Well it was such a beautiful day at the Coast today. We met up with mum and dad at the Burleigh Markets, had a little wander around, bought something for mum  for mother's day. There was a guy there that had an eagle and an owl with him. People were allowed to pat them and everything. You could even have photos done with them. The eagle was so large Connor was absolutely terrified and wouldn't go anywhere near it. Oh well.

Then we went up to the patrolled beach for a swim. Connor and Alex went in the water while the rest of us sat on the beach. Dave decided to dig a hole, as boys are apt to do at the beach. Then with all the sand he was pulling out he decided to do a sand model of a car. Didn't do too bad a job either.

The wind was blowing a little too much, so after an hour, we went to sit in the shade in the park and get fish and chips for lunch. This was very nice. Kids played on the playground, and we just relaxed. By the time 2.30 came around, we decided to go. I had to do some shopping on the way home, so we needed to get back to Brissy before the shops shut. Mum and dad had to check into their hotel, and dad forgot to pack his shoes so they had to go shopping to buy him a new pair. They were going to the club for dinner so he needed shoes.

Came back, went shopping, got home and parked it for the afternoon. Just laid about, read the paper, relaxed. So i am a little tired now from the travelling and the sun, but it is a good tired. Had toasted sandwiches for dinner, cause Ididn't feel at all like cooking.

Yesterday Brad took the three kids to the tinny and tackle show. They had a great time, lots of 4wd cars, rock climbers, boats, fishing gear. Boy heaven. At least after I got home from netball I had a few hours of peace and quiet to myself.

Ready to tackle another week ahead. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

Tomorrow we are having an ANZAC Day service for all the kids. I have just finished making approx 170 ANZAC Bikkies. Yum. The smell is divine. I love the smell of them. But I won't eat any tonight I don't think. Depends on how long the determination lasts for. At least Friday is a public holiday, so we all get a long weekend, tho I still have to work at Netball on Saturday.

Sunday we are going to the Gold Coast for the day. It is hubbys birthday on Monday, and Mum and Dad will be going to the coast for a week, so we will all go down and spend the day at the coast, and then leave mum and dad there. Haven't been to the coast for a while, so will be good to get down there. Nothing like fresh fish and chips on the beach.

Work is going well. I am very tired and sore in my arm from all the cutting of sandwiches etc.

Last night we had our second Trivia Night at the High School. Not as good as the first one, and our table came in last. However we only had half the people at our table as last time. It was still fun though.

It was good to catch up with the girls from the school. I haven't seen them for about a month, so it was good to have a chat. Looking forward to going out to dinner next, tho I am not sure when that is. Soon I expect.

Anyway better go to work. Ciao.

These are my pet hate. Those big brown, or black ones. My skin is cringing just thinking of them.

My problem is that the kids know about this too. Today I was talking to my husband while he was doing some gardening. I turned around and there one was on the stake holding up the basil bush. I squealed and ran to the laundry as my husband is looking to find it. My eldest was down there helping out, and found it so then they had to kill it. Then they realised there were 2!!

So my lovely oldest son, reached in and grabbed then came running toward me with his hand held out. Of course I ran screaming upstairs, my heart pumping at a thousand mile an hour, skin crawling, while my lovely son is doubled up on the ground laughing his head off. Of course he didn't have one in his hand! The little stinker.

Later on this evening, as I was cooking dinner, I turned around and up on the wall was another one. It had flown in the window at some stage. So it started again. This time I was in the lounge room with the door closed while I hear calls for bug spray, thumps and bumps and "there it is". Steps getting closer as I head toward the other end of the lounge.

My youngest then decided he wanted to have a look and see what was happening. The next thing I know he is screaming and crying, hubby and middle son are laughing, as COnnor comes into the lounge saying it jumped on me. My heart stopped as I yelled where is it, to be told, through the laughter that it was thrown outside. It only got his pyjamas, but that is enough for me. Hubby had to finish getting dinner as I would not go in the kitchen.

And I have been checking every room I walk into as I go in. I am such a sook when it comes to these horrible creatures.

Well it has been an interesting first week. I discovered that the children at the Childcare do not like salad! They love ham, not keen on chicken, and a lot don't want to try anything that may look remotely different from what they are used to. I had forgotten about that. So had to do a quick rethink on the menu. But that is OK. I am adaptable.

Not all parents read their letters so a lot have still been bringing lunchboxes. We heard from one child's father, after the 2nd day of him having  a full lunch box to take home that his mum had gone ballistic at him for not eating anything. Apparently wouldn't listen to the child either when he tried to explain that he had in fact eaten. The dad was then informed that we are now providing all food, and they don't have to bring food from home.

Most parents have really embraced the idea once they realise. I have had a couple come and see me about the amount of food, also one parent whose child has severe food issues and is autistic, as to ways to handle him and his lunch. But mum is gonna provide one of his special bowls from home for us to serve his food in. She is happy with most of the food we are providing and will give me a list of what he can't have.

Surprisingly there are very few food issue problems. I would have thought there would be more. I have a sesame allergy, vegemite allergy, egg white allergy,a possible gluten free and a lactose intolerant. Out of a centre with 80 kids on the big days that is pretty good ratio.

I do go to Aldi and buy bread, cause it is nice and fresh, cheap and close by. I bought some the other afternoon, and thought I will leave it in the car, as I go early the next day and it will be fine. Forgetting of course that I leave the window of my car open cause I hate getting into a stuffy car. Should have known better. Bloody possum got in the car and proceeded to nibble on my bread. At least it is a healthy possum and took the wholemeal. Bastard thing. This was after it attaacked my foccacia slabs on Monday morning. So I have to buy a box to put it all in.

The 3 hours they wanted me to work to get food ready has not worked, so next week I get 5 hours a day. Which is brilliant. But I have to go to Centrelink next week and see them about payments etc. That will be so much fun. NOT.

I am loving the new Minti. Logging on to compliments has to be a great way to start an internet session. So well done to the team for getting it up and running and also for changing the top toolbar to include groups for us lovely ladies.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Day one is over and done with. I managed to get the food organised in time for their breaks. The kids enjoyed what they got. Teachers are happy that the kids are all getting the same food at the same time to avoid possible arguments.

I have a few adjustments to make tomorrow but that is easily done. So in all it was a good day.

My eldest is doing a Bicycle Mechanics course at TAFE with a friend of his and part of this course is they have to have experience working in the bicycle industry preferrably in a shop. Last week they went around to various shops in the area and a local bike shop asked them to come in on Saturday. If they could put a bike together to a reasonable standard he would take them both on. Well they did, and the guy was very happy with them.

They then ended up working today and have to go again tomorrow. They are not getting paid at the moment which suits them as they are getting experience. But David came home with 2 second hand tyres for his bike today and a few other bits and pieces. They are stoked. Considering that these particular tyres cost $80-$90 each new. And they are only a little worn so still usable. They will get paid eventually but even if it is in kind they are happy. They will also get a discount on anything they want to buy.

So not only do we have the friend staying here Wednesday night (they go to TAFE from here on Thursdays), he is also staying here as well if they have to go to work. So tonight I have an extra in the house again. I will start charging him board soon, I told him tonight. But he reckons he is my other son so he doesn't have to pay.

The pest man came today and sprayed the termites in Dave's Room. Thankfully they are only in that corner and just in the window sills and the trimming, so it is repairable. Dave came home from work and heard the little buggers in the wall, they don't like the spray I think. They have gone crazy. Hopefully they have stopped now and he can sleep in there.

Tomorrow, hubby is taking me to work and dropping me off so that he can do an oil change on my car. Hopefully this will stop the excessive amount of smoke that blows out of the muffler every morning. Only the mornings too mind you. Ever since I put a different oil in the car, it has done this, so I am going back to the other brand. Fingers crossed it fixes the problem without me having to take it in for major works on the engine.

Connor and Alex are going to the movies tomorrow with Mum, and Dave is working so Brad has the day to himself. That is why I have asked him to do the car. He is also going to buy himself a new mobile, as his is dying, the battery won't keep charge in it and doesn't receive all texts. Besides the fact that is a CDMA phone, so he will have to change eventually anyway and he doesn't need that much coverage anymore.

Well Brad and I had met on the peripheries for a few years. We had mutual friends, he went to school with this couple and I was a Girl Guide Leader with the wife and had become good friends with them.

Anyway, they decided they would matchmake. The four of us went on a picnic. I was working at a seafood restaurant at the time and got a couple of kilos of fresh king prawns. We had a cask of wine for the girls and the boys had beer. We had a great time at the picnic and then went back to their place for the night.

Needless to say I was rather tanked after drinking most of the wine. A body massage, and a great night of s e x, was had. We continued to see each other then for a little while (about a month and a half) and I found out I was pregnant.

I told him, we went out for dinner, and he proposed. It was cool. We were married 4 months later. I once asked him what it was that attracted me to him, and he said it was my "who gives a fuck" attitude. Apparently I was splashing up the creek at the time.

We have been married for 17 years now. That is a little scary.

We have 3 beautiful boys and are looking at another 17 years at least.

I had such a nice lazy day today. Did a couple of loads of washing and put a roast on to cook for the day (in a nice slow oven, roast sitting on a bed of fresh rosemary and basil), had a little rest in the afternoon, then put the veg on for dinner. So basically nothing.

Tomorrow, we have to do a full oil change on my car, then I have to go shopping to get the last few things I need for the week ahead. Mainly bread.

So while the boys (hubby and our eldest) are doing the car, I have to sit down and work out quantities of sandwiches so I can work out how many loaves to get. Fun hey??

I have had all the deliveries of food arrive at the CHild Care today, for me to start providing food on monday. I now just have to pick up the bread and a few other things from Aldi on Sunday. Then Monday morning I have all my wraps and foccacia's being delivered to my house. And that has been a nightmare to organise. But I am glad they have come through for me.

You see, I am getting these from Gold Coast bakeries, and they don't deliver to Wooloowin where I work. So it has been a mass of phone calls between the company and myself to get someone to deliver the stuff I want. But they have come through for me. Which is great news.

I am so tired after a really full on week. I have finished up at the High School as of this morning so had to do final stocktakes and the banking etc to hand over to the new girl. So did all that, and just made it to work on time. Otherwise it has been a busy week there. I had to go to the other centre on Thursday, which is a 45 min drive away up the highway. Spent the morning there, got all my new saucepans, cookers, food processor, containers etc as they had bought them all for me. Then went back to my work in the afternoon to put it all away.

It is going to be such a change for the centre. We can't wait. Hopefully nothing drastic will happen, which i don't expect. Mind you, I don;t think the parents realise it isthis coming Monday that I start with the food. A lot of them when I have reminded them, have said oh already? Is it that far into the year. Oh well, we might have some extra food for a few days, til everyone cottons on to it.

I am going out for dinner tonight with one of my girlfriends that I haven't seen for a while. We have both been so busy. So she sent me a txt before to say lets go out for dinner. So of course I have to go.