Today is the first day back at school for the second term and look who got to wear their new winter uniform......
She is so very pleased with herself......yet a little worried about how she was going to play animals with her friends and crawl around on the ground and not ruin her stockings, I can see that I am going to have to buy shares in the company that makes them Hmmmmm!

After having the kids at home for two weeks their rooms were like disaster zones so this morning I had to try and navigate my way through all the fuselage and sort it out...... I found dead food and empty packets of all sorts of things...... hard to believe it was only 10 days worth of mess. Once all that was done I had to clean out 3 freezers and once again I found all sorts of things like crayons and Christmas lights and a few other questionable looking items..... this clean was way over due!

That's about it for now see you later

Our Weekend

Apart from being cold and mostly wet we still managed to have some fun. On Anzac Day it was freezing....... I think I've been spoiled living in Queensland for a few years I don't seem to be readjusting to the cooler climate even though I grew up at Orange. Hmmmmm.......Anyway back to Anzac Day our Cousins Al and Kate were moving house and of course it had to rain so we left it up to the removalist and we all went for a gorgeous lunch at the Stuffed Olive.

For those of you who know my husband Mark you will know that he like to take us on a little mystery drive every now and then, sometimes these little drives last 8 or 9 hours and we do nothing but drive around looking at the country side which always impresses the kids, Mark switches off to all the hitting and screaming that's going on in the back seat and I have to deal with it! Grrrrr So I've learned to take a good scrapbooking magazine and put in the DVD player and lots of nibbles for the kids...... this works for a while! Anyway yesterday Mark said at lunch time "Lets go for a drive" well you could just see the joy in the kids faces because they knew it wouldn't be only for an hour or two!

Guess where we ended up after driving to Tamworth to have lunch........ Apsley Falls at Walcha which isn't far from Armidale...... mind you we stumbled across it by accident.

What a great spot...... a little freaky standing out on the viewing platform because it's a long way down.

The park has a BBQ and Camping area along with walking tracks all the way around the gorge.... I think we might go back a little more prepared next time and try it! Here are some more pics..... After all that we took the long way home as usual and go home at 6:30 last night...... I'm glad there is no school for my kids today because I am totally not organised!

That just reminded me did you all see Tracey and all of the kids on Sixty Minutes last night? They were on the Goondiwindi to Gallipoli Tour......they have been gone a few weeks now and I think they arrived home yesterday...... what an awsome experience for them all..... be sure to check out Tracey's blog over the next few days and take a look at her pictures. Oh and Tracey that surprise I was talking about is on it's way!

That's about all I have time for now, time to get the house back in shape after the past few weeks and get uniforms ready and get Ryan's hair cut as it's looking a little too long and the list goes on..... and on......I might even squeeze in some scrapbooking.

Bye

Rainy Day

Yep it's cold and miserable here so I decided to do a quick layout while being shut up inside with two very energetic children....... I did make them a mini album each to decorate and loaded the table with ribbon, photos and patterned paper.........that should keep them busy for hours.......well I think it lasted 20 minutes before they were trying to kill each other with a glue stick....... the mess is still on the table 5 hours later just in case they decide to come back!
So here is my layout.... bit lacking on the journaling I know but I couldn't concentrate with all the fighting going on around me!
Here it is a little closer...... and Pip I love your little dots too!
Yesterday we went to the pictures with friends to see Horton Hears a Hoo! I think that's how it was spelt! What a fantastic kids movie I loved it..... Oh and so did the kids! It makes you want to go dig out all of your old Dr Seuss books and have a read with the kids.
That's about it for now I've got to get up and do something and get away from this computer.... I've been sitting here for around 4 hours searching for a particular product and it's driving me crazy.

Bye for now

Sweet Afternoon

Here is the result of another of our school holiday activities....... decorating cupcakes.... the most expensive cupcakes I've ever eaten! We had to buy just about every kind of decoration there was to buy on the shelf...... well worth it though they had alot of fun and out of 30 cakes there is none left...... and no we didn't make them this afternoon we made them yesterday afternoon. This maybe the reason my _ _ _ won't fit in my jeans!

On to something else now...... here are some more of the pictures we took on the weekend while visiting Nathan and Kelly and their new baby.

Late in the afternoon we all went over to the dam to try and catch a yabby or two.... I loved doing this as a kid it was one of my favourite things to do, turns out Ryan and Megan love it too!

Here is Megan before she had her hair cut.

These are Megan's nice new shoes....... yep covered in mud and all that red dirt, I've scrubbed I've soaked and they still look crap. I didn't even think to pack a pair of gumboots...... next time they'll be the first thing I pack.

How is every one else surviving the holidays? I was hoping for a bit of a sleep in till 7 am but that just isn't happening......as soon as it's daylight they're up and outside they go riding their bikes and scooter ( which ever doesn't have a flat tyre from all the catheads ) up and down the driveway...... we have quite a long driveway almost a kilometer and previously I wouldn't let them out there to play because of all the long grass and the threat of snakes but now it's reasonably safe ( except for all the prickles ) and hey it keeps them busy!

Not sure what tomorrow is going to bring...... maybe a trip to the Show to get ripped off by the show bag people and eat some stinky food....... sounds good doesn't it

Till then Bye for now

Pics to share

I thought I'd share a few more pictures that were taken on the weekend........ I'll share the rest later in the week.

Here I am with Ryan and Megan at the Town House on Saturday morning just before we went for breakfast and a bit of shopping in down town Gundy....... wasn't that fun or should I say busy! I didn't realise the races were on as well and everyone was doing some last minute shopping to complete their outfits. It's been exactly 1 year since we moved away from Goondiwindi and it was really nice to see some familiar faces and check out all the changes around town.

Now onto the gorgeous baby I was talking about........ this is Lilly and she is only 10 weeks old.

Here she is with one very proud mum Kelly........ and I must say that motherhood comes so naturally for Kelly...... I was never this calm and relaxed with my first baby!

Megan having a cuddle

Who would have thought that Ryan would enjoy nursing a baby......... every chance he had he was holding Lilly and talking to her.

Does anyone know who this man is?
If you guessed Arthur Birch the infamous parking cop you'd be right and yes he is in town today terrorising anyone who dares to park incorrectly. I was about to stop and take a picture of him but in real life he looks a little scary........ I'm sure he really is a nice man........ I'm only saying that because I haven't got a ticket yet! ha ha

I just had an idea..... this one is for Jodi who is wanting people to give her photo ideas ( or dares ) for the remainder of her 365 day challenge....... go down and get a picture of yourself and Arthur Birch!

Anyway I have to go now and keep an eye on my kids....... they are awfully quiet and that usually means they're up to something.

Bye

Long time coming

This was a hard decision for me because I really love the long hair on Megan and she has never had a big hair cut before............ she has only ever has the teeniest of trims. It is becoming harder and harder to keep knots out of it food out of it and I am constantly having to tie it up or plat it......so over that! I thought if it was a bit shorter Megan might be able to start looking after it herself...... maybe!
Here is 5 1/2 years of hair growth!
Ready to cut

This is what it looks like finished

Our friend Kelly is the only one Megan would let cut her hair....... she did a great job it looks fantastic...... and Megan looks much more grown up.

Just spent the weekend in Goondiwindi...... had a fantastic time visiting and catching up..... got to see a brand new baby and lots lots more....... I will share more pictures with you later.

Thanks for stopping by

Where does the time go!

Can't believe it's Thursday already! I had lots of big plans for this week and don't seem to have gotten very far with any of them and before you know it the kids are going to be on holidays....... looking forward to the relaxed mornings again and not having to rush off anywhere.

Decided to move some of my scrapbooking gear out into the dining room this morning....... I have way too much stuff (most of which never gets used) and there is more coming.... much much more! Hmmmmmm sounds like a hint to me. All that gear that is outdated or never gets used I think will go to the kids craft box...... I'm sure they will love that!

Here are some other things that happened this week

• Bought Megan a new pair of school shoes
• Bought the dog (Alfie) a bag of bones in case he gets the urge to eat more shoes
• Megan went to a Kindy disco on Wednesday
• I vacuumed up the bag of wheat out of my car....... it's been there for a month!
• Megan told me this afternoon not to bother cleaning the house because it was only going to get messy again...... hmmmm.
• I am loving the talent on American Idol..... Michael Johns especially!
• Ran out of water........ again!!
• Bought two great kids movies today for a present and now the kids want to keep them.... The Simpsons Movie and Transformers...... looks like I have to go shopping again.

That's about all I have for now bye bye

Busy Weekend

We had a busy weekend but I managed to squeeze in a new layout. For those of you who know me really well you'll know that I love Autumn colours and earthy tones so when I came across the "Owl Pals" range from Sassafras Lass I had to have them......just perfect for my new layout!
The reverse side of one of the papers had these funny looking flower pod things on it, they were beautiful but not quite bright enough for what I wanted so I made my own with some scrap bazzill cardstock and shaded them with the kids colouring-in pencils.....I love the result.

Saturday morning after Megan had ballet they both had their second game of soccer..... I missed last week and Mark didn't take any pictures.... so as they were both playing at the same time on different fields I spent most of my time running (well walking fast) between each game so I didn't miss any of the action. Here is Ryan with his team.......mind not on the game obviously!!

Here is Megan with her shirt- dress on....you think they would have ordered an appropriate size shirt for all the 5 to 6 year olds.... then again they all looked so funny running around in over-sized shirts.

Bit of action..... Megan and her little friend Lucy.

Look who got a new footy last week...... I think this may have been a bribery item from last weekend when Mark had the kids all weekend..... well if it works why not!! Megan got a pink netball..... she thinks it's a soccer ball.....Oh well!!!

Who do you think this ball almost hit........ aarrrggghhh!!

Well now I've got to go shopping for a new pair of school shoes for Megan because Alfie our naughty little dog decided it was real funny to RIP MEGAN'S SHOES TO PIECES!!!! Not happy Jan!!!!

Bye for now

A bit of dribble

I'm feeling totally sorry for myself today..... why you ask.... because I had a few too many champagnes last night and now I'm suffering. Jacki invited Jodi and myself along to a fundraiser for her children's school, unfortunately Jacki was unable to make it so Jodi and I still went along.

I think I'll just write in point form because this is just going to turn into one big piece of dribble...

• Did groceries this morning forgot my list
• Forgot to write my grocery list
• Had a two hour sleep at lunch time
• Ate McDonald's for lunch because I thought it would make me feel better.... it didn't! Yuk Yuk Yuk
• Have to get myself together and go back into town soon because the kids have soccer training.
• My groceries are still sitting on the bench
• I'm sitting here in a jacket and my slippers and I'm still cold....... I think it's warmer outside than in my house!
• Daylight saving ends tomorrow night...... Yay because I'm sick of getting up when it's pitch black.

That's about all I can think of for now bye

Huge Weekend

Went to see Keith Urban on Saturday Night....... It was like the best time ever!!! His Cd's are fantastic but he is even better in real life and soooo talented....... and soooo good to look at!!!

Here are some more great pictures It was truly a great weekend with lots of drinkies, shopping and of course lots of laughing.......... I'm sure everyone we came across could smell the " gum leaves". When I arrived home late Sunday night I didn't really know what to expect.... guess what I found........ kids bathed, washing done, kitchen clean and dinner waiting on the table!!!! Yeah Baby!!!! Mark told the kids that Mum has had her little holiday now and doesn't need another one for the next SIX YEARS!!!! Ha ha ha that's what you think.... now that I know he can handle it if he applies himself this is just the beginning!!!!

OK back to business.....I have a new layout to share, this is one of the pictures that I took of Ryan last week when he decided to put the hair gel in himself before we went to town..... and yes I did make him wear a hat!!!!!

Here are the little sprigs of leaves I made out of felt....... Autumn colours Yummm.

Just a quick not for those of you who may be wondering what my surprise might be...... no I'm not joining Amanda and Pip I'm not pregnant......looks like you'll just have to hang on to find out! Ha ha.

So that's about all from me now, hope you're having a happy day!