Friday 30 October 2009

Money & other musings

"If I had a little money" ...I'd take more than a trip down memory lane. I'd travel to the Greek Isles ;).

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain't it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That's too bad
In my dreams I have a plan. If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all ...

It sounds like the story of my life LOL. Though I wouldn't swap my man or my life. A 'an' old girl can still dream.

6 years on my birthday we went to see the live musical 'Mamma Mia' at the Lyric Theatre , Star City. (It has returned again).

MAMMA MIA! sings the story of a mother and daughter the eve of the daughter's wedding. The fun begins when the daughter invites three men who could be her father to her wedding, after reading her mother's diary.They arrive unknown to her mother.

Some of ABBA's biggest hits are woven into the story, written by Catherine Johnson.

I borrowed it from my local library and today I watched it (alone). The movie was sheer fun. I was laughing, dancing & clapping... there was no audience as enthusiastic.

Though I had seen the musical before, I was still amazed , as ever, at the creative ways in which they managed to incorporate so many ABBA-songs. The stage musical was better but I still enjoyed the movie.

Equally brilliant were Meryl Streep and all the extras (beautiful Greeks especially older women) deployed throughout the movie to break into a chorus.The setting was enchanting, whisk me away to a Greek island anytime...

As a musical Mamma Mia doesn't take itself too seriously and the singing 'older eye candy' Colin Firth (MR Darcy) and Pierce Brosnan are hilarious (& still cute). Even if your not an ABBA fan it is good fun.

So , if you are a little crazy and if you secretly love ABBA you will love this movie.



I didn't get time to post this yesterday. I had more important things happening.

It was my husband's birthday and we have now celebrated 20 birthdays together through the good and bad times. Next birthday we will known each other half our lives.


We have shared the fortunate joys of children and a home. While it hasn't always come easy we have shared many good things in life as well as enduring the loss of loved ones.

I pray this next year is going to be a great one for us and I cannot imagine anyone else that I would want to spend my life with. You are my heart - even though we have had some hard times in past few years.

I pray that we will have a respite from the struggles and can pause a moment or maybe even a few months, to just reflect and recognize all that we do have and enjoy it simply for what it is, without thinking about what it is not.

You are a good and responsible man, the sort of man anyone can always call on for help. Where you can possibly find a way to help, you will... beyond measure. Even at the expense of physical and emotional pain.

Over the years you haved worked very hard for our family to find a blance in everything.You amaze me with your strength and tenacity.Our sons are going to be incredible Dads someday, owed mostly to your spirit and love.

I've seen the look in your eyes.The joy and laugher our crawling,almost walking 1 yr old brought to our lives (by adoption).The
incredible awe and wonder twin newborns inspired and the anguish and disbelief that stillbirth brought.

When D, then Charlotte , and then S & J arrived neither us of knew what to expect but you have most definitely risen to the challenge and have every day since... I'd never have done it without you. Some days are hard but we get by.


Here’s to the year ahead with lots of fun, a long overdue holiday, more laughs and love, less arguments and more making up out!

Come rain, come shine, I will love you forever and beyond measure.



LIVE every moment ღ♥¸.•*¨`*. ¸.•LAUGH every day ღ♥¸.•*¨`*. ¸.•LOVE beyond words ღ♥¸.•*¨`*.¸.•
BE Grateful for what You have¸.•*¨`*.¸.♥☼



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Monday 26 October 2009

15 Rainy day activities

It's raining it's pouring ...I want to sing a sad song...Not really.
Rainy days as much as rain is needed can often be frustrating for toddlers & preschoolers ...not to mention their parents. The cabin fever sends 'tempers' soring with unacceptable behaviour . The kids behaviour can be extreme too :) .
So what do we do on rainy days - we organise stimulating activities (for mum) and the kids have fun too. Showing them extra attention helps guide us all into reasonable and calmer behaviours. The challenge is to have fun ...
  1. Bake choc chip cookies - kids can measure/stir and press choc chips in (though hard to keep them from sampling)
    125gm butter
    1/2 cup castor sugar
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1teas vanilla essence
    1 egg
    1 & 1/2 cups of self raising flour
    3/4 cup milk & white choc chips
    • preheat oven 160 °C
    • cream sugar & butter until fluffy & light
    • mix in egg & vanilla essence
    • stir in flour and mix well
    • add half the choc chips and mix in
    • put teaspoonfuls - or bigger onto a baking tray lined with baking paper , press more choc chips into the top and flatten them slightly, bake for 10-12 mins depending on size.
    • remove from oven and sit for at least 2mins :) .They might still be soft when you remove them from oven but should firm up and still be chewy, for crisper cookies cook a few mins more.
    Don't eat them all at once !

  2. Make playdough and create .
  3. Puzzles ... jigsaws or other , or cut and make your own from magazines.
  4. Indoor cubbies using kitchen table /chairs or lounges and have an indoor picnic (use a rug pegged down by table legs to contain any crumbs)
  5. Make the tall block towers (then knock them down if safe) or crazy constructions from duplo/lego or megablocks ...
  6. Play hide n seek (if only have one child use teddies to hide and seek)
  7. Threading necklaces - breakfast fruit rings (if you like 'colours') / Cheerios or plain pasta.
  8. Stickers ...buy a few different of the small booklets of 180 and give a sheet of each design.
  9. Trainsets or teasets ...make a huge track and then go on a pretend trip and teaset picnic.
  10. Balloon volley ball .. tie a piece of string or rope ? between door handles / chairs and have the kids hit it back & forth.
  11. Look at photo albums of them as a baby or videos.
  12. Boxes ...boxes ...what's in a box
  13. Indoor obstacle course with pillows to climb over / crawl under tables /chairs in/out baskets or boxes/around whatever goes.
  14. Dress ups
  15. Make paper boats , put on their gumboots (rainboots) and raincoats or polar fleece clothes and let them jump in puddles/float a boat and when cold & wet or you have had enough come inside for a warm bath ;).
I hope the people (farmers across our drought stricken land) who really need rain are getting some of it !
It also hasn't rained for a while so the accumulation of oil on the highways/freeways causes a mess when the rain comes tumbling down.
Please drive safely and slow down to being involved in 'accidents'.
People should realize that it takes longer for a car to stop on wet surfaces, and not be surprised when they crash into the car in front of them ...or worse.


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Sunday 25 October 2009

Weekly Winners 41 2009

Oct 18th - 24th

Sometimes I feel wired other days my wires are crossed, some days are diamond and some days are even better. Some days I ... have a long list of complaints , knowing others have far worst lists I won't bother you with mine.

I didn't get many pictures this week.It was a busy week with Mr DH away three days and almost three nights.It was a relief to have him home so I could enjoy a hot cup of tea. The Brothers were so BUSY (..& wild) ! I was exhausted mentally and physically. I suffer insomnia when DH is away badly.

The view out my kitchen window
Riding tandem in the rain .
Though it is a trike/bike for 1 !

I feel truly blessed when I see them having such fun together.
Having twins is a special blessing.


Some days they are inseparable ...the best of friends
others I can't separate them quickly enough when they are at odds each other.
(PS- J did a face plant on the Teen's skateboard and scraped his nose)

Our Operation Christmas Child boxes ...
we put the same photo in the boxes.
(We made ours for boys 2-4yrs. I'd like it to become a Christmas {early} tradition)


MG cars we saw in the rain !

J loves his bike /convertible trike ;).

Sky watching
(we sit on the low side of 2x two storey houses)

What I didn't get photos of ... the buffet at the Casino (OMG is was humungous) and Sydney City at dusk/night ...it is so pretty.

Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's Lotus always has some breathtaking images.

Operation Christmas Child





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Thursday 22 October 2009

Operation Christmas Child ...


Operation Christmas Child is a unique project of Samaritan's Purse that brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through simple gift-filled shoe boxes. They are practical and a lot of fun.
Gift Ideas

Fill your shoe box with one or more items from each ‘something’:

SOMETHING TO LOVE
Teddy bear, doll, soft toy, etc.
SOMETHING FOR SCHOOL
Exercise book, pencil case, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, sharpener, eraser, chalk, etc.
SOMETHING TO WEAR
T-shirt, shorts, underwear, cap, beanie, sandals, thongs, etc.
SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH
Tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, marbles, musical instrument, yo-yo, slinky, finger puppets, wind up torch, etc. (No battery operated items)*
SOMETHING FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE
Soap and face washer, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hair-clips, scrunchies, etc.
(No toothpaste or anything liquid)*

SOMETHING SPECIAL*
Carry bag, sunglasses, bangles, necklaces, craft kits, stickers, note or photo of yourself.

Visit The Operation Christmas Child website to find out more and to find out where to drop your shoeboxes call 1800 684 300. There are drop off points all over Australia.

Hurry the last day is 25th October.
It also operates in the UK. I only just found the church newletter tonight about last years collection ...which I missed. You know what I am doing tomorrow.



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Wednesday 21 October 2009

Wordless Wednesday - How does your garden grow

I know that if odour were visible, as colour is,
I'd see the summer garden in rainbow clouds.
~Robert Bridges, "Testament of Beauty"

Early this morning ...the light was not good ;)



How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence. ~Benjamin Disraeli

I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"



Three months ago my garden looked like this ...
"Life is like a rose garden - Watch for the thorns and keep the pest dust handy”


This was 5 years ago ... not long after we finished


This was 2 years ago ...LOL the cute kid has grown too !


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Tuesday 20 October 2009

Excitement


Days of Grace 21/365

  1. Sleeping next to DH all night ... two big, little boys who finally slept all night in their own beds (AT LEAST till AFTER 6am or so).
  2. Two little, big boys who both also woke up dry !
  3. Opening the envelop containing the $200 wish card I won thanks to KOLEOS, Soup & Tina ... can you believe it is only 66 DAYS till Christmas 2009.
  4. Opening surprise $100 voucher to Star City Garden Buffet restaurant (I won from local newspaper online Oktoberfest comp ...though only valid till 31st Oct)
  5. 'Winning' the eBay auction for Tupperware busy blocks (well it's exciting to me) ...

    I am going to use the Blocks which are a cube with hinged opening to make an Advent calendar to count down to Christmas (first as a sleep in your own bed bribe).

    Plus I found another lady on a forum after I placed a wanted ad - so I can do one for both S & J.

    I want to make it a family tradition. I'll fill them with small animals for a Navity scene and or small chocolates /lollies.

    PS I love the style of this one but I want it less Santa'ified. I hope DH can copy it ;)



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Sunday 18 October 2009

Weekly Winners 40 2009

Oct 11th - 18th
A gorgeous and busy week was had by all. The weather was perfect.

Four Little ducks went out one day ...Then the Mother Duck went crazy and chased me quack when she caught me snaping them !

Mr Kookaburra in the old gum didn't mind posing a bit
My little car clicked over 9999km
We enjoyed a day with special friends Tiff & Blossom and their gorgeous children .We ate lots of yummy food ...
Cuddles from a gorgeous girl
We walked hand in hand
We went to the Teddy Bear Picnic the annual fundraiser for the Westmead Children's Hospital today ...

Danced with Dorothy the dinosaur
and wiggled with Wags
Listened to a legend ~ a large Frilled neck dancing singing lizard
Antique pedal cars
Miniature Train rides
It was so hard to chose just a few LOL !
The Thomas train ride was the boys favourite.

Weekly Winners is a meme to show off your favourite snaps of the week ,not a competition so anyone can join in the fun ...Please go see more Weekly Winners @ Lotus's Lotus always has some breathtaking images.

PS Last Sunday my battery was flat and the charger MIA ( found in DH's car console) so I couldn't upload anything !



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