Day 5

Wow what a mad day. Today we went to Seaworld and we walked and walked and..... you get the picture. We had a great time - Tasha went on every ride she could find and Kyle was entranced by the pirate show.
Tasha loved recognising parts of the park from her favourite show H2O and she also loved the dolphin show. We left at the end of the day exhausted but happy Then we came back to our room and relaxed the best way we know how. Yep after walking around all day in 30 degree heat we hit the pool! Kyle has decided it is the rule - when on holidays we must swim every day. We also picked up this snakes and ladders game in a $2 shop so we spent some time tonight playing together.

We had decied that this holiday would be the start of a new beginning for us as a family and we have been watching what we eat - even being on holidays when it is hardest to stick to a diet we have made sure that if we buy lunch etc it is a salad and not Macca's etc. Well we blew that today - only because it was going to cost us $27.50 each for Tony and I to eat at the healthy buffet. So we bought fish and chips instead! Back on the healthy diet tomorrow!

Day 4

Today we stopped by the big prawn to get some pictures before it gets torn down and then we hit the road. Today was another short drive and we crossed the border about 11:30.

Hmmm was does a girl do when she has a few hours to fill in? Yep - we went shopping! Called into Pacific Fair and did some window shopping and then we went to see Avatar in 3D.

We did some more shopping and then headed into Surfers to our hotel. To find that they didn't our booking! This is one of those times it is good to be in a family where I do get picked on for being anal but aren't we glad we had that print out with us! Anyway they gave us our room which is really nice. We have a lounge area, kitchen, dining room and toilet downstairs and a main bedroom, second bedroom, bathroom, laundry and ensuite upstairs! With balconies on 2 sides. And the best bit - we are on the same floor and literally next door to the pool!

Day 3

Todays drive wasn't too long - about 2 1/2 hours I think -

We got as far as Grafton and stopped to hit the shopping centre! Mmmmm Big W and Target in one place - fun!

We then headed into Ballina where we saw the big prawn ....... will have to go back tomorrow and take a picture before it gets torn down...... and then you will never guess what we did next.

Yep we hit the hotel pool! - Surfers Paradise tomorrow. Will be so nice to not have to travel every day and to be able to unpack, do some washing and just settle in.

Day 2

Today was another long day of driving. We had a kind of later start than we had planned.
The trials of travelling with a teenager....... you have to wake them up at 9:00am and they look like this when you do!

I got to about 90 km north of Bulahdelah and hit roadworks for the next 50 or so km's which meant driving along about 80km/h. Oh well at least we got to look around more - at all the trees and plain paddocks

We stopped off at Urunga (just before Coffs Harbour) and had a picnic lunch in the park next to the tourist centre overlooking the river - noice!

Then we got back in the car and headed to the Big Banana. We had a quick look around. The kids were keen to partake in some of the activities but we were too late for ice skating (just missed closing time) and the toboggan rides were VERY expensive
But we did call into the Big Banana cafe where the boys had icecreams, Tasha had a fruit salad and I had a choc coated banana (with nuts). Just had to include a picture here. Sorry Sandra - had no pink icing! ~L~

Then back in the car for a short drive to Woolgoolga where we checked into the motel and hit the pool!

Day 1

Well after a long haul we made it this far at least! Hmmm more information you say?

We headed off about 10.00 ish this morning and put ourselves in the hands of our GPS unit - commonly referred to as "Holly" (for sci-fi geeks note obscure Red Dwarf reference there). Now here is where I must admit she hasn't always been totally reliable but we decided to trust her even when she didn't go the way we were expecting! Anyway - new experiences and wow is all I can say. One minute we were in Arncliffe the next we were emerging from a tunnel at Milsons Point....... Yep thats right - even after watching the movie Daylight - I have now been in the Harbour Tunnel. Talk about quick trip..... love the service in there too - there was one lane shut due to a breakdown and signs everywhere told you to tune into the radio where you were kept updated on what was going on. How cool!

Anyway enough blabbering about the tunnel - although did I say how cool it was ~L~. With one short stop we made it to Bulahdelah about 4:30. The kids and I hit the pool whilst Tony went searching for a grocery shop to buy a chicken and some salad for dinner. The motel is really nice - clean, tidy. And talk about room! We have 2 rooms and between them have 2 double beds and 3 singles! Anyone in the area want to join us?????

Think thats about it for today - not much to report - lots of driving. Oh did I mention how in awe we are of the Harbour Tunnel............

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Edited to add: Bulahdelah has one redeeming feature - the local (and only) supermarket stocks Perky Nana's ......... well they did till we came to town - now they are out of stock! (Oh and Tasha has decided she likes them again!)

Madness and Mayhem

Madness and mayhem and laughs. Oh my!

Yep I definately live in a mad house - after the madness of last night it hit again tonight when we started packing. I got my list out - yes yes I know... no comments needed about how anal I am and how I write lists a week or so before.... Anyway..... we got the suitcase out and I called things out from the list and the fun began !

I had two kids running to grab the item mentioned.....eg: t-shirts x3, undies, socks etc etc and racing back to be first to get them to me to pack and then the BIG KID felt he was missing out so we had Tony skipping yes you read right he was *skipping* to our room to get his stuff too. 3 people trying to squeeze through the door into the lounge room to be first to get the suitcase - TOTAL madness.

Photo of the week

Here is my photo for this week. Doesn't look special but this plant is extremely special.

Just the fact that it is still alive is amazing. We are not known for green thumbs - infact we have brown thumbs! I have even been known to get plants from the nursery that are indestructible and impossible to kill and ..... yep you guessed it..... we killed them all! Not due to neglect but rather we tend to kill them with kindness. Being aware of how good we are at plant homicide you will find that at some stage during the day not only have I looked after the plant and watered it but so has tony and at least one of the kids. OOOOPPPPS

Anyway this plant is special for another reason - it came to me as a 5cm cutting from an old patient. All the girls at work had a "Jack's plant" at some stage and when he heard I loved frangipanis he cut this just for me. He is no longer alive but its great to see his tree is going and is now waist high. With glorious flowers blooming all over it. Every time I walk out of my back door I see it and think of Jack - he was a really lovely man and it makes me smile every time I see it.

Missing you

Well this house turned into a mad house last night. I love the madness that flies between the Allan house and the Lucas house. It started with a simple text message from Melbourne - very closely followed 2 more - and an email - and another text message etc etc. Hmm all in all something like 20 text messages in the space of 5 minutes including lots of laughs, hysteria, and apparently bubbles of snot in a foreign language (not mine- you had to be there)
I just wish I lived closer to this girl so we could get together more often .........
miss you heaps sweetie

Weekly photo

Well with all my blog surfing I have seen quite a few people doing a photo of the day - I thought this was a cool idea but I know that this something I just would not be able to accomplish so I thought instead I would subject to a weekly photo. Nothing too amazing just my fav pic from the week or something that has meant a lot to me in the past week.

Anyway this is my first photo. It was taken New Years Eve when I had the tripod set up outside for the kids sparkler pics. It was a gorgeous full moon and a beautiful clear night so I couldn't resist taking this pic and I am so happy with how it turned out.

Scrap day with Cass

Spent a wonderful day with Cass today. I got to the Kings about 10ish and got to play in Cass' new scrap room for the first time.

We had a great day of scrapping, chatting, yummy food, the obligatory Lindt ball and some more chatting and scrapping. I actually got 3 1/2 pages and 6 cards done. Yay me!

Would show you pics but haven't even unpacked yet so will have to do that tomorrow.

Thank you to the Kings for welcoming me into their house (especially Annie who kept poking her head around to say "Hello Cathy"). They are a wonderful family and Cass and Dale do a great job raising those two kids. Thanks Dale for letting me steal your wife's time for a day.

New Years Day

After our late night New Years Eve ( well late for the kids anyway) we had a quite New Years Morning and then we headed out to the beach for a swim and to try and cool down in this hot weather. After first discussing heading around to Plantation Point Tony decided it may be too rough there and so we went to Huskisson instead. Hmmmm didn't have that problem! The sea was almost totally flat! The kids had their boards and ended up paddling around like they were in a swimming pool - there was no wave activity at all.
Oh well - they seemed to enjoy it and had lots of fun and had to be dragged away from the beach a few hours later. We headed into the main street and got some fish and chips for dinner. Very very yummy. Sitting outside the fish and chips shop I took this picture of Tasha. Now I know my boy is growing up and that scares me enough but this is ridiculous...... how old does my little girl look in this photo?!?! Waaaaay too scary.

The end of a year!

We ended 2009 in a day full of laughs, smiles and fun!
We started the morning with a houseful....... Tony was mowing our lawn so Dominic brought his mower up to help Uncle Tony. Tasha was looking after the twins and Jhorjie came along to play as well so at one stage I was sitting in the lounge room with 7 kids! It was slightly overwhelming but it was quite nice as well. There was lots of activity, lots of noise, laughs, giggles...... and in the middle of it....... 2 boys quietly playing their DS's. Hehe don't think even a bomb would have moved them. Then in the afternoon Tony, the kids and I headed over to Berry for their New Years Eve Festival. The festival was slightly disappointing. They had a few sideshows and 3 or 4 stalls but that was it so we wandered up to IGA in Berry to get a loaf of bread and a hot chook and then went back to the showground and set up our chairs and picnic rug and sat and listened to the "entertainment" Hhhhmmm I guess the best word for it was mediocre! But we had a fun time. We sat and chatted, played games, just generally mucked around.

And then...... what Tasha (yeah okay and her mum ~L~) had been waiting for - FIREWORKS. For a small country town they were very very impressive. Went for about 7 - 8 minutes and there was some really cool rockets and fireworks that we hadn't seen before - Well worth the wait.

Then we came home - Tony went to bed and the kids and I stayed up - got the sparklers out and played with those whilst we waited for the midnight fireworks to come on TV.

My husband the Hoon!

Hehe or should I say wanna be hoon!
Poor Tony has had a love of motorbikes for years and infact rode one when I met him and had done for years. When we had kids the bikes left as there was no way to fit a child seat to the back of a motorbike!

Every now and then he dreams about getting another bike and then realises its not in our budget but the other day I think the dreaming was back. I heard sounds coming from our backyard and when I went out there is Tony doing rounds of our yard and donuts on the old postie bike! Hehe - doesn't look quite so tough!!!!

Stedfut family Christmas

The Stedfut family Christmas was held on the 28th of December. It was a wonderful chance to sit and chat with Mark and Mel and just to give my big brother a big hug which I have wanted to do since they returned from Dubai. We had a lovely lunch with waaayyyyy too much food and caught up on all the gossip. It was so good to see them. After lunch we decided to work off the meal with a few rounds of pool which..... sad to say....... took us all afternoon. Mark and I put it down to the fact we were playing sober and in the words of an amazing friend of mine "What the.... thats now not how you play pool". But it did give us a chance to laugh and chat and just relax together. A wonderful day.

The following day we decided to drive up to Shellharbour to see Avatar 3D. So after rushing up to Shellharbour we got there just in time to find out that both shows had been sold out! So instead, Mark, Mel, Declan, Mum, Kyle, Tasha and I hit Shellharbour Square to spend some money. After that we drove to Kiama Blowhole to find that there was no swell at all and so there was nothing happening there. We stopped for lunch at the cafe there and then I took the 3 kids back to Berry for ice-cream before going back up to Mum's place for another round of pool and a bbq dinner.

It was a lovely two days but over way too quickly.

Lucas Family Christmas

Yep I finally got aorund to uploading the pics from Christmas Day at Gail's.

We went to the Comber's for lunch on Christmas Day. It was a relaxing time where we sat, ate, laughed and (of course) they sang!!!!! It was lovely to spend time with some of the family and catching up on whats happening but basically just sitting and relaxing. It was overcast so we didn't end up spending time in the pool but it was still a pleasant day.Here is a pic of me with my Christmas presents. My gorgeous bag was a present from the Allan's in Melbourne (gee who would have thought to buy me a bag hehehe) and my book was from Miss Jane. It has all sorts of quotes and poems etc to use in cards and I know will come in very handy as this is something I tend to struggle with when making cards. Thank you so much girls. Love you.

Christmas morning

I am soooo slack and so behind with my updates. So here is the first of many posts I have to get around to organising. Ooops.

this is Christmas morning. My big christmas present? My kids both slept in until about 7:30. My day started with a lovely text from a gorgeous girl just as I was getting out of the shower. MWAH love you honey. This was the first of many texts that went back and forwards that morning!
Our day started with some very excited kids. They had been warned this year that presents were a little on the lean side so were very happy to see their stockings were still there ready to be opened Christmas morning. And Jacob had his santa sack to open as well - so all three kids sat down in the lounge room together and the present opening began!

Hmmmm don't know what she is fishing for here but she is taking it very seriously.

And bam it's all over so quickly. Tell me, why did I spend so long wrapping those presents?!?

I love this pic of Tasha. she is sitting patiently by the phone waiting for THE CALL! We got a call from the Allan family and with the phone on speaker we had a mad present opening session between Worrigee and Melbourne! It was so lovely to hear their voices and if we couldn''t be there in person at least we got to share part of Christmas Day with them! Bring on 2011 - Christmas with the Lucas/Allan clan all together!

Now I am wondering what sane person would buy both kids a water pistol for Christmas that shoots 10 metres ?!?!?!?

more christmas day to come as well as my family celebrations a few days later

Its Christmas Eve

Wow, things are starting to get exciting now....... It's almost Christmas Day!

We have had a busy couple of days. Last night we all (Tracy, Jacob, Kyle, Tasha and I) went out driving around town looking at Christmas lights. Some of them were amazing - with one house even having a band sititng in the front lawn playing carols! The kids were all amazed by the lights and we got out the car at some of the bigger ones to walk through and look at all the decorations. some of the houses had so much to look at - train sets, santas, sleighs etc... I love these pics of the kids on the sleigh - not so much for the picture of the person sitting next to Santa but if you can see it check out the back of the sleigh - that thing was obviously gathering speed!!!!1

Then today (Christmas Eve) we had Jhorjie here for the day. I had lots off cooking to do and a couple of eager helpers. Hmmmmm what happens when you add girls and chocolate! Lots of mess - lots of licking of beaters - and lots and lots of laughs

Then the kids got stuck into the gingerbread house Tasha had begged for. It is an interesting decorating project and I just realised I only have shots of one side of the house which is probably a very good thing! The other side has had every mm covered in icing, chocolate and sprinkles!

Apart from that its just been business as usual. Tried to find half an hour this afternoon to read but the girls decided it was time to play stacks on Aunty Cathy! I laughed so much I was clutching my sides but it was a lovely time.

so I am now trying to get some ironing done. Pressies are all wrapped and under the tree. Cooking started for tomorrow. Kids in bed. Bring on Christmas Day!

oooopps - forgive me

please, for it is a long time since I last blogged.....

Well so people are telling me..although I must say coming from one who has been known to go for months between blog entries and from another without a blog I say "People in glass houses etc etc" ~L~ just kidding. Love you guys and I totally understandhow enthralling and exciting my life is! I am sorry for any withdrawals I have forced you to endure.......

Anyway I am currently editing photos so you may have another post in an hour or so.

As to what has been happening. Today was the last day of my advent swap with Sandra which leaves mixed emotions. Amazing joy because this girl knows me so well and seems to find just the right thing and sadness because it's all over. I am recovering from my chest infection and am breathing properly again - you don't realise how much you take breathing for granted!

Anyway - I'm off to edit photos.

Another year older

Yeps its official. I am older!

My birthday was a bit of a mix. I was blown away by the number of birthday wishes I received. It was nice to know people thought enough just to send a happy birthday message AND I heard from my big bro! the only problem was I was feeling so rotten I couldn't really enjoy it. I have some horrid sinus, fluey type thing which has left me exhausted with a sore throat, runny nose etc.

I had planned to go and see the wonderful Cass today but didn't want to take these germs to her house so stayed home. Got up this morning got the kids organised then went back to bed until about midday. Actually feel slightly more human now.

I am a proud mum!

This last couple of weeks has been full of dance. We have had dress rehearsals and end of year concert which went really well and then this last weekend we had group photos on Saturday then sunday was scholarship exams during the day followed by the end of year party and presentation on Sunday night.

This was Tasha's first ever scholarship exam and she did so well. Here is her class getting their exam results in her Jazz class (they dont do exams for hip hop). Tasha came away with honours! Which is the highest mark you can get. I was so proud of her. And she was very proud of herself...Then the teachers gave out their yearly award. These are given out over each style of dance in all ages. They are discussed and picked by the teachers at the studio. Tasha got the teachers award for hip hop (for the second year in a row). She is only slightly proud of that fact! ~L~ The fact that she was picked over some of the senior dancers was extremely awesome!

Some of the girls with their trophies. l - r Emily, Tasha, Alicia and Jess. These 4 are close and it was great to see them all get trophies!

Advent

Here is an update on the advent swap I received from Sandra. This has become such a family event each day. Thanks to the little notes attached someone will start singing "On the *th day of christmas Sandra gave to meeeeeeee" and everyone will gather around the table. (So that is Kyle, Tasha, Tracy and Jacob - and even Tony if he is awake). Then we all get to oooh and agggh over the parcels. 7th - a gorgeous note box covered in some of my fav papers
8th - Strawberry shortcake cake. Smells beautiful (and it comes in a cute tin!)
9th - Candy cane - yum, yum
10th - Some oil melts from my fav shop. Sandra and Matt introduced me to Le Desire when I was down there. Its a wonderful place and I adore their melts.
11th - Ribbons - I luurrve ribbons
12th - Ribbons and ones you can touch! I love velvet ribbons

Now its definately.....

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

In the shortest amount of time our tree went from this..... To this!

We put carols on, we laughed, we mucked around and we got the tree decorated. The kids (Kyle, Tasha, Jacob and Tasha friend Tegan who was staying over) hung all the decorations and managed to spread them quite evenly for a change!

Le Pointe Summer Holiday

Last night was the end of year concert for Tasha's dance studio - Le Pointe school of Dance, Music and Theatre. Wow what an amazing amount of talent that studio has. There were all sorts of routines from the preschoolers up to an absolutely awesome hip hop routine by the talented Mr Mitch and Miss Nikki. This years theme was Summer Holiday and each dance had music and costumes to fit in with that theme. This was Tasha's Jazz costume And this is her Hip Hop outfit!

She danced really well and I was very very proud of her. She set herself a goal not to get hurt or fall and the first thing she said to me when I picked her up from the stage door was "Mum I acheived my goal" (Last year she had a horrid fall during the finale that saw her being led off stage clutching her side and crying - which led to some tense moments for me before I could check she was okay - she ended up with some amazing bruises all over her hip and down her thigh!)

She is holding out for the video now which usually isn't available until dancing returns in the new year. This coming weekend (the 12th-13th) we have studio photos and scholarship exams so please be praying for Tasha as she prepares for this.

Pressies......

Well in the madness, rushing and insanity that has been the last week ( and this week is destined to become!) I have had a smile put on my face by my gorgeous friend Sandra. This girl is one who I have only known for a few years but who has become so very dear to me. Her and her family always welcome me and love me for who I am which is an amazing gift in itself!

Anyway I thought I would share some of the wonderful pressie sI have been opening each day.

First this very cute snowman to hang on my tree ( if I can keep him away from Tasha) 2nd of December was this adorable journal covered with chipboard and paper (look its paisley!)

with this inscription inside. It made me cry!

Anyone who has scrapped with me recently knows how much I love these little letters! they seem to be turning up on everything I make.

On the 4th day of December Sandra gave to me...................... well if I must be completely honest - slightly more chocloates than you see pictured here. Oooopps got carried away and forgot to take the pic first. Yummy chocolates

5th day of december was this lovely coconut hand cream. Smells lovely.

And on the 6th - another present that is sooooo me. I LURVE Body Shop! Yum yum

I am having so much fun opening these little pressies every day. And every one I open shows just how well this girl knows me. Don't think I could have done better myself. MWAH love you sweetie.

On the first day of Christmas..........

Woo hooo it arrived! I got an exciting parcel in the mail from an amazing friend. It is my christmas advent pack from Sandra. What a gorgeous way of sharing and feeling loved!

For the last few years we have sent boxes full of treats. One for each day of December leading up to Christmas. This year not only did they all come individually wrapped (as usual) so I get to open a present every day but each one has a gorgeous little note attached which says "On the 1st day of christmas Sandra gave to me" etc,etc so that not only do I get a present but I go around singing that song all day and it puts a big grin on my face! Every time I realise I am humming it, singing it in my head etc I grin and remember that someone loves me!

MWAH sweetie - love you heaps.