Union gala day

On Friday, Logans class of 4/5/6 participated in a Rugby Union gala day at Bangalow. These kids have never played union before although some have experience with Rugby League, and they only had a week to get some training in and to basically learn the game. When we arrived it was instantly obvious that we were the underdogs!. We were surrounded by schools adorned with vibrant jerseys, sporting logos and sponsorships from their towns' businesses, complete with head gear, shoulder pads and even matching socks!. Bring in Bonalbo central school......school shirts some with, one without, some with football boots some without, some with mouth guards some without, definetely no matching socks.......oh, & 5 girls!. Well did we give them a run for their money.........these kids had determination that could have built Rome in a day!. After they got over the initial shock of how tragic they looked compared to the other teams, they set about to show them that it's not how you're dressed that counts, it's about heart. And they had plenty of it. The team work they displayed between the boys and the girls was so admirable, they knew they needed to back each other up to get through the match, and in true feminine style our "ladies" were there in the thick of it. They were pushed, shoved, stomped on, flung about and held back, but they were there 100%. WE (the parents) were screaming our heads off, and doing the necessary parental coaching from the sidelines, because all parents are experts on the sidelines aren't they?! They had the best day, and so did we. We were so proud of them. I'm sure all the other teams will always remember those Bonalbo kids. Well done guys. (and ladies!).

News.............

Another weekend has been & gone and we are inching closer to the holidays.  My calendar has been absolutely chockas with so many school activities, It's like they have waited till the last few weeks of school to jam as many things in as possible......Logan went to Coffs Harbour for three days for his camp, Summer went to Seaworld for an excursion (again)!, Logan has a football gala day on Friday at Bangalow, there has been dentist appointments, school photos, concerts, my head is reeling with dates & times & places & obligations & I just can't wait for the holidays to start!.  On a sad note though our Che has moved back to Grandmas.  We have realised again it's just not possible to live here, do school & work two part time jobs.  I have just had to face the fact that I have to let go........I know she is only 16 but sometimes things happen & I guess you have to stretch that cord way before you expect to.  I was getting so angry & resentful at her because she was never here & we were missing her & we were thinking that she was finding reasons to not be here.  But if anyone is going to put up their hand up & volunteer for something and be involved in something it is our Che, and that is what is taking up most of her spare time, being involved in anything that is available to her.  So that was all been a bit of a down time for me.
On the upside though,  today is the official day that Shane stops smoking!.  I finally got my way after just a little bit of harrassment and just a little bit of resentment on Shanes part!.  He has been cutting down for the last couple of weeks and today is the day of no more!!.  I have to get him patches tomorrow while I'm in town just in case....I know he can do it without them........but it will ease his mind to have them on hand.  Boy, you guys have no idea how hard it was to get him just to put a date on the calendar to work towards.....it nearly ended in divorce I can tell you!.  So please send out your positive thoughts for him, I think he's going to need them!.  The change since he has cut down is already remarkable, I can't wait to see if he actually puts on weight which he really needs to do. 
We have made a start on Summers cubby using only recycled timber we have laying around.  She is very excited and can't believe after years of asking that she will finally have one.  I'm just glad that I won't have to clean up all the other "cubbys" she erects all over the place.  That child can make a cubby out of anything!.
We recently had Brian & Linda & Pop over for a visit from W.A.  It was so nice to finally meet Brian & Linda.  Aside from Pop, I have never met any of Shanes family and Shane hadn't seen Brian since he was about 17.  So it was a really lovely week getting to know them and it was great to see Pop again.  I think Finny remembered him from the last visit.........

 This is just the foofster doing what he does best....eating!, or helping to clean up, however you want to look at it...... !

We are now the proud owners of two sheep called Rosemary & Thyme.  They are a pretty strange breed and actually look more like goats!.  They are very lovely though, and Thyme is due to lamb any day............(She's the freckly one)

Here comes the sun.....

Today we got out in the glorious sunshine and dreamed of Spring.....................

Happy 9th Birthday....

Happy 9th Birthday Summer......

Summer had a lovely weekend spent with her friends, Cleo, Rosie & Lily. They had a ball playing in the boat in the dam & making cubbies. The evidence of their fun is strewn all over the yard!. She has a way of turning junk from our rubbish pile into works of art all over the place. I've learnt to just let her unleash that creativity & deal with the clean up later. I love her imagination, even if, it means more work for me!

Grandma made the cake.....triple layer strawberry, vanilla & chocolate.......it was huge!. Thanks Grandma! So that's the kids birthdays done for this year. Phew!.

Thumbs Up!

This is the Foofsters new sign!. Whenever he likes the answer to one of his questions, which is usually about some food that he wants, or something fun he wants to do, I get the thumbs up!. What a classic!. It's like he's saying 'Yep mum you got the right answer'!. Bless Him.......

Athletics Carnival.........

Logan & Summer had a great day at their athletics carnival.  It is so great to see the change in Summer over the past year, from not wanting to participate in any sporting competitions to enjoying sport & all it has to offer......They both won age champion and were very proud of themselves.  Gotta say though Summer has the strangest high jump style ..........

She leaps over it frog legged!.  It's like the way she sits sometimes.  It was amazing how high she could jump like that...

Finny kept occupied with his trusty cars!

And all the little ones went in their own race & got a ribbon each!  I was totally exhausted by the time we got home, I could hardly keep my eyes open that night........and the kids were still going.......!

Happy 12th Birthday

Happy 12th Birthday Logan....

I love the way he tells me all about the football, he gets so excited by it, and the way he retells me stand up comedy jokes he has heard, and repeats the funny lines he hears in movies. I love the way he plays football with Finn by getting down on his knees and letting Finny tackle him. I love the way he saves his money up for things he wants to buy, at the moment it's a playstation portable. I love that he is learning the guitar. I love that he is sweet & gentle. I love this little man who is quickly turning into a teenager.......