Murray family dinner.....

Mam and Dad arrived home from their holidays but we hadn't caught up with them until tonight.  It was great to see them, even though you could tell they were still exhausted from their adventures and the jet lag that they were experiencing.

We had yummy dinner of Roast Pork but the highlight was just catching up with not only the two of them but with Sean and Vicky also.  It seems like forever since we have seen them also.

It was great to hear all about Mam and Dad's adventures and all the places that they went too.  Some of their destinations sounded so beautiful, some I had visited myself and brought back memories of my days of travelling... many many moons ago. Long before I became a Murray!

It was great talking with Sean and Vicky and catching up with them, something we should definitely do more often.  They used the Gold Class Tickets that we gave Vicky for her birthday last year, with Vicky's parents having the boys giving them a night out by themselves.

Mam recieved her birthday present from the family, a bowling jacket, as she will be away for her birthday next weekend.  They are heading to Tweed Heads as they do most years at this time.  Hopefully they will have a safe trip and an enjoyable time.

Queen's Birthday - Long weekend.

Happy Birthday to the Queen 2012 and thank you for a long weekend.

 
With all the Regal celebrations - the Queen's Diamond Jubilee -we just had a wonderful but quiet weekend... with Noel and I spending some great quality time together.

Alex was away at Lakes Entrance with her friend, Tammy, celebrating Tammy's birthday.  She left Friday from school and was home Monday afternoon. 

Oliver had his friend Max over , spending most of the time in the bedroom on the X-Box only coming out for food and toilet breaks.  I guess just like most teenage boys do!

As for Noel and I, well we entertained ourselves.

Saturday night we had a date!!  Dinner out at Blu Restaurant in Patterson Lakes.  The food was nice, the service good but it was a very noisy restaurant but it was busy.  We both agreed that it would also be a nice restaurant to have lunch in - especially over looking the water's edge.  We shared a dip and bread platter for entree followed by a seafood platter for 2 for dinner.

Sunday we went to the local Market for a walk around, had a coffee out and about, did some shopping etc.  Max stayed again Sunday night.

Monday we caught up Kelee and went for lunch at Petaling Street in Clayton.  I have had lunch there before with work so it was nice to take Noel and Kelee there.  We were there for several, catching up on what's been happening with us all.  We love Kelee to bits and we are all at ease with each other, being able to chat about anything and everything.

A little more shopping on Sunday, then home to get ready for work and school Tuesday and the weekend was well and truly over.

Dinner with the Roberts' family...

Definitely a long time between catch ups for the two families.  Vera and Paul helped us with a computer issues because, even if you cannot believe this, I am not computer savvy when it comes to fixing these machines.  I am pretty good at using them but I have to say that I do come with an IT department at work.

Vera took some photos.....

~Paul ~

~ Kayla ~

~ Bailey and of course, Me ~

~ Bailey, Oliver, Paul and Vera ~

~ Noel, Alex, Kayla and Dante ~

We all had a brilliant evening - an evening that should happen more often..... that's for sure!!

Oliver's Birthday Dinner

We all went to the Frankston RSL to celebrate Oliver's 14th birthday as a family, Kirraly came with us also.

It was a nice relaxed evening... I am sure that we all enjoyed ourselves.

Alex's 11 th birthday

Today our little princess turned 11.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX xxxx

She had a huge night last night with her birthday party and having 3 of her friends sleeping over.  We waited until her friends left to give her our presents as as you can tell she was impressed with her new TV with built in DVD player from us.

To celebrate her birthday the Murray family went to our favourite Indian Restaurant, Kasturi, in Frankston.  The meal as usual was brilliant and Alex enjoyed being surround and spoiled by the family.

It was a big weekend for all of us, especially Alex - she was exhausted.

Our first outdoor dinner for Spring

Tonight we had our first bbq for Spring sitting outside as it was a nice mild night.....  The bbq and the chef got a good work out as hamburgers with the lot were on the menu!

Putting the burger together... a mission and a half!

It was nice night sitting outside.

Hamburgers with the Lot, Caramelised Capsicum Relish, Mustard and Herb Roast Potato Bites - YUM!!

A busy life.....

So what's happening with the House Of Murray at the moment???

Currently I have been really busy with work, spending the last few weeks working out of Kilmore up in the country (North West of Melbourne). Hanson have acquired a new quarry right next door to our existing quarry and I have been asked to assist with the transition from them being an independent to our global multi level company systems.... I have to say it's been fun at times. I have been there for 4 weeks now spending 4 days each week there. Monday I return but only for 3 days this week and after that I will have a break for a few weeks before returning for month end.

The footy club have been hosting the Frankston & District Junior Football League Finals Series again this year for the third year running. Although it raises brilliant money for our club the days are long and hard. We have done really well so far for the first two weeks as the weather has been perfect unlike last year where it rained all four Sundays. I spend my time between counting monies from both canteens and bbq tents and when I can I have been helping out in the canteen also.

Last night we went to Nana and Grandad's for dinner to celebrate a few things. As they are flying out for a holiday in Port Douglas on Sunday Father's Day was one of the celebrations. As well as their 45th Wedding Anniversary which is today.



We finally caught up with Christian to give him his birthday present from last week, which I may just add don't know who loved the Manchester United soccer ball more - him or his father, Sean. He recently celebrated his 4th birthday.

It was great to catch up with most of the family as we haven't seen them for awhile. Unfortunately Vicky wasn't there as Daniel wasn't that well. I was soooo tired though as I had just driven in from Kilmore East arriving home at 6.05pm and we were meant to be at dinner at 6.30pm. A lovely roast lamb dinner was cooked for us which I really enjoyed after weeks of pub meals while away.

This morning I am working out of Yannathan Quarry, which is a sand plant. I am doing it as a favour as they have a big job on but it's great to catch up with some of my favourite truck drivers as. I still miss them from when I was in the weighbridge fulltime and I love seeing them again.... so many new faces though!!


Alex is getting excited as she goes on school camp on Monday. The camp is at Koonwarra, down in Gippsland and she will be away for 5 days (4 nights). There is horse riding there so she is really looking forward to that.

The Brie, The Bullet and The Black Cat

Something we have had in the planning for the last few months was a murder mystery dinner party which we held on Saturday night..... and what a great night it was. The game was called The Brie, The Bullet and The Black Cat. The theme was set in 1942 in Casablanca and all 12 of us at the dinner table were under suspicion for murdering the Black Cat, France's greatest mime artist.

Here is how the house and some of us looked on Saturday night......




People helped with the meals and of course the drinks kept flowing.... sssshhhhh but I cannot reveal the murderer!!!!
My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Another weekly round up.....

We are still running around like busy bees.... OMG it just doesn't stop but it is BRILLIANT!!! I love being surrounded by family and friends and keeping busy!!

So as you have noticed my poor blogs have been left on the sidelines and are only getting enough attention to write quick weekly round ups!! Sorry!!

This week saw us all going out for dinner on Wednesday night to The Seaford Hotel... what a fantastic evening we all had. Noel and Jamie get along really well with Anthony.

The kids chatted away, had their dinner and then played in the playground!


Anthony enjoyed his rib eye steak... and yes after the photo he used his knife and fork!


Angus thought this was quite funny!


A nice photo of all the kids together....


And then the silly face one!!


Friday, Anthony and Rachel and the kids came over for dinner.... a nice quiet evening that saw Anthony, Noel and myself going to be around the 4ish mark Saturday morning.

Noel picked them up from the hotel so both Rachel and Anthony could have a drink and relax. We had arranged for both Ellis and Ffion to stay the night but the four ended up kipping at our house.


Rachel had complained on Wednesday night about Anthony's snoring (definitely must be a Lewis trait as Mam snores and I admit, so do I!!). Noel brought Rachel home a present such a generous fellow I married.... she was a little worried at first but it made her scream with laughter.....




Mind you they are meant to be ear plugs???

Dinner went down a treat.....


Cooking outside on the weber and as you can see a few more laughs.




But not as much as the chocoloate fondues did for dessert!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Grandma is here.....

Grandma arrived on Tuesday night. We have been expecting her for some time now as this trip has been planned with a special purpose (something I still cannot mention on here just yet!)

Anyhow as usual the first cuddle is always the nicest as it's been some time since we saw each other. In fact it was in January and due to the family situation (with my sister) that visit didn't go down to well at all - a lot of yelling, arguments and crying!!! This visit is definitely going to be a hell of a lot better.

As with every visit the first thing that always gets planned is a family dinner. So Jamie (my brother in law) brought around the four boys to have dinner with Grandma.

It's always wonderful to see the beaming smile on mam's face when her 6 grandkids are together and with her. I know she does miss it when she is up in Queensland.

These two are the best cuddlers and very very cheeky boys.....
Wesley (6) and Angus (3)who had to sit either side of Grandma!

These four love getting together and are as thick as thieves....
From left to right ~ Alex (9), Stuart (10) Oliver (12) and Kyle (12)

Mam made a delicious lasagne which we served with garlic bread and a fresh garden salad but it was the quality family time that was the highlight of the night.

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Mongolian Steamboat....

What an absolute brilliant and enjoyable dinner party we had on Friday night.... we had a Mongolian Steamboat with The Russells!! I have been promising this to Nazz for a while now and when we finally were able to get the two families together we had a ball.

All thoroughly enjoying ourselves cooking at the table.

Then just to make sure we used up all the food prepared we had another one on Saturday night just the four of us.

The best thing is that it is wonderfully healthy, very communial and a wonderful experience to eat. Can't wait until next time.

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com