Dog sitting and a farm trip

The dads took the kids to the farm for the weekend with Michael flying up from Melbourne.  It's been such a long time since they were there and I was delighted that Tess hasn't decided that she's too old to go with all the younger kids.  In fact she organised a huge treasure hunt which took up an afternoon and was enjoyed by all.  I was quite keen to go but given Lisa wasn't going I was worried I'd end up as general skivvy so it was safer to stay in Sydney.  

I will never tire of that view

 Darcy and Maggie - still the same size despite the 3 years age difference

 Loading hay for the cows

 Jules' artistic shot of Mount Marsden - I am actually quite impressed ;)

 When the kids get tired they play board games by the fire

 Riding the quad bike

 Darcy, Fletcher, Tess, Tom, Hunter, Ryan, Maggie - another good shot by Jules!

 It was cold up there

 Tess and Tom at a farm sale - Jules almost bought an old ute

 Tom and Maggie

 Tom on the motorbike - getting a bit small for him now

Back in Sydney the kids enjoyed week 1 of the school holidays.  Tess caught up with some of her school friends and spent a day at the XFactor auditions which she really enjoyed.  I organised a catch up with one of Tom's school friends - a lovely Brazilian boy called Thomaz and of course there was a little bit of surfing although the lack of surf made it a bit hard.  

Tom and Thomaz

No surf but that didn't stop him

Frodo the Tibetan Spaniel came and spent the week with us.  He belongs to Kael, a school friend of Toms, and is of a very nervous disposition.  The first night he woke me with a bark at 2.20am and barked once every hour thereafter until it was time to wake up.  He was not my favourite person in the morning.  Although he's a small dog he fortunately is not a yappy dog so if he wants something he barks just the once and waits a few minutes to see if you've understood him and if not he does another single bark.  The kids loved having him around and were excellent at taking him for walks, washing him and generally keeping him entertained.  Apparently he's not allowed on beds or the sofa at home.  

 He has a special doggy seat belt which Tom thought was brilliant

 Tess and Frodo on the sofa - notice the tweens idea of watching television

Tess and Frodo in bed