Life – Page 56 – Life is a Journey

Christy’s Tea Party

Posted on September 13, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Sorry I didn’t get back yesterday to do a post on Christy’s tea party but I had a lovely lazy day pottering around – taking the dogs to training, watching the girls in the pool and scrapbooking (yes, I managed to spend quite a few hours yesterday in the scrapbook room and got my holiday/trip album 99% complete – just have a few odd pages to finish off).

Christy’s party was a great success. It was small and low key with just 2 school friends and the 3 Powell girls, plus Nan & Pop, and Leanne.

While the food was still heating the girls played pass-the-parcel. It doesn’t seem a party is real without it – not to my girls anyway.

The girls seemed excited to have a properly set table, complete with my good China and were thrilled when I offered them “tea” (orange cordial) which I poured from a tea pot.

There were teapot & teacup chocolate and teapot cookies and pink cupcakes.

Of course, Christy doesn’t eat much REAL food so she had a Cheese roll.

As tends to be the case I got a bit carried away with the baking and we have quite a lot of leftovers (which we’ll take to share at the pool today). After eating they played with bubbles outside and played hide and seek.

Eventually we got them back inside to open Christy’s presents

and blow out candles the cake. I didn’t manage a good photo of this as I was trying to video and take photos at the same time. I got so caught up in it all I didn’t even realize she hadn’t cut the cake :-).

The cake turned out beautiful – and was oh, so yummy. My first chocolate layer cake!!

Then it was time to say goodbye to the school friends. The Powells stayed a bit longer, until poor Alyssa – who hadn’t been feeling well the whole party – finally got so sick Leanne had to take them home. At least we’ll get to celebrate with her today – Christy and Alyssa are just 2 peas in a pod. I find it amazing that our daughters really are such great friends – probably because I never really took that well to my Mum’s friends kids (though we were friendly).

Anyway, after my restful day yesterday I’m looking to a fun-filled day at the pool. It’s supposed to be VERY hot here today (like it was yesterday) but we’re headed to an indoor pool :-).

Happy Birthday Christy

Posted on September 11, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Wow, it seems like just yesterday Christy was born…

…and was small enough to fit in a sink…

Boy those 8 years have gone by fast. Too fast.

She was so excited this morning to wake up and open her presents.

Esp, when she opened her last present – a DSI. She has been asking for one (since she lost the one she had) but we kept saying we wouldn’t buy her another one & she had to make do with her DS. Anyway, Daddy is a big softie and bought her one for her birthday. She was so suprised.

She went off to school with a cake to share with her classmates – homemade, which you can’t half tell – the icing just didn’t turn out right and Christy did the decorating :-).

After school we’re having a tea party with a couple of her friends. Her main “party” this year with going to Sydney Olympic Aquatic Center with the Powells on Sunday.

Father’s Day

Posted on September 6, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Firstly Happy Fathers Day to any dads (including Kevin) who read this blog.

We’ve had a lovely quiet day. Started with present opening. Christy organised pass-the-parcel – which, of course, Kevin had to win.

Later in the morning we went to the Nan Tien Temple. This was our 3rd visit but my parents first. We walked around admiring the buildings and landscape. It’s so beautiful and peaceful here.

We then had lunch at the Dew Drop Inn. All vegetarian – so perfect for me.

My meal might not look too appetizing but it was absolutely delicious – and the perfect size for me. I also had a yummy dumpling.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and like we always say, we’ll have to come back soon. It is only 10mins from our home.

Back home we had some lemon syrup cake (Kevin’s request) and tea/coffee. Amy and I then spent time in the garden planting the vegetable seedling we bought yesterday. Then a spa and more relaxing watching some TV.

Wedding Weekend – Part 3 – Out & About in Sydney

Posted on August 31, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Well, not too much of a sleep on for this early bird family. I think Amy & I were up about 6am, Kevin around 6.30 and Christy about 7.30am. We lazed about reading, playing DS’s and having some breakfast. At 8.30am we went for a swim in the indoor pool. But it was a bit cold so Kevin & I headed straight for the spa.

After showering (the girls enjoyed the huge 2 person bath) and getting dressed we met up with Mum & Dad. The first stop today was Sydney Tower as my poor deprived children have never been to the top :-). We got our ticket and caught the lift to the top. The view was amazing – we picked the perfect day that’s for sure.

The building with the dome in the center is the Queen Victoria Building where the wedding was held.

We caught the lift back down and were too late to see the Oz Trek (ride movie) so we headed off in search of an early lunch. We ended up in the David Jones cafe, where I had a delicious Minestrone Soup – which unfortunately had meat in it (tiny bits that I had to try and avoid).

We then decided to visit the Hyde Park Barracks as none of us had been there before.

It was very interesting and well worth a visit. We scored a bargin and it was half price today – which meant just $15 for the six of us! We wondered through the rooms and displays. There was quite a bit for kids to do as well.

On way back to Sydney Tower we walked though Hyde Park.

We then did Oz Trek – it was quite cute – very obviously aimed at tourists, but it’s included in the ticket price so not too bad. Next up was the Apple Store. I needed some new headphones and Mum ended up getting an i-phone. The girls had fun playing.

Last stop for the day was the cupcake shop (just 2 doors up from the apartment). They all looked so yummy and it was very hard to choose just 2!.

I didn’t really think about it very well and chose a mango and orange jaffa! The orange jaffa was the nicer of the two but both were a little on the dry side. Still, they went down very nice with a cup of tea back at the apartment.

We then said our farewells (Mum & Dad are staying an extra night) and set off home to Wollongong, picking up pizza for dinner on the way. We got home around 6.30pm to two pups that were VERY happy to see us.