Who is behind Toowoomba Families...

Hello my name is Shallon Garton and I am the face behind the creation of Toowoomba Families. To me Toowoomba Families is an online community that connects Toowoomba Families with local businesses, services, events and activities. Today is just the beginning of our webpage and I hope over the coming months and years it will turn into much more!

As some of you already know I am a 'newbie' to the area and just starting to discover all the wonderful things this area has to offer. My family and I moved to Toowoomba in January, we are building our first home at Highfields and already we are loving the change of lifestyle. I am a 4th year Bachelor of Education Student at USQ and mum to almost 5yo E and married to my wonderful husband who encourages me in every adventure I take on. I also work part time at the uni tutoring students with disabilities and in my spare time I am on Facebook as Toowoomba Families.

In order to get to know the area better and to adjust to our new lifestyle my family has created a bucket list. So here it is for one and all!

52 Things to do in 52 Weeks of 2012

Our aim is do all 52 things as a family, with Karl working away that means an average of two things a week when he is home. We'll see how we go.

So here it is...

1. Make homemade playdough
2. Sit under a tree and read some books
3. Blow bubbles
4. Go on a family date: dinner and movie
5. Plant a garden / Plant a Christmas Tree
6. Watch stars together
7. Go bushwalking
8. Spend an afternoon playing board games
9. Go to the beach!
10. Make sock puppets
11. Stay in our PJs all day and watch movies
12. Go to a museum
13. Have a pillow fight
14. Visit a theme park
15. Have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandads - CHECK!
16. Go camping (even if it has to be in the backyard!)
17. Have a family photo shoot
18. Make homemade ice-cream - CHECK!
19. Build a sandpit
20. Write a letter to someone we love
21. Have a water fight with water balloons and water pistols
22. Go on a family bike ride
23. Have a BBQ and invite friends we haven’t seen in a long time
24. Play with lego
25. Pick strawberries  - CHECK!
26. Eat ice cream and waffles for breakfast
27. Go fishing
28. Have a treasure hunt
29. Go to a new restaurant
30. Go to the Show – a country one - CHECK!
31. Daddy and Ethan to cook Mummy pancakes in bed and let her sleep in
32. Mummy and Ethan to cook Daddy an omelette and let him sleep in
33. Ethan gets to decide what we do today!
34. Plant a Tree
35. Surprise visit someone
36. Have a baking morning - CHECK!
37. Go to the local pool for a swim
38. Have a picnic in the Japanese Gardens
39. Watch fireworks
40. Go to a rodeo
41. Put our handprints in concrete
42. Have a picnic in our yard - CHECK!
43. Go for a long drive
44. Invite friends for morning tea and bake the goodies!
45. Have a spring clean - CHECK!
46. Explore a town we have never been to - CHECK - Cabarlah Crows Nest, Bunya Mountains, - Highly recommend So Sweet!
47. Do the tourist things in Brisbane or Maleny.
48. Go bowling
49. A communication free day – turn off mobile phones and no internet access
50. Go to Carnival of flowers
51. Go roller blading
52. Fly a kitePlus:Attend Rhymes Childrens Music Festival - CHECK!

I think number 31 would have to be my favourite! Do you and your family have a bucket list. Part of the reason for developing this list was to remind us that family time is important and some times some of the most fun things are free!

Over the coming weeks I will blog about the things happening in our lives and fill you in as we check things off our bucket list. If you know of any must do activities please let me know as I will definitely check them out.

Until next time. x