Happy New Year!!

Merry Xmas !!!!

I love you!

Just a little something that Silas picked for me to say I love you :) What a sweetie :)

Xmas trees and Kadee........

I think the picture says it all!! :)

My Sister in Law gave me the flu!!

I'm very sure it was her cause she has been sick a few weeks ago with the same symptoms!!! and I speak with her practically everyday!! and now I've been sick with the flu for over a week!! boo hoo!!

I don't care if there is 7 hrs drive between us, I'm still convinced it was her!! lol!!

Sorry Taren but I totally love this photo of you!! plus I don't have many of you cause ur always behind the camera not in front of it!

Promise Night for Livia

This week Livia officially became a Girl Guide after taking the promise oath :) I was never a Girl Guide so will have to wait for the girls to recite the oath :)

Next week is Aliya's turn to take the oath and then it is break-up for both girls next week!! This year has just flown by!!

Lady Luck...

.......was not shining on me when baking the other night. I open the cupboard and on my right foot, out falls the icing sugar!!!

Then when putting away the icing sugar, on my left foot falls the brown sugar!! After laughing myself nearly to the point of wetting myself, I proceed to clean up the mess and put the task of reorganising the pantry on my to-do list! No point chucking a tanty over spilt sugar! lol!!

Seven Cherubs: Christmas tradition: best brownie recipes, value for money

Seven Cherubs: Christmas tradition: best brownie recipes, value for money

Oh dear!! I can feel a bake-a-ton happening!! Seriously my little chocoholics are going to be well impressed with this Mums effort!!

and DH who is King of chocoholics, will no doubt be hanging to sample this deliciousness!! and of course he will be thanking me for all my time that I spend reading fun blogs lol!!

Stair Renovations :)

I'm well impressed Mikes effort on the weekend with the renovations, we have most of the internal stairs in now!! Yay!!

Fingers crossed he will be able to get the rest in this week............

Aliya :) 2 & 1/2 years old

Another Blast from the past......

I love this photo of Ali :) She looks like an angel :)

This picture was taken at Movie World, 21st May 2006 on the Merry Go Round. How time flys!!!

Fluffy Mail Arrived already!! Yay!!

My very first MCN arrived today and I only ordered them on Monday!! They are so soft and the colours are delish!! The jade and ivory ones are for bubba boy and Kadee has the chocolate one. Can you believe that I've already gone through 5 bubba's without being sucked into getting some MCN's, I've used alot of terry towelling nappies with the older kids, and of course used alot of disposables, but this time round thought I would give MCN's a try :)

How cute is Kadee in her little chocolate bum!!??!!

Just because :)

I love trolling through my photos on a regular basis, and today I came across a couple of cuties enjoying my sock basket, at least someone is enjoying it............

Lists!!! Lists!!! Lists!!!

I have come to the realisation that I am very much a list girl!!

Lists for shopping, cleaning, organising, parties, camping, you name it!! I function so much more efficiently when I have my list, thoughts are down on paper for what I need to do with a particular task and when done, just seeing that task crossed out is a mini boost to my day :)

Especially when there is kidlets following me around, undoing all the things I achieve throughout the day.

I think my list obsession is a by product of my days as a case manager/job search trainer, where I would have to remember and fit so much into my days that if I didn't run a list of everything from client appointments to staff meetings and everything in-between, I would have lost my mind!!!

I've tried to do away with the lists, and just get on with things without using lists but gees, being a SAHM, running a list of 'do to' just seems to add a little bit of purpose to my day.....I guess a bit like being in a 'paid' job would......

But my blog is boring enough as it is, filling it full of my 'to do' lists is going to be a major no no lol!! But from time to time, list making might just be the most exciting thing I'll have to blog about! lol!!

26 weeks baby #6

So already I'm 26 weeks pregnant!! 13 wks til my c/s date!!

I'm starting to really 'feel' pregnant this time around too, not as nimble on my feet as I was during my last pregnancy with Kaydence! and I've gained weight alot quicker this time as well.

I went to my midwives appointment earlier in the week, and was pushed to get myself up to the hospital for my glucose test as I haven't been feeling 100%.

So off I go, after fasting all night and not eating anything in the morning, to go and get the test done. 1st they take a sample of blood, then make u drink this horrible glucose drink, then after 1 hr take another blood test, then finally after 2 hrs another blood test.

I was able to ring up that afternoon and get the results. If your level comes in at 7.9mmol/L or above, you are considered to have gestational diabetes. My level was 7.7mmol/L. Normal I was told!!

Gosh! I'm so not repeating the test at 28 wks like it was suggested by the doctor!! Instead I'm going to be hyper vigilant when it comes to my diet, not eating simple sugars nor white bread, pasta and so on. I'm also starting a health kick with doing some light walking and weights every night after dinner.

Not very exciting I know, but I much prefer boring then exciting when it comes to pregnancy! lol!!

RIP Angel :(

This was supposed to be a intro post on Angel but tragically, she was found dead this afternoon, by the kids as they were returning home from school.......

Introducing Tonka :)

He looks like a rough old ally cat but Tonka is actually a Ragdoll, who has been in the family since Callum was in preschool, so he's 7 years old.

He's very placid with the kids and loves his food!! Last time I weighed him he was 8 kgs!!! Tonka the tiger!! A really beautiful family cat!!

Sisi Baby :)

A oldie but a goodie of Silas when he was a bubba :) He went through a stage where he didn't fall asleep unless lying on his side with something in his face!

Can't believe he is nearly 4!!!!!!!

Kadee .....

My youngest ratbag has been getting into mischief as per usual......

Yesterday she decided to get herself wedged in between the lounge and the window! and as I was wondering what mischief she may get into today, I turn to see Kadee grabbing SiSi's full cup of tea off the table and spill it all over herself and the dinning room floor!! Argh!! Did I mention it was FULL????? (Oh and we never drink hot tea in our house, everyone prefers it luke warm, just like mine! lol!! By the time I get round to drinking my tea, its always cold!)

Oh well guess doing the floors will be on my list today! ...............

And please Kadee, lets stick to less messy mess, just like the 1 million hair-ties u spilt all over the floor the other day! Much easier to clean up!

yes more food :)

Just another sample of the foods we enjoy on lazy weekends :) Even the kids enjoy the variety of 'adult' foods on the platter :)

Yummo!!

Livia's halloween dressup :)

This was the outfit we put together at the last min for Liv's Girl Guides halloween party last week...........


Can u guess who she is?................

Lazy Weekend??

I wish!!

But I am going to aim for a lazy Sunday by doing a whole lot of stuff today, which should equal a whole lot of nothing for tomorrow!!

So far I have achieved.........

Fruit, veg and meat shopping and packed it all away
Dropped off Liv for Guides Camp
Cleaned fridge

Still to do................

Dishes from last nite
Washing 2 loads and 1 load of linen
Hang, take in and fold washing
Tidy rooms
Clean Loo
Mow Lawns
Get food ready for BBQ dinner and bonfire tonite
Clean up from dinner

then CHILLAX with a good movie :)

and hopefully enjoy a boring Sunday!! :)

Just a little something to help with those tired days....

I'm so very tired today!! and from reading Facey it seems I wasn't the only mum having a long, sleepless nite with their kiddies.....

Kadee decided that the early hours of the morning were the best time to not sleep and wake the whole house up!! So being very very tired today with 2 little ones, I know I will need some reminding on not being a cranky, no fun mum!!

I took a picture of this embroidery at the Mater Children's Hospital, when Silas was admitted with ITP......which needs a whole post for itself to explain fully..........it was hanging in the children's cancer ward.............simple, quirky, touching and just what I need to get me through the day :)

Taking the little kids to the lake :)

My brother (Uncle JJ) and I decided to take the little kids, Kaydence and Silas to the lake today to feed the ducks and the fish. We walked around the lake (maybe 2ks) with Kadee in her smart trike and Silas 'riding' his bike (he actually shuffled most of the way around, didn't want to use the peddles today). We saw turtle, eels, ducks, water birds and some sort of fresh water fish, maybe barra or carp, they were pretty fast. Silas loved watching the 'gumpies' eat the bread, or guppies for us big people.

Tired the kids out and Kadee ended up falling asleep on the way home...........and I got some much needed exercise :)

Anchor Points in the Hiace :)

Just trying to a picture up about the anchor points we have in the Hiace. Due to Qld law the floor anchor points are no longer legal, which is ok as it frees up the leg room so that we can pretty much position the car seats and kids anywhere :) Atm we only have 3 installed as only Silas, Kaydence and the new baby need to be in seats :) We got them done when we got the compliance done (converted from 14 seater to a 12 seater) so that I can drive it on a regular licence :)

I'll have to give my baby a wash then put some pictures up :) I can't wait to get the tinting done, pimp it up a little and to keep out the heat :)

I totally love my 'BUS' lol!!

Nesting Already?

SO I'm barely 23 wks and already have crazy nesting urges. How can I tell??

Well when the feeling that I should vacuum my roof and walls overcomes me then I know some serious nesting is happening!! LOL!!

Seriously though, cobwebs are so last season!! I never see any spiders but there are cobwebs!!

Now surely the feeling of mopping will overcome soon................

A photo from 5 years ago :)

This is a photo of myself and my 2 brothers, Jason aka JJ is on the left and Trevor aka Trev is on the right :) A totally horrible shot of myself as we were trying to take the photo across from the house and the sun was reflecting off the white tin and shining into my eyes! They would not stop watering!!! Shocking!!

I can't wait til my sister in law sees this photo and laughs her arse off about how skinny Trevor is!!

By the way its Trev's birthday today!! Happy birthday little bro!!

Livia :)

Awe Livia when she was 5!!! So sweet!!

I love finding old photos!!!

This is a oldie from 2005 - Aliya as a little bubba (how much do Ali and Kadee look alike!!) and my puppy Chilli who I sent to go live with my Aunty Wendy who's children are all grown now, so she loves to spoil her little dogs :) How I miss my Chilly Philly!!! But being a Chihuahua she really didn't enjoy being a children's pet and totally is enjoying being a queen, sleeping in Auntie's bed and getting fed fresh cooked meals every night! Wish I could go live with Aunty :)

Kadee Monkey!!

This is just one of the reasons Kadee has ended up with the nickname Monkey!! She loves to climb on things!! and she is very cheeky!!

I managed to catch her in the act doing both - I caught her climbing up and she stopped to pose and laugh at me!! Kadee loves to climb on this telly which is pushed up against the wall, so that she can peek out the window!! When she wants to get down she will yell for us to come and get her or she will slide down and land on her bum!

Out of all 5 kids, she is definitely the most mobile and daring!!

Kaydence is 1!!!!!!

Can u believe that our baby girl is 1 already??!!??!!

Where has the time gone??

Kadee is such a joy to have, such a blessing to our lives!!! This year she got a Smart Trike :) Very cute :)

Some of the things she enjoys are - climbing, walking sidewards and backwards without tripping up, eating banana cake and all sorts of big girl food, she especially loves to slurp up long strands of spaghetti, says Daddy, Mumumumumum, Dogdogdogdog, Nighnigh and Ta..........

Sunny Sunday :)

Finally the sun is shining - no rain or cold winds today :)

SO far I have achieved with my day........

1 load of washing - washed, dried and folded.

1 load of washing - washed and drying.

Helped Mike mow the yard.

Sausages on bread with sauce and onion for lunch.

Fresh baked banana cake for arvo tea.

Cleaned kitchen.

Vacuum floors.

Kids playing under the sprinkler and splashing in Kadee's new wadding pool.

Me enjoying a cuppa in the sun :)

Chow Time :)

More food :)

When I'm after a easy dinner for the tribe, especially if there is extras at the table, I'll just serve everything up and they can help themselves :)

This nite was curry nite. Butter Chicken and Macadamia Nut Chicken, rice and all the yummy sides :) Everyone loves it so its a win win meal.

Awards Ceremony for Callum and Livia Term 3

Awards ceremony are the schools way of encouraging students to do their very best. Each term a new academic 'area' is selected and 4 students from each class are rewarded for the efforts throughout the term. Last term was PE, with the awards being held today. Livia received a third place and Callum received a well done :)

The girls have done well for themselves with awards ceremonies, Livia has had two 1st this year and Aliya has had a 2nd and a 1st. Poor Ali was upset at not getting anything for term 3, but once she was reminded there was still a term to go, she brightened up :) Callum, while cleaver, doesn't like to go that extra mile with his school work, so doesn't get academic awards unless its for PE :)

I'm so proud of my kids :) I love hearing their names being called out at awards especially when all 3 get called up :) Makes this Mummy proud!!!

ps i was trying to get them to pose for the photo but their class mates were ribbing them!!!! Too funny!!! Guess their getting too old for that sort of stuff hey!?!

R & R..........

Finding time for some real R & R is sometimes a challenge! I'm always on the go trying to keep things sorted around here. But the other night after getting all the kiddies sorted and getting the washing together, I looked at our spa and thought to myself, why should the kids be the only one using it?? I mean sure, it fits 3 kids in there, making bath time heaps of fun for them. But I'm the one who cleans it and should get around to enjoying it too!!

SO I decided to light some candles, get some bath oils and enjoy my book in the spa! I had forgotten how relaxing having a deep, scented spa can be! and the jets worked their magic on my sore back!!

BLISS!!

Now I just have to get round to enjoying it more often!

Yummy!

This was a arvo snack for 7 kids, and as you can see we love our fruit :)

Banana Butterscotch Self Saucing Pudding

Yes more food :) I came across this in the EB parenting forum and thought to add it here for future gorging :) Too tired to make tonite but will be making it tomorrow nite :)

Banana Butterscotch Self Saucing Pudding

1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
¼ cup (55g) firmly packed brown sugar
¼ cup (90g) golden syrup
1 medium (200g) over-ripe
banana, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg
60g butter, melted, cooled
cream or vanilla ice-cream, to serve
sauce
1 tablespoon cornflour
¼ cup (55g) firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup (115g) golden syrup
1½ cups (375ml) boiling water

METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease a 1.5 litre (6-cup) oven proof dish and place on an oven tray lined with baking paper or foil.

Sift flour into a medium bowl. Add the sugar and stir to break up any lumps. Whisk syrup, banana, essence, egg and butter in a jug. Add to the dry ingredients; use a whisk to stir to a smooth batter. Pour into prepared dish and smooth surface with the back of a spoon.

Sauce
Sift the cornflour into a bowl. Add the sugar and stir to break up any lumps. Sprinkle evenly over the surface of the batter.

Combine the golden syrup and boiling water in a jug; pour evenly over the cornflour and sugar mixture in the dish. Bake for 45 minutes or until the cake topping is firm. Serve with cream or vanilla ice-cream.

20 weeks baby number 6

We are halfway!! YAY!!! Well perhaps even further then halfway considering we will be booked for a c/s at least a week before the due date of 19th of February 2010.

We had our scan today. All went well, with baby measuring just 5 days ahead of dates. There was a 3 hr wait for the scans so will have to pick them up tomorrow, then I can sticky beak at the report to check if everything is all going well.

And we are having a BOY :) !!!!!!!

But gosh, its going to be a challenge to come up with a awesum boys name to match the other awesum names our kids already have!!! Even reading up on baby name sites is not giving us any ideas. The only thing we are sure on is that we don't want to repeat the same initials, J, C, L, A, S or K............Should be easy peasy............

As for me??? Still going ok, feeling quiet well considering this is pregnancy number 6. I was worried that pregnancy would get harder each time, but being pregnant with Kaydence and now this time has been the easiest (so far, touch wood).

But I have to admit that I'm starting to 'feel' pregnant. Waddling a bit, getting really round and starting to get puffed if I try to exert myself too much! So slack with my fitness this time round!! Trying not to put on too much weight either, but I really hate to 'watch' what I'm eating when pregnant, I mean if I can't be free and eat what I want now, when would I ever get the 'perfect' excuse to gain a few extra kgs???

Oh and a quick reminder to self, pickles and prunes are not a tasty combo at 11pm!!!!

2 days left.............

and we are all mega excited!!!!! ...............

School Holidays.........

And its been raining for 5 days

With 6 kids

All cooped up inside

Need I say more?

Lamingtons :)

School holidays are upon us so I am cooking up a storm to keep these active kids feeling full :)

They already eat kgs and kgs of fruit which barely touch the sides of their bottomless pits, so I like to bake a treat to have for afternoon tea.

Today I thought to try something different, well for us any ways, and fun for the kids to join in with.....

SO since I have not made Lamingtons since I was a little kid, I have randomly selected one from the WWW.

Tonight I have made the cake and it looks great, see picture above :) Tomorrow we will ice and coconut them :)

Ingredients For Cake
# 1/2 cup butter
# 3 eggs
# pinch of salt
# tsp vanilla
# 3/4 cup sugar
# 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
# 1/2 cup milk


Ingredients For Icing
# 2 cups icing sugar
# 1 big tablespoon butter
# 1/3 cup cocoa
# 1 tsp vanilla
# 3 cups coconut
# 4 tablespoons boiling hot water
# 1/2 cup milk

Process

1. Cream the butter and sugar together for about 8 minutes
2. Then beat In the eggs and vanilla
3. Mix in milk and flour with the mixture
4. Pour the mixture into a greased square baking tray
5. Put in oven and bake for 30 mins on 180 C
6. Allow the cake to cool
7. Once the cake has cooled, cut the cake into squares
8. To add the icing, add all of the ingredients for icing, except the coconut, with boiling water in a bowl until it is quite thin
9. Coat the square pieces with the icing
10. Roll the lamingtons in the coconut
11. Leave the lamingtons in an airtight container and leave in the refrigerator for a couple of hours (preferably overnight)
12. Enjoy your delicious Aussie lamingtons

Nine by design......

So I just watched my first episode of Nine by Design. One word - CRAZY! Even more so then me!

http://guestofaguest.com/real-estate/a-peek-inside-the-incredible-9-by-design-townhouses

ok so I still haven't worked out links..........

But I couldn't stop watching this show, the parents are out there and the names they have for the kids would make even the most opened minded people think OMG!

But to each their own! For all their quirkiness they seem like a really lovely family with lots of beautiful children! Who could find fault with that!

Out of sorts!

I usually like to only post about positive things on my blog, but today I'm not having a great day!!

Messy Smiles are the best!

How freakin cute is Kadee!! Too cute for words! Even her messy face couldn't stop me from posting this pic! And the outfit she is wearing?? Well would you believe that it is a hand-me-down from when Livia was a baby, 10 years ago???!!!

And how can I be sure?? Well it has Livia's name on the tags :)

This out fit as been enjoyed by three girls now :) Its starting to fade but the colours still look really cute :)

I have a shed full of hand-me-downs waiting to be re-loved :) Which is great as I then usually only have to buy a few items to top up their wardrobes, saving a whole bunch of money. Buy a new wardrobe for everyone in the family, every season would be totally out of reach for the budget of a large family......

I'm in awe.....

Of this family!! They've had 9 kids in practically 9 years!! and are happy about it!! :)

http://www.thatslife.com.au/article.asp?ArticleID=3781

So it seems that other 'Normal Aussie Families' are having more, well a lot more, then the average number of kids!

Oh, and I just love the fact I've referred to us as 'normal' lol!!

Motivation for the Mundane....

There is so many day to day chores as well as the extra deep cleaning chores that need to be done that I just think blah! what is the point??

Years ago when there was just 2 kids and I was working full time I used to scrub the house from top to bottom on Saturday, I kept up with washing sheets weekly, in depth cleaning of the bathroom, gosh I even think I used to clean the oven on a very regular basis!

Now that I'm home full time and not working outside the home, I struggle to keep it all together! Not that I don't have the time or that I feel overwhelmed......It just that I can't be bothered!!

I used to cringe with shame at the thought of someone coming over unannounced with a pile of dishes in the sink and the folding taking over my lounge room! I hate the thought that just because I have a large family means I can't keep my house clean!! That truly is not the reason, sure they make a lot of mess but it doesn't mean I can't keep up with it.....

Now I still cringe but I don't run around like a headless chook trying to look like I was in the middle of sorting out my chaos!! I seem to have fallen into the saying of 'Clean enough to be healthy, but dirty enough to be happy' or somewhere along those lines........

Since I had morning sickness, I've struggled with maintaining a clutterless home, getting everyone to put things back in their place.

SO today begins my Spring Clean. Focusing on a room per day as well as maintaining the general stuff like kitchen, cooking, washing.............

Today will be GIRLS ROOM - putting away clean clothes dumped on floor, sorting and culling toys, washing sheets and donnas, cleaning window and vacuum floor :) Yes I am starting with the easiest room :)

I better get off here and get on with it then!!

Dishwasher......

Kadee is fascinated with anything that she can open and get into...........

Wonder if there is child locks for dishwashers??

Home Made Pizza is the BEST! Yummy :)

But this time we decided to make it from scratch, no pita bread for the base, ridgy didgy base with yeast :) Yummy :) and the best bit?? That Mike and I were cooking together in the kitchen to prepare these tasty, delicious pizzas :) We love to cook and since he has been working night shifts, we don't have much of a chance to create together :)

p.s I just realised that my blogging is becoming very full of food :) Might explain my chunkiness :)

Pregnancy Cravings :) Again :)

Fresh tomato and onion sautéed with fresh basil and parsley on toasted French loaf. Delish!!

Boys will be girls.....

I always seem to bust the boys playing with Barbie at some stage of their lives............So cute how serious they are at trying to put those little skirts, shirts and shoes back on them :) In fact, so cute I just had to take a picture to keep for his 18th birthday :)

When ur more excited about NOT finding out.....

then u are about finding out what sex the baby will be, then surely one must see it as a sign to do something different, and quiet out of the ordinary!!

Because ordinary I would never consider not finding out what we are having, I like to be organised! Have everything ready for when I come home, the pinks or blues all ready to go..............

I liken my excitement to Christmas! I am the tree and my big belly is the present sitting under it for 9 months!! Who could resist a peak at what goodies are inside. Then follows the day dreaming about names and who will he/she look like the most :) The primping and preening of baby things, every thing just so.............

Only 3 more weeks til the 18-20 wks scan...............Mike thinks I will cave and just HAVE to know!! ...............

Wordless Wednesday

The friends the kids find in our yard :)

15 Weeks baby number 6

ALREADY!! Can't believe it! This pregnancy is going so fast, and so far has been quiet easy. Mike and I sometimes forget that I'm even pregnant!! I've gained a bit of weight (like I always do) but other then that I'm feeling very comfortable.
I went for a doctors check up today. Blood pressure is a little high, but not something to be concerned about and no sign of another UTI which is great as I would rather not take antibiotics if I don't have to!

But the doctor couldn't find the heartbeat....... This is a new doctor I'm seeing so I'm hoping that he lacks experience in using the Doppler. I'm trying not to be concerned, at 15 wks the baby just maybe a little small to get a good reading, or might not be in the right position. I have an appt on Thursday with the hospital and their very experienced midwives.............if they can't find a heartbeat then I'll worry!!!!!

Apricot Chicken! Delish!!

A favourite that I've not made in awhile, always goes down well with the kids. But Silas has decided that he doesn't like chicken at all.........

Fresh Picked Turnips...

Are fantastic roasted! We picked these ones when they were the size of an apple. Tossed them in some olive oil and roasted 30-40 mins. They tasted sweet but with a potato texture (as described by a 11 & 6 yr old).

This is the first time I've used them like this, usually they get chopped up and added to soups.