Winter Has Arrived!!!

Well, today has been freezing all day. Hasn't really been warmer than about 16 degrees, so they say, and it's going to get even colder over the next few days. Brrrrrrr........ Apparently they've had sleet falling up at Toowoomba this afternoon!!!!!!!
Tyler still wasn't very well this morning when she woke up, so she spent the day at home with Rick. No point in sending her to school when she's feeling like this - much to her disagreement.
Had a great idea for Tyler's birthday party today - I'm going to make some pretty pinwheels for each child to take home with them. An old fasioned idea that I haven't seen used before, (not since I was a little girl) and they go well with the butterfly theme of the party. Had a practice go with them when I got home from work and they work well. Just need to buy some dowel from Bunnings for the handles and some pretty papers.
No photo opportunities today with my new camera.

It's My Birthday Today......

and look what I got from Rick and the kids.

We've had Digital SLR for the last 5 years, which is great, but this is so much more portable and had heaps more features. Also has double the mega pixels too.

It's been a nice day: a sleep in to start with, then FIL and parents arrived for morning tea before we headed off to Sizzlers for lunch. Rick had to go off to work this afternoon, so I've spent the afternoon catching up on blogs and favourite forums on the net.

A First For Us in 11 Years

MAMA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, finally after 11 years Rick and I finallly went to a movie together (without the kids), to see an adult movie.
Our wonderful neighbor offered to have the children for a couple of hours so that we could head off to see "Mama Mia" at the movies.
In the short time since its' release, I've heard nothing but wonderful reports about it. I was convinced that I would be going to see it on my own, because Rick is not really a movie-lover, but he wanted to see this one too.
WELL - not only was the caste line-up very impressive, but the movie was just FANTASTIC!!! The story-line, the locations and scenery (just stunning) and, of course, the music. As we were walking out I just wanted to turn around and go back in to see it again. Not a person moved out of their seats until every credit had rolled at the end.
Meryl Streep is just fantastic in every sense, Pearce Brosnan is as smooth as ever, and Colin Firth - well what can I say??
Just full of hilariously funny scenes and dialogue and some teary moments too. All in all, a great "feel-good" movie. Not many of them around nowdays, but this is certainly one.
If you haven't seen it, can I recommend it - ASAP. You'll love it!
That music will live on forever.
MAMA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tax Time Again

I've been writing it all day, and have only just realised that today is the last day of the Financial Year and we are officially half way through the year.
We really haven't done much this month except work, work and work. What an exciting life!!!
Report Cards came home last Wednesday and Bryce amazed us all with Straight A's for Effort in everything on the Report Card. This is the best one yet. He's obviously working very hard at school and doing his best. We can't ask for anything more than that. Well Done Son, we are very proud of you.
Tyler (being in Prep) didn't get a Report Card, but we know anyway that she is also doing very well at school. She's started bringing Readers home (and breezing through them) and she even had a spelling test last Thursday and got them all right. Mrs Daley has already told us how well she is coping with the whole "school thing".
Well Done Kids.
I've just looked for a photo to include here, but I haven't even taken any photos this month. I am really falling down on the job.

3rd April - Olympic Park and DFO

Tyler woke up feeling very tired and lethargic and went back to bed again this morning after breakfast and slept for 2 hours.

This gave us time to do all the 'house work' for Monique while she was out.

We woke her up and showered her then we went out to Olympic Park for a look around.

A southerly wind had sprung up overnight and was freezing. You could have sworn that it was blowing straight off the ice of the South Pole. Bryce forgot to take is jumper with us, so had to borrow Rick's jumper. Can't you just see the cold in his face?

We visited the poles commemmorating the Volunteers of the Sydney Olympic Games - no Brisbane Volunteers were included here! It was here that we also say the Olympic Torch, a pole celebrating Kylie Minogue's song "On A Night Like This" from the Opening Ceremony.... and the list goes on. It was a fantastic thing to see, especially for anyone who wasn't able to be there for the Olympic Games.

We spoke to a lady in the Stadium Shop and asked if we could PLEASE have a sneak peek at the stadium, even though Rick had forgotten to bring his MSFA ID. We were in luck and one of the guides took us in. WOW! What a sight. It is so BIG and yet feels "so cosy". This place will seat 3 times as many people as the "Gabba" and the ground can be adapted from a regtangular field for Rugby Union and League to a round oval for the AFL. (The Sydney Swans call this "home"), just by sliding huge sections of seating in and out across the edges of the oval.

While we were there, Hasam ElMasri (NRL) was practicing some goal kicking.

This sculpture is suspended over the main entrance to the stadium. Each of the feathers on it represents each of the Australian native birds.

After here, we went back to Mary & Han's place for coffe and lunch.

After lunch, we went back to DFO, beside the Olympic Park, for a look around here. I have never been to DFO before, and I am very impressed. Couldn't do any shopping here, but did get myself a pair of Rivers thongs and Rick got a really nice Rivers shirt for a song. Kids got a new pair of sunglasses each. Am definitely going to DFO for new clothes etc, when we get back to Brisbane and back to work again.

When we got home again, we went out for dinner with Andrew, Monique and Neils at a lovely little Thai restaurant on Victoria Rd - walking distance from home.

Gave Tyler Panadol every 4 hours today and it worked well. She felt well all day.

3rd April - Olympic Park and DFO

Tyler woke up feeling very tired and lethargic and went back to bed again this morning after breakfast and slept for 2 hours.

Again this gave us time to get some 'house work' done for Monique while she was out.

We woke Tyler up and showered her then we went out to Olympic Park for a look around.

A southerly wind had sprung up overnight and it was freezing cold. Could have sworn that it was blowing straight off the ice of the South Pole.

Bryce forgot to take is jumper with us, so he ended up wearing Rick's jumper.

3rd April - Olympic Park and DFO