Darlington Parklands at Yarrabilba (70)

70.  Visit five new playgrounds we haven’t been to before

A new suburb/estate earlier this year opened up on the road out to Tamborine called Yarrabilba.  A new family based community (houses on top of each other, lol) called for a fabulous new park (in an attempt to rival Robelle Domain, I guess!) and with that came the construction of Darlington Parklands.

I have avoided the masses over the warmer months, the novelty of such a park (brand new equipment, water park area, FREE FREE FREE) has attracted a lot of people who are looking for something new, and anyone who knows me knows that I hate crowded places like that with kids.  And water.  I hate water.  And sand.  Good god, sand... I hate it.  And so many parks around here are just... dirty.

Anyway, we ended up visiting the other day, due to a birthday party, and I must say that I am pretty impressed.  It's new, so it's clean.  They have awesome equipment - your usual playgrounds, with cool slides.  A double flying fox, awesome spider web climbing frame, a great swing set.  Although my only issue is there is no bucket seat style so Memphis will not get a go on a swing there until he is much larger (I am talking 2+).    There are heaps of under cover areas and tables.  There's a great water area, shallow enough for all ages... fountains etc.  FREE WI-FI!!!!  Pretty great park all in all.  We will go back, that is for sure!

Zavian - 10 February

10 February - Bushwalking with friends

L-R: Izaac, Zavian, Rhiannon, Madison, Asaiah, Kayla, Simeon, Piper (in pram at back), Tiana, Maia (back) and Memphis (in lge pram).
Today we visited Daisy Hill Koala Park with our friends. We did a short bush walk - that took at least 1/4 of the time it did one year ago when you were all just gone 2 years old. You were so grumpy and emotional! Everything got tears and grumbles and when you weren't doing that you were running around like a crazy person! Mr Energetic, you woke up too early to cope with your excessive energy! You did have fun having a picnic and sharing your food and taking other peoples food. The most excitement came from seeing 3 koalas in the visitors centre... Maybe next year you will be tall enough to see over the barrier!

*Of course, you are grumpy and totally ruining this photo, you little monkey :P

Family... I has it.

Some things require their own special blog post.  The first non-blurry, non-phone pic has been taken of our little family of 5.  Not bad considering Memphis is 10 weeks old in the photo!  We are so slack.  Here we are though, enjoying 'A Day Out with Thomas' at The Workshops Rail Museum in Ispwich. 

We visited the week before school went back with our fabulous adopted family.  The kids LOVED it.  What an awesome place to take them!  I had always been apprehensive as it's quite pricey and I'm all for things that are either free, or near enough to free!  I honestly was not expecting a lot, but was so pleasantly surprised.  The entire place was so interactive and perfect for kids Lexi and Zavian's age.  Chuck in the extra school holiday fun (a Thomas the Tank Engine exhibit, including The Fat Controller) and you have some pretty excited children.  Zavian in particular lapped up the entire day and had so much fun.  Every little thing was fun, interesting and the place in general was so interactive considering it's a museum.  It's definitely a place we will visit again.

The kids and Thomas!

Zavian LOVED the hands on experience

Sweet dreams were had by Memphis

Lexi enjoyed meeting The Fat Controller

A little story: I really wanted a photo of Lexi with The Fat Controller.  When she was around 2, maybe even 3, she started saying "Fucken tol' ya!"  And I would tell her off, you can't say that!  Stop swearing Lexi.  Please don't say that word.  Time out!  And she still said it, and she was getting so frustrated (joys of a child with speech delays!)  I had no idea what she was trying to tell me!  Then one day, Thomas came on (we don't watch it much) and she got so excited pointing to The Fat Controller yelling out "Fucken told ya!"  Oh the poor kid... she'd been getting time out for me not understanding what she was saying at all!!!!