more party

Everyone was sitting around in a big circle so I broke them up to play cards games and some to do craft. Probably should have left them as then I realised I had split up the group into my bank friends and my craft friends.

Maryann and Di having a serious game of Quarx!! Required a lot of deep concentration!!









Jane making a card and doing some serious chatting too!
Jen cutting up some squares to make a quilt, with Tan concentrating on something!!















Then Tanya decided it was time to play some silly games - she wanted desperately to play celebrity head, so Maria went first against her. It was hilarious fun! Here is Maria as Bette Midler!!




After that we played charades - all this nonsense without any alcohol - amazing!!!



Thanks girls for a wonderful night!

My birthday....

I had an absolutely brilliant birthday this year!!

I was 45 on April 11!

Officially middle aged and if this is the middle of my life I have got an awful long time to go and plenty of time to do so much more!!


Daniel baked me a cake. He made me buy a packet mix so that he could do it all himself, so I chose a nice plain butter cake but, of course he had to cover it in in Chocolate Icing!! How he loves his chocolate!!

Paula and Adele gave him some cute little animal candles to put on top of it, so the elephant was front and centre on the cake and my beanie kid Naughton the elephant was in pride of place next to the cake.










The three boys went out for the night so that I could have an all girls coffee, cake and craft night. It was great fun.



This is Tanya and Sharon, being silly as usual!! Sharon wore her jammies as she had been told it was a sleepover!!!









Susy was a hairdresser in a past life, so she couldn't resist doing some hairstyling for Pixie. Pixie lapped it all up - she had a great night too because her favourite people, Susy and Jen came so she got lots of cuddles!!!



















Paula, Di and Maryann must be listening carefully to someone across the other side of the room!!

Watlzing Matilda

Night at our end of term 1 get together at Scouts. The Cub Scouts had been doing a theme on Early Australia so we finished the Term with Waltzing Maltilda.


This is Daniel making himself a swaggie hat. I think Andrew was watching as Daniel probably didn't want any parent help!

















The finished product! I had not been able to source enough corks so we improvised and used minties - another good old aussie invention!!! Very handy when you get hungry later on! Not sure if many of the minties made it home!



















The kids had a go at swinging the billy to make a cup of tea. Think the bucket was a tad too big for the kids. Most of them ended up on the ground with the billy beside them!!


Then it was goodnight and have a great holiday for the kids. South Australia was lucky that the kids got 2 weeks of holidays.

Dolphins are tricky to photograph!!

This is the best shot I got of them and we watched them for a good 45 minutes! Next year Daniel and I are both going snorkelling!!!














My boy on the beach with a ball - my attempt at some creative photography!! I love it so that is all that matters, hey??

This was our last day and it was the first day that the sun shone brightly enough for us to spent some serious beach time. I sat and nattered with the adults while Daniel played with his friend Chris. Gregory was back at the house resting up from an allnighter the night before!











The beach on the other side of Point Roadknight. So beautiful I could have sat and watched the water all day. I love walking and sitting at the beach but am not real fond of getting in the water! Weird huh??

Well I can safely say that we all had a ball and will be back for the 2009 Camp!!

Seals, seals, seals...

This was the first stop on the boat trip. I can't remember what is was called but the people snorkelling jumped off and swam around the rocks to see all the under water wildlife, while the rest of us watched the seal sleeping and the birds playing.



This big fella just lay on the rock the whole time - except when he decided to try another spot - turned completely around and ended up back in exactly the same place and promptly went back to sleep again.




These birds were having a good old kiss and cuddle up on the post. I took lots of photos but this is my favourite - don't they look great!?





















We then moved further out into Port Phillip Bay to a seal colony. We knew when we had found it as the stink was unbelievable!! It was a boys only camp so you can imagine the stench!! Luckily the boat operator parked the boat upwind so we could watch them. When the snorkellers jumped into the water and started splashing around some of the seals dived in to have a swim with them. It was amazing!









I love this photo of the younger seal using another seal for a pillow! Isn't he a cutie!?

Still here...

Where have I been I hear you asking.... It is 25 days since my last blog and I am sorry.

So to make up for it - grab a cup/glass of your favourite beverage and I will begin updating for the month of April.

April the first marked our 3 year anniversary of driving out of Queensland to start our new life in South Australia!

It was also the day we drove over to Anglesea, south of Geelong on the Great Ocean Road for the annual Anglesea Homeschool Camp. We had a great week, sharing a house with 2 other Mums and their 5 children. The house was very close to where all the other homeschooling families were staying at the Araluen Camp site, which made it a wonderful thing for Gregory who was able to be very independent and come and go as he pleased. This left just myself and Daniel for me to worry about and anyone that know Daniel knows that he is very easy to get along with, so a fun week was had by all. Thanks to Dora, Kai, Rosie, Robyn, Angus, Hamish and Eric for sharing our week with us! And now some photos from the week.
Gregory out in the canoe paddling like crazy! Daniel with his friends Zac and Chris.
Daniel and I had the opportunity to go out on a boat in Port Phillip Bay to see the seals and dolphins. I was so excited and impressed to actually see them both. I was sure the dolphins would have heard I was coming and dived down to the deep sea!! Stay tuned for more photos.....

From a friend...

I got this beautiful email with some great quotes from Maya Angelou. Thank you Vicki.

Read on...

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting.' Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried.

She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this: 'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

Aren't they great!

I like the one about lost luggage, rainy days and tangled Christmas lights. I always say it doesn't matter if I lose my luggage as long as I get to buy all new stuff to replace what I lost. Therefore I never put my camera, passport etc in the luggage - I carry it aboard. I love rainy days! Enough said! But I have to admit I dread the annual putting up of the Christmas tree as it is always my job to get the lights ready and Gregory puts them up! I stress just thinking about it! Will have to change my approach to that then hey??

Anyway the boys and I are off to a homeschool camp over at Anglesea (south of Geelong on the Great Ocean Road) for a week, leaving tomorrow, so I may be missing for a little while. I plan on taking the laptop, so if the mobile internet thingy is playing fair I will post some photos, if not you will all have to wait until I return.

Ciao for now!