Somehow RJ and Dad ended up dressing very similarly...

December means the Advent calendar gets brought out. We like to pretend the kids appreciate the tradition and fun puzzles and clues that we leave in there for them...

It's RJ's job to read the clues this year. LR was surprisingly patient.

Oh no! The end-of-year music "party" turns out to be an impromptu concert and no one will volunteer to go first. RJ steps up and breaks the ice with a few of his favorites.

Three songs later, RJ has the room in stitches, finishing his performance with a flourish in classic RJ style.

LR volunteers to play a few of her favorite songs too. Beethoven FTW!

LR won one of the three coveted prizes for the students who improved the most during the year. Well done, LR! You deserve it!

The last game of the year (but not the season). RJ's teeball skills (and patience with fielding) are improving with every game.

Everyone works together building the gingerbread house. For some reason, only about half the materials make it into the construction -- there must be some dodgy contractors on the worksite.

Nice work guys! The finished gingerbread house looks terrific!

Because we went away for Christmas, we had an early Christmas dinner at Grammy and Poppa's.

LR takes the time to read the cards before tearing into the presents.

Thanks Grammy!

Careful there Auntie Jess. It's not safe to get between RJ and his Hero Factory legos. Just carefully put it back on the table and you'll be okay.

Parental win: the kids actually remembered their manners without prompting this year! Now if only we could get them to stop picking their noses.

Christmas dinner. A time for family, a huge feast, and the opportunity to wear ridiculous things on your head...

RJ got first pick of the hats and picked out the crustacean for himself and a spicy little number for Grandma Dot.

LR picks out her favorite, complete with spring-loaded pom-pom action -- essential for tormenting younger brothers.

Everyone helps out during the final rush to the kitchen, delivering the food to the table.

Crumbly destruction and delicious, sugary mahem ensue as the gingerbread house is attacked!

An important lesson learned... Never, EVER let the kids pick the hat for you or you will end up looking silly.

Citrus is in season at the moment, and the trees are totally loaded with fruit. LR gets to work picking some mandarins. Delicious!

Some were too high to reach -- good thing Kerry was around to help out!

RJ gets involved in a game of giant pinball.

LR and B. played a few holes of golf. We're pretty sure B. has played before -- he was scarily good.

M. and RJ watch on as B. fixes something for them.

Mom had everyone working hard in the orchard. The fruit trees have been pruned and there's a whole new garden bed planted now.

Whoa, that’s so intense! Whoa! Man! Wow! It's full on. What does this mean?

LR's friend L. from school came up to join in the fun. LR was thrilled to have her around, we were happy to have someone else help with the trees.

B., L., and LR try on the wreaths made for the evening's festivities.

LR balances on the wet cable, wearing wet, sandy shoes. What can we say? The kids really wanted a challenge.

RJ leaps off the cable, just in time!

Mom and Molly went for a spin around the fields in the buggy. She must be responsible for the torn-up tracks all through the front paddock.

RJ... Wearing a hat... No surprises here.

Pizza making time! Kerry helps M. find the best tool for the job.

Mom tries to take all the credit for the fresh pizza dough, but we know that she had everyone helping.

G. and B. compare their circuit designs and try to get their glowies working reliably. Glowies are little flashing lights that you launch through the air from rubber bands. We discovered them in Bali and Dad helped everyone build them.

Despite the intermittent rain, the bonfire burned all through the night.

Mom holds the torch for LR so she can read to the group. Each year at the solstice we pause and think about things to be thankful for and things we'd like to go better in the coming year.

G. brought along his didgeridoo and played for us in front of the fire.

The kids decided roasting marshmallows would be more enjoyable inside, out of the rain.

With all the inside spots taken, RJ found his own uncrowded location at the pizza oven.

The following morning, despite the night of drenching rain, the kids managed to get the ashes lit and a fire burning again. Note to self, purchase additional fire extinguishers for the house.

Dad wearing a hat... Somehow, RJ just manages to pull it off better.

LR watches as Mom reads the Mother's Day card that she made.

RJ works on one of his amazing inventions. I think this one was the bacteria to destroy the world.

We stopped by the location formerly known as the "Knock it down house", now renamed the "Build it up house". The kids weren't thrilled... at first.

But after they discovered how good it was for hide and seek from Dad, they had a terrific time.

RJ worked on his different looks. This one required a toothpick before it was complete.

RJ was chillin' in the giant freezer full o' meat shop. They provide the coats; RJ provides the style.

Joey Soccer started up again, and this year, RJ's on the team.

RJ's pretty quick on the field, and plays well, provided he doesn't get distracted by anything shiny.

Go for it, RJ!

At Gingin, Mom watches as LR and Poppa bring the tractor around. It's project building time!

Dig, dig, dig! This is where we'll need the post.

RJ gets ready to ride...

Zoooooooooooom!

LR rides! Go, go, go!!!

Our neighbour's mummy bobtail lizard had babies and they were super cute!

The family got together to wish Grandpa another happy birthday!

RJ discovered a new surprising ability: destroying ships from a submarine.

When Mom joined in, we got the high score! It would have been even higher if Dad hadn't stopped RJ from climbing into the machine.

For dessert, RJ just got a bit of everything.

When someone discovers you eating three scoops of marshmellows on top of a tiny bit of icecream, the best response is to look innocent.

Our friend E. and her parents came down from Geraldton to visit for a couple of days. We showed off our "extended front yard", aka. the park across the street.

If you could see the rest of the scene, you'd discover that LR is balancing on one foot, on top of a 3 foot pole... and dancing.

We also decided to take E. ice skating. She and LR are really good!

RJ's always happy for an excuse to wear a different hat.

Our friends came over for dinner one night. Just like LR and RJ when they were younger, R. was a big fan of Snugglepuppy.

For Easter, we dyed and decorated a bunch of eggs. RJ did a great job at dying everything.

We added some small, precise details using matchsticks.

LR does a great job of not spilling a drop of the dye.

Our neighbour even came over to help us.

Nice hat RJ! RJ went to a birthday party and was used as a pigeon rack.

"Isn't that Dad's shirt?" "Yeah, that's definitely one of Dad's shirts."

PA and RL stand at one of the entrances to Tanah Lot!

The entrance to Tanah Lot is filled with souvenir shops and markets. On the way through we spotted a fish massage where we stopped and each dipped our hand in for a moment. It's extremely unnerving having hundreds of fish attacking your skin and chewing away at it.

Uncle Paul had a lot in common with this guy.

Mom digs deep, waaaay deep, and channels her spiritual side.

That's the main temple, built on an island. It's one of seven sea temples built in a chain along the coast.

RJ, Mom and LR sit down for a quick break in the heat with the temple behind them.

RJ hangs out with his big stone buddy.

The temple floors were kept incredibly clean and shiny. The kids had great fun dancing and spinning around.

Silhouettes at one of the temples at Tanah Lot.

Looking further down the coast from Tanah Lot.

Ubud is a district full of markets, artists and artisans. We stopped in to this small shop that was packed to the rafters with colourful fabrics and quilts.

Mom spotted this quilt stitched with golden threads for our bed back home. It's light enough to use during the Australian summer.

The traffic is pretty crazy in Bali, with scooters and motorbikes taking up every spare inch of road that isn't full of cars and trucks. Grammy decided it was safer to stay where she was and Sophie kept her company.

Poppa stopped to get himself a hat, and probably paid way to much money for it. Bule's are terrible at haggling.

Dad actually trusted a random stranger to take a picture with his camera... Luckily nothing was broken!

Mom stops to admire one of the really detailed statues in the palace gardens in Ubud.

One of the statues in the palace gardens in Ubud.

PA. and LR LOVED the waterslides.

Uncle Troy and MS get ready for their wild ride.

Aunty Bron and PA come shooting out of the waterslide.

One of the brief moments when Dad was only getting attacked by a single child.

Mom and RJ get splashed at the base of the pyramid.

Cousin Sophie strikes a pose with the girls.

Hungry elephants LOVE to eat melons. If you're not careful, they'll even stop along the track to stomp on a jackfruit and eat that too!

We had to wait a while before it was time for our ride. It seemed like a good time to compare missing teeth.

LR, Grammy and PA., moments after climbing on their elephant. That chair is more wobbly than it looks!

Riding along the track on an elephants back is surprisingly peaceful, until the elephant gets hungry and decides to stomp a jackfruit.

RJ and Daddy are on the hunt for good pictures, which is surprisingly easy to do from the back of an elephant, as you wander through villages and rice paddies.

After the long trek, the elephants wanted to have a swim to cool down, and we weren't going to argue with them.

MS and Mom hold on tight while the elephant sits down for a short break on this stump.

Mom climbed out of the chair and is now riding bareback!

As a treat, we fed the elephants a big pile of melons after we got back.

RJ shows us how the Balinese stay dry in a rainstorm using leaves from an umbrella plant!

We met this friendly little orangutan at the lodge. She was only one year old!

PA. has a turn cuddling the orangutan. Remember PA., hold her carefully, and no hats.

She's nearly as big as you, LR! Remember LR, hold her carefully, and no hats.

Mom's pretty good at holding wiggly kids. Remember Mom, hold her carefully, and no hats.

Oh no, LR! You broke the rule! You came near the orangutan, while wearing a hat!

There's no getting that hat back now. She LOVES hats and gets grumpy when you try to take them away.

Meanwhile, the others had a relaxing day playing golf.

Looking good, ladies!

We all stopped by an extremely cool motorcycle shop / garage / surf & skate shop / designer label / restaurant and got well fed and thoroughly confused.

The food was excellent: a thoughtful mix of Balinese and modern cuisine. Deciding what to order was difficult!

LR on her wheels. At only 3 million rupiah, it was a bargain... and it's been at the top of her birthday wish list ever since.