I'm baaaaaacccckkkkkk!!!

Yes - it's true - I am still very much alive.
I had to shake out a few cobwebs on my return - wow - it's been a while.
Here's the last few years in a nutshell -

• took a two year break from Uni - needed some space - needed some money!!

• worked a couple of jobs - one mindlesss (admin for a construction company) - another very interesting (ASADA - Aust sports anti-doing mob - short term contract - good times).

• I now have two daughters in highschool - MissG in Year 10 (& now taller than me - eek!) - MissE in Year 7 - and little MissJ is in Year 3. All have great teachers - all doing really well. They are the light of my world.

• girls are playing HEAPS of sport - a mixture of netball, volleyball and Aussie Rules football / AFL!!

• last November I played a week of netball at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast. It was amazing - never thought I'd ever do such a thing - great team - great times - and I survived 8 games of netball in 5 days!!

• while in QLD I also got to finally meet my bio mother and two bio brothers! Weird, exciting, emotional, stressful - in fact every emotion under the sun. Needless to say - I now feel a peace that I haven't in a very very long time.

• did a few (some minor/some major) renovations on the house - put in an inground pool (woot!) and landscaped the back garden. (below is a peek....) Pool built by JS Pools. (local Canberra pool company - the link is to their yellow pages entry as they don't have a website - highly recommend them - we have 5 other friends who have used them). Lanscape design & labour by myself and Mr W. Hard work but REALLY happy with the results. 

• We're currently working on fixing up the study (looks pretties so far!!) - and the lounge-room. I'll add photos along the way to show you bits that we've done.

• I am now back at Uni - (Bachelor of Education - Primary teaching) - doing a full load - just want to get the flippy thing done!!! I should be able to teach from mid next year - with just one or two extra subjects to finish off by the end of next year. Love, love, love to teach - just bored with the studying bit - but need that bit of paper (the actual degree) - so will suck it up and get on with things!

• looking at starting a design company with my girls. The creative streak has flaired up once more with the return to Uni and the space to use my brain! We've decided to call ourselves stuff by us - and we'll have some crafty homewares - like quilts, paper craft, small home furnishing etc etc. Keep watching this space as I add pics of various pieces along the way. We're all very excited - this is going to be fun!!! (of course it's going to be a slow process - with Uni, school, sports, life - but hay - we have to start somewhere!)

• Molly - our Spoodle - is still doing very well. She's a joy to have around.

• MrW - still my rock. He deserves a medal most days. xx

• and I nearly forgot - I've lost almost 10 kilos!! Last year I went on 'Lite n Easy'- really great food. Have stagnated for now - can't afford the special food with the loss of my income. Have concluded that exercise would greatly help with greater weight loss!! (but it has been a few months - and I have managed to keep it off). Very happy.

That's all I can think of for now. Oh - it's been the stock-standard rollercoaster of life - with all it's ups and downs - but we've faired well - and life is - as always - GREAT!

Nice to be back. xxx

Spring Has Sprung - And Other Things.....

03Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• The blossoms have started to bloom.......it's a sign of warmer things to come. (YIPEE) It was a rather chilly winter - and although it was a bumper season on the ski slopes (2 hours south from here) - we didn't manage to fit in a snow trip this year. Hopefully 2009.

Here are some almond blossoms in our front garden, taken today.

• A great tutorial at Uni today - with lots of discussions on the state of Australia's education system - and all that has been in the news lately.

Sadly - our society puts so much emphasis on the measure of success for a child being how high their university entrance score is upon finishing high school.

Seriously though - one can not measure a child's ability to be successful in life in only those terms. That's really quite absurd!!
As teachers (and as parents) we must care for our students, help them to have a love of knowledge - and just give them the best tools to take on the world.
And those tools MUST include the ability to think for oneself / think creatively / think outside the box / think with empathy & compassion for one's fellow man - as WELL AS having a good grasp of literacy and numeracy, science and social studies.

Teachers and schools are asked to show their worth by children scoring well only in the areas of literacy and numeracy.

How on earth can that really work???????

It baffles me that this education system - and all the government debates - haven't really changed at all in the last 100 or more years.

There HAS to be a better way.

Frustrating - to say the least.

(and I won't even start on how low teachers are paid in this country!!! Scandinavian countries pay their teachers almost the same as doctors - whereas here - we're expected to work our magic for the kids - but live off very low wages. No wonder over 50% of new graduate teachers leave the field completely within the first 3 years.........yes - 50%!!)

Anyhoo - the discussions were good. Rant now over!!

Now I have to work out how I can change it all!!! (I'll get back to you on that one......!)

• Getting around to doing a big food shop today. It's been awhile - just grabbing small bits here and there. Our pantry and fridge are now fully loaded!!!! (we'll see how quickly this hungry family manages to consume it all!!)

02Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Teacher's strike this morning for 2 hours at school - so we managed to have a sleep in. I dropped MissJ and MissE down to school at 11:00am. It was a nice and calm morning!!

• A surprise package arriving from my sister L - who lives in Darwin. She recently went to the UK - the trip was part business / part jolly - and she hunted around for some great treasures for us all.

And here are pics of the girls with their new Gap t-shirts from London....

Yes - it's a dorky photo - I know - but it's so cool that they're all at a similar height difference!!

(they're growing up so quickly - * sob*)

So here's a more relaxed shot - with Miss Molly!!

01Sep08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Having a monumental BLONDE moment - but still being able to admit it - and to laugh harder than I have in a very long time!!! I think it's a good skill to be able to laugh at your own mistakes. It's lucky I can - as I make mistakes often - and I'd be a depressed mess if it weren't for the laughter!!

• My gorgeous friend MrsSmiff came home from hospital today - after 5 days in with pnemonia. She's a busy woman - and the hospital stay forced her to rest. We're all very glad she's now home - on the mend - and resting for another week. It's also made her re-think life choices - which could be a very good thing. Life's far too short and precious to be running around after everyone except you and those that you love.

• Long over-due phone-call with my sister L. It's been awhile - and it was great to catch up. Sadly we may not be able to see one another this year (she lives 8 hours by plane away - in Darwin) - but we'll look forward to when we can.

Bad Blogger.

So apparently I'm not too good with sharing my 3 Grateful Things (3BT) each and every day.
Yes - I can admit it. I'm a slacker.
But truly - life just gets busy at times - ya know?!

I think at this stage in my life - I have to remember to be gentle on myself.
I am NOT superwomen - even though I try to be sometimes.
I am just a women, that is figuring out her place in the world; a mother, that is trying to raise 3 gorgeous girls that show me more about love than I've ever known; a wife, that is not nearly as kind to her husband as she should be; a student, that is not very good at time management and seems to always end up finishing assignments during the wee hours of morning; a friend, that cares deeply but often doesn't show it enough; a netballer, that really isn't fit enough, and may even be an embarrassment to all that play with her - but is having a damn good time at it all anyway.

OK - Things that have kept me busy these last few days.

• The girls had Book Week parade at school last Thursday. It's become an important tradition at our local school - and everyone from the Principal through to the grounds person gets in on the fun!! It's a hoot. Here's this year's effort from MissE and MissJ................(MissJ's very first Book Week Parade...my baby's growing up too fast)

MissE was a 'Fairy Godmother' and MissJ was a 'Princess' - obviously. Miss E put her outfit together herself - and luckily we found enough supplies for everything around the house and in the dress-up box. (thanks goodness for well stocked dress-up boxes - I say!!)

• Thursday was also a successful day for me - as I handed in an assignment for my counselling unit - on time. PHEW!! Apparently my brain does still function - dispelling all fears to the contrary. So - on to the next assignment I go - due next week - ICK!!

• Friday saw another wonderful day off. It's good to let my batteries recharge at the end of the week.

• Saturday was full of netballing madness.

Great news - MissG and MissE both had wonderful games - and they both now head into the finals. VERY exciting. (especially since last year - MissE's team didn't win a game all season!)
My game was a loss - and that's it for the season for us - but we had a GREAT time - my first ever season of netball - we're all planning on playing again next year. It was a hoot. Great friends, good laughs, no major injuries - all was good!!!

Here's MissG in action -

And here's MissE -

• Today - we had rain - lots of rain. It was wonderful to hear it falling on the roof - and being snuggled up and warm inside - with a fire for added warmth and visual pleasure!! (perhaps the fire was not so good for the environment - but I feel the cold - damn it.......). Our parched soils are looking kind of sad - so rain is good. I say - bring it ON!!! More rain please Mr Weather-Man!!

OK - I've stayed up far too late - once again.

Thanks for coming.

24Aug08

24Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• A quiet Sunday at home.

• MissE starting to practice piano - with great enthusiasm - after I gave her her first lesson last night. She's been dying to start - and I figured that I would use my sleeping talent!!

• Reading "The Beast: A Reckoning With Depression" by Tracy Thompson (published in 1995). Amazing book about one persons fight against the darkness. I can highly recommend it. (I started it and finished it just today.)

23Aug08

23Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• MissE's and MissG's teams both winning their netball games today. Both were great matches - and a great boost for all the girls. (they played brilliantly)

• Not coming away too badly injured when I put my body on the line for my netball team!!! Just scrapes and bruises - I'll live to play another day!!

• More Olympics magic - GOLD in the 10metre Diving by Matthew Mitcham (amazing dives) - GOLD in the Pole Vault by Steve Hooker - GOLD in the Kayaking by Ken Wallace - SILVER by the Opals Women's Basketball & BRONZE by the Kookaburras Men's Hockey. Great moments all of them.

My Girls

LOVE my girls!!!

 
Photo taken in July - last day of term 2.

MissE and MissJ were about to head off to 'Crazy Hair Day' at school - and MissG and I were heading out the door to catch the bus to Netball State Age in Newcastle.

(I've been playing with Photoshop. Sorry about the angle - I was being arty when I took it!! Well that's my excuse - anyway!!)

12Aug08

12Aug08 - Today I am grateful for -

• Leisel Jones finally getting her well deserved Olympic GOLD in the Women's 100m Breaststroke Final!!! She's come a very long way since she crashed on the Australian swimming scene at the young age of 14. Our nation is proud of you Miss Jones!!

• Better health!! My cold has almost dissipated into nothingness. YAY!

• Being around in the afternoons when my girls all come home from school. It's the BEST time to talk about what has happened in our day. My mum (being essentially a single mum - as my dad died when I was one) had to work - and was never there for that special time. I'm so very grateful that for now - I can be.

Holidays Over and New Semester Begins

WOW - where did that time go??

I haven't posted since 29June - how rude is that??

July just passed without even a mention?!?!

And I promised that I would be more attentive dear reader.

(I know there's at least one peep out there taking notice!!!! Thankyou!!!)

Where to begin??

Netball NSW State Age Championship's were held in Newcastle at the beginning of July school holidays.

It was amazing - tiring - exciting - a blast.

3-days of netball mayhem - never seen anything like it - but it was an absolute hoot!!

I had the honour to manage a wonderful team of ten 12 year olds.

The girls all played wonderfully - better than they have ever played before.

It was great.

Bring on next year!!

After State Age we took our time getting back home - spending nights at various friends homes - as we made our way back down to Canberra.

We were away a whole week.

Two nights here - one night there - it was super mad - but great to catch up with so many people that we haven't seen in a very long time.

We consumed vast amounts of champagne and red wine - talked up a storm - did 'Paddy's Markets', 'Yum Cha' in China Town and a Rugby League match all in Sydney (P'matta V Rabitohs) - and generally had a load of fun.

Friends are precious - even if you only get the opportunity for small amounts of time together.

All very worth the time.

Second week of the school hols were spent just lounging around at home, washing copious amounts of dirty laundry, watching films, catching up with home friends, and generally taking things nice and slow. (Poor MrW had to go back to work - so he didn't have so much fun - life returns to normal so fast!!)

21July saw school return for the kids - and back to Uni for me once more.

Already things are flyng past quick - we're already into to week 3 - I'm sure the rest of the year will now fly past before I know where it's all gone!!

Saturday netball has resumed in ernest.

School activities keep the girls all very busy.

MrW has had a couple of trips to Adelaide with work.

I have a heap of assignments due this semester.

And life rolls on as per normal.

Oh the joys of a busy life.

(wish this ride would slow down at times - to let me get my breath!!!)

MissG Is Getting All Growned Up!!

Stop the world - I want to get off!!
The last 9 years have flown - and now my eldest has started High School.
I can't believe how my little girl has grown - in what feels like - such a short time.

Here's a pic of MissG age 4.....



And here's a pic of the girls today...


It's a bitter sweet thing this 'mummy-ing' - as you want them to grow up - but then you look around - and don't know where all those precious years have gone.

I'll be honest - I am a little scared of the teenage years - but I'm looking forward to this next chapter - and to the many exciting adventures that lay ahead.

It will be OK - won't it?????????????

What A Blast !!

We're back from the magical white stuff - and what a fantastic time we had.
(I'm talking about the SNOW people - don't go getting any wacky ideas....)

MissJ (almost 5yrs) learnt how to ski for the first time - and MissG (age11.5) and MissE (almost 9) were starting to ski backwards by the end of day 5 !!

The weather at the start of the week was all sunshine, awesome snow-cover & every lift open - and it moved into gale force winds and many lifts on wind-hold. BUT - we had a ball.

We went with CousinR from Holland - who came for a short but wonderful 2.5 week wirlwind visit to OZ - and our good friends - The Smiffs (family of 4).

Loads of laughter and good times had by all - it really was the holiday my psyche was screaming for.

Not much can compare to skiing around the slopes with my girls, my husband, CousinR and my good friends. We're already frantically doing the calculations for the next possible skiing adventure.

DAMN that skiing costs so flippin' much. (note to self - MUST win lottery to help ease the pain in my husband's pocket.......)

Today - CousinR flew back to the land of cheese and clogs - and the house & it's inhabitants seems eerily quiet and a little sad this evening.

He will be greatly missed - but here's hoping it won't be another 7 years before we're all back in the same hemisphere once more.

(oh - and yeah - not much studying going on around here - bugger!!! - better get my nose back into those books................this semester is not quite as exciting as the adventures that have been playing in my surrounds.)

ETA: labels for the photos are as follows (I can't work out how to flippy put them inbetween the photos - it JUST.WON'T.WORK. Pfffffttt!!)
Photo 1: Perisher Blue
Photo 2: CousinR & MissJ
Photo 3: MissJ (& me further up the slope)
Photo 4: MissE
Photo 5: MissG
Photo 6: MrW, me & CousinR
Photo 7: The Mob - eating lunch!!
Photo 8 : The Smiffs - D & D.

All About Me

For those that don't know me -

• I am forever 21! (that's what I tell the kids - and that's what I'm sticking with)
  
• I am a wife to a wonderful, understanding, patient man - MrW - who has been my husband since 1990. He was a Navy man for 23 years (yep - the uniform did it for me) - but he now works for the Dept of Defence as a civilian.
• I am a Mum to 3 gorgeous girls (no bias at all!!), born in '96, '98 and '02.
• I was born & raised in Sydney.
• I attended High School at an Anglican School For Girls - and I survived.
  
• I was once an exchange student to Sweden. (yes - I learnt Swedish - and no - it's been of absolutely no use to me throughout my life - but the experience was a blast!!)
• I worked in the Travel Industry for 8 years - and travelled lots.
• I was an ENJO consultant for 3 years - and travelled some more.
• I now live in Canberra - since 2000 - and I really don't hate it nearly as much as I thought I would - hence - we're still here. (I kinda really like it)
  
• I am finally back at Uni to finish my Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching). I took a two year break to earn some $ and get my head back together - but now I'm back and should be teaching by mid next year.
  
• I love to let loose my creative streak every so often.
• I love to ski, scuba dive (although haven't done for some time), play piano, sew, travel, spend time with friends, drink champagne, create things, blog and breath!!

I'm looking forward to writing stuff about my life.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

Poss. xx