Just the ESSENTIALS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...................

to me !!!! - 39 today.  Still don't feel it though.

I was planning on having today off work, but I had to complete some training, and due to Glen's roster, had a reshuffle, and ended up working today.  Oh well. When I got home from work, the kids and Glen had my present wrapped and ready for me, and we had some chocolate cake.  No photos of course.... whose hubby remembers to take them ??

I got Wii Fit Plus so Glen got on that and gave us all a laugh watching him from behind.  Picture a 6"4 man, who is a rather slim build hula hooping and doing a virtual step class.  The kids and I laughed and laughed.

Glen had to go to a farewell for one of the guy's leaving from his work, so he headed off at around 5:30, and the kids and I headed into Spotlight.  Thickers were 60% off tonight.  So I grabbed a couple packets.

Headed home, McDonalds for the kids in the car, and then by the time they / I had showers, packed lunches etc for tomorrow it was 7:30 and I sent both kids to bed, as they have to be AT before school care at 6:45 in the morning, as Glen and I are both working, so early nights for them.

My cousin, and a friend rang to wish me a Happy Birthday, and I got numerous texts and emails too.

I told Glen to make sure he was home by 8:30 for Packed to the Rafters, with my takeaway noodles.  Yummy.  He was, we watched that, and now I'm heading off to sleep.  Ready for another early day tomorrow.

Night.  Have a good week everyone.  Donna xx

NOVEMBER

Already.  10 more shifts, and I'm on holidays !!!  5 weeks of holiday bliss.  Can't wait.  Lots planned, to do lists, going away, very exciting. 

Well, here we are in November.  Within 2 weeks, it's Glen & my, and Kellie & Rachel's birthdays, and we usually all go out somewhere for lunch/dinner.  We don't buy presents, as it's all so close together.  This year we had dinner at Kel & Rach's place, gourmet pizza and lots of laughs.  No photos though.

Yesterday we all got together again for a BBQ dinner at Blackbutt Reserve.  We were the only ones there, and had the place to ourselves, which I can't ever remember having.  Touch footy, totem soccer, and extremely brazen  kookaburras who swooped so quickly, they took a chunk out of someone's steak would you belive, and also stole a total of 3 whole sausages from people's plates.

I've decided this year to make a 25 days of December album (think Ali Edwards - she does one every year) so off I trotted today after having a yummy vanilla coffee and cinnamon scroll with Cindy at Westfield, to the scrapbook store where I bought my supplies. So I'm ready to go.  Just looked back at a few blogs from last year, thanks KIM and JANELLE for some ideas from their albums.  Seeing as how I'll be on holidays from December 2 there's really no excuse to not have the time to do it LOL. Well, that's what I'm telling myself anyway.  Although, I've only just finished the kids xmas albums from 2007 so you can't rush these things....

I've got the day to myself today, so I'm off to do the last load of washing/ironing, general clean up and then I have to watch the Amazing Race that I taped from LAST week, before it's on again tonight. 

Oh, and if anyone's wondering, Glen finally accepted a job offer.  So we won't have to move - Yipeee!! He'll have to commute, which will mean 3 hours EACH WAY on the train on top of a 12 HOUR SHIFT = 18 hour days, but the kids can stay in school, and we can stay in this house, which is fab.  And it's ONLY for 3 years, after which he can apply for a job back up this way.

Well, off to do what needs to be done. The neverending list of things that need to be done.  Donna xx

SUNDAY = LAZY DAY

Maybe.

Glen just left for work, and he won't be home til about 9:30 tonight.  I'm about to go for my walk, and then I just have to iron the last of the school uniform, and Glen's 2 work shirts still drying.  I ironed for 2 hours the other afternoon!!  Josh has to vacuum, couple housey jobs, and then we're off to find some plants for our back garden which runs behind the washing line, and garden shed.  Something that won't attract bees.  I'm thinking either agapanthus, or totally opposite, maybe some tall conifers to cover the fence.  That's a rather broad choice.

Had the "S" talk with Josh a few weeks ago.  Santa.  I was CONVINCED that he knew Santa wasn't real.  Some things he's said over the years like "Cool, an ipod.  I KNOW you and Dad wouldn't have bought me that" !!! lol and what I thought was him trying to catch me out by saying "Who got me this Mum? Was it you or Santa" so as I said, I was fairly sure that he knew.  Well, he didn't.  I made my son cry.  I felt awful, but just explained that he's 11 1/2 and I thought the time was right.  He said he still kinda believed, and then he said "Well, if you look at the facts Mum........."  Santa can't come through walls, and we don't have a fireplace.  That kid's a thinker.  He's more than happy to help me keep the dream alive for Emma though, and for Rilee who's almost 2 (cousin) and I"m kinda glad, as I have such a terrible memory, he'll make it a little easier for me.  He feels special that he CAN help me out, and still make it such a big deal for Em.  But I feel awful...

Can't believe it's only 5 more pays 'til christmas, as someone reminded me the other day.  I always plan to be organised, and to have started buying presents, and to save some money, but then all of a sudden it's the last week of October, and I haven't !!!

Well, I'm off to enjoy my kinda lazy Sunday.  Enjoy yours too.  Donna xx

GOODBYE

Today we received some news while at work, that a work colleague that I started with 9 years ago, passed away.  He was only 37.  Too young.  He had MS.  What that disease did to his body over the past 9 years is a disgrace.  It didn't harm his spirit, good humour, and independence though.

He had spent a lot of time in hospital recently, but 2 weeks ago, I and a group of friends from work, along with my kids, met up with him for brunch at a cafe.  2 weeks ago.  He looked so good.  He chatted to Josh about his tatts, which Josh thought were COOL.

He left work 3 years ago, partly due to his health, but partly to pursue other dreams that he had.  I'm so glad that I took the time to meet up with him the other week.  I can remember him as he was that day.  The way he told Emma he liked what she ordered, so he ordered the same.  The way I gingerly wheeled him in his wheelchair around all the tables, out to the footpath while we waited for his taxi.  The conversation, and the laughs that we had.  I'll remember that.

Miss you G.

4 YEARS

4 years ago yesterday.  Seems like a lifetime.  Miss you Dad. xx

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WRAPUP

Sitting here watching the PINK FUNHOUSE TOUR DVD.  !!! Wow.  Love Pink.  Apparently 170,000 people pre-ordered it.  I think it went on sale today, so of course I rushed out to buy it, where they had hundreds of copies LOL

So, school holidays are coming to an end.  Not much has happened here.  Glen and I both still worked, and we had ONE day off together, the 4 of us. 

Spend a day at the park with Cindy and her kids, where it blew a gale, picnic lunch.  Movie days at home, movies to see UP, fruit salad lunches, a shopping day for summer clothes, Wii competitions, sleep ins (my favourite) and not much else. 

The weather has been awful the last week and a bit here, with today one of the nicest days.

Swimming lessons back in the morning.  The centre's been closed for renovations, so it will be good to see all the changes, although it does mean no more sleep ins on a Saturday morning.

Emma has decided she wants to start Club on a Friday night for swimming.  That starts back next Friday night.

The biggest change around here................ I mentioned last time there were some changes.  Well, I hired myself a treadmill 7 weeks ago.  Use it every day. I've given up soft drink (which I loooove) and I can't remember the last time I had a potato chip.  To be honest, I don't miss the soft drink, or the 'bad' foods I occasionally ate.  I did find macadamia and cranberry weight watchers choc muesli bars YUM, and skinny cow ice cream YUMMER.  I think my problem was I didn't eat ENOUGH.  Which is hard for me to get my head around, being overweight.  Anyway, I've gone down a SIZE.  Still a few sizes to go, but it's a great feeling.

So, that's about it for around here.  Back to routine next week, BUT only 7 weeks of school to go until the end of the year.  'Til I'm not the mother of a kinder girl anymore.

Have a great weekend.  Donna xx