Kate's Big Night

On Tuesday night it was the time for Kate's designs to take centre stage after three years of hard work. I think she did a great job and am so proud of her and her efforts. Kate's family and ours headed to the Burswood casino to watch the Polytechnic West's Fashion Show 2009. A great night was had by everyone. I LOVE this photo of Kate's main design.

Not the best photo of Kate's designs but I had a lot of issues with my camera at this stage.

Kate and her model after the show.

Kate and Grant looking lovely together. You scrub up very well Grant :)

Kim and I at the beginning of the show, we had an awesome time. I can't wait to attend many more of Kate's shows in the future.

We are so proud of you Kate. All the best for a very bright future xx

Polytechnic West's 2009 Fashion Show

I thought I would show some of the other designers work, I think you would have to agree that the fashion industry is in great shape here in WA. Well done on three years of hard work and all the best for the future.

There were 25 designers altogether so these are some of my favourites. I wish I had taken some pictures of the more unusual outfits but I think I would of over loaded the blog. Kim and I loved this design, Grant wasn't too keen on it.

I loved the evening wear. After all we all love to get dressed up.

I also loved this range of day wear

I think this dress resembled a lamp shade!!

I wish I could whip ap a dress like these guys can.

This dress looked lovely on the stage.

I love these day wear outfits...

Not quite sure what to make of this dress but you do still have to love the workmanship that goes into all the designs

These dresses are some of my favourites

The Breakdancers started the evening and looked like they were having a great time doing it!!

My Trip Home.

On the way home after the huge flight from LA I was lucky enough to land in Brisbane where I got to meet another friend Christine. It was so lovely to meet her and her beautiful daughter Emmie. Thank you Chris for picking me up from the International and driving me to the Domestic airport but most of all for having breakfast with me while we shared memories and talked about how special our group of friends are. Christine and Emmie.

A kind gentleman was nice enough to take this photo for us. It's a photo I will treasure always. I can't wait to see you again one day Chris, hopefully sooner rather than later. What a way to end a trip of a lifetime!!

Some More Favourite Moments

Here are just a few more pictures(as if you haven't been overloaded already) of some of my favourite times with the Garner Family. As you can tell the children feature heavily, well they really are the most beautiful of children and they really made my holiday extra special. Thank you Hazel and Henley. One of my favourite experiences....I can't wait for a Costco to hit Perth soon

Hazel and I having fun down the park.

This the cutest picture of baby Henley, I certainly am missing Henley so much.

Hazel and I at Jasper where Becky and Beau work. The fog was so low on this day.

Hazel and I at the Nike store. We visited them a lot while I was in Lowell thanks to many requests from my boys for gifts to be brought home.

Becky thank you again for indulging my every wish while I was in your home. You made my trip so memorable. You truly are a very special person and I am so honoured that we have become friends across the miles. I don't know what I did before you came into my life four plus years ago but I certainly am glad that fate brought us together and made the bond we have today.

Your Aussie sister...Michelle xxxx

A Visit to the Nana and Poppa's

Hazel was so excited to visit Nana and Poppa's house it was hard not to get caught up in the excitement. I could tell by Hazel eagerness to get there that Becky's parents were very special people and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Hazel at the bench helping Nana make salad for our dinner that evening

Baby Henley doing what baby Henley does best......

Hazel was always so happy to say "cheese" for the camera. This amazing view is from the back deck of Liz and John's home which is also the home where Becky grew up.

One last snap before we head to the airport.

I felt so welcomed by Becky's family, I wish I had longer to stay and talk with them.

I'm really not a very good photographer but what a beautiful family non the less.

Thank you Liz and John for making my last few days so special and I look forward to seeing you again one day when I hopefully get to visit again or of coarse there is always room at the Crocker's house!!

What a Beautiful Town

While in Lowell, I think I fell in love....with wide open spaces and countryside that is awe inspiring. I still sit and wonder if Beck and people who live in this beautiful state really know what surrounds them. I know we take our oceans for granted so I am sure it is much the same for the people of Lowell. Well I appreciated every second of it. Oregon really turned on the weather for us, although cold as you can see it was clear blue Sunshine for most of my trip. We were without a car for a few days so we made the most of it by taking in the lake and it's gorgeous views. Here is Becky very professionally handling Bella and Hazel to get down to the lake.

Ok, I'm not quite so gain and this photo is just set up, I don't think I would of done quite as good a job as Becky at wheeling Hazel down the street.

Wow, is all I can say and did quite a lot actually.

Little Miss Hazel being completely adorable as always.

We, well Becky had quite a hard time trying to get this photo set up. In between throwing the ball in the lake for Bella and fighting with the camera but as you can see she succeeded.

This photo is I think my favourite. Hazel is so beautiful and always in a happy mood.

Thank you for such a lovely time Beck, I know you really wanted to take me to the Oregon Ocean but those two days were priceless, I will never forget them.

A Nice Day for a walk in Eugene

Thank you Beck and Femeke for taking me on this lovely walk around the lake and through the Oregon University Campus. It was a lovely Oregon day all be it very cold. Becky, Henley and I. I seem to feel the cold a little bit more than Beck for some reason.

The views from every angle are so beautiful

Femeke and I walk through campus as the students break for lunch, that's when we hit the Duck store.

Outside Hayward Field, this is where the Olympic trials were held

Now if there is anything that could inspire me to run it's these gates. You could feel the history of past legends and if those seats could talk it would be quite a story.

Thanks for sharing your gorgeous town with me girls.

The Most Amazing Halloween House in Lowell

This lovely home deserved a space all of it's own. Rumor has it that the lovely couple who owns this home won lotto a few years back and does every American holiday in this way. I couldn't think of a nicer way to spread a little happiness with the fellow residents of their home town Becky and I drove passed to have a look and maybe take a quick snapshot of this beautiful home when a lovely lady (the mother) stopped us and told us to drive the car in to get some photo's she even snapped a few for us.

Not much of the front yard was left untouched. Certainly succeeded in bringing a smile to our faces

Now if the front brought a smile to our face imagine the surprise when we were walked around the back of the family home to see the view they had from their deck.

Breathtakingly beautiful......don't you think??

It was so lovely to be able to get a few pictures here and there with Becky as most of the time she was behind the camera.

The Cutest Little Elephant and Her Special Peanut

I think these pictures are just the cutest. Nothing much else to say

What a treat to share such a special time with the Garner family....thank you so much

Halloween and Football to!!

Halloween was finally here but it took second place this year to the Oregon Ducks. I have never seen anything to compare to the fanfare the Americans enjoy for their beloved sport, not even our AFL grand final compares. Anyway back to what I was very excited about, Hazel, awaits children at the window, she really was priceless to spend the evening with. Hazel made the cutest elephant ever!!

Above and below are few snaps I took of the neighbourhood children. I think I confused them a little but they all joined in the fun all the same.

My personal favourite was the hippy protesting homework.

One of my favourite photo's of the trip is this one with baby peanut Henley.

My Frist Time Carving an American Pumpkin

Ok now pretend these photo's aren't all in the wrong order...did I tell you how long the flight home was?? I think that makes for some sort of excuse, even if it is a lame one.

If picking pumpkins was one of my favourite things to do in Oregon then carving them had to be up there with that experience, for one thing they are so easy to carve compared to our blue pumpkins. Here are our creations, I must say I am very impressed by Hazel's mini pumpkin. Well done Beck

On the front porch awaiting little visitors wanting candy

Can you tell how much fun I was having? I think my smile says it all.

Icky hands....so much fun

Hazel was the supervisor making sure everything was done just right.

Picking Pumpkins in beautiful Oregon

I was so excited at the time of booking my holiday that I would be there for Halloween. Picking the pumpkins with Becky and Hazel turned out to be one of the highlights of my holiday. A lovely lady indulged us by taking this photo for us

Hazel and I have our pumpkins and I think we did really well.

Searching, searching....you know it has to be just the right one!!

Hazel helping me pull our cart, she is such a beautiful little girl

Hazel decided to jump in and take a ride with the pumpkins.

My First Day

Well there isn't a lot to say about a flight to America other than it is VERY long. I made it together, all be it just....well that's what it felt like anyway. Becky and baby Henley were at the airport to meet me. It was a story that I am sure Beck and I will laugh about for years to come. I did run straight past her and totally missed the cute sign that read "Welcome Aussie Michelle" that Becky had made for my arrival. Sorry Beck but as Wayne reminded me it wouldn't of been complete unless I ran past you.

After I decided that the left hand side was a strange place to put a steering wheel and accepted that Americans do really drive on the right hand side of the road we headed to an outlet direct shopping centre. I don't really think my head was together at this point but it was together enough to know I needed to hold baby Henley and I guess that sort of set the theme for my holiday.

This was my first experience of an American Halloween so I needed to get into the spirit and have plenty of evidence.

After a spot of shopping it was time to head to Becky's home and meet Beau and Hazel. I was so excited to meet Hazel who I had seen so many pictures of.

I'm Home!!

Well I must admit I was terrible at keeping anything on my blog while I was away but I chose to enjoy every moment while I was there instead of blogging :). This is the first of a very large post with a LOT of photo's so be warned.

To Beck and family please except my heart felt thanks for a very special holiday that I have no doubt will remain my very favourite holiday always. You opened your home to me with so much warmth, I will never forget the kindness you all shared, Hazel and her beautiful ways and amazing singing voice, not to mention her constant call for more lotions and perfume that made me smile daily. Most of all thank you for letting me indulge in your extra special and beautiful son Henley. I know you appreciated me wanting to have him in my arms constantly, some mothers may not of been so accepting. Seeing and feeling like I was a part of your family is really what made my holiday.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.