The most beautiful city in the world

We had the best time being tourists in our own city. We wandered the city streets and botanical gardens and finished it off with obento's in Hyde Park.

10 years!

I know this is really late in coming ...especially if you already saw these on facebook.
I really do mean to keep up with this blog. I have so many thots going through this head of mine ;P studying has been taking my time. I'm hoping to finish this certificate by the end of the year so I can concentrate on my business, the kids more and doing lunch!

life goes on

Well, I think it's about time I post. I'm not sure what's holding me back, sometimes I wish I could just spill it and let the chips fall where they may...sigh.
The kids are in the midst of school holidays and so far it's going well. We've been out to do a number of holiday activities including a hike in a nearby reserve as well as just relaxing at home. Jay is turning 6 today!

Which makes it 3 years since we've been back from Africa. What a distant memory and so much has happened since then. We had another baby (Hayden), moved house 4 times (ugh) Shane started his career in photography and me...hmmm, gained and lost 30kgs (when pregnant) and concentrating on giving the kids a good childhood, reminding myself that they only have one, and I am possibly a step closer to finding something I want to study to eventually get a job that finds a good work/kids/life balance. Firstly it was a carer, then because I really enjoy interior design I thought I'd dabble in that and now I've found a number of jobs near home in Business administration that only require part time in school hours. So I'm enrolling in a year long Business Administration course to prepare me for a good chance a good paying job like that, that enables me to still be with my kids before and after school yet still contribute to our growing income needs.We'll see how we go with that.  

Sucess and fails

Oh my Lord, I start up this blog again...then abandon it. I am inspired to carry on by other blogs out there that I constantly check (check my side bar for updates). Well, lots has happened since starting school this year.
I enrolled for a Interior decorating course in a college only to get an email a few weeks later saying the course had been canceled. While searching for another course I'm trying to get to the Library during Haydn's nap time to research and read books. That's not really panning out either and I've only actually been able to do it a handful of times. Too many things can go wrong.
I joined a gym and go 3 times a week. Here's hoping I can age gracefully and be fit doing it!
I turned 31 and went dancing with my sisters, had cocktails at home, and a large cake with my whole extended family and thought waaay to much about my life and where it's all going.

I'm looking for part time work as a personal carer. I wanted to get a few hours in about 3-4 days a week during school hours so it won't effect the kids and I'll find a preschool for Haydn. Not sure yet how it will pan out but just wanted to get some experience and beef up our income a little.

The boys are still settling into new school. Alan is finding the work a bit hard to keep up. He could really use your prayers. He's the kind of kids that you really can't put in a box. He's brilliant in his own way but I'm just praying he can settle and not feel so much pressure.
Ok, more later. I have heaps of pix to upload and will get to that shortly. 

Officially back online!

With Uncle Marcus and Alan with his teacher, Mrs Collins

Marcus, Chris and I. During Marcus visit in May.

Yay! I'm back! There have been moments that I thot and still do think of letting this blog go now that FB is meeting many needs but anyway, here I am and will try to catch you all up.

If you're not in Sydney you won't know that we are freezing! The only way to keep warm is doing house work and my daily walk to school and back. We have had glorious sunshine despite the cold but I hear we'll pay for the lack of rain when the warmer months comes...nobody wants to re live the tragedy of the bush fires in Victoria last summer.
We're currently in school holidays and Shane has had a week off work so we drove down the coast to stay with Steve and Teri for the night in Berry. Had some laughs and bush walks. The boys were in paradise. We really must one day "go bush" and get some chickens and goats. There's just something wonderful about fresh air and nature.
I have some great pix but must get the right program installed to downsize them to upload.

Catch up

Well, here I am. This week I've felt a bit like I'm chasing my tail. I sign up as an Avon rep a few weeks ago and recently took on a territory. It isn't much money to speak of but I'm happy for the training and was assured I didn't have to do an order every month. It seems like it will be pretty casual, I have my moments when I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew but we'll see how it goes. Last night my team leader, the lovely Christina, came over and hosted an Avon party. A few girls showed but we ended up having a great time!

Autumn has given us some beautiful days, just sparkling. The kind that make you feel that all is well with the world.
Me and poochie have been having good quality time together while the big boys are in school, I try not to get carried away with daily jobs and endless cleaning projects that could get done. He loves his books and sitting at his little table to colour. I was referred to a sorta playgroup at our little neighbourhood centre. It's more of a time-out for moms and actually called "Time out". Moms can drop their babies and kids for just 5 bux with qualified Childcare workers in a huge hall with toys and stuff while mums go to an adjacent room for up to 2 1/2 hours for a coffee and some arts and crafts or just catch up on some reading and emails....it's terrific! Heidi and I are going together. Not only is it a nice break for me and good for Haydn to play in a group setting but I NEVER get to pull out my scarpbooking stuff. Yay!

I went to school the other day early to catch Alan receiving his excellence award. 1 more to earn for a Principles distinction! He was beaming.

I've been getting some good driving in recently and feel so much more comfortable behind the wheel. Thanks to Lynn who took me for a good couple hours the other day to do her pick ups and shopping. 100 more hours to go!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Justin and Linda coming in May! You guys are gonna love it and will be sure to get a well deserved break and lotsa love and support! It will be terrific having more cousins around too!

Gotta be in it to win it

Recently I've been entering any and all competitions that take my fancy. Usually the free ones I take advantage of. I'm trying to prove myself wrong that "I never win anything". Actually, I've entered so many in the last month or so I've lost track but I suppose they'll contact me when I win.
I've entered and not won a trip to Japan; a Jayco RV (that I really wanted!); Rihanna concert tickets; a Fiji holiday and pending are tickets to see the Andre Reiu concert which is suppose to be a spectacular extravaganza! I also entered to go to The wiggles concert and a few raffle tickets that were for a good cause with decent prizes.

Today I bought some through Alan's school. The first prize was a week holiday to the Gold Coast and vouchers to the amusements parks (Something I've been wanting to do with the whole family sometime next year anyway.) and second and third prizes weren't too bad either. I've been dissapointed many times but I'm really praying for something to come through. It would be just an extra special touch of the Lord's love. Even though I prayed for it I try not to make a big deal about praying for these kinds of things with the boys. I don't know, I just wouldn't want them to be dissapointed with the Lord and wonder why he didn't answer our prayers. Sometimes I wonder too but have the maturity to undertand that the Lord does know best and to count our blessings anyway.
Fingers crossed I'll get lucky! Anyway, gotta be in it to win it and I'm in it!

The day did not start off crash hot...at about 4:30 a.m! Haydn at nearly one year still does not sleep through the night and had me and Shane up. It's beyond me having spent years before I had my own kids perfecting baby schedules so that they eat, sleep and poop in a routine but haven't had the same success with my own children at least as far as the sleeping goes! What's up with that?!
It frustrates me because then I don't have the energy to accomplish what I need to and want to during the day. It just sucks waking up tired.
I'm close to weaning him hoping it will effect his sleep habits...hmmm, I had wanted him to carry on as long as he wanted to but I'm not sure now. Sisters (and friends)! Advice please!

My day wasn't a total waste, Dad was able to take me out for my second driving lesson and this time we progressed from the car park! This is really huge for me! Shane and I are looking at cars to change over to an automatic having established I'm not ready for the manual we already own.

Alan had his school photo's today and we'll get those in a few weeks. The weather was stinking hot so we took them for a swim after school at Lynn's place. We picked up some veggies from the markets and some beautiful Christmas tracts that we'll start giving out straight away. The malls are already gearing up for it so why not? And that's my day.

Overwhelmed

There has been just way too much to think about these days.

* I've been trying to fit in a weight work out these days to tone up the wobbly bits on top of walking Alan to school and back twice a day.
* Getting driving practice is in the forefront of my mind yet I've gotten less than an hour of practice since getting my learners last month. 119 hours to go! Major drawback is not owning an automatic and having panic attacks in our manual. (Shane says we can get an automatic.)
*Haydn has been cutting his 6th tooth and was fevering for a few days and just wanted to be held and coddled.
* My second little pooh, Jay is a sponge for learning and I wish I could do so much more with him in his last year of preschool. Most days we get to sit down to some concentrated pre school book time, games and activities but there are times bubby takes all my time.
*Almost first thing I have to get the house in order or I cannot think!
* And without my time with the Lord and in the Word I just might lose my mind.
* Homework should be outlawed! Poor Alan has work to do the moment he gets home and guess who has to help him.

My papers need to be sorted, my eyebrows need to be plucked and by the time evening comes I just wanna drop. Needless to say, your prayers won't go astray. I'm reading "Don't sweat the small stuff" and the latest Link with "Positively Positive". Great stuff that gets it all back into perspective!

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