A fun day!

Had a great day today.

We invited some of our friends over for a bbq lunch. All though we have been friends with these people for some time and consider them all to be special friends we have not actually had them all together before so they hadn't met each other!

Having said that everyone got on really well. We had Cassandra, Dale, Callum and Annabelle, Gail and Daniel, Jane and Simon and Tracy and Jacob! Add the four of us in there and it was quite a crowd!! Everyone got on well ( I think) and I had a great time catching up.

The kids all played well together which is always nice. The only problem with a group that size is you don't get to spend a lot of one-on-one time but it was still a very pleasant day.

Long Weekend

Well this week is over! Thought it would be a massively busy one but surprisingly it hasn't been too bad.

Worked full time but work was quite pleasant and definately not too rushed.

Looking forward to the weekend. Tasha is marching with Girls Brigade at the local Anzac Day Ceremony tomorrow (well hopefully she isn't feeling well at the moment so hope she will be okay in the morning).

Saturday we have some friends coming over for lunch so I am really looking forward to catching up and having a good chat!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

All music'ed out!

What a busy weekend we had!

First we headed off to the Acer Arena at Homebush to see High School Musical on ICE. The show was really good. The kids were just happy to hear the music - I loved the skating. I have always loved ice skating (saw Torvill and Dean years ago!).

Tony picked us up after the show and we went back to our motel. GORGEOUS. I wasn't expecting much because we had a really cheap package deal but the hotel was beautiful and our room was amazing!

If you ever get the chance to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott at Parramatta I would recommend it. Gorgeous open fire in the lobby - beautiful atmosphere - wonderful staff who all called us by name!!
Our room was actually 2 interconnecting rooms with a small sitting room.

We went to Lone Star for dinner - YUM YUM! and breakfast was a buffet at the restaurant which was included in our accommodation.

Then on the way home we were going to go to Parklea Markets but after drving round and round and round and...... well you get the picture :)...... we gave up on that idea and went to Miranda Fair instead!!!!

A wonderful day

Had a great day today! Tasha, "Lachlan" and myself spent the day with Cass, Callum and Annabelle.

Who is Lachlan?? Good question! We weren't sure either! But Callum seemed to think it was a good name for Kyle - he couldn't remember his name so he just became Lachlan. Why not !?!

We had a nice quiet peaceful day. This kids played together, the mums sat and chatted and Cath and Tasha got lots of Annabelle cuddles.

Thanks to Cass for having us and to Callum for sharing his toys with Tasha and the other kid!

Happy Mail !!!!

Tony came in this morning with a parcel for me. I love getting mail and after noting that this had come from Melbourne I turned it over to see the return address. It said

"Sunshine and happiness package"

and inside was a gorgeous hand made card with a gorgeous message.

Thanks SJ you put such a great big smile on my dial! Love you sweetie

Another weekend gone :(

After a busy week I was looking forward to the weekend and it was lovely!

Saturday we piled in the car again for what seems to be our regular family outing! This time we ended up on the harbour at Kiama. The kids were fascinated watching the fisherman cleaning and gutting their fish and sat and watched for ages. They also got to see a group of 4 sting rays come up to wharf which was pretty cool.

After our day out we came home and I was feeling pretty shattered so went off for a nana nap at 6pm to be woken by Tony at 7.00 to say "Time to get up - we have reservations for 7.30. I'm taking you out for dinner!"

1/2 an hour to wake up, have a shower, dry my hair, pick clothes, put my face on etc etc. (well really 20 mins allowing for travel time) YIKES.
I am proud to say I almost managed it - we were about 10-15 minutes late.

We went out to Pelican Rocks - I have never been there before. The meals were beautiful, service wonderful - the only down side was the cockroach that scuttled across our table mid meal! Thanks to the Combers for having the kids for us for a couple of hours. We had discussed the need for a weekend away just the two of us but dinner out was as far as the money would go.

Sunday was a nice quiet day spent potteirng around the house, trying to declutter. It is slowly starting to work!

My super hero!

Well, bet you didn't know I had a superhero in my house, did you?? ~L~

For girls brigade end of term party they had a dress up night (as usual). This terms theme was super hero - real or imaginary.

Tasha thought long and hard and came up with the super hero that every town needs! For days when the wind catches you by surprise or you had bad bed hair - call the EMERGENCY HAIRDRESSER ~L~

What a great idea. Could do with one of those!

Love these pics of Tasha, especially the close up of her and the brush. the look on her face is so cute!

A great weekend

Had a great time last weekend!

Gail, Haylee and I drove up to Barden Ridge (about 10 minutes from Engadine) for a scrapping day. Met up with the wonderful Cass and had some great chats and great cuddles (and got some cuddles from Annabelle too!). Met Marion for the first time and also caught up with Tracy. We went to Scrapbook HQ for a spot of shopping mid afternoon too.

I finally got my holiday photos started so that was exciting. Scrapping, shopping and chatting - what a great way to spend a day!

The next morning Gail, Haylee and I got our scrapping stuff out of the car and spent a couple of hours scrapping on the two tiny tables in the hotel room. Not ideal space but we all managed.

THEN we went to Miranda Fair!!!! Yep lots of spending!!!!

Heart problems!

Not mine this time!!!!

We took Maggie to the vet on Friday because she has been struggling for breath lately and (almost $500 later) we found out she has dilated cardiomyopathy. Which basically means her heart is enlarged and the lining is thinner.

Anyway the end result is we now have a dog on heart tablets and diuretics!!!!!!! The long term prognosis isn't good. I know she has only been with us for about 6 months but she is part of our family now. We knew when we got her from Mark that she was old and wouldn't last long but you sort of become complacent until something like this jumps up and slaps you in the face.

Dont believe the weatherman!

After hearing the weather report forecast lots of wet weather for this weekend I thought to myself "Good I can get some scrapping done"! But instead we woke up saturday morning to a beautiful sunny day.

So we decided to go out for the day - We drove down to Ulladulla and had lunch on the waterfront at Ulladulla harbour. It was a beautiful day.
Tasha had us ins titches with the seagulls - Can't wait to scrap these photos - have the title all sorted! Tash kept getting upset when the seagulls came too close yelling at them " Back off - I need my personal space"
We went across to Funland (a timezone type place) wher ethe kids had a ball playing laser tag ~ they even got to play twice because the lasers weren't working properly the first time ~ and then they went on the dodgems. Check out the horrid welt on Tasha's neck from the seatbelt in the dodgem car - Kyle has one too but not as bad. Think they would have been better off not wearing the seatbelt!
Anyway - finally got to some scrapping this afternoon and did one of the monthly challenges for Scrap of Faith (just in time - last day of the month!) This was a sketch challenge. The pic is one I took of Tasha when we were in Dunedin.

Life is full of ups and downs

The last few weeks have been so busy and so fluctuating!

Wow have had some terrible lows over the past 3 -4 weeks. Felt like hiding away and not coming out but in the middle of this have had some wonderful moments. It is amazing how good it feels just to get a simple message from a friend saying How are you. Or just checking in - noticed you been quiet. Or even just a simple hello. It always puts a smile on my face to know that I was in someones mind. When I am not doing so well I tend to hibernate so sometimes I need that "Oi you whats happening!"

Work has been very "interesting" this week with one staff member leaving very suddenly which starts a snowball effect.

Am so hoping to get down to Melbourne soon - desperately need a bit of friend time with the Allans but can't see it happening for a while :( - unless that rich uncle turns up ~L~

Got lots of scrapping coming up over the next few months - and finally got the NZ pics printed so I can scrap the holiday stuff now!!!

Been doing the rounds of high schools trying to figure out what to do for Kyle next year - we have to have forms in by the end of this week telling them which schools we want to apply to for next year! What a tough decision.

Had a great easter get together at Davinas Easter Sunday - lots of family, lots of choccy and lots of laughs.

School holidays coming up soon! I am working nearly every day during the holidays but the kids and I have a "heaps cool" weekend planned (according to Tasha) as we have tickets to see High School Musical - on ice. Both kids are looking forward to it so much.

Anyway think thats just about caught up with the news. Hope you are all doing well and remembering to smile every day!

All growed up!

I know, I know..... I have been a bad blogger - no more nudges please!

The last few weeks have been the sort where you just want to bury your head under the doona and not surface!

But...............................

I had to pop up today and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my big man!

Just think 12 years ago today (1.30am to be exact) I was biting off Simone's fingers! Hope you have recovered Mone!

He is turning into a young man before my eyes. Growing up heaps.

Love you mate and am very proud of you. Hope you had a great birthday.

Our Family Day Out

Seeing today was such a beatuiful day Tony decided that we would go and do something. Not sure what but let's get out in the sun! So we all (yes ALL - that included Maggie the dog!) pilled in the car and headed out. Knowing I LOVE waterfalls Tony decided to head to Minnamurra Falls but we didn't quite get there because 1) We had the Dog and the ranger won't let you in and 2) we didn't realise to had to pay to get to them!!!

So instead we went to Carrington Falls and played tag team to get to the falls. First the boys went ~ and they ran down and back! (more energy than sense) whilst Tasha and I waited at the car with Maggie and I got these gorgeous pics of Tasha.
Then the girls went- started jogging but then slowed down to a walk (I am just too un-coordinated to run down uneven steps!) the falls were only small but they dropped a loooonnnnggg way down. Beautiful.
Then we got back in the car and stopped at Robertson Pie shop for their wonderful pies and sausage rolls - and even tried dessert pies! I had never seen a cheesecake pie before!

Then we headed back home via Belmore Falls. Again taking it in turns to get to the falls - This time Tasha and Tony and Kyle and I. I loved Belmore Falls. Could have watched them for ages.

We were planning on goin to Fitzroy Falls too but it was almost 5pm so we headed home - stopping in Kangaroo Valley for some wonderful home made ice cream from the fudge house!

All in all a wonderful day - even better because it was a great family day out!

Fun at the Animal Park

Well after a shocking weekend with a sick Tasha (those fevers just did not want to go away) and then a sick me (I went out in sympathy ~L~) this week was starting on a bit of a downer.

I had been sooooo looking forward to my lunch date that Cass and I planned a few weeks ago but with all the wet weather just was not sure how it would work but after much prayer I got up Tuesday morning to a glorious sunny day!

I met Cass, Callum and Annabelle at the Nowra Animal Park and we had a wonderful time. This pic really isn't the best - was very dark and I tried to lighten it a bit without much success. Callum was so well behaved ( as usual). Very well mannered and wonderful. He was very eager to share his animal feed with me and even went to great lengths to show me and make sure I knew how to feed the goats and horses.

"Look Cathy, I show you. You hold your hand like this. I show you" So cute and he is such a sweetie.

Cass and I got to catch up and have a chat as we wandered around and will definately have to meet up on a regular basis. She is such a sweet person and we just get on really well.

However - we did kind of balk at the snake but eventually get ALL plucked up the courage and had a quick pat.

Then with a wonderful end to the day ~ I got cuddles from Cass, Callum (and Annabelle earlier in the day) ~ as Callum was getting in the car he turned to me and said "We had a great time today Cathy"

My crafty day!

Today I spent some time in my craft room - sorting things out and just generally tidying up and I came to my Kaiser Wood pen holders that have sat on my desk in their raw state for quite some time so I got stuck into decorating them today.

I am really happy with the way the y turned out - i was trying for that drippy paint sort of look which didn't work quite how I wanted but I am still happy with them. Here is how they look in use on my desk!

Although when you look at the big picture - they do tend to disappear a bit don't they!

Fun with old friends

Today was a good day! Did the cooking last night so didn't have to do too much today!

Went down town to do the grocery shopping (keep running into people who wanted to talk) and then got home just before Tracy was due to arrive.


We had a great time of sharing and chatting. And then we chatted a bit more. And a bit more!
Tracy has been in Tony and my life for ages. We were in youth group together. She sat under a table with me on my first night of youth group (long story). She sat in the car with me and hugged me whilst I cried when my nana died. Tony was her confidante (one of the many people who went to him for advice - including me!). Tracy has always been special in our lives - she sang at our wedding and even when she moved to Kiama we travelled up regularly to see her.

Anyway we had a great lunch today and will definately have to do it more often. She really is a special person.

We had a bbq for lunch (of course - with all that meat!) and a simple salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mango, avocado and cheese but it was lovely. Very yummy.
Tasha made baby cupcakes (cookies and cream). They were a packet mix but apart from taking them out the oven she did it all her self so she was very proud.

Hey Mum, whats that???

What a start to the day!

As I walked into the kitchen Kyle says to me "Hey Mum, Whats that?" and I look down and there is a big puddle of water in the kitchen!

MY FREEZER DECIDED TO DEFROST OVERNIGHT!

So all my meat and frozen vegies have defrosted. Luckily it wasn't that full but still I will be cooking up a sotrm this weekend so that I can then re-freeze the ready made meals. At least it will make life easier on the nights I don't feel like cooking!

And the other good thing is we have a friend coming over tomorrow to catch up (and I can't wait to spend time with her again - one of my oldest and dearest friends who has gone through some tough times lately) and I was wondering what to have to eat - now I know! We're having a bbq - got heaps of meat!

my sick little girl

We have a sick little girl again.

Funnily enough it is the day after she has been swimming!!!!

The swimming carnival was on Tuesday and tues night she was complaining of not feeling well. Then she came home from school about lunch time on Wednesday with a high fever (39.5) and feeling terrible, sore all over etc etc.

Don't know if she swallows too much chlorine when she swims or if it just a coincidence but both times she has been really sick she has been swimming the previous day. Having said that we have been swimming on other occasions and she has been fine ?!? But on these occasions she has just been on waterslides or floating around - maybe when she goes underwater she drinks 1/2 the pool!

So at the moment we have a little girl feeling really sad and sorry for herself and a mum suffering from sleep deprevation.

A feel good day!

Today was one of those good days - not that anything major happened but I just got a lot acheived and feel quite good!

I did some scrapping last night!!!!!! That is a major achievement in itself - will put pics up once I'm organised.

Today I slept in until 9am!!!!!!! Haven't done that for sooooo long. Then I set to work cleaning out the walk in robe in our bedroom. Have to say myself it looks great! DH put up hooks for my bags and everything.

Tasha has had her friend Tegan over so they have been buzzing around all afternoon (isn't it amazing how suddenly they need to hang around and ask questions all afternoon)

Then I got catch up with my dear friend Jane. We have spent so much time lately corresponding by text so it wa great to have a catch up session. (Oh and I took her in to show her my wardrobe!)

Then we went out to dinner and I didn't have to cook - what a great way to end the day. Hopefully I can find some time to scrap some more tomorrow and it will be a wonderful weekend!

Modern speak!!

Had to laugh today. I tend to forget that sometimes technological speak (or lazy speak) sneaks up on us! I have a wonderful friend who is not terribly technologically savvy. She can now use the internet - without help! - and has progressed to more than simple one word sms responses. I even get pictures from her!

Like today for Valentines day she sent me a cute little cupid with a couple of hearts so without thinking i sent her back the message MWAH. Which (of course) means kisses or the sound you make when you blow someone a kiss! I didn't realise this was so difficult until I got a call from her at work

"Okay it's driving us mad - we have spent ages trying to figure out what it stands for and we came up Make Wine A Habit or Moderm Women Are Hip!"

To which I just about fell down laughing. I forgot that what is simple every day language to me just sounds likes gobbledygook to someone else - but it did give me a good laugh - mainly the fact that the 3 girls in her office had spent so long trying to figure it out! Although I do think Make Wine A Habit does sound like good advice ~L~