Paddy's Second Maleny Show

Paddy had a ball at his second Maleny Show.

First day we went with Will, Tracey and Hugh. After we did the rounds we ended up back at the food and bar where Paddy played with his ball most of the afternoon.

The next day Paddy went with Gram and Poppy. He rode the ponies and played the clowns. Danny and I went for our first alone lunch at The Reserve - a 4 course degustation with the most beautiful Verdelho ever!!

The sun was shining for the first time in years at the Show. It was a really beautiful weekend!

Mothers Day

This was our camp for mothers day at Double Island Point Lagoon.

We started off with bacon burgers and ate and drank our way through the day. The boys did some fishing and buried Paddy Cook in the sand.

Really relaxing day - one Gram might remember I think....

Cooper's Birthday Weekend

For spent Cooper's birthday weekend in Brisbane. Picked up Cole and headed to Southport to watch Cooper play AFL. Then we gave him some clues to work out the rest of the weekend. It was really fun.

We checked into our hotel and then the boys picked up some hire bikes and navigated their way to the Valley pool where we watched Billy play Water Polo. They had to ride across the Story Bridge which was pretty cool.

Then next day the boys went Rock Climbing at Kangaroo Point. Danny was their spotter and coach from the sidelines. It took them a few goes to try and get up but finally Cooper found a way and got to the top. That white dot is Cooper right up the top of the wall.

It was a lot of fun

Easter 2011

Easter this year we went out to Kym & Bill's in St George. I think I said to Kymmie that it was the first time I had been out there and thought it was beautiful. It really was.

The Rockleys were there too so it was a big Staines family reunion.

Apart from eating a lot!! we went to the Flinton Races. A highlight for Paddy was when Dad picked him up to see the horses gallop past.

Easter Bunny came and bought Paddy some trucks - deliberately forgetting to pack the chocolate. Lucky for Paddy, Poppy had bought him a chocolate bunny!

Another highlight was a dusk cruise of the Balonne River with heaps of nibblies and some champagne as well.

Really really great Easter thanks Kymmie and Bill!!

Paddy's First Steps

It feels like he has been walking for ages but in doing the recap I realised I haven't mentioned it.

He took his first steps at Gram & Poppy's one day when and got it down pat in the main bar of Uncle Terry's and Aunt Janie's pub in Toowoomba. Now he is off and running!

Big thanks to Poppy who persisted in making him walk by holding the back of his shirt. When he started every time you let go of his hand he just sat down. But Poppy got him back up and made him walk again.

Now there is no stopping him!

Danny's "Around the world in Beer" Birthday Party

Saturday afternoon was Danny's birthday party. Deb and I came up with the concept of going to 10 different countries in beer - everyone bought a carton from the country they were assigned and I cooked food from each different country. We stood at the start of each country and raised our beers to the national anthem before we ate and drank.

We flew through the first 4 countries and then hit Italy. Will bought along a bottle of sambuca and an Italian trivia game with the people getting the questions wrong having a shot of sambuca. Let me just say we aren't too flash with our Italian trivia.

So then Mexico came along and Sal made a pinata with Danny Cook's face on it. I beat the bejesus out of it which was heaps of fun.

Needless to say the wig did the rounds especially after we visited Italy.

We missed our flight to the last country - Ireland. Probably a good thing as we had Irish Whiskey lined up for that one.

Really great afternoon with really great friends. Happy Birthday Danny xoxo

Paddy's 1st Birthday

Can you believe he is 1!!!

Started off the morning opening presents in the big bed and showed how when you turn 1 you suddenly learn a few new poses for the camera.

Nanna and Gram & Poppy came over for the day which was wonderful. This is another pose and the bike that Gram & Poppy gave him.

And here is the awesome cake Poppy and his sous chef Lynnie made for Paddy. We left the cake cutting a little late resulting in Paddy not going to bed until 10pm. Too much sugar on his birthday!

It was a great, easy day full of reflecting from me. I spent the whole day thinking about what I was doing at that time 1 year ago. Lots of grabbing my stomach and screaming "Owww!"