Marks mum Beth and sister Ruth arrived for a visit. Much excitement from both parties. Think the kids have been missed!! The kids were at school some of the time, so Beth and Ruth often walked them to school, before they went off exploring Adelaide for the day. We went and fed the local ducks, as a lot of people do, they are very well fed!
We took the kids to the Adelaide Zoo. A nice small zoo, the panda was pretty cute. Felt sorry for the lions, they have pretty small cages and paced around in circles a lot. I loved the monkeys, they were awesome and very entertaining. They also had a really good kids interactive show. All in all a really great day.
It was Marks birthday while they were visiting so the kids had the day off school and we had pizza and cake at lunch time before Mark went to work. Another year over and another year older for Mark! We gave him a card and as a family we have purchased tickets to Bali in June, so that is both our birthday presents. Beth and Ruth also took us out on the weekend for a smorgasbord dinner, for our birthdays.
Mark took his Mum, sis and Charlotte to the footy to see Essendon and Adelaide play. The bombers won, of course Mark loved it and thought it was a great game!! They also took the kids into the city for the afternoon and took them on the Popeye boat for a ride on the Torrens river.
It was lovely to see them both again. They did a lot of sightseeing and saw a good amount of Adelaide too. A few tears of course when we said goodbye, but everyone is getting better at it!
Next visitors were my parents. They drove their new car across from Tassie, mainly I think so Dad could fill it up with wine to take home!! They walked around with me and collected the kids from school. Lots of happiness and smiles. I cooked a curry and we had dinner together the first night.
Then my sis flew in on Good Friday from the Gold Coast. But Mark says there is nothing good about Good Friday, not for religious reasons but for another reason. Mum and I took the kids to get Megan from the airport, Mark and Dad headed to the pub for a few drinks. Turns out no pubs in Adelaide are open on Good Friday, much to their disgust. They ended up at the pub at the airport!!!
What did we get up to, well we went to the Aquatic centre, for bike rides, and generally explored Adelaide. We went to the Barossa for the day, and to spend a few dollars. Mark found a brewery he liked, had a few, unfortunately he was a bit of a light weight, hence his new nick name 'Pickles'. He was very happy and had a lovely time. I'm just not sure everyone else around him did. Ended with me almost confiscating his wallet when he was arguing over buying a $85 bottle of tawny port!! Apparently it was delicious and worth every cent!!! The Barossa is such a beautiful part of South Australia. It was interesting to go back after 12 years, not much has changed!!
We also went to Maggie Beer's shop. I love a lot of her produce, but mostly her choc orange ice cream. The kids picked their ice creams out then I wanted mine and they didn't have any choc orange!!! I was devastated and took the kids out, without their ice creams!! I know once again I'm not getting mother of the year!!
Mr Pickles at the Barossa Brewing Company. They had jobs going, Mark was very keen. He went on a tour of the brewery but knew more about brewing than the guy taking, smarty pants (arse). hence I think he received a few freebies, stout!
And of course along came Easter Sunday. What an exciting morning, the kids loved it and we loved seeing the happiness on their faces. It sometimes seems like its all about the chocolate. But I asked the kids and they also thought it's about family and appreciating everyone and yummy food. I had tried earlier in the week to explain the religious side to them. They have a basic understanding.... Jake ended up deciding that Jesus is like Captain America (the superhero) apparently they both rose again!!!
Then I went with Megan on a bike ride to Glenelg and had some sister time and some yummy Japanese.
When we lived in Adelaide one of Marks favourite things to show our visitors was the view form Mt Lofty at night. We couldn't come to Adelaide and not do this!! It's very pretty seeing all the lights, was cut a little short when Jake proclaimed to need a Pooo!!!
My darling sis and older brother Ben gave Mark and I a fabulous joint birthday pressie. A night in a hotel on the foreshore at Glenelg and Megan babysat the kids. She must have heard me whingeing about the confines of the caravan. It was so so nice to spend some time with Mark. We had a wonderful time!!
We arranged to have a family bush walk with my Auntie Trudy, and cousins Simon and Courtney. Was a great morning out in the fresh air at Morialta Falls. Took a couple of hours, very pretty up their. Mark even found time to hide in a tree pretending to be a koala and scared Megan and Charlotte. My Auntie offered a prize to the first person to see a koala bear, unfortunately she got so excited when she spotted one, she won!!!! We went out for morning tea after, well deserved coffees and cake.
I think that pretty much covers all of my families visit. I love my family and miss them dreadfully. Once again it was hard to say goodbye, at least we know we will see them at Christmas.
Our friends the Richards family, who we met in Alice Springs came to visit. We had dinner with them most nights, well the kids and I did, Mark was at work of course. Spent a fun day at Hahndorf with them tasting and purchasing some of the produce! Was great seeing them again. Including Mark getting to go to the Lobethal Brewery...... without getting Pickled this time!
Whilst at school the kids have been lucky enough to do a weeks learn to swim and the school athletics carnival. They were both in yellow team and got a fourth place ribbon. Lots of fun was had with long jump, hurdles etc. Mark came to watch both too. So nice for him to be able to, as he has missed most of these school activities in the past with work commitments.
Courtney my cousin arranged for the kids to go to a hip hop dance class at her dance studio. Unfortunately when we got there it had been cancelled. So we went out for dinner instead. We still had a great time watching Courtney training for ballroom dance, she looked beautiful and graceful.
Next major event, our birthday! We had one very excited little boy, or not so little now that he is 7!! Our baby is growing up so quick, the years are flying past! He loved all his pressies, Power Ranger toys and Skylanders, plus lots more. Mark had the day off work and we went to the circus for the morning. What a laugh, I hate clowns, but I coped. We had front row seats and much to our delight Mark got to be part of the show, with a man/lady clown running and jumping in his lap, very very funny!! Jake's friend Archer was also their, they had a great time running around during intermission.
Then we had a tasty picnic lunch at the playground. Olives, dip, sun dried tomatoes.... you get the picture. So yummy for someone who's been on a diet!
That night we headed out for a Thai meal with my Auntie Trudy. She gave me a beautiful bunch of red roses. I can't remember the last time I got flowers, Mark insisted he has bought me some on this trip, I think he is right. She also gave the kids some 'Bali' money to spend in June, such a great idea, kids loved it. The meal was delicious..... I think I better not eat tomorrow!!! We said goodbye to Auntie Trudy, it has been great reconnecting with her again during our time in Adelaide. So good to have family around :)
We also went to the Bolzon's for a farewell dinner. Its been great spending time with Leanne while we were here. I think we would be fabulous friends if we had ended up living here permanently, sorry Leanne!!!
The kids had their last day at school. Was pretty emotional for them. They have had such a wonderful term. Made some great friends and had some great times. The kids and teachers made fair well cards and Charlotte's teacher even arranged a morning tea.
We went with Charlotte's friend Oriana, her mother and brother to the movies to see the Croods. A funny movie about cavemen, then out for lunch. Kids had a great day. We also got to have a play date at the playground with Jake's friend Archer, and then they came back to have a play at the van. The kids have hated saying goodbye to Archer and Oriana, but the bribe of Bali seemed to ease their pain!!!
Mark finished up at work, yah yah yah he says. Its was interesting and challenging for him, but he was ready to leave. He's got plenty of stories to tell about the boys. His favourite line is from his friend Ariel (from the Philippines) 'You need to got to the Philippines and live like a king". Mark says it about everything now!! He enjoyed working with his friend Steve again, he's a top guy.
We ended up staying an extra day in Adelaide due to the rain. Its not easy to pack up after 3 months with everything getting wet. It basically hasn't rained since we have been here, so of course it rained on pack up day. So we decided to sit it out and await the sunshine. We finally packed up and left Adelaide to head to the Eyre Peninsular. Our time here went so quick...... if we were to ever live in a city it would be Adelaide, but I am still not a big city girl. Mark had a good time at work and earned some $$, the kids loved school and I reached my goals with exercise. So all in all a productive and enjoyable time.
Bye for now Adelaide, its been fun.....
