OMG!!!!

I had a discussion with my friend today about the use of 'OMG' when chatting online or using forums. I must admit I do use it a lot, it's a good way to express my feelings, when I cannot be physically seen. I do not actually say 'Oh my God' out loud when talking in real life...well maybe I do sometimes hehe...but not to the extent that I do in the online. So after having this discussion and a few chuckles I went out for a shopping trip. I actually had a few OMG moments and believe me, I was saying 'Oh my God' in my head many times. I decided to head out and get one last present for Sophie. I went out to get it yesterday, but typical me got sidetracked talking to people at the markets, so I ran out of time!

The place I went to is about a half hour drive from our place, it's almost across the other side of Canberra. I was driving along this ridiculous road that our local government started to build a few years ago and, it's still being built due to stuff up after stuff up...**sigh** that is another post. Anyway, I took a stupid wrong turn, I was kind of vagued out listening to the radio and enjoying the drive. I ended out at the cemetery, so turned around and got back onto the ridiculous road......I then missed another turn off, so had to keep travelling along the one lane......I kept driving and missed another!!!!! Yes, I admit it was driver stupidity, but the stupid road did not help. I finally got the chance to turn around and head back in the direction that was intended, I probably added an extra 20 minutes onto my trip...thank god for some good tunes on the radio, which I played loud. I am embarrassed to say, the Spice Girls came on and that got pumped up really loud LOL. So during that time there were several 'OMGs' going on in my head.

I finally made it to my destination, and was able to get the present for Sophie. I decided to pop my head into another shop on the way back to the car. As soon as I walked through the door and 'OMG' a beautiful bag caught my eye. As you know from a previous post I have been on the look out for a nice bag, and I am pretty fussy! I quickly sent N a text to see what he thought....I seriously could not walk away without buying this bag. It's just delicious, practical and so me :)

I then went into the city...I didn't have any 'OMG' moments on the way. But I stopped and bought myself a coffee and went outside to sit on my own and soak up the peace and quiet. As it happened a little boy around Maisie's age sitting close by with his mum decided he liked me more and wanted to sit there with me. I swear, I can't get away from kids, no matter how hard I try.

As I sign off, I just had another 'OMG' moment by forgetting about the chocolate I had melting in the kitchen LOL.

Belinda

Some more pics of my little darlings!

There were so many nice pics taken that day when N's brother was here, I thought I would post some more. I have actually had phone calls about Maisie's hair (oppps)...N insisted we use the GHD on it LOL. It's not permanent, she still has curly hair! We are catching up with Ns family again on the weekend, so I might see if T will take some more hehe.....

Christmas is creeping up, ever so fast.

The last week has been busy, as usual. The last time I updated was after the exam and so much has happened since. I started my unit 'The Making of Australia' and I am now into week three. I am really enjoying, the lectures and readings, I am absorbing the information like a sponge. The tutorial group is great, there is so much discussion and debate going on and out tutor contribution is excellent. I have an essay due in a couple of weeks, and feel this is such a bad time of the year to be doing this, but I will get through, the content is so interesting! I must admit (I am human) I feel so overwhelmed at times, I wonder if I am out of my depth, then I snap my self out of it. In saying that, have I mentioned that I am considering Law??? LOL.....I am going to continue with BA history/politics for now and make my mind up next year. N is encouraging me to drop everything and become a full time student, we are in a position where it is something we could do, as we do not have any financial pressures. It would mean putting off other financial plans for a few years, but in the long run, I think a good move.
Now to the title of my post....(updates on the other people.....I have kind of taken over this blog...all about moi)

Today we went to Sydney to see Poppy's specialist. Her hip has not changed much since our last visit, so she will stay in the brace for another six months. He said she will not be in the brace any longer, as they tend to let nature take it's course beyond eighteen months. He said depending on how the hips are at the next appointment will determine how often he will see her until she is four. I am not a medical person, and do not consult Dr google, so I will take his word for it. I don't want to think beyond the next six months. She is not in any pain, and does not know any different, she has had three months out of it in her short life. I am not disappointed by this result, I am happy that she has not needed surgery and is being treated now, not in say, two years time.

Another thing he picked up (now she is walking) is the crocked bones between her ankle and knee. I have no idea of the medical term for the bone LOL (he did say), but basically when she was in utero she must have been in the same position for most of the time (which makes sense given the hip problems). If you could imagine the foetal position with the legs crossed over together at the front of her chest. So the bones have grown in a rounded shape (not straight). So when she walks her feet go in and her legs are very wide (which the brace contributes to). As she grows and stops wearing a nappy, her feet will turn in more. She should grow out of it as the bones grow., he is going to keep an eye on it though. Another case of, things could be worse....I actually saw a baby there today, who 'looked' terminally ill :(...he was very weak, very, very ill....I realise how lucky I am to have four beautiful healthy girls to put to bed each night.

School wraps up this week, so the girls are very excited. We are heading up north for Christmas, so I have limited the amount of presents, not that they ever get much anyway. I had put a wooden kitchen on lay buy during the year, which is far too bulky to take up, so I have told them that N and I have bought them a special Christmas present (from us) to pick up on Friday, their last day :)....it has given them something to look forward to, and come in handy for me as a bribe tool hahaha.

We have been busy attending school concerts and Christmas parties, which has been fun. The twins teacher is seriously the female version of Mr G from Summer Heights High....trying to get a bunch of five year old to perform the Christmas play was hilarious. I could have filmed her and made a comedy.....she needed to lighten up and not take it so seriously LOL. Anyway, the play was excellent and entertaining.

N is off to Sydney tomorrow to attend his work group Christmas party....I am jealous!!! Oh, well, I'll be back at work next year, and be able to attend my own....speaking of which, I am counting down the days to our little Sydney getaway!!!!! I will get this essay done while we are at N's for Christmas, so I can relax in Sydney. I have a picture of the place we are staying in Double Bay sitting here on my computer to keep me motivated and drool.....

Bring on the kid free days, swims, wine, food, some cricket (perhaps more time in the members bar) and shopping of course ;)

Till next time,
Belinda

P.S
Thank you for the comments Ziz...it's nice to know you're reading :)

What a week....

This last week was very busy for N and I.....it was the last huge week of the year for him, in what has just been a massive year!!!! He may travel between now and the new year, but it will not be as intense as things have been. Kind of a little breathing space :)

I had my exam on Friday, so spent most nights preparing. There was no cramming as such, as I had paced it out pretty well. I feel I did OK in the exam, I never stopped writing, but probably should have spent less time on the short answer questions and more on the reading review at he end. The reading review was rather hilarious considering the last week in federal politics, it was comparing research on education with the opinions of Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd and Brendan Nelson! It was funny considering a phone conversation I had with one of N's colleagues this week ;) Overall it was a very enjoyable exam ;)

We have had a very relaxing weekend. I really love this time of the year, the warm days, lazy afternoon sleeps, sitting outside watching the girls play and having friends around! We had a Christmas BBQ on Saturday night with N's family as we will be away over Christmas. N's brother took the most amazing photos of the girls, some of which I have included. So if you're reading this, thank you :)

Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.....

It's that time of the year again....where is time going! I love Christmas, my parents always gave us the best Christmas, I seriously thought I was the luckiest kid in the world, I remember my brother would be so overwhelmed on Christmas morning, he often shed a tear. Our family holiday after Christmas was also very special, when I reflect back on my childhood, I begin to realise just how lucky we were. My parents had a holiday house on the coast, we had many friends down there, and plenty of family and friends who would pop in and stay for a few days over the period of six weeks, those days were carefree and fun. How things have changed now....I can't imagine holiday homes for the average 'working family' would be very common, nor would a trip away for six weeks every Christmas. While our girls are growing up in a home filled with love and parents who adore each other, we don't go on family holidays....we go up to my parents from time to time, but that is not the same. Perhaps in future years we will :) But then again, you don't want to try to live in the past and try to do the same things you did as a child, it can often end out in disappointment. I think if we were to ever get a holiday house, or caravan, I would not go back to the place we went growing up....it would just not be the same. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think it's best to create our own memories as a family, new memories!

So, the old tree went up today....the girls were most excited and begged me all morning to start. I like many other mum's wanted to give the house a really good clean before we started! Sorry there are no pics of Maisie....I forgot to take some of her.

The girls are five, but act like a pair of old ladies!

I have to either laugh or cry at times when it comes to my twin daughters. The way they carry on together, anyone would think they were a couple of eighty year old ladies sitting in a bingo hall, add to the mix Maisie. I wanted to share this pic I took the other day, they had swimming lessons through the school and were most excited!!! I think the pic speaks for itself ;)

Study, stress and a little plug!

Before I start...my word for the day is 'temporary'...I shall come back and explain that some day soon ;)

Things sure are busy around here in the lead up to Christmas. We have parties and concerts to attend in the coming weeks, which will be fun. And hopefully Poppy will get the all clear for her hips. We have an appointment at Westmead mid December, we haven't worked out if we will take a break from then until Christmas...N is unsure with work at this point :) I will be happy if I get my few days 'away' from the kids...we plan to use our SCG membership and spend some time in Sydney alone. I want to go shopping, swim down at Bondi, eat out and drink lots of wine! And maybe watch a little cricket (or read a book).

It certainly has been a great year for us, but extremely busy. I have been reflecting on it a lot in the last week, whilst I drive the car, or sit here procrastinating :) In summary I am so happy right now!

However.......

I am in the process of preparing for an exam to be held next Friday..I have no idea if I'm doing enough. This unit sure has been a great learning experience, the essays and weekly work all seemed to flow. I love to write, so even though my essay topics were bland and boning I still enjoyed the process. The exam is another thing, I think it will take a few goes at it before I start to feel comfortable with the process. My office is currently a mass of papers, coffee cups, large pieces of cardboard sheets with my crazy mind maps outlining the unit week by week (I have a strange way of doing things). I am one to thrive on stress, but this stress is different! Anyway, by next Friday I will have entered the unknown zone and will be able to report back ;) Did I mention that my next unit starts next week too LOL.....

Business has been busy, it was this time last year leading up to Christmas. There is always more that I would like to have done, but then again there is always next year. I am finding a new motivation for it all as we are having a back end makeover...it is needed and I am looking forward to seeing the results.

I want to finish off this boring post with a plug for my friend Tea!!!

http://www.babblebaby.com.au/magazine/work-20/2008/11/the-accidental-entrepreneur.html

A new handbag for me......

It was my birthday the other day and my mum gave me some money. I decided to get a pair of shoes and a new handbag. The shoes were easy because I knew what I wanted....it was a great surprise when they scanned for much less than the original price...gotta love all these sales with the world financial crisis, well it is one good thing to come out of it, right? **opps**

So I decided to buy a new handbag with the remaining money, the same afternoon that I bought the shoes I dragged all four girls around the shopping centre to no avail....actually we lost Poppy's beloved dummy chain with the two dummies attached, which I talked about in an earlier post hehe.

Today I decided to venture out once again, I had some ideas of what I wanted, I prefer red and brown bags, preferably with no 'brand' showing...for example, 'Jag' urgh! I found a perfect bag, but it had this 'Jag' badge on it! I actually found this one in the first shop Jess and I went into. Of course there were plenty of perfect bags but they had a price tag of $500 plus....unfortunately that was price was not in my budget this time ;) Even though Nick has a business bag worth more nah, nah, nah :)

So Jess and I wondered from shop to shop, looking, looking **sigh**. I promised Jess a 'treat' at the end of our trip, so that was making the adventure more bearable. I actually like to take one of the older girls shopping with me, as I feel naked going on my own. So we walked around Civic, inside and outside in the freezing cold (can someone please remind me that we are a week off summer).....

I think we wondered around for about three hours and I had given up! We were on our way to get something for Jess from Michel's Patisserie, but decided to pop into Target on our way there. We walked down to the bag section and would you believe, there was the most perfect red medium sized bag sitting right there in front of me. The original price was $40, which is pretty cheap, but it had been marked down to $12!!!! I still have money left, I might buy a book LOL.......

Who would have thought!

Perhaps next year Nick can buy me the $500 bag ;)

A new way to carry a handbag!

I had to laugh just before when Poppy came out to the kitchen, she was carrying her handbag in an unusual kind of way. I couldn't help but take a photo of her.......So the dummy chain is OT, but I don't care :) It's a funny thing when you get to your fourth child, you tend to not give a hoot about these types of things or what anyone else thinks! I have wasted so much time in the last five and a half years of motherhood worrying about sleep, food and all that jazz. I was walking through the shops yesterday with Poppy in the trolley, a headband on and the dummy chain with two dummies...I can only imagine what others probably thought haha........It has been so much easier with Poppy....I think we have a happy medium and everyone is happy. She is a clingy little thing who does not like me out of her sight for long periods and loves to have cuddles with Nick and I. She is starting to learn what 'No' means LOL..the sooner the better I say, as she gets into everything. I can't remember any of the others being this curious.

Good times ahead I think :)

Blog in need of some urgent TLC!!!!!

I have had friends making comments to me on my lack of posts.....my answer is, that I have discovered the new world of Facebook and started a university degree. So for the last few months I have not given the blog a second thought. I have decided to keep this blog going, only it will change a little. I am going to write more about my life and this journey through study. I must say, since the last time I was in here posting my views of the world have change somewhat...amazing that it can happen in the space of a few months. My world of thoughts are changing daily and evolving at a mad pace.

The girls are all doing well, Sophie and Jess are reading well, and enjoying school. Maisie is her usual self, although, some attitude has developed of late. My husband calls her 'gorgeous', and has done for some time, only now little Miss 2 with all the attitude insists that her name is 'gorgeous' and we all call her that!!!!! Poppy is into everything, and has started to take her first little steps.

Life is good, and we are all healthy.

I will sign off with a quote I found last night, whilst I was studying. It kind of sums me up perfectly at the moment. I can relate to it with writing my essays and avoiding the day to day things I do around here.

"The writer wandered to the water cooler, washed his hands, looked up the weather report, made some unnecessary phone calls, looked at his tongue in the mirror for symptoms of fatal disease and, when he had at last exhausted methods of killing time, went to his typewriter."
Russell Baker

Bug Free...I'm Free.....

For the first time in over 4 weeks I am sitting here on my own, with no-one to interrupt me! Poppy is sleeping like a doll (pity she doesn't sleep like this at night ROFL). I was able to send everyone off this morning to where they're meant to be.

I had some fantastic photo opportunities over the weekend, but my batteries are flat and I haven't been arsed to put them on the charger (you know me). So a marvellous photo opportunity presented itself as follows: Yesterday Maisie was playing with a tiny chair from the doll house, I look out at her and she was trying to sit on it as if it was a real chair. If you can picture a large cartoon like elephant trying to sit on a human chair, that in fact will give you a correct image of what I saw. This girl is just hilarious without trying. If she's just being Maisie, you're bound to have a laugh at her, and she will laugh back of course.

Aunty Manda popped over on Saturday for a visit which was nice. She gave the girls some hair accessories, which, they haven't put down all weekend. It worked out well because they were rehearing for a concert they were to put on during our Sunday BBQ with friends Kim, Dave and their 3 kids. Unfortunately they had to pull out as they're all sick. Instead they held the concert for N and I later in the afternoon, N recorded them!

Just another thought, on Friday night as I put Jess to bed she told me that she wants to live in a house with stairs. It brought back memories of myself as a child, I always dreamed of having a house with heaps of stairs, 2 storey's at least. She reminds me of myself all the time, it's scary.

Talk soon,
Belinda

Sophie at home today.....

As I mentioned in last night's post, Sophie is home today with infected eyes. They are getting better, I would say she will be right to go back tomorrow. Mine on the other hand got worse overnight and are just bloodshot today. I think if they don't improve I might go to the Dr. I really wanted to go tot he shops today to get some coffee...but I look like I'm on drugs. I can't believe I have got this far with no caffeine!

I took a couple of pics earlier. One is of Sophie playing with her paper dolls, and one of her eyes, which don't look too bad. I should take one of my eyes. The other is of the theatre I'm making, I have taken it next to Sophie's theatre.I still have a little way to go with it, I would like to put some more gloss coats on it and make the proper curtains. The backdrop looks a little dodgy as you can see where I have glued LOL. Oh and the top where the curtains will go is not straight ROFL.... I cut the box with a knife :)

Blurgh week.....

The title says it all!!!! Boo hoo.......

Last weekend the boys went home and my parents arrived for 1 night. I wish they would stay longer and visit us more often, but they are these funny old home bodies. The reason for their visit was to attend my best friends party. She recently announced her engagement to a wonderful guy, and after many years of hard work passed her PHD (psychology) YAY. We are also proud of her legend brother who recently arrived home from riding a bike across Africa. C is an amazing guy, I was happy to spend some time at the party having a chat about it all.

The rest of the week has been a little yuk, it started last Monday when Poppy woke with puffy eyes. This developed into conjunctivitis the following day, Maisie also woke with it on the Tuesday. Which meant no CC for her all week. I think by Friday I was tearing my hair out a little as they were all at each other fighting, I also woke with dreaded weepings eyes.

Then today poor Sophie woke with it and was unable to attend her cousins birthday :(.....The girls start back at school this week, but I think they will both be home at some point (Sophie tomorrow).

On a positive note I am in the process of making Jess a puppet theatre. She was wanting to use Sophie's all the time and of course Sophie was wanting to use it too. Nick bought some shoes last week so we had the box sitting there wanting to be used. I have a very good collection of vintage and newer fabrics, which I have used! Once completed I will take some pictures and do a proper post, I think it's worthy of that.

And afternoon of fun and laughter!

My 2 nephews Kelvin and Tim have come up from Melbourne to stay with me for 2 weeks. I adore these beautiful boys. Fortunately they have a strong mother (Tanya) and her partner Andrew, whose influence is growing them into beautiful young men. They are such great company, and help me a lot. Tim eats so much food and never stops talking. Perhaps he will become a used car salesman as he tries to pull the odd con over LOL(and has succeeded once).....overall they are just fabulous well rounded boys.

They are the best of friends which is just wonderful! Their days have been filled with kicking the football around our backyard, playing with Nick's remote car's in the garage, and watching shows on Foxtel. Oh and of course, a few visits to the shopping centres to spend their pocket money.

This afternoon we headed down to the oval across from where we live, I seem to take the camera with me everywhere these days :) I am pretty happy with some of the shots.

Uncle Andrew Rocks!!!!

More photos have been filtering through from last weekend. When we were waiting to head out to dinner on Saturday night we took some pics. Andrew was tipping the kids upside down LOL. I had Poppy sitting on my lap and she started to throw herself back, wanting a turn. She had a ball when uncle Andrew let her join in. So here are a few pics my sister took on her camera. I have included a nice one of mum holding baby Eden.

The Memorial.

My grandmother's request was to have her funeral and cremation up in Brisbane with the family, then have her ashes brought down here to Canberra and buried with her husband. It was such a lovely day, mum bought a bubble making machine and I bought some bright balloons for all the children to release.

Thank you Amanda for coming to share this special afternoon, I really appreciated the effort...I look forward to your party in 2 weeks time.

Here are some pics to share of our special time. I have some sneaky ones of you Amanda in the background and Nat looking like a yum mum LOL.

Poppy Does Vintage...

My mother kept a few of my baby clothes which I love. I have had fun dressing my dolls (girls) in them over the years. This particular orange pokadot dress would have been perfect for Maisie, only I discovered it too late on one of my many trips up to her place. Poppy wears it regularly I have had comments from various people each time. As the weather is cold here she has been wearing a simple jumpsuit underneath. Unfortunately I did not have the dress sitting that well on her, these photos really do it no justice....but she's a stunning model all the same :)

Another Day Another Cake....

I must confess, with all my good intentions on the weekend, I failed to live up to expectations...I didn't make that yummy looking chocolate cake from an earlier post. My sister reads this blog regularly, rang yesterday to check if I had made it LOL. I have the 12 eggs ready to go, I just need to be in the mood, it looks like it requires some love and effort to make.

It's just Poppy and I here today, so I have been busy rearranging this office. Nick set it up originally, now that he is never in here and I'm running the business on my own, I thought it needed the girl touch. The view to the girls room, which is straight of this is better. I also got rid of a set of shelves, which makes the room so much more open.

So to reward my hard efforts I got out a little recipe book that was put together by my work a few years ago. It's a little beauty!

I am yet to try this (it's in the oven as I type). I will take some pics when it is complete, I'm making a nice dinner for Nick and I tonight (chicken Kiev) so this will go down a treat for dessert!

Toffee-Butter-Honey Cake
2 Cups self raising flour
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup of milk (I used more)

Topping
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine
125g honey
2 tablespoons water
125g coconut

Place flour, salt, sugar, eggs, margarine and milk in mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. Spread into a greased 28 x 18cm tin. Bake at 190 for 30 - 35 minutes.


Topping
Boil together sugar, margarine, honey and water until lightly coloured, add coconut. Spread over warm cake and place back in oven for 5 mins. Serve warm, cut into slices. You might like to make one more of the topping than the recipe says to - it is yummy!

Why that you to the person I work with who contributed this fine recipe. I think I will reheat the cake tonight in the microwave and make the sauce then.

Disco Night.

Tonight the girls had their school disco, parents and families were invited too. Nick decided to stay home with the little girls as Poppy is unwell. It was a nice evening, they served up pizza (no Pizza Arte) but it was OK LOL. There is one mother who I really enjoy talking to so we sat down together at the beginning. We didn't stay till the end as Jess was really tired, it has been a long week, and I don't think she overly enjoys these types of things. I don't think we'll ever have to worry about Jess sneaking out at night.

Here are a couple more pics, the one of the girls and I would have been an excellent shot if it was in focus, or the shutter speed was right *insert wacko face* I look like I have a few heads in the last one. I am really unhappy with the camera atm, well more with myself for fiddling with it! I will get the instructions out on the weekend and have a go at getting it right, yes I know I'm bloody hopeless!!!!!! The one of Jess with her face painted was taken at the actual dance. I was a little shy to get the camera out while there as I am unsure of the photo etiquette, I would hate to get told off for taking pics, it seems society is very sensitive with this these days, which is a shame.