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!

Mmmm!!!

As we were driving into Nowra for a look around we stopped at a boat shop and went and had a look at a few boats. You know tyre kicking and dream time for Troy. Anyway long story...... we are in the process of buying a new boat. An Allison something or another, 20 something foot with all the bells and whistles on it.

And as peer pressure has it (not really) the Field's ended up buying a boat as well. So morale of the story don't go shopping with the Cook family as you will be easily influenced!

Mrs and Mr Field and Grace enjoying their first boat ride after all the kids had loaded up for the very first ride in the boat. Smile Aunty Ro!

Boxing Day Activities

Well today we went to Sydney and spent most of the day at Darling Harbour as John gave Troy a flight simulator gift voucher from FLIGHT EXPERIENCE http://www.flightexperience.com.au/. It's apparently the next best thing to flying a commerical airliner.

So in english it is where your husband gets to pretend to fly a Boeing 737. Yep that's it! It's definately a guy thing, but it was interesting to see the whole set up of it.

Troy got to take the controls under the guidance of a real life instructor and actually taxi, take off, navigate and land the simulator. So apparently it is "as real as it gets" to flying.

Both Troy and John had a go at it and really enjoyed it. They both got to fly the notorious Kai Tak approach into Hong Kong airport.

Earlier on in the day we went and had a quick look over the "Endeavour" at the Maritime Museum. The kids loved that. It was really interesting and kids had a lot of fun. We ended up becoming members to the Museum so we would be more likely to come back and have a look inside the Museum and at the other ships.

On the way home we went and had a look at the Sea Cliff road (the road/bridge that goes around cliffs and over the waters edge) near Thiroull. We also went to the Stanwell Park look out and did the usually tourist photos. What a view you have from there!

As we were in the area I thought it would be a nice surprise to see the relatives at Bulli. So we made a surprise visit to find that all the Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles went home earlier in the day and all was left behind to hold the fort was some of the cousins, my brother, my two nephews and my father who has apparently had a big afternoon as was now sleeping! Right - big afternoon of something! LOL.

Anyway another good day had over the christmas/new year holidays.

What did Santa leave?

Well didn't Santa spoil everyone again this year!

AJ dearly wanted an Nintendo DS, a pink one and you guessed it Santa delivered. She also asked for tickets to go and see High School Musical On Ice and there thoses tickets were.

Matthew got a remote controlled Helicopter and some Lego Technics. Thank goodness Santa also left a lot of spare parts for the Helicopter as upon first flight it needed a few need blades. Matthew's flight time is determined by his crashes! Practice, Practice, Practice!

Mummy and Daddy got spoilted also with lots of lovely things.

It was a really relaxing and enjoyable day. Much to Amy-Jane's disliking we had ham sandwiches for christmas lunch and ham sandwiches for christmas tea. It was just great. Relaxing and no fuss!