For no particular reason yesterday, as it is not something I have ever done, I felt prompted to call Nova (a radio station) to offer a correction (they thought Alex Kingston was a dude) ~~~ 

and when I did, they gave me free tickets to SupaNova (our version of ComicCon) as well as free entry to Dreamworld SupaNova after dark... 

It was only two tickets to Dreamworld, but I wasn't even able to wake Will, so I ended up taking Justice myself.  

We saw a sneak preview of the new Star Trek, and it was so impressive even I want to see the movie!

Justice was in love with the foam ball area, but we did also try the bumper cars and some of the open rides.  I am an adrenaline wimp, but Justice really gave things a red hot go.  

We've never been to Dreamworld before, and obviously for a small evening event not everything was open, but it was really cool.  And free! 

Free is very cool!

Another day at work...

 Justice came and helped me with deliveries last night.  We stayed in the city once we finished and visited the museum to see the dinosaur exhibit that is closing soon and also went to the science centre... 

Which was a HIT... 

Of course, future Doctor McPhail had to do the giant body puzzle...

  

There were some interesting exhibits about light and illusion...

 As well as some great puzzles

 And a giant lightning ball!

 The dinosaur exhibit was not exactly what I was expecting, but Justice loved it...

 Learning he would be crushed by a dinosaur bite didn't deter him...

 But he particularly liked the shadow display...

Easter help...

Justice traditionally helps me with Easter Saturday sales as Will is generally exhausted after adding so many hot cross buns to the already busy bake.

This year, as Justice is learning the saxophone, he played "Hot Cross Buns" until they all sold.  Which did prevent us from following through on the rest of the tradition - we did not have any buns left over to drive around and donate.

(Okay, yes, he did have a cash bowl, but that was provided by the shop next door.  He raked in $50!)

Local flooding...

Unlike last year, the floods this year have had a bit of an affect on us. The local duckpond went under, along with the surrounding play equipment. 

Then the stream to the left of our stream washed over the road too deep to be ignored... and there was some drainage problem that occurred to the right of us... 

So our home was effectively flooded in... Although it was a limited adventure, since you could walk in or out through the high backyards, it was just the streets that were impassible, and our vehicles were already "out" at the bakery when it happened... Still, for three days it affected us and made the school run a hike to the car adventure...

Back to School...

Watch this space... I have to figure out why I can't yet upload his back to school snap, but its cute!

Hard at Work...

 Justice always helps me out a few nights during the school holidays, and this summer he has done several early morning delivery runs with me... 

Often, he asks the night before, but changes his mind when I wake him when I am ready to leave...  

For some reason, it is always easier to get him to come if I agree to breakfast in the city.

 Today was particularly special because once we finished all the deliveries we got "dolled up" to search for new customers...

We had a few positives and definitely landed one, 

no doubt because Justice looks so cute in his five piece suit!

We celebrated afterwards with lunch at one of our cbd customers!

Birthday Bash...

birthday friends...

This weekend we went to the sweetest birthday party...

It was like ones from when I was a kid, not heaps of bells and whistles or jumping castles and hired entertainment - there was face painting, pin-the-tale, pass the parcel... music, yummy nibbles and a fanastic cake...

It was a perfect, sincere birthday celebration!

her mom made one of those great dolly cakes...

And the kids were CUTE!

my friend Heather did the face painting: Talent! and Patience!!!

Holiday Fun...

Justice and Ruby

 These summer holidays have been flying by.  

I love the school schedule here with the many short breaks, but essentially it is a year-round school schedule~ so summer vacation is only six weeks long... which seems like a bit of a rip off when I think back on my own summers and the three months off... 

(actually, as a uni student, I get three months at summer - 

except this year I am taking three classes instead - graduation 2013 plans people!)

Justice was able to have Ruby over for a sleepover this weekend, and he had heaps of plans to cram into the 24 hours...

They got to pick a place for dinner 

(I do NOT summer cook if I can help it!) 

So, we hit Pancake Manor...

Deciphering the menu: it turned out she doesn't like pancakes...

Cheers! Everyone likes milkshakes though...

 They stayed up playing video games forever, but were still up early the next morning for another round.  

After lunch, they headed outside 

for a very uneven water fight 

(we have only the two unmatched water guns)

water gun wars...

 And since they were already wet and it was about a zillion degrees, I took them down to the local pool...

since they were soaked anyway, I took the kids to the pool

they did their own underwater pics

 I defnitely think they had a blast! 

I can't believe they're starting Year 5 in a few weeks!

HEAT WAVE...

Summer is HERE and we can feel it!  It is the hot humid icky sticky hot kind of summer days... so as part of the exercise every day thing we have also been going to the pool.  We found on a whole family trip that the Bethania pool is especially nice, quiet, has a great kid friendly layout and is much less chlorinated than the Beenleigh pool - competely worth the few minutes drive...

However, today just Justice and I went to the local pool (as it has a partial shade cover) and spent the better part of two hours in the deep end trying to get some fun underwater pics...  

 What do you think?

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HE SPARKLES

TBA

Boxing Day

 
Will's parents came for Boxing Day this year.  It was a mild, cool summer day so I was able to set a table outside the back patio for our lunch.  

I finally had a chance to use this huge platter my sister-in-law Iris gave us a few Christmas' ago (I did have to put the entire three dish meal on there to fill it- its HUGE!) and also a set of Christmas dishes.  FUN.  We rarely entertain, so it was a novelty.  I roasted pumpkin and potatoes all day in the crockpot (no hot oven steaming up the house!), grilled up some lamb cutlets and made a big green salad with a medley of tomatoes.  (The green speckled were my favourite...)

It was nice to have another morning off before getting back to work tomorrow...

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas!

CHRISTMAS 2012

 

So, this year I wanted to get this new cabinet desk sorted --so I could conquer my several year office problem - the problem being that I get buried under all the school, business, kid's school and assorted papers, never mind books I have read, am planning to read, mail I have kept, and then there is my scrapbooking paraphernalia (particularly sad as law school has halted my scrapbooking, but not the invasion of the paraphernalia!)  

Anyway, I bought this awesome solid wood cabinet desk on ebay for SO CHEAP to help me deal with the problem - and allow me to close the doors on the mess!  With a second super cool CHEAP one for the scrapbooking things...  Only the job of sorting and restoring everything is so immense, and so time consuming - and has to be done in one fell swoop - WELL, it just hasn't happened!  BUT, I needed to do the office so I could move the desk out of the front room so I could put up my tree in the front room... and I kept thinking I would get it done... 

BUT, in the end, I wrapped the gifts on Christmas Eve and stored them in the cabinet desk that is still in my front room...  That's right, it was the Christmas cabinet this year... 

Sad, but true...  Actually, it looked pretty in the end!

 The boys and the toys - this was a nerf Christmas.

 HOPE YOU ENJOYED A LOVELY HOLIDAY WITH THOSE YOU LOVED FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON!

THE JUST LOAF HOLIDAY DINNER

Christmas Dinner 2012

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

This year we had our holiday dinner at Augustine's in The Mansions at the Brisbane CBD.  Its a lovely spot, and other than a shock with the chocolate tart, it was a great night. 

However, it was also the night I found out I was allergic to the gorgeous new hair colour I got, so after dinner we went to the emergency room to confirm that the two softballs and slew of swollen lymphnodes on the back of my head were indeed from the recent change...

Maybe blondes really do have more fun.  Two days as a brunette and I am doped up on antihistamines and steroids!  Whoo hoo...

GRADUATION...

See that little angel?  
She just finished pre-prep! 
(At the same pre-prep that Justice attended!)

We were lucky enough to be able to see her end of year performance ~ I love living in a place where the school can do a Christmas program!  It was even more fun this time around, without that desperate to get a good photo and hoping your kid doesn't fall off the riser feeling...

It was also the last night with students for Mrs. Leahy, who is retiring.  Both kids have ben so lucky to have her as their first teacher.

And yes, that is a Big Bang Theory shirt.  I know, not child appropriate viewing.  

He loves it, and he ensures me he still doesn't get the "S-E-X" jokes, so its okay... It is, right?

I LOVE my new camera!

 So I just wanted to point out how 

AWESOME 

my birthday present camera is!!!

 

Justice has been drinking vegetable juice every day - spinach, celery & cucumber - look at those muscles!!!

 This is the smile I get if he knows I am taking a blog picture!

 Whereas this is his natural cuteness!

And do you see how clear and gorgeous these photos turned out, even in my underlit front room?!  
I LOVE THIS CAMERA! Its not a little point and shoot, so I will still have my purse camera for impromptu shots - but when planning ahead- I get to use this one!!!