Mia Mia Station {Caretaking}

Our final stop for the year, is back at Mia Mia Station to care take while the owners head south for some much needed time with their family.

It was a lot of work to pack up out of the cottage and Lyndon, back into the camper and then back into a house again.  Not that, in summer we would ever consider living in the camper up here but I do dread the pack up when we leave here in January.

So far Justin has had a wonderful time, doing an array of different things.  If he had his way and could make it work we would be out here forever and as much as I do love the people and the places, it isn’t a forever location for me.  Realistically it simply isn’t practical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard to believe that this was our final stop for the year.  Whilst we’ve had a visit to Lyndon for a birthday party, a Christmas party at Bullara, a day in Coral Bay x 2 and plenty of visits to the neighbours we are really in one place.  One big house with gardens to water and floors to clean.

 

We have been blessed to also have had some visitors while we have been here the last month or so.  Dad surprised me by showing up one night, with no warning and then hanging out with us for a little over a week.

My sister and her family stopped in for the night on their way to Perth for a wedding and Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a good Christmas, with dinner Christmas Eve at Winning and then a nice quiet day at home.  The kids love what they got from both us and Santa, I was also still in awe and our homemade tree and tip found decorations {now to workout which ones we are going to keep for keepsakes of our Christmas here}.

Boxing Dad Justin's brother, Aaron and his wife Ali came up for a few nights.  They brought with them warmer weather and a few passing showers {it also meant we got a few nights with amazing sunsets}.  We saw them off with a trip to Coral Bay, swimming and of course lunch at the pub.

 

 

*sigh* It does make me miss a house and also hope that in 2015 we work out ‘where to from here’

December & 2013 have passed us by {Home}

December is gone and we have all but said goodbye to 2013. It started as a wonderful year but didn't end anywhere near as well.

December has pasted so slowly but at the same time it has flown by.

The kids have finished school and we have everything ready to start the new year with SIDE again. The camper has been pulled apart, door repaired and put back together. We've had a wedding, a birthday or two, a night away here and there and of course Christmas.

I've tried daily to find something positive in everything we've done. Some days this is harder than others but I'm thankful for my family, both immediate and extended.

We've had many firsts without Mum here, some much harder than others and 2014 will see many more of these. I try hard to remind myself that where ever she is, she is watching down on us all and is there with us in spirit.

I look forward to our next adventure and all that 2014 holds for us {all}.

Hanging out after a big day at our new school

 

Visits to parks with Aunty Peta & Uncle Jaime

Upmarket with Alison & her girls
  

 

 Swimming in the pool

 

 

 A wedding

 Some sewing

 Carols by Candlelight

 

Of Course Christmas

Once last time this year - Manjimup {Work}

The plan for this return trip was for Justin to finish some work on the house, build some sheds and give a hand if needed.

We had a fabulous time, doing sheep work and watching Ben & Jim doing some shearing. The kids got to ride the motor bike & get crazy rides on the ride on mower {I think Jim had more fun than Kaleb & Kyla}. We had yard work with cattle, feeding them terrible smelling silage & seeing how docile big bulls really can be. A trip to the lease block for a look at the spud plantation & even better a cooling swim in the dam, followed by a picnic lunch.

There was also wrapping of presents, putting up the Christmas Tree {our first while in the camper & traveling} and also preparing for Christmas.

{Christmas & Boxing Day posts to follow}.

All in all our combined time in Manjimup has been wonderful.  Getting to know new friends {and their extended families}, working, creating, learning & experiencing.