Photo Post

Yesterday was interesting. Choices of meat at the bbq were sausages, patties and marinated chicken thigh. The salads were all swimming in thick, creamy dressings so I just had a small amount of pasta salad and a piece of chicken and a pattie. When I came home and tracked I was amazed to find the pattie had 10 points for 1 serve. It didn't say what a serve was but they were small patties so I counted 5 points. Needless to say I will not have a pattie again.

I went over my points for the first time today. Not concerned at all. I'm maybe 4 points over and I made that up by walking home from the waterslide which was about 40 minutes walk along the beach. Very nice. No-one wanted to come with me because they were so tired and I really enjoyed being alone. Of course I found a house I would love to buy on the Esplanade. Probably would go for $1.2 million!!!!!



I forgot to take the camera to the waterslide party yesterday. I am hopeless. It was a great day even though it was a cold start. Nikki and Ashleigh went on the waterslide but there were lots of little kids who came down with their dads and definitely didn't want to go back on again.

Father Christmas came and some of the presents were amazing. Jarryd got disc shooters that shoot out foam discs. There are 2 of them and Nikki and Jarryd spent ages when they got home rigging up a battlezone with chairs and blankets. Ashleigh got an electronic diary and Nikki got a lava lamp which she was disappointed with because she got one at the same party 2 years ago - LOL. There was a clown that entertained the kids. I wish my kids were little again. Nikki was so synical about this clown that had all the little kids in fits of laughter. Jarryd sat with the little kids.






This is at the magic cave when we went to see Santa. Sorry about the red eyes but I couldn't find my camera software.


























My sister made this pumpkin for Nikki's halloween party she had nearly a month ago now. She had about 12 friends and they spent most of the time in the pool. Absolutely no sense of feeling cold. It was 20 deg. We did have the spa on though to warm up.

















This is the most amazing hibiscus plant. When it flowers it has the hugest flowers. So hard to see in a photo but they are massive. Easily bigger than your hand outstretched.

As you can see, some of the girls were still in the pool including my crazy daughter Ashleigh in the middle of the pool.

These photos are all off of Ashleigh's camera. I finally got around to downloading the photos and then my camera went totally flat.

We live 10 minutes away from West Lakes and there is a lovely park and duck pond with walking trails and bridges. I wish I lived closer to walk around there every night. We went to feed the ducks and Ashleigh spotted this cute little baby duck. It was funny watching it dart around trying to get the bread. Entertained the kids for ages.

Great Week

Just a quick update to tell you about my weigh in tonight.

I was hoping for a loss but when they told me I lost 2.2 kgs I was in shock. I have now lost 5.2 kgs in total in 3 weeks.

So I'm very happy tonight.

Plodding Along

Things are no better and no worse here. We are still waiting for the phone call about the counselling but I am not holding my breath. If it was me, I would have tried someone else instead of just accepting that we are on a waiting list for god knows how long!!! But I am not doing it this time. It's time he took some responsibility. We are keeping it together for the kids but things are very tense between us. He still has made no effort to sit down and talk and I am not going to initiate it AGAIN!!!

Ashleigh still won't spend time alone with Steve. She has come to me for the 3 weight watchers meetings I have gone to and I just can't convince her to stay with her father. The other 2 are fine and things have improved there, but Ashleigh is such a different child. So sensitive and easy going but when things bother her, she is very clingy to me. I really need to look into some counselling for her.

Sorry again for the lack of photos. I still haven't got around to loading the software for the camera onto this new computer. In fact I still haven't got around to finding the software!!

We took the kids to the magic cave yesterday to see Father Christmas. Mainly because Jarryd keeps changing his mind and I need to know - LOL!! I was so pissed off with David Jones. They have banned you taking your own photos so I was quite prepared to buy some photos but after waiting in line for over an hour, we were told their photographs weren't working. When I asked 2 people if I could take my own photo, they told me I couldn't because it was against store policy. I spat it. Fair enough if their equipment is working but I don't think they can ban you if they can't take photos either. I was nearly tempted to ask Father Christmas but I didn't want to get into an argument with him!! I am definitely going to send a letter to David Jones management. And in the end Jarryd asked for a surprise because he couldn't decide. Nikki asked for a rip stick which is like a skateboard and Ashleigh asked for a bike.

In my second week of weight watchers I lost 300g which brings the total to 3 kgs. I always have a tiny loss in week 2 and it was also TTOM so I was ok with that. Bigger one this week.

Nikki had a birthday party to go to yesterday afternoon and when we dropped her off, the parents asked us to stay for a drink. They are good friends and have a heated pool so Nikki and Ashleigh both had a swim. Well a quiet drink ended up with us staying until around 11pm. And I did have a bit too much to drink. I don't think I would have gone over points for the day because I had only had fruit for breakfast and then hadn't had time to eat until we had a BBQ tea at the party. Needless to say, the wine went straight to my head because of the lack of food and now I feel like crap today!!

Ashleigh had her end of year dancing concert last Sunday and I was so proud of her. She is going through such a tough time at the moment and one of Nikki's friends who is in the same dance group told Nikki that Ashleigh was embarrassing because she kept forgetting the steps. I was furious when I heard that. Girls can be such bitches. Well she didn't make even 1 mistake and I was the proudest mum there!! I wish I could have gotten some photos in her costumes but they won't allow cameras in the theatre and I was too slack to get backstage photos. She has decided to have a year off of dancing because she has been doing it for 5 years and wants a break. Can't say I'm unhappy about that. It was becoming a chore to get her to practice every week and I can put the money into my weight watchers meetings now. Something for me at last!!!!!

I have done very little Christmas shopping. I have a few things on layby but I need to do a lot more. K-Mart had 20% off toys this week but I am just not going to get the chance to get over there. We had a huge day yesterday and today we are going up into the Adelaide Hills for a BBQ with Steve's golf club. I really could stay home. Might get over there one night this week.

Like most people at this time of the year, we have something on most weekends now until christmas. Steve's work are putting on a christmas party for the kids next Saturday at a waterslide which is very close to our place so I'm hoping for some warm weather next weekend. Then we have a surprise 40th and my work show and then Steve's work show for the next 3 weekends after that. Crazy time of the year.

I'll be back next week to let you know how week 3 weigh in goes.

Thanks again for all your support for the dramas in my life. It really means so much to have such caring friends.

Quick Update

Firstly I really want to thank everyone for their comment to my last post. I can totally relate to each and every one of you.

I know this is not an acceptable way of living for myself and the children. It has been going on for far too long and I can't do it anymore.

We sat the children down and had a good talk to them. They all told Steve how they are feeling and that they had been too scared to tell him the truth in the past. It broke my heart. Anyway it prompted Steve into making a phonecall and putting the wheels in place for counselling. I think we are on a waiting list which is typical!!

Things are still very strained between us because he still hasn't sat me down and tried talking. Like I said I'm sick of trying and things being ok for a couple of months and then it all happens again. He just can't communicate!!

Anyway I will wait until we can see the counsellor. I just can't face thinking about moving out or packing a house up before christmas.

He is going away on a bike rally this weekend and I think it is perfect timing. I just hope he can have a good think about things while he's away.

I really appreciate everything you have said. It's nothing I haven't thought a million times and I know this treatment is totally unacceptable but I just don't know how things are going to change.
Can people really change???

Anyway onto some good news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I LOST 2.7 KGS THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!

Finally something to put a smile on my face.

Lazy Blogger!!

Yep, that's me - a very lazy blogger!!

One of the reasons I haven't updated is because we have had a few computer issues and apart from losing all my photos from the last 6 months, I haven't downloaded our camera software as yet.

I hate posting without photos.

Big news for me is that I have finally stopped procrastinating (sp??) and started weight watchers again. As I have said many times, I have absolutely no support in this family when it comes to weight loss efforts and I have finally realized that I do love the support you get from going to meetings. I have joined unlimited which only works out to $13.50 ish per week which is quite good. With that you get etools for free which is great for online tracking.

I know there are lots of bloggers out there that don't agree with weight watchers but I know it works for me if I stick to it. And after all, it is just sensible eating. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have changed my hours at work which now gives me time to walk to school and pick the kids up 3 times a week. Hey it's a start. I am soooo unfit!! I'll build it up very slowly.

The other big thing in my life at the moment is my marriage. Things aren't great - AGAIN!!

I honestly don't know what to do. I have tried so many times that I just don't know where to go from here. We had counselling 12 months ago which I instigated but got that thrown back in my face because the counsellor was on my side!!!! So we didn't go back. I have asked him to organize his own counselling and it hasn't happened.

We have honestly just grown apart. His children are scared of him and that scares me.

He wants love and affection yet I get no love or affection. And I am so sick of trying!!!

He doesn't talk!! He won't sit down and start a conversation. It always ends up with him yelling at me because his life is so tough. For example - picking up the dog poo, cleaning the pool and taking the bins out are his pet hates. I have so many chores I hate too but I don't complain about them. It's part and parcel of bringing up a family and running a household.

I know I'm not perfect but how do you live with someone who is so grumpy ALL the time??

I really don't know where that leaves us!! I still love him but it's not enough anymore!!

I have one request. I need so much support right now. If you are still reading and I know there are lots that are, please leave me a comment to let me know you are there. I love reading blogs and have made so many friends online. I have lots of people reading from overseas, but hardly anyone comments.

Please say hi!!!

And give me some advice if you have ever been in this situation.

Random Photos

It was Nikki's 12th birthday on Wednesday.

How did that happen?????

We gave her a bike that she is very excited about. It took her a little while to get used to the gears but now she's riding it with confidence. Can't wait for daylight saving to start this weekend so we have more time to walk and ride after I finish work. We had a family lunch on Sunday and I whipped up the big cake - lol!! No, not really, I cheated and bought it.


I am loving this time of the year. Spring is here and our plum tree is full of blossom. Actually I took this photo a few days too late because the blossom has started to blow off, but it looked spectacular when it was in full bloom.

Had to laugh at Jarryd. We were walking out the door for school last week and he lined up his pokemon toys on the lounge, put the pillow under their heads and told them they could watch TV while he was at school. So funny!!

Update on the budgies. Sky has laid another 3 eggs. We're not getting our hopes up, but hopefully she will do better this time and maybe, just maybe we might get a baby budgie that survives this time.

Ashleigh is away on a camping trip with her girl guides group. She left 3 days ago and we pick her up on Sunday, so 5 days in total. I can't believe how much I am missing her. I keep wondering if she is warm enough, if she is getting enough to eat, if she is sleeping ok and many other things a mummy thinks about when her baby is away. It's been raining here quite a lot today so I hope she didn't get too wet. I can't wait to go and pick her up on Sunday.

I'm sure a lot of you have been reading Beckie's blog over the years. Well her last post this week had a huge effect on me. Not just because she has decided not to blog anymore, but because of the reasons why. She wants to devote all her time to her beautiful family and I don't blame her for one second. My baby just turned 12 and I just can't get over how quickly that time has gone. It just seems like yesterday that she was a tiny baby. I am guilty of spending far too much time online. I don't regret that because I have made so many friends through blogging but I realize that I need to spend every moment I can with my family before they are living their own lives.

So now the weather is getting better, I sure have no excuses to get out in it. I am really looking forward to starting to walk again. There is something about winter that just makes me want to hibernate. I turn into a grizzly bear!!

Have a great long weekend.

Beach Photos

It was such a perfect day yesterday so a friend and I met at a local beach kiosk for a coffee. It is a beautiful setting and you can watch the kids easily from the verandah of the kiosk.

It wasn't long before they wanted to go to the beach and of course we didn't have any towels.

When we left I had 3 children with wet and sandy pants so they had to go home in their undies.

Hahaha maybe we'll remember the towels next time.

We do have some sad news to report this week. Ashleigh's 2 baby budgies died. Not sure why but I don't think Sky was feeding them. They were the 1st eggs she hatched so hopefully she will be a better mummy budgie next time. And yes, they are already trying again!!!

I'm Still Here!!

We went to the Royal Adelaide show yesterday and it was an unreal day. It was a beautiful, warm September day and we all were exhausted by the time we got home.

If you look at the photo of the swing ride, you can just see the girls to the right of the photo. They were screaming the whole ride.

We stayed for the fireworks and saw some shows like the motorbike stunt riders. Unbelievable!!!

Ashleigh and her 2 best friends all in different teams. These 3 have been best friends since reception.

We've also had the kids sports day last week. You can just see Jarryd at the end of the tunnelball waiting for the ball.



So, I can't believe it's been a month since I have updated. So much has happened.

In my last update, I showed a picture of Ashleigh's budgie's egg. Well since then, she laid 3 more and in the last week 2 baby budgies have hatched. We were amazed. Here I was telling Ashleigh that they might not hatch because it's the 1st eggs she has laid and trying to prepare here for the disappointment and now we have 2 babies. I haven't been able to take a photo yet. Mummy bird is very protective. They are tiny and have no feathers so very ugly really.

Ashleigh had a dancing competition about 3 weeks ago and they came 3rd. A bit disappointing but they really weren't up to standard and probably shouldn't have entered but it was all good practice. Just a pain all the preparation beforehand. Like sequinning!!!!

Jarryd was invited to 3 parties that weekend so it was a crazy time.

We went to the best party the weekend after that. Friends of ours turned 40 within a couple of weeks of each other so they booked out the balcony of a local pub and put drinks on the bar. I decided to drive but my darling husband got so drunk, I don't know how he was still standing at the end of the night which was around 5am!! We ended up back at a mates house who had a very well stocked bar. It was fun staying sober and watching all the crazy drunks around me. There were about 100 helium balloons and we were taking some home for the kids. Steve had so many wrapt around his hand while he was dancing they got tangled up and he couldn't get them off. I am waiting for a friend to email me a photo of him walking down the street with so many balloons attatched. It was hillarious. And then of course, the inevitable happened.

Sucking the helium balloons!!

Probably why he was so sick the next day. Hahaha - Suffer baby!!!

The next day, I left him at home and took the girls to meet a blogger friend Tania for coffee and cake. Tania was then 38 weeks pregnant and has since given birth to her little girl Mikayla.
Congratulations Tania, Michael and Lachlan. I can't wait to see you all and have a cuddle of your precious bundle.

The following week which was the beginning of last week, I got a call from the school to say Nikki was in the sick room. She had been having a couple of dizzy spells and headaches for about a week so it was time to see the local GP. She examined her for quite a while and was listening to her heart for ages and then told us she was concerned about an irregular heartbeat. OMG did that freak me out thinking all the worse things like I always do. She started writing a letter for the Childrens Hospital and told us to go straight up there which freaked me out even more. Steve was away for the whole week working in Mildura so I dropped the other 2 at mums and headed up to the hospital. Well after a 4 hour wait and lots of prodding and probing and testing like an ECG, reflex testing and neurological testing, the doctor ruled out anything nasty
THANK GOD!!

So they have put it down to a virus and pre teenage hormones. We have put her on some multi vitamins and watched her diet and she has been fine. No dizzy spells in over a week now.

Last weekend Steve and I went to Melbourne and left the kids with Steve's parents in Stansbury. It was a lovely, relaxing few days although Jetstar were absolutely terrible. Firstly we had a 2 hour delay in Adelaide and we didn't get to our hotel until 8pm Saturday night. Then our 9pm flight home got changed to 6am!! Huge difference. So we had to stay in a hotel near the airport the night before because the 6am flight is the only one that goes from Melbourne to Adelaide each day now. We were up at 4.30am. Then we had to drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back to get the kids from Steve's parents. An exhausting day!!

But we did get to have some quality time together in Melbourne. We went to see 'In Bruge' at the Crown Casino cinemas at gold class which was unreal. Then spent a couple of days with my bestest friend Lee. Always goes too quick. I had last week off work and it has flown. I am hating that I have to go back to work tomorrow.

This is the last week for school netball and soccer so that will free up our Saturday mornings and a couple of nights during the week. I can't believe that we are nearly at the end of Term 3. Where has this year gone??

Have a great week bloggers.

Winter Is Making Me Sick and Miserable!!

When I went out to get the paper this morning, I found that it had been hailing. So I decided to play a trick on the children.

I took some photos and told them it had snowed!!

They were so excited. I am so evil.


We have had so much rain over the last week which is unreal but I am over it now. It is cold and wet and today it only got to 11 deg. If we get much more, Steve will have to drain some out of the pool. It is full to the brim.

I have developed a chesty cough and very clogged head. I have felt like crap today but I am going to tough it out for a couple more days and hopefully I won't need to go to the doctor. Being asthmatic I usually get a couple of chest infections during winter but can mostly fight them off without having to get antibiotics.

Jarryd had to play soccer in the rain again yesterday and I felt so sorry for him. He was in the backline and because his team is so good, the ball hardly ever came down to him. I felt like taking a towel out to him to dry him off. He was standing on the field all by himself - dripping and looking so miserable!!
The blogger in me was so pissed off that I didn't have the camera - LOL.

We had a few friends over last night for a meal and a card night. This is something we used to do every couple of months but lately it has been more like every 6 months. It had been ages. Everyone bought a dish. I made laab - a spicy thai chicken dish served with rice and tuna mornay. Someone else bought lasagna and the other couple got a cheesecake from the Cheesecake shop. It was a great night and I think we won a little bit of money.

Speaking of money, my ebay auctions are doing really well. I have sold over $200 so far. Pity ebay have taken $50 of that in fees. And I still have a lot of interest in the things still going.

I bought myself a treadmill on ebay. I have been watching one that was pickup near us and it started at $300. A hardly used York brand. It had no bids for days and then there were a couple yesterday. I went in at the last minute and got it for $406. Considering I had $500 to spend, I was very happy with that.

Not that I feel well enough to be exercising right now, but as soon as we get it I am going to start with 20 minutes a day and build it up from there.

Not much else to report this week. I have finished sequinning Ashleigh's dance costume for her competition next Sunday. They have a full dress rehearsal tomorrow night so hopefully it is right and I don't have to do any more to it.

Jarryd has 3 birthday parties next weekend so he is going to be very busy. Steve is playing golf on Sunday so next weekend is shaping up to be very busy for me.

Have a great week bloggers and stay warm.

Long Overdue Update

This may sound very boring to some but on Friday we went for a walk over our new Port River Bridge. It was a huge day for people in our area because they have been building this bridge for over 3 years and it is finally open. It was a freezing cold day as you can see by how we are all rugged up.

This Bridge cuts about 10 minutes off my trip to work every day so it is very exciting to finally be open. Ashleigh was involved in the opening ceremony. She made this flag and along with lots of other local school kids, they displayed the flags.

In other exciting news, Ashleigh's budgie has laid her first egg. She is going to be a mummy. Sky (pictured with Ashleigh) and Barney, her new bird have been going for it for weeks. The kids have been fascinated - LOL!!
So we went out and got a nesting box and she has been sitting on the egg. So hopefully, we will have a baby budgie very soon.


What else has been happening???

Everyone in our house has coughs and sniffles. It is so cold here and thankfully we have had lots of rain with it so that's good. God knows, we need the rain so desperately.

After reading about a few bloggers decluttering, namely Chris H and Kate, I got into the decluttering mode as well. I have so many piles of clothes that the kids have grown out of, I sorted and photgraphed them and listed them on ebay. Very time consuming, but I have listed some good things so hopefully I will get good money for them. I have 2 pairs of tap shoes and 2 pairs of jazz shoes that are listed and so far there is a lot of interest, so it will be good to get rid of them.

And then spend again. In the last week, Nikki and Ashleigh have needed new sandshoes. Everything Ashleigh has put on so far in this cold weather has been far too short so she has grown the most in the last 12 months. I wish I could put a brick on their heads. I am so enjoying this stage of being a mummy.

I got a letter today from Medicare Dental Care for teens!!! What the???? How did Nikki get to be nearly a teenager? I am entering the next phase of my life with trepidation. I know all you mums of teens and even my mum will say 'It only get's worse!!' I have been thinking so much about my eldest daughter becoming independent and living her life - not mine. I don't think I like it :(

Please any mother of teenagers - I need advice. Don't be shy - jump right in and leave a comment. Come on I know I have a lot of lurkers. Please stop by and say hi.

I need to get creative with this blog. I need colour in my life!!

And for all you Collingwood people, thankyou, thankyou for taking the spotlight off my team - Port Adelaide. I'm looking to next year now with the talent in our team. Some of those young boys are good eye candy. Isn't that why us women go to the football!!

Anyway I better go and get tea ready. Home made pizza tonight. My eating went off the rails this weekend. Ashleigh bought home the fundraising chocolate. Bad idea Ashleigh!! Evil stuff.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Lucky Ashleigh!!

Even though Port lost today, Ashleigh had a win at the football. Nikki didn't want to go because we had a late night and she had heaps of homework to finish so Ashleigh came with me instead. We were hanging around the kids area before the game and there was someone with a microphone interviewing one of the injured players. Then he said they were going to give out some footballs. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time because Ashleigh was given a brand new leather Sherrin football signed by Nathan Krakour.

Steve reckons it's worth around $100, but I wouldn't pay that much for it!!!
She is very excited though and wants to take it to school tomorrow to make all the boys jealous - hahaha!!! Unfortunately the boys let us down again and got beaten by Fremantle.



I caught Jarryd playing with his sister's little pet shop toys the other night. He was funny because he didn't want his photo taken with girly toys. He is such a boy!!!




I've been a slack blogger again the last couple of weeks. Probably because I have nothing interesting to say. It's usually all about the kids and what they are doing so I feel like I'm kinda boring.

We went to a fantastic Christmas in July dinner last night with a friend I know through Nikki playing netball. We didn't know many people there but it was the kind of crowd that made you feel very welcome and interested in getting to know you. And the host and hostess, Karen and Gary thought of everything. There was so much food, it certainly felt like the feeling you get after lunch on Christmas day. Everyone took something and the table was all done up with lots of christmas decorations and the room was decorated with christmas lights. So a very impressive night.

I can't believe it's only 5 weeks until Steve and I go to Melbourne. I booked earlier this year when Jetstar were having a bring a friend sale. I only paid $80 for both airfares. We are dropping the kids off at Steve's parents so they will have a couple of days out of school. I have booked the first 2 weeks off in September and I am so hanging out for a holiday. I wish I could go back to working 4 days a week but I know we would go backwards again.

We did get a good amount back from our tax which paid off the credit card, paid school fees, 6 months worth of council rates and a little bit for Steve and I. He has bought some accessories for his bike and I am going to spend mine on a treadmill. Hopefully I will get a good second hand one for around $500. Surely there are heaps of treadmills out there that are hardly used!!

I have been extra good with my eating the last couple of weeks. I have been weighing every Monday and recording my weight but I'm not going to reveal anything except to say it is going down!! I'll post a monthy result at the end of each month.

Have a great week bloggers.

I Love Weekends - Why do they go sooooo quick??

This is what we have been doing all weekend!!!


Hanging out in our pyjamas and trackies. It has been so cold and if it wasn't for having to go and see my useless football team play last night and then having to pick Nikki up from a party today, I doubt I would have got dressed at all.

It was freezing cold last night. I had that many layers on I would have hated to have jumped on the scales. I thought about staying home in front of the heater watching Port play North Melbourne, but I am too loyal to my team. I mean they might just make us rugged up against the bitter cold fans, have something to cheer about for a change. But NO!! Of course not!! It would be different if you could see them putting in 100% because that's why they get paid the big dollars but no. Again we leave disappointed.

Sorry for the huge whinge but I have paid good money to see an AFL team perform this year!!!

I'm convinced they are playing for draft picks.

I have been doing a bit more gardening this weekend. Just planted a couple of plants from pots. I have a beautiful pink frangapani that was in a pot by the pool, so I transferred it into the ground by the spa. I need Steve to dig out a couple of dead tree ferns I have in 2 wine barrels and I am going to fill them up with strawberry plants.

I need to go to the nursery but I know I will spend too much money.

Nikki went to a sleepover party last night with very little sleep. When I picked her up the father of the girl who had the party said he threatened them for the last time at 3am. I am so not having any sleepover parties again.

Steve played golf today. Actually it was a perfect, sunny winters day today, just very cold. We've had a lot of rain this week which was very much needed. I think I suffer from winter depression. I have very little inclination to go anywhere!! I like pottering around the house and yard. I guess because we always have lots of people here in summer because of the pool, I find it so nice to hibernate in winter. I must be part bear!!!

Second week of school holidays coming up. Steve has a couple of days off again so he will take them to the pictures. I think Speed Racer or Get Smart this time. They saw Indiana Jones last week. I have a week off in early September. Steve and I are going to Melbourne for 4 days and the kids will be going to Stansbury with Steve's parents. It's not really that far away considering we are in the middle of July.

I am still waiting for Steve's group certificate so I can do our tax online. It will be interesting to see how much extra we get from Kevin Rudd like he promised us struggling working families. I just hope we have some over after we pay the school fees and credit card.

I am still waiting to get the decluttering bug like a few bloggers. I feel very sad that it hasn't hit yet!!!!

Have a great week.

Port Power Kids Day

I know this could be very boring to some people but to my Port Power mad daughter and myself it was very exciting!!

This afternoon the Port Power Club had a event for the junior members. Unfortunately because of the rain a few things had to be cancelled on the oval but the highlight of the day was getting to meet all the players and getting their autographs.



The players were great with the kids and Nikki got every autograph on her guernsey.
Some of the players were unreal with the kids and had a good chat to them. Nikki was too embarrased to have her photo taken with the players so this is the closest I got with her head in some of the photos - LOL. All the kids got pies and pasties and doughnuts (All very healthy) and flavoured milk to drink.

There would have been a footy clinic on the oval with the players but because of the rain that was cancelled. But overall it was a great afternoon.

A Very Relaxing Sunday

After a crazy day yesterday, I was looking forward to a much more relaxing day today and I got my wish. I organized to meet a friend at the kiosk at our local beach for coffee. It wasn't until I went outside this morning to put some washing on the line that I realized how cold and windy it was.

It was freezing!!!

Anyway I rugged the kids up and we went and met Karen and her daughter Krysten, one of Nikki's netball friends. So what is a kid to do on a cold, windy day when it's too cold to go on the beach or the playground....................

Play their nintendos of course!!





Not sure where blogger will put these photos but there is a photo of Ashleigh ice skating last week. She was so good. I couldn't believe it. She has never ice skated before but she roller bladed quite a lot so she has very good balance.

As soon as she got on the ice she was off. Doing laps while the other kids and even the big kids that were there, were falling down around her. Gosh some of those teenagers came down with a thud. The bigger they were, the harder they fell. By the end Ashleigh was doing twirls which I sort of caught on video. I might try and upload some video of her but because there were so many people there, it was hard to get a clear shot of her. Too many bodies in the way.

By the time she finished and took her skates off after 1-1/2 hours of skating without a break, she was in agony. Her feet were so sore and she was limping out. Lesson learnt, next time have a break and give feet a rest!!!




On the way home from our coffee date, we dropped into West Lakes, our local shopping centre because Nikki wanted to buy this book of dresses that you make. She had saved her pocket money and luckily Dymocks were having a 20% sale off of kids books. It's hard to see from the photo but you make little dresses from different sorts of patterned paper and decorate them and hang them on tiny hangers. Really cute and something to get the girls away from nintendos, computers and TV during the holidays.

I can't promise I will update much during the week. Back to work for me while these lazy children get to have holidays.

Have a great week bloggers.

A Busy Saturday

I did the soccer juggle this morning. Jarryd and Nikki both had matches around the same time at different venues so mum to the rescue. It was an early start to the day getting the kids ready and down to mums this morning. Nikki's team played a team that hasn't been beaten this year.
This team was full of african kids and man, can they run!! Anyway our team did a great job and scored 1 goal to their 5. But considering they had averaged 10 goals to nothing most games, I thought our kids did well.

This afternoon I decided to make a start on tackling our back yard. We are having a hard rubbish pick up on Wednesday and there is so much crap out the back, I've had enough. I filled a green bin with cuttings, weeds and leaves and made a pile of things that are going out with the rubbish. I have taken before photos so I will show you the after photos in a few weeks.

Then I went to K-Mart to put some toys on layby from the toy sales that are happening at the moment. They have layby until Xmas Eve and I have up until then to pay it off. I got everything I wanted for Jarryd and Ashleigh but I really struggled with Nikki this year. She will be 12 in October and has very much outgrown all the girly toys. Mind you she has never really been a girly girl.

So I think I will wait until just before Xmas and take her clothes shopping as our present to her this year. She is really into fashion so that should be fun.

So I'm pretty tired now. It's been a busy day.

End of Term 2

Jarryd put a bit too much bubble bath in the water and this is what I saw after I asked him to get in the bath!!


It's traditional with our family to have a Wendy's icecream cake for our family birthdays. As you can see I took the photo after Ashleigh blew out the candles. Derrrrrr!!!



Wow it's hard to believe that the kids have just finished term 2 at school. As at 2.15pm they were officially on school holidays. Yahoo!!!





I love the holidays. Even though I have to work, it is so good not to have the school routine for 2 whole weeks. I am so lucky that my mum has the kids most of the time during the holidays and because she only lives 15 minutes away, most mornings she comes down and picks the kids up. Steve has managed to get 2 days off in both weeks so it will be bliss on those days when I can get up for work and leave my family sleeping and just get myself ready, instead of getting 4 people ready to leave the house.



There are quite a few pictures on at the moment that the kids want to see so Steve can do that with them. I think Kung Fu Panda is at the top of the list, followed by Get Smart, Speed Racer and Indianna Jones. They will have to pick 2 because the finances won't stretch that far. We are lucky though, there is a cinema in our area that does all movies and all sessions for $7 a ticket.

Nothing much planed for this weekend. Nikki and Jarryd both have 11am soccer games tomorrow in different venues and because Steve is working, it's going to be a juggle of dropping off and picking up. Then nothing planned for the rest of the weekend.

My kids were given fishing rods each from by Melbourne friend Lee when she was over a few weeks ago and we haven't had the chance to get out and try them much yet so I think we will do that on Sunday.

I'll have to make sure I take the camera with me.

You may have noticed that I put a location feeder on my blog just out of interest to see if anyone is reading my blog. I have been very surprised to see that there are quite a few overseas people that click on my blog for whatever reason. Now if you are one of these people, overseas or Australian, please, please leave a comment. I love reading new blogs. I now know that people are reading but rarely commenting. Please just drop by and say hi and I will do the same on your blog. I have made so many fantastic blog friends both here and overseas. It really is a great community.


Have a great weekend bloggers.

Winter Sux!!

I hate Winter!!!

There is nothing good about winter. My kids are sick. I am miserable and I need a holiday!!!!

Sorry but that's how I feel.

I have decided to try and lift my mood by getting into the blog habbit. I love reading and commenting on blogs but as I have said before, I don't enjoy updating my blog. So am going to do little posts more often and make it more of a journal.

My weight has crept back up a bit in the last couple of months so I'm going to blog more about that too. And how I'm going to get it back under control.

Anyway, I'm off to the end of term night for Girl Guides with Ashleigh. They are going skating.

I've made some unreal blogger friends and it's amazing when an event happens, how excited I get. I've not met many bloggers but I feel like I know some of you like an old friend.

So I really want to send a huge congratulations to 2 bloggers who have just had babies.

Beckie and Lisa. May your new baby boys bring a lifetime of happiness to you both. Welcome to the real world and blogger world - Morrison and William.

Also to Chris H in NZ who is in hospital. You sure gave your family and us bloggers a scare. I hope you are feeling so much better now and I can't wait till you get home and can get back to blogging. I miss reading your stories every day but Stew has done an unreal job updating us.

I'll be back later to upload some photos.

Ashleigh's Party Photos

I love this photo of Ashleigh. We gave her the outfit for her birthday and her best friend gave her the scarfe. She looks very grown up.

Nikki's friend Madeline wanted to curl my hair and this is the result. Pretty good effort I thought. You would pay a fortune to get that done at the hairdresser.

Ashleigh and her best friend Olivia hamming it up for the camera.

Every birthday, we always take a nice group photo and then a silly group photo. Notice Nikki and her friend Madeline look the same in both!!

Nikki playing the chocolate game. The kids had so much fun with this game.

Happy Birthday Ashleigh

Just a quick post to say hi and that I haven't fallen off the face of blogland again!!

We've had a huge day. It was Ashleigh's 10th birthday and she had a makeover party. I really find it hard to believe that 10 years ago I was holding my 2nd baby daughter in hospital. Where did that time go???

I'm going to post some photos of her party tomorrow. I haven't downloaded them yet because it's 11pm and I have just stopped for the day.

The day started at 6.30am. Nikki had a 8am soccer game and we had to be there by 7.30am. How rude is that!! Steve had to work so mum had Jarryd and Ashleigh overnight. Too hard to get all 3 up and ready on such a freezing cold morning.

Then Jarryd had a 10am soccer game at a different venue. They both won their games so that was a great effort.

Then home to set up for Ashleigh's party. I really hadn't done much to prepare so we had to wrap the pass the parcel. Luckily we got some cheap lolly bags from Coles already made up for $1.50 each. How good is that. They weren't too bad either. As any of you know who have made up lolly bags for a party, it is so time consuming and expensive.

Ashleigh wanted a supermodel makeover party. She is really into makeup at the moment so got lots of makeup for her birthday. We took before and after photos. Nikki and her friend Madeline helped to do the makeovers. We curled and straightened hair, put hair mascara in hair and lots of makeup on faces. The girls looked unreal.

Then I had about an hour to clean up before we were off to Ashleigh's Girl Guides Bingo night.

So it's been a huge but fun day.

We have a family lunch at Fasta Pasta tomorrow so it sure is an action packed weekend.

I will definitely post some photos tomorrow. There is one of Ashleigh where I swear she looks 18. Very scary!!