The Bell Family

Hi Everyone

This weekend, whilst Katie and I were in the kitchen making some cupcakes, Laura decided she’d design and make some cupcakes of her own! But it didn’t just stop there… over the course of the weekend, she cooked up a storm! According to Laura, the wide assortment of treats on offer included tomato rolls, tomato pastries, chocolate cupcakes, sprinkle biscuits, cherry icies, star icies, heart spivies, jam flower biscuits, smoothies, bump biscuits, sausage rolls and butterfly biscuits.

What an imagination (and a commitment to task) – they took hours to make, all individually cut, decorated, glued and sticky-taped!!! Need I mention the cleaning up?!?!?! Anyway, we were treated to a lovely little party this morning where we were able to sample all the treats, it was great!

Have a great day,
Chrissy and Laura

Laura's Creative Cooking

Artist at Work

Wow! We can’t believe it…. our tiny little bubba is now a little lady and has started school!!!

No tears, no tantrums…. just sheer excitement and a ‘little bit of scariness’ as she puts it!!!

Despite the late night out at Australia Day celebrations (sorry, we couldn’t leave without seeing the fireworks!!!), Laura was up and dressed by 730, she’d had her breakfast and mandatory first day photos and was ready to go!!! Katie was a different matter of course, she would much prefer to stay home with Mummy or even go to school with Laura rather than go to daycare at the moment, but we got her settled back in at daycare so we could spend the morning with Laura.

Jason and I walked her to school and spent a little while getting her books, lunch, drink bottle and other supplies in place and then watched as she met new friends and settled into the home corner. In no time, she had set the table and prepared a feast fit for a king!!!

When it came time for us to go, Laura gave us both a quick cuddle and kiss on the cheek and then merrily kept playing with her new found friends!!!

At her first school assembly, she was lucky enough to be given a special merit award for her creative thinking and collage!!! She was quite chuffed!

It’s week 3 now and she’s still keen… she gets dressed, packs her own lunch box and is ready to go. Let’s hope it stays that way for the next 12 years!!!

Cheers from some very prud parents,
Jason and Chrissy

Here’s a little piccie from her first day….

Laura's First Day at School

Birthday time again…. little Katie’s now 3!!!

We had a great day on her birthday – she shared cupcakes with friends at daycare, then we went swimming and had a family dinner at home! Katie was spoilt with lots of new clothes, books, princess things, fairy dressups, craft/activity things and a new suitcase for our up and coming traveller!!!

She’s very proud to tell us all that she’s now ‘THREE!’, not two anymore and definitely gives her big sister a run for her money in the conversation stakes now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!

Present time - I love to rip the paper!!!

Party girl at daycare - with her special purple paper crown made by Laura

Katie, blowing out the candles at her party

Time flies when you’re having fun!!! We were all lucky enough to enjoy a couple of weeks off at Christmas this year, which gave us plenty of time for parties, bike riding, swimming, playing at the park, playing with Roxy, playing the Wii (especially bowling and tennis), as well as a bit of camping and just generally taking it easy! It was great! Here are some piccies for you to enjoy…

Hope you all had a good one too!

Cheers,
Chrissy, Jason, Laura and Katie

Early Christmas Morning

Laura painted up like a Princess at the daycare Christmas party

Katie the Butterfly at the daycare Christmas party

Katie on Christmas morning

Laura on Christmas morning

Sisters...

Family photo - from our New Year's Eve party

Explorers...

Chrissy and Katie at the beach

Girls at the rockpool

Laura on the ropes!

Ropes time for Katie!

Katie and Ma at camping

Laura and Chrissy going for a ride...

Great fishing... if you can catch anything!

Katie Koala

Laura loves hats!

Can anyone see the girls?

Laura on the swivel karts

Rocky 'Rocket'!

Doctor Laura

Hi Everyone!

After many years travelling abroad for work, finally, Jason and Chrissy have managed to travel abroad together!!!

Jason was invited to present at a conference at Canterbury Uni in Christchurch, New Zealand. So without further ado, we accepted and forked out the extra cash for the second airfare!!!

Laura and Katie happily packed their bags for a weekend at Ma and Pa’s (they know they always get spoilt by their grandparents, so no hesitations there!!!), whilst Jason and Chrissy packed their winter woollies for the expected 4 degree minimums!

Jason went early to attend the conference and Chrissy met him over there late on the Thursday night. Chrissy did some sightseeing around town on the Friday (Canterbury Museum and Botanical Gardens – absolutely gorgeous), whilst Jason wrapped things up at the conference, however Saturday and Sunday were ours to see the sights!!!

Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Fountain

Rhodedendron

Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Bridge over Avon

Duck on the Bridge!

We visited the French settlement of Akaroa, located in an extinct volcano with its own gorgeous little Bay and rugged cliffs.

Akaroa Day Trip

Sheepy Baa's

Silly Portrait!

Akaroa Harbour

We also visited Hamner Springs (the home of thermal pools and adventure sports)! The roads were good, the drives great and the scenery was absolutely spectacular!!!

Hanmer Springs Day Trip

Hanmer Springs - Still too cold for us to get our gear off in an outdoor pool!

Cheers,
Chrissy and Jason