Every one is happy!

Phew, Both kids came home from their first day happy! Tasha has a new teacher (YAY!) and is in a class made up almost entirely of her friends. She has her best friend Kaysha, Courtney, Bethany, Isabella, Cirinna and Emily. Kyle found high school a lot less daunting than he expected - got to love going to a high school with only 15 class rooms to find your way around!

As for me - yes I did learn to let them grow up. Although as you can tell by the new look blog I didn't have much luck distracting myself with scrapbooking. I tried to keep busy but just couldn't focus on anything. I did spend some time with Isabella and Jackson (well they slept but hey it was time together).

For those of you who pray I ask you to keep Isabella, Simone, Greg and the family in your thoughts as they travel to Sydney for the specialist appointment on Friday.

The deed is done!

Yes they are both off to school.
We watched Tasha get on the bus this morning at 8:00. She is loving the fact that she is oldest Lucas at IRPS. Now not only does she not have to put up with her brother on the bus but..........wait for it...........she gets to bring home the bulletin!

I then drove Kyle to school (Yeah I know slack but it is the first day) and he seemed okay. He was very nervous last night and this morning but Tony and I prayed with him and I had a big chat about high school and he said he felt much better. Anway dropped him off, watched him walk the long way round just to avoid a group of boys who were chatting - "I'll go this way so I don't bother them" and headed home. Managed to keep the tears at bay until I was pulling away from the school therefore managing not to embarass him! He did organise a very strict plan for being picked up this afternoon. told me where to meet him, then pointed the spot out, then walked me there to make sure I had it right! ~L~ I know he'll be okay he's just so shy and scared of making new friends. Knowing this is a much smaller school and that he knows some of the kids there I am sure we have done the right thing.

Oh I took pics this morning will post them later - they both suddenly seem so grown up

It's almost over!

Boy these school holidays have flown - but thinking back it seems they started ages ago! Not sure how that works :)
Anyway I was sitting thinking about how I didn't get what I wanted done these holidays with the kids but when I actually thought about it we did:
Catch up with my brother and his family from Dubai
Travel to Goulburn to meet up with family members we have not seen in a long time
Go to the beach
Go to Bay and Basin Leisure Centre
The kids had numerous friends over and went on a number of sleep overs
Kyle went to the carnival and got sick on a ride and vomited (twice)
We had picnics and played in the park
Went to the movies
Kyle and I had a mother/son day
Spent time together as a family unit playing games and mucking around
Went to Mogo Zoo
Did some walks and outdoor things as a family
Swam in the blow up pool in the backyard
Tasha in particular was a little social butterfly
I am sure there is more but I can't think right now!

So thinking back we actually did a fair bit and on a very tight budget. Mogo Zoo was probably our biggest spend - we did a lot of outdoor things that were very cheap or free, spent alot of time in parks etc. There were some things the kids wanted to do - the main ones being Jamberoo, Taronga Zoo and a trip to the Aquarium but the bank didn't allow that. I think we acheived quite a lot anyway. On top of all this we have been preparing for school. Can't believe my little boy is off to high school - I think I am worse about this than I was about him starting school. He was very nervous but is getting much better as it gets closer. We have spent a lot of time talking and praying about it. Tasha is going into year 5 this year and is looking forward to being at school without her big brother ~L~
Hope you are all ready for school to recommence. I have covered books and labelled things till I couldn't face another thing!

Can't be avoided

Sorry Tone, You just can't avoid it as much as you would like to! ~L~ Didn't out as much effort in this year as last though!

So to the wonderful guy I am so priviledged to call my husband (well depends what day you ask me)

Happy Birthday Tony

Hope you had a great day - even if you did spend half of it all alone - although maybe that would make it a good day lol

Scrap time!

Scrap time - what is that?!?

I must say this week is shaping up to be a good one! I actually got to spend time in my craft room over the past week and did a massive WIP (work in progress) completion. Had quite a few pages that just needed titles or journalling or that elusive something and finished off nearly my entire pile - about 8 pages. Woo Hoo.

Hoping to get back in the craft room this week and then I have a scrap night on Friday night. 7pm - 3am! Can't wait. And of course the main drawcard for the night - I get to scrap with Cass! (Okay maybe insert chat more than scrap but you get the picture) All I need now is one sweet gal from Melbourne to scrap with and life would be sweet.

Todays Quote

Found this when I was blog - surfing. Just had to share.


"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."

What a great quote - just got to work on putting it into place!

Moguls and Madness

Today it was re-inforced just how ruthless my husband can be!
We (Tony, Kyle and I) had a game of Monopoly and after the parents ganging up on Kyle who tends to plot and plan well and win it was MUM VS DAD. I should have realised after playing Game of Life some years ago when Tony threatened to throw his wife and kids from the car just how serious he could be!
But seriously.... we had a good time, lots of laughs and fun.

This morning we went and had a look at a new display village at Worrowing Heights (near vincentia) and was so not inspired by the houses. Apart from the fact they were all small and the average block is only 500m2 the plans were mad! In a couple of them you had to walk through the house including the kitchen to get to the lounge room. Knowing my housekeeping skills - YUCK! Did see one awesome loft though!

Dining Al Fresco - and tackle basketball!

This would have to be our family dining preference lately - Al Fresco!

With all the gorgeous evenings we have taken to eating outside a lot. The kids love it - the fresh air is great and so far we haven't been too bothered by flies (Hmmm should I take that as a complaint about my cooking?!?)

It is a great time to sit and relax and seems to be a much more casual chat time.

And occasionally we even get Tony to join us (on the rare occasion he is able to have dinner with us)

After this particular meal however the kids decided a spot of basketball would be fun. Sounds like a great fun activity doesn't it...... not with this family.

Our gentle game of 2 on 2 basketball (Tony and Tasha vs Kyle and I) soon turned into tackle basketball as the adults used every means available to them to stop the kids getting goals. It involved lots of laughs, a few "not fairs", lots of puffing and ..... okay maybe one little injury (I still think they were crocodile tears!).

Lions and Tigers and Bears (well almost!)

Well we went for one of our "family drives" again and this time we ended up at Mogo Zoo. somewhere I had been planning on taking the kids for a while but it was great to do it with all four of us! As it is one of those not really planned things we didn't get there until about 1pm but we still had a great time. I LOVE big cats and you get to see them so close here. Hhmmm doesn't look too scary here! Wouldn't want to be in there with it though ~L~How gorgeous does this look! They have white lions as well which are amazing but my pics didn't come out too good.So there is the lions and tigers - couldn't get bears! But this Red Panda was just so cute had to include him too!But my all time favourite would be the otters. I love watching them run around and play - they are so cute and I could sit and watch for hours.

My other fav of the day was the Tapir. Not an animal that has interested me a great deal in the past but they were having so much fun, running around the compound and then diving and splashing in the pond, swimming around and showing off. They were amazing.

Oh and I found these two monsters there as well!

It was a great day and if you get a chance go down and see the animals. I have so many pics but only put a few here.

Another mad week

Have had a busy week. I believe my kids are on school holidays but I really am not sure as I haven't seen them between school hours!
Working mon, wed, thurs and fri this week and Tues I met up with the wonderful Cass in Berry for coffee, window shopping, more window shopping, lunch, some more window shopping and more coffee!
Bank is looking very dismal right nonw so window shopping was the extent of it but still had a great time. In the middle of all this was a lot of chatting and talking and just a simply wonderful day.

Sandras parcel finally arrived from America so I was able to send that on - sorry it didn't make it in time for your birthday :(

In the midst of all this have had a sick little girl (thanks so much to those who called or messaged to see how she was going it was lovely). She is doing much better now ~ don't know that we will ever be allowed back in target again *blushes*

Have been checking out a lot of the photo challenges that friends have on their blogs and am getting seriously inspired so you may see a lot more pics her soon (and more regular posts). Hope wherever you are you are well and have a smile on your face. MWAH

Happy Mail

Got some amazing happy mail today. I am doing a little jiggy dance here!
I had a sick little girl when I went off to work today so I rang home at lunch time to see how she was (doing fine - slight temp) to hear I had a parcel sitting at home. I got very excited as I was expecting a special parcel from overseas but this was something unexpected!
My poor old cutter has seen much better days. It doesn't like cutting straight and is kind of dead - well now it can retire!?!
In a parcel today I received the gorgeous Making Memories Precision Paper Trimmer. I have drooled over these for so long and now my gorgeous friend Sandra has made my dream come true!

(pretend pic is here - blogger didn't want me to upload pic)

So I am very , very, very happy jiggy girl this afternoon. Dont ya love happy mail - especially totally unexpected happy mail. (Will return the favour when your parcel arrives!)

I also have to say a massive thank you to Lucy for the other parcel I received. I can't wait to play - off to check out some tutorials now! Watch out photos - prepare to be fiddled with! (I mean that in the nicest way ~L~)

Zoom Zoom Zoom

If you are looking up to the sky today spare a thought for Sandra. I know I will be.

For christmas SJ got a voucher for a tigermoth flight and is off to the skies today. Can't wait to hear how it goes. I have been "zooming" around the house - arms outstretched, doing my turns and spins. Don't think it's quite the same but I can live vicariously through my friend!

Have a great time sweetie.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a wonderful 2009.

I have great plans for this year - It is going to be a good one! 2009 will be my year!

Hope that it will be a great year for all of you and that you aren't feeling too bad this morning ~L~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Sending a shout out to a gorgeous girl who I have the greatest priviledge of calling my friend.

Happy birthday sweetie....... i am sure you will be spoilt by your wonderful family. Wish I was there to share it with you but I am thinking of you and am there in spirit. Hopefully next year I can be there for your birthday!

Have a great day and may all your birthday wishes come true!