Well DS6 is on the mend. He doesn't need to go and get the burns redressed anymore. We have a cream that needs to be applied to stop it drying and cracking. He has been so brave through the whole thing and we have got to know our doctor and his nurse very very well. The doctor said there should be no scar after awhile.

There has been a slight hiccup with the extention. They  were preparing it on Friday for concrete footings to be done, but it seems there is a natural water source there. (There are natural springs all through the estate). So pylons(sp?) have to be put in down deeper. If that is the only hiccup then we will be very happy. The builder is a great guy, Hubby has known him  for a while. That is the beauty of him being a fellow tradey. Hubby knows his work and knows he is a very honorable man.

DS16 drove up Mt Glorious yesterday. He clocked up nearly 3 hours driving that day. It is not far from where we go every Friday. He is doing really well. I am not sure if I have ever been up there, but I loved it. I had  the window wound down listening to all the birds. We also heard bell birds. They sound so amazing, it is like driving through stereo speakers listening to bells all around.

.......was a day of mixed emotions. The work has finally started on our extentions. A bob cat was here clearing away stuff and getting rid a a big tree stump. Then some fill was bought in to raise the garage area up, so they wont need to use so much concrete.  All very exciting.

At lunch time DS6 wanted some easymac. I cooked it in the microwave and was taking it out and I dropped it. Poor DS6 was standing beside me and coped it down his stomach. I tried to get him in the bath and we were both yelling at each other, me, telling him to get in the water and him, telling me he didn't want to. I took him to the doctor and he has first degree burns. It is all a mess and the dressings need changing at the doctors everyday, but he seems to be fine now.  Doctor said it was looking good this afternoon. 

Today I have been feeling very tired, so I am having an early night.

:-)

I have managed to read a book. I love reading, but  the chances to do so don't come very often. I do try, but end up reading the lines ten times over as children interrupt constantly. My 16 yr old is the worst. He sits there and will randomly say something every minute just to throw me off. I do get a little angry and try and ignore as much as I can. I would like to read alot more, so I think I will try too.

Anyway, the book I read was a doosy. "Murder by Family". The try story of a fathers'  forgiveness after his son killed his wife and other son and tryed to kill him. What a journey this poor man went on and is still going on as his son is sitting on death row. The son has a blog going that I will have a look at when i have some time. Forgiveness is so important and this book shows the power of it and what forgiveness can do.

Another book I would like to read is called "Have a new kid by Friday". I listened  to the author last week on Focus on the Family. Everything he says is such common sense and I agreed with what he was saying completely. 

I have booked our holidays for next year, and it is at  Bargara near  Bundaberg (the place were we saw whales last month). I really can't believe how it has all happened. Everyday since we were there last month I have dreamed of going back to Bargara. It seems such a lovely place, somewhere I would like to explore and hopefully see whales again. As it turns out,  the next  Air Show is at Bundaberg, during the first week of July. So to cut a long story short, we are booked in for 4 nights in a unit with ocean views. How good is that. We are only going for four nights instead of a week, so it doesn't eat into the budget to much, but hey, small sacrafices right. This will give us one day at the Air Show and then plenty of spare time to see some friends that live there and relax and enjoy and vist the rum making factory. Bundaberg Rum is an Australian icon. And DS16, no you cannot try any, having a wiff will be enough. There is also a place called Mon Repos there, that is famous for turtles coming and laying their eggs, though it will be the wrong time to see this. We will just have to go back another time.(he he) I loveeeeee holidays. Everything about it except the packing. I love the planning, the reseaching, the booking etc. And of course the anticipation.

I bought the freezer yesterday. So now I just have to buy the cow, well part of a cow. This is the next big step. I will purchase from  here. This is after much research, don't you just love the internet.

We are off to an Indian Resturant tonight with a group of people from church (the under 50s'). Apparently it will be a hugely entertaining event. I am sure we will have a great time with lots of laughs.

DD11 starts her circus school training this afternoon. She is so excited. I hope it works out well. We have had such dissapointment with gymnastics over the last 2 years. We really don't think she learnt anything new. Which is such a shame. At the start of this term another instructor came over and said DD11 was very bored in the class she was in and not being challenged, so thank-goodness she was moved to another class, but still wasn't learning anything new. They did offer DD11 an advanced class when she first started, but it was wayyyyyy to expensive. But because she didn't do this class doesn't mean she shouldn't have stilll improved in skill. 2 yrs is alot with these skills and at this age.                                        Okay sorry, rant over. She was obviously meant to join the circus. All things happen for a reason.

Bye

That seems to be life at the moment. Saturday we went to the Air Show and it was brilliant. It just takes my breath away seeing them do what they can do. My brother and his boys were there as well. It was a very big day but loved it all. Martin had to be there on both days, but at least he got to stay in the shade. Next year there is one at Bundaberg and what a shame we have to go and stay at  Bargara(a place I fell in love with last month) while we are there. I find this amazing, considering I have been trying to work out how we could go there for a holiday. I think it was meant to be. And it is at the beginning of whale season, so you never know, we might see some.

Extensions should start any day now, once they start I know it will be full steam ahead. I am going to the bank this afternoon and will fix the payments to weekly and round it off  to a  higher payment. We are settling in nicely without a credit card. It has probably taken a month for it to all make sense and become easy. But we knew that would happen, we have made some pretty big changes. All for the best and we feel so much more in control now.

Coen is growing up before our eyes. Turning 16 was huge. He didn't have a party, he just went and hung out with some friends at some other friends house. He now has his learners and his boat licence and is trying to get a job to save for a car. This afternoon i will take him to the bank with me and he can open an account for when he gets a job. I love his company, and love that he is quite an interesting guy with a great heart.

Levi is becoming a handful, in a nice way. He just doesn't sit still anymore. He makes all sorts of sounds with his mouth(clucky sounds) and wants to reach everything. He isn't crawling as such, but rolls where he wants to go. We aren't having very good nights sleep lately, quite bad really, but it is his teeth I guess. We will get through it. I just make sure I get a bit of a nap in the afternoon, this way I cope so much better.

Bye for now.

Life is going well. We are getting over this dreaded flu, but everyone is slowly getting back to normal. Hubby, our little man and I went to Bundaberg over the weekend. We stayed with friends who had a party Saturday night. On Sunday we drove to Bargara and saw whales. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to stay and watch them, but we had a 4 hour drive ahead of us and we wanted to get home before dark. We will go back there for a holiday real soon.

Our little man has a tooth, with more getting close. He is sitting up as well, but does flop down sometimes. He is changing and soon that gummy grin will be gone. We love that gummy grin.

Extentions should start any day now. I still can't believe it is all happening. The contract says it will take 12 weeks to complete, so all should be finished by Christmas. We now have no credit card and our finances have all changed. It is going to take a while to get used to it all, but is all for the better. Especially making sure we have the money before we buy anything.

Convention is all over. DS15(nearly 16) is going on to compete at the South Pacific Convention. DS14 is not interested. A  nice teacher/father/friend is going to sponsor DS15 so we don't have to be there. But we will go and visit for a day. It's about a 2 hour drive away in Toowoomba.

Bye for now:-)

We celebrated our 3rd sons' 6th birthday on Sunday. It was a great day. First we had to pick up DD11 from a sleepover birthday party, then we went to Alma park zoo. We strolled around and took in the lovely gardens and animals. Had a picnic lunch and wandered about some more. For dinner we had chips on the beach, followed by a visit to some friends of ours church for some pre convention  performances. The two oldest boys did their tambourine quartet. Convention things are shaping up nicely and we are looking forward to a great week next week.

Our little man is having some trouble with too many dirty nappies in a day. He is doing about 12 everyday. I took him to the doctor last week and tests came back all clear, so the next plan of attack is what I am eating. I made the mistake of giving him 1/2 a weet bix for breakfast a few weeks ago. It didn't agree with him at all and I think that has started an intolerence. Even when I went back to giving him nothing but breast milk for a week it was still the same. I have farex(rice cereal) for him, so will start that up again. It is all so very puzzling. I hate going through so many nappies. We went through a 52 pack of nappies last week.  And his poor little bottom is red. Today he woke up with a cold as well, his first. The same one a few of the others have had. I would rather they be sick this week than next, with convention and all.

Bye

Wow, how slack am I? I haven't been feeling very bloggy lately. I guess that must happen with everyone. I must at least pick a night were I can, vent, whinge,complain,grumble, share about life. So what have I been up too? Well last night we went and visited the Doulos. I wanted to go at night, because I love all the pretty lights. It was a little cool though. Our little man looked like a snow bunny all cosy in the sling. I am glad we put a beanie on him as well. We made some small purchases in the book store. Pencils, pens etc.  Their CD selection wasn't all that great, but I picked up a Mercy Me CD for $7.00. And DS15 found one , but I can't remember their name.

I have been frequenting facebook and have reconnected with some wonderful friends I have known for years and years. We play word games against each other, and I always loose. I still get a little lost, finding my way around, but it is all fun.(Except when I loose word games)

I shop lifted. Yep, you heard me right, I am a thief. I went to spotlight to buy new curtains for our bedroom. Easily done. We needed a new curtain track for the bay window, so I got that as well. I put my purchases on the counter  and was a little short in cash. So I told the lady I would just get the curtains today and the curtain track another time. Paid for the curtains and left. Driving home I had an "Oh Bugger" moment when I realised I had walked out with the track and was now half way home. I wasn't going back because I had a whingey baby in the car. Now this is a 3 metre long bendy thing and all the buzzers went off as I was walking through the security thing out the door, and a lady just came over and said "oh I will fix that up for you" Duh. So I get home, ring them up and tell them what had happened and Hubby was kind enough to call in and pay for it while he was driving past yesterday. I have this horror vision of CTV footage of me stealing, making it onto A Current Affair or Today Tonight(current affair shows). Anyway, all is fixed, and I have the receipt to prove it.

I was suppose to be going to the hairdressers this morning, but have had to cancel. Hubby had to go and do some work on his cousins brand new house. They moved into it yesterday. I didn't feel comfortable leaving our little man with the older ones for such a long time.(I was getting a colour done) and I don't think I could have taken him with me. Another time soon hopefully.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Bye

This is a painting of Starkhouse done in 1908, just after it was built. It was interesting looking at the painting at the gathering on Sunday. The house was built by my Grandfathers uncle. 3 generations lived here until 3 yrs ago when it was sold. It was built costing 600 lbs and the 120 arces cost 600 lbs back in 1908. On Sunday our relative who lived in it the longest and recently sold it was there to tell us all about it. Not sure why the painting has come out blurry?

This is what it looks like now, on the market again.($825 000) If only(What a dream)

Yesterday we went to a family reunion. It is my Mothers' fathers' family. I had never met any of them before yesterday. Mums' Dad died when she was only 4. It was a very interesting day, and we learned some very interesting things about our history.  My Great Great Grandparents came over from Germany in the late 1800s'. There is a family home at Kalbar that was sold out of the family just a couple of years ago. Here it is.Three generations lived here.(Not my mother) The family who lived in this house were the first family in Queensland to have fresian cows. Not sure if it was Australia. People couldn't believe it when they saw these black and white cows, and would take photos with their box brownies.(Now black and white cows are everywhere) The family also had black and white horses and some thought these were fresians horses.

My Grandfather owned a funeral parlour. He bought this after his neighbour who owned it, was riding with the glass carriage, drawn by two horses, went under a bridge and, ummm, lost his head. The glass carriage is still around today. It was used at a Redcliffe funeral for a women my mother knew a little while ago.  My Grandfather was the first one to have a motorised hearse. After he died, my Grandmother ran it herself with great difficulty. She couldn't drive and would have to go door knocking to ask the man of the house if he could drive the hearse. My mother remembers staying up through the night doing the wreaths for the funerals the next day. They had  it really hard back then, but I am so thankful for our pioneers.

My mothers sister died at the age of 32. She was sick at home alone and decided to have a bath. While getting out she slipped and landed on her spleen. She bled to death. The neighbour at the time remembers hearing a banging. It was Mum's sister Joyce, banging a can of hairspray to raise the alarm. Joyce was  brilliant pianist. Practising for 8 hours a day. She used to play on the radio. I don't remember her, I was about 6 months old at the time it happened.

The last two times we have been to the  movies we have been disgusted at the slowness of  the ticket registers. Today we went to the movies. The main doors to the complex didn't open till 10:15. The first movie was starting at 10:30. We were about 4th from the front in line for tickets. There was one register working where we were qued and another at the lolly part. The first person served took 5minutes. By the time they bought drinks, popcorn and tickets. Then you have the people that get priority service because they have bought their tickets online. When I looked back the que went right back to the entrace of the complex. Alot of people would have missed the beginning of their movie. As it was, we got sitted during the adds and we were forth in line. They probably do this on purpose, wanting everyone to buy their tickets online. I will make sure we do it this way from now on.

Rant over.........

Yesterday,  the 3 oldest had a tambourine practice. So I thought it would be nice to go and walk around DFO(direct factory outlets). We got there, at 9.00am and nothing was open. It was like a ghost town. The cafes were open, so I had a cafeen fix and we window shopped. Then at 10.00am everything comes alive, shops open and people are everywhere. So we walked around again, but this time with the shops open. There was nothing i wanted to buy and no bargains screamed out at me. I did think about getting my hair cut and went and made an enquirery, but the hairdresser wasn't getting there for another hour. I reckon if you were suffering jetlag these times would mess with your head. It would be like being in a bad dream.

Went to the credit union yesterday and applied for our refinancing. Was there for 2 hours. So all should go pretty smoothly. It is very exciting actually. We feel like we are taking back contol, doing things our own way. Funny that.

Today isn't going to be as hectic as it was going to be. I rang up and cancelled DD11s violin lessons last night. So Wednesday mornings are free again. It broke my heart to have to cancel. She is such a good teacher, one of those treasures that have a special gift. But  DD11 has decided violin isn't her thing. Maybe DS5 or our little man might be interested one day. So today we just have the RACQ presentation for the oldest one after lunch, then gymnastics tonight. Might manage to get some housework done this morning.

Fairly none eventful day. We went to church and I caught up with another HS Mum I met yesterday who goes to our church. She is new to Australia(from New Zealand) and lives with her family not far from us in a new estate. I am sure we will get to know them a bit better, her oldest is eight. After church we called into the shops for bread and milk, making sure there is extra with this strike happening. I do need more meat , but I don't have the freezer space for more so if we have to do without we will. But I will go to the chicken place tomorrow and get a little bit. The boys start their Tafe course tomorrow. I hope all goes well. I haven't been real happy with things that have been happening at that school, so hopefully they will stick to themselves. My boys do know some of the students who go there, from our church. We are going to have a very hectic week this week, so I hope all goes smoothly. There is an extra tambourine practice, an excursion, I am getting my hair cut, and some other things, all is good. I was hoping to go and see the "Doulos" (sp?) this week, but we are just flat out. Not sure if it is still around next week. It is a missions ship that cruises the world. It was built in 1914 and this is it's last venture. It is being replaced.

I hope everyone has a great week