Renovations & Operations

Another beautiful day in Sydney today.  We have had a busy 2 weeks.  Michael has started back at Lifestart & Speech Therapy and Jemma is back at school.

Michael

Ben had to go to Westmead Children's Hospital on Monday for some day surgery.  We took a test drive out there last Sunday to check where to go as I was imagining having a screaming baby in the back seat (as he couldn't have anything to eat from 4am Monday morning) and not knowing where I was going.  So we checked it all out and it was fairly easy to get to and felt better knowing where I was heading. 

Unfortunately, when I actually got there, the parking station was closed (at 9am).  I drove around the streets for 15mins and could not find ANY parking at all (I was even willing to cop a parking fine & park in the 2hr parking).  I took a chance and went back to the parking station and the attendant let me in - I think he saw my desperate, pleading eyes.  Anyway, the operation all went well and Ben was such a good little boy, considering he couldn't have anything to eat from 4am & didn't get taken for surgery until 11.30am!!!!  

Ben at the play table (with a toy gun - of course!? - ahh boys)

The boys are now 11.5 months old - hasn't that gone fast.  They are both crawling - they both commando crawl which is really funny.  Rhys is now sitting on his own really well and Ben is now pulling himself up and cruising the furniture.  Michael is getting a bit upset because he is grabbing all of this train set up on the table.  Fun times!  I think Ben will possibly be walking by his 1st birthday.  Rhys is always a couple of months behind but he will get there - slow and steady.

Rhys & Michael & Daddy playing

I got a call on Thursday from Patioland Parramatta and they are delivering our roof for the outdoor room on Monday - YAY.  This weekend, Greg has spend dismantling the awning from the back and cleaning the concrete so it is all ready for the walls, roof etc to be put up.  It is going to be fantastic to have the playroom for the kids and I can't wait for it all to happen.  If anyone is after a used awning in excellent condition (over $2.5K of materials alone), please contact me.

Back of house - pre taking down of awning

Half way dismantled - it's all done now

Last night I went for a girls dinner with the Multiple Birth Association.  It was lovely - 10 mums went along all with twins (and one mum who had identical girl triplets WOW).  I had a good time and it was nice to chat to other mums who know what it is like.  Also good to hear about what it is like when they are a bit bigger and talk suitable cars etc too.

Well, I have a busy busy week coming up and I hope you have a great week too.

Rach

xxxx

Another beaut winters weekend

We have had a quiet week with not a lot happening.  A bit of grocery shopping, Jemma staying at a friends place, driving to the hardware store.  Nothing exciting.

Fun on the trampoline

Action shots!

The kids had a nice week.  Jem had some friends over to stay on Wednesday - so we had a house full of girls.  Michael, Rhys & Ben had a ball being the centre of attention.    Jemma and Michael have walked up to the shops and park a couple of times.

Ben and Michael have bad colds, so we are dealing with the fun that brings.  Jemma is back to school on Tuesday after 2 weeks of school holidays, but Michael has speech therapy starting on Monday.  

In a way I am looking forward to getting back into our routine!

Hope you all have a lovely week.

Train rides on the weekend

It was a beautiful weekend here in Sydney.  Saturday, Greg spent doing work (finishing a shed) at my parents and setting up a computer at his mum's place.  The boys and I stayed at home, just doing stuff around the house.  I got lots of washing dry :-)

On the ferry at Berowra Waters

The beautiful Berowra Waters

Sunday, Galston Valley Railway was open so we decided to go and ride on the trains.  I think the rest of Sydney decided to go too, it was very busy.  We went via the ferry at Berowra Waters, which is 5 mins from our place.

It is a wonderful place.  There were lots of birthday parties, heaps of kid everywhere and lots of trains (of course).  You can take your own food or buy some there at reasonable prices.

Michael had a great time and did not want to leave.

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay there all day as the babies were getting tired.  In fact we had 3 sleeping children in the car on the way home!

A fun weekend!  

A quiet week

All the boys playing together

It has been a quiet week this week (thank goodness).  It is school holidays so every activity we have isn't on.  Jemma is with her Dad this week, so it was just the boys and I at home.

Ben loves kisses

We had a mixed bag of weather.  Some days beautiful winter days, others wet and miserable.  It has been cold so the fire has been on most of the time.  Anyone know where to get cheap wood?  We have nearly gone through all the wood we got delivered!!!  One of the downfalls of being at home all the time (as opposed to out at the workplace) & I feel the cold a lot.

Michael playing in the nappy box

All the boys have had colds and it was so nice of them to pass them on to Greg and I.  When you have 3 boys who have no problem sneezing in your face, I guess it's inevitable!

We have started our "budget" as we are now living off one salary.  It's going to be hard but I am rising to the challenge :-)  Not that I'm a huge spender anyway, but now we have to actually think about what we are buying and when as opposed to just buying whatever we wanted without a thought.

Rhys loves Giggle & Hoot on TV

Not sure if I have mentioned before but we have decided to put a little extension on our house.  We only have one living area and it is just too small.  At the moment we can't afford to put the extension we really want (ie 2 bedrooms, 2nd bathroom,study, living area, walk through pantry, laundry... blah blah) so we decided to just get a kids playroom.  I think this will last us the next 10 years or so and then we can do our big extension.  We love where we live, it is a very good neighbourhood, lots of kids, great services, not too far away from the city.  We live in a great street which is quiet, close to schools & shops & bus stop.  All in all a pretty good place & it would cost at least $50K to move, plus extra of the new place, so we have decided to stay here.

So, the room has been approved by the certifier and I have booked in the builder & paid the deposit.  Now just waiting........  Critter Cottage will be looking a little different, but in a great way.  Can't wait :-)

Looking forward to a nice weekend, hope yours is great too.

xxxx

My two little terrors!

The naughty 40's?

Yes, it's official

I turned 40 a week ago today..............  eeek!

I had planned to write something profound, something wonderful, something insightful

BUT

I really don't have anything like that to say really.

So I made a video instead:

My Birthday Video

Its been a ride - lots of good, some bad, some really REALLY bad and some really REALLY great.  I have learnt a lot from my mistakes - and sometimes it take a while to learn, but I get there.  I only have a few regrets - but I can't change that.  All in all I have had a great life up to now.

And to quote Roger (Jemma's Dad) when I showed him the video - "Wow at least if you die tomorrow, you'll have the video ready for your funeral" - Yep, that's Rog.

Greg and I went on a Bridge Climb on Saturday and it was fantastic.  Sydney put on the most beautiful weather for us, as you can see

Greg & I on our bridge climb 23/6/12

On Sunday we took the kids down to Berowra Waters and had some hot chips and a play at the park.

Michael eating some chips

The boys and I (Michael didn't want a picture taken)

Ben & Rhys

Walking along the foreshore

Looking for fishies

Daddy & Michael

All in all a great day.  Jemma came over that evening and we had a cake that Greg had made himself!!

Thanks to everyone for their Birthday wishes.  It was lovely xxxxx

12 years yesterday since my precious step-son Sean passed away - still missing you every day xxxxx