Reading

We had the willow tree in our backyard lopped on the weekend.. who knew our friends son was a qualified tree lopper and just happened to have all his gear with him..lol
I do love our willow tree but it gets messy with falling twiggy branches if it gets to big, mind you all the leaf it drops in autumn makes great mulch for the garden!
Not sure that it gets this messy though!

and what do boys do with lots of tree limbs and branches lying around?

You build a teepee of course!


We also finally traded little old wooden outdoor setting that has faithfully served our growing family for the past 5 yrs for a BIGGER new outdoor setting. I love it.. the table is 5ft square and fits us all so comfortably around it. We love eating outdoors in the warmer months this setting will make for some much more comfortable meals.


and the part I love most about a spring is all the beautiful flowers starting to bloom.

2 more days and I will have the kids home for two weeks. Normally I would be dreading school holidays but I am actually looking forward to a break from being the family taxi service! In the meantime I have been busy organising little spots here at home that were long overdue for some sorting out.

Now that I am cooking more my recipe books got a long overdue sort out. No more untidy pile of books!


Dh's shed was next.. Now I can find everything..lol



and of course I have been cooking!

Orange Moon

Bring on Spring and away with these stupid cough, sneezy, can't send the kid to school bugs.......

And thats all I have to say on that.

I know I know.. must remember to blog.. must remember to blog.
We took a trip on the Saturday to see my dad and decided to take the long way..lol We stopped at our favourite little honey shop which has every flavour of honey imaginable..
Unfortunately...

But we had a little fun anyway..



and saw this... isn't it beauitful!



Then we went onto Cradle Mountain. I haven't been back here for 14yrs, when Dh and I spent a night at the lodge on our honeymoon and prior to that my last visits was during my teens (when I was somewhat fitter..lol) and I use to hike through snow and rain (usually!) with a group to the mountain the base.



Another rainbow. I saw a rainbow nearly every day last week.. is that a good thing??!


and this sign just cracked me up. From a distance (and if you have bad eyesight.. ahem)It looks like kangaroos tow cars away here.

Food

I seem to be discussing food alot lately in various circles. Having witnessed first hand the way food had an effect on our kids behaviour, we have always been watchful of what we feed our kids. We aren't the no lollies, no chips sort of parents but we try to keep those things in moderation. Lately with all the talk of trans fats I have gone one step further and have started baking more. The surprising thing is how much they are loving the homemade treats over the bought stuff, especially the muesli bars!

There and back

Oooops getting a bit behind on the blog! I was telling someone that life with five kids is getting easier as they are all getting older (insert sigh of releif here)but it's also getting alot busier!. I am understanding the term "mum's taxi" more and more. I feel like I live in my car somedays. Tuesday is the only day I have that I don't have to be somewhere and none of the kids have to be anywhere either, well other than school but the big kids can get themselves there without my help!

This weekend we are spending hanging out at home. But last Saturday we took a long day trip down the coast and back checking out beaches and camping spots for this summer.

First stop and we found this tree. All those figures are carved wood!




Then on to Little Blue Lake.

It really is that colour. Its an old mining dam and the colour is the result it being made up of white clay, minerals and the reflection from the sky. Nice to look at but not to swim in or drink from.
It also makes a nice backdrop ;)


and then it was on to check out the beaches.

check out cheeky and the tongue..lol








and as the sun set.. we headed home (well actually we headed to the nearest fish and chip shop for tea first!).. but not before one more handstand on the beach..lol

Whine fest

I've been stuck home all week with the dreaded flu. It started last week when I lost my voice. Completely. If you stood nice and close to me I could whisper in your ear. It was very frustrating. And I swear the lady at the Woolies deli was trying her hardest not to laugh at me while I tried to order bacon over that high counter. So my voice made it back to me and the flu has settled in my chest. Ugh. Give me a head cold anyday but when I get a chest cold I cough so much my ribs hurts. I coughed so much I pulled a muscle in my chest. Basically I have been pretty miserable..lol

So Emma and I found ourselves stuck inside and bored so we were trying to cheer (me) up by being silly.





Even when she is being silly she is still oh so cute!


and my real gripe for the day is...
This morning I rang our dr's surgery to make an appointment for Emma and I. For me, because I am pretty over feeling blah and for Emma because last night we were up with her coughing and sounding all croupy and distressed and gasping for breath.

And they are booked out for a week. Huh? We might be well in a week. We might be dead in a week (ok so I am exaggerating, slightly.) But really.. NOTHING? for a week?? Aren't they suppose to keep some appts open each day. I rang as early as you can possibly ring without getting the answering machine. This is not the first time either.

I'm shopping for a new doctor.

Emma has just discovered she can do somersaults... or as she calls them "back flips"

Ernie

Meet Ernie.. the newest member of our brood. He's a 6yo Jack Russel cross that we adopted from the RSPCA. He was a little timid at first but is starting to come out of his shell.

The two faces of one day

Happy smiley face


and the not so happy smiley face.
She was not a happy camper this day and of course mean mummy chased her round with a camera..LOL

10

Yesterday was Jacob's 10th birthday, although we actually celebrated it on Sunday. He requested a bean bag and cheesecake for his birthday, both of which were delivered ;)

Happy Birthday Jacob!

The EVIL brownie

Pure evil... but soooooooooooooooooooooo nice!

To commit this particular sin you will need the following..

180g (6oz) butter
250g (9oz) dark cooking chocolate
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
2tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup cocoa

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Line base and sides of a deep 20cm square cake tin with baking paper. Grease.
Chop butter and melt in a medium heavy based pan, add roughly chopped chocolate and stir constantly over low heat until melted and smooth. remove from heat and leave to cool.

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla together with an electric mixer until thick and pale. Sift together flour and cocoa and add to egg mixture along with melted butter and chocolate. Carefully folding using a large metal spoon.

Gently spoon mixture into prepared tin. Spread to edges and gently shake to settle. bake for 30-35 minutes.. do not over cook. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan.

We reheated and had with whipped cream for dessert.... melt in your mouth!