Obviously there are alot of stories behind those ones but I will start with Daniel.  For those of you who remember we have had alot of trouble with Dan at school but this year has been the worst.  He was bullied and stuck up for himself and then suspended.  Not just once but 4 times.  I was over it and an opportunity arised to send him to a private school (which by the way costs less that daycare - I was pleasantly surprised).  He is a changed boy.  He loves school and has been in no trouble at all in his new school.  He has been there since August.  He still needs alot of help with his work but they have helped him so much.  The kids have all welcomed him and he never wants to go back to his other school.  To top it off he was feeling a little sick the other day but said "I am not staying home - I want to go to school!"  What a changed boy.

Oh well so as not to bore you I will tell more stories later.

I really like this!

Happy Mothers Day all!

Well today I got to school to pick him up and the boy he has been having problems with had just tackled him to the ground and then was throwing rocks (the size of a tennis ball) at his head.  Oh so annoying.  I went straight away and spoke to the deputy principal who will sort it out on Monday but as I was leaving the office a girl (who was in tears) came to the office with her mother, and the same boy had locked her in the bike enclosure and would not let her out.  I think he will be in a bit of trouble at school on Monday.

I did tell the Deputy Principal that he had also been threatening DJ outside the school and she informed me that I could ask the police to talk to him since it happened outside school.  I guess I will think about that if anything else happens outside school.

DJ has had his sister there to help him at school but she goes to high school next year and won't be there so we really need to sort this out now!  Hopefully they school will sort it out next week!

(By the way aren't you proud - 3 blogs in 2 days - amazing)

On Saturday KM (who is 12 today) sang the national anthem in front of about 2 thousand people.  She was awesome and was not even nervous.  She is going to do very well when she is a little older.  She has so much confidence!

Kaitlyn who has just turned 16 is auditioning for Australian Idol on the weekend.  She is very talented but doesn't have alot of confidence but even if she only auditions in front of the producers of the show it will be good so she has some practice.  She has never even auditioned for the talent quest at her school so just the fact that she is turning up at the audition is a step in the right direction.  It would be good for her though if she got to audition for the judges - nerve wracking but good!

DJ turned 10 last Sunday and had a great day.  We are having their parties on Sunday (yes I know Mothers Day but it was the only time we had).  Hopefully they have enough people come!

ED is getting bigger and more mature every day.  It is a shame that he was too young for prep this year as he is so smart.  He is playing computer games on his Dads laptop right now and he found the website himself!!  He has just started to write his name which is good.  He never really had any interest before but now he likes to write it!

Scotty is very busy with his truck business but I guess that is a good thing.

Anyway I guess that will do for now.

Finally it was time to go and he started the class.  A lot more running, hopping, sidestepping and jumping than he was used to and all of a sudden his face went from being happy to loking as if he was going to cry.  I asked him what was wrong and he just burst into tears.  I had been watching the whole time and didn't see anything happen.  I asked "What happened?.  Did someone hurt you?  Are your feet hurting"  All answers "NO"  Then he blurted out "YOU FORGOT TO GET ME A DRINK".  I said No I didn't mate.  It is here".  So he took a drink and ran back to class.  lol

He was obviously so thirsty from all the extra work that he just couldn't even ask.  Any way he had a great time and he was really good!  Now he wants to go to Miss Carols class and Marks class.  So I guess we are now even more busy!!  Although I am usually there with DJ & KM anyway.  Only really an extra 1/2 hour.  I'm sure I'll cope - lol.

2. Select the 4th picture.

3. Explain the picture.

4. Tag 4 people to do the same. ( Don't forget to let them know)

Have fun,

Well I kindof cheated because all of my photos are on my hubby's computer but this is the 4th one that I have on my computer.  This is Hubby and ED at Seaworld last year (waiting to get in). 

I tag rachelcook, matthew, Krazykat22 and M1sse.  (sorry don't know how to link these people - you'd think I would having been on here for so long!)

KJ goes into grade 12, KM goes into grade 7, DJ grade 5 and ED unfortunately misses out on Prep this year because he was born after the 1st July.  It's annoying because he is ready to go. 

Oh well one more week to enjoy!

I pray that 2009 is a year of great happiness and blessings for all!

Hi there!

Trusting that this finds you well!  Things are certainly getting quite warm now in Bali, as we move into the wet season.  The heat and humidity leading into the rain makes this the hottest time of year! 

I don’t want to keep you long, so I will get right to the point.

The purpose of this note is to let you know about a great way that you can help to support the local community and poor children here in Bali.  We are starting to work with some families here that are very poor.  One small village is located directly behind the Australian Consulate, and is a very neglected and poor place.  Walk with me and meet a couple of these families:

With two young boys aged 5 and 2, this family is far from enjoying seeing their boys grow up.  Both boys are severely malnourished, don’t attend school, and face the same future that their parents currently live.  Both mum and dad work, but only earn about $1 per day to feed their family of 4.  While mum and dad are at work, these boys are looked after by a neighbour, along with approximately 30 other school age children that don’t have the funds to attend the local school.

          sorry I can't get photos to link (Julie)

Another lady in this village is a single mum with only one of her daughters living with her.  Her older (7 year old) daughter is forced to live with her grandma on another Island in Indonesia where schooling is much cheaper.  The younger daughter will also be forced to move to live with her grandma next year when she starts school.  This single mum spends all day searching for empty discarded plastic bottles.  She can sell 1kg of plastic bottles for 40c, and sells about 2kg per day.  This is the only way she can afford to feed her family.  When we mentioned the possibility of bringing a teacher to their village, and setting up a simple school, she was so excited.  The possibility of bringing her older daughter back to live with her gave her a glimmer of hope!

Both of these families live in a room about 3m x 3m, with a tin roof, dirt floor and only a mat to sleep on.  They live without electricity, because having electricity would cost them an extra $3 per month – a luxury they simply can’t afford.

But there is hope.  These people can experience love this Christmas.

How Can I Help?

We have recently launched a brand new website selling a wide variety of greeting cards and card making stuff (www.kraftlounge.com).

So, how is that going to help these families?  I’m glad you asked.  For every card that you purchase, $1 from each card will be donated towards improving life for these local families and poor children living in Bali.

Buying one of our Christmas cards this year will not only bring a beautiful hand made card to someone you love, but will also help to improve the life of these poor families this Christmas season.  Purchasing our cards, will also help to keep our local card makers employed!!

So, what are you waiting for?  Go to www.kraftlounge.com now, and order your gorgeous Christmas cards, and help to transform a community.

How will my funds be used?

Money donated from the purchase of cards will be used in 1 of 3 ways:

1.     helping to establish a simple classroom with a local teacher in the village

2.     giving a little extra food to these families throughout this Christmas season

3.     helping to support the Compassion program run by our local church.  Please go to www.cccbali.org/compassion.php for more information.

Click Here……  Order Now

Until next time,

Take care, and God Bless.

Suzanne

He had a great day. Started out with his presents this morning and Scott (my husband) was able to stay home today so that was awesome. He then went to daycare and had birthday cake and gave his friends party bags.  Then wanted chinese for dinner (I was very surprised and glad it wasn't Maccas!) so we spent a fortune and had chinese and then an icecream cake for his birthday cake.  He love the candles and the sparklers.  

All in all a great day and he did not want it to end! 

DJs arm is ok.   Looks like he has pulled one of the stitches but it is still looking good.  No sign of infection or anything.

ED is so cute - he will be 4 next Monday.  That has just gone too fast.  When we were at the hospital today he had the ipod on and was singing quite loudly in the waiting room.   Very cute!

KJ has been the most annoying teenager and I just hope she gets over it soon.

KM is lovely (mostly).  She is doing well at school and is helping (a little bit) around the house and at the moment is such a pleasure to have around.  I did say mostly!

Scott has warned me that if I play netball in the next few weeks I will be in huge trouble so I may not. - Maybe.  We will see how it goes.  I know it won't surprise my Doctor if I play 'cause he has been my Dr since I was a kid and knows what I am like.  I am a big sucker for punishment. lol

Yesterday, just after we got home from school,  I was in my bedroom trying to keep my 3yo asleep while his 9 yo brother and 15 yo sister were fighting.  I head DJ go into his sisters room and start throwing things.  I was about to get up and tell him to stop when I heard KJ go in there.  I thought ok she will get him out and all will be ok.  How wrong can one person be.

I then heard an almighty CRASH and then lots of yelling and crying.  I jumped off the bed and while trying to find where I had put my glasses, KJ was at my door screaming at me.  I ran into her room to find a broken window and my son, also screaming, with a huge gash on his arm and blood flowing everywhere.

To cut a really long story short we went to the hospital (arrived approx 3:30pm where we waited 2 hrs to see a nurse another 2 hrs to see a different nurse then 2 1/2 hours to see a doctor by this time the x-ray department was closed and we had to wait till the on call radiographer came back to x-ray his arm.   A change of shift of the medical staff  at 11pm then finally sutures going in at midnight!  We left the hospital at 1:10am and had to get McDonalds as neither of us had eaten for over 12 hours.

If you are a nurse or in the know could you please help with this one.  I was intrigued watching the doctor do the stitches and was surprised that I was able to watch.  Thought I'd throw up but didn't.  Anyway he only stitched the top layer.  Is that normal for such a deep cut.  There is some nerve damage but is not affecting gross motor skills he just can't feel a small part on his lower arm.

AGAIN BEWARE THE PHOTOS ARE JUST BELOW THIS - THEY ARE VERY GRAPHIC.  DO NOT LOOK IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DJ is ok by the way but won't be if he even thinks of doing that again.  I had very little sympathy.  Even joked to the nurses about giving him no pain relief so it would deter him in the future.  lol 

I finally got my appointment at the fracture clinic yesterday.  I had taken the 1/2 plaster off because it was hurting more than it was helping.  They did more x-rays and still could not see the fracture but they think that it is a fracture that does not necessarily show on an x-ray so they are sending me for a ct scan.  In the meantime I now have thus wonderful fashion accessory.  

Unfortunately I am not getting any sympathy from anyone in my family and still have to do most of the work!!  Oh well such is life.  

It is really hard to type like this and this is taking me ages (trying to fix all my typing errors).

Everything else is going fine albeit busy!  Again that is my life.  lol

I did it - I actually put in a photo!  lol  This is my little ED (On the far left) on a ride at Seaworld a couple of weeks ago.  Hopefully more photos to follow.

KJ, KM, DJ, ED & Scottie.

and me..

I love this one...

It's so hard to do stuff but i am getting there.  I think the 1/2 a plaster cast hurts more than the fracture.  I am ok though so all is good.

hope all is ok with you all!