Our Gold Coast Holiday Oct 2011

The Len Jeffrey Memorial Preschool (where Mitchell and Cooper attend) had a raffle that was drawn in June this year.  It was a holiday to the Paradise Resort in Surfer's Paradise QLD and a $1000 Virgin Airlines voucher.  I was present at the draw and we didn't win.  But the lady who did win, was another mum and a friend of mine.  We were so excited that the winner was at least someone we knew.  Later that day my friend turned up on my doorstep, a box of tissues and the prize in hand, insisting that the trip be used for the kids (especially Cooper as she had recently heard of his diagnosis with Duchenne).  Of course I refused for a good ten minutes... but insisted she wasn't giving it to me, she was giving it to Cooper!
I reluctantly but graciously (I'd like to think) accepted! 
I call it my Backyard Blitz moment...what can you say as THANK YOU just doesn't do justice to the enormity of my friend's generosity.

So we departed Tullamarine airport on Oct 15th this year and so began the most awesome holiday for our family on the Gold Coast.
The kids loved the resort, the swimming pools and eating out every night!  They experienced the characters and rides of Movie World and the beauty of the animals at Sea World.

I must say a photo with Elmo was a great way of celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary, although I think Matthew quite liked Cookie Monster!

With the year we have had, we all agreed it was a break we truly needed and thoroughly enjoyed.
I can never thank my friend enough for the experiences we were able to share together as a family.

(My friend has obviously said she does not wished to be named, so have honoured her wishes. it's the least I can do!)