A fun couple of days.......

This is going to be a bit of a long post, I don't really feel like scrapping, but have some photos that I want to share, so blogging is a kind of comprise.

School holidays have started and even though I am working all the way through these holidays, it still does give us an opportunity to slow the pace a little, without all the rush that comes in a busy household with school aged kids. Renée's report was excellent, she is just showing a little attitude, comments like "she is spasmodic" and "could achieve more if concentrated on the task" were written. However having said that she got A's in her core subjects, so we were very pleased with that. She likes to have fun at school, I remember being a little the same!

Aaron didn't get a report this term but he did get his school photos back, he doesn't like them, he thinks he looks a little goofy....I dont' think so. I tried to explain that this is how he looks and sometimes the funny faces are one of those little personality traits that you have this time, this year. He will probably still hate the photo when he looks back through them in years to come, but a mother loves any photo of her kids, isn't that right!

End of school term also brought the end of Scouts for the term, and the kids went ten pin bowling Friday night. My psuedo daughter, Cyra (Renée's best friend at school), also came. Cyra and Renée get along so well. Renée can be a little plain jane, she is a little like me in that respect. Cyra, however, knows very much how to use her girly charms and likes to make the effort to look her best LOL. Renée who would ordinarly take about 10 minutes to get ready to go out, took about an hour along with Cyra to get ready the other night. Hair straightners, make up, mouse, spray.....you name it was used. I must admit though it is nice to see the girls dress up occassionally, we don't get to see Renée do it very much that is for sure. This is a pic they took of themselves on the mobile phone.

Yesterday morning it was early up for us girls. Dad took the girls and I to Waikerie to see Celina, John and the kids. Rod and Aaron didn't want to come this time, instead they opted to stay home to watch the footy (which we won't talk about LOL, both are Port supporters). The idea was to take the boat out, this was the first time, since earlier in the year, so dad was keen, as were Renée and Cyra. Celina and I however, thought it would be a little cool, it was very overcast, but hell what do we know, we are just the mothers!!! We got up there and the boys didn't want to come, instead they stayed home and helped John build a pergola, they were the smart ones.

We went to Barmera - Lake Bonney (for those of you that may read this and don't know where that is, it's in the Riverland, South Australia. The lake was awful, so choppy, but that boat was going in regardless. On the way up there, I had a phone call from Renee, asking if there were sharks in there, along with crocs....dad had obviously been spinning the girls a yarn and Renée rang to check it out with me, talk about a scream, Celina then pipes up and says "yep and there are Piranas too". Renée had it sussed with that, but up until then the girls weren't too sure.

Here they are ready to get in the water. The first one is their fat impersonation, not sure of the purpose of that, they are mad, totally mad! The second one is meant to be the nice one, I tell ya, gone are they days where you acutally smile for the camera and actually look happy, so frustrating!!!

The biscuit was first, I love this thing, so much fun and all you have to do is hang on, nice and easy to do. Renée is heavier than Cyra though and subsequently the balance of the biscuit was off, but got some cute pics of them before Renée just couldn't hang on any more.

(right) Then it was Cyra's turn on her own......

...and then Renée (left). Here she is totally showing off, we were coming into shore so the boat was slowing down, it wasn't long after this pic, however, that Cyra suggests we give her a little burst of the throttle and off she goes, straight off the back!!!!!!

Then it was out with the knee board. Cyra hadn't done this before, but wanted to give it a go, despite the water being so rough and choppy. Renée had her turn first.

Cyra, also got up after a few attempts, but I forgot to take the camera out with me, when I was spotting for her, so I missed out on pics of her, was pretty annoyed about that LOL.

***************

We got back to Celina's, John and Phillip had finished the structure for the pergola, it looks great, Celina was so impressed.

They did however have some sad news. They have geese, and they had two babies hatch in the morning, only to be found by John shortly after hatching, dead. The big male goose stomped on them, they were so fluffy and cute. I suggested to John, that he separate the male from the others, to try and have her save her last egg (although we aren't too sure that one is fertislised).

Here John, is with the big male (doesn't he look like Farmer Joe LOL), rotton goose, then with Jarrod, giving it a pat, and the last pic is of the mummy on her egg. Poor thing she was so distressed. She is the bird in the back ground, you can just see her egg under her.

Aside from that though, the day was great, I so love spending time with Celina, we are very close. I love her bits. We crawled into bed about midnight, Celina and I shared, and then chatted until about two in the morning, I was so darn tired when I woke up this morning. We had to get up early to get Cyra home before midday.

The final pic is of my sister, with her puddy cat Elliott, she loves her cats, they have two, and they are totally spoiled. It's not the best pic of her, as we weren't long out of bed LOL, but I figure on my blog I can put anything on here and that will teach her for keeping me awake half the night!!!!!! Sorry Celina, NOT!!!! Love your guts girl, Leanne, xxxx

Congratulations Pat and Belinda

To our friends

PAT AND BELINDA

CONGRATULATIONS

ON THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR GORGEOUS

TWIN DAUGHTERS

These precious little darlings arrived on Saturday morning at 1.30 am,

22nd September, 2007. Weighing in at a healthy 1.8 kilos.

Bubbies were born at 32 weeks and given how early they were are apparently a good size and nice and healthy, how cute are they!!!!

(left) Liarna Rose and Mikaela Jade (right)

The photos aren't the best but they have been taken on a mobile phone and text to us.

How sad they are interstate and we can't give them a cuddle!

Big Brother Ethan and Big Sister Bella, are quite chuffed.

Happy and Healthy at Halfway - Donna at 20 weeks

So here are the next lot of photos, taken today (red top) the other photo in the green is the one taken at 16 weeks to do a comparison shot. Donna is officially half way and she is looking great. The photos are getting wackier every time we take them LOL. She is really starting to round up now, which is so cool.

These shots are the more serious shots (above) now check out some of these, they are cute and cheeky. Sorry Donna, just had to share some of these, I love them!!!!!

Donna also had a scan last week, how cute is this pic....(dad had a look at the pic, Donna and he thinks that the baby has your nose LOL). She also had a video done of the ultrasound, and Renee and I think we saw a little boy feature, but we can't be sure. So far so good with the baby, everything seems to be developing normal.

Cub District Cookoff and Woodhouse 50th....

It never stops in this house, it's nearly end of term so there will be a break from Cubbing and Scouting in the next couple of weeks, phew!!!!! Friday night we took both the kids up to Woodhouse, in the Adelaide Hills for the Woodhouse 50th Camp (it's been 50 years since Scouts have had Woodhouse, so it was a Birthday Celebration). We didn't get home from there until about 10.00pm. Here is Aaron ready to go....

Then yesterday morning up at 5am to go back up there again. Rod and his Cubs made it into the District Cookoff, so we had to be up there for an 8.30 start....oh these early morning are a killer.



The Cubs did so well, they didn't really compare to other the teams, they were alot older and you could definately tell that they had more experience.... but our Cubs had fun and that's all that matters. They learnt alot, but they did need a lot of help, they haven't quite got the skills yet to self manage themselves, still needing alot of direction from their Cub Leaders. They had five teams compete and overall our Cubs came equal third, they were pretty impressed with that. Look at how tiny they are....so darn cute!!!!

After the cookoff it was off to have fun with the other activities that were being held to celebrate Woodhouse's Birthday. Aaron so far has had a hoot, this is first Scout Camp and he is having such a good time. They did lots of stuff yesterday, lots of team building excercises. Aaron is in the blue "Get in the Game" T shirt and denim shorts.

Once back at camp though the fun really started.

It just so happened to be their Scout Leader's, Griz's Birthday yesterday, so Renee had organised a Birthday Party for him. So the rush was on to get the balloons and streamers up and set up the Birthday Cake. He was as pleased as punch with the result when he came down over the hill.

Birthday candles were blown out and the cake was cut.......and then one very mature Scout Leader decided to start a cake fight with Renee, they are great mates, and then it was on.....cake flying everywhere. Thankfully it was only those two, otherwise there would have been alot of cleaning up to do. Got some great pics though.

Anyway later today we are off to Woodhouse again to go and pick them up, gee the things you do for the love of Scouting LOL.

In hindsight we probably should have taken up our tent and stayed up their last night it would have saved us a trip. However, in all the rush over the weekend, it wasn't planned very well on our part, oh well!!!

He's home.....

Yup, this is a pic of Aaron, home from camp yesterday afternoon actually, but didn't get to blog until now. He was so buggered and totally eaten by mosquitos, you can see his right eye how puffy it is. He has bites up both arms and all over his face. I packed repellant as well, and he knew it was there......little bugger decided he didn't need it!!!!! This morning he woke up and he couldn't even open his eye. Looks like he has had ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

This pic was taken of him at about 4.15pm yesteday afternoon and he didn't wake up until up 7.45, he was so tired. He had a great time though, loved doing the archery and said that the girls were funny, because all they did was laugh, totally cracked me up. I asked him if he missed me and he said "just a little", I can live with that LOL. He said he hardly got any sleep cause all the kids kept talking all night!! I'm sure he had nothing to do with that LOL.

Anyways he is home safe and sound and tonight we pack it all again for a Scout camp tomorrow night for two nights....no rest for the wicked!!!!

My little guy leaves for School Camp

Aaron left for his first school camp today, along with 113 or so other kids. They have gone up to the Adelaide Hills and will be back Wednesday afternoon. Although it's his first camp with the school I kinda feel that this is going to be a picnic for him after some of the camps that he has been on with Cubs and Scouts, particularly the hike that he has just finished, but he was still very excited. Nothing quite like going away with all of your friends from school, just having a blast of a time.

There was a small hiccup this morning with the bus arrangements, apparently where they are staying arranged the buses to pick the kids up and they only organised two buses, when they needed three. It just so happened that Aaron's class was left standing waiting for the third bus to arrive, which did finally come some 20 minutes or so after the other two buses left. I was quite impressed to see that seat belts had been fitted.

Aaron was a little concerned about his gear being on one bus and him on another LOL. He went and checked out the rego number of the bus that had his bag on it, just so that he knew when he got there which bus to go to, to get it. I thought that was quite smart, actually. LOL.

And when he gets home on Wednesday there will be a mad rush to wash everything and pack it all again for Friday night, when he and his sister head off for another Scout Camp on the weekend. I tell ya the kids have darn good social life LOL, better than mum and dad!!!

Celina Visits - always entertaining!!!!!!

With Phillip's Birthday yesterday and the Royal Show being on for the last week or so. Celina and family made the trip down to Adelaide and off to the show they went. They got back to our place last night at about 9pm. God love Celina, she didn't come home empty handed for our kids, she spoils them! Aaron got a Gag Magic show bag, which had these ever so gorgeous "bum pants" in them, the boys loved them LOL!!!!! Aren't they just totally gross. Aaron even slept in his last night - boys!!!

Celina was meant to go home last night, as she has Phillip's Party today, but Celina being her, always the spontaneous one, never quite got there....they had come down in two cars yesterday (the reason for that is another story LOL) so John left with Phillip and her and I got talking and next thing we know we are making up beds and getting out spare PJ's. I so love that she does that. Aaron and Jarrod just love one another's company, they are such close cousin's. Here they are all set up in bed, playing playstation, this was about 11.00pm last night.

Celina left this morning about 8.30 but not before she entertained us again with this classic. Her with her sunglasses tangled with bling.....she so loves her bling. She is such a breath of fresh air and I love her to bits.

Hope you have a great Party today Phillip. Love you all lots

Leanne

xxx

Happy Birthday Phillip

Who would have thought that this sweet little baby boy.......

......would have grown into such a handsome young man

and this spunk rat, is my eldest nephew Phillip who is 14 today!

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY PHILLIP

Phillip, you have grown into a kind, sensitive and thoughtful person. The last 12 months have seen some amazing changes in you and I couldn't be more prouder. I LOVE being your Aunty.

We all want to wish you the Happiest of Birthdays

With lots of love and kisses

(not too many kisses, he doesn't really get into that LOL)

Aunty Leanne, Uncle Rod, Renée and Aaron

xxxx

LOOK HOW MUCH YOU HAVE CHANGED

and HAPPY ANNIVERSAY Celina and John (my gorgeous sister and brother in law) 16 years married today.

Yup that's right Phillip shares his Birthday with his parents' Anniversary, he timed that beautifully didn't he.....LOL