Kindy Graduation Day, 2007

Last night was all the excitement of the Christmas Party and today was all the excitement of Graduation Day. This marks a huge milestone in our lives as well as Tyler's life. Our "baby" is graduating from Kindy into "Big School". Just thinking about it like this leaves a big lump in my throat, but then I've always been a big sook when in comes to my kids achieving milestones like this.

There were quite a few surprises in store for us this morning and the kids were fantastic with keeping those secrets.

The morning started with a concert like last nights with the kids really showing that they can "rock". This followed the actual Graduation Ceremony inside when the kids were presented, dressed in "Cap & Gown" with their Graduation Certificates and did a little walk along a catwalk for all parents to applaud them. This brought a few tears, not only to my eyes, but to most parents eyes, to see their kids all dressed up in 'Graduation Gear'. It was so cute! They were then presented as a whole group - the class of 2007.

This was followed by morning tea and Graduation Cake outside and then we were given the option to buy sets of Proffesional Photos of them to comemorate the occasion. Of course, you couldn't knock that opportunity back. The kids then all presented their parents with a tiny xmas pudding they had made in class along with a 2008 calendar and a tree decoration featuring a photo of them. All in all, it was a great morning, and extremely well organized.

For us:

This time in 12 years, it will be ALL OVER!!!! No more school!

Tyler's Kindy Christmas Party

With Christmas just around the corner, Tyler's Kindy hosted their Christmas Party last night. It was heaps of fun! The entertainment started off with the 3 different levels (Junior Kindy, Senior Kindy and Pre-school) all presenting a concert where each level sang and danced to 3 different songs each. They were great to watch and all did their parent's proud. Of course, the littlies were a little bit shy, but by the time we got to the Pre-school kids, they were right into the spirit of things and loved their dancing.

The excitement shows all over her face.

Tyler loves to dance and here she is; not missing a beat.

LASER SKIRMISH

This week Bryce was invited to celebrate his best friend's birthday with 2 other boys to play Laser Skirmish. We didn't know it, but there is a Laser Skirmish ground just up at Mt Cotton only about 10 minutes from home. It is in the bush behind the Mt Cotton Scout Camp.

I was a bit uneasy at the thought of these young boys going out into the bush in full army clothing with laser guns with the object of shooting one another, but they had fun, and that's the main thing.

When we arrived up there, there were about 80 - 100 people (adults as well as kids) registered to play and they were all split into 2 groups - Caps and Hats - and the idea was that they were opposing armys. They played 2 x 15 minute rounds (swapping ends in the middle) to start with then they had a 15 minute break, and then they went back out into the bush to play 2 x 20 minutes rounds (swapping ends in between).

It was stipulated to them all before they started that it was a NON CONTACT game and a safe game to play - just to have heaps of fun - and FUN............THEY HAD. I think Bryce will be sleeping very soundly tonight. Thank goodness, it's a Pupil-Free day tomorrow at school.

While we were up there, on a walk through the bush, we spotted this wallaby grazing under the trees. Good thing I had the camera with me!

Speaking of school, Tyler is having a Prep Transition morning at school tomorrow for an hour and a half. This is just so the kids starting Prep next year, can go along and have a taste of what to expect when they start next year and to meet all the teachers. Unfortunately, I have a really busy day at work, but Rick will be taking her to this, and hopefully, he'll take the camera too, so I'll be making another post tomorrow with pics of that for you all to see.

Sally's Weightloss Tracker

What A Weekend!!

We've just had the best weekend here: -

After 8 years of being a 1-car family and spending a lot of time at home with the children while Rick was working 2 jobs, I finally have my own car again......................and here it is............

and this is what it looks like on the inside:

It's got heaps of room and is really zippy. I've had to get used to driving a manual car again, but after just 1 day back at work today, I feel as if I've never driven anything else but a manual car.

We had to go to the Gold Coast to pick it up, so while we were there we decided to take the kids to the beach to have a swim in the surf. We headed on down to Main Beach just north of Surfers Paradise, and the beach was extremely busy but the water was perfect. So clean and cool. I couldn't resist getting in for a swim myself. As you can see from the photo, the ocean had formed a 'gutter' along the beach with a small sandbar on the other side and this was perfect for the kids to swim in. Safe but still with waves and lots of current to contend with. I helped the kids walk across the gutter to get to the sanbar and the water came up to Tyler's chest at it's deepest. The kids loved jumping off the sandbar into the deep water of the gutter with the waves of the surf. We had so much fun. It was worthwhile the trip down to the coast. May have to think about doing this more regularly this summer.

Family photo at Davids 21st

DAVIDS 21st AT HOME

We celebrated Davids 21st Birthday, Don Shirley and Aat came around for a BBQ. Bryce & Tyler were beside themselves to have there big brother back home.

ONE OF THE WEEKLY .....

things I look forward to each week on the OSS site is a 2 Day Wonder Photography Challenge. Each Friday, a Design Team Member puts up a challenge to complete some time over the weekend using our camera. This has been a great learning experience for me because I've learnt all sorts of ways to photograph different subjects and all the different things to take into account to achieve an interesting photo. It has made me read the Instruction Manual for the camera more and learn more of what my camera is capable of doing.

This weekend's subject was Everyday Moments - the little things in and around the home that make it 'our home'. The little things that are taken for granted.

Here is my collection:

... And no, the Lotto ticket was no good. It was in the $20 Million Jackpot too, and didn't yield a single cent. Oh well, there's always next time!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

LAST NIGHT WHILE RICK WAS AT WORK......
I got stuck into some scrapbooking again. (I haven't done any for 3 weeks, since I started work). I got really busy and created 15 "Just Because..." cards for this month's swap over at OSS. The hardest part was creating the first one and then every one after that was easy, I just changed each one slightly. I hope all the girls involved in the swap like my creation.Here is a little sneak peek at them.

I can't show you any more detail just in case any of the girls happen to find my blog and see them. (They are supposed to be a surprise).

After breakfast this morning, we decided to spend the morning having a look around the new IKEA store over at Springwood. In the past, I haven't liked the store or product they sell at all, but now - I'm converted! Apart from battling the crowds (the new catalogue came out last week), I just loved the store and we picked up a few little things while we were there. I can't get over how cheap it all it! We finally were able to replace a standing reading light that our Removalists broke for a quarter of the price of any other store We also found a bought a much needed Shower Organizer and Cutlery Drainer and for only a couple of $'s each. Bargain at half the price. I think I may go back next weekend, while Rick is on night shift, to pick up some new bed sheets. Can't wait for that.
Well, better finish off here and get my clean washing in and ironing done for tomorrow.

ARRIVING BACK FROM CAMP

12th of September Bryce arrives back from his year 3 camp held on the sunshine coast.

Tuesday September 11,2007

As you can see by the date, it is the anniversary of that horrific terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York. Thankfully, the day has past with no repeats anywhere around the world. , but one cannot help stopping for a moment to think about that terrible day and all the people who were directly affected by it.
Well it has been 2 weeks now since I started my new job with Blue Care, Redlands. Primarily, I am working as a Personal Carer for 2 days a week, but I also work in the Office every Friday as the "Intake Officer".
I am really enjoying working in the community, even though I thought I'd never go back to any type of 'nursing' work at all. Now, I'm hoping that one day I will be able to finish my nursing that I started way back in 1980. I've had heaps of 'hands-on' experience this then that has been documented in the form of certificates etc, which all count towards R.P.L's, (Recognition of Prior Learning), so hopefully finishing the course won't be too daunting. I just have to wait for the opportunity to come up where I can still do it while continuing to work. FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!

PIRATE SHIP

After a week of rain we took the kids down to the park were they could let off some steam.

Thursday 23rd August 2007

Well, yesterday I finally got the phone call I had been waiting for from Blue Care offering me a job as a personal carer. Of course I accepted the position and I start with them next Tuesday. I now have to contact all of my Ab.Dom. clients to let them know that I am no longer able to clean for them. It is harder to do with some of the clients that I have been cleaning for since starting this job. I had to tell one of those clients in person today when I went to do my final clean for them. They were one of my very first clients and we have established a very trusting relationship and friendship. When I left today, we decided that we would keep in touch in the future.
Last Saturday, while Rick was at work, I decided to get the kids out of the house and on their bikes because they hadn't ridden them for ages, so we went for a bike ride to the park beside the beach about 1km away. We had never riden in that direction before, but we stuck to the back streets and easements and only had to cross 1 main road.
I decided to take the camera with me and take the opportunity to get lots of lovely photos of the kids at play.
I took this one of Tyler while she was lying on a rug with her dolls on the back lawn at home. We love this photo of her!!!!!

This was the two kids playing 'boats' at the park together. Note the figurehead!!
By the time we got home again, we had been out for a couple of hours and they were both well and truly ready for some lunch and a lovely sleep. Nothing like a still onshore sea breeze and a big bike ride to wear them out!!!!!!
We all had fun - even me having to walk fast to keep up with them.

TYLERS 5TH BIRTHDAY

On the 10th August, Tyler finally turned 5. After years of taking the back seat to Bryce's birthday parties, we decided that it was her turn to be made a big fuss of. We took her down to the shopping centre early on the day and had her ears pearced and then it it was home for morning tea and a birthday cake with Opa.
She received some really beautiful 'little girl' presents this year including the fairy below and a Barbie and Bratz dolls. Grandpa and Shirley's roller skating doll didn't work so we took it back to the shop and exchanged it for a "Littlest Pet Shop" set, which she loves.
She is at a lovely age now where she is really happy to sit and play out scenarios with her dolls and toys. It's lovely to sit back and watch her growing up into a beautiful little girl. Where is our baby girl going?

Queensland Museum

This was our day trip to the Museum fun was had by all.

We all went to the city on the train and spent the best part of the day at the Science Centre and QLD Museum.

Welcome!

Welcome all to the first entry into our new blog. We decided to set this up so that we can share our photos of family outings and events with each of you around the world. This has to be easier that emails and CD's in the mail!

Here are some recent photos of each of us, just so you know who you are looking at and talking to.