Day 325 – Busy day around the crafting tables!

• Howard Springs
• 33°c

Todays trip to the EnviroBank required 3 vehicles to take the load, but it was a nice $90 payday for the gang! Steve finally got around to picking out last years Christmas present from Mama & Bapa; groundcover, and boy what a difference it makes, we now have a lovely alfresco area! I brought out the Sewing Machine and was delighted to find another camper that also carries one with her, I suggested she break hers out and join me, but it didn’t appear, oh well perhaps another day?

The boys set about building the fridge slide & drawer for Troy’s Jeep, he had been admiring Steve’s so they decided he should have one all his very own!

Our gang of campers seemed to take over the camp kitchen area today, the boys down one end building and gluing, me down the other end stitchin away and the other big girls in the middle chatting! Oscar & Ella decided they wanted to do some experiments so they took over the bbq & sink area.

The call was made by Troy for  Cards with the Tards, so Frustration it was, Sueanne picked it up very quickly and we played until the camp kitchen lights out hit. Poppy the Possum seems to be getting more familiar with us each day, this time it came when we called it and then felt bad cause we didn’t have anything to feed it.

Day 324 – No Bingo

• Howard Springs
• 32°c

It was an easy day at camp with not a lot happening other than a spot of swimming.

Bek & Mark had to fly out this afternoon so it was farewell to our new friends, then it was off to bingo! 

This time I thought I would up the stakes and do 7 books, I coped well so long as no one talked during the calls, although the false bingo Rach called out did throw me for a minute. Ella & Occy got their maths lesson in! There were no winning bingos from our camp although Max did get a second chance prize!

Day 323 – Environmental Entrepreneurs!

• Howard Springs
• 31°c 

On todays schedule was an excursion to the EnviroBank! The multitudes of bottles and cans were loaded into Troys car and Mark’s clown car and we convoyed down to the EnviroBank. Once there, we waited in line to deliver our booty and the lady was very helpful and explained to us that they glass, aluminium and plastic had to be separated; tick! So the only thing we had to do was remove the lids from the plastic bottles, whilst we were doing this, the staff member weighed the cans and glass bottles and then counted all the plastic bottles. 

Seeing how the process works was really interesting, not only for the kiddos but for us adults as well. We were handed our receipt of good work and proceeded to the payment station, where to everyones delight the final tally was: 209 plastic bottles, 11.5 kgs cans, 93.5 kgs glass, 16 milk bottle/cartons!

Their hard work and recycling efforts earned the gang a total of $145.10! Wow and that was only in a couple of days. So it was split between the nine of them and on return to camp they each received $16.50. They are more determined than ever now that they’ve seen the fruits of their labour.

After lunch we headed into Darwin city to the museum which had many interesting displays but I think the one we were all most touched by was the Cyclone Tracey exhibit especially an actual recording of the cyclone played in a dark sound booth, it was really quite eerie! Sweetheart the 5 point something metre taxidermy crocodile was also quite a sight to behold, it is said that he took a bite out of quite a few tinnys!

Next stop was the war museum at East Point but seeing as by now it was nearly closing time we couldn’t justify the admission price for the time we had, so instead we took ourselves on a tour of the external buildings including the massive bunker and gun houses.

After that it was off to the wharf for a nearly sunset dinner before returning home with two children in need of an early night whilst Daddy hitched a ride with the two bigger boys to the pub!

Day 322 – Water fun

• Howard Springs
• 31°c

Steve, Troy & Mark left super early this morning to go out on their fishing charter.

Once us girls and kiddos surfaced we decided to check out Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin and the wave pool, both of which were great. 

The boys unfortunately didn't have much luck out on the boat, Steve got a few keepers but overall there weren't many tails to speak of, but they had a good time. We all headed into Mindil Market for a bite to eat before returning to camp where I was lucky enough to hand feed our resident possum!

Day 321 – Karaoke

• Howard Springs
• 31°c

The envirogang was back out in force this morning and have even left boxes for their big drinkers to fill and they will collect and empty the next day!

It was to the pub for dinner and to our amazement and pride Ella got up in front of a pub full of people and sang karaoke! We were soo proud of her and she did such a great rendition of Amy Winehouse’s song; Valerie.

Day 320 – Envirogang

• Howard Springs
• 30°c

The kiddos have discovered that recycling bottles and cans pays cash! So they have formed themselves a little gang and have busied themselves making Troy & Rach’s campsite look like the back of a brewery!

Over at our camp site it looked more like a garage sale as I decided today was a great day for a spring clean, much to Ella & Oscars disappointment as this meant it was time to sort all the stuff they’d been shoving into drawers & cupboards for the past few months.

Bek & Mark, friends of our travelling companions arrived this morning from Melbourne for a few days, we discovered their son is best mates with my nephew Josh, what  a small world!

The kiddos had movie night alfresco style with their new friends, a family of three boys & one girl from NSW where Steve grew up!

Day 319 – Happy 11th Birthday Ella

• Howard Springs
• 30°c

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to our beautiful girl! 11 today wow!

Somebody woke very early and was most excited it was her birthday. After opening her pressies it was time for the day to start.

She was most excited by her LaLaLoopsy Dolls from Max, Bonnie & Livi.

Birthday breakfast was waffles with Ice cream, whipped cream and caramel and boy they sure enjoyed that sugary start to the day!

Ella chose to spend the morning at camp playing with pressies and hanging out with her friends for a party food lunch before heading off to Laser Tag.

I'm not sure who was more excited about playing laser tag; Ella or Oscar?!

It was only a 12 minute session which I first thought was a bit of a rip but after playing it and working up quite a sweat it was more than enough time! 

Being the mature mother that I am how could I resist getting a picture of the kiddos in front of the "Attendance & Truancy Patrol" vehicle parked outside!

Next stop on the birthday girls itinerary was the waterslides park, I still can't believe this place is free? It's an amazing thing for the community and we all throughly enjoyed ourselves, big and little. I must say I did experience a flashback to the waterslide at the Noble Park pools!

A birthday would not be complete without the annual birthday dress photo, wow! Ella looks so grown up, such a beautiful young girl and I can't believe the dress nearly fits her!

Daddy made Ella's favourite for dinner; spaghetti Bolognese with homemade garlic bread.
Ella had requested a chocolate ripple cake with frosting and  a wonderwoman logo, unfortunately this did not turn out as hoped but apparently it tasted great?!

There was birthday cake and ice cream for dessert and then it was over to our theatre room for the screening of "The Great & Powerful Oz".

Day 318 – Birthday Eve!

• Howard Springs
• 32°c

My tinkerman was back at it again, fixing the water pump whilst I tended to the schoolies! The camp kitchen is a great spot for schooling, nice and open, big enough to spread out and pretty cool.

The girls and I busied ourselves with Ella's birthday cake and plans, Ella was most excited and took ages to get to sleep!