Beach weather

Today is really really really hot (ok, maybe just two of those, it hasn’t hit 40 yet).  Thought to share a few more photos of the beach.  Anything with water seems a good idea today!

My daughter doesn’t stop running.  She is either running, or ‘heavy’ – translation: ‘pick me up’.

She was running and bouncing and spinning and jumping the whole time.

Then I had to take a picture of the sand.  I cheated, I took a picture of her.  As you can see, sand is serious business.

Wishing you a brilliant, happy New Year with lots to be grateful for, some small adventures and large rewards.  May it all be good.

Silhouettes

After visiting the sand sculptures, we couldn’t leave without having a swim in the ocean.  I decided to try to take some silhouette photos, with the sun still rather bright and quite a distance from the horizon.  It was a picture-perfect day, with bright clear blue skies and very little wind.

The kids ran across the footbridge at Frankston beach to get to the water.

Quite a few people made use of the beautiful weather.

My daughter splashed and jumped in all the puddles.  (The boys were a bit deeper in, trying out their masks and snorkels they got for Christmas.)

I always wanted to take a photo like the one below (though I think the one above is my favourite – no processing, it is the glow from the sun’s reflection)

 

With sunset after 9pm, going to the beach is a relaxing way to spend the evening!

Sand sculptures in Frankston

We took the kids to see the sand sculpture exhibition that is being held in Frankston on the waterfront.  The sculptures were really amazing!  The theme is Great Events in History. 

So on one side you had Elvis and the Beatles

and on the other Nero and Napoleon.

Wars were also depicted, as were major eras of the last century.

Australia and the USA had sets of their own.

My favourites were the buildings, the Colosseum totally breathtaking…

The detail in the sculptures was fantastic.

The amount of effort that went into the faces was wonderful.  I just loved how these just seemed to pop out at you.  There is even the glint in the eyes.

We arrived after 6 pm, but the sun was still high in the sky, as you can see from the dark shadows.  It worked out well though, since the kids could do some of the sand art activities for free.  They loved it.  It is very well organised.  I did not take photos of every sculpture, but there are more photos of some of the other sculptures on the Facebook page.

Hearts…

Last night I walked past my daughter’s room and happened to glance in.  The light was beautifully golden, making her whole room glow like a fairytale castle.  In the window is a wind chime my sister had sent her.  The sun was perfect, lighting it through the blind to make the heart shine with an inner light.  I rushed down the stairs at breakneck speed to get my camera.  I really like the result.

Sometimes you just need to look past the clutter to where the sun is shining.

Father and son

My father in law is visiting for Christmas.  I decided to make use of the opportunity to capture them together.

’Tis the season

Wishing you all a Christmas as happy as his has been!

(If you would like to read a beautiful view on Christmas, try Gitzen Girl’s blog: http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/real-story.html)

Christmas Tree

In the midst of the move, I decided to put the tree up.  It usually goes up on the first, but I didn’t want to take it down in the middle of the month.

Last year my husband complained that the tree was too chaotic, so this year I tried to be a little more organised (basically limited the reds and oranges).  So this year the tree is predominantly blue and silver.

 

 

I just love the decorations I found here in Australia.

Have a great Christmas Eve!

Christmas houses

So, we have moved in, though we are still drowning in boxes.  Our internet has also been connected, so I can post again!

Friday friends of ours specially came to fetch us to make a tour of some of the decorated houses in the area.  What an experience!  We had never seen houses decorated like this before.  The kids were mesmerised. 

Some families went for big and bold.  Lots of Santas, elves, reindeer and light.

 

Others just used lights to decorate and create a fairytale effect.  A whole street was done this way. 

One place had a massive display, just about every big light you could think of.  

My favourite was the musical house.  It must have taken forever to set everything up.  The lights flashed and changed to music being played.

The last house we visited had an interactive display.  You could walk amongst the lights.  The owner told us it had taken them four weeks to set everything up.  The kids absolutely loved it.  There were some really special displays that we had not seen anywhere else.

    

Thanks to the Erasmus family for a fabulous experience.