It's Christmas Eve! I can't believe it. It feels like only yesterday we were celebrating last Christmas.
Only this time is a little different. This will be my first Christmas away from family. It's only Dwayne, the kids and myself celebrating together this year.
Sometimes I forget we are so far away from everyone. I mean, what's 4000km when you really think about it? Ok it's far. That's why I try not to think about it.
But we are flying down to Tassie in January for a week which will be nice. The kids have never been on a plane so they're really excited about it. I'm not so excited about the plane thing. My girls jump of merry-go-rounds screaming so I really don't know how they are going to go on a plane. I suppose we're going to find out though!
I have to go play Santa now and make things magically appear under the Christmas tree. And that means putting things together also. So incase I don't get back before the year is out, MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
'Round and 'round the garden.....
Well my posts these days are few and far between. So when I actually sit down to write one I surprise even myself!
Today was a fairly productive day. I spent the morning cleaning and then we went to Hogs Breath Cafe for lunch, just for something different to do, and because a new one has opened up in Palmerston. We thought we'd take advantage of doing lunch but not having far to travel, as it's only two minutes from home.
The food was good. The only problem we had was the kids being served their meals before us to keep them happy, and then having them finish before we recieved ours. Because then we had to put up with them making a nuisance of themselves as we were trying to eat. Honestly sometimes I wonder why I have these brilliant ideas of taking the kids places because things never flow quite as easily as I imagine they will!
But they could have been a lot worse so I'm not complaining. I'm pretty sure most young children don't like to sit still for too long so I can't blame them.
Afterwards we went and done some shopping. Nothing too interesting about that I'm afraid.
And then after that we took the kids to get a photo shoot done. It was a spur of the moment thing really and the kids were excited about it. Until it came time to have their photos taken. Firstly Emma started carrying on that she 'didn't like it' because she had to sit on a little platform with her brother and sister. After a struggle we got a few group shots but she'd had enough. And because Emma 'didn't like it' Chelsea decided she 'didn't like it' either. The bubbles and balloons wouldn't change their minds on the matter either.
So it turned into an 'all about Cameron' photo shoot. My god that kid is an absolute natural. If he grows up to be a model I won't be the least bit surprised. Him and the camera love each other! And he was quite happy to change his shirt and wear a hat and pose on his belly while giving the camera woman high fives. At least I know the shots of him will be great!
At the end we got a couple more shots of the three of them sitting side by side. But that was a battle in itself. In the end I had to crouch in the corner next to Emma, just out of the shot, doing 'round and round the garden like a teddy bear' on her foot whilst Dwayne was on the other side doing it for Chelsea. But that didn't last long either.
A couple of shots is better than nothing I suppose, let's just hope they turn out!
Today was a fairly productive day. I spent the morning cleaning and then we went to Hogs Breath Cafe for lunch, just for something different to do, and because a new one has opened up in Palmerston. We thought we'd take advantage of doing lunch but not having far to travel, as it's only two minutes from home.
The food was good. The only problem we had was the kids being served their meals before us to keep them happy, and then having them finish before we recieved ours. Because then we had to put up with them making a nuisance of themselves as we were trying to eat. Honestly sometimes I wonder why I have these brilliant ideas of taking the kids places because things never flow quite as easily as I imagine they will!
But they could have been a lot worse so I'm not complaining. I'm pretty sure most young children don't like to sit still for too long so I can't blame them.
Afterwards we went and done some shopping. Nothing too interesting about that I'm afraid.
And then after that we took the kids to get a photo shoot done. It was a spur of the moment thing really and the kids were excited about it. Until it came time to have their photos taken. Firstly Emma started carrying on that she 'didn't like it' because she had to sit on a little platform with her brother and sister. After a struggle we got a few group shots but she'd had enough. And because Emma 'didn't like it' Chelsea decided she 'didn't like it' either. The bubbles and balloons wouldn't change their minds on the matter either.
So it turned into an 'all about Cameron' photo shoot. My god that kid is an absolute natural. If he grows up to be a model I won't be the least bit surprised. Him and the camera love each other! And he was quite happy to change his shirt and wear a hat and pose on his belly while giving the camera woman high fives. At least I know the shots of him will be great!
At the end we got a couple more shots of the three of them sitting side by side. But that was a battle in itself. In the end I had to crouch in the corner next to Emma, just out of the shot, doing 'round and round the garden like a teddy bear' on her foot whilst Dwayne was on the other side doing it for Chelsea. But that didn't last long either.
A couple of shots is better than nothing I suppose, let's just hope they turn out!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Water Park Trip
Dwayne and I took the kids to the water park that's about ten minutes from here yesterday. And we had a blast! It's such a great place, and best of all it's free! Yep unheard of right? It's pretty cool. Like the Launceston Aquatic centre that I used to take Cameron to, only it's outside and way better.
It has the kids water playground as well as a play pool and a couple of three story high slides. And a huge playground for the kids to play on when not in the water. If I'd known how good it was I would have taken them a lot sooner.
Cameron and the girls were pretty excited to be going swimming but I wasn't sure how Emma and Chelsea would actually go as they'd never been in a big pool before.
We put their floaties on and took them in....... and then we couldn't get them out. Chelsea was a bit more cautious than Emma and she wouldn't let Dwayne out of reaching distance, but Emma took to the water better than I'd ever thought she would. She made her way out to the deeper part without a second thought and was most excited that she was "swimming".
Cameron loved it also. He was excited about the giant slides and wanted to have a turn but when we got the entrance the lady measured him and he was too short.
He was absolutely devasted and I was heartbroken for him but I told him I'd go with him down the smaller slides on the playground and he perked up a little. Hopefully this time next year he'll be tall enough.
So all in all we had a ball and I'm thinking of making it a weekly trip. I still can't believe that the place is free but I'm not complaining!
Not much was done today. We did the grocery shopping and spent the rest of the day at home. However I did check my powerball ticket while we were out and won $55. I thought that was pretty good considering the most I've ever won is $13! But maybe it was because Dwayne bought the ticket. Maybe he's luckier than me! It's not the millions we were hoping for but it's still nice winning money!
All in all not a bad weekend. It's Monday tomorrow and back to work..... Hopefully the week goes by fast so we can do it again :)
It has the kids water playground as well as a play pool and a couple of three story high slides. And a huge playground for the kids to play on when not in the water. If I'd known how good it was I would have taken them a lot sooner.
Cameron and the girls were pretty excited to be going swimming but I wasn't sure how Emma and Chelsea would actually go as they'd never been in a big pool before.
We put their floaties on and took them in....... and then we couldn't get them out. Chelsea was a bit more cautious than Emma and she wouldn't let Dwayne out of reaching distance, but Emma took to the water better than I'd ever thought she would. She made her way out to the deeper part without a second thought and was most excited that she was "swimming".
Cameron loved it also. He was excited about the giant slides and wanted to have a turn but when we got the entrance the lady measured him and he was too short.
He was absolutely devasted and I was heartbroken for him but I told him I'd go with him down the smaller slides on the playground and he perked up a little. Hopefully this time next year he'll be tall enough.
So all in all we had a ball and I'm thinking of making it a weekly trip. I still can't believe that the place is free but I'm not complaining!
Not much was done today. We did the grocery shopping and spent the rest of the day at home. However I did check my powerball ticket while we were out and won $55. I thought that was pretty good considering the most I've ever won is $13! But maybe it was because Dwayne bought the ticket. Maybe he's luckier than me! It's not the millions we were hoping for but it's still nice winning money!
All in all not a bad weekend. It's Monday tomorrow and back to work..... Hopefully the week goes by fast so we can do it again :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Slack!
I've been pretty slack with this blogging thing lately I know. I've been busy busy busy with work and being a mum that I haven't remembered to blog.
Not that I have too much to blog about lately. Just work really which probably wouldn't interest a lot of people!
I went to the movies with my friend Sharn before and saw Step Up 3D. I quite enjoyed it. Seeing it in 3D was really cool too. Cameron was pretty upset when I left as he wanted to come too. I felt the mummy guilt come on and it's not a good feeling!
I think I'll take him to see Toy Story 3 next weekend. He's never been to the cinema before and he might enjoy it. Or he might not want to sit still for so long. But I guess we'll see!
Not that I have too much to blog about lately. Just work really which probably wouldn't interest a lot of people!
I went to the movies with my friend Sharn before and saw Step Up 3D. I quite enjoyed it. Seeing it in 3D was really cool too. Cameron was pretty upset when I left as he wanted to come too. I felt the mummy guilt come on and it's not a good feeling!
I think I'll take him to see Toy Story 3 next weekend. He's never been to the cinema before and he might enjoy it. Or he might not want to sit still for so long. But I guess we'll see!
A picture taken this morning. It's winter and we're in shorts and shirts. That's Darwin!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tassie To Darwin
These are a few of the pics I took on our road trip from Tassie to Darwin. Over 4000km long we smashed it out in I think 5 days? If it was just Dwayne and I we would have kept driving and done it in maybe three.
It was a very loooong drive. But believe it or not it was enjoyable. It was good quality time to spend with my family after not seeing them all year.
Sure, the kids did have their moments when they were over being stuck in the car, but we did stop along the way for them at parks, and places to eat, and MANY potty stops on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere! Thank goodness we ended up buying a little potty to take with us or I think we would have had a very hard time!
And although it was a long trip, I still would prefer driving than taking the kids on planes, with about three connecting flights just to get here.
Defence gave us nine days to make the trip, but because we made it in less, we had time to enjoy Darwin on our arrival before I was due to start work.
There are great family attractions up in the Northern Territory. We took the kids to Crocodylus park in the first few days we were there and they absolutely loved it. I'd reccommend it to anyone with kids interested in crocs and other animals.
I love Darwin. It may be HOT and winter doesn't exist, but it's such a nice change from Tasmania. Better to live with the air con on than to freeze and not be able to get warm!
More posts and pics to come.......
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Next Chapter
Well it has been a very long time since my last post. And since then my whole world has changed. I don't even know how to write about it because so much is different and my life has changed so much. But in a good way.
So I left for the army two days after my last post in January. Off to boot camp as a new recruit. Saying goodbye to Dwayne and the kids was hard. But at that point it still hadn't hit me as hard as it was going to in the weeks to come.
Basic training was definitely a culture shock! The first couple of weeks there were the worst. When it really hit me hard that I'd left my kids behind. Left them behind for 16 hour days of work. Days of people yelling, of both physical and mental trials. Of being told what to do. Who to look at, and who to address and not. Days of learning the military way of life.
But also forming the strongest of friendships that for years to come, the bonds will never break. Sharing every waking moment with other people for three months, you really get to know people. And after three months of training, and waiting for the time to be up so I could see my family it was hard to say goodbye. But I'd waited so long for that moment.
Dwayne and Cameron travelled up fromTasmania for my march out. As much as I wanted all of my kids to come, it just wasn't feasible. So just the two of them it was. And as soon as I saw them I burst into tears. A blubbering mess. But the time with them was short lived. I was allowed one night to spend with them and then it was back to Kapooka by 0600h the next day.
And although my time at Kapooka was almost over, there was still more training to come. I was bused of to my next destination a couple of days later.
To Bandiana for employment training. In the Albury/Wodonga area on the NSW/VIC border. Here was a completely different atmosphere. We learned our trade during the day, and the evenings and weekends were ours to do with as we pleased. It was a different life again. A small taste of what the real army would be like after all my training was completed.
But although it was easier I still missed my family like crazy. And on more than a few occasions when I was having a hard time being away from them, my friends had to pick me up and tell me to hang on. If I didn't have as good friends as I did it would have been much harder. These certain friends have become like family. And although at the end of our employment training we were all posted to different units around the country, I know they'll always be there.
Finishing training was the best feeling. But I can't even begin to describe the feeling of seeing my family again for the first time in months. I hadn't seen my girls since January, and had only seen Dwayne and Cameron once. I got off the plane, saw them and was in tears yet again.
All up I spent five months away from my kids. It was the hardest decision I ever made. But it turned out to be the best thing I've ever done. I'm now living in Darwin, on the other side of the country (where it is HOT!) am enjoying my job and have made life easier for us. I love what I've done. I'm so proud to ba an Australian soldier. But most of all I'm proud to be a mum building a life for my family.
So I left for the army two days after my last post in January. Off to boot camp as a new recruit. Saying goodbye to Dwayne and the kids was hard. But at that point it still hadn't hit me as hard as it was going to in the weeks to come.
Basic training was definitely a culture shock! The first couple of weeks there were the worst. When it really hit me hard that I'd left my kids behind. Left them behind for 16 hour days of work. Days of people yelling, of both physical and mental trials. Of being told what to do. Who to look at, and who to address and not. Days of learning the military way of life.
But also forming the strongest of friendships that for years to come, the bonds will never break. Sharing every waking moment with other people for three months, you really get to know people. And after three months of training, and waiting for the time to be up so I could see my family it was hard to say goodbye. But I'd waited so long for that moment.
Dwayne and Cameron travelled up fromTasmania for my march out. As much as I wanted all of my kids to come, it just wasn't feasible. So just the two of them it was. And as soon as I saw them I burst into tears. A blubbering mess. But the time with them was short lived. I was allowed one night to spend with them and then it was back to Kapooka by 0600h the next day.
And although my time at Kapooka was almost over, there was still more training to come. I was bused of to my next destination a couple of days later.
To Bandiana for employment training. In the Albury/Wodonga area on the NSW/VIC border. Here was a completely different atmosphere. We learned our trade during the day, and the evenings and weekends were ours to do with as we pleased. It was a different life again. A small taste of what the real army would be like after all my training was completed.
But although it was easier I still missed my family like crazy. And on more than a few occasions when I was having a hard time being away from them, my friends had to pick me up and tell me to hang on. If I didn't have as good friends as I did it would have been much harder. These certain friends have become like family. And although at the end of our employment training we were all posted to different units around the country, I know they'll always be there.
Finishing training was the best feeling. But I can't even begin to describe the feeling of seeing my family again for the first time in months. I hadn't seen my girls since January, and had only seen Dwayne and Cameron once. I got off the plane, saw them and was in tears yet again.
All up I spent five months away from my kids. It was the hardest decision I ever made. But it turned out to be the best thing I've ever done. I'm now living in Darwin, on the other side of the country (where it is HOT!) am enjoying my job and have made life easier for us. I love what I've done. I'm so proud to ba an Australian soldier. But most of all I'm proud to be a mum building a life for my family.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Time....
Tomorrow is my last day of freedom. One more day to spend with Dwayne and the kiddies. One more day of giggles and kisses and cuddles. And then I'll be gone.
It's very sad but right now I don't even know what my thoughts are. You wait so long for a day to arrive, and then it does and it still doesn't seem real in a way. I'm not as anxious as I have been, or scared. Right now I seem to be rather calm. I don't know why, seeing as I am leaving my kids for three plus months.
I think it will hit me when I'm saying goodbye to them though. That's the tough part. I'll probably be blubbering half the way down to Hobart, which is where I'll be enlisting. Which is a pain in the butt! A three hour drive. I don't know why it can't be done in Launceston, but I'm sure the defence people have their reasons.
Hmmmmm. I still think I'm a tad bit crazy for doing this. But no turning back now! This is the start of a new life! And THAT'S exciting. (So is the fact that Monday will be my first time on a plane. I know I don't get out much!).
So I guess I won't be blogging for a while. But as soon as I get the chance I will. Goodbye for now my blogging friends. Wish me luck!!!
It's very sad but right now I don't even know what my thoughts are. You wait so long for a day to arrive, and then it does and it still doesn't seem real in a way. I'm not as anxious as I have been, or scared. Right now I seem to be rather calm. I don't know why, seeing as I am leaving my kids for three plus months.
I think it will hit me when I'm saying goodbye to them though. That's the tough part. I'll probably be blubbering half the way down to Hobart, which is where I'll be enlisting. Which is a pain in the butt! A three hour drive. I don't know why it can't be done in Launceston, but I'm sure the defence people have their reasons.
Hmmmmm. I still think I'm a tad bit crazy for doing this. But no turning back now! This is the start of a new life! And THAT'S exciting. (So is the fact that Monday will be my first time on a plane. I know I don't get out much!).
So I guess I won't be blogging for a while. But as soon as I get the chance I will. Goodbye for now my blogging friends. Wish me luck!!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year New ME
Well the title says it all. This year is the start of a new beginning. A new life for me and a new life for my family. As scary as it is it's going to be so good for us. And I'm excited too. Because within six months my little family and I will have moved states, be on better money and be happier overall. Just us. No one to try to please, no one to explain our decisions to, and no one to tell us that we are doing the wrong thing.
We matter, not the people that don't believe in us.
This is what we are doing, and theres no turning back. I couldn't even if I wanted to as Dwayne has quit his job and there'd be next to no chance of getting it back. It's already taken.
However we've just found out that his work may be shutting down completely in two weeks anyway. To me that's another sign showing us we're headed in the right direction. This is all happening so fast but I believe it's because this is what we are meant to be doing.
Those that support us do so one hundred percent. And those that don't have just shown that we are better off without them. And that should be a lesson to all, in any situation.
So here is to a fresh start, a new life and happy days ahead.
Happy new year everybody! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)