When the chops are off

Go and get fish and chips!

I am so grateful that we can eat everything that moveth (personally I prefer my food to not be in the moving state).

Mmmmmmmmmm Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Had my 20 week ultrasound last night. Everything going wonderfully. Took the girls with me.

Ashley "Mummy, is that the baby girl in your tummy?"
Grace "Ssssshh Ashie, the baby is sweeping (sleeping)"

We do NOT know what we are having!

Ashley has made the assumption it is a girl and Ethan that it is a boy.......not long till we all find out!!

You think you've got it then it feels gone again

Ok, I DID NOT think I 'had' it. You know....

My act together but still

Today has been hard. Not even sure why but I feel heavy and burdened and I am not sure why or even what for really which makes it all the more confusing.

Tomorrow I know is a new day though so for now......goodnight

p.s Wendy and Bec please do a blog post soon....I miss seeing regular updates from you!

Loving even when its hard

Sometimes unexpected things happen.

Sometimes we are confronted with things

Sometimes the realization of our wrong doing's surprisingly comes from within

Now THAT is a hard pill to swallow

So take your pick

Slow and measured breaths....in and out

Big deep breaths.....i......n and o....u....t

Either way dive right in a overcome those things

Come on now YOU know

For everyone it is different but we all have SOMETHING (something's) we need to face

Let go of, toss into the wind ONCE AND FOR ALL leave it behind

Pick something else up instead

love
patience
compassion
forgiveness
freedom
purity

I hope you get the picture and go on jump RIGHT in!

Tick, tick, tick

Another day over.....well not quite. The sun is setting leaving me with a warm glow as it filters through the leaves of the tree I originally wanted to chop down when we first moved in here.

Without that tree I wouldn't see an example of God's amazing creation. Something that once looked dead (much like myself) has burst forth with life but only by HIS power. Beautiful, stunning  King Parrots that have become our friends perch in that tree.

The most we have had visit us at one time is 6. 3 husband and wife pairs. Just devine. One special little guy comes to our windows and does a head-bobby dance to let us know he is out of seed.

So I am reflective today. Letting go of the tight constraints I have clung to for so long. Stretching out my arms and loosening up.

I am footloose and fancy free AND I am even having a garage sale. Livin' it up people. LIVIN'!!!

Tired but content....

Time ticks by....

I am tired these days. Doctor told me I am low in Vitamin D......more sunshine and Vitamin D tablets. Enjoying life. Tired but happy.

Hearing the laughter of our 2 youngest in the bath and going in to see my husband lovingly holding Levi. Swaying him back and forth on his back. Something that delights them both. Grace snuck in there and was also being very loving stroking Levi's hair. Just a picture of happiness. Delight to my soul.

Grace or "Dacie" as she calls herself loves Levi and constantly says "Wevi is my friend".

 Busted! He was MOST upset being discovered

Photo by Ethan.

Photo credit

A reminder

To open them and KEEP them open....heart and hands

Thinking of release

Release from the constraints of.....dunno really.  Hahaha

Not intentionally being ambiguous there :)

Life is good.....most of the time. The missing link, problem is me. Just can't seem to get my head straight. I worry a lot less these days but still too much some of the time too.

Onwards and upwards. Praying for a change. My heart feels at time like it is breaking....in.a.good.way

Falling more away from the world and into Him. Yet, I resist.

Also.....I love my husband!!  I wonderful, caring, kind, gentle, masculine man. Genuinely blessed by God with his personality.

I am 15 weeks pregnant now and time ticks by the same as it does every other day.

No name ideas for this newest blessing so if you are out there shoot some suggestions my way.

Warm whispers.....I need the Lord's warm whispers to tell me it will be ok.

Dear sewing machine

I need mini Japanese hands with supersonic strength, a 'minier' screwdriver that fits the screws on my machine. I am sad cos we have broken bits and I just wanna sew!!!

Wah, wah, wah!!  I have a deadline people!!

On a happier note I am getting and new sewing machine but not till November. It's not that far away but considering I have to baseest povest machine you can get (literally) it seems 6 years away today.

38 more rows I just need it to sew for 38 more rows!!

Free Map

Anyone interested?

World Vision is giving away free  world maps.

Laundry woes plus being a reformed stress head do not mix

Ahhhh I have so much washing to do. I am not sure if  I have shared this before but I have laundry woes (Ben doesn't cos nothing seems to 'woe' him except me stressing).

I so picture having 4 children and 2 adults. One laundry. Water bill $150 MORE than last bill. Flooding laundry.....vacuum cleaner (spare one thankfully not the Kirby). 

Flooding EVERY TIME you try to do washing. Poor wonderful husband working days/nights repeat, repeat solo on a new machine 6 days a week 12 hour shifts. POOR wife using a plunger one armed over and over again....no more floods because I am on strike and not doing washing anymore.

So finally Ben gets ONE day off and uses our new auger thingo and pulls up a MASSIVE thick industrial strength plastic bag and copious amounts of other drain filth.

I decide to stop being afraid and do some washing.

Yes, you guessed it. Flooding! Will it ever end!

I am trying to not stress but enough already!

Now when Ben wakes up this afternoon he is back in the laundry again. biddy, biddy bum

Something old now looks new(er)

Those of you who know me well might know that I like re-vamping and fixing things up. I am by no means a crazy person who does stuff like this BUT I do like a bit of a jaunt into the world of 'fixering uppering'.

So I present to you.....

A old double school desk that had 'lived' for many years under a family members house. I finally got the courage to ask if I could have it.  Brought it home and put it on the verandah...

Not looking too good and a bit scary to even contemplate embarking on such a project....

Slowly meandering through the forest of uglyness. This project was taking a loooong time with many small children to look after. I think it was mostly stopping to breastfeed Levi and my laziness and Ben working night shift and needing to sleep during the day and afternoon shift needing to sleep in. Our bedroom is off of the verandah.

Occassionally there are interruptions. You know, falling in muddy holes head first....

Its more of an aqua blue and the frame is white.  I just need to find from somewhere ?? 'new' hinges. Apparently mine are ollllllddd and good old Bunny's Bear's House (Bunnings warehouse) does not have them.

Resting

Taking time.....moving slowly.

I think I happened upon an intelligent thought....

Unschooling might fit our family I know we are only in early days with this journey. You know when you think about it *it* has been over 5 years! As far as the world says we are in early days cos 'you know' kids don't learn till 5!

I feel I have changed lately. Less concerned and worried and more relaxed....maybe I am growing up? I think my focus has changed. Things greater than I. Beyond my understanding at this time but I know where I want to be and what I need to focus on.

In the meantime....I will endevour to follow this

I will also pray I find my camera cord so I can add photos to my posts again.

Oh and pray about my *baby* thoughts....what a greater life to live than one lead by Him!

Life

Yesterday was FREE public transport day. Last night when my mum and brother came over for dinner they told me and I thought.....

I wonder how I will go taking all the kids on the train by myself? Only one way to find out!!

So off we went on our exciting adventure into the city!

My mother in law owns The Teddy Bear Shop and last time we went in Grace was very disinterested but this time......very excited!!

I had Ashley tidying up the shelves to the point of nearly being offered a job and Grace walking around the whole shop 'rearranging' much to Ashley's dismay!

I am trying each day to embrace the thoughts......we are not in a rush, go slow, slow, slow. I love a slower paced life. The simple things. Uncomplicated things.

I also LOVE this handsome fellow and yesterday discovered that Mr Handsome has his own range of cards. This link is just to show you some of the pictures.

I never would have thought I would like him so much but there is just something about the fact that he isn't (turn your speakers off before clicking so your ears don't bleed) 'her' or 'him'.

Yes, LOTS of people are in to this kind of thing but not me. Partly because of what we are 'told' we will buy in the shops. I am sick to death of only being offered 2 'girl' choices and 2 'boy' choices all I believe that send messages to my children I do not want them to receive. Hence, the reason why I rarely go to the shops now.

Lots has been happening. I am busy. Enjoying my babies and shocked that I have not only got a 5 year old but a THIRTY year OLD husband (hehe). Number 2 child is nearly 4 then my BABY will be ONE :(

Out for dinner tonight to celebrate the old boy's 30th :)

Been away

Hey look what I found! Looks awesome!

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html

Doing this super quick. I have a baby to rescue!

Coming!

Post's one of these days on the chicken coop, life, thrifty finds, project updates and our soon to be gottenened piano!

Wonderful hearin' from you Nelle!

Mandarin Duck

E: What is that duckie called?

K: A Mandarin duck....Mandarin like the fruit....

E: Ohhhh.....so you kill the duckie and cut it open and look inside and it looks orange like a mandarin.

Baking results

Ok so obviously I was going for the rustic look as well as the taste fantastic look!

Hot cross bun cross and glaze need tweaking but the taste....maybe I should slice a thigh or two open and shove them right in there!?

I decided since we last spoke to also make banana bread.

Here's hoping the critic comes home and tries them and doesn't say

Not as good as J (his 10 year old niece, his sister or his mum) or nah, prefer safeway.

He's so funny because he is really encouraging just not overly emotional (like me) so he is just saying.....

p.s. I wished today that I got married 4 years earlier and had kids 4 years later and half of them amount of kids....today feels like it sucks but have hope because the day is not over!

p.p.s I feel horrible about my p.s but sometimes you just gotta get it out....of my web and into the web

Doing it all....or at least most of it....

Some may say (and have said) WAIT till your kids are older....and a bit more independant...

MANAGE your time better

PICK your battles

RESIGN yourself to

PACE yourself

ONE thing at a time

I just used the words your/yourself FIVE times in nearly as many sentences.

It isn't all about me but yet I have this 'ideal'....no, that's not the right word.

I have things I would like to do...

Bake my own bread, make things from scratch.....but alas at this moment it seems like these things aren't meant to be. Or are they?

Today for the first time I am making my own bread and making hot cross buns. I figured if I was going into yeast territory why not just go the double whammy.

Currently in the 'proving' and 'rising' stages so I am not posting about any end results yet because the end has not yet been reached.

In the meantime I was grumpy. My kids must be too little? Or I have let them get away with things that now annoy the hell out of me?

They like to stand on little steps on the other side of the kitchen and watch me cook.....can some of you already see what might be annoying?

Could it be 3 kids trying to get the best view on the same one person step?

Could it be the leaning over the ledge into the kitchen?

Could it be bringing toys up with them and dropping all manner of things accidentially onto the bench?

I don't know. Well I do know that in my head I was yelling WOULD YOU JUST GO AWAY!

I think I have been kidding myself a bit. I think the kids are around me too much in terms of hanging off me or if they see me doing something in the kitchen they come to ask for food.

I have been told to ignore them more. Mother guilt can be such a terrible thing at times.

This is really just a big ramble into the web.....mind you at the moment my head feels like it is filled with webs. All my thoughts getting jumbled up and mixed around.

The question of me doing what I want to do and not worrying about other people....this transition stuff is hard!

Midgey's

There is no photo that could ever truly show you how wonderful Grace's cheeks are. She is so funny! Grace has been going well with her glasses. She never takes them off unless we ask her to for her bath or at bedtime. She carefully closes the arms (are they seriously called 'arms'.....Ethan would not be happy with that because glasses aren't alive).

Grace is now a running champion and loves the puppies who you and I might might know as pooper scoopers or coco and zia. To Grace they are both either Zia but usually Dodo. We are also amazed with her level of comprehension! Talking a lot but sometimes even the unpaid translator doesn't even understand.

Awww. Awwwwwwwwwwwww

Sister's share a room although lately I have considered putting Ethan in with them too because Levi is so noisey!

Ashley is real life RIGHT NOW is not a happy camper. She has just left the room so let's focus on her photo and move on. Ashley is so helpful and eager to help mummy. Getting better at just being a child and having fun without getting bogged down thinking mummy is folding washing so I must help her! Not something anyone but a crazy person would squash right?!

Blue lips on a cold morning! This BABY (perhaps he didn't get the memo?) crawls everywhere! Escapes out the back door (heart failure), climbs up steps and does about 10 push ups a day and sits up on his own too. He feeds himself and chomps away with he 2 bottom teeth. Very friendly and smiley most of the time but I thought I would show you his serious side. :) 

It is like reliving having Ethan as a baby again! Except this time with smokey eyes! I decided we needed a pajama clad excursion to a Chinese laundry.

Doing up seatbelts by himself in his carseat, climbing, jumping, running, talking and learning how to read! He gets most excited over noticed punctuation being used on signs.

For now.....I must depart!

I've been searchin'

Lately I have been thinking about my kids.....no scrap that, I prefer the word children....ok, let's be honest go back to old faithful....the midgey's

They are so amazingly wonderful and cute! I find it so amazing to think I have had 4 children occupying the same space inside of me but yet they come out different...and the same...

I watch Ethan these days. Such an interesting FIVE year old! I used to wonder before I had children and let's be honest up until April 30th 2010 if I could handle a five year old. They (the other children, not my own) all seemed so annoying and selfish and tantrumy and annoying).

Children can appear to be annoying (for those following at home I am jumping back to my children now) but is it my lack of discipline that makes them seem annoying. Lack of discipline on myself and them. Surely, my husband and I steer the ship when it comes to their literal punishment?

I digress......what I have reeeeally been wondering is......have I wasted those 5 years, 3 years, 2 years and nearly 9 months? Not enough kisses and smooshing of my lips into that pillowly soft JUICY cheek. Smelling the smells that last for but a brief time?

Now I am told "Mummy, kisses on the Wips are DISGUSTING".

So now we barter and trade for them....of course!

So kiss your babies, tell them you love them and praise the One who has entrusted you with them for but a short time.

What did people do before....

What did people do before they had computers and mobile phones?

Lately I have been thinking about something quite a bit. More in a reflective sort of way or a wondering way. Not all depressed and sigh-worthy.....

Anyhow, I'm already going on too much.

A part of me doesn't want to ask this question cos I feel like I might seem pathetic (one last time for those up the back this is not a pity party post). I think I am just FINALLY getting it outta my head and out into the web so it can get tangled up there and not in between my ears. :)

Here is my little story.....

I wondered the other day. "What did I do before having the internet and a mobile phone". Let's break this up into 2 parts shall we.....

1. The internet (emphasis net)

I get up in the morning and feed Levi whilst going online. Basically every feed I am on the net. Plus a lot of time snuck here and there. At night when the kids go to bed.....on.the.net.till. bed.time.....sigh

I am finally at the stage where I feel like I have 'read it all'. BUT yet I am snared.....it is like I have to be on the net!

I do know when I am not online I do get a lot done but still I have this niggling 'just quickly jump on the net' feeling.

So, how to do I re-train myself and not go online so much? I feel I got into this terrible habit of 'escaping' to be online. Some reasons/past experiences that I know led me here but how do I lead myself away. I guess more importantly how do I stop thinking about this? Now it is this ingrained habit.

Getting it out now and semi re-reading I think it may seem like I should just stop.

Stop....

Hmmm suggestions have been made "Limit yourself to when the kids are in bed only". Tried that.

Time yourself....been there, done that.

I wish we didn't have a computer at all but that really would be foolish. I need to have the self discipline and not just remove the opportunity therefore I would learn nothing.

The main thing I keep thinking about is the kids. I do have the added disadvantage that they play so well like soooooooo well together so they kinda keep each other occupied but I am worrying about the lasting memories. Mummy always on the pc :(

Plus, I can't just 'snap' out of it and suddenly be this switched on mummy go, go homeschooling doing fantabulously wonderful HS projects from 9-3 then cooking these wonderful homemade healthy meals. Having family sing-a-longs after dinner. Ha! Am I just dreaming?

So I am trying to 'snap' out of it now rather than waiting till the 11th hour (bad habit I got into in school) when the children simply must have my all the time busy with them.

Ramble over, share your thoughts please.

p.s the 'old' me (when I was living at home and only dad had the computer'......I think I did watch a lot of tv but I also read and did crafty things i.e cross stitching, old fashioned hand written letters to friends etc.

Shamed to admit but if I did get into those things again. I still sit there thinking about the stupid computer!!

2. Mobile. Ben and I sms a lot. Not necessarily a bad thing

But those 2 things combined I feel very 'successfully marketed' in a way.

Entertainment driven. I really hate that and that would be the thing that annoys me the most. I give Ben a hard time about this but I am probably worse in some ways.

Don't get me wrong. I am busy with the kids, washing, cooking, tending to the yard (pooper scooping and my raking obsession)....you know the list.

Seems like I have lost sight of what I want to do and what I am actually doing.

I honestly sit here and think 'those who are much more self disciplined....what the heck do they do?'

No tv, timed or limited pc time and no mobile or only kept for safety......what do you do! Please share and now realize I am really obviously not busy enough and I do have too much time on my hands!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My biggest baby is 5 tomorrow and we are surprising him with Puffing Billy.

Levi has cut his first tooth so is starting solids now (goodbye sweet smelling poos *sob*). Also commando crawling and up on all 4 all the time. Sooooo cute!

The girls are very cute and amazingly so Ashley is now in size 3 pants (her waist is still size 1 though).

Brothers and sisters.....the real life kind

I love how at such a young age my kids seem to have a genuine love for each other. Maybe they now know mummy isn't a push over.....they have started sorting out their own differences, treating each other with compassion and genuine concern. They are big in the 'huggling' and 'kussing' each other. I know time will pass and when they are older the whole repetitive hugs and kisses on the 'wipps' will get a bit old and maybe even become 'yucky' but for now......I will enjoy watching them (and encouraging them).

The 2 girls share a room.....

Ashley is very loving and 'motherly'. Ashley is also very independant. She rushes off after breakfast and puts her dishes in the sink and then promptly dresses herself. She then asks Grace is she needs help getting dressed and of course Grace's face lights up! A bit of a struggle usually ensues. You know, the old needtotakeglassesoffBEFOREshirt part?

Grace is showing signs of being just as loving and 'motherly' as her older sister. She has graduated from saying 'Wawwy' (her version of Larry) to saying 'Weewye' (her version of Levi). There was a bit of confusion when we decided to ditch Levi's dummy cold turkey as she loved *giving it to him (*read shove it in his face at every opportunity).

This is such an encouragement to me. To think deliberately about my actions. Cos they are learning from me and watching everything!

Grace has taken to her new glasses like a champ. Keeping them on all the time. Oh and boy oh boy is she funny! Always hamming it up for us! She really is so funny.

Grace looks very much like me (but exceedingly more cute and with devine blue eyes). I love it for many reasons. One reason is the joy it gives my parents. Grace is a good version of me as a little child. I was grumpy, she rarely is. I think I got away with being grumpy too much! She is also at this young age showing a major preference to using her left hand. I am left handed as is my dad. Time will tell!

So these little girls have each other for sisters for life! What a blessing to each other and to us! They like to chat in their room. I find it so funny how Ashley says they 'talk to each other'. When I ask what they talk about I get all sorts of exciting responses. I feel like I have gone on a journey with them. Into their little 'sister world'.

Brothers.....ahhh! These little guys melt my heart! A nearly 4 year old and a 7 month old to be such little buddy's already! These two little guys share a room too. On a side note I am a huge fan of siblings sharing rooms. Ethan and Ashley actually cried when I told them they wouldn't be sharing a room anymore in the new house. :( I am not opposed to boy/girl siblings sharing a room and have even thought about putting E,A and G on the same room but Ethan said 'Levi will be lonely, I will stay with him'. Melt my heart!

The similarities between the boys are amazing. Well least to me. Having Levi is like having a baby Ethan all over again, just with a different eye colour. Both boys have such tender hearts. They love cuddles (especially Levi who looooooves mummy and no, not just for my milk....although that helps). Ethan only sparingly gives out 'kusses' now. I savour each one he gives me!

Hairy hair hair

Little Grace is two years old. January 11th is her birthday and my oh my I love her long locks!

Oh those lips!!!  Kiss, kiss!!

This is a shot from the back

These photos were taken a while ago and it is longer now. Wow! Just wow!

Who would think I once said. I only want boys! No way! My two beautiful BEAUTIFUL  girls are such a blessing!

All sweet, sweet babies sleeping and I feel like going to bed too!

Thrifty finds

I was thinking back the other day about all the 'treasures I have found over the years. Deceased estates, garage sales, op shops.....some great stuff for sooooo little!

Here is a picture of some recent finds

Oh books.....getting soooo many books. Need a bigger house....for the books! Average cost 50 cents

I was so giddily excited about the binoculars that I was using them in the van on the way home....not a good idea (no, I was not driving). MAJOR headache! hehe Three stamps I have been looking for, for ages....this book belongs to, handmade by and can't remember the other one right now. I get mostly excited when I see things that I have bought from op shops and garage sales in the shops for HUGE amounts and I have paid so little.

My younger brother recently worked at the winter olympics in Vancouver and sent over a ton of stuff for the kids. Here's little Levi trying his gear on. The little guy kept tipping over but man he is cuuuute!

Did an i-spy swap with Wendy. Here are almost all of the swapped bits! Very exciting! I have sewn them in rows so far but holding off till I a) get more and b) grow some more quilting brain cells. My mind can just not get around it at the moment. I am busy with the kids and my mind is very bogged down trying to work out how to......

1. Continue to keep my house clean
2. Get all morning chores done i.e breakfast eating, dressed, clean up, vitamins, brush teeth, make beds. It is very time consuming. Ethan and Ashley have been wonderful and want to do these things for themselves BUT they are still very little so need help still. Then stopping to breastfeed Levi......I just suck at the being still and just spending time with them. Onwards and upwards and keep on trying. Then the 'teaching' them part. It is so hard to 'un learn' the way I did it. I went to school and I do not want to replicate that at home.

Also, not to repeat myself but the kids are little. I just feel a bit pressured with people asking me 'how's school going'......all.the.time. I almost enjoy being a bit of a recluse because adding on anything other than our weekly food shopping is too much at the moment. Most days are very relaxed and nice and slow. Just don't want my brain to shrivel up too much and to become too lazy.

I am glad I am back online blogging out some thoughts to the deep abyss of the world wide WEB.

Life is good....most of the time :)

Look a like's

Someone told me the other day that Grace looks nothing like me.....what do you think?

Catching up and relearning to take time out

Hello non dial up speed! Yay!

Ok here is the latest update from the Murphy household

Mr Levi is now 7 months old and such a good little boy. He is still 100% breastfed and his 'only' downside is his waking time in the morning. Bit too early for me but he hangs out for his first feed at 7am. I do not feed him before then!

He has amazed us with his willingness to try crawling! We find this to be very funny cos our 'earliest' crawler was at 14 months! His eyes are very different to the other kiddies. His are more grey blue with a hint of brown. He is just so cute!

Grace Bethany. I just love her full name and find it funny hearing little Ashley saying "Grace Bethany you stop that". I have many conversations with both Ashley and Ethan about them not being in charge.

The only way she will stay still for the camera these days is if I say "Where's the camera Grace". Then I get a cute "There it is" along with a chubby little pointing finger.

Her new glasses have been going well. Only one visit back to the optometrist for a re-jig. She has only ever taken them off once and her eye only turns in when they aren't on. We reassess her eyes at the end of this month.

Little Ashley. Very independant and helpful. Folds washing like a champ. Dresses herself. Pretty much will give anything a go. Loves to tell me "Mummy your my friend". A precious little girl with hair getting longer every day.

Lastly my 'big' boy. Ethan will be 5 on the first of May. He is very funny (just quietly Grace is the funniest but that is partly biased cos her mannerisms and perfect pudgyness tips it over) I am loving my big boy. LOTS of questions and incessant chatter make some days seem long. His level of comprehension and understanding is amazing. He is very helpful these days and now able to do many things (i.e buckle his own harness buckles)

The prince aka Levi is beckoning his handmaiden (me). This trying to crawl thing is ever so frustrating! Why won't his arms move? He's got the legs going but arms are still learning what to do. That, and he has not pooed in a couple days so I am expecting one of his trademark 'blow outs'.

One last photo to share. Grace and her friend Zia

Oh yeah and me with the 2 little ones. Grace is looking pretty trendy with her headband on! Levi fell asleep in my arms. Oh the sweetness of that little guy!

I will update with more pics soon. Ben has taken them off the camera and put them?????

Well that's it. Busy times people, busy times!

p.s. apologies for typo's no time to check :)

I'm coming!

Due to being on dial up speed I cannot do (aka be bothered waiting ten hours) any posts. I am seriously contemplating standing over the stovetop to toast marshmallows but instead I might (still do it) then go to bed. :)

A wonderful cold and rainy night here. Great for snuggling because except for nights like this we have the ceiling fan on every.night HOWEVER my wonderful (sometimes drive me crazy) hubby has gone out all.night.long to a friends house as he starts on nightshift this week and needs to jolt his body into it. Poor guy. He never complains!

So yes on the 15th when we are back to full speed and said 'wonderful' husband realises he is banned from downloading hehe I will be back WITH pictures!

Sleep well dear friends!

xx

Thank goodness!

Despite still needing to recover from missing Bahrain (how COULD we forget!) we enjoyed seeing the Grand Prix today on home turf today. I refuse to pay to go and sit on wet grass and use toilet's that 'store' the poo. Why would you when you can sit on your own couch with a toilet close by that flushes!

Ben and I really enjoy watching the Formula 1. It is kinda our 'thing'. Considering we basically watch no tv (i.e the tv is 100% off when the kids are awake and on maybe 3 hours total in the evenings during the week.....usually less) I don't feel bad watching something we both enjoy. I sit there all anxious just not wanting Hamilton (Ham Ham as we call him) to win or get podium. I know, I'm mean. Today was a good race but by golly I am glad it is over! I stress!

Ethan was so cute wearing his little racing suit and pretend waving to his fans. haha poor deprived child getting overly excited about tv. Grace and Ashley couldn't give two hoots!

I am in decluttering mode. Funny how hard it can be to part with things even though they are only 'things' and even though those 'things' aren't being used and are just taking up space.

Who's hearin' me here? Hello? Hello? Anyone out there?

My mind is constantly saying less, less, less. I do wish I had 'more' money though. One day my ideas of home improvement will happen. Bills piling in. Onward and upward. No time to spend being upset. Just need to be stricter with money. That's the un-fun bit eh?

Great food great value

Just popping in to share this.....

Do you love pub food? Bistro meals?

My parents went out last night. Each paying under 10 for a main meal with salad and chips.

I checked out the website and this is for Australia wide!

Shame we didn't get told about this on Tuesday as we ate a delicious meal in Ferntree Gully.....would it have tasted better at $10 each? :)

Lauren, do you ever go out for dinner with David? I am interested in hearing about what foods you both enjoy.

Bec, are you feeling better? I hope so

Wendy, are you on Aussie soil? Not yet? I look forward to seeing you when you return.

Nelle, if you read this I am interested in hearing about how you got your piano.

Take care darling readers. Ha! Doesn't that sound like I am 'important'?

Night all!

Still around

Nothing overly much to report (wow, awesome English Katherine). Trying to get my head around this whole "school schedule" thing with life for the kids.

Ben has been on day shift for 2 weeks which has been awesome.

Next week is night shift and he is working Sunday night.....not so awesome.

Grace is getting her glasses Tuesday. Did I mention I have to get glasses too :(

Yes, people it does NOT get much more exciting than that!

Missing my friend Wendy, come back over those seas and share you adventures with me!

Started teaching myself how to crochet. Mucho exciting!

Many epiphanies had which is awesome, tiring but awesome.

A nephew arrived this week. Man alive CLUCKY!

When the world fades away.....

When the world, your world fades away what is left? An empty hole, a shell? For me my hope is that the world will fade away. The worries that seem to plague me or just never go away to vanish. Me to realise, to accept that all I need is God. When there is nothing left is not the time I hope I get it. I mean get IT.

My strength, my understanding is so human. So unintelligent and limited. Here I am worrying about people not liking me, getting frustrated at what I deem to be silly, ridiculous, repetitive questions. How high and mighty of me! Terrible to admit but true.

So world fade away now. Lord help me to forget about worldly things. I am blessed to be a blessing. My life is good most of the time. Let me realise that life is good all of the time. All of the time I walk next to YOU.

Grace update:

Took her to the optometrist today. Anyone that lives near me and needs a recommendation I will give you the details cos the guy was fantastic and so professional! Anyhow. Little Grace has been going VERY cross-eyed. Not just one eye or both eyes at the same time too. Maybe one eye in then the other later on the other. It was really first noticed in the last 5 days. Over the weekend it seemed to me to get increasingly worse. Despite my bestish efforts I got worried. Notice the ish as I have a tendency to worry.

Anyhow back to Grace.......thankfully her eyes played up during the appointment. Actually they did most of the time.  You know the old 'my child is so unwell they have to go to the doctor. Then they play with the toys in the corner and appear in perfect health with no fever' thing? At some stages her eye would turn right in so you could barely see her eye colour. Her beautiful blue eyes.

Verdict? Grace needs glasses asap. The turning in of her eye is actually quite clever in a way. This was helping her see things better but still not well. This will result in 'freaky eyes'. I do not in any way mean that in a mean way. I am concerned about not doing something and realising later it was fixable. Then the guilt oh that would be baaaaaaaad.

Worse case scenario she will need surgery so please pray for healing or that God will spare her surgery.

Oh and I need glasses too. :( That WILL wait. I survived 29 years so far. :)

p.s too lazy for pics. You want pics? What of?

Blah

Nothing to report.....still tired.....bit sick n tired....of myself. Trying to think of something noteworthy to share.....I shall remember life is GOOD.....just sometimes it feels like groundhog day and mama's got no motivation. Days spent kissing babies and reading books but not feeling 'accomplished'.

Levi had a very VERY scary fall. Bad mummy award of.the.decade but he is fine. Heart still trying to restart. 5 months is too young to get injured! Levi I love that you are more motivated than #3 (rolled at 11 months hahahaha) but come on! You scare your mama!

Simpler

I am after a simpler life. Don't get me wrong. My life is good most of the time but even though we are pretty relaxed and mostly carefree it still seems rushed. My mind feels rushed and I am tired.

So very tired. Not a 'I need a break tired' but tired of shops, consumerism, ads. I saw an ad this morning. Another 'no surprises here' moment but at the same time SHAME ON THEM!

An ad for Fernwood gym saying "Join in for Fox sake". Deplorable! Think of some newbie reader kiddie reading that and think of how they might pronounce it. It is about the principle. I am sick of people like me being told to calm down, relax, don't worry about it, its harmless! It is NOT harmless.

Unfortunately to have a simpler life with a larger property in a more rural area costs money. Money we do not have (and strongly suspect will never have. :( Oh and it is not about the money. It is not about being rich but how do you get from where you are now to where you want to be. Out in the country, on our own property and giving the finger the 'the man'?

I am tired. More tired than I have been in a long time and I don't know why.

Life is good. I am in love with my husband (more than ever) and my children. I could eat them they are so good but.......

I want a simpler life

p.s did you know that playing ice hockey and figure skating is easy. Hockey players have 'knives on their 'shoes'? I do, Ethan told me :)

Quote of.......yesterday

Good morning!

Ok before I forget....

Yesterday morning we went to a different Church (one that I usually woud avoid) because we were told that

Juan Carlos Ortiz

Was going to be there.....we along with a few other people were told it would be yesterday morning....the messenger delivered the wrong messge! The 'messenger' didn't even come himself. He miss out.....BIG TIME. The girls looked positively beautiful in the dresses!

We will visit again either March 21st or March 28th when Juan will actually be there!



Anyhow.........when the pastor was praying. waffling, going on Ethan got this big smile on his face when the pastor said 'Heaven'. It then went like this....

E: "Heaven! Heaven!"......smiling,smile,smile

Then he said " Heaven! Kevin! Kevin Rudd!". He was so impressed with himself with making the correlation between the rhyming words Heaven and Kevin. Ashley still just loves Kevin from UP

Lots I want to do but I have hurt my back. I have just joined a book club with my mum and tonight is the first one (for me, not her). The first book for the year is The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker. I read it from start to finish yesterday in four hours. As a result my back, ain't so happy.

On a side note, Ben has this guy come into his work every now and then to do sessions called 'Backs of the future". I always laugh when I think of this geeky little title. It has however, helped Ben learn correct lifting techniques. Unfortunately they have nothing that can help 'readinglyingdownonabadangleforfourhours' :)

Rush, rush

Good evening!

Quote of the day brought to you by Ashley

To set the scene we were driving past a cemetery this evening and Ethan asked what it was I said "That is a cemetery, when people die sometimes they get buried in a cemetery".

E" Why do they do that for...."....

Of course this conversation went on about the who, where, what, why and how.

After explaining that people get old and they eventually die, accidents happen, cars crash.....you know....the list....
It went on for a bit the kid's line was said.....
"That is not very nice is it?"

We heard that several times during this conversation then Ashie pipes up and says "They will die and then they will say 'Ah, I died". Maybe that doesn't seem funny to you but her little voice saying that

I.cacked.myself! CACKED!

Another from Ashley....

Ben has gone out tonight and he was VERY rushed and running around (anyone who knows him knows that is VERY rare as he is usually a taking it easy kinda guy). Ashley was repeatedly saying goodnight, goodbye.

As he is going down the stairs carrying all manner of things she does a final desperate byeeeeee as all her previous attempts had gone unnoticed by said panicked "I'm not panicked" daddy.

Ben yells out a mimicy byeeee to sound like Ashley.

She turns to me and says "Ha ha daddy just did sound like a girl! Daddy is sooooooo funny!".

I must be sleep deprived (I am sleep deprived) cos I am still laughing!

Over and out, kiss your men and I hope your kids are sleeping.

p.s it is really hard to type on a black keyboard in the dark!

Hope you are feeling better Bec!

500 to none!

Good evening!

I am very excited. I have FINALLY organized my inbox! I had over 500 emails in my inbox. Now all purged and sorted and ORDERED! I love order!

Slowly my filing is also getting better and better. I like systems but awhile ago I just got all ho hum about it all and stuck my head in the sand.

The more I don't worry about "stuff" the better life is.

The more I forget about petty things.....the better life is.

The more I let my hair down.....yes, the better life is!

*************************

Speaking of hair.....I think....hope it is finally turning the corner.

I said no to poo (shampooing and conditioning my hair) 2 weeks before the end of the year (so I didn't have to call it a New Year's resolution)....

I have gone through a YUCKY stage. Like just terrible. I am sure it was worse for me but honestly all those expensive shampoo's and conditioners really did stuff up my hair.

I have been washing it with bicarb mixed with water and conditioning with apple cider vinegar. The other day oh my goodness it actually felt good!

Hopefully this is a good sign. I am going to keep persevering whilst praying that I am not completely grey by the end of 2010 as I am no longer dying it either. Bit of an experiment, bit of a "who needs you" to the "experts" telling me I need to spend $40 on s&c! Ha I tell them HA!

Ok here is another addition of quote of the day.

Today brought to you by a combined effort's of Ethan and Ashie.

K: "Ethan, what sort of things do you want to learn at school?"

E: Drawing, playing toys, no fighting, no whinging"

What do you think we have been drumming into the kids lately!? hahaha

We then moved on in conversation to talk about "What would you like to learn about in school?"

E: "Giraffe, zebra, hippo, lion (who do you think has seen Madagascar?), birds, bugs, flie and another fly and ants and snails and plants and that's it".

I am so grateful I could literally write this down as he said it! Just so funny!

Then Ashley pipes up....

A: "Sheep, horsey and another sheep, lots of sheeps......"
E: Interrupts and adds " and baby Jesus and Mary".

So funny, wish you all could have seen it.

Goodnight all!

p.s. anyone want to come over and clean my shower?

I was going to say....

Something! Then I forgot!


Ok, I will talk about something else....

***********************

Had a new friend come over today. The children insisted upon calling her "Mrs. Gracie a different one from little Gracie" allinoneword.

A seasoned homeschooler of 4 kids (aged 18-8). Oh sweet home Alabama! It was so good to be around a like minded person. Encouraging, insightful and settled a few fears I had. Notice the HAD!

Prior to her arrival...I did get a bit worried when I googled "Homeschooling requirements in Victoria". I had noticed on someone else's blog that the QLD government requires a run down of what you have taught your child in the form of an actual report. So got me wondering about Victoria.

Nothing too, too scary but still has me thinking. Thinking is a good thing though. I do think at the end of the day I can't expect the government to fit with my morals and standards but I am soooo not going to just fall in line with their ideas. Shhhhhhh don't tell them. :)

So I continue to go as I have been going. Enjoy my kids. Let them ask questions, answer their questions and ask them questions. Not only do I receive HILARIOUS answers it also cements in their mind what they have learnt and encourages them to be confident in their answers. This is something I have struggled with along my school life. I always suppressed how 'smart' I really am.

Still have to get myself off to the library. I know, I know......did you think I went there all the time? Bah! No but obviously I will end up knowing the place like nobody's business. Just the logistics are a bit tricky sometimes. I think I am too used to being chill and relaxed with my time. Not all bad but can't be at home all the time.

Funny quote of the day from Ashley

A: "Well done, good girl Ashie".
K: "Oh sorry Ashie, well done".
A: "No mummy, I say it....well done, good girl Ashie".

Oh babies you are sooooooooooo cute

Grace, blue texta drawn all over windows and doors not cute. Showing me your blue mouth (outside and inside), hands, arms and then lifting your dress up (also with blue tinge) to show me those delicious legs....you guessed it blue too......yeah ok maybe a little bit cute

The detention room

Here are some pics! I have decided tonight I will have enough patience for uploading pics. Nothing overly insightful or wonderful to say tonight.

Something exciting happened when Master Levi and I went out today. Ben cleaned the house! This is not really that rare. He ALWAYS helps out.....if one of us is working the other feels guilty hahaha so it works well for both participants :)

So coming home to dishes washed and put away, 2 baskets of washing folded and put away plus the office put back together all whilst watching 3 kids !  He is a champ!

Ahhh!!  I just noticed my camera battery getting low so enough talking already Katherine!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is a before shot of the office. I am standing at the farthest point to try to get this pic. When I measured the office for painting I laughed because it is basically 2.5 meters x 2.5 meters and yes you guessed it 2.5 meters high! Anyhow you will see the wonderfully ugly "wood" paneling and the walls which only ever had a base coat on them. Plus a little 2 year old midgey wondering what the heck is going on.

SIDE NOTE: Grace sucks on her hair along with her thumb. She does not understand that she can suck on her thumb without her hair. Some people say cut it....what do you guys think? I love how long it is though!

 

Grace loves hats. Even a tshirt will do as a hat! My kids have big heads, little short bodies and due to that look chubby (except Ashie)....they are well below the 50th %.....those graphs are rubbish but gives you somewhat of an idea on size. Everything above the floor on which they stand to below their most stickingupest (YES that is a word) hair is sooooooooo beautiful!

Three babies in the bath. We were busy that night putting beards on then shaving them off to be like daddy "daddy has hairys on his face and little tiny baby hairys on his head" Poor Benny!! Hahahahahaha

 

So by this stage we have started painting the bottom half of the room white (Antique White U.S.A for those playing at home)

The top half of the room is Westleigh green. The more I sit here and look at it. I think it has an aquaish leaning. Man, I am coming out with some terrible made up words but I am looking up and thinking and these are words springing to mind so that what you get.

 

Well with the new room colour my red pin board didn't go so I went with this nice purple. On my sewing table are some of my thrifty finds. Starting on the left is my knitting/wool holdererer got that free from my mum. Love you mum! Oh and mum if you are reading this yes you gave this to me. :)

Next is a big sewing basket I got from a deceased estate $4. Beautiful satin green inside but my tidy girl closed the lid and I didn't realize before I took the pic. 

Next which you can't see very well is a little wooden holder thingy. Got 3 glass bottles with strawberries painted on them. I love strawberries and it is a little bit of red in the room $1 I think! 

Then we have my small sewing basket. This one was a bit pricey for an op shop $6 BUT I had been looking for one for ages and I really like it so I will live with the $6 expense. 

Lastly you can just see a white hanging thingy on the wall. Got three little pockets for my bills to pay, bills paid and things I want on hand. $2 from another op shop.

Interested in seeing more of my thrifty finds?

 

Little terrors....I mean buddies. They are quite hilarious dogs but sometimes when I am pooper scooping (Pooper scooper population me) I think they should be toilet trained!

Come on fellow bloggers share a bit about you. Maybe share some great thrifty finds of your own or something you have done to make your house more of a home.

p.s camera went flat less than 30 seconds after uploading pics! Phew!

Mummy listen....

"In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28"

"I did a verse of the Bible, good girl Ashley"....Ashley just said that. hahahaha

My sweet little midgey's #1 and 2 are memorizing this Bible verse. No sweeter thing than hearing them quote it whilst procrastinating finishingdinned now that all the fun food has been consumed. The first part of the last sentence was sweet....the last part? Finish your dinner!

Much sweeter than whinging....my kids whinge!? never! Do your kids whinge?

p.s thanks for the advice about decreasing the size of the pics. Will investigate that tonight, maybe, got more painting to do..

p.p.s heard an Aussie got a silver and Canada a gold in the Olympics!? Yay! I don't really watch tv these days and I really think the are Olympics......mixed feelings. On a side note my little brother who has been in Canada permanently since early 2005 is working security at the Olympics. Lucky boy! I miss him so much. :(

p.p.p.s Go Canada :P

Running away from or running towards....

I really do like the picture on the top of my blog. Sometimes I open up my blog just to look at that picture. The green of the trees is so calming. Sometimes I also sit and think about the people that may have travelled along that path.

In the day time it looks so inviting but I dare say at night it is a very different place. Scary with spooky noises. Strange shadows with feelings on things lurking in the background waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

Some days I wish I was there. Running towards happy places or running away from things that seem too hard. Life IS pretty good most of the time but there is a part of me that feels......unsatisfied, hom hum. I seem to just have that word 'ho hum'. It is me though. Not hubby or the kids. I often struggle with having no motivation.....I think cos so many things I would like to be doing just can't be done during kid/daytime hours. Then night time comes and bed beckons me but I ignore the call then I am toooooo tired (picture whiney, annoying voice here). Fitful sleep, woken too early by a chubby legged midgey.....the day starts again.

Life is good though

Most of the time

Burn fire burn

Good evening 7.3 people! Man if only I didn't have bitches, bitching about my every move I would make this blog public so people could come flooding my gates with thanksgiving in their hearts to read all this! Apologies to those who prefer to not see/read  the word bitches. :)

I do have things to report but the main thing killing me is uploading pics! For those of you with enough money to afford rich people's camera's....I joke, I joke (SLR's) doesn't it take your four ev ah! To load your photos due to the size of them?!

Short run down of all things exciting in our lives.

New friend's

Baby showers (other people's.....don't panic about my womb being occupied)

Painting!!!! Doll's house AND..........The office!!  Not thrilled with the colour of the office but Ben my eternal optimist likes it (and picked it). I'm telling ya as soon as I heard the word's painting and yes in the same sentence I was waiting in the van with the engine running!

Here is the part where you imagine pictures.......

!@#$%^^&&**

@#$^*$@@

^%$##%

Ooooo ahhhhh so pretty!

I seriously think it is time for bed! Lately I have been so tired and feeling so lazy. It is hard painting when you like things tidy. You just CAN'T be tidy! You have to unload a room and put stuff into another room that is already full!

Whoever said I am not positive obviously doesn't notice how many times I use exclamation marks! Hahaha that last one wasn't intentional.

I will leave you with this....

Picture Ben and I in bed (keep it clean, keep it clean!) Ben of course is on ebay mentally buying more speakers (he would definitely DIE/ be deaded .....yes that's a word..... if he added to what we already have....sigh) I am catching flies/sleeping. I suddenly spring my eyes open, jump out of bed and say to Ben "I don't want you to panic but there is a huntsman right behind the bed head.

Ben panics and get out of bed. Hahahaha there is no huntsman. Ben goes out of the room. Comes back aproximately 2.7 seconds later and I am asleep again!

Ben laughs, I wake up and say "was that real, did I just get out of bed?" Ben says yes, I fall back asleep.

Whacko jacko!

This is up there with a sleepover I had at a friend's house when I was 16 and I sat bolt upright in the middle of the night screaming at her in some kinda Asian sounding language. I'm smart but English is all I got. She asked if I was alright. I put my hand up then closed my eyes and fell back asleep.

Cuuuuuurazy!

Sorry about no pics. I have pics of the office but......well I will now call the room the detention room. We painted it green (Hi Wendy!) and white.......you know when you just have the colour in your mind but it just isn't perfect? Oh well. God blesses me greatly in my life. I think focussing on shades of green should be a lower priority for me.

Happy birthday for yesterday Bec's little cutie S! Red, red BEAUTIFUL red hair!


Might share some updates on homeschooling......Grace is crying so gotta run!

How do you keep track?

Ok obviously those of you who have blogs probably now keep track on them but before blogs how did you keep track of your children's milestone's?

I am obviously busy a lot of the time "helping" the children.....making breakfast, washing up, making lunch, washing up, making dinner, washing up. In between the 3 meals and 3 times of washing up its all the miscellaneous  things that keep me really busy some days.

Oh and feeding the little guy is my "must sit down" time. So.....I tend to rush to the calendar hanging on the wall and write things down. I try not to be sad baout all the things that didn't even make it to the calendar. :(


So I will make a start....at least if I write it down here I can sort it out better at a later date and start chucking out all the old calendar's! I hate clutter!

October 14th 2009 Grace finally decided that she would walk! Yay! Picture NO wlaking AT ALL then one day casually wlaking out of her brother's room and saying hello! She doesn't really like a lot of carrying on when she achieves something but I am VERY exctied to say the least! :) Within that same day of course she started walking backwards, up and down.....everything all at once.

20 months old but that is ok. I wasn't so much worried about the age it was the "will she be able to" part.

LEVI:
25/11/09
Discovered his hands

He is also VERY roley poley now and I'm not just talking about his thighs. This is such a surprise because Grace didn't even roll until 11 months! ELEVEN! Little precious girl. :) Yesterday he even maneuvered himself just to get a toy. Cute!

********************

Off to a baby shower this afternoon for BIL's baby due to arrive....early March? Very exciting to have another little boy coming!

The connections

 

How beautiful is this photo! This photo was taken by my husband. Very, VERY technical and difficult to take but I will share how he did it.

Go make a cup of coffee then have a read.............

Ben went outside to our backyard.

Layed down on the trampoline on his back.

Looked up. Pointed and shot.

Looking at this photo reminds me that we ARE blessed. 

I have put in here to look at when I see other people's perfect houses.

We need to not think too much about all the repairs and things we would like to do to the house and all the lack of money to do it. I am very grateful that God gave me a husband who is patient and focus's on much more important things than my "poor us, I want new carpet, paint, can we paint...." Money, money, money WHERE is the money! I try to pace my rantings so I don't reach the limit of my husband's patience too quickly.

Last night had another get together with the girls. It was the first "block swap" for the year. Last night we just got together and decided who was doing what and went over how to do what we decided to do!

I am such a clear and easy to read blogger girl! Ha!

I figure as long as I mostly know what I am on about then that is ok.

I had lots of fun and of course stayed longer than I should have but man I am still laughing today about my vocabulary lesson.

**************

Quite unusual for me (note * sarcasm) I am already thinking I should have pictures in every post. I want pictures but I don't want to load them.

Funny how grabbing the usb thingy, plugging it in then getting sucked into looking at photos of the children takes up so much time. Pesky CAAAAAAAAAAUTE kids.

 

My beautiful first born son! He is a joy and becoming quite hilarious with the funny things he says, sings

See! Distracted again!

I was just reading a friend's blog and she titled the post "A work in progress". I really enjoy reading about people repurposing something, making it "new" again or making something from scratch.

We have been working on our office/craft room today.

 

I had stacked everything from the office to the side so I could take a picture of the desk to sell on ebay. When I realized that it had been dismantled and rebuilt in the office I tried to dismantle it by myself and it weighed 567,000 kilos...So smash, bang, chuck outside occurred. Whoops :P

After 1.5 tears were shed by me (*) I managed to pick myself up, give myself 500 high fives for finally killing the desk.

Then went on my merry way setting up the craft room. Unfortunately my easy going husband mentioned that this might not be so fair.  A comprimise has been met, a new desk has been purchased and we are both happy.

Hopefully we can make it a great room. Due to dodgey plastering in there I suggested wallpapering or doing something "wall paperyish". Yes, that is so a word. We just don't have the skills yet to plaster ourselves. We also CBB (can't be bothered) at this present time.

Look at that long hair. Grace turned 2 on the 11th of January......amazing! Just need to get her to stop sucking on it in bed! If only she could work out that she could suck her thumb by itself and not the hair AND thumb.

I am pretty bad at taking before photos. I just get so excited. However, I think I should still take photos of the after to prove that I don't waste every hour away perfecting the art of procrastination..

 

Theodore mouse up in the air. I may have a small (80+) collection of Golden Books. This one is my ultimate favourite. I probably sound freaky but to me it is like he is real. Laugh all you like but the artist is so talented!

Look at his little face telling me about the adventure he is going to go on. I figured I would frame a couple of pages to keep me company in the office/craft room (oc). Also to remind me of the times I want to go away on an adventure that homes really is the best place to be.

I had 2 u.g.l.y frames with u.g.l.y pictures in them from the op shop for $1. They were originally white. I sanded them back then mixed up some dark blue and white paint till I got the colour. I get this vision in my mind or particular colours that obviously you can't just pick off the shelf....so mix, mix, try, try. I made the matt out of scrapbooking paper.

I also had this old pinboard. Grey.....It just did nothing for me. Something that does do something for me was covering it with red and white polka dot fabric! So happy!

 

Slowly I will continue to improve this space. So far I'm happy that it has cost me next to nothing and it is a bit of a break from nappy changes, kissing ouch's and crying babies. Mind you out of all my babies Levi cries the least. Hahahaha

Sigh....there is nothing more I can do when I look at that photo.....

*sigh

Taken looking out the front yard. I am thrilled with Ben having a knack for taking photos. We recently bought a Lumix DMC-TZ7 which is very good. Supposedly basically a digital camera just below an SLR. Do all you guys have fancy pants SLR's? I do think all your photos look great so I suppose to some extent a camera is just a camera?

Doing the right thing....I hope

Here is where I got my blog header (top bit of the blog....that called the header?) The head is on top so I guess that's right.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/trees/franklin_trees_01.jpg

Hello again! What did you get up to in the last 5 seconds? :)

Ok so some photos of my kiddies and a picture of 2 of my recent projects.....one finished, one in progress.

Little Levi....precious, precious boy!

 

Why are all the good photos either on the same day or enough days later for the child to be wearing the same clothes? Levi is one of those babies that actually has "always" before their first name....hahaha that doesn't work. Levi is almost always happy, such a smiley boy and please don't make comments about him "having to be good, fall in line cos he has sooooo many siblings" :)

 

 Cheeky little ones! Of course the perfect one of all of them has red eye....which I will fix! Then post at a later date!

 

Snagged this little beauty. Man that would be funny for me to say outloud with my whacky mixed up accent....Anyhow I digress....Got this from my lovely MIL.

This is nearly ready for painting. I have done heaps more sanding since I took this pic.....I am thinking blue. Yes some people aren't very "bluey" (Hi Wendy) and that is good....I'm not bluey either but for some reason I have this particular blue in my mind. I will see how it ends up. Very exciting!

I should post a pick of my china cabinet....something still to do though. I have embarked on an origami challenge.....Baaaaaaaaaaaarain Strain but soooooo awesome! I have 50 billion origami's's's's all over it at the moment to keep them away from the kids and dogs.

Ok, here is the last pic. I was very proud of myself whipping this up last minute for a birthday party. I was stuck but then I remembered a couple of blogs.....

http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2009/03/simple-spring-basket-how-to.html

Oh that doesn't look good. I wanted it to come up as a clickable link. Or even with me typing "Spring basket" but when you click it, it comes to the link. Any suggestions?

Also this link....

http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/birdpattern1-1.pdf

Here is what I made.....

Remember I am a BEGINNER :)

Little bag, bird and 2 hair clips. Pretty good considering I didn't know the child getting it. Thank goodness  I have 2 daughters! The bonus was I had everything on hand! That usually doesn't happen.

Ok, since you asked I will give you one more picture.

Feel limited sysmpathy for these guys cos they do many BAD things.

1. Eating the floor out of the cubby house
2. Running away! Little stinkers!
3. Whizzing inside! Sneaky whizzing so they know! They know!

Hahahaha they are so cute though!

Hopefully this has fixed them up...Har, har....laugh a minute round here