And now for the flowers

We love going to Floriade to take photos of the flowers. We now have 4 folders full of flowers. They are probably the same as last years but because you probably cant remember them...... here are this years flowers!

The workaholic eager for me to stop taking photos so he can go back to work!

A magnolia. One of my fav trees. We have just planted one in my garden!

A music player thing (Kind of like a massively over grown pianola). Very pretty.
What we look like from the flower application thingy on our camera!

Floriade

It is that beautiful time of the year again. Floriade. It is such a beautiful time of year. This year is even better because we had a such cold wet winter it is making the spring appear so much sweeter. It's funny to think back to all of the Floriade's since we have been here. The first Ben was only weeks old.
The second only just walking.

And now he is a big garden gnome. Just like his brothers.

Monster Trucks

My boys are monster truck mad. So when we heard that the monster truck spectacular was coming to town we couldn't miss it. And so glad we didn't. I had a ball! I wasn't expecting to like it. I thought i would really enjoy watching my boys love it BUT I really loved it! It was exciting and noisy and powerful! And they boys are even more monster mad than they were before! Here are some pictures Scooby Doo. This truck at one stage sprung a leak of fuel, Nathans comment was that it couldn't even raise a tyre to leak!
Outback Thunder. My fav.
The jet van, I wasn't a huge fan. A bit scary all that fire so close to us. They burnt a car using the jet fire. Nath was impressed. Me, not so much. The boys not at all!
Bit too close for comfort.
Huge fireworks display. Nath got some great shots.

Pacific rage Monster truck (apparently the one Grant Denyer had his accident in!)
Did you see that Ryan!
Its too loud and he has hearing protection in!
Still too noisy!

Batman. Nathan's favourite.

Transzilla. The fire breathing (and farting for that matter!) dragon

A family of Rev Heads apparently!

More jet engines, Chad

The boys in their speedway chairs

Monster truck rides. We didn't have one. They weren't quite brave enough!

The Boss. Matthew's Favourite

This big!

They could fit inside the wheel

The jet engine van. Thought Uncle Chad would be impressed with these!

AFL Grand Final

My Grandad and I shared a love of the AFL. My team is the Carlton Blues and his team is Hawthorn. So today with Hawthorn in the Grand Final, Grandad hasn't been far in my thoughts. I have missed him dreadfully today and i have also felt his presence today. I can hear him singing our song. So in an attempt to get him to shut up i will publish the song for all to see.

Poor old Carltons' dead

They died with a bonk on the head

They put em in a coffin and they fell through the bottom

Poor old Carltons' dead!

There you go Grandad. Hawthorn are the winners but I will never change teams! Love Jen

Unwed!

I am feeling REALLY uncomfortable today. Nathan is having my engagement ring remade. Did you know i lost it? When i was weeks pregnant with Ben i went on a cleaning spree (i think the Rickard's were coming to visit!) Anyway i had put my engagement ring in a snap lock bag on top of the fridge as a diamond had fallen out. And during cleaning spree i put all of the bags in the bin. Funny thing was as i was cleaning up all the bags i remember thinking "Bloody Nathan, why can't he just put his bags straight in the bin!" So Nathan is having an exact replica made but to do that the jeweler needed my wedding band so they could match it. Which means it is the first time my wedding ring has ever come off my finger. And it isn't even in my possession so i am feeling very vulnerable. Please, please, please don't loose my wedding ring!
(Oh and yay for my new engagement ring! Can't wait to have it back!)

Welcome Home Parade

Brenty flew down yesterday to do the Canberra welcome home parade. We really need to thank him because he dragged himself out of his death bed to do it! Thanks! The boys loved it.They always love seeing their Uncle but they like to see him doing special things too. They also loved the massive balloon courtesy of Bankwest. One of which we were given but they were so massive they wouldn't fit in the car. So Daddy did what any boy would do and consumed the helium until the balloon COULD fit in the car. And then had the boys in hysteric all the way back to his work!

Ben's favourite bit was the Chinese dragons. He was awe struck. He couldn't take his eyes off them. He showed anyone who was interested the dragons. Until one came up to us and shook it's head at him. He peed his pants! He was trying to crawl over my shoulder to get away. But then again the boxing kangaroo and sunflower flower pot had the same reaction!

Brenty looking ill during the speeches!

The team!

My Tulips!

I love tulips. It probable comes from visiting Floriade when i was younger. But now that I am older and don't mind gardening (hated being forced to do it as a child!) I have planted tulips. They are expensive but i had to have some this years. Last spring was our first spring in this house so when all the bulbs came up and flowered i was so excited i had to plant more this year! Anyway here is some piccies of MY tulips. I have two purple one the other two bulbs haven't flowered yet but have buds! Jackie and Jodie, please note that yes that IS the duck in the background!