Jessica Eve Paskin arrives!

It's been high dramas since our last post. Firstly the good news was that we were made permanent residents of Australia on the 31st March. This was a great relief as our temporary visas only had a few months left.

Then, unfortunately Neil had a nasty accident at work falling over 2 metres when stepping onto a ladder which turned out not to be secured. He fell flat onto his back and was shortly in an ambulance to hospital. Not what your heavily pregnant wife needs on a Monday morning being called to emergency! He has cracked a vertebrae in his lower back and will be out of action for 3 months. But after a couple of days in hospital we found out that he could have a brace therefore he can move around and recover at home.

Luckily Jessie decided not to put in an appearance while Neil was flat on his back. She did however arrive Easter Monday(13th April) at 8.22pm. I had mild contractions all day but due to very heavy rain we decided to go to the hospital in good time. Which turned out to be a good job as shortly after getting there my contractions really kicked in and an hour later Jessica was born.

She weighed 3.29kg (7lb 4oz) and has been a very good girl so far!

Bradley is very taken with his little sister.

Lots of photos for you!

Choo choo! Bradley and the steam train!

In the week we saw an article in the local paper about a one off trip on a steam train along the local track! We knew a boy who would love that so booked tickets. The train ran between Yandina and Palmwoods and we live in the middle.









Bradley had a great time and was fascinated especially when the engine disappeared at Palmwoods to turn around to go onto the other end of the train.



But the highlight for Brads was when Daddy held him to hang out the window, see video!

Valentines day and Bradley's second birthday.

On a rainy valentines day in Queensland, neil had the great and spontaneous idea of cooking breakfast outside! It took 15 mins to gather everything together before heading to Wappa Dam, which is a park by a reservoir only 5 mins from us.









Bradley celebrated his 2nd birthday on Saturday 21st, he woke up to a balloons and presents followed by breakfast at Mooloolaba. As last year he went out for pancakes for his breakfast so we thought it might become tradtion so pancakes again this year!

I am 2!!!



My new garage Daddy built for me



Wow a lawnmower, thanks Nan and Grandad!





My pancakes!





Bradley's birthday treat was a trip to Underwater World, an aquarium in Mooloolaba that we hadn't been to before.
Bradley loved it and was a very happy boy spotting all the fish, his Mummy and Daddy struggled to keep up!

Fish spotting with daddy.



Watching the seal show.



The underwater tunnel full of sharks!





Daddy and Bradley exploring!



The highlight was watching the seals in the underwater viewing area. We caught Bradley on a movie!




Watch out behind you!



The walk back to the car, boat spotting on the way!



Bradley was ready for a long sleep after that! While Mummy and Daddy decorated his birthday cake!

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa's for a bbq and for the birthday cake!!

Wow, my cake is a train (decoration was down to Daddy!)



I can eat the wheels!



Man, this is messy!


Only 8 weeks till our new baby is due, so hopefully we will be doing lots more blog posts then!

Christmas and New year camping trip.

Well firstly the news from the ultrasound suggests we are expecting a baby girl but she was only 80% sure so so far have resisted buying too many girly clothes and are trying to think of a boys
name for back up!

We have had a very busy summer/christmas season for the business, thats the problem with Oz both busy things fall together, the kids have there long summer holiday over christmas. Turnover was greatly up on the previous summer which was great but poor Neil worked his butt off keeping up with printing and framing a lot of photos.

Christmas was a lovely day but all over too fast, as we had markets Christmas Eve and Boxing Day!

Bradley had a great day and had to be coaxed to keep opening his presents as he was quite happy to play with what he got! The little mite was utterly spoilt!

We had a relaxing day with an early walk at Wappa Dam, a swim in the pool, lots present opening and a late afternoon Christmas dinner.


First presents at home.



Neddy!



My new bike, thanks Uncle Ian and co, at Grandma and Grandpa's house.



Cooling off with a xmas day dip!





My new megablocks sets from Mummy and Daddy!



Lost in the wrapping paper!







Neddy gets spoilt too!



Then on the 29th we headed off away from markets and framing before we went nuts to Lamington National Park. We had booked a safari tent for 4 nights, they are permanent tents with proper floors, proper beds and proper lights! Luxury camping! It was the perfect combination between roughing it and a easy life. Also they had a tea room that served espresso coffee and hot meals!

Unfortunately the heat was the worst thing as it is 5 degrees cooler up there but as it was 38 degrees at sea level it was still over 30 up there. We have to confess we missed our air con!

You basically go bush walking so in the heat with a toddler and a pregnant wife neil had his hands full!

The first walk Bradley walked a whole 1.2km in the rainforest without being carried at all.







I think Bradley decided that was his walking for the whole holiday and travelling on Daddy's shoulders was so much more fun!

Some shots from our tent on the first night.










The first breakfast! Little boxes of cereals have so many uses!


Next day after doing the short walks we tackled a longer one, 5km to some caves!











It was a lovely walk but Bradley decided to fall asleep so poor neil had to carry him over his shoulder a long way!

The afternoon was spent going for a drive to civilsation in the air conditioned car!A play on the park for Bradley in a local town and coffee and cake for Mummy and Daddy.



Next day we tackled the big walk, 12km, after an early start on New years day(yes we were in bed by 9pm the night before!)We took it nice and slow and made it the whole way but our muscles were very sore the next day. Bradley fell asleep half way back so Neil carried him a while but we found a bench for him to finish his nap before being woke again and put on Daddy's shoulders!







A few more snaps from around the national park grounds.