Our weekend update: part one

With such a busy weekend just gone I have decided to post about our weekend like this:

Part one: the birthday - five, footloose and fancy free.



Despite a late night at our wonderful school musical, Miss Moo Moo was up early and into our bed. When I wished her happy birthday she said,

"Look at my teeth Mum, can you see how big they are. They are very big now that I am five"

As is our usual birthday ritual, she opened her presents in our bed. A pile of dress-ups and some 'Angelina Ballerina' books.



Straight away Miss Moo Moo was into her dress-up's. The 'much wished for' ballet dress. A brides veil, a mermaid costume, some 1950's nana slippers and frilly pink 1950's brunch coat. All thrifted over the last month or so. She was over the moon.



Daddy made some special pancakes for the birthday girl.



Then we drove to Maleny and to the Maleny Dairies that was to be our outing for the day. It was really fun, but oh so very cold!

More about the Maleny Dairies tomorrow.



Before we went on our farm tour, we had some morning tea cupcakes in the car park.





After a wonderful morning at the farm we went to the nearby Maleny Cheese Factory for some cheese and into Maleny to find a sunny spot in the park. We sat here for hours protected from the icy, biting winds by the local library.

We enjoyed a simple, delicious picnic. Homemade zucchini slice and yesterday's cupcakes from home. Maleny cheeses: triple cream brie and tuscan cheddar, wood fire breads: a crusty white called 'snow cap' and a walnut and rye. A punnet of very ripe cherry tomatoes and sliced ham from the local butcher.



As I sat in the sun and watched the children happily playing, I savoured the simple food that I was eating. Happy in the fact that 80 percent of it had been produced within a kilometer of where we sitting.





After a long day the children both slept (yes slept!) in the car on the drive home. Home just in time for some quiet play and a bath before dinner. An easy barbecue of sausages and marinated chicken that had been requested, followed by cake.

Mr Moo's chocolate cake topped with coffee icing. We had to light the candles three times - you know what big brothers can be like. Eventually Miss Moo Moo got to blow out her own candles and we all enjoyed a piece of cake.

The perfect end to a perfect day.

Another long weekend

In our local area, we had another long weekend this weekend. The weather was the perfect Queensland winter weather. Clear bright blue skies, warm sunshine and gentle breezes.

We took advantage and got out amongst it.



We spent four hours on a picnic rug by the river. This was our picnic food, but there was also wine, books and napping. Oh.... and the children - it was all scooters and new friends in the playground for them. They stopped by occasionally, when they were hungry.



This view is what made lazing in the winter sun so enjoyable. Nothing to do but watch the lovely slow pace of the sail boats drifting past.



We finally visited the gorgeous little shop, Twig and Grace. Beautiful - everything - beautiful! In fact Miss Moo Moo and I returned this morning for coffee and a piece of their delicious nana slice (caramel slice)



On Saturday, the kids found the only sunny spot in our tiny backyard and set up house. They ate there afternoon tea out here and played for hours. There was a play tent off to the side (not in the photo)



The kids helped make the choc chip pancakes that we ate for breakfast outside. Served with huge splashes of maple syrup and runny cream. Yum.



On Sunday Mum joined us for a barbecue lunch, we moved our table out onto the grass to catch the lovely winter sun. We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon, eating and drinking more wine.

I hope you enjoyed you weekend too.