a not quite right family home evening

About a month ago Matt and I decided to head up to Mt Wellington and then head to Mures for tea with the kids for Family home evening. The kids were dying to go up the Mountain and we had had the best snow fall all winter. We packed the kids in the car and headed up towards the mountain. when we were almost at the turn off onto the mountain road our car decided to overheat making us have to pull over. While we were waiting for the car to cool down there was games of I spy, drawing on the windows as they fogged up, a little whining that it was taking too long and some climbing over seats. When the car had finally cooled down we decided it was best not to risk going up the mountain and headed back down to the city. We Landed at Mures and got take away and headed home. While the kids were disappointed that we didnt make it to the snow. We still had a fun family activity probably spending more time talking and playing then if we had made it to the top.

45 Waverley Street

My Parents moved out of the house that they have lived in for the past 20 years (or so) this week. While I don't get overly attached to homes, it is a little sad to know someone else lives there now. But also wondering if their kids will realise that as they get older that they can sneak in and out of the down stairs bathroom window ( yes it just wiggles open), wondering if the new new owners will paint the hideous laundry a colour other then the yellow that has been there since before mum and dad moved in, and how long before they realise that the house floods downstairs with every hard rain. Sad to see it go. It has a lot of memories there, But I am also glad that mum and dad's new drive way is flat and I will be able to walk it in heels or slippery shoes and not worry I will fall.
So goodbye 45 Waverley street, Bellerive.

Happy Birth Daniel

My super sweet loving angel who with the blink of an eye turns into Mr disobedience turned 7 last week. His birthday fell on a school day and he was torn from wanting to go to school to be the birthday boy to staying home and wearing his supercool masterchef gear and cooking. of course he didnt have a choice and off to school he went! I stayed home and struggled with another birthday cake ( I have since found someone who will hopefully make my future cakes for me). this cake was just terrible. but it tasted good and that is what counts!
We went out for tea for our traditional Hogs breath birthday dinner and auntie Erin came along.


.

Bonorong Park

A little behind in the posting. But during the school holidays I took Ethan and Daniel to Bonorong Wildlife Park. The kids had been asking to go for such a long time and each holidays something came up . So this time I made sure we went. I hadnt been since I was about 8 and wasnt sure what it would be like, but it was so much fun. The kids loved it. They werent quite brave enough to feed a kangaroo but they enjoyed watching me do it. fo an outing that I though would be about 40 minutes we were there well over 2 hours!. we only live 5 minutes from this place and drive past it all the time and cant believe it took 3 1/2 years to get there. but definately will go back....maybe next time I will take Zack as well as i know he will love it.

Road Trip

LAst week we took a road trip up the east coast. It was just a day trip so we only went as far as Swansea but it was lots of fun. We went up to Orford to the beach there where Zack went to the beach for the first time and he definately did not like it. As soon as he saw the water he started and screaming in a panic and did not settle until Matt took him back to the car. So much for my great idea of playing in the sand with him! At least other boys had fun. They loved looking for shells and took home a collection. At Swansea we all went for a walk along the beach. Zack in the pram where he felt safe. The boys had a great time. Ethan was adventurous climbing the rocks and wanting to climb higher then I was comfortable. Daniel Loved the water and ended up quite wet. The water was gorgeous. I forget how nice it is on these east coast beaches. The water was freezing but lets face it, it was only 15 degrees that day. Not exactly a warm beach day. but It was beautiful to look out towards coles bay. definately want to head up there next time. The boys were awesome driving as it was a LOT of driving in one day. Zack slept a lot and the boys sat in the very back of the car watching a movie on the way home.

Looking Back

I love looking back at old photos from when we were kids, and tonight I came across this photo of the 'Docking' grandkids with Grandpa. I love how young we all look ( even Grandpa). I love the bad clothes, boofy hair ( of some) and Joel's pose! The thing I love most of this picture is going back to a time when we used to get together fairly often and have fun. It's been a long time since we have been together like this

farewell Auntie Loulah

Last week Leah (or auntie Loulah as she has been known) left the nest to fly north...Not far away , but far enough that we need a plane or a boat to visit. Leah moved to Melbourne. Feeling a little jealous that she is there and I am not as I just LOVED living in Melbourne and do miss it. The boys have already been asking me why she had to go and when is she coming back. I didnt have the heart to tell them that apart from visits I bet she wont come back.! I am certain she will fall inlove with melbourne like I did and she will stay for good! I would probably still be there if it wasnt for a husband a 2 little boys who only want to live in Tasmania ( which I love too !)

Jury Cousins

Its not very often when all the cousins can get together. Its been about a year since the last time. But when they do get together they have so much fun. However trying to get a nice group shot of this many kids for Grandma is next to impossible with too many cameras going at once and lots of kids that just cant sit still without pulling a face, a baby crying or someone with their eyes closed :)

Growing So Fast ( 3 post below)

My gorgeous Little Man . He loves to be outside and to crawl around on the grass.

Easter Weekend

(Little Mia Margaret Richardson)

Our Easter weekend has been quite a busy weekend. We had a lovely BBQ lunch at our place on Good friday with the Jury family. It was the first time in months ( probably since christmas) since we had got together, and it was also great because Kelly and the kids had come down from Melbourne. Kelly being down meant that I have been able to meet my newest niece little Mia.
Easter morning was an early one with the boys wanting to rush outside to see if easter bunny had left any eggs outside. after making sure that they had warm clothes on they were off checking every where to find where the eggs were hidden. Before we knew it it was time to get ready for church. Church for me ended after the first hour with Zack just suffering badly from his teeth coming in and lack of sleep. So I took him home ( screaming) to put to sleep. That evening was Dinner with the Docking side which was a welcome home dinner for Brett.( Scott came home a few days later) Zack pretty much cried the whole time so no photos were taken.
Thankfully by monday Zack seemed to be feeling better and with matt home for a few dayswe spent some time with the kids.

TURNING ONE

On Easter Saturday my little baby turned 1. I can't believe it has been a whole year. It has gone way too fast. We had a fairly low key day. Being that his birthday fell over easter I wasnt able to get my usual saturday morning shift off at work since everyone got in before me...So we just had a nice quiet day at home which was much more relaxing then trying to stress over a party. Zack ( not understanding birthdays) was more then happy to comply with this. He spent most of the day in bed sleeping and when he was up he was pretty miserable due to a few teeth coming in. But despite him not feeling well he enjoyed his presents and enjoyed eating his birthday cake....this boy really loves his sugar! It was a lovely queit day with some visitors in the afternoon, including his uncle Brett who he met for the first time on Saturday( he returned from his mission that morning) and spent a lot of time watching him from a distance making sure that Brett was ok! All kids were in bed by 7pm and then it was time to start getting ready for the easter bunny.

10 YEARS

This week marks Matt and my 10 year wedding anniversary. I can still remember when we first got married and would talk about things we would do on our 10 year anniversary and how far away it seemed, and now here it is. Infact looking back to when we first got married and those "early years" feels like another life time ago. Its cool to look back and see where we started as poor newlyweds with matt at uni and living in a rat infested unit to now where we have 3 kids, great incomes and buying a home.
In all the reflecting in recent weeks over our marriage I have come to realise a few things over the last 10 years :
1. Matt and I have not had any time away together just the 2 of us since our honeymoon
2. All our family holidays have been to visit family. We havent had a big family holiday just for us( other then weekend local trips)
3. We have moved 6 times, 3 have been interstate, been members of 4 different wards and have had 5 cars.
4. Within our family we have had 4 weddings and a funeral ( isnt that a movie??)
5. apart from the first 2 months of marriage we have surivied with only one car for 10 years.
and
6. Matt hasnt worn a wedding ring for 9 years and 9 months ( he lost it after only 3 months!)

I have decided that this year during our 10th year Matt and I are going to get away just the 2 of us even if only for a weekend and even if it is only to melbourne.(and try to do that at least once a year) I look forward to some non kid time....and we need to take a nice family holiday (probably next year).



(I was trying to find wedding photos however my scanner does not work so i just took a few photos!)

First Happy bath ever

Last night was the first time since he was born that he didnt cry. He actually loved the bath. He spent time splashing and touching bubbles.It was so good to see and such a relief that bath time is now going to be much easier

Morning at Richmond

This Morning I took the kids to Richmond. They have been stuck t home a lot of the holidays so i thought a morning out would help with their cabin fever. WE went to a few fav shops. I mean you can't go to richmond without heading to the lolly shop. There is SO much to chose from the kids took ages! Then off we went to the bakery ( which I think is one of the best bakerys around) and they kids had lamingtons and biscuits. After which we walked down to the river and walked along the track. The boys still love seeing the ducks..especially the baby ducks. We forgot to take bread so they just had fun watching some random cat chase them. Zack also got to experience grass for the first time and wasnt real sure about it.! I didnt get too many smiles from him while he was on it.! With lots of racing each other on the grass they are thankfully warn out and have said this is the BEST day of their holidays

Baby Grace

This is my beautiful niece Grace Belinda Docking. Isnt she just adorable. I got to visit Belle (and Shaun) in hospital on Saturday afternoon and have the longest hugs!. Holding her certainly makes Zack seem SO big. She is tiny. The photos aren't the greatest quality as I took them on my phone.

Turning 9

Last week we had our first family birthday of the year with Ethan turning 9. (I still cant believe how old he is ). Normally we have had a big family birthday party /bbq thing on his birthday but this year I was ready for something a little more quiet. Thankfully as he had recently had a lot of the family up after his baptism a few months ago he was happy. Ethan chose to go out to Hogs Breath for tea. This a definate family favourite. The boys LOVE going there. WE took along both sets of Grandparents along with Auntie Erin ( who has earned the title as Fav auntie!) We ate way too much and went home feeling sick, but it was a nice relaxing night. We then went home to blow out the candles. However we were all too full to eat any cake.






Ethan is one of the most greatful kids I have ever known. All day he kept thanking me for his presents and telling me that this was the best birthday ever. He is so sweet.

The best bit for me however is that I had no dishes to clean at the end of the day :) The perfect birthday in my opinion!