Bits and pieces

Yes I know I have been slack - but Jane you should be careful what you ask for..... hold on tight as we head off on the update ride.

Lets start at Mothers Day....... I was reminded that I havent done show and tell yet so here you go. Firstly my nice warm boots for standing out on freezing cold soccer fields in the middle of the week in winter at night time. Having done the test last Wednesday they work well. I got new purple slippers for around the house and........ my gorgeous now black boots! JJJJAAAANNNEEEE........ they need a dance night! Now back to our normal viewing ~L~ Saturday morning we went up to Georgia - this is probably the last chance we will have to get photos etc. Next time we go up the mountain will be for the monster garage sale and clear out.
These hills are a lot of the reason Mum and John are leaving the mountain and heading down into town - imagine walking these hills a couple of times a day (at the age of 85).

We had a photo session with the kids in different places on the property. I love the relationship these two have. Yes they fight, argue, bicker etc....... but you take on one of them you take on both! I love how protective they are of each other. The other night I stuck my head into Kyle's room and they were playing a game of tetris with 3d blocks and the laughter coming out of there was wonderful.

Pity the grass covers half the faces but I love this shot. I was down one of the hills and looked up to see everyone standing at the edge of the driveway - love this pic.

The kids down at the front gate.

After spending some time at Georgia (and seeing some of Mum's old friends from school - one couple were one of the families we spent so much time with at Currarong, Noelene and Keith Larsen) we headed over the mountain to Kangaroo Valley and then up Barrengarry Mountain to Morton National Park and Manning Lookout.

Who said my family was normal??? They hammed it up something horrid at the "look out".

The view into Kangaroo Valley was a surprise - normally this view is a glorious bright green. I was shocked how brown the valley looked.

Oh and I have done some scrapping today! Will take some pics later if the light gets a bit better for show and tell!

Our little stroll

Little stroll.... PPPffffttttt!
Friday night Tegan came to stay and since it was such a lovely day on saturday we decided to head out for a little bushwalk out to the wreck and back at Currarong.

Currarong has always held good memories for me as it was where we went nearly every school holidays as I was growing up. Mum, Dad, Mark and I would head off to our "holiday house" - (read tiny, tiny shack - had a look on the weekend I am sure it wasn't that small back then ~L~). We spent hours each day exploring the beach and climbing over the rocks. We were usually joined by other families - mainly the Riggs, Larsens and Stuarts (in their own places - they couldn't fit in ours!) and I always think back on those times very fondly.

So with this in mind I decided to take the kids for a nice walk out to the wreck of the SS Merimbula which I visited many, many times as a child. A nice easy stroll through the bush with a short climb over the rocks to get back. The problem with our plans? We took Tony!!!!! Usually it is just the kids and I who head out and we have a nice little stroll, look around, chat and enjoy the sunshine (and if we find some sand to play in then all the better). With Tony not only do you keep walking you "just go down this track" and "we may as well go this way" and 4 hours later you get back to the car.
So yes we were very exhausted and it was with sore feet (all the girls) and one sore ankle (yes - me!) we got home.
Having said all that we did have a great time and the kids had a ball exploring the rocks and wlaking along very narrow and extremely high cliffs. We found spiders, lizards, crabs, plant life, seaweed, and even a knife and fork and toothbrush! It was great to see the kids having so much fun in a place I had such good memories about.

I was amazed at how little of the wreck was left. Hmmmm I am sure it isn't that long since I was out there as a kid.

What a weekend

Well what can I say - after last week and all its ups and downs this weekend started with a bang - LITERALLY!
After picking Cass up at her place and driving up to Sutherland we had just about made it incident free and were pulling into the car park near the train station when... WHAM... a guy on a pushbike cut up the inside of me using a footpath and as I turned into the drive way he rode full speed into the passenger side door. Poor Cass - big dint in the door, side mirror broken. That would be a shocking way to start the weekend right.... oh but wait...... theres more. I was still quite shaken and not quite with it so after booking in at the hotel I turned and walked straight into the ropes they use for the queue and then....... somehow managed to sit in bird poo at lunch time (yes I had black pants on!)

Oh well the day had to head up from there! And it did! We went to the Capitol Theatre and bought our Ozmopolitan cocktails whilst we waited for the show to start. Wow what a show (note * these are not my photos - I cheated and used publicity shots). The costumes, the voices, the lighting - Rob Mills poured into tight tight pants that looked suitable to be worn by Gaston from Beauty and the Beast! I LOVED the whole thing. The story line was incredible - it confronted racism, bullying, friendships and incorporated the Wizard of Oz in such a way that I will never watch it the same again. If you get a chance you MUST go see Wicked.

Now last time we were in Sydney they kindly put on a fireworks display for us as Cass and I both loooove fireworks. Well they must have known we were coming because for this weekend only - Fireworks at Darling Harbour! YAY

Oh and what trip to Darling Harbour is complete without a trip to the Lindt Cafe!

NOTE* I thought I was doing okay after the car accident on the weekend until I was sitting in the driveway on Monday waiting for the garage door to open and poor Tasha knocked on the passenger side car window. Only for me to totally lose it and sit there in the driveway bawling and shaking. I just heard the bang and saw a person at the window and it brought it all back to me. Poor Tash!

Mad week

What a totally insane week. Very busy and heaps of emotional stuff going on too.

Counting down to Wicked weekend with Cass. WOO HOO. The scary thing....... I am leaving tomorrow and have been feeling so bogged down etc that I have barely even thought about packing and ...... wait for it..... wait for it........ there is NO LIST! AAARRRGGGGHHHHH

NO packing list, no thought of what to pack. Maybe I should just take an empty bag and go shopping! ~L~ Yeah right

What a weekend!

Phew.... time to sit and relax.... yeah right!

What a big weekend. Saturday was spent cooking and preparing for our annual bbq lunch. Setting up tables for 32 people is fun! Yeah - fun like root canal surgery! ~L~. It was going to be a smallish gathering of people we count as our friends - those who play an important role in our lives and who we spend time with during the year - sort of blew out to a bit more than that.

Then Sunday we hit the ground running (well tried to) I got up and finished organising food. Was hoping to have some help from Tony with setting up but with his mucked up sleep pattern lately it was almost 11:00 before he got out of bed. So then he hit the ground running as we had just received a call from a family of 5 telling us they were coming so we had to find another table/chairs etc.

It was a mad day and I don't think I got outside much at all. In fact I only saw some people when they walked in the door and then when they came to say goodbye! I did get to spend some time with Cass and Jane and we set up a "learners corner" in the kitchen for Jane to help Cass with her crochet and me with my knitting!

Then Monday (after finishing the clean up - wow!) the kids and I headed out to Vincentia for some sun and fresh air. We did the short bushwalk from Greenfields beach to Hyams beach then we went walking out on the rocks before spending some time digging in the sand (the kids not me ). After a couple of hours of walking, climbing, and sand sculpting we headed home for Kyle's soccer training. Hmmmm it is starting again - cold, dark nights hanging around soccer fields 2 nights a week - YAY!

And now..... the countdown is on - 4 days until Cass and I head to Sydney. Wish Jane and SJ could have joined us.... next time girls - all four of us will hit Sydney (boy will it survive ~L~). I soooooo need this weekend. Can't wait.

Gotta love the postie

Well at least when he brings special mail like this anyway!

I love getting cards in the mail and treasure each and appreciate every one of them (as anyone who has been in my craft room can attest - who needs decorations when I can decorate with cards) and I keep thinking oh I need to put this on my blog when they arrive.... but knowing how good I am at regular blogging ~L~ it doesn't seem to happen.

Anyway enough waffling. This arrived in my mailbox and I just had to share it with you. Not only is it special because it came from the most amazing friend who, even though we are miles and miles apart, always seems to know when life is difficult and when I am struggling to keep my head above water - I had to share it becasue this girl continues to inspire me in so many ways. She is a marvellous mother, wife and the most totally awesome scrapper. Love ya girl.

Check out this gorgeous creation she made!

Isn't it just simply gorgeous!

Countdowns!

Wow - life never seems to slow down does it? But at least I have lots of things to look forward to!

Firstly our traditional "oops we missed Australia Day - lets try Anzac Day" BBQ. This is a great chance to catch up with people - some we see regularly, some we only see this once a year - I don't know that I am looking forward to the work involved but the catching up bit I look forward to immensely each year. I am determined that one year the Allan's will join us..... it just doesn't seem right having a "friends" gathering without them :(

Then the weekend after that I am heading to Sydney with Cass for a totally wicked weekend!! The official story is we are going to see Wicked the musical but I like my version better. ~L~

Next on the agenda is my friend Gail, who I used to work with, is due to have her first bubba. What an exciting time to come (and living literally 10 houses away she has close babysitters!).

This is where I would love to be adding "and my next trip to Melbourne is...." but so far nothing is organised. Sweetie I promise I will get down there this year. Just not sure when - I keep checking for cheap flights so beware you may get a last minute guest!

Sssshhh.........

Sssshhh. don't tell anyone.................
The kids are back at school and I finally have a day off work. I know I should be getting stuck into this total pigsty of a house but ~hehe~ I snuck into my craft room.

These first few layouts I can't really claim as today's work because they were started when I was away for the scrapping weekend at Melross - all they needed was some journalling or a title but hey they are now completed layouts..... so that counts doesn't it ?!?

This one was totally today's effort. Was going to call it "Ladies with Class" but figured that was stretching it a bit far ~L~. I always have a great time when we get together for our annual girls weekend.

And...... i made a card with my leftovers straight away rather than putting in the "later" box and then never getting there. Fairly plain and simple but it is a card made of left overs so it qualifies!

What a night

With the kids still at mum's tonight it was girls night!
First I went to Kohlis Indian restaurant and got some of this........ Then went around to the place Tracy is staying to watch the projector TV. Mmmmmm wall to wall, roof to floor werewolves and vampires. Yum yum. Sitting back in our recliners drooling.....

Then a spin in the amazing massage chair. Wow this thing is unbelievable!

Now back home with a glass of wine and some left over easter eggs.....

What more could a girl need????

Mother and Son

Well I must say the house seems very quiet right now! Not only are we still short Tracy and Jacob but Tasha has gone to a friends place for a sleep over and Tony has gone to work so it is just Kyle and I!

We have had a fun night - we watched TV - ate some amazing fresh fish - and spent some time together in the kitchen making home made sausage rolls ready for dinner tomorrow night. With the budget so tight we have been sticking tightly to the menu plan and tonight we spent about $20 on ingredients and made enough sausage rolls for 5 meals!!!! The best bit is I know exactly what went into them (hehe LOTS of carrot and zucchini - then when I serve then up with vegies tomorrow they get a double dose! ~L~)

Working at the car wash....

After their water fight we put the girls to work washing the car! Hmmmm think just as much water went over the girls as the car ~L~

Thanks girls - It looks great

Water Fight!

Tasha had her friend Kaysha over today. The girls started a little water fight using drink bottles so I pulled out the water pistols for them. They had so much fun playing

And then the silly girls decided to turn on me as I was taking photos of them.

So I sent out reinforcements - knew I kept that man around for something!

The simple life

This weekend it seems life is back to a year ago! We are back to a family of four for a couple of days. Jacob has gone to his dad's. Tracy is house sitting. And our family seems to be having a "typical" weekend.
Tasha has a friend over and at the moment they are having a waterfight. Kyle is about to head over to a friends house for the afternoon. Tony is watching wrestling on TV (Why I ask, why????) and I have been cleaning the kitchen and going through recipes.

Mmmm the simple life!

Goodbye

Tasha and I were having a "Girls Day" today and just after we arrived at the shopping centre at Shellharbour my mobile started to ring.... It was one of those calls that was expected but that doesn't make it any easier.

Anyone who has ever met Harriet will totally understand when I say that she was a woman who was happy with who she was. She had no time for pretences. She was a farm woman and was content to be with her alpacas. She was a loving, caring mother who adored her family and would fight viciously for what she believed would be best for her loved ones.

She taught me what it was like to just be who you are and not to worry about the petty judgements of others. She accepted people for who they are not for what they could do for her. She had a smile that would light up her face and believed the best in everyone. Harriet you will be greatly, greatly missed. The world has lost an amazing treasure.

Easter weekend pt 2

On easter sunday we went to Davina and Stephens to catch up with the Lucas clan. It was a fun relaxed and really nice day. Aunty joan and Lorinda came over from Canberra and it was great to see them. We hadn't seen Aunty Joan since we went over to Canberra to visit her when she was in hospital so it was great to see her up and about and looking so much better than when we saw her last.

As usual when the family gets together the cameras come out - this family is so camera shy - NOT!!!!!

Here is 5 out of 6 siblings (we missed you Neen)

And all the cousins, second cousins etc.

I thought I had successfully dodged the camera but unfortunately then we had to do family group shots so I ended up in a photo after all!

Easter Weekend pt 1

We had a productive long weekend. Being on a tight budget this year and knowing buying something for the extended family was not possible Tasha hit the kitchen! With some easter shaped cookie cutters and some cookie dough she went to work.
Rolling dough, cutting out shapes, placing on the tray, even putting them in the oven! She needed some help from mum getting them out of the oven and they didn't work out quite how we had hoped. A little flatter and fatter than expected but hey we knew what they were supposed to be!

Then she set out to ice them

And this was the finished product ready to take to family lunch.

Well done Tasha - you did a great job and they look fantastic. There were easter egg decorations, rabbits, flowers, smilie faces, even some with crosses to remind us about Jesus and the gift he gave us on easter.

And in the middle of all this I got to spend some time in my craft room making invitations and cards. More scrapping pics to share later.