A Perfect Afternoon

We had the best afternoon today. My sister and her son came over and we took the kids to a duck pond that is about 10 mins from our place. It is such a beautiful place and the kids had a great time.

There are heaps of walkways and bridges around the pond and it was lovely to walk around with the kids. We took 2 loaves of bread and the kids fed the ducks and unfortunately the seagulls who wanted some of the action.

And the best thing, it was free. We spent hours there and not only was it a beautiful and peaceful place, we all got some exercise in the fresh air.

Kids are in bed now and are all looking forward to their first day back at school for 2007.

I love this photo. My kids with their 2-1/2 year old cousin.

There is one part of the pond that has the most spectacular water lillies. They looked plastic they were so perfect.

Happy, Happy, Happy

I am happy. Can't you tell - lol.

I lost 1.4 kgs this week. I have been very good and it showed on the scales. I treated myself to a yummy lunch of sushi and cold rolls.

We went to our local Westfield shopping centre for lunch and to update my mobile phone. We were sitting in the food court and I was looking around. There were lots of healthy options which we chose, but do you know where the biggest line was.

KFC!!!!

I guess this probably comes as no surprise to a lot of you but I was amazed. With all the yummy and healthy food around, it just goes to show you can't make people eat healthy. Granted, people might just come shopping once a week or whatever and only have KFC then and eat healthy the rest of the time. But I know what I would prefer to spend my money on. You could even smell the fatty smell from the oil. Yuk!!!!!!

My phone contract ran out in November and I have been meaning to upgrade my phone since then. I had a 2 year old nokia and it was very basic. My new phone is very cool, even has an mp3 player and it didn't cost me anything. Just had to resign for 2 years on a $19 plan which was even better than the $25 plan we were on previously.

So it's been a good day.

I just heard on the news that there was a huge brawl at the Australia Day celebrations at our local beach last night. Possibly had something to do with the Australian flag. How pathetic are some people. I guess that's what happens when a group of young louts get together with too much alcohol in their systems. We had made plans to go down there for the fireworks display but ended up staying at the party we were at longer than we thought. I am so glad of that. I wouldn't have wanted my kids seeing that behaviour. It's amazing to think that we were down there the night before and it was such a perfect night and then this happened the next night.

My kids with Maddie, one of Nikki's friends at the sideshows. Jarryd won the snake hanging around his neck.

Ashleigh on the Bungy Jump with Nikki in the background. They had a ball doing somersaults. Must have been great exercise because they were very tired after.

Happy Australia Day

I have been a bit lazy this week updating my blog but nothing much has happened. I've been back at work for 2 weeks now and it doesn't even feel like I've had a holiday. Oh well only 36 weeks until our big Queensland holiday!!

I had to put Bonnie's surgery off until next Thursday because I really want to be around the day after she has it and that wasn't possible this week. I really don't have a good feeling about this lump. It's not bothering her though. For a 13 year old german shepherd, she still can still give the birds a run for their money.

We are going to some friends tonight for a Australia Day BBQ and then there are fireworks at Semaphore which we are going to try and get to.

Last night Nikki had a friend over from Melbourne for a sleepover and we took the kids to the Semaphore sideshows. They have been there all the school holidays and I have been promising to take them for ages. Every time we were going, it was either too hot or like last Saturday night, it was pouring with rain. So last night was perfect. I had lots of 2 for 1 vouchers and it made it a bit cheaper but I still managed to spend around $60. We met up with some friends there and all the kids went on the cha cha. My kids loved it but one of the other kids who is older than my kids had his eyes shut the whole time and we could tell he was hating it. When he came off, he looked very white and I thought he was going to be sick but he came good. We had a good laugh though!!

We even went for a walk on the jetty and got to see the comet that everyone is talking about. It was such a perfect night. One of those gorgeous balmy summer nights.

I have been reading lots of blogs lately talking about the word "diet"
I really think that has been my downfall with my weight loss. I set myself goals and struggle to get there. I really think the only way this is going to work is if I can change my mindset to living a healthy eating lifestyle. Does that make sense??
When I deprive myself of treats, I end up going on a binge and undo all the good I have done. In a way the weight watchers plan does this. I know there is negative talk about ww but their way of thinking is so true. There is nothing you can't have. You just can't have the bad foods all the time.

Saying that, I have had a very good week this week after last week. The proof will be on the scales tomorrow morning but there will be a loss. There hasn't been enough exercise this week unfortunately due to things happening Tuesday, Wednesday and last night but I will step that up this week.

I have found so much support in the blogger world especially Lisa Jane and Kate. We've had some crazy chats lately but I want to thank you for your support in this journey. I am very determined to see this through. One thing about me is that I never give up. Thank god or I would weigh about 200 kgs - lol!!!!!!!

Have a fantastic Aussie Day weekend everyone.

Back to Work

My life of leisure has come to an end - lol. I started back at work after 3 weeks off on Monday. I was really dreading it because I was enjoying doing nothing and sleeping in every day but surprisingly it was quite easy to get back into routine again. Routine is taking the kids to mums before work so we have to be out of the house by 8.30am which isn't too bad. Luckily mum has made it easier for me and picked the kids up a couple of days last week.

We did have some sad news at work this week though. A customer that we have been dealing with for many years took his own life a couple of weeks ago. It was a huge shock to us but imagine how it would have been for the person who found him at his workshop. He shot himself!!! He was probably in his mid to late fifties. God only knows what was so bad in his life that he felt that was the only way out.

Actually it's been a week for bad news. We found a lump on the tummy of our 13 year old german shepherd. It looked like a cyst so we took her straight to the vet who has diagnosed skin cancer. And possibly an aggresive one because it has come up so quickly. She is going in to have it cut out next Wednesday. Then what to do???? We could pay another $100 on top of the cost of the operation to have it analysed but if it is aggresive skin cancer we couldn't afford the treatment if it could be treated. Also she is a 13 year old dog so why would we put her through any form of treatment. The vet did say if it was bad she would go downhill pretty quickly so I guess we would know then anyway what to do.

We had a great weekend away last weekend. I love going over to Stansbury. It is a pretty seaside town about 2 hours from Adelaide and all Steve's family live over that way. Country people sure know how to party!! They put on a huge spread for tea which included a whole lamb on the spit and lots of bbq meat and chicken. There was every type of salad you could imagine and more. After that dessert was brought out and the huge table was full of pavlovas, cheesecakes, chocolate frogs in jelly for the kids, slices and mousses. The was also a huge fruit platter which I made a beeline for. I was very proud of myself for not indulging in the other desserts. But worse was to come. (for me anyway) An hour or so later, out came all the nibbles like chips, dips, cheeses, mettwurst, nuts and the list goes on. All the things I have absolutely no control over - lol. But I didn't drink so that was a plus.

Steve's brother Neil (who's 40th it was) plays drums in a local band and they played for a few hours. They were really good and it was an unreal night. The kids had a ball and by the time we left at around 1am, they were absolutely exhausted. Apparently they had to kick the local copper out at 8am. And guess who forgot her camera AGAIN - BUGGER!!!!!!!

Now for the weigh in this week. Bit of a disaster really because I managed to gain 600g. After being pretty good at the party, it all went downhill from there. I know I shouldn't use TTOM as an excuse but I have been craving sugar so badly this week. I have had a couple of blowouts so I have no-one but myself to blame for my gain. Also the weather has been horrible - a couple of 38-40 deg days and then days where the humidity was 94% and I used it as an excuse not to walk. I didn't walk any day this week and it has shown on the scales. So I have set myself a challenge this week to walk at least 4-5 days.

I AM SO SICK OF THE EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick Update

We are about to go away for the weekend for Steve's brother's 40th birthday party but I wanted to pop in quickly and post my weigh in result.

Drumroll................................

I lost 2 kgs this week. Goes to show what exercising and tracking can do.

Beckie, thanks for your help with posting links to my blog. I will have a play with it tomorrow night when we get back.

Changing Settings

Thanks to Kate, I have just worked out how to get the right date and time on this blog - lol.

Thanks Kate.

Now just have to work out how to put links on my blog.

Steve's New Toy

Steve picked up his new motorbike on Tuesday night. Now I know nothing about motorbikes but apparently this is exactly what he has been looking for. It's in immaculate condition. I think we were lucky because the seller was looking for a quick sale to pay off his credit card. I don't think he had ridden it very much. So this should keep hubby happy for a few years.

I used the opportunity to ask if I could have a trip to Melbourne in April for my birthday and he agreed. Good timing I reckon - lol.

We've had a few hot days again this week and the kids have been in the pool again. At the moment they are at the pictures seeing 'Happy Feet' with Katherine our next door neighbour. I'm just waiting on a text message to go and pick them up.

I can't believe how quick my holiday is going. I'm back at work on monday. How is that possible?? I'm really not ready to go back to work. We have no routine here at the moment. Kids have been going to bed around 11pm and not waking up until 10am. I love the holidays!!! Big shock next week though as I have to take the kids to mums before I start work which will mean us getting up at 7.30am.

I have been very good this week with my food and exercise. I have walked every night which I am really enjoying. I take one of the kids each night around 7.30pm. It's such a good time because it's cooler. I love checking out everyone's gardens and getting some ideas.

I'm looking forward to weighing in on Saturday. I'll be back with a result.

Ashleigh is Steve's apprentice bbq chef. She always cooks when Steve is cooking a bbq. And might I say, he cooks a mean bbq. Here they are cooking bacon and eggs for breakfast.

Jarryd is getting very confident in his floatie - lol. Last year he wouldn't even go in the pool. Now he is jumping off the side. He is going to have swimming lessons very soon. He told me he won't have them until he is 10!!!

Tooo Hot

Thank goodness for a cooler day!! It's only going to be 31 here today. The last 3 days have been 39 and 40 deg although we got some rain yesterday which cooled things down a lot but also made it really humid.

We have spent most of the week in the pool which has been wonderful. On Thursday we had 12 kids and 5 adults in the pool at different stages. I felt like I was running vacation care - lol. The only grizzle I have with kids coming over for a swim is that they get so hungry and not many of the kids ever bring anything to eat. Why is that?? So I brought out very little on Thursday. I had some microwave popcorn and some frankfurts and that was lunch. I'm sure they were all very hungry when they went home.

Steve had to go home to Stansbury on Tuesday for his nana's funeral. She was 89 and had been in a nursing home for a couple of years. Still very sad because she was a wonderful lady. She had 10 kids and there were a lot of family there. I didn't go with the kids because it was a gravesite service 2 hours from Adelaide and it was very hot. I'm not sure how the kids would have coped with it. Steve went over on his motorbike.

Speaking of motorbikes, Steve has been looking for a new (second hand) one for a while now. He went to look at one in the paper today and he rang me to ask how much we had in the bank for a deposit. He is so happy. It's just what he has been looking for. He has always ridden Kawasaki bikes but recently he has had other bikes which I really don't think he has been completely happy with. So he is back to a Kawasaki again. Don't ask me what model but I will post a photo when he picks it up later in the week. So hopefully we will have a happy daddy in our house instead of a grumpy daddy - lol.

Like a lot of people, I have started my weight loss journey afresh with the new year. I weighed for the 1st time today after 5 weeks and I have put on 3 kgs. How come it is so easy to put on weight and so hard to lose it?????? Anyway it wasn't unexpected. I have been drinking and eating far too much but I don't regret enjoying myself over the christmas/new year period. It is only 39 weeks until our Queensland holiday so I really need to get back into it. I have been walking again every night even in the heat. Nikki came with me last night and she was exhausted when we got back. It was raining but we still went with our umbrellas. Actually it was very nice but very humid.

I only have 1 week of holidays left. Where did that go?? I must admit I have been very lazy and haven't done very much with the kids, but because it has been so hot they have been in the pool every day and haven't even asked to go to the pictures. I have a few friends to catch up with next week and then I will be back at work. Not looking forward to that at all. I love the school holidays. No routine at all. The kids have been staying up at night and sleeping in every day. Boy am I going to be in trouble when we have to get back into school routine. Oh well, a few more weeks yet.

Better go, the kids want to get into the pool again. It's supposed to be cooler here tomorrow and Monday - in the mid twenties. It will be nice to open up the house again.

I thought this was very creative. Jarryd made a teddy bear's face with a skipping rope, a lanyard and the bottom out of the glow stick tubes all by himself.

Ashleigh is my little fairy princess.

Wow it's 2007

It hit me today that it is really another year - 2007. I remember like yesterday thinking wow it's going to be the year 2000. That was 7 years ago!!

We had a family new years eve. The last few years we have spent drinking in the new year either at our house or friend's houses but this year it was just Steve and I and our beautiful children. They were so excited about staying up past midnight and seeing in the new year. We went down to Semaphore to watch the fireworks display. We took some chairs and rugs thinking we might go down and watch it from the beach, but we found a great spot on the lawn by a playground which wasn't too crowded. Most of the crowd was on the other side of Semaphore. Our kids were given glow sticks by santa and made lots of different bangles, necklaces, frisbies and belts. They looked very colourful. In fact most of the kids there had glow sticks so it looked great in the dark.

We had a great spot when the fireworks went off. They were lighting them from the beach about 100 mtrs in front of us. We really enjoyed it. There were some great patterns but guess who forgot to take her camera.

We had a fairly quiet week last week. Quite a few visitors because the weather was hot and the kids had friends over to use the pool. I'm really enjoying doing very little these holidays. I did have a big clean out of Jarryd's clothes to make way for some hand me downs we got from his cousin. I managed to get 4 bags of clothes that Jarryd has outgrown to pass onto my nephew.

I had to laugh at the kids new year resolutions. Nikki has decided not to talk back. Yeh right, that lasted 1 day - lol. Jarryd has promised not to do any pop-offs in the same room as us which he is very good at doing. Ashleigh didn't really have a resolution. As for me ~ well the usual is to lose weight. I need to get back into it as of now. Christmas and New Year are over so I have no more excuses. I have drunk far too much and might I say, I did enjoy having a drink with friends but now I need to get back into the swing of walking every day and eating the right things again. After all it's now only 40 weeks until our holiday.

So I hope everyone has had a great new year's eve and are looking forward to the new year ahead. I hope it is a happy and healthy one.