Old boots

New boots

Thanks Grandma 

We love you so

xxx

Blowing out the candles

Can you guess whose birthday it was?

I love seeing my four gorgeous boys by candlelight.

The birthday cake was Raspberry Hazelnut cake with Maple cream cheese icing.  

Visit "What's for dinner Mum?" for the recipe.  It's been a while since I last posted a recipe, I just can't seem to get it all together.  I cook, I take photo's but I just forget what quantities of the ingredients I use in most recipes, I kind of add and taste test as I go.  I will try a little harder.

Our week thus far

A quiet day at home for a sick boy

Mending being done

A little baking for grandparents day at preschool

A preschool day for grandma

A little yoga and a little shopping for a birthday boy tomorrow....who could it be?

A hard morning at soccer

And he hasn't even played yet.

Seeing again

Yesterday I finally picked up my new reading glasses and I can see again.  I actually picked them up the day after I posted this, but they didn't seem to work for me.  Even though I tried all weekend to make them work, they just didn't seem to be doing the job they were supposed to  do and were making me cross eyed.  Little did I know that that the lens factory was given or had written the wrong prescription for my left eye, that was the optometrists story anyway.  At the same time I was also renewing my sunglasses prescription and they did the same thing with them.  So now two weeks later I have both glasses and they weren't cheap.

I did manage to pick up an armful of books though at the second hand bookstore for a bargain after my visit to the optometrists.    Six Calvin and Hobbs comic books and a Snoopy for around $20.  I think I am going to put them away and use them for rewards for the boys.  They can't wait to get their hands on them.

Going Green

It was the school athletics carnival this morning, brisk and chilly and very green.  The boys school house team is called 'Phillip' and their house colour is green.  So we layered them up in green shirts and jackets.  I made green cupcakes for the canteen in the hope that whoever bought them would end up with green teeth and support 'Phillip house' when they smiled.

Sam and Ethan both ran in the 200 metre races first thing this morning with the sun shining...both boys coming 4th.

The 100 metre races were run, both my boys ran hard but didn't get into the finals.

As soon as all of the 100 metre races were run the heavens opened and poured on everyone. 

Fortunately we were equipped with rain coats and umbrella's but I ended up bringing the boys home early anyway.  At least the boys got a couple of races in each, so were pretty satisfied with their efforts.

Well run boys!!

Perfectly poached eggs

...after a frosty walk and 4 days of migraines, it's a lovely fresh start to the week.

Names in the sand

Sand engravings by Ethan

Fish and Chips at the beach

We discovered this morning that Dublin, Ireland was having the same temperatures as us, although we had the sunshine and they had the rain (sorry Gabby and Neil).  Our minimum temperature was about 10°C this morning and made it up to about 17°C.  Even though it was still chilly we went to the beach because the sun was shining so beautifully.

We rugged up warm, with board shorts underneath (the boys, not me) and Jan bought us some fish and chips for lunch.

It was lovely at the beach, a little breezy, but sunny, great for digging holes... 

...or chasing waves.

It was good to be out and smelling the fresh salt air and hear the crash of the waves.

A bit later the clouds started to come across and the breeze became a little cooler....

....but oh how lovely it was to get out of the house, after rain and sick children that have been cooped  (oops just noticed bad spelling) up for most of their holidays.  It's a shame the holidays are nearly over we could do with a few more days like this.

This is what happens...

....when you don't teach your child the next step in crochet.

You get 7.25 meters of crochet chain stitch.

This boy..

(the one in yellow)

..is absolutely

....Amazing!!

He was just spectacular today on the field.

Every week I hear the other soccer parents cheering Sam on along with their own child and telling me how great Sam played, it is wonderful to hear and I tell Sam so.  He is a strong support for his team (just don't make him play goalie or you'll find the dark side of Sam).

This week  I heard "Thank goodness for Sam!!"  and "Sam's having a blinder today!" and I totally agree!

He really did!  He was very determined to stop the other team.  He plays 'right back' on the field and today he covered a lot more ground than usual, a good 3/4's of the field.   He is not a glory hound but he certainly hounded the ball today and cut off so many possible goals from the other team. Sam even said to us after the match, "I think I stopped a goal going in today!!".  Little did he know what impact he had on the team and how many goals he did prevent going in.  Sam's coach casually handed over the man of the match certificate whilst saying "...and we all know who won man of the match today........congratulations Sam!"

He made us feel very special being his parents, a moment in time when you know your child has excelled.  Even when the team was down and there was no hope of catching as many goals as the other team, Sam did not give up he just kept on playing his very best to prevent any more goals going in.   He gave us all hope and light in the face of defeat.

And boy do we love him so.