Down Under with Jan Mikaela Nora and Ella

We had the most wonderful week at Point Turton, York Peninsula. Our friends and neighbours Chris & Justyna (thanks guys!) have a beautiful summer shack right at the beach, ideal for a family with small kids. Every morning at 6am Nora jumped out bed to spot dolphins and pelicans. She loved to run in and out of the ocean all day, searching for shells and little crabs. Ella enjoyed the huge sandpit and was obsessed with the stairs connecting the beach up to the shack (imagine us running after her …) Dad couldn’t wait to take the 4WD for a spin on the deserted beaches, while Mum loved the private ocean-view diners at night.  Great week and great memories for all of us!

It has become a bit of a tradition to go and see the kids fireworks on New Years eve in the city. Lots of dancing, singing and of course some loud bangs to ring out another year. Ella was a bit unsure first, but then she decided she loved it. Nora, usually very loud herself, conceded that the fireworks were even louder and kept her hands on her ears all the way back home. 2012 has been a good year for our little family, despite the loss of Pake Sytze, Jan's dad. We are sure Pake would agree that the signs for 2013 are looking good, and that we are ready for some fireworks this year. So here we go guys, happy New Year !

The picture says it all: what a Christmas gift Santa brought this year: a mega sized Cubby House for the girls to play in. It easily fits the whole family (even daddy can stand up straight) and still there’s space for two kitchens, a table and chairs and a true shopfront with cash register. And what about the front porch with flowers and its own mail box?!?  Fantastic! The driving force behind this best Christmas present ever is of course the one and only Morfar, who is back from his sailing trips. His work was already the envy of the neighbourhood, and with this latest master piece his reputation is once again confirmed: best Morfar ever! So for us no need to go anywhere these holidays: all the fun is right here in the backyard. Merry Christmas everyone!

It’s Christmas party season. Every club, school, company and network has their annual event crammed into the busy few weeks before Christmas. Today there were two parties.  First one with Childcare (or pre-school) at the Mr Lofty Botanic gardens, where Nora got her first face-paint. She asked for a pink cat and she got one! Then the traditional Swedish Christmas (Lucia) with lots of cakes (fika), dancing around the tree and of course Santa. God Jul everyone!

The whole family - or rather the whole city - went to see the Wiggles today in the Adelaide Entertainment center. The Wiggles are a global phenomena: with their songs and shows they have been an integral part of every childhood for the past 21 years, including Nora and Ella’s. Everyone knows ‘ Hot potato ’ , ‘ Dorothy the dinosaur ’ and ‘ Big red car ’. And if you don't then you have some catching up to do! Today was the last time the original cast played in Adelaide. Three of the four Wiggles are retiring and handing over to a younger generation. Farewell Greg, Murray and Jeff, It was Wiggly fun!

Christmas pageant in the Adelaide Hills today. All local school-kids, kindergartens and volunteer organisations came by, as well as Santa Claus himself. Yes, the season has officially started !

Blues Brothers party at the Bijlsma's