Darwin

Dear Matthew and Toby

Back in March we were fortunate enough to be invited to my cousin Kirsty's wedding to her girlfriend Amber. Kirsty and Amber have been together nearly 20 years so there was no way I could pass up seeing them tie the knot after Australia finally changed the marriage laws allowing anyone to marry who they want.

So last week we headed up to Darwin to celebrate them getting hitched. We left on the Thursday and us three braved the flight alone (your dad stayed behind to look after Soda and because he's taking a lot of leave soon when I go back to work next week). You were both brilliant on the flight- Toby you slept for most of it and Matt you watched Netflix/played with your new transformer toy. Some teenage girls across the aisle from us wanted to hold you Toby for ages so that helped too!

When we arrived in Darwin Ma Ma and Gumps were there to greet us at the airport and after a quick change into your summer clothes we made our way to the hire car. We loaded it up and drove around the city for a little while (Toby you fell asleep again so we took advantage of this and tried to get our bearings). We drove past the war museum and bomb shelters from World War II and ended up at the Mindil Markets where we were meeting all our other extended family members who were also going to the wedding for dinner. The markets were amazing, Matt you held some awesome animals (a snake again of course!) and went on the jumpy castle with my cousin Libby. I had crocodile tacos for tea before we enjoyed some time watching the sunset on the beach. Toby, as you will see from the photos below, you absolutely loved the beach and at one point face planted it into the sand, covering your face with it.

We then headed back to the 'frat house' - the house we were sharing with 8 other family members in Palmerston, about half an hour south of Darwin. The next day we drove back to Darwin city for a visit to Crocosaurus Cove, the crocodile park. Matt you got to fish for miniature crocs, hold yet another snake and you both had photos holding a baby croc. My favourite part of the day was during the reptile presentation when Matt you randomly yelled out that your mummy had a baby in her tummy! Also when we first rocked up and they were just starting the crocodile talk you yelled at everyone to check out the crocodiles... just in case they hadn't already noticed the 900kg crocs in the cages right in front of them. Classic :)

In the evening we went to the local Humpty Doo golf club for dinner with everyone else attending the wedding and Matt you played with your second cousins/first cousins once removed (I can never remember - my cousins' kids anyway) on the playground.

The next day was the wedding day so we all prettied ourselves up and headed over to the property in the afternoon. The ceremony was just beautiful, many tears were shed given the time the couple had been together and the hard fight they'd put in to get to this day. I'm so glad you both won't remember a time before marriage equality and that for you Matt, this may be your first memory of a wedding. It was so wonderful to witness their love, and it was followed by an incredible party, complete with drag queens, face painting and a cake with a rainbow loveheart inside it. Matt you partied and danced the night away, and Toby you were captivated by all that was going on. It was an amazing night.

The next day we kept it low key, just visiting the campsite on Kirsty and Amber's property to show my Aunty Julie the family quilt, made from patches put together six years by different family members (including me) in memory of my grandma (Joy Haynes). It was great to see it all together - it is a real Haynes family heirloom.

On the Monday we flew home after having a quick walk around the city of Darwin to get some tacky souvenirs for your dad and enjoyed a half empty plane. Toby you slept for over 2 hours and played games with your grandparents who were in the seats behind us. Matt you loved the games on the iPad (you are so easy to travel with now!). An older man even commented on the way off the plane how well behaved you were Toby - you're both superstars in my books.

Anyway it was an awesome holiday and I now hold many special memories from it in my mind and my heart forever.

Love you boys,

Mum xxx



 
 

Ice skating

 

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

Another outing we enjoyed during the school holidays was going ice skating in Fremantle. We headed down one Saturday morning after Matt had asked a few times to go to the outdoor skating rink that is set up during winter in the carpark close to the Esplanade park.

 

When we arrived we checked out the bookings and decided to wait for a later session and went to the Mill House Bakery for breakfast while waiting. Matt, your daddy spoilt you with a spearmint milkshake and piece of delicious Jaffa flavoured cake, while he had a big breaky and Toby and I shared some yummy fruit salad. Afterwards we walked around for a bit and luckily Toby fell asleep on daddy in the baby carrier so that Matt and I could go ice skating together (daddy isn't a big fan of ice skating).

 

Matt, you were so confidant on the ice, even from the start when we got our ice skates you were so excited and just wanted to get out there. We'd rugged you up in a beanie and gloves and most importantly, thick socks (I'd learnt this from my childhood - never go ice skating without thick socks or a few pairs of thin ones as you'll easily get blisters). We had hired you a 'penguin' to hold on to while skating which was a good move! You pushed it around and although you did fall a couple of times, you got back up again and again which was so great to see. I honestly thought you would have had enough after fifteen or twenty minutes, but you skated for the whole one hour session! It was so nice to spend one on one time with you Matt, as we don't get that very much any more.

 

My favourite part of the session was when the fake snow was blasted out on to the ice and you were so impressed that it was snowing, your eyes lit up and you couldn't believe how lucky we were. It was such a lovely experience to see you enjoying skating, to be so resilient and to have such a beautiful sense of wonder and awe.

 

Looking forward to doing it again with you next year and with Toby in a few years' time.

 

Love you boys,

 

Mum xxx

 

 

 

Reptiles and farm animals at the shops

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

During the school holidays the local shops held a reptile exhibit in the first week and had a petting zoo of farm animals the following week. Matt, while you loved the farm animals, you absolutely adored the reptiles, and I've never seen you smile bigger than when you got to hold one of the snakes (and when I say hold, I mean let it slither all over your shoulders). I remember doing this with you last year around the same time and you were besotted then too, so I wonder whether there's a career or at least a pet reptile in your future.

 

Your dad and I are going to try and book in a reptile company to come to your birthday which I'm sure you'll love. In the meantime you'll just have to survive with your dog and cats!

 

Love you boys,

 

Mum xxx