Baby #7 - 14 weeks :)

14 weeks :) and apart from getting my feet kicked out under me but this flu for the last week, everything has been going well :)

Just the usual weight gain, but not too much in the way of aches and pains (yet). I'll be getting my scan soon so it will be nice to see the baby again, and I've gotten my hospital referral letter back for my initial appt, at 6.45pm!! What the?? At least Mike will be home to watch the kids for this appt as at the initial one they like to really go through the birth history, I think it took a good hr last time I had a initial appt!! (and I even took in my baby books as I wasn't sure if my memory would keep up with them all!) lol!

Xmas Trees :)

My sister in law is already putting up her xmas tree!! Not even mid November!! lol!! I totally love her enthusiasm for xmas as I love xmas too!!

She has even gone out and bought a brand new tree this year :) I just wanted to share with her my beautiful tree from last year

This was the 1st year that I have ever had a child constantly 'attack' my tree!! Yes that would be baby number 5 Kaydence!! I'm hoping that this years tree will be 'left alone' or I will be investing in a playpen! Yes for the tree!! lol!!

The flu is here!!

I tried beating it with super green juices - blueberries, spinach, orange juice and banana. Looks delish here....

Until you blend it! But it still tastes nice!!

Then a lovely friend Melissa braved the possibility of getting the flu herself and made (and deliverd) 'sick soup', a suck in your cheeks kinda experience that I thought would fling the flu right out of me!! And while it made me feel great (hey my throat stopped hurting for awhile afterwards and I had energy to sort the kids out) I still stayed sick. I ate the whole pot! It actually was my kinda soup, will have to get the reciepe!




And I felt very spoilt and loved when Melissa alsomade a quiche for the family's dinner!! I know you may come across this post Melissa and I want you to know that I really appreciate your kindness!! oxox I can't wait to return the favour! (flu free that is!)

So its now been 5 days of flu (and we don't often get laid up this long with the flu) with Myself and Mike, Braith, Kaydence getting a good dose of it (Mike is better already lucky bugger!) and the bigger kids seem to be getting a touch of it. I now have a sinus thing happening, runny nose watering eyes, stuffy head! U name it seems I will have it! Fingers crossed it passes soon and we don't get sick again for a long long while!!

New addition to the family :)

Introducing Miss Red :) She used to belong to my sister and brother in law (Mikes sister) who are moving a few hours drive away and were unable to take her to their new place. She came complete with her own tank and all the bits and pieces to keep her happy.

She is a Red Devil or also known as a Central American Cichid and is best keep a solo fish due to their aggressive nature (though she does have a companion catfish who lives in the castle, and doesn't seem to venture out!). Miss Red is about 5 yrs old and around 22cms long.



She seems very smart and love to check people out when they approach the tank. You can almost see the personality in her eyes. Mike just loves having her and it has stirred up memories of when his father kept fish when he was growing up. He has been itching to keep a big fish tank for years.



Callum went with his mates to catch yabbies to put in the tank, which we thought Red might eat but so far they seem to be off the menu. Tomorrow we'll get her some feeder fish to enjoy.

So yes we have yet another mouth to feed and clean up after! lol! or rather I should say it will be me cleaning up after yet another pet! lol! At least this one doesn't poop and wee on the floor!

A friends hens party :)

Last night I was lucky enough to share a evening of celebration with a dear friend and some new friends :)


We enjoyed a kidfree dinner out (where nearly all of us ordered the seafood platter) and then hung around having drinks (I indulged in soft drinks and water) and karaoke singing like diva's until the grand finale of the night which was a male revue performance!



Can you believe they had a Frankenstein dancer! and its not Halloween anymore!

A photo of me with the bridezilla :) jokes she's been really good, not worthy of a bridezilla title!

There was a bit of a commotion outside and the police were called, so we couldn't resist posing the hen beside the car! The night was not so exciting that we would actually need a 'ride' in one! lol!

Handmade Xmas Gifts

Well I was reading a discussion on CQHS about making christmas gifts. And you know what? I've never really done the homemade thing, not that I've not wanted to just that I've been a bit slack in that department lol!

But now I'm thinking, why not? It could be a lot of fun for me and the kids :) There has always been a few things that have caught my eye over the last few years that I think will make neat gifts!

Cowgirl Cookies


Bath Bombs


Garden Stepping Stones

This is just a few things that caught my eye while googling homemade gifts! There is so much out there!! I can't wait to get started :)

Learning Styles

With 3 (possibly 4) different children to teach next year I've been exploring Learning Styles, and I wonder how many parents know what their children's learning styles are?

The Seven Learning Styles

• Visual (spatial):You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
• Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
• Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
• Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
• Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
• Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

Why Learning Styles? Understand the basis of learning styles

Your learning styles have more influence than you may realise. Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They also change the way you internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even the words you choose. We explore more of these features in this chapter.

Research shows us that each learning style uses different parts of the brain. By involving more of the brain during learning, we remember more of what we learn. Researchers using brain-imaging technologies have been able to find out the key areas of the brain responsible for each learning style.

For example:

• Visual: The occipital lobes at the back of the brain manage the visual sense. Both the occipital and parietal lobes manage spatial orientation.
• Aural: The temporal lobes handle aural content. The right temporal lobe is especially important for music.
• Verbal: The temporal and frontal lobes, especially two specialized areas called Broca�s and Wernicke�s areas (in the left hemisphere of these two lobes).
• Physical: The cerebellum and the motor cortex (at the back of the frontal lobe) handle much of our physical movement.
• Logical: The parietal lobes, especially the left side, drive our logical thinking.
• Social: The frontal and temporal lobes handle much of our social activities. The limbic system (not shown apart from the hippocampus) also influences both the social and solitary styles. The limbic system has a lot to do with emotions, moods and aggression.
• Solitary: The frontal and parietal lobes, and the limbic system, are also active with this style.