Random ramblings of a busy Saturday....

It's been a long, long day. A pretty happy day nonetheless. Saraya has just headed to bed. We had our "date night" for this month, and once again she chose to watch an episode of "Little House on the Prairie" together. It was fun. :) Both little boys are asleep, and Stuart is out at a men's night at our church to celebrate Father's Day. Not quite sure what they are doing, but it did involve pizza. ;)

So, I have a rare very quiet house, basically all to myself. A few bits to share:

* I was about to leave the house this morning for my Saturday morning walk around the lagoon in town (a short drive to the lagoon, followed by a half hour brisk walk, perfect really; I do it at 6:30 on Sat morning's with 3 friends and it's so lovely)...... when I discovered a problem. Our car wasn't here. Stu had swapped it late yesterday for a friend's, borrowing their car and trailer as ours doesn't have a towbar. I couldn't take theirs, so needed to think up an alternative quickly!! It was 6:25am.
Stu came up with a great plan.............. I could drive his scooter! After much deliberating, and a rushed "how-to" lesson, I decided to be brave and give it a go. Let me emphasise that this is Stuart's scooter - his beautiful, big, manly, bright yellow scooter. I have never ever gotten close to driving it before. But if you were in town early this morning, you would have seen me carefully cruising along on this beauty:





(photo from last december, when Stu first bought it as a fuel efficient, to and from work vehicle. He hasn't looked back!)

It was exciting, slightly scary but sheer freedom at it's best......... I think I'm hooked!!

* Saraya lost both her top front teeth in the last 24 hours - see post below. It's hurting me not being able to take any photos at the moment.......... still waiting on the insurance claim on our camera. Grr...

* After the advice of many people, and further investigating, we decided to opt for a new washing machine rather than have our broken one looked at next week. Apparently, newish electrical machines have a realistic life of about 5 years. Ours is 9 years old, and according to someone I spoke to is "old". Old?!! Apparently once they start to do what ours did, it's a downhill slide and you can quickly pay out hundreds of dollars in service fees and repair. Thankfuly, the store did a great deal for us and because it's a 4-star water saving machine the government also gives us $200 back on it. And it fitted into our car so we didn't need to pay for delivery. So we were pretty happy about it. And I caught up on the washing!! (well, nearly). It's fancy and lovely. It's a Samsung, and I am calling it Sam. :)

* Our family tried tofu last night for the first time. I put it into a stir-fry with loads of vegies, served with rice. I just made my usual chilli-soy and peanut sauce (a good store-bought chilli-soy sauce, and a big dollop of peanut butter- easy and yum!). Stu and I loved it, Saraya thought the tofu tasted a bit like scrambled egg and labeled it "delicious" (she's always been a gourmet), and although Eli wasn't quite sure at first he then proceded to eat his whole little bowlful. So I guess tofu will make an appearance again soon!

* My friends (well, it all started with Cathy) have renamed Father's Day "King Daddy Day". We are all looking forward to the festivities tomorrow! I really want to bless Stuart - he is such a wonderful husband and father. He is patient, kind, loving, very giving, great fun, and such a blessing to everyone who knows him, especially to our family. The kids have been busy today with little projects, and I have a breakfast planned for him for tomorrow. And maybe a dinner too. :) Mmm, shall I anticipate "Queen Mummy Day" for next year??

Happy King Daddy Day everyone!!!

ABC's of Me

2 friends of mine have done this on their blogs and I thought it looked like a fun thing to do on a Friday night. :) So here goes..............

ABC's Of Me

Accent: Australian. Occasionally a little British just because I love the accent so much, watch movies etc. and think old-fashioned much of the time!
Books that I like: anything that inspires me.
Chore I don’t care for: cleaning the oven.
Dog or Cat: neither - chooks for me please.
Essential Electronics: computer.
Favorite food: hmmm..... fresh fruit. My favourites are strawberries, passionfruit, bananas and mangoes.
Gold or Silver: gold
Handbag I carry most often: a little green one my friend Jen bought for me.
Insomnia: ha!! I used to have a problem with this pre-children, but now? Never!
Job Title: Wife and Mum, and homemaker.
Kids: Three. Saraya is 5 and a half, Elijah is 3 in 3 weeks, and one in the womb due to be born any day!
Living Arrangements: We own (well, are paying off) a little white cottage which we absolutely love. We live on a corner block on the edge of Maryborough. I love our white picket fence and our (wild) hedge of Australian natives.
Most Admirable Trait: I asked my husband to tell me, and he said my commitment to our family.
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: "bending" the truth (I think we called it white lies). Terrible!!Overnight hospital stays: once, for an operation back in the late 90's.
Phobias: none.
Quote: "Jo, how could you?! Your one beauty." Amy, in Little Women.
Religion: Christian
Siblings: 1 sister, Nicolette. She has an intellectual disability and has lived in care since she was 7 years old. She is 18 months younger than me. 1 brother, Michael, who is 9 years younger than me. He is nearly 19. We're really different but love each other stacks.
Time I wake up: at the moment, about 5 times a night to use the toilet. :) In the morning, anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30 depending on how well I've slept, what time the children wake up, bin trucks coming past (grrr...) etc.
Unusual Talent or Skill: observation. I observe and notice just about EVERYTHING.
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I don't really like brussel sprouts or cabbage, but do eat them occasionally.
Worst Habit: starting things and not finishing them.
X-rays: I've had a few for my teeth at various stages of life.
Yummy Stuff: dark chocolate, dark chocolate and dark chocolate. I love it and tend to nibble on it throughout the day more than I should. (especially when tired)
Zoo Animal I Like Most: I like meerkats, the way they stand on their back legs like little people. Very cute!



Hi, Stuart here,
Saminda and I thought this would be a fun little thing to do on our Friday night together, except suddenly it means we aren't together as we are keeping our answers secret until we have both done this. So while my wife straightens her hair I will type out my first ever entry into a blog.

ABC's Of Me (Stuart)

Accent: Apparently general Australian accents are one of the most neutral in fluctuation and pitch in the world - that would be me.
Book that I like: Patrick O'brien - I am up to book 18 in his Aubrey and Maturin novels (Master and Commander).
Chore I don’t care for: Mowing - dirty, noisy, hay fever.
Dog or Cat: I hunt both kinds.
Essential Electronics: I am almost part computer, it is very important to me.
Favorite food: Pasta meals.
Gold or Silver: Gold, worth more.
Handbag I carry most often: Well my work bag is actually a plastic shopping bag from Aldi at the moment, but its not really a handbag. I save those sort of strange behaviours for the weekend.
Insomnia: Hahahahaha, if you call falling asleep in 20 seconds insomnia.
Job Title: I'm a Prep Teacher (4 and 5 year olds) and I love it!
Kids: 3, a 5 year old, a 2 year old and another almost here. Hey, coincidently that is the same as Saminda!
Living Arrangements: We own our house (well the bank does really), but it is our House of Dreams.
Most Admirable Trait: My bubbly enthusiasm and good cheer :)
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Well I broke into a school once to steal computer parts! Hey, that's a bombshell now isn't it!
Overnight hospital stays: Not since I was a little tike, if ever.
Phobias: Nope.
Quote: I most often go around singing musicals and quoting movies - in fact I fit things like that into a lot of conversations. Unfortunately the first quote that comes to mind is from Hunt for Red October, and even then that was a quote of a famous speech.
"Behold, I have become death, destroyer of worlds" - now that doesn't bode well for my bubbly enthusiasm and good cheer does it!?!?
Religion: Christianish
Siblings: 2 sisters and a mutated cyborg alien brother from the planet Whackzar!
Time I wake up: Alarm assisted, just after 6. Without alarm, around 8. But that is just because I usually have very late nights (see Essential Electronics).
Unusual Talent or Skill: I balance things. I put brooms and ladders and chairs and children on my hands or fingers or chin or forehead. Ask me to balance a fly swat sometime in a competition and we might be there a while. Its only a little thing, but being a Prep teacher I have had plenty of practice. And the kids think I'm amazing.
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: None, although I would if I could.
Worst Habit: Procrastinating - a serious issue and not at all funny. So instead I will mention my habit of singing to people when I'm asking them a question or answering them. I'm sure someone finds it annoying.
X-rays: Last year I broke my knee and there were multiple x-rays.
Yummy Stuff: Give me savoury things. I love party pies! Oh okay, I'm a sucker for cheese cake too.
Zoo Animal I Like Most: Tigers. I have loved them since I was a kid.