I really don’t like pulling a tent down in the rain

and yet…we would do it all again!

The plan for the weekend was to jump on the jumping pillow, swim in the pool, play in the playground and go to Sovereign Hill to have our photo done…we did all that so mission accomplished. Tent is very wet and I am hoping for a dry day soon to get it up and aired out.

I loved having our potrait done at Sovereign Hill’s Red Hill Photography Rooms.  The price has always been a little out of reach at $70 for a family potrait (sitting and an 8×10 photo of 2 adults and up to 4 kids) so we have never had it done but as mentioned previously we won the free portrait so we went despite the rain.  The costumes actually go on over clothes and are all vecro’d at the back so go on really fast and easy (even on my fat bod). The kids were actually pretty good about it – even if they look a little grumpy in the photos – but then all the old photos didn’t have smiles in them so it actually looks cool.  I’m having issues with uploading photos from my iphone to my blog (but not to facebook) so no photo today sorry  (I took a photo of our photo on the iphone so quality isn’t great but not bad either).  We did the candle dipping (again) and bowling (no queues as it was soo wet the mine had actually flooded and was closed)!

We were home by 1 and I told the kids to get a bowl of cereal for lunch and hit the sack…I didn’t sleep last night at all on account of the heavy rain and worrying about packing up in it and wasn’t helped by a damp Corey (accident) coming in to sleep with me at 3am. Now my camping mat is about the size of a real single bed (not a camp single bed) but even so me and him didn’t make for a comfy night.  I crashed for a good couple of hours and felt much better after that.  Had an easy dinner and bundled the kids through the bath and off to bed. Am going to bed myself very soon despite the fact that it is indeed ridiculously early.

oh and for the record…all I want for Christmas is an endless swim spa! We hired it for a half hour yesterday afternoon at the caravan – oh wow just simply heavenly! You can swim and swim and really feel like you are getting a work out but go nowhere – and so warm and lovely and the kids loved the spa bit too (as did I). Dreaming I know…..

Here comes the rain again!

Next time we come camping I might leave our camp clothesline at home… I suspect having if brings rain!
Despite the rain which has been on and off we have played a round of minigolf, jumped on the jumping pillow, played in the playground, had a game of table hockey and even been for a swim!
I so want an indoor endless swim spa it was awesome! I even managed a game of charades this evening with a bunch of other single parents camped next to us!
The best bit this time has been the way the kids have made friends with all the other kids – it is boy central here!

Acamping we will go….

why? why? why? do I never learn!

Yesterday the boys didn’t want to get anything done after school towards camping…I told them it would all then have to be done today….alas I forgot that while that might suit THEIR schedule it certainly didn’t suit mine. I was hot and tired with sore feet from standing all day in my sandals and I didn’t feel like…and again they didn’t feel like…and so it turned into a nag fest grrr I hate that!

Still they have mostly packed…I need to do some washing to finish off and they have pulled out most of the stuff we need which helps.  I have all day to do a bit of shopping and then get the car packed. We decided to ditch swimming lessons this week in favour of heading to Ballaraat straight from school. Sadly with all the HOT DRY weather we have been having the forecast for the weekend is low 20s and WET – possibly even thunder storms! and on Monday? back to hot and dry!  Here is hoping the weather man is wrong….I don’t mind the low 20s bit but rain and thunder storms certainly puts a dampener on camping lol!  still I guess on the up side if it is dry again on Monday at least we will be able to air/dry the tent!

Am keeping it simple food wise.  We have made and frozen sandwiches and will take them with us with the view to Saturdays lunch – hoping they will be defrosted but still nice and fresh then. We plan to spend the day just lounging in the park and enjoying the facilities. Sunday we are off to Sovereign Hill again. This time I remembered to PRINT my voucher and am about to put it in my handbag with the voucher for our photo at Red Hill Photography Studio.

Also on the good news front I have secured my $6 per square metre tiles and will pick them up Wednesday…and further good news I have found my missing camera battery charger phew!

So wish us a DRY weekend (well we don’t mind getting wet in the POOL).

 

Purple tiles!

I ran down to bunnings with Corey while the other boys were at Joeys tonight to get spline to fix the front door – in the right size this time!  While I was there it occured to me that I should look at tiles.  I found a purple one! a decorate border which will look nice amongst the white…of course at $6.50 a tile the 5cm thick purple strip will cost more than the rest of the white tiles put together! eek….thinking about it – I do like them but will have to run over to the tile shop and see what else is out there and perhaps if nothing else try to get the white ones cheaper lol! if I go with this tile it is 200mm long so it means my tiles need to match that in width so they look nice.  ah well see how we go…

meanwhile a photo from retreat….

I still can't get over the orange undergrowth - just beautiful

New Sovereign Hill discounts for November

The November Offer is for 25% off Blood on the Southern Cross shows. Don’t forget the all year round offer of 10% off Sovereign Hill too so pick the offer that works for you.

I haven’t been to the blood on the southern cross show because the boys are a bit young I think to be up so late etc etc Would love to hear about it from those that have been.

I am excited about going next weekend with the boys to have our family potrait done at the Red Hill Photography shop at Sovereign Hill. We have rung ahead and booked it in which is awesome.

I am also very much looking forward to my scrap retreat this weekend YAY….and hopefully I will be able to keep up my daily blogging via my much loved iphone!

Testing blogging from iphone

Gotta love my iPhone! Should be easier to make that daily post if I can blog from my phone!

Getting ready for another long drive

we are heading back to Adelaide in a few weeks.

I know many people say that I am crazy….something about 3 small boys and a 9ish hour drive.  I do enjoy driving…sometimes it would be nice to be able to switch drivers but as Owen is  only 8 I guess that isn’t going to happen for a while.

The trip will be different this time as I have Owen sitting in the front which gives everyone more elbow space. It does however mean that the picnic basket of snacks will have to go in the back seat, hopefully Brett and Corey will behave. Other option might be to pack separate lunch boxes for each kid which could be a workable idea.  They are all a bit older too which makes it easier (its been 9 months since our last trip).  I think I have decided to go get some stable tables for them so they can do some drawing (pencils only) and have something to drive their cars on etc.

They want to stop at the big koala this time so we will be mixing up the stops a little too. And I’ve learnt that it is better to eat in the car and stop to play than try to get them to eat when all they want to do is play!

I am prattling…probably because I should be in bed!

New Sovereign Hill Discount

new offer for August….
2 children free with every paying adult OR
pay for one adult and get one free…

August_Offer

Camping Photos…

Yes that’s right actual photos! I am often reminded that I don’t put up enough pics so am trying to improve on that one.

setting up – ok not a lot of setting up photos as I was kinda busy….setting up!

afternoon tea!

The beach at Dromana on Saturday afternoon after we got all set up (across the road from the caravan park).

check out all the boardwalk/stairs – we got all the way to the end and back without being blown away (just). This was Sunday morning (before it rained).

after it rained most the time we were there this was lovely to be greeted with at breakfast time on Tuesday as we got ready to pack up and come home.

A real post! 2008 a photographic journey!

I have been told off for not updating very much over the past year and for not putting up many photos either ….so here it is. One photo a month for 2008.

in January we did a tour of 5 playgrounds in 5 days to alleviate the bordem of school holidays.  This old fashioned whirly gig was  a definite favourite!

In February it would seem I didn’t take a single photo so here is one from the end of January instead it was all about school starting for Owen!

And then it was March and I started seeing Stephen and I finally got those divorce papers posted!

And before I knew it Easter was gone and it was April!Mum and Dad came down for a visit and we enjoyed a walk to the playground and along the river.

and then it was May!A trip to Geelong on and we saw this ship – or pirate boat as the boys called it. We made a promise to go on it ‘one day’ – it hasn’t happened yet but Owen is going sailing on ‘The Enterprize” with Joey Scouts in a couple of weeks! The rest of us will get there one day!

and then it was June and we were lucky to be given tickets to Disney on Ice in the city. The boys and I caught a train into the city and we had a lovely day out!

In July I went to Brisbane with Stephen to the Abbey but July’s photo is me and Corey when we completed one of the things from my 50 things list – a trip to the minature railway in Altona.

And then it was August and Brett turned 5! He had his first big party (at McDonalds) and they were all so great! And see I even Scrapped! (chipboard Kombi with thanks to Rach at Happy Creations!

And then it was September and we were off to the SNOW!  It is with some sadness that I look at these as we have been twice to Marysville and had planned to make it an annual trip. With the fires there isn’t a Marysville anymore so we don’t think we will go this year – unless we can fit in a day trip.

October was a HUGE month. Corey turned 3, Owen turned 7. I sold Top50 and my lil bro Steve married Katie….

In November Owen went to a Joey scout camp and Corey and Brett and I accompanied Stephen to the Melbourne Medieval Faire and Tourney (MMFAT). Here is my littlest viking.

And when December rolled around poor Brett was soo sick with tonsolitis and yet so determined to be part of the kinder concert.