Yep, I'm WAY behind in my blog again. With most of my network of family and friends now using Facebook, I am far more diligent in keeping that site updated than the old Runkle Adventures site. But for those Runkle family fans that just can't get enough of our comings and goings (yes that's you Aunt Penny!) I will endeavour to keep this blog updated every month or so.
October 2008
So with lots of help from my diary I can tell you that October was a relatively quiet month (for us), but did include a wonderful catch up with our friend Nat and her two boys. They were living in Perth, but moved back to Calif last Dec, so we were lucky to have them visit WA again and see them for dinner at our house and a girls night out at the Sushi Station.
Sean went to Rottnest Island for a leadership course as part of his MBA program and I took the chance to go to Bunbury and mum looked after the kids while Dad and I walked another 26kms on the Bibbulmen Track. We went from just outside Collie to the Mumballup Tavern (which was unfortunatley closed for renovations - ahhh, just when we could have done with that rewarding frosty beer!).
Dad in the black boy grove. The rare Spider Orchid. Donkey Orchid.
Swallow's nest with 3 baby birds. This nest was at the Mumballup Tavern and we watch the mummy swallow busily fly in and out with food for her babies.
Finally for October, we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on Oct 27, but I can't remember what we did and there's nothing in my diary. So here's some cute pics of the kids instead.
Zachary at 7 mths. And again. And another really cute one with his fuzzy hair.
Jasper enjoying a warm afternoon in the back yard - I'll save this pic for his 21st birthday!
The boys playing at home. Move over Toby Maguire, here's the next Spiderman!
November 2008
The first weekend in November a group of us (mostly with kids) had a little camping trip to Dwellingup in the Lane Poole Reserve. It's a lovely area where you can also bring your dog, so Maddy got an invite too. Here's some pics.
The first weekend in November a group of us (mostly with kids) had a little camping trip to Dwellingup in the Lane Poole Reserve. It's a lovely area where you can also bring your dog, so Maddy got an invite too. Here's some pics.
Camping kids. Our campsite. Beer o'clock at the campsite.
Dinner is cooking. Hmmm, camping tucker. Zachary: Hey what's in here?
Later in the month we landscaped our front verge yard with a native garden and crushed limestone near the road for parking (and also we don't have to water it!). We also did some improvements inside with a new breakfast bar created by cutting down a portion of the wall that divided the kitchen and family room, adding new stone benchtops and glass splashbacks.
Bobcat digging up our front yard.
Sean, myself and two friends (Melissa and Shelley) also enjoyed the John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crowe concert at Sandalford winery. The venue was awesome, both muscians were fantastic and Johnny rocked out big time for a 58 yo and still looks great. Sean drove home the three boozy girls and all three of us paid for it the next day. Unfortunately Jasper had a little accident while at home with mum that night and broke his collar bone. He ran into the corner of the sofa and I only noticed it was his collar bone the next evening when he was having a bath. An xray the following day confirmed this and he had to wear a sling for a couple of weeks. Well we got a few days in the sling but that was about it. It didn't seem to trouble him, but I felt awful that he already had his first broken bone before he was 3.
We went to a great 40th birthday party for one of Sean's work mates and it was a black and white theme, so I got to wear my gorgeous B&W number that I bought for the Telstra Business Awards evening.
The last weekend of the month we went to Bunbury and the day we returned, Jasper was playing in the backyard, fell awkardly (we think) and broke his elbow - Aggh! The trip to Murdoch Emergency Dept confirmed the crack in the humerus condyle and again to be treated with a sling. 2 broken bones in 2 weeks - this can't be happening! Poor fella.
We went to a great 40th birthday party for one of Sean's work mates and it was a black and white theme, so I got to wear my gorgeous B&W number that I bought for the Telstra Business Awards evening.
The last weekend of the month we went to Bunbury and the day we returned, Jasper was playing in the backyard, fell awkardly (we think) and broke his elbow - Aggh! The trip to Murdoch Emergency Dept confirmed the crack in the humerus condyle and again to be treated with a sling. 2 broken bones in 2 weeks - this can't be happening! Poor fella.
December 2008
Even though we left for the US on Dec 9, we still managed to get in a couple of Xmas parties. The first being the Playgroup one, where Zachary was very intrigued with Santa, yet Jasper refused to sit on his lap this time.
Then on the Sunday of the same weekend we had the Rio Tinto Family Christmas party at Adventure World. It's always a great evening and this year Jasper was tall enough to go on some of the rides. Here he is with Beth and Melissa and Sean on one. They also got their faces painted. He was the Hulk, but he called himself the Scary Monster and proceeded to "scare" everyone with a big roar for the rest of the night.
Zach meets Santa. Jasper & Beth on a ride. Scary Monster and pussycat.
The Hulk, aka Scary Monster
Our last social event in Perth for 2008 was a fantastic belated Thanksgiving lunch at Kirstyn and Chucks. K went above and beyon again and we enjoyed fantastic turkey, ham, green beans, mashed spuds and an awesome pecan pie (thanks to Kerry!). Here's a pic of Louise and Zachary with Reno and Lucy at the Thanksgiving party.
Reno, Lucy, Zachary and Lou
