Slack? Me?

Terribly slack. But nevermind, here I am now!

School holidays were officially over today. Back to the crazy world of early mornings, school runs, sport trainings, after school play dates, sport games, parent helps, assembly mornings, and something new to add this year....homework!! eek!!! Yeah, I think I will miss school holidays.

But before I share some photos - including Ethan in his school uniform this morning *sniff* - let me update on the last couple of weeks of the hols.

We spent a week in Perth and caught up with my oldest buddy Jo (she's not old, we just go way back, lol) and her two little boys as we always do while we're down there. The two of us took our 5 boys to Joondalup Arena for a swim. Are we crazy? No actually, they were very very good. It was only when Angus (and who else would it be) started screaming the whole arena down (and I'm not exaggerating, the pool was packed and all eyes were on me and him) and refused to stop. Honestly, that child is going to break glass with his scream soon. We left shortly after that. But we did spend the rest of the day together until bed time as the boys were all playing so well together.

We also got to catch up with Aunty Cold (Nicole) and Uncle Paul - my sister and her hubby. They came over for an Australia Day bbq, and Nicole & mum & I started to make plans on a girlie weekend getaway that we have been talking about for the last 5 years. We have the dates set now we just need to set a venue!

We caught up with Nan &Grandad (Ash's parents) & Maureen and enjoyed a relaxing bbq with them.

We missed Hi-5 because a) Angus had been having screaming tantrums all day and I really wasn't looking forward to putting up with that in a crowd full of strangers b) Ethan refused point blank to go c)Dan put himself to bed and fell asleep not long before we would've left and d)besides all of the above, none of us were really all that excited about it. Bit sad really, but there you have it.

We also made a visit to Adventure World. Now this was unfortunately a waste of time. We had been there about 45 mins when Ash had to go down the road to Murdoch for his specialist appt for his foot. He ended up being gone for nearly 3 hours, only to have to go back again in another half hour to pick up x-rays and see the dr again. So we all left with him as even though the kids had been having a ball in the kids pools and waterslide the whole time we couldn't stay in the water all day and I couldn't take all 3 kids on any rides at the same time. Ash ended up being another 1.5 hours anyway with the dr.

Which leaves me to the last bit of info if anyone is interested. The specialist Ash saw (which was for a 2nd opinion) doesn't think his foot will get much better. He will operate for him at the end of this month and shave off some more bone to take away some of the pain but in general there's not a lot else he can do.

Oh, before I forget...it is Dan's first day of kindy tomorrow! He told our neighbour that he won't cry because he is a big boy now. The parents stay for the first morning, then he starts properly on Thursday. I think it's going to feel strange having him at school aswell. I must admit, when I took Ethan to school this morning it was a bit sad. I didn't think it would feel that way but seeing all the kids that he's been to kindy and pre-primary with, all in their school uniforms looking all smart and studious-like, it was kinda sad. It's not just "learn through play" anymore, it's the start of "real work". Wow.

Allright, so here is a photo of Ethan in his school uniform this morning. I'm soooo dreading having to iron these buggers!!! Please excuse all the black, I know it looks terrible but I was trying to get rid of the distractions in the background:

And here we go, the last of the daily photo challenge. It didn't get finished, as I suspected it wouldn't, but nevertheless I still did it as often as I could!

Day 21

Day 27

Day 28

Lastly, here are a couple of photos I took early last month. I have been wanting to capture sunflare, which can only happen at either sunrise or sunset. Seeing as I don't do sunrise, I took Dan out with me to try it out while the sun was low one evening. We went across to the bushes out the front of our area (on Gatacre Rd for the locals) where kids ride their dirt bikes and walked through to find a pond and a lovely grassy area where there once was a pond but it had dried up and some greenery had started to grow through. It was surrounded by big trees which filtered the sunlight through. It would be lovely to go out there as the sun is actually setting and you might get some of that pink sky but at the moment that is just too late in the evening to be taking the kids out there. Maybe when daylight savings ends. Anyway, these are two of my faves from here:

Day 15

Day 16

This is how I have to vacuum my floor. Angus has to stand on the front of the vacuum while I move it around!

Day 20

See...running out of things to photograph!

As you can see, enthusiasm is lacking already! I have missed out days 17, 18 & 19. I actually thought I only missed 2 days so it just goes to show how much attention I have been paying to this challenge. It's hard trying to find something different for each day.

We are off to Perth later this week. Got lots planned! Either Whiteman or Beatty Park (depending on weather), Hi-5, I'd love to get to Kings Park for the Aust Day afternoon and stay for the fireworks, Adventure World, as well as Dan's specialist appt for his ears, and some family photos have been scheduled with one of my online buddies!

Poor Dan's ears have been playing up again. I really think he has either lost a bit more hearing or they are just really blocked lately as he seems to be hearing less and less and I have been having to yell before he hears me. I hope it's not permanent. It looks like I may have to have his hearing test at the hospital (which I'm not really happy about there) rather than the lady that visits from Esperance as she can't get us in until April and I'd like to get it sooner than that.

School starts in two weeks! Gosh, it will be strange having Dan at school aswell. Ethan will be in year 1 - which I think will be exciting for him as he thrives on learning new things - and Dan will be at kindy for 3 mornings a week. I think life is going to go back to super busy soon once school starts again, with all the trips to and from school...and tee-ball starting again...

Must head off for now, need some sleep!

Day 11

A complete and utter "mummy shot". What can I say, he's so darn cute!

Day 12

And here he is, not so cute!

Day 13

Ok he's being cute here again.

Day 14

Hmm..I have taken photos 4 days straight of Angus. And strangely enough he's the one who doesn't sit still so makes it hard for me to take his photo.

Here are a couple of Ethan I also took today. Dan won't let me take his photo at the moment, so I usually get his back while he's running away.

I am getting slack here aren't I? Yet I'm determined to keep this going!

Not much exciting has been happening here. We're all back at work now and the kids have still been having some great sleep ins on the days I don't have to work. It's great now, but I know it won't be so impressive when school starts back. I have been contemplating taking the kids down to Esperance for a couple of days over the next week or two. Maybe I should get off my butt and look into accommodation. The weather will be lovely so I should stop procrastinating it.

Anyway, here's a couple more days worth of photos. I missed day 8 & 9. Day 8 I had two sessions with other people and was out all day so apart from not much opportunity I was too exhausted to care much about it. I can't remember what happened on Day 9 to make me miss it but I think it was just very uneventful and uninspiring.

Day 6

We had dinner at the Albion with the cricket boys, wives & kids. This was Ash's oysters kilpatrick.

Day 7

Day 10

This was a biggie for me. I hate photos of me - and I'm still very critical of this one - but I need to do a self portrait for a charity I'm part of, for their blog (eek!)

31 days of photos

I am doing a 'challenge' with a photography group with A Photo A Day for January. So I was thinking I would post them here too. They don't have to be of anything in particular, just a photo. It is a way of challenging our creativity and coming up with new ideas, which I'm sure is going to be way too hard by the end of the month!

I am planning on focusing on the kids and our family, so I can put them all into a book when it's over and the kids can look back on it later on. Maybe I'll keep going on each month and do a Photo A Week for the year too.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Happy New Year!

Another year over, another year started. Ethan has already said a number of times; "I can't wait for next Christmas!" sheesh, let's get over this one first!

So Christmas was fun. The kids were spoilt but isn't that what it's all about?

I am loving these school holidays too - I don't think I've been out of bed before 9am and the kids have been sleeping in until 8.30/9am aswell. There hasn't even been a lot of fighting going on between Ethan and Daniel (touch wood!) which is usually the norm.

The pool has been getting a good work out too. The weather has been so hot - late 30's to early 40's - and we have been keeping the pool blanket on constantly only to take it off for a swim which has kept the water soooo nice and warm that it's like swimming in liquid velvet.

A couple of pool photos:

I think our friend Keith may have taken one or both of the first two of Ethan & Daniel ;) (and you thought I wouldn't mention it!)

Mmmm...icecream...

Not every day, but a couple of times a week the ice cream truck drives along our street. The boys are always running to the window and begging me for an icecream from the truck. I always say NO. Mean aren't I? Well you see, the icecream truck only ever drives by between 5-6pm in the evening. So of course at that time of day I know that eating an icecream will cancel out needing to eat dinner.


But yesterday at 5pm, I was feeling generous. Or maybe it's the festiveness going on at this time of the year. Because when the icecream truck starting chiming nearby and Ethan ran to the front window claiming to hear it, and we saw it rolling by I thought 'oh heck, let's have an icecream'


So we did.

And believe it or not but they all ate their dinner as well :)