Not here anymore ....

Hi there. We're sorry if you've come to visit our blog over the past several months and have found nothing new or no correspondence. We've decided now with Facebook allowing you to be in touch with so many friends and relatives, being able to post photos on there and chat on a much more secure service - our blog is no longer needed. We were finding it wasn't that secure anyway - with anyone in the world able to access it!

If you'd still like to keep in touch with Tanner news ... come join Facebook with us, send us an email, give us a call or send us a letter. We certainly would love to keep in contact!

Thank you for taking the time to read our news and stay in touch via the blog previously.

Loads of love
The Tanners
xxxx

We wish you a Merry Christmas ....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Celebration time!

The last week of August and first week of September is such a time of celebration for us! We love it! Sophie's birthday on the 28th turning 2, Gary's nephew Adam on the 31st, Gary's mum Esther on the 2nd turning 80 and Kobe's on the 3rd turning 7 and of course not forgetting Father's Day today! It's such an enjoyable time watching the kids anticipated excitement leading up to their birthdays, picking the cake, opening the pressies, sharing with family and of course playing with the new toys! It's hard to believe our little girl is now 2 and our little boy is now 7! Gary's mum is amazing at 80. She continues to power on. Gary enjoyed breaky in bed this morning and was crowned "King of Farts" for the day! Yep - a definite Dad honour!!!

Below are some celebratory photos of our last 2 weeks.

Sophie turns 2!

Our present to Sophie as she loves to draw.

Our present to Kobe - a nintendo ds lite! We haven't seen him since :)

A pinata cake ... and below inside filled with treasure .. chocolate!!!

Kobe celebrating with his friends - Zane, his best friend from school and Aden, from 2 doors up.

Esther's 80th!

With her children - Gary, Ruth and David.

Father's Day

Working at Big W!

It's been nearly 2 weeks now since I've started at Big W! I'm working in the evenings doing night fill. The position is casual and most nights I'm not normally home til midnight/12.30am, but I'm grateful for the job and it will help lessen the pressure of finance and allow us to still enjoy in lifes simple pleasures and especially visit family in Qld!

The worst part of the job is trying to wind down after working at night and of course - missing my evenings with Gary and the kids. As most of you know I'm not the world's greatest sleeper and it's definitely been tough trying to get enough sleep at night! But I'm sure with time I'll get used to it. Hmmmmm?!

I've decided to keep the job at the Cafe too for the time being - working on Tuesdays (during the day) and Sundays. It's ashame I have to work on the weekend, but hopefully that will change over time.

Had a hairy ...

BEFORE & AFTER

I decided to banish my "housewife" look and get a hair cut. I actually feel like I could be semi attractive now :)

Queen's Birthday weekend away - Moyston (Grampians)

Each year we head to Moyston in the Grampians with friends for the Queen's Birthday weekend. The company, the food, the wine, the laughter, the bon fires, the kid's playing together and the surroundings are such a treat for us. This year Gary and Kobe enjoyed a trek up the Grampian Mountains. Sophie too had a ball with the other kids and exploring everything around her! We look forward to next year.

Lucy, George & Kobe treking the Grampians

Lucy, Kobe, George & Daisy - bedtime story

1st Scottish Dance Social

As I've said in a previous post - I've taken up Scottish Country Dancing. I absolutely love it! Friday night we had our first Social night - where everyone dresses up - men in kilts, ladies in dresses and we dance all the dances we've learnt over the last few months. It was so much fun!

Sophie's 1st hair cut

Sophie had her first hair cut today. She was great - a little concerned - but she was such a good girl. Kobe of course had to get in on the action too! He was getting his hair cut at the same time and she was more concerned and watching his hair fall to the ground than her own!! Thankfully they didn't cut too much off - not that there's much anyway!!

Term 2 School Projects - Subject: Australia (Grade 1)

This term Grade 1 are focusing on Australia. Every fortnight Kobe has to do a new project (5 altogether). Here are his projects in completion so far ...

1st Project ... a collage of an Australian animal -
FRILLED NECK LIZARD:

2nd Project ... making an Australian food to share with his class -
LAMINGTONS:

3rd Project ... create a model of an Australian landmark - Uluru/Ayers Rock:

Weekend Treat to Walhalla

Us 4 Tanners love to get away, even if it's just overnight. This last weekend we decided to take a mini adventure to Walhalla in the Gippsland District only a short 1.5 hours drive from home. What a beautiful little town - full of history and buzzing with stories of yester year. We stayed overnight at a lovely little farm bungalow overlooking the most spectaculor scenery. During the day we ventured into Walhalla - past the old train lines & steam train, cottage homes, olde shoppes, a tiny stream, loads of trees (yet to change into their autumn colour), old buildings and a gold mine! Kobe's highlight! When you hear stories of yester year it really does make you grateful for the time you live in - with all its mod cons! Life really doesn't seem so hard. The next day we took a winding trip around the mountains to Thomson Dam to see how bad the drought had hit Melbourne's water supply. Bring on the rain! Even though it was just an overnighter it was great to get a bit of refreshment and fill our lungs with some clean country fresh air!

H A P P Y E A S T E R everyone!

love, hugs and chocolate,
Gary, Susan, Kobe & Sophie

Susan's gone Scottish!

A few years ago - whilst pregnant with Sophie - I saw a Scottish Country Dance group perform at the local Highland Gathering. I thought - wow - that looks like fun and then put it at the back of mind to get involved in once Sophie arrived. Well, I've finally joined the group nearly 2 years on!

I'm having the best time. It's a bit like Australian Aussie Bush Dancing but a bit more confusing and complicated - you can blame the Scots for that!! My fitness level is a bit frightening, but with 2 hours of non-stop dancing and barrel loads of sweat - I'm sure to get fit soon!

The sad thing is is that the average age is about 60 or so and I don't see any sweat pouring from their brows :) They are such a friendly and lovely group and as well as the dancing I'm enjoying socialising with them. It's every Friday night - rain, hail, snow and shine. They have a social every so often so I'll be sure to take some photos of the men in their kilts and the ladies in their dresses to post on here.

Boys Weekend

Kobe and Gary set off last weekend to the Gold Coast and Wet n Wild. What a fun filled, jam packed, slide zipping, tired eyed, dining out weekend they had. They flew up on the Friday afternoon; spent the entire day at Wet n Wild on the Saturday and then flew home VERY early Sunday morning. Kobe was full of exciting stories on his return home! Gary and Kobe got to stay with his Uncle who lives the next exit after Wet n Wild - so we're so grateful! Maybe this will become an annual event ... Sophie and Susan are now planning their girlies weekend ... lol!

Sophie's starting to walk!

Sophie has started to take steps! She was taking a couple - between 2 -5 in the last 2 weeks, but this weekend she's taken off and even turning corners! It's not a constant walk - just every now and again. Bum scooting is still quicker!! We managed to get a little bit of her walking on video (2 videos below). She'll be 18 months old this week. Yahhhhhh Sophie!

Kobe heads back to school ....

Kobe headed back to school this week to start his year as a Grade 1er! His quote - "I love being a Grade 1er!" So he's very much enjoying Grade 1 so far. He has a marvellous teacher who I've been told is heaps of fun and makes learning fun and interesting - but she can also be quite strict when need be. So that's fantastic! Kobe seems to be enjoying her as a teacher. He has 4 students from his Prep class (last year) and also some kids in his class from his Kinder year. He's even had his 1st invite to a birthday party next weekend. A disco party!! Here are some photos of him just before he headed off to school for his 1st day.

Sophie the mischief maker ...

So what does a 1 year old (17mth) get up to during the day .... MISCHIEF! Here are some recent photos of Sophie ....