New Years Eve Eve!

This heat is really getting to me. I must be getting old or something. On the plus side, we put in an application today to extend our home loan so hopefully they say yes and we can get an air conditioner!

I made pizza for dinner tonight. From scratch. Whilst it was a good idea and tasted pretty good, I'll have to remember that kneading is a good winter activity, not something for a hot summers day. Man did I work up a sweat kneading that dough!

Tomorrow is New Years Eve. We've been invited for bowling to celebrate the newphews 12th Birthday. My feet are so sore I really don't want to go, but the kids are keen so we probably will. An hour drive there and back is not appealing. And DH said theres no way we are staying over sleeping on that awful sofa bed again at his sisters. I wonder if his back is still sore?

So in case I don't get to blog tomorrow. Have a safe and happy new year everyone. And I look forward to catching up with those of you that I can in 2006, and saving my pennies to meet the rest of my cyber friends somewhere in the not too distant future, I hope.

Oh and I put our entry in for the 32 million lotto draw tomorrow night. I'll let you know how we go!

Cheers

Its been action aplenty!

Shall I start at Christmas Eve? I don't think I've blogged since before then, so here we go.

Christmas Eve, food shopping at 6:30am, and it was busy!

On Christmas Eve Grandma arrived. Thats my mum. Her car was loaded up and could have been Santas sleigh! Every year we ask her please no more big toys, but every year she brings more. This year her gifts were a hit so that was wonderful. Dinner was prawns. Yum!

Christmas morning the kids woke early, BMW woke Nath so he could open presents. DH's parents arrived for breakfast at 8am and missed all the present opening. They were supposed to arrive at 7am. There was no way I was making the kids wait.

Mid morning my brother and his fiancee arrived. It was the first time we'd met Aunty Sarah. The kids accepted her quite well.

I baked a hot lunch of turkey, ham and vegetables. I put the rolls in the oven and promptly forgot them. After lunch finished I remembered them. They were more like little shot put balls. Black and hard. The rest of lunch was very scrumptush and relaxed.

It was then pool time. The kids got a waterslide off santa and had heaps of fun with it. We also played cricket. I've always wanted to play cricket on Christmas Day. Its a bit of an aussie tradition I reckon.

At dinner time we drove to DH's sisters to meet up with all his relo's. We had a few drinks and slept over. It was fun except for the bar through our backs on the sofa bed. Not very comfortable to put it nicely.

Boxing Day we went and visited Grandma at her house, had lunch and caught up with my dear friend Gill. We brought Grandma home with us for a dinner of turkey and left overs. It was very very yummy.

On the 27th I took Grandma home and then DH's sister and family arrived to stay at our place. They have only just left this afternoon, thus no time to blog or privacy to do so either.

Last night DH's parents and other sister and her family came for dinner. It was a pretty hectic afternoon and night with all the kids, pool, and parents. Partway through a customer of mine arrived to pick up her kit, and while she was here there was this ginormous bang. Our glass outdoor table gave way with my BIL sitting at it.

Well glass went everywhere. Through the drinks bucket, through the drinks, even embedded in the side of the tupperware glasses. All over poor BIL. It was a huge mess, and we are still finding glass today, even though its been hosed and vacummed down.

So we are one table down, exhausted, and now relo free. Its been fun, but I think we might have a quiet new years to make up for it. Oh and DH's work rang today, his holidays in January have been cancelled and he will be working 12 hour roster because they don't have enough beer. DH is a brewer for a major beer company in Sydney. I guess it will be mostly me and the kids doing stuff over the holidays. Oh well, we can do with the extra cash. Its been stinking hot and humid here and I would love to buy an air conditioner.

Thats all for now. I'm off to make something for dinner, other than ham and salad!

You know its hot when...

You know its hot when at 6:30am theres a hot wind blowing and its 33 degrees celcius outside

You know its hot when you prefer to be at the shopping centre with all the crazy people doing their last minute Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve instead of being at home with no air conditioning

You know its hot when its too hot to swim in your pool

You know its hot when its 42 degrees celcius outside.

The heat must be getting to me....who's up for a hot Christmas lunch tomorrow?

Today...

Today we got Santa photos. $42 later and over an hour wait, note to self, take children out of school and get done before term finishes.

Today we got some more Christmas presents. MIL now organised. Still more to do tomorrow. Still no idea what to get.

Today we cleaned the cave. I threw out 2 bags of 'stuff'. TJ was not interested in helping, so I just kept throwing out more things. Although I am displeased that she didn't do it. I did have fun chucking stuff out and it looks way better now!

Tonight we opened the Christmas wine and hamper.

Tonight we are going to start to wrap. The kids are still playing outside so hopefully soon they will come in, bath and then be so tired out they will go straight to sleep.

My accordian album pics

So here we have the pics of the accordian album. I am really pleased with how it turned out, and my Dad just rang to say that he got it and its really nice. I put the ages they all turned this year so perhaps that might help him in getting their names right on their presents and cards next year. And I tried to include pics of some of the activities they do so he can feel a little bit of a part of their lives. I even got a pic of DH and myself in there. I might make another one next year for him.

Today was the last day of school. I spent it running around all over the countryside doing deliveries, shopping and best of all watched the new Harry Potter on the big screen with DH.

Last night I made an accordian album for my Dad. It turned out really nice, I will post pics in the morning. And tonight Santa came on the back of the rural fire truck, I have a pic of that too!

Tomorrow is house cleaning day in preperation for Christmas. Hopefully tomorrow night we can start wrapping some things!

End of the school year

Technically tomorrow is the end of the school year, but today they had to bring home all their things. Earlier this term TJ's class did a session on the olden days and what things existed and then they made robots for their assembly item. Today they had a draw with all the kids names from the class to see who got to take the robot home.

Well guess who won? Yes TJ. This thing is so big it was really hard to get him in the car and I have a 7 seater!

After some minor running repairs I would like to introduce TJ and 'zippy' the robot.

photo time!

I bought a cd of TJ's photos she had taken at dancing. It is supposed to be of all her dances and I thought it would be a cheaper option than buying them pre printed. I'm not sure if its the right choice looking at them, but I am a sucker and still want one of everything for her album. There's one pic that just jumped out at me as brilliant, and here it is...


I would also love to print this one out for her for Christmas and frame it for her room


All those hours of sequining look like they paid off too, lol.

The concerts are over

My girl danced all weekend. 2 Shows on Saturday for her ballet school, 2 shows on Sunday for her other dance school. We are all very tired today, especially TJ. I felt so awful waking her up at 8:30am this morning to go to school for her excursion. I can just imagine all these little girls asleep during the movie. lol

She did a wonderful job. You can really see her expression coming out and how much she enjoyed it. Seeing her so happy is what really made it all worthwhile.

Photo time

The elders are restless. When am I going to get a new photo? I haven't got one all year! Well Christmas is coming I respond sweetly. Hmph! is the response. Every year MIL does it to me. Wants or should I say demands a pic of the kids, one of the professional ones I've just paid a fortune for, the ones I picked up on Friday. And every year she spoils her Christmas present. Why oh why can she not just wait a week and let me make her a nice gift?

And then she tells me that I'd better be making an album for her son for his birthday. Yes early Feb my DH is turning 40. Maybe I'll get time to make him one. But do I have any pics? No! Perhaps she'll give me some of when he was little? Perhaps I can dream. I know his response (DH) he loves me no matter what I give him. Isn't that sweet?

Gingerbread Train

Tonight we have skipped going to carols and have instead played our own and made a gingerbread train. This year I actually got the sticky glue in the right combination because it worked! It stuck so well we had to put the train together really quickly. We still have our gingerbread house to make which I think we might do on Monday.

Here we have the checking out of the instructions...
The completed train...And now its finished can we eat it?



An update in other news...I went to see the principal of school this morning at 8am. I told her what had happended and that I was concerned for the safety of my children. Especially in light of the excursion on Monday where parents are welcome to attend. She said she would speak to the teachers and make them aware to take extra care and make sure TH gets no where near them. Thank heavens for that!

The saga continues...

Well what an afternoon. Today I am so lucky that I am feeling good, and strong. You know when you have those days when you could burst into tears if something goes wrong? Well today was the exact opposite of that. I was dressed well. I felt good. I was styled as DH would put it. And then we went to dancing.

You may or may not be aware that TJ does dancing. In fact she does solos where she is the only one on stage and competes in eisteddfods. So this afternoon before class, one of the studios was empty and we had permission from the principle for her to practice. She has an eisteddfod in the January school holidays and there just isn't enough room at home to practice effectively. So we've been taking advantage of the empty studio.

Well whilst she was practicing we got interrupted by that mother I mentioned the other day. Now if you want to continue reading my blog post, feel free. But today I am going to use my blog to record what happened, because I've been advised to record it. And figuring my luck with electronic things blowing up at the moment I figure the web is probably the safest place to store it. So read on or not, its up to you.

TJ was dancing in the ballet studio. Also present in the room was BMW, Shaina and Alana. TJ had practiced her modern twice and was now practicing her fast tap "Swingin Safari". I had my sunglasses and keys sitting next to the cd player. With no glasses on my vision was blurred but I could still make out most of her movements. Tamara was part way through her dance when TH strode into the room. She ignored the fact that TJ was practising and came straight up to me yelling in my face.

She said: I need to talk to you about that phone call. That was why I wrote the letter because that was meant to nip it in the bud.
She said: perhaps if I had rung maybe her boy had hung up on me.
I said : no,it was a ladies voice that said hello and when I said hello they hung up
She said: (yelling in my face)
I said(talking while she is yelling): whatever Tina, I do not want to talk to you, I don't want to have anything to do with you please go away
She said: you need to know whats going on, Joan and Karen are out there saying what a bitch you are. They're the ones bitching about you, its not me, you need to know whats going on and I have to tell you
I said: I am not interested, I don't want to know. You need to stop. Please go away
She said: (me not listening, her yelling in my face)
I said: no you need to stop. Please go away
She said: I'm going to get an AVO on you to keep you away from me
I said: you need to stop and leave me along. Please go away.

At that point I got up and walked out of the studio, thru the waiting room and into the other studio to the principal where I said to her that T H has just come in and has been yelling in my face I asked her to stop and she wouldn't, you need to deal with this.

The principal then came to the waiting room and spoke to Tina. She said: Tina this has to stop.

She said more but I left the waiting room and went back into the studio with my daughter and son.

TJ asked me what was going on, why was she yelling. I simply told her that Mrs H was being silly and not to worry about it.

I then asked her to start her dance again and we began the song.

Mrs B then came into the studio where TJ was dancing and hid behind the door away from the waiting room, crying. Mrs Calcagno came in to see if she was ok. I asked if she was right. She said yes. I ushered all the children from the room and shut the door.

I then went into the other studio and saw the principal and apologized for having to come and get her. She said that she had been on the phone today with T after another parent had telephoned her worried about a matter. She said she had now left the studio and it was for the best of everyone.

The other mothers in the waiting room and those outside asked me what was going on, to which I replied I don't know, she was just yelling in my face.



So see how strong I was. So proud of me for remaining calm. I'm a little freaked out that she would come and do something to my house or my Christmas decorations since she lives a couple streets from us. I rang my brother for advice. He said she can't take and AVO out on me for nothing, she could apply but would need to prove that I was voilent - uh hello, it was her yelling in my face.

He said I also need to remember what started this in the beginning. I remember. Last October her daughter was bullying my daughter. I finally got sick of it and stepped in and said something. What I said was not directed at her, but directed to the whole dance troupe. I said this has to stop, everyone has been pushing and shoving and its not on. You are a troupe. You need to work together and be friends. And then I left.

Later that afternoon or the next day I got a phone call from the principle saying that TH had rung her complaining about me. I was extremely upset and went to TH home to apologise if I had offended her. She yelled abuse at me as I neared her door. Threatened me. Abused me some more. Yelling the whole time. I only managed to get out that I had come to apologise. I then left in tears and went home. I rung the principle in tears to tell her what had happened. She told me that no one was impressed with what I had done. I then rang every parent still in tears, every parent of every child in the troupe to apologize to them. Some knew of what had transpired some didn't. Karen O'Neill said thanks for calling, it doesn't affect me at all, but thanks for calling. Maria said she appreciated the call. I had said something earlier in the year which she hadn't appreciated but thanks for calling and all was forgiven (I still have no idea what it was that I allegedly said).

That was the start of a really dark time for me. I have again come home. Locked my car in the garage and locked my front door shut. But this time I am strong. And I will be ok.

cake pics

Here it is, the pics from the making of the Chirstmas cake, about 9:30pm last night. The cake finished cooking at about 12:30am.

If you look closely you can see my messy kitchen in the background.

I'm going to ice it next week. Hope its yummy!

Its late and I'm still up. Wanna know why? 'Cause my Christmas cake is cooking! Its due to finish at midnight. Downside is I've still got washing up to do. I've been having fun though. Watched the Bachelor, bad idea telling the girls about waking up to a strange face every other day, and I've been SS'ing, even been on the debate board.

I made toffee!

I made toffee today!!!! Totally different recipe from yesterday. I discovered that yesterday's wasn't a failure, just a different sort of toffee. Like the ones you get in the middle of those lollies that come in the wrappers that only the grown ups like. Apparently its a Rusian toffee according to MIL. However she did share with me a recipe that she got when she was in school on how to make real toffee. Actually there was 2 recipes, but I used the one she said was more foolproof.

And it worked! So my macadamias are now toffee coated, well more like totally covered. And I had heaps of toffee left over, so I made 2 dozen of those little cupcake patty toffees like you get at a school fete. I just have no idea what to do with them now though. So I've stored them in a cupboard in a container for Christmas?

I am so proud that I actually successfully made toffee. Later I have to crush it and the macadamias for the Christmas cake. I can feel the food processor getting a run. Hopefully I don't blow it up given my run with electrical appliances lately.

Cheers!

Presentation night

Last night was presentation night. TJ received an award for academic excellence. This is TJ and her teacher. She also danced with the dance group which is why she doesn't have her uniform on.

Brendan wasn't even upset that TJ got an award and he didn't. Which is great.

Glo-girl put out a challenge today. The idea is your type "your name needs" into Google and list some of the funny results. So I found another Wendy who had done this and here are the results: (Cheating I know, but anyway...)

Wendy wants a new dress but her mum won't buy her the one she wants. (DH won't either)
Wendy wants to be on the TV Show Dancing with the Stars!!! (Simply dreaming here)
Wendy wants so very much to give ALL OF YOU CREDIT!!! (Always)
Wendy wants everyone to buy her music. (Well my dream was to play in a real huge orchestra, although I can't ever see that happening now)

Wendy needs your assistance.
Wendy needs to know.
Wendy needs a patient,loving, and committed family who can provide structure and support.
Wendy needs at least 5 business days advance notice for this process.
Wendy needs every measuring cup and teaspoon she can find. (And the dates I forgot to buy for the Christmas cake!)

Oh Google what would we do without you. (Here here!)

The saga - my very own soap opera, unfortunately the real deal

I am in two minds whether to blog this or not, but here goes anyway.

Part 1.
When we were at dancing on Thursday for the photos, TJ, and two of her friends who we were standing in line next to, decided it would be nice to have a photo together. I said that I didn't mind as I was buying the whole CD anyway and it would come on it.

So TJ has pic with friend 1. Friend 1 has pic with Friend 2. Friend 1 and Friend 2 have pic together with TJ. All is good. Its sweet that they want a pic together.

Remember that we were there for hours having to wait mostly in line waiting for the photos to be done.

Whilst in line again, Child 3 and parent stand behind us in queue. This parent has caused me major grief over the last 12 months so I politely stand, quietly facing the direction the queue is going and ignore what is behind me. This is a long queue and is very slow moving. A few minutes later there is a humph from behind and Child 3 is removed by parent and leaves the dance studio. Whilst the Child didn't seem impressed about missing out on her photo I felt glad that I didn't have to worry that she was behind me anymore. I think nothing else of it.

Part 2.
TJ had a bad scrape on her knee at school during the week and I was unimpressed about the first aid rendered, or should I say bad first aid rendered. Since we have P & C next week, and have heard so much other bad feedback about first aid I thought it would be a good topic for discussion. Enter Parent of Child 3. She is the secretary of the P&C and all agenda items have to go thru her. So I ring. And she hangs up on me. So I see the President at school and ask her to get it put on the agenda. I asked to keep it in her confidence that I wanted it on the agenda. I tell her that I rang and was hung up on. (Mistake #1)

Part 3.
At the birthday party today of Friend 1 her parent gives me a letter and says she was asked to pass it on to me. It was titled Wendy Ward via Tamara Ward. Just the same as they do at school which is why I opened it (Mistake #2) Its a letter from parent of Child 3 - the one who hung up on me - saying that her friends had told her that I had rung and she had hung up on me. She went on to say that 1. I didn't ring her. 2. her mother had been staying all week. 3. if I wanted something on the agenda I was to put it in the pigeon hole at school and not to contact her. It was a typed letter, not even handwriten.

Part 4.
We go to Kindergarten Party and P&C president is there. I tell her about the letter I received. She says that she spoke to child3's parent regarding me ringing her/ hanging up thing which she denied happening, and about the first aid for the agenda. THEN president goes on to say that she had a whole bitch about the photo thing at dancing and that her child was being left out becuase the 3 friends had their photo taken together.

Mother of friend 1 is nearby and tells me don't believe half of what president tells me. Its not necessarily true. I'm tired. I don't feel well. And I can't believe this is happening all over again.

So I go and do my class I have to teach. Decide that none of them really are my friends anyway, associates yes. True friends? No.

I go and look at my neighbours Christmas lights tonight as Grandma is leaving - parents of Friend 2. Do the polite neighbour chatter. Mention that my phone hasn't stopped ringing since I got home. And she says...about the kindergarten party? Err no about business and the MIL.

So news travels fast and gossip travels even faster. Do I want to go near school ever again? No. But will I let that b.i.t.c.h keep me away? Not this time.

Now this is where I am failing. Why is she doing this? Is she so sick that she has to make up lies and gossip? What else is she going to concoct? And is she going to take it to dancing again, like last year and make TJ's life a misery again as well? Making my life a misery is one thing, but you leave my daughter alone.

I cannot stand this woman and I truly think she is sick and wicked. And I'm sort of thinking that p&c president isn't much better. She certainly seems to be a gossip feeder.

Why cannot I meet some nice people here and actually make some real friends? It makes me sad and makes me want to go home. But home isn't there anymore either. I have to go and wipe my tears away and be strong. I don't want to let her do this to me again and make my life hell thinking about her. Why did we have to go do all these things for Christmas? It was so much safer staying in my hole. Alone and untouched. I can feel a migraine coming on.

What a week

I cannot believe its been a week since I've blogged. There has been just so much going on, and little ole me has been trying to keep up with it all.

*Monday was swimming
*Tuesday was dancing and tennis
*Wednesday was canteen
*Thursday while the kids were at school and Nath was at preschool we - as in DH and I - did a mad dash to Erina (40 mins each way) to the toy store and bought a slide that goes into the pool. I was sequening TJ's dance outfit the whole way there and back. I think it was only thru pure desperation that I didn't throw up.
*Thursday afternoon was dress rehersal and photo day. I slapped her makeup on in under 5 mintues, with hair and finished those bloody sequins! Rehersal was supposed to go for 2 hours and ended up going for 4. Finished up at McDonalds getting dinner at 9pm with some of her dancing friends and their parents.
*Friday, take TJ to ballet while Grandma takes the boys to the preschool Christmas party. Rush back after ballet finishes to discover we weren't allowed food tickets as I had forgot to RSVP - I don't remember how many times I told them we were coming but because I hadn't filled in the piece of paperwork so we weren't allowed to eat (hot dog), drink (cup of cordial) or have a water iceblock. TJ was not impressed. Nor was I. Nor was I happy about the lack of enthusiasm of the staff, the chaos, and that santa didn't bother to put his beard on when he arrived to had out presents.
*Saturday, tennis presentation in the morning, TJ off to a birthday party in the afternoon. Nath goes home with Grandma to sleepover and BMW and I treat ourselves to Chinese at Westfield while TJ's at the party.
*Sunday, nippers, then birthday party, then Kindergarten Christmas party at the teachers house. 2 kids were saved from drowning in the pool. Tag team with Grandma to watch the kids at the party because I have to go and do a class.

Tomorrow morning its up bright and early for swim training. And I am no where near as organised as last week. Breakfast is not done, lunches are not made. It will be a very early morning. And if you got thru reading all that you've done very well.

Update #2

First of all - do you know how hard it is to take a self portrait? It needs courage, grace and time! So for the moment you'll have to wait on that one.

I know I promised some pics from Saturday. It'll have to be just one for now. I love this one

Other news is TJ had her Dance Christmas Party last night. The kids got to bed at almost 10pm which is way late for a school night, but they had lots of fun! I bought some more decorations for the yard. Nathan and I put up some lights around the ground, they look really nice, more for us to look at because they are on the inside of the yard, but living in a cul-de-sac no one really comes to see our lights anyway. Today I've been in canteen at school. Theres supposed to be no hot food, yeah right, I only had 3 sandwiches and the rest was pies, sausage rolls, etc. Its over 40 degrees celcius today. Much too hot to be cooking hot food! Now I must go organise for class tomorrow. Bye!

Lets play catch up #1

OK, yes its been three days - but who's counting hey Mel! So time to catch you all up.

Friday night swim club: finally payed our $100 and joined TJ and BMW. TJ took almost 2 seconds off her PB. WAY TO GO !! She's just done 2 weeks of swimming everyday with school and what an improvement. I am so happy for her.

Saturday: Tooheys Kids Xmas Party at Fairfield City Farm. This was a great day and I will post about it seperately. And yes of course there was free beer. Stopped in at glo's on the way home. Gotta say TJ was disapointed you weren't home as she wanted to play with girl one. DH then decides to take scenic route home via Wisemans Ferry. It was a looonnngg way. You cross the river on a car ferry. He thought the kids would really like this. Yeah, our spot as next to the cabin and a caravan next to us. Could see nothing, and you weren't allowed out of the car. I tried to take a pic to capture the moment but the camera choose that moment to run out of batteries. DOH!

Sunday: TJ dance rehearsal and photo day, then Nipper Carnival, then Club for raffle. It was supposed to be a ham raffle but turned out to be a toy raffle. Still didn't win anything. Meanwhile DH took BMW to a birthday party and looked after Nath.

Monday: This morning we joined the world of before school swimming. TJ has gone up to squad. Her squad is called the frog squad. Too cute! It started at 6:30am and was meant to go for 45 mins. Just over an hour later she got out of the pool. Then at 8am it was BMW's turn. He has stepped up to Seal and was in the big pool. He kept going across the lane and caused about 4 collisions. I'll have to talk to him about that for next time. Then it was off to school and then back to swimming for Naths turn. Phew! Mummy needs a rest. At least this afternoon they get to come home and have a swim? lol, its really hot today.

OK must go and do the bus thing now, but I will be back with installment #2 later.

Historical Haircut

So yesterday I got my haircut. I haven't had it cut since February so its grown heaps. DH likes it long I've discovered. Which is sort of ok with me. Leesa (my hairdresser) decided she liked my ringlets, so she neated it all up and added some streaks. It looks really groovy now for summer, very beachie. My Mum is going to freak tonight when she sees it. Yes I may be 30+ but Mum still likes to have her say. I can just hear her now. lol - so you did that to it did you?

Anyway, tomorrow we are out for DH's work kids Christmas Party. So I'll try and remember the camera and post some pics tomorrow night.

Chow for now!

Reality strikes

I did 2 pages last night YAY! I actually ripped two pages apart and redid them totally. I am really pleased with the results, they looked cr@p before. We've gone from totally traditional with no paper at all, to lots of paper, tags and mounting. I'm just deciding if it needs a title, which I think it does, so when I do that then I will post them.

Yesterday I had this sudden reality of how much the children are growing up. BMW is almost finished kindergarten. Nath is giving me 'baby' toys, I don't need this, its for a baby mum. And TJ, well TJ is still driving me crazy. We found a box that hadn't been unpacked since we'd moved. Yes 4 years later there is still boxes. Anyway inside it was a photo album. The ones I'd been missing. They had all the ultrasound pictures, TJ's baby photos, all the cards. The picture that grabbed me most is one of her alseep and me bleary eyed in bed after being up most of the night with her. I hardly remember the nights with the boys, but I sure do remember a lot of nights with her.

Isn't it funny how she gave me grief then and is still giving me grief now. I just think that I haven't learned. You would've thought I would have by now. Maybe she takes after me more than I thought.

Definately stubborn.
Definately gets upset easily.
Definately takes things to heart and believes everything.
And looking at my scrap table, definately messy just like her mother.

So by realising this, I guess I need to work on ways/methods/means of helping to make life easier for both of us. Especially concerning the messy bit!

Off to ponder...

Last day of tennis

Today was the last day of tennis for Brendan, so I took the camera and took some shots. 93 pics later I have some good ones to sort thru (gotta love that digital). But this is one of my favourites. My boy loves it when he scores a point.

It has been one long week and today I was a very tired gal. DH made me stay at home this afternoon, so while I was resting I downloaded and started to learn how to drive GIMP. http://www.gimp.com
It is a cool program where you can have some parts of the pic with colour and others black and white. I was playing with it this afternoon. I didn't save my results 'cause it wasn't perfect, but I will try and do something worthy of sharing tomorrow.

Chow for now.

After the crop...

So last night was my Christmas Crop. Man am I tired today. It went really well. Everyone seemed to have a good time which was great. The food was nice, even if DH did make the salad, it was a man salad, lol. He didn't even break the lettuce up into small peices, just giant leaves which hid all the other goodies. It was quite funny, but the ladies didn't seem to mind since they saw him making it. Here are some pics... the first is of the display boards with all the ideas...More display board ideas...
I totally forgot to take a pic of the product table which was quite stylish.


The little Christmas Puddings I made for dessert.

The Climb a brick Chimney game...

























Everyone cropping...

It was a good night.

Today we went for family portraits, 8:36am (which was a bit early after 3 hours of sleep). Then off to Gosford Leagues for dance rehersal for TJ. I even dozed off whilst waiting. Although I think I needed that extra bit of rest to make it back up the freeway home. I need to prepare for tomorrow, and I have some towels to hang on the line, but otherwise, this chickadee is off for a rest!

Chow for now!

todays efforts

I have worked my butt off today and still am not ready for tomorrow. Heaps is done, but still more to do.

This is todays things


I








Tired. Must sleep.

progress

The Christmas cutouts are progressing nicely. I hope they will be done for Friday since I have so many people coming. I'm not sure whats got more paint, them or me. lol. I'll post a pic when they're finished

All is asleep except for me!

I waited for the kids to go to bed tonight and then after watching some tv, I went and painted some Christmas decorations. I think I'm now a little starry eyed with the fumes of the gloss paint, but the elves, santa and reindeer are looking a bit alright. Must go sleep now.

Comments

For my avid readers out there I've changed the commenting format. I miss knowing that you're there so leave me a comment or two.

For all the loonies out there that have just surfed in, just surf on out again.

Cheers

Its been busy

So I've been real busy over the past few days. I've line up for tickets for 2 concerts, dance concerts that is. One hour in the que for ballet, that wasn't too bad. It sold out in an hour and a half. Three hours in line for the second concert. I'm so glad I binned going to the craft fair and got the tickets instead.

We did swim club on Friday night. Brendan went to a birthday party Saturday. They had a jumping castle. All was good until I let him go back in for one last jump. One little brat and Brendan told me who, decided to pinch him on the face under the nose. He ripped skin off. I was so not impressed. Now we will have a scab under the nose for the family photo next week. Not impressed. And what surprised me the most was that Brendan went back to this kid, after we wiped up the tears and blood and told him that he hurt him. It was then that we left, I could see it getting ugly.

Then today we went to nippers. All was good until we were leaving. Nath bent down to pat the caretakers dog, and just as I yelled 'no' the dog bit him on the arm. It broke the skin in two places from upper and lower teeth. I am so unimpressed. We took him to the car and got ice out of the esky and put in on his arm with him screaming. I went back to tell the caretaker and she was very complacent, he's getting old and really doesn't like little kids she said. I'm trying to calm down about it but I will be writing a letter to the management committee. Its just not on.

Poor Nath was in shock the whole way home in the car. Its so lucky that Greg was with us and I could sit in the back with little Nath.

On a good note I had a class/workshop last night and had my first $1000 anything. So I'm pretty happy about that.

Til next time

Today I was utterly disturbed by a post on SS Friends. Normally I don't let it get to me, but this one seeped into my soul. While I scrapped all I could hear was her words over and over. I have no idea why it got to me so much. But it did.

Want to know what it was over? Swaps. Stupid and childish. The mines better than hers mentality, or should I correct that and say, the hers isn't good enough as mine mentality. I am so sick of seeing posts about whats good enough and whats not. I work hours (and hours) on mine and think they are pretty ok.

I know I shouldn't simmer on this but I have. I got a pm which cooled me down a little which sorta said, if they can't say it to you directly don't worry about it; and its part of Gods creation, God doesn't create crap so mine should be just fine. lol. Thanks for that.

The even sillier part is that I don't even think this poster was talking about mine, although I was in the same swap, but it offended me just the same.

Note to self: finish what I said I would do and don't sign up for anymore. Learn to say no.

A day is, a day was,

Went shopping with DH today. It took almost 6 hours to buy food. We did have a snack and get me a new mobile phone YAH. It looked a bit stormy when we left so though we should get the washing in when we got home. As you do.

Well when we got home, the wind was blowing a gale. Dirt from where they are building in the farm was blowing down then street and across our house like a sand storm (or dirt storm in this case). It was wild and horrible. And we had windows open in the house.

We got the washing in and then it started to rain. I thought it was going to hail it was that heavy and wild. Now there's accidents everywhere. A house has blown across the main road blocking the bridge, and the other connecting road is blocked by a 4 car accident. So lukcy we didn't have swimming today or we would be there in the middle of it. It would take 2 hours to drive the other way around the lake.

TJ has gone to dancing, I so wish we had kept her home but its too close to concert time.

I'm just glad we don't have any gum trees around us now like we used to at our old house. Its awfully worrying about them falling down on you.

Oh and some of the building supplies blew from the farm into our place, we are 4 houses down. DH said he'd take it back tomorrow. Oh boy.

Working on a Sunday

I did a class today. And one during the week. Both super keen. Loved it. Both no sales. Yuk. I hate this part of the job.

Otherwise we had fun at the beach this morning. Would've had more fun if we could've stayed longer instead of having to leave so I could go do silly class. Silly because no sales - see paragraph above.

Now I know what signals Christmas

Tonight I spied my first Christmas Beetle of the season. There was a post on S&S Friends the other day about what made Christmas special for you, and what traditions you had. Christmas Beetles make it special for me. And we have a long tradition of saving them out of the pool so they don't drown. I would've tried to take a pic of it, but Oscar tried to eat it so sitting still wasn't on its list tonight. I will try for one out in the sun, yes I'll do the no flash thing with the macro. Maybe I'll even find the tripod.

Bad Fair Day

I had a stall at our local spring fair today. Some LOSER stole one of my new paperpacks. NOT HAPPY JAN! How rude. How totally rude. I didn't cover costs and I'm also missing a brand new shades of paperpack. AND they had to pick the one colour that a). I need, and b). I only have one of. GRRRR

Grrrr

We took oscar to get a clip today.
This is before...

Grrr blogger still doesn't want to play photo. Thats annoying.

So I won't bother about the after shot but he does look like a completely different dog.

So why am I sharing this? We go to pick him up tonight and the groomer comes out, bends down to talk to me. Not a good sign.

She tells me that she nicked him and he's got 3 stitches. THATS NOT A NICK! Well she reckons it is. So I've been sent home with one of those plastic collars for him in case he keeps licking at it. And I have to watch him. I never knew how much this dog licked his bottom. Ugh. And I'm trying to organise 3 kids and pack for a craft fair tomorrow.

Whats annoying as well is that I had already paid before they brought him out. I guess we'll be talking about that when he has to get his stitches out in 10 days.

Pool Fun

Yesterday was such a stinking hot day that we went for a swim in the pool after dinner. The kids were 'supposed' to sit on the steps and not swim around becuase we had literally just finished dinner. We put the spa jets on the help keep them on the step, and when they got out I discovered quite by accident that if you block the spa outlet, water shoots up the air intake pipe.

The kids thought it was so funny, surprising and scary that I had to do it over and over again. We're planning on surprising Grandma with it on the weekend. If I have that video camera out I reckon we could score some good money on funniest home videos!

Oh and the kids had absolutely no idea how I was doing it.

I took a challenge tonight

Yes nothing tough and hard to do, just a quiz to see what disney character you are most like. This is mine
I am a curious sole that is always asking why and how to many life's questions. My curiosity can sometimes get me into trouble, but I mean well. I am a creative person that loves to dream up my own world.

Here it is if you want to try it for yourself
http://quizilla.com/users/Kereokacola/quizzes/Which%20DISNEY%20character%20are%20you%20most%20like%3F/

Oh so true.

Oh so yum...

I finished the cake- no I haven't eaten all of it. But I've had a slice. Oh so yum! I love my cadbury's chocolate but that Betty Crocker Whipped Chocolate Frosting with the Hershey's chocolate is just divine.

Thanks so much Gloria for sharing your American cake with me. It is just delicous. The pics don't want to play, so I'll try later.

cake update

It turned out perfect. Nothing stuck. Looks delicous. I've covered it with a tea towel so it can cool. Afternoon tea is going to be delicous today!

I'm baking!

I have made a batch of cupcakes this morning and now I am baking my first American cake. When it was ready to go in the oven, just minutes ago, the kids were all upstairs getting ready for school, so I got to lick the beaters. YUM!! I can't wait for it to be cooked. But I am going to be a good girl and let it cool and then do the frosting thing. I'll post a pic later 4 u. Bye for now.

I got some news today

Today my brother rings up. He has some news. He got engaged over the weekend. He took a 4 day cruise with his girl and proposed. They haven't set a date. Her name is Sarah. Apparently I've met her (to which I told him he has brought that many girls to my house I have given up keeping track). He has moved into his new house. They are having a baby together and she is 4 months pregnant. And they are flying out tonight to Bankok and Puket for a holiday for 2 weeks.

Hows that for a lot of news all at once? I guess I should be happy for him, but it would be nice to actually know who she is.

A day at the beach

TJ had her first nipper carnival today. She didn't do very well, but also didn't embaress herself. There was 92 U8's. Thats a lot of girls. I had to help official this afternoon. You never know how hard to choose second place actually is.

Just a short one tonight. I'm tired and sunburnt. Goodnite!

I'm out of the loop

I took TJ out to dinner tonight. It was just the local chinese. DH and the boys had gone to grandmas to sleep over. Man, am I out of the loop. The prices in the chinese just about killed me. I can't beleive how much they have gone up. We're talking ridiculous. Looks like I'll be staying out of the loop for a loonngg while yet.

Swim club

We went to swim club for the very first time tonight. The kids did 3 races each. BMW is in splashers and TJ in satelites. Brendan got a first and 2 seconds, and TJ 3 seconds, though I was told its not based on placings but rather their times. I guess we will have to get used to that as the kids are really keen to go back. And I mean REALLY keen, especially TJ.

Swim vs Frog

I had my first proper swim of the season today. The kids have been in since the end of September, but I've only just stood in the water up until today. So I do the big dive, have a swim around and think oh something smells bad. Must be something dead in the garden and think nothing of it. Keep swimming, then TJ says, Mum whats that?

Now I know what smelt bad. We have a floater. Dead. Frog. Floater. YUK!

So the bloated frog is now on the boogie board, on top of the filter box. If a bird eats it, good luck to it, otherwise DH will have to deal with it tomorrow when he wakes up. YUK YUK YUK!

And yeah, I made everyone get out of the pool quick smart. Tomorrow creepy will be on and it'll be a trip to the pool shop for extra chlorine. YUK

Why do I do it to myself?

We had pizza tonight. I was tired from driving and had a headache. So I thought why not? I'm beginning to think I must be the Pavlov failure. I need to remeber pizza makes me feel yuk. Pizza does not equal weight loss. Why do I not remember this before I order? Yukky way to finish off a great day. Note to self: no more pizza!

Melbourne Cup

For the first time I had a fun Melbourne cup. I created my own fun with a sweep on SSS. I'm sure DH thought I was crazy but he helped with the draw of the names for the horses. First time ever I got a place. That was pretty cool. I guess it was the first time I ever betted on a horse race too. Lucky it was only sizzix die cuts!

Halloween

Our Jack-o-lantern 'Jack' looked great at our front door. The kids had heaps of fun trick or treating and got heaps of lollies. We went with some girls from school. It was funny the kids going to the door and the mums hanging on the footpath waiting and watching.

For dessert I made the kids eyeball jelly. It was supposed to be a spooky treat but no one really liked the taste of the eyeballs. I think I grossed them out just a bit!

Jack-o-lantern

We made our first Jack-o-lantern this morning. It wasn't as hard as I had imagined, although I did have some good instruction. My hands now smell really nice as the only vaseline I had was the baby one and it was scented, so the pumpkin and I smell quite lovely!

The kids drew a picture each of what they wanted to look like so I tried to incorpoate into it something for each of them so they were involved too. I love the digital camera because they could all take photos of it and be part of the experience.

Everyone is so excited for Halloween tomorrow, just wait till the kids see what I've got in line for them for dessert. I love that special lolly shop!

There was so many things I was meant to do today. A fair, immunisation, a delivery to the all day crop which I'm not attending, and twilight nipper carnival, oh and DH is working. So I decided to skip the fair, its really not feasable with my 3 kids to look after as well, plus it didn't finish until 3pm. The kids really want to go to nippers, it starts at 2pm. So Nath got immunised, we did the delivery and went to nippers. Such a full day and I am so exhausted.

Nath was a legend for his immunisation. He had to have 3 needles, two in one arm, 1 in the other. He just made a tiny little whimper, the nurse gave him lots of lollies for being so brave.

At the nipper carnival BMW won 2 events and came 2nd in another. TJ kept coming 6th, but considering there is 18 in her group thats pretty good. And for the wade, she let everyone else go first before she started to run. Imagine if she had gone when everyone else did, she may have even won. We had a bbq dinner, played in the sand and surf and stayed for the presentation. It was a really nice day.

My girls back

I have been wondering what had happened to TJ. For 2 days we had the good twin. But I shouldn't have been worried, getting off the bus today, and yelling at me through the car window was my girl. She was back alright. Its funny how the whole mood of the house shifts depending on her.

Even on the way home from ballet she mentioned that the good twin had come to visit. I know, I tell her, but she's not listening, shes telling me how the good twin had come back from vacation to visit, but normally the good twin stays at school.

So for those of you reading this that think I am truly bizarre here is the difference. Wednesday, she gets in the car extra polite and quiet, asks conversational questions and responds in a pleasant manner. Thursday AM, quiet in the house, no yelling, gets self ready for school, plays with brothers and is totally organised. Even comes home from school and is still quiet and pleasant. Even does homework without argument.

It was refreshing, but also quite strange to have the good twin here. Oh and thats my girls language, it was her that first brought up about having a twin. When I think about it, she's been with us for a very long time.

Catching up

I caught up with my lovely cyber friend today. Hey Glo! It was so nice to see her again and meet her daughter, even though she wasn't well. When I told TJ she was a bit disappointed as to why she didn't get to meet her too. TJ also wanted to know how tall she was, because if she's 9 would she be a lot taller than her? If not, then they could play together. Don't you love how kids think?

I did some shopping while I was out, and sorry girls I didn't get shoes, but I did get lollies! There is this ace lolly shop and I got some Halloween lollies and eyeballs. The lady said to set them in jelly. I'm going to surprise the kids. They will love it! DH just shook his head when I showed him.

Tuesday

Today was a quiet lovely and very warm day. Nath and I had a lovely time together. We watched some tv, we sorted out some pmp (my flolder was bulging from all those little bits), we swam in the pool and ate watermelon. I took a photo of us using the timer function on the camera. We even picked up some pizza for dinner and the kids rode their scooters in the street after dinner. I can feel summer coming.

Eeewww...

I made for dinner tonight Turkish meatballs, and plain lamb ones for the kids. They are so easy to eat just in a wrap with some salad and the kids really like them. Tonight we had some fresh lemons from next door, and a squeeze of lemon just adds that extra zing to them. So I cut up the lemons and added them to the salad.

After eating two, I squeezed the lemon onto my third and out came a bug that looked just like a maggot. EEEEWWWW. It was so gross. I had to throw everything out. And now my stomach feels sick because I had already eaten two, with lemon. Its disgusting to even think about it.

Where is that vomit smilie when you need him?

Dancing Day

Today I got up way early, with TJ, caught a bus at 6:45am from the dance school and headed to Cambelltown for an eisteddfod. It took 2 hours on the bus to get there. The place was packed. There was so many people there and lots of really good dancers.

TJ danced in the 8U jazz troupes first. They did 2 dances, Jump and Boys of Summer. There were 20 troupes altogether. And some hot competition. The best group (IMO), got disqualified because they had a girl in it who was 10yrs old. They were so upset with all the little girls and the dance teacher crying. That was hard to watch. Our girls got 3rd for Jump which was a great result, they danced really well.

They then got changed into their tap stuff and danced Mambo No 5. There was 10 troupes in this section and they got a highly commended. The ones that won were simply brillant. It was very pleasing that they were awarded a highly commended.

With the boy from their troupe being in hospital with pneumonia, and another girl out the back unable to dance after getting motion sickness from the trip down, I think they did a great job, and I'm really proud of my girl.

Tonight I've been playing with my sizzix and watching the Arias. There is some really good music on and its nice to sit and have a bit of a watch and catch up.

Thats all folks.

Actually went out

TJ is having a sleep over tonight at a friends from school, she was so excited. MIL came to look after the boys and DH and I went out! OK it wasn't that exciting, we had to go to a parents meeting at the surf club. I could tell DH really wasn't interested, but at least he came.

Afterwards we stopped at a couple of restaurants to find some nice eats. Third resturant lucky and we dined out like real grownups. The restuarant we choose was sicilian. We both had veal and prawns and risotto on the side, but we had different sauces. I choose a creamy sauce which won't be good for the scales I'm sure, but it was yummy! With much controlled effort I didn't even have dessert.

We came home to sleeping kids, MIL doing our ironing, and she had folded all the washing upstairs. Off to bed now.
Night.

brothers

I got a call from my brother tonight, well it was just really returning my call from this afternoon. Part way thru the conversation he tells me I don't need to be a stranger, I could ring more often. Hello? This goes both ways dude.

He was waiting for me to ask about his house he has bought. He could tell me about his house he has bought.

Pain in the ass. I bet he'll ring mum now and I'll be getting grief from her next. I wonder if he's ever planning on telling me the name of this girl he's bought the house with? The one DH heard my mum telling his mum that he was going to marry next year. Might be nice to be introduced before then.

Gotta love family.

Swimming Lesson Request

My girl is so funny. She comes up to me with a note tonight from school. While I'm trying to cook dinner. Its about swimming lessons. Its for 2 weeks learn to swim intensive lessons. Can she please go? And then in the next breath says, its intensive mum, so I'll get to be really good at my butterfly, I can practive everyday. Well who could say no to that kind of thinking. Good for her. I wonder what the people will think when she turns up and can already swim? I did have to break the news to her though that she would still have to go back to school after the lesson, not just stay at the pool all day. Oh she said, just a little disappointed.

And the note, it will be going back tomorrow with some of dinner on it.


Wendy

Feel like a turtle? I'll just crawl back into my shell.

Today has been a busy day and I didn't even go anywhere. No bus, no dancing, no tennis. Not even to the letterbox. Today I cleaned 2 rooms. Reorganised my study again. I have my scrapping table mostly setup with all my little jobs to do sectioned on it. I have finished all my Chirstmas tags for the tag swap Yeah! Just got to figure out what to put them in to send. I am almost caught on my raks, which feels good in itself. And I finally made the decision to buy a sizzix and some dies.

Poor DH said if I buy this, I can't complain about the lack of blocks in the garden, paint on the walls or curtains. I won't complain hon, honest! It might just be there when you get home one day.

So I'm ording my stuff online. I get to the final page to enter my payment details and the silly site goes line error. Ugh. I ring them, and they closed a half hour prior. I'm rethinking, is it a sign? Am I really meant to do this? And what shop closes at 2:30 in the afternoon. Oh yeah, a scrapping one.

On another note, I've been wondering again philisophically about me today whilst I've sat and scrapped. Why am I the girl that everyone likes well enough but never anyones friend? I've always been the one not invited to the parties. Not invited to come and stay. Yeah it hurts a bit when I'm constantly overlooked. Makes me wonder about myself. What it is that I say/do. Or is it what I don't do. I really have no idea. Contrary to belief I am quiet. I think way too much and when some one else refers to ANYone I think they are referring to me.

Which brings me to another point. This international stuff makes it really hard. I am geographically challenged which I will admit to. I don't know where things are on the other side of the world. I don't know how some words upset some people. Its not an excuse. But if you've never been exposed to other cultures before how are you supposed to know? Should you not be given the chance after getting it wrong to be forgiven? Or maybe I am forgiven. I'm just that girl that no ones really friends with. I get it. I think.

I'll just crawl back into my shell now. I don't know if its worth sticking my head out to look around or not.

Sunday again

Its Sunday again and the second week of Nippers, and the second week of cold windy weather. It was freezing on the beach and the kids were wet and running around in swimmers. brrr. BMW seemed to be enjoying his activities, really running fast in the bucket brigade. TJ had fun in the flags, coming in the middle of the group again which was good. She just needs to get up a bit quicker and focus a little more, but I'm sure that will come with age and practice. You can see her long legs catching up the others as they reach the flags.

TJ told me today she'd like to go in the carnival thats coming up. I'm sure that will be an interesting day, but I am pleased that she is interested in trying. She also wants to go board training. It makes me wonder if this is a swing away from dancing. Its equally as healthy and definately cheaper. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Tonight she's gone off to a birthday party. It was themed disco diva, but all the little girls turned up in party dresses for the disco. I may need to relook at her wardrobe for next time she goes out with this group of girls. TJ didn't seem to mind though. The birthday girl is from ballet and all the girls seem very different from the girls at school. That could be a good thing. I'm sure she will have fun.

later

Boys will be Boys

My DH was sleeping all day today. So I've been trying to keep the kids quiet.
A hard task with 3 youngens. We had to go out and borrow some stock this afternoon so I thought we could waste some time and stop at the hardware store to look at paint colours.

Luckily the store was pretty empty until a Mum from school turned up. She just commented on my boys, who were running around and around and around. Poor things were just trying to use up some of that energy they had accumulated all day being quiet! The shop staff didn't seem to amused though. Oh well, at least they didn't break anything.

Stop the world...I want to get off

I got a pm today, "Wendy are you alright?" Well....no.

Do you ever get that feeling like you are being pulled in a thousand directions at once? Everyone wants everything now, if not yesterday. I've worked my butt off at school for the p&c fundraiser. Which I didn't mind doing, but it irks me when other p&c members are strolling around enjoying themselves and not even bothering to ask if someone needs help. I had all these deliveries to do, children to get ready for after school activities, and trying to keep them quiet so my DH can get a little bit of rest before a 12hour nightshift and a drive down the freeway.

I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING

I have a huge list of things to do. List stuff on ebay becuase we have no money. Finish RAKs, which I can't send yet, because I have no money. Clean house. Organise for workshop. Ring customers. Keep children quiet while DH sleeps. Play with dog. And on it goes. Ugh. Somewhere in there I'm supposed to be a good Mum, read stories and do all the other stuff a Mum does.

A day on our own

It was so nice today to spend it with DH. We did window shopping, had yum cha for lunch, we also had to do a delivery, but he drove so I didn't get lost! It was just so nice to spend time with him and just him. Not a child in sight. It makes you remember why you are together.

hmmm...

will get back to this one...

Canteen by ones self

Did canteen today. I never look forward to it, but I'm getting better at it each time. I was 'solo' again today which I figure is actually ok because I can just do my own thing and be organised the way I like it, and not have to worry about someone else. It is hard work though.

I am proud of myself I have to tell you. I didn't forget anyones meals. Everything was timed well. Cash added up right, and I even found the set of keys they lost yesterday. Wasn't the principal happy about that!

Off to bed now.

Wendy

Shopping...ugh

I went for an innocent xryon refill for my little x this morning. Well they don't carry the refills anymore so I had to upgrade to the xyron 250, gee ... what a shame. I've come home and used it and love it!

But while I was at the shops I thought I might look at some of those lovely aqua clothes that are out at the moment. Could I find anything to fit? No. It appears that since I've lost 5 kilos I'm now between sizes. One size too tight, next size looks like a tent. It is really discouraging. I have P&C this afternoon. I'm sure that will make everything else look fantastic in comparison.

Later.

Back to it

Well it was back to school today after the holidays. BMW took it really well, which I was surprised at considering he's only in kindy. I think telling him that he just had this term to go and then Santa would come helped.

Nath did great at swimming lessons. He's got a new teacher who is brillant and we've swapped times away from the boy that always tipped the steps over. Nath was completely different from last term. Completely improved which is great.

After school TJ did her timed swim for Nippers. She had to do 200M in less than 6 minutes. She made it with 10 seconds to spare. What a huge effort. The poor darlin then had to turn around and do a half hour swim lesson. I'm so glad that we did it today and not tomorrow night after 2 hours of dancing. She never would have made it then.

BMW had his lesson too. He's getting a lot stronger and is now doing 2 lengths of the hyrdo pool at once. I'm sure by the end of term he will be going up a level and into the big pool.

And tonight? Not a peep out of any of them at bed time. BMW was asleep before we went down stairs, after the 1st round of tuckins. Gotta love that.

Cheers

Wow WHAT a Day!

Talk about finishing the school holidays off with a bang. We've been on the go all day. It started at 8:15am and we got in just after 6pm tonight.

Today was the first day of Nippers for the season. BMW was very excited to be starting red caps, the youngest of all the age groups. I bought him the club cossie and rashie so he fitted right in. He seemed to have a good time playing games on the sand.

TJ has gone up to yellow caps. The surf was a bit rough today from the wind so they just did beach events, she seemed to go sort of well in the flags and the sprints, but she is really looking forward to board paddling.

Even Nath behaved himself and played with a little friend that he made. Its much easier him being a year older and happy to play in the sand this season.

On the drive home we stopped in at the new Home Zone. 2GO radio was there and they had a free bbq and icecreams, a clown showing the kids some juggling and other fun tricks, face painting and balloon making, a jumping castle, dodgems and the St George Dragon. The kids had heaps of fun, although TJ vowed never to go on the dodgems again. BMW told me later he was driving. Go figure. We also met Tara Dennis the designer. She was so lovely and gave me some suggestions for finishing the decorating of the lounge room. I've at least got an idea of what to look for now for curtains. She was impressed that I could sew.


A quick stop at home to pick up a birthday present and we were off to Mingara for Holly's birthday party. We ended up being early so the kids all had a swim. Naths face painting slid off in the water leaving a weird red and black mess which was a little amusing.

Finally party time came around and TJ went off with her friends. They are all growing up so fast. BMW and Nath had enough swimming so we went for a tour of the club next door. The boys found a play area on the terrace, so they played for a while and I got to listen to some jazz. The band was quite good, and it was nice to sit and relax for a while.

The party finally finished and we left to the 'I'm Hungry' whine from the boys. I should know by now not to go out without food for them. They are going to cost me a fortune when they get bigger.

We've all come home tired but happy. I've even got the first sunburn of the season.

Chow for now.

A Scrappers Life

Today has been a great scrapping day. I went to the shops this morning and got my photos printed and spent the rest of the day scrapping them, while DH ironed and watched cartoons and motor racing. He's still ironing now. That was a huge pile!

This is my favourite layout from today.


This was from just last week. It feels so good to have it scrapped already because it was such a lovely day. The kids and I got to meet Gloria, which was fantastic and she is so sweet. She brought the kids a whole bag of lollies which took them 3 days to get through. And they loved her. TJ said it wasn't just becuase of the lollies, but becuase she was interested in them. According to TJ, when they meet my friends they just ignore them and talk to me, but Gloria was interested in them, and she really liked that. Nath is still asking about her.

Nathans bear is named Huggle. Everyday he gets changed from his jammies into his day clothes, and at night back into his jammies. It was so lovely for him to build this bear, he really has ownership of it, but he stilll can't let go of his broken teddy. Last night it crept back into bed with Huggle. Apparently Huggle is its Mum. Oh well, he has plenty of love for both of them.

The Cave

I've just been though the mess of the cave again with TJ. It again ended up with her in tears. I can't beleive what I find in the mess. Lolly wrappers from lolly bags, the empty lolly bags from birthday parties, pencil sharpenings from where she decided to sharpen her pencils on her desk while she was doing her homework many moons ago, bits of barbie or bratz clothes, books, pens and the list goes on.

The thing that got me most was the little torn bits of paper. The little messages. More mess. She has been asked constantly for at least the last 8 weeks, since Grandma cleaned it last time for her, to clean it up, and all she has done is cry about it and shove things in the corners, under the bed, on the desk or in the shelves. I am trying to get through to her that this is not the way to live. To be respectful of her things. That I didn't go and buy her nice things for her to treat them this way.

How can I justify getting her more nice things when she can't look after the things she already has?

It makes me sad to make her sad. I know those little scraps of paper mean something important to her. She just needs to keep her cave clean.

My first mum and daughter crop

Being the school holidays I thought it would be smart to have a mother and daughter crop. It was a very interesting thing, and I don't think I will be promoting it again in a hurry. People who had booked in just didn't come, well nothing new there, that happens all the time. But because the people that did come weren't regulars they expected the world for their $10. And me being a softie, well what can I say. Plus they then didn't spend any money. Ugh. Hope tomorrows better.

Today Nath went to preschool, and TJ and BMW came out with me. We had a nice morning window shopping at Erina, in the camping store, Harvey Norman for the PictureMate and a bed for BMW. Then we headed into Erina Fair. The kids were quite keen to go on the bungee. It seems to be there every holidays.

BMW got all hooked up first and then started to cry, deciding it wasn't for him afterall. The lady tried to convince him, but he just wanted off. TJ then strapped in for her go and she had so much fun. 4 minutes goes for a very long time. She tried so hard to do a somersault but just couldn't get there. Afterwards we went to Yum Cha. Yummo!

I can't believe how hot its got so quick. It was 32 degrees celcius when we went to pick up Nath at 5pm. Lucky we could come home for a swim afterwards. Off for a nice relaxing evening watching Robots and eating pizza.

My first blog

I seem to be starting a new life. My old life is getting left behind. I am meeting new people, although rarely IRL, being influenced by thoughts and ideas, being inspired and shown new ways.

My goals as a twenty year old were to have a car with a sunroof, earn over $40,000, and something else completely material. I accomplished that all at 22yrs old, and have been left wondering and floundering a little ever since. Until now. Oh and the car is almost worn out, 250,000kms later.

Now I find out its ok, to be me. To put my kids first. To enjoy what I do. I now understand what the lecturers meant at uni, when it was no longer about what they earnt.

I'm slowly adjusting to my new role. Today my baby is no longer a baby. I am seeing a new direction. Thanks for looking in on my journey.