joseph in the akubra.

Boys in hats...

Joseph and Seamus, modeling the latest in oversized hatwear.

The boys in the band.

Their first public appearance, at the school hall during assembly. Paddy is on bass with Jessie and Nick singing and guitar. The photos didn't turn out as great as I had hoped,the lighting in the hall wa a litle dull but a bit of acid punked them up a little and made them fun.

Girls night in.

One of our wonderful customers organised a 'girls night in' in the store to raise money for women's cancer research. It was a fun night full of scrappin' and chattin' and of course giggling. When it came time to get our photo taken we kept cracking up (probably over very little), so no nice posed shot, just us laughing. I kinda like it better anyway.

Another of the monarch

Just another shot of the monarch butterfly we hatched out a few months back.

The whistling boy

This photo cracks me up. When I was doing seamus' photos for Christmas cards the other day he wouldn't stop whistling 'Jingle bells' over and over again so instead of the nice smiley photos(I did get a couple) I expected to get I got these whistling ones instead. I still think they are kinda cute and very 'Seamus'. Now I've just gotta work out how to make them into cards...

Joseph hamming it up at the new playground.

And he actually expects us to think he's asleep with that big grin on his face... The boys local primary school has just installed a huge new playground with a rock climbing wall, spinning things and every other play thing you can imagine, it's great and the kids are loving it, it even has a resting place lol.

Seamus and his Christmas bauble

Seamus' Christmas photo

This year I thought I might try and make some photo Christmas cards. Seamus is the easiest to bribe so for photos so his is first, now I just have to decide what to do with it. My first attempt at shooting RAW.

Diasy

Just a snap of our Cavalier spaniel, Daisy. My daughter substitute, can't be the only female alone with all these males.

Kids expo 2006

Donna helping out the Dredge girls at the kids expo. Wow ,what a busy but fun day. Now if only I could go home and put my feet up...

The elusive boy captured...

Yay for me, I managed a few more photos of Jackson. I did have to bribe him with food though but at least when the family look back in years to come they will at least remember what he looked like. Even captured a smile.

Guess who's in the latest edition of scrapbooking memories???

It's us...

Fishing at Robe

The first week back at school was a short one with the Friday being a holiday(yay) so the three younger boys and Jessie and I headed off to Robe fishing for the day. Only one size fish was caught by Jessie. It doesn't seem to matter that much, a day by the coast is always nice, the fish are just a bonus and I had time to laze around and read and take a few photos (of course).

How to beat the heat.

With summer coming early this year the boys need to find ways to keep cool and there is not much more fun than a water bomb fight, no pictures of the fight but some befores of the balloons (the hands are Josephs).

Jackson

Proof that I actually do have a fourth son, he's going through a 'don't want to be photographed' stage at the moment so I don't have that many shots of him. Brendan actually took this one at the Wannon falls and bonus, he was even smiling (not trying to hide his braces).

Fishing in Port Fairy

There's not many better passtimes on a sunny day than down by the water dangling a rod.