life through the kombi windscreen

May 16th

2009-05-16T10:35:00.002+09:30

Eriq's brand new, super cool, awesome, amazing ELECTRIC GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was his birthday present, but we thought he might like to choose one himself! I think he likes it! (LOL I KNOW HE DOES!!!).

May 15th

2009-05-16T10:31:00.002+09:30

Eriq's 12th birthday. I can hardly believe that he really is 12. It seems just a minute ago that we held little newborn Eriq in our arms for the first time (well, ok at 10lb 3oz, he wasn't really little!). He is growing into a confident, funny young man, and I am very proud of him. Just wish he would give me a hug now and then! Here he is blowing out the candles:

May 14th

2009-05-16T10:27:00.003+09:30

Finally I have done it! I have organised myself and re-registered as a teacher after 10 years out of the classroom. I still need to do a first aid course, but I am booked in for that in June. I have already committed myself to 6 weeks SSOing at the end of this term, so my aim is to head back into my teaching career in term 3. Stay tuned! LOL

May 13th

2009-05-16T10:20:00.002+09:30

May 13th was a day Kirsty and I had been counting down to for quite a while! It was the day we went to see the Phantom of the Opera!!! (Yes, I even let her have the day off school!). Kirsty had been playing the theme song in her flute lessons, and her teachers suggested she should watch the movie to get a feel for it...well we went one better and went to the show! It was every bit as fantastic as we thought it would be, and we had a fabulous day out!

12th May

2009-05-12T21:04:00.002+09:30

The water slides at the back of the Beach House. Bonnie and I went to Glenelg for an icecream with Dad after the hospital appointment this morning, and I just thought the slides looked interesting from the other end!

11th May

2009-05-12T20:48:00.003+09:30

I LOVE lime topping on icecream. You used to be able to buy it in the supermarket, but I haven't been able to find it for ages. They do sell it in Werribee, in 3 lt bottles! One of those mysteriously arrived at my house just in time for Mother's Day! Lucky me!!!

10th May - Mother's Day

2009-05-11T09:13:00.002+09:30

I love that my kids are getting older and more independent. I enjoy spending time with them as young adults, and they make me laugh soooo much. One of the special advantages of having big kids is that, even though Yogi was away for Mother's Day, I still got my breakfast in bed - YUMMY pancakes! My kids rock!

9th May

2009-05-11T08:09:00.002+09:30

These are Bonnie's shoes that she left lying around the house. You might notice, as we did, that's there's only one from each pair! I am almost accustomed to saying "put your sock and shoe on". LOL - it's certainly been an interesting chapter in her life!

May 8th 2009

2009-05-08T23:49:00.002+09:30

It's my anniversary today, so I guess I should have taken a pic of my wedding ring or something, but instead I have a self-portrait. This is me and my little mate Blossom, who loves nothing more than to perch on my shoulder while I am on the computer. We probably should have called her "Polly".

May 7th 2009

2009-05-08T23:43:00.002+09:30

Oops! I forgot to take a pic on the 6th! This one was taken on the 7th May. I have been trying to improve my diet. One of the changes I have made is to consciously drink more water, and less coke.

A PHOTO A DAY (WELL NEARLY EVERY DAY)

2009-05-08T23:18:00.005+09:30

I have decided to give this photo a day idea a go. And seeing as I've not been using my blog for much else, I thought I would post them here!

So here goes:

May 2nd 2009. An early Mother's Day present, today we bought this Tefal Actifry. It cooks 1kg of yummy crispy chips in only a TBS of oil. Cool huh?

May 3rd. Mum and Dad offered to keep our kids company (they're too big for babysitting now), so that Yogi and I could go out to celebrate our 16th anniversary. Our anniversary is on 8/5/09, but Yogi was flying out that morning...so we celebrated a little early.

5/5/09. I forgot to take a photo on the 4th May. Was kinda busy that day running between the school, the doctors, the radiographers and the hospital - Bonnie broke her ankle that day (well we think she did, and we've had to treat it as a break for a week). Phew. What a day!

Done and dusted

2009-05-05T08:11:00.002+09:30

Well, I think they MUST have driven my birth cert down here personally, because it arrived on Friday! So now my application has gone in again. Not much else happening, except that 7 yr old Bonnie has a suspected broken ankle and is in a cast! LOL what a busy day yesterday. I realised just how much she has GROWN (mostly because I had to carry her to and from the docs and x-ray appointments etc...)So a week of crutches and pillows under her feet and fetching and carrying.....and then we go to the fracture clinic to reassess. Hope it's not broken....LOL
Keep smiling,
Soovee

I'm Green and I'm Grumpy!

2009-04-29T10:50:00.002+09:30

I'm Green and I'm Grumpy is the title of an Alison Lester book that my kids used to love. We've kind of adopted it into our lingo now, and whenever we are grumpy, that's our phrase. So today I'm green and I'm grumpy. Why? Red bloody beaurocratic tape, that's why. I have been excitedly waiting for my teacher's registration to be formalised....although I knew it was too soon to be getting excited, because these things - well we all know they take time. BUT I don't like to wait. So I have been doing stupid things like searching my name on the TRB website to see if I am listed as a registered teacher yet....I know - dumb, but hey. Well today my application arrived back in the post. INCOMPLETE. I spent HOURS, and made phone calls, waited for mail to arrive from Vic, got 15000 documents copied and witnessed before I sent it off. And guess why it's been labelled incomplete? Because I only have a copy of my birth EXTRACT not my CERTIFICATE. For crying out loud. If I was going to fake my age, I would have gone for 21, not 36! I have lived my whole life without this piece of paper. I have been enrolled in heaps of different schools, I've been to uni, I've had police checks, I was even registered to teach 15 odd years ago without it. WHY OH WHY do I need it now? Surely the fact that I am alive and hold a drivers license and medicare card, and have been married is proof enough that I exist? So now I have had to apply for the birth certificate, will have to wait for it to arrive from Darwin ($12.30 to post it mind you - are they driving it down themselves?), then copy it, get it certified and post the application again. I wonder how long it will take......grrrrrrrrr.

See - I don't update my blog for ages, then you come to visit and all you get is a rant. Sorry.

8th folder, 8th photo challenge - better late than never!

2009-04-01T12:41:00.002+10:30

Some time ago Jen challenged me to share the 8th photo from my 8th folder...so here it is (finally) - sorry I took so long Jen!

apparently I will take even longer, as blogger won't let me put the pic in!
Sorry Jen, I tried!

keep smiling,
Soovee

Daily Update

2008-12-22T12:44:00.003+10:30

HA HA HA - yeah right!! Jen, it's just not gonna happen, sorry!!!!
Well here we are - Judy and the boys are on their way to Adelaide as I type, the Christmas presents are all wrapped and under the tree...the food shopping list is almost constructed and everyone in my little family is on holidays. The pool table is covered in clean, freshly folded clothes - we just need to put them away....
I sort of wish we could fast forward through the getting ready bit and just skip straight to the CHRISTMAS DAY bit......
Then on the 27th we are hitting the road for a week and a bit in Vic.
Keep smiling,
Sue

2008-12-14T08:30:00.002+10:30

Just time for a quick post before I drop the kids off to drama....9am start on a SUNDAY????? LOL.
I finished up at school on Friday (well my last day was Thursday, but then we had the staff lunch). We had Kris Kringle with the staff at school and it was GREAT fun! Also, one side benefit of being on a school staff was the choccies - it seems everyone attached a choccie to each Xmas card, so they soon accumulated!
I will miss being part of the staff, I really did enjoy that, but hopefully I will catch up with some of them next year as a relieving teacher. RIght now I am just looking forward to a few weeks at home.....

Achieving the Dream

2008-10-30T20:29:00.002+10:30

Well, I've done it.
I told the principal where I am working that I won't be available as an SSO next year, because I am going to renew my teacher's registration.
Technically all I would have to do is mountains of paperwork and provide proof of my qualification (and name change, and crime-free status) and do a first-aid course, and I could be back in the classroom (well, actually I am already back in the classroom, but you know what I mean!).
But seeing as it has been ten years (?!!) since I last taught, I have decided that I would like to do the teacher refresher course that DECS run here in SA. It doesn't run until March next year, so I will have to wait until then.
I have been overwhelmed by the positive support I have received from my friends at school - both teachers and SSOs have been great, and seem to think it's about time I made up my mind to do this. I only hope that the course has enough numbers to run - the one that was scheduled for June this year was cancelled (see, I have been thinking about it for a LONG time now! LOL).
More than one staff member today pointed out to me that I don't HAVE to do the course, and if it doesn't run, I could just take the plunge and do it anyway......
It seems I am finally going to do it - after all this time.
One big advantage I will have???? NO SHORTAGE OF TEACHER STAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Jupiter Bars and other things

2008-10-27T16:03:00.003+10:30

Hi all -
Some of you may remember my never-ending search for the elusive Jupiter Bar?? When I was a little girl (a hundred million years ago in another lifetime), we used to occasionally get a Jupiter Caramel Bar - caramelly peanuty yuminess in a bar. Well for over TEN years I have been looking unsuccessfully for a Jupiter Bar. A couple of weeks ago, my lil sister rang me to say that she had stumbled across them in a lolly shop and bought me - one. (ONE - after TEN years????!!!!) LOL (how mean does that make me sound? Seriously Judy, thanks for thinking of me at all!). Anyway I got on the internet again and found them online, sent in an order and got me some to share with my kids. Ten years of searching and the little buggers didn't even like them that much - oh well all the more for me! Anyhoo, on with the story....was in Woolies on Saturday and Bonnie says to me "Mum they have those Jupiter Bars here." AND THEY DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In WOOLIES!!!!!
My prayers have finally been answered!!! It really doesn't take much to keep me happy.

Spent part of the weekend playing with Orange Jelly. Made some new stamps that I just LOVE - will put them up on the site soon, but I want to have a play first. I do love that part of the business. Also got myself a bit more organised, and made some stamps for customers.

In a bid to get organised, I went down to Officeworks, and then, while we were in the area, checked out the new Dick Smith Powerhouse (the first powerhouse store in SA would you believe?). Anyway, it was (of course) great, full of lovely gadgets, most of which I had to leave on the shelf, but I couldn't resist a 1G flash drive in the shape of an orange kombi!!! WITH WHEELS THAT MOVE! Spotted once again by the eagle-eyed Bonnie, I just HAD to have it!

Anyway, today was back to school and back to the GGRRRRRRS that seem to go with it. Am thinking about renewing my teacher's registration, but not sure if I can "do it" anymore, after so long......

That's about it for today!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Three in a week

2008-10-21T22:55:00.002+10:30

I haven't really got anything to say, just wanted to shock the pants off of Jen by posting three times in one week *waving* (Hello Jen).

Have been busy uploading new Christmas stamps to Orange Jelly Stamps tonight, and apart from that we have just been getting back into our normal routine.

Fritz is still shiny from the wedding - gotta love that...oh yeah can share a pic on here.....THE REAL BEST MAN!!!!!

keep smiling,

Soovee

Sunday at home

2008-10-19T09:52:00.002+10:30

Hi Janine, and Jen, and everyone else! Thanks for your comments...it's nice to *see* you again.

I have been so flat out busy of late that I didn't even have ONE single day at home to myself during the holidays. So this weekend I decided to stay home and just veg...well after netball, and a quick visit to the Church craft fair (not as exciting as I had expected), and a little bit of shopping....I did have a quiet late afternoon/evening at home!! Am aiming for a quiet day today, except for the grocery shopping, which is the single thing I find hardest to fit in since I started working. Stupid really, when Woolies is literally 5 minutes up the road!

I have been drooling over the new ipods for ages (ever since they came out actually - which on reflection isn't really ages!), but hadn't dared to even hold one...but then Judy came to visit and brought her purple one, and I held it, and that was it, I decided I NEEDED one. Had to get Yogi to agree though - it's an unspoken rule we have....so yesterday, at the shops, with much encouragement from Kirsty (and sms agreement from Yogi), I finally summoned up the courage to spend that much money on myself, just because I WANTED to!!! (It felt deliciously naughty!!). So now I am the proud owner of an ORANGE ipod! I may even come out for a moment to say hi to my family if they are lucky. It has games on it, and I spent yesterday afternoon putting lots of music on it. Way cool.

Anyway, I'm off to make a shopping list!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Hello - is anybody out there?

2008-10-16T22:13:00.002+10:30

Hi everyone,
it's been a while, huh?
Life has very much settled down here in SA. The whole cancer thing is behind us and everything is getting back to normal. Except what is normal? We've just had two weeks holidays - complete with interstate visitors and my little brother's wedding! Normal - yeah right!

I am working 19 hours a week at the local primary school as an SSO, and for the most part, enjoying it - although there are what I call "brick wall days". Also been busy with Orange Jelly Stamps (OK shameless plug www.orangejelly.com.au), designing stamps, and trying to work out how to edit html code....wow has that been a learning curve. I keep coming up with ideas, but am having trouble finding time to act on them....it will happen, eventually.

So I am keeping pretty busy. Not much time to scrap, sadly, and i haven't really found a great scrapping scene here in SA - if there is one, they are keeping it under wraps. That reminds me, I must ring Ceri soon and see if she wants to come and play! (If you are reading this Ceri - you know my no! LOL).

Special good wishes and congratulations go to my cousin Leonie, and her partner Steve and her stepson....um I think Greg???? on the birth of their new baby son and brother Eammon James....wishing you all the joy in the world!

Keep smiling,
Soovee

TAGGED!

2008-08-11T18:44:00.002+09:30

By Cathy! Hello!!!!!

And away we go.....

Ten years ago:
August 1998 - Hmm...happily married mother of THREE - Eriq had turned one and I had just finished a term as teacher/librarian at Hampton Park Primary School, and was settling back into normal life, still doing some emergency teaching work. Nic was at kinder, Kirsty was three, and Bonnie wasn't even a sparkle in her father's eye!!!

Five Things on Today’s To-Do List:

1. work

2. post parcels

3. finish Brett's birthday present

4. make some stamps

5. washing
Snacks I Enjoy: I'm in a cheese and crackers kind of a mood at the moment.
Things I Would Do If I Was a Millionaire:

Buy Fritz a kombi companion - maybe a camper named Mabel.....of course she would be orange.

Fix Mabel up.

Go for a trip in Mabel!

Extend my house (the hell with it!) knock my house down and build a new one! A BIG one....6 bedrooms oughta do it!

Places (or areas) I Have Lived:Darwin (not sure it counts as I don't remember it); Glenelg; Penola; Mt Gambier; North Rocks; Millicent; Ballarat; Hampton Park; Caldermeade; Para Hills.

4 People I am Tagging: (who hopefully haven’t already been tagged)

Hmmmmm I suspect I am out of options.....
nope found one! ELISA, you're up!!!!
(can you do it four times, so I have covered my four people????)
no? I guess I will have to make do with one then!!!!

Orange Jelly

2008-07-06T23:46:00.003+09:30

Hey everyone!
It's been a while since I updated my blog, I know...but, well, there's been a reason.
As well as working four mornings a week, I have also been busy making Orange Jelly!
Orange Jelly Stamps, that is, my new business venture.
Check it out at http://www.orangejelly.com.au/
Hey - and tell all your friends to check it out too!!!
Keep smiling,
Soovee
PS couldn't have done it all without heaps of help from my little sister.....
THANKS HEAPS JUDY!!!!!!! XXXOOOXXX

Employed!!!

2008-05-12T13:08:00.002+09:30

Well, it's been a while since I was here. HAD A BLAST at the Scrapanalia retreat! Great location, great food, great fun and most importantly, GREAT FRIENDS. Totally relaxed.
On the Monday on the way home from the airport, I got a phone call from my kids school. After the initial panic, and once I realised that the kids were fine, I was asked if I was interested in some SSO (school support officer) hours that had become available. (I have been volunteering at the school since last year!). Short version is, I found out this morning that I have the job. And I start tomorrow! woohoo!
Lucky me!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Time Out

2008-04-30T20:35:00.002+09:30

Wow! It's Thursday tomorrow, and that means that it's Friday after that, and I am escaping!
I am so looking forward to a weekend away, scrapping! I just want to leave everything behind - 2008 so far has been rather unkind to me (and then also not so much...but however you look at it, it's not been easy), and I need some time to just be. To relax completely for the first time since Yogi's diagnosis in January. I am soooo looking forward to this weekend. Of course, that means I need to spend tomorrow packing(!!) what to bring, what not to bring...LOL. Ultimately it won't matter. I won't care if I don't get a single page done (well maybe I would care if I didn't get even ONE done!), this weekend is about taking time out and being with friends and just relaxing. yay for scrapbook retreats! Look out Vic, here I come!!!
keep smiling,
soovee

Home Alone

2008-04-16T01:44:00.002+09:30

Well. It's week one of the school holidays here in SA.
And I am a single mother of four.
Temporarily.
Yogi, having already spent just over a week "up north" for work, came home for the weekend just gone and is now, you guessed it "up north" again! LOL. So the kids and I are on our own. Doin' OK...getting by! LOL. During the day I don't notice he's not here - I mean he is usually at work. But here I am at 1.46am still awake and on the computer updating my much neglected blog...the big empty bed is looming though, and I am heading off there soon.

We went to Ikea today. I am sure heaven will be a big IKEA store. I could LIVE in IKEA. We were checking out stuff for the boys room today - not buying yet (we have another surgery to get through before we do that! LOL), but sort of scoping it out! AN update in the boys room is long overdue - my two young men have outgrown their little boy furniture and curtains, so it's time for something modern and funky. They are going to get loft beds, so that they can better use the (limited) space in their room. And today they got excited about the possibilities! Can't wait til we can do something about it! While we were there we accidentally bought a drawer insert and a cupboard insert for the expedit unit in the kitchen. I wanted to get these when we bought the unit, but they were sold out at the time. Of course, being me, I couldn't even consider waiting until Yogi gets home, so Nic and I constructed them today. Tomorrow I just need to brave the redback infested shed to get hold of the cordless drill to secure them in place. They look great though!
Keep smiling,
soovee
(PS it's less than three weeks until the SCRAPANALIA retreat!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!)

I have been tagged

2008-03-12T14:32:00.003+10:30

Probably a while ago actually, haven't been near my blog in ages....by http://cathy2809.wordpress.com/ Cathy. *waving* SOrry - not technically minded and can't figure out how to make my link pretty like yours was....I SHOULD be able to just make you click on the Cathy bit.....hmmmmm (by the way - love your new header on your blog! Great pic!)
anyway, never mind, here we go:

Here are the rules:
Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
OK - here are my seven random facts about ME . . .

1. I am scared of heights. REALLY SCARED. I can't even stand to see my hubby or kids near the edge of a cliff. I literally can't look. Ditto with jetties/bridges.
2. I used to play the trumpet, the recorder, and the trombone. Tried to learn guitar on three seperate occasions, but just couldn't do it. Would love to try again one day.
3. I was once in a netball team that wore ORANGE netball skirts (in North Rocks, NSW). Cross my heart and hope to die.
4. I had a pet axoltyl (mexcian walking fish) called Tchaikovsky for 10.5 yrs
5. I can't curl my tongue
6. Probably my most prized possession is my Gran's cuckoo clock. I have many memories of sitting under it as a little girl waiting for Peter to pop out and say cuckoo. Currently Peter doesn't pop out (since my dh dropped the clock ??!!!!!!), but he still cuckoos.
7. I wish my house was bigger. I really do. I love my house, I love where it is, but I would sell my left arm for one. more. room.

OK I think I have run out of people to tag, but still that was fun!
keep smiling,
SOovee

Happy Valentine's Day to me!

2008-02-15T09:18:00.001+10:30

Well, that was one of the best Valentine's Days I have ever had. Brought him home. No roses, no chocolates, no romantic dinner for two - but I don't care. Slept the best sleep I have slept since Jan 14th last night! Looking forward to many more Valentine's Days together!
*sigh*

Out for lunch

2008-02-13T22:12:00.002+10:30

Well, I wasn't allowed to take him home, so I took him out for lunch!
We got a day pass and I took him over to the shopping centre for a subway lunch.
Took the kids to visit him this afternoon, and bumped into Mum and Dad as we were leaving. SO they had a quick visit with him, and then took the kids home, leaving me the opportunity for a longer visit! So that was lovely. And all is looking good for his release tomorrow.

it's still not fair

2008-02-13T14:24:00.003+10:30

He can't come home today.
I am not happy, Jan,
'nuff said.

ALL CLEAR!!!!!!!

2008-02-11T19:51:00.000+10:30

PATHOLOGY IS IN AND IT'S GOOD.
HE WILL BE HOME ON WEDNESDAY!!!!
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS.
PHEW.

on the way UP again!

2008-02-10T20:43:00.000+10:30

Today was a much much better day. Yogi is feeling much better, and much more positive. Mum and Dad had the kids (again, where would I be without them supporting me???), after they had a quick visit with their Dad (attention spans of kids in hospitals, very very short), and i spent the entire afternoon with him. He was able to have a shower this morning and has no more wires etc dangling from him anymore. Eating and sitting up and even walking around a bit. It was soo great to see him more himself. I feel sooo much better, and, for all who are wondering, the washing is STILL there! LOL will be rummaging through it tomorrow to find their school clothes! I am looking forward to a restful nights sleep tonight. Thanks for your messages of love and support.
Sue

i'm tired

2008-02-09T17:34:00.000+10:30

I'm plumb tuckered out. Knackered, buggered, ready to drop. just.plain.tired.
When I'm at the hospital I feel like I should be home with the kids. When i am home with the kids I worry that he is sad and lonely at the hospital. The house is a mess, and when I finally GET there I don't have the energy to do anything but look at the mess. Last night I had dinner at 10.30pm. Only because I was STARVING. I know it's only for a little while, but it's hard. He is ok-ish. A bit brighter than he was yesterday, but NOW he has realised it's a MAJOR operation (we TRIED to tell him that BEFORE). I don't know whether to hug him or kick him up the pants (figuratively, can't ACTUALLY because he's sitting on his toosh). I take the kids to see him and they get the fidgets and he tells them to stay still, not to touch, not to bump...and then we leave too soon. I am just feeling a bit flat. I have FIVE ENORMOUS, OVERFLOWING baskets of washing to fold, so I better go and get into that....at least it's been through the washing bit.

wave a stock cube over a bowl of water....

2008-02-08T12:41:00.001+10:30

and that's lunch for Yogi!

He's doing well. He's sore and tired, but the operation went really well. They managed to do it all by keyhole in the end, and they hadn't thought that they would be able to, so that was great. Now it's back to waiting for the pathology (not til next week) and getting him fit again. Am taking the kids in to see him tonight after school.

sitting in bed eating chocolate

2008-02-07T23:14:00.000+10:30

Well obviously, that's ME, not Yogi.
LONG day. We (mum and I) went into the hospital about 9ish to make sure I got to see him before his operation - which was scheduled for 11am. WAS....they told us there were 3 minor surgeries before his, and that he wouldn't go in until late morning, or early afternoon. It was 1.30pm before he went in. It was a horrible feeling to watch them wheel him down the corridor. They said the op would take 2-4 hours and possibly more. Apparently my mind chose 2 hours as a suitable waiting time before anxiety would REALLY set in! After 3.5 hours I went to the ward to ask where he was - in recovery or still in surgery. (they had told me to do this, because he was going back to the ward after surgery). When I asked them, they said WHO? I don't know who you mean? oh him? he's not coming back here? We are not his doctors, I don't know where he is. GREAT. So I asked him, WHO DOES KNOW WHERE HE IS? Eventually a nurse looked him up on the computer and told us which ward he was going to after the surgery. When I asked her, she even gave me directions.....I was at this point, pretty worried and upset....so we go to 1 West. And when I get there, there's a bright purple wall with the words "CRITICAL CARE UNIT" on the wall. Great again. Why does no-one TELL you this stuff? ANyway, the nurses there were great and checked with the OR to see where he was - still in surgery. The time he was meant to be in recovery came and went, adn it was jsut about up to the bit where he was meant to roll in the door, when the update came - still in surgery. And again. Still in surgery. Eventually he made it to recovery about 7.15pm. I got to see him (glimpse him) about 8.10ish. Then finally to see him and touch him and hold his hand at about 8.45. He is ok. tired. sore. but lucid, and still, indisputably, my Yogi. Takes something like this to make you realise how much I still love him after 14 and a half and a bit years of marriage. Am going in tomorrow to find out what happened - will be there at 8am! for rounds. Dad is going to take the kids to school for me. Mum and Dad have been amazing. As have all the messages of love and support that our friends have sent. Thank you all so very much. NOw this tired lady is off to bed. goodnight

we're off and running

2008-02-06T13:59:00.000+10:30

Yogi is at the hospital as we speak, on a diet of lemon cordial and frothy revolting stuff. It could be said that he is having a shitty day. He was in good spirits when I left him, but wow, was it hard to acutally go.
We don't have one of those clingy relationships where we always have to be together. We have spent nights apart since we've been married. I don't usually see him between 5.30am (well lets face it, I'm not awake at 5.30, so really it's like midnight) and 5pm on a weekday. I have left him places heaps of times. It's realising the seriousness of it all I think.
Poor Bonnie doesn't cope with anxiety normally, she is having a hard time with this all. Poor baby.
He is in possibly the ugliest, dingiest hospital room I have ever seen. It's just - tired. Flooring is worn, everything is old and there are little bits of tinsel left hanging up where they have obviously grabbed the end and pulled. The old guy in the room next door was groaning in pain - rhythmically, but in pain -not a nice noise! (I guess you get that in a hospital). He does have a private room at the moment (I think mostly because it has it's own toilet - which he needs today!!!!). His intern came around, and while she seems nice, she is Asian, and has a heavy accent, which we found difficult to understand. Nobody can tell me what time the surgery will be. Tomorrow's list doesn't go up until tomorrow morning. The intern seemed surprised that we wanted to know what time it was - she just didn't get that I want to see him before he goes in....so tomorrow will be a long day. His Doc said he was either 1st or 2nd on the list, and I got from the nurses that the list usually starts at 9am. They have said I can come in early, so that is what I will have to do.
Oh yeah? Did I mention that the CT scan results were good? No sign of cancer in any of the other organs. Good news.
Thanks to everyone for the wishes and prayers. Much appreciated.

Thursday

2008-02-04T10:43:00.001+10:30

OK it's official. Thursday is the day.
Hospital called this morning. He has to report in on Wednesday at 10.30am.

a better day

2008-02-03T14:57:00.000+10:30

Well things look brighter today (they're not brighter, they just look that way! LOL). I can hear the sound of laughter. We've done some talking and some hugging and some shopping (groceries, filled the cupboard so I don't have to do groceries for a while!) and feeling ok again. Tipping there's gonna be a few ups and downs ahead of us.
Mum and Dad are home from their holiday - they have been gone for nearly a month, and had a wonderful time - and are, of course, very supportive. In fact, Dad still has another week off work, so he is going to be there for the kids if we don't make it back from Tuesday's appointment in time for school pick up. Another "to do" crossed off the list.
This afternoon we are going to a friends house for a BBQ and a swim, which will be a fun, relaxing afternoon.

Oh yeah, and my new nephew? He is GORGEOUS - the wonders of the internet means we have seen photos already, and he has a name now - Noah Johannes.
Yogi is very impressed!!!

I'm an Uncle!

2008-02-02T12:56:00.000+10:30

Yay for me! I have a brand new baby nephew. He doesn't have a name yet, but I am sure one will be forthcoming soon. We went out and bought him the cutest, sweetest little flanelette shirt this morning.

On the Yogi front, we have been reading all about the op and the possible side-effects, and it's a worry. We are tense. He is, I am, it's not pleasant here today. He may not need to worry about the side-effects, because if he continues the way he is, I might just kill him before the op. I KNOW it is a rotten time, but we are all having a rotten time (granted, we do not all have our arses on the line so to speak). I don't know if I am looking forward to seeing the surgeon on Tues or dreading it.

I think we might need to go to the beach.

at last some good news

2008-01-31T13:36:00.000+10:30

So. this morning I had to make all the organising phone calls.
Rang centrelink....and actually they were very friendly and very helpful. So balls that need to be rolling are indeed rolling.
But the best bit was when I rang the bank. Let's just say they were very willing and able to help us out, so that house payments are one thing we don't need to worry about for the moment. Which means we can focus on the important thing, which is getting Yogi well again. If you don't see me around for a bit, I am probably filling in forms!! ROFL.
keep smiling.
soovee

from bad to worse

2008-01-30T18:56:00.000+10:30

3 days sick leave 1 day annual leave,
and his work are not sure they want him to work with a colostomy bag.
They will hold his job for him though
GEE THANKS FOR THAT.
so it's off to centrelink I go tomorrow.
I hate centrelink.
wish me luck
(and sorry to sook)

thinking it over

2008-01-30T10:25:00.000+10:30

Ok. so.
Why does everyone greet everyone by saying "how are you?".
What are you supposed to do if the answer is not OK. Especially if you don't want to talk about it. Do you lie and say "fine?". I tried to dodge it, but not very well. I am sure some of my friends think I am rude. I am equally sure they will understand when I tell them - but there's another thing - how do you tell news like this? How were your holidays? great - how were yours - not so good, Yogi has cancer now. It's kind of hard to bring it up, especially if you are a big fat wuss and are feeling a bit fragile. I Went to the schools today to put off the school fees for a bit - they were great about it, but I couldn't seem to get the story out without crying. I hate crying, esp in public, it makes me feel stupid. Everyone was really nice, but seriously, I just wanted to come home, hide and eat copious quantities of chocolate. I didn't. I went to the gym,(somehow all this has reinforced for me the need to take care of MY body - if we can't always count on him, then the kids need to be able to count on me, and I need to be the best I can be) and dodged a bit, until one person too many asked me again "how are you?". And that time, I managed to say "MY 39 year old husband is having surgery, probably next week, for bowel cancer" without crying. A breakthrough. It's easier to be tough when the kids are around, and after all, the sugar-coated, positive thinking version we are telling them is probably the way it will all turn out, and definitely the best way to deal with it all anyway. Maybe I should keep them all home from school? Yeah nah!
I should mention that the surgery is an almost total resection of his rectum. Lovely dinner table conversation this! Apparently we don't really need our rectum. Which has had me thinking about all the optional extras we carry around. THink about it - we don't need our tonsils, our appendix, our adenoids (not sure if I will spell these all correctly, forgive me if I mess up), we only need ONE of our kidneys, we can get along without our gallbladders, and we don't seem to need a spleen too much either....what was God thinking when we were designed? How much lighter and more aerodynamic would we be without all this extra guff? We could have a whole new stream-lined shape. Maybe there's a weightloss program there waiting to happen - I wonder how much your rectum weighs?
Anyway, I digress.Apparently you can't tell until after the surgery whether it was actually necessary. The idea is that removing that part of him will stop it from spreading, but until they remove it they can't tell if it has spread. There really is no other way to be sure. It all LOOKS good, but the only way to tell for sure is to take it out and kind of check the back - the bit you can't see. I am thinking, why can't they sneak in the back way to look at the back, but apparently it can't be done. And if it hasn't spread, then the surgery wasn't necessary, but YOU CAN'T TELL IF YOU NEED IT UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE DONE IT! Evidently we have at least 6 months of tests and medical appointments and surgery ahead of us. Nice. Happy New Year.
On the up side, I just got an sms to say that he has spoken to the folk at his work, and they are very supportive, and hopefully we will be able to work out something regarding his leave....maybe he can owe them time or something....and our fantastic neighbours have been awesome already, keeping an eye out for the kids while we sat for an eternity in the waiting room.

interesting is one word for it.

2008-01-29T18:28:00.000+10:30

remember I said life had been interesting?
well not in a good way.
Long story short....
....Yogi has bowel cancer.
Not as bad as it sounds. Caught early. all that
But Major Surgery is the next step, and possibly as early as next Thursday.
4-6 weeks at least off work.
On one weeks accumulated sick leave.
I have had better days.
Wish him well for me,
pray, if you are the praying type.
Will be back later when I feel more like it.

971 to go!

2008-01-22T17:52:00.000+10:30

Ok have just read THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison.
Didn't really like it, I have to say. It won the nobel prize for literature in 1993...was busy having a baby that year. A very dismal sort of book. I am hoping the next one is a bit more light-hearted - THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME - by Mark Haddon.
SOunds light-hearted enough anyway!

1001 books you must read before you die

2008-01-22T14:10:00.000+10:30

Yogi gave me the above book for Christmas. I had seen it a couple of years ago, in an Angus and Robertson brochure and thought it a wonderful idea. So I have started. There are a few of the books I have already read, I will try to list them, but I may have missed some: (have also been terribly lazy and just gone by title, not author *slapping my own wrist* :

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Aesop's Fables
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Animal Farm
Anna Karenina
Around the World in Eighty Days
Day of the Triffids
Emma
The First Circle
Gone With the Wind
The Grapes of Wrath
Gulliver's Travels
The Hobbit
Jane Eyre
The Little Prince
Little Women
Lord of the Flies
The Lord of the Rings
Of Mice and Men
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A Town Like Alice
Robinson Crusoe
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The Three Musketeers
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
To Kill a Mockingbird
Treasure Island
Wuthering Heights.
So that's 28/1001....which leaves me with 973 books to go before I die. Best not make plans for my funeral - I could be here for a while!

But don't despair - I finished one today!
Our Mutual Friend - by Charles Dickens (published in 1865!!!!!)
At first I found it hard to 'get into' this book, mostly because of the difference in language from then to now, but once I got accustomed to their way of speaking, I really enjoyed this book. Took me several days (in fact, over a week) to read, which is unusual for me, but I am glad I read it. It is a bit like one of my favourite movies - "Love Actually"- in that there were lots of little stories about the characters, that were intertwined.
ok 972 to go...I have two here that I reserved at the library,
So will be back soon!

Life's a beach

2008-01-15T22:38:00.000+10:30

Life has been...well....interesting.

So we took some time out and went to the beach tonight...took the kids, and the camera. FUN.

still alive

2007-11-29T22:24:00.000+10:30

Hi there,
just a note to let you know I am still alive. Man Christmas has snuck up on me this year, so I have been busily trying to get ready for it. The Christmas breakups and parties and concerts have started, and the dizzy ride has begun.
AM off all day tomorrow on a bus trip to the Barossa with my craft group. Back with an update on the weekend I hope!
Keep smiling,
Soovee!

I've got balls!

2007-10-24T16:00:00.000+09:30

Billiard Balls that is!!!
We finally did it! Splashed out with our tax return (thanks Johnny!) and bought ourselves a pool table. We have a HUGE loungeroom here and ever since the first time we saw the house the joke has been that we could comfortably fit a billiard table in there. Well guess what? we can!
We bought our table at the Home Show in Adelaide, and were able to get it delivered yesterday (we bought the display model!) Those of you who know me really well will know that buying the display model was really the only NOW enough way to get a table for me! So far we are loving it! Will get some photos later....but now you know where I am, if I am not updating my blog!!! LOL
keep smiling,
Soovee

He's COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-10-16T11:34:00.000+09:30

yay! As I type, Yogi is on the plane on the way back home to Adelaide. We are all very excited about seeing him again. It seems we may have missed him a bit!!!
Keep smiling,
soovee

School's IN!!!

2007-10-14T23:27:00.000+09:30

Yay. It's almost Monday! And that means the kids are off to school! Now I usually am looking forward to the end of the holidays at this time, but these holidays I am hanging out for it. I am not sure what I will do tomorrow. I may just sit for a while and breathe in the silence.

Happy dancing,

Keep smiling,
Soovee

(PS I do love my kids, really I do!!)

Bored and Alone

2007-10-10T22:18:00.000+09:30

Well here we are on day 3 of the Innamincka Adventure. Well, it's not my adventure, obviously or I wouldn't be bored. Today I am missing Yogi. We get a 10min phone call each day, but, well...apparently we aren't good at talking on the phone anymore. We used to be. In the olden days when we were young and unwrinkled, we used to spend hours on the phone....you hang up, no you hang up, on the count of three, one, two, three...you didn't hang up, did you? well neither did you it seems...*sigh* we were young and in love. Now....stilted silence. So what did you do today? Um I hung out the washing. Oh yeah and I brought it in again. Much excitement. It's school holidays too, so I have been home with the kids all day. In fact, I haven't spoken to another person in 2 days. (other than the kids and yogi)....tomorrow will be better - I get to take the kids to bowling with me! Oh joy! Lucky it's hols or I would have to miss out altogether! LOL.
Actually I just remembered that I have a friend coming to scrap a bit tomorrow with me. Yay! I am sooo looking forward to that.
So tonight I printed photos for a mini album I am playing with. Had to get my bind it all and dream kuts machines out to refamiliarise myself with them before my first workshop (21/10/07)...so I made three little albums. The problem is, I love making the albums, but I don't know what to put IN them! LOL I can just see a collection of empty mini albums in my stash by the end of the month...any ideas??
Looking through my photos for pics to use, I realised that I have seriously slowed down in my photo taking...I wonder if it's the fact that we live in suburbia now? or the fact that Bonnie (surely until now the most photographed child in the western world) has gone to school? Or is it that my life has become so BORING that it's not worth recording anymore??? LOL maybe I should take photos of the enormous baskets of washing I seem to be always folding!!! hmm told you I was bored.....well that will do for now,
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Home Sweet Home

2007-10-08T21:35:00.000+09:30

Well, we made it safely back to SA. It felt kinda wierd doing the coming home trip in reverse! This was the first time we had "come back home" to Adelaide!! Anyway, while I was gone, Yogi finally got around to tiling our splashback. We have had the tiles sitting in the kitchen since the renovation, and I had despaired of them ever getting onto the wall. They look great, by the way, did I mention that??

We had a blast in Vic, catching up with friends and family. The week went so very very fast, and suddenly it was over. Yogi flew in Friday night, in time to celebrate his brother's 30th birthday, and then to drive home with us. It took me longer to drive to the airport in Melbourne peak hour traffic than it actually took him to fly from Adelaide!!! LOL We arrived home on Sunday evening, and this morning Yogi flew out to Innamincka. (Where the hell is that???? About as far from here as you can get and still be in SA.....up near QLD). He is there to repair some mining trucky type things (yes that is the technical term!), and we don't know exactly how long he will be gone - probably about a week and a half!).

So I am a single mother for the moment. Thank goodness the kids are older and almost self-sufficient! I didn't think I had it in me, but I am delighted to report that all four of them have survived day one! woohoo!

Keep smiling,
Soovee

Soovee - heading to a Vic near you!!!

2007-09-27T17:59:00.000+09:30

Ok so I think it's about time I started counting sleeps (until my holiday), or maybe it should be loads of washing I am counting....seriously, how come we have so MANY clothes? I know, vicious circle, if I washed more often, we would need less clothes...not gonna happen I am afraid!

Anyway, I have my accomodation all figured out for next week (did I say NEXT week???), when I head to Vic with the four kids (but no dh) to visit. It's been about 10 months since we left, and what with Yogi changing his job THREE times now, we haven't been able to make it back. This time we have decided to go without him. (he is flying over on Fri to join us for his lil bro's 30th, and to drive home with us on Sunday). So - if you see an orange kombi with heaps of kids in the back and SA number plates, it might be me! Wave!!!!

Apart from the washing, I still have a couple more things to do before we leave. Like packing. And buying the essential travelling junk food. And loading my mp3 player with cool music. (love that I can plug it into my car stereo!). Now that I am a little more organised, I am looking forward to the trip. It will be a whirlwind visit though! So many to catch up with in such a short time!

In the meantime, remember how I told you there was a patchworker inside me trying to get out??? Well, at my patchwork class we have been encouraged to try a shorter term project...so here is what I made.....I am really happy with it, enjoyed making it and am looking for more short projects.

Keep smiling,

Soovee

Sunday night

2007-09-16T22:09:00.000+09:30

Well it's Sunday night here in SA and I am about to pop into bed. (I bet you are glad you are reading this now - how did you survive thus far without THAT riveting piece of information???!!!). It's been another busy weekend for us - netball (two games, as Kirsty filled in for the U/14 team), an attempt to scrap (sadly thwarted by the invasion of life), and painting again at Mum and Dads!!! We have now painted all 4 of the bedrooms there (well apart from the skirting board/window frame/door of the last room)! I think the next bit we are attacking is the hallway! I LOVE painting - I love the way the room looks so new and exciting and PRETTY when you are done. Can't wait to tackle the 'renters beige' of this house.
I went to IKEA on Friday - love that place, and bought some doovies to hang up curtains in my loungeroom....not rods, but wire doovies, with clips on them (If you polished up your letterbox in time, you will see them in the IKEA catalogue)....now I just need to find some curtain material that I like to hang on my three huge windows in the loungeroom (floor to ceiling, 260cm+ each of them!!!). I currently have venetian blinds, and they have to go for five reasons:
1. I hate them
2. They are breaking
3. I hate them
4. The cats bang on them when they want to go out - makes a terrible racket
5. I REALLY hate them.

Yogi starts his new job tomorrow. I really hope he enjoys it....I know I will enjoy payday!!! ROFL. Poor Yogi - he puts up with me so graciously, I really do love him to bits.
Ok raving now, obviously it's time for bed.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Banana Caramel Tart is yummo

2007-09-13T17:21:00.000+09:30

Before I go any further let me just confirm that I have officially grown up (or should I say grown OLD?). I didn't enjoy the show AT ALL. Too many people in one place at one time trying to look at one thing. Too much pushing and shoving. Too much cheap rubbish and junk food. Next time I think I will stay at home in my happy little place!!!! The kids (miraculously considering their scowling mother) had a fantastic time. Which is, after all, what it was all about.

Today I went out to lunch with some of my girlfriends (not in the hand holding, skipping sense, you understand, in the hot chocolate, caramel tart eating sense!!!!). It's so great to spend some time with your friends just chilling out! I had a wonderful afternoon. We went in the kombi (of course!), although in the end the crowd was smaller than originally planned and we could have fitted into any of our cars - but WHY WOULD YOU when you could go in the kombi?

Really not much has happened here this week, but I felt like my blog looked old and boring.... (I guess now it's new and boring?????).

Keep smiling,
Soovee

2007-09-07T15:43:00.001+09:30

Things have settled down a lot since last week. The Big Decision has been made, and Yogi has given his two weeks notice...so one more week at his old work, then he starts at his new work. Nothing like hearing other people's bad news to put your life into harsh perspective. My life is pretty good. At least we were never in danger of losing our home. My hissy fit is now officially over. Looking forward to normal life.
My lil sis is down (over/across/up/whatever direction it is) at the moment, and it has been great for us to see the nephews/cousins. We are off to the Adelaide Show tomorrow and despite myself I am beginning to look forward to it. The kids are soo excited it is hard not to be enthusiastic too. I am just hoping that we will get there in time to see the pig racing, I must checkout the program again and see what time that is on. We are definitely looking forward to the ute challenge (holden v ford) and "BIG BLOKES BALLET"!!!!
Hope you all have a great weekend!!
Keep smiling!
Soovee

Turmoil.

2007-09-03T19:21:00.000+09:30

Life is hectic, and confusing and hard. Things were cruising along for us as normal...you know, living payday to payday in that constant juggling act that we work so hard at, and then out of the blue, opportunity knocks. Well, not so much knocks as bludgeons the door down. So there's this great job out there for Yogi - more hours, but also (and importantly) more pay! A salary, not a wage, so not only income, but steady, regular income. Trying to raise 4 kids and keep ahead of the debt collectors on one wage has often been a struggle (there are, of course, many many people much worse off than us, and I am grateful for what we have been able to achieve so far), and although we have always had bread on the table, sometimes there has been no jam. Because my hubbie is a tradie, we have always been at the mercy of the gods of overtime. When overtime was plentiful, things were good, but the gods of overtime are harsh, and often the rug would be pulled from under our feet with little or no warning. NO OVERTIME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.So a salary is looking pretty good. Even if it means longer hours. So he trots in to put his notice in today and later this week will have to pay for a medical (not cheap) and drug test to get the job. It's been a week of big bills and lots of them, so this news was not met with much enthusiasm I must add. Especially as the kids have been promised a trip to the Royal Adelaide Show this weekend. You can't really change your mind about something like that. They have been saving their pocket money. They are excited. Anyway. He goes to work today. Puts his notice in. They counter offer. It's like choosing a show bag - which one is actually better value for money - they both look good. What if you choose the wrong one? What if you think you choose the right one, but then you see someone else with the other one and it's better than yours? The show is gone, you can't take it back, you are stuck with the whoopie cushion with a hole in it. Turmoil. I told you. It seems I am a planner, a control freak. A stablilty minded person. Boring. I just want things to be normal again. Safe.

Take a bow, Pam, and many thanks!!!

2007-08-23T13:00:00.000+09:30

Well you may have noticed a few changes around here!
Finally I have got my banner back! I have been trying to get it there for a while, but the lovely Princess Pammie came to my rescue today!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand thank yous!!!!
Nothing else exciting to report, but it seemed such a shame not to post now that my blog is all pretty!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

OK So I am not a doctor!!!!

2007-08-21T08:57:00.000+09:30

Well I was wrong, there's no ear infection (thank goodness), just the nasty lurgy that has been going around here at the moment. Yesterday there were SIX kids away from Bonnie's class, so she's not the only one down. Doc said to keep her home for a week to give her a chance to get over it, no medication - only panadol, just lots of TLC. I can do that.

Nic had a great birthday yesterday, and rather conveniently, has a casual day today, so he gets to wear his new Melbourne Demons T-shirt to school. He does enjoy teasing his SA schoolmates!!

that's all for now folks,
Keep smiling,
Soovee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NIC!

2007-08-20T09:06:00.000+09:30

Well here we are on Monday morning. Nic got us all up just after 6am (Yogi too -he'd normally be gone to work, but flexible hours at his new job meant he could start late today- it's so cool for him to join in the morning fun!). Sadly, however Nic wasn't the first one to get us up - we'd already been up twice during the night for Bonnie (poor sick, wee Bonnie!). So after he had unwrapped his presents, we left him merrily tapping buttons on his new phone and - went back to bed for 1/2 hour. Bonnie crawled in with us, but refused to go under the blankets, so we had a fairly uncomfortable 3o mins, after which she put herself back into her own bed, where she remains now. Half her luck! Have an appointment to take her to the Doc this arvo, but I suspect her cold has turned into an ear infection.....

Got the crowd coming over for dinner tonight - so I have to do more cooking! NO PAVLOVAS this time though -had enough of them for now. By special request of the birthday boy we are having pasta bake - WITH NO MUSHROOMS - and sponge cake.

Well I hope you and yours are all well, and having a great Monday.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Been a while!

2007-08-15T18:33:00.000+09:30

Ok, hello from slackland.

I haven't been doing much blogging lately, been busy out there living life - a busy, and yet not at all exciting life!

My baby boy turns 14 on Monday. Now I know that he is my eldest, not my youngest, so I probably shouldn't refer to him as my baby boy, (and I know how he would shudder if he read that!!), but the fact is, it seems like only yesterday that they put this little one in my arms, and said - there you go, it's all yours....we'll be off now. (& I am certainly NOT OLD ENOUGH to have a 14 year old!!!) He has been my guinea pig. He has felt the brunt of my inexperienceness (poetic license, I can make up words if I want! LOL) as a mother. And you know what? I think he has turned out all right. Not that it's finished, you understand, definitely still a work in progress, but at this point I feel fairly confident to stand back and have a look at my (our?) work with a critical eye. There are a few imperfections to work on, but all in all, it's a winner, this model, and I can only look with awe at the amazing human being we have shaped. My life, although nothing like the life I once imagined for myself, has certainly not been a waste. If I leave this lad, and his brother and his sisters behind me, if that is THE ONLY THING I achieve in my lifetime, then still it has been a success.

Well, that got a bit deep there didn't it - sorry bout that folks. What else has been happening? Um... still volunteering at school. I decided to stick with things this way for a while, and not go the SSO way....long complicated story, but basically comes down to the "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" theory. I am enjoying being involved at the school, the kids like to see me there, and I love the feeling of knowing the staff a bit, so I will keep doing it. For now.

I have my little brother's engagement party this weekend. We have kind of gotten used to the whole idea of the engagement now, so I must admit to feeling a little bit less excited than I probably should - although that may be due to the fact that I rashly promised to make FOUR pavlovas for the event! (I will probably get a piece that way!!!). I still have to go shopping to buy them a present.....hopefully inspiration will strike me soon. (preferably before tomorrow!).

Well I was supposed to go and cook dinner 1/2 hour ago, and I still haven't done it. I really had better get going...why do they always want to eat?????

Keep smiling,
Soovee

A Great Day

2007-07-31T15:26:00.000+09:30

It's been a really good day today, apart from a slight incident involving me, a packet of (rice) crackers and an entire tub of dip, that I won't go into here....ugh.

This morning I was volunteering at the primary school as I do every Tues and Weds morning, and the principal asked me if I had considered becoming an SSO. (Eventually that means I will be getting paid to do what I am already doing)....so paid work, walking distance from home, that fits into school hours and with school holidays - how could I say no to that!???!!!! It might involve more time up there for now, but we will see - i am not really sure how it will work, I will get more info tomorrow.

SO, already feeling pretty good, I headed off to the gym with a good friend of mine...and while I was there we got the SMS announcing that one of our other friends had given birth to a healthy baby daughter (after 2 boys, no less!). So, much jumping around and hugging at the gym to celebrate that one!

Then a friend took a quiet moment to tell me that she was glad to have me for a friend. WOW. I don't think she knows how much her friendship has meant to me, but oh boy did she give me a giant sized boost by saying that out loud.

After that there was more celebrating the baby girl at school with all the other school mums - the room 10 mums I guess you could call us. We have all been watching the preggie tummy get bigger and bigger, so we are sharing in the excitement now, and are all anxiously awaiting our chance to have a cuddle (could be a while, she was born by c-section!!!).

Then Yogi met me at school - I had forgotten it was Tuesday - he finishes early on Tues and Thursday - so it was a lovely surprise to see him there. It's really nice to walk home with him!

So, as I said. Great day. Can you top that???? Would love to hear your good day stories.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Spoilt Rotten

2007-07-29T17:38:00.000+09:30

OK. So last Wednesday was my birthday. A day to celebrate my arrival on this earthly sphere....you know - 21 years ago! I must say, I was less enthusiastic about the approaching day than my 6 year old daughter (who was literally running a countdown on our whiteboard), but in the end I had a FANTASTIC day. Was spoilt rotten. Not necessarily with expensive diamond-ringesque presents, but with little presents that were just so very very thoughtful. My kids bought me a Norah Jones CD (even though they hate listening to it!), a tin of metallic pencils (after a weekend stamping/card making challenge which I borrowed Nic's for - and was reluctant to give them back!!), and a top that I had admired while we were out shopping. Yogi made a magnificent display from recycled balloons!! (in joke, LOL), and spoiled me with peanut brittle - yummmmo....and there were other things too - a day out with Mum who took the day off work to celebrate with me. The best steak sandwich in Adelaide for lunch (from the Yatala Deli, with thanks to BRUCE!), and my nephews found me an orange handbag, which they stuffed full of orange things! (do you know how many pockets there are in a handbag????!!!) What fun! But probably the biggest surprise of them all was the website from my lil Sis! It still makes me grin. Not sure if I have mentioned it here, but I recently became a Scrapanalia consultant, and so the new site is to help me get that show on the road! So check it out if you like -

http://www.scrappingwithsoovee.com.au/

- it looks awesome. I will be updating it with any Scrapanalia news I have - so if you are in Adelaide, keep an eye on it! So all in all, I had a wonderful birthday - ended with dinner at Mum and Dads (Pizza and cake and icecream), with my family and my brothers family too. Thanks to everyone for your best wishes too. Much appreciated.

We've had a quiet weekend. Netball was back on this Saturday, but that was about all we did that day - oh yeah, I did some scrapping!!! JANINE - I have done my two LOs and more...will show you when I scan them!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

I really do get to go home with the best man!

2007-07-19T13:35:00.000+09:30

PS
BTW further wedding news - my brother (the groom) asked Yogi to be the best man. SO I really DO get to go home with the best man!!!!
keep smiling,
soovee

Long time no post & Lazy Lasagne

2007-07-19T13:13:00.000+09:30

HI there,
sorry it's been so long between posts - it's school holidays here and life has been moving at a slower pace. Less online time, more lounging time....and a bit of shopping!
We had Bonnie's birthday party on the first Wednesday of the holidays, and that was a fun, busy, long day! She is now proudly 6! Can't believe my baby is SIX already, and yet I can't remember what life was like without her!
Anyway, for the kids birthdays it's become a tradition in our house that the birthday kid gets to choose what's for dinner. The only stipulation is that it's not take away - it's something we prepare at home (because usually by the time the actual birthday gets here the wallet has already been under considerable strain! LOL). Bonnie wanted lasagne - but we had a party in the morning, visitors in the afternoon, and family for tea that night - I thought I would never have time to make lasagne. BUT my lil sis Judy bought me this ace book a while back - 100 great ways to use slow cookers and crockpots - and it had a recipe for lasagne in the slow cooker. So I thought I would give it a try - the verdict??? YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
So here's the recipe for anyone who would like to try it. (I doubled it, because I knew I had a crowd coming!).
Alison's Lazy Lasagne
for 4-6 serves:
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (yeah right - sprinkle bottled garlic liberally!!!)
1 x 400g can whole or diced tomatoes in juice
1 x 30g pkt tomato soup, or tomato and onion soup mix
500g minced beef
1/2 cup tomato paste
2tsp instant beef stock
1 cup hot water
250g (about 3-4 cups) small lasagne shapes or long lasagne strips.
Topping:
2 tsp cornflour
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk, or sour cream, or a mixture
1 cup grated tasty cheese
paprika, optional

Turn the slow cooker onto high to preheat, and coat the bowl with non-stick spray.

Put the garlic and tomatoes (with any juice) into a food processor or large bowl and process or mash with a fork to break up the tomatoes (OR USE CRUSHED TOMATOES INSTEAD!). Add soup mix, minced beef, tomato paste, herbs, stock and water, then process or mix until well combined.

Spread one third of the meat mixture evenly over the bottom of the slow cooker bowl. Place half the lasagne noodles over the meat. Repeat the layering with another 1/3 of the meat mex, the remaining pasta, then cover with the remaining meat mixture.

To make the topping, mix together the cornflour, egg, milk (and/or sour cream) and cheese. Pour this over everything in the slow cooker and sprinkle with paprika (if using).

Turn the slow cooker to low and cook for 8-9 hours. (I put mine on auto!)

Keep smiling,
Soovee

the BEST MAN

2007-06-29T12:28:00.000+09:30

OOOOOHHHHH much much excitement here. My little brother is engaged, and while Steve and the lovely Katie haven't yet set a date, they are starting to make wedding plans....and last night they asked me if Fritz could be their best man!!!!! (Gentle reminder in case anyone has forgotten - Fritz is my kombi!!!!).

OK - so technically not the best man - but they would like to use him as the

WEDDING CAR!

Take a moment with me and imagine my beautiful boy with a big fat white ribbon on the front!!! I am of course, already planning the LOs (there will definitely be more than one!!!).
Woohoo! Can't wait!
Keep smiling,
Soovee xxoo

NOT the chicken pogs!

2007-06-26T08:55:00.000+09:30

Well, life has been busy busy busy...and yet I haven't got much of excitement to report! It's our second last week of school term here and 15 sleeps until Bonnie's birthday. (We have been counting down from 49 sleeps, so it's been a somewhat long countdown!). I have Bonnie home from school today with a cold (hopefully it's not the start of the "CHICKEN POGS" which have been going around at school!). Got P/T interviews at school this afternoon - am I the only parent who gets nervous about these? Fortunately I have been doing some volunteering at the school, so I know the teachers a bit and am less worried than I have been in the past. It's kind of silly to feel that way I know, but there you have it.

In breaking news, I have officially signed up to be a Scrapanalia consultant....and after recieving my first box of goodies I can see that this is going to be GREAT FUN!!!!! I am going to run a scrapbooking table at my local parish craft group on Friday nights next term, so I am really looking forward to that. My gorgeous sister, Judy (but don't you call her that!!!!) has helped me heaps with designing business cards etc, so I am just waiting for the postie to deliver now.

Last week we had to have our hot water system replaced - it had turned into an indoor watering system and as we aren't growing, or planning to grow, any interesting plant life in our laundry, it had to go. Don't you just hate those unexpected bills that bite you in the bum! Still I will say that hot water is GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

My patchwork quilt is growing steadily of late (it does sometimes sit sadly neglected in the corner for a week or two)...and I have now got 10 flowers joined together and another one almost completed. Joining them all together is the best bit - last time I added three flowers all at once and it seemed so much BIGGER. I can't wait to finish it (don't get excited I am on a two year schedule!!!!). I really enjoy doing it - who'd have thunk it?

Anyway, hope your day is fabulous, whoever and wherever you are!
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Quickly updating...

2007-06-13T14:48:00.000+09:30

Hey there,
nothing much exciting to report, but I just read Jen H's blog and decided I had better update mine straight away! (LOL!!!!).
Finally all the kids are back at school today - we had a long weekend and the high school had a student free day the day before it and the primary school had one the day after - obviously it was a plot by the SAn govt to ensure that I didn't get a sleep-in!!!
My little brother STEVE got engaged to KATIE on the weekend! And as part of the deal, I get an instant niece too, EMMA, so that is pretty cool!
Anyway time to go get the kids...but before I leave, did you know that if you buy a netball pole, it doesn't come in a box? It's already set up....ever tried carrying one through a shopping centre?????
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Soovee's reading challenge!!!!!

2007-06-01T16:40:00.000+09:30

OK. So I have been reading all those books, and seeing as how I am up to the last one, and it was raining, and I was 1/2 hour early for school pick up and the library is right near the school, I decided to go in and find another book to read.
Wandered aimlessly for a while. Looked for Maeve Binchely (sp?) book, with no luck and I was having trouble finding a book to read.
SO I went for random, and here is your challenge (to do what I did).
I want you to go to your library and head for the third rack of books. Then go to the second bay (most libraries have bays in their bookshelves???), then go to the second shelf, and choose the 8th book. I got "Waterwoman" by Lenore Hart.
WIll let you know if it is any good later.....
ok...so, off you go,
3rd rack
2nd bay
2nd shelf
8th book

Let me know what you end up with !
Keep smiling,
Soovee

What are you reading???

2007-05-26T19:35:00.000+09:30

I am in book heaven here at the moment - you know - when you have books lined up just waiting for you to find the time to read them. When you can't decide which one you should read next, because they are all so damn interesting looking.

I have just finished reading"Child of the Prophecy"by Juliet Marillier - the third book of the Sevenwaters trilogy. I have read this series before, but it was some years ago, and I do love them - a great fantasy romp... the first one is based on the Grimm brothers fairytale about six boys turned into swans....and the story just goes from there.

The next book (and I confess I started to read this one before I finished the last) is "for one more Day" by Mitch Albom. The author of "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Five People you Meet in Heaven". Having enjoyed those two books, I was looking forward to this one, which I have borrowed from my Dad. I am up to page 29 and already hooked. Here's the blurb, from the back of the book:
"If you had the chance, just one chance, to go back and fix what you did wrong in life, would you take it? And if you did, would you be big enough to stand it?" It goes on to say "For One More Day will make you smile. It will make you wistful. It will make you blink back tears of nostalgia. But most of all, it will make you believe in the eternal power of a mother's love."

After I have finished that one, it's on to the one I have borrowed from my Mum....I have been on a bit of a Jodi Piccoult binge, with Mum's help (she buys 'em, and then when she has read them, I borrow them...my own personal library). This is the only remaining one I haven't read yet - Harvesting the Heart. So far I have found Jodi's books to be "unputdownable". I am expecting that this one will be the same.

THEN, I have "Lucky Man - a memoir" by Michael J Fox waiting for me. I am dying to read this one. Borrowed it from my Dad again. Michael says "The ten years since my diagnosis have been the best ten years of my life and I consider myself a lucky man." Far out. I have trouble enough dealing with my everyday woes, and here is this guy living with Parkinson's disease and with an attitude I can only aspire to. I really can't wait to read this one.

So, if you don't hear from me in a while....you know where I will be - in the meantime, I challenge those of you with blogs of your own to share your reading lists....whether it's books you have read, or books you are going to read, or even just books you like the cover of, let us know.....
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Eriq's birthday

2007-05-15T22:29:00.000+09:30

Just wanted to say thanks guys for your positive feedback about my last post. Having calmed down a bit now, I have decided to watch and see what happens. Hopefully the coach will be spoken to, and it will all be resolved. Maybe it was just a glitch (it's a new coach.....).

Today is Eriq's 10th birthday. Can't believe that 3 of my 4 kids have now passed the double digit factor. I feel OLD.

We had Mum, Dad, my brother Steve and Katie (my bros girlfriend) and her toddler, Emma, over for dinner. It was nice. Hot dogs, and pita bread pizza, and our famous icecream birthday cake for dessert.

So my boy is another year older....

keep smiling,
soovee

ANGRY

2007-05-14T18:16:00.000+09:30

I am furious. I am fuming. Mama Bear in full throttle.
Just got back from my sons basketball game. Under 10s. Why do some coaches feel the need to win at all costs? (at this point I will resist the urge to point out that we didn't win anyway).
I abhor unfairness in kids sport. I hate when the "good" kids, the future olympians, get more court time at the expense of the kids who are not so naturally talented. We are supposed to encourage our kids to be more active. How can you explain to a kid why he spends most of a game watching the action, while other kids play almost the whole time? I am angry. I have spoken briefly with the club president, but I am not confident that it will achieve anything. I am Mama Bear, hear me roar!!!!

soovee

have you ever?

2007-05-14T13:33:00.000+09:30

Thougt I would have a go at this list - found it on my sisters blog and shamelessly copied it...the idea is that you hightlight the things you have done in a different colour...

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula (and I can tell you now, that I NEVER WILL!!!!!)
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (see comment on no 6)
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s nappy (do I get bonus points cos I have done this so very many times?)
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower (when my hubby got up in the middle of a freezing winters night to watch one, I thought about joining him for about 5 seconds - does that count??)
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (Ugh i hate champagne - what about gettting drunk on red cruisers???)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 8 states/Territories
41. Taken care of someone who was **** faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers not strangers.....
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites - not really ANCIENT as such - we don't have them here in Australia really, but very old.....
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie - not a movie, but an ad!!!!
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest - and I still have the prize - it was a hairdryer.
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo I got a freddo frog one on the weekend....I guess fake tats don't count?
81. Rafted the Snake River (any river will do)
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music does taping top40 from the radio count???? LOL
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised/raising children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge (not the Golden Gate - but i have walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge.....figured that would be good enough to count!)
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking (This is a hobby of mine, ask my kids!!!!!)
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived (head on collision at 110km/hr, no injuries - I am immortal!!!!)
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart (but I didn't mean to)
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (IT was an air rifle -but hey, that's a rifle!)
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours (but i was very very sick!)
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat - regularly - very good for you and yummy too
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Ugh

2007-05-10T09:20:00.000+09:30

If you are a person in charge of coordinating year 9 school camps for year 9 boys, this post is for you. I know it's great fun for these boys (and girls too, I know, but I am talking about my boy this time) to do all this great adventure stuff. Flying foxes, and rowing, and rafting and commando courses. And I know that it's even more fun to do these things in MUD. But....

......have you ever opened a bag of wet, smelly, 2 day-old festering muddy clothes?

no further questions.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

JUST CHECKING

2007-05-09T13:41:00.001+09:30

Geez my sister's a pain in the butt!!!!!!!

(LOL hello Judy!!!!)
Keep smiling,
Soovee

NicKirstyEriqBonniesmum

2007-05-09T13:32:00.000+09:30

Apparently I am Bonniesmum. This morning I have also been Kirstysmum and Eriqsmum. No doubt this afternoon when I pick Nic up from school camp (will be good to see him again!), I will be Nicsmum. I have been volunteering up at the school again this morning, and I am starting to get to know my way around the place. But the kids saying hello to me now, yell out (almost always as they are running past) "hello Bonniesmum!!!!!!".
It made me stop and think today how much my life revolves around these four amazing creatures. How much of me I give to them. How much I depend on them, in a way....what would I be if I wasn't NicKirstyEriqBonniesmum????? And how much pleasure it gives me to be their mum. Most of the time. I love the fact that they are still (well at least the three younger ones) pleased to see me at school. When they walk into the library and see me there, they wave and yell out to me, instead of cowering behind the bookshelves. Love 'em to bits...

.......does this post mean i will get really great mother's day presents now??????

keep smiling,
Soovee!

this and that and nothing very much

2007-05-01T13:50:00.000+09:30

It must be time for an update.
Let's see....

The kids are back at school. And you won't find me complaining about having to get up when the alarm goes off (well maybe I will complain in a week or two when the novelty wears off!!!). I love it when the kids are at school! I have asked Bonnie's teacher if she will please teach Bonnie to read SILENTLY...we are really excited and proud of Bonnie's amazing reading progress (she was being tested on level 11 when I left this morning - up from level 7)...but sometimes, just sometimes it would be great if we could hit the mute button!!! LOL Poor Boo.....

I am back at school. Well sort of. I have just started volunteering at the primary school, in the resource centre, and I will be working with a boy in gr3 who has learning difficulties too. I loved being in the library today, and Paula, the AP was just so welcoming and friendly. It will be good for me I think.

Glasses....I have to get some. For years I have had a problem with the muscles around my eyes, and I have always been told there was nothing that could be done. Well, I went in to have my eyes tested because my distance vision has been giving me difficulties and it turns out it;s just that my muscles are tired from focussing close up - long story, just trust me...so apparently there are these Prisms glasses things that will help my muscles relax....so less headaches!Only need to wear them for reading and other close up stuff. Yay I say. Hope they work.

Ok that's enough stuff to be going on with, hope you are having a great week....whererever and whoever you are!
Keep smiling,
SOovee

Claude

2007-04-24T17:55:00.000+09:30

Our Family has extended again.

Meet Claude.

Couldn't resist his cute lil face at the pet shop - so we brought him home to be Nic's pet.

Only fair, really, as we made him leave Black Jack (the goat) behind when we moved.

Anyway. We all love him to bits.

Except Boofa, who remains undecided!!! LOL

Isn't he cute?????

What a week!

2007-04-20T14:36:00.000+09:30

OK. Our visitors have gone. And after all the planning and preparation and toing and froing, we are missing them already. Had a great time. The kids were rapt to see their cousins again, and the cousins were just as excited. The logistics of feeding and washing and cleaning up after 8 kids and 4 adults made for a busy week, but a fun one. Will put some photos on in a mo, but basically, we went on a dolphin cruise (sadly no dolphins this time), went to the city via the o-bahn, and went to whispering wall. Last night we went to cold rock icecream, which, for those who haven't heard of it, is a shop where you choose your icecream flavour, then choose your lolly/choccy/choccy biscuit, and the attendants mush them up together on a cold rock (hence the name)!!! Way cool fun! Combos such as tia maria icecream with jaffas, or cheesecake icecream with tim tams, or strawberry icecream with nerds, or banana icecream with mini m and ms. You get the idea.

The biggest thing this week was meeting our new niece/cousin, Sarah, who was born on Xmas night last year, and who we hadn't yet met. She is, of course, a sweetheart!!!

Anyway, less talk, more pics!

Keep smiling,

Soovee

In Praise of Wizzpegs

2007-04-13T16:47:00.000+09:30

Have you ever heard of them? Funny looking little things, but they are amazing. My friend, Jen Hone put me onto them, and surely I will owe her for the rest of my life.
The basic idea is that you put this little funny looking peg on your socks before you chuck 'em in the wash. The pegs go in the machine, then they stay on the socks (you use 'em to hang the socks up too, easy as!). If you live somewhere where it rains (?????!!!!!!!), you can even put them through the tumble drier. Simple. The only time the peg is not on the sock, is when you are wearing the socks. Intrigued?????

First, a little maths for you.
There are 6 of us in my family.
We have 2 feet each.
6x2 = 12.
We wear 12 socks a day.
there are (last time I checked) 7 days in a week.
7x12 = 84.
We wear 84 socks (give or take a pair or two) a week. NO WONDER I WAS DROWNING IN ODD SOCKS.
Recently I folded 6 baskets of washing (yeah I know - it's sad, I got behind - again!!!), and from those six baskets, I had only 6 odd socks. Now to some that may sound a lot, but where I come from, that's a lot less than normal....and the wizzpegs are still only new here, we are still getting the hang of remembering to put them on.
That is a great improvement!!! I am now seriously anticipating that there will soon be a day in my house where odd socks are a thing of the past. Seriously. Love 'em.
One colour for each member of the family too, that's another ace thing....I don't get the kids socks mixed up anymore. Nic's socks go to Nic, Kirsty's to Kirsty....you get the idea.
Wizzpegs.
If you don't have 'em, get some!!!
trust me
soovee

HOLIDAZE

2007-04-13T16:43:00.000+09:30

Well it's officially Holidays here in SA (as of 2.05pm this afternoon). Are we excited yet??? I am in a bit of a daze actually. We are having visitors arrive this Monday and all I can think it "I need to do this" or "I have to get that" or that sort of thing. You know how it is. Oh, and the biggie "thank goodness we got the dishwasher installed in time!!!".
The kids are looking forward to seeing their cousins again. And meeting their new cousin. I am looking forward to the alarm going off. Although, with EIGHT (yep, I said 8) kids in the house, I am thinking that I might not get so much of a sleep in opportunity. (ya think?)
So I am looking forward to a quiet(ish) weekend. Starting tonight. Planning to scrap. And let Yogi cook dinner. (good plan, huh?). So, I will be the one sitting here. Waiting for inspiration.
Keep smiling,
SOOVEE

lots of chocolate.

2007-04-10T09:46:00.000+09:30

Well it's been a while since my last post....so i guess you'd think lots of exciting stuff has happened? nup.
Good Friday we spent the day helping Mum and Dad clean out their shed ready for their new camper trailer.
We had a lovely but quiet Easter at home. Mum, Dad, my brother Steve, his girlfriend Katie and her bubba Emma came over for a BBQ lunch. We ate chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
Today the kids have gone back to school and Yogi back to work. A short week. Then school holidays and a van der Veer invasion the following week (Yogi's brother and his family are coming to spend a week or so with us!!!!).
that's all folks,
keep smiling,
Soovee

TA DA!!!!!!

2007-03-29T18:34:00.000+09:30

OK here it is, the moment you have all been waiting for (OK so you haven't reallly, but let me stay in my fantasy world a little longer)......my NEW KITCHEN......now please remember it is still a work in progress. Tiles and paint will make it look prettier...but I must say it's a lot nicer looking than it used to be, and so much more practical!!!!

Without further ado, here are the pics:

Please note the DISHWASHER HOLE!!!!! (IT will be filled in next TUESDAY!!!!!):

It's beeeyoootiful

2007-03-29T08:55:00.000+09:30

Hello again!
Kitchen is in, and it's beeeeyooootiful. I will show you some pics later...haven't taken them yet. Waiting for the cabinet maker to come back and finish the kickboards. Electrician has been, Plumber has been, there is a hole in my kitchen ready for a dishwasher. The tiling happens this weekend (at least the floor bit), and then hopefully next week I can get the dishwasher installed. I am really looking forward to the dishwasher bit!!!!! What a day it was....people all over the house, cats hiding behind the couch....I am glad it's all done. A tip for anyone planning a kitchen renovation - don't start putting things in your lovely shiny new cupboards until ALL of the tradies have finished, otherwise you might find yourself emptying them all over again!!! I know you will find it hard to believe that I am impatient....but there's the sad sorry truth of it.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Make that Wednesday

2007-03-27T12:42:00.000+09:30

ok so picture this. Kitchen demolished. Totally. All food in boxes on Loungeroom floor. Pink Mixer on floor too. Breakfast eaten off paper plates. (so as not to create dirty dishes, you see). Small child walked to school by big sis and bro - the first time i have not walked her myself. Sitting, waiting, clock watching. It's too early to call.....I am just nagging if I call now.....he would have called if he wasn't able to make it....waiting....waiting.......so I call him just before 10am.....and guess what? Tomorrow. Nice of him to call and let me know. I mean, it's not like I HAVE A LIFE....I have nothing better to do than rearrange all my furniture (for goodness sake - the fish bowl is on the computer desk!!!!!), and my life, and sit around waiting for phone calls that never come. Man I am annoyed. I told him I was annoyed too.

Luckily my Mum is a legend and has invited us over there for dinner tonight, so we won't have to worry about trying to cook on the single piece of bench that is still standing. Roll on Wednesday I say. In the meantime, here is a pic of the kitchen now!

We have LIFT OFF - almost

2007-03-20T21:35:00.000+10:30

This morning the dishwasher place (did I mention that we had put a deposit on a dishwasher?) rang to see how the plans for the kitchen were going and if we had any idea when we would be needing our dishwasher. I told them that we hadn't heard anymore as yet, and they were happy enough to wait (included in the price is installation - so we needed to have the kitchen in before the washer can be installed). Then I thought about it and decided to ring the kitchen place. SO - are you sitting down???
they told me that they have all the bits in the workshop right now....he just needs to put the finishing touches on, he will call me later in the week, but it's looking good for an installation on MONDAY OR TUESDAY next week!!!!! woohoo! guess who is going tile shopping this weekend?
Keep smiling,
soovee
PS spoke to Nic's (very lovely) maths teacher today, and we are monitoring the situation, apparently he is not doing as badly as he thinks he is, and for the meantime he is going to hang in there.

It's RAINING

2007-03-20T09:48:00.000+10:30

It's raining here this morning, and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course, now that we are a "walk to school"sort of family, I will need to rush out and buy some more umbrellas....but I don't care! The birds are enjoying the rain too - they have been going sick this morning...cheeping away.
OK - so, what's been happening? Nothing.
NO sign of the new kitchen yet - still waiting on my enormous, special order benchtop.
I rang the high school today, as Nic has been really struggling with his maths (and it's all gobbledy gook to me), and asked me if I would talk to his teacher about him maybe going down a level. I am happy to talk to the teacher and see what he thinks about it, so will just wait for him to give me a call. I am not sure how long Nic has been having a hard time with it all, but I bet it has been longer than I have realised.
Yogi has been working at his new job for a week today, and seems to be liking it. He is the youngest bloke there (and while I know that we are still young, we are certainly not spring chickens anymore - well, I am, but not Yogi!!! LOL), so he says he feels like he has entered a retirement home for boilermakers....we just call him the apprentice and make jokes about how he has to go get the lunches! I am looking forward to his paycheck - especially as we have gone back to the reality of him working extra hours (overtime!).
We went into the city on the weekend for the International Busker's Festival. WOW!!! It was awesome...we saw a guy put his body through a squash racquet. We saw amazing (and very handsome) "Russian" acrobats - Pop-Eyed - you may have seen them on Australia's Got Talent?, and we saw more too! We caught the bus into the city (via the O-Bahn) and then just wandered around all Sat arvo and into the evening, watching street performers. Yogi and Kirsty both got called out of the audience to "help" in seperate acts! It was awesome. It's part of the FRINGE FESTIVAL that is on here in Adelaide, and I have to say that the atmosphere in the city was fantastic.
Well I think that's enough to keep me out of trouble for now, I am off umbrella shopping!
Keep smiling,
SOovee

the morning after the long weekend....

2007-03-13T11:00:00.000+10:30

Well here we are - Tuesday morning, life is back to normal. How come it was so hard to get out of bed this morning? I am wondering if it is because the mornings are getting darker - almost time to switch out of daylight saving mode......anyway, finally dragged myself out and got the kids off to school.
Yogi has started his new job this morning. I hope it is going well for him.
I went down to Kmart this morning to layby a tent - it was on special last week - and to be honest I sort of KNEW it would be sold out but I went to look anyway. Of course, it WAS sold out and there were no rainchecks. We are looking at getting a tent so that we can join in on the camping trips with the kombi club. Most of the other kombis are campers, so they regularly head off camping. I am in two minds on the whole thing. If we own a tent, we will be able to take little weekend escapes (camp sites are so much cheaper than onsite vans/cabins). BUT I haven't been camping since I was a teenager...not sure how excited I really am about sleeping on the floor and cooking on a two burner stove/bbq. Anyway we will have to get organised and give it a go. Just call me Crocodile Soovee!!! LOL
This weekend we headed off on a Kombi Club Cruise - see pic. Do you think I will ever get sick of taking photos of multiple kombis???? nah! Still lovin'my kombi. It's the best fun, watching peoples faces as 8+ kombis cruise past them in a row (we ended up with 10 on the weekend....!!!). It really is great fun!

Kitchen news

2007-03-04T22:39:00.000+10:30

Ok so it's almost been two weeks since the kitchen place told me it would be two weeks. BUT I asked them for a week's notice, and they haven't called me yet....so I think it may be a little longer. I imagine that the hold up has been caused by our special order extra-wide benchtop...but anyway, the demolishing has begun. So here are some before pics.....(I hope)...as it turns out I only have one pic on this computer....will have to see if I can find the others tomorrow (I know there was more). Will take some pics of the demolition site too.....

Keep smiling,

soovee

FIRST IN CLASS

2007-02-25T21:09:00.000+10:30

That's me, in the pic, with hat hair, a sunburnt face (despite the obvious wearing of a hat), a grin from ear to ear and a TROPHY!!!!! Took Fritz to The Day of the Volkswagen in Glenelg today, and we came away with first in our class! It was so much fun to watch people looking at my car all day. It was much fun, especially as a friend of mine from the kombi club won first in her class too....woohooo!!! *happy dancing again*

Keep smiling,

Soovee (*I LOVE MY CAR*)

wwwwwwwwwwwwaiting.....not my strong point!

2007-02-22T10:12:00.000+10:30

Two weeks. Two weeks!!!!! Fourteen days. A fortnight. However you say it, it's really not very long! So guess what?

MY NEW(sort of) KITCHEN WILL BE READY IN TWO WEEKS!!!!!

It's only sort of new, because we are not getting any new appliances (apart from the DISHWASHER!!!!!!!!!), and we are re-using most of the existing cabinets....but who the hell cares, it will have new doors and will look pretty, and I will have all sorts of luxuries - like a pantry!!!! And possibly enough cupboards that I can chuck out the box I have on the floor with food in it that won't fit in the cupboards. Sadly, the dishwasher has to be the very last thing that goes in - when everyone knows it should be the first thing! So 2 weeks to new kitchen and then a bit longer until the dishwasher goes in. Can't wait!!!! *more happy dancing*

Keep Smiling,

Soovee

The Library is OPEN!!!!!

2007-02-21T13:08:00.000+10:30

I popped over to Woolies this morning (I still get a kick out of saying WOOLIES), after listening to reading at school, and noticed that there was a new sign on the library door. The Para Hills public library has been closed for renovations since before we moved in, and we have been watching with anticipation as it has been getting closer to completion. So, I got all excited, thinking that the opening date might be written on the door....only when I got there, the note on the door said - NOW OPEN!!!!!! So I went to the library this morning. It's lovely (although it's actually a bit smaller than the library I used to go to.....), and it's so close to home...*happy dancing*
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Someone Loves Macca

2007-02-14T15:42:00.000+10:30

It's Valentine's Day - and while part of me sees the commercialisation that causes the frenzy at this time of year, there is a very big part of me that applauds the idea of a day set aside especially to take a minute to remember those we LOVE and to TELL THEM. This year I have done absolutely nothing - no card, no flowers (yes, I have given him flowers in the past), no sticky notes, no mobiles......to be honest I really wasn't at all in the spirit....
.....but today on the way home from school, Cupid's arrow got me - and it wasn't even aimed in my direction. A plane flew overhead, writing a message in the blue Adelaide sky. Everyone at school, kids and parents alike, walked along with their faces in the air, watching, anticipating, dreaming... Everyone followed the plane, waiting to see who the mysterious admirer LOVED....and I couldn't help but imagine Macca's face when he (or maybe it's a girl Macca?) saw that message in the sky. Would he know straight away that it was for him? Would he know instantly who it was from? Would he be embarrased? Excited? How LOVED would something like that make you feel? *sigh* I have always been a romantic at heart.
So, to whoever it is that loves Macca, thank you for shouting it out to the world, and for bringing smiles to the faces of almost all of us who saw it. I wish you the happiest of Valentine's Days, with your Macca.
Keep smiling,
Sue

Digital Photostories

2007-02-09T13:08:00.000+10:30

OK this post is for PAM!!!! (Hello Princess!!!)
Digital Photo Story is a free download from Microsoft....just go to
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usingdigitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
and download a copy. I reckon anyone who is a bit computer savvy (ie US), can figure out how to use it just by playing, it's pretty self-explanatory.
Basically you can put your photos in (digi ones, but you can scan older ones to use too), and you add music, voice narration if you want, and text too.....special transitions (sort of like they use on powerpoint)....really easy to use, very effective. It turns your photos into a dvd, and it pans over your photos as it does it, so it comes across like a movie. NOt sure how well I am explaining this. You can choose a starting point on the photo (eg zoom in on someone's face), then pan out to show the whole photo. It does have some limitations - the biggest one that has annoyed me is the fact that you can only crop the photo in both dimensions at once - (you can't make it longer, but keep the width)....but I reckon it might work if you did that bit in photoshop first - haven't tried it yet.
SO after week one of a 5 week course I have made a photostory of my daughter's birthday party. No doubt I will refine my technique, but she loves it. And it's fun. Give it a go!
(Oh yeah there is a plug in that costs $26 to allow you to burn the photostories to dvd - apparently it's hard to do without it - but without the plug in you can play them on computer....)
keep smiling,
soovee

Taking a Chill Pill (well not so much the pill bit!!!)

2007-02-08T10:40:00.001+10:30

Firstly, thanks to everyone for your supportive comments about Bonnie and her reading! Two things have happened since my last post...1) I convinced her to read to me at school (of course we had to sit on the floor, in the corner where noone could see us, but she did do it) and even better 2) I had a chat to the oh-so-fabulous Mrs Rawlins. I suggested that maybe I should stop coming for reading and see if she would read without me there. (very sadly, I might add, as I love being involved in the classroom), but Mrs Rawlins said nope, tried it and it doesn't work - she wouldn't read to anyone even when I am not there. Then she reassured me that the READER reading is only a very small part of all the reading work they do at school, and that Bonnie is participating very well and very often in all the other elements, and that she is aware of Bonnie's abilities. It seems just that reading the reader is so much a "spotlight" activity - where all the attention is focused on her - and she can't handle it, but she is participating in group oral activities. So in short, she is doing really well, and I should just relax!!!

Something happened today that happens all the time, and you don't notice that it is happening until it stops happening.....read that again slowly, and continue when you have figured it out ! LOL

Someone said "Hello Sue"to me this morning. Doesn't seem like much, but you see, nobody knew my name, and then it took them a while to remember it, and this morning it finally happened. It's good to have it back!

Bonnie has her first game of netball this afternoon - she is soooooooooo excited!!! I am sure she will fumble the ball and drop it more than she catches it, but I know she will have fun, she is so proud to have her own netball skirt, and has been looking forward to this afternoon for ages.

I started my digital photostories course at TAFE last night....It was great fun. I can see myself getting seriously addicted to it. 4 more weeks of the course to go.

Keep smiling!
soovee

Selective Frustration

2007-02-05T14:32:00.000+10:30

I know I just posted, but this one needs a seperate post all of it's own. Bonnie has been doing OH so very very well, that sometimes I forget there was ever a problem. (well not a problem.....but you know what I mean) For those who don't, Bonnie was last year diagnosed with Selective Mutism - basically an anxiety disorder that means, even if she wants to, she can't talk in places where she feels uncomfortable. There are no rules about where she can/can't talk, or WHO she can/can't talk to. The only treatment is to provide a supportive environment, where she is given the opportunity to talk, but without putting any pressure on her if she can't. UNDERSTANDING basically is all she needs, until she can work through it. And here she has been really lucky, her kinder teachers were gentle, patient and caring, and just fantastic for her, and she made great leaps and bounds last year. Her teacher, Mrs Rawlins, is amazing too. These professional people have their heads around it no problem. It's ME again with the issues. I was in the room to do reading this morning, and was all set to listen to Bonnie read, but she wouldn't. NO WAY. She wouldn't come sit with us at the table. She wouldn't read to the other mum. Not even to MRs Rawlins - hands over her ears at this point. Now I KNOW that putting pressure on her is WRONG WRONG WRONG. But, I know she is not letting them see how fantastic she is. She has been wowing me with her reading at home, but if she won't demonstrate it at school, how can they tell????? This is the biggest fear I had about sending my little one to school, and here it is happening exactly as I dreamed it. Of course....today was only the first day, and I may be over-reacting.
Gotta go get the little darling now, schools out in a tic.
Keep smiling,
Soovee

Patchwork Frenzy

2007-02-05T14:19:00.000+10:30

I always suspected that there was a patchworker inside of me trying to get out, but I never suspected that she would be a fanatic, who decided to do it all by HAND....and also that her first project would be a queen-size quilt!!!!

I went to a craft group with some ladies from my local Church on Fri morning and I started one little BLOCK to give it a try. Well, I loved it! Total addiction. I couldn't put it down until it was finished. Even when my scrapping buddies arrived!!!! (I did scrap a bit after I finished the little block). I was so pleased with the way that the block turned out that I had to use it for something, so it now proudly adorns Bonnie's library bag!!!!!!
I went to spotlight to buy some green, red and cream fabric to make an elegant quilt for our bed. I came back with orange, brown and taupe. I TRIED to buy the other colours, but there just wasn't the right ones - they wouldn't match right. Actually, there wasn't anywhere near as large a selection as at MY old spotlight store in Narre Warren. Anyway, I have made the first block already, and I am loving it....only 52 more whole blocks to go, plus some half ones and the bits that join them all together! LOL

I am starting to feel a bit less lost and a bit more at home here now. I LOVE my house, and everything being so close is awesome. My MUM is in seventh heaven having the kids near her - and is currently in the process of taking each one out by themselves for dinner......she will be spending Wednesday nights here with them for the next 5 weeks, while I do a short course and Yogi joins the local SES. I am on the bowling team with Mum, and that's great fun. I have friends come over to scrap regularly (thanks to the wonderful Ceri), and I even know a few other women by their NAME. Our neighbours are fantastic (and as a bonus, they have a pool!! lol). The kids seem to be settling in well too - Kirsty has started netball, (won the first game 12-3, and she shot 6 goals), Eriq plays his first basketball game this evening (for the ROADRUNNERS), and Bonnie starts Netball on Thursday afternoon.....she is soooooo excited. Nic is seriously considering the taekwondo idea (!!!) but he is hoping to convince a mate to do it with him.

Murky Buckets

2007-01-31T11:59:00.000+10:30

OK. I just won something on Ebay - which is exciting and fun. Trouble is, I won it from a French seller....and I don't speak (or in this case read) French very well. I did study French up to yr 12 in high school, and can sort of follow the basics of the ebay page. My problem is that I need to ask the seller what the postage will cost, as it hasn't been added on there.....LOL Fingers crossed that the seller can read english! LOL
soovee

I'm Green and I'm Grumpy

2007-01-30T19:48:00.000+10:30

Ok so I am not really green.
Kids.
Husbands.
Families.
So I am doing the dutiful stay at home wife and mother thing.
House is tidy.
Washing is done.
Healthy meal cooked. Ready early to allow for kids schedule.
Take son to try it out taekwondo session.
I knew as soon as we walked in that he wouldn't like it. Anything that requires effort and doesn't produce instant reward is no good. He has NO self-esteem, because he is no good at anything. BUT (and here's the biggy) how do you get to be good at anything if you QUIT everything????
I want so much for him to know the satisfaction of working hard at something and getting results. I love him to bits, but just don't know what to do with him at the moment. I am hoping that he will think about it and maybe give it a go.....or at least find some activity that will have him physically active.
Anyway I get home and find kids in front of SIMPSONS in the loungeroom. I hate simpsons and futurama and all that other animated CRAP that they watch.
Also dinner dishes not done.....
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
(told you I was grumpy)
Keep smiling,
soovee

How low can you go? I am a BAD MOTHER.

2007-01-30T14:06:00.000+10:30

Well it's the second day back at school, and yeah baby! I am loving it. Dishes done. Loungeroom tidy....I have even baked (although since the pink mixer came to live at my house, that's been happening much more often). I am thoroughly enjoying my own company at the moment. Me and the stereo...that's pretty much all I seem to need. Which is good, as I really don't know anyone here yet. LOL.

Today I am picking up one of Bonnie's little friends from school, as her Mum can't be there in time for the bell. So Alicia is coming to play, which is fantastic for Bonnie, but it meant I had to break one of my own rules and do some tidying up in the girls bedroom. I have always made them do it on their own (OK so sometimes I have HELPED them, but you know what I mean), so it was an odd feeling to be doing it. I stumbled across my 11yo daughter's diary while I was there.You all know what's coming here, I was faced with that big moral dilemna...privacy, or a way to find out how she is really coping with the big move, and of course I shouldn't have, but I read it. (in my defense, she has recently told her Dad that she is worried that she is fat and bigger than all the girls at school - in her words, she feels like a freak!!!! Now she is a tall girl, but is also beautiful, and SLIM....).So now that I have breached her trust, I am going to compound it by writing on my blog about it...I am truly a BADMOTHER! I found out a few interesting things. 1. She has a crush on a boy (OMG!!!!!). 2. She wasn't too happy with her friends before we moved, and hasn't missed them as much as she thought she would. 3. She SWEARS like a trooper.
I can handle the first two, but that last one has me upset. Those of you who know me well, will be laughing, as I have to admit that on occasions I do have a potty mouth myself, but I have always tried not to swear in front of my kids. It horrifies me to think that she is using this language. I hope that it is only in the diary and not with her friends. She is only 11 (or as she puts it - almost 12!!!!!). Of course I can't SAY anything about it.....but maybe will include her next time I remind my teenage son about the appropriateness of swearing (he has, after several such chats, promised that if he MUST swear he will NOT do it around little kids or loudly enough in public places to make others feel uncomfortable.).

I have organised (or started to) sport activities for the kids. Nic is going to taekwondo for the first time tonight. I hope he enjoys it, he leads a fairly inactive life, not being a sporty kind of a kid. Kirsty is going to play netball, just waiting on some last minute details to finalise her team, and I am waiting on a call back about Eriq's basketball game. Bonnie has her first netball game on Thursday!! I will be there with my camera.

KEEP SMILING,
SOOVEE