week 576, 577, 578 / week 448, 449, 450

We’ve been away on a road-trip for a couple of weeks, so Dad is only just catching up with the blog now. Lots of photos.

In addition to the last week of school, where Puff had a haircut (with obligatory free lollipop).

Puff post-haircut

Dad and Puff went out for breakfast and to play draughts, having left the chess pieces in the car.

Puff regretting not bringing the chess pieces

Dad and Huff went to watch the Dora movie together.

Dad and Huff watch Dora the Explorer movie

By then it was time for a day at home, a lot of packing, and then to head off on our road trip.

Dad had some work places to visit, and we had some family downtime as well. It was by all accounts a great holiday.

We took some photos in the car pulling faces:

Dad, Mum and Puff set out on a road-tripDad and Huff set out on a roadtripDad, Huff and Puff on a road trip

We went to the Dolphin Marine Conservation park (formerly known as the pet porpoise pool). Huff was calling it a “water zoo”.

Puff conducting a dolphinHuff being a dolphin doctorHuff at Dolphin Marine Conservation ParkHuff with penguin face paintWhole family watching dolphinsHuff and Puff feeding a turtleHuff and Puff queued up to feed penguinsHuff in disguise at the penguin enclosureHuff, Mum and Puff watching the dolphin showPuff feeding a penguinHuff feeding a penguinHuff looking at a dolphin sculpture

We had a lot of meals together, including a lot of milkshakes and hot chocolates on break.

Puff with milkshake in RaleighHuff with hot chocolatePuff with milkshakeDad and Puff with mid-walk beveragesHuff colouring in a placemat in Emerald BeachHuff with Dad's glassesDad waiting for lunch while Huff and Puff readHuff enjoying a heatherbrae pie

Puff, who noticed the birds at Dubbo zoo (or “land zoo”) almost as much as the animals, was excited to see this bird show:

Puff at the

The kids played monopoly a bit, and read every chance they could (and we listened to the audiobook version of the first three Harry Potter books at some point of over 2000kms of driving, from Sydney to South West Rocks, Nambucca Heads, Emerald Beach, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Yamba, Bellingen, Armidale, Manilla, Narrabri, Dubbo, Blackheath, Katoomba and home).

Huff and Puff reading on holidaysHuff and Puff reading in ArmidaleHuff and Puff playing monopoly at Emerald BeachHuff and Puff playing a different version of monopoly at Emerald BeachHuff and Puff reading at breakfast in Blackheath

We had a great time at Dubbo Zoo, where we took more photos of the animals than of the kids!

Huff on an elephant sculptureHuff, Puff, Mum and Dad at the lion sculpture in Dubbo zooHuff forced perspective with rhinoHuff on the monkey barsDad, Huff and Puff at Dubbo zoo

And at the Coffs Harbour butterfly sanctuary with its dinosaur show.

Huff and Puff training dinosaursPuff with a baby dinosaurHuff and a baby dinosaur

The kids loved going to the beach and being in and near the water, even if sometimes it was on a pirate ship.

Huff and Puff head to the beachHuff with pirate canonHuff and friend at the beach in Nambucca HeadsHuff, Puff and friends near the pirate ship at Yamba looking at all the gathered fishPuff on the beach at YambaPuff out for a walk with Dad in Emerald Beach

We discovered rock finding and hiding:

Huff and Puff re-hiding a rock

We enjoyed being away.

Huff and Puff on holidaysHuff, Puff and Dad watching Captain Underpants movie on an iPadHuff and Puff reading outdoors in ArmidaleHuff and Puff unpacking at South West Rocks

And on the way home we stopped so Huff and Puff could tell Grandma (and Doc) all about it.

Huff telling grandma about her holiday

It was encouraging to see the kids telling stories of their adventures once they were back at school, even as it’s sad to see them back into the regular grind.

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