My exercise

Bootcamp had its last session this morning. Now what to do?

I need to have some kind of committment to keep it all up. I find getting to the gym quite difficult. Oh I can't imagine why with 4 kids?  A friend told me about this site The Rage Within and I was thinking of giving it a go. I thought it was quite achievable. I mean who can't do 50 elevated push-ups a day? Well me probably with my shoulder but I can  easily crank out 23 normal boy push ups without any problem. Feeling pumped and I want to keep it up.

Prior to the commencement of bootcamp



After the first session. Not the best photo of me but one which indicates how hard I worked.



After 6 weeks of hard yakka this is the result. A fitter, stronger, healthier me.

Only 3.5kgs lost but you should feel those muscles. Here's to a fitter, stronger, healthier, happier body.

Another week begins

We have been so hectic since school started. Not only are there my 4 kids to look after but I've also taken on Ted and Rosie for a four hours on Monday and Tuesday each week and picking up and dropping off of the neighbours' kids every day except Monday and Tuesday mornings. Once all these responsibilities are taken care of there isn't much time left in the day.

Hollie has been extremely tired because of her energetic learning days and so have Kevin and I. We at least don't cry at the drop of a hat but then maybe we should. It's probably better than being grumpy. It isn't just the tiredness from school. Hollie has attended two parties this week which adds to the red eyes.

 Here is a shot of Hollie and Kevin having their Sunday sleep. Hollie who hasn't had a regular day time sleep since she was 18 months old has one every Saturday and Sunday.

Jessica has taken to climbing the tree in the back yard. I took these photos of her the other day after she had climbed quite high.

I think she is just beautiful and really think her kindness is visible in those stunning eyes of hers.

Hollie's first day of school

There were no tantrums this morning, hardly any complaints and I even got to hang up a load of washing and put another one on before going off to Hollie's first day of school.

She wasn't very nervous. I didn't cry. I didn't have time. I had to drop Kevin back at school because he wanted to be there for parade because his year 12s start today. I hope she has a good day and enjoys herself.

I wanted a photo of all the girls together so I can do a page over the years to show the kids growing up.

Soon it begins

I am in preparation mode for the return to school as many are but this time I don't just have my darling husabdn going back to work I have my eldest starting Prep! I guess I'm lucky as there isn't much to do. Uniforms were purchased last year, bag given as a Christmas gift and school books paid for as part of the school levy. I don't hae to buy and cover books which is a blessing I just have to mentally prepare myself for the beginning of the end. Well it actually started last year when she went off to kindy but now she is away from me for more hours of waking time than she is with me. That is scary for me. It was hard enough all the little saying and behaviours she brought home from kindy I can't even imagine what it's going to be like in the coming years.
I am very happy too though. She is so excited and has been since she turned 4. For some reason she had it in her head that when she turned 4 she would be going to school so the count down has been on. I am excited for her and excited also to be able to spend more one-on-one time with the other girls. Hollie is the lime light hogger of the family so it will be fantastic to spend the time with the others.
I'll let you all know how the first day goes, how I cope with the routine of school drop offs and pick ups and I'll let you know if I cry.

So much news

Since November (the last time I updated) so much has happened.


1. School finished so Kevin has spent time looking after me, letting me sleep in, chasing kids around, rousing on kids (and giving me a break from it), cooking dinners ( I have cooked a total of 3 meals since the beginning of December) and generally being the best husband and Daddy in the world.

2. Christmas was celebrated and is a distant memory now. I was 10 days overdue on Christmas day and kept hoping I wouldn't go into labour. We had a very quiet day with just our small family, the 5 of us. We didn't go over board on food but ate a lot of desserts.

3. Baby Lisa Lily was born at 1342 on the 31st of December weighing 7lb 9oz in the world's (my world) shortest labour. 2 1/2hours from the time the put the drip in. Oh how much energy did I have after that! Wow. Very quick.

Lisa's baptism with Fr Jordan and proxy Godparents Gran and Grandpuff.

Hollie is such a big help with Lisa.

4. On the 7th of January we flew to Brisbane so Lisa could meet the families and be baptised. Kevin also attended a PD while we were there which was the other main reason for us going.

5. I celebrated my 29th birthday.

6. During our time in Brisbane the floods hit. We went and had a look at the fast flowing Brisbane River. Amazing! We saw pontoons floating down the river. It was so fast. Our prayers are with the people who lost family and friends in the disaster and to those people whose property was damaged or destroyed. Mum's place took a battering and her roads are in very poor condition. We spent a few hours helping her shift rocks and repair the road before returning to Brisbane to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Lisa's Godparents Matthew and Zoe.

Now it's back to reality and the adventure of 2011 begins. Tonight we got back on the bikes and rode for 30mins. Next week we start school and a hectic life.
Until next time. Thanks for looking.

My little gardener

Hollie seems to have a very green thumb. For the last 2 years we have bought bare rooted roses and grown them in pots. We buy them online and it is Kevin's job to tend to them every afternoon. Hollie helps him and this year has become very interested in gardening herself.

She even found seed pods in the yard and germinated them, planted them out and now we are the proud owners of these 4 tree seedling that I don't know what we are going to do with. I didn't think they'd survive the germination process let alone the planting out.

Here is Hollie with her seedlings.

Yesterday Hollie found her first red strawberry. She was so excited and said it was the most delicious strawberry she had every had. How cute.

At kindy they are also growing plants. Hollie's seddling is one of the biggest in the class. Everyday she shows me how much bigger it has grown. Yesterday when we were at Crazy Clarke's she wanted to buy more seeds to grow. She has been collecting the seeds off the lettuce plants to sow next season. She has a lot of patience for a girl of nearly 4 1/2. We are very proud of her.

An ultrasound

On Friday we went for the 19 week ultrasound. We were most relieved everything was ok. Unfortunately we didn't get a good picture of the face and there wasn't a chance to get a head and body shot like the others have. They couldn't get the hands because it had hands on head or hands on chest. It is head down. Face down. Very difficult for them to get measurements but at least everything is progressing well and NORMAL.

This is as good as it got for head and body.

3D profile. The umbilical cord is in front of its nose.

Another 3D.

Its feet.