What a view!

When we moved into our new house a little over two months ago, next door was an empty block of land, my hope of it staying that way came crashing down pretty darn quick. 

This is the view from the laundry, boys bathroom and Jacks room, pretty isn't it? Jack's extra lucky he has the clothes line and the scaffolding to look at. Thankfully most of our house has windows on the other side of the house. 

So at 6.30am on the school holidays I don't really want to be awake, especially after I've had two kids with a nasty cough waking me up every night for a week or so, and trying to sleep with a set of feet in my back (thanks James) really didn't put me in a good mood. I'd really had enough of the banging and crashing and the crap radio blaring and I had a little spaz attack, (it might be because they aren't very good looking builders?) I even went out the front door with my PJ's on, coffee in hand and glared at them from the driveway, then I sent cranky emails, because it is what you do at 6.30am isn't it? I think I jinxed myself by saying I was having an easy pregnancy and wasn't suffering any crazy pregnant lady symptoms. This week I turned it up a level. 

So now I know, thanks to a few very polite emails being returned to me,  that legally builders are allowed to start banging and crashing at 6.30am. Aren't you glad you know that now? 

They better finish that house by the next school holidays. If I have to get up with my newborn during the night then get up at 6.30am with cranky kids I will be doing more than glaring at them in my PJ's. 

Walk the walk

After reading Toushka and Dani's posts about delivering catalogues I decided when the leaflet arrived I'd sign up. Really a bit of extra cash and a good reason for a blog post. Can't hurt right? 

This week was our first and last week, yeah it really went that well.

I think we may have been given the biggest hills in town, they were seriously big. 

James is getting sick this week and has been extra whiny and so on Tuesday when we set off to deliver 200+ catalogues I didn't hold much hope. We lasted about 20 minutes before the complaining started. It took us 3 hours to deliver them all, over two days and in very short bursts, I promised James once we were done we'd never do it again and he almost hugged me to death.

For the most part it was quite a nice walk Jack was admiring every one's letter boxes and explaining to me what the builders were doing and what the road rules are, James was poking sensitive weed and freaking out about dogs that were miles away from him, Charlie was quite happy with his box of sultanas and a drink, he was after all being pushed around in the pram. It gave me a good chance to explain to the big boys the value of money. (Thanks Dani great idea!) For our hours of hard work we made $20. I told the boys they could have $10 each for helping and we spent a lot of time deciding and changing our minds about to spend it on. Jack wanted a remote control car, sorry son bit out of your price range. So we talked about what you could realistically do with $20 and they were not impressed. $20 really does not go very far especially when you want to take your family out to dinner/lunch/buy every toy in every catalogue you just delivered.

Oh well we tried, Toushka did try to warn me but I had to find out for myself that catalogue delivery is not my ultimate career. Oh well back to the drawing board!

Baby Daze

Week 26. 

This week baby #4 is the size of a eggplant, when I announced I was pregnant he was only the size of a green olive. 

Time is flying by far to quickly.

My only pregnancy complaints are a mild case of heartburn and I'm starting to sound like an old man when I get up because the bump is getting in my way, this has been by far my easiest pregnancy. 

I do need an afternoon nap more often than usual, but I feel really good otherwise. Were still no closer to picking a name than we were at 18 weeks when we found out he was a boy. Poor kid, by this stage James and Charlie both had a name! 

We have a room for #4 but it is full of Jack's new loft bed and unpacked boxes, there is a cot in there and his change table but really I've done pretty badly with the shopping and preparation. I've bought a selection of clothes but can't decided still what theme to do the nursery, we have a car seat for him and I've decided on a pram but I still haven't bought it yet. The next few weeks I am devoting to getting this boys room ready before its Christmas.

Why hello there! I'm sure I used to have feet. 

I'm going to book into the hospital next week, I have to take the boys with me as Michael is working and it's school holidays so I will have all three. I may have to bribe them with a special lunch afterwards. It's going to be a long appointment with lot of paper work, better not forget the pram that day! 

My Husband has left me...

....for his new love. A shiny metal motorised new love. 

When we first started talking about Michael taking this job one of the first things he wanted to do was get another boat, we've been here for just over two months and here she is, he doesn't muck around this man. 

I joked with him about him getting the boat as long as I could go away for the weekend. (I'm fairly sure he would have got it even if hadn't gone anywhere)

So today he is getting his boat license so he can actually drive it all by himself, I promised him I'd go on it. At least once, and it appears tomorrow is the day. He has a picnic all organised and a plan of where were going. I'm just hoping not to vomit. I don't do so well on things that move. In fact I still get car sick if I have to read the GPS or talk to Charlie in the back for too long. I'm not holding out much hope, but I'm putting on my good wife hat and sucking it up just for one day. For this I expect him to name the boat after me. 'Kates misery' or something like that.

One of the good things about him getting a new toy is now every time I want something he tells me to go for it, after all he got a boat I can buy some new things now and then, we'll be paying it off for five years. That means for five years I have an excuse to buy pretty much anything I want. In the next five years I'll turn thirty and I've requested to have a little 'panel work' done, boobs and tummy tuck here I come! 

10,000 steps!

When we used to live in Mackay we lived quite close to a 10,000 step walking track around a big pond called the gooseponds. I used to take Jack for a walk around it of an afternoon. Every time we drive past Jack asks me to tell him the story then James asks if we can go one day, so yesterday was our day. I remember it taking a while but doing it with three small people took us ages. Luckily we weren't in a rush and didn't have anywhere to be!

I asked Charlie if he wanted to take his scooter he shook his head at me, (that's his new thing and secretly I love it) so he was my walking buddy. Next time I'm taking the pram.

There's loads of exercise equipment around the track so of course we had to stop at every. single. one. 

It's quite a pretty spot and quite big considering it's almost in the middle of town. probably not the best thing to do at 11am we were all hot and sweaty by the time we got back to the car. 

Every. Single. One.

The boys ran up the little hill to race down it. Thankfully they listened to me when I said it probably wasn't the best idea they'd ever had.

Well Jack listened. James not so much, luckily he has the whole scooter thing down pat. 

Were going again when Daddys home and taking the pram for Charlie it was a bit much for him and once I had to carry him as well it really made it too much for me! 

Tennis on the moon?

I love the internet. 

Yesterday morning far to early I was awake with my poor sickly Charlie and after I got him a drink and organised some cartoons I sat checking twitter, I moved on to facebook where The Organised Housewife had some school holiday boredom busters. 

Now it was only the second day of school holiday and were not bored but it's always nice to have something new to do.

This is called moon tennis. Basically what your meant to do is stick a paper plate to a thick paddle pop stick and bat a balloon around with them. 

We decided to personalise our plates, because you know it's way more fun.

I don't know what Jack was making but it ended up just a colourful plate.

James is now writing his name on everything. I was so impressed he got the e right. He's only been writing his name for a few months and he now has the lower case upper case thing sorted. So ready for school!

It was a hit, pardon the pun. I tried to get them to walk like space men on the moon but the balloon was going to quick and they spent the next half an hour giggling and trying not to let it hit the ground.

I gave Charlie his own balloon instead of trying to make a three way game with a toddler who doesn't understand the concept of the game. 

Seriously they were out there til bath time. Loved it. 

If you have small people you should try it out. 

Whirlwind Weekend!

I left my boys and their Daddy on the weekend and flew to Brisvegas for 24hrs to finally meet and hang out with some lovely ladies, like Suger who not only picked me up, she also dropped me off at the airport, and Danielle who let me have her spare room. Rockstars these ladies, only bloggers would do such nice things for another blogger they have never met before, thanks lovelies. 

I of course forgot my camera but thankfully there were a few others there with their beautiful cameras so I'm stealing photos from Sugers flickr. Thank you Suger.

On the way to the train station with Hayley and Zoe  (taking the pic) Don't we look cool? We sat at the train station where we met up with Amy and all giggled like school girls.

Me and the lovely Suger, and a few straws. I had a seriously yummy mocktail called something like Steddy Eddy. It was lychees crushed ice and sugar syrup. So good but I wanted to try all the cocktails on the list. They looked so good, only 15 weeks to go and I'm ordering a cocktail from the labour ward.

I love this photo. The beautiful Sheri and Dani doing a good job of photo bombing. Sheri has some seriously beautiful amazing tattoos and I want them all especially those kick ass stockings up the back of her legs. 

Suger, me and Danielle who was kind enough to share her picture with me. 

Dinner was at Garuva which was a very funky hidden restaurant in Fortitude Valley. Our dinner was served so quick and was so yummy. Its made me search for tempura veggie recipes. Oh my goodness so good. Our two hour reservation went so quick, I was sitting in the middle of the table which was handy I could keep up with both ends of the table conversation, and before I knew it we were hanging out on the street!

Of course there had to be some group shots afterwards. I love this one of Ames. She was my dinner buddy and fellow pregnant lady. Not that she looked it!

We ended up in a coffee shop via a nasty public toilet talking about toilets and toilet paper, because we are very mature. Obviously. It was nice to meet people after reading their blogs for such a long time. But I think it was even better meeting new faces, I've spent the last few days scrolling through some new blogs. Always good to find some new people to follow.

Before I knew it, it was Sunday and time for me to go, such a quick weekend but so glad I did it and if you are a blogger and ever get a chance to hang out with other bloggers, I say just do it. 

My Place and Yours

Every Monday I'll post a new theme for you to rack your brain with, take some photos then blog about it, when your done come back and add your link down the bottom so we can all have a sticky beak. Sounds good right?

What do you eat off? Do you live in miss-matched heaven like us or do you have a whole setting?

Dani and I were talking about this on Saturday, she is buying all new matching stuff, and I am quite envious. It may be time for me to do the same thing, it would be nice to have a full matching set. The white one we have we bought when we were getting married, it's getting a bit old and battered now, so get snapping and show me yours!

The week that was, and what will be!

Busy can't even explain my week this week. 

So instead of a proper post here are a few snap shots of our week. 

Mexican for lunch, enjoying a frozen margarita, he said to me 'are you going to blog this?' when I took the picture. i thought he knew better than to ask! 

Out for dinner, my big boy looking very grown up in his country road shirt : ) 

Silly daddy can't say no to the small people and let James play games on his phone. Oh yes he is dressed as a pirate not for any reason, just because he is 4 and why not?

Charlie spending some quality time of his drink phone, hello!

5 people, not for much longer!

Ah its a hard life isn't it? I didn't realise how grubby he seat belt protector was. In the wash it goes.

Eyebrows before and....

....after. 

Tonight I am off to my first ever (and hopefully not last) Hello Blogger Event so if you see me feel free to comment on my beautifully shaped eyebrows! 

My Place and Yours

Every Monday I'll post a new theme for you to rack your brain with, take some photos then blog about it, when your done come back and add your link down the bottom so we can all have a sticky beak. Sounds good right?

Show me what do you have in your house that makes you smile? 

Because today I am dealing with a very grumpy snot faced toddler who wants yogurt and won't be happy til he has eaten all the yogurt in the house, and this. Sigh. 

This is my wedding bouquet which sits on top of my fridge. In a few short months we will have been married for 5 years but it still makes me smile when I see it. 

Birthday Time!

Today my baby boy turns two, now he's having a well earned afternoon nap after a jam packed day. Leaving me some quiet time with my camera and my computer. Can't complain about that kind of Saturday can you?

 Although turning two doesn't actually mean anything to my littlest man Charlie he still gets to enjoy a special day, starting with birthday breakfast. Mmm... birthday breakfast.

Presents were all gathered, big brothers told to back off and let Charlie open them all by himself. So difficult for little hands that wish to touch everything!

Beautiful boy appreciating his new books. 

Snot and all I think he's adorable. Modeling his new backpack.

Jack and James so wanted to play with Charlie's farm animals, but I have a no sharing rule on your birthday. Just for one day you get to play with all your own things without having to fight over anything or have to share, it's all yours. 

After breakfast and presents we took the boys to the park so Charlie could try out his new scooter, he did OK too with some lessons from his brother, thanks James.

With the beach so close we ducked down to try out the new sand castle making tools, I think we were the only people on the beach. I'm looking forward to the school holidays when we can do this more often. 

Easy cake, green coconut icing and some farm animals courtesy of Charlie's new present.  Next year it will be a production but for now as long as there's cake he doesn't care what it looks like. 

Happy Birthday to my cheeky mischief making little man. 

My Place and Yours

Every Monday I'll post a new theme for you to rack your brain with, take some photos then blog about it, when your done come back and add your link down the bottom so we can all have a sticky beak. Sounds good right?

What is your favorite household appliance? 

Ours is this beauty here. It was part of Michael's 30 presents. Its a Nespresso coffee maker and it's pretty sister the milk frother.  I admit when I bought it I was swayed by the fact George Clooney  is in the TV ads, but it's actually a really good machine, so easy just put water in a coffee pod and press start, same with the milk, fill the frother and press the button, it stops when the milk is done.  So much love. 

Now get snapping and show me yours! 

Father Love

Well its Fathers day and Michael is at work. 

I could have slept in, well if it wasn't for the small people getting me up before 7am. 

We gave Michael his present a few days early. It's our tradition around here not to celebrate special occasions on the actual day, so it wasn't a big deal for him. I took him to Bunnings and told him to pick out a BBQ. Not a big surprise but no way I could have picked one for him, I would have got the wrong colour or something. 

Thankfully he is a good BBQ cook and now I get out of cooking at least once a week. Its a present for him and me. Happy Fathers day to my lovely husband who is working hard on a day he should be relaxing. 

Love you. 

New Recipe Saturday

Jack's new school is nut-free so I've been baking and cooking like a crazy lady to keep him happy without sending him to school with peanut butter cups. 

So today we made a new muesli bar recipe. 

The dry Ingredients

The finished product 

Muesli Bar Slice

Ingredients

1 cup of rolled oats

1 cup of cornflakes

1 cup of rice bubbles

1 cup of coconut (I used shredded but you could use dessicated) 

3/4 of a cup of dried fruit (I used dried berries)

3/4 cup of brown sugar

125gms of butter

1/2 cup of honey

Method

Melt the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan until it's golden brown then leave to cool a little, in the mean time mix together the dry ingredients. Add the butter mixture to the dry ingredients and stir til everything is sticky. Press firmly into a lined baking pan, refrigerate until cold, I left ours for about 4 hours. Slice up and ta-da homemade muesli bars! 

The recipe I found also included 1/2 cup of peanut butter but I find it really sweet without it, I can't imagine how sweet and sticky it would be with it. 

So tell me what are you baking this week? 

Bathroom Love

The beautiful Beth from Baby Mac posted about her new bin last week, its a nice bin and I'm glad she shared it with us along with her beautiful shiny floors and stunning taste in lamps. It got me thinking and I thought where better to share all the fun things I buy than right here on my blog. So in honour of Beth I'm showing you my newest purchase. 

I know your interested. 

 Now that we have an en suite, the small people have their own bathroom. So instead of all our grown up stuff I have started buying them some fun kids stuff.

First on my list was a bath toy organiser. I found this funky orange one from Bambini Pronto and I may have bought a few other things as well. Seriously dangerous website for gorgeous stuff.

We went a little over board with the bubbles. James was trying to show me the huge pile of bubbles on his head. 

Froggie our dirty clothes eater. The boys take great delight in 'feeding' the frog before bath time. Hopefully the novelty doesn't wear off. 

I have my eye on some cute wall stickers for the big window behind the bath. Next on my list boys bedrooms! 

Friday Fun

Today before we put Michael on the bus to go back to work we took the two little boys for a picnic lunch and a little walk through a rainforest. Have I mentioned how glad I am that we moved? Tomorrow were off to the beach, then Sunday to the markets. I know what a hard way to spend the weekend right? 

One day I will have that many dairy cows. For now I am happy to get to drive through moo cow country, reminds me of home with the rolling hills. We used to go for a drive up here when we had one little boy and one on the way, how things have changed in 5 years!

Lunch was Hungarian salami, ham, tomato's, avocado and cheese on fresh bread rolls. Yep they were as good as they look. 

Now Michael is 30 he has a thermos. I love that he has become sensible and practical, well apart from buying a boat, but that's another post entirely.

James had a little cup of tea with us, all our kids love a cup of tea. I love that. 

I'm finding four is such a nice age where everything is exciting and going for a walk through a rainforest looking for dinosaurs is a great way to spend a day. (Note: He does know that dinosaurs are extinct but it's still fun to try to find one hey?)

James was the leader on our walk, he was showing us all the cool trees and bugs. Charlie said wow a lot. 

Up there is sunshine I know it. 

We went to the sky walk to check out the view. On the horizon is the ocean, seriously pretty. If we didn't have to pick up Jack from school we could have stayed so much longer.

Although we didn't find any dinosaurs we did find the turtles. I have a feeling Santa may be bringing James one (or two) for Christmas, he absolutely loved them. Even Charlie was quiet for a little while so we could stand and look at them bobbing around in the water, on the way out Michael taught him to say turtle, is there anything better than when your small person learns a new word?