Today has been a good one I think. This morning we ran our Under 8's Day - Make a Splash! It was fantastic, he kids had heaps of fun. Some of the activities were face painting, kite making, washable crayon drawings, paint a wall, parachute diving, goop playing, and lots more. My youngest was exhausted. I ended up helping the kids make their kites. There was something for everyone, and some great ideas for Connors 6th Birthday Bash later in the year.

Tonight the girls went out for our monthly birthday dinner. I even cooked before I left so that hubby didn't have to...and made apple pies for dessert. Geez I am a good mum hey!! LOL. Usually I leave it all up to the boys to make their dinner if I go out.  We went to a great restaurant at Chermside, and had a beautiful meal. Home by 9.30 pm. (God they are all getting old...we used to stay out til 11pm until the all started turning 50! ) Hubby was happy to see me home early tho.

Tomorrow is our annual Under 8's Day at the Primary School. As I don't work at the High School on a Tuesday, I get to  go along and help. I remember doing this for the other two boys, so I am looking forward to a great morning helping the kids with their activities. Don't know what sort of activities this school does, as the others went to a different primary school but it will be great nonetheless. Then an afternoon to rest, before going out to dinner with the girls. Busy day.

Leisa

Mum and Dad got home from an exhausting holiday in Alaska and Canada on Friday. They had a wonderful time, and I am sooooooooooooooooooo jealous. One day I will get there too. Anyway. I arranged for them to pop in on Saturday cause they had to pick up their bird from my sisters, so I thought that seeing as my sister had seen them (as she picked them up from the airport and spent Friday with them) that they could pop in and see my kids, and give them their souvenirs and stuff, and Mum wanted to see what I got from my shopping trip in Melbourne. I went to work on Saturday morning and get a phone call from my sister to say that they had organised lunch at their place for mum and dad and we were to come there. So that blew the theory of my kids spending time with them on their own. So we troop over for lunch, where they had T-Bone steak and gourmet salads etc (she loves to throw in my face that she has more money than we do). We had to then cut the visit short as we had to represent the family at a party on Saturday night. Mum and Dad were too tired to go (understandably) and my sister and her husband didn't want to go. I have nothing against that, but we had to make their excuses on the night and noone beleived that it was cause they didn't want to take the baby out. (Especially as they had gone out the night before!) It was a little embarrassing.

Now I am not jealous of my younger sister and I think it is wonderful that she has finally managed to have a child after years of trying. BUT I do get sick and tired of her attitude that life is all about her. It never seems to matter what we have planned, or what we say, everyone just bows down to her. I wanted to see my parents and this happened to be the only way to do it on that day. I don't like going to her place, because she always has negative things to say about my kids. Her husband always tells my kids off for little things, and I don't like having to be on my guard totally when I am around them. Even my kids have walked off and gone home when they get too bad. So I try and avoid going around there.

My Sundays I try to keep as a relax day, with just hanging out with the kids, housework that I haven't done or just plain lazing around. I get a phone call from Mum this morning at 10.00, finding out about the party the night before. I was going to give her a ring in the arvo for a chat. Then she tells me she would've expected me to ring her first thing this morning and tell her all about it. Why can't they understand, no matter how many time I tell them, that Sunday mornings are MY family time?

Well I have had my gripe, going to prepare for work tomorrow. CYA Leisa

Well I finally had a day off from school stuff today. I planned to do the washing and ironing, go to my Mum and Dad's to fill the buckets dad has put around for the gardens to have some water while they are overseas, go the bank and do some much needed grocery shopping.

I get a phone call at 9.30am, to say that the lady who runs the Canteen at the high school is having dramas with her ex who has told the kids he is gonna kill himself. She has to go home so can I come up and run the Canteen? So much for my day off!

But she is a good friend of mine and of course with the troubles she has been going through, I couldn't and wouldn't say no. So I went to the school (again!)

Now this had some benefits - I got paid for it, I get to see one of my sons and the kids I know that spend time at our place, and I got to go to Parade at my youngest ones school before I picked him up. This was great. The Preppies did a presentation on parade for the younger grades about occupations that they have been learning about, AND my son got presented with an award that I didn't even know he was getting. This pleased me no end. I am so glad that I was there to see him get it. And I took photos of the Preppies as my friends son is in that class. My son is in the Year 1 class. I was stoked to be there.

So I didn't get the ironing done, I didn't get the shopping done, and I didn't get over to Mums until early this evening. Oh well, mum and dad get home tomorrow, and the ironing and shopping will get done at some stage.

Until next time....

Leisa

Well here we go again...clean up day in the boys rooms. Just to get them to stay in there and actually put something away is a nightmare. Oh well, I suppose it will get done by the end of the day. I am valiantly trying to ignore them and their arguments over whose is what, which is why I am here, typing very noisily as their music is blaring. Having teenage boys and a teenage wannabe is such a joy. Better go and see what is happening! Cheers Leisa

 

Today we had a Touch Football Carnival at our High School for the District Primary Schools. As is the usual, we ran the BBQ for lunch. We had 200 kids participating and associated parents and officials. What a day!

We did Sausages & Onions on bread and Hamburgers. It was great to see the kids coming to buytheir lunch from us. The only sad point is that we did not get many parents to help out (as per normal).

I love to give time to my kids schools to help raise money for the things they need. We actually made about $600 which is a good effort for our school. Each dollar helps. I realise that once kids get to high school, a lot of parents go back to work, but not all of them. It has even affected the primary school. There is not enough parent volunteers to do the little things that matter. My kids love it when I get time to help out. As do the staff of the school.

I like to think that because I do so much for the school, that my children benefit in quiet ways. Teachers let me know when things are going on that I need to know about, the kids get a  bit of leeway with any problems they might be dealing with (be it bullying or fighting or general misbehaviour). I have no illusions about my children and know what sort of things they get up to. Especially the oldest with his anger management problems. But the school has done a lot to help him through his bad times.

Anyway, now I am tired out from standing behind a BBQ all day, but I have a good feeling inside knowing that I have helped to contribute that little bit. I have a day off tomorrow, so I can rest before going back to school tomorrow night to help in the canteen at our Fashion Parade.

Cheers Leisa

First and foremost, I would like to wish that everyone had a fantstic Mother's Day.

Mine started today to the news that my 5 yr old has a cold, and the graphic details about his sneeze and his nose! I won't go into detail, but I am sure you can imagine. Then it was, come on mum get up and make breakfast. But I was steadfast and told him to see his father. Brekkie was ham and cheese croissants and coffee, and a beautiful card from the boys. Perfect.

The day itself was wonderful, not much fighting and plenty of hugs. It also helped that my mum is overseas on holidays so there was no lunch BBQ to go to. Sounds awful, but family do's are sometimes not wanted.

Well that was my day. Now I have to go and iron all the clothes I haven't done for a week. Enjoy!

Well I got back from Melbourne on Monday night, and it has taken me til now to recover.! I was so tired when I got home, and I got a couple of rather large blisters on the back of my feet. Oh well the price of shopping. I will say that we had the BEST time on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. It was absolutely brilliant. Food superb, waiters were friendly, atmosphere was 10/10. It was great to go, but I must say it is great to be home. But the girls and I have decided we are doing it again next year...so watch out Adelaide. Cheers.

Leisa

Well yesterday Friday was a real debacle. It really started Thursday night when my husband opened the back door and a rat jumped into the house from the back stairs! UGH! Now I don't mind mice and rats as a general rule - however NOT IN MY HOUSE! After several attempts to chase it out of the kitchen, it ran into the main part of the house.

Then Friday morning, after taking the youngest to school,I went to pick up my new mobile phone I had decided to get. Well there were none in stock. I am particular in what I want in a phone and nothing else they had suited me. I then went to the bank to get some money out for my trip away, got that. Went into Coles to see if they had any rat traps - NO. I went to visit a friend who had borrowed some money and to get it as planned before my weekend. No luck not home.

I then had to go to Bunnings to get rat traps. Finally found them 6 aisles away from where I was told to go to find them. Got 3 metal traps, a box of 4 Talon Pellets, and a pack of 4 Talon Wax Baits for Rats. That little bugger is going to go.

Get home, and my husband, who owns his own business selling Fishing Lures, has decided that with the drought and no stores buying product (in fact 4 of his customers have closed their stores!) he is going to have to get a job. Now he asks me how much can he earn before it starts to affect my Centrelink Payments! HUH!?! No idea. So then I try and remember my online password for Centrelink. 1/2 hour later finally get it right, then have to find out where the estimator is.

After spending maybe 1.5 hours on it, he decides we might have to ring them. So on the phone. Another 20 mins and we get the most helpful young guy I have ever come across at Centrelink. Plus he also informed us that we lose some of my payments for the 15 yr old in August when he turns 16. No hubby has to decide whether to go part time or full time.

Finally get to lay the traps and baits. Then I had to pack my suitcases for my trip. After that, kids were home, fighting began, dinner to cook and dishes to be allocated. Well all I can say here is that thank god I am going away for the weekend.

Cheers Leisa

I just had a me day in preparation for my trip away. Got my hair done, brows waxed, nails done. I think I am set now. BUT I will not have my brows waxed again. That hurts. I did have it done about 20 years ago, and had obviously forgotten how much it hurts.

One more day left and then I am gone

Leisa

I am starting to get quite excited now that there is only 3 days until I have a girls weekend away in Melbourne. 3 days of shopping, eating and walking (getting to the shops and restaurants!) with no husbands or children. I am soooo  happy. Not that I don't love my family, but my husband gets time away working or fishing, the kids go to school camps and stuff and I never go anywhere. Well not this weekend. The boys can have a weekend at home spending quality time together. LOL HAHAHA. Cheers Leisa