The Donaldsons in Oz

Defence Lake Attack

Donaldson — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:25:48 +0000

I took the kids over to join in the festivities of the Defence Lake Attack event in Albert Park this morning. Its an annual community charity fun run & walk (5K & 10K) organised by the Department of Defence and the Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation

Charlie was delighted to climb on board the helicopter and they loved getting in the army trucks with William & Darcy. There was lots of entertainment for kids which of course cleaned me out of gold coins!! Ella had her face painted and went on the trampolines, Charlie went on the jumping castle and into the animal farm. Ruby & Poppy were happy wandering around and excitedly took all the free snacks that were handed to them.

There’s a Baby in the House….

Donaldson — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:50:42 +0000

……and this time he’s not ours!! Our friends Neil & Kirsteen have come back from bonnie Scotland for their citizenship ceremony with new (3 mths) baby Charlie and we’re lucky enough to have them staying with us. Charlie is one extremely contented little baby and Ella & Charlie are loving trying to entertain him. Here is he:

Water Babies

Donaldson — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:14:55 +0000

I took all of the kids swimming on Saturday morning (largely to avoid lifting heavy stuff in the house move) because Ella & Charlie had lessons and they all have fun playing in the kids pool beforehand. Auntie Jilly came to help and here are some pictures she took of Ruby & Poppy in action:

Best Mates

Donaldson — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:59:35 +0000

I think this picture speaks for itself:

Charlie spent the afternoon with Danielle, Jake & Cameron on Saturday while we moved house. He had a great time and loved showing Jake around his new house when they came home. It’s an adventure for them to have an upstairs having always lived on one level!

We’re on the Move

Donaldson — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:56:45 +0000

Tonight is the last night we’ll spend at 120 Park Street, it seems like the end of an era in many ways. It was the first house we took a long term lease on in Australia, our first family home and the home where many of our friends and family have stayed/visited since we arrived in Melbourne 5 years ago. It definitely became our ‘home’ as well as just our house and I’m sure the change will take a bit of adjustment for everyone.

I sit here surrounded by boxes and can only hope that tomorrow goes smoothly! On the bright side the kids have all been great this week, understanding why things had to get packed away (even helping with their toys) and of course having fun with the boxes:

Kindergarten Excursion

Donaldson — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:46:17 +0000

Our little girl is growing up very quickly. Yesterday she went on her first excursion with kinder to watch a show called “The Fastest Boy in the World” by the Patch Theatre Company. She was adamant that we had to be at kinder early that morning, according to her 6a.m. when in fact they just wanted everyone there a few mins early to ensure everyone was safely on the bus in time. All very exciting for a 5 year old.

When I got home from work in the evening I asked how it went and all I could gather is that there was someone who wasn’t very nice to the ‘fastest boy in the world’. She was more excited that Susan (Ari’s mum) had looked after her.

It seems as though the months before school are rapidly running away from us and Ella swings from being very exited at the prospect to crying that she wants to stay at kinder with Annette & Andrea. I have to admit the teachers are fantastic and that if I was a 5 year old I wouldn’t want to leave such a nurturing environment.

Baby Robyn

Donaldson — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:53:13 +0000

Big congratulations to our very special friends Fiona & Mark and big brothers Hugh & Rory on the arrival of a beautiful baby girl, Robyn. We’re so excited for you and wish we could be there to share it with you. Sending all our love and something appropriately ‘pink’ in a parcel for Robyn!!! Mum – I do have a picture which I’ll post tonight because I know you’re going to ask…..

Here she is with proud Grandma

Another Run….

Donaldson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:31:25 +0000

Alan is in training AGAIN for the Melbourne Marathon in October. Every year he says its the last time then 6 months pass and something gives him renewed determination to take on the 42km again. It’s a constant mind battle to ‘beat his time’. Anyway, on July 18th he ran the 10k in Run Melbourne in 44:10. The race started at 9a.m. so it was an early (and very cold) start to get all the kids ready to drive into the city, find a parking spot and get to the start line on time.

Charlie with Alan at the finish

And the boy gave in to sleep on the drive home

Happy 5th Birthday Ella

Donaldson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:17:31 +0000

Ella turned 5 on July 22nd, something she was very excited about! I think excitement took over as both she & Charlie came wandering through to our bedroom around 2 a.m., thankfully they both went straight back to sleep. I eventually gave in to the lack of space and got up around 5:45 – this is what I left behind:

Once Ella woke up she delighted in opening some presents, could she be any happier?

And then she found her new bike!

She had a fun morning at kinder because Alan did fruit duty with Charlie and then he stayed on to do birthday ice-cream for all the kids. Ella was delighted! She was very excited when I got home from work because she got to open more presents and Auntie Jill & Uncle Dave, Auntie Mhairi & Uncle Harry and Blanche & Tim came to see her. Here she is:

Happy Birthday Ella

Poppy & Ruby enjoying cake

Charlie with his little present from Hugh & Rory

Ella has been into running with Daddy over the past few months so she was very excited to get her first pair of proper trainers from Auntie Jill and her own running clothes from Grandma. Here she is all kitted out:

Here she is the next night going out for a run along the beach with Daddy & Charlie:

Ready to Go!

In Action!

On Saturday afternoon she had a few friends over for birthday cake and pass the parcel.

A Week Full of Fun

Donaldson — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:03:40 +0000

This has been a hectic week. I’ve been trying to get some quality time with all of the kids before I start work on Monday!!! We spent Monday in the zoo with Dora and her boys Daniel & Yianni. Of course the highlight was the baby elephant ‘Mali’. It was fun, Christine was with us so with an extra pair of hands it meant Ruby & Poppy had freedom to be out of the pram. Ella & Charlie would have kept on going but after 5 hours I had to call it a day – my hip is still not 100% since surgery and it was not happy at all the walking around. I’m sure not to be in the good books when I see my physio in the morning!

On Wednesday Ruby & Poppy went to childcare as usual but I kept Charlie with Ella & I and we went on an adventure to Scienceworks on the train. The love going on the train! Every time we go I’m reminded of what a fantastic place it is. They both love playing in the cafe and Charlie in particular loves the construction site.

Happiness on the Train

Charlie listening intently to Ella telling him what he had to go and get from the kitchen!

Playing House

Balancing (they’ve put a narrow piece of wood across a streetscape as if you were looking down from the top of a tall building and looking down actually does make you a bit wobbly!)

Bob The Builder (Charlie loved matching the different tools to the different screws, nuts etc.)

Of course it all got too much for Charlie on the train ride home!

This morning I took Ella & Charlie to see Toy Story 3 with their friends Eve & Ewan and their dad, Shannon. Ella was engrossed and said she really enjoyed it but Charlie got a bit scared at parts. I could see where he’s coming from, it was a bit ‘darker’ than the previous movies. In the afternoon Ella went to play at Tassie’s house and Christine & I took the others to the playground. Poor Ruby & Poppy are choked with the cold but they still enjoyed running around in the fresh air. Tomorrow will hopefully be a relaxing day for everyone!