retreat from it all

We went on a 6day Yoga retreat in Healesville straight after Christmas.

Joel was number one Daddy while Kate did the classes (-this was such a treat for all of us as it turned out - I loved getting some time 'off' and Joel loved having some time 'on').

check out the setting!

walkies

RAAAAAAAAkkkkaaaaaiiiiiaaaaaRRRRRRRHHHHHH!

(fashion note: check out RR's trendy new xmas hoodie from mum)

Meet Rakaia's new best friend: Darshan. His Mummy Anahata was teaching the retreat so he was hanging out with his Daddy too!

Over the week these two became as thick as thieves... very funny to be around!!!

spontaneous DOG POSE (RR's new fave word) sessions abounded!!!

Bath time was shared every evening.
The bub on the left is Jimmy, whose Mumma Jo was also doing the retreat.

SUPER DADDIES
L-R Steve, Jimmy, Darshan, RR, Joel, Aruna

Kate didn't completely miss out on all the fun...
helping out in the kitchen with Tania the cook and Wirria from Alice Springs

ceremonial tree planting

RR received a lovely macadamia tree from grandpa herbert as her first birthday pressie....

We planted it right before a big storm (whoopsie) but it weathered the wind well and is thriving at the back of the garden. We might even get some nuts one day!

hangin' with baba (granpa)

at ramrod... our local creek

(currently a raging torrent after all the fabulous rain)

its all about the ablutions...

did somebody say 'CHEEEEEEEEESE'?

SPRUNG!!! toilet training is going well.

RR likes to sit down with a good read - just like her mummy.

"with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes"

a pre-bath rock on our latest toy library treat... pretty specky huh?

a perfect spring day at the river

(ermm... what's daddy got in his hands?)

don't worry... if there'd been any fish he would have let them go

(or so he says!!!)

nana's in town

Walkie Talkie

outside grandpa's in melbourne with 'dolly-doe'

kissykissy

In latest breaking news - Rakaia Rose is talking!

Here are some of her favorite words:

Daddy
Mummy
Nana
(Ba)nana
Boobie (still a firm favorite around here!)
More (very impt)
No (equally impt) Taaaaah (thanks)
Dolly (see pic above with kate's childhood favorite)
Ball (developing a good throwing arm ...and looking like being a left hander after mummy!)
Boo(k) (LOVES reading)
Ha(t) (always accompanied by brisk taps of the head)
Shoe (loves putting them on AND taking them off)
Various attempts at animal noises...whooo whooo and woof woof
Fishfishfishfishfish

our very own fishy: bath time is still a daily highlight!