Blessings and Treasures

It has been an unusual time for us lately, life is a little uncertain, work possibilities for Donald float in and float out. However, September is a wonderful month full of celebrations for us. After surviving Toby's 4 year old birthday party the next thing to look forward to was our 14th wedding anniversary. Donald and I had plans to go to Melbourne on a little road trip, drive through some lovely country towns, see some theatre and stay with my Aunt Desley and help her celebrate her birthday as well. Due to many, and I mean MANY, unforeseen circumstances this little holiday did not happen. Not only did it not happen but Donald was away for our anniversary and my birthday. All I can say is..."these things happen"...and even though it was hard not having my best friend with me to celebrate on both occasions, absence certainly made the heart grow fonder. Work has been a little scarce and so has money for a little while. An opportunity arose for Donald to go and work with his Dad and younger brother Campbell out at Gunnedah, which is about a 6 hour drive north west of Sydney, to install a pivot irrigation system. For our exploits in Gunnadah last year have a look here and for a few laughs here.

Even though life is throwing a few curve balls at us we are all reasonably healthy (still a few coughs and sniffles, nothing serious though), still have a roof over our head and food on the table. I have received so many blessings and treasures which I am very grateful for and have been keeping me going through troubles and worries.

While Donald was away I was lucky to have my mum here who kept us all in clean clothes, managed to reach the bottom of the laundry basket and mended a mountain of Donald's jeans....she also got the boys to and from school on time, which certainly relieved a little pressure.

Our anniversary came and went, Donald was away, but a sweet angel left a little anniversary present on my door step which added a little mystery to my week and kept the blues at bay. Thanks Kath, a lovely mystery solved.

Cards, parcels and flowers started appearing the week of my birthday. My goodness...my table is full of flowers and potted plants from lovely friends and relatives (and Donald), roses, bird of paradise, cyclamens, tulips and cineraria.

What a joy it is to receive such colours and blossoms.

The 23rd arrived with a glorious red sky. With Donald away, I was feeling a little emotional but was keeping it in check, however the dust storm provided a wonderful distraction and start to my 40th year. I knew it was the expected dust storm, Sam thought, in jest, that it was dooms day and I've heard others thought it was the Second Coming. To me it was a fantastic birthday gift from mother nature (Heavenly Father).

An early morning of opening cards and presents from my boys and mum, a special gift and card from my Aunt Desley who really opened the flood gates of emotions. A morning of life saving yoga, lunch with some friends and my mum, take away Indian for dinner, a soccer game, countless phone calls and strawberries and cream sponge cake with a candle for each decade rounded off my birth day.

Saturday afternoon was spent having a massage, a birthday present from Lee, a wonderful and brave woman who has taken me under her wing and is trying to teach me to look after myself better. She also organised a girls get together at the Manly Ocean Beach House Restaurant on Saturday night for a birthday dinner. It was a chilly, windy night but the warmth and love I felt from friends truly set my heart ablaze. Thank you for a lovely night girls and thank you for the delightful treasures you bestowed upon me, I shall cherish them forever. For a little peek at some pics of the night have a look at Stacy's blog here.

I know this has been a long post, but I really wanted to remember this birthday, the trials and the sweet treasures of my life. I think it's good to be 40, I think I feel good too! I don't feel over the hill, I think I feel invigorated being who I am and knowing the people I do. Thank you for sharing in this life.

Skies, flowers and 40

Mother nature brought me a surprise in glorious proportions this morning.

The day dawned a red sky.

I was up at 6am, but Sam was already up jumping in the dusty skies.

The flowers were magical in the eerie light.

A day of dusty red skies, presents, yoga, friends, flowers, cards and love. It's good to be forty.

A day in the Mountains

When I was a nanny in Goondiwindi back in 1987 I made a life long friend. Her name was Debbie and she was a nanny on the other side of the MacIntyre river, if I remember correctly she was on the NSW side of the river and I was on the Queensland side. She took me to my first B&S ball and helped me to feel not so isolated in the country when I was only 17 and first time away from family.

It's been 16 years since I last saw Debbie, we've both been living on different sides of the planet for a while and you could say Perth is a long way away to get together for a catch up. Well just the other week we finally managed a catch up, even if only for a day. Debbie and her family were on a road trip to the east coast and so had a small window of opportunity to get together. The children finally got to meet Debbie and Darryl and their beautiful daughter Alise.

I took the boys out of school for the day and we all spent the day in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. It was a crisp, clear, Spring day. We had a little picnic and a walk to the Three Sisters.

It was just nice to speak face to face and hang out together at last.

The boys really enjoyed the bush walk, rocks to climb up and slide down...

...and an ice cream at the end of the walk at Toby's suggestion.

Prolonging the inevitable good buy.

Thanks for a memorable day Debbie, and thanks for taking that wee drive across the Nullabor.

Fun being Four

We had Toby's birthday party Saturday lunchtime. It was a very hot, dry and smoky day, not quite what we were expecting for an early spring weekend, rather a mid summers day. The kids were a little rosy cheeked and lacked a little energy, but we still managed to have some fun and cooled down with icy poles and cake in the shade.

We played pin the wheel on Lightning McQueen, racing helmet (optional) provided for a little authenticity.

Chomp the cheezles

Sack race and more.

The Cheezles chomp was the funniest game, hands down, mouths open and cheezles swinging.

Tired, hot and happy

The 4th Birthday

Woken up with kisses from mummy

Presents to open

Porridge to be eaten

Pre-school, Grandparents day, cup cakes and candles

Boys home from school, more cup cakes and candles

Battles in the back yard

Pizza and root beer

Reading new books

End of a long happy day

Z Z Z Z Z Z

PS. Toby thanks everyone for the lovely birthday wishes and presents

Four

I love this little man with his dimples and curls. Toby has given us such joy and fun since he arrived into the world 4 years ago.

He has a ready laugh which is infectious and will hug you when you need it most (and anytime for that matter). This little man is always willing to lend a hand.

He loves his brothers and tells me everyday that he will miss Sam and Ethan when we walk them to school. He voices his concerns with such a deep knowledge beyond his four years.

He spreads his joy where ever he goes, we do love him so.

Happy Birthday Toby