Picture Post

How good are these photos?

I can't take the credit. My BFF, Lee,took them on Sunday at Largs beach.

We had a fantastic relaxing afternoon sipping coffee and waiting for the sun to set. Well worth the wait!!

I Hate the Cold!!!

These photos were taken at my birthday on April 25th. How cool is the chicken skewer my brother had. It was massive. I had a lovely day. We went out for lunch with my family and then back to mums for coffee and cake.

Bring back the hot weather anyday. I promise never to complain again - LOL!!

It has been freezing the last couple of days. Nikki played soccer this morning by the lake at West Lakes and the wind was blasting across the lake. It was icy. I guess I had better get used to it. Nikki and Jarryd are both playing soccer this year. Nikki's team have won both games and Jarryd's team have had 1 win and a draw today.

Steve is in Darwin at the moment. One of his best mates lives up there and that was his birthday present this year. I have no idea why I let him go up there without me when it is so bloody freezing down here. He rang when he got there yesterday and was happy to tell me it was 32 deg while I was all rugged up with the heaters going at work. I think it was about 12 deg. YUK!!! I am definitely a summer girl.

Nothing very exciting has been happening here. The days just keep flying past in a blur of work, kids school, kids sport and trying to catch up with friends in any spare time I have. I must confess I was looking forward to doing nothing this weekend with Steve away, but that's not going to happen. Soccer this morning and then I did manage to sit down this afternoon and watch Port get beaten by Hawthorn :( Tomorrow was going to be a pj day but I have to pick up Nikki from a sleepover party in the morning. Then Jarryd wants to see a friend of his who broke his arm very badly this week. And I have arranged to catch up with a friend for coffee in the afternoon. So there goes my weekend!!

So life is rolling along here as busy as ever. I have an appointment on Friday for a smear which I have been putting off. Naughty me. I must get them to check my iron levels as well because I haven't had that checked for about 6 months. Not looking forward to that appointment. Oh well, I know it has to be done.

If you can be bothered, please go to my daughter Ashleigh's blog and say hi. She is so much better at updating than me and I think she has done a great job of her blog.

http://ashleighkate.blogspot.com/

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hello, Is there anyone there???

Flowers from Steve for my birthday. A lovely surprise.

This is Nikki's latest pet. How gross are they. She has inherited 4 stick insects from school. When I said she could have them, I imagined them to be about 2" long like you find in the garden. I nearly had a heart attack when she brought them home!!!

I wouldn't blame you if you couldn't be bothered reading this blog. I really don't have the inclination to post most of the time. I really enjoy reading and commenting on other people's blogs but it's a chore to update my own. I have thought about stopping blogging altogether but I really don't want to stop completely. So for the moment, I will see how I go even posting monthly. Most people have google reader so please leave a comment if you are reading so I know there is someone out there.

So what's been happening???

Kids are just finishing school holidays. My mum has been a godsend as usual. They have been with her every day. She has taken them to the pictures, the park, the school playground across the road from her house and luckily with some help from my sister, they have survived the 2 weeks.

Football season has started again and Nikki and I have Port Power membership this year. They have had a shocking start but we are really enjoying going together just us. A couple of weeks ago, I was luck enough to get into a corporate box with some of the people from work. I had far too much to drink and was very sick when I got home. Bad me. Nikki was disgusted with me and told me she was never going to drink like me. I will remind her of that in a few years time - LOL!!

The weather has been unreal for the last couple of weeks. After our disgusting heatwave in March, April has been so good. Perfect low to mid 20's every day. The kids have been really lucky with the weather for the holidays. We have spent a lot of time outdoors on the weekends, making the most of it before winter starts.

My sister has been through a very rough patch again which has been just horrible for us all. Long story short, she has finally taken out a restraining order out on her ex partner after he kicked in her roller door and broke into 3 out of 4 locks to get to her in his drugged out state. His 4 year old son was screaming in fear and she had no option but to call the police. Something she hasn't done in nearly 20 years of physical and verbal abuse. Thank god she has finally got some support and help from domestic violence and the police. They are both getting counselling at last. It's been a very long and tough road for her and unfortunately I don't think she will ever be free of him.

It's my birthday tomorrow so we are all having a lovely family lunch together and on Saturday, 3 of my friends are taking me out for lunch at McLaren Vale which is south of Adelaide. It will be great to catch up with them.

I had a lovely surprise when I walked into work today. There on my desk was the hugest bunch of flowers from my darling husband sent for my birthday. It brightened my whole day.

Have a great long weekend everyone.

Easter 2008

Ashleigh has always had long hair and since Nikki had her's cut shorter about 12 months ago she has been pestering me to get hers cut shorter. It can't be too short because she does dancing. But it was definitely time to do something different. After a long, hot summer of swimming in the pool, her hair was definitely in need of a good cut.

So this is the result. It is now layered and I'm thrilled with the result. So is she!!


As you can see the kids did very well from the easter bunny. Apart from one big egg each and a couple of bunnies, he also left lots of little eggs to find in the garden. We went to Steve's mum and dad's for easter and they have a huge backyard so it was great to see the kids running around looking for easter eggs.

Jarryd got a huge lego set for christmas that his pa helped him to start at christmas time. We took it back with us and Steve helped Jarryd finish the submarine. It's funny how you never get time to do these things in normal day to day life.

Nikki and Ashleigh have a tradition every time we have a get together with Steve's side of the family. As soon as we got to Stansbury, the girls were getting everything out to do some baking. Ashleigh made the easter cake and the cup cakes and they both iced and decorated them.

We had a lovely, relaxing easter away. I managed to finish a book I started a few months ago. It was so good just doing nothing.

I put on 1.5 kgs over easter which is very bad. But I'm not worrying about it. It will come off again and I must say I am a bit sick of chocolate - LOL. I did cut back on the kids eggs this year, but they still get chocolate from grandparents. So I've been picking what is around the house.

My mum gave me a good tip. Last year she heard from a friend that you can freeze chocolate. So she got hers at the after easter 1/2 price sales and it was as good as if it was bought yesterday. So today I went to Coles and bought up all next years eggs. And spent $30 instead of $60. Mum has a big upright freezer so I have no problems with storage.

Nikki is at a sleepover party tonight and I have my nephew here for the night. My sister has a quiz night to go to and being a single mum it will be great for her to get out and have a night without Maddok.

Speaking of my sister. She was trying to put an ikea steel bunk bed together by herself last weekend and dropped it on her foot and has 2 broken toes and a very black foot. They haven't put it in plaster but she is hobbling around and won't be able to work for a while. She is too independent for her own good. I hope it has taught her to ask for help!!

Well I had better go and get tea ready for these hungry kids. Have a great week everyone.

Thank God - The Heatwave is Over!!!

Ok, Ok I know. It's been a whole month since I have updated. Thanks for the reminder Tania!! I promise not to make anymore promises about updating - LOL.

Mostly the lack of updates have been simply because I couldn't be bothered. Adelaide has had 15 days of over 35 deg temperatures and it has been so draining. All I can say is thank god for airconditioning and a pool. The computer is in a room that doesn't have airconditioning so I really haven't spent much time on it in the last 2.5 weeks. We have spent so much time in the pool. Even Steve who hardly ever goes in the pool, caved in and went in as the above photo shows. It was such a relief to have a cooler day today.

So what have I been up to in the last month?

Jarryd had his 7th birthday last Wednesday. While I was writing out the invitations, I saw the forecast for the week ahead. It was going to be 39 deg the day of his party so I thought GREAT - a pool party!! Too easy. The kids had a ball and I didn't have to amuse them at all. In fact I had to drag them out of the pool to get them to eat and sing Happy Birthday. It was the best party we've ever had.

I had 4 days in Melbourne without Steve and the kids. My best friend lives in Melbourne and I go over once or twice a year. We lived it up in a 5 star hotel in the city on the 1st night I was there and then went to see '27 Dresses' in Gold Class style at Hoyts at the casino. I never go to the pictures at home. My friend Lee has just got engaged to a wonderful man who has made her very happy after years of an unhappy marriage so it was great to see her so happy and content.

I caught up with Kate and her new baby Caspar. Unfortunately it was very rushed but it was unreal to see her and big brother Felix. And the rennovations they have done are unreal. The same day I caught up with another friend I met online - Penny. We had lunch together and then she dropped me at the airport. Again much too rushed but great to catch up. Thanks for making the time girls.

Unfortunately I must have caught a bug on the plane because the next day I was very sick with gastro. Luckily it was only a 24 hour thing.

I have slowly but surely continued on the downward path with my weight loss. I have now lost 5.6 kgs this year. So considering when I last updated on 18/2 I had only lost 2.1 kgs, the last month has been really good. The heat helped. I think I sweated it all out - LOL.

Ashleigh has started girl guides and she is loving it. Lots of fun activities including cooking, outdoor pictures, beach nights and fun and games. Next term they are going for a sleepover at the zoo which she is really looking forward to.

Tonight was the last netball game. Nikki has decided to have a break for a while. She wants to play school soccer instead over winter. Yahoo!! Can't say I am disappointed. I have coached her Tuesday night team for the past 3 seasons so I will be very glad to have Tuesday nights back.

We are having a bit of trouble with Nikki at school this year. She has gone from a 4/5 class with a wonderful teacher who mothered the kids into a 6/7 class with her 1st male teacher. I guess looking back her teacher of the last 2 years probably didn't do her any favours because she is really struggling this year. We have a parent/teacher inteview in the next couple of weeks so I have made a list of some things I want to discuss with him. These girls are all 11 and 12 and if they are like Nikki, they are extremely hormonal. She just doesn't seem to be coping very well which is most unlike her. We have never had a problem.

The kids are all looking forward to easter and I am sure looking forward to the 4 day break. We are going over to stay with Steve's parents. This year instead of giving easter eggs from us, I have bought the kids something little instead of chocolate. They all still believe in the Easter Bunny so there will still be chocolate. Just not as much this year!!

Nikki and I are off to the 1st AFL game of the season on Thursday night. We got Port Power memberships for christmas and they are playing Geelong in the 1st game. I just hope they do better than they did in the Grand Final!!

Have a fantastic easter everyone. I know I will.

Weeks 5 - 7

How did I miss 2 weeks?? Just slack I guess.

I have done a great job of maintaining for the last 2 weeks. No actually I lost .1!! Total is 2.1 kgs for the year. Not too good!! 2.1 kgs in 7 weeks. Lack of exercise is definitely to blame. I have no motivation to exercise. How do you motivate yourself to exercise. I can't afford a gym. We are overstretched now, so my only real option is to walk. So why don't I???

I am determined to post a loss next week.

Steve and I had a great weekend in Sydney. There were a few people I would have loved to have caught up with but because we were only there for about 30 hours, I really wanted to spend all that time with Steve. And we had fantastic quality time. We got in around 8.30am and I didn't think our room would be ready but it was. So we decided to go for a walk. It was very overcast and had been raining all week but it wasn't cold. I should have thought to pack umbrellas. We ended up buying a couple of cheapies because it started to bucket down. It was nice walking around in the light drizzle but it got a bit too heavy to walk around without umbrellas. We were staying by the Rocks area and circular quay so it was really nice to walk around those areas. There was a huge cruise ship in. I'll post a couple of photos next post. We got on the monorail and had lunch at Darling Harbour.

We got an unreal deal with the hotel. We got the room, seafood buffet for 2 on Saturday night and breakfast the next morning for $250. Very nice and something I intend to do more often.

It's heated up here again in Adelaide. I wish we could have some of the east coast rain. It's so dry here. I can't remember the last time we had a good downpour. Well we did when work flooded a few weeks ago but that was so isolated it only rained in one tiny part of Adelaide. Today was 39 with no airconditioning at work. Yahoo, it decided to pack it in last Friday and it was just horrible today. I couldn't wait to get out of the place. 36 again tomorrow and then maybe rain on Wednesday. Yer right!!!

Saturday night we went to a chinese banquet with the dragon dance show for chinese new year. It was a great night but of course I ate too much fried food. When the dragon came out, they started playing a very loud drum and Jarryd came and jumped on my lap saying 'the drums were hurting his tummy' He was so scared he barely look at the lion. He's still my baby.

Then yesterday, the kids and I caught up with fellow blogger Tania and her nearly 2 year old Lachlan. We went to a play cafe and the kids had a ball. It was nice to have a day away from the playstation and nintendos. It was great to catch up over a couple of coffees while the kids were entertained.

The Biggest Loser was very interesting last night. I know they all lost so much weight in the 1st week, but from experience you never do as well the 2nd week. They were all so disappointed with there 2-4 kgs losses. Hello, I would love a loss like that every week. And why don't they show what they eat instead on concentrating totally on the training???

It still gets me in though!!! I'm a reality junkie.

Have a great week. I promise not to leave it so long next time.

Week 4

Not such a good week. Seems to happen every 4 weeks. I can't control the sweet things. Nothing else will do. I put on 400g :(

Oh well, onward...............

Kids are back at school and things are back into routine. Funny though, the girls set their alarms for 6.30am on Tuesday and were up and dressed before I got up. By Friday, I was dragging them all out of bed again.

I love the photo of Nikki lying in her towel after a swim. She was so tired after a day in the pool. The girls did the paintings over the christmas break. They were given a picture to colour with real art paints and they turned out really well.

I have been looking in the paper and on ebay for a cheap lounge for the family room. Steve sits out there and watches TV in an old deck chair. I would love a leather lounge but it would have to be in either cream, green or beige to match the colours. There were heaps in yesterdays paper under $500, so we might have some to look at this weekend.

I went to the hairdresser this morning to have my hair streaked (foils). It was September last year when I had them done last so it was long overdue. I found out my hairdresser of 13 years has sold the salon and as she is pregnant with her 3rd child, she's going to be a stay at home mum with 3 under 3. I have had my hair cut by the other girls in the salon but I am never as happy with it.

I was then catching up with a fellow blogger Tania for lunch at the beach but she came down with gastro. I hope you are feeling better soon Tania.

I'm also thinking about another blogger Kate who could be having her 2nd baby any day. I'm very exited for you. I hope you have a wonderful birth experience.

Here's hoping for a good loss this week.

Have a great weekend.

Edit.. I've noticed that whenever I post photos, it doesn't show the breaks between the lines and when I don't post photos it's well spaced.

WHAT'S WITH THAT!!!!

Week 3

I had a great week. I lost 1.1 kgs taking the total to 2.6.

I have been making good choices and it has paid off. I still find my worst time is around 8pm. I'm sure it is habbit but I am always looking for sweet things to eat. I have been having the stick ice blocks which are only 1/2 point each and that seems to do the trick. Mind you some nights I have about 4!!!!

I'm looking forward to the Australia Day long weekend this weekend. We are catching up with friends for a bbq on Sunday. We have some friends coming over from Melbourne that I haven't seen in ages. I did a contiki tour of America 15+ years ago and met some unreal people. Tony is from Melbourne and we have kept in touch ever since. We have been to each other's weddings and our kids are months apart so it will be unreal to see them again. They got their family of 4 from Melbourne to Adelaide on the new Tiger Air for just over $100 return. How good is that.

Then the kids are back to school next week. I must say the holidays have flown but then again I have been at work while my mum has had the kids for most of the time. I'm looking forward to them going back to school but I'm not looking forward to everything starting again. This is definitely Nikki's last netball season for a while. She's been playing for 5 years and I have been coaching for 3 so it's time for a break. Ashleigh will still do dancing but I think Nikki wants to play soccer this year. So that will be both Nikki and Jarryd doing soccer this year.

We had a scary day on Friday. I was at work and around 2pm the heavens opened and down came the heaviest rain I have ever seen. I wish I had the camera. The road outside work was under water and it came into my boss's office. So there were 4 of us empying buckets and mopping up the water so it wouldn't spread. It went as quickly as it came but left a big mess. Our phone system was destroyed by lightning. Two people were on the phone at the time when the phones died so they were very lucky. It was amazing watching all the semi trailers going through the water. Incredibly it only hit our area. I live 20 mins away and we didn't get a drop.

I have booked a surprise for Steve on the 9th February weekend. We are going somewhere but I can't say where in case he reads this. I can't wait. It's going to be a wonderful, relaxing weekend away without the kids.

Have a great week everyone.

Week 2

Sorry, I am a bit late with my week 2 update. I lost 800g this week taking the total to 1.5 kgs. I'm consistent. I had hoped it would be a little more but I am happy with that loss.

This is a picture of our new buffet. The picture doesn't really do it justice but I am thrilled with it. We needed something to fill an empty spot in our family room. It looks smaller in the photo than it really is.

I can't believe there is just over a week left of school holidays. I am so lucky because my mum looks after the kids while I work. She has done a great job of entertaining them. They have been to the pictures a couple of times and my sister took them to the beach today. The girls have had sleep overs at friends so the time has gone very quickly.

We are off to Steve's parents again this weekend. It's Steve's dad's 70th birthday tomorrow and we are having a big family get together on Saturday night.

Work is still crazy. In my industry (the steel industry) most businesses have there big break at christmas so the first couple of weeks are usually fairly quiet. Not this year. We still have one of the sales guys off until Monday so it makes it a bit harder with one short. It sure makes the days fly by when you are so busy.

Ok, i'll be back next week to let you know how week 3 went.

Week 1

Just a quick post to say I lost 700g this week.

I'm good with that. Considering you know what is about to come!!

Back to work has been crazy. I have already done 2 1/2 hours overtime in 2 days.

Good luck to everyone who has or is weighing in for the 1st week's results.

Happy 2008

I just realised this is my 1st post for 2008. I'm getting slack with this blog.

I've been gardening. Just a small area by our pergola by the pool. I 'll show you the finished product soon. I just hope the palms will survive this scorching Adelaide weather.


This is Jarrryd's impression of a bee. We have lived in the pool this summer.

Thankfully today is much cooler. But not for long. It's supposed to be 41 again by Thursday.

I'm back to work tomorrow :( I have really enjoyed this break. I know it was only a couple of months ago we went to Qld but that was such a busy holiday with only a few days doing absolutely nothing. Well this holiday I am proud to say I have done very little.

The kids are going to be in for a huge shock tomorrow when I wake them up at 8am instead of 11am!!!

I have used the new year as another start date to get healthy. I just have to follow it through and keep going. I need to set some targets to get to throughout the year. I will do that today and post on Tuesday when I record on this blog my 1st weigh in result.

There are so many inspiring blogs around that I am enjoying reading. Sounds like there are a few of us in the same situation of putting weight on over christmas. I have to stop drinking. I turned into an alco during the holidays - LOL.

OK, it's cooler here so I'm going to make the most of the afternoon. Steve and I are off to our local beach cafe and playground. Kids get to play in the fresh air by the beach and I get a cappuchino. Win, Win.

Have a great week everyone.

Goodbye 2007

Ashleigh made this cake at Nana's. She was very proud of herself.

Does anyone else think the Santa with Jarryd is a little creepy??

Because it's been so hot, the kids have spent lots of time inside playing with their christmas presents. Jarryd has spent too much time on the PS2 but hey it's new. Ashleigh is into the 'Little Pet Shop' toys and got some new pets.

We had a lovely few days in Stansbury. The weather was perfect so we got outdoors a lot. Nikki got a skateboard for christmas so she spent a lot of time trying new tricks.

We are having a New Years Eve party today and tonight. I'm expecting people in about an hour so I'd better get my act together. It's been in the 40's for the last 3 days and I haven't moved very far from the pool and airconditioning.

I'm looking forward to starting afresh tomorrow. Something about a new year that helps the motivation. Sounds like there are lots of us motivated to make 2008 our year.

I hope you all have a wonderful and very safe New Years Eve and a happy and healthy 2008.

A Very Merry Christmas

We are off to Steve's parents tomorrow morning to spend christmas with his family.

I am very much looking forward to spending time with his family. We haven't seen them since before we went away in October. It is such a relaxing time doing nothing. The kids have all their cousins over there to play with.

I have to pack bags tonight and tomorrow morning it's Steve's job to pack the car with all the presents (from us and santa) and all the presents for the rellies over there.

We caught up with my family today which was fun. My mum bought a PS2 for us which was very naughty but the kids were so surprised. They had no idea they were getting it.

So I won't be back until Boxing Day. Unfortunately Steve has to work on Thursday or we would have had more time away.

I wish all my blogger friends the most wonderful christmas with your families. It really is a time to look at what we have around us and to be very thankful.

Is the Weekend Over Already??????

We had a fantastic day today. It was Steve's work kids Christmas party. We went to Greenhills Adventure park at Victor Harbor. The kids had a ball. So much to do for all ages.

The girls wanted to try rock climbing. It was very high and they both were very keen to do it but when they got up there, they both froze just before they got to the top. Great effort though.

It was an action packed day and the kids were all exhausted when they got home. They all got a present from Father Christmas. Nikki got a lava lamp, Ashleigh got a bag with some bath gel and hair glitter and a Happy House book to write all her friends in and Jarryd got an unreal racing car set with a race track.

The only problem was it said on the racing set box it took 'D' size batteries which were included but when we got it apart it really needed 'C' size batteries (Bloody cheap chinese toys - LOL) So we had one very upset little boy and a dad who had to make a trip to the local servo to find the right batteries. All ended well.

We had a very sucessful gargage sale yesterday. We ended up selling about $180 worth of stuff. Considering we had nothing over $5 we did very well. Most things were $1 or $2 so it really was a good day's work. Lots of hard work though getting it all together over the last few weeks. Cleaning out all the clutter from the kids rooms and then setting it up on Friday night. By last night I was exhausted and was in bed by 9.30pm which is unheard of for me. I must have really needed it though because I slept until 8.30am this morning.

I am totally organized for christmas. My sister took the kids for a few hours yesterday after the garage sale and I wrapped all the kids presents. The tree looks great with lots of pressies underneath it. I still can't get motivated to write cards though. Does anyone else feel like that?

I just can't be bothered. I know once I get started I'll be ok but I just can't face them. It's the first year I haven't had them all out by now. I guess I am just so mentally tired it's all too hard.

The kids finished school on Friday and came home with glowing reports and they are all very happy with where they are placed for next year. Nikki is in a grade 6/7 class (she is grade 6 next year) so that will be interesting for her. I can't believe next year we will be thinking about which high school she will go to. And my baby Jarryd will be in grade 2. Ashleigh will be in a 3/4 class. She will be in grade 4. Not sure why they have these mixed classes. Do other states and countries do the same thing?

I only have 4-1/2 days left of work. We break up at lunch time on Friday and then I have 2 weeks off. My best friend Lee is coming over from Melbourne over christmas and I can't wait to catch up with her and another good friend is moving back to Adelaide from Melbourne after 5 years away so I am very excited about that.

My diet has been ok but there have been far too many social occasions and christmas parties. I have been having a few too many alcoholic drinks. I am glad to have maintained over the last couple of weeks so I'm not stressing about losing weight over christmas. I will just be happy to maintain and get back into it in the new year. Life is too short to be worried about what you eat and drink over christmas. Especially as most of it is free - LOL!!

This week will be much quieter here. Everything has stopped now for the holiday break. Yahoo!! I am really looking forward to christmas day. My kids all still believe in Father Christmas and there is nothing better than seeing the look on the kids faces when they see what has been left under the tree.

Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!

3 Weeks Until Christmas!!

Here is the promised photo of our christmas tree. You can tell the kids decorated it - LOL. It has character. It looks so good at night with just the lights on but I couldn't capture that in a photo.

Don't you just love my little tigger!! Jarryd comes jumping into the lounge after his shower. The kids all have a different pooh bear character towel.

OK, where did the last couple of weeks go???

I think, like a lot of bloggers, I have lost the inclination to post again. I love reading and commenting on other blogs but just can't be arsed writing in mine. I don't want to stop blogging but it just gets so much harder to spend time on the computer at this time of year.

I have taken on a huge task 3 weeks before christmas. We are having a garage sale on December 15th. It started off as an idea when I decided to have a clean out of the girls room. And as I was going through their room I realized how much good quality stuff they have to get rid of. So I thought maybe if we have it before christmas I can advertise it as "stocking fillers" and "christmas presents"

And it helped that the house 2 doors down is going up for auction that day so it will mean more people in the street. Next weekend it will be Jarryd's room that gets a clean out.

The girls room is so much better with the bunk beds in. Being the hopless blogger I am, I totally forgot to take a before photo but I can tell you it was disgusting the amount of crap we took out of that room. We have a temporary wardrobe in there that came out of our room to help with storage but I eventually want to get built in robes in there. I promise I will post a photo in the next post.

We went to my grandma's 96th birthday today. Mum put on afternoon tea and it was lovely to sit around and catch up with my family. Grandma is amazing. She still lives in her own home and gets out and about most day with the help of the council bus. She is starting to slow down a bit now but she is incredible for a woman of her age.

I had my work show last night and had a great night. We went to the Mawson Lakes Hotel for a 3 course dinner. I had prawn salad for entree, atlantic salmon for mains and Death by Chocolate for dessert. The only problem was all the meals came out one after the other and we didn't get much of a break in between. I was very good and only ate a small amount of dessert. I wanted to save all my points for drinking - lol. I didn't overdo it and was very proud that I didn't have a hangover today. Must have been all the water I drank in between.

I did a bit more christmas shopping this morning. I really don't have a lot more to get. Just stocking fillers. Hey maybe I could recycle some of the things I have put in boxes for the garage sale - LOL. I wonder if they would notice!!!

I am pleased to say I have been following the ww plan for 2 weeks now and have lost 3.9 kgs. I have made up a plan of basic healthy eating with a few treats along the way and it seems to be working. I know christmas will be an obstacle but it's all managable.

It's going to be a very busy week. The girls have their end of year dancing presentation on Wednesday night and the school end of year event is on Thursday night. Then we have Steve's work break up on Friday night.

I can't believe it's just over 3 weeks until christmas. It's going to be a very busy 3 weeks. Thank goodness I have 2 weeks off over christmas. I'll need it!!

Where did the Weekend Go??

We were in the pool this afternoon when Nikki's friend's dad came to pick her up. I asked what the time was and it was 6pm. I honestly thought it was about 3pm. Where did the day go??

We had a lovely relaxing day in the pool today. It was hot (not sure of the temp) and we had a few friends over and also my sister and her 3 year old boy so it was a great day. I sure didn't feel guilty about doing nothing today because yesterday was a big day doing a few jobs that needed doing.

I seem to go around in circles. By the time I finish all the tidying of rooms and all the other chores, it's time to start again. Like tidying of kids rooms. Why is that always such a big job? Our main problem is total lack of storage space in the girls room. It is bursting at the seams. So our next project is bunk beds for that room and then it frees up a wall so we can put built in robes. I can see a trip to Ikea coming up.

So yesterday we got lots of little jobs done like unpacking the suitcases properly and putting them away and emptying out the shoe basket (which was overflowing) and getting rid of all the shoes that don't fit anymore. I also swept around the pool and entertaining area. And our last job of the day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After much pestering by the kids, we put up the christmas tree!!

We went to see Father Christmas Friday night so I guess it was ok to put up the tree. I know it's early to see Father Christmas but there is method in my madness. Firstly there were no lines, we walked straight in to the Magic Cave in the city. This is always packed most times we go and we usually have to line up. So it does pay to go early. And secondly I have put the kids presents away so this way they can't change their minds.

Nikki was going to ask for Bindeez (but can't now because of the recall) so she asked for a skateboard. Ashleigh asked for Rainbow Magic books and Jarryd asked for Lego.

I will take a photo of the tree and post it next time. It really does look nice.

Then after our big day yesterday we went to a quiz night last night. We had a great time and came home with lots of goodies.

So already it's back to work tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be 38 and 39 deg for the next 2 days. Roll on Christmas. I get another 2 weeks holiday!!

Have a great week everyone.

Another Weekend Gone

But I'm glad this one is over.

The girls had their end of year dancing concert today and it went really well. I have spent most of the week catching up on things I have missed over the last 3 weeks while we were away. So it has been rather chaotic.

Unfortunately I haven't got any photos to share because we had to drive around for over 1/2 an hour looking for a park so I didn't get backstage before the show started. And you aren't allowed to take photos when the kids are on stage.

The concert is held in the city and it was chaos in there today. Apart from it being rememberence day, there were markets on at the festival theatre and some sort of rally through the city so it was very busy.

And the best part . . . . . . . . . . . .

It's all over for another year. No more dancing on Monday and Wednesday nights.

I want to do a plug for my daughter Ashleigh's blog. She is getting very good at updating it herself and is very proud of herself so have a look and leave a message to say hello.

http://ashleighkate.blogspot.com/

Have a great week everyone. It's getting hotter during the week and it's supposed to be mid 30's by the weekend. We might get a chance to get into the pool.

Warning - Long Photo Post Ahead

The following photos are a few of the 450 photos we took. We had the most amazing holiday and we will all have lifetime memories.

Just a shame it goes so quickly.

This was where we stayed for our 1st night. The Sheraton Mirage in Port Douglas. We splurged big time and got a 3 bedroom apartment. It was beyond luxurious. This is the lounge but there was a formal dining room, a casual meals area, kitchen, 3 bedrooms - main with ensuite and spa. The main bedroom upstairs looked over the living area.

The whole resort is built around the water and it was just stunning. I wish we could have afforded to stay longer.

Our own private pool at the Sheraton. You can see our apartment in the background.

Our first encounter with a cane toad. He was swimming in the pool, but eventually got sucked into the filter - YUK!!!