My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes ~ and other odd places (!)

Our cat - Gordon Claypot, is the funniest boy. He's got such a personality. He loves water which is pretty unusual for a feline. He ALWAYS has to wash his face in the bathroom after breakfast and before sleep time. I will try to get a photo of him soon.

His other passion is hiding in funny places. Today I got this pic of him in Kate & Ella's wardrobe. Hee Hee!

And here is one of him in the pantry!

The girls thought it was hilarious!

The Beach House

Today being a public holiday (WA Foundation Day) plus I had the day off work, Amie & I took the girls for a play at The Beach House. The girls had a great time climbing, swinging and jumping. They were well and truly worn out after 3 hours. So were we!

Miss Ruby

I haven't posted a pic of the delightful Ruby lately. So here she is. The mischief maker of the bunch.

A day of shopping!

Today we caught the train into Perth for a bit of shopping and some lunch. Both girls were really well behaved. Kate never complained about all the walking. I managed to get some great bargains - Ella a pair of brown boots that were marked down from $44.95 to $19.95. So cute! Kate got a pair of ratz boots (Lord help me!) with 15% off. Then onto Pumpkin Patch where I got a cardi each for them. Ella's had $10 off, unfortunately Kate's was full price. Never mind. A few other bits and bobs, lunch at a lovely cafe and that's about it. It was a beautiful day for the second day of winter. They should both sleep well tonight.

A bit of fun! Have a go too!

I got this off my online friend Jan's blog. There are 150 in total - just highlight those you've done.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain **
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive **
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a Tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone **
8. Said, "I love you," and meant it. **
9. Hugged a tree **
10. Bungee jumped
11. Vistited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at night **
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise **
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game **
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables **
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars **
20. Changed a baby's nappy **
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon **
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on Champagne **
24. Given more than you can afford to charity **
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope **
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment **
27. Had a food fight **
28. Bet on a winning horse **
29. Asked a stranger out
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can **
32. Held a lamb **
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster **
35. Hit a home run **
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking **
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment **
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Vistited all 6 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk **
42. Had amazing friends **
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign **
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip **
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach **
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow **
56. Alphabetized your CDs **
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke **
59. Lounged around in bed all day **
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain **
63. Played in the mud **
64. Played in the rain **
65. Gone to a drive-in theater **
66. Vistited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business **
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken **
69. Toured ancient sites
70.Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight **
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party **
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch **
78. Won first prize in a costume contest **
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Climbed Uluru
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason **
84. Performed on stage **
85. Been to Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house **
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised or raising children **
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
99. Missed out on sleep cause you were blogging/surfing the internet? **
100. Picked up and moved to another city to start over **
101. Climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking **
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone **
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse **
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries that Australian states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper **
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about **
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroack
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read the Iliad AND The Odyssey
135. Selected an "important" author who you missed in school and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions **
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
142. Thought to yourself that you are living your dream
143 Had to put someone you love into hospice care
144. Built your own PC from parts
145. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
146. Had a booth at a street fair
147. Dyed your hair **
148. Been a DJ
149. Shaved your head
150. Caused a car accident
149. Saved someone's life

Student of the Week

This week it is Kate's turn to be student of the week in her class. She's been waiting a very long time. When Mrs Barry told her last Friday it would be her turn this week, she was so excited. All weekend Monday couldn't come soon enough.

What does the "Student of the Week" do? Well they get all sorts of exciting and wonderful things to do. Well exciting to 5 and 6 year olds anyway. Things like ringing the bell, taking the lunch orders to the canteen, choosing kids to tell news, being the leader when out and about the school. Generally all good stuff.

Action Hero's

On Monday the 28th May, Ella's Kindy class performed their first assembly item. It was as the title says called - Action Hero's. They all looked so cute up on the stage in the costumes. All the loud and outgoing kids were placed in the front row, Ella being the quiet shy girl that she is at Kindy was placed in the back row. She had her good friend Amber beside her though.

100 facts about me ...

A self-indulgent post today. I've seen this done in a few blogs and it looked like fun! So here goes.

1. I drive a Holden Commodore
2. I work as a housekeeper
3. I have a cat called Gordon Claypot
4. I am a kiwi
5. I have blue eyes
6. I am an Aries
7. I love winter
8. I was a milkgirl for 5 years
9. I only wear gold jewellery
10. I loathe rodents
11. I use to tap dance as a child
12. I haven't drunk coffee for 9 years
13. I used to play squash & table tennis
14. My middle name is Isobel
15. I drink spirits but not beer
16. I love to wear red
17. I loved Duran Duran as a teen
18. I've only had 5 jobs in my life
19. I'm 37 years young
20. My favourite flower is yellow roses
21. I love the girls name Felicity
22. I love eating pancakes
23. I support the All Blacks
24. I've never had an operation
25. I have a fear of drowning
26. My favourite movie is You've got mail
27. My first car was a Mazda 808
28. I've never been further than Australia
29. I love my electric blanket in winter
30. I hate not knowing the time
31. Breakfast is my biggest meal of the day
32. I don't like dogs unless I know them
33. I would love to own a horse
34. My car is blue
35. I wear size 9 shoes
36. I am short
37. I have perfect eyesight
38. I've never been married
39. I don't swear
40. I have no wisdom teeth left
41. I shower twice a day. Everyday
42. I don't drink milk
42. I am a chocoholic
43. I love the Eagles
44. I have been to 3 live concerts
45. I miss NZ
46. I haven't met my nephew who is nearly two years old
46. I became an aunty at 13yrs
47. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister
48. I am the youngest
49. I love Christmas
50. I don't eat seafood
51. I don't salt my food
52. I love pink
53. I hate summer
54. My favourite exercise is walking
55. I have a fantastic memory for birthdays
56. I don't like tattoos
57. I don't like clutter
58. I like a clean & tidy house
59. I spend too much time online
60. I have red & blonde highlights in my hair
61. I have 3 holes in each ear but only wear earrings in the first ones
62. Birthdays are special to me
63. I've kept all my birthday cards through the years
64. I suffer from migraines
65. I love choc chip cookies
66. I love Kenny Rogers
67. I am a morning person
68. I love to play Monopoly
69. I love to read before turning off the light
70. I gave up alcohol for 4 years
71. I went to one primary school, one Intermediate and one High School
72. I have 1 niece and 3 nephews
73. I am right handed
74. I love Ikea
75. I can't sleep on my back
76. I don't watch tv
77. My first daughter was born when I was 17
78. My last daughter was born when I was 32
79. I was a Nana at 34
80. I have never smoked
81. I played the violin growing up
82. I went to Brownies & Girl Guides
83. I love camping
84. I am tidy by nature
85. I've made many friends online
86. I am a real homebody
87. I vacuum 2-3 times a day
88. I get restless legs when I'm tired
89. I love looking at photos
90. I love babies
91. I don't wear makeup much at all
92. I worked in a bank before my current job
93. I love wearing jeans
94. I never used to like Sundays
95. I have to eat every couple of hours or I feel sick
96. I can never miss breakfast
97. I love roast lamb
98. I tend to hold grudges
99. I am a very boring person
100. I can touch my nose with my tongue

Well there you go .... everything you ever wanted to know!

The farewell dinner

We went out for dinner last Thursday night before Phil flew to his new job in Indonesia. We went up the hill to Embers, which is just so homely feeling. Not to mention great food. Amie & Ruby stayed at home as it was a cold night and Ruby was so ready for bed. After dinner we came home, the girls had a bath and went straight to bed.

Phil & I set off to the airport about 10pm. He flew to Jakarta at 1am. Very sad trip home :(

Here's a pic of Phil and the girls taken at the restaurant.

School News

Well it was a happy and sad week for Kate at school last week. The sad news first . On Thursday morning we arrived to learn that two pre-primary classes were gutted by fire on Wednesday night. One was Kate's class last year and will be Ella's next year. I was interviewed by the tv news and Kate & I were both on the Channel 7 and ten news at 6pm. Our very small claim to fame.



http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=145&ContentID=28993



Now for some happy news.



Kate was awarded an Honour certificate at assembly on Friday afternoon. I am so proud of my girl. She tries so hard and always does so well at school. I will take a pic of her with her certificate when I get my camera back.

My Nana's *old* house

A trip down memory lane.

My Mum recently sent me this pic of my Nana's house from the Property Guide.

It's come onto the market after many many years.

My Grandad built the original house in 1952/53.

The bathroom, laundry and kitchen have all be altered and upgraded.

The outside remains the same except for the size of the section. The back was sold off about ten years ago.

My Nana passed away in her bed at this home on 28th March 1986, aged 89 years.

My Grandad passed away in 19523. Hence why the house was not actually finished off properly. My Uncle Ted who had the outside bedroom passed away in 1968. Both I sadly never got to meet.

Mother's Day

These ones above are from Ella. (4yrs 3mths) She loved doing all the Mother's Day activities at Kindy and kept talking about it for weeks!

This card is from Kate (5yrs 11mths) She bought it home from school on Friday carefully wrapped in red paper and put it away carefully for today. Her eyes just glistened when I opened it. A little lavender bag was attached inside for my underwear drawer.

BLESS MY GIRLS!

Brrr .... chilly Easter Sunday

The girls were up at 6am today so excited to see what the Easter Bunny had bought. It's priceless the innonence of childhood. Just as it should be. They were all thrilled with what they got. Plenty of chocolate plus a few extras - a Disney Princess watch each for Kate and Ella and a Disney Princess musical tin for all those girly treasures. Ruby was delighted with her Dora torch and her Tinkerbell handbag that had 3 eggs inside. Although Ella thinks it's her handbag so there have been a few tears today. After a bit of chocky consumption, they settled down to boiled eggs and to watch their new dvd - Charlotte's Web. Gorgeous movie. It was a rainy cold Perth day - 23 deg - that is much cooler than we are used to. Pottered around the house for the morning then Kate & Ella were getting at each other so off for a drive. Being Easter Sunday not much was opened. Actually being Sunday means not much is open. This is the West after all. So we just went to Hungry Jacks - bleeergh! The girls ate and then had a lovely time in the playground. The wind turned colder and I was cold, even for me which is saying something. So we came home early. Early tea, bath, watched a bit of Charlotte's Web (again!) and now they're all tucked up sleeping blissfully!
Ahhh peace!

No pics - camera decided to break down yesterday. Not happy at all.

Ruby the Show - Off

It's official. The youngest member of the household is a showoff. Always showing us her 'pappies' as she calls them. She loves getting new ones in the mail. A model in the making maybe??

Randoms things happening in our lives!

• Amie is buying a sewing machine soon and embarking on the wonderful world of sewing! Hopefully there'll be some sewing classes close by that she can enroll in.


• School holidays start this Thursday 5th April. No plans at this stage but hopefully the weather will be kind and we can do lots of outdoor activities.


• Phil is now working at a nickel mine near Lincester. He's a leading hand/trainer operator which is a new challenge.


• Kate now has to wear glasses to correct her long sightedness in her left eye. A common problem that runs on Phil's side of the family.


• Ella recently had to have some tests done to see whether the reoccuring UTI's that she's getting have affected her kidneys. Fortunately they haven't. I'm so glad she doesn't need an operation.


• Ruby is becoming such a good little talker. Making us laugh constantly with the words that come out of her mouth.

A Day at the Beach

One Saturday, towards the end of March, we packed a picnic and headed to South Beach. "We" being Amie, Kate, Ella, Ruby and Ailsa. Phil was away working, as usual. Poor guy. Anyway it was the first time Ruby has been to the beach with us (she's been with her Grandparents before) and when we got there she just rushed straight in - dress and all. Kate thought she would do the same. Silly girls. After a picnic, the girls were back in the water in a flash. It was pretty cold, but they didn't seem to care. Once they had had enough we dried and dressed them and headed up to the playground for an ice cream. An enjoyable day!

Kate and her new bike!

Kate got a new bike for Christmas which she just loves. During the holidays she learnt to ride without the training wheels at Tomato Lake. Yay for Kate - there's no stopping her now!

Cockatoo Island WA

Phil has been working on Cockatoo Island for the past six months operating diggers mainly and a few other types of machinery. He's away for two weeks at a time, home for one. He flies from Perth to Broome and then onto the island. It takes him all day to get home due to the flight times which is a bummer as he's come off night shift and is knackered by the time he gets to see the girls.



Here's some pics from the island!

Ella starts KINDY!

1st February 2007

Ella was adamant she wasn't going! For weeks we had talked about when she would start, what she would wear, who her teacher would be and all the fun things she would do there! But it didn't make a single bit of difference. On the first big day (well afternoon in our case) Ella was still NOT going! Her little friend Elissa was at our house for the day and we talked all morning about Ella going to Kindy that afternoon. Finally she agreed to go - on the condition she had ice cream for lunch! Hey, anything to get her there right?

Well we had lunch, got her dressed, and set off. No tears at all. I was pleasantly surprised. She had an absolute ball and hasn't looked back since!

I took this photo of her & Elissa just before we went!

Ella Turns 4 !!!

Our littlest girl was four on the 10th Feb. She's still petite but very cute! Like most little girls, Ella loves to dress up! And thought she was in heaven when she recieved 3 dress-up dresses for her birthday! What a lovely day!

This one was from Nana & Grandad in NZ!
A beautiful pink twelve dancing princesses dress was unwrapt at her party at Kidz Paradise. It was from her little & big friends Elissa & Kayley, and Deb & Shane!

And last but not least was a purple one with wings. Just lovely, from Jessica & Jack, Jeanie and Vinnie!That night we went to stay at the Bennetts (Elissa, Kayley & Co) Ella had the choice between that or going swimming for the arvo. The Bennetts will win hands down everytime I think. This is the BIG sleepover!