Simplify..

My word for this year is

I'm not sure whether is a lack of time management at home or just the fact that there is too much to do.... either way its time to simplify and get back to enjoying the little things....

on that note - i have decided not to do shuttercal this year, I love to go back and check out our life in pics but it is a great relief to know the world wont end if I miss a day and that I wont have to spend the time downloading....
instead I think i will share some of my instagram pics on this blog.

I went and saw this at the movies last night

probably nothing fantastic for most but i am a sucker for these movies that share in so many different lives... i very much enjoyed it.

Just been hanging at home this week and loving getting up at 8:30/9 with nothing pressing to do....
went to the beach on thur, it was such a great day with perfect weather and waves...

It's been pretty hot around here, so much so that even the bees had to get out for a bit of fresh air...

on our theme of simplifying we have realised that we only have limited time left to hang with the kids (they are 9 and 11) Ten years seems like a long time but by golly the last 10 tore by pretty quick.... anyway Shane has decided to sell his beloved bike so we can put the money towards a pool and he has one less thing to try to cram into our weekends. (he didn't have much time to get cold feet - it sold in less that 24 hours)

as you've probably noticed Talos likes to grab Koda around the neck so we have started putting euky bear rub (like vicks) on his neck to stop it...check out Talos' tongue.... not happy.

and my LO for this post is the yearly kids chrissy page....

Tilll later

Happy New Year

(my pics never work this well)

and a belated christmas to all!!!

To be fair this pic of Shane was taken the night before New Years Eve (he peaked a bit early) after a day with his brother, father, nephew and brother-in-law but it seemed very fitting for the occasion. To be truthful we went to the local 9pm fireworks and were all tucked up in bed before 11.

No resolutions for me this year, just hoping for a lot of well used family time...

Chrissy morning was a very early start (we went back to bed for a hour or so mid morning) filled with wrapping paper, coffee, boxes, fun and wanted gifts....

Regan and I were spoilt by grandma and received these beautiful necklaces by Lisa Leonard , something we can treasure for ever.

and Aaron just loves his new tank... Shanes pretty fond of it as well...

We then went out for the traditional photo (not overly impressed by this years but the family only give me so many chances) and off to Jaimies for Chrissy lunch...

so... going backwards .... before chrissy
we spent Christmas Eve at the riverbank before checking out the lights around town...

we spun the honey off the frames - we got 18kg from one box... yummmmmm

I bleached a strip of Regans hair blond before dying it bright green (last year it was red and done by a hairdresser)

and I put bunny in for a well deserved wash ...... I came out a bit later to find this....

she just couldn't wait until he was dry for a hug and a slosh...

and of course I better finish up with a LO (im on fire)

and a pic of the dogs..

Till next time...

The build up

It's been a pretty slow week building up to the school holidays, getting things done around the house, waiting on last minute parcels etc.

Regan went for a sleepover fri night but decided not to come home till Sun evening.... she was sunburnt and very very tired...

Aaron finally got his Ghi for karate and wore it with pride to the last lesson of the year... he wasnt able to go last week as they were grading... Regan got her second stripe - yeah to her although she was hoping to move up to a blue belt...

We ran the still on the weekend - guess what the workmates are getting for Chrissy...

Talos is getting bigger and bigger.... and oh so gorgeous - he is going to be the most beautifully natured dog...

He is now quite capable of standing over Koda...

And spends most of his day with his mouth around Kodas neck...It looks uncomfortable but Koda only puts up with it so long....They are the best of buddies

and another LO over and done with.... Regan surfing at Manly...

I'm off now to take the Chrissy pics of the kids - better late than never

Till later....

Have you ever

had a time where you look at yourself and think OMG... My time was thur at the kids presentation. I, like the other mums had to skip out on work for a few hours to attend and as I was sitting on the kids bench seats waiting for the classes to be called I was joined by three mums, a lawyer, a medical receptionist and a cafe owner. As I put my legs up on the bench in front of me I noticed that out of my faded, slightly big for me cargo shorts came a pair of white hairy legs (how had I not shaved this week) looking further down I came across a pair of purple and blue striped explorer socks and work boots with a large spash of batter on them. Now overly conscious about my appearance I remembered that my eyebrows really need a go over and that hair appoint that was booked in for the following weekend was probably a week or two to late (the messy ponytail wasn't fooling anyone). This of course is all on top of the sweet smell of hamburgers and fried food. Dear me girl - get your act together....

Talking of presentations, the kids did well, they have both had a great year this year... Regan had put herself up for school captain but unfortunantly didn't make it to the committee, she was disapointed but did so well to make it to the top ten (there are 65 kids in her year)..... I am so proud that she is one of those girls that will try out for anything, but unfortunantly she also takes things personally when she doesn't get in... After a few small tears when she got home she stated that she might go for sports captain..... my golly girl will you never learn....I often describe her as the girl that puts herself down for the 100 mtr butterfly and then gets dissapointed when she doesn't win even though she only goes to the pool about 5 times a year. Although she often gets upset I think this is a great part of her personality and it will do her good as the years go by.... you never get anywhere by sitting up the back.....

The Chrissy tree is finally decorated... Aaron made us put it up on the 1st but Regan has things on until last Sun which is when we decorated it.

This is my snow globe for 2011 - must admit this is my favourite so far...

My tattoo has healed up and I love it although a lot of people are asking if it is real...

Check it out... Ive been scrapping - I even have another one on my bench at the moment...

Guess whos got one week of school left...then I think a week of sleep...

Till next time.

Another one down...

I have been trying for a while now to get a new job.... my hours where i am are fantastic but there has been a change in the ownership and staff and I think its about time I left.... and lets face it, there comes a certain age when you just don't want to be flipping hamburgers. sooooo... in the last few months I have put in 8 appplications - some of them up to 3 pages long once i answered all questions - with only two interviews, the last of which was yesterday and still no luck. I have tried admin - which is actually what I am trained for, Teachers Aide - also qualified, and yesterdays was for a school canteen - highly qualified.... I realise that I am lucky to have a job and am able to take these rejections without it effecting the family budget, I can only imagine how frustrating it is for all those unemployed out there... anyway another one is in the mail yesterday arvo so fingers crossed...

-days like this don't help to keep me motivated to stay where I am -

On the other hand Aaron had a great day at school on Wed... He came home with "good news"..
His friend Daniel had been away for two days and Aaron finds it hard to go up to the other boys in his class at lunch times so mainly hangs with a few of the girls... anyway at first lunch he was sitting on his own when one of the boys came up and asked him to sit with the group......ohhhhhhhh.... i so love Jordan at the moment. Aaron said he "listened to the boys lots and even said some things, not much" The point is that these kids like him and are very happy to include him all he has to do is join in. I am so proud of my little man at the moment he and Daniel both played cricket with the other boys in the class on Thur after Aaron got up the courage to ask if they could.

if anyone else out there has a kid with anxiety this is a great read with real life situations in it..

We have finally got rid of the old lounge out of the family room and replaced it with this...

it has made the room a bit bare but i think with a dispay shelf and picture it will be quite a nice space...

over the chrissy holidays Im going to try to make something like this for the wall. I found it here and it is made up from paint chips... I'll let you know how I go.

In other news Regan won a colouring in comp at school getting a $5 voucher from the canteen....

and we put up the tree on Dec 1 at Aarons strict instructions but haven't been able to decorate it yet as Regan hasn't been home since....

Till next time..