Feeling the love lately. I have my ups and downs. Sometimes it's all smooth sailing and other times it's just plain hard work. DYKWIM??? Anyway here are the girls and I having a read. The photo is blurry but it's us to a 't' of an evening. Lexi with her bottle, me with my jammy pants on, and Mia with a book on my lap too. It's squishy but it's good. Brenton took the photo and usually he takes a good one, not sure what happened here.....  But I like it anyway.

We are having a bit tidy up in our back yard ATM. We had a shade sail put over the pool so Brenton has painted the poles black. Then I came up with a bright idea to paint the pergola/outdoor undercover area black too. So the girls are eating dinner outside this evening while Daddy painted. It's going to look so good when it's all done and things are back where they belong. I also have had my Mum's Mothers' Wicker chairs here for a long time. They have sadly been out in the weather (bad bad bad me) so gave them a good wash and a scrub up earlier and am going to spray paint them glossy black enamel so they fit in with the black scheme. I have some bright Sari cushion covers that I need to get inserts for which will be perfect to cushion the bums that may sit on them. I love a bit of colour in the backyard so black with rainbow colours will be perfect I think. HOT HOT HOT weather is headed our way so today I mulched my veg patch and got some Manganese supplement for the patch too. I have 3 cucumber vines but have only had 1 cucumber so far (DELUXE LAUREN & TATUM!! lol!!) But they seem to be not doing so well. But want more so hoping that that will help. And maybe some more lime too.

Tatum and her clan left today for 2 months. I'm sad about it, but why hang here if you don't need to. If I could leave town for 2 months and not have to stay with either my parents or Brenton's parents,and have some sort of semblance of a normal life, I would do it too. I love all of our parents but there is a time limit. I'll leave it at that. Hope she has a good time.... but it's shit that we won't catch up til Feb next year!! LOL!! 

Feeling good anyway. And looking forward to Christmas.  x

 Cuteness!

 Impromptu family selfie! I actually had makeup on so it was cause for a few pics... Oh and I'd straitened my hair, even more miraculous.

 A LO I started during the week. I love this photo of Mum and Dad with the kids. Ethan was a little heavyweight and Mum was struggling!! So funny trying to get the babies attention! Glad I scrapped this photo and love the memory.

 2nd sewing lesson done and dusted. It is a drawstring bag. I made it with very fine cotton fabric, so next time will be stronger fabric although I think this would be nice to give a pretty present in. 

 And with the ribbon drawn... 

And I had a practice at making a block of fabric for quilting. Not hard at all but still was pleased with myself.... Can't wait for later on in the week when I can buy some fabric... 

Christmas tree is up and bubba can't get to it! She isn't too bad, doesn't really want to get in. Mia asked if we will take the playpen away on Christmas Day... Cute girl! If you look under the tree, I sneaky wrapped up 3 presents and put them under.. One for each of my little family. Mia is almost beside herself as to what it could be. I bought $4 toys from Woolies and wrapped the girls up one each! Love being a bit of a tease!! lol!!

Happy Sunday! I'm off to bed soon for a read.

Bit first off for a closer look at Lauren's blog, it looks interesting today! 

 This little chickadee is growing way too fast. It's not fair how the time slips by... She'll be 2 soon. 

 I had to wake up Lexi to go and get Mia from school, but couldn't resist going back for the camera to take this... Check out the bandaid on her knee. She loves bandaids. She will point to a sore and tell me it's sore and I ask if she needs a bandaid, and yep she says bandaid. 

 Proud of my vegie patch. It's cranking, I have some problems with zucchinis and cucumbers stunting but have popped some more lime over them and we will see how we go. The tomatoes are coming along too. Feel so good standing out and watering them of a morning in my pj's with a cuppa in hand. Satisfied.

 A LO for Sue's sketch challenge at E2C. I have scrapped friends lately and thought I might continue with my little trend. It didn't photograph as good as it could have. I was talking on the phone at the time, and had my head on my shoulder to steady the phone to leave my hands free... It is a little blurry. 

I feel so blessed to have met Tatum. She's a beautiful woman, who puts her mind to things and achieves all sorts of personal goals. I know she and her gorgeous family will move one day, and the thought makes me sad, BUT she has left more than a lasting impression on me on all sorts of aspects of my life. You know, the kind of impression that has made me want to improve myself. And also to know that I can do whatever I want. xxx

 Daddy pile on! It's love right there! 

 I have started an on-line sewing class. Well yesterday I started even though it actually started in August and is done and dusted. But all the tutes are still up til August next year so I have plenty of time. Finally got my dinosaur machine sewing properly (it was the bobbin upside down, thanks Tatum!) And so I started the 1st class, which was to make double sided napkins. I have a lot to learn, and my fingers will get used to pinning and sewing and all the jazz, but really happy for my first proper sewing attempt in about 17 years or so! I particularly love this little corner

 . It looks perfect almost!

And the finished napkins. Mia was very impressed with her Mum's sewing so I'm happy with that! LOL! 

xx

 Lexi enjoying a baby cino on Wednesday after a trip to the Op Shop with a friend and her son. See the little lion? He was too cute not to adopt. It's $2 a bag until they close for a month on the 19th Dec. So for $2 I got 3 pairs of jeans in great nick, (1 pair Witchery) a just jeans top, pair of shoes for Mia (again, too good to leave there) some for my nephew, 3 baby name books for the friend that I went with who is pregnant (I look at books and she looks at kids clothes) Also got a baby record book for another friend who is just about due and two ultra cute tops for Lexi that my friend picked out for her. Everything was in perfect condition. And then I also picked up a hair straightener for an extra $2. And it works. And I can do my own hair... So will be making myself a bit more presentable a bit more often, it was too easy to use! 

 Mia is soooo sick atm. This photo was yesterday while Mia had a high temp... I went to Woolies and when I came back I found her on this rug, with her 38.5 temp laying in the full blown sun... I had to make her move which she wasn't happy about, if you look at her face. And Lexi is pretending to snore. Now that's cute. 

I can't remember Mia being this unwell. She was pretty unwell in Lincoln when we were there. But she is really not much chop atm. So took her to the Dr today. I love Dr Lovell at the clinic at the hospital. He was so good with Mia, asking her permission to look in her ears and down her throat. She has pharyngitis which basically means an infection (viral) behind the tonsils. So no antibiotics for her and it will take her 4-5 days to get over it. He quickly checked me over and said she would have got it from me, as it looks like I am on the tail end of it. No wonder I felt crap. Today is the only day since Tues that I have been able to stay on my feet all day. Anyway, Dr Lovell and I started talking about a few other things, what an easy Dr to talk to!! I could have stayed there for a cuppa and a real ol chin wag! But Mia was getting impatient!! lol! 

 New pj's for this little monkey... 

Mia went to her 1st Blue Light Disco on Fri night before she dropped. So cute!! I picked her little friend up and dropped them both down at the Auditorium and picked them back up and hour and a half later. They had a ball!! So good for Mia. She kept saying 'this is my first time going out with out you Mum!!' My little girl is getting more and more confident! 

 My LO for Amanda's Art Challenge at E2C. I had a fair bit of fun doing this one. I love doing little doodled borders. It'll be up on the blog Wednesday. After the registrations tommorow!! I think I get it now! 

 

Had a great day today in the garden this morning, and decided to pick these little babies because once the flowers drop, so does the zucchini. They just wither and die. So thought I would rather have yum little zucs instead of none. And turned them into a lovely pasta tonight which I have linked on Facebook. It was yum with parmesan and lots of fresh black pepper. I loved the flavours...

Thanks for popping in... x

Lest we forget. 

And another thing for this day of the year. It has been one year today since Lexi had her catheter and balloon procedure at the Women's and Childrens Hospital. A year has flown by quickly and we are so happy with her progress. It seems that surgery is off her radar now and that is a fabulous thing. She is a little thing, some people can't believe she is nearly two but it's nice to have a little shorty as well as our tall Mia. 

We love you Lexi. You are so cheeky. 

I have been feeling ill today, sore throat, sore neck, sore muscles and today Lexi and I have been having lots of cuddles as I have not done a thing. She has loved the unreal amount  of cuddles and apart from feeling so crap, it has been a good way to spend the day with her considering this day last year we were very stressed.

Mia is due home any minute, one of my friends is bringing her home for me, so it will be icypoles and maybe some popcorn and hopefully more cuddles with them both. Mia was so helpful this morning, she could see that I was struggling and gave me so much help and a few beautiful spontaneous cuddles when I had a couple of tears. A gorgeous girl. And takeaway for dinner I think. Or poached eggs on toast.

xx

This LO was removed for you know what!!! Yippee!! 

My LO from last night, had so much fun. I really do love scrapping. Alot of times I think, 'can't
be bothered, exhausted from the kids and the early evening routine' I really should just sit and scrap. It makes me feel so good. I love this photo of my girlfriends and I. We were all inseperable for quite a few years there. Life moves on of course, but I love them all so much for their different qualities and the memories I hold dear. I know that when we ever get together it is always just the same. This photo is pretty old too, would have had it printed at the time. It used to be b&w. Not any more, and it adds to the charm. (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)

Look at this gorgeous little face. Those eyes! But not the scabs... naughty gertie. I love you so much Mia and appreciate your help and I promise to remember that you are only 6 years old, ok??? You are loving cuddles at the moment, I think you wish you could fit on my lap like Lexi does, but you are way too gangly for that. You love cuddles with just me and you. You are very gracious (most of the time) when Lexi screams for whatever it may be that you have that she wants, which is almost everything you touch. I'm proud of you!

I got new Ikea bookshelves last week and am in love. My spare room looked like a book junk shop in the meantime but we are getting back to normal... we put all the special kids books away last evening, and Mia was quite excited at the thought that she could read a book or two to Lexi! Very cute! 

And ratbags jumping on my bed this morning. I said to Mia she has her own bed to jump on but she informed me that ours is the bounciest....Oh well, at least they are having fun! 

Pretty excited about this.

I have booked hubby in and informed him that we will be going to Lincoln for it. And he is more than cool with it. We will have a busy start to the year. A wedding in Jan, and another in March, the retreat in April, and other things I have forgotten already.

And for dinner tonight this.

Brenton will more than likely screw his nose up, but seriously don't care. Eat it baby, is what I will say. Or start cooking a few meals a week aswell... I want to cook more food that inspires me. Will take photos. Sadly there will be no coriander as Woolies had a quality issue with the coriander today. POO POO! I love coriander.

Better go and get Mia from school, think there may be some swimming around here this afty. Finally feeling almost back to normal... I've been feeling a bit shit lately...

Oh and has anyone read this??? 

I have started reading it and am thinking it will be good for me! Lists here I come!

Let me know!!

Well well well... 

Where have I been? I've been floundering around with a big black dog, but seem to have lost him so feel a bit better now!!

I have read the Twilight series in the meantime though. I started on the Sun morning of the retreat. Not so sick that I had to be in bed ALL day but sick enough to just sit on my bum and read...and then go back to bed when reading tired me out! (thank goodness Mum & Dad just let me be) And got hooked right in! I am almost at the end of Breaking Dawn, but am finding the end a bit slow... The Volturi are almost there for the confrontation, and I am itching for action... Bring it on!! So maybe I will finish it tonight... 


(The above was Thursday night, now it is Friday) 
The end of Breaking Dawn was good, feeling a little sad that my Twilight reading journey is over though. To make me feel better I pre-ordered Eclipse from Ezy-Dvd today. I also ordered True Blood season 1. Was going to order Seas 2 as well but thought I might see if I actually like the series first before I get more.. I suppose I could get the episodes from the net, but I seriously have no idea how to go about doing that, I would have to go round to the Woody household for lessons from Woody and really still don't know if the info would take in my brain! And besides all of that I love it when the postal lady comes along with parcels for me... I will wrap it up and put it under the Christmas tree for me from the girls. I do that every year. Then I get to buy myself a few things guilt free... not that I ever feel guilty anyway!!

Have a lot of things on my mind atm. I am going to start looking for some work in the New Year which I am fine about... It will be on the part time basis... I just do not want to be away from my kids for too long. I asked Mia last night if she was glad that I was able to take her to school and pick her back up again... And she said yes, and that proves it all for me... I have seen alot of different kids go to school without either of their parents and it makes me sad. I can see the sadness that they have too...
I am feeling very grateful that I have been able to be home with Mia and Lexi. I am happy that we have been able to afford me to be here. You cannot put a price on all the moments that I have seen. I have the rest of my life to work... I can understand Mum's who feel that they need to work for sanity reasons but I just haven't really felt that. I have been able to cook, paint, craft, grow vegies, teach Mia how to do lots of things since I have not been working. And look forward to doing the same with Lexi.
I went back to work when Mia was 5 months which was a financial decision and Brenton was with her anyway so while it was hard, I knew she was with her Dad and saw her Grandparents alot while I was at work... 
Sometimes I feel like I'm not worth what my working friends are worth. I question myself as to why I don't feel the need to be out there in the workforce. Why don't I have the ambition to be out there? I have felt left out of certain conversations about the mine site simply as I don't know as much as people who work out there do. And sometimes that is hard. I did work for a few months but don't count it so much, as Mia was only in childcare for 3 hours 4 days a week. I still had plenty of fabulous time with her. I have only ever had one friend and she is in Lincoln say to me, I wish I could be at home with my kids like you are but I really need to work for my sanity. So I did feel validated by that as I felt she admired me for being at home, even though she herself didn't feel it was for her. 
I am thinking of further education but what?? I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!! I used to want to be a photographer like my Dad but things have changed since I first had that dream. Digital came along, and it is so much easier for the average person to take adequate photos of their families themselves... And cameras are so much more accessible to the joe blogs out there. I do love it so maybe that is a path. I really don't know what else I would be suited to. I did want to be a social worker/child worker. But I don't think I could honestly deal with child abuse, neglect and so on... I don't think I could cope with the horrible people out there who do horrible things.


Anyone got any ideas?? LOL!!! 
ENOUGH rambling... this is the kind of stuff that goes through my head all the time. (do I need help??)


Here is some photos of my fabulous family life. I hope my kids thank me later for being there. I do love them so! And wouldn't want to have been anywhere else...

Ratbags, esp Lexi, blew raspberries the whole time I tried to take photos of them!

 

 Mushed mango, ice cubes, vodka and bitters lemon and lime. My new drink for Summer, it will be my signature drink! 

 Last nights dinner, Sinapore Noodles. Very yummy and pretty easy. And I had for lunch today and will be eating some for dinner again shortly. I will not waste these noodles!! lol!!

Lexi in Mia's classroom the other night while we were getting ready for Mia's concert night. Will post a couple of photos of Mia dressed up in her Mini Master Chef costume soon!! 


 

 My veggie patch is looking very nice. It has helped that we haven't had much heat yet, so hoping that it is well established by the time the heat does come so they cope. Saw an ad for some stuff to sprinkle around your veg on tele the other day so might go purchase some of that then do a big pea straw mulching around them.. I have been loving watching it all grow. I particularly love my Zucchinis. They grow so quickly... I will be stuffing zucchini flowers before too long. It is a long held dream to do that, and give them a tempura coating. yum! Stay tuned for that one.. It is so nice to know that we are here for Christmas and are able to water and look after our plants ourselves. 

 And some flowers in my Kitchen. The white and orange lillies were for Kylie and I from our friend Brooke but somehow I kept them both, and the ones in the middle were from my friend Danni for taking some photos of her partners children while they were here. I do love fresh flowers... They are special!

See you soon...