An exciting month of visitors

The first week of the school holidays arrived and with it came some very special visitors from Sydney, the O'Dowds.  Unfortunately Leigh got way-laid for a couple of days as she came up separately from the others, but she got here in the end! 

The boys were absolutely beside themselves with excitement that the girls and Uncle John were sleeping over, and were mesmerised by their gymnastics skills and high energy fun.  John even demonstrated a couple of somersaults on the trampoline (wish I got a picture of that!).  Katie even found time to give James a makeover (note the hairdo below) which made James feel quite special.  James is a tough nut to crack but Katie seemed to have the golden touch with him.

 Liam and Chloe having a smile-off.

 Dad kindly volunteered to cook a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings for the entire family.  It was a great night.  Here Kerrie models some fabulous shoes purchased on a shopping trip with Mum and Leigh ...

 ... while Leigh  rummages in her new handbag which matches Kerrie's shoes quite nicely!

 It's not often Zane and I have our picture taken together and this one is not all that good, but it's all we have so ...

 The Warren girls.

 All of us!  Ready for the papps.

 The kids having a bit of quiet time after a very busy afternoon.

In the last week before Mum and Dad went home we went up to the Sunshine Coast for the day.  We stopped off at Caloundra and had a paddle on the beach.  After all the rain in Brisbane it was lovely to get the sand between our toes and enjoy a bit of sunshine.

Dad and James demonstrating good beach safety - paddling between the flags.

 How's the serenity.

 A nice one of Mum and Dad.

 After Dad went home it was just Mum, me and the boys.  We had a great week together.  One day we went to the park and the boys enthusiastically demonstrated their climbing skills for Grandma...

 ... followed by an impromptu picnic.

 We are in full "preparation for baby" mode here and one of our strategies was to give the boys a baby each to look after.  Liam's baby is a girl called Darcey and James has a baby boy called Max.  They have been giving the babies lots of loving (some of it quite vigorous).  Liam decided to toilet train Darcey - isn't she clever.  He's given up on James who won't sit still for more than three seconds!

Grandma Ann stayed a few days before heading off to NZ for Brent and Penny's wedding and while she was here she helped Liam make a bed for baby Darcey.  Note the soldiers and dinosaurs standing sentry along the top of the bed to keep intruders away and the army-tanker style firing arm on the side.