Year 8 - My Older Baby is growing up

Matthew has today now officially gone into Year 8. Same deal with AJ.....he's to young and so am I (well most days I think this way). LOL!

Matthew wasn't so keen to go back to school, especially since there won't be the conveniences of the tele, computer or PS2 and a fridge full of food for him to use at his pleasure. He is a funny boy. Today it's going to be in the high 20's, low 30's and humid, so he decides to wear his school shirt (white - what do people think when chosing uniforms?) and long school trousers.

Yes....definately not my choice and especially when one rides their scooter to school. Grazy! But you have to love the boy.

So anyway this morning I have already done all the house work, taken the daughter to school, hang the washing. Yippy!

Time to play!

I did my first unassisted digital layout using Willro&co (Rowena) digital elements - Daisy Daze, but I did have to phone a friend.... not naming any PSE Guru - Ro - as I couldn't make the silly file under 2 megabytes. So after clear instructions (as usual) and actually writing them down I have don't it.

I am very happy with my efforts!



These elements and more are available from Faith Sisters or Blue Bluzaar.

Year 5 - My Babies growing up!

Today Amy-Jane (my baby girl) has gone off to school to start her first day in Year 5. Where has the time gone. She is far to young to be in Year 5 and I am far to young to have a daughter in Year 5. Well sometimes I think that....on good days atleast.

She was up early and dressed by 7 am. The bag was all packed last night. All ready to go. So off to school she went all excited and wondering who her teacher would be for this year. She was really hoping it was going to be Mrs Gossip.

Throughout the day I kept asking Matthew "I wonder what Mooey is up to right now" (Mooey - her nickname of course). It is a little hard to get used to not having the children around after holidays and knowing their every move.

When I went to pick her up after school you could tell that she really enjoyed her first day back and the bonus......her teacher is Mrs Gossip.

Wow - Check this Out!

Well this morning AJ and I did a regularly thing and went and inspected the vegie garden to see how things were going.


We also both decided that we should pick the huge zucchini that was growing as well as check the one ripe looking strawberry to see if it was time to pick it and eat it (divided up by 4 - LOL!). So off we go armed with a bowl to collect the maybe one strawberry and the ripe and ready Grape Tomatoes.


We picked quite a few ripe tomatoes and you guessed it....the one strawberry was ready to be picked! Yippy....it's quite exciting!


But when we went to pick the zucchini we were really surprised to see how huge it had grown. It looked big on the vine but when AJ had it in her hands....WOW! A whole 44cm in lenght.


So after getting back inside and taking a photo of our efforts (and mother natures) I did a little surfing and found a "Stuffed Zucchini" receipe for tonights meal which has ingredients from our "local produce" i.e. parsley and grape tomatoes. The receipe sounds delis', so I hope I don't spoil it some how as I am truly a Cook by name stake only! LOL!

Australia Day at Lake Narambulla

One of our close friends invited us out to their lake which is about a 20 minute drive out of Goulburn. The property has a gorgeous house with a very beautiful and relaxing view of their lake. So as usual we all got together and spent Australia Day 2008 at the Lake House. There was quite a few of us - Cook family, Divall family, Staines family, Andrews family, Harmer family as well as a couple of other visitors.

We all had an enjoyable time. The kids and Dad's spent most of the time down beside the lake with the boat taking kids fishing, knee boarding and swimming. And the older kids went from this to motorbike riding around the property. This left the mummies under the shade of the bullnose verandah reading magazines and enjoying the quietness of the afternoon. Just great!

Saturday evening we did the traditional Australia Day BBQ tea which went down well as usual. Then after tea had settled in little one's belly's off to bed they went. Matthew camped on the verandah in his swag, AJ and I spent the night in the back of our car as the house was full and besides AJ and I wanted watch a DVD before we went to sleep. Troy and the other Dad's stayed up and did some male bonding until the wee hours of the next morning!

On Sunday morning Troy cooked bacon and eggs for everyone, which is a big hit with everyone. After breakie was finished the Dad's once again took the kiddies down to the lake for more water activities whilst the Mummies cleaned up and decided to read more magazines or catch a few moments of sleep!

The heat and the flies got to me just after lunch so I decided to head back into town especially since I had a great nights sleep in the back of our car......NOT!

But all in all everyone had a great Australia Day weekend for 2008! It good to be an Aussie!

Narambulla Lake House

Off to the Lake

Miss Zoe contented to stop and investigate the flora beside the Lake

Amy-Jane and Troy

Sleeping in the back of a Territory - Highly NOT recommended!

Afternoon Antics!

This evening after tea we thought we would all sit out on the verandah and enjoy the coolness of the evening. It was really nice watching the kids ride around on their scooters. AJ made sure that Richardo was involved in the scooter riding as well.

Matthew was getting faster and faster each lap and then Troy decided to get the jump out and have Matthew jump the scooter. Crazy boy! I made him jump quite a few times until I got just that right couple of pictures of him. LOL!

After a while Matthew put the scooter down and decided it was going to be just as much fun to run and jump off the ramp. So he did. And so did the little sister, the father and mother! And all I could think of was a silly little song from the movie "Ice Age II" - "I believe I can fly".

Honestly, there is never a dull moment at this house!

Our Vegies

Some months ago we thought that we would put a vegie garden in an unused spot of the backyard. We ended up planting tomatoes, corn, lettuce, cucumbers, zuchinni, parsley, strawberries, grape tomatoes, snow peas, capsicum and onions.


We haven't gone to bad as we only lost 3 of the 6 corn, the snow peas and the onions as well as the carrots. We lost 3 corn as we didn't plants them close enough, lost the snows peas reasons unknown to us and the carrots did go well as they don't like really good soil and prefer to be challenged. And the onions...another one of a vegie growers mystery!


Everything else is going really well. And here is proof!

Little Inside Information :)

I saw this on Ro’s blog and thought I would use it one day and today’s it. Atleast it gives me something to put on the blog.

Your hair: Brown, messy and short (thought I would get it cut for a change and really miss being able to put it up and off my face).

Your mother: Spending time in Heaven

Your father: Fussing over Basil the Dog

Your favorite item: Gee Wiz! Where do I start? Let’s see….. my handbag/s, my laptop and my camera

Your dream last night: Would put Steven Spielberg to shame. Sometimes they are just far too crazy to even think about

Your favorite drink: Coffee at Ro and Bill’s (especially if Bill makes it so that Ro and I can sit ll and chat!) and Coke Zero

Your dream car: Any car that stays clean with two children. But other than the car that I have now…..my 7 seater Ford Territory with DVD player in it for the kiddies, just perfect for all taking the trip.

Your dream home: Somewhere that takes in views of a beach and can accommodate lots of family and friends when they visit.

The room you are in now: Office come playroom. The room accommodates my laptop, kids computer, scrapbook table, wonderfully large custom built-ins, lounge, tele, PS2, games, toys. And is always messy or well utilised! LOL!

Your fear: Silly fears or really truthfully emotional fears???

Where you want to be in 10 yrs: Happier within myself, living somewhere by the water, watching my children become happy and contented young adults

Who you hung out with last night: The usual crowd – the husband, kids and the two pets

You're not: Un-organised, able to stop buying handbags, getting enough scrapbooking done :)

Wish list item: 30 kilo’s lighter, taller, able to play sport without feeling absolutely wrecked during the game!

Last thing you did: Flicked the switch on the jug for another cup of coffee as I am not at the Field’s, hence don’t have Bill or Ro to make me a latte or cappuccino!

What are you wearing: PJ’s! Well I am on holidays…….red t-shirt (Surprised!!) and green stripy PJ pants! Fashion conscientious? Certainly not in the mornings!

Favorite weather: Winter – where I feel like cooking, sewing and staying inside a warm house. But also love the weather all year round, just not when it is really really hot. Don’t like perspiration, it’s not very lady like!

Favorite book: Haven’t really got a favorite but love reading all sorts of material. Even got desperate to read something whilst traveling to Broken Hill one time so I read the car manual! “Yikes”. I said I was desperate!

Last thing you ate: Tea last night! Gourmet Hamburgers…….this sounds so much nicer than homemade burgers! LOL!

Your life: Real and challenging

Your mood: Depends on who you ask

Your best friend: My daughter and yes of course my Husband

What are you thinking about right now: That I should be getting the children breakfast, getting dressed and starting the day and perhaps I should have gone for a walk instead of answering these questions

Your car: Silver Ford Territory with LTC00K number plates. Just love it and at least it is easy to find in the parking area when I pay attention to the number plates of course! LOL!

What are you are doing at this moment: Typing the answers to these questions as quickly as I can and then about to go and get breakfast and get dressed – but realistically “probably not – I just keep on cruising around the SOF site”. Oopps shouldn’t have typed that just in case the hubby reads it

Relationship status: Married nearly 15 years on 27 Feb with two beautiful amazing children, Matthew who is now 13 and Amy-Jane who will be the big 1 0 in Feb

What's on TV: Tele isn’t on as yet as the DS is still in bed, but give it time

Last time you laughed: Probably about a few minutes ago when I re-read my answers to these questions. Gosh what goes on in my head? LOL!

Get in Bazil!

This morning Dad got organised to go out to the farm and check on things. But firstly he had get Bazil dry and remove some of the mud from him before he got into the car.

I said to Dad that I had old sheets that he could use in the back of the car for Bazil. My father smiled at me and said that Bazil sits in the front with him. Can you imagine what I was picturing.... Dad's lost it....mmmm...Bazil sitting in the front seat with his seat belt on. Heaven help me!

So my father clarified my images and said that Bazil sits on the front seat floor and puts his head on the seat and falls off to sleep. He even actually snores! What goes on there? Dad said he just loves travelling in the car. Funny!

Oh well! We are all crazy in this family and I suppose that doesn't exclude pets. LOL! And it does look a big cute.

Rain, Dogs and Dirt!

Yes I must say that all these just don't go together.

This afternoon Dad came over from Bathurst for a visit and brought over Bazil (my little sisters dog). Well she isn't little she turned 27 on Thursday, which made me have a mini mid life crisis as that means I am nearing 40. Tears are whelling up so I will move back onto the story, anyway.


It has been raining all day today which is just fantastic for our town and our front yard that we had modified last Saturday, but not nice when you have now three dogs in the back yard.

Since Huskies aren't territorial there wasn't any problems at all with Bazil the Lab, getting along with Cash and Gypsy. Cash and Bazil just spent most of the time running around the yard together. It was pretty funny watching them with Gypsy occasionally joining in until they got a bit ruff - well she is a little girl in all!


We have a little area at the back of the house which is being dug up to house the new BBQ area and hot tub. So the dogs thought with it raining in all it was a great place to play.


I will be far to embarrassing to take both my dogs to the dog wash! Cash wasn't to bad but Gypsy - Oh My Goodness! Bazil just ended up being a little brown added to his black coat.


Bazil is also know for his gardening prowess at my fathers home so I was a little worried but to all our surprise he only re potted one plant and ate Cash's plastic squeaky chicken. Quiet impressed!

Co-ordination a Must!

That's right who cares! That's that attitude I think most kids have whilst on holidays. And I am meaning it in a positive way.

I just love that Amy-Jane doesn't matter about getting dress when she feels the need to go outside and jump on the trampoline. But it does matter to her that she co-ordinates the attire with pink fluffy slippers.

Gee whiz! Where does she get that from I hear my family and friends saying. LOL! It's important to yourself that you wear things that co-ordinate.

Anyway she enjoyed what she was doing in her backyard! But I just love the slippers and truth be know that I couldn't get a pair in my size! Maybe this winter I will be able to find some.

Drum Roll Please!

After 5 years of wanting to make a cookbook with friends to include their most favourite tried and true receipes it has finally happened. Only from a bout of inspiration/motivation from Ro who got tied of waiting for, Yes Me, to get it all together. So she did her own thing.

So whilst visiting the Field family I ducked into Nowra and brought a spiral bound note book and went back to Ro's and printed the receipes. No time like the present I thought. O.K. receipes printed now all to do was to make it pretty. You know like Ro's gorgeous work! Same same!

Well this week it happened I wasn't going to proscrinate any longer. The book is now prettied up and ready to use. The photo doesn't do it justice and it didn't turn out the same same as Aunty Ro's. LOL! Obviously not as talented and creative as my good friend is. LOL!

Anyway it's done! Now to place it in the cupboard with all the other receipe books and not use it!

Opps! Not meant to mention that!

One Giant Step

This morning I woke up and thought that I was tired of procrasinating, especially whilst on holidays.

So I wrote myself a list of things to achieve this week (don't want to be gun-ho about it). First thing to do was to have a look through some handbag patterns for a friend and take a couple of photos of handbags that I have which could be modified for use as a camera/handbag type of thing.

After taking the photos I thought that some of my collection was getting a little old and hence needed a cull. Yes, me reducing the number of handbags that I own. I know what goes on there? Wonders never cease!

So know I have these handbags (the culled ones) sitting in brown bags at the front door ready to be given to charity. I just have to make sure that I get these out of the house very shortly before I decide it was the wrong thing to do.

And all I have left is what is pictured below. I am very proud of myself for letting go. Mind you I won't ever get rid of any of my beautiful Spencer Rutherford bags.

Stormy Weather

Yesterday after Troy and I levelled our front yard, he decided to put some fertisiler and grass seed down. Well after praying that we might get a storm in the evening, we certainly got one!

It came down the poor dogs hadn't seen so much water come down from the sky for a while. Poor Gypsy doesn't like thunder and lightening so she was making herself a menance at the back sliding screen door.

So we decided to let the dogs inside until most of the storm pasted. As soon as Gypsy came in she sat down quitely in the family room. The poor thing she was that scared that the pupils in her eyes where that large and black it was a little upsetting. She calmed down and went off to sleep with Cash in the cool of the air conditioning.

It's a dogs life!

Cash

Gypsy

One thing lead to another!

Well it's the same old story (well for me it is!)..... I mowed the front lawn and whilst doing this I suddenly had a wonderful thought, why not pull out a garden in the front yard which I particular haven't liked for a long time, TODAY! And the next thing you know we have ended up leveling the front yard with still with a bit of work to do.

What else do you do on a day which is 35 degrees!

So now Troy went and got a bobcat and tipper truck (the lurks of the being in the earthmoving game) and just waited for the nod from me to keep on removing shrubs, garden beds and grass and an underground watering system. Oh well, living in Goulburn you won't be allowed to use these systems ever again!

He didn't do to bad job for someone who really doesn't know how to drive one of these things. He only went through the fence twice!

So what's now left to do? Organise next Saturday a double driveway to be put in. One thing down. Next to decide on which shrubs to replace the ones we pulled out! Crazy isn't it. We took a family trip to the two nurseries in Goulburn which was an exciting event. Kids were cranky and bored to tears, husband and wife weren't really seeing eye to eye in each choice of plants.

Troy wants Kangaroo Paw and some sort of Grevilla and I would like Peony Roses and Lavendar. But before we plant I would like the house rendered! There I go again.... one thing leading to another. Lord help us!

Getting the Hang of It......very slowly!

Well yesterday Goulburn has had it's first really hot day. Luckily for Matthew he had a sleep over at a friends house whom has a pool. Lucky Ducky!

So AJ was quite put out with this and good old loving Mother promised to take her to the public swimming pool straight after I finished some bookwork for church.

Yeap! I came through with my promise. We ended up spending a couple of hours there and I must say it wasn't to bad. I did end up getting in to cool off but I prefered to sit on the towel and read my book and watch the daughter enjoying herself!

Anyway I decided that the kids got to do what they wanted and I will do the same. So I thought it was a good time to try and do my first real digital layout without any help from my clever friend, Ro. And guess what? The layout only took me about 2 hours. It's nothing flash but I am happy with it.

Digital Supplies Used:

RJF Wallpaper (available from Blue Bazaara)
RJFFlourishes #3 and #2 (available from Blue Bazaara)
RJF Swirly Alpha (available from Blue Bazaara)
Microsoft Type Face
Michelle Coleman – Simple Spring Mini Charm #3 (frebbie from Scrap Girls.com)
Sketch Idea – Susan’s Sketches (www.susansketches.blogspot.com)

Happy New Year!

The Cooks spent new years eve at the Field house. Party, Party, Party! Certainly not. Everyone went to bed at about 11 o'clock. The kids had more staying power than the adults.

Troy actually went to bed at about 10 o'clock for apparently 15 minutes but he didn't wake up. So we all thought we would leave him.

Besides the New Year comes whether you are awake or asleep, right!

So as true aussie spirit we spent New Year's day at the beach. AJ and Matthew thought that they would have a go at surfing. Not bad for beginners. I had a go at it, now that was a laugh! And what a sight! Green peace would have thought that a whale out in the waters at Callala Beach! I did manage to keep my sunglasses on at all times......very stylish!

Steady, steady, up, up.......

.........and away! Splash!

Yeap! I can do this as long as there aren't any waves!

Notice there aren't any published pictures of me surfing. See I was just to good! Well at least in my mind anyway! LOL!

My bronzed Aussie!

AJ's impression of a beach crocodile!