The Solar Panels

We decided to take advantage of the federal rebate and install some solar panels on our roof. It kinda feels good to know we are making our own electricity, with the help of the sun of course, especially with rising electricity costs. We also bought a little bluetooth device which tells us how much electricity we are making every day/month etc, how much CO2 we have avoided and how much money we have made by selling our electricity back to the grid. With the latest few days of wall to wall sunshine we should make our money back in no time!

Face Painting

We went to the Guildford Heritage Festival this morning, it was a lovely morning spent wandering around the various stalls and watching some of the free entertainment. Jack and Josie also had a go at some bubble blowing and tried their first few mouthfulls of fairy floss - Jack liked it, Jo wasn't so keen on putting that strange pink stuff in her mouth. Jackson was also really keen to get his face painted, below is the result.

Josie was not so sure about the strange paint on her brothers face.

The blue tongue lizard

This blue tongue lizard likes to hang out in our garden. We hadn't seen him for a while, but one morning last week we caught him catching some sunlight in the rock garden.

Carine Fair

We went to the local Carine fair this afternoon.

Out of all the rides etc, Jackson's choice was to 'pluck a duck' - so both Josie and Jack attempted to catch a duck for a prize. We then went on to the lucky dip, followed by showbags for both of them. A great afternoon, although those places can suck your money away - "sorry did you say $10 for 2 goes on the duck thing?"- ahem.

Josie's tiarra she got in her lucky dip

Jackson with his showbag and 'pluck a duck' prize

2011 Freeway Bike Hike

We all joined the Freeway Bike Hike this year. This is an annual event where they close the freeway to cars and allow people to cycle along it to raise money for asthma. We joined the 'family 10 km ride' - which is a walk in the park for Rich, but for me - well, its the longest I've cycled since our big trip through Europe! Jack and Josie both loved it, they got heaps of attention from other cyclists and they particularly liked the train ride at the end!

Before the event

The freeway full of cyclists


Dad drove down to wave to us from a bridge and take photos

Josie and I

Swimming

Jackson had his first swimming lesson today, and he loved it, he even received his first certificate for 'a solo swim with arm floats'. He was very pleased with himself, and we are so proud of him.

Sculptures by the Sea 2011

We went to Cottesloe for the annual Sculptures by the Sea recently. The kids enjoyed seeing the 'funny things' on the beach, as Jack called them.

Jack thought the big red man was doing a poo - probably not the best place to stand if that was the case!

The Zoo

With some Christmas money from my Auntie, we bought some more annual passes to the zoo. We have already been 3 times since we bought the passes, Jack and Josie both love going there - this trip Jack was particularly interested in all the maps of the zoo and kept asking 'where are we Mummy?'

Urban Down hill

A couple of minutes of footage of an urban downhill. Brilliant