Just dipping my toes back in

Well, I think that may have been the quickest year yet!  And yet, one of our hardest.

It was mainly complicated by a crazy busy year for me at Uni.  Although the previous years have been just as hard, this year I was exhausted and drained as a culmination of 4 years of study, shift work, being on call AND having a family came to a head.  We did it though and I think we have all came out mentally unscathed!  I am now officially a Registered Midwife AND I have a job in the only position I applied for.  So although the craziness of being a student midwife is now behind me, I realise that the real learning now begins - but I'll at least be getting paid for it!

The holidays are nearly coming to an end, but I am so thankful that I've spent lots of wonderful time with the children - I probably wont ever have a big summer break like this again now I'm getting back into working land.  We've had a great time though and are all feeling ready to tackle 2014 with enthusiasm, excitement and only a little bit of trepidation!  I'm also ready to get back into blogging now there may be some free time coming my way (or am I just dreaming?) - either way, I want to get back into recording our life.  Not just for the kids to look back on, but for me to see how much we have to appreciate.  Sometimes life has been so busy I forget how awesome it really is.

Kirsten xx

Winter Festival 2011

Grace's school always celebrates the seasons on the last day of the term, it's a nice way to wrap up the term and to break up for the holidays.  They are normally held during the day, but Winter festival is often held in the late afternoon or night, as often lanterns are used to celebrate.  It was our first winter celebration up at the school, so we were not sure what to expect.  The children had made special invitations, asking us to bring along either fresh bread or a pot of vegetable soup and to meet at the prep rooms at 4.30pm.

After getting to the school, the lovely Miss Pam put us into groups of 2-3 families, with instructions to follow the golden path up to the main part of the school.  She also told us to keep our eyes wide open as we may be seeing some magical things on the way.

We were in a group with 2 of Grace's closest friends, Molly and Olivia. Trude and Jasper also came along to celebrate. The children excitedly skipped ahead as the Mum's and Dad's brought up the rear.  As we rounded the corner to head to the Grade 1 class, there was somebody all rugged up in Pj's and dressing gown and resting on a chair.  In front of them was a lantern and a bell, with instructions for the children to ring the bell if they were asleep.  After much encouragement to the girls, who were very unsure of what was happening, the bell was finally rung.  Up jumped the woman in her Pj's and she recited the poem:

"Jack be nimble,

Jack be quick,

Jack jump OVER the candlestick"

The girls, still unsure, soon clicked and after a bit of a nudge, each jumped over the lantern.  They were then each given a candle and told to keep following the path.

Next on the path was a farmer with a tree full of apples beside him.  He also told a little poem and presented each child with their own pre-cored apple, telling them that their candle should fit in it perfectly!

We set off again, and the next stop was to the banker.  She gave each child 3 gold coins and told them at the next stop, they may be able to buy something very special

The next point on the journey was to the woman who was milling the flour and the children were asked if they'd like to buy some using their 3 coins. They were then given a bag of flour and sent on their way.

The baker was the next stop.  The children swapped their bag of flour for a bag of freshly made bread, which upon closer inspection, Grace worked out that it was actually THE bread they'd made in the class today!

Last but certainly not least, was a trip to visit the wizard and her fiery cauldron - a nice warm place for a cold winters night.  The wizard asked the children to make a wish and each wish was thrown into the cauldron and dramatically disappeared in a puff of smoke!  The children loved the whole trip, but mine especially were enchanted with the wizard and her flames.








We all headed back to the prep rooms, and waited for all the other families to finish the tour.  Whilst we waited, the children impressed us all with their sewing abilities, whipping up a little moon headband to celebrate the festival.  Below is also just one of the wonderful things that Grace has been busy making this year - a beautiful cushion that she embroidered her name on all by herself!  The children use them when they are sitting on the mat to kneel on. 

After everyone had ventured back from the exciting walk, we got to have a big, yummy dinner!  There was such a variety of warm, hearty winter soups and crusty bread with butter - Yum!  We all sat around in the prep rooms lapping up soup with chunks of bread, the parents chatting and the children playing.

After everyone was finished and cleaned up, Miss Pam told us that she'd be turning the outside lights off and we were to come out in family groups to say good bye.  The children were to hold their candle, and she would light them as we left.

It was so still and quiet as each child waited patiently for their moment with Miss Pam.  She lit the candles and whispered a wish to each child.  In the dark, just with candlelight, it was a very special and reverent moment.

We then walked out to the carpark, on a path lined with candles and went home.

What a wonderful and special night and just another reason why I love the community and school.

A long time between posts

It's been a long time since I've had the time or energy to sit down and write a post. 

The last month has been consumed by study, revision, more study and minor freak outs!  It's the pointy end of the University year, and although I don't normally stress about exams/assessments, these ones I felt a little more pressure.  I need to do well in these last 2 courses, otherwise my chances of getting into Midwifery next year can be pretty much kissed goodbye.  Also, I have no real back-up plan for if I don't get in.  I know that I can keep going with nursing, but all my study friends (in nursing) will be going onto other subjects and I'd hate to be stuck doing the ones I missed this year, whilst they are all off doing others.  If it happens like that though, I'll suck it up and take it as one big message that that is the path I am destined to take.  Of course, that will be after the worlds biggest tanty and lots of tears.  I know I've done my absolute best, so I don't think there is anything else that I could have done to make my chances better.  So, now just the LONG wait till January.

The last few weeks, although busy, have been a lot of fun.  A few weeks ago I got to visit the Anatomy lab at the hospital.  I wasn't sure how I'd go with it, but figured the people, (cadavars) who we would be examining, really wanted to be there.  The visit was for anyone that wanted to revise anatomy before the big exam, and only about 50 of the possible 200 students actually turned up.  We had full access to 2 wet bodies and a complete room of embalmed specimens and bodies.  I'll admit the unveiling of the first wet body was a bit daunting, but after a while it's very clinical and my science brain (cause apparently I have one!!) turned on and I was more fascinated than anything.  I even gloved up and explored everything.  It's so amazing seeing how everything connects and tracking arteries/veins around the whole body.  We got to see cancer in different organs, a heart after an attack and a knee after it was replaced.  All very interesting and definitely helped pull all the last years study together.  My study buddies and I spent the next 2 hours investigating and exploring the human body and being blown away by how amazing it really is.  Seeing the fat scattered throughout also has re-inspired my healthy eating plan.

Even though I've neglected my family for the last few weeks, I've had a great time hanging out with our study group.  It's a wonderful mix of women, and we all help and motivate each other.  For the last 2 Thursday's, we have done yoga here which is just the most beautiful location - although a bit of a trek to get to.  It was a perfect start to our long, sometimes intense study days - a beautiful balance.  If I am fortunate enough to get into Midwifery, I'm really going to miss this group.  I know I'm also going to really miss going to lectures and tutorials, in comparison to Midwifery which is mainly going to be external.  It'll be easier for flexibility but much harder to learn online and from a text book.

Duane has been fantastic during all this.  Completely picking up my slack and trying to make things as easy as he can for me.  There is a little gap in his "clean" and my "clean", but I've just had to suck it up and ignore the dust bunnies flying around the floor.  Cleaning has actually been one thing I've been looking forward to.  I've decided to go through 1 room at a time and give it a complete spring clean and de-clutter.  I'm sick of all the stuff that we manage to accumulate.  The kids and I did the toy room yesterday which was probably a bad move.  My kids are bigger hoarders than me, and trying to make them part with anything was painful - even baby toys.  I managed to smuggle a few things away, but nearly everything was met with "But that's my favourite broken toy, ripped book, old drawing etc"  So I might have to leave the ditching days for when they aren't here!

My lovely Mother in law, Wendy, has really been awesome this last year.  She's spent so much time with the kids and had a fantastic time doing it.  They have had so many adventures together and spent lots of time crafting, cooking and playing.  The kids do have Grandma wrapped around their fingers though, requesting all sorts of things that they know wouldn't fly with Mum or Dad.  I'm just so grateful that I have such a wonderful and willing Mother in law who has helped us all out so much.

Anyway, so now is the long wait to results and offers.  I'm hoping that all my hard work and a pinch of luck will be enough to get me over the line and into Midwifery!

Grandma saves the day!

I've got exams in about 3 weeks, so my levels of procrastination are once again reaching an all time high.  I've spent the last week paper shuffling, photocopying, stapling and sorting - not studying.  I figured I'd cram the weeks worth of study into yesterday when I'd just have Xav and then today when both kids are at pre-school.

There were a few things I didn't factor into my schedule though - mainly everyone getting sick and a husband that was working from 5am-6pm both days.  Wonderful.

Duane had man-flu all last week, which means he runs to any tablet he can find to get the quick fix.  Problem was, that mixing his drugs left him in all over hives and on a course of steroids.  I did try to negotiate the steroids from him, but he wasn't sharing and wanted them all to himself.  I did find him scoffing them down and then launching into a million sit-ups - not really sure what he was trying to achieve there. 

Grace was next to succumb to the cold, and in true Gracie style through in a few vomits for good measure.  That girl can not get a whiff of any sickness without resorting to spewing.  It was just a damn cold, and yet she spent the night complaining of a sore throat and heaving into a bucket.  I got it next, however being the one with the highest tested pain threshold, it didn't bother me too much.  Xav, obviously with his mothers hardiness, also caught the cold but took it in his stride and didn't let it stop him at all.  He did end up with a lovely dose of conjunctivitis in both eyes, which have cleared up now.  I was contemplating asking Trude for some breast milk, but went to the Dr instead and got some drops.

So yesterday was spent amusing small children.  They are so good at playing by them self, but it's the constant interruptions for food etc that mess with my study flow.  They spent most of the day making a mess things.  I gave them the huge plastic tub of craft things and they let loose creating lots of interesting pieces of art.  They did spend a few hours in the afternoon watching a Dvd, but that allowed me to get a bit of school stuff done in peace, so I was happy.

Today lovely Grandma came up for the morning to keep them entertained and out of my hair.  They did all sorts of wonderful crafts; making a spider and some roll people.  I locked myself in the study and immersed myself in the world of nephrons, recessive genes and reproduction.

 

Thank goodness for Grandma!

Hearts, hearing and The pox.

We've had a few medical appointments lately, so I thought I'd just do 1 big update here.

First was the results from Xav's echocardiogram. All looks good, except he does have some regurgitation on all his heart valves - which basically means some blood flows the wrong way. Everything else looked perfect, so it's just something we have to be aware of. It's not affecting him in any way now, so we only need to follow it up if it does.

Next was Grace's hearing test. Now, this one I was worried about. After last time and being told not to expect much change this time - we were all very surprised at the results. She did perfectly, and her hearing is fantastic in both ears - so not a thing to worry about. They think last tests dismal result must have been a combination of her not concentrating and maybe the beginning or end of an ear infection/cold. Whatever, I don't care. My sweet little girl has crystal clear hearing and I'm so thankful. Although it does mean for the last 2 months I have been letting her "preschooler ignorance" slide as a hearing loss. Making excuses all the time, thinking she couldn't hear us - when she could hear us FINE!!

Now the last medical "issew" we've had lately has only just popped up. Thursday night Duane noticed a few random spots on Grace, but didn't mention it to me. Friday morning I noticed them as she was undressing, just a few on her belly and back. Over the next few hours, more started appearing. It took me a while to click what they were, but after consulting Dr Google it was evident that my little girl had Chickenpox. So even though she's had the immunisation for it, she's still got it. I spoke to her pre-school to let them know and they were in the process of notifying all parents as 4 children had already reported that day that had it too. Would you believe that the 4 confirmed cases are all in children that have had the vaccination? Xav hasn't had the vaccination, so I'm hoping (and encouraging!) that he gets it from Grace. At least that way he'll have proper immunity. I'll be surprised and shocked if he doesn't get it, especially since I'm actually encouraging saliva swapping via cutlery, food, kissing etc.

It certainly all makes sense now. Grace has been not herself for the last week or so. Last Tuesday and Wednesday she had a headache and was really tired. The following Tuesday she had a sore head again and was just looking pale and lethargic. I was sure something was wrong with her, but she was perking up in between which made me doubt that she was really sick. Which is something I should never do, but she it's sometimes a fine line between sickness and drama. Anyway, she's feeling ok now. I'm not sure when the spots get itchy, but so far hers haven't been - so lets hope they stay that way. She still quite tired and doesn't have much energy, but apart from that she's eating, playing and drinking fine.

Xav's in voluntary quarantine as chickenpox has a 2 week incubation period, so I'm hoping to avoid spreading it any further than I'm sure we already have. I'm just so grateful that I have Wendy helping out with the kids and I don't have to rely on childcare. She's fantastic with them, and is quite happy to sit on the couch cuddling either of them if they are feeling ill. I'm very lucky and fortunate to have such a wonderful mother in law, that is so willing to help us out and adores spending time with the kids.

In other kinda medical news. I'm on call for a birth, but I'm not holding out too much hope of it happening - but I'm still not giving up. She's booked in for a C/s on Tuesday at 39 weeks, and although we'd both love her to go into labour soon, it's not looking like she's going to avoid the looming incision date. I'm still a chance for being in the theatre for the C/s, which I'm very excited about! I'm also going to be spending a night or 2 in hospital with her, just to help out and hopefully support her through those first tricky breastfeeding days and nights. She had a horrible experience last time, and really needs lots of support and encouragement to make this whole birth and breastfeeding experience empowering and positive. She's worked really hard to get where she is now, so I'm sure it will all work out wonderful.

Right-o, I'm off to enjoy season 2 of Private Practice on Dvd. I've rediscovered the joy of ordering what I want from the local library so have a stream of books and Dvd's steadily becoming available. I like this series (well apart from the birth scenes, then I want to throw things) and I'm enjoying sitting down once a week to watch a few episodes back to back.

Easter 2010

It's the end of an extra lovely extended long weekend and it has been so lovely to spend every day with my gorgeous little family.

Friday was a lazy day at home, getting some work done around the house and just enjoying being at home together. Friday night Grandma and Poppy came up for our annual Good Friday dinner of salad, baked potatoes and yummy Tasmanian Salmon. Yum.

Saturday Grace went to Hi-5, Duane went to golf and Xav & I got to spend some much needed time together. He was a perfect little shopping buddy, something that we haven't been able to do together for ages. As he was being such a wonderful little companion, I bought him his favourite yoghurt drink - which he then declared to the check-out chick was his "beer" Jeepers!

Saturday night was a bbq around at the Dews, which was a lot of fun. The kids ran around looking for hidden chocolate whilst the parents got to sit around and chat - perfect! The kids also had a go at painting hard boiled eggs, which was our third go at decorating eggs this week, so my kids knew exactly what to do.

Sunday morning, after the build up all week, was finally here!! Grace was out of bed nice and bright at 6am, but Xav decided that instead of getting up early (like he has all week!) he'd have a nice luxurious lay in until 7am. Grace was eager to get out and see the Easter Garden, so we sent her on her way. She was amazed to see the grass all fully grown, and covered in all little flowers from her outside fairy garden. There was also lots of little animals frolicking in the grass and 2 special little needle-felted eggs in the pumpkin cave. Grace was mesmerised and amazed, it took her a good five minuted before she even realised there was a chocolate Easter bunny over the back!!

The garden is something that I wanted to do to build the anticipation of Easter. I really remember the lead up to events (Christmas, Easter, B'days etc) and how exciting that was. The not being able to sleep the night before, finally falling asleep and then waking bright and early. The kids and I dusted off a silver platter that Duane had won in some gold comp, and loaded it up with soil. Grace cut a branch off one of our trees from the front yard and stripped it back to look like a miniature tree. We made a little lake out of an old Tupperware container and then filled in the gaps with sand and rocks. The kids then planted the wheat grass that we had soaked overnight and then the bare garden was placed at the front door, ready to receive lots of sunshine and water so it would grow. Each day the kids watered the garden. The first few days there wasn't much happening, but by the 3rd day there was a definite carpet of green grass coming through. It was about 10cm tall by Easter Sunday, and looked so beautiful with little droplets of water beading one the ends of each blade.

~~The beginnings of the Easter Garden~~

~~The grass starts to sprout~~

~~After a few days, the grass starts to grow~~
(My wet-felted pumpkin over the back)

~~Easter morning and everything is in full bloom!~~

She wiled away the time until Xav woke, playing with the animals in the garden. Xav came running out at full speed at about 7, asking in his "outside!" voice "Has Easter Bunny been yet?" Grace showed him around the garden and pointed out his chocolate bunny, which made him very happy. I don't even think Grace knew what chocolate was at Xav's age, he hasn't had it much either, but he certainly knew that he would be getting some come Easter! Grandma and Poppy came up and handed out some more chocolate to the kids, a lindt bunny each and also a novelty rain gauge for each of them.

We had a lovely decadent breakfast of wholemeal pancakes, piled high with bananas and drizzled with melted chocolate. Easter, the only day of the year where eating chocolate for breakfast is encouraged!!! After breakfast, the kids headed out the front to see if Easter bunny had left anything else. The scoured around and found 6 little hollow eggs and a sleeping bag each. The sleeping bag was from Nanny and Great Grandma, but Easter Bunny had dropped it off on their behalf. The sleeping bags were a huge hit, and the rest of the morning was spent playing caterpillars on the lounge room floor.

After devouring some more chocolate (it was open slather for the 1 day only!) the kids and Duane crashed on the lounge room floor, curled up in the sleeping bags and watching Mary Poppins. I spent the time trawling through research databases trying to get the last few articles I need for my essay.

Dinner was a beautiful feast of garlic cream prawns on a bed of coconut rice. Absolutely divine, but oh, so fattening - like we needed any more of that after all the cocoa goodness that was consumed today!

Today we had a cake smash photo shoot for a little girl in our Mothers group who is turning 1 soon. She was so delicate and tentative about the cake to start with, but soon got into the swing of it and I swear she actually consumed half of the cake! I've had a quick look at the pics and there are some cute ones, so now I just have to set some time aside to go through them all.

This afternoon/tonight we headed down to Curumbin to the Pirate park that we visited last weekend for a play and picnic. The girls all got to go for a nice stroll, and Grace was delighted that she was allowed to come along! Normally she is complaining about 5 minutes in that her legs are hurting, but she braved the 20 minute walk without the slightest whinge. The kids all had a blast racing around the park and then having dipping their toes in the shallow water.

Wednesday we are heading off camping, so hopefully there will be lots of rest time - sprinkled with study!

Weekend wrap

It's been a wet and drizzly weekend, the weather has been nice and cool - perfect for some crafts and snuggly family time before my busy upcoming week.

Saturday Wendy and I went up to Silkwood to do a craft workshop. We weren't going to, but after seeing the finished demo piece at our weekly Monday craft - I was inspired! I've wanted to learn how to wet-felt for a while now, so this opportunity was too good to pass.

The workshop is to make a fully handmade sewing case, big enough to hold all of our sewing tools. I rummaged through my sewing bags, and dragged out everything that I like handy when I'm getting crafty. I've worked out that I can fit way more than I thought in, so it's going to be exciting having a customised place for everything. I'm cramming in my dressmaking scissors, embroidery scissors, paper scissors, felting needle and spares, little note-pad, pencil roll, eraser, quick unpick, needle book, chopsticks (for stuffing things) and a few random pockets for extras. It's HUGE, but so awesome.

First up we cut out all the patterns of things we wanted to fit in, and working out what size felt we would have to make. Next was on to the felting. WOW, this is so much fun, but so much work. I've really developed an appreciation for pieces I have seen at craft markets now, realising just how much effort goes into each piece. You start with a blank piece of white batting, and then delicately layer it up with wispy bits of coloured fleece. I didn't realise the work involved, so of course jumped right in the deep end and envisaging mine to end up as a garden scene. Most of the others where smart, sticking to simple colours and random patterns. You keep layering up the fleece, which by now is getting quite high and I was starting to wonder how the heck it was going to squash down and look like felt. After the 2 layers of fleece, it was time to work on the detail. I made mine into a meadow scene, with a tree in the centre and a rainbow off to the side. I was a little rushed in the end, and would of preferred to put more detail into the flowers etc, but had to get on to the next step. Wetting down the fleece and rolling it all out. I really thought this step wouldn't take too long. WRONG. We were there for the next 3 hours, pain stakingly rolling and rubbing, trying desperately to get the fleece to felt onto itself. After, what felt like forever, it finally started to come together. To finish off the process we were told to throw it in the washing machine when we got home. Now, that was stressful. Lucky I had Wendy's piece as a practice piece and after that coming out fine, put mine in. It was exhausting and hard work, but I'm so pleased with how it's worked out.

I've heard that making felt involves breaking down mental and physical barriers, which I believe now. This might sound bizarre, but the process seems to take on a life of it's own. As each piece opens up, it evolves, develops and transforms. What I started with, was completely different to the end piece. Apparently that's the journey of felt. Amazing.

The workshop is on again next Saturday, where we will start sewing on the pockets for all the tools.

Saturday night I headed by myself to a screening of a birth movie at the Uni. It was a documentary on a woman that was wanting to deliver her baby vaginally, even though he was presenting breech. It showed her journey with trying to find her peace with the decision to vaginally birth, rather than opting for a c/s & her fight for this to happen. It was interesting to watch and then to see the birth of a baby coming feet first was awesome. Although the movie was great, it was the panel and all the other women speakers that inspired me the most. All the local and Brisbane women that are active in the birthing community were there. Fabulous midwives, those working politically for birth choices and many, many women that are passionate about preserving birth. It was inspiring and wonderful to be in a room full of so many like minded women (and a few men!) who all trust birth and have so much faith in our bodies to do what we were made to do. The wonderful Sarah J Buckley, was supposed to attend, but had to cancel. Instead she pre-recorded a talk for us all, telling us all about her breech birth and explaining why Breech vaginal birth is mostly un-heard of any more. She herself had an undiagnosed breech birth, at home!

Apart from breech birth talk, there was also a discussion on the ramifications of traumatic births, and the devastating effects that a dis-empowering birth can have. How the ripples of that flow further out and through society than we could ever imagine. And to realise that an empowering birth doesn't necessarily mean a text-book perfect vaginal birth, that also has the ability to be dis-empowering if there is a power in balance. It's mostly about giving women clear information and then supporting them in making an informed decision, and of course the long standing need for good midwife-led continuity care programs -not just for those deemed "low risk", but those that really require the extra care ie, vbacs.

There were a bunch of very passionate and motivated woman who are doing their absolute best to keep making people are that birth matters and there needs to be change in the system, and I'm hopeful that these changes can happen, soon.

Back to school

I have been so slack with blogging lately. There's plenty to write about, but I've been busy and just haven't had the time or motivation to sit down and write.

Anyway, first things first. I'm officially enrolled as a Student Nurse. I'm still disappointed that it's not midwifery, but I'm just going to have to suck it up and move forward from that. I'm slowly getting excited about actually starting this journey, whilst quietly crapping my dacks about how I am going to manage. I'm kinda in denial about the enormous school load that I will have and the huge learning curve as I embark on tertiary study. I haven't studied for 10 years and that was a nice cruisy Tafe Diploma of Tourism. I can't even remember how to write an essay, let alone all the other formats for assignments and exams. To make it even worse, when you enrol in your classes you also have to enrol in your exams, so sitting nice and prominent on my Uni timetable is the days already blocked for exams. That's what really scares me. I remember the intense lead up to Exam time, full of late nights and junk food. I remember that being stressful without kids and no other responsibilities, throwing kids and a house into the mix is surely going to be C.R.A.Z.Y!

Also because I've only just enrolled, I was left with all the scrappy times for tutes/labs. It means I'm back and forth from the uni a bit, but it should work out ok with the kids. I go from 8-9 of a Monday morning and then again in the afternoon from 1pm-2pm. Although that sounds so spaced out and crappy, it's not too bad. I really wanted to keep going to the craft mornings up at the school, so having those hours means Wendy can come up of a morning and watch the kids, then I can come home and we can head up about 9.30am. After craft we will come home for lunch, put Xav to bed and then I'll head back out. Duane's home at 2pm, so he'll take over the kids and Wendy can head home. Tuesday I'll be at school from 1-4, and as Grace will also be at school I only have to work out Xav. I'm hoping that I can drop Xav at the Il's for a few hours which will give me some study time before uni and then once again Duane can pick up the kids after he finishes work. There are lectures on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which are only for a few hours each day. I'm in the process of finding out if I can just watch them online, which would be awesome as I could be flexible when I watched them.

I've still got a fair bit to sort out between now and the start date of 1st March. Blue card, police check, needles and CPR. I also have to organise books and stationary and might even treat myself to a special stethoscope! All nurses need one right?

~~Beautiful sunrise at Lennox~~

Apart from spending the last few weeks bitterly disappointed with missing out on Mid, We've been having a great time with Mum visiting. We spent 4 nights camping down at Lennox Heads which was fantastic. There were lots of lazy, hot days spent floating around in the tannin stained lake.

Our camp site this time was in a nice little corner, between plenty of kids around for Grace and Xav to play with. They spent most of their time scootering around the park, doing chalk drawings on the concrete and generally running amok during the day and crashing in exhausted heaps of a night.


They made friends with the kids in the caravan beside us and spent most of the time playing in their caravan and annex. Good choice of friends too, they were in luxury in a massive air-conditioned Van with all the mod-cons. A bit of a novelty and step-up from out modest little tent set-up.


We spent one day up at Balngalow visiting the awesome markets and the beautiful park by the river. It was a stinking hot day though, so only enough time for a quick look through before buying a homemade icy-pole and heading over to the cool, shady park.



The weather was beautiful, but hot on some days so we set up on the lake and spent the hottest part of the day down there. It's a lovely shaded spot, perfect for the kids to paddle in the water whilst the adults took turns watching and reading books. The kids also had their sleeps down there, on little made up beds inside the shade tent. Gave the adults time for a snooze and time to read or tackle crosswords.

We had a delicious and decadent breakfast one morning over at the surf club. Duane had a big hot breakfast, whilst the rest of us had a feast of banana pancakes with ice-cream and maple syrup. YUMMO!

On the way home, we stopped at Brunkswick Heads for THE best calamari and chips in the world, serious. It is just divine and Duane and I have even considered taking a day trip down just for lunch.

~~Yummy calamari and hand made chips~~

Mum's heading home tomorrow morning, so no doubt it will take a while for me and the kids to get back to just us again. It's been great having an extra pair of hands to wrangle the munchkins. on a daily basis. Duane and I have also made good use of the in-house nanny service, managing to go out for dinner one night and the movies another. I'm not sure it's been much of a break for Mum though, she's been dragged around to all our daily activities, which usually incolve more noisy children! She'll no doubt need some kid-free time when she goes home to recover!

The kids are going to miss her though. I've been able to get back to Tassie at least once a year for the last 4, but I'm really not sure when I'll next be able to get down. Time wise it's hard, but it's also getting hard financially considering we have to pay for both kids now. It's an expensive trip for all of us to travel down, much cheaper for me to just pay for Mum to come up. I'm not sure when she'll come up next though, hopefully with not too big a gap!

PAD #8

PAD #8
Originally uploaded by kirstenpenney

Ok, this is my very first attempt at a manual photo of a night with no flash.

Sounds easy right? It took me FOREVER to get the settings right, well as close to good as I could get. The iso has been bumped up as high as it could go (1600), which was needed to let enough light in, but gosh the grain and noise is terrible.

I do kinda like this pic, apart from all it's faults. I like how the sparkler is kinda in the shape of the southern cross.

Anyway, this is the best of a bad bunch.

It was Friday night and we decided to have a picnic out the front. The kids and I had spent the afternoon making chicken and prawn rice paper rolls, along with lots of little dipping sauces. The lawn was frehly mowed, and the weather was perfect for some outside dining. The kids set the the picnnic rug out, with stepping stones leading up to it. Grace dressed up for the event in one of her princess dresses and topped it off with sparkly halo.
I'd bought some sparklers, and figured they would be a good start to night photography. I was hoping to get some nice pics with both of the kids, but little Xav was petrified of them. No doubt a hangover from his feear of fireworks. Grace loved them though, totally mesmerised and as soon as one fizzled out she was begging for more.

To end the lovely night off, we decided to rent a dvd and have a movie night. I thought it was about time for Grace to be introduced to Snow White, so that is what we picked out. We made a big bed on the lounge room floor. Grace was a little scared in parts of the movie, she wasn't fond of the parts with the witch but enjoyed most of it.

Hello 2010

Gosh, I can't believe that another decade has just passed and we are into a brand spanking new one. Welcome 2010!

It certainly doesn't seem like 10 years ago that we were all welcoming in the new Millennium, unsure what the Y2K bug was going to bring. Remember when everyone was petrified that the bug would blow up all the computers and life as we knew it would be over? Well seems that the clocks could tick over, and have been for the last 10 years!

It's been a fantastic decade for me, definitely the best so far. It was all kicked off in 2000 with our wedding, and it's only gotten better from there. We bought our first house together in 2001, bought our second in 2002, bought a business, sold a business, had 2 beautiful babies, I've spent the last 4 years as a stay at home Mum, Duane completed an apprenticeship, we travelled overseas but best of all have had lots of enjoyable time together as a family of 4.

2010 is shaping up to be a fantastic year too. I find out on the 14th of this month if I am accepted into University to study Midwifery. It's no doubt going to be a tough year if I do, but it's all about the long term plan. I'm slightly in denial about how hard it actually will be though, both logistically and financially. We live on a very tight budget, so adding in extra interest rate rises for both houses, extra pre-school expenses for Grace and also when Xav starts in July, the costs of travelling to Uni and also the crazy expense of books etc - the $$ start to add up. I really don't know how it will work, but for some reason things do just work out. I know that's quite arrogant, but for some reason with us, money comes if it is needed. There have been many moments over the last 10 years that we have desperately needed money and it either comes in the form of extra Govt payments, some sort of back pay or a win. Hopefully our luck can stretch for a few more years, just until I get a job anyway! The other part that scares me is trying to juggle the demands of the course. It's not just uni time, there is also 2 shifts a week at the hospital to fit in and following the pregnancy, birth and postnatal care of 30 women over the 3 years. This means attending most of their antenatal appointments (so no doubt lots of hanging around in waiting rooms), trying to organise my family and also to be on call for births and then attending the women postnatally. Although this part of the course excites me the most, I know it's going to be hard to organise the kids for if I am called out over night. I'm just hoping and praying that it all falls into place.

I have a few things that I want to stick to this year. Firstly, If I do go to Uni, I want to try very hard to get the balance between study and family perfect. I'm willing to sacrifice some family time, but still want to spend as much time as I can with the kids and Duane. I want the time that I do spend with them to be quality time, and to work on being present in the moment. This is Grace's last year as a carefree child, before she embarks on her first year of formal education. I know this year she is going to bloom and I want to be around to enjoy it.

I want to work on my fitness. I'd love to get to the end of the year without my flabby stomach, so I'm going to try very hard to exercise every single day. Whether that be going for a walk, doing a fitness Dvd or just running around with the kids - I'll do it. Duane and I both need to be setting good examples for the kids and want them to be active. There will be lots of beach visits, trips to the park, bike riding, swimming and golf. Also lots of tickling, laughter and giggling.

I really want to improve my photography. I'm hoping to have a lesson with a photographer soon, so hopefully that will get me started. I'm slowly working my way through the camera manual, and learning lots, BUT I still feel like I really have no clue. I look back on photos I took last year, and I know that I am getting better - so hopefully this time next year I'll see big improvements.

I want to blog regularly. I love writing here, it clears my head and also leaves something for the kids to read when they are older. Before I started this blog, I had been writing in a word document and I'm hoping to transfer that all over to here and then eventually have it all printed into a book for each of the kids.

I want to take lots of little trips, whether they be day trips or camping ones. It so refreshing and exciting to get away from the normal everydayness of home, allowing time to just be together. Grace has asked to see the snow this year, so maybe a trip down that way might be in order.

So just a few things to kick-start 2010. I'm excited and nervous about what it will bring, but most of all I am just so thankful that we are beginning this new year and this new decade all healthy and happy.

PAD # 7

PAD # 7
Originally uploaded by kirstenpenney

STACKS ON DADDY!!!!!!!!

Duane and the kids were having their regular wrestle on the lounge room floor, and I just HAD to get a photo.

The photos all technically wrong. Duane's face is blown out, there is something strange on the left hand side floor that I couldn't crop out, Xav is mostly hidden and the photo looks a little "cramped" as my 50mm 1.8 doesn't give me much room. I took another one in colour, but I think I like this one in B&W best.

However, there are lots of things I love about this photo. I love Grace's eye contact to the camera and I love the crazy angle and I also love how true a moment it is. This is something that they do every day, and I'm sure that rough and tumble time is a highlight for both the kids and Daddy.

My beautiful husband. My beautiful daughter. My beautiful son.

How lucky am I.

Christmas Day 2009

The kids woke nice and early at 5.30am in our bed, after both sneaking in overnight sometime. As soon as Grace's eyes were open she was begging to go out and see if Santa had been, but as we were going to wait for the Fil to come before presents were opened, it was a long wait in the bedroom amusing 2 very excited and anxious children.

We mucked around on the bed, reading books and trying to take some family shots. It was absolute torture though for all of us, especially for Grace and Xav who, after building up the anticipation of Christmas Day, were desperate to rip into some paper.

A quick call was made to Poppy, with the kids insisting that he got here pronto! He turned up just before 7am, where 2 bumbling children met him at the door jittering with excitement. We headed outside, where Santa's footprints made their way from the front gate to the front door, with bits of snow scattered around. The kids ran around the front for a bit, each taking turns to step in the footprints. We checked that the bowl of water that had been left out for the reindeer's had been drunk, and then headed inside to check if Santa had finished off his home-made shortbread and OJ and that the reindeer's had all had a munch on the carrot.

Then it was straight into the marathon present opening. It started off nice and slow, with only one person opening one present at a time. Somehow, it all sped up until it it was just a flurry of wrapping paper, presents and excitement.

The kids opened all the Grandparents presents first, and once again they went completely over board. I actually think Wendy and Trevor bought more than us and Santa combined! The main present from them to the kids were an organ for Grace and a drum set for Xav. Now this is a slight sore point for me, as I was intending on getting a bongo drum for Xav. However, they found this little drum kit which they thought Xav would love and just had to have it for him. Then I'm guessing they looked around for the second most annoying present they could find, and bought that for Grace.

Now, I'm all for musical things for the kids BUT both of these require no musical participation at all. It's just a matter of turning them on, pressing a button and letting them do there own thing. The drums do not make any reasonable noise, just a disgusting mixture of clanging and thumping. The organ, whilst can be made to sound ok, doesn't most of the time. Adding to the lovliness of it is that it comes with its very own and very loud microphone. So not only to I have to listen to the constant cringing sounds coming from the cymbals, I get to listen to undecipherable noises coming from the microphone. You think a 2 y/o and 4 y/o are annoying with their whinging and whining? Well just imagine what its like turned up a few decibels and being screeched from cheap distortion.

Yes, the kids like them. Yes, they have fun. Yes, they are 'musical' and therefore have some ounce of something beneficial. BUT THEY ARE BLOODY ANNOYING.

After 1 day they were confiscated from constant fighting. I don't know whether to encourage hard play and therefore destruction of the cheap plastic or just go for over-play and hope the novelty wears of VERY damn quick. Regardless, I know exactly what the Il's are getting for all future presents. A recording of a lovely 'recital' of the children, with strict instructions to play it constantly ALL DAY, and see how long they stay sane.

Anyway, enough ranting. Back onto Christmas Day.

Nanny made up little bon-bons for the kids that she had filled with all kinds of loot. There were lip glosses, nail polish and hairbands for Grace, cars for Xav, gold coin chocolates, lollipops, balloons and a harmonica. The were a huge hit with the kids and all the edible goodies have been put into containers, ready to be rationed out. A lollipop each did get through security and was enjoyed before breakfast though.

~~Xav and all his presents~~

~~Grace and all her presents~~

Santa bought Grace a little wooden dolls bed, a ukelele and a stocking stuffed with special food treats. We bought her some paints and books. Xav got from Santa a wooden balance bike, a new set of plastic gold clubs and the stuffed stocking. I had also taken the kids out seperately to buy a special present for each other. Xav picked out a tin tea-set from Aldi for Grace, which has been a huge hit. Grace bought Xav a totem tennis, which we have set up outside and they are both having a blast playing with it.

We had a lovely indulgent breakfast of chipolatas, bacon and freshly layed eggs. I'd given myself Christmas Day off worrying about what went in my mouth, so needless to say it was chocked full of crap for most of the day.

After having a quick play with the toys it was onto our venue for Christmas Lunch. Presents were exchanged between the kids, and once again they were all completely spoilt. Although the adults don't generally do gifts for each other, I was very spoilt with a bonus gift from both the Truets and the Dews. The Dew had given us early this week 2 large pots to go at the front door, and each on was planted a Jade Tree. It's a running joke that out family is now referred to as "New Money" after our win on Lotto, and the jade pants fits in with this theme as it is commonly referred to as a money tree. Grace is running around telling everyone that we have 2 money trees out the front, I guess when you are just 4, money really does grow on trees.

My other bonus present was a pair of tights, which I've only recently discovered ARE the most comfortable things around. Also there was a hair curling product that is just fantastic, and finally my flyaway curls are being reigned in. Nicole's has been nagging me for ages to buy both of these things, and must of got sick of me putting it off so bought them for me. I'm stoked with both!

After the presents were all opened it was onto the big feast. The kids were set up on the small table, but after about 5 mins of rattiness it was decided that the excitement of the day was all a little much for them and they were all offloaded to bed. The adults all got to sit down in peace and eat, and although it was a little strange without the chatter and giggles of the little people, it was lovely to eat civilised.

Nicole and I were on a quest to fill our bellies with as much non-weight watchers approved food as possible. I filled up on truffles, nuts, lollies - and that was before lunch even started!!! The turkey roast lunch was just beautiful, followed by lots of yummy decadent dessert, which the rich chocolate ripple cake was my absolute favourite.

The rest of the afternoon was spent lazing around, and waiting for kids to wake so we could head downstairs and try not to sink to the bottom of the pool with all the extra weight. The Dad's and kids all went in, whilst the Mums cheered and watched from the sidelines. Grace has only just started swimming by herself with just a noodle, but lo and behold Xav has decided that whatever she can do, he can do too. So this week he has been able to swim by himself, just holding onto a noodle. Now, I know that the noodles keep them up, but still it is very impressive that he has the skills to balance and keep himself afloat and not fall off. He absolutely loves his new found freedom in the pool, kicking and getting himself around the whole pool. He can even get himself to the side now and climb out totally unassisted, which also needs a lot of strength.

We all hung around for dinner, and ate up copious amounts of leftovers that were topped up by the Cahills who joined us in the afternoon. The kids all played and tried to expel the candy-cane induced sugar high, before bath-time, into Pj's and taken home.

It was a fantastic day. Lots of fun and excitement, with not stress - Perfect.

~~Crazy photo of everyone, except poor Lucie is only half there~~