Down at the yards the men are in full swing banding the ram lambs and docking their tails. It causes discomfort to the lambs initially but protecting them from flystrike is necessary as the summer presses on. Stevie pulls up to Wilgul and as she opens the car door Mia greets her with a smile. "Good morning Stevie." "Hi Mia how are you today?" Stevie asks smiling. Mia approaches the car and replies "I'm really good thanks, so who are you leaving this morning?" Mia peers in the car and realizes Bull is the only one awake. She waves at him and he grins from ear to ear and waves back.
"Well I was only going to leave George but Jake bombed out as we were pulling in. Do you mind if I leave him for a sleep? Just ring when they wake and I'll come back up to the house." Stevie asks. "No not at all Mia says as she leans in the pick up the sleeping toddler. She grins at Bull and says "Good morning Handsome. How are you?" Bulls little face lights up and he says "I'm good Mia I'm going to help my Mum today." "Really and what are you going to be doing? Bull." Mia asks. "Oh just docking the tails and banding the ram lambs." He says proudly. "Oh wow that sounds like you'll be very busy." She smiles trying not to laugh. The little boy nods and smiles feeling very important. "I'll see you later." Mia says. "Yep" Is all he says. As Stevie and Mia walk inside with Georgia and Jake, Mia says "Stevie he is so cute." Stevie grins and says "Yes it's like he's been here before a little old man in a baby's body." They both laugh.
Grace is working hard helping the men and is grateful when Stevie pulls up with morning tea. Everyone finishes what they're doing and they move into the shade for a cuppa. "Oh Stevie, that was great timing." Nick calls. Stevie is leaning into the car unbuckling Bull. She helps him out and places his Akubra on his head saying. "Don't forget your hat mate." As he runs towards his Father's outstretched arms.
"Hello Daddy. Mummy and me have come to help you." Alex picks the little boy up into his arms, hugs him and says. "Mummy and I not Mummy and me." Bull looks at him thoughtfully then says. "Mummy and I have come to help you Daddy." Alex hugs him tightly kisses him and says." That's great mate lets go and help Mummy with morning tea."Alex walks towards Stevie with Bull now on his shoulders. As they reach her Alex lifts the little boy down and leans in to kiss Stevie. "Can I help?" He asks. She smiles at him and hands him several containers. They move back towards the group.
"So how much longer do you think?" Stevie asks "Oh another two hours maybe three." Matt says. "Uncle Nick do you like my new hat?" Bull asks. Nick squats down and smiles at his nephew and says "It's a beauty Bull do you think it would fit me?" Nick takes the hat from Bulls head and swaps it with his own Bull laughs loudly and says "Your hat is too big for me Uncle Nick I can't see!" Nick laughs and pushes the hat back and the little boy giggles and says
"You look silly Uncle Nick."
Everyone laughs and agrees with Bull as the tiny Akubra sits on top of Nicks head. Nick swaps the hats back and picks Bull up and says "Let's get a cuppa mate." As they move over to the table. Stevie is standing beside Alex with her back to them. Nick reaches down and pulls several pieces of hay from Stevie's hair grins and says "So Stevie did you help with the feeding out this morning? You've got hay in your hair." She turns looking puzzled and says "No why would I be feeding out there's still heaps of feed around?" Nick glances at Alex who is grinning. Stevie twigs, grins and says "Alex don't try and lie you're no good at it." And they all laugh.
Two hours later the girls are back at the homestead organizing lunch. "Inside or outside Grace." Stevie asks. "Outside there's a nice breeze out there." By the time the men arrive everything is laid out waiting and Grace and Stevie are both sitting feeding their babies. Alex walks over and kisses Stevie and speaks to Georgia the little girl smiles at him and milk spills from her mouth. Stevie laughs and says "Alex don't." He moves away. The baby suckles again and then he pops his head around and says "Hello kitten." Again the little girl giggles as milk spills from her mouth." Stevie laughs and says "Alex stop it I'll be here all day at this rate plus that tickles." He moves away briefly and the baby suckles. Moving back he grins at his baby and says "Where's Daddy's girl." The baby chuckles again and milk dribbles from her mouth unwilling to let the nipple go she attempts to suck while smiling at her Father. He grins at her. Stevie laughs, sits the baby up and says "Here Alex when you've finished playing I'll finish feeding her."
The others are laughing and Marcus says "Alex you're an annoying bastard." Alex laughs and lifts his little girl up and blows raspberries on her tummy. She chuckles and everyone laughs too. "Daddy you're naughty." Bull says. Alex stops and looks down at his little boy and says "Why am I naughty?" Everyone listens as Bull says. "You said it's naughty to play with food and Mummy is Georgia's food and you made her play." Alex glances at Stevie grins and answers Bull. "I was naughty Bull wasn't I?" The little boy nods. Alex moves over to Stevie kisses her and passes the baby back. Then he turns and runs at Bull who laughs and tries to get away as Alex sweeps in and picks him up. Alex lifts the little boy's shirt and says "I need a tummy. Oh here's one." Before he even blows the first raspberry on Bulls tummy the little boy is in fits of laughter knowing what's coming."
Christmas has come quickly Rose has arrived and so have Kate and Riley. Over at Drover's Tess, Jodie and Meg are busily organizing Christmas lunch while outside Nick, Matt and Terry are filling a small wading pool the children got from Santa. Looking around the house Nick smiles to himself 5 or 6 years ago Drover's was a working farm surviving by good luck and hard work today it's a prosperous working farm littered with evidence of a growing family.
Swing sets, slides, a sandpit, a trampoline and an assortment of bikes and prams dot the area and now the wading pool. Drover's was always a beautiful house now it's a beautiful home. Even though they're in drought the water saving measures that are in place allows them to keep the garden and a section of lawn alive close to their home which makes it feel cool and tranquil. This is great comfort, against the relentless Australian summer. Through the year Drover's has been painted and the missing shutters replaced and it gives the old girl a fresh sassy look.
The girls have gone all out this year in the Christmas preparations and the place looks brilliant. With Kate and Riley coming to visit it's spurred everyone on to make it perfect. "Nick" Tess calls. He walks back towards the kitchen, popping his head around the corner Tess spots him; she smiles and says "Is the pool up?" Nick smiles and says "It sure is they'll have a ball in that today. We've put in on the grass and have put the shade house up and we'll secure that over it once the water warms a bit." She smiles at him and says "How do you think it all looks?" Nick takes her in his arms and says "It's perfect Tess. I was just thinking while I was outside. Six years ago it was a beautiful house now it's a beautiful home." "Yeah." She breathes then adds" Do you think we could do anything else?" He leans down and whispers to her. She laughs and says "Perhaps later Nick our guests will be here any minute." Nick looks at her and leans to kiss her and she responds.