today...

Today we went here...to say good bye to Ben for another 5 weeks...We have had such a good summer break since he has been home...We all feel a bit flat after he has gone...He is off to Cape Town to bring a boat back to Australia...it will take 22 days to cross the Indian Ocean...E telling Ben she will miss him...E wanted to take a photo too but wouldn't stop...You've got to laugh at this one! My eyes are almost normal again today...We now have a child gate into the kitchen which gives me piece of mind when I am here alone...And we have another mango lover in the family...And here is E and Lara playing Barbies today...I tried to avoid the whole Barbie thing but figure I had them when I was young and it did no harm...I think....lol...And the girls swimming...Shauna had a swim but it was too cold for M and I...Mum came over for tea and a swim too...we had a yummy salad of spinach leaves, figs, prosciutto and bocconcini with a balsamic dressing...really easy to make and so delicious...I plan to have this a lot while figs are in season! Can you believe it is the end of Janauary already...Hope you are having a good weekend - Lissy

three steps...

Morganne took three steps tonight...so she is on the brink of walking...it will be nice if she does before Ben leaves on Saturday! I have some "baby legs" for Morganne...E likes them too! So they are sharing! We had fun outside this evening on the trampoline and swing...And Morganne has discovered the tool bench...And the girls after M woke up from her nap...I have managed nothing much so far today...but I did make a half decent card...I find card making really difficult for some reason...And I got some photos, a Valentines Day card and things together to send with Ben...I hide things in his suitcase...Lissy

hair cuts and stuff...

E had her hair cut Tuesday...we had a couple of inches taken off it...she loved the whole experience...She had a little school friend over to play for the day and another friend and her little girl came for lunch and a swim...and then my friend Jo came for tea...busy day...

Not so good is I have conjunctivitis...no one else as yet just me...never had it before and it is yucky...so we didn't get to see Alli and her boys yesterday...Ben's parents came for tea last night though...Ben is on a course all this week and then flies to Cape Town (South Africa) to join a boat which is then coming back to Australia...

Here are our girls this morning...so cute...The matching PJs were requested by Evangeline...and I found these for $5 each at Cotton On Kids...bargain! Morganne is having moments of standing unsupported...

And I have made some headway into the BIG MESS...but so much more to do...

And look at this for a great idea for your rub ons...Decorative Rocks

OK - I should get to and get something done this afternoon! Lissy

drowning in stuff...

OK - here it is...the HUGE mess that is my room...it has become the house hold dumping ground for the last year...bad isn't it! I have moments when my desk or part of it gets cleared...Embarrassing as it is I have decided to share my mess and hope it galvanises me into action...and yes it is as bad as it looks! Alli and Sharon can vouch for that!This shelving unit is the only vaguely organised bit...it isn't any wonder I am getting nothing done in here as if I attempted anything there would be an avalanche or two!So yesterday I started the big clean up...I have bought some new storage boxes for my photos after reading Photo Freedom by Stacy Julian while at the farm at Christmas time...I love that book...it makes so much sense...So I am working on sorting all the boxes of photos out..but first I am doing a big general clean up and that will involving throwing out a lot of stuff...and getting some new desks and shelving at some point too...a LOT of work ahead of me...

And I want to paint and put up pictures and stuff too...it will take me a while but it will happen...actually I am anticipating it will take a LONG time...

I have also started clearing out in Morganne's room too...packing away some of the baby stuff and clothes that has accumulated in there...then I want to paint and put up a very cute wall mural I got for her!

Wish me luck...and stay tuned for some miraculous changes - Lissy

Australia Day...

It is the Australia Day long weekend...Ben has been putting in the pool fencing...we have an enclosed pool but as the living area opens onto it we decided to add a pool fence for extra piece of mind...and he has been fixing gutters...E had a very exciting time going up on the roof...M is learning to walk...She has had moments of standing unsupported and is happily pushing toys around like this pram she got for Christmas....so I am thinking soon she will actually begin walking...We went to mum's for tea...E was very excited....seeing the planes and sky writing...And we watched the fire works...M is pulling funny faces...E loves reading to her...And a few months ago E planed a seed from an apple she was eating..it is growing well...Grandma is in charge of its care! One day we may have a tree with apples...And speaking of "Australia"...any one recognise this little chap...I taught him in Broome when he was in Year One ...he certainly had plenty of personality! It has taken me until now to figure it out...lol...getting dim in my old age...I haven't seen the film yet, but I kept thinking he looked familiar and the name was familiar...then I twigged and went through my photos! I hope things work out well for him...Anyway that is it for this long weekend...off to get E's haircut today...Lissy

bussleton...

We're back from Bussleton...we only had a few days down there but had a lovely relaxing time...and we had fun "camping" in the cabins with Alli and Family...It is about 100m to the beach...Here is Alli and her family...E and M had plenty of kids to play with...We went to the beach...E got stung by a jelly fish badly on the first day...But still had lots of fun on other days...M played in the sand...E collected shells...Hanging out around the campsite...Eating Icy poles...Having a bath in the Laundry sink...Stealing E's camp chair...Enjoying the garden at Caves House...Looking at rugged coastlines...Cool mornings at the campsite...M and E having fun out and about...We had lots of yummy meals out too...And we walked the Bussleton Jetty...it is 1.8 km each way so Evangeline did really well to make it! And we went to Simmos Icecreamery which has a great play ground...and great ice cream...And plenty of grass for Morganne...We went to Yallingup...And Bunker Bay...And now I think I shall have to make a mini album...way too many photos for layouts...And Alli is bound to have some more photos for me too...it was nice to have a real relaxing family holiday...Lissy