A quick post

A photo from my 40th birthday ( antiqued a bit to hide the wrinkles, lol)
Just to wish every one a very Merry Christmas. Things have remained a bit hectic into December but when I return from a week with Mum by the coast over Christmas I promise to be a little more regular on the posting side of things. I have made the big decision to cut my working week back to one day. I was walking in the door at night, preparing dinner and rushing back out again to take the boys to their various sporting events, often not returning to nine at night, the last thing I wanted to do then after doing the dishes, was house work and so things started getting more and more behind. Now although life will still be busy I can at least prioritise my life and get the things that need to be done and then hopefully still have a little time for the things I like to do like blog and scrapbook. So until later this year, wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas time.

Meet Xavier

I know I was not going to blog this month but could not resist sharing this shot of my beautiful newest nephew Xavier, he is the most beautiful baby and amazing to think when I was cuddling him that he was not even due to be born for a few more weeks.

I have decided to declare november the non blogging month.

It has been such a busy month I have not had the opportunity to blog or look at anyone elses blogs, oh how sad, I'm having blog hopping withdrawals. On a good note it has been for the most lovely things that have kept me from reporting in, 40ths, 50ths, a wedding, preparing backdrops for the school concert, making Christmas gifts and the most lovely thing, the birth of my newest nephew Xavier. We get to see him this weekend and I can not wait, hopefully he will be out of hospital. He was born five weeks early and still weighed it at a healthy 6 pound 12 oz, this now makes me an aunt 23 times over counting the 6 great nieces and nephews, I count myself very fortunate to come from a largish family and the benefits far outweigh the negatives, especially when it comes to all those sweet little babies, have always been a baby person, probably always will be and I miss not being around them like heck.
Anyway, untill December, stay safe.
S

Friends, fine food and the never ending birthday

Or birthday part two. Just popping in to thank everyone who made Saturday night so special. Wow this whole 40th birthday thing has been a blast, might turn 40 again next year. On Saturday a friend, Tan, put on a gorgeous dinner party for me and 8 of my closest Naracoorte friends, 10 counting the chef and waiter (mine and Tanya's husbands, the only two males allowed) I had planned to do something simple at home but Tan and her helpers (Donna and Sharon, Daz and Brendan) stepped in and did the most beautiful party with tea candles scattered around her pergola, fairy lights,candles on the table and even a flower arrangement in the centre, it all looked so beautiful I got a little bit sniffy. I wasn't allowed to see before hand so it was a complete surprise to me. I must say the meal was beautiful and Darren has missed his calling as a chef, after nibbles we had creamy garlic king prawns, then for main it was warm marinated chicken salad and dessert, compliments of Sharon who was also the cocktail making queen for the night, was a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake,so delicious, then we had Christina's range of fine sweet delights. Lucky we did dancing and karaoke afterwards otherwise I would have had to roll home I was that full. There are photos but I haven't had time to put them on the computer yet. After my great weekend a couple of weeks ago with my old group of mates from back home and Saturday nights fantastic evening I feel like it keeps going on and on and my actual birthday wasn't until today and then I get to go home in a couple of weeks and share with my family, so much fun.
Will put photos up tomorrow.
Oh and I forgot to thank everyone for the gorgeous gifts, think I must be the luckiest girl in town.

Need a laugh

And yes, it is water in the glass
In caught up with a group of friends on Friday night for an early birthday girls night out. I had my little old camera in my hand bag and snapped this beauty of some little bloke between two of my girl friends who are both over 6 foot tall, the eyes definitely were in the wrong spot, I had a great old cackle. Many more photos were taken which I won't post, just 'cause they are mostly crap and some because the camera was passed around and some of them are just plain silly.


Had a great night, thanks girls, with lots of giggling, actually at times I did more than giggle I laughed till I cried. Nothing like catching up with old friends.


We all stayed down in Mount Gambier for the night and Saturday after saying goodbye got to go shopping all by myself without any children, absolute bliss, no one asking for drinks, food or anything, I probably only get to do this a couple of times a year and although there is no way I would want to do it all the time occasionally it's fun. I hit one of the scrapbook stores and spent way too much money then spotlight and bought some felt and embroidery threads which I'm looking forward to having a play with.

He's so sweet..

Bren's not the type to buy flowers or surprise me at any time with gifts but I don't mind, gestures like this little bunch of fowers he picked from our garden and put on my scrapbook desk mean so much more to me, something he knows I will love. Romantic gestures don't come from the pocket but from the heart.

A few shots from a busy weekend.

The boys (Bren is in the brown jacket) Yeah, go three.
Playing around with shutter speeds
At the show, since when did shoving a stick in a sausage and selling it from a grungy van make it gourmet?
This was my favourite spot and isn't that piglet just the cutest.

Chowing down on blue fairy floss
Christy's gorgeous wedding cake, the figurines on the cake were dressed the same as the bridal party.

Saturday started out with work then took the boys to the local show that they don't call a show anymore, they call it a roundup but basically it is just a sad little excuse of a show. The most interesting thing was the poultry display, oh, and of course the baby animals. Can you guess I'm not a show, sorry, I mean roundup person. That night I pulled on my waitress's apron and went to work at our local Chinese restaurant. I did a bit of work there last year while one of the owners was away on maternity leave and finished up at Christmas. Every now and then I get a call to fill in if someone is away or sick or as Saturday night had it one of the girls got married and had her reception there ( Check out the cute cake above) Sunday morning started with a family mass, then off to the annual stock agents family race day. I think all adults should have followed the lead of the kids who had wins in almost every race, even with their $1.00 bets they all came home with money in their pockets. I broke even and Bren came home with a bit extra than he left with, all in all not a bad day and we had a lot of fun. Sunday night was nice to snuggle down and watch idol, after checking out the gorgeous sky (above) first.

Don't bath me, pleeeease.

I'm sure she new she was about to be bathed, which she is not too fond of, with that sad little look. She slipped her collar today while Joseph was walking her and went swimming with the ducks, at least that was the story we got. Anyway she absolutely stunk, nothing like half dried up mud and swampy water to add to doggy aroma. She is now fresh and sweet smelling but for how long is unknown.

Pics from last post, attempt number 4.

Dusted off the extension tubes and my boys are back.

The morning was clear and sunny and the bees were going nuts in the lavender bushes so before I rushed off to an art class, more about that and my uninspiring attempt later, I grabbed the camera and popped on the extension tubes to grab some quick photos of them, and the daisies growing on the lawn. I turned around and found my husband teaching number three son how to make daisy chains, I forget I'm not the only one that misses having a daughter at rare times. They popped it around our dog Daisy's neck and she trotted around the yard looking very cute. I should have taken a photo of that as well but the focus range of the tubes wouldn't allow it and by the time I took them off she had had enough of them and left them in the middle of the road.
Later that day dh raced down to pick up the boys after an almost week long visit with Nana. They had a fantastic time, caught lots and lots of fish and were generally totally spoiled by my Mum. Paddy came back brown as a little berry but with a nasty little gash on the bottom of his foot courtesy of a stingray, lucky it wasn't bigger they can be really painful. I've missed my boys and it's lovely to have them all home safe and sound. It has made me realise though how different life is with only two kids in the house only half the amount of housework but the house seemed so empty and quiet.
O.K. so blogger is not letting me put any photos up, I'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Night.

Layouts, layouts, layouts.

Pulled out my sewing machine for this one to stictch around the letter S
Reads-Nature creates it's own art

Get the message... A few wonky pictures of some LOs I've done recently. Colour is a bit off, must check my white balance more often.

A quick card

A quick farewell card I made for one of Seamus' class mates that left on Friday, a bit over the top on the girly side but I had so much fun, don't get to do girl stuff that often.

I'm lovin' the mellow

Basic Greys new mellow line is simply adorable, from naive style little people and trees to bold florals, I simply love it. This is a quick little album I have almost finished making for Seamus to have ready when he gets back from his holiday with Nana. I'm also lovin' my new bind it all machine, our house will soon be overrun with mini albums and journals.

Just another couple of Joseph on our walk, they are very warm but it was that time of night. I did correct his very orange face that was in the last post. He has quite dark olive skin anyway so when you get a bit of warm afternoon light on it he can look very orange indeed.

Today we went walking

Today Joseph and I took a bit of a stroll through the nature park behind one of our local schools, it's a really nice time of year to go just before it gets too hot and some of the trees are still flowering. The smell of wild freesias can get a bit overwhelming in parts were the trees are close together but out in the open it is gorgeous.

It's official

My son is a dork. I think this sock is beyond the mending basket, don't you? (okay so I lied,

I don't mend socks)

Don't you love it when the sky is like this?

That dark kind of moody look when it clouds over after a warmish day and the clouds pick up all the different coloured evening light, unfortunately I didn't do it justice, I didn't have a tripod with me and the light was getting a bit low but you get the idea.

Bye boys.

Today I waved two of my smunchkins off on the bus for a few days holiday with Nana. Saying goodbye to number two son was not so bad, he had done it several times before and at age 13 is quite the man of the world but my baby left too. I said my goodbyes on the bus, hugs kisses lots of smooches and even more hugs and kisses, he said goodbye I said goodbye and then he said....................."you can get of the bus now mum", I was shattered my clingy little man has grown up alot in this last year thanks to a nice bunch of kids in his class and a teacher he really likes, but I'm not sure if I'm ready yet for him to grow up so much so fast that he doesn't need me as much anymore. It made me ponder on how life is going to be when they all grow up and leave home, after so many years of living a hectic flat out pace chasing after and running around after four busy boys I think things could be very flat, lucky I won't have to think about it for quite some time yet and with any luck in the future there will be lots of grandbabies for me to spoil but boy I can understand how bad the empty nester's must feel. At least they rang me twice tonight so I haven't been totally superseded yet.

Funniest ebay listing ever...

Check thislink out, it's hysterical, a mother of 6 young children explaining why she is selling a set of pokomon cards on ebay, very funny. Thanks Hannie for putting it on your blog.

Combine sun and rain

and you get a lawn that grows weeds quicker than it grows grass, looks like there might have to be some mowing done this weekend, although with the light shining through them they do look quite pretty.

Sport, sport, sport.

Jackson

Paddy(in the middle)
A few shots from the older boys basket ball and football games.

Grand final day

Joseph relaxing in a chair under the warm sun A friends cute daughter, Taylah
And her equally cute little brother
For those crows supporters out there here's a pic of Tony Modra, now playing for Keith.

A few shots taken last Saturday at the local footy grand final. Our eldest son was playing for the senior colts but unfortunately they just couldn't get their game together and lost by around 16 points, still the experience was good for him as he only decided to start playing in the middle of last season. The weather was perfect, we all enjoyed sitting around outdoors relaxing in the warm spring sunshine.

Mum says "eat your vegetables"

Our latest food craze at the moment is vegie chips. I discovered these the other day at the health food shop and they are so yummy, just like a potato crisp only using all different types of vegetables. Probably just as bad for you as the regular type but they look so pretty, our favourite is the sweet potato chip, it's the super yummiest of them all.

A friend like Henry

I read this a couple of weeks ago and I must say it is one of those books that I can't recommend enough to everyone to read. It is written in such a straightforward unpretentious way, nothing has been flowered over, it's a tell it like it happened kind of story, one that had me laughing and crying, sometimes all at once. The story of a family who struggled to have their sons disability recognised and the lengths they went to help him fit in to mainstream life. Nuala Gardener, the author and mother of the young boy in the book is an inspiration to all mothers everywhere, the guts she showed and the belief she had that she could help her child even when at times she herself seemed to be sinking. A really inspirational and enjoyable read.