Time sure flies by so quickly and before you know it, you turn around and another month or 2 has passed you by before I had time to be back blogging again on Minti lol.  Have been busy with my inlaws over from NZ for 6 weeks, lots of fun had by all, espcially the kids, was wonderful to have an extra pair of hands willingly help around the house, ohhhh what a great motherinlaw   Loads of tears when she departed, fingers crossed she is comint back for Xmas woohoo.  Hosted a very good friends baby shower, hopefully she will be joining Minti and enjoying it as much as everyone else does, she is due this Saturday and is as big as a house, having all the wonderful aches & pains, lack of sleep that pregnancy brings.  Boy I am glad I have had my last child lol  Hubby is going through a "do you want to have another baby phase" hmmmm which I answer to "NO" quite happy with my outgoing, noisy bunch of 9!  Jesse is busy with year 11 exams, he had been busy getting extra tutoring after school aswell, just to help him.  Life can be so scary when you are a teenager!!  My daughter Autumn turned 13 yesterday woohoo welcome to being a teenager, with it has come some mood swings ohhhh no lol and a sense of her being so much more grown up.  Well have a busy weekend ahead I am off to West Sydney for another baby shower on Saturdy arvo followed by  50th birthday party, and then my nephew is coming to stay for a few days, ahhhh will need to put my feet up and relax after it all...... can't see that happening!! Take care everyone, stay blessed and keep on Mintiiiiiing

Wow I can't believe how quickly the months have flown by and finally I am back to Minti.  Thankyou to everyone who emailed and kept popping in on my page. Lots has been happening to my large family, firstly we had a stressful 7 weeks leading up to April as our owner decided to sell our house and wanted it vacated, so I looked high and low at lots of houses, but as time got closer we couldn' find one, so with 1 week to go, my brotherinlaw suggested we make the big move to the Blue Mountains NSW as his friend had a place we could stay in until we decided what we would do.  Hubby was away working for 2 weeks, so the elder 3 kids and I did all the packing, amazing how much stuff you accumlate in a house after 6 years lol, I ended up saying ok we really have to throw unneccessary things away!!  On Friday 11 April, our movers arrived loaded up our possessions into a huge truck and away it went for the 2 hour journey to our new home.  We followed behind a few hours later, after cleaning the house till it shone lol.  We stayed in our new place for 4 weeks, it was rather small and cosy but we enjoyed it, much better than being homeless thats for sure.  I ended up finding a large family home for us to rent up in the Mountains, we made the decision to stay here as it is so much more affordable than Sydney, also the people are so friendly, the life style so laid back and everyone has time for each other.  What a fabulous place to bring up the kids.  So our new advenutre in life has begun.  The little 6 love it here, the little 3 at school enjoy it so much, and my 3 elder ones, took a while to settle in but now they have made new friends, joined the local rugby league team, they are happy and even better to report is that they are enjoying their new school.  So there it is in a nutshell, now I have time to be back on Minti so I look forward to catching up with everyone.  Have a fabulous weekend and stay blessed  :-)

Wow I can't believe that in 2 weeks the kids will be back at school, where did time go, its over before it even started!!  It has been a busy couple of weeks for us, I had my nephew up from Cessnock, he spent a week with us, I think it was rather an eye opener for him being around 9 kids all the time.  Jesse enjoyed having someone his age here, they spent alot of the time at the beach, movies and the mall!! probably looking at the girls more than the shops (lol).  My Uncle departed for NZ on the 7th, the kids miss him, lucky I took him to the airport and went with him inside the terminal, as he would have gotten lost.  He does pretty well for a sprightly 75 year old, I hope I am as adventurous as him at that age   We had a lovely farewell lunch for him on the Sunday, with my brother and his family, my cousin Dan & his family, another Uncle and some friends who were over from NZ, all in all our house was chocka block.  A great time had by all.  At the moment I have been working on my latest hobby which is my family tree, I have started my site, on a heritage, site and I must say it is awesome, putting in all the info I have collected over time, and so far I have had 4 emails, all from different people around the world, and guess what we are all related!! how awesome.  They are helping me fill in more information, on relatives, I never knew existed.  It is time consuming, but very very worthwhile, I would encourage anyone to do it, it is amazing!!  It has always been one of my goals to do our family tree and as I see it growing, it amazes me.  My kids are like Mum you are a bit of a nerd (lol) this coming from the 2 teenagers, I know when the get older, they will appreciate it!!

Miss T, turned 4 on the 7th of this month aswell, we had a lovely, noisy party for her at home, then went up the park and played all day, having cartwheel races, handstand competions, obstacle course and running races, loads of fun was had by all.  We met a lovely little boy there, who couldn't get over the fact that there was 9 kids in our family, he was an only child, anyway he enjoyed joining in all our games, and we have made a playdate to see him again at the park (weather permitting).  Well hope everyone is having an awesome time during the school holidays, heres to an awesome 2008 on Mint

Wow I can't believe how quick last year flew by!!  I didn't even have time to blog on Minti (lol), thanx everyone who popped in on my page while I was away being overloaded with Xmas shopping, cooking and entertaining!!  It is great appreciated.  We had a very noisy Xmas Day, full of lots of laughter, loads of ripped to shreds wrapping paper and yummy food, I was definitely glad to get the cooking all over and done with.  The kids had a great day, and I am glad to say I did not blow my budget on presents, our theme this year was family gifts, that we could share, the older kids I let chose something for themselves on ebay, which is so much more affordable.  I love ebay, it makes shopping so much more easier!!  Have had my Uncle over for a few days from NZ and it is great seeing him interact with the kids he is still so full of life for 75, we are having a family lunch on Sunday which will see 3 generations sit down and catch up, am so looking forward to it, we will also be discussing our Family Reunion, (my Dads side) which I am going to organise for October this year, how awesome, I am rather excited, lots of my first & second cousins have never met each other, which to me is weird as I have met all of them!!  The kids are having a great start to the holidays, they have been sleeping in, watching dvds, playing outside and generally just having fun, certainly never a quiet moment at our place, only when it is bed time.  I hope everyone has had an awesome Xmas and a great start to 2008, here is hoping it is a year full of blessings for all on Minti   Well have an awesome week, I am off to replenish the food cupboards tomorrow, hope everyone has an awesome first week in 2008 - Peace & luv

Hmnmmm have you ever noticed how teenage girls are so hormonal!!  my 2nd eldest daughter is going through changes at the moment, she can be so moody one minute and fabulous the next!!  She has also started to be alot more impatient, and a bit smarmy.  I put it all down to her age, body changes etc and most probably the soon to be great adventure of womanhood.  We have had the talk about periods, boys etc.  Sometimes I wish the easy going little girl would come back and the horrid tempremental teen would go away (lol), I went through the same thing with my eldest last year and all I can think is at least I have alot more years before the other girls get to their teens!!  Boys are definitely so much easier with their transition.  Oh well lets hope miss hormonal will be in a grand mood today on her return from school (lol)

Wow I had a full on weekend!!  On Saturday we went to a Fijian Cultural Day, it was great, they totally enjoyed themselves, watching the various rugby 10 a side games and netball competion, then going along to the various stalls and buying some scrumptious things to eat, we all had very full tummys (lol). They had  cultural items, blaring fijian music and just loads of fijian people, caught up with family members who we hadn't seen for months/years, so all in all a fabulous day.  The sun was shining and it was awesome for my kids to see part of their culture, as where we live there aren't that many fijians around!!  We got home at 6.30pm, Jesse and I had to get ready quickly to go to a birthday dinner at 7.30pm, which was nice and relaxing, got home after 11pm and boy was I knackered, sure was a long day.

Then on Sunday we were up early, dressed and off to my cousins engagment lunch, I took the 5 girls as the boys were more interested in staying home and relaxing with their Dad!!  Us girls had a great time, lots of yummy food (great because I didn't have to cook!!) another load of friends and family members to catch up with, whom we hadn't seen for ages aswell.  They were all suprised on how big the elder 2 girls had grown!!  I was suprised at how many of them had become parents, grandparents in the 2 years I hadn't seen some of them, not to mention how grownup alot of the kids had gotten. Time sure flies.  The couple received lots of lovely pressies, she wore a beautiful dress and he wore the traditional tongan mat etc and once again it was awesome for the kids to see more polynesian culture.  I for one can't wait for the wedding  I collected a few phone numbers and am determined to keep in touch with cousins and their families.  Nowdays we get caught up so much in our own little world that we forget to keep up all the other important extended relationships.  We have already booked in for a Sunday lunch in 2 weeks with my uncle and his family, plus another cousin and her son, so it looks like a good start already woooohooooo heres to FAMILY you have gotta luv them

wow I can't believe how quick the weeks have been flying by, isn't it amazing as you get older how much more quicker it  seems to go!! not to mention there never seems to be enough hours in 1 day (lol).  Well we have had a full on month my kids all came down with varioius degrees of the flu, followed by the wonderful gastro (yuck) it would be great if they all got it at the same time, but sure enough they got it in drips and drabs, I must say I am so happy to now be cough, vomit and poop free (lol).  Thanks to all the rainy weather, my washing was back loaded, but yeha I am all caught up and relishing it!!  Quest had his orientation day last week for kindi, he did really well and enjoyed himself totally, the only hiccup we had was half way through their time in the classroom with the teacher, he stood up and said I have had enough now and I am off to see my Mum, he then ran out the door and came to the hall were I was with all the other parents, I had to explain to him that he can't leave the room until the teacher gives him permission!!  I am sure he will really enjoy school once he starts at the end of January (fingers crossed).  We celebrated Crees 6th birthday with a party at McDonalds with her school buddies, she totally enjoyed herself, especially getting some lovely pressies, I totally enjoyed not having to cook, clean or entertain loads of screaming kids (lol).  Definitely worth the money, takes the hassle out of having it at home.  I am currently planning Quests 5 birthday which is in 3 weeks, we are going to have a family trip to the Aquarium, since my elder 3 aren't interested it will be me and the tribe of 5, fat baby will stay home with their Dad, wooohoo it will be a great adventure, riding the train etc, I can't wait. 

The countdown is on to Xmas, my little ones have been dropping hints etc, I just say oh well be thankful for whatever you get, my kids don't believe in Santa which for me is awesome, but I am always reminding them that they can't tell other kids that he isn't real, because too many kids he is, they are like oooohhh woooow.  So far so good, we haven't had any mishaps in the last 16 years!!  Oh well I hope everyone is well, and having an awesome start to the week, take care of yourselves and take care of number 1 (yourself) so you are able to look after everyone else  I will end with GOOD LUCK TO JESSE who is sitting his first exam today for year 10 and all the other year 10 students out there

Well it has been an awesome month for our family, with my inlaws visiting from NZ, the kidz have been on seventh heaven for the last 4 weeks.  We spent their last weekend, taking them shopping for clothes, mementos and site seeing, everyone has to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge (right)!!  On Monday all the kids stayed home to spend the last full day with their grandparents, they played skipping outside, watched a dvd,  took lots of photos, we had an awesome last dinner together, my brotherinlaw came down from the blue mountains with his 2 girls and they stayed the night.  It was an awesome last night telling jokes, laughing and spending quality family time together.  We all went to bed at around 1am!!  Lots of sad faces on Tuesday morning when it was time to say goodbye, not to mention the waterworks, it was sad saying farewell, lots of hugging and I love you, it just reconfirms how much my tribe luv their grandparents to bits, even though we only get to see them once a year if that, the bond they have is so special.   One little fellow in particular (my 4 year old) went and sat in the back garden when they had left sobbing his little heart out  I had to console him with the fact that  it is only 6 months until we go to NZ to see them again, so everyone is already counting the time down!!  I must say the house feels a little empty without them, they are awesome grandparents and great inlaws   Makes me realise how quickly life/time goes by and how we should make the most of it and cherish every moment  and especially make the time for the  special people in our lives, who make it all worth while.

We had a lovely day today, the little kidz put a mat outside on the grass and I made them homemade pizzas, fruit and water and they spread out their table cloth and had a lovely picnic, then spent the next 2 hours running around playing and using their new skipping ropes. Cree is getting so good at skipping for a 6 year old!! The others just love turning the rope. 

My 2 eldest girls are going the Nickleodeon Awards tonight thanks to their Aunty who got them front row passes, so they are having a special treat, attending the awards with their 2 cousins and then staying overnight at a city hotel with my sisterinlaw, they were so excited.  Both of them have actually been away for the last couple of days, spending time with their grandparents up the Blue Mountains, so when I talked to them on the phone they were really excited.  My little tribe of 6 are excited because tomorrow on Nickleodean they are showing the awards, so they are going to try and spot the girls in the front row and of course Mummy is going to tape it so they have a awesome memento of a great outing   Hope everyone is having a great holidays and enjoying having their kidz at home

Wow I haven't been on here for so long!! The first week of the school holz is nearly over, 4 of my little people are up the Blue Mountains having a holiday with their grandparents who are over from NZ, they are loving it, running around, the fresh air, animals etc.  I must say it is rather quiet at our place with only 5 kidz (lol) definitely lots less washing and cooking and lower decibals of noise!!  I miss their noisy chatter, laughing and mischief, can't wait until they get back on Sunday   How hot was it yesterday, we were like melting icecreams (ha ha) so hot during the day and then in the evening the wind just picked up, lets hope that it all goes back to normal especially for the those in the fire areas.  Today we are off to the Scooby Doo show my 2 little girls are so excited, who would have thought that scooby of my time would still be such a hit today in the 21st century, woooohoooo Scooby!! Jesse is off to the movies and Laken will be relaxing at home, I think it is a teenage thing staying home and doing nothing!! but watch tv!!  Well that is it for me, I am off to book Crees birthday party aswell today and can you believe I rang the hospital to book in my son to have a allergy patch test, the waiting list is until next May!! wow I couldn't believe it, anyway at least we now have an appointment.  Hope everyone has been having an awesome and safe start to the hoidays, have a great weekend