This discovery is not doing my waistline any favours but I had to share.

The Peanut and Flakes Chocolate from Aldi is so delicious and I can easily inhale a block in one sitting! ewwww I know, but wait till you taste this – it is awesome!

Everyday it is the same thing. Don’t jump on the bed…..

Today it happened again and now Amy has a corker bump on her head with a bruise in the middle of it. Justin’s bed side drawers have a slight dint in them now.

On a brighter note, Meggie got her new glasses today and she looks very sophisticated.

Have a great weekend…….:)

Can I believe that a month of this new year has flown by already – nope! Anyway, here we are on the last day of School holidays. I have to say that these hols have been the best ones for a long time. So restful and relaxing with lots of great things happening.

The trip to Melbourne for Kate and Rohan’s wedding was wonderful. Having the entire family in Melbourne was great fun as we got to met up everyday. Our hotel room was flooded so we were moved to a different place and it was even better so we lived it up in a little luxury for a week. Right on the Bay at Williamstown and not far from Kates place, it was ideal.

The wedding was on Friday at 14th Jan at 11am, and it was pouring. I mean torrential rain. We had all decided to catch the train into the city for the wedding at the Old Treasury Building, mainly because the parking would be a nightmare. Lisa, Graham and the boys met us at the station, and Kate and Rohan, Penny, Matt and Kids and Mum and Dad all got on a few stops later. Our spirits could not be dampened! It was fun to be on the train in all our bridal wear and to share in the kids joy and excitement at being on a train, with each other (their most favourite people in the world). Getting off the train and to the wedding was wet. We hustled it in the pouring rain and get there relatively dry, thanks for a quick purchase of 5 umbrellas at a cheap shop along the way.

Kate was positively glowing. She looked so beautiful and poised. I was very proud of how elegant and glamorous she looked. I didn’t ever imagine that she was going to be so nervous and excited. There was a moment of some overwhelming tears but with Dad’s clever distraction method, it passed and we were able to all walk down the aisle without incident. Video to follow. 10 children as bridal assistants, then Me, followed by Lisa, and then Kate and Dad. So nice.

After the wedding itself we all walked over the road the Fitzroy Gardens where we had a delicious lunch at The Pavillion. The rain cleared so we were able to get some great photos outside in the amazing gardens.


The next day was Kates 40th Birthday so we gathered back at her place for morning tea and some birthday presents before the big birthday bash that night. Penny, wonderful Penny, has spent the best part of a few months putting together a video of Kate’s life. It was funny and emotional and got a great reception – lots of tears form Kate and me too! it was playing that night at the party, on a TV that James pinched from the hotel for the evening! Shh!! Don’t tell anyone about that 🙂

The party was sensational. Gosh it was so hot, but out the back of the place there was a nice breeze and we sat under Jasmine and Potato Vines in relative comfort. Food was awesome, drinks were free flowing and the speeches were entertaining and heartfelt. Great night. Kate has a bunch of lovely friends and the extra family members (aunts and uncles) that came along had a super time. Grandma was there too, so having 4 generations present meant a lot to Kate, and Dad as well.

The next day we headed home, me with a mother hangover and the temp high. Long trip home, but great to be back!

Work started then too, and with it a bit of back to the hustle and bustle. Kids had to be farmed out while work was on and that is always a logistical pain in the neck. However, all good!

Next adventure was on Australia Day when we went camping again. Back to Wee Jasper and this time with friends the Crowes and Simpsons. Fun Fun Fun. Had a ball. It was so hot, but barely noticeable when you are riding the rapids on a boogie board down the river 1000 times. We parked our chairs in the water and swam, chatted, laughed, solved the worlds problems and generally enjoyed ourselves. 2 nights, 6 adults, 10 children (from 10yrs to 8 months), 3 tents, 6 bottles of wine and some beer. Brilliant mini break.

We lost several shoes and thongs in the river. The rocks along the bottom were unforgiving and we have the bruises to prove it!!

So now back to the grind, with school starting on Monday. Holly will be in yr 5, Meg yr 3 and Jess yr 1. Amy starts preschool in a few more weeks. I think she’ll be ok!

Shouldn’t forget too that Holly had her 10th birthday in amongst all this. Have to get my head around the fact that she’s been with us for a decade! She is nearly as tall as me and I can fit into her new school shoes. I sometimes think I can see her growing – she is so lean and leggy! She had a few friends over for a swim and we ate a sensational tart from Adas and Lin. Friends came over for dinner and we had a riotous party!

Helen, hope this has bought you up to date and I’ll make a better effort to keep the posts more regular!!

xx

We have just returned home from our camping debut.  Camping.  C.A.M.P.I.N.G…me camping.  Yes you read it right.. I did it!!  Well we did, and it was great fun and we are going to go again!

Not having ever really been into in whole camping thing, I have put Justin off for about 15 years with excuses like -  Not Interested…if you love me you wouldn’t make me do it….I’m pregnant…I’m still pregnant….I’m pregnant again…I have too many small children..yada yada yada.  I finally ran out of excuses and of seeing the sad expressions on Justin’s face when I rejected the idea again, so I said OK.  He ran out to the shop, got a tent, some sleeping bags and other camping gadgets and before I new it we were off to Wee Jasper.  We paid our $14 site fee, found a place to set up and erected the tent like seasoned campers.

There was a river with fast flowing water for the girls to swim in, a playground, a swing and a bottle of red wine.  Perfect.  The night was a little rough (only because the neighbours were a bit rowdy and the mattress I was sleeping on a bit thin) but we made it though and woke up this morning feeling successful.    We have made another booking there and this time taking our friends with us (more seasoned campers so we can learn from their mysterious camping ways).  I think this is going to be the start of something good.

Now we are home, the Christmas tree is put away, the presents all in their spots (did I mention we got an iPad…I love you iPad) and a new phone (android and totally amazing..I love you phone).

Going to blog more this year, have more dinner parties and fix up the pool area/laundry.  Wonder what else will happen that is exciting and unexpected in 2011.  Stay tuned…………

Happy New Year

Sometimes I think that there is not enough going on that is interesting enough to write about, but now 8 weeks have gone past and I feel overwhelmed at having to recall what has been going down!

The lead up to Christmas has been fairly calm.  I’m on top of the shopping and only have a few things left to get.  Namely the girls presents.  I sort of promised them that I’d get them new dresses and shoes for their role as ‘Bridal Assistants’ at Kate and Rohan’s wedding in a few weeks time.  I have had a little look around but nothing is jumping out at me, so next week will have to be it.  MIL is taking the girls down the coast for 4 days, so I’ll be kid free and lapping up every minute of it.

Had a fleeting trip to Melbourne with Kate and Mum to look for a wedding outfit for Kate, as well as something for Lisa and I to wear as matron’s of Honour.  We didn’t find anything for us, but managed to get Kate the most amazing dress.  We hit Bridge Road full of enthusiasm, parked the car and went into the shop 2 steps from where we parked.  the first dress she put on was a ripper.  We pondered it for a while and decided to go browse a few other places and see what was around.  30 dresses and 4 hours later and we headed back to the first shop, tried that first dress on again and instantly knew if was the best one.  I had a tear!

Last week of school now and all the badgering I gave the girls about homework and assignments throughout the year has paid off.  They had such great reports and Meg got this terms Quiet Achiever award.  I am very proud of them all.  Jess has come along in leaps and bounds in kindergarten.  Reading chapter books and writing like a professional!

Work is going great.  Now that I have been made permanent I have taken a new ‘ownership’ of the role and am getting really stuck into it.  Part of my job is to test the newborn babies who fail their in hospital hearing test.  it is emtional on occasions and have often comforted a distressed new mum with my own tears.  I love it though and am pleased to be part of a positive chain reaction.  I had dinner last night with some colleagues from many years ago, who happen to be the next link in the chain for these little babies.  We have such a positive rapport with each other that I can only see that as being beneficial to these families at such a confusing time.  As a side issue, I spent a day in theatre watching the doctors that I work with in the clinic, do surgery.  I saw grommets, tonsils, adenoids and several fractured noses.  It was really an amazing experience.

The rain has been a blessing for my new front garden.  The trees that we planted last summer have taken off, and with the other bits and pieces that I have accumulated (like daisies from the school fete, off cuts from MIL’s garden and self sown seeds from next door).  All the flowers are in bloom and it looks positively lovely.  I was stopped by an older lady not long ago when I was out watering after a run.  She said that she loved what I had done with the garden and that the flowers were just divine. Great praise for a not so green thumb me!!

I’m feeling a bit nostalgic as the year draws to a close.  I’m going to jot down the important things that have made this year memorable…..

* New job – in the course of getting the department up and running I have made a wonderful friend, Michelle who makes me laugh and smile everyday.

* Every Friday my girls Em and Simone meet me for a coffee and make me laugh so hard I cry.  We call it Goss and Giggle (or G&G) and I cannot imagine life without it or them.

* In July my Grandpa died.  This has had a huge impact on Dad’s family, but Grandma is OK and we have all reconnected with her in a different way that makes our relationships with her all the more special.  We love you Grandma xx

* My children have all reached even numbers (well Holly in a few weeks) Holly 10, Meg 8, Jess 6 and Amy 4.  They make me cry, laugh, dummy spit and smile and I am so immensely proud of the people that they are becoming.

* Justin is still a rock – sometimes one that I want to throw at a passing car, and other times such a support and steadfast ally.  He works so hard to provide for us and I get cross that I have to make him lunch!  He is wonderful and I love him very much.

*  My wonderful WA in-laws.  Came for a visit in October and it was just such a pleasure to have them here and spend time with them.  No demands, no pressure just awesome easy-going company.  The best thing I ever did was write that letter 10 years ago!

* My Mum and Dad – happily and graciously look after Amy (and Sam) on Thursdays so i don’t have to use childcare.  They take them out, buy them babycino’s and spoil them rotten.  Amy gets so excited when I tell her it is a day at Nanna’s and Pa’s.  Bless you both – you don’t know how much I appreciate and love all that you do.

OK time for dinner so better wrap this up.  Hopefully back for an update before the new year.

Fran xx

* Kate and Rohan got engaged

* Matt and Penny are having another baby, number 3, in April 2011

* Amy screamed the place down when she got her needles on Wednesday.  Did you hear it from your place?

* no news about the job.  I’ll still turn up on Monday!

That’s it 🙂

Ok, some breathing space!

I feel as thought my feet haven’t touched the ground in a month.  School holidays, birthdays, visitors, pet minding,job interview, couple of days in Sydney for a meeting and 3 days in Wagga for dancing championships.  And the best thing of all (or worst depending on how you look at it)  is that the bathroom renovating has begun.  They are doing both the main and en-suite at the same time, so we are out in the rumpus room bathroom which has seen better days! ((note:  Meg decided that calling the playroom a ‘playroom’ is babyish and embarrassing so it is now called the’ Rumpus Room’)).

It was so lovely to have Adas and Lin here for a week in the holidays.  We got out and about taking them to our favourite places including Murrumbateman wineries, Floriade, Tidbinbilla, National Museum of Australia, Sth Durras, Federation Square etc.  The girls adored having them around and Justin and I really enjoyed and appreciated the extra adult conversation and bottles of Wine.

My meeting in Sydney was for the Infant Diagnostic Audiologists group, ie those Auds who test the newborn babies who fail the newborn hearing screening at birth.  It was so interesting, and while quite the whirlwind trip, I gained a lot and learned many new things.  My job interview was baout 2 weeks ago, and that is to make my position permanent at The Canberra Hospital.  It was nerve wracking, but I think I did OK.  Haven’t heard any news about it yet.

Wagga was interesting.  The rains came down, the highway was closed, the caravan park got evacuated due to the flooding river and yet we danced on!  Meg was on Saturday in the teams sections and then in an individual section.  She was beautiful, but didn’t get placed.  I was very proud of her, she was dissappointed and declared she was giving it all up.

Holly danced on Sunday, firstly in the teams in which they came second (yay) and then individually.  She was recalled for the finals but then unplaced.  Nonetheless she was thrilled to make the finals and is truly inspired to go on and get batter.  Her teacher sees great potential in her and offered her personal classes next year.  She is a lovely dancer and loves her Physie, so we’ll see where it takes us…

Holly also started playing netball on Monday. It is a little summer comp, only 7 weeks,  at the local netball courts and while she pretty much had no idea what she was doing, so got in there and had a great time.  She’ll get better as the weeks progress, and by winter she’ll be great.  I think she is over the soccer idea and would like to play netball instead.  I asked Meg if she wanted to play considering she wants to give away the dancing.  She said  “No Mum, I just want a simple life”. Bless 🙂

With all this happening I missed Sascha’s 40th birthday in Sydney and Emma’s christening, in which Justin was the Godfather.  Justin and Jess went up for the celebrations on the weekend, while I froze and got soaked in Wagga!.

Jess progressed another grade in her swimming classes.  She is now in K6 and quite a strong little swimmer.  We did fast track in the holidays and she was in a class on her own, so I think the extra one-on-one tuition really helped her fine tune a few skills.  Amy wouldn’t do the fast track because she had a man teacher.  Well the fuss that went on was embarrassing and frustrating, so I just didn’t bother with it.

We are off this morning to have Amy’s 4 yr old health check.  She has her last set of Immunization needles as well as checking her eyes, weight and height.  I’ve primed her up for the needle and she is focusing on the iceblock that she’s going to have afterwards.

Holly Meg and Jess walked to school today.  This was the first time they’ve gone unchaperoned.  I had little butterflies in my tummy, but they arrived safe and sound.  Holly was looking forward to asserting her independence and taking the responsibility.  They would have chatted and giggled the entire way, 2kms, and arrived in no time at all.  Justin and I both gave them the talk about behaving, being safe and not going with strangers.  I am trying to take heed of the “free range parenting” ideals whereby you teach your children the skills to be independant and then let them do it without hovering or ‘Helicoptering’ over them all the time.  They are intelligent and responsible children and I have faith that they will be OK.

The house seems to be in chaos with the bathroom renovations.  I have things all over the place and I can’t find stuff.  The tiny bathroom has no shower screen so everything gets wet.  Sharing one toilet with 6 people is also touch and go sometimes!  We are learning about respecting others and taking note of each others needs.  Well I am saying that a lot, but i don’t know how much of it is actually sinking in!

Coffee has gone cold while getting all this down.  Sorry no new pics but I can’t find the camera or the cords to get photos onto laptop!

Have a great week 🙂

Now the baby is 4.

It seems like only yesterday that I sobbed at the blue line on the stick, but here she is, now 4 years old and the apple of our eyes. It has been a rough few months for us and Amy. Hitting 3 has always been a trialling time with my girls – they say it is the same emotional growth as a teenager. Lots of growing up in a short pace of time and the brain gets overloaded, causing emotions to run high. She is finally emerging form this very self-focused age and is starting to be able to be reasoned with and see things from other points of view. It is really quite amazing the transformation that has taken place. She is such a girly girl, choosing her own dresses (never pants) and wearing layers of skirts and multi necklaces and bangles. She is a hippie at heart! She adores sparkling shoes and glittering tops, bejeweled headbands and handbags. It is fun shopping with her because if it sparkles she in in.

I’ve said to her now that she is 4 it is time to get rid of the pram and no more “uppy”. Sad day for Amy. But really she has enjoyed a babyhood that is years more than any of the others got! Gee, when Holly was four, Jess was 6 months old, so certainly to pram or uppy for her, likewise for Meg when she was 4. It is time! I know we are all ready to embrace the next phase of this life.

In other news, soccer is finished and Holly had her presentation night at the Labor Club last week. She got a cracking trophy, and a wealth of experience and fun, so it was great. Meg and Jess got their trophies a few weeks ago and they were much delighted with that.

School concert was last week too. The theme of the concert was Australia. Jess’s class did Aussie commercials. One of which was the Vegemite ad, and she had on the big Vegemite soldiers hat signing “it puts a rose in every cheek”. Classic. They also sang the cordial jingle “my day picks the fruit that goes to Cottees…to make the cordial…that I like best”. She was singing it at home and said to me “mum listen to this bit that Olivia (best friends and I made up…My dad picks his nose that goes to snotties….hahahaha!”. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that there was no way she made that up, cause we all used to sing that version back in the 80’s!

Meg and her class did dancing routines to “Working Class Man”, “Stayin’ alive”, “Locomotion” and “You’re The Voice”. Holly’s class did a skit about politicians which was very funny. It was a super concert and everyclass made such a big effort.

I’ve put in my application for my job. Writing a public service application is so tedious and not something that I am used to doing. Got lots of help from Sim ,Em and Penny, so am very grateful for that. I hope I get the job now!

School hols are no upon us and we are looking forward to having a rest. I got the time off work, so no rushing about in the mornings or afterschool. Planning lots of get together s with friends and a visit from the Perth Connection. Can’t wait for that.

I’ve been trying to get out into the garden as much as possible to get things ship shape or the start of spring. I’m keen to get the side of the house looking better. It is fairly bare, we never go up there, but as I run past it in the mornings I always think how awful it looks, so I’ve been planting native grasses and flowers and hoping that they grow really fast.

I set myself a task to run each day of September. I pretty much have, expect for a few days last week when I was sick with another cold (make that about 5 for the year, *sigh*) and last Sunday after a biggie night out. I’m certainly not in the condition I was this time last year, but I am hoping to get back into bootcamp, start eating better now that is is warmer and get back into shape. I know what I have to do, it is just hard to be so disciplined 🙂

Long awaited pics of the soccer trio.

Have a great weekend and super school hols 🙂

The weather did not let up much this weekend. Our last soccer games were cancelled, which was actually a relief as it overlapped with the annual Physical Culture Dance Competition that the girls were in. Trophies were still issued and the girls will probably get them today from the kids at school who collected then on our behalf.

The PC comp was exciting. Jess was up first. She did so well. She is the tallest in the group by far, and probably the skinniest too. She is a lanky thing! Her marching was great and her routines were good too. She needs to remember them more by heart, but on the whole she did great.

Meg was then up and her marching was spot on. She did great routines and was clearly the best there! She was recalled for the marching, which means she had to come back and march with the best from each age division to determine the best overall marcher. This was exciting!

Holly then up and she was the bomb. Holly had the most competitors in her age group so it was difficult for the judges to decide. I thought she was awesome and she did a sterling job of all her dances.

When the times for results to be called out I was a bundle of nerves. I was clenched up so hard that I had a crick in my neck. I just wanted the girls to do well and come away with something. When Jess’s division was called out she didn’t get a place. I could have cried for her. I knew that sad little face would come to me afterward and be devastated. She had her heart set on winning and believed that she could do it. My heart was breaking for her.

Meg came first in her section. She was thrilled and it was well deserved. She got a big trophy and a big grin. I was immensely proud of her.

Holly came 3rd. I knew that she was going to be upset about that because she has won the past two years and has been working really hard on all her routines. She did a great job out there, but on the day it depends on a lot of things. My heart was heavy for her too. I was feeling like an emotional wreck!

So on the way home, Meg was all goo goo gaa gaa over her win and Holly and Jess were glaring at her like she was showing off. We can’t deny Meg’s success I said. She was a worthy winner so lets celebrate that. Jess was down in the dumps and Holly felt ripped off. I felt like I had been riding an emotional roller coaster for 3 hours – put myself into bed and had an hours sleep!

Sunday was Father’s Day and Justin requested a fully cooked breakfast so I made scrambled eggs, baked beans, chipolatas and bacon on toast. It did us the whole day. Holly and Meg has dancing practice at various times, so in between that I did the shopping, got lunch, made some things for the lunchboxes this week and then we all went out to Lisa’s for Afternoon Tea. We didn’t need dinner!

I managed to get some tickets to see Margaret Fulton (the cook) giving a talk at the National Museum of Australia. She is talking about cookbooks and how they have changed to social scene in Australia over the decades. Mum, Lisa and Penny are coming with me – since we have our own cookbook, love to bake and talk about cooking all the time, I thought it was only fitting! Can’t wait.

Time to go my for my run. Amy was a pain in the neck and cried a lot in the night. Dunno what is wrong with her but am considering putting her up for sale. Any takers? So a run is what I need to get rid of all the anxiety from the weekend – might need to go twice as far, am a little wound up!

Have a great day.

Have invested a lot of time in recent days off to jet about town looking for bathroom accessories and tiles. Have chosen the vanity (x2), showers, tapware (x4) and toilets. Still can’t decide on the tiles but am getting close. Just hoping now that it all fits in and doesn’t look awful. Am learning a lot about tiles – it is now the thing to have a vertical feature, not a border feature; and everything is in neutral colours, can’t find a blue floor tile anywhere.

Meggie did a great job in her PSSA run yesterday. She won her heat and we are waiting to hear if she gets into the next round. Holly didn’t make it into PSSA after all – it was the other Holly at the school!

Holly and I did have an adventure on Sunday though. We caught a bus at 4.45am to Sydney for a Physie (dancing club) competition. It was an extremely long day and Holly kinda botched up her dance so didn’t get a place there. She was bitterly disappointed but it just goes to show how much more work she needs to put into it – she can’t just cruise along as she is doing now!

Two more soccer games to go – that means only 2 more training sessions and 2 more Saturdays of freezing conditions on the oval. Yippee. Bring on Summer and hopefully netball…

Old photo of the day…..

Love this one. Holly is at preschool here, Meg about 3 (the same age Amy is now) and Jessica about a year or so.

Have a great Wednesday 🙂