Thursday, May 27, 2010

Cookies & Cream

Meet "Cookies & Cream" ~ she is our new rabbit. She's 12 weeks old and adorable.

After Alex's morning yesterday and the sad loss of Pumpkin, she wanted another rabbit to keep Muffin company (mind you there are two guinea pigs, Rocket and Patch) but as a parents the main thing is that your children are happy.

She proudly carried Cookies & Cream through the shopping centre and into the car, then took her to school to pick up Oliver - and although throughout the day she had tears there were quite a few smiles too... especially at the little fluffly white tail bouncing up and down with every hop.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

RIP Pumpkin!!

Today is a very sad day....

This morning on my way to work I got my usual phone call from the kids to say they were leaving for school but it wasn't the normal phone call.

I had Oliver being brave telling me that there was something wrong with one of the rabbits and Alex was in tears. So I turned my car around and came home.

Pumpkin, wasn't in a great way... all limp but calm. I rang the vet and they advised up to go up there as soon as possible. At the vet the news was grim, spinal damage was causing her to be limp and she was not feeling any pain. Needless to say, we had to do the best thing for the poor little darling bunny although it was very painful for our little princess!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Menu Plan Monday 22nd May ~ 28th May


Another weekend end (and week for that matter) gone with a blink of an eye.... geez it's all happening at once.

This weekend saw Noel and I making a banner for Ollie's 50th football match on Sunday. So Saturday I spent running around organising the materials and equipment for the banner so Noel and I could put it together late afternoon. Noel decided that we would all go out for dinner Saturday night so we could all relax. We went to the Ling Wah Chinese Restaurant in Frankston and as usual the meal was wonderful.

Sunday we spent most of the day at the Football. Alex played Chelsea YCW and her team played away. So we drove to Bonbeach in the morning. It was very fresh but it turned into a glorious day. Oliver's match was at home. Last night we went up to the football club for the usual awards night and it was a good night especially as most teams won their games yesterday.

Needless to say it's Monday again - and this is what has been menu planned this week:

Saturday ~ Ling Wah Chinese Restaurant
Sunday ~ Homemade Pizza
Tue ~ Hawaiian Chicken, steamed vegetables
Wed ~ Macaroni Beef, salad and garlic bread
Thu ~ Pork Medallions with Apple Glaze, steamed vegetables
Fri ~ Herb and Spice Steamed Fish, asian greens

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Ollie's 50th football match

A very proud moment for his mam and dad.... thankfully I am holding the left side of the banner and hidden behind another person as I definitely had a tear in my eye....

It was a beautiful day and thankfully there was hardly any wind... I had prayed that it wasn't going to rain or be gusty. The banner didn't actually have that much tape on the crepe paper so I was quite concerned about it being blown away before Oliver got a chance to run through it.

In fact I spent most of last week worrying about how to make a banner to celebrate his milestone game... and Saturday morning I was asking anyone and everyone for advice but overall by the time I had all the equipment and materials sorted Noel and I knocked it over in around an hour.

Thankfully we could use the club room floors as the seniors had a bye and weren't using the rooms. It made the job a lot easier.

Nearly finished - just sticking the lettering down.

VOILA - a banner complete... Not bad for a first go!

Half time huddle... and the boys were up. Heading for their 3rd win of the season. Final score was Karingal 9.7 - 61 vs Frankston Dolphins 4.0 - 24!!

A proud Bulls team having a chat after their winning performance where my champion kicked a goal in the 3rd quarter... go OLLIE!!

Pretty proud of himself after the match.... Wesley looking up to his big cousin!

What a great day we all had!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Menu Plan Monday (15th May - 21st May)


Let it be known right now that the merry-go-round needs to slow down right now... I am getting giddy as it's spinning so fast. WOW another week and another exclamation of "where did the time go?"

Last week were quite busy with the usual football training (3 times a week) plus a few other things but nothing out of the normal. The weekend however was another story.

Kelee, Kyhal and Gemma came for dinner on Saturday night ~ which I must say was fantastic, them coming over that is... the meal was good too!! LOL!! Thankfully most of the dinner was prepared before hand so Noel and I managed to spend quality time with them. The kids had a ball and it's wonderful that even though they have only met each other once before they got along really well.

Sunday again a day full of football with Alex playing a great game and Oliver's team coming away with a win!! GO BULLS!! Nana, Grandad, Sean and Christian came down to watch him play with was really good - I know Oliver appreciated them being there.

Needless to say it's Monday again - and this is what has been menu planned this week:

Saturday ~ San Choy Bow, Asian Braised Beef Ribs with Steamed Rice
Sunday ~ Chilli, Ginger and Garlic Prawns
Monday ~ Chargrilled Pork Steaks, Brocolli and Cauliflower Au Gratin, Steamed Vegetables
Tue ~ Slow Cooked Beef with Sweet Potato Mash
Wed ~ Braised Chicken with Tomato and Rosemary
Thu ~ Macaroni Beef, Salad, Herb Bread
Fri ~ Pan Fried Fish with Asian Vegetable and Noodle Salad

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,



Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Daily Job Lists

As dramatic as it sounds these have become evident that they are needed to ensure things run a little smoother around the house. I mentioned job lists yesterday in my rant and implemented them last night.

(daily jobs list 1)

(daily jobs list 2)

The two children have the same 2 job lists, both differ with little tasks and they will alternate each week. For example Oliver is following week 1 and Alex is following week 2 this week. The idea of this is so one doesn't feel hard done by compared to the other, which I am sure you can all understand the reasoning behind that idea!! LOL God forbid we over work one of them!!

This is not the first time - both of them have had chore lists or rosters in the past especially as we have always been a family where both parents work full time and the kids used to be in before/after school care. As they are getting older now and have been given more responsibility when it comes to ensuring they get to and from school each day it has given us the opportunity to get them to do a few more things around the house to help out. We do not expect perfection and ticks in all the boxes, but saying that we do expect ticks in some of the boxes ~ LOL!!!

Reality of this is that we all, as a family, need to be time efficient and all hands on board otherwise things just will not get done or Noel and I will end up doing everything while two children sit on their bottoms watching TV!! Needless to say while they are enjoying themselves we are not having much quality time with each other as a family.

The goal here is to increase quality family time... not continual cleaning time for mam and dad. I am sure you can see what we are trying to achieve, I hope?

Will it work???? I hope so....


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A lifestyle change for us all...

A bad result at Weight Watchers last night and a few other issues that I have been dwelling on saw me issuing orders in our house last night to the tune of "We are ALL going to change our lifestyles!! No choice - it's just happening!!"

As you know we (I) menu plan weekly in order to know what we are having for dinner but it got me to thinking that planning the other meals is important as well. The kids normally have a set lunch each day - a sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit, cheese sticks or cheese and crackers, a fruit juice and a treat. But as for Noel and myself it's hit and miss, sometimes a frozen meal, sometimes I make the effort to make us lunch otherwise it's the local takeaway gets our business and that can mean anything for lunch. Breakfasts are pretty much in the same category unfortunately. The kids are organised but we are not.

So #1 change as of this morning was everyone had/took prepared foods to get us through until we get home tonight and have dinner. This is now going to happen EVERYDAY!

Treats will also be carefully examined probably must to the children's disgust but if I want to help all of us then so be it. I wil not outlaw the "nice" foods but I do honestly think they need to be better controlled.

The house is ALWAYS a mess!! I swear to God when we go to work the messy fairies come in and do what they will as there is no way with 2 at work and 2 at school that the house should be as it is. Don't get me wrong - we don't live in a tip or anything that drastic!! It's just not neat and I seem to spend most of my time especially on the weekend cleaning up and picking up things that obviously no-one else sees.

Thankfully Noel is brilliant when it comes to doing the clothes washing, cooking and helping with the kids, which is such a help and I am truly thankful that he is a hands-on dad/husband. Infact I am quite spoiled to have him in my life.

The kids are okay when prompted and I mean PROMPTED. Constant reminders, sometimes resorting to yelling and things do get done. BUT once again it's the little things even the daily repedative things that are neglected. Saying this though they still expect their pocket money each week and everything else that they ask for or decided they want. Go figure??

So # 2 change is that there will now be rosters implemented and to "earn" their pocket money and to save my sanity the listed chores/tasks we need to be done. I don't think that is that unfair? In fact they should be grateful that they will get rewarded for helping out around the house - I know some kids don't get paid, it's just expected by their family circumstance that things get done. I have even given myself a roster but of course won't officially pay myself!! LOL!!

The final thing that has been bothering me lately is that we are "too busy" or "too tired" to bond as a family. I understand that with work, school and other activities there really isn't a great deal of time. But I have at time fobbed the kids off and even Noel because I am too busy or too tired only to look back and realise that I have been selfish and we could have done something together. Time isn't going to stand still and we will never get the opportunity to do certain things again once the time has passed. Thinking about what I have already missed out on, makes me sad and I don't want to miss anything else.

So # 3 change is to implement quality family time together even if it is to read a book or play cards. As of today we will sit at the table as a family to eat dinner, a fond memory I have from growing up was always sitting at the table and talking about each others days and we do actually do it just not all the time. Instead of everyone doing different things we are going to make the effort to at least do something together each week just the four of us - even if it's for 30 minutes.

Watch this space... the Murray family are making some positive changes.

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Monday, May 10, 2010

Menu Plan Monday (8th May - 14th May)


Another quick weekend but hey they do say that time flies when you are having fun. Saying that I just think the clock ticks faster when you are an adult!!

Sunday was Mother's Day here in Australia so that was busy in itself. The kids still played their football match and then we went for a Murray Family dinner at Noel's parent's. It was great to catch up with all the family again and relax before another big week with work and school.

This is what has been menu planned this week:
Sunday ~ Mother's Day dinner at Mam and Dad's
Monday ~ Chargrilled Rib Eye with Steamed Vegetables
Tue ~ Chicken Breast with Citrus Honey Sauce and Vegetables
Fri ~ Seafood Pie

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,


Mothers Day

I have to say that I was well and truly spoiled yesterday for Mother's Day.

Not only did I get a new TV (with DVD player) to replace my old one in the kitchen - yes I have a TV in the kitchen and no I am not addicted to watching TV. I just seem to spend a lot of my time in the kitchen and to be honest by the time the shows I do like are on I know if I sat on the couch to watch them I would be asleep in 5 minutes. So my TV has always been on top of the fridge so I can do what I want and still catch up on a few soapies or cooking shows here and there - oh plus I love watching Sunrise in the morning while making school lunches.

The kids both played footy and then we went to Noel's Mam and Dad's for a Mother's Day bbq lunch/dinner. It was nice to relax, enjoy the company of the Murray family and chat about anything and everything. We took dessert which was enjoyed by everyone especially both Noel and Alex having seconds and we were home by 8pm.

Someone else enjoyed the bbq - young Daniel enjoyed munching on a corn on the cob and on steak fat (terrible people aren't we??) but he really enjoyed the new flavours, as he is just starting on solids.



What a busy yet special day.......

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Monday, May 03, 2010

Menu Plan Monday (1st May - 7th May)


Wow that weekend went really fast especially with James and Rhian here until Saturday morning, football all day Sunday and then out to dinner at the Chelsea Heights hotel with the whole Murray family last night!

This week seems all quiet on the Western Front as far as happenings go so here is how our menu is looking this week:

Saturday ~ Homemade Pizza
Sunday ~ Chelsea Heights Hotel
Monday ~ Lamb Stew with Crusty Bread Rolls
Tue ~ Pork Curry with Pineapple and Snow Peas
Wed ~ Devilled Sausages with Mashed Potatoes
Fri ~ Seafood Pie

As you have probably gathered by now, I LIVE for menu planning! By menu planning it ensures that we have a weeks worth of meals organised which is especially useful Monday through Friday when there is not much of the day left after finishing work, picking up the kids from school and having to deal with the tasks of homework, clothes washing, showers, etc., and to do without the hassle of worrying WHAT we are cooking for dinner each night. Honestly if I left deciding what’s for dinner until I go home we wouldn’t eat until midnight!!

I know that our week starts on a Saturday but that’s just for the ease of fitting in with my grocery shopping which is normally done on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. As usual more great menu ideas can be found at Menu Plan Monday over at I’m An Organising Junkie, don’t be shy pop over and have a look at other’s menu plans. You never know you may just find something different to have for dinner.

Some recipes for things we cook can be found over at our cooking blog, A Dash Of Flavour, normally posted after they have been cooked or just click on the links for each meal when they appear.

Happy cooking,

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com
 

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