The Moomba Festival

Last night, I did the impromptu 'get the boys out of the house' to go to the Moomba Festival. I told them that I was taking them there, but they had no idea what it was... It was a little bit of a struggle to get them off the couch to go into 35 degree C temperature, but as a punishment for doing some rubber band flicking at each other and not listening to me, I made them walk the 25 minutes down to the train station (instead of driving to the train station!) and walk back... hopefully to burn some energy out of them!

We arrived in the city, and they soon realised that the 'Moomba Festival' was a free carnival in the parks that lined the Yarra River. And you guessed it, their moods quickly swung around from 'how dare mum drag us away from the TV,' to 'can we go on this ride, that ride?'

I set a spending limit and told them they could have 4 rides/side show activities each. We first went on the 'Cliff Hanger' ride together.

Then the boys had a go at the hammer throw... where they ended up getting a plastic hammer each and beating the living daylights out of each other!

And then they fished some fish out of a tank and got 'Joe - the Jamaican Monkey!

We then checked out the water-skiing on the river.

And walked around the other side to hear the bands.

As well as see some very talented scooter riders (I was going to writer 'scooterers' but it just didn't sound right!)

We had dinner on the lawn listening to 'Strange Talk' the band with the hundreds of other people!

And found the iconic "King of Moomba' throne, that the boys had to sit in!

Before the boys had one last ride on the 'Disco Spinner'

And we waited for the fireworks to start at 9.30pm...

(sorry it's a little fuzzy!)

So after a late night train ride home, they were very pleased with their impromptu adventure... and have promised me to be good little men today while I get into finishing writing my book!

PS - If in Melbourne, the Moomba Festival is still on today and tomorrow - It really is a great family friendly, alcohol free event for the whole family to enjoy!