Confidence and other matters.

It's been a while. I've honestly had nothing to write about. I've been busy but I have nothing to tell you. We've all been well and happy - but nothing to tell really.

So I'll fill you in on my nothingness... :)

EJ - I'm so incredibly proud of him! He's doing so well!! His major accomplishment of the last month is getting some confidence. He's no longer hanging off my legs at kindy and Sunday School - but confidently walking in, and going to whatever it is he wants to do. In the past I would have to prod him in and help him decide on what he wanted to do. His kindy teachers have noticed this new found confidence and are so happy with his progress. He's happy now to walk into a group of kids and join in. He is becoming more social with this confidence, I guess he is now talking better so can understood.

I had another Bad Mummy Moment last weekend - I noticed EJ was more clumsy than usual, constantly tripping over his own feet. Then I noticed that his slippers needed replacing since they were falling a part. So I replaced his slippers with the next size up - and was a bit surprised to see that his toes were jammed up at the end. Surely these slippers were a small 11. Oh no.... not at all. His feet had exploded sometime, and in his old slippers his toes were smack bang up the end - and he had grown 2 sizes. He's now a 12. Bigger foot than Mop! I felt terrible! Poor kid, how long was he uncomfortable in those shoes?

Mop - turned 7 and is now mustering up all the attitude she can to keep us on our toes. She had a great birthday party sleepover thingo... The girls all had a wonderful time. On her birthday morning we did a treasure hunt for her to find her presents - and all her little girl-friends helped her. She loved hunting all over the house for her gifts - each one getting bigger and bigger. :) In the afternoon family came round and wished her happy birthday. We had a small cake and then later on Grandma bought round cupcakes... so we got more cake. She got a few really lovely things, but I think the highlights were her scooter, all the bling that we and Marie gave her, and a little sewing machine that was given to her by Nanny.



Milly - is just too cute. She is talking so much more and the things she comes out with is hillarious. She finds it a bit tough of Thursdays and Fridays when both EJ and Mop are at school, and she is all alone. She gets lonely easily and wanders around miserable for a little while. I usually start her doing something, and then she gets into the swing of things. She's happy when it's school pick time.

That's all folks...

Really... told you it's a bit boring around here.

It's been quiet on the Skipper Front.

.. and thank the Lord for that. I needed a bit of a break!!

So what's been happening....


NOT MUCH! :)

I've still got under a month left of uni break before I launch into study again. I'm using the time well by doing lots of crafty bits. I've finished quite a few projects - which you can check out HERE

Winter lurgies are hanging around and I am sick to death of it already. Viruses, colds, croup, coughs, etc... not fun. The worse thing is that the kids bring them home from school - and then I get them all. Not fair at all!.

E is doing relatively well. Yesterday I took him to the shops - which is usually WAAAAAY out of his comfort zone. He did incredibly well and I'm proud of him. I took him around Kmart to check out all the toys they have in stock for the toy sale, and he had a wonderful time looking at everything and testing it out. LOL

Daz and I finalised what we are getting the kids for Christmas, in time for him to do the annual midnight shop at the toy sales. It was weird not buying baby stuff this time round - since Milly will be 3 and into little girl things by then. I'm excited that I got to flip past the Fisher and Price stuff! :) Since the kids are sorted, it's just a matter of everyone else, and all the handmade items I will be making this year.

Milly is growing up. Check her out:




She is talking lots and becoming a real little girl. My baby is growing up so fast and I wish she would slow down!! She is such a good girl!

Mop is exhausted - 11 weeks of school term is a very long time, and I think she well deserves the 2 weeks of school hols that are coming up, starting tomorrow. She's pale, big black rings under her eyes and grumpy. I plan to buy her some wool and knitting needles in the next couple of days and she can learn to knit on her break. She will love that!

Mop's birthday party invitations were passed out on Tuesday - she is having her very first sleep over. She can't wait!! She was allowed to invite 6 girls from her class. We will probably have a few celebrations over the week so she can celebrate with her family and other friends who aren't invited to the sleep-over. Lots of cake....hmmm my hips won't be happy! LOL

Not much else has been happening, and I'm grateful for the peace and quiet. I wish everyday was like this.

Right... it's lunch time, I'm hungry and I'm sure it will take me half an hour to actually decide what I want for lunch, so by then I'll be ravenous. Typical.

xxx Skip

It's been a busy week!

What a busy week it's been! I'm just a tad tired!

So what's been happening?

I finished uni for the semester. I'm really happy with my assignments and how I went about it. Now it's just a matter of if my lecturer/tutor is happy with them. :) I have also decided to up the ante a bit and start doing more subjects so I can get a move on and hopefully start working a bit sooner. I am taking on 2 subjects and an intensive this semester which is significantly more than my usual 1 subject per semester. EJ is a lot more content at home and isn't melting down as much and can handle my attention being elsewhere for a bit.

I've been creating and crafting a lot in the afternoons since I finished uni. I've finished 2 major projects - and have already made my Christmas list for the things I want to make. Check out my creations here

Socially we've been rather busy, which is fun! It's great to get out and hang with friends, old and new.

I've been doing some photography for our church and that has kept me busy and out of mischief. I've had fun doing it and have been happy with the results.

Next week is looking to be just as busy, which is fine by us. We like the thought of hanging out with more friends, a trip to the zoo (thank you B & N for the tickets!) and I'm not sure what else... I think I'm due for a hair appointment this week - I've got the skunk thing happening!

Oh yeah, I'm doing another photo shoot at my Mum's house for this guy to publish Her house is more victorian than country style, but still... he asked her for photos. :)

Right.... Daz has made me bacon and eggs for tea, so I better go eat them like a good wifey! :)

Gifts Galore!

So Melissa has inspired me to do this challenge. :) It's not too hard though.... it's about gifts!!! What you do is take these 99 gifts and highlight the ones you would want! Nice and easy!

1. Slippers




2. Pyjamas


3. Chocolates
Only fair-trade or ethically sourced cocoa chocolate.



4. Flowers

5. Wii Fit

6. Shoes

7. Clothes

8. Gift voucher
From:

9. Camera

10. Cook Book
I can never have enough of these!

11. Perfume




12. Handbag


13. Book/s


14. Music/CDs

15. Sports clothes

16. Make-up

17. Skin care products

18. Soap

19. Lingerie
I won't burn your eyes out with what I would like. But racy and hot! :)

20. Iron (PFFT! You are kidding right???)

21. Foot spa

22. Massage

23. Vacuum cleaner
More specifically:

ROOMBA!!!

24. Hair salon appointment

25. Hot air balloon ride

26. Day out at theme park/zoo

27. Sewing machine
More specifically a quilting machine!


28. Shopping bag

29. Bed linen

30. Scratchies

31. Garden tools

32. Ornaments

33. Luggage

34. New car

35. New house

36. Luxury holiday
Anywhere - kid free - that involves a beach!

37. Camping tent

38. Camping gear

39. Running shoes

40. Dinner out

41. Home cooked dinner by someone else

42. Breakfast in bed

43. Framed photos

44. Handmade gifts

45. Overseas holiday
Let's go to New York! I've never been interested in going to the US before - but now I have a very big incentive!! My bestie is moving there in in a month and a bit and so I could go hang out with her. While we are there, may as well check out Niagra Falls and the Grand Canyon. Beautiful natural wonders!





46. Cruise

47. Kitchenwear

48. Pedicure

49. Sky diving

50. DVDs
Particularly these: Glee season 2 and the complete collection of Larkrise to Candleford.




51. Pushbike

52. Bottle of champagne

53. Jewellery
An eternity ring may be nice!



54. Glasswear

55. Bottle of wine

56. Crystal

57. Painting/artwork

58. Tickets to the theatre

59. Tickets to the opera

60. Tickets to the movies

61. Slow cooker

62. Treadmill

63. Island resort holiday

64. Gym membership

65. Whitegoods

66. Computer
One just for my digi scrapping. :) I don't really need it, I am sitting on a pink laptop... which is 99% mine. Daz just borrows it occasionally.

67. i-Phone

68. Magazine subscription








69. 12 months delivery of roses

70. Mountain getaway

71. Mountain climbing trek

72. i-Pod

73. Mystery flight

74. Whale watching tour

75. Coffee mugs

76. Grand piano

77. Cleaner for a year More time for quilting and sewing!

78. Pool

79. Ride in a racing car

80. Tattoo

81. Writing classes

82. Singing lessons

83. Sunglasses

84. Watch

85. Fluffy towels

86. New furniture

87. Dressing gown

88. Prize home ticket

89. Prize home

90. Helicopter ride

91. Ducted air-conditioning in every room

92. An ironing lady

93. A maid

94. A nanny

95. A donation to a charity

96. Concert tickets

97. Photo book

98. A gardener

99. Laptop


So are you going to play? Don't forget to leave a comment with your selections! I would love to see what you would choose!

Change again...

... no I'm not changing my blog template again! :P

But since it's pretty much certain (unless God has an evil sense of humor) that we are finished our family, it's time to make some changes. Our home has been set up the way it has been, pretty much, since it was just Daz and I. But we are finding with three kids, this isn't working. Formal spaces are never used, the kids only have room in their bedroom for their toys - which doesn't work when EJ and Milly both want to be with me while they play. EJ has a huge train track, that he can't play with because his bedroom is too small, and the living room is tiny as well - so he can't play with it.

So we are going to do a big change around.

When it's all done, I'll show pictures. But that's what is the plan.

Also, since EJ is getting to be less needy during the day, I have time and energy to start "purging". I've been tossing out stuff left right and center. I haven't been able to do it for a few years now because it was just too hard with a screaming boy and a tired Mama.

I've been having a ball, tossing out old stuff - ready to go to op-shops. My walk in robe has never looked so empty! Since there are no more babies, my home doesn't have to be "baby friendly" and we can now start making it more "family friendly".

At the moment my formal lounge is a dumping ground - anything that is going to the opshop is being dumped in there. We have bags and boxes all over the place! I'm not finished yet - but I reckon the room will be full to the brim of stuff to go.

Anyway... so that's what I am doing.

Honesty is the best policy.

I get spam. I hate spam. I hate having to think about male genitalia, cheap drugs from Canada and get rich fast schemes. So I use my filters. Everyday I quickly scan my spam box to see if something slipped in that shouldn't have. Today there was 1 lonely message.

From some pharmecy - and their subject line?? SPAM.

Thankyou for being honest. FINALLY someone who is spamming my account is actually being honest about it.

:)

I thought it rather funny.

A few changes...

.. Yes yes I know!! Another template. I got annoyed with the last one. The comments and the date and everything else down the bottom of the post kept overlapping and it was annoying me. So I got a new template. What made me change quick smart was the fact that Blogger has finally made it easier to keep the widgets!! WOOOHOOO! Three cheers for Blogger!!

While I was doing a bit of a look around I found a security setting to stop annonymous and spam comments. :) So you now need to be a member of have OpenID.

Ok that's all...
Back to fiddling.

Dear Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
You freak me out.
I don't like having Anonymous people commenting on my blog. It unsettles me. I personally think it's weird that someone would feel the need to hide. This is a blog that is not filled with questionable content - it's the story of my life and my family - that I share with my friends - and sometimes their friends. There is nothing you can say that warrants hiding behind "Anonymous". I'm hardly controversial!

Anonymous comments are like anonymous notes. Stinks of cowardice - it's underhanded and sneaky. I don't like them.

No name - your comments will not be published, let alone read. So if you want to be heard - you better have an identity.

Skipper

New Blog Layout

I've been wanting to do this for a while - but haven't found the perfect blog template that is really ME. The pink one was very hard to read, and one of my dear readers messaged me this morning that she really struggles to see the words. So I thought I would change it.

Beware, it could change again at a moments notice. I'm not exactly thrilled with this one... and will change it as soon as something "SKIPPER" comes along or jumps out at me.


But for now... it will do.

Check this out!!

Look at this amazing creativity. This isn't my own, this is my sister-in-law's handiwork - Deb. She is sooo clever in face painting!! Anyway the other day at my niece's birthday she painted Mop's face and I could not get over how stunning it made her look and made her blue eyes "pop" so I took pics.

FINALLY! Spring!!!

Spring has finally decided to grace us with her presence. Beautiful 30 degree day here! I am sitting her, listening to birds chirping, dogs barking, neighbours chatting - the air is warm, balmy and still. There is a distinct promise of an approaching summer.

Bring it on baby!!

I LOVE summer...
- it's Christmas
- it's warm
- BBQ's
- Crisp, cold white wine.
- it's my birthday
- we can do more outdoors - and quit being cooped up inside all the time!
- summer clothes are lighter and just so much nicer than heavy horrid winter garb.
- swimming, iceblocks, icecream, salads, stone fruit, LONG school holidays
... and the list could go on.

If I could imagine Heaven, I reckon it would be one eternal summer!

Spring planting...

This week I've been busy planting out my freshly dug garden (thanks Daz!) So far I have three potato roots in, 5 strawberry plants, 10 tomato seedlings, basil and parsley. I have a selection of lettuces and chives coming. This weekend I plan to plant our brand new lemon tree and some shrubs to go in our front garden bed.

I love spring!

I look forward to Tomato soups, baked potatoes and fresh herbs in my cooking - not to mention strawberry sorbet - all from my own garden!

Another week and what have I got to show for it??

Well I'll tell you....

1. Milly is now in a Big Girl Princess bed... and she is not interested whatsoever in getting back into the cot. We've set it up in her room and we are gradually changing that room from the nursery into her own little space.

2. I've been working on a few creative projects, and have finally finished a project that has been a dream/idea for a few years. I put the words to "I love a sunburnt country" onto some of our photos we have taken of various places in Australia. I'm just about to send them off to get printed. I'm really happy with how they look. I want to hang them around our meals area as a conversational piece... not that we are lacking in conversation!!!

3. EJ has seen a speech pathologist AND the Occupational therapist and he coped really well there. They both had student helpers from various uni's and they played with him and made his experience fun and exciting for him. At least getting into the room isn't going to be so terrifying for him anymore. Especially if he knows that playdoh and sand tables are in the rooms!!

4. I've been spring cleaning. It's always a good feeling to get rid of the winter grime and throw open doors and windows and embrace the spring.

5. I got 96% on my test!! I have another one on Friday - I better knuckle down and study!! :)

6. Father's day was lovely. We did most of our celebrations the day before because Sunday is insane for us. We hung out with my family for a lunch and just relaxed. Daz got spoiled rotten with lots of gifts from the kids and I. He's now the yummy smelling man wearng Joop. :) Mmmmmmm!!!

That's it!! Not bad eh??

Plodding along, singing a song...

Not really singing... not much anyway... and nothing you would want to hear. LOL

So, what's happening in the life of Skipper?

Absolutely nothing.

Aren't you glad you read now? LOL

Ok let me think of something to tell you...

Ummmm...

No one is dead. Except the caterpillars that are loved to death by the little ones, and then left on the pavement, with their guts everywhere. Nice... I think Milly needs to be taught to be gentle - instead of giving them the death grip.

No one is sick - tho Milly is a bit of a snot machine because she has her eye teeth coming.

No is hurt - tho last week Mop looked like I have been beating her. She fell out of bed - HONESTLY!! - and she had a massive swollen bruise on her cheek, and then a few days later smacked her head on a chair at Mum's and had a blue egg on her forehead. Just in time for school photos!!!

It's nearly spring and this time of year I get very itchy - itchy to start new projects, decorate and clean madly. Spring cleaning starts next week, so that will take some of the itch off. Does anyone else get a bit crazy in the first part of spring?? Please don't tell me I'm the only nutty one...

This week in pictures

Our cherry blossom tree is in full blossom, welcoming spring in and chasing away the winter chills.







Every Monday I bake with the EJ and Milly - and I think they like it!! Now Milly grabs her little chair everytime I walk into the kitchen!!!





No picture - but Mop's bottom front teeth are wobbly!! :) She's gonna look sooooo cute with gaps!

Still alive

Hi all!
Just letting you know that I am still alive. I've been really busy lately and haven't had a great deal to write about.

Uni is pretty intense this semester. The assesments are coming in thick and fast. I have something due every week, and so I have to spend alot of time reading and preparing for those.

I'm sewing up a storm ready to sell a stack of stuff. I need to finish alot of stuff up today.

I'm starting to get into the Christmas spirit - since I make alot of stuff, my Christmas season lasts for 4 months!! :) I've got lots of plans to make and create, so am getting excited.

I've got some fabric from the USA sitting here ready to chop up and quilt for my baby brother's first baby, and my best friend's second baby. Both such very dear little people and I can't wait to meet them. So I'll be madly working on that because both babies are due within a week of each other.

Mop is doing ok. She is loving school and has become very creative in the last few months. I went into her classroom to do some reading with the kids. I saw a group of them crowded around something on the table. I asked what they were doing - they moved aside to show me a box with a little scene on the inside and a book attatched to the box. The book was about the scene. I was amazed! "OH wow! Who made that???" They all pointed to MY daughter!! :) I was so proud!

EJ is EJ. He's getting better in some areas, but he is regressing something awful in others. Last week he was hanging onto the pole on the verandah, screaming because he didn't want to leave the house. He had a massive melt down at the school, so now of course he starts freaking out if I have to go do a school pick up. Thankfully I have my brother Pete and his wife to rely on and they are very understanding. Also I can drop him off at Mum's to go to the school. :) We have ways around things, but it's a pain. I am just eager for him to be seen and get him sorted out.
One good thing though, we have noticed his speech seems to be improving. This is good.

Milly is just adorable as usual. Smiling, laughing, talking heaps! She is saying short sentences now, usually having something to do with the moon. Obsessed she is with the moon. :) "Look! Moon! In the sky!"
We have purchased her a little bedroom set from Spotlight - a Disney Princess bed with a chair/desk and book shelves. Marked down to $150. This will buy us a bit more time to buy a big suite.
I'm going to buy some paint and paint the old toy box for her, and we will paint her room soon. When we get 5 minutes. She still is ok in her cot for now, and we will work on her room after we have done a few other big projects.

We pretty much have decided that Milly will be our last baby. EJ has high level needs, and I don't think I could cope with another little person to be responsible for. We are pretty 100% sure of it.. but we have decided to keep the baby stuff and not take permanent measures until that niggling little "but what it??" goes away. We have heaps of room in the roof to store it in.

Not much else to really talk about. Seriously, it's been crazy, but nothing worth mentioning.

Today is 27 degrees! I will be welcoming Spring with open arms!

... on a cold and frosty morning

This morning Daz and the kids got up and went outside to this:

One end of the street: - where that light is in the middle of the fog, that is a school. :)


The other end of the street:


Last night Daz and I went outside - silly me went out without shoes on - and we watched the fog descend onto our street. The orange glow of the street lights looked eerie and out of some sort of murder mystery movie!

Today it's been drizzling all day, it's cloudy, it's cold and that's cool.
Because this morning this appeared....





The first blossom on our Cherry Blossom Tree. The sign to our household that winter is drawing to a close. I will have to remember to take a photo of the tree in full blossom - it's so beautiful!

Breaking news...

I got a call today from the Occupational Therapist, asking if EJ and I can come in on Thursday.

THURSDAY!!!

It's a 9 month waiting list!!

I don't get it...

I was under the impression that we would get a call from them in 9 months time to see EJ, not in 3 days time!

I'm happy. This could mean that we won't have to pay for a private Occ Therapist. We were willing to, because we want EJ to get treatment and help fast.



... and another thing..
We are going away this weekend. The first time we've been away since our Brisbane trip. We need it desperately. We really need some family kick back and relax time. We are going to be hanging with Scot and Kathryn for dinner and games, then just chilling all day Saturday. I met Kathryn when I was 6 I think. We've been friends for a very long time. And it's cool to have a friend you can pick up where you left off. No maintenance. No demands. And she's a great laugh! Her hubby is pretty cool too. I wish we lived closer so we could hang out more. :)

Well I'm off to bed. It's late and I have school drop off tomorrow. Fingers crossed Mop gets alot of sleep tonight. She was in a vile mood today from being so tired - got a note home in her diary from her teacher commenting on her grumpyness. Eeek...

On second thoughts....

... I'm not having surgery.

1. Everyone I have spoken to, and has had it done, said it didn't work.

2. I have a scar tissue problem - it would work with that, because I would get a build up of scarring and it would block the drains.

3. EVERYONE I have spoken to who has had the same ENT specialist has said that he butchered them, and he has you in his office for 5 minutes and recommends the operation. Looks like he is in it for the money.

So I am going to have to learn to live with acute sinusitus. So will go see another doctor and talk to him about management, rather than surgery. I'll need to get management under control before considering another baby anyway - because I can't do anti-biotics while pregnant. :) But... that is still a big IF.



... anyway....

The process with EJ is coming along nicely. I saw a Social worker today and she has given me some good practical advice to apply to help his emotional growth. The mental health people will help me with his anxiety or whatever is the problem there... if there is one. :)

I'm feeling very positive about it and I know that he is going to be a happier little boy, and I will be a better parent because of the help I am getting. My Mum is giving me alot of support. She helps me with him as well as encouraging me and letting me talk to her about this alot. When I have to go somewhere or want to go somewhere that E won't cope with, she looks after him. He happens to be president of the Nanny Fan Club, so he's happy! She's made the kids up their very own "Night Garden". In her yard she has a bridge, and around the bridge she has put little figurines from "In the Night Garden" - the kids LOVE it! I'm so blessed to have her.

Hmm what else is going on?
Study has wrapped up so I'm waiting for results and the delivery of my next course. The next one will probably be a bit more heavy, but at least it's only one subject. :)

I've been getting back into digi-scrapping. I've just found an online printer who will print my stuff for pittance, so I am so excited that I'll finally be able to print up the kids albums. :)

Righto, I better get on. Mop will be out of school in half an hour.

Oh PS: Welcome to the world Olivia Rose. She was born today. I have another niece! I can't wait to have a snuggle. :)

I heart Winter

Actually I don't really... I am a summer girl. But I have decided that this year I am going to embrace the Ice Age and try and be positive. I've picked up an art that keeps me warm during winter, so I am loving that. It's not so fun in summer...
So here we have in pictures, what I love about winter.