Sunday

Nathan gave his last talk before leaving to serve his mission in Milan and so the chapel was full of Fulcher family and Maurer family. Christensens were there so that gave him a majority of cousins from both sides of his family.

Jesse will miss him.

And when we finally got home I discovered why I have to wash Max's church clothes every week - as if I didn't know that already.

Straddie - day 4 - gelati party

After the pack-up, clean-up routine we trooped up to Point Lookout for a final look at the whales - who performed especially well. A play on the swings was followed by gelati.

Our family had a 'gelati party' - named thusly because at the last Pine big kids camp they pooled their money and bought lots of trial size cups of gelati to share. The remains of our gelati party are below:

After a bit of tree climbing and playing - and after talking to Peet and Nathan's brass teacher from school who was there on holidays too - we left for Dunwich where we had lunch in the park before taking the barge home.

Everyone over twelve was exhausted - sadly those under twelve seemed to be just fine.

Straddie - day 3 - 5.2 km

We split up - some went to do some more whale watching and our family and David and Beth's family went to Brown Lake,

and then did the 5.2 km (return) walk to Blue Lake.

Both were so cold that only Peet went swimming at Brown Lake.

But at Blue Lake Peet, Nathan, David, Roger and Louisa all decided that the walk warranted swimming even if it was like ice.

We walked home along the four wheel drive track,

and had pies at Dunwich for lunch. Then home for more sandcastle building and some fishing before the State of Origin that night. Queensland won the match and the series - many cheers.

Straddie bedtime

The house Anne rented is huge and fabulous - but there were 21 of us. The kids all slept on air mattresses in the lounge room - one big cousin sleepover. Alec and Daniel abandoned the happy group for the garage.

Straddie bedtime

The house Anne rented is huge and fabulous - but there were 21 of us. The kids all slept on air mattresses in the lounge room - one big cousin sleepover. Alec and Daniel abandoned the happy group for the garage.

Straddie - day 2 - whale watching

Tuesday morning was french toast for breakfast then straight off to do the gorge walk and watch for whales. We were in luck and saw quite a few - too far out for a decent photo - but close enough to be fun for us.

Then on to the gorge walk and more whale watching, dolphin spotting

rock climbing,

and turtle spotting.

Max found a hole in the rock - about ten feet up - and climbed up through it - don't know how he managed.

Finishing the walk tired out Samuel briefly - but he was on his feet again pretty quickly and Jesse, Samuel, Max, Peet and I walked all the way home.

Straddie - Day 2 - Sandcastles

Tuesday afternoon was spent on the beach - swimming in the middle of winter no less.

And most notably having a sand castle building competition. Nature was the judge - each castle had to have a shell as a flag on its highest point and the last shell to be knocked over won. A line was drawn in the sand and all building had to stop when the first wave reached the line - the idea was that the sand castles would be more or less in line - and they were - more or less.

The first shell to go was..... drum roll .... Nathan

Then David and Robert.

Then Jesse and Monica - who were so happy to have beaten Nathan that they might as well have come first.

Simone and Louisa.

Closely followed by Roger.

Then a long wait till Alec and Max fell.

A longer wait till Brenton's washed away.

Down to the final two. Daniels went first.

Making Peet the winner - though video evidence later that night cast doubt on the result as Peet was seen making some running repairs.

Some of the spectators got a bit a cold:

A few extra smaller sandcastles were also constructed - below the water line.

A bonus photo of Louisa because I love it.

Straddie - Day 1

We have just come back from 4 glorious days on Stradbroke Island with all the Fulchers in Australia except Lucy.

The kids were so excited - we went last year and they had so much fun hanging out with cousins and playing in paradise. Last year however it was blowy and raining the whole time - this year it might as well have been an advertisement for winter in SE Queensland. Clear blue skies, comfortable days, nights with just enough nip in them to make it fum to cuddle under quilts and drink hot chocolate.

On the barge:

The house that Mark & Jeanne rented for us all last year was available so Anne rented it again. I think it is probably the best house on the island. Incredible views, and a 30 second walk to Cylinder beach. As soon as settled in we were straight down to the beach.

(These girls are actually as beautiful as they look!)

After dinner - spaghetti because it was Monday night - we settled all the kids into the lounge room to sleep and recharge.