Day 714: Family, friends and Frankie

09/07/2023

We are struggling big time with jetlag, it is much worse than when we came back at Christmas time. After eventually getting to sleep we arose at 09:40 and then arrived fashionably late to Cleland Wildlife Park for family coffees after a windy wet drive.

After a short dash through the rain, Eloise’s eyes lit up when she spotted her new cousin again, Eloise went straight over to wake her up for more cuddles and to play.

Lachlan was reunited with his second cousin, jeez they have both changed so much since the start of the year. Turns out they are both in the biscuits and jumping in puddles stage.

Da Boyz had not come to just sit about and went to explore outside between showers and chase the wildlife.

Super Mum enjoyed more cuddles and getting to know Aubrey before the robo baby had a cheeky run around on Eloise’s shoulders.

It was an in-the-door, out-the-door kind of day for the kids, we didn’t actually venture too far into the wildlife park but they managed to spot some wallabies.

Lachlan had taken it personally that Uncle Kochy had stood him up for a second time in a row and was clearly not happy with Aunty Amy’s jokes about his receding hairline.

The second cousins were then reading Bluey to each other in front of the fireplace drying off.

Next stop, the great grandparents. Unbelievably, the kids were showered in even more gifts.  Thank you very much, they were loving their new toys and clothes.

It was lovely for the kids to catch up with their great grandparents again and tell them all about what they had been up to this year.

We then headed back to the grandparents with the whole Nicholls clan for an action packed afternoon of painting, kids Zumba and track building before a delicious dinner.

Eloise was desperate to sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa’s, so we quickly bailed leaving the jetlagged kids behind, mwhahahhaha.

Although it was a quieter night with two fewer kids sleeping in our bed unfortunately the jetlag still won. Both the dogs however had a much longer lie in not having to worry about Lachlan chasing them about and pulling their tails.

There would still be no lie in today as Super Mum led the charge to fabric world.

We had to dash back up the hill to pick up the munchkins, Lachlan had an important date with his ol’ pal Frankie, both he and Eloise were very excited.

It was a lovely lunch with friends, Eloise was working Hugh, James and Tom hard in the drawing department, providing them all with honest critical feedback. After Tom had produced a questionable dog he dropped the sharpenings all over Hugh’s beautiful white table cloth and we had to dash, it was about time we let Frankie have some peace.

We were slowing down, in fact, the kids had hit a hard wall.

We were keen to head out to see our cousins. Eloise was glad when a wild Xavier appeared.

The family is certainly growing. Thank you Belinda for a delicious dinner. After eating far too much potato bake it was time to head back to Hotel Fensom and fall asleep on the couch watching the cricket, “Australia fails to seize the moment at Headingley as a refined England keeps brilliant Ashes series alive”.