keepin up with the joneses

D-Day....

2012-02-16T09:39:00.002+08:00

As I reflect on the last year( & the last few months) a few things jump out at me.
Never underestimate the power of Organisation.
Never underestimate the power of Family & Friends.
And again, never underestimate the power of ORGANISATION.
Not news to me. Or you. At all.
But still some things present themselves over & over again.
So with everything going on around here at the moment, of course the first thing to go was the organisation.
It never fails to amaze me that no matter how much work you put into organisation & cleaning & de-cluttering, if you take your eye of the ball for long enough you are right back where you started.
I tried to get hold of Mum yesterday to ask "where do I start?"

Kitchen? Bedrooms? Paperwork? Study? Toys?

My mother is the Queen of Clean.

No seriously.

YOU. HAVE. NEVER. SEEN. ANYTHING. LIKE. IT.

One time my Dad & I took a ruler into her WIR Linen closet and I sh*t you not there was less than a cm difference in her folding of all her colour coded towel.
The same goes for her flannels, tea towels & hand towels.
She caught us and told us that we were a pair of immature idiots and stormed off.
As we of course killed ourselves laughing like a couple of kids getting into trouble.
Honestly, we were actually a bit scared she'd come back with the wooden spoon.

And don't even ask me how she gets her fitted sheets to look like they just came out of the packaging.
Bizzz-are.

So anyway.

I think I missed out on the Clean freak Gene.

I think I got ample of the "I'll do it tomorrow" gene though.

Guess what I think tomorrow has arrived.

I spoke to Caz yesterday & she informed me to start with the Washing.

Mmmmm. I loathe washing.

But considering it is all over the Kitchen table.
The big armchair.
On the line.
In the washing machine.
In piles all over the bedroom floors.
And as no-one in this house can find a pair of jocks, a matching pair of sox or an ironed school shirt at the moment, I guess she is right.

Damn it.

Loving.....

2012-02-15T15:50:00.000+08:00

Perfect Autumn outfit.
Shoes are divine.

Love everything.
Especially the lovely "forgiving" top and the killer shoes.

Perfect for so many upcoming events in the next 12 months.
Now if only I could convince the Husband that I need this WHOLE outfit.
From start to finish.

perfect busy Mum wear.

Favourite of the whole lot...

Or maybe not.
This could be my Favourite.
In fact, surely it won't hurt anybody if I only purchase the cardigan and the skirt.

So I have been on the Birdsnest site.
Looking at all their New Arrivals.
I have picked my favourites from their whole collection above.
Seriously if I come into some serious money to buy the whole lot, I'll share it around promise.
But I think the bank balance can handle a purchase or two, surely??
Decisions, decisions.

Time out. . . .

2012-02-14T11:13:00.002+08:00

I am very aware that time I spend with the little boys, is very different to the times I spent with my older two boys at the same ages.
I had Ry & Fin, two years & 10 months apart and over four years later I did it all over again with nearly the same gap between the two younger boys.
With the older boys, we were at home pretty much for 5 years straight, until Reilly went to full time school & started playing football one sunny winter morning a week.

That was it.
Fin was 3 and we had all been together looking for Faeries under mushrooms on our daily walks basically for the whole of their lives.
We would spent days upon days on the beach, on nature walks, on learning our name, playing with play dough & napping.
It was a very idyllic start to life spent in a small country town, living right on the water for the most part.
We had the most amount of one on one time as you can imagine.

By the time Kai & Kell were the same age I was busy with school commitments, sport commitments & all their friends & although I think I've done a pretty good job at keeping it all in check, of course there are times when it all becomes too much.
Now the boys are nearly both teenagers, with teen aged interests.
They are pretty good boys who's lives revolve around school, sports, family & friends, but they are BUSY.
Which in turn keeps me & Cj very busy.

I find myself thinking a whole lot "when did it all get so full on".

That is of course when work bit the dust.

Between work, homemaking, the big boys & all the everyday commitments I felt the smaller boys were the ones to miss out.

So I have decided to do something about it...
I put it out there to the universe so to speak, and within days a plan was forming.

I am going to to take the younger boys out of school for 4 weeks & go hang in their Grandfather & their Aunty Jule's little beach shack "down south".

Concentrating on nothing other than the 2 younger boys, no distractions, no meeting other peoples schedules, no sports, no social commitments, just me & the 2 little ones & the husband & the older boys on a couple of the weekends.

After much consideration it was decided that it would just be me & the little ones for the most part. The teenager can not of course miss that much school in year 11 & I am not capable of teaching him at that level, academically he is already much stronger than me.
And Fin is in year Seven.
The year you remember for the rest of your life.
School camp, school councilor, basketball club &amp all the lovely things that go with being the oldest in the school, and I mean that sincerely.

So I am going to home school my little boys for 4 weeks, walk on the beach, connect with our beautiful dog Stormy, sew, cook, learn & play & hang out with family.
Taking the kids to dinner at Nana & Pops on a moments notice is going to be such a wonderful experience for them & staying at my brothers farm a few days here and there is going to be so good for them as well.

It also gives Cj time to just connect with the Teenagers.
Do "Boys to Men" sorta stuff.
Plus the older boys will have to make their lunches & cook twice a week too, .
I never thought taking time out in half's would be the answer, but I think in this case it is.

The older boys will have to do washing, cooking & organising.
They'll have to get themselves ready for school, make & pack their own lunches & get their own stuff together.
Stuff that I just can't let go of when I am home.

Plus lets face it, it gives them a break as well as Me.

They can all just relax too.

A bit.

Not too much that the house goes the rack & ruin.

You know...

Do the minimum...

Letting go.......

and thank god for.....

2012-02-09T13:55:00.010+08:00

source-redhatterchat.com

Girlfriends.

They make you laugh snot bubbles through tears.
They make you laugh & cry over the silliest things.
They know who you are & where you have come from, all the good, the bad & the ugly, but they never remind you of or bring up the Ugly.
Then they concentrate on the good & ignore the bad.
They buy you trinkets when you are struggling with the last kid not being a "baby" anymore with the words "Never look back".
They talk for hours incessantly with you about your "teenager growing up too fast" dilemma's.
Something the husband even finds boring after a while & its his kid....
They point you in the right direction.
They cook you dinner and bring it over after you've had a particularly hard day.
They come on this ride with you that is otherwise known as "life".
They remember you when you need it most.
They leave gifts on your doorstep.
They feed your cat while your away.
The send cards to your Nanna in hospital.
They name their daughters after the same Nanna.
They just get you.

Thanks Jules, Caz, Caroline, Donna, De-Aarn, Anne-Marie, Mim, Ann, Jo, the beautiful Tania and my gorgeous blog mums in the trenches with me everyday.

It makes a difference, it really does.

So raise your champagne bubbles for celebrating snot bubbles(the kids & your own).

New beginnings...

2012-02-06T13:32:00.003+08:00

google images

So ends one of the toughest couple of weeks, mentally, of my life to date.
Running back and forth to the Hospital in 40 plus degree heat, only to see my Nanna so upset that she can't just "go home"...
Getting kids off to a new school year...
Dealing with teenage antics...
Starting the wheels in motion for a new business...
My house looks like an episode of "Hoarders".
Seriously.
A real true episode of "Hoarders"
I am seriously sleep deprived and on the edge.
Why can't I sleep.
Goodness knows.
I am running on about 3 hours a night.
And in those middle of the night hours, my mind runs away from me.
FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC.
I guess it wouldn't seem such a mountain to climb if I could just sleep...
I am struggling, but in a hard, gritty sort of way.
Not in a hopeless, crying sort of way.
Small mercies.

I know instinctively, that these hard times, are the ones that make us want to make the changes, we need to make for the better. phew.
To prioritize your life.
As my friend Caroline R says "we WILL get there"
As my friend Caroline C says "enough is enough"
As my friend Jule's says "you need to do, what you need to do-for YOU"
and lastly but not at all least, Susan says "it's gonna be alright".
It is gonna be OK.

I am putting my OWN immediate family FIRST.
I am taking on nothing other than caring for ME & them.
That of course includes Nanna & Gpops.

Nudda. Niente, Zip.

All the school clubs, sports club, coffee mornings, dinners out & extended family commitments have been put on the back burner.
Feels weird, but strangely liberating to just let it all go.
I am not even going to kill myself getting to all the sports commitments this year.
5 weekend games, EVERY single weekend.
If I miss a game here & there, I know they will all be "alright".
The kids will be OK.

Because we did our ground work early on, we did the hard yards from the very beginning.

Thank god for big gawky, goofy, nearly 16 year old smiles,
Thank god for 12 year olds that ask you "are you OK Mum, no really, are you OK Mum",
Thank god for 8 year olds that Masterchef rate your cooking every night declaring it a "10" even when you have slapped together something less than appetising to everyone else.

And just Thank god for Kelly.
Plain & Simple.
Just Kelly.
Who started grade one last week.

Oh and we have a new family member
(Fin's besties's cat had kittens-seriously, really, what-ha)
Names brought to the table were Pepper, Shadow, Silvie, Graycie, Smokey, Big Mama.
and
we
called
her.....

ZELDA.

Bahaha.
Kai's kitten, Kai's choice, so ZELDA it is.
Ps (she looks exactly like the one in the picture)
I will take our own photo's soon.

Still on holidays-part 4

2012-01-31T10:39:00.006+08:00

These 2 have become quite close over the last year or two.

They are both sports nuts that can run like the wind,

so the other kids can't really keep up with them.....

This little $10 skip-disc from Kmart was a winner. Great fun.

But not as big as hit as these Kayaks.

They were hands down the winners.

Even the smaller kids got out in them.

Thanks Rizzo for all the fun.

Kids running wild on the beach.

Caz, me & all the little ones.

Rock pools at Smiths Beach.

The teenager.

Hi-lights of the trip...

A beautiful Dolphin swimming right in front of us for ages, swimming under our kids on Kayaks.

Rizzo's Citrus Pie & his personal side serve.

New Years Eve Poker Game & Court getting snappy over continuously losing.

The kids walking the 3 hour round trip to town more than once.

Coloured Popcorn.

Days at the beach.

Watching how close the kids all are becoming.

Watching my 4 boys in the huge balls laughing hysterically.

Caz & I mistaking Court swimming under water for a huge stingray near the kids & nearly having heart-attacks.

Funny.

White chocolate Magnums in the afternoon.

Long beach walks at dusk.

Nanna is improving everyday.

Every now and again she goes backwards for a day.

But definitely speaking & moving better.

Thanks for all you beautiful comments, text & emails.

So appreciated.

Back to school tomorrow for my gaggle of kids.

Yeah, that's a good thing.

I am craving routine.

Niki

The holidays-part 3

2012-01-29T00:13:00.001+08:00

The Teenager & his delightful girlfriend being funny... at Simmo's icecream-nice.

My 3rd son is as brave as Ned Kelly, he's up for anything. First on this tightrope...

Then the big boys couldn't be outdone...

These things were so much fun...

My 4 boys were in those 2 balls, madly trying to bang into each other...

My beautiful boy...

Thank god I still have a little one to play sandcastles at the beach with. He is a JOY.
Still more to come...
Its been an eventful holiday season...

The fabulous Holidays part 2

2012-01-27T23:30:00.001+08:00

Lots of fishing.

Lots of Poker, Jules, Jimmy & I all won.

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Lots and lots of beach cricket

New beach dress...

And lots of "eye candy" in the shape of our husbands....

My best favourite shop ever...

Recent bush fires in our lovely state...

And lots of beautiful wineries...

The holidays Part 1

2012-01-27T12:50:00.002+08:00

Christmas Morning-bright & early...
Ready for bacon & egg breakfast...

Part of Santa's night time delivery...

Christmas morning Mayhem...
and my paint sampling on the walls...ha.

Family...

Santa got some great free merchandise with the new Mario Karts DSI games...

Santa's clever like that.

Finally off on our holidays, a couple of days after Christmas.
Believe it or not there was actually another kid & another dog in this car.
I threatened the teenager if he kept making stupid faces while I was taking pictures I'd post them.
So here it is.

CRAZY.

Back with more later....

Rosina

2012-01-21T19:30:00.003+08:00

The pain is quick to the surface.

But the Love is great and I need to write.
On Tuesday my Nanna had a operation to remove a small growth on her lungs.
It was wonderfully successful.
On Wednesday she was full of life & as happy as I'd heard her in a long time.
On 10 am Thursday morning I had a message from my Grandfather to call as soon as possible.
I returned the call within 10 minutes.
My dear, much loved, beautiful Nanna had suffered a stroke at 9am that morning & he was at emergency.
As I heard this news, the key turned in our front door, Grandpops had rang Court first, and he had of course headed straight home, knowing full well that this day was gonna be a hard one.
It was a terrible day.
One of tears.
frustration.
anger.
tiredness beyond measure.
Within a few hours my father was on a plane from working up North.
My Brother & Mother in a car travelling from down south.
My sister waiting to get the go ahead to fly in from Melbourne.
My Auntie and adored cousins, all uprooted from their normal little lives & their city jobs & arriving at hospital within minutes.
Whilst the word rapidly moved between the rest of the extended family, my Nanna has 7 kids, the phone calls came in thick & fast & I felt like I was in a washing machine.
I waited at home for family to all arrive and prayed each one would arrive safely.
My beautiful Anne-Marie planned to have my kids all day Friday from the earliest possible time so we could all head into the city early.
She moved appointments & the focus from her own family to tend to mine.
I will always remember that.
Even though her husband's Uncle had passed away the night before.
So we all headed off early & spent the day in the Stroke ward of Royal Perth Hospital.
I saw things that made you want to curl up in a ball & say "I give up".
I also saw & experienced things that restore your faith in human beings.
Great big things that make the world a better place.
I experienced family in the greatest possible way.
I watched my Nanna, my gorgeous, vivacious, larger than life Nanna, small & soft & helpless in a hospital bed.
She held our hands and tried so very hard to talk to us.
She held my brother's hand to her face & cried.
She searched my Dad's eyes for answers.
And she truly loved on us girls.
My Grandpops is an inspiration.
I know she will get better slowly, she has too.
We all want her around too much for anything else to be an option.
We all got home last night so dog tired but filled with love.
And now we have a roster system in place so as she is never alone in hospital apart from a few hours through the middle of the night whilst she is sleeping.
Reilly is going in Monday to sit with her & just be with her for the afternoon, I think by then the shock will be less for him.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks to Caz too, for listening & caring.

Jules & Don, I know you both have big things happening & I am so sorry I haven't called, but of course we will talk soon.

Niki x

The Veggie patch...

2012-01-18T19:22:00.004+08:00

google images

We are eating tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers & corn in the multitudes since we arrived home from our holidays
(not my photo, I haven't had the energy to get the camera out since arriving home)
Everyday there is fresh veggies to pick and eat.
All from our veggie patch on a 800sqm block(that the house takes up a lot of)
Amazing.

(corn before we left)

And seeings as Caz & I are on a "savings" mission like no other
(we are saving for a holiday to Coral Bay in a few months time)
I figure this is saving about $25 a week.
We eat salad everyday.
Fresh corn on the cob is sooo expensive at the shops & my kids are munching on it for snacks & dinner.
Bliss.
There are also Plums on the trees & Passion fruits too, but they are not quite ready yet.
I am loving it.
Seriously.
Loving it.

The boys are keeping us both very busy.
Between swimming, the beach, having Caitlyn for sleepovers, the older boys taking turns to sleep at Anne-Marie's, Refereeing & chatting constantly to Caz about a our second to none "Savings Mission".
(We need about $3000.00 each family to take our kids up to Coral Bay, Karijini National Park & Yardie Creek in about April, I know!, but we really want to do this before our "Man-Children" leave the nest, they are both 16 this year & we are getting a little nervous about the apron strings, I recommend lots of Supa Glue & hiding the scissors)

We are feeling a bit worn out.

There is about $80.oo bucks flat in our "holiday" account after going down south.

Bring it on.

A New year begins....

2012-01-13T14:56:00.001+08:00

Hi, we are back from our 2 weeks beach side holiday.
Fantastic.
Back 5 minutes & want to go back NOW.
Had such a great time & but it never seems long enough.
I haven't upload my photo's yet, but will do so soon.
So we are gutting the Laundry, Toilet & Walk in robe in the next few weeks.
Our walk in robe backs on to the Laundry & will double its size, so we are knocking down the wall between both to make a nice BIG laundry.
As our room has a ton of wasted space we are covering a wall with built-ins to make up for the lost Wardrobe space.
The room will also have to double as a Work Room, as I will be working from home, hopefully some time in the first half of the new year.
It make sense.
Working from home.
Your own hours.
You can still put the dinner on & do the laundry as well as chat & have cuppa's with your friends.
Gotta love that.
It's a huge thing.
But its what I know & I am good at, so I guess its a winner.
Plus it helps out the family in so many ways.
Also I have a hankering to travel.
Starting with a trip up to Coral Bay in April...
All the kids are at full time school this year...
Once again makes sense....
I love the colour ways & design styles above & hopefully I can pull off a stylish work room to boot.
Love Niki

P.s. Kristy, the first park is at Geographe Bay, Busselton & the second at Vasse Newtown, about 10 kms out of Busso. I hope your Grandmother is doing ok with everything going on up North? Love Niki

My friend Anne-Marie.....

2012-01-10T19:52:00.005+08:00

When my eldest was 4.5, nearly five, we relocated from a tiny country town to the city for work commitments.
We had a nearly 5 year old & a nearly 2 year old & we were excited, but nervous about starting a new chapter of our lives.
On the first day of Reilly's Pre-school I met Anne-Marie-a tiny, petite Mauritian Mum with 4 kids, 2 being boys the exact same age as mine.
Well the boys all hit it off BIG-TIME and to this very day are still the best friends.
Anne-Maire & I became friends quickly & I knew she was a keeper.
Her husband & mine took a couple years getting to know each other here & there & now are great friends too.
We have been away together & been at all the Boys milestones together.
They are so very close & I just know they are "Wedding Party" friends, you know the sort you may not see day to day but remain your longest running friends.
Anyway I wanted to post about Anne-Marie.
The kind of person she is, because even after over 11 years so she still blows me away & inspires me on a daily basis.
Some little things Anne-Marie does that makes life so much nicer everyday for those around her-

1. She remembers even MY parents birthdays & sends them cards. WTF-I hardly remember.

2. She cooks Mauritian feasts & shares them around like only an Islander can.

3. She always, always remembers my kids birthdays, milestones & events & always makes contact on some level-like a Text at 6am in the Morning to wish Reilly Good Luck on his Footy Trip.

4. She always keeps her boys hand me downs for my little ones.

5. She understands when I am so dog tired I can hardly even get out a Hello & makes me feel ok about it.

6. She makes the best Sandwiches in the world according to my kids, as well as the best Fried Rice, just to name a few things that she makes for my kids that they come home talking about for days.....

7. She doesn't swear, raise her voice or ever seem mad at anyone-EVER, but will chuckle quietly whilst I'm putting away the Moscato at a rate of knots & swearing about something or other-ha.

8. She never, ever, ever shows up empty handed. She will always have a little something with her whether its food, a gift, a newspaper article or a diary page for me, so I know what events we have coming up in the next few months, I guess she knows me well.

9. Her elder daughters have babysat everyone of my kids at some stage, the boys adore them.

10. Oliver & Finlay have that once in a lifetime friendship. A brother without the agro. Never a cross word has every been said to each other. He calls Fin-Finnio & Fin calls him Ollio.

11. She is the one of the strongest women I know.

12. She is hands down the best homemaker I have ever met.
She lives in a warm home, has the occasional overseas holidays and is always hospitable with free flowing food & drink .
All on one wage(like us)so she could raise her kids at home(like us)
Yet she lives the most abundant life of anyone I have ever known.

13. She is the Boys "go-to-other-Mum", a safe place for the boys away from home, a place they feel nurtured & loved & most importantly, a place they feel they belong.

14. She loves a glass of Vino on a Friday night around the pool watching the kids swim.

15. She is an amazing friend.

Its been a good year....

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

Lots of time with the Girls...

travelling with the Family to various beach destinations...

with the ferals in tow...

Lots of time spend in the water...

On the Beach...

Learning to surf...

Always by our side...

Family BBQ's...

Lots of Cricket...

And acting silly...

Loving on the Nieces...

in Fairy outfits...

Birthdays celebrated...

Vegemite faces in warm beds...

Football on a Sunday x 3...
And that is just up until June.
More later, Niki

2011-12-27T08:53:00.001+08:00

I hope everyone had a Beautiful Christmas.
Ours was madness & mayhem, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Court pulled off a 10 kilo Pork Roast in the Webber this year without any drama's, unlike previous years, when we lifted the lid to cold, raw roasts. Ha.
The kids went nuts.
With 10 kids here Christmas day(all cousins or cousin's kids) the day was really sweet, watching smaller kids opening presents is really one of the best parts of the whole day.
Reilly lost an eardrum when Lucy opened her Fairy & a Pony for said Fairy to ride upon.
Bloody curdling screams like she jammed her finger or something, truly I think Reilly has a ringing in his ear even this morning.
My gorgeous Finny had a haircut.
It was starting to grow down his back.
We cut it the day before Christmas & I still get a shock when I see him.
This kid is a breeze, truly like walking around in a cool breeze.
Getting two of the others to join in on the haircuts is like treading water for 3 hours in shark infested waters, but thats another story.

We are off soon for two weeks by the sea.
Our annual seaside getaway.
This year we are joined by Kirsty, the Rizzo's, the J & J with adored little Katie,
Jimmy, Jules & Caity(who is staying on with us when her folks head back for work),
My brothers whole family & Ma & Pa are already living there.
So it is going to be just the thing we all need.
Lots of friends, family & fun, no housework, no routines, no hassles.
Just me, Caz, Julie J, Jules, Jade, Jess & Ma lolling around with a cold drink in our hands.
Watching cricket on the beach & children running mad on the sand.
Pity Nan's not there this year to have a few Southerns with Caz.
But there is always next year.

Thanks cousin J for housesitting.
Coco is looking forward to extra pats. x

My Garden...

2011-12-24T09:39:00.006+08:00

This is how it looked when we viewed the house the second time.
I took so many photos,
even then Cj could see the potential,
Me-Nudda.....
Now it looks like....

this...

this went from this to...

this

and this

this went from this to...

this...

And this used to look like...

this, when we cleared it all the first time..

Cj not happy, its raining, working his butt off to clear it all and lay lawn originally...
Next year we hope to put french doorswhere the window is now.
It walks straight off of the study/playroom/craft etc.

Now it looks like this.

Grandpops Johnny working hard, this is when we first cleared it and laid the lawn, the trampoline was down in that back corner at first.

Then we put in the Vegie Beds.

To much lawn to water in the original revamp.

Now there is fruit to pick & vegies to eat.

Remember my boys working hard on the second revamp.

Imagine 2 sets of French doors where the windows & sliding doors are-Nice.

The photos are a bit shady, sorry,

I took them late one afternoon.

My husband is an amazing gardener,

it runs in his family.

His mother & sister have amazing gardens too.

His Nanna had a gorgeous garden.

It comes easily to him.

And for that reason alone, I am keeping him.

Because having my cup of tea in the garden is my favourite thing to do.

I can see myself doing the same thing everyday at 8o.

Small things.

Tomorrow that garden will be filled with 33 people,

laughing, drinking & getting loud.

Small things.

Merry Christmas.

Saturday Night...

2011-12-23T04:01:00.006+08:00

Seriously how hard is it to get a photo of them all looking at the camera.

Ok not Saturday night, but my boy was a Reindeer in the school play,
but not just any Reindeer, but Rudolf.
Adorable.

He got some ink done...

Ok on to the Book Club Girls, A-M and Shirley-Possibly my Favs of Book Club.

Caz, Perla(also my Favs) & Me...

The Birthday Babe...

Ann, Me & Lindy Lou.

Possibly my Favourites in Book Club too...

I think the Wine is starting to take affect.

I am posing here, in case you couldn't tell, showing of my Kris Kringle Necklace(& shocking fitting strapless bra, seriously can't someone invent the perfect strapless bra, it can't be that hard), Anyway, thanks Perla.
I love it.
Ok.
Now for the funny ones.
Smaller because they are frightful.

Oh how we laughed.

I think the majority of our kids that saw these actually wanted to know

what we actually mean when we tell them to "grow up".

We set such wonderful examples.

I'm only leaving these up for awhile.

Funny.

Oh Ann how you make me laugh.

December so far...

2011-12-22T16:04:00.008+08:00

Little boys acting cool, um the fingers go the other way, Frags.

Breakfast in Bed, Santa Toast(cinnamon & sugar) for the first day of the holidays(Kai has the EXACT same look as I do with a hangover-Bizare.Funny, but Bizare)

The kids did this tree-AH-MAZ-ING.

Some of Fin's Snowmen collection

And one of the Teenager, sideways, actually mowing the lawns, miracles do happen..
Even if the photo refuses to post on the right angle, very fitting for such a photo of my big boy.

So I hope the mad season is treating you well.
The insane amount that gets done at this time of year is astounding.

I caught up with my Bestie from the Denmark days, Jo, last week, it never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many days go by, we still laugh at the same things, always.
Exact same sense of humour.
Every time I catch up with Jo, I want to move back to Denmark, lock, stock and barrel.
Every. Single. Time.
We had some mad days, Jo & I.
I met my husband through Jo, some days I love her all the more for that, others well......

I had our Book club wind up on Saturday night & it was such a laugh, think hysterics(I will post some photos later tonight, if the girls don't mind, they are pretty funny, but must send out a txt asking first).

I had the girls over for a few drinks and nibbles yesterday afternoon, which turned into Lasagna & Lemon Meringue Pie(lasagna-homemade-LMP shop bought & delicious, I haven't ever bothered to make a LMP before after tasting Cj's Nanna's & Sisters, why bother, I could never match them, must be some amazing Jones secret recipe )
Julie & Jade, your little girl is amazing & I am so glad she got you two as parents.
Such a lucky little girl.
My beautiful friend Anne-Marie and I have been exchanging Santa's every Christmas for 10 years, which we did yesterday, which prompted J & J to start their own tradition of collecting a special thing each year, on the last glass of wine I think it was decided it would be Snowmen......hope you found one shopping today girls.

So the last sleeping over has been had, the last playdate is on the pick up now, the last lawn mowed & the last load of washing....um dreaming....but up to date at least, the paths are swept, food is chockers in the fridge, the dogs are all pretty & fluffy & smelling wonderful, the bathrooms are clean and apart for the mirrors, glass & the floors mopped, we are ready for Christmas Day.
33 people for Christmas Dinner.

Court's funny Dad decided that the bench out the front of our house was a free for all-bags, shoes & what not, so has kindly gifted us a nice new bench for Christmas that also has built in storage for the 55 million pairs of shoes out the front(and it will give him a tick in his right eye Chrissie day if they are scattered everywhere, more to the point)
The boys are at their Poppy Jim's tomorrow morning doing some gardening for him, so I can wrap the last of the gifts tomorrow..

So I hope everyone is enjoying the Silly season so far.
My Mum & Dad arrive late tomorrow or early Saturday morning, then it will feel like Christmas for me.
And I can't wait to post some more photos later today or tomorrow.
Off to do the Christmas Lights with the kiddo's.
Talk later, Nik

P.s. Thanking my adored friend Hanksie for her tear inducing comments on one of my "should I give up work" blog posts, thank you & you have ALWAYS been far to generous in your compliments of me, that is one of your most beautiful qualities, that you always see your loved ones through rose-colored glasses.
I am beyond happy & excited that you will be living here in January & I look forward to actually living the same town as you in 18 years.
It'll be like the old days, Me, You & Jules.
So happy.

The Merry Month so far...in pictures

2011-12-12T15:32:00.001+08:00

Joneses Christmas Party making funny music videos with the FAVOURITE Cousin...

Poppy's new house.....

Kell's new drawing area...

Backgardens...

Christmas wrapping...

Cleaning feral chairs & clearing garden beds...

Pretty...

Decorating...

One tree...

Second tree...

Bling sorted...

Brothers...

And the best for last...
He.
Is.
Adorable...
A bucket of Sunshine...

My Street.....

2011-12-03T12:42:00.003+08:00

And that is it...
12 houses...
All but 2 of the houses are all friends, we all help each other out with Watering, Pet care, Child minding & general everyday neighbourly stuff.
(1 house has a older couple that keep to themselves & another has a young couple renting from parents)
We are next to the parkland & natural bush...
Neighbours lawns are fair play...
Of the 12 houses, 4 have Pools & 2 are open house for swims pretty much...
But that is probably because we all have kids around the same age...
There are 15 kids in this street...
The other 4 houses have Nana's & Pop's in them and have been here since their own children went to the school across the road...some of their grandkids are attending the same school..
Now their Grand kids visit...
All the time...
Upping the street count to about 40 odd kids, even more if you count cousins & friends.
One of our closest neighbour's son, was my eldest son's year 7 teacher... Bizare.
The woman next door had 5 kids & they have all gone on to have large families too...
It can be pure madness...
Some of them are teenagers, so you have the odd door slam & storm out into the street...
Not always the kids, sometimes the parents...
The school has an oval with Aussie rules goal posts, a basketball court, a tennis court & a playground all on its common grounds & families in the area are all welcome to use it, even encouraged...
You can see the goal posts from my front lawn, which is a bonus with 4 boys.
Sometimes when I am calling this house "the money pit" its nice to have a reminder as to why we are living here...
Its a Pool Party at no9 tomorrow from 4pm onwards, I am on Fruit Platter duties & the kids have all gorged down the watermelon already, did I mention Reilly's best mate from school is staying with us for 7 days...
Mmmmmm....
Well lets just say Food isn't lasting long at the Jones' residence for very long...
And if I thought one teenager was hard, two is harder...
Loud...
Boisterious...
Funny...
Tricky...
Sly...
Eating Machines...
My loves, I have Snake Eyes, Eyes in the back of my head & I am ready to serve a few black Eyes, but that is another post & a stiff drink...
Lets just say, last night they came to basketball in the big black bus with the family & ate McDonalds on the front verandah and played games with the little boys whilst their friends all partied at the beach.

WENT DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON...

When at the Jones', do as the Jones' do.
Off to buy more Wongee Melon...

4 weeks til Christmas...

2011-11-27T17:33:00.000+08:00

And I feel like soaking a watermelon in Vodka & sitting on the front steps with a straw in you get my drift.
The overwhelming list on my fridge & all the preparations.....
The end of school functions...
The end of team sport functions...
The friend's catch up BBQ's and drinks around the Pool...
The Book club Bi'atches big night out...
The Joneses annual Christmas gathering & all the family for Christmas dinner...
The kids over excited & all the gifts to wrap...
The tree to put up with the Nutbags riding shotgun...
The teenager thinking he can go to every end of year Party on the Planet...
Which of course...he can't.
Which of course...starts World War 3.
The Knob in Bunnings who thinks women should be seen and not heard..
Which of course...I was heard...
Which of course...in turn made the Husband heard, louder than the women...
Thank God I married him & not someone like the "Bunnings Knob"...
I reckon I'd be doing 20 to Life otherwise...

But like all half decent mothers around the planet right now, I'll come pretty close to pulling the whole Christmas thing off...
Even if I have a slight twitch in my right eye forever more for all my efforts.
It's hard being the glue isn't it...?
The sticky, pliable stuff that holds the whole Christmas Shebang together...
Sometimes I just want to be the eccentric Aunt that gets drunk as a skunk on Brandy, then dances the "Sprinkler" with the children whilst singing Bing Crosby Christmas Carols on top note...
Rather than the Pulled-together-Perfect-Christmas host..

Oh wait a minute....
I am the Aunt...
Drunk on Brandy...
Posing for photo's with the Border Collies masquerading as Rudolf...
With my Christmas Cracker hat on sideways & singing Bing at top note...
Bring it on Bing...

Christmas prep....

2011-11-25T11:14:00.001+08:00

(images from Inspirational Interiors Blog & a blog from "the Nester's tour of Christmas homes",
but I can't find the original blog. I think the last image is incredibly real & feels very much like home)

So I have been ridiculously busy cleaning & decluttering the house ready for Christmas, Summer & the School Holidays, all fast approaching.
In this house, the things that get out of hand the most quickly are the TOYS, the Paper Mountains & the families clothing.
So I have tackled them first.
I have gone though every last Beanie, Marble, WWE wrestler & sharpened every last coloured pencil.
I have matched every last mismatched sock or thrown the odds ones out, I have folded down all the winter gear & replenished the Summer gear.
And I am still working the through the Paper Mountain & working on the study.
Kill me now.
I hate filing.
With a passion.
Probably why I never worked in an office.
I am not very good at it.
But I can cut a mean Mullet or tie die your hair or Tshirt, what ever you like.
Life at home has been very busy & quite challenging trying to fit everything into the 16 waking hours a day.
Not working has helped immensely.
I have the teenager's mates for a sleepover tonight & have been cooking all morning, plus I went for a walk & nearly collapsed from the heat.
My head is still beet red, 1 hour later.
Nice look for Christmas, I figure.
The teenager & Cj have been butting heads & it is mentally draining, as neither is ever wrong & neither will back down.
DOES.MY.HEAD.IN
They are exactly the same.
Off to make out with my Shredder,
Niki

Sowing Seeds....

2011-11-18T13:19:00.001+08:00

Today my littlest man had his Preprimary Assembly.
He was Performing & he had a Speaking Part.
And was also receiving an Honour Certificate.
His big brother Fin was also to do a Short Speech on Recycling at the same whole school assembly,
so the nerves were going on big time around here this morning.
Their Dad couldn't make it as he was working 30kms away.
So the next best thing was to ask the Teenager.
As Ry & I took our seats, I could hear Kelly up the front telling anyone who would listen my "big brother is here" over & over again.
Reilly gave him the thumbs up & proceeded to hit my leg every time Kell did something cute.
He kept looking to see if his big brother was watching him.
Then Fin got up to do his speech...
You know what he did...
He didn't even make eye contact with me..
He looked straight at his brother & gave him the funny little nod that they do to each other & Reilly responded with the same unaffected nod.
Fin looked at Reilly the whole time he said his speech & when he had finished they both had huge smiles & were trying not to laugh.
When it was all over Reilly stuck his head in Kai's class & made some wisecrack, I watched as Kai grew 2 ft taller before my very eyes &...
I got it...
He is the big Brother I always wanted as I was growing up..
And no matter how much of a pain in my butt he may be, he is the world to these younger boys.
They Idolize him.
They are just that tiny bit cooler & more confident because he is in their lives...
And I am just that tiny bit greyer & more wrinkled because he is mine.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Useless but interesting information for my kids, if they ever read this blog in the years to come.

2011-11-16T12:17:00.008+08:00

1. I have been Bridesmaid 5 times & 6, if you count "choose a nice dress & be my witness"
(after declining to be my lifelong best friend's bridesmaid @ 8 months pregnant with my 4th son, I was scared I'd ruin the dress experience for the other girls, not to mention the photos-HUGE comes to mind)

2. I thought Kermit the Frog sang "Going up the Country" by Canned Heat when I was little(go on play it-EXACTLY. THE. SAME. VOICE.)
It took me to adulthood to work it out, after watching my Dad gigging & singing it in his Rock Band.
I thought "how strange-Dad is singing a Kermit the Frog song in front of all these Rockers/Hippies in the FRONT BAR of this questionable hotel.".
True Story.

3 My favourite song of all time is "Me & Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin.
A song that I have been serenaded with by insanely talented family members for every milestone in my life.
And sang at top note with my very drunken friends on many drunken occasions BC(before children).

4. My Nanna Rose's Grandmother was on the TITANIC.
Yes I know, it sank, she survived.
But she did not meet up with the American Sailor responsible for her pregnancy.
They got bought into another Port...
And she was shipped back to England only to have my Great Grandfather in the family barn months later.
He used to tell my Mum he was like baby Jesus, born in barn.
Different times.
You know.
We all wish we knew more about the whole thing, but she travelled under an alias.
Her real name was Susannah Elizabeth, isn't that just such a pretty name.

5. I am of Israeli descent of both sides.
My Paternal grandfather & my Maternal grandmothers sides.
My husband reckons that explains a lot.
(we are all fiery, pretty good with money & love to boss our other family members around, my sister can squeeze a dollar til it cries, but that's another story, like when she sold me a couch for $150.00 dollars & as I heaved it down the stairs with my then boyfriend, now husband, my Dad cried "where the bloody hell are going with MY couch. Take it back upstairs immediately".
I was down a couch & my sister was up $150 bucks and what about the time she "sold" me the car our grandfather left my brother in his will.
seriously. the. things. that. girl. has. done. don't get me started. funny stuff)
There is some Irish & English in there as well, same as everyone, really.
My dad's Mum was adopted out at birth.
So know ones knows her Heritage but it has been said it was Aboriginal/Italian.
Who knows.
Its all speculation.

6. My dad & I are both Polski Ogorki connoisseurs.
We can both tell which brand we are eating by spice & smell factor.
Weirdness in all its greatness.

7. My favourite movie of all time is "The Mission".
The music score is by Ennio Morricone and "Gabriel's Oboe" was our Wedding music at the church.
I still get teary & chills whenever I hear it.
But I walked down the aisle to "Dreams" by the Cranberries.
Our Wedding Dance was to "Lisa Loeb's Stay" sang by my sister & "Oasis' Half a world away" & "Wonderwall" sang by my brother(simply because they were some of our favourite songs at the time)

8. Some of the best times of my life have been with my Brother & my Sister growing up in Old turn of the century Hotels in the heart of Bush.
I can tell you ghost stories that will have you crying for your Mama.
In fact, I reckon I have seen enough ghosts to go crying to my OWN Mama,
.

My new love interest...

2011-11-15T17:17:00.003+08:00

Yes please, the whole combo.
"Love the bag"
"Love the shoes"
"Love everything"
Name that movie.....?

Actually,
I think I have this near on exact outfit in my wardrobe already.
Uncanny.

OMG I love this.
I have a very similar necklace & wrap already.

yeah...mmmmm...I spose....

Perfection.
On my Christmas list.
My favourite by a nose

Love it.

3rd Favourite of the lot...

Equal 1st favourite...

I am obsessed with a new site my girlfriend got me onto...
Birdsnest.
Its true love...
Go to "Styled Outfits" and have some fun.
Yeah...I know...Your Welcome...

You let them know your body shape, style preferences, colour preferences & any other information they would find helpful & they tailor you a style file to exactly suit you & you can shop for it all in their online store.
One stop shopping.
O.M.G.
These are some "styles" that apparently would suit me.
I punched in "flabby arms, big thighs, big boobs & narrow waist" or something along those lines.
That I like a lot of colour.
That I would rather be a "Yummy Mummy" than a "Corporate Girl" & wahlah, my style file arrived.

Love love love.

Try it you'll be hooked.

P.s. Sorry Fiona, I will not be held responsible for any further purchases. Ha,
Niki

Thankful....

2011-11-14T18:50:00.001+08:00

I could quite literally pitch a tent next door to this & never ever leave.

Tulips blooming in Holland.

I must see this one day.

My Dad gave me Tulips when I was a Debutante.

It was the first time I'd ever really seen them.

I like them a lot.

Not as much as the Passionfruit flower, but a lot.

My friend's tumour is benign & operable.

So Thankful.

Messy life in all its randomness....

2011-11-11T10:08:00.001+08:00

Someone was feeling left out of all the "front garden" photos.
That's him posing for a photo.
Funny.

So Yesterday was meant to be my last day of work.
I felt fine about it, although a little sad.
I went to bed Wednesday night all prepared for the next day ahead.
Best laid plans can go astray...
At 4.30am in the morning no3 child came to our room complaining of stomachache.
This is not the first time this has happened, it was actually the 3rd in as many weeks.
Within the hour he was writhing on the tiles of the bathroom floor in complete agony.
We have been trying to get to the bottom of this for weeks...
By 5.30am, we were up & dressed and on our way to the emergency room...
Well Kai & Court where...
I stayed home & got the other children ready for school.
All the while stressing about getting the shop at work opened & about Cj having to do this alone without me.
I knew they were incredibly low on staff, so I knew there was no-one to cover me.
So I went & opened the shop & waited for the lunch cover to arrive & basically bolted out of there to be with my boy.
Who only wanted his Mum by this stage.
So Life lesson for this week no1-I made the right decision to quit.
Only to be rang up last night and begged to do another couple of shifts for them...
Oh dear.....
We are no closer to knowing why this is happening to our Kai, but he is having some more tests.

My friend & partner in crime is so run down she got Bronchitis & that's from trying to do everything for over a year or two.
Life lesson no2-I was right to quit.

I got a phone call this morning to say a dear lifelong friend, a beautiful young mother of 3 and the kindest person you could ever meet has been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour & is arriving in the City this morning for immediate treatment.
I have connection to this girl like a little sister.
She was the 1st apprentice I ever took on as a Salon owner when I was 21 years old.
I am so saddened & praying the treatment is quick & wildly successful.
Life lesson no3-Life turns on a 10c piece.
Drink in the now...
Be present now....

So I am revelling in all the Messy normalness that is my life.
The arguing boys.
The messy bedrooms.
The unfinished backyard.
The spilt milk of life.
The teenager that can fill my heart to the brim with pride & love, only to make me want to headbutt him 10 minutes later.
The preschooler who will only wear "jeans" to school this week.
He owns 1 pair of jeans......
The dogs that play like, well, wild animals-outside my bedroom window & only my bedroon window, at 5am every morning, even though they have the run of the whole block, making it impossible to go back to sleep.
The 6.30pm dash to KFC because you just couldn't face making dinner & the boys going nuts because they got takeaway on a school night, only to all feel sick an hour later.
That is normal everyday life.

Niki

1st purchases for the silly season...

2011-11-06T19:30:00.000+08:00

I just bought the dress above on Ezibuy to wear on Christmas day.
I like that it is a modest length & has a flattering little sleeve...
I got in a size smaller than I normally wear.
Yikes.
2 kilo's down on the Christmas weight loss goal.
And that was bloody hard going.
I love the purple & yellow combination, it reminds me of when I was a young Apprentice & these were our uniform colours for awhile.
Some of the best days of my life.
Young, vibrant & free as a bird.
Though the memories are hazy as a lot of the time was spent at the pub next door...
And I really do mean A LOT.
Thursday night wind down drinks...
Friday arvo drinks...
Saturday knock off drinks...
Long lunches in the beer garden...
Boyfriends dropped you on your head drinks...
There was 15 of us girls...
Lots of break-ups & lots of comforting/stuff him your better than that Tequila Slammers...
Or trying to recover from all of the above...
Oh to go back to those times for a week...
To be young & fit & young & energetic & young & actually appreciate it.
Oh and to tell the boyfriend at the time where to go...
Anyway you get the picture.....

And the baubles.
The 12 days of Christmas.
Bit blurry, but divine hand painted baubles.
What's not to love.

Happy Sunday, ours was spent at the boy's Cricket, at Bunnings, having McDonalds 50c cones & gardening.
A good day...

Oh and I sent in my resignation email & I feel lighter already.
Thank you girls, for all your kind words regarding my decision.
Your comments & emails were exactly how I expected them to be.
Understanding & supportive & I am thankful.
Niki

Inspiration photo's for the new-do Study.

2011-11-05T10:17:00.002+08:00

"Molly's house" via Red Shoes Blog

Not sure, wish I knew, because I adore this persons style.

Same again, I know its Christmassy, but I love the colors & whimsy.

Lettered Cottage, such beautiful styling by Layla & Kevin.

And my all time "go to" Blog for inspiration, Red Shoes again.
If I could live in a mixture of Pottery Barn, Meg's house from "Whatever"
& "The Red Shoes blog" "shop" my life would be complete.

I have taken a week out of work, as I said to make a decision on working,
but also to re-do our Study/Craft/Playroom once and for all.
It was really starting to bug me.
The walls aren't finished being painted.
The quarter rounds aren't fitted after the wood floors were laid.
The electronic equipment is jumbled and dusty & not set up efficiently.
The overhead cupboards are a jumbled mess.
The filing system is non existent, even though I have 2 huge filing cabinets.
The big easy chair is covered in grime, the book case is in disarray.
I have so many artworks & frames to hang in here.
I bought a gorgeous old school desk & four little chairs from the kids school with little pull out trays underneath & they have been sitting in the shed for months.
I want to set a proper craft area for the smaller boys before Summer hits.
This room is a good size room & it has to work hard for us.
Especially through the holidays.
All this without spending much money & by "shopping" the house.
I need to buy block out curtains, as it faces the hot sun all day & some bits & bobs, but for the most part I want to use what we already have.
Wish me luck.
I am on a time budget & monetary budget & most of all an energy budget-ha, I have NONE.

Here's what it looked like when we bought the house 5 years ago.
Seems like yesterday, look at Reilly all silly & baby in the face.
Whizz and then they are are teenagers and huge.

Juggling.....

2011-11-03T09:52:00.003+08:00

Red shoes blog

red shoes blog

I have taken a week free from work to do some painting & decorating at home & a lot of thinking.
It's amazing how much you can pack into a day once you start paid work again.
I am shattered after working 3 days this week.
And to be honest, I didn't do a very good job of "doing it all".
I spent Sunday, between birthday parties, cricket & my grandparents visiting, cooking meals & making lunches for the coming week.
I thought I was on top of it all.
Cj was even getting home by 2pm to put in a load of washing & to pick up the kids from school, but it all still went to crap.
By last night we were all tired & cranky & getting to each other.
Actually I was tired & cranky & not very patient, therefore the Domino effect started.
Today I am tired.
I need to make a big decision & I need to make it now.
Before the Christmas rush at work starts.
I guess it all boils down to being "present".
I feel a large amount of pressure to be the same parent to the 2 little ones as I was to the 2 older ones.
I want to be there for them as much as I was there for their older brothers.
I feel I am just getting through the days.
Always getting organised for the next working day rather than just "being" here.
Plus the shifts will only get longer as Christmas gets nearer & that means more juggling to be at all the kids end of year celebrations & more time at work & less time at home with the smaller boys.
The funny thing is the older 2 are quite fine.
The days are gone where they need me at every event, game & assembly.
They are so self sufficient now.
As long as we chat over dinner & I am there to Taxi them around, they, in all honesty, are fine about me working.
They aren't losing out at all.
Which brings me right around the corner & back to square 1.
The little ones are.
And they grow so quickly.
With the weekends taken up with Sport & so many social commitments & a the few days a week at work, it really is only a couple of days a week I am actually in the "home".
Soon I will be able to work freely & quicker than I might like.
I am constantly on guard for a sore throat or an earache, as I've never had anything to worry about other than the child before this.
Now I have to find a replacement for the day at work.
Luckily I have had Caz to cover me when I've needed it.
But she has already made the decision I am now making.
So no more Caz to cover me.
Plus.... I have 40 people for Christmas at my house.
MADNESS.
and we all know how much I love Christmas.
I have so many plans...
one of them is to string minuscule fairy lights to completely cover the back patio.
Up a ladder with a nail gun.
I am an island on this decision as the husband wants none of it.
I wonder in all honestly how other Mum's do it.
And I take my hat off to those that can successfully do both.
I can't.
My heart just want to pick my kids up everyday & make them a snack after school.
The store I work in is slap bang between a Bling shop, a big name Clothing Boutique, a Book store, a "A Tree of Life" store, all the gorgeous Kitchen accessories stores and a Strandbags store.
Needless to say.......
My work money is coming in one hand & going out the other.
I think I might be writing an email today.
Nik x

Cj.

2011-10-29T13:25:00.016+08:00

Cj is definitely not your hearts & flowers man.
The polar opposite, in fact.

He doesn't over think it or have a lot to say.
He is a Tradie, with a Tradie's outlook.
Man up & Shut up, basically.

The saying "clothes maketh the man" couldn't be further from the truth in my husband's case, most of the time his work shirts look like the cat threw up on them & I consider it a good day if he doesn't give us a little treat courtesy of the rip in his pants.

He could not care less about what people think of him or anything he does.
He doesn't always say the right things at the right times.
People, I am sure, meet him and think him somewhat chauvinistic at times.

He does not surround himself with friends all the time.
He does not spend at lot of time with his friends at all, very little in fact.
But once your his friend, your his friend for life.

He doesn't like big, fussy celebrations and declarations of love.
He's always said "your actions show love, not words & stuff".

He is almost embarrassingly rude if he thinks you are a Try-hard or a Poser.
If you talk yourself up all the time, he just votes with his feet & walks away.
There is even less tolerance as he gets older.

He has no trouble with not tolerating unruly, unkind & destructive children & has been known to tell the parent to their face to "pull them into line".
Which can cause me to hyper-ventilate & go into apology mode.

He works hard & values a good days work.
He expects the very best from our Boys & sometimes can be really hard on them.
He can sometimes be unkempt, politically incorrect & to a fault, arrogant.

He admires qualities in women like their Work Ethic, their dedication to Parenting & their Kindness to others and their ability to clean their own gutters up a ladder at 80 and chop a load of firewood unaided (don't even get me started) rather than the state of their homes, the cars they drive and clothes they wear, and he'll be even more impressed if you can cook to go with it.

He expects the very best from his kids in terms of Manners, Eye contact, Kindness, Consideration & good old fashioned hard work & cares a lot less about accolades, achievements & status.
He could not care less if you are the best runner, best swimmer, best scholar, the best footy player, DUX of the school, if your not also a NICE kid to go with it.

Birthdays, Anniversaries & all the Hall Mark days mean little to him.
He would rather forget them than make a fuss.
He thinks Birthdays after 21 are overrated.

But......

He will somehow get himself into a comfy position, so as he can give the two dogs, the same amount of pats, at the same time, for the same length of time so neither feels left out.

He will pick up the cat & a cuddle her even when she is Feral & Smelly.

He will coach the Basketball team, the Auskick team & run water for the Teenagers team.
He will coach the oldest son's team for 3 years straight.
And love every minute.

He will put the "Collingwood Memory Box" your best friend-Anne-Marie, lovingly hand-made him after their Premiership Win in the kids Christening cabinet front & centre with a tear in his eye.

He will take a kid aside when they are feeling hopeless & want to leave the team & tell them how much the team needs them & how they are an integral part of the team & how everyone will miss them if they leave, even if the said child can't kick a ball.

He will make "McCourties" for the kids & their friends on a Saturday night with Icecream M&M's & crumbled Crunchies & declare himself a Master Chef in all honesty.

He will drive his workmate to work for 2 years straight because he lost his license being a Hoon & lecture him all the way and never ask anything in return ever, until he does, then he will take him car shopping & help him seal the deal, then ride shotgun for the rest of his working life.

He would rather fly to NZ to visit his oldest friend for a week, than go on a "Boys Fishing Trip" up North with all the Beer & Seafood you could eat with 10 friends for 2 weeks any day.

He will look you in the eye when you are 9 years old & teary because you are struggling at school & tell you "your best IS good enough & being a great kid IS enough"

He will tell his 13 year old Son, that even "HE" is scared to face said son's "mean Bowling style" as he walks out, shit scared into a Cricket Grand Final as the youngest by a full year & the shortest in the team.

He will call out "They don't make them like you anymore, keep up the good work" when he sees your 55 year old neighbour logging her own dead tree from her yard in her husband's workshirt, goggles & an old mans hat.
And then tell anyone who'll listen that De-Aarn is the perfect wife, in her earshot.
She loves it.

He will tell you "they felt the earth move in China" when you belly flop onto the kids Slippery Slide & you wanna cry out in pain, but instead, you laugh hysterically at the thought.
Whilst he & the above mentioned Neighbour slide down a tree laughing at you.

When your feeling edgy & insecure about your weight & complaining about the extra kilos, he'll sing "I like big butts & I cannot lie" at the top of his lungs & tells you to get over yourself as he grabs your ample bum & growls-Nice one.

He will just smile proudly when another Dad tells him, that his 7 year old kid, Kai "could teach the Eagles a thing or two about courage" after your kid has been smashed up in a Footy contest & busts out of the pack with the ball with stars & birds flying above his head, and Mum wants to call an Ambulance.
The night to my day.
Then takes said child for pancakes straight after the game holding hands.

He's there.
Every time.
Without Fail.
For your 12 year olds best friend, Darv, growing up without a Father.
His idea of a family tickets to WWE Smackdown-Perth means including Darv.

He would rather potter around the backyard with his 5 year old son than go to any Pub/Party/Gathering.

He regularly takes my Poppy to the Movies & Chinese on a Sunday evening.

He still thinks his Dad is the Smartest man on the Planet.
He still hangs off his every word.

He can be the "Nanny" for a his 7 year old sister for two weeks in a Foreign Country whilst her Parents (his Dad) attend a conference & not feel any bit less of a Man, but come back feeling much more of a brother.

That's it.

7 Random things....

2011-10-26T10:13:00.005+08:00

Firstly, Hi Donna, my oldest, dearest friend Donna has a blog, at last.
Donna, Julie & I were inseparable from about the time we were 13-14 years old.
Our story is far too long to tell in a single post, but I just wanted to say hello.
I will post her blog link soon.

So 7 Random things, as per the lovely versatile blogger award I was given by Our Gang of 7.
I will post 7 blogs later today when I have done some "blog housekeeping".

OK 7 Random things.

1. I don't drink Coffee.
The first time I tasted coffee I was 22 years old(my dad was a health nut).
I hated the taste & the way it made me feel.
I didn't touch it again for 10 years, by then I had 2 kids & I still hated the taste but LOVED the way it made me feel.
Well at least I could get through the day with 2 small kids.
I now have a coffee about 3 times a year.

2. I am petrified of the dark. Even now. Scared sh*tless.
I have never in my entire life gone to sleep in a pitch black house.
I need a light somewhere. I need to open my eyes and immediately see around the room.

3. I am still friends today with the same group of kids I went to lower highschool with, so is my husband.
We are stayers.
We stick for life.

4. I feel a complete maternal "Mother Lion" protectiveness over my siblings & my closest friends kids, as I do my own.
I would tear limbs off, if anyone even looked at them sideways.

5. My favourite food is Tomatoes, Lemons & Salt.
I don't have a sweet tooth AT ALL.
But I can eat an Antipasto platter til the cows come home.

6. I detest & loathe bullying in any form.
I have jackknifed my car on a busy road & held up traffic to stop a disgusting, feral lout picking on & punching 2 junior high boys walking home from school. I went so ballistic I lost my voice & even frightened myself. But the 2 kids got home ok. ha.
After I offered to ram my 5 ton "people mover" up the ass of the bully.
He ran. My kids were appalled & embarrassed beyond words. My husband quietly proud.

7. I love(to the point of rolling off of the couch in hysterical tears)-Sam Newman.
The man everybody loves to hate.
I, seriously, have never laughed as much as I do at him ,when he does "covers" to songs on the last "Footy show" of the year.
The BeeGee's being a particular favourite.
Link to the Video-fast forward to 3.00 for BeeGee's & 4.30 for Karma Chameleon.
Now that is humour....
My eldest son can't breathe for laughing.
We watch it together & have 000 on speed dial in case one of us dies for losing our breaths.

Over & out. Niki

Home Corners

2011-10-23T16:05:00.000+08:00

White & Blue & Green. A beautiful combo

2011-10-23T11:08:00.004+08:00

Our sporty boy started his Cricket season this morning at the crack of dawn.
I dragged myself out of bed @ 6.30 after a few too many vino's at Bookclub to watch my litte man
play the sport he loves.

2011-10-23T11:06:00.002+08:00

But it was so worth it, sitting under this sky.
I haven't edited those colours I just cropped it .
Amazing.

2011-10-23T11:04:00.003+08:00

Oh and this one.
Have I told you how much I love Australia.
Well I do.
Cricket in the sunshine on a Sunday morning.
Under that sky.
What's not to love.
I have Caitlyn today, so I better have a crack at cleaning up a bit.
The girl likes too cook
And do craft.
And go up the basketball courts for a muck around.
And walk the dogs.
You get my drift.
I will be busy.

Kitchen Love

2011-10-20T16:54:00.004+08:00

As always, I am contemplating my Kitchen reno.
The things with us is, you never know if it is in the cards in the next few months or whether the time will come & we will choose to put the money elsewhere.
Probably the mortgage.
See I would love a lovely shiny new kitchen, but when the time has come(not very often-I might add) to part with funds over the last 5 or so years, I always think to myself-
"mmm this kitchen is functional, why spend money for the sake of it"
"its a lot of money, would we rather save for something else -Pool, Solar Panels, Family Holiday or just to have an "emergency fund".
"Maybe we'll do the kitchen when the kids have grown & money is more abundant"
My practical side is a real downer for my rose coloured romantic side.

This is my Sister's Kitchen.
We are chalk & cheese.
I love her house, its beautiful, but we are completely different style wise.
I love, love, love the lights she chose for the kitchen. Divine.
She is very modern & minimalistic.
I am homely & cluttered by comparison.

2011-10-17T10:00:00.000+08:00

(real life water Lily picture taken at the "Bali Park" last week)
Divine.
I am about to embark on the ol "10 weeks till Christmas Kick Ass" challenge
Usually I do this with some bloggy/cyber/real life friends, but this time I am going it alone.
Unless of course anyone wants to join me.
You got my email, girls.
I have put added pressure on myself this year because it also includes a 5 kilo weight loss goal.
FAN-TAS-TIC.
The hardest time of year to do this.
And this year I am working 2 days a week as well.
Which I haven't done since I had the Kellster.
*
So I have done the usual break down of Rooms/Areas/To do's.
Along with a list of tasks & appointments to meet each week.
I really want to pull it off this year, because the house got particularly disorganised this Winter with the 4 boys playing sport & me starting to work threw a spanner in the works too.
Plus we are off on a 2 week Beach holiday in the Summer school holidays & it would be lovely to come back to a clean organised house.
Seriously this house is starting to look like an episode of "Hoarders".
Ha.
So this week is-Main Bedroom & WIR.
(you saw the pictures this is a good place to start)
Which includes going through all my clothes, shoes, bags etc and purging.
Noice.

Bali @ home.

2011-10-15T11:15:00.003+08:00

Yesterday we went to our favourite park in the whole city.
It's a holiday tradition to go here at least once.
We have often held the boy's Birthday Parties here as it has a alot of room for kids to RUN wild.
It feels like you are on holiday at a Tropical location & for the day you are there you get completely lost in beautiful gardens.
One of Cj's best mates married here once & it was the most beautiful day.
If I had my time again & we were to marry in the city this is where it would be.
With a little Jazz band playing in the background.
Divine.
We had 8 boys with us this day & it was completely easy breezy.
I love this Park. I love Mim's boys & I love holidays.
Over & out.
Niki

School Holidays....

2011-10-12T11:20:00.004+08:00

These divine flowers lasted for one whole week before slightly starting to wilt & lose their magnificent scent.
They filled the whole back of the house with the most beautiful fragrance.
I am so chuffed my "basketball" Mums bought me a bouquet for having the "wind-up" at my house.
They are now a firm favourite & will be bought regularly at Casa Jones.

I know umbrella & garden bed overload, but it is my favourite "cuppa tea" spot & I spend so much time here, it seems weird not to put it in a holiday post.

So I was once told having Four Boys would lighten our work load.
I was sceptical.
But it seems it has.
My boys worked for a whole weekend in the back garden with their Dad.
We decided to make the garden "work" for us, rather than just making it pretty.
We have shortened the patio by half to let in more Autumn,Winter, Spring light into the back of the house & replaced the Laser light with a product that takes out 75% of the UV rays & block out curtains will help keep the heat factor down in Summer.

The patio & pavers once covered that whole yellow sand area, we are now putting in a small lawn(to be fed by the water tanks) again, after 2 puppies ripped the other one to shreds(court is reinforcing this one with a steel mesh underlay) & a firepit to toast marshmallows & such. The kids plan to camp out here this Summer.

Finny worked real hard, that's the chook house in the back, only small but they have the run of the yard all day & boss the Dogs & Cat around like nobody's business.

Little boys working hard.
All that work on the promise of a "McFlurry" when it was done.
Life is so simple while your young.

Icy lemonade for the workers.

OMG this is my Godson & my Kell.
His mother is one of my oldest, dearest friends, Mim.
We have 8 boys between us.
Seriously I could not love these two anymore than I do.
That little freckle face Kills me.

These 2 were put in the same cot at 2 & 3 months old regularly.
12 years later they can tear up a Basketball court for 5 hours straight.
I adore this child with all my heart & am so very privileged to be a large part of his life.
He has 22 Aunts & Uncles on his Mother's side alone, but I still get called "Auntie Nik".

7 out of the 8 boys.

The Teenager is holidaying up North with friends at the moment.

The Lillie's again.

The light of my life.
Seriously do I ever post a photo of a kid without a chocolaty face?

The Lads.
Working hard brick paving my side court yard after a hot water leak.

Or not.
I think they were mucking around more than they were working.
Ry chooses the most lovely kids as friends.
These two worked with him the whole weekend to get it done.
Great longtime friends.
Court licked them a $50 each for their troubles.
They were so chuffed.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays.
Niki

Its Friday, Friday, got get down on Friday.....

2011-10-07T10:41:00.001+08:00

That "Friday" song is pretty lame, but gees its catchy.
I worked an eight hour shift, out of the home, for the first time in years yesterday, and my back is up in arms about it.
Doesn't like standing on concrete floors for 8 hours straight apparently!
On another note I missed my kids whilst I did the shift.
I feel like the two little ones need some "Mum" time.
I missed their chocolate/caramel covered faces.
The teenager babysat them till Dad got home.
He took them for an Icecream & a play on the playground.
He had back up in his friend K.
Who is marvellous with the little ones.
She's a natural with kids.
Loving hanging racks of Pots & Pans in the Kitchen at the moment.
Really, really need to sort my house out.
No, really.

I am out tonight to celebrate two of my oldest friend's birthday's, my adored Mim & her sister Polly.
Its a kid friendly BBQ so we will have a ball.
These girls and I have torn up the dance floor, emptied the Vodka bottles & done some kinda shopping in Tropical locations over the years.
Now we are Mums and one is even a Grandmother.
Now we only tend to tear up the Backyard or the Recycling.

But we are steadfast in our friendships and enjoy catching up, even if it is only 4-5 times a year.
Over and out.

Loving this Spring

2011-10-04T16:17:00.000+08:00

Bangle Sets, especially bright blue & turquoise ones

Fresh Strawberries

Flowers in your hair.

Not little piddly ones always, always Large Floppy ones

Favourite Color Combo ever.

Turquoise & Electric Blue.

Pink Moscato.

Spinach Pasta

Oh my God the Fragrance from these flowers is Awesome

Self explanatory

Sunday

2011-10-02T17:36:00.023+08:00

Has been a good day.
I have had a grand total of 19 kids in my house this weekend, and I mean all weekend.
Starting with Liv & Si first thing Friday morning, basketballers and their siblings Friday night, Ry's girlfriend and her Mum yesterday & ending with Ry's besties Jess & Rich tonight for dinner after they brick paved my side garden for me all day today.
Surprisingly, the house isn't fairing too badly.
We had all the Basketball boys & their families on Friday night for a Sausage Sizzle to celebrate the end of their season.
They lost to to the Top team in the Grand Final.
The only team that had ever beaten them was us.
So we were feeling confident, but we lost by a few points.
We celebrated like Rock Stars anyway.
One of the beautiful Basketball Mum's gave me the most beautiful bunch of Lily's ever.
I wish I could post all the photo's of a great weekend, but am uneasy about posting other people's kid's photos.
So the Lillie's it is.

Blue Eyes and Superhero's.

2011-10-01T17:49:00.000+08:00

Well another week has come and gone.
Another busy one thats for sure.
But a good one.
Unless you take into account todays Grand Final.
Back later for a longer post.

Belly Flop.

2011-09-28T12:49:00.006+08:00

I'm on a Belly flop of epic proportions.
The house has finally given up cleaning itself.
Imagine that.
Or is it because Mum has gone.
Anyway it is beyond bad.
Here's a peek so you don't think I'm one of those people that thinks a bowl out of the dishwasher & a rug ruffled on the floor is EPIC.

Washing is my weakness.

Yes we have cement floors in our bedroom.
Yes, my husband is a floorlayer.
Bit like my kids hair.
And a Mechanics car.
If you know what I mean.

Seriously does anyone have the whereabouts to that money tree,
because I would steam roller this and start again.
Once again isn't your husband a Floorlayer?

I'm talking bad.
Plus I have to work tomorrow & I had major dental work yesterday.
IT.WAS.HIDEOUS.
I am in pain.
That is all.
I need my Mum.
And I need a "Week off" of all the Madness.
PS. Making Lemonade out of Lemons and because I refuse to go down without a fight,
I absolutely love the light in our house.
Even under the piles of washing & mess.
Small things.

Family, Friends & Life

2011-09-23T10:23:00.005+08:00

These two are so amazingly close.
I believe there is a reason for that.
One day I will share.
I wonder if their Mother's know a "good" hairdresser.
Bahaha.

My heart's child.
I can't help it.
She just is.

Um, Fireworks anyone, with a side of jellybeans.

I have no words for how adorable this Little Girl is.
I die.
That is all.

My Sister without make up.
Again I die.
"Shallow end of the gene pool comes to mind", for me that is.

My Sisters.
My girls.
My boy.

Miss Sunshine.
In the image of my brother.
Poppy Gaz is Smitten, jelly in her hands.
SHE is his Heart's child.
He can't help it.
She just is

Seriously

So very Blessed

I'm struggling a bit today.
With the work load.
The "Mother" load, as I like to call it.
I am living "my" dream.
I know that.
I chose this amazing path.
Along with Cj, who helps me to live my dream.
But seriously sometimes, after a HUGE month of commitments & running around & appointments & so on, I wonder how long I can keep this up.

I am lucky I have Caz & Mim & Tan & Julie & Anne-Marie & Caroline & Shirley & Ann to sweat the small stuff with on a daily basis.
My partners in Crime.
But some days are just challenging.

My lovely blog friends who I connect with unquestionably-we are living parallel lives.
We all just want to be Mums, first and foremost.
That is what I love about them.
They make me feel like I am on the right path.

My beautiful Sisters & my Mum and all "our" collective children.
And my Nanna-who is ALWAYS there-EVERY TIME.
I am so grateful for the women in my life.
All of you.
Niki

Herman's Hermits.

2011-09-21T22:00:00.012+08:00

Childhood Memories.

Best Ever.

Growing up in a house filled with music, was the Best ever.

I'm out tonight with friends.

At "Herman's Hermits"

Reliving my childhood.

My Mum was a HUGE fan.

They grew up around the same place in England.

Best ever.

One of my Favourite songs of all time.

2011-09-20T16:54:00.001+08:00

I've had the busiest week ever.
Family commitments.
Work.
School commitments.
Loved every minute.
But have paid for it today.
12 LOADS OF WASHING.
Seriously.
It sucks.
Washing that is.
But on a lighter note I am out to dinner with the girls tomorrow night.
And we have Bookclub this weekend.
I am thinking an ice cold bottle of Pink Moscato.
Nice.

Ps Nanna & I couldn't be more proud of "our" boy.
(even if we tried)
In case you couldn't tell.

My Boys

2011-09-19T17:59:00.004+08:00

My Life.

2011-09-15T15:12:00.004+08:00

Spending time with my favourite girl.

And my gorgeous Nephew.

Unbelievable

2011-09-12T17:54:00.001+08:00

I decided to actually look at the Crap Point & Shoot's manual, seeings as it looks like the million dollar camera is finally naffed once and for all.
I am gobsmacked that a $79 camera from Target could take these pictures.
Unbelievable.
Amazing what you can do when you actually read a manual.
I know, a garden & little boy overload lately, but look at the guy!
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.
That is all.
P.s. it is a Sanyo, by the way.
I'll say it again-unbelievable!

Perfect Sunday afternoon.

2011-09-11T18:05:00.000+08:00

Sunshine

Flowers

Family

Friends

adorable boys

Spring

2011-09-10T17:22:00.000+08:00

So spring is finally here.
At last.
The end of Winter.
In keeping with my obsession with our spring garden, I took a cup of tea & the point & shoot out to take some photos of the spring flowers, before long I had big boys yelling at me to take photos of them, then they took the camera. Photo shoot over-ha.
I have been crazy, busy preparing for-
My Mum & Sister staying for a week.
Organizing a Sibling dinner evening.
Sports carnivals-all the boys.
Basketball Finals-Fin.
Football Finals-Ry.
Holy Communion dinner preparations.
Birthday parties.
Basketball boy's Pizza night at our house.
Book club Weekend getaway.
School Holiday getaway.
And the 2 Julie's birthday present shopping.
And then I really TOPPED IT OFF by going and getting a JOB for the first time in a Million years.
I love it.
I stressed about getting everything above done & also starting to work a few days a week.
But I love it.
I love the job.
I love the people.
I love the concept & product.
I love being out of the house & wearing a uniform of sorts.
I loved having a celebrationary lunch with my colleague & best mate.
It's a keeper.
Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful Spring weather here in Oz.

Niki

Cyber Safety.

2011-09-04T20:00:00.002+08:00

I often wonder about cyber safety.
If you google all my kids names, it leads you to a post I wrote on Children's names.
It includes mine & the hubster's name too.
An ignorant person was waffling on about how Riley was a "girls" name & how a boy named Riley would be teased in the playground.
It also mentioned my husband & another sons names as being susceptible to bullying too.
Well I could keep my fingers from protest could I.
I don't know why I felt the need to let them know in no uncertain terms that wasn't the case, but I did.

I loathe bullying in any form.

I didn't write anything I would regret, but I still wish all my families names weren't out in cyberworld.

Also a post on a dear friend's blog, about my children's names leads you to my Blog too.

Also some posts on a Family website I adored when I was stuck at home with a small baby for days on end, those girls are still so precious to me & now some of us talk offline or via my blog.

Now, I know someone who has the time or the inclination to google all my families names for a bit of dirt, isn't worth the worry, but I do wonder if I give away too much sometimes about our ordinary little lives.
If I am putting my kids in any danger.
If people who don't have our best interests at heart are sneaking a look into our lives.
People who couldn't care less about us or our kids.
It does not seem right, that those not pure of heart get to look into my precious children's daily going's on, my thoughts on parenting, my love for our extended families, my loyalties to my friends(real & cyber)& the whereabouts of our weekends, all of the most important things in my life.
.

All our family included in this blog know all about it.
If their photo is on here, they most undoubtedly have called in from time to time.
But what about those who "stumble" upon us looking up our names on the Internet.
Do we really want those people knowing what our family holds dear.
I know other friends have these fears too, which is why alot of my friends blogs are closed.

I also know that I don't think I should have to "hide" from these types of people either.
That I am proud of my family unit & my blog.
A diary of our lives and I know that my kids love reading the posts about themselves.

I just wish there was some way to know whether you are "stalked" or not.
How bout you?

The Weekend in Pictures...

2011-09-04T17:43:00.007+08:00

Someone had a "special" birthday.....

The teenager graced us with his presense......

Uncles......

and Aunts.....I heard a rumour there where a few headaches on Saturday morning.

Aunts & Uncles who think Mr Wonderful is the perfect name for said teenager.

Relaxing, everybody else is watching the footy, how rude.

Ferals doing what ferals do best.....

The Birthday Boy & Auntie Jules.....

More ferals...see I told ya they were feral....

Where the girls get to sit & relax....so pretty.

and this is what the house looks like....

when you've taken the afternoon off...

to go see this with a couple of friends & grab dinner & drinks afterwards....

The teenager did put up his favourite "new" band poster...with super glue...kill me now...

Sunday morning up & a few moments to sit & drink this...

and wander through the garden...

before piling in the car to go watch the Teenager play finals...

Big brother adoration does not come close......with this boy.
He is a Mini-Me.

Where ever the big brother is, Kai is right beside him...

This team has adoration in bucket loads in the form of littler brothers & sisters. They get right in amongst the end of game talk. I love it. We are off the the Pre-lims-Yay.

Home for Father's Day goodbyes after the game......

Oh and I bought this dress...for Finny's Confirmation night.....
But it doesn't quite look like that on me, oh well.
The colours are so beautiful though....

Poor picture quality due to only having the teenagers point & shoot & its crap. But they really are gorgeous.

My sister arrives soon so time will be spent with my Dad then, but I just wanted to say to my much loved Dad, Happy Fathers Day.
We love you very much & missed you today.
We can't wait to see you next week.
It was great to chat to you today & you always make us feel so cherished.
It's a gift.
The boys miss you.
See you soon.

To Gpops-We love you & hope your day was great too.
We missed your photography skills gameside.
Talk soon.

Weekend Corners

2011-08-30T11:33:00.002+08:00

Spring blooms.

Yay schools out for the Weekend

Thursday night training sessions.
my boys love them a "Magpie"

Neon Leon.
My husband has pledged that any further kids(if we had any) would be Christened-LEON.
Boy or Girl-Funny stuff.

Weekend plans

Footy game.

More weekend corners.

Sunday morning cuppa spot.

Little munchkins finding Saturday night a little too long.
Big brothers being naughty.

Weekend gardens.

Morning sunshine.

Monday morning light.

Little boys that don't like Monday mornings.

He makes me laugh.....

2011-08-27T08:00:00.000+08:00

Seriously fast forward it to about 2.45.
No really do.
Really do, I can't shorten it, I dont know how.
But it is only between 2.45 & 4.10 that it is worth watching.
If at all.
Otherwise you will be bored by the time you get to the part I like the best.
My video skills are minimal.
Sorry about the wind factor.
My voice & laugh are cringe worthy.

But laugh I did.
I still don't why I found it so funny.
But I DID.

Life.

2011-08-26T10:21:00.001+08:00

Life is moving way too fast.

My boys are growing up so quickly.

Blink & you'll miss it quickly.

My gorgeous, handsome older boys are almost grown.

The two boys who were inseparable.

Close as two peas in a pod.

Loving caring boys.

They slept in the same bed until they were 9 & 6.

Curled up together every night.

They still make each other laugh.

My big boys who are the light of my life.

Seriously how I got 2 such fantastic older kids is beyond me.

They make me proud everyday.

A acquaintance at school today told me.....

"All your boys are all so friendly & smiley".

I dunno why, but we do laugh a lot .

So been walking 5 times a week with the girls.

Sometimes after school drop off.

Sometimes in the evenings.

Sometimes on the coast.

Sometimes around the local open space.

Sometimes around Ikea-ha.

I have two friends called Caroline.

"My" Caz from Bookclub.

An oldie(friend) but a goodie.

And Caroline whom I met 20 years ago in Kalgoorlie as her hairdresser.

She married a guy I grew up with.

Her husband & mine are good mates.

Well Caroline & I walk everyday.

We try to get Caz on board but she is busy with her great new job.

Congrats by the way.

Anyhoo walking is great & I am missing it on the few days we don't go.

I have the Book club dinner at my house this week end & have decided to go with...

Gourmet Pizza's, Ciabatta, Salad, Tiramisu & Red Wine.

The girls seem happy with that.

I am onto a new Tiramasu "recipe".

TO.DIE.FOR.

Reilly is having 3 boys staying over tonight for Pizza & Gaming. Ha.

House should be "wired".

Cj, Fin & Kai are going to see Collingwood & the Dockers play.

Me & Kell might catch a movie together & get hot chocolate.

Football is winding down.

Only the 2 boys playing now & one is on his last game this weekend.

Ry's team are in the Finals. Yay.

Ma called last night & offered me a "Girls weekend" to Melbourne with my Sister in Law, Me & Mum going to see my sisters newly built home.

Dad is fly in/fly out, so she is shouting us on Frequent Flyer points.

I love my Mum.

I might shout one of boys too.

Dunno which one.

Busy, crazy & happy.

Tired, crazy, busy.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Rizzo-your allowed to come on Saturday night too, by the way.

Did I tell you I have my own "personal" Builder & a bloody good one at that, married to Caz.

He's coming to chat renovations with us over Pizza & Tiramasu.

The Book club girls won't mind,they love him too.

More than they like Cj.

Cj tells us our "book picks" are crap.

over & out.

Portia de Rossi's book-Unbearable Lightness

2011-08-25T19:43:00.008+08:00

I have just finished reading Portia de Rossi's new book "Unbearable Lightness".
I have never been a huge fan of Portia's.

Until now.
It was my pick.
I just thought it a good interesting choice.
I didn't pick it because I love her or anything.

Until now.
It is the first book I have ever read like a Bookworm, the sort you see on TV.
I cooked dinner with my nose in it.
I found a reason to go & read a few chapters here & there.
I sat in front of the fire.
On the limestone blocks as the kids played outside.
Instead of watching telly at night.
I just read & read until I was done.
It took 2 days(between 4 kids, 2 dogs, a vomiting cat & canteen duty)

I love her so much in this book.
I love her gut wrenching realness.
The vulnerability leaps from the pages & makes you gasp.
The chapter with her brother outside the Gym had me holding my stomach as anxiety & sadness gripped me.
So real.
So awkward.
So real.

I am now her biggest fan.
I love her for her honesty & her awkwardness, her pain & her triumphs.

You know, I never liked her in Ally McBeal.
You see, maybe that had something to do with her not liking herself either.
But I love her in this book as she is learning to love herself.
As she begins to love herself, you begin to love her too.

That little Bean & Mae & Ellen, that's real.
I wanted to visit them & be apart of their lives & hang out and drink wine & shoot the breeze.
They seem so...real, I guess.
Her Mum-I think all of us has experienced a little of that growing up in Australia in the 70's & 80's.

I got her Mum.

And as Reilly & I like to say "If you don't like Ellen, there is something very wrong with you"...
you know like the Steggles Chicken advert.-Yes/No?
In the words of Molly Meldrum-a famous Aussie 70's personality....
"do yourself a favour"-Read this book.

Meet half of our "Swimming Pool"

2011-08-25T11:47:00.002+08:00

I seriously started saving & doing research into having a pool installed in our garden late last year.
I nearly signed on the dotted line.
Then I got the "Summer" Electricity bill.
The Husband was astounded.
Rendered speechless.
I walked around every day for the next 2 months turning every last thing off & reduced our next bill by a third.
That got me to thinking.

16 Panels.
3.5 kw.
They cost about half of the cost of having the swimming pool installed.
Hoping for really good things.
Really good things.
Sadly the "pool fund" is back down to nil.
But our consciences are clearer & hopefully our expenses a lot lighter.
It feels good.
I feel better about the Airconditioning this Summer.
Hope all is good.
PS I have tried to comment on your blogs girls, but keep getting blocked out.
Dunno why.
Will keep trying.

Katrina & Amie's Nan's Chowder.

2011-08-18T12:15:00.002+08:00

So yesterday I made Katrina & Amie's Chicken & Corn Chowder in my slow cooker.
Their Nan's recipe.
I used cream instead of milk.
I had half a carton that needed using.
I used fresh chicken thighs instead of a BBQ chook.
Thats what I had on hand.
Kids loved it.
Husband loved it.
And I am having it for lunch again today.
Delicious. Simple. Healthy.
It is a new winter staple.
Recipe here.
Onya Nan.

Feels like Spring & a Confession

2011-08-15T10:26:00.004+08:00

My Washing Line garden

An old shed waiting to be pulled down.
Looks too pretty at the moment

My washing line area down the side of the house.
I made it pretty seeings as I spend a hefty amount of my life there

Hazel

Passionfruit vines & Potato stacks in recycled milk crates

Divine Lamp @ Cj's favourite nursery

I wanted this so bad, but I refocussed & went looking for Flowering Plums

And just because he is adorable.

Hi,
Seems a long time since I even "checked in' on my little ole blog.
The Winters are so full on, plus it really isn't my favourite Season.
I tend to hibernate & try and focus on just keeping the washing done, food on the table & getting to training schedules on time.
When my boys were all small & cute & stay at home Mama's boys, people used to say to me "You are gonna be soooo busy when they all start growing up" like they all knew something I didn't.
I found it slightly irritating.
Surely I knew what I was on about.
Nope.
Wrong.
They were right.
So this glorious Sunny Saturday afternoon I took a break & got out in the garden to take some photos.
I decided I wanted a row of Flowering ornamental Plum trees along our side fence.
So off to Cj's favourite nursery/garden shop in the 'Hills" we went.
The older boys were all out at friends houses & we decided to take a leisurely drive & have an Ice cream with our littlest Man or otherwise known as the cutest kid on the Planet.
I wanted the Lamp, but at $200 odd buckeroos it was left on the shelf.
I also wanted the Potted Gardenia for my soon to be new front veranda, that the husband is lovingly building, if love includes swear words, but alas we were there for Plum trees so Plum trees we got.

Confession
We have hired a Gardener.
One day a week untill Christmas.
We'll see after that.
A gorgeous Pensioner with more enery than me & Cj put together, who has lived in our little Suburb for his whole married life & raised his kids here.
He managed to do in one day day what I have not found time for in 6 weeks with 4 boys & 2 dogs running me ragged, garden wise.
The front garden is looking better after just one day.
So everything you see in these photos today is US.
Any photos in the near future we will not be able to take the credit for. Ha.
Oh except for the vegies & fruit trees. Strictly Cj's domain.
I am so excited I feel like I've been on a holiday.

Catch up soon. Niki.

To Jen, Kristy, Fiona & Ann I am thinking of you all and am going to sit & read your blogs with a cuppa this week. It is on my "looking forward to" list.

N

Winter corners.....

2011-08-08T11:35:00.004+08:00

Truly, the beginning of this winter, ahhh the Winters in WA.
Little girls still wearing dresses in the afternoon.

An oldie but I goodie, this is my Favourite piece of Art of all time.

another oldie.

our soon to be renovated 'back" room.
Where all the "living" takes place.
My brother has 3 kids under 3, the portacot is a part of the decor.
Think French doors, rendered brick, white painted beamed ceilings & warm wooden floors.
Money tree anyone?

So so busy around here.
Super sized busy.
Same as it is every year.
Every year I think I will be better organised, but every year the Winter season comes & I am barely keeping my head above water.
We had 5 footy games this weekend with the Boys.
5.
Two of my boys played "up" this Weekend.
Making a total of 5 games for us to attend.
Fan-tas-tic.....
Plus a Basketball game, a Birthday Party for Kell's little friend, Sunday Mass & a promised walk to the shops for a "hot chocolate" with the Fraggle.
(never start a tradition you aren't gonna keep up with, is my advice, oh and pick the season that is the least busy to begin said tradition-note to self)
Hope you all going great.
Thanks for your lovely comments.
I will be sitting down for a good couple of hours soon to comment on all my favourite blogs.
I feel like I don't even "know" you all any more. Ha.
Back to the grindstone.
Sweaty football shorts & socks await.
Nice.

Why I sometimes clean @ 3am

2011-07-29T13:48:00.000+08:00

Long time, no post.

The teenager is back from his trip to Victoria.

He came back as tall as his Dad, looking older & wiser & even a little bit hairier, might be time for a shaving lesson.

The school holidays flew by & I am happy to say apart from Bowling we did everything on our Holiday List.

My Mum's Birthday has come & gone, a bit more on that later.

Had some news regarding my grandparents that threw me into a tail spin & had me grappling to recover.

But all is good now & we are back into the swing of things.

Normalcy has returned-well almost.

Hence the title.

When a lot is going on in my world I CAN NOT SLEEP to save myself.

I toss & turn, I get up a hundred times, hot milk, panadol, blah, blah, blah.

Nothing works at all.

So eventually I just give in and get up & scrub the bathroom or clean the kitchen.

Something mundane, but tiresome & usually I can go to sleep just as the Husband is getting up for work.

Does not make for very good days.

But least the house is clean when I do drag myself around the next day.

My girlfriend has got me onto some natural sleep remedies that might work.

Anyway I am off to clean out the boys Expedit Bookcase, which is full to overflowing with crap.

Hence the pictures above.

I always need a little inspiration to get me started.

Hope you are all doing great, Niki

Holidays...

2011-07-15T15:51:00.006+08:00

At "Nanna's" Park last school holidays

and in Nanna's Tree same holidays.

The holidays are in full swing here in WA.
I am keeping the littler boys super busy while their Dad & big brother are away.
Fin tends to do his own thing these days and whilst its a little hard to let go, he has some really sturdy, smart thinking mates & as a team they are pretty sensible & independent.
Don't think the husband & I haven't spied on them on a few occasions & both of us have come back pretty impressed with their conduct.

Yes-they do stop & look before crossing the road.

Yes-they do walk the way they say they are going to walk to the shops.

No-they don't answer the front door or answer the phone when left to play video games whilst we take the little boys to the shop/pool/movies/etc(and there is always an older brother or two around, even if they are still sleeping)

Yes-I understand that they are 12/13 year old's but things were different when I was 12/13.

Blah,blah,blah.

So in my efforts to keep the little ones occupied we have had the best couple of days yet.

We have had Pizza/Movie Night @ Kel's girlfriend Sienna's house.
Great company, great food & lots of chit chat, the best nights by far.

We have tried every Hot Chocolate in a 5 mile radius of home, including the Dome, Miss Maud's, The Coffee Club, Gloria Jeans & little Cafes, we have declared "The Coffee Club" the Best so far.

We went & saw Cars 2 & had dinner in a local Italian restaurant.
Great Movie. Great Food.
Do you see a theme here.........

Then we bought a whole tub of Ice cream & Ice Magic & came home for our own special "stay up late night" because the Hubster was on the "Footy Show" (well he was in the audience anyway)
Apparently there is a waiting list of 18,000. to get on the Footy Show, but, well, one of our Dad's went to school with a particular Host & bingo 12 tickets to our Jnr Footy Club.
He gave a shout out to us too.
Kids LOVED it.

And today they all have a friend over each to play-Ripper its raining & outside time is limited, but we'll think of something.

So the BIG boys are having a BALL in Melbourne.
They sound sooo excited when we call.
Today they are hardcore Go-Karting & BBQing.
Yesterday they went to Yarrambat to play their 15's team, apparently they are the most lovely Club & were the greatest hosts.
Tonight they are having Dinner in St Kilda. Jealous-much-nahhh.

They have been Rock Climbing & to the the famous Queen Vic Markets-again I am not Jealous-at all-especially when our family thing to do is eat the Donuts from the little Van outside the Fresh Markets & they have introduced the Footy boys to them & then ring & tell me as they a munching them down how good they are......Nice one.

Anyway they are off to the Big games tomorrow.

We are having a gardening Weekend.

Extended Family are having a couple of days sleeping over & I may need to order in Take Away to keep us all going.

Next week sees a trip to Smiggles & coffee & candle shopping with Caz.

A quick 2 day trip down south to see Nan & Pop.

A visit with bestie Nat & her 2 boys, one of Ry's best mate from birth.

A girls night to see "the Bridesmaid"-oh & thanks KAT for all your lovely comments & for the heads up on the movie, there are 6 of us going next week to see it & grab coffee on your recommendation.
How are your gorgeous kid's by the way, Miss R must be getting big now.
Why don't they stay little for ever.

Oh and TOY STORE & Hungry Jacks run to spend Birthday Money.

Huge.
I miss my big boys.
I especially miss the Teenager.
I am bored without him.
No one to spar with, to take the little boys for a Kick whilst I clean up the house, my partner in crime who stays up late & watches crap TV with me.
Oh well.

Weirdo's.

Poppy dressed them.

Funny stuff.