A Stay in Hospital

March 11, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

After 6 months in pain with my stress fracture my doctor finally decided that surgery was the way forward given that 3 months bed rest wasn’t going to work with 4 kids running around! On Tuesday I had a dynamic hip screw put in and let me tell you, it’s painful. My family & friends are fantastic looking after the kids but also visiting me to brighten up otherwise monotonous hospital days! Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!

Categories: Uncategorized

Freakish Weather

March 7, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Melbourne was again hit with freak storms yesterday afternoon with 29mm of rain falling in the city between 3 and 4pm.   With strong winds and hailstones up to 10cm wide the city was left in gridlock with public transport at a standstill and traffic lights out on major junctions.  Bearing in mind that the forecast said “Cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy falls, hail and strong winds” – this is not what we had in mind as you’ll see from the photos below.  Alan had taken Ella & Charlie to the museum and they were stuck on a tram when the storm hit:

The view from the tram

Shoppers sheltering anywhere they can, the white stuff floating down the street is ice (the hailstones were huge).

Ella watching safely from the tram

Charlie oblivious to it all

A river running past Spencer Street Station

And at Crown nobody was going anywhere fast

It was at the casino that the trams started backing up and nobody was moving so the only option was to get out and walk.  I managed to drive into Whiteman Street to pick them up but they’d had to wade through knee deep water to get there.  All a big adventure!

Mummy to the rescue!

The Drowned Rats!

And here are some general pictures of the storm

South Melbourne Market

St Kilda Road

Trams at Federation Square

The roof came in at Spencer Street Station

Waterfall down the stairs at Flemington Race Course

K

Categories: Diaries, family, weather

Another Goodbye…

March 6, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Last night we all said an emotional goodbye to Fi, Mark, Hugh & Rory.  They had to be out of their house in the morning so we spent lots of time chilling out at home before Mark & Fi took the kids swimming.  After dinner the inevitable rush to get ready and postponement of actually saying goodbye took over.  We all knew it was time to leave for the airport so I said goodbye and waved them off in the car with Alan, Ella & Charlie.  I knew I’d be sad and only hope we can make a trip home and to Ireland very soon!

Mark with Poppy & Ruby

Charlie & Rory with their pirate swords

Ella with her beloved Hugh

Hugh, Charlie, Rory & Ella all set to leave for the airport

K

Categories: Diaries, family

Sleeping Beauties

March 3, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Ella & Charlie have slept in ‘Grandma & Grandad’s’ bed the past few nights.  Here they are sound asleep.

K

Categories: Diaries, family

Alan the Barber

March 3, 2010 Donaldson 2 comments

Alan likes to think of himself as a bit of a barber since purchasing clippers, the only trouble is there’s only 1 ’style’.  After much deliberation Mark decided to let him loose on his hair….

Mark looking a bit concerned

Alan at work

The end result

For all of you that know Fiona, you’ll know she was NOT impressed!!!!

K

Categories: Diaries, family

Some Firsts for Ruby & Poppy

February 27, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Thursday was a really hot day so we bought some ice lollies (icy poles or ice blocks as they’re known here) on the way home from kinder.

Ella & Charlie then decided they wanted to make chocolate crackles and Ruby & Poppy were more than happy to help!  Here they are enjoying licking the bowl…

K

Categories: Diaries, family

Baby Naomi

February 27, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Meet baby Naomi, the newest addition to the Webster clan!  She’s 7 weeks old and weighing in at 3.6kg (Ella’s birth weight!), is adorable and was happy for us to give her cuddles.

Ruby saying Ella

And Ella

Tiny Baby

K

Categories: Diaries

Fun with Hugh & Rory

February 27, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Ella & Charlie are thoroughly enjoying all the play times they’re having with Hugh & Rory. Here they are in action – they were playing a game of hide and seek with little toys they got inside kinder eggs (Paula was largely responsible for the hiding and they did the seeking!!)

Poppy joining in on the action

Rory having a chat with Poppy

K

Categories: Diaries, family

Happy 3rd Birthday Ewan

February 27, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

This post is a little late but Ella & Charlie were invited to celebrate Ewan’s 3rd birthday a couple of weeks ago.  Ewan is obsessed with all things ‘pirate’ at the moment and they all had great fun with a jumping castle (pirate themed of course) and yummy party food.

Ella on the jumping castle

Eve (Ewan’s big sister) & Ella

Eve, Charlie & Ella

Charlie & Ewan enjoying their party food

Nicole stole the show with her fantastic pirate ship cake

Happy Birthday Ewan

Ella enjoying some sweet treats

Charlie not too happy to be leaving the party!!

K

Categories: Diaries

Ruby & Poppy off for a Run

February 27, 2010 Donaldson Leave a comment

Alan took Ruby & Poppy out in the jogging pram for the first time a few weeks back.  They were a bit unsure at first but no tears….

K

Categories: Diaries, family