Camp Happy V

October Long Weekend: Friday 3rd to Monday 6th October

Where do I start? I love Madness and I love Camp Happy. I look forward to it every year.

Friday

Soong and I left home about 8am, picked Bryce up, and started the drive down to Burrill Pines. Maccas breakfast on the way at Albion Park (sausage and egg mcmuffin!), a quick stop off at a Nowra music store, and then to Burrill!

It didn't take long to set up tents and go shopping for food and ice. We thought we were going to be camping with power, but then it turns out we ended up having an unpowered site. We survived! Soong brought a hammock along and that was heaps of fun for the kids and most adults.

We sat around the bonfire on Friday night just chatting and relaxing.

Satuday

Woke up early and prepared breakfast for everyone on Saturday morning. We made three different kinds of pancakes. Afterwards we headed down to the beach and took the kids to play in the sand. The boys played frisbee on the beach. We went for a long walk around the rock pools and explored. Then we spent Saturday arvo relaxing. I spent a bit of time writing which was nice.

Bonfire again on Saturday night. We played Taboo around the fire and chatted about life, enjoyed a few drinks. Weather was amazing. Ended up staying up heaps late to chat with Ez after everyone else had gone to bed. Was fantastic.

Sunday

Woke up and had a big breakfast this morning. Went to Ulladulla Anglican Church and heard a great sermon on Mark 4, Jesus calms the storm. Had pies in Ulladulla and did some grocery shopping. Spent time at the beach that afternoon, wandering rock pools again, trying to go swimming and playing in the sand. Had chicken wraps for dinner, and then spent the night around the bonfire again eating marshmallows and chocolate and playing Mafia. Mafia is SO MUCH FUN with Madness.

Monday

Packup day. Usually stressful. This one was no change. But we had some fun taking group photos and climbing trees. Then we had ice creams by the bay at Ulladulla and played in the grass. We also spent time at Funland - the land of Fun! The drive home was only 3 hours so we must have picked a good time of the afternoon to do the drive.

Pat is going to upload photos soon. Can't wait. 

Family Fun

Fri 26th Sep

Simon and I went out for brunch together to Crave Espresso. Such a good cafe. It was a lovely sunny day. We then all went to Craig and Sheree's wedding which was a lovely occasion with nice food. 

Sat 27th Sep

Started the day with bacon and egg roll madness. We planned and organized camp happy together. Then I went and helped Soong clean our house, and then helped my Dad paint his house. In the evening we went around to Aunty Liza's house and had dinner with them. We spent the evening playing wii with the cousins and it was awesome. I really enjoy hanging out with my little cousins. 

Sun 28th Sep

This morning we looked at prayer at church. The church has been recarpeted and it looks awesome. Steph came to church and then hung out at our house in the afternoon. I cleaned the house for a bit (still lots needs to be done hehe). Dad, Grace and Julian came over for dinner. 

Midweek Happiness

This week Soong has been staying at his Aunty's house in North Sydney. All three of my best friends contacted me during the week several times to see how I was going and to see whether I wanted to come around for meals or to hang out if I was feeling lonely.

Feeling super loved.

But have also enjoyed a bit of a quiet week this week. It's sometimes nice to just have time to cook, clean, and catch up on life. Don't quote me on that.

Walking and Wedding mania

Fri 19th Sep

Went to the shire with Soong today. Got my hair cut by a new hairdresser and loved it. Decided to walk to the hairdresser and then from the hairdresser to hurstville. I walked 10kms and it was awesome fun. Walked across Tom ugly's bridge and looked at the lovely scenery. Lunch with killer and had spicy noodles. Then had a girls night with Chris an we watched GIRLS and ate chocolate and cheese and wine. It was great

Sat 20th Sep

Soong and I had a picnic together today in the park. We ate bacon and egg rolls, read the bible, played frisbee, and saw a snake. Lovely

Then we went to Omar and Olivia's wedding. Ceremony was different. Reception was loud and fun. So much food. So much dancing. So great. 

Sun 21st Sep

Church was long today. Meeting was long today. Was very tired. Went to see Hands Like Houses at night. Accidentally finished a book and went to sleep at 1am. 

Happy Moments

Friday 12th Sep

Today I worked from home in the morning and did a few hours. Then I spent the day knitting the blanket I'm working on. I realised that I am more than halfway with this blanket and have less than 10 squares to knit, so I am super duper excited! I also finished season one of Buffy again and started on season two. In the afternoon I decided to do my grocery shopping. I find grocery shopping very relaxing and enjoyable, and ended up visiting Aldi, Freds and Woolworths. Discovered that Woolworths had a special on the Decor containers I am currently obsessed with, they are currently half price so I stocked up while I could! Now many of the things in my pantry are looking nice and tidy and I'm rather chuffed.

Youth group tonight went to a combined event called STAND. There was a Christian band playing. We got home from youth group super early which was a nice change.

Saturday 13th Sep

Today I did more knitting and watched Buffy again. In the afternoon I went to the FEAST Supporters Afternoon Tea and heard about what was happening with local scripture in high schools. It's always a huge encouragement to see how much the teenagers value their scripture lessons and how much they love learning about the Bible.

Erin invited me over for dinner that night and so we hung out, cooked, worked on the big blanket project, and then watched a movie called Keeping Mum which is super funny and worth watching! Although I never thought I would watch a movie with a sex scene in it featuring Rowan Atkinson...

Sunday 14th Sep

Church today! Pete preached a faithful sermon on prayer and suffering from the end of James. It was great. Had many awesome conversations with people after church, saw some new people, saw some regulars, met some of the LIFE church people and chatted with them, it was great. After church our bible study went on a picnic to a quiet local park, it was good fun. I knitted and played cards with one of my friend's daughters. The boys played soccer and Frisbee and the Asians had a nap. After the picnic Soong and I went home and did a level 5 clean of the house (that's everything from making the bed to vacuuming and mopping to scrubbing the bathroom to cleaning the guest bedroom). We did a solid hour or two of housework, had dinner, and watched some Naruto. A lovely evening!

Noosa Jazz Festival

Friday 5th - Sunday 7th September

I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked to this weekend. But it was a fabulous weekend!

We got to QLD at about midday. I got to drive one of the two mini-buses from the airport to Noosa itself. The accommodation was amazing and I really want to find something similar for Camp Happy someday. The students played three gigs on the main stage and then one gig on a wharf at a small wine and tea bar. It was amazing.

I got to spend time with Soong's super lovely colleagues. I got to spend time with Soong's super lovely students. I got to know them a bit better.

We ate out lots and I didn't stress about food all weekend. It was awesome.

There was dancing, and live music, and more dancing and more live music and it was just a great weekend away. It's so nice to take part in Soong's world like that.

The Block

Friday 29th August

Today I wrote my James bible study - which was a real challenging one - and went to the gym. Youth group was pretty fun as well.

Saturday 30th August

Today we spent the day helping Mum renovate her house to prepare for Lana and Simon moving in. We ate together, pulled up carpet, laid new flooring, painted, helped carry boxes and sort stuff and we were there until very late. Then on the way home we stopped in to visit Soong's parents which was fun. His dad bought a new TV and was setting it up so he was very excited haha.

Sunday 31st August

Church and youth group leaders meeting, followed by grocery shopping (yay) and dinner.