Frustrations!

Grr! Julian has been getting into trouble at school. While I have tried over and over again to get the teachers to listen , some of them DONT GET IT! Imagine you are underwater and someone is talking to you from above, then add the drone of airconditioners AND the other students talking too! :( EEEKKK!!

So after MANY emails back and forth, after a teacher/parent meeting we found some understanding from the deputy principal and class teacher. FINALLY! It has been decided that there will be written instructions as well as verbal instructions too. Hooray! I figure it will help other students in the class too.

Hearing tests have revealed that there is hearing loss - but not enough to get hearing aids...The other side of the coin is making Julian "different" from his peers by having to wear a hearing aid. So hard.

I'm just glad we waded through all the rubbish to get him the help he needed. He growing up to be an awesome young man and we are proud of his efforts.

Ribbon Day

As everyone knows...I work with Special Needs Children. Well...today we all took part in "Ribbon Day" which involved various sport agencies five schools some Police Cadets and lots of harassed teachers.

I am proud I didnt lose a single student. We all participated in basketball, cricket, altheltics - jumps, javelin and sprints, football aka soccer and softball. Everything was modified to suit the needs of the students and each group had 20mins to try their new game. There were some very lovely Police cadets around to help the students try out new things and encourage and support the teachers and assistants! The smiles, laughter and giggles were worth all the calories I burned running around...and new friendships were formed. It was a pretty awesome day.

I was impressed with the sportmanship and great behaviour. I got to catch up with workmates from Riverton ESC and that was pretty awesome too. I'm reminded of why I do what I do. :)

Count Down Begins!

SO, our family is going on "ADVENTURE" to erm...the far south...and across several boarders...and a bit of ocean...in a PLANE ! The excitement and anticipation has been building for months and months...since May of this year actually! Finally the calendar is saying only X number of sleeps to go! Woo hoo! House, puppy, kitty cat and rabbit sitter booked!

As part of our early morning chat, the girls decided to write "lists" of all the "stuff" we have to bring...erm...yeh! Since there is a weight limit...it will be hilarious when they get to see what they are actually allowed to take with them! ha ha ha ha ha! I'm all for being super organised tho...and those lists? Well I cant commend them enough for being so efficient! :) Girls after their own mother really!

Bags have been dragged out and negotiations are beginning on who gets to use what bags...hmmm...watch this space !

School holiday FUN !

I LOVE school holidays! (I think I might have mentioned that a time or two?!) I LOVE that I dont have to clock watch the whole day and to get people to places on time, meals ready on time, bed time etc...its just nice to just "chillax" as my teen's try to tell me.

So over this school holiday break we have been carefully watching our "pennies" because we are still saving like mad for our big holiday in Tasmania. With this goal in mind we thought we would be creative in finding things to do. As per norm, there was the scrapday(s) and play dates. We also baked, cooked, made cards, gardened, made forts out of bedsheets, cushions and whatever else was handy, played hide and seek, read books (I have read THREE - go me!) played on the computer, sorted photos and generally had a good time.

We also booked to stay with our friends the Van Dijks. Fiona and Evitt live in Harvey on a four acre block which runs down to a creek. It is approximately an hour and a half drive away. The McDade's and the Schokkers came down south with us too. It was great to visit and eat (lots) play on Lee's quad bike (no Michaeal you may NOT have one for Christmas) and just hanging about.

Michaela's daisy chain. So pretty !



The campsite in the Van Dijk's garden.



Harvey chillaxing.

My children being goofballs!

The Van Dijk's pet lamb - "Pork Chop"

We have A LOT of children between us !

WHO brings a laptop camping?! Seriously folks?! Belive it or not - they are watching a movie on
the laptop...under the towel.



A man cooking! WOOOAAAHHHH!!!




Yodie (the McDade's dog), Lee and Julian.



In door picinic/BBQ.

On the first night it rained. The second night we had a huge wind storm and expected rain which didnt eventuate. We decided that we were doing some "extreme" camping! ha ha ha ! The tent was cosy with our family and the McDades. The Schokkers slept in the Van Dijks house.

Due to the huge winds, our scheduled "bonfire" had to be cancelled. :( But we were really adaptable campers....and had an "indoor" S'more making session on the potbelly stove/heater inside ! Hee hee!

A great time was had by all.

Since I'm catching up on blogs....

On to other news...our garden has been going "gang busters" of late...thanks to Harvey's hard work !

Snowpeas, Scarlet Runner Beans, Pak choy, Cos Lettuce, Tomatoes, Carrots, Spinich, Silverbeet, Potatoes, Raddishes,
Chilli, Cucumbers and Zucchini !!

FINALLY we have mango flowers after THREE years!!

Our mulberry tree is now taller than Harv.

Thanks to a kind work-mate, Harv was able to "build" up a raised garden bed and fill it with horse poop, lawn clippings, paper and Perth's sandy soils. It has been a rewarding year! The Snowpeas have produced almost two full shopping bags of peas! Good thing we like to eat them !

Colourful Birthdays !

I cant belive how time flies! We have birthdays galore and it had been hectic but FUN ! The girls have discovered coloured cupcakes...photos below...and they have been "experimenting" in the kitchen...with some really "interesting" results ! 



Happy 18th Josh !




Harvey got a HEART in his cake! Special....




The letters say "Josh is OLD"...dontcha LOVE sisters?!




Josh has a cake monster...and Julian is looking worried....

  One month later ...(yeh I'm a bit slack at this blogging thing?!) We have Michaela's birthday....a 16th !

Miss Piggy....This is Michaela's Chinese horoscope year...No we arent being mean!

Blowing out her 16 candles...

Meanies tied a balloon to the dog ! :O

Everyone enjoying the chocolate fountain.

Cutting the cake...which was a rainbow ! :)



Random photos of the month...

Thought I'd share some happy snaps ...

Wating for dinner...hurry up !

Singing to all the birthday peoples.



Blowing out the candles.



Random photo of our naughty cat Whatt...who got into the toilet paper...again!

Karen Schokker and I at "Wicked"  11th Aug 2011