What a day ... I'm exhausted. Actually its been a really busy week .... our 5 year old had a brilliant day today, and a great princess party today. How beautiful do all the girls look? I have a love/hate relationship with kids parties. I love all the planning and making cute things, and even setting up - it just looks so damn cute .... but then they all arrive and its FULL ON and I have to race around like a woman possessed! Then they all leave again and I love it! So anyway, its over and I can't believe she is 5 - just goes to show you have to savour every minute as they grow up so fast. I am going to fall into bed soon ....

how cute is the fairy wand cake, not bad for a little idea in my head hey!

Tomorrow my middle girl turns 5 ..... wow, how time flies. I have just finished icing a zillion cupcakes ... they look so darn cute too! I have a pic here of the littlest one, who was mesmerised by the little cappincino cups we made for pre-school tomorrow - the photo tells the story really, she just wanted one so badly! Too cute for words! I am up to wrapping the pass the parcel, for once in my life I am actually trying to be organised for one of my girls parties - I always always always seem to leave it to the last minute .... and I'm sure it gives me more grey hairs each time!!!!
Today has been a busy one, we had friends arrive from Lennox Heads yesterday (to stay the night) and had a spontaneous lunch with mutual friends (it was ANZAC day) - the plans all came together on Monday night, and I have to be honest and say I was a bit stressed at first thinking it was going to be a major, but acutally it was really fun, and easy and such a fantastic time. I don't have any pics, as I have to download some pics off my phone. I ended up being late for school this morning after chatting too long .......... opps! Went swimming, which i was good to blow out the cobwebs and have a chat with the girls - i love swimming! Then it was onto the party planning - making the cake, which is going to be a fairy wand - will definitely have to post photos of this when its finished. well ... better finish the pass the parcel .... am getting tired now.

Yesterday I did my first triathlon in 8 years - YES, 8 years! The last race I did I was 6 weeks pregnant with Katya (and happened to be the same course that I raced yesterday) It was hard! Actually I forgot just how much it hurts to do triathlon - and how much is mind over matter! I was having some pretty full on conversations with myself throughout the race .... I did finish and was VERY very very happy to see the end. What I have decided is that I will either do a whole series next summer, or I will never do another triathlon again. A one off is too hard on your body, from past experience I do know that your body actually gets used to racing and you get "race fit" something I definitely WASN'T yesterday. It is still an achievement and I am glad I did it. I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day. Hubby played golf all afternoon so i went to friend's who live over that side of town and chilled out - it was great hanging out with them!
Today has been quiet a busy day, getting groceries, tidying up .. .and generally picking up after not being able to function all that well last night! I do have a confession!!!!!!! I was going to do the shopping with the two youngest darlings, and low and behold there is a NEW nail place at my shops - and they have 20% off opening special! I mean HELLO!!!! So I booked in for a peticure and a manicure at 12 and it was absolute bliss! and cheap - yay, so that might be happening alot more regularly!!! hee hee


this is a wee snippet for Nana of the littlest one wearing her fluffy slippers. Nana sent them when she was born!

Just playing with my photoshop software - trying to get it all sorted, here is an Easter pic of our precious ones!

Well .... i am slowly warming up to being back into normal life again, I was pretty hopeless yesterday and just didn't know where to start - too many things to do! So I ended up starting heaps of things and not really finishing anything! Today has been alot more productive - yay!
Got the housework done (well, most of it - man, the house was terrible) also the grocery shopping, made some biscuits (choc chip of course) the girls had swimming this afternoon ... so all is all quiet a busy day!
I am having some trouble uploading my photos, so will have to get that sorted before I can post them - sorry! Time to chill in front of the tv ............

Kiora! Have not long been home for our journey back from NZ ... had the best time! was so good getting a good dose of NZ life again .... I feel like I've been away for ages! Do have a wee cold, so am going to finish unpacking and hit the sack .... will post some pics tomorrow! Happy Easter (I know its a bit late) I ate my quota of chocy of course!!! Someone has to do it! hare mai!

EleVEn years ... wahoo! Today is our anniversary ... here is the card I made for hubby. We have enjoyed a yummy breaky together, and are going to have a quiet night by candlelight on the verandah, nice food, nice wine ... good conversation - the perfect setting for our 11 year reminise!

Oh I am so tired today ............. we had the pre-school mums dinner last night, which was such fun - such a cool bunch of women! I had a blast, I just WISH I could stop chatting and go home at a respectable hour .... and not have my eyes hanging out of my head (like they are today) two coffees haven't helped AT ALL either!
I had the biggest surprise this morning - I bumped into an old childhood friend (who I've been meaning to see for like the LONGEST time) and there we were at the shops, and it was just so spontaneous and lovely! She has the cutest kids, and I am so looking forward to seeing her more in the future, its nice to have some history with someone I have known almost all my life.
So after having a wee power nap, I am going to make an anniversary card for my sweetest one, as tomorrow is our 11 years .... far out, I am starting to feel old - but loving the place we are in our marriage, you are so more in tune with each other this far down the track ... its fun!

My biggest girl has NO FRONT TEETH .... had to photograph it - its quiet hilarious! So the tooth fairy will be visiting YET again ... hope she still has some money left .....
off to bed.... am very tired! too tired to scrap!!!!

Its Wed afternoon, and I should be cleaning out the spare room (which is full of baby stuff that I need to organise) but I am struggling to find motivation .... one of those jobs that is like LAST on my list of "want to do". Half way thru the week already. I have been draggin the chain a bit today after getting up to ride at 5am this morning. I have committed to do a triathlon in 3 weeks time and am pulling my finger out so I can give myself a decent shot at it - my body is suffering tho this week, and sleep is quiet high on the list of priorities! ok might go check out the damage in the spare room ....

I LOVE this photo of us ... it was a quick project putting it on one of these Rob n Bob Coaster cards ... I really like how it turned out. Have to go, have kids here for a play date and they want food delivered to the cubby house .... of course, I need a coffee too!

Have just finished this lo .... having a great weekend, went riding this morning - first time in ages, so my legs are a bit tired now. Its just a gorgeous day here today ... stunning actually! Am going to put a focaccia on for dinner, its going to be a bbq to enjoy this gorgeous afternoon!

Mexican food is so delicious ... I have always had a soft spot for a good mexican meal, and my wish came true tonight as we took the girls down to our local Mexican restaurant. Haven't long been home, am full .... yay! Had a delicious beef chimichanga!!!! YUM! YUM! YUM! the girls love going to "Mexico" as they call it. They are now in bed ... not asleep yet tho!
Its been a good day today, I went swimming this morning after dropping the big girls off, then had coffee with some of the swimming girls. The littlest girl went to sleep not long after we got home, so instead of my usual work day - I finished a LO I was working on for a competition at the local Scrapbooking shop. I really enjoy the challenge of a competition ... so am keen to do a few more. Am going to watch some telly with my hubby now .... its a chill out kinda night! Good night

Monday again .... the week is off to a good start, I feel quiet organised for a change ...... however, it does take ALOT of time to be organised! I have this thing for chocolate hot cross buns at the moment - hubby bought me back some from Browns Bakery in Melbourne - well, they were just to die for, and ever since I have a bit of a cravy for one (with a coffee of course) anyway, I gave in and bought a 6 pack so have just consumed one, and am tossing up weather to go get another one!!!!!
We had DRAMA on Saturday, our littlest girl slipped and cut her chin open on the steps - so it was a big rush off to the doctors, and unfortunately they had to give her 3 stitches - poor love! Well, would have been better if both her mother AND father weren't feeling faint and trying not to pass out as well - was a bit dramatic at the time - however we managed to get thru it. I did feel like a glass of wine (at 10am) afterwards ... however, I did not have one ....
better get some washing on .... keep the household running smoothly!

just added my age ... thought that was important.

So I've just finished my entry for Kirsty's competition. It was quiet fun doing a 6x6 page for a change, and even better really because I could scan a picture - much easier.

Do you know that I really love Fridays .... because they are just great days. I only have Gianna home so its my day to just have FUN (not that I don't have fun on the other days, because I SO do, but rather that its my "designated" fun day) so today was particularly fun because dear hubby came shopping with me this morning. I must say, he's not the best influence in the shopping arena - I mean he is quiet the advocate of buying what you really love even if it has a nasty price tag!!!!! I hear you ladies saying "Hello, check your head - of course that is what you want" However, seen as I do the budget .... it actually doesn't work that way. I mean sure, I could have spent $150.00 on that pair of styley jeans, however my little darlings would not have had any lunch for the next week to come ... ya no what I'm saying! So I decided that it is just as well that I do the budget (and not him), and that I do have some self control (I admit it wasn't always the case, I am still known to just splash out at times when my emotions take over) but generally it works well. So anyway, enough babbling (its cause I've had half a carona - it is friday and all) so I did get some jeans (the skinny ones) and some other pants and also a top - but don't worry my darlings are having lunch for the next week - it all fitted into the budget!!!!
Also did some scrappin, am working on the page for that challenge Anna has dared me into .... have a bit to go then will show ya. Have to show you what I have just whipped up for dinner (especially as I was like 90% leaning towards indian takeaway AGAIN) so it doesn't look too bad hey! oh look, there is proof I've had half a carona too .... blimey! better go finish it ....

Howdy doody .... I'm a bit naughty really, I have taken a break from remitting my GST (yuk yuk yuk) to post this .... I will confess I get distracted - I guess that is because I could honestly think of a good 10 things I would rather be doing than sitting here punching away numbers on the computer. But I know it has to be done, so I am trying to stay focused ..... quiet hard when my husband (who is supposed to be working) is watching TV ...... where is the justice I say!
Not too much to report really ... I guess the day is only half done. I did go swimming this morning - which was good, i enjoy swimming. Had a friend drop in for a quick coffee ... and now I am here ... in our office which is so small i can hardly fit in here ... I just wish I could have some chocolate, but I gave it up for lent, I think marshmellows are the only other thing I could tuck into ... not sure if they are going to hit the spot like chocolate does. There is just something about chocolate, its just GREAT isn't it ... obviously I'm having withdrawl symptoms - is it obvious????? Ok enough about chocolate, I'm getting angry ..... ha, not really just being dramatic. Ok really I'm rambling now ... better get back to it, before I completely loose direction and call it a day. bye for now ....

Hello Gappy!
the girls ready for
a wee ride!

the first pages of my "family values" kit.

On the weekend when hubby was away in Melbourne having a lovely time at the Commonwealth Games - I took the girls up to Bribie to stay with my favourite aunty and uncle at Bribie!!! he he .... we had a lovely time, and they were so sweet and did a treasure hunt for the girls - which they really thought was awesome. We went out in the tinny ... for a look at the canal - very nice!
We had a front tooth FINALLY come out yesterday and the tooth fairy visited last night and left $3 (because it was a front one - normally its $2)
Today has been a busy day, Wednesdays are as the big girls have swimming after school. I went for a run, and feel so much better after getting rid of that horrible gardia (i realise how crap i was feeling) We have a really good friend staying tonight from Melbourne, so the boys are parked in front of the TV watching the games - what blokes!!!!!
I will share something funny tho, that hasn't happened to me before as I love to cook and usually do manage to prepare something that is pretty yum (only because food is such a huge priority in my life) well tonight I was preparing Butter Chicken as our friends just loves indian - well I was seasoning it, and I lost control of the salt container - YES what you are thinking is true .... it just tasted like SALT! Can you believe that, so I had to get on the phone to the local takeaway and order butter chicken after making it myself ... the beer I consumed with it has helped me feel a bit better! I guess it has to happen once hey!!!!! NOT GOOD!
I am going to do some more of my "family values" project - i am happy with it. enjoy your night