Nic Nacs of Our Life

A Pictorial Catch Up: Take two

2009-04-20T23:26:00.000+10:00

Trevor and I got to be grown ups at my beautiful cousin, Megan's wedding. Having not been out to a glamourous "do" for a while, I was conctantly changing my mind about what to wear. I ended up changed out of this top before the reception into something much nicer and more formal, after deciding that I hated this one! Things you do....

The boys have started year 1, and Prue caught the school bus to preschool for the first time. poor Tommy, the bus driver!

Hamish and Lachlan at their swimming carnival. They came first and second respectively in the 17 metre any stroke, and 17m kick-board. So proud of both, but a little glad that Hamish had a chance to shine. Talking about shining (and bragging!), Lacho came 1st and Hamish came 3rd, for the second year running, in their school cross country!

Gold coast holiday, January 09. White water worls, lots of fun!

A Pictorial Catchup, or, The Lazy Blogger

2009-04-20T23:14:00.000+10:00

Well don't you hate it when blogger only uploads half of your photos?? Anyway, in light of the slight gap in recent posts, here is a few (now a very few) photos of what has been happening.
Above, 6/4/09, Prue turned 4. Very proud of herself.

And any four year old will tell you that all you need to "go and find Dad and work with him" is your Dora bike, a green tutu and some pink fairy wings, a vegemite sandwic and black knee high biker chick boots. Of course!

The kids on the roof of Parliamnet House, Canberra. Hamish looks very happy!

The grass slope out front proved much more fun, entertained them for an hour or so. Rolling, jumping, cross country training. Lucky they didn't get asked to leave. Typical bush bunnies!

Christmas........, or Am I Ready?

2008-12-21T17:06:00.002+11:00

Well it has been a while, Christmas is hurtling closer and I still haven't done Christmas cards. Bummer. I am actually starting to lose motivation given that it has occurred to me that they may not reach their destination by Wednesday if I post them Monday, and as for those overseas gifts and cards, well......

Never the less we are looking forward to Christmas, which will be a little different this year. We always visit mine or Trevor's family alternate years. Obviously I love going home to Armidale. My dad is one of 5 brothers, my grandmother is still alive, and most, if not all of the family always congregate together.It used to be at my grandmother's house but now rotates amongst the houses of the Armidale members. It is predictable, comforting, tradition blended with a little something new (newer every year), with a plethora of cousins, and now, the great grandchildren, of which there are already 6. Trevor's family on the other hand tend to have a smaller Christmas. They are a little less likely to spend Christmas all together, there is less tradition, more chance of tension, but just as much fun, and with 6 siblings and 13 grandchildren, it still proves to be quite a large gathering. This year, Trevor has actually decided that he doesn't feel like exchanging Christmas cheer with his family (a little too much tension, a little bit too little fun), so we are spending it for the first time ever with friends (our "non blood-tied" family), and we can't wait. I do have some feelings of regret that we aren't doing the family thing, or is it just anxiety at breaking with tradition and going against the flow? Regardless, we will wake up in our own home, open presents, and have a light brunch. Yep, I said brunch! I am thinking of some sort of Turkey Salad, any ideas? I have a turkey breast to cook the day before, must defrost it soon. We will then head to Dubbo a bit after midday join with all of our friends. There will be swimming, and kids close in age, and good wine and great company. I can't wait, have I said that before? So as we do something a little different this year, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, however you are all spending it! I hope that everyone is with someone that they love, and who loves them.

A new banner, by the very talented Neek.

2008-11-30T21:24:00.002+11:00

Well we have had a very busy week, what with dance concerts and what not (that for another post), but today we had a lovely day at home. Monique and the kids came out, and Monique generously took around 300 photos of my kids. those same kids who refused to stand still. If you click through about 20 of the photos very quickly, you actually get a movie of Prue "tap dancing" on the ramp at the front gate. Thank you for you patience Neek.
Anyway, we had a lovely day, the kids all played well and had a ball, and I have some beautiful photos of my kids, that I could just not produce on my own. Monique has given a little sneak preview by making this lovely banner for me! A pity I couldn't line it up properly, I am sure I could if I fiddled, maybe that is a job for tomorrow! Anyway, thank you Monique. I love the photos, and we all had a nice day!

For Months.....we have been growing out this child's fringe...

2008-11-14T15:32:00.001+11:00

yet today the little madam found time, I am not sure when as she has been following me around all day, to cut it! Strangely, not the disaster it could have been I suppose, she just gave herself a short, vaguely neat fringe, as opposed to a mohawk or a reverse mullet or something. I think it may actually look worse since I tried to "fix" it.

A funny (slightly embarrassing) story)

2008-10-30T23:42:00.003+11:00

This last week or so has been hectic, no, bedlam! Late nights up baking culminated in a very hectic, long day on Wednesday at the Preschool Market day (well done girls). I raced to town having put the boys on the bus, dropped Prue to the babysitter and parked in front of the town hall (on the sunny side so as to unload all of the cakes). I then stayed there ALL DAY until 4pm. At that stage I was just looking forward to getting Prue and going to Mrs Quarmby's house where the boys were for a sit down and a nice cool drink and a chat before tap dancing.

So I unlocked the car and noticed a lot of black oil in the floor well of the driver's side. hmm, what the? So I couldn't find my mobile and decided to drive quickly, get the kids and go home immediately. As soon as I started the car, lots of REALLY HOT black stuff leaked all over my foot. I parked in the main street to go to the ATM to pay the babysitter and was still in a dilemma when my darling husband hurtles past in his Beverly hillbilly-looking landcruiser ute! Excellent I think. So I flagged him down and he gave me that look that only farmers can give immediately before or during harvest, which meant "don't hassle me, what do you want?" So I REALLY flagged him down!

When he stopped I pointed out the problem area, which elicited a lot of mumbling about there being no oil in this part of the car. Anyway we drove home in convoy, having stood up a few people, raced into the Quarmby's and given Neralie the panicked account, dragged the kids out mid game, with no more oil having leaked since I flaggged Trevor (typical). I had a nervous drive home waiting for the car to explode or the steering to give out! Trevor didn't get to look at the car until 7am this morning when I said "Is my car driveable????". He walked back in as I was eating my Fibre Plus saying "we have a major problem, the car is seriously broken". Strangely his voice didn't have the harried, p-ssed off tone that would normally go with those words. So I turned around to look at him...and promptly burst out laughing spraying fibre plus and milk all over my darling husband. He was holding a small black bottle of......SHOE POLISH. Apparently, in the heat of the day, the liquid in the bottle of SHOE POLISH had expanded and leaked everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, shoe polish! Imagine if I had taken it to one of the local mechanics and said "excuse me but my car is broken"!!!!!

I love them because.....

2008-10-08T22:05:00.001+11:00

Whether it's playing in the mud, or choosing to sleep in the same standard single bed, they love each other too!

A quiz!

2008-10-01T20:18:00.003+10:00

This quiz comes courtesy of Leah and have nothing else to blog about!

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE? Sex in the city

.2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? re-reading Love in the Time of Cholera by gabriel garcia marquez, for about the 4th time

3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Trivial Pursuit

4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE? changes a bit

5) FAVOURITE SMELLS? my kids after a bath, rain, my favourite perfumes (dune, samsara, jean paul gaultier classique

. 6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS? the kids talking to each other (nicely)

7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? Fear and anxiety ..and guilt

8 ) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?, why are the kids awake SO EARLY!! and is it a work day (snap Leah!)

9) FAVOURITE FAST FOOD PLACE? Sushi train, yummy noodle

10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? retrospectively, names i couldn't swing trevor to: Kate, Claire, Eve, Alexandra, Sam, Rowan, Angus, Max, Zach

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—’IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D…… go overseas, get a housekeeper and a gardener, bitumen my 4km's of driveway...oh no, i would move to where it rains and there would already be a shit-hot, tree-lined driveway to a luscious garden on a rain soaked farm!
12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST? mmm...why? Who wants to know?

.13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? ha ha, was about to write "does Trevor count?" when I saw that Leah said the same about Time!!!! We are too funny!

14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY? cool, great, mean rain, also exhilarating!

15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? a 1953 Nash standard, a black bubble car with red tartan seats and flip out blinkers, loved it, loved it, all 8 hp of it!

16) FAVOURITE DRINK? diet coke in a can!

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD… paint the lounge room, clean out my wardrobe, I could go on and on (funny, this also is Leah's response and rings true for me! Just informed Trevor that I want to paint the lounge room!)

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?Yes

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? dark dark brown, as always, speaking of which..... And I hate foils too.

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN? Nyngan, Dubbo, Armidale, Newcastle, La Marina De la Palmera, San Jose, Valletta.

21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Rugby union, gymnastics, soccer (with or without my kids playing)
22) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED? ah ha!!!! Nothing but brand new carpet!!!!!!!! How long will that last?

24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN? hmm, tricky one.

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?Night owl definitely

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Sunny side up

27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX? my bed with a good book and a diet coke...or in the pool..with a diet coke! Love pool bars!

28) FAVOURITE PIE? Lemon meringue!

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR? New York rock or sara lee ultra choc. Do they still makie that?? And i love gelato, strachiatelli!

2008-09-13T10:01:00.003+10:00

Today my blog is about blogging. I have now been blogging for about a year and a half, since Monique invited me to hers. I had started a very dodgy one a few years before, but had quickly abandoned it. Partly because it was whiny and pathetic, and partly because I had no loyal readers, and therefore no encouragement to keep on!

Now of course I find myself part of a great little Nyngan (and Nyngan ex-pat) blogging community, and I love it. We all get busy sometimes, and find it hard to post, and sometimes the posts are just about the kids. Sometimes they are entertaining, and sometimes they are written with emotion in times of anger, frustration or sadness, when we need some support from people who we know are out there for us. I have friends not from here who also have blogs and who don't seem as active in their posting. I am sure it is because they have no one requesting an "update please"!

Abigail's Mice and Wildlife stories of this past week, gave us all a chuckle, and got some really good story telling flowing from everyone. It is times like this when we are all obviously enjoying our blogging friends, and the little outlet that we have in our own blogs, that I see the true worth of the blog. I do enjoy the little invitation into all of your lives, and I like you all sharing part of mine, and some of you are very funny ladies with great stories to tell.

Abigail, I think that you need to convince style magazine to give you a regular column, on amusing stories of everyday farm/family life. It could become like that long running women's weekly column, what was is ? The Middleton's? With Ruff red and co! I can see a little money spinner there fore you, with legions of fans in no time waiting to hear the goings on at Merryanbone north!

Things that they say.....

2008-08-09T18:58:00.004+10:00

"The Pope is the boss of all the Murphy's isn't he?"

Lachlan, as he watched the Papal visit with much interest. For those of you not from Nyngan, the local priest is Father Murphy.

"Did you know that the government changed the password and he won't say what the new one is".

Hamish, filling us in on what he learns from ABC news. (One might wonder if this is actually a very good description of the RUDD government in action).

"I'm a good helper aren't I Mummy?"

Prue, just about every second of every flipping day..... arghhh!!!!

Party Time

2008-07-27T21:50:00.001+10:00

The amazing Pirate ship cake so kindly made for the boys by Nurse Nyngan, AKA Sarah.

Thank you Sarah, it was a hit!

Hamish going for it with the pinata! What a a face!

The boys look like they are enjoying their party. All that cake. Guess what's for morning tea this week boys!

Happy 6th Birthday Hamish and Lachlan.

Some Soccer photos!

2008-07-27T21:43:00.000+10:00

Prue and Bridie supporting their brothers and having fun together.

Lacho scored his first goal ever!!! It was also his team's first goal for the season. Well done Lacho!

Hamish loves his soccer, but I think he likes the extracurricular soccer activities more. How sweet is he?

Madam had to copy her brother, and yes, she looks cute.

My Nan's 80th Birthday

2008-07-22T22:44:00.000+10:00

At the end of the school holidays we went up to Armidale. Actually, before you ask, it wasn't too freezing! The kids went ten pin bowling for the first time and loved it. I managed to squeeze in an hour completely on my own to browse the lovely shops (and buy a handbag of course), Trevor bought two working dogs (Huntaways), and we all celebrated the 8oth birthday of my Nan.

Going home always makes me a little homesick, especially when everyone else is back,...... and the shopping is so bloody nice! Lol!

Cutting the cake.

11 out of 12 grandkids, and 6 great grandkids!

Nan and her 5 boys

Noelene "Bub" Wittig

A few pics

2008-07-22T22:19:00.000+10:00

Yep, sometimes they can be angels!

Site Foreman..ahh, Forewoman! Supervising her brothers as they crush the cans.

This must be the look of determination that everyone keeps asking me about.

Hamish finishing the winning leg of the relay race. Check out that blurry smile. Little man.

hmmmm.......

2008-07-02T22:10:00.003+10:00

Well yes, I hear you. Updates. I know.
Needless to say, over the last few weeks there have been quite a few things that I have wanted to blog about, not the least being my wonderful boys and their wonderful sports carnival performances, but I have been busy, busy, busy. I even had one post completely composed in my mind, on one of my many drives between here and Dubbo, and would it surprise you to know that it started with me singing "ever had one of those days?". You know, Elvis Presley, G.I. Blues? "Did you ever, you ever have, you ever have one of those, you ever have one of those days???" Don't forget to sing it, go on, I know that you know it, I know that you want to, I know that it is now stuck in your heads, just like it has been in mine for the last week.

Did I ever say that I am an Elvis Presley fan? Not a mad, velvet painting in the lounge room type, just the ordinary love his voice type. And I happen to think that his recent hit , A Little Less Conversation", is indeed a great song. (And yes I do believe that he recorded it out the back of the fish and chip shop in Hamilton where he is alive and well and working over a hot deep fryer).

Anyway, such was the song that was going through my head one day last week as I contemplated the work, travel, soccer, dancing, oval canteen duty etc, that was my week. Trevor was sowing through this whole time (and still is) and I am meant to be cleaning my VERY messy house in time for guests this weekend. The urge to blog when I was feeling so frazzled simply wasn't there. Iam looking forward to the holidays, when Trevor will be finished sowing, I will only work a couple of days, the kids have nothing on except an ENT review in Orange, and.... we are off to Armidale the second week for my grandmother's 80th birthday. Now, I had best get back to cleaning and deciding what I am going to wear to the Duck Creek Races. Thank you for making me feel missed. Have a great school hols everyone!

Happy Birthday's!

2008-06-13T11:30:00.004+10:00

Happy Birthday Nurse Nyngan!!!

Sarah I hope that you have had a lovely day.

Here is a Cinderella Cake just for you!

Pretty blue...

2008-06-11T08:43:00.003+10:00

ahhh pretty blue.........

Probably still not great on the eyes but I am over it. Ideal for the soccer season as it matches the team uniform, of which there will no doubt be heaps of photos!

B---dy Pyzam

2008-06-10T21:04:00.003+10:00

So glad that I just spent all that time uploading a new template that seems to be a complete strain on the eyes! Oh well, too tired now. Will just leave the bloody thing there for a few days. I knew that I should have picked the blue one. Nothing wrong with sticking with blue. Everyone should have a favourite colour, and blue is mine, much as I would change it.

P.S 38 mls here yesterday. Lovely.

Edited: Ahh, just changed the text colour. How very brilliant of me!!! Will do for a while!

ahh, so proud (and no it is not nepotism!)

2008-06-03T20:35:00.002+10:00

On Saturday the boys played soccer in Trangie. Lacho had a fantastic game and his coach chose him as player of the week!! Yay!

Hamish played the best he has ever played, whether it was the presence of his friend Alex in her first game back inspiring him, or because his Grandpa was watching, or just because it has all come together for him. Who knows, either way he had a brilliant game and came away with the trophy for most improved player of the week. Ahh..so proud!!!

Apart from soccer our week has been hectic. The boys had three birthday parties in five days, I spent two days and a night in Dubbo, and my husband held the fort! We have had dancing and soccer training and soccer and all the usual things, and it just keeps coming. This part time work, added with little boy and little girl activities adds up to a lot of time out of the house. That's okay though, the mice have me bluffed. Am quite happy to leave them to it!!!! For those of you who may be unaware, I have a true mouse phobia, or simple phobia (relating to rodents) as it would be known clinically. Farm living in general challenges my general anxiety levels at the best of times because of mice, let alone during periods of high mouse numbers. Erghhh, I have grossed myself out just typing the word, will stop now. Too awful. Too scary. Too stressful.

Gotta love glue traps though!!!!! Pity they are sold out in all supermarkets in Nyngan and Dubbo, and Brennans, and Bunnings...need I point out that I am obsessing? Bought one of those electronic ultrasonic doovies. Those things that you plug in to scare pests away?? My Dad uses one and I have hankered after one for many years but my husband has ALWAYS laughed at me, particularly when he noticed my Dad's unit had cobwebs over it, and it is meant to scare spiders as well as the mice. Oh well, I am now the proud owner of an ultra sonic doover thing, and he can go jump! I am earning my own money again buster!!!!!

Okay must go now before I bore you to tears. Bye!

Random Thoughts - courtesy of Neek

2008-05-30T23:19:00.003+10:00

{ Random Thoughts }

Okay, Monique started this on her blog, thanks for the tag Monique!

5 things found in my bag:
1. Diary
2. WW Choc Crisp Bar or WW Cereal Bar
3. Digital camera
4. Lipstick
5. Mobile phone

5 favourite things in my craft room:
1. What craft room?

5 things I have always wanted to do:
1. Be crafty (see previous!)
2. Be more organised, less scatty (that's scatty as in scatterbrained not as in fetishist.
3. Go in a hot air balloon
4. Write a novel (even a Mills and Boon would do)
5. Be tidier

5 things I am currently into:
1.My half-hearted 1st and 2nd chapters
2. My kids
3. Getting back into my career
4. Slow cookery
5. Top Chef!

5 people I am tagging:
1. Amie
2. Neralie (email will do)
3. Nicky E
4. Sarah
5. Heather

Tragie Gala Day, yep soccer season!

2008-05-24T17:34:00.001+10:00

This little crew of kids, the Nyngan Mini Dragons, played their hearts out today. With only 9 kids we had one reserve all day, but I think every kid there had a personal best in some way or another, even if it was just making it onto the field or kicking the ball. The team has been steadily losing players and then had 4 away today, so were pretty tired by the end. Lachlan played hard and well all day, particular in defence. Hamish, even after a week of asthma and flu and not quite 100% yet, contributed several great plays and played well all day. All the kids had a great day and never complained, which is the most important thing. They have great coaches, jenny and Mark, who are encouraging and positive and kept them happy. Thanks guys!

Seriously...

2008-05-16T20:36:00.004+10:00

Serious question now, who here thinks that I suffer from a chronic overuse of the exclamation mark???
No seriously. For as long as I can remember (way back to my teachers for 3unit ancient history and 3 unit english) I have been told that I use shockingly long sentences. "Do not use one sentence paragraphs" was a frequent comment in the column of all of my ancient history essays (Yes Mr Cluley I did read your comments). Now I know that I am still shocking for my complete avoidance of a full stop. Now that i am blogging, I have started to notice a new grammatical affliction, over use of the exclamation mark. That's this one !!!!!!!!!!!, in case you had forgotten. So I was about to say please forgive me and ignore my grammatical faux pas , as I am a shocker, but really, I have just drawn your attention to them haven't I?

Oh well, such is life.

Anonymous who????

2008-05-15T21:48:00.005+10:00

Since I started my blog, I have had a handful of loyal readers. Never will I reach the status of one of these blogs that everyone talks about, but I know who my loyal readers are, and I appreciate everyone of you who is kind enough to make lovely comments about my kids and our little life.
Occasionally there has been comments left anonymously, and I wonder incessantly who these secret squirrels might be. My blog is completely open. Sometimes I think of increasing the security, but then, I love the idea of my anonymous readers, I just wish I knew who they were! Does that make sense? Every now and then I think that perhaps I know who these anonymous people are, then I think that I really have no idea! A few months back I had decided that the next time I received an anonymous comment I would write a post asking said anonymous person if I know them, and if perhaps, they would like to share their identity with us, it would be great!

Then, just as I had this thought, I didn't hear from any of my semi-regular secretive types for a while, until now...
So please, consider letting us know who you are. At least for the friendship and sense of belonging that comes into our little blog land, if not to satisfy my curiosity!

what is that tiny bump in that sandwich bite mark?

2008-05-10T22:45:00.000+10:00

That little bump in the centre of the bite mark in the sandwich. Well that bump is exactly the bump left by the space where Hamish lost his very first tooth!
Only one problem...the space wasn't there when he first started his sandwich, but it was at the end, because his tooth WAS there when he began. His tooth is now no where to be found. We can only assume that he swallowed it! We have been waiting for it to fall for a week. Trevor even tried to yank it last night but gave up for fear of hurting Hamish.

We have had to write a note to the tooth fairy asking for a payment in good spirit! Prue was so unsettled by thoughts of tooth fairies coming into her room that she was afraid to go to sleep until we did an intervention!

Busy days

2008-05-01T23:30:00.001+10:00

Well the holidays were such a whirl. A couple of birthday parties, hearing appointments, Hi 5, the show (the boys tap-danced at the show),Anzac day march for the boys and the races. Then it was back to school on a very cold first day, and I am just loving the look of the boys in their winter uniforms. So, as usual, a collage is called for! The jumping castle was a big hit for all three at the show, Prue cried when Trevor took a bite of her lollypop as she hadn't intended to ruin the perfect circle-ness of it all, so we had to glue it back on with its own sticky sugary self. The boys started soccer again today which is great, both are very enthusiastic. Trevor's Dad, the kids' much loved Grandpa has been here for 2 weeks and goes home tomorrow. Since December he has been permanently retired in Gulgong. Previously he lived up here in another house. His absence has been strongly felt by the kids who have had him nearby, and actively involved with them, for most of their lives (all of Prue's), and they have loved having him back. Lacho, upon hearing that Grandpa would go home tomorrow, said that he wished he could stay forever. They wake him every morning at 6am, he will look forward to going home for a sleep-in!
As for me I start work on Monday, just 2 days a week for a 3 month stint, but it will be the first time in 6 years!!! I am a little nervous, plus madam has to go to a baby sitter. Maybe that is what is causing me the most anxiety! Wish me luck!

Guess who started preschool today!

2008-05-01T23:12:00.000+10:00

All set to go.....

What a big backpack!

She was too self-conscious to pose for me at the gate

By all accounts she had a lovely time, I wouldn't know as Prue told me staright away that I could go! She walked in, put her cup on the tray, saw the play dough table and Mum was history.

Cross Country..my little men.

2008-04-10T22:56:00.000+10:00

These two lovely little men came first (Lachlan) and third (Hamish) in the 5/6 years boys group at the St Joseph's cross country. We are so proud, but also happy that both did well, not just one.
Lachlan set the pace from the start, charging ahead. I was worried that he would tire but he just kept powering on. I couldn't find Hamish, and suddenly I saw him in the distance, not too far behind his brother, in 3rd place. Gone is the unco-ordinated, easily tired little boy of last year (pre grommets and adnoidectomy/tonsillectomy). Hamish has always been built for speed and agility, and now is living up to the sporty potential that we saw in him before he started to be weighed down with glue ear and every infection going around. Sorry to boast, but I do love them so.

Guess who turned 3!

2008-04-07T20:51:00.002+10:00

On the 6th of April, 3 years ago, Miss Prue Frances Donnelly was born. And now she is 3!

After waking VERY early because of the end of daylight saving, her first words were "where's my cake?" We stalled the cake until her party , but were out in the early morning dawn admiring her gifts, a Dora bike (which had been left over from christmas when we realised that she had way too many gifts), and her intended gift, a massive step 2 kitchen . It has lights and buttons and drawers and plates and phones, everything. She loved both of her gifts (so she should the lucky little thing) as well as the fairy dress that her brothers gave her. That was a stroke of genious as her old mauve fairy dress is getting a bit of a workout and not standing up to the task. Prue drags it on everyday at 11:25 am in time for the Fairies show. She loved her Cinderella cake, didn't seem to care that the yellow butter in the butter frosting had turned the blue icing green (I knew this would happen but didn't trust myself to do any colour mixing to resolve the issue).
Prue is already riding every where on her Dora bike, never having pedalled anything before yesterday, and her caring brother Hamish has pushed her kitchen into her bedroom from the verandah for her. This is quite a feat as it is a heavy sucker! But Hamish felt it was necessary as Jock the Jack Russell was hell bent on eating all of the plastic food!
Prue had a lovely party (the adults had a lovely party as well!), and received some cute gifts including a lime green handbag, loads of makeup and nail polish, some books, a barbie baby pony, stripey pink tights, and a very harem-esque hot pink mosquito net for her room!

Easter (thank goodness it is over)

2008-03-25T13:17:00.004+11:00

Well after moaning about a lack of Easter entertainment, we had a decidedly full weekend! Out for dinner Thursday (just to the rissole), yummy seafood dinner and family day Friday, Brewarrina Rodeo Saturday and then out for dinner in town that night with the Reid's (who very generously followed us all the way to Nyngan from Bre, even though they only live 80km's from Bre!, as we had done a wheel bearing and were worried.) Brunch at the Walsh's Sunday, we had a great time and ended up being the guests that don't know when to leave, saying farewell from a brunch at 3pm!! A lovely day guys, thank you. Hmm, a visit from the Proctor/Dixons Monday, and rain, rain, rain!!!

Hope that everyone else had an enjoyable Easter too, we sure did, lots of good friends, some new, some old (and food...groan).

Now to my Easter challenge! I was thinking along the lines of a nice little box of choccies for the winner as I am no crafty devil. However, when I looked at the people who had commented, 4 were doing weight watchers, one has considered rejoining, and sorry, but anonymous commenters don't count if you don't leave your name! Anyway, the lucky winner, having been selected by the boys doing 'eenie meenie miney moh" , is ........ "Leah-in-the-Kia"! A little treat of the non-fattening kind will make it's way to you soon! Thanks to all of you for sharing your families' Easter habits! But thank goodness it is over, I honestly gained about a kilo!

Easter tradition challenge

2008-03-17T23:56:00.004+11:00

I have been the lucky recipient of two lovely little gifties from bloggers, and in the spirit of RAK , had wondered what I could offer as I am not crafty. Today I was talking to my Dad and feeling a little nostalgic, and had an idea. I would love to hear about other people's easter traditions, and will choose one in some random manner to receive a gifty from me!

The reason for my nostalgia is that my Dad told me he is busy working towards the annual northern NSW vintage car rally, being held in Armidale this year. Now this sounds boring, and when I was a kid I thought it was. My Dad is a vintage car enthusiast, and every easter there was a rally somewhere in the state to attend. Off we would go in our 1928 Buick, freezing cold with blankets, or stinking hot. I always wanted to go somewhere normal, like my friends. Sydney, the beach, camping, anywhere! But as I got older I missed what we had, our whole family, together, doing familiar things in different places, with the same other families every year. The adults were all friends, and the kids were all friends, for 2-3 nights you would spend time in a motel with your "club", going in each others cars, swimming in motel pools, doing the whole vintage car thing! My uncles, aunts and cousins were also involved. As I said, back then I hated it, or maybe I loved it and was just embarrased by how kitch it really is.

We were always the family that ran late. Luckily Wittig brother number 5 soon took over from Wittig brother number 1 (my Dad) as the family always late, when his little kids came along. The whole Armidale club would be waiting at the meeting point for the Wittig family to arrive on good Friday morning to take off on the long journey, to support each other in case of break downs or road rage from people who hated convoys of slow vintage cars! Apart from the fact that we were just plain good at being late, we were also probably still indulging in our other Good Friday breakfast tradition. Pan -fried oyster patties!! My Maltese mother used to buy the fresh bottled oysters, use the water from the bottle to make the batter, dip each oyster in it, cook, add a dash Worcestershire sauce (not sure if that is very Maltese!) and Bob's yer uncle! My husband nearly vomited when introduced to this tradition. I never cook it here.

When I married Trevor, Easter became almost a non-event. Trevor is normally sowing, ploughing, or in times of drought, feeding cattle. Nothing different, just an annoying time to him because he has to give his station hand time off for public holidays, meaning he has to do all of the work. I stay at home alone, with the kids, not wanting to leave him alone at Easter (should change that idea!). I have been very sad and resentful at Easter the last few (7) years.

This year we have been invited to a Sunday brunch for Easter!! I am looking forward to it so much. Although a 9am start for brunch seems a tad extreme!!!!!!!! Regardless of having something to look forward to for once, while talking to my Dad, I almost wish that I was there helping him do silly things at the vintage car rally.

"germs Mummy".....

2008-03-05T20:16:00.005+11:00

Today I went somewhere for the first time since Prue has been toilet trained without taking wipes? As we were heading to tap dancing (which the boys LOVE), I noticed that Prue's face was filthy. I actually resorted to the old "Mummy Spit", which I have probably done all of 3 times as a mother.
Would you believe that the little madam pushed me away and squealed "germs".

????????

Why me? Surely there are placid kids out there somewhere who were meant to end up at my house.

Desperate to be a big kid!

2008-02-28T20:11:00.002+11:00

In addition to not wanting to miss school for the wiggles, Lachlan is craving "big kid" status in other ways. Today, after school, he announced to me whilst ravishing an apple, that "if you eat lots of apples your teeth will fall out". This puzzled me as a) apples are good for you and your teeth, and b) Lacho LOVES apples. He lives on apples (as did I when pregnant with him and Hamish). So as I was staring at him, about to reiterate that apples are good for you, he took another massive bite with much enthusiasm, still with a wild grin on his face, and said " Will says if you eat lots of apples your teeth will fall out". Finally the penny was dropping. All of the kindy kids it seems, except for Hamish and Lachlan, are losing their first (or second or third) teeth.
I asked him did he want his teeth to fall out and he said "yes, because then I will be a big kid too, and will be able to poke my tongue out through the whole". It made me so sad, but he was still happily crunching away at the apple. His friend Will apparently informed him with much reliability that if you eat lots of apples for 200 days your teeth will fall out. I tried to explain that Will's teeth probably would have fallen out in that time anyway as they do so when they are ready, but Lacho could not be distracted, and proceeded to rattle off the names of all of his class mates, including some first graders, whose teeth have fallen out, as a result of eating apples. Well who can argue with that logic. I don't want their teeth to fall out, they are so handsome and beautiful just the way they are! Thank goodness Hamish's best friend still has all of her teeth!

Rain and other tid bits...

2008-02-28T08:47:00.003+11:00

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring... Why do farmers have an innate ability to stay asleep on rainy mornings???? Very puzzling. I have sent my children off to school with no rain coat. Who owns raincoats in Nyngan??????? It had stopped raining by the time they got on the bus, but has started again and seems to have settled in, and I am feeling very bad about my darling boys and their lack of a rain coat.

We have Wiggles tickets for next Friday (Long story but I got the dates confused when I bought them and didn't think it was a school day, so got the boys a ticket as well). Anyway, I fully intend to pull the boys out of school, and feel better about this now that I know some other Mums who are doing the same thing. Only one problem, Lacho doesn't want to miss school, and I think he will actually enjoy it when he gets there. They have seen the Wiggles once before, almost three years ago, it is a great show, and this will be the last time I will take them...but my little boy says "I just want to be a big kid and go to school.." How sad, and cute!

I am trying to bribe him, having told him that if he comes with me I will buy him tap shoes. The boys have started junior boys tap dancing and they LOVE it, but as yet don't have tap shoes. This, according to them, is a catastrophe. Their teacher told us to wait a couple of weeks though to make sure they like it before splurging on shoes. Hamish informed me that "we already knew we would like it!". Oh, sorry..

Well best go, we got our lovely built-in wardrobes in our room and Prue's, and there are many shelves to fill!

Random thoughts

2008-02-23T23:13:00.005+11:00

Have you ever had those days when you spend it completely alone, with only an almost three year old to talk to? You might have a deep thought, or even just a bizarre observation, and you think, I should ring so and so and tell them. No, you think, so and so is at work, can't bother them with such an inconsequential thought, I know, I should blog it. Well lately I have had the thought to blog my many random (and probably useless) thoughts quite frequently...So look out! Those thoughts that I feel are too irrelevant and boring to bother people with, may just start appearing here.

However, now that I sit in front of my computer, the actual list of random thoughts that I had prepared in my head is completely gone! I have just read Leah-in the-kia's blog and am somewhat distracted by her news, poor Tim and his health scare. All I can think is what a fright Leah must have had.

Regardless, here are some of my less earth shattering observations of late:

Observation 1: When I first moved to Nyngan I lamented the complete lack of anything yummy and delectable in the supermarket. Now that I am doing Weight Watchers, all I see in the supermarket is those very same delectable things, every where. Spanish salami, prosciutto, dips other than spring onion and corn relish, yummy deli morsels soaking in oil, cheeses, delicious bread varieties...you name it, they have it....now.

Observation 2: The boy/girl ration in Nyngan is not that skewed, and yet somehow, there is no boy-themed contact left in this town, Every store seems, however, to have hundreds of rolls of pink contact in the themes of Dora, Barbie, bratz and Winnie the pooh, standing along side the empty Hot wheels contact box. What's the go?

Observation 3. Before I met my husband I was somewhat of a cinema buff. I loved going to the movies, and was a member of the Dubbo film society, the Armidale Friends of the Cinema, and the Kensington Palace members club. The week that my honours thesis was due I actually saw 4 movies (ever the procrastinator). Since moving to Nyngan 8.5 years ago, I have seen the following movies in a cinema:

1. My Best Friend's Wedding (2001)
2. Moulin Rouge (2002)
3. Love Actually (2004)
4. Cars (2005)
5. Barnyard. (2007)

hmmm...I kid you not.

Observation 4. What does it say about me that while perusing the celebrity goss in the supermarket mags, I read that Jessica Alba (lithe 20 something actress) is rumoured to be expecting twins, and the first thought that enters my mind is "Well she went and ruined her career then didn't she". Or is this actually an accurate reflection of reality,the previous observation being a case in point.

Observation 5. One should probably be concerned when swimming (bobbing) along at the local pool, one discovers a wooden contraption wedged into the side drain of the pool which appears very much so to be holding up the side of said pool.

Observation 6. The fact that one son got a splinter from this very same wooden contraption surely cannot be good (yes he did touch it even though his paranoid mother was yelling "don't touch that, the pool will fall in".

Observation 7. When your not quite 3 year old daughter gets up at 11:30 pm and starts watching "exercise corner", the disco music-themed aerobics show on austar, then perhaps it is time to stop blogging and deal with her. Assuming that the fact that this is complete waffle wasn't already good enough reason to stop blogging!

Apologies if you are still reading this drivel, I am off to bed (Miss Prue, is , by the way, back in bed, asleep, all disco-aerobicised out).

Hmm, artificially sweetened cake, or artificial cake?

2008-02-18T16:29:00.007+11:00

I am not a particularly good cook. In fact, it is fair to say that before I moved out west I didn't really cook at all. Stirfys, pasta dishes and the like, but certainly no baking.

Since being "a farmer's wife" (ha ha), I have developed some fairly basic cooking skills. I can produce lasagna, more stirfrys, the good ole spaghetti bol, salad, a baked dinner, cook a steak or sausages, you know, fairly typical family fare. I am also in my posession some good cook books (The Family circle encyclopaedia is my bible) and from them I have a repetoire of baking basics, mainly muffins, cakes, cupcakes...yep that's it. I have many variations on my muffins! Oh and some fairly shonky slap-happy attempts from the Women's Weekly birthday cake book, which have always impressed the kids. My oven always produces cakes that are higher on one side, but you have to look closely. I still wouldn't say that I am a great cook, taking food somewhere such as BBM I am always wracked with nerves, and apologising for the quality of my food. But my family like most of what I produce so that is the main thing (Luckily Trevor's Mum was a shoddy, slap-happy cook too, so I have not much to live up to).

Over the years I have modified recipeds to suit various needs, eg soy milk, dairy-free butter, skim milk, and mostly in our uneducated palate this seems to have not made much difference to the end result. A while back at a WW meeting there was a conversation about cooking with splenda and other artificial sugar substitues. Most of the older women there were horrified, and stated that it was disgusting. Those younger women in teh room proclaimed that they could tatse no difference. Well I am sorry, but I now have to suggest that either these young women have some canny trick not written on the splenda pack, or they are worse cooks than I am and can't taste the difference, and splenda is in fact complete shite (sorry mr splenda man- will I get in trouble? No, no one reads my blog anyway!)).

Today I made a cake at Prue's request and decided to have a go at the choccie cake recipe on the splenda box that had sat unopened in our pantry for some time. Now I am sure that I followed the recipe, and my basic cake making skills were up t the job... but this is the result. Apart from the way it looks, I found it completely inedible (probably a good thing!). My ever faithful test kitchen tasters... LOVED IT!

This however was the result.......

Ramblings

2008-02-18T11:45:00.006+11:00

Last week a question from the boys in the car on the way to the bus threw me into a panic. It was a religious question, and given we have chosen to send our children to a catholic school I guess that there will be more of them. As a lapsed catholic married to a lapsed anglican, with complicated (and unclear) thoughts on religion, we chose the school more for it's educational merits and community rather than religious point of view. So this moment was always going to come. I just wasn't ready for it on the 4th morning of their school career. What did I really believe? What are my views. How am I going to support the boys in this environment in a balanced way? I headed home to trusty google, of course.

My first search brought up a blog, of all things, where a 16 year old boy has been allowed to post in his Mum's blog, his views on attending a christian school. While I did certainly get some direction on my thoughts, it was actually my ever-brilliant and trusty sister-in-law who helped verbalise the very thoughts and beliefs that I have, but had never managed to conceptualise. Thank you Marea, you are the best sister-in-law a girl could have.

The other thing that I discovered in this morning google search though, was a whole new world of blogging! The blog that I first visited is part of http://www.aussieblogggers.com.au/

Here you will discover many blogs, forums, blogologists (? blog consultants apparently), tips on how to earn money from blogging. Many of these blogs are very high-brow and intellectual indeed, and one even stated "here you will find no cooking or crafts" (that one isn't for most of you then!), but slowly as I explored I found several that I liked, and that some of you may like as well. I found one Canadian woman blogger/photographer/farmer who posts photos of cattle, scenery, kids, hubby and the new western boots that she is coveting, and I thought of Monique. This woman actually does photographic lessosn in her blogs, and seems to me (and my non-photographic mind) to be quite good. I will find the link again. Amie may also find her interesting. Others are just Mums like us, but not like us, living in inner city Melbourne or Sydney, going to book launches and shopping at Leona Edmonston (Okay, so not like us), they discuss current affairs more than kids, and seem to be very caught up I the whole aussieblogger network. I think that there are many more that I haven't found yet that may be more my scene. Don't worry, I am not about to abandon my normal style of blog, nor do I have any feelings of inferiority, just sharing a new avenue for finding some interesting blogs.

Thinking about these blogs has made me decide to spare you all the numbing details of my intended blog post, that being my frustrations with our leaky fridge that freezes everything.....

Sports day!!!!!!

2008-02-08T12:16:00.000+11:00

Last school photos for a while, I promise. The boys in all of their (very white) sports glory. This is the day that they have been waiting for, particularly Lachlan. No school today, St Joseph's has their swimming carnival and the kindy kids (and their teacher) have a break. We are at home trying to do some jobs that are well overdue. Lachlan did try and convince me that the kindy kids were allowed to go to the swimming carnival, and that the teachers would meet them there. Yeah right!
The grass in the front yard was about 1.5 feet high (seriously), after all of the rain this weekend while we were away. It is done now, but the edges still look a bit wild. I am thinking of resorting to Roundup. I have just spider-sprayed the inside of the cubby (and am now having a rest on the computer while I recover from the fumes and get over the constant feeling of spiders down my shirt). Just as well that I decided to do that today, as there was a nasty redback waiting for me, hanging at kiddy head height form the centre of the roof. I have cleaned the verandah and swept away the remnants of my roses that the blue cattle dog pups completely destroyed when they got out of their enclosure and moved into the house yard while we were away. Now I have to start on the inside of the house. We have actually been so busy painting rooms and socialising over the holidays that not much house cleaning actually got done here in January.

Well I had best get to that housework, as we are heading into town this afternoon to enrol the boys in dancing! Tap I think.

Hamish and Lachlan on their first day of school!

2008-02-06T21:35:00.000+11:00

Well the boys' first day of school started with 80 mls of rain in 2 hours! So we had to get Trevor to help us get to the highway, and forgo any photos at the school gate, but here they are anyway, my lovely little boys. They were so excited, and not nervous at all I don't think. The last photo is at the end of the day as they hopped off the bus, and they look pretty happy I think.

They have gone to bed very tired tonight and were asleep instantly, after an evening on the phone regaling most of the Wittig clan (my family) about all of the adventures of their first day. Lachlan found it very amazing that all of the big kids knew their names, until I pointed out that he had a name tag on his shirt!
Hamish seemed disappointed that not all of his friends were there, so I guess the last few months of explaining that some of their friends would go to a different school didn't really work!

Blogger is not into collages yet again tonight, so I have had to skip some of the photos, which is probably for the best!

What have we been up to.

2008-02-04T22:34:00.000+11:00

Well there has been so much on, so I thought that I wouldn't drag the whole thing out. The kids' school holidays have been full. Apart from the swimming lesson cancellation which put a big dampener on things, there has been plenty on. Visits to friends, lots of mud and water to play in, christmas presents to play with. Still wondering why Santa gave Prue the pink barbie makeup though... LOL!!

Also, we went away to Port Macquarie where the boys learnt to boogie board, and their swimming has come along nicely, and Prue also improved out of sight. We spent a lovely day at Timbertown with the Walshes, as well as enjoyable days at the beach, and out for dinner, a happy coincidence. Carolyn and Anastasia made great playmates for the kids. The steam trainride, bullock drawn wagon ride and penny farthing bicycles were a hit at Timbertown, as were the novelty of the stocks! We are home now and getting ready for BIG SCHOOL!!!!!!!!

Jack Bl--dy Russells!

2008-02-04T17:21:00.000+11:00

Well some of you may know that we have had a very bad run of bad luck with Jack Russel puppies.

About 3.5 years ago, I decided that a) the boys needed a pet, b) I miss having a little dog, and c) as I was pregnant with Prue I certainly would not be keen to spend the whole summer outside supervising the boys, and a snake might get them, so... they needed a Jack Russel (known snake killers that they are!).

Well, we got a lovely little smooth haired boy who the boys named ... JACK. After a rocky start (he followed vehicles to the main road 3 times and got picked up by passers-by, but always was returned) Jack became everyone's best mate. When he wasn't on the trampoline or slippery dip with the boys, he was in the work ute with Trevor or his Dad.

Sadly after 2.5 years of a completely snake-free house yard, we were all in our little pool one day when Jack started barking. He had a snake, but it got him and he died. We were so sad, we had to replace him straight away, with another little man that we named.... JACK (suprise). That little Jack was so handsome, but after about a month he started following the work dogs (as they do) and got run over by the semi-trailer. We were all very sad until the Marr family came to our rescue with Andy. Thinking that Jack was an unlucky name, we decided to stick with the Marr children's choice of "Andy", named after their uncle apparently, and life was good again. Little Andy fitted in well, loved the kids and picked on the kelpie pups. Sadly, he picked one too many fights, and died, possibly after his windpipe was injured when fighting the much bigger kelpie pups.

Just as we were giving up on the whole pet thing, a new puppy came our way, and we named him....Jock! (Come on, it is different). As we were going on holidays we asked the people who he came from to mind him for a week. When we went to pick him up today...the little bugger had run away! The kids were crying, I was feeling very low, when we got a phone call! The lovely Donna Pumpa had found him wondering the streets of Nyngan!!! We are very happy, but wondering why we don't pick a breed less likely to get into mischief and strife!

Thankyou to Julie for caring for him, we are so sorry that he worried you so. Thankyou also to Donna and Belinda for finding him!

Don't you just love toilet training!

2008-01-18T23:45:00.000+11:00

At the ripe old age of 2 and 3/4, Miss Prue has very suddenly decided to toilet-train herself. Not to be rushed, all other half-hearted attempts have always been abandoned within a couple of hours. On Tuesday, the day before the commencement of swimming lessons (9 days out of 10 in town), madam says "I will wear undies now". Hmmm, great I think, but why now, and why 10 days before our holiday which will have about 8 hours of car travel to get there and 7 days of not knowing where the nearest public toilet is???

Anyway, it seems to be going well so far, only she has commandeered the toilet near the bedrooms as 'moine', and mine alone. The rest of the family are meant to schlepp to the laundry toilet, where there are frequent daddy long legs so Prue is not using that one.

God help us is all I can say.

PS we are up to 3 inches now between Wednesday and today! Rain, that is.

Nurse Nyngan, excuse me, but there will be no need for another room, thank you very much. !

Where to start..

2008-01-18T09:21:00.000+11:00

Well there has been a lot happening, and very little time to blog about it. I notice that in my drafts I have started a post on the 7th of January with the sentence "Curiosity has finally gotten the better of me..." Well I hate to say it and will now be curious forever, because I have no idea what I was talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trevor has been, up until this week, having some lazy days at home in the heat so we have been taking the kids swimming a lot. Our big achievement though, after about 2 years of building, Trevor and I are finally in our new room, and Prue is in hers!!!! Trevor had finished painting our room, and this weekend he painted Prue's . It is a gorgeous colour called Tip Toes, kind of a mauve-y pink. Soon we will get new carpet and some lovely built-ins and both rooms will be complete (thank you Mr Bank Manager!) Our room has the less romantic colour name of Hog bristles, hmm.. But looks very nice, very sophisticated I think, reminds me of some spa bungalow, it is kind of bone, and we have put up timber venetian blinds. I think it may look better than I am describing! I will get some photos uploaded soon! We have also spotted the new king size bed that we want at Everyday Living which will complete the new look. Just can't buy it until after our holiday to Port Macquarie in a few weeks, finances and all.

So it is nice to be on our own as Prue has slept in our room in a cot since she was born. Now that that room is hers and only has her new BIG GIRL SINGLE BED!!!!!! (plus millions of toys) I can't believe that we ever had a queen size bed and a cot in there. It is a VERY small room!

The kids are doing swimming lessons again, and after the usual fears, I am really happy that I have chosen the right levels for them. Okay, best go. The car is getting new tyres today. Yes, I will be stuck at swimming on a rainy day with three kids, hundreds of bags, and no car. Should be a hoot!

Hmmm....

2008-01-04T16:36:00.000+11:00

Well, given that I harrassed Leah into posting even though I hadn't done so either in the same amount of time, I really should do something. Not much to say though. I seemed never to have my camera with me over christmas!
We stayed with my sister and spent xmas eve driving around Armidale with extended family in a convoy of vintage cars (my Dad is an enthusiast and restorer and has enough to go around). Trevor and I ended up on our own (yes childfree!!!!) in a 1952 Ford Twin Spinner. Trevor wondered if we might find somewhere quite to "park" in it. I dragged him to Coles instead at 9:30 pm to stock up on weight watcher friendly nibblies, that I never actually ate. The kids had a ball in Dad's 1928 Buick 8 Tourer, very flash with the curtains down and rugged up with blankies.

We got them to bed around 10:30 pm and they slept in until 7:30!! Good little kiddies. They opened their presents there in the morning after a pancake breakfast. We then headed to my Dad's house for the Wittig family en masse. My uncles, aunts, cousins. My grandmother who turns 80 next year but still made the pork, the turkey, the trifle, her amazing pudding and fruit salad. We also feasted on oysters in the shell and prawns.

Later that day we washed and scrubbed all of the shells, to make oysters mornay and kilpatrick (yum) with bottled oysters as appetisers, before having snapper on the BBQ with all the lunch time leftovers. We were joined by Pauline's family. My dad's partner Pauline has four grown children, and her grandchildren who were present on the day consisted of a gaggle of five year old boys and two year old girls. Of course we already had our own quota of five year old boys and 2 year old girls so it was chaos! They all play well together, and fight well too as the night progresses.

We regrouped again Boxing day with the addition of more stray Wittig family members who had been elsewhere on Christmas day! I think that I ate more boxing day than I did on xmas day!

Anyway, we came back two days later, the kids and I really wishing that we could stay longer. Armidale has a few new shops that I had a quick look in, my xmas and birthday money from my dad burning a hole in my pocket! Prue is talking better, as always happens after she has had some time with mine or Trevor's family. The boys used to do it too. Exposure to people who don't understand what they are saying forces them to say it clearer I guess.
Since being back we went to the good ole RSL for New Years Eve, and went to Smuggler's Arms for Trevor's 33rd birthday on the 2nd of January. Happy birthday!!

Well that is about all, you are probably all bored silly by now. I will post the few measly photos that may be of some interest (or to me anyway!) later.

Happy New Year everyone.

Quick update

2007-12-23T16:25:00.000+11:00

Just a quick update. We have had a few concerned people ringing, thinking that we are flooded in.

Although we are choosing to not venture on the road again at the moment, we did get out yesterday. We had two teenage babysitters who wanted to get home! So we all piled into the landcruiser which is quite high off the ground and has a snorkel, and with Trevor driving (I certainly wouldn't attempt it on my own!), it was slow, tedious and slightly touch and go, but do-able.

The house isn't flooded as we have two pumps going round the clock pumping the water out of the levee bank. We are just staying put for now to avoid un-necessary strandings, and to keep an eye on things, as we expect there to be more water still running from up the road.

Anyway, thankyou to anyone who has been worried about us, we are dry in the house and can get out in an emergency.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Best of friends

2007-12-22T22:31:00.000+11:00

Lately we have been so happy about the way the kids are becoming the best of friends. Not only have Hamish and Lachlan grown closer and closer all year, but more and more, Prue is just one of the gang. Don't tell the nutrition police, but here they are enjoying cold pizza for morning tea, while watching Dora the Explorer. The boys have been watching older children's TV for a while now, and refusing to let Prue watch anything age appropriate, but have finally comprehended that Prue needs to be allowed to watch the "baby shows" once in a while.

The second photo is our three loved up kids who all decided that they wanted to sleep together tonight. Thanks to a great flash, that pile of doonas is actually three sound alseep kids, two baby dolls, one tweety bird and an army man action figure! We actually haven't moved them yet, and may not. Luckily Lachlan's bed is meant to be the top bunk if we put them together, so has a handy gaurd rail (or hungry board as Trevor dubbed it tonight).

Rain!!!

2007-12-22T22:20:00.000+11:00

Well isn't this a nice birthday present!
These are just a few shots of our driveway, the mighty Bogan river, and the Mitchell Highway in front of Old Kidgery.
We actually went to town last night, and came home by 11:30pmintending to be here in case the storm became fierce. By the time we reached home we already had about 3 inches. It took 20 minutes to drie 4km's of driveway, and the house was already being threatened by the waters. So from midnight until about 2am Trevor was pulling pumps out from where they were drowning in dams, and setting up pumps at the house levee. He also had to venture down to the river paddock where he had locked up much of our stock on the more abundant feed form recent rain. The river paddock is flooding so Trevor had to open up gates and let the cattle get to higher ground.

After approximately 110mls by the end of the rain today we are now surrounded by water. We may have had more but have no record given the gauge was ona bad angle for some of the time. The water is rising as it comes down towards us from all of our neighbours on it's way to the river. The house levee bank is being pumped out as we are completely surrounded by water and close to having a flooded house. There is actually so much water that we can't do our usual family drive all over the place to admire the rain! We don't want to get bogged!

A lovely suprise

2007-12-19T20:19:00.000+11:00

What a nice suprise, this little reindeer filled with choccies, came in the mail from Kyla. Than you Kyla!!!! The kids are eyeing him off, and one has informed me that I can't have any of the chocolate because of WW!

Merry christmas to the Griffith family.

My Boys

2007-12-18T22:33:00.000+11:00

Today was the last day EVER at preschool for my boys. They didn't seem very phased, but I was a tad emotional about it all!! They had a lovely party and water fight, their second as they go Fridays as well. Neither of them stopped running all day, and Lacho crashed and burned and slept for about an hour in the afternoon, most unusual for him. The boys have really enjoyed their time at preschool, it has been lovely and stress free, and is such a friendly and caring place for the kids.

Quick catch up

2007-12-10T06:52:00.000+11:00

As I have been leaving rude messages on other people's blogs, insttucting them to update please, I thought I had best do a quick update of mine. Well I have been trying to find time to upload some photos, of the many things we have been up to, but as yet have had no time. So here is a verbal run down.

We had a quick, unplanned trip to Sydney, staying 2 nights and one in Dubbo on the way home. The boys think it was the "greatest holiday ever" and told Chantelle at preschool that we stayed at the Holiday OUT (Holiday Inn). Although it was a rushed trip it was actually nice to be confined to a car all weekened with just the five of us for some catch up time. The kids acted like real bush bunnies, as amazingly it has been two years since we have been to Sydney!!!'

Hamish: "There are a lot of cars in Syd-e-ney".

They enjoyed the lovely big motel with massive rooms, the huge and WW-threatening buffet breakfast, and tunnels on the motorway. We caught up with Scott and Mel, trevor's best friend, and their new little baby Jack who we had yet to meet. The poor little bugger is 14 months old. We also caught up with one of my closest friends, felicity, her husband Andrew, and their little girl Isabelle, who is 12 months old and again, who we had never met.

We also did some home improvement shopping. The purpose of the trip was that Scott had discovered some real bargains in home renovations that were worth the trip down. He knows that we want to do up our bathroom, enclose the verandah, and do up Trevor's Dad's bathroom and kitchen. He had discovered a home building company who were having a clearing sale of sorts of excess goods, baths, toilets, vanities, sinks, sliding screen doors and entry doors.

So we got some stuff, and Trevor has to go back in the truck and pick it up (Somehow he bought a second hand landcruiser ute while we were down there too), and then of course we have to get the jobs done. Don't hold your breath on that score though will you.

Since being home we have had the preschool concert, the boys sang and did the actions beautifully. They also received their "diplomas" from preschool!!! It was a nice night for all of us. Over the weekend since Friday right through to Sunday we have had xmas parties, or gone out for tea with people for xmas drinks, and the kids have ahd some late nights. I shudder to think how tired they will be this week. But I will not know!I am off to Club Dub today, and the kids are staying with Trevor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it will be the first time I have been to Dubbo on my own since Prue was born, 2 years 8 months and 5 days!!!!!!!!!!! Of course I have to drink a litre of water and hold it for god knows how long so I can have an ultrasound and work out these mystery pains, that is the BIG downside of the day, I ahte that whole process. Anyway, I can hear the kiddies waking up, best go. Will post some piccies soon. I am off to be ON MY OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas the minimalist way!

2007-11-29T15:22:00.000+11:00

Lachlan has really begun to do lots of lovely drawings and artwork these days, but the plate that he made at BBM today threw me back to the old days when his painting style really worried us. We were always concerned that, while Hamish brought home elaborate paintings that filled the page, using many colours, Lacho's paintings used 1-2 colours and 3 brush strokes at best. Now, looking at his xmas plate, I realise that we have been worrying un-necessarily. The problem wasn't with Lacho, it was that Trevor and I just didn't get it. He's a minimalist!

This is his version of "tree with 2 presents".

Ahhh... my boy.

He will be famous one day!

BBM Graduates and roo poo central.

2007-11-29T15:18:00.000+11:00

Lachlan

Hamish

Hamish, Lachlan, Sophie, and Emma with Beryl form BBM

Although Girilambone has one more playgroup session before xmas, today was the last day that all of our "graduates" will be there. Lachlan and Hamish, along with Emma and Sophie, are all off to big school next year. My boys have been going to BBM since they were about 10 months old or younger, Emma since she was 12 months old, and Sophie moved to town when she was 18 months old. They have always gotten on well together (well... mostly) and will make a big hole in the Giri session when they grow up and leave us! Today we had a special cake with all of their initials on it, and Beryl presented each of them with a certificate.

I still remember the first time we ventured to Giri for bush mobile. New motherhood was still proving a tad stressful and I didn't really know anyone at Giri, but had been asked by BBM to enrol in that session instead of the Nyngan one that I had planned to attend (twins do boost numbers!). So I nervously arrived carrying my two little sleepy men, prematurely dragged from their morning naps especially, and we walked in to find a lovely little school yard.....covered in kangaroo poo! Every square inch of it covered! It was the height of the drought (or so we thought back then) and the local kangaroos had resorted to feasting on the school lawn each night. The other Mums had bigger, more self-sufficient kids, so were already seated in the shade well away from the kangaroo poo. The baby mat however, with all of the lovely toys, was situated smack bang in the middle of roo poo central. I plonked the boys on the baby mat with all of the toys, and spent a fairly tedious and lonely 2 hours dragging them back as each one crawled off different sides of the mat to reach the grass. We had no grass at home at the time and they were fascinated. Upon reaching the grass, they insisted on putting these small brown things that were literally every where in their mouths. You guessed it, Kangaroo poo!!! When I got home Trevor asked me who I met and what all the gossip was. I rather tearfully informed him that I didn't meet anyone, or hear any goss, because I spent my whole time on the baby mat stopping the boys from eating poo.

Since then a lot has changed. I have made friends, and the Giri Mums are some of my biggest supports. The the kids have grown, and can do more for themselves, and BBM at Girilambone is a much anticipated part of all of our schedules. Luckily, I still have Prue to take, and she is way past the poo eating stage...I hope.

Just a few kiddie snaps!

2007-11-28T18:57:00.000+11:00

My scanner was not working before, but finally I can show off the preschool photos. Don't they look so well behaved (and clean!)

"All ready for swimming club Mum"

Lacho at A Day on The Green, what a spunk!

Hamish wanted to be Santa Clause, but his tears washed it off when they wouldn't let him in the VIP area. I am sure that he will look back on that as his defining moment in his memoirs when he makes his millions. The day that he decided that he will never be refused entry to a VIP area ever again!

Still a cutie though isn't he!

Bad hair days, waiting for rain....

2007-11-28T18:42:00.000+11:00

AGGHHH!

The sky this afternoon

Aggghhhh, Dad's not the only one wishing it would rain. All of this muggy weather is giving me a bad hair day! (and Mum doesn't understand why blogger won't do any of her collages lately).

Bloody Telstra.

2007-11-26T22:28:00.000+11:00

Well, I am sitting at home alone with nothing on the TV worth watching and the phone on the blink. Frustratingly, the phone keeps ringing, and caller ID keeps telling me who it is, but I can't hear them. The phone has rung all bloody night!I can't ring out, and can't report the fault because yet again Trevor is off in Gulgong with my mobile as his is still away being repaired. BLOODY Telstra. I just knew we would have phone problems as soon as they did the next G upgrade last week. For those of you not on a farm, we have a radio phone, that is no cables to the house, but a little radio tower, or now, a next G booster like a mobile phone. I did say to them that I am concerned about having a next g home phone as my next G mobile service is crap! But no, Telstra assured us thatit would be wonderful. Similarly they felt that the CDMA upgrade that we have had for the last 2 years at the house would be wonderful also. But then low and behold every summer it went on the blink. One guy in Melbourne, when copping the brunt of my frustration the first summer, said to me, "does it get very hot where you are?" Duh. So I said "well today it is 47 degrees". And he said "Oh, well..., we do know that these systems don't function in extreme temperatures, say over 40 degrees". And this is the system that they put in western NSW and QLD . "What the...?"

Anyhoo, there has also been nothing on TV so I have been "facebooking" like crazy", but Kyla, my "TV taste and facebook quiz" twin, tells me that Weeds is coming on soon, which I had forgotten. SO that will be the highlight of my night!

I have had a really bad 10 days with a bad reaction to a contraceptive pill, making me irritable, tired to the point of sleepy, stressed, anxious, nauseous and incredibly short-tempered and volatile. I think Trevor was actually afraid to leave me alone with the kids to go to Gulgong. I took the last pill Saturday, having decided it was the cause of my woes. I still felt dodgy Sunday, but was back to my old self today, thank god. The difference was amazing. The house is a pigsty from 8 days of being too sick and tired to clean. I did some cleaning (still not much LOL), played with the kids, took care of bills, phone calls, making appointments etc, went to town for a afternoon preschool meeting, went to the supermarket with 3 kids at 5:30, got the kids fed, bathed and to bed and never lost my temper once all day! I achieved more today than I have in 8 days. Honestly. I think Dr Chan will have to re-think that prescription. I actually rang Trevor and told him that the kids had gotten through the day with out being yelled at, as I have been so irritable all week, and I am sure that he would have been worried. I find it amazing as I get older that I seem to have more and more bad reactions to medications, cleaning products, allergens etc. Is it child bearing that has buggered my body???

Anyhoo, best go before people start worrying that all of my posts from now on will be novel-length waffles.

Who wants to hear about my day...

2007-11-21T11:31:00.000+11:00

Thank you Nurse Nyngan for your very flattering and encouraging comments that I should blog more often. I do tend to stick to kid's news, but perhaps I can tell you about my hellishday in Dubbo, it will at least make you all feel like you are not alone if you have had a disasterous day of late.

On Monday I headed off to Dubbo with all three kids in tow, and more jobs than I could realistically achieve without the kids let alone with them. Trevor is too busy of late with the increasing pressures of the drought to leave any with him. I got to Dubbo early and started achieving most of the jobs fairly quickly, by late morning we parked in the back of Myer and walked in and there is Santa, all alone, so I think "let's do Santa photos, what a great idea". The kids behave, the photos are nice, but no, the 17 year old chiccie thinks she can do better. I say "actually, I like the second one". She says "Well lets just do a few more". Why do they get these girls that aren't parents (or photographers for that matter) who don't understand that we aren't striving for perfection. We just want one where all 3 kids are looking and that she should just snap as fast as she can to achieve that. Anyhoo the kids are no longer co-operating, the second lot of photos are shite, and I say "Actually I still like the second one". And she says "Oh, but I deleted that one". F____CK!!!!!!

Then we headed to the optometrist where the boys were having first check-ups before starting school. SO in we go and they are running 25 minutes late, so we have lunch at the cafe next door. Finally we go in and the boys are very, very good. Prue however, manages to do three FOUL runny poos in about 10 minutes, so I have to excuse myself to change each one and manage to miss the whole of Hamish's eye assessment. The room we are in stinks, the room he sends me to to change her stinks, the hallway stinks, the whole of the lovely, swanky Burgun and Brennan Optometrist's stinks, and I am truly embarrassed and find myself apologising to everyone I meet on the way out. On a good note, the boys both have great vision.

So, feeling adventurous I head to Myer to find myself some swimmers and perhaps a denim skirt. Prue proceeds to lose it COMPLETELY, running around, screaming, throwing clothes off racks onto the floor and hiding from me. I am embarrassed, again, and also completely pissed off that she always manages to do this when I am trying to do something for myself. So I leave the shop without having tried on a single thing. We do a couple more things and it is definitely time to get Prue in the car for a sleep. So we drive to LA wardrobes to get quotes . Prue does indeed fall asleep, but I am having a mental block and can't find the place. I go to ring, no mobile phone. Trevor has it with him at the Gulgong farm as his is broken. SO I drive around to find a phone box, when I find one, I then need to find a parking spot close enough to it to leave the car running with the kids in the car and the AC on so Prue can have more much needed sleep. This requires a bit of driving around, and finally a hike to the pay phone, which, when I get to it.... IS BROKEN!!!!!!!!

Finally we get quotes, do more jobs and have early tea at Macdonald's and come home. I stop in at White's and when I come out ....the car won't start. Remember I have no phone, husband still in Gulgong. Luckily for me Whitey is a bit handy, fixes whatever was wrong with the car (a mystery as it now goes) and we keep driving home. As we near our place there are cattle on the road, bugger. SO I open the gate and proceed into the scrub to push them back up to the gate. Lo and behold every single one of them jumps the fence back in, which is good, except I am now offroad amongst a tangle of old fencing wire, and manage to get it wrapped around one wheel and the axel. I got out of the car, and as I was wearing a white shirt, I took it off (I have so few clothes atm as I have lost a bit of weight but not bought heaps yet), warn the boys to look out for cars (as I am shirtless and we are just off the verge of the highway), and lie under the car in my bra and 3/4 pants, in the red dirt, right near the scary exhaust (I am afraid to turn the car off in case it won't start again). After about 15 minutes I manage without wire cutters to get it all loose, and off we go. It was either that or walk with the kids 4km's up the driveway at 8pm so I am proud of myself for getting it off. We finally collapse inside and the kids suddenly freak out. The world's biggest huntsman spider, the one Trevor thinks he killed the day before when the kids freaked out, is now roaming the lounge room wall again, this time with only 6 legs. SO, very calmly (on the outside), I take to it with a broom, and it jumps down and goes under my treadmill, so guess who won't be excercising this week! After all that I have a shower to get the red dirt off me, I put on the only purchase for myself that day, a Big W nighty, to find that it is about 2 sizes too big because I have lost weight, and also didn't notice that it was clipped back on either side.......

There is my ramble, Sarah won't remind me to post again! But it has been very therepeutic, thank you if you have read it all!

2007-11-14T12:01:00.000+11:00

Recently we went to "A Day on the Green" at the lovely Oakley Winery in Mudgee, formerly Poets Corner. We went along on the Sunday, the second day put on after the saturday was a sellout, and it was really a very family friendly day, much more than the Saturday seems to have been. We went along with Trevor's sister Marea, her partner Graeme, and Trevor's nephew Matt. Matt started spending time up here with "uncle Trev" every school holidays from about age 14, Now at 20, he and Trevor are mates these days rather than uncle and nephew, and enjoy spending time together. Our friends Angela and Cass came form Nyngan as well, so we had a nice little group, with PLENTY of food between us. Our picnic feast was almost embarrassing, but we never spent any money all day (except on the lovely wine that is). We had oysters and prawns, and bbq chickens and fresh breadrolls, avocados and salad and more cheese and dips than you could poke a stick at. Luckily for me and my WW endeavours, Marea had included lots of yummy raw vegies for me to use with the dips, instead of crackers. (Pity about the actual dips though!)
Anyway, enough about the food! The musicians on the day were Mahalia Barnes (Jimmy's daughter- quite good actually), Deborah Conway who is an old fav of mine, Richard Clapton, Marea and Graeme's favourite (different generation, he he), and of course, the man himself, Jimmy Barnes. Trevor is a big fan although has decided that none of his music of the last 10 years, or really since he left Chisel, has much merit. Disillusioned Trevor?? So all in all there was someone for everyone, except poor Hamish who asked after Richard Clapton "Exactly when is Dora coming on"? Poor little man thought that we were at the much anticpated Dora the Explorer concert, and that those jokers up on stage were just the support acts!

It did rain at one stage early on, but then the sun came out, and dried up all the rain, as they say. We all looked good in our garbage bag ponchos for a while there!

Luckily there was also free jumping castle and face painting, and what else do three preschoolers really want. After lining up for an hour for the boys face painting while Prue was asleep, I couldn't be bothered again when she woke up, so convinced her Mummy could do exactly the same job with lipstick. I was armed with 4 lipsticks from my bag, and Prue never guessed that they were all the same colour!!! I think the photo at the end of the day shows three happy, but very tired little kiddies.

2007-11-14T11:14:00.000+11:00

Well blogger is not being friendly to me today, not sure what happened to my collage with the rest of the Dora photos. Anyway, a few cute photos of the boys, and some shots of the interesting ways of a 2.5 year old girl named Prue. One day she disappeared and I went looking. I didn't find her but found that she had lined everyones boots up quite artistically in the laundry. Very proud I think of the fact that she had her own pairs to contribute to this display. Another day prue went down for her nap in a bit of a snit, wouldn't hand of her sunglasses and so I left her with them, expecting to find them broken in a fit of temper later. What I actually found when I snuck in was, yep you guessed it, Miss Prue sound asleep in her pastel pink sunnies. Too cute to ignore reallly, I just had to take a photo. Also another moment worthy of a photo, and demonstrating just how quickly they learn. I found her on the lounge with a pink texta (what other colour?) and teh Myer toy catalogue,. Circling what she wanted!!!!! At 2 and a half!!!!! What is she going to be like at 5??

I have picked up a speech referral form for Prue, and will get her on the waiting list as it is so-o-o long. I hope that she won't need any help by then. She speaks a lot, has many, many words, but is difficult to understand. This could be due to her mild glue ear which is being monitored. I just want to get on top of things before she has major speech problems. Having said that, Hamish is thriving since he had his grommets in and adenoids/tonsills out. He is definitely starting to speak more clearly, and we have had people comment (thankyou to those of you who have, it means a lot). He has also gained 1 kg and has puffy little cheeks now that are very cute, and a backside that can finally hold up a size 4 pair of shorts! Yay!!!!!! He eats a lot more and seems to enjoy more bositerous play with Lachlan, so obviously the surgery was very much needed. It makes us so happy to listen to him, and look at him as he seems so much healthier. We may have to stop calling him "the whippet".

The boys had their first day of kinder orientation at St Joseph's yesterday. They seemed to enjoy it immensely, and can't wait to go. They didn't want to me to linger, and I had trouble pinning them down at recess to try on some school sports shorts. Apparently Hamish didn't understand the concept "little lunch" and ate his sandwich at recess. Luckily Chantelle at the preschool is wonderful, and made hima new sanndwich! Thankyou Chantelle.

Lachlan was completely confused, and asked Chantelle at 2:30 pm when lunch would be! Never mind, they are very excited, and very ready I think. Lachlan had to try on his sports uniform when he got home, shorts, shirt and hat, he looked incredibly handsome, and proud. But we will save a picture of that for the real deal next year!

Lachlan, who never was interested in writing or drawing, spends just about every waking moment writing his name, drawing shapes and people, and counting. It has all clicked for him just in time. We are so proud of him. He has always had fine motor skills problems (poor finger strength), but the OT review this week showed that he is really doing quite well, in line with his peers now! Well done Lacho.

Both of our boys have come a long way, from being premmie, to being ready for school!

Finally we're back!

2007-11-14T10:41:00.000+11:00

Well it has been a while. I have had scanner problems, but after a week of staring at it blankly I finally discovered, wait for it, a cord unplugged!! Yes, my friend Charmaine has always been correct when she has called me telecommunication and technology challenged! I also had been having trouble downloading photos from my camera, but low and behold I have finally worked that out too (should have read that manual I guess, would have learned more about those tricky settings!).

So lots has happened lately, but most importantly for the kids was the Dora concert. Hamish in particular loves Dora, and Lachlan maintains that he hates Dora, but as you can see from these photos they ALL seem to be having a ball. They had a lovely day with Max and Bridie and little Mia.

You will have to visualise this one for yourselves. (Shouldn't be too hard for most Mum's)

2007-10-26T20:16:00.000+10:00

Some one told me today that I don't blog enough. Well sometimes I have a thought or an experience and think that I may post that, but in the end I decide to reserve the blog for kids news and photos. Well I didn't take a photo today but imagine, if you will, the following...

Three little bush kids who hardly ever see rain. Therefore, when the rain comes and puddles are made they become like members of some bizarre ecstasy-taking cult. All afternoon has been spent in the mud on our clay pan, bogging bikes, toy trucks and themselves. Being a fairly relaxed Mum I am not too concerned, I even let then eat outside then go off to play again after their very lovely San Remo pasta (that's sarcasm). Dad turns up home and the fun continues until I bring them in at 7:15pm, about 30 minutes late for a bath and only 15 minutes shy of bed time. Not a problem ordinarily, until we discover that we have NO HOT WATER. My kids may be tough little bush kids who love swimming in cold rain puddles, but they are all desperately afraid of cold water when it runs from the bathroom tap. Needless to say I am, by this stage, regretting the whole relaxed mum bit, and wishing I hadn't let them get dirty. We are off to Dubbo first thing in the morning and the water still won't be hot even if we work out the problem because it is off-peak. About 3 minutes of shrieking and jumping away from the soap and the tap, and finally I have three semi clean kids in bed. Now all I have to do is clean up the mud from the bathroom, and the kitchen, and the laundry, and the ....

Hair styles a plenty!

2007-10-22T22:37:00.000+10:00

How did this happen?? We have no idea. All we know is that Prue appeared with a head full of burrs! It made for an interesting big hair style, and a fair bit of drama getting them out.

I haven't posted lately as, really, not much has been happening. Sorry "L". I have one thought as to who L is, but a clue would be great!!!!
I was going to put the sibling photo from preschool on as everyone else was showing theirs off. The three kids look great. However, something seems to be wrong with my printer so I cannot scan it. The one thing that has been happening in our house is an obsession with hair, Lacho likes to style his, Prue hates having hers brushed so it becomes a drama, and Hamish is a whole new kettle of fish that we are learning.
At the other end of the spectrum from feral Prue and her burrs, here is Hamish being a very good boy, regardless of the fact that the whole family keeps laughing at him (with you baby, laughing with you). Since having his grommets in means he cannot get water in his ears, he wears earplugs and a swimming cap in the bath. Once or twice a week we get brave (we'll get more confident), and ditch the cap and put this baby thingamabob on so that we can wash his hair. Prue and Lachlan then get in on the act and like to wear it, and everyone has a chuckle. Sadly it doesn't fit Mum or Dad's heads (phew)

Glamour Girl

2007-10-01T21:02:00.000+10:00

While Hamish had his operation, Trevor stayed with Prue and Lachlan at his sister's house. The kids love catching up with their big cousins (who happen to have a lot of toys). In addition to enjoying their company, the kids also enjoy the the haul of outgrown toys that they always leave with, Sinea in particular, at 9, has lots of lovely girly things for Prue, including makeup, and a set of two pink phones joined together that actually work. All three kids have been doing lots of beading since we got home, also courtesy of Sinea. It is the makeup that is the biggest hit with Prue. A big pink makeup case with about 10 eyeshadow colours and three fluorescent lip shades. Sadly, Prue ignores the eyeshadow, preferring to coat her eyes (and hair) with the fluorescent lip gloss. I have spent the last three days cleaning her face, hands, hair, and the house, of candy red gloss. Thank goodness it is nearly all gone! She thought that she was so beautiful that she had to steal Hamish's camera to take a photo. I have also included a photo of her with her Dad, to mark the fact that at the moment, she is simply "Daddy's little girl".

"Hamish the brave"

2007-10-01T20:50:00.000+10:00

On Thursday we turned up at Dudley Private Hospital at 8am, all set for Hamish to have grommets put in his ears, and to have his adenoids and tonsills removed. Hamish was very brave, and actually enjoyed the hour or so that he waited in preparation (as can be seen in the photos). Pre-op consisted only of a dose of panadol and Emla patches on both hands (magic cream to prepare for the drip). We then walked into the theatre and he hopped up on the bed. He was busy looking at all of the machines when they put the gas mask on. He literally was asleep in about 2 minutes. About an hour later I was called into recovery where we had one very groggy and incredibly distressed little man who wanted to "go home". The ENT said that he "must have been bloody deaf" given all of the thick, chewing- gum subsistence gunk that they got out of his ears. They decided to give him morphine and he settled quickly in my arms, and we were soon transferred to the ward. The ward consisted of 4 beds, one each for Hamish and another little 5 year old boy, and one each for the two Mums. Hamish slept much of the day because of the morphine, but woke progressively, having a few sips of water and some sucks on an ice block. He was very calm, very brave, and by night was eating chicken soup, ice cream, and the soft bread out of my roll. Later he ate my fruit cake, then had a good night's sleep before eating porridge for breakfast. The nurses and the ENT said he was the best patient they had had for a long time, and his drip was out and we were discharged by 8:30 am. Friday we drove home, and Hamish has not stopped commenting on noises ever since. McDonalds, where he happily ate a pasta zoo meal, was very noisy, Trevor's shed is "very noisy", and every night he hops out of bed to tell us that the TV is too loud and that we are talking "too loud". He is on the mend and eating fairly normally, no citrus etc, although we still have to face that worsening of pain that apparently occurs 5-7 days after surgery. We are so glad that we have come through this hurdle, he is clearly hearing much better, and we are all ready wondering if his speech might be starting to sound a little clearer (wishful thinking!!!) just in time for big school.

Soccer Presentation

2007-09-23T21:28:00.000+10:00

Sadly I have no photos of the kids at the actual soccer presentation day! Silly Mum missed the whole day (as did Dad who had to rush Mum to hospital). Within minutes of arriving at the soccer fields I started feeling severe pains and nausea. We left the boys in the capable care of Marnie and Anniw W, thanks guys, and headed to the hospital for next two hours until pain relief drugs worked. When we returned it was all over and we missed seeing our boys get their trophies. A little upsetting. They are both very proud, especially Lachlan, who received on of the "Most Improved Player" trophies for his team. Prue is also very proud of her brother's trophies, as you can see above, and would dearly love a "mudal" (medal) for herself. She actually tried to steal a medal-like object on a string at the preschool the other day.

Anyway, it was a great soccer season, and we can't wait for next year. Hamish even thinks he will play again, as his own confidence and interest has grown over the last 3-4 week. Thanks to every one at the Nyngan Junior soccer club, esp. Monique, for organising a great season.

Last day of Soccer

2007-09-15T21:39:00.000+10:00

The boys had their last day of soccer today, a gala day at Tottenham. It was an anjoyable day, and our depleted little team played well, with only one reserve. All of the kids seemed to have a great time, and showed real improvement.

Hamish happily received the Player of the week trophy, he really keeps up with the play now, and enjoyed a go in goals saving a couple. he still is a little afraid to throw himself into the fray, but is much more focused than before. We are very proud of his continued efforst, regardless of the fact that he is a little frightened of the kids, most of whom are bigger than he is. Hamish can't wait to take his trophy preschool for news. Well done Hamish!!!!!

Lacho had a great day also, having a turn in goals and really putting in some good plays. not once did he take the ball the wrong way! Both boys were very happy to be awarded medals for their participation in soccer this year, and still keep asking if they really can keep them!

I must say that we even had a nice day with Prue, who normally chooses soccer as a time to turn on the ratty behaviour as she is not the focus of our attentions. today however she was well behaved and enjoyed pottering and doing her own thing, never straying too far though. Thankyou baby girl.

A day at the zoo

2007-09-14T10:28:00.000+10:00

The kids had hearing tests on Monday in Dubbo, Hamish to confirm what we really already know, that he is in desperate need of grommets to resolve glue ear, a hearing deficit , and hopefully assist his speech development. This surgery, in addition to tonsils and adenoids will take place in Orange at the end of this month and Trevor and I are more than a little anxious about it. At the same time we can't wait to get him the help he so desperately needs. Prue's second test in six week s is suggesting that she too will need grommets, and when I listen to her talking I have to admit that there are lots of similarities with Hamish. She will have another hearing test in two months before we take the step of seeing the ENT. Hmmm.........

Anyway, as my sister Karen was out for a visit, we decided to stay in Dubbo over night and go to the Zoo on Tuesday. The kids missed preschool, but I thought that if we left the zoo for too much longer it gets way too hot, and even the animals hide from the heat. The kids didn't mind missing preschool, which normally they refuse to miss!

We had a lovely but tiring day (and Mum had a tummy bug so felt rotten), but the kids had a ball, and so did Karen who hadn't seen them since early May. It was nice to break away from our fairly hectic routine and have enjoy each other's company a little more. Who would have thought that two preschoolers and a toddler could have such hectic lives! Did anyone realise that when you pay at the zoo, the ticket actually allows you to come back again the next day, so it is a 48 hour pass? I never knew that, otherwise we may have spread the day over two seems we were down there. Oh well. Off to Tottenham tomorrow for a soccer gala day, then no more soccer except for the presentation day. What will we do on Saturdays now.

Finally, the trophy

2007-09-14T10:14:00.000+10:00

Lachlan has coveted the soccer Player of the Week trophy all season, but with remarkable patience due to new found maturity. Still as the season loomed to a close he, and in fact all of us, were starting to worry.

Lachlan has put his whole heart into soccer all year, but mostly appeared more like a headless chook than anything, and indeed a hindrance rather than a help, as his physical ability and speed outweighed his cognitive understanding of the game (eg who is my team, which way do we run, which is our goal mouth). Progressively though he has improved and started to show signs of being a very good player in the future, so it was with much excitement, and relief, that he received the trophy last week. Well done Lacho!

Don't they scrub up well!

2007-08-31T20:57:00.000+10:00

We took Trevor's Dad out for dinner recently, and for a change I thought we should make some effort with our attire. I think Grandpa enjoyed seeing everyone out of their jeans and jumpers. Of course Prue didn't feel completely dressed until she had her handbag (she is going to cost us some money in clothes as she gets older!).

Boy and his dog

2007-08-31T20:23:00.000+10:00

Lachlan loves soccer so much, and is really getting quite good (when he remembers not to tackle his own player or score an "own- goal" against his brother in goals!). Unfortunately Lachlan has a very lazy Mum and Dad who just don't kick the ball around as much as we should with him, and Hamish just never wants to. So-o-o-, he has gone for the next best thing, Bess, the wonder working dog and all round defender! He looks the archetypal bush kid, in his work boots, on a scalded clay pan, playing soccer with a dog, and he looks great whilst he does it. It gives him literally hours of enjoyment, Thanks Bess!

Having fun at soccer

2007-08-16T21:20:00.000+10:00

Excuse The layout of the photos here, things just aren't working for me tonight!

Just a few snaps of the boys at soccer in their lovely new shirts, having lots of fun. Last weekend Hamish seemed to just follow Mel wherever she was, it was very cute (I don't know what Melanie thought of it!) Lacho had a turn in goals and took it very seriously! Thanks Stephen B for that shot. They lost 3-1 against Warren but really, the game was quite close. They all had a ball, and the whole team has improved a lot.

Where did my dark-haired baby go???

2007-08-09T23:24:00.000+10:00

I always imagined that when I had a daughter she would be a beautiful little dark-haired girl, with hair and eyes like mine (and thighs like someone else's completely!)

When Prue came along she was everything that I had ever dreamed of, lovely dark hair, sweet-natured, placid and happy. Now I have this wild, wavy, blonde-headed little thing who is far from placid. Bad-tempered, bossy madam would be a better description. Her father calls her "Wild Mike", or "Mikey", and Prue herself calls herself "wi-mi". For those of you who have seen the children's movie "The Barnyard", yes she is named after the creature in the box, and cross between cousin it and a whirling dervish!

Still, I love her to death. She is still sweet, she is cheeky, and funny, loving and smart. She loves her brothers, her Mum and Dad, and her cinderella doll, named "Della".

2007-07-29T22:25:00.000+10:00

Recently we went to Dubbo for the weekend and stayed with our good friends Kel and Murray. These are the people who were instrumental in Trevor and I meeting and getting together, and they have always been a very important part of our family life. The kids love Anna and Ben, Murray and Kel's kids, and love spending time with them but life is often just too busy so the visits are not as frequent as we would all like.

Ben is 9, and he is so good with Hamish and Lachlan. Patient, responsible, caring, and best of all, just as excited about spending time with them as they always are to see him. Ben is hero to both Lachlan and Hamish, but particularly Lachlan. We call him their "special cousin". Although they are not related, as "friend" does not seem to hold enough love and importance to describe the way Lachlan feels about Ben.

So on this visit he decked both boys and himself out in homemade military gear, bags, guns, walkie talkies, etc, and off they went to the "base camp". Ben was the commander (as apparently his jacket says this, therefore it is so!) and Hamish and Lachlan were privates. This shot shows them resenting the interruption to their very imaginative, comprehensive army games. They were having so much fun, as they always do when they get together. There is normally at least one boy in tears when it comes time to say goodbye each visit.

My boys are 5!!!!!!!

2007-07-29T22:13:00.000+10:00

On the 20th of July my beautiful boys, Hamish and Lachlan, turned 5. I cannot believe it. 5 seems like such an important milestone. Not just for the boys but for us as a family. Trevor and I were both somewhat emotional.

The boys had a lovely day, going to preschool where they had the somewhat gaudy, slightly scary looking "5" racing car cake. the boys loved it, but the amount of food colouring scared me a little.
Hamish got a hotwheels "laptop" computer, and Lacho loves his Spidewrman pinball machine. prue also gave them a truck each that acts asa carry case for small cars. Luckily they received some books, textas and activity books from members of our family (thanks Nan, Karen and Dad), including some great books from my Nan which help them to learn numbers and number writing, which is exactly where we are up to!
We got Prue a small present too, as we felt that she is too young too understand why both of her brothers were getting presents and she wasn't. In fact when I tried to explain that it would be the boys' birthday and that they would get some presents, she just kept saying "me too". Too sad, so we spoilt her with a little backpack and a strawberry shortcake plate and cup!

Hamish and Lachlan loved their gifts, and had a massive party in the park after soccer the next day where they got an embarrasing amount of presents! We have discussed each one and who it was from, and then "helped" the boys choose some to put away in the cupboard for later.

Lachlan informs me that he is now ready for big school, as he is 5 now, and Hamish is busily wearing the several"5" birthday badges that they received as gifts.

2007-07-03T17:52:00.000+10:00

Better not leave out the third little bush kid, even though she is already the star of this blog in terms of most frequent appearances!

farm kids!

2007-07-03T17:43:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was such a lovely day. The weather has been so bad lately that the kids have only ventured out rugged up for short excursions to their bike or the sandpit. But yesterday they spent the whole day outside , particularly around the shed in the afternoon, enjoying their father's presence. He has been so busy lately and they have really missed being able to spend time with him while he works. The boys love clambering all over the boom spray (a converted cotton module builder) because it is so high and has fort-like ramps and rails all around it. Prue gets up there too, but yesterday I enjoyed taking a few shots of the boys enjoying each other's company for a change, even dressed like twins for once!

One of the working dogs has had pups and there are six of them. They are 4 weeks old and yesterday they finally ventured out from the hiding place that their very good mother chose to have them in. Under the scrap metal pile! Six puppies between three kids means every one gets a turn, exactly the way everything should come! It is days like yesterday that I really value the farm upbringing that my kids are getting, even if I was whinging about it on the weekend!

Aren't they lovely!

2007-07-01T20:24:00.000+10:00

I have been reviewing photos of the kids to choose a photo for a project. I found all three of the portraits that have been taken of the three kids together, starting since Prue was 6 months old and the boys 3 years 3 months. The last one taken in November 2006 shows the boys wearing the same shirts but looking so much more grown up! In this photo the boys are almost 4.5 years and Prue is bout 18 months old. The black and white one was probably 6 months before. I love looking at photos of my kids, being amazed at how they have grown, and wistfully remembering what they used to look like when they were tiny. I particularly love photos that show them together enjoying each other's company and showing their love for each other. the black and white shot is my favourite because they look like they love each other so much. Sorry for boring anyone, but am amusing myself!!

The kids in all their glory!

2007-06-25T22:12:00.000+10:00

Just a few shots of the kids, ranging from the boys at soccer and in their easter parade hats, to Prue having tea parties and practicing her beuaty principle, which she has perfected at the Prue Donnelly School of Beauty.
Prue is also modelling her favourite top, a lovely synthetic number which stragely draws completely strangers in to ask if they can touch it everytime she wears it!!! Maybe that is why she likes it.

Prue turns two

2007-06-25T21:06:00.000+10:00

Well we have been offline for almost a month, and now that we are back with a new working modem, I thought that I ad best revisit my very full blog (ha ha) and update Prue's birthday before it is time for the boys' fifth birthday next month! Prue had some little cupcakes at home on her actual birthday, then a party with friends (ours obviously) the next day. Her cake was a bit technicolour due to a large rush of food colouring flowing from the bottle, but she seemed to like it! Lots of champagne and wine was drunk by the grown ups. Prue loved all of her presents and the boys enjoyed choosing gifts for her. Hamish gave her a necklace and bracelet, and Lachlan asked me to get her a fairy doll and a fairy horse! He may seem like our rough and tumble little boy, but finds it impossible to hide his gentle, sensitive side where his baby sister is concerned. Trevor and I gave her a hobby horse and a little wooden doll's bed. She proceeded to pile all of her presents onto the bed, then position herself on top as well, and pretend to be asleep. It was very cute.

starting a fresh with some holiday piccies

2007-04-20T18:25:00.000+10:00

We recently were lucky enough to holiday in QLD. We had a great time catching up with the OWens and Bowerman families.
The two little bathing beauties holding hands are Prue and Eleri (pronounced fairy hee hee), the daughter of my friend Chim. The girls had a great time playing in the water sprinkler at sea world. It was the first time that they had ever met. They were so cute together. I wish we could see Chim, Jase and the girls all the time, the kids get on so well and I miss you heaps Chim. Only today Prue was asking about "dairy" (her name for Eleri..oops), and Eleri's dad Jase with whom Prue is apparently quite taken! The photo of the boys is in Chinatown, not the best shot but I love it. We took the kids for a walk through China town in Bris-vegas, where we checked out the chines supermarket and had indian delicacies for morning tea and chinese for lunch. They are now keen to go to China and India (so is Mum, but Mum wants to go every where!) The first photo shows Trevor and the kids at Byron Bay lighthouse, the most easterly point of Australia. Note no photos of me as yet. Isn't it always how terrible you look in holiday piccies that sends you running to the scales?

When I learn to collage (thanks Monique) I will put some more holiday pics up, plus Prue's Birthday photos and the boys at Preschool. Until then this whole photo uploading business is very tedious and I havent worked out how to place the photos exactly where I want them and with labels in the right spots. Yes, I am, as ever, the technomoron.