It's a new year (but things are still the same)

Now that the silly season is over, and with three weeks of school holidays left, I am so looking forward to what this year has in store for me.

I am looking forward to both girls being at school. Finally, time for me. 

Everyone keeps asking what I'm going to do with myself. I don't have a clue. Have a clean house for more than five minutes. Time for my brain to uncrazy itself. After that, who knows.

Yesterday Izzy had the pleasure of helping me wax my toes (riveting school holiday fun). I know my toes! Only the big toe and the one next to it.

I was sitting on the back steps, pondering life with a cup of tea, when I noticed how black and coarse the hairs were. Do they get worse when you get a bit older? They seemed worse. 

Usually I reserve my wax strips for my chin, upper lip and my threatening mono brow. 

It doesn't seem so bad, until I actually look at the hairs on the wax strip. How can I have so many stray hairs like that growing on my face! I am totally going to be the old lady, asleep in my chair at the old folks home, with a ripper white goatee. I dread. 

The girls are loving the pool they got for Christmas. So have the kids next door! Pool party time at number 8. They are eating me out of house and home too, hungry buggers! They're all having a ball though.

I got a new camera lens for Christmas, not that I have used it a hell of a lot, but I couldn't help but pull over and take some photos of hay cutting season along the road as I drove to Pelican Point the other day.

I love country scenes like these. If I pulled the car over every time I wanted to, I would never get anywhere. I have found a lot lately, that when I'm driving, I am looking out the window and seeing things as photographic scenes, waiting to be captured. I need to pay more attention to the road!

I am still undecided about a mantra or word for 2017. I do know that I need to take better care of me, instead of putting everyone else first. It's been that way for too long, and it is taking a huge toll. 

I know I need to practice gratitude more often. I find it really helps to remember at least one good thing that happened during my day, to turn around negative talk and feelings.

I need to be patient, and present when it comes to the kids. I think it comes back to the fact that I need some time for me. I have been a snappy McChappy lately and I hate it. 

We've been as busy as shit too, I am reeling most of the time. It was soooo good to have some quiet days at home last week, even though it was kid city in the pool for some of it.

Maybe I need to change some things. Maybe that needs to be my word. Hmmm.



Tell me. What's your focus for the year? 

I'd love to know what you got for Christmas too!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Listen #fmy52weeksofmemories

Last Tuesday night the girls laid out the picnic rugs in the driveway, and turned the car radio on loud. I sat on a chair and was ordered to watch the performance.

It was all a bit much to listen to with the dog yapping at all of us as well. In the end something had to give, and it was the radio. It was easier to shut up than the dog.

An InLinkz Link-up

A family weekend

I am ever so grateful for my family. 

It has been a family orientated weekend and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It was Mum's birthday yesterday. My little sister came over from Gippsland with her family, a surprise for Mum. 

Earlier in the week my son come to stay at his Nannas. Lets just say he needed to be around family.

Saturday night we had a pizza night at Mum's house. We gathered and stuffed ourselves silly, told stories that has us all in fits of laughter and I can't say anyone left without feeling happier than when we began.

I cherish these times. I am ever so thankful my girls will have these memories to look back on. The family all eating and laughing together. The time with their cousins. I wonder how life could be any better. 

Little sister couldn't resist but to cook one of Dad's chorizos near the coals

Not everyones cup of tea, but the roast pigeon with green sauce was amazeballs. 

Izzy and Summer playing with their cousins. Having a ball making tents and
jumping on the bed in Nannas spare room.

Do you get together as a family often?
How do your gatherings go?
Do you always leave happier than you arrived?

An InLinkz Link-up

Swingin' sisters

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing - Mother Teresa

Keep smiling Izzy :)

My cutie pies #openslather

Izzy and Summer. They are so much alike, yet so different in so many ways.

Both have their own ways of driving me nuts, yet fill me with so much laughter, pride and joy.

They love each other, yet sometimes need their own space. They can be fighting over something one minute and cuddling the next. 

They are sisters, they are love.

Best Friends(most of the time)

Big sister, little sister

Tricycle made for two

Brett started working and driving trucks for my brothers at the end of last year. They own the scrap metal recycling business my dad, Scrappy Joe, started in the late 70s. I am so proud of my Dad, he now lives a life of luxury, walking to the main street and back everyday and going to clearing sales here and there to keep busy. He is very well known and liked around the place.

When Brett came home from work and said he had something for Izzy, my only thought was, 'What the hell has he bought home this time?!' 

Bloody Hell! - Open Slather

Isabel came running into the bedroom while I folded washing, "Come and look Mum, come and look!".

She wanted to show me how she fit in the cupboard. It was funny, as I wowed in amazement and wonder at how well she fit. Summer thought it was christmas! All I could say after that in amazement and wonder was "Bloody Hell". Summer absolutely cracked it in protest as I put everything back as it should be. 

Kids, who'd have 'em!!!

Girls Night Out - Open Slather

I haven't been out on a girls night out in so long, it's ridiculous. Before this night I hadn't had a drink for 18 months, ever! Over the weekend I joined my sister Carmen, and her friends to celebrate her birthday. Our little sister Sophie had flown from Victoria (her birthday is the day before, her hubby bought her a plane ticket to come over for the weekend). So for in more than a while we were all parting together. It was a bit spesh.

Me, Carmen, Sophie

Carmen and I are the same age for the next three weeks, before I turn 40 (I'm in denial!) have a birthday next month. 

I was intending and did drink a bottle of low alcohol wine, then there was the shooter, and the few light beers at the pub later on. I was surprised how I handled it, I thought I'd be on my ear after the first glass. I did keep nibbling and drinking water here and there. I had the best time!! A night out was long overdue.

Later at home, while I pumped and dumped my booby milk, I checked in on Facebook(as you do), and was quite chuffed to see that Kelly from Handmade tears and triumphs has given me a Liebster award! How nice is that?! So now I get to pass it on to some other bloggers too :) When I first started my blog (nearly four months ago), I really had no idea how big blogging was. How daunting it was to be a little fish(still a little fish) in a big ocean, Who was going to read my crappy, insignificant blog? I soon came to realise that there was a great support network for newbies and I will be excitedly happy to pass it on and make someone elses day to receive it.