The best day ever! said the 6 year old

 Cold and early start but it was off to Auskick again. This week both Benji and Spencer got their best listener awards. i missed the presentation as I had to take Xandy to basketball where they came back from 16 to 4 down, to be 18 all, and lose it with a last minute goal. It was an exciting game.

Then a quick lunch of hotdogs and it was off to another game of footy. The twins were playing in the half time match at a local under 18s game. We watched the match and while I watched it for a bit, my mind wandered off to the future - looking at the big boys who were all still under 18 and imagining three big smelly boys lying on my couches and just eating! Quick - out from that nightmare and back to current reality -

 were they are still cute! They had a lovely time out there with their mates.

Then it was back in the car and down to Merricks where we were treated to a divine Solstice celebration! Inside the fires were crackling and dinner was being prepared. We were spoiled with beef on the spit with potatoesbeans and corn. The kids dragged themselves away from playing to eat a sausage and then it was on.

The fire was all stacked ready and with a little help from the petrol (!) it was alight. The kids are happily calling it a Bomb Fire! It was big and lit up the dark night is a soft firey glow.

When the fire is being stocked with a tractor, we felt it was a little big to cook marshmellows at, so the smores were made inside and we enjoyed delicious self saucing pudding! Thanks to the Demspter girls for a lovely night!

Fire

My kids have been obsessing over a camp fire - yet there aren't many places these days were fires are legal. Jo agreed to put one on in her backyard - obviously not just for us, but to celebrate solstice and we had a really lovely time.

We know each other through 'knitting' and blogging, and while this has been going on for a while, we don't usually include the families. We all get on well and it was just lovely that all the kids seemed to go about their business once they warmed up to each other. It made it a really easy and magical night.

The camp fire was crackling as we arrived and we set up. The kids started making their lanterns with tissue paper ready for the lantern walk when it got dark.

Damper wrapped around sticks and cooked over the fire followed closely behind by sausages.
The grown ups enjoyed mulled cider and delicious baked pototoes which I've not had for years. We had our walk which looked beautiful, and came back and cooked marshmellows over the fire and made smores. OMG - delicious but sweet is an understatement. We capped the night off with sparklers and took the tired kids home to bed at all of 8;30, but as it got dark so soon, it felt like 10:30.

It was a really lovely night and a big thank you to Jo and all the girls for making it so enjoyable. Sorry about the photos - the camera battery has gone astray and this little one is not up to the job. Jo's blog seems to do this night better justice.