I ahve missed Minti and my friends and I hope you are all well and enjoying life, that your families are enjoying good health and that your worries are small. =)

The weather has been all over the place, usual for this time of year I wish we could collect the rain clouds though and send them over to the drought areas my thoughts and prayers are with those struggling to continue on when the elements conspire against them... especially this time of year which can make things seem harder for a lot of people.

I have been to Kmart and purchased my gift for a child I dont even know, to make their life a little brighter this holiday season and this week I will purchase grocery items for the collection box outside the store to help those less fortunate in our society.

My year has been hard but for others its harder, my wish for all is joy, peace and happiness.

Had my first manicure- how girly and lovely, they will probably only last a few days now im back at work hahaha

The best news I came back expecting to spend a week cleaning house but didnt have to YEH YEH missed my grandies heaps while away and have made up for it in kisses and cuddles since returning.

Its been a difficult few weeks with all sorts of things happening but we are managing and dealing with them one at a time. That's really all you can do when the cosmos conspires to upset your applecart.

Havent seen my second grandy for a while his mum is being difficult  and has said some nasty hurtful things about my baby boy...I have explained that while shes angry and hes miserable there wasnt a lot I could do but try and be there for them both I feel the age gap betwen them is widening even more...but she did text me to let me know that he has his first tooth and is sitting :-)

Tomorrow im off to Perth to a place called Molescan being fair skinned I know the need to keep a watchful eye on changes in moles but I think a professional checkup is essential. I had a biposy done a couple of weeks ago the Dr sent me a note to go in which floored me as did his first words its not what i thought it was but there is no cancer however we'll have to remove the rest, didnt fill me with a great deal of faith :-( Im not saying that Dr's cant get things wrong like everyone they are human I guess in this country where skin cancer is a huge worry there should be more specialised places to have them checked by experts.

The grandies are well and adorable, being a grandparent is awesome, Ive p[robably said that before but it truly is a great experience. I get to see one grandchild more than the other the one I see is my daughters child the otehr is my sons child his partner isnt one for visiting but I always have goodies for when she does or top send over with my son. I love bookclubs I ahve just given them a book each on baby play which suggested different activities for different age groups both girls thought they were a great idea. :-)

Things have been going OK, mum's visit went well and she misses the little ones but is appreciative of being able to see them. I havent seen my youngest Grandy for a few weeks now but my son and his partner are talking and thats a start.

My other grandy yelled 'nan nan' and naturally I said here I am and his grin was huge, Im hoping my responding will help him make the link to that being me....yes I know hes little but hey.

Thank you to all my friends who have popped by and left pictures and messages I do appreciate it very much.... of to enjoy the rest of my day...hoping yours is just as pleasant!

Ej scored well being to small for chocolate he recieved some lovely gifts and was well behaved throughout :-)

Mum has been ill with a serious cold which she has lovingly shared with the family fortunately not with the grandies. I am printing pics for her to take home with her and some to send to my dragon-in-law lest she should feel left out...not encouraging her to visit any time soon...bad girl is me!

I hope all my minti friends had a wonderful Easter and that the bunny was a generous as he pissibly could be :-)

To add to that my oldest went back to work after a weeks holiday to be sacked...to say i was gobsmacked was an understatement...it seems the franchise owners wife had taken exception to him, he had asked for two weeks off and although had accrued almost two weeks leave they said no he was 3 hours short just the week. He said OK, the week preceding the holiday he had a public holiday, a tooth extraction (which I made the appointment for over a week before and had told the supervisor) his RDO went to work and had Friday off, yes it looks sus but with the exception of the Friday when he was helping his brother who was moving as he and his partner had been evicted it was all legit however the boss has taken exception and sacked him....very frustrating. Seem a few have been tagged by the misses to go which is sad because even the boss said when you are hear youre a good worker.

My daughter and grandson have moved in temporarily until she and he husband begin counselling, hopefully this will help however with his attitude of I dont need to change, I am only doing your housework because your depressed it doesnt leave me with much confidence for success....his mother says your like your mother, she's not I would have left months ago but I feel the slight and it hurts, my daughter has done eveerything she can think off to sort this and shes exhausted a little r&r with mum n dad isnt such a bad thing and we only live around the corner so her hubby sees both her and the baby frequently.

Still Im optimistic that we'll get through all this, we've managed before to deal with thr dramas and we'll do it agin I imagine....wouldnt mind a hug from my mum myself!

hopefully no tears for me as I walk in the gate, i was feeling really up for the best part of last week but Friday proved to be very overwhelming, I work my heart out havent stopped this weekend so that everything is ready to slot into place but as with every profession there are some jerks who feel that have the right to be judgemental and interfering... I will make the most of this year and hope that I get a transfer which I didnt get last year.

In the meantime my family have pulled together to help the second youngest get his stuff out of the house of which hes been evicted, his gf pissed off leaving him with the packing and the baby, his sister took the baby to her place with her own till I culd get there after work, in between she had to go to work herself so the youngest went to her place with the eldest and watched the babies till I got there, after the worse day I had to smile  as I walked in and saw my oldest and youngest inside the playpen with the babies feeding and amusing them....they ran out the door quickly when I arrived but not before expressing their admiration for me handling the four of them all on my own... an little awe on their side and little ego stroking on mine...feels good!

As I have said I have been planning and prepping all weekend so hopefully it will be a smooth week.

I spend my time making life comfortable for others, more than I need to according to mym mother and maybe she's right so maybe I wont be as accomodating as I am usually and see how that works, I AM NOT everyones whipping boy.

Australia day went well, I saw in a magazine a pav shaped like Australia, I tried that...the frozen berries thawed before eating and my grandson love it...it contained less sugar than normal and so I though what the heck he's eaten his vegemite toast...it was awesome to see this new little aussie try it, the wrinkled nose and confusion as it crumbled then disolved his look at nanna what is it??? what have you given me this time. He loves to explore new taste sensations and is healthy and thriving...I know that you 'shouldnt' but I do and he's fine and I am careful.

Unfortunately the upload pic is disabled maybe its just me but how sad... still my clever minti friends can imagine my georgous grandy :-)...he has his nanna wrapped around his little finger. I had to watch him yesterday as both parents were rostered on to work, first nap ok second nap no go...ended up laying on nanna's bed and went straing to sleep...luttle tinker laid on my sarong so I couldnt escape eventually I slid free but it took some doing, my hubby said why didnt you just undo it and yes I had a DERRRRRR moment.

It seems that the summer heat isnt the only heat I am experiencing I am getting middle aged I have had 'tropical' moments I am worried that now I seem to have my meds sorted that "Meno" will upset the applecart still so far the tropical moments or moments in hades happen at night I change my night ware and they are infrequent ....does this mean I can get a seniors card now???? lol

The dramas with kids continue but I am dealing with all the joys of being a parents to young adults as they happen and by and large its not to bad.

I get to spend a lot of time with my oldest grandy but miss seeing my youngest, troubles??? not sure may pop in I do know that my youngest sons partner threatened to take the baby so he'd never see him again but thankfully that seems to have blown over..for now.

The weather is lovely the birds are singing and there is a lovely cool breeze coming through my window...I love summer maybe not the extremes in temp but definately the warmer part of the year.

The whole family came for lunch including my daughters inlaws, they dined on a buffet of differing meats, vegies, salads and my first attempt at sushi rolls, I made every effort for something new and fresh along with tradition and catered for the differing and fussy eaters...all was enjoyed and my greatest joy seeing my family eating, drinking and being merry was achieved.

No fighting; no cross words; just relaxed happiness, in the afternoon the in-laws went home for a nap, my oldest son went and had a nap on his bed, my daughter and her hubby on the futon, my youngest on our bed, my youngest son in an recliner, hubby one the lounge, oldest grandson fell asleep in the cot my youngest grandson asleep on my chest as did nana and nap we did hehehehe at verying times someone woke up and snapped photos, my youngest grandson stayed where he was for a couple of hours  and this mother, grandmother and hostess felt appreciated, loved and relaxed... all the worrying, stress and dealing with irate shoppers and drivers before hand was worth it I have felt my piece of heaven and loved every second of it.

To all my minti friends, I hope your Christmas experiences were just as awesome and all my very best for 2008 to you all.

Then I came home to watch my other Grandy while his parents had went their staff chirstmas party. Hes such a good boy had his bath dinner and went to bed.

My youngest came for a visit, I cooked dinner and then went to  bed woke up at 12 to feed the baby and my other daughter picked him up about 12.30. My oldest who lives here hasnt been home for a couple of nights we have found out he's cracked the windscreen and is in hiding.... boys I sent a text letting him know that we knew and he could come home accidents happen we'll get it sorted, life happens :-)

I had a lovely visit from Ej yesterday who at 5 months is very proud of his second tooth, so much so he guided Nanna's finger to his mouth and bit it - ouch! it was such a surprise I made a noise and he stopped and looked at me with a very concerned face. I looked at him and siad nanny's Ok and he gave me the biggest smile - me thinks this one has been on earth before :-)

I havent seen my other grandy but at 2:30am Sat my son rang to say high and sorry he hadnt had credit to ring back on Friday when I left a message. I said thats fine just wanted to know everyone was Ok and they are so thats good. My son lives vampire hours so its not unusual to have a night call although the heart starter when the phone rings is something I could do without lol

My youngest has spray painted her Christmas tree black and now wants to great a goth angel, interesting to say the least but I have to say that the black tree with silver decorations looks quite stunning.

Hubby bought me one from K mart so they are fashionable, however I am hanging only family ornaments, we each have a special ornament and naturally the number will grow as the family expands.

Time to go get ready for work, thinking of all my minti friends and hoping that all is well in their neck of the woods :-)

Its been an awesome weekend my dear, dear friends my hubby took me Hot Air Ballooning in Northam and when we came home we found our that EJ had cut his first tooth and now his cousin has arrived...it doesnt get better than this!