Happy 40th Birthday Noel....

Today a very special man in our house is celebrating his 40th birthday!!

Happy Birthday Noel.... The birthday boy has already received some of his birthday presents... he was given a slow cooker by Mam, a Slow Cooker cookbook from the kids and I and also a bread slicing guide, which will be very useful with our bread that we bake and always manage to cut the loaf on silly angles.

Today was a busy day, getting ready for his 40th birthday party tomorrow night. After dropping the kids off at school we went over to Springvale to get some groceries and supplies for the party then spent the rest of the day cooking, cleaning etc ready for the big bash!

Birthday dinner was at Quality Wok where as usual we had a nice quiet dinner - we haven't been there for awhile and we all love the food there especially my mam who could not believe that she was going out to dinner in her slippers!! LOL!! As you can imagine it is a very casual place, so casual that the owners at time sit down at our table and chat.

Oliver and his dad checking out the weekend football in the newspaper in the restaurant!!

Mam and Noel

Mam and I serveral wines later... must admit I think we were both very tired also!!

Had to take a photo as evidence that it's okay for Mam to go out in public in slippers!!

On a serious note, Quality Wok is a wonderful place to eat... if your are in the Frankston area please call in, see Grace and Gordon and have a meal whether eat in or takeaway. We are sure that you will enjoy what ever you order. It's not the poshest restaurant in the world (no fancy tables etc) but the atmosphere is fantastic, the owners are really beautiful people and it is always busy. Trust us... it's the only Chinese restaurant we actually go to now!!

I am no longer sooking......but we are all very tired!!

Okay so I am no longer sooking as I now have a lovely NEW camera!! We bought a Samsung ES15 on Saturday - it's not top of the range but pretty damn good considering what we paid (it was on special) and it's 10.2 mega pixels!! So I am back to being a happy camper and can start uploading more photo's for the world to see. My nokia mobile's camera was okay but not really great when it came to taking good pictures for my blogs!!

As you can see we even had a choice of colours - Noel didn't really fancy the pink one so we bought the black one!! I dont' understand why?

Wow what a weekend that was.... and over so fast (as usual)!!

Saturday I worked in the morning as usual, then as I mentioned the other day we were meant to catch up with my sister and her kids but it just didn't happen. She ended up having to go to the doctors and by the time she was finished and the fact that we had plans for dinner Saturday night there wasn't enough time to catch up - which was actually a shame. I was kind of hoping that we could meet up, maybe sort somethings out especially with Mam arriving this Wednesday.

Sunday was and is the first of many to come where we spend most of the day at a football club. It was round 1 of the juniors yesterday. Oliver played his first game of the season and he played a really good game. Both Noel and I were really proud of him!! It was a shame that the game was stopped with around 3 minutes to go but a boy on the opposing team fell awkwardly and broke his wrist in the same position as Alex did in March. ooouuuucccchhhhh!!!! The game was stopped as we didn't move the child of the ground and an ambulance was called. The Bulls were winning for most of the game but in the last quarter the opponents made a few quick scores, a goal and a few points, to lead by 3 points.

As Oliver is now in the Under 11's, this year the teams actually keep score so this is his first scoreboard result. The under 9's and 10's don't officially keep score as part of our League. As I mentioned he played a really good game and I watched the whole thing from the scoreboard as I was keeping score with another team mates dad. At presentations, in the clubroom last night, he recieved a Wendy's award for his great game. Dean his coach was happy that he did what he was told, kept with the ball and played a good game! Woohoo Ollie!!

Although I got out to watch Oliver's game I spent most of the morning in the canteen, once again helping out as we have a new canteen manager and it would be unfair to leave her to fend for herself. Beth is actually going to make a real go at it. She is very enthusiastic and willing! I really want to help her make it a success not only for the club but for her too. And for me, as I want to get out of the canteen (even though I love it) as I need to spend Sundays with my family.

School holidays are now over and the kids are back at school. It was really good to get up this morning and get back into our routine, even the kids got up and did what they are used to doing... but we are all still feeling the effects of the big weekend (the first week back at football is always huge) and I think we will all be in bed early tonight.....

Not a happy camper......

Yep that's right - Jo is not a happy camper at the moment!! :(

What's the problem you ask...... my camera has broken!! Just won't work!! OMG it's like I have lost a piece of me!! What is one to do now??????

Okay, after I had my little sook about my poor piece of digital technology dying, had a bit of a panic about the future without it and then pulled myself together I started to actually put a plan together as to what I was going to do!!

• Start looking for a new improved camera (obviously)!!
• I have dropped hints that it could be my mother's day present!! Bad me....
• Might tell Noel that it's half his birthday present (which is only next week anyway)
• Camp next to letterbox waiting for cheque from government stimulas package!! LOL!!
• Use my fandangle mobile as a camera for now (considering it's a new nokia it actually takes quite good pictures!)

Well it's Thursday already and this week has just flown by. Must have something to do with not working Monday due to the Public Holiday for Easter Monday. Actually I cannot believe its nearly another weekend. And a weekend that is overbooked totally already!!

Saturday afternoon we have a date in the park (2pm) with my sister and our nephews. I will be great to see the kids playing together as that's a rare event in itself. I am not sure how things will go with Claire and I - this in itself is bothering me a little, well actually quite a lot. Surprisingly it was her idea to get together this weekend so that caught me off guard when you consider the last few years of minimal contact. But doing the right thing I decided to make the effort so only time will tell. It will not be a good thing if she isn't honest or if she brings "him" with her..... "him" being her new man that nothing is going on with! ggggrrrrr!!! (Long story for another day but I am sure you get where I am coming from!)

Sunday brings our first week of the junior football season. Oliver played a couple of weeks ago but that was a practice match with Cranbourne Junior Football Club and that went really well. With Alex's wrist broken we don't have to up the club at the sparrow's fart (her matches will start at 9am when she gets back to playing - so that's 8.30am up the club) whereas Oliver's matches don't start until 11.40am. Then of course there is presentations up the clubrooms from 5pm... there goes our Sundays for the next 16 weeks!!

On a really good note, I have managed to change Mam's flights so she is now going home on Monday the 11th May and staying for Mother's Day on the Sunday... woohoo!! It has been quite a long time since we have spent a Mother's Day together so I am really looking forward to that!

And then on Monday it's back to school and my beloved routine!!!!!!! Yay!!!!

Happy Easter 2009

These are our Easter gifts for our family and friends - we made the Easter Egg Biscuits yesterday and must say we all had fun decorating them. They were so easy to make. Plus making these little parcels puts an element of love and thoughtfullness in the giving over Easter - I honestly believe that Easter, like Christmas, is becoming too commercial these days. Lets face it - Easter eggs and Hot Cross Buns have been selling in the shops early March and I am sure it won't be too long before the Christmas decorations are back on the shelves!! LOL!!

As usual the kids were up early to see if Easter Bunny had been to our house and YES he had.... (Thankfully both are getting older and the wake up time is getting later each year!!)


There was the usual mad dash to ensure they both picked up more eggs than the other but then of course we make them count them out and share evenly!!

Easter Bunny definately brought enough eggs for these two!!



We are off out for lunch today which we are really looking forward to. Not only is it Easter Sunday but we are celebrating Dad's birthday (which was on Friday). The whole Murray family are off to the Italian Club in Keysborough for a 4 course lunch. Noel has been there a few times as his work always have their Christmas Break Party there but none of the rest of us have.

From all of us at the House of Murray we would like to wish you a Happy and Safe Easter 2009.

Frankston.....

As you know the other day Alex and I spent the day at the Frankston Foreshore after her doctor's appointment. It was great to walk along the pier, along the beach and even paddle our feet in the water.

It was a beautiful day, both getting a slight redness from not wearing any sunscreen but it was enjoyable and relaxing.....

Alex holding jelly fish not the dangerous sort - sausage looking sort!!

Looking up the beach towards Seaford.

I really like this picture... of course underneath the pier.

This is looking towards Oliver's Hill and Mount Eliza.