SKINNED RATS

 ABOVE:  Teddy looks like a skinned rat since I 'groomed' him!  As least in this photo he actually looks cute!

ABOVE:  Steve and Coco last night.  Coco likes getting kisses from Steve, and Steve?  Well it's the only action he's getting from a chick right now!  lol

ABOVE:  I've been having a lot of trouble getting good night photos, so was just playing around with my camera settings.  I like this photo.

ABOVE: the dogs assuming their preferred night time positons.  Pffffft, I never get a look in.  I could get an inferiority complex.

TODAY:  I want to go for a swim at the pool.... and do some purposeful exercise.  I ate far too much crap over the last couple of days!

ABOVE: our son Russell sent me these photos last night.  In the bottom photo Sienna is being held by her sister Hayley.  She sure looks proud as punch to be holding her new sister. Awwwww.

ONWARD...

RANDOM QUESTION:  Has anyone tried Apple Cider Vinegar for Hot Flushes?  I was reading about it on the 'net last night and it's claimed to have helped them?

Oh and it's cold today!  My hands and feet are cold!  Might not go swimming afterall!  I a sookie-la-la.   lol

So I haven't been on me blog much today at all.  Been reading YOUR blogs and leaving some comments along the way. 

AND Steve and I went out and bought a KFC DOUBLE DOWN 'burger'... well we had to TRY it eh????
And the verdict?  NOT worth all the hype.  And the sauce????  It tasted like seafood sauce!  ON CHICKEN?   I don't think that was a good idea at all.

So on a scale of 1 - 10... I give it a 3.  And it wasn't worth all those freakin calories either.

At least now I know what I am NOT going to miss out on.

End of Day:  feel guilty as sin.  Done bugger all today really. A bit down in the dumps. 
DIET:  KFC... really?
nite nite.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MARKET

ABOVE: ten perfect little toes... all accounted for and all adorable.

 ABOVE:  Looking at Sienna over SKYPE is not like being there and holding her, but it's the best we can do for now.  Oh to have masses of cash to just jump on a plane and go there right now!  *sniff*

ABOVE:  Russell and his wee girl.  I love this photo... Sienna looks so much like Kelly did as a newborn. 

TODAY: big clean up after the weekend.  And waiting on 'news' from Stew.   Not expecting it to be what we wanted...

 ABOVE:  I just bathed the dogs, I did Coco first, then Teddy.  Teddy really didn't want a bath, he was scared... so he pee'd on the floor just as Steve picked him up!  Needless to say, Steve also got pee'd on! 
Steve is NOT impressed with our Teddy!

ABOVE:  but who could stay cross with our darling Teddy eh?  lol
Now I have to blow dry them and trim them again... oh yaaaa...

so... Steve and I are sitting in the lounge watching American Idol that I taped... when our front door is opened and we look at each other and go "Who is THAT just barging into our house?"...

And it was the kids home from school!  We could not believe it was already 3pm!  Where the hell did the day go?

Seems it took me HOURS to groom both dogs again!

I really can't show you either as Teddy no longer looks like Teddy, he looks like a terrior.  Not a Bichon/Shih Tzu.  SADLY.

Only good thing about that is he won't need grooming for  AGES.  That is good yes?

OH and where is everybody???  Hardly anyone has popped in and said 'HI' today... *sniff*

NEWS: finally got THE NEWS we have been waiting for.  And it was a big fat NO.  Stew applied for a job within his company which would have meant moving to Wellington for us.  But he didn't get it.  He is ....... dejected but determined to get his 'skills' up so when a similar job comes up he is better prepared to get it.  (edit: at Stew's level there are only 3 jobs above his that he can go for...so it could be a LONG wait which is why we are so upset about not getting this one.)

I on the other hand am just cross... we had got our hopes up for nothing is would seem. 

Off to eat chocolate now... comforting it is.

I forgot to say why I was so bloody cross on friday!  Stew had been told EVERYONE who was interviewed would be told the outcome on FRIDAY.  So on friday night the GM told Stew "Oh I shall talk to you on Monday with feedback" and then left the building for the weekend!  WTF?  He knew we were literally sitting on the edge of our chairs waiting for a 'YES' or 'NO' from him and he didn't care that he was just making us wait two more days!  WHAT. AN. INSENSITIVE. PRICK. 

End of Day:  going to put this day to bed and hopefully wake up tomorrow in a better mood.
DIET:  totally f*#ked up.
nite nite.

IT'S MOTHER'S DAY and WE HAVE A NEW BABY GRANDDAUGHTER!!!!

At 1.20 am (New Zealand time) our son Russell rang to let us know that he was the father of  a brand new baby girl... Sienna Amelia H.   No other details as yet except all went well, Mother and Baby are fine and dandy.   What a lovely reason to be woken up in the middle of the night for!   *smiles*... I am now hanging out for some photos to be sent to us.  I can't wait!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to every Mum out there.

If you are lucky you are still in bed.... having your breakfast brought to you on a tray.  Or not.

As I never have breakfast I'm not expecting that.

But I do hope to have a nice day.  Amanda, Andrew and Emily are coming to visit today as far as I know.  So lots of cuddles with wee Emily is on the cards.

I have started a new exercise regime... using our Treadmil, Exercycle and Cross Trainer.  Trying to increase time on each of them over the next few weeks until I am doing about an hour of cardio.  And I want to go to the pool at least three times a week too... I hope to get fitter if not slimmer over the next few months.

ONWARD... ..

ABOVE:  Sienna Amelia H, 7 pound 1 ounce... the BEST MOTHER'S DAY Present ever.

ABOVE: The first photos of Sienna and her Dad, our son Russell.  


I got breakfast in bed!  And I ate it... with a little help from Teddy and Coco... photos later as ... I'm STILL in bed!   lol

I'm up.... and busy 'yakking' on the net. 
BALANCE:   we now have 4 grandsons and 4 granddaughters! 

Amanda, Andrew and Emily have arrived bearing gifts.... a really lovely vase and blue 'things' and a handy plastic container from Kelly... and a HUGE gift Basket and CHEESE CAKE from Amanda, Andrew and family!

I have taken photos, but me blasted camera battery died... so am charging it up right now.
BACK LATER...

ABOVE:  Tess and Sienna.  Tess had a bit of a hard time having baby, had a C-Section after hours of non-productive labour.  Still... both are well and happy I'm sure.

ABOVE:  my breakfast!  And the dogs waiting patiently for scraps.... they got the toast.  *smiles*

 ABOVE:  the gorgeous Gift Basket and Chocolate cake from Amanda and Andrew!!!

 ABOVE: the very pretty blue vase, blue 'thingee's' and plastic container from Kelly...

ABOVE: the contents of the Gift Basket!  OMG...  There was a bottle of my favourite tipple, two metres of lovely fabrics, a blingy photo frame, novelty buttons and lots of yummy stuff!  They gave me some Lotto tickets too.. and Stew went and checked them and one of them won me $37.50!  SCORE!!!

ABOVE: I couldn't resist putting Emily in the basket!  She wasn't that amused really.  lol

It has been an incredible Mother's Day so far... a new baby, family visiting, lovely gifts.  How could I not be happy!

We just finished talking to Russell and Tess over Skype... live video call so we got to see Sienna... she is just so adorable.  Looks a lot like a few of our other family members... and Tess said she looks like her sister too.  So she's gunna be a beautiful kid.  *smiles*

End of Day:  what a day!  So awesome, so very happy.
DIET:  bugger me it involved a lot of chocolate!
nite nite.

GRRRRR.

It's not that often I am in a foul mood... I can get a bit crabby sometimes.  But not MEGA PISSED OFF.

I'm MEGA PISSED OFF and in a foul mood for sure.

And I can't even tell you why.  It's still an uncertain 'thing' I'm pissed off about (hence the pissed off mood).
We expected some news on friday... were told it would be on friday... but it didn't happen.  So now we have to wait until monday.  All weekend feeling PISSED OFF is not fun.

Maybe I better go before I make everyone pissed off.

I will come back later when I'm over it.  ***FUMING***

Being in a foul mood DOES have some benefits!  When I got out of bed I fired off jobs at people and they all jumped to it!  AND the dogs shot through and hid in the laundry... lol!

OK... while I'm still pissed off... I'm starting to feel better.  At least the uncertaintly of the past few months is probably gone.... so I can move forward.  I can probably tell you what 'it' was after Monday.
So hang in there.

I'm off to get more  jobs done by certain people in this house!   dum dee doooooo.......

We went to the Mall... and had a lovely lunch... and a wander around... there were groups of young women walking around giving out free tampons, which I thought was a bit 'off', until I realised Brylee would need them eventually, so got some.  (in my family we call them 'sparkplugs' ... if my sister or I needed money to buy some we would just ask our Dad for money for sparkplugs, it was a family joke)

ABOVE:  the freebie....  every time we walked past more of the girls giving them out we got some:

ABOVE:  ummm, we kinda got lots!  lol

Now I have to do the 'Birds and Bees' talk with Brylee and Griffin.... cos they kept asking what they were for.   WONDERFUL.  (actually upon reflection, I ain't gunna tell them about 'all that' right now, they are far too young to understand!)

I'm feeling a bit more cheerful now... what will be will be, there is nothing I can do about the situation .... 

I got a Text from Russell in Perth this morning, still no baby....

End of Day:  still no sign of a baby in Perth.  Must text them and see what's happening!
DIET: not bad.
nite nite.

I TRAINED THEM RIGHT!

ABOVE: Steve and Griffin cooking dinner last night.  I am training them right... see... Steve has on swimming goggles to stop his eyes from stinging while cutting up onions!  LOL... I have even answered the door with them on... such a twit!

We are having a delightfully lazy day today, just spending time with Amanda and Emily.  Steve and I fight over who is going to get to hold her... sometimes I let him win.   **smiles**

ONWARD...

*** SQUEALS ***  our son Russell just text'd me.. his partner has gone into labour... which means we will have a new grandbaby hopefully TODAY!!!

Oh and I have to work this afternoon, just got a call from me boss at the Hospice shop... she needs me as her afternoon staff can't make it.  Awesome, I love being there.

My feet hurt~!  I've been on then for nearly 4 hours.. I must start wearing me comfy sneakers to work!  Boots while snazzy are not that comfy for long periods of time.

Amanda and Emily have gone home, coming back on sunday, which is Mother's Day here. 

End of Day: no baby news.  No other news either, even though we were expecting some.
CRABBY.
DIET: good
nite nite.

 

BACK IN THE GROOVE

Getting back into the groove of the school week.
Brylee is going back to school today, she has certainly picked up since starting antibiotics.

Taking Griffin to his Speld lesson this morning, might go to Pukekohe and check out the local shops.... not sure yet.

I think Amanda and Emily are coming up today sometime too?  Not sure if it's today or Saturday, she hasn't said.

Either way, I will get to cluck over Emily again soon, which is always lovely.

ONWARD...

Gawd I feel like the WORST mother ever!
I was getting out of the shower this morning (after the kids had gone to school) when I realised that I hadn't sent a note with Brylee to excuse her from PE ... (sports)... so I rang the school and bugger me!

Her class was already out on the field practising for CROSS COUNTRY running!  AND Brylee had participated!
So I jumped in the car and went up to the school to check on her... luckily she seemed ok... but I felt so BAD!  She is skin and bones again and should NOT be doing any physical exercise.  BAD MOTHER, BAD, BAD, BAD.

Mid afternoon, kids are home from school... Brylee had her afternoon tea and is now having a 'Brylee nap'... and we are clucking over Emily... who is being a fussy girl this afternoon.

ABOVE:  Griffin and Emily watching the telly... both have square eyes!

ABOVE: it's never too early to teach a girl to appreciate *bling*!  She's supposed to be having a sleep, but it ain't happening!  lol

ANOTHER DAY AT HOME FOR BRYLEE

Brylee is staying home from school again today... and Steve will look after her while I go do me stint at the Hospice Shop.

The horrid weather has calmed down today... thankfully.

Yet again (it happens sometimes) I don't have anything else to yabber on about right now.... no blog fodder comes to mind!

LOL

So hang in there... I will be back later with some more of 'nothing'!

ONWARD...

I weighed Brylee... she's lost the two kilos she gained in the last three years... she's back to 26 kilos.  I hope she does put it back on quickly, but knowing her she won't. 

It is a gorgeous day today, sun is shining and it's WARM again.  I am so sick of being warm... I want to feel cold for a change.  What happened to 4 Seasons?  We only seem to have two now... hot and cold(summer and winter).
I used to dream about moving to Australia, where it was warm all the time (well almost)... but now I would hate it!

Hot flushes have ruined summer for me. 

Home from work...it was a busy day at the shop too... which I love.
My 'boss' found a funny shirt in one of the donation bags... I took a photo... and will show you once Steve has downloaded the programme for me to get it off me phone.

Brylee is looking much better... and is eating a bit now too, which is great.

ABOVE:  said shirt!  She put it on primarily to shock the lady who was coming in to work this afernoon in the shop!  It worked...  lol  She took it off after that.   I mean, there is no way you could wear THAT in the shop!

End of Day:  spent the evening reading blogs, it was nice to have a catch up.
DIET: ooops
nite nite.

DOCTOR TODAY

Taking Miss Brylee to the doctor today.  Ear ache/sore throat... most likely viral and there is nothing he can give her.... but it's still worth going just to be sure.
She has eaten very very little for two days now... will weigh her to see what the damage is.

When she gets sick she drops kilos like I wish I could!  But as she's only 26 kilos it is not good for her.

Apart from that... not got any plans for the day except do some more work on my Dresden Plate Quilt...

BACK LATER....

It's later!  And Brylee goes to the Dr's this afternoon...
AND I went shopping this morning.  Bought some tights for winter and 4 new tops too.... so I'm set for winter now.
Was necessary ... I had bugger all that fitted ... *sniff*... shopping for clothes is the best way to realise you need to lose weight! 

Brylee has tonsilitis, infected eardrum AND infected ear canal... so antibiotics, painkillers and ear drops dispensed.  Glad I took her!

While we were out a TORNADO hit Albany Mall on the North Shore of Auckland, killing 1 person and injuring about 30!!!  This is a VERY rare event here in New Zealand... and only a 'baby' tornado by American standards.  BUT still ... scary. 

The MetService has issued a warning for Auckland and Northland as there is possible tornado/thunderstorms still to come.  

End of Day:  Had a nice evening just chilling out in front of the tv.
DIET: good
nite nite.

IT'S MONDAY.... NEW SCHOOL TERM STARTS

So... I really have NOTHING to yak about right now!
NOTHING!

Well.. the kids are back at school in two hours or so...  that's a good thing.
They are in their new winter uniforms... maybe I'll take a photo of them and show ya?

Yeah and I'll do some sewing ... join those striped blocks together somehow and show ya that too...
 but until then:

ABOVE:  lookit this cute baby!   So bloody cute! (YES OB, it is a baby hedgehog)

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Dude in his winter uniform.. typical guy.. hands in pockets...

 ABOVE:  the two of them.  Brylee SHOULD be in the same clothes as Griffin...

ABOVE:  but she's got a temperature and a sore throat... so she is stayin' at home.  *sigh*... at least she will be in bed eh?  lol
When Joshua arrived last week he had a sore throat.... so no doubt that's where she got it from.  Hope is skips everyone else!

Off to drop Griffin at school... 'tis raining...

ABOVE:  The first doilie is finished...

ABOVE:  I suppose in hindsight I should have made them more blue seeing as there's a ship sitting on it eh?  Too late now.

Time to take a break for lunch..

ABOVE: I can't believe it has taken me ALL DAY to make 6 freakin' doilies!  But they are done now and I'm happy with them.  I suppose it would have been quicker if I hadn't put fancy stitching around the edges of each one... but they look nicer that way.

It's dinner time... think it's a 'hit and miss' type of dinner tonight. Steve had left over Nachos for a LATE lunch and Brylee isn't eating, so I really only have to feed Stew and Griffin.  I can have something light like some crackers and cheese.

End of Day:  *sigh*  Brylee now has an ear ache as well as a sore throat.  Might have to take her to the Dr's tomorrow. 
DIET:  pffffft.
nite nite.

BLISS...YES BLISSFUL DAY

I don't care WHAT the weather is like today... I am going to have a blissful day.

I'm going to literally lock myself in the garage and I'm going to sew to me heart's content.

Them upstairs can do whatever the hell they like... they just better not annoy me! I have had very little time to myself for the past two weeks... and I'm over it.

ABOVE:  two photos Amanda sent me last night of Emily... who we don't get to see again until NEXT weekend!  So long.....

The other great thing about today is ... ONE MORE SLEEP and the kids are back at school.  I know it means back into routines, making lunches, homework etc.... but at least I will have 'me' time back.

ABOVE:  a quilt made using 'stings' of fabric... I want to make some 'doillie' type 'rugs' for the small shelving unit by the front door today using strings.  The shelves get masses of dust on them so I want to cover the tops ... so that's what I'm gunna do today.

ONWARD...

Pffffft!  Instead of sewing.. Stew dragged me off to do the grocery shopping. 
Then I had to make everyone lunch... and now? 
Finally going to get back to me sewing...

ABOVE:  so there ya have it... 9 striped blocks ready to  put together into shelve toppers!  I'm happy with how they all came out.. and they didn't even take much time either. 

Cooking dinner now.. NACHOS again, they are so yummy.

End of Day:  it was lovely to finally get some sewing done... and watched a few of me favourite tv programmes too!
DIET: good
nite nite.