Monday, September 1, 2008

Our Tinkler family weekend...

On Friday, we had some very special visitors visit all the way from Canada. Matt's brother Paul and his daughters are in Australia for a 2 week holiday to see some sights and meet their very excited cousins!!!! So far they've visited Em, Pat & Finn, then went on to see Kez, Mike, Ella, Jack & Lily & then headed out to the farm with Nan & Pa Tinkler. They arrived in Wodonga Friday afternoon and wasted no time getting to know their youngest cousin James, and enjoyed reading him some stories...

We spent Saturday watching Matt's team be beaten at the footy, but fortunately they've got a second chance so will face up next weekend to play for a spot in the Grand Final.
The weather was beautiful in the morning, then became overcast at about 2pm and by 5pm it was pouring, so James and I were tucked up in the car while the kids ran amok in the back of Nan & Pa's 4WD!!!
In true style I forgot my camera but I'm hoping Paul took some photos so I can eventually upload them...

Sunday was again a bit all over the place with the weather, with Reilly & Chloe questioning how it could be raining and sunny at the same time! Apparently this is not the 'norm' in Toronto!!!

We all packed a picnic lunch and headed just north of Albury to the Ettamogah Wildlife Sanctuary.
The kids had a ball (as did the big kids) feeding kangaroos, watching koalas & penguins being fed, and checking out emus, wombats, owls, dingoes and wallabies.
We were lucky enough to see this little joey pop out of his mummy's pouch for a little stretch before tucking himself back inside as more of the clan gathered around.


The kids enjoyed being up close and personal with the kangaroos and feeding them from their hands...
Paul was helping James look the kangaroo in the eye... James wasn't quite sure what to make of it?????
Even more so when Nan & Daddy held lizards up close to him - the bearded dragon on the left and blue tongue on the right...
Ella, Lily, Reilly, Jack & Chloe with the snake.
And then, to top it all off, the kids all held a carpet python!
Ella, who was too scared to feed a kangaroo out of her hand, was as eager as Reilly & Chloe to have the snake wrap around their necks!
'Crazy' I say!!!!! - and I'll give you the tip... There was no way James was going near that!

5 comments:

Jacqui Walsh said...

Sounds like a busy weekend!! But a good one! I'm sure James would have loved meeting his uncle and cousins.

Jacqui Walsh said...

James looks like he's all ready to feed the kangaroo in the photo with Paul. He's got his hand out, now he just needs the food.

PS. Love the beanie Matt!!!! You must have paid a fortune for that!

Ange Carmichael said...

Yikeeees! They are brave kids - gorgeous nieces Matt has there too :)

Anonymous said...

Fantastic photos Jane. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality and yummy lunches.

Reilly and Chloe told me James is even cuter in real life.

katherine hannon said...

hi guys looks like it was a very busy weekend with the cousins. i can't believe how grown up the girls are. the last time i saw rielly she was only a few months old. they look very at home hanging out with the murphys. james is looking good, i take it from the photos that he is over jhaving he's picture taken!! hope all is well take care. love katherine