Sunday is our family day.

Geez, hold on to your seat - we actually had a sleep in this morning with the kids getting up and quietly watching tv leaving Noel and I ALONE!! Woohoo a sleep in is definately a rare event in this house.

As the weather was really nice we decided to take the kids into Melbourne to have a look at the Myer Christmas windows. The kids really enjoyed them and I must admit I did also.

Since we went to the city a few weekends ago Alex has been at Noel and I to go on a horse and carriage ride. So as we walked towards the horses her face lit up and it was $50 for 20 minutes. But just the looks on both Alex and Olivers faces it was worth every cent.

Anyways it has been a huge day with all the walking... so will chat again tomorrow.

Jo

Time flies when you're having fun.....

Cannot believe it has been nearly another month since I last sat down and posted. Wow where does all the time go?

For me, it is working full time, spending as much of my spare time with the kids and doing the occassion bit of house work, shopping, cooking, etc, etc. I am sure everyone knows where I am coming from.

Work at the moment is very busy with a new manager on site, training off site up in the country quarries and with the warmer weather approaching more work is being done so the trucks and the weighbridge are getting busier. I made a few trips to Carisbrook, near Bendigo, for training where I stayed a few nights. I have a few more similar trips in the pipeline prior to Christmas so I will well and truely need a New Years Break.

The kids are getting excited with the fact that Christmas is coming... not long now. I still get amazed every year at how early the Christmas decorations are put out in the shops. You nearly spend half the year looking at Christmas stuff and then celebrate it for just one day!!

Alex lost her first tooth on Melbourne Cup Day and was pleased when the tooth fairy left $10 in exchange for her little tooth. She looks really cute without her tooth and I think she is wobbling every other tooth now.

We all went to the Melbourne city a couple of weekends ago when Noel's sister Clare and her boyfriend came down from Sydney. It was great to see Clare again and to meet Ray for the first time - hopefully as a family we didn't scare him too much. The day was spent at AFL Hall of Fame, a really great place to go even if you are not a mad footy supporter. It is a musuem as well as an interactive environment, similar to Scienceworks, and it kept both the adults and the kids interest all day.

Claire, my sister, is due to have her 4th child on 14th December. I wish my relationship with her was better but I need to remember that it is a two way street. There is no closeness that I feel sisters should have which upsets me and I know it upsets my Mam. I have to be honest and say that I have given up ringing in hope of normality and actually being like sisters as my calls often go unanswered and not returned. Just when I think all is lost she rings me out of the blue. It made my day to actually think she was thinking of me. I appreciated the fact that for once she has made an effort. That was last Tuesday - suspiciously I am going to wait to see how long it takes for the next phonecall to happen. I hate myself for thinking like this!

Mam is due to arrive in Melbourne soon. She flies in on the 12th December and I am really looking forward to seeing her again. My uncle Griff and his partner Julie will be with her as they are coming out from Wales for a holiday. I haven't seen Griff since I was 18 which is 17 years ago now. Needless to say I think this Christmas will be really good with both families and the added overseas relations.

Well as you can see we have been busy and I am sure it won't slow down this side of Christmas..... oh well!!

Thursday has come and nearly gone.

Thursday has come and nearly gone.

Thankfully there was no long distance travelling for me today. I just went to my normal work address although I worked in the office and not in the weighbridge.

Noel did his normal 8 hrs as we have agreed that he will do only the 8hrs on a Thursday so he can take the kids to their swimming lessons. He really enjoys spending this time with them. They both did well in their lessons and I know that Dad is proud sitting on the bleachers watching.

Thursday is usually takeaway night for us. I weigh in at my WW Meeting at 5pm so the evening is definately NO COUNT until the next morning!! Probably not the best way to do it - but it is my weekly reward. The kids have finally worked out that the local Chinese restaurant is actually really good - rock on Dragon King!! We let them choose their own meal - tonight for Oliver it was Sweet and Sour Pork while Alex on the otherhand (Miss Champagne Budget) was prawns in a birds nest.. oh well it sure beats a Big Mac, Large Fries and a Coke - right?

The kids are now just about asleep, Noel I think is migrating towards the bedroom and I am absolutely knackered!!

Good night.

Better late than not at all!

Well this is just a quick post for yesterday!! A little late but what the!!

I spent most of yesterday driving from Frankston to Diggers Rest to do some training/assessing. It was a nice day for a drive with the sun shining down most of the day.

Thankfully I managed to get through the city traffic and get to the school for 5.30pm to pick my cherubs up from afterschool care.

The kids are enjoying riding their bikes now which is great to see. For months the bikes just sat there gathering cobwebs (sounds like my exercise equipment!!) Now a few of the other kids are coming out into the court in the evening for a play. It is great now with the nights staying lighter for longer. There is quite a social gathering of "little" people.

Anyways, must fly - off to work again. So it's busy busy busy. I will try and post tonight - not sure what the day will hold.

Bye for now.

~*JO*~

The cool change is finally arriving.

After quite a warm day the cool change is finally starting to arrive. Saying that the warm days are good to have after the winter.

Today I spent the day at both Harkaway and Lysterfield. So my day was broken up. Noel is doing overtime most nights this week also.

Oliver and Alex are getting more adventurous with their bike riding. They are fasinated that we are now allowing them to ride out of our court and across to the next court (where quite a few children live). Tonight they took my mobile phone so I could ring and tell them what time to come home.

We had our first official summer bbq tonight for tead and that was good. Everyone ate really well - Oliver even tried the coleslaw.

I am really tired tonight and off to Diggers Rest in the morning for another day off site training.

Bye for now.....

~*JO*~

Geez it took me awhile to come back - but here I am!!

On reflection what seems like a lifetime since my last post is in reality just a blink of the eye... where has the time gone?

I am not going to begin to capture what has happened over the last how many days, weeks or months. I'll just start again from now.

Work is taking me everywhere. Last week I spent two days in Carisbrook which is 10kms from Maryborough. Although a nice place once again I found myself in the middle of nowhere. I really enjoyed myself and I am planning to go up there soon in the near future to complete training.

The kids - well as usual they are growing by the minute and their mannerisms are changing just as fast. Both have similar characteristics but Alex is far more dominent than here older brother Oliver. Both are enjoying school and doing well.

Noel is looking for work and has even starting reading the WA jobs - a little scary as we still haven't unpacked all the boxes from our move to Sydney and back... but if it is to be it will be another new adventure for us all.

Mam rang me today - she is doing well and on a golfing holiday. I am really happy that she has found her niche in the world. It is great to hear the excitment in her voice when telling me things that are happening in her world at the moment. I suppose deep down that is how she has sounded with me for so many years. Always happy at my achievements and there to support me. I love her dearly and only wish that we lived closer.

Will sign off now as it is getting late and I had better go to work tomorrow.

~*JO*~

Oops I missed Wednesday.

No seriously after a day of end of month figures, typing of the EBA minutes and trying to remember all the finer details topped off with fire extinguisher training I was buggered even before I left work.

Then on my way to pick up the kids I had a brainwave - I will do the grocery shopping after I collected my little angels. BIG MISTAKE!!! I have never seen so many people in a supermarket during the week. I actually think it may be quieter on Saturdays (which is when I do my usual full shop).

Needless to say the kids and Noel had hot dogs for dinner!! By the time I had put everything away and considered food for myself I ended up with two minute noodles!! Yuk!!

What a day that was... cross fingers today will run smoother and be more enjoyable.

Chat to you all tonight.

~*JO*~

Tuesday is nearly over....

What a long day it has been - the kids and I left the house at 7am this morning only to return at 6.45pm. My poor little cherubs yawned all through dinner and it didn't take long for them to go to sleep once in bed.

Alex attending swimming today with her class - she loves to be in the water (both she and Oliver do). She only has a few more sessions left this term.

I went to head office today in Doncaster to attend the EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement) meeting as I am the EBA rep for Harkaway Site. Not a job I put my hand up for but one that I am enjoying as time has gone on. The EBA meeting dragged on as usual and I left Doncaster at 5pm only to get stuck in traffic big time!!

Noel went for the ultrasound on his liver this morning and should get the results on Friday. He has an appointment booked with the doctors at 4pm. He said that there was nothing wrong tonight but he was quiet and a little snappy. Thankfully he is in bed now also.

Speaking of bed - I must head that way myself. I have a really busy week ahead at work and I am so tired already.

~*JO*~

I'm back!!

Hi World!!

Wow cannot believe that it has been 4 months since I last posted. Unfortunately it has been a case of "I'll do it after", "I'll have more time tommorrow" etc etc. But as we all know - tommorrow never comes and now it is nearly the end of May!

I don't know where to begin - so much has happened since January.

Alex has settled into preps really well. She has a love of school that I hope she retains for the next 12 years. Her teacher, Mrs Bailey, is really happy with her progress and has commented that she is doing exceptionally well.

Oliver is also doing well at school, although I was called to pick him up early today due to a stomach ache that disappeared as soon as we left the school yard. Not sure what the underlying reason behind this is but I am sure it will come out eventually. He is enjoying grade 3 and also likes his teacher, Mrs Matthews.

As far as Noel and I are going - we are still coping with what life is dealing (although it is more bad than good). It is wonderful that at night we can still lie there, tell each other "I love you" and go to sleep with those last words floating in our head.

Weight wise - Noel and I both really need to change and change big time!! Noel is having an ultrasound tommorrow morning on his liver as the last series of blood tests he has recently had shows that there may be a problem. Cross fingers for him on this one. I do believe this scare has jolted Noel a little and he is taking life a little more seriously this last week. Needless to say that as of this morning we have both promised to try and change our lifestyle not just for us but mainly for our kids.

We have just found out that my sister is pregnant on her 4th children. (No one else in my family knows.) She is praying for another boy as she has already had 3 but secretly I am hoping she has a girl. Terrible on me I know but I know how much she adores Alex so I think she deserves a little princess of her own.

Speaking of Claire, she is flying up to see Mam this Wednesday. I am really jealous but would never tell her although I am sure from the body language she knows. It is only a flying visit and she will be telling Mam her exciting news. I am sure Mam will be very surprised!!!

Our League 10 Pin Bowling season is drawing to an end with only two weeks left. It has been fun - especially spending one on one time with Claire. I chose my bowling ball and it has been ordered so I am looking forward to getting that. It is part of our league that we recieve a bowling ball at the end of the season. I can't wait to see it - the colour I chose is called blackberry - a mixture of black and red with sparkles. Hopefully it will look as good as it did on the internet.

On the Murray front - all hell broke loose a few weekends ago with Vicky unleashing her views and thoughts about the family on the mother in law. Ouch it hurt and it hurt big time. I will honestly say that the family will never be the same - even I was dragged under and am quite disappointed in her as a person!! I really feel sorry for Sean (Noel's brother) on so many levels!!

Work has been going really well for me. I have been doing some training off site and my latest trip saw me at Kilmore on Friday. This Friday I am off to Wollert and Diggers Rest the Friday after.... I hate driving... LOL!!!! Noel's work has been fairly quiet and has only started doing overtime again last week. The bank balance is looking wonderful anymore but hey shit happens and we just have to get on with it.

I am starting to ramble now - so I will close and wish you all goodnight!!

~*JO*~

The world is spinning way too fast!

Well here I am awake earlier than expected and sitting at the computer as I am too worried to go back to sleep incase I sleep through my alarm making me late for work. Seems to be a habit I am forming lately! I am going to be shattered again this afternoon.

In the quietness of the rest of the house sleeping I have been sitting here thinking about how fast January has disappeared already and besides working there are only a few days where something special has happened. Does this mean that the rest of the year is going to fly by this quickly? I hope not!

My dieting is eratic and in my heart realise that I need to go back to Weight Watchers just for the extra encouragement. It is a battle trying to stay on track by myself at home! Stayed the same weight wise this week so I will see what the scales say by Thursday. Need to pull my finger out and exercise. Vicky and I have agreed to start walking again as soon as the kids are settled back at school and the routines are in place!! Oh the dream of having a life without a routine!!

Speaking of Vicki - a big shout out to her for officially becoming an Aussie on Thursday - well done chickadee!!

As mentioned I am off to work shortly (half day today thankfully) - Noel is taking the kids and his parents bush to do a little bush bashing - or as the kids put it "to scare Nana and Grandad in the 4wd!!" needless to say the stories at lunch time should be interesting.

Chat soon - ~*JO*~

What - the temp is going to be 43 today???

Wow well we are up and it is already starting to feel hot. The curtains are all closed over and the fan is oscalating around the loungeroon with the air con blasting out cool air in the kitchen/family room. I am over it already!! Let's give a huge cheer for spasmotic Melbourne weather!!

Yesterday was hot also and I think it might have actually reached 40 degs also. We all went out for dinner as a family last night to the Waltzing Matilda. As a family we agreed that the airconditioning there was absolutely crap and the meals weren't that better either. Will be writing them a letter as management should be made aware not just the staff on the night who were spoken to!

Mam goes home on Tuesday which is sad but I think after being here since mid December she needs to go back for the rest and relaxation. Having five grandchildren is quite hectic for her but she enjoys being with them every minute.

Off now to find something to do in this heat! Might go and sit in the freezer aisle of the supermarket!!!

~*JO*~

Why am I awake?

Hi all,

Well what can I say - I have woken early this morning - way to early!! I couldn't get back to sleep for the fear of oversleeping and being late for work. I have been off work for the last two days - annual leave. Just been spending time with my mam and my sister. In an hour or so I might do some exercises and there is washing to hang on the line but sleep is off the agenda now. Damn body clock!!

Monday was spent at the foreshore park in the morning with the kids having a ball on the equipment. We all sat down to a huge fruit platter (very healthy) and then it was off to the beach. The kids went in for a swim although us adults weren't as game but paddled our feet in the water. The water was quite freezing but it was great to see the kids having fun. I, however, got sunburnt and went to bed feeling quite like a heatbead!

I went 10 pin bowling with my sister and my mam yesterday. We also had Alexandria with us and my nephew Stuart. Both kids bowled really well so Claire and I decided to sign them up in the Anklebiters league with their big brothers. So now we have two teams in that league. Claire and I have also tossed around the idea of joining the Wednesday night league - so that should be something different for the two of us. Claire and I have decided that we need to spend more time together as last year we seemed to distance ourselves not for any particular reason - it just happened.

Not sure how I will go this week - food wise I have been okay not perfect. I know that I have to be more determined but am being a little relaxed while my mam is here. She leaves next Tuesday so then I will really get down to business and track my points religiously not to mention exercise. I suppose the most important thing is that I get back to attending meetings - very slack on that topic.

The calendar is starting to get filled in with family, friends, children's activities - I actually pencilled in a date in April yesterday and that scares me! I do believe that this year is going to fly past faster than 2005.

Chat soon,

~*JO*~

4 days into 2006

Wow so far the first four days have gone past soooo fast. With working at Lysterfield and starting at 6am I have already started to feel tired and worn out.

I will be turning 35 in 4 days time.... another birthday. I suppose 1 day a year isn't too bad to have all focussed on me!! We have planned to go to the Balnarring Picnic Races for the day. Should be a different day and it beats sitting at home or in some pub somewhere. So we shall all take a plate of food to make an interesting picnic of sorts and some wine. Who knows we may even have a win on the nags!

Better fly as I am absolutely shattered today. I have already fallen asleep on the couch and would probably still be there if the phone hadn't rang!!

Good night

~*JO*~

Today is the day - a new life for us both.

Today Noel and I have promised each other that we will make the lifestyle change required to make this home a happy and healthy one.

We have both weighed and although astonished with the figures that the scales displayed we are very much determined to give this a go. I will still be attending Weight Watchers but finally I have support at home.

My mam is still with us and I actually think that she is proud of our decision!!

Better fly - lots to do today but will be back later.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Hoping that many champagne corks were popped last night - there was several in this household that is for sure.

Wishing everyone a fantastic and successful 2006!!

It was good to spend the evening with all parents with Noel's mam and dad staying the night. The kids thought that was fantastic. As for the members of the house of Murray we are all up and about - no hangovers!

Mam woke us up this morning earlier than expected yelling about a mungus (Alex's new word) spider in the bedroom. It was just what Noel needed.

Anyways about to have our first and last big breakfast for 2006. Noel and I are going on a diet together tomorrow - the biggest loser challenge is about to hit our house!!

Have a great day!!!

~*JO*~

The Silly Season is definately here.....

Well firstly I must say Merry Christmas (although I am a few days late).

I cannot believe that it has been so long since I last posted and wow! so much has happened.

The fat man in the red suit with the jolly laugh definately came to visit us and as usual the children (including the big kids) were spoiled rotten. Alex hasn't stopped dancing to her cd player and Oliver is enjoying his skateboard but is taking it cautiously.

Both Noel and my families came over to celebrate lunch which was just over the top food wise. At least I can say that we don't under cater but I am so over left overs now. I am on the verge of throwing it all in the bin and munching out on a huge salad!! I don't want to see turkey for a while that is for sure!! LOL!!!

Today is my brother in law's birthday. For a change Jamie has decided to do something - we were all shocked. Normally we end up just popping in to their house to deliver the birthday wishes or they have a family bbq but this year we are going to the local pub for lunch. It should be good as the Riveria has a good meal and a play ground for the kids. Woohoo...

New Years is fast approaching also but at this stage no major plans have been set in concrete. We have been invited to Mat and Annie's caravan up at the Basin (near Shepperton)and we also have discussed having a quiet one and staying at home. It is just too hard as you get older!!

Partying isn't the same or am I just becoming a boring old hag??

My mam is here... yippee

Well once again I am spasmoticly posting to my blog. Sooo much is happening and I fear it is only going to get worse.

Last night we spent the evening at my sisters house as my mam has arrived from Brisbane. She is staying here until the 24th January. What a hoot. I love being with my mam - she makes me feel special and the kids just adore their grandma. I was so excited at work all day yesterday about her arrival that most of the drivers asked if I had won the lotto!!

As you can see by the time of this post it is really early but couldn't sleep. Plus I have something in my eye that I can't remove even with saline wash.

Must keep pottering.......

PS Claire cooked a really and I mean really yummy roast pork dinner and I must say I wasn't that good points wise but geez it was good. Need to do exercise this morning for sure.

The girls from Sydney

Well I must say that I have had a wonderful weekend.

I have just cemented my friendship with two wonderful women that I have known for months now but only on email and posts to the Weight Watchers Forums. Kerry and Stacy are two beautiful, intelligent and fun women and I have just had the pleasure of them staying in my house overnight. Yes they flew down from Sydney and stayed the night. It has been a truly fantastic 36 hours.

Kerry is a very knowledgeable lady who can carry an interesting conversation and even had Noel enthralled as he too found her to be very intriguing. Her background is a little different to that of mine and Stacy's as she is not married and has no children (not that that is a bad thing). She has a beautiful nature and was the instigator for this whole trip.

Having a beautiful nature is also a very noticeable aspect of Stacy, who has the ability to draw people towards her and had my kids eating out of the palm of her hand most of the weekend. I found her to be so calm natured - a trait that I am definately jealous of. Stacy, who is a firefighter and like myself spends her working hours surrounded by men so she understands my work woes and she too is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. One amazing thing about Stacy is the fact she is so motivated when it comes to exercise - it blew me away. She got up this morning after a non WW menu evening that saw points blown out the window by food and copious amounts of alcohol to walk what we calculated to be 2kms.

Both women are absolutely wonderful people and I feel so privileged to meet both of them. This was such a undescribable experience and I will treasure the memories for a long time to come. Now I will have to plan my flight to Sydney for another weekend.

In the meantime we have made a pact - a pact to keep on the straight and narrow from here on in. We are going to relay our point intake, food and exercise completed to each other - Stacy has organized to follow an exercise plan and I believe that we are all going to do our best - I know that I am.

Tomorrow is my visit to the specialist regarding my gallbladder so will sign off now and chat to you all after my appointment. Crossing fingers on good news.

5kgs gone!!

Well I made myself quite happy today. I wasn't going to go to my Weight Watchers meeting tonight - in fact I wasn't going to go again until the New Year but I thought to myself I must go as if I don't I will probably go right of the rails.

I am glad that I went. Tonight I lost 0.7kgs making my total weight loss since starting at Frankston 5kgs!! Woohoo and I am excited about that achievement.

Now all I need to do is sort out my gallbladder problem and all should be sweet!!

Better fly lots and lots to do with my two friends, Kerry and Stacy, flying in on Saturday from Sydney. They are staying at our house which should be a scream as we have never met!!

Chat soon!!

Talk about rain!!

Wow where did all that rain come from? Isn't it meant to be summer?? I suppose we shouldn't complain as we actually need it.

Work was dead boring - rain also means no trucks and no trucks means nothing to do. I even had a few games of solitaire on the computer and I find that outright boring. Oh well I did manage to get a few more things done towards Christmas and the New Year.

Definately need to pull my finger out though and get out for a walk with Vicky - did you hear that girly? Read your comment and totally agree with you - WE NEED TO IT!!

Nothing much else to report tonight - just pleased that I have managed to post two nights in a row!! WOOHOO!!

Oh by the way I have been informed by Oliver that there is only 19 more sleeps until Christmas!!