Kalamunda Show

Kate in her singing troupe - she is second from left

 Today we went to the Kalamunda Show as they girls were performing - both in ballet and Kate in singing as well. It was a very hot day 34 deg and really hot standing in the sun watching. They did really well though. It's always a proud moment to watch them perform.

Classical - Ella on left, Kate centre

Ella and Ruby rode the small roller coaster

Ella and Kate on the wave swing - Ella went on this 3 times!

Ruby feeds a sheep

Kate has a quiet word with Jonah about being gentle

Kate holds a chicken

We stopped to watch the wood cutting competition

Kate enjoys a much needed snow cone

The camels weren't as popular this year. The girls didn't ask to go on them.

The all enjoyed the party gym bus - even Jonah

ice cream- yum!

Jonah loved the Sesame Street characters

The girls won some prizes on the clown mouths

Kate loved this ride!

Amie, Jonah and Ruby on the cup and saucer ride

Ella shows off her wins

We watched the Perth Angels compete - the are in the top 5 teams for Australia and head to the World champs in less than a week. It is a mixture of acrobatics, cheerleading, gymnastics and dance.

then they called for kids to come up and have a go - Kate couldn't get up there fast enough

Phil and the girls on the dodgem cars. Kate wasn't quite sure at first as she had to go in a car by herself, but she soon got the hang of it

What are you reading?

My latest pile of library books.

 

 

I go to the library 2 to 3 times a week. Yes, you read correctly. WE love reading. Most of what I have out now aren't actually reading books, but topics I am enjoying nonetheless.

What are you enjoying at the moment?

Baking

After reading http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/ yesterday and realising I had borrowed The Thrifty Kitchen cookbook from the library last week I decided to make some passionfruit yo-yo's as well. I had just come home from helping Ella's class make Anzac biscuits so was in the baking mood.

 It was a nice change not to have to share the licking of the bowl with anyone, it was all for me. I didn't stick them together like yo-yo's are supposed to be because they are just too big for the kids to eat a whole one. This way at least there are twice as many.

 Now I have eaten 4, I'm feeling a tad sick. Oh well better to get in now before they are all gone.

Op Shopping

Ella tries on some of her new gear. Love this shirt  - eat, drink, sleep, DANCE! Very appropriate for a dancer!

 Today, I met up with Amie & Jonah at the shops to buy the kids winter pj's for Easter. Yes, it is a tradition here as we believe the kids gett too much chocolate and just do not need it. They always need new pyjamas anyway with growing so far, so we have made it part of Easter. After we finished at the shopping center, we visited some Op shops. We headed to some I have never been to before which was a nice change. First up was the Salvos where I got the girls some cool shirts and 3 brand new dress-up skirts. Next was Save the Children where we got a book for Ella, and a vest and a toy car for Jonah. We walked along in search of more and came across Good Sammys where more bargains were found (mostly for Jonah and Ruby) and I picked up two gorgeous Easter baskets for the egg hunt. Next door was St Vinnies where I snapped up a few bargains for Kate. All in all a good day.

Some of Kates' bargains with the Easter baskets in front

Gardening

Most of this garden is grown from cuttings. The little white sheep hiding Mum bought for me on her last trip to Perth

It's been a big weekend of tidying up the front yard. We've weeded, ferlilized, pruned, planted and watered. Now we just need some solid rain. It's nice to get out in the cooler weather, even though my hands are blistered and sore. Will get to the backyard in the next few days once the bin has been emptied.

 The last of the summer roses

pretty pinks that Ella chose for a wall hanging basket

A Frangipani that is growing from a cutting from a friends garden. It's doing well.

Rain, beautiful rain. It's been a long long time since we have seen you :)

Storage

 I found these storage units at a furniture shop the other week. I had been looking for something for the laundry that wasn't too big that I could use for separating whites etc. We don't have alot of spare space, so it took awhile to find what I needed. The baskets are working so well. The top is for white that need washing. I do a load at the end of the week. The second one is for school uniforms to be washed. I wash the whole lot on Saturday mornings. The third basket is for clean socks. Both Kate & Ella's go in here. I got sick of working out which socks belong to which girls, they always ended up in the wrong room. Now they all go in together and they know which are theirs. Win-win. next are for everyday shoes they wear to school and around home. Their good shoes are in their wardrobes.

I also got a unit for Ella's room. She is in the smallest bedroom in the house (her choice as she likes where the window faces) and needed some more drawers. I got her one with 2 baskets and 3 drawers. I will get Kate one for her room too as it works so well.

Praying for Mum

My poor Mum who lost her husband of 50years one month ago today, is now undergoing major surgery as I write this. She fell sick on Friday night, had some tests done in hospital on Saturday and it was discovered that she has a tumor on her bowel. Sitting by the phone again after waiting for news of Dad for weeks before he passed is really hard right now. I'm praying that Mum who is pretty frail makes it through okay, and has a good recovery. I have never felt so far away from my family as I do now.

Please keep us in your thoughts today as your go about your lives.
xxx

Update: Mum came through the OP with flying colours, I'm so happy she is on the mend.

Weekend Break Away

Sisters sharing a special moment

We took off for a night away to celebrate my birthday (it was on Tuesday 5th) it was the same area we went to last year, Mandurah. It's about an hour south of Perth, so perfect for a quick getaway.
I left with the girls early afternoon. Phil was going to a rugby game that night so he came down after that.
When the girls and I arrived, we check into the hotel, and then they wanted a swim in the indoor heated pool.
After we went on a long walk and ate fish and chips by the water. Very relaxing.
It was dark when we got back to the hotle. The girls had another swim while I sat and listened to the live entertainment, which was very good.
Phil arrived about 10:15pm, by then the girls were fast asleep from all that exercise!

We watched some telly then went to bed.

Up early the next morning, we played tennis and the girls had another swim until it was 10am and time to check out of the hotel. We left and headed into town in search of breakfast. Unfortunately when it cam out, I didn't feel very well, so it got left.
We headed down to the foreshore then and the market. We all had a relaxing day soaking up the rays and enjoying each others company.

It was nice and quiet at the end of the day

Across the bridge to see what we could see. The late afternoon sun was just gorgeous

Nothing like eating fish and chips straight from the paper by the water!

The pool was a huge hit with the girls

The view from the hotel room

The stairs were a novelty for awhile

Ella enjoyed rock climbing, and went up 3 times

Kate does a flip on the bungy swing

Kate's turn to climb

Ella loved the bungy swing too

A quiet moment by the water enjoying an ice cone

And onto the playground

Walking hand in hand 

They couldn't help but get wet

and sandy

Even though the water was a bit nippy!