Yeah, It's My Birthday!

Wooo Hoo!

It's my birthday! Not that I am truly excited about the age I have become today. Major depressing moment!

Fortunately this week I have had the pleasure of seeing my daughter in a truly "angelic light". Yes I do mean that.

Far out! I have asked her quite frequently.... "where is my real daughter? What have you done with her?"

Amy-Jane has been a treasure. Over the weekend, for my birthday she has swept, mopped, cleaned sliding doors, hung washing, taken washing off, folded the washing, put the washing away, amused herself (with of course the claytons daughter in tow - Holly).

Who is this girl? Where did she come from?

Well we didn't get up to much for my birthday, but it was still a great birthday in any case. One thing we did do (girls of course - AJ, Holly and Me) was to go to the movies and see "Bride Wars". Not a bad chick flick!

Anyway, I was grateful to catch up with my father at Taralga for lunch. The first pub their has absolutely great meals in a matter of a flash.

Happy birthday to me!

Our Wedding Anniversary - 16 Years

Well! Who would thought that Troy and I would have made 16 years!

What 16 years we have had. Definately ups and downs. But we have made it this far.

After 16 years of marriage I felt quite comfortable in being asked by the husband "Do you think it would be alright if I go fishing over the weekend of our wedding anniversary and your birthday?"

Who cares! I thought. But realistically, it doesn't matter where he or I am, does it? It is just to know that we are both thinking of each other. Knowning that we have spent all these year together. Truly through good times and absolutely horrible times.

So a weekend away fishing with his mates, is just another weekend that we will truly give thanks for each other and what we have achieved and gotten through. And not to mention what else God has planned for us to overcome.

Well, after 16 years of marriage Troy, I am truly surprised and grateful that we have made it this far. Obviously with more attributing times ahead, especially with teenages growing under our wings.

Happy Anniversary honey!

Don't come back unless you have a bountiful basket of fresh fish!

Where Does the time go??

Well I certainly don't know about that question.

As usual lately I should be either spending time on lesson planning or making sure our beautiful children are tucked safely into bed, spending time with the husband or heaven forbid...spending time enjoying one's self! Yeah, especially to the later - "Whatever!" Ha!

But since November, it has been crazy!

I must admit I have had a few weeks off over the christmas break, spending time down at our favourite place, Callala Bay. Especially with Bill and Ro and the girls.

But other than that, I truly feel like I just haven't stopped. Then work started up.

Oh my goodness! God where are??? What have you planned for me and my family for 2009??

Well I must admit, it has been such a hectic challenge. To start 2009 off, my little man (really big boy, Year 10 now) broke his leg motor bike riding.

Yep, I was the mother who sent him off relucantly, to spend the day riding his motorbike. You know "mother knows best" - well I thought so, just to get him out of the house over the school holidays. So hopefully he will get is cast off on the 16th March.

Let's put that one down to growing into experience for him and as well as being extremely thankful at what God has challenge us with. God Bless!

I have taken so many wonderful photo's (in my eyes, and that's all that matters). And I would love to have the time to post them up. Perhaps if I schedule it into my diary, I can do this. You know, committing something to pen and paper as this usually results in it being completed. She who teaches "Organising Personal and Work Priorities"!

What a scenario!!!! LOL! Major!

Me, work! Oh well, challenge number 2. Crazy, hectic, absolutely unpredicatable, stressful, overcommitted, challenge of time management skills, pull out the bag of goodies. I just dont' know how else to put it.

As most of us know, there just isn't enough time in the 24 hour cycle to fit all of this in. Oh, well, one good outcome is that I have lost some weight.

Unfortunately, trying to fit work (or should I say, what work I get offered as a part time TAFE teacher) into the equation has meant that Troy has to be Mr Mum on a few days a week (OK more than a few days, but who's counting Troy!). Something I am torn between calling it quits and being a stay at home Mum or perhaps even changing careers! I, like heaps of other working mums, think this way quite often. But also on one hand I am truly grateful that Troy has to take this role without any hesitation, but on the other hand, I am the wife and mother and should do all the mummy duties. Arrgh! Life in the twenty first century!

Oh well, we are struggling through this, and basically, children and adults are fed (quite well, most times), clothes are washed and ironed (even thought it maybe 6 in the morning for this), commitments are being met, weekends are sooooooo mega valuable.

Welcome to everyone's world!

So is life!

Really would you have it any other way??????

Perhaps a little bit less challenging!

Definately, as well as a few extra hours in the day i.e. another 12, but not accounting for rest time. What! Rest time! Who invented that? Obviously some crazy person!

Life, it is something that is truly a valuable commodity not matter what goes on!

My Daughter

I am sitting here at the Ibis, Wollongong on a Thursday evening. Working on some eLearning Mentor Network project material that I am involved with. I produced a quiz on "Administering Projects".

I couldn't remember where I saved the file so I did a quick search on the laptop and found a file that AJ did. She is on school camp this week and I have missed her dearly. I know some Mothers will think what a luxury, having your daughter away for the week. But me, as much as I argue with her until I loose the plot and she drives me up the wall. I really do miss her. She is like a best friend to me, my right hand little person. LOL!

Anyway, I found a file that she did and I opened it. How gorgeous! The file's name is "aj stay out". Oh well that is just the invitation I need, isn't it?????? So as all good mothers do, I opened the file and found the following:

My mum

L ove
E xtreme
I ntelligent
S lim
A lert

My mum is a hero, if I am sick she is there for me all the time. She also picks up after me. She is the greatest mum ever.

How beautiful that is. She know's that I love red and boy did she get the slim wrong. LOL! But everything else is pretty much on the mark. I think I will question the extreme though!

AJ I love you so much and miss you whilst you are on camp, but I do understand that you are probably having the time of your little life on camp. And I hope that you have enjoyed your time away at camp and come home safely to your family. I must admit that I do wish your school allowed you to take mobile phones as I would have loved just to say good night and make sure that you are wearing sunscreen during the day and have put on mossie replenant as well as bushing your teeth.

Remember I always love you, no matter what, sweetie.

Two posts in a row!

Wow! How's that.

Two (really three including this one) in a row. I must be getting my life back. LOL!

Anyway I just thought I should make a special mention of this.

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary

Happy 40th wedding anniversary Wayne and Merle (my in-laws).

Wow! Forty years of marriage. This now days is a major feat in itself.

To be married to the same person for this long. And you know what they are still in love. Yes they have their fair share of "issues", but we know deep down that they do love each other very much.

Merle said to Wayne today, "Wayne I can give you one of two presents, your choice" "The first is a divorce and the second is your own room". This was all said in a loving tone of course as apparently one member of this couple has had quite enough of the snoring.

You would think after all these years, one would be used to it and just totally ingnore it by now. LOL!

Hope you both had an enjoyable day with each other.

Happy anniversary!

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth! Just hanging in there!

Goodness me! Last post in September. And it's now 10th November.

Where has the time gone??

Far out has life been busy and getting to up date the blog has just been far to hard. But not today.

DarDar!

An update. Well a summary of what has been happening in the past few months.

Well, where to start!!!!!

On the October long weekend the four of us went back to Cobar to help out with the Cobar Rotary Bash. The Cobar Rotary club organises a bash every October long weekend and Troy has always been involved. So this year we all went along.

I must admit I wasn't looking forward to the long distance of travelling. Thank goodness I just love sleeping in the car. Anyway, we started of in Cobar then head to Nymagee for lunch. Then we travelled onto Ivanhoe for the evening. I won't mention that whilst my turn behind the wheel I took the wrong turn. But we still ended up at Ivanhoe all the same.

From Ivanhoe we travelled up to Mungo National Park. Wow! Is that a place you should go to. The changes in the landscape and colour of the earth are amazing. My photo's don't do it justice. From Mungo we travelled up to Pooncarrie for an ice cream then onto "Bindara Station" which is on the Darling river. Bill and Barb Arnold were wonderful hosts. It was such a beautiful place to stay in the middle of now where.

From Bindara Station we travelled onto to Menindee where we stayed for Sunday evening. Mainly for the men folk to watch the grand final of the league. Whilst our stay at Menindee we took a little boat trip on the "River Lady" tours (2 hours) around the Menindee lakes. Yeap! I have lots of photos of bird, dead trees, birds and more dead trees. Nic thank goodness for the inboat service.

On Monday morning we headed off to Tilpa for lunch then started on the journey back to Cobar. It was a big trip with lots of travel, but the kids had a ball. Matthew and Amy-Jane even got to have a drive. Ever since then they both offer to drive. LOL!

During the October School holidays we did the usually of visiting the Field family for a few days. It was great to come straight from the outback to the coast in a matter of the week. I do know what I prefer!

Also in October Troy's newphew Aidan was baptism at "Saviour's Catherdal" here in Goulburn. That is such a beautiful place to visit. Aidan had a great time and wasn't grumpy at all during the service in fact I think he really enjoyed it.

Other than that it has been work, work, work. It is starting to slow down, thank goodness. I am working hard at making sure that I have all my rollbooks, lessons and marks organised so I don't have that big rush at the end of the last week of TAFE.

Mmmmm! Well just see.

Anyway here are some of my favourite photos from the past two months.

One the way to Ivanhoe for the first night.

The main railway track on the way to Ivanhoe

I actually by luck managed to capture this photo.

The boy having his driving turn. He was very nervous but also excited.

On the way to Bindara Station we came across a Station's mail box.

At Bindara Station, the station dog "Kanga" loves climbing trees for attention.

Some of the many trees at the Menindee lakes.

We brought a canvas which was painted by one of the Cobar Public School students.

Still haven't hung it up anywhere as yet.

This is what travellers see before they first enter the township of Cobar.

See just like the canvas we brought!

Amy-Jane and Holly being crafty with their bikes.

Amy-Jane on the swing near the boat ramp at Callala Bay.

My brother in law "Garry" with his son "Aidan" at Aidan's Baptism.

Isn't he just gorgeous.