Can we get a motorbike now?

Sometime over the last weekend the kidlettes came running inside both talking at once with excitement and asking if they could have a ride on a motorbike.  

Our neighbours own a motorbike repair business and also are quite involved in motorcross racing so their 16 year old wanted to give our kids are ride.

They absolutely LOVED IT!

Brody kitted them out and gave them both a ride on the quad bike.  Just around the yard and not going too fast otherwise he knew he'd give me a heart attack.

Then it was time for the two wheel bike.  Both kids did really, really well and I'm very happy to say followed Brody's instructions too.  They knew they had to I suppose or they wouldn't be allowed on them again.

I now have visions of my boy tearing off around a motorcross circuit or down the forestry as he grows older now.

My girl wasn't to be left out though.  She did a fantastic job and of course dressed for the part in her party dress and gumboots! (wellies).  (She pretty well wears gumboots with EVERYTHING!)

They both had such fun and are now asking when they can get their own motorbike.  I was very non-commital on that part so they knew what to do.....ask their father!  He is now on the lookout for a bike for them.

Joy.

xx Susan

Morning coffee - a pleasant interlude

Unfortunately our recent stresses seem nowhere near over and after an incident a couple of days ago, both my sister and I needed to get out of our houses and somewhere lovely to de-stress.

About a 10-15 minute drive from our home is Mary Cairncross Park in Maleny.  It's a beautiful patch of rainforest with walking tracks as well as a picnic ground and cafe with fantastic views.

Perfect for what we needed.

We decided not to go for a walk in the rainforest today.

We were heading straight for the cafe area which incidently is where my sister and her husband were married.

A good coffee was on the menu and some wonderful talking which helped us both regroup.

The view from the cafe is not too shabby either.  This was the backdrop for my sister's wedding ceremony and looks over the Glasshouse Mountains.  It was a bit hazy today because of a few bushfires which have sprung up around the region lately.

It was just a perfect morning and thanks to Sandy for joining me.  It was the perfect message!!!!

xx Susan

7 Days of Circles

I'm a little behind with my circles right now.  After stating January so well, I had a few blips in early  February but am slowly catching up.

This was the next 7 done that I hadn't shown you yet.

Nice, happy random colours.

xx Susan

A big, IMPORTANT day out

I went somewhere today that I haven't been in YEARS. Brisbane City Centre (our state capital city).

It wasn't for a pleasant reason that we had to go but I still enjoyed it all the same for some odd reason.

I really can't say that I enjoyed the constant and frenetic buzz and movement of the city but for a day it was a novelty.

So much has changed since the last time I drove into Brisbane.  There's so many more tunnels under the city now which makes getting around in peak hour especially so much easier.  Thank goodness I wasn't driving as that task was left to my brother in law Jeff who works in the city and didn't find it as daunting as I would have.

Our destination was the Federal Law Courts and my sister Sandra, brother in law Jeff and I were there in support of our brother Gary who has been going through a pretty horrendous marriage separation the past 6 months.

It was a really long morning and I won't go into much of it because there is still a bit of a way to go until things are resolved.  I'll just say that my brother has the boys and is the primary carer....uncontested.  

It's been a bloody long 6 months or more though and it's not finished.  I will add for the record just how much my family has pulled together in this really difficult time.  Our focus has definately been the well being of my brother's boys as well as my brother himself.  He has had the boys since day 1 and is doing an incredible job of being a single father considering everything else that's been going on.

I'm also so proud of my family for pulling together like we have.  It's really brought home to me just how close we are as a family and how much closer we have become.  We haven't thought it strange to help out as much as we have although the comments we are getting from outsiders, including lawyers, is the incredible family support my brother has.  

It's just normal for us.  As my Mum said, "It's family.  It's what you do."

To my husband Shane and brother-in-law Jeff, you have both been so incredibly amazing it's not funny.  You have married into our family and have supported us all every step of the way with no complaints or objections.  It's been a normal process for you both too and for that we are truly blessed to have such loving and unflinching support.

The drive back out through the city was wonderful too (mainly because I didn't have to deal with the traffic).

I love seeing the wonderful heritage buildings that are dotted throughout our city although I didn't get the phone out until the last minute to take some photos and even then I was hoping I'd get at least a couple that weren't blurry.   They're crap but you'll have to make do.

xx Susan

Edited to add:  My friend Heilala had a baby girl Serena at 2.45pm this afternoon.  Congratulations to you Mario and Maximo on the addition of a beautiful little girl to your family.  I know she is much loved already.

Sewing again

With all the extra stresses that have been going on around here this last 6 months or more, I've found that my sewing has fallen by the wayside.

My sewing room was a wreck, mainly because I was using it as a dumping ground, especially pre-Christmas.  That changed last week when I had an overwhelming need to sew something.

I cleaned it up then picked out some fabric and got started.  It was wonderful and soothing and relaxed me in the nicest possible way.

It was then that I decided my ironing board needed a makeover.  It's the same cover that's been on it for the last 10-15 years and has certainly seen better days.

I found some pretty fabric then got to work with scissors, wadding and my trusty sewing machine whirring away.

I still don't like ironing but I have to say it's much more pleasant now it's got a nice cover on it.

I've been working on a few smaller projects too which I will update you with when they're completed.

xx Susan

A couple of firsts

It's the first day back at school for the year.

Little Miss R is looking a little traumatised but then school is not on HER list of favourite things to do.  The first day of Year 3 went pretty well though.  (If even half the year works out just as good then I'll consider it amazingly successful with this girl).

Master M was very excited about beginning Year 1.  Much posing in what he thought were appropriate stances so this is the best I'll get from him.

Thank goodness I did get at least one half way decent photo of them both.  Not classic but definately my two cherubs.

Then for the other first which occurred about 15 minutes after arriving home from school

Master M has lost his first tooth.

I've had a very tired and over-excited little boy just waiting for the tooth fairy tonight.  

It's reminded me as to just how the simplest things can cause so much pleasure, excitement and happiness.

Tooth fairy, you had better deliver tonight!

xx Susan

(I'll add for family members that there was a worrisome moment when Master M realised that there was some BLOOD where his tooth had been.  Thank goodness the tooth in his hand distracted him and that there were no TWEEZERS in sight.)

The 'P' word

Procrastination to be precise.

It's almost school time again for another year which means covering school books.

I have a little problem with covering books and so have been putting off this years effort for at least a week.

You would think that I would try and cover just a few books a day and it would all be done with relatively little stress.

Unfortunately I've left it until two days before school to cover about 20 books.

What was I THINKING!!!!!

It's done though and even though nowhere near perfect as contact and I don't enjoy a very harmonious relationship, it'll get the kids through the year.  

They'll survive.

xx Susan