In The Sunshine

I got sun-fattened on the weekend. Like a cat sitting in the warmth, I lapped it up.

We were lucky to be invited to spend a blissful day at the Hunter Valley Gardens on Sunday. It was such a fun day, and is the only day of the week where the four of us get to spend together. I loved that. Lolling about in the sunshine with Matt, my smalls tearing off to a jumping castle, to an Easter egg hunt, to race in an egg and spoon race, a sack race - it was that blissful and reminded me that simple things are so good.

Afterwards we wandered through the gardens by ourselves. Last time I imagined I was Marie Antoinette. This time I took myself to Tuscany.

I smelt a rose that took me back to my childhood, in my grandmother's rose garden, that smell, so intoxicating. I can even smell it now. A real old-fashioned rose.

And then I stumbled upon a willow tree. When Matt and I were first engaged, and dreaming up our wedding, we agreed that we'd get married somewhere with a willow tree. I love willow trees. We didn't get the willow tree, but if we were into renewing our vows, well we'd be underneath this willow tree.

We were treated to a show by Crocstars, and the kids got to touch a crocodile, a snake, you know, the usual. Pretty fascinating, and that underbelly of the croc, so soft!

There are some great things happening in the HVG these Easter holidays (I've put the links here!). So much to do to keep the smalls happy and busy:

- Easter Long Weekend Egg Hunt

- The Dinosaur Petting Zoo

- the whole Easter program is here

But seriously, no matter what time of year, I love these gardens - they are magical. All year 'round there is something to look at, to explore, and wear out the small people!

Stuff Kids Do

My kids do so much stuff that I would never do. Like drink toilet water.

But it's other stuff too.

Like hold a big snake.

Hunter Valley Gardens gave me a family pass to visit during the school holidays. We went up last weekend and had a blast. I will write more about it over the weekend. It's a beautiful place to spend time. I felt like Marie Antoinette taking a turn in the garden. I imagine if you were a child it would be magical - it was magical for me.

So Tiny, the Doctor, the snake and the woman in camo? At the Hunter Valley Gardens as part of the school holiday activities, there was a reptile show. At the end you could hold the snake. I wasn't so fussed on the idea myself, however the smalls were first in line. They really were.