long time ago in bethlehem...

OK so we thought we'd go to the children's 'crib service' at our local church in Bruthen on Christmas Eve. A chance to sing some carols and connect with some folk in our new community... The service was to be structured as a nativity play and so as people arrived the (female) pastor (-pastrice?) nabbed them, dressed them up and gave them roles. Well, it seems we had the only baby in the place so right before the service was to start Joel was asked to play Joseph and Rakaia... you guessed it! BABY JESUS.

Wishing all our friends, loved ones and devoted bloggers

a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with peace, love

and all the good stuff xxx kate, joel and RR

our jolly little jumper

Rakaia had her first go in the "jolly jumper" on sunday

-her six month birthday believe it or not (!!)

It might take a few goes for her to get the hang of it... there's not so much jumping happening yet. But top marks for jollyness Miss Rakaia Rose!

shower, bath or laundry tub... our water bub ain't too picky!

up the creek

We may not live by a lake anymore but we've got a great swimming hole about 5minutes drive up the omeo highway. Last sunday was a stinker so we took Rakaia for her first dip....

Newsflash! Rakaia sitting up!!

You heard it here first bloggers... Rakaia can now sit unaided

(- although its good to have a parent nearby in case she gets the wobbles)

Time and space will never be the same again.

quite the voracious reader!!!

did somebody say velour????

water babies

Getting into the swing of things...

We've finally unpacked (or hidden away) all the boxes and life is beginning to tick along in our new abode. Joel has even managed to get the tomatoes "in by cup day" (5th nov) - not before tackling an enormous thorn bush that was occupying a good third of the previously abandoned vege patch. What a man!

RR keeps daddy on a close rein.

Reading Beatrix Potter (they're never too young to start...

Thanks to Amy Watts who inspired us with a great book my Mem Fox on reading to kids!)

Self family portrait on back deck.

Our little house....

lots to report

Since our last entry RR has been on her first trip back to big smokey melbourne...

(pounding the pavements of north fitzroy with the Orenstein posse)

Rakaia has developed baby boobs and now weighs a whopping 5.8 kilos.

You go girlfriend!!

...and the big news... we've bought (and moved into) a house!!!!!
it's been quite a whirlwind and has all happened since our last blog entry. We had a 30 day settlement and moved in last weekend.

Mum and RR in the fab garden a couple of weeks back. The house is on 1/2 acre with great fruit and citrus trees and lots more...

The previous owner was kind enough to let us start painting before settlement.

We used non-toxic biopaints which meant Rakaia could help out.

We'll post more house photos soon (once it looks like less of a bomb site!)

But some info in meantime: The house itself is small but open and perfect size for our wee family! We're looking into buying an old caravan for guests... so still make plans to visit us!!! We've moved inland/upriver to a town of about 600 called Bruthen. It's got a real community feel about it and a good set of country shops (including a great op shop!) Bruthen is about 20minutes north west of Bairnsdale where Joel works and RR+k8 go for our big shopping outing once a week!

Our details: 101 Chambers road, Bruthen, VIC 3885

phone (03) 51575610

"yeah THAT'S RIGHT!!! drop us a line or come and visit!"

Rakaia loves playing on the floor in her new house!

All tuckered out after the big move...

leaps and bounds

Rakaia has reached the 3 month milestone today! And it really feels like she's not a little little new born baby any more but a proper little miss. Recent developmental claims to fame include:

Riding frontwards in the sling

(pictured here with Uncle Will visiting from Melbourne)

Watching her hands and being very interested in what they might be able to do (pictured here with Aunty Jess visiting from Newcastle)

Getting some major lift during 'tummy time'

Well hello there!

happy anniversary baybeee

Joel and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary last week by having an early dinner, bathing and massaging Rakaia, and then heading off to bed for a nice early night (of sleep).

Yep, we sure are crazy kids.

Joel's uncle (that's right, uncle) in america knitted these special ozzie booties. tasty!

a picture speaks a thousand words...

at home with the girls

Rakaia and I are having a lovely time on our days at home when Joel goes to work (not that we don't miss him!) She usually sleeps enough in the morning so I have a chance to get clean and clothed... sometimes i even get to do some yoga, laundry or housework! We try to go for a walk everyday to get some fresh air. She loves being snuggled up in the sling and its a sure fire way to get her to have an afternoon snooze. We've got lots of friends in the area with babies too - so we've always got the option of catching up with playmates (and I can have a cup of tea with someone who doesn't care if I zone in and out of the conversation -which is most likely about poo stain removal anyway!)

CHUBBA CHOPS!

visit from grandpa

Grandpa Herbert came to visit last weekend and brought us our very own http://www.joelandkateand.blogspot.com/ custom t-shirts! You too could have your very own t-shirt, calendar, mug, knifeblock... simply click on the image of your choice, download it to disk, take it to your nearest custom merchanise shop et voila!!! (thanks herbert! we love them)

hello again! look who's all grown up now!!

We want more cute baby snaps!

First Family Holiday

Well we're lagging a bit behind in the blog stakes but we've got a great excuse -we've been away the last 2 weekends on our first and second family holidays!!!! We packed up the family wagon (one bag each for us and 15 for RR!) and headed into the hills (about 75 min away) to visit our friends and stay at the Mount Murrindal Co-op. There are several houses on a beautiful 100acre block of aussie bush, a large shared vege garden and shared chooks. The house we stayed in was basic but had 2 of our favorite things (which are sadly lacking from our metung palace) - a bathtub and a wood heater. So we did a lot of lounging in front of the fire and had several guilt-free baths with the little miss as there are no water restrictions up there.

There were lots of kangaroos jumping around - so we felt right at home with our own little marsupial in her special pouch!

Sunrise at Mount Murrindal (yep, we were awake)

We went the weekend of the 11/12 august and celebrated joel's 31st birthday... We spent the day itself at the nearby buddhist centre (SIBA) where some of our friends live. They didn't know it was joel's birthday until we got there but still managed to rustle up a birthday cake - no mean feat considering we're currently on a lactose + gluten free diet! THANKS to DEANNE who just happened to have a L+G free pineapple upside-down cake in the freezer!!! what a woman!

clockwise: fred, neroli, viola, jampal, RR and one happy birthday boy

We went back the next weekend to go on a picnic with a bunch of locals to an amazing spot called The Pyramids. You can only get to it by going through several private properties and many many farm gates- all needing to be opened and closed. We went in a convoy and then set up camp for the day in the most idyllic spot in the middle of nowhere. Joel did the walk/scramble up to the pyramids themselves while RR and I settled for a stroll around the open areas.

the view from the top

Rakaia snoozing at the Pyramids picnic.

Notice the teaching mudra? ...she's destined to be a great spiritual adept!

Rakaia's River

Nana Lavinia just sent through this great pic of the Rakaia Gorge.

Not a bad spot eh?

Thanks Ma!

monkey magic!!!

RR is now 7weeks and counting & if it's at all possible she's getting cuter by the day... more faces, more little animal noises and much more alert... making eye contact and responding to us with precious smiles and coos. She's grown heaps and is getting that delicious pudge happening in all the right places. Her eyes have changed from black to beautiful blue and her hair continues to lighten... and she's losing a bit at the front too (taking after her dad, hee hee)