Lake Awoonga Adventures - Part II

The free camp spot was really good - it was a large cleared area with a few shelter areas and a toilet block. We had plenty of room to spread out and even met a couple of the other campers and Chris got talking to them about fishing in the dam. We also met a lovely young couple who had only been married for 3 weeks and were spending their honeymoon travelling around Australia. They had planned to spend 18 months travelling - but were doing it a bit different to us. They had a 4wd with a tent on the roof and were towing a fairly big boat - bit different to our set up.

Over the last couple of weeks the kids have been very excited about Mother's Day. Chris took them shopping in Bundaberg and they bought a present for me and have been hiding it in the van ever since. Every day they asked "how many more days until Mother's Day?" - they are more excited than I am. They started this joke that they bought me a pink fishing rod - just what I don't want! The night before Mother's Day they nuted out a plan for the morning - I should stay in bed and they will make me breakfast - Chris can cook - Logan make the toast, Jack pour the juice and Lexie can pick a flower. The kids even told me that I could stay in bed all day and Dad would do all my jobs for the day - now that sounds like a good idea.

After all this discussion about Mother's Day, Jack realised that his birthday was not very far away and that we would need to buy him a present. He thought about it for a few minutes and then announced that he needed a new fishing rod for catching barra, Lexie piped up and with a roll of her eyes said "Cause you do!' - which is exactly what I say to Chris when he says he needs something new. We all broke into fits of laughter after that.

Woke up Sunday morning to three excited kids - "Don't get out of bed Mum!" they were yelling as they were jumping around the van. They found my present they had been hiding and brought it up to the bed and all gave me big hugs and kisses. After that they dragged dad out of bed and raced off to cook breakfast. Breakfast was very yummy but a bit weird to eat with three little faces staring at you intently making sure you enjoy it.

Chris and the boys went out fishing again after breakfast. I am really amazed that the boys, especially Jack, are so keen to go fishing because they have been out with Chris many times and never caught anything - but they never give up. I imagine that it would sometimes be quite trying for Chris - picture this - a small tinny, 4 fishing rods, a tackle box, 3 crab pots, bait, a bucket, 2 boys and Chris. Not a lot of room to move. Chris sits at the back to start and steer the boat with the two boys sitting at the front looking forward telling him which way to go. This sounds like a great plan, but the boys do occassionally, no I should say regularly get their left and right mixed up. They say go left Dad, so Chris steers to the left, and then the boys yell out "no, the other way Dad".

Jack caught his first fish today - however they weren't sure what type of fish it was - so after getting a few photos for the brag book - they threw it back in. Chris and Jack later looked it up in a fishing book and came to the conclusion that it was a Silver Perch. Jack didn't really care what type of fish it was, he was just enthused about catching a fish.

After such a busy, exciting day the kids were all fairly tired and headed off to bed early - but before going Lexie came over and stood in front of me and looked at me. She said nothing, just stood there, and with a tilt of her head said "Mum, is there something you want to say to me?" Which of course I said "thank you for my wonderful present and a very happy Mother's Day" and with that she trotted off to bed feeling very pleased with herself.