Happy Zoo Year

Tonight we all went to the Zoo for their Happy Zoo Year celebrations. The zoo opened up at 5:00pm for us and about 4,500 other people. To say the place was fairly packed, would be a little bit of an understatement.

We were able to wander around the zoo for a couple of hours and then the girls got to watch some circus performers and then the main attraction, the band Murphy's Lore.

The girls had a great time but they were a little disappointed that they could not get to see more of the animals. With so many people and so little time, there were always lots of people banked up at each display.

Can't keep up

So much has been happening lately. There have clearly not been enough updates but most of the blog readers are he in town and there first hand. Christmas is over and the girls are already counting down to the next one, and the Easter and birthdays in between.

James, Marcus and Lily have move out, Cameron and Mackenzie have moved in but the girls are house bound at the moment, pending them actually cleaning their bedrooms.



The girls have both enjoyed having a baby in the house, and they both feel like big ladies when they have a hold.





Since Christmas there has been lots of playing with the toys that Santa bought for everyone and lots of playing with the old toys. Brooke spent a couple of days out of favour with everyone when she announced to Grandma "I wish you were died" because Grandma was telling her what to do.

Recovery Day

Today (it appears) did not start very well. Brooke answered Grandma's phone call this morning with, "This is grumpy Brooke speaking, would you like to speak with grumpy Courtney?" It appears that the girls woke upon the wrong side of bed, CJ even questioned if Santa had been generous enough... That went down well.

It appears that it is not just thecranegirls that over did it yesterday. Marcus found a Boxing Day session on the Playstation this morning too much.



The girls spent the day getting away from the heat. They spent a good part of the day, waiting for it to get cool enough to go for a swim in the pool at Nana and Grandad's house.

Historical Moment

Australian cricketer, Shane Warne takes his 700th test cricket wicket. Also "the godfather of soul music" singer, James Brown dies.

Christmas Day

Christmas 2007 has been a wonderful day for the girls. Santa came to their house some time after 11:30pm (‘cause Brooke was awake up to that time) and delivered lots and lots of presents. The girls woke up about 6:00am and Mum managed to hold them off until about 7:00am before waking Dad.

After tearing open their presents at Mum’s house, it was over to Grandma’s house to open more presents with Marcus and James and then onto Nana’s for even more presents.

Courtney’s received (in part) an organ, a recorder, a Poke’mon game for her Gameboy and a new scooter. Brooke was given a Baby born, lots of ponies and her very own Gameboy, amongst other things. The girls were very spoilt by everyone.

After the present opening, it was back to Grandma’s for lunch and a sleep and then back over to Nana’s for a swim in the pool and Christmas dinner.

A christmas lunch

Today was the first time that the Crane girls and their cousins were all together in the one place. We had a christmas lunch of sorts, just a little early because we are all do busy on Christmas morning.

Happy Birthday Ben

Happy 18th Birthday Ben!

Family Holidays

The girls' cousins have arrived for a holiday and the girls couldn't be happier. We've all been to the park and the beach, we've played cricket in the front yard and even been out to see all the Christmas lights around the area.

All very tired kids tonight.

Baking a cake

Yesterday, the girls and Grandma made a cake as a surprise for Dad. To decorate the cake, the girls drew Dad's face in candy pieces on the top.



They had a great time making the cake, but not as much as when it came time to eat it.



Christmas is really starting to take up all the girls thoughts and along with the fact that the first of their cousins arrive tomorrow, they are in for a really intense week.

Reserved

This place is reserved for a photo of Cousin Cameron who lost his first tooth today, after a little assistance from a wall and a dentist.

The dog Beach

This afternoon the girls took Mum, Dad and Chloe to the beach. That poor old dog still has the mind to go bounding into the surf to chase the tennis ball. Her only problem is arthritis in her hips and a wide girth.



Brooke "accidentally" fell over in the surf a number of times.

A Message

Today Brooke and I are going to make Christmas decorations.

Hydrotheropy

CJ didn't go to school today as she has a sore leg. She may have simply over done it during all the playing yesterday. Brooke was also up most of the night with an ear ache.

This afternoon Dad took the girls up to the Ando house for a little hydrotherapy. Today may have been the girls first spa bath... It won't be there last. They thought the outside bubble bath was really cool.

Today the girls went to the family picnic day put on by Dad's work. Santa Claus was there and gave the girls a couple of nice presents. As always there was pony rides, petting farms, rides, fairy floss, ice cream etcetera.



In the afternoon the girls had a pool party for on of the girls in Courtney's class. We're amazed that they were still awake come dinner time.

Christmas is here.

Christmas is here and the girls are getting right into it. They have put up the Christmas tree at both Mum and Dad's house. Mum gave the girls a little artistic right whereas Grandma was a little sterner, ensuring that there was some balance. It has worked out well really, Brooke put the fairy on one tree, CJ on the other.

Little Nan

Unfortunately the girls lost their Little Nan who passed away today. It the days leading to her passing, Brooke spent some wonderful moments at her bed side, bringing a smile to little Nan's face and holding her hand. We'll all miss you.