Princess in her Castle

We had a quiet afternoon today - relaxing after all the festivities of the Christmas and New Year activities.

Charlie with the help of Grandma and Alex made a little fairy castle in our miniature Weeping Willow tree in the front yard.

McClelland College "Bake Off"

Well done to Alex for achieving the Silver Baker Award through the McClelland College Academy Program.  Alex attends this class every week and is in the Bake Off against students from all year levels in the school - she has done really well considering she is only in Year 8.

We are all very proud of you.... every week you put 110% effort into to this subject and I must admit that we are all enjoying the yummy food you bring home also.

Keep up the wonderful work xxx

A favorite haunt - Hastings....

When we don't really know what to do we tend to find ourselves climbing into the car armed with a picnic basket and heading down to Hastings for fish and chips and generally a walk along the pier to blow away the cobwebs.

We got to eat the fish and chips......

But it was too windy and somewhat chilly so we didn't get to go for the walk along the pier.

When you go to bed with plaits in your hair.....

Last night there was a girly moment in the house where I plaited Alex's hair while it was still damp from the shower.....  Alex was a little apprehensive about it but I convinced her it would look good in the morning.

I think she looks gorjus xxx

Cooking for School Homework

My little pumpkin is grown up so fast.

Her she is doing homework.....

Home Economics Homework!!

Alex needed to make Special Fried Rice, take a photo of it, list ingredients and voila homework complete.

I love the fact that Alex takes so much pride in her school work - in fact in everything that she does.  She is enjoying High School and is coping very well so far.

 

The outcome of the homework:

YUM!!

Pass the pars-the-man??

When Alex was growing up and learning to talk she only really struggled with one word.... Parmesan always pronouncing it as "pars-the-man".  It used to always make us giggle!!

Warm enough for a dip......

Alex and her friend Sophie...... both enjoying the coolness of the pool in the heat that Melbourne has been experiencing of late.

Two kids, a bucket and a jug.....

Great day at the Football

It was bloody freezing standing on the sidelines watching both the kids play today.  They both played really well.

Alex played what many said was her best game to date, including her coach Kevin who gave her a brilliant wrap minutes before her collecting an award for great gameplay.  He said "it was the best game he witnessed her play in the 3 years that he had coached her".  As a mam and dad we were both very proud.  Unfortunately the Under 11's lost today - only their 2nd loss this year.

Oliver also played well surprising his coach Russell by asking to try a different position.  Oliver's team had a brilliant win - something that the team needed.  Ollie also got an award tonight - WOOHOO clean sweep for the Murray kids.

Great work kids.... you guys rock xx

Back in the groove....

Yes it is back in the groove - full swing ahead with the Murray household.  Menu planning, shopping, cleaning, homework, catching up on a week, etc... I am back in my element. Yes truly I am.

Ollie got picked up this morning to go to the U18's and waterboy followed by the other 2 senior games at the Pines.  Huge day for him and in the rain at times but he enjoys earning the money.  $35 for running water for 3 games on a Saturday is quite good for a 14 year old I guess.

Noel, Alex and I went shopping and had lunch at Mambo's instead of eating at the dodgy food court.  I don't mind going there and it is away from the shopping centre.

Alex is still working on her project of the Australian Federation focussing on Edmund Barton.  She is putting 110% in as usual but I will be so glad when she has handed it in and it is over.

Have decided tonight is DVD night and as a family we are going to sit down and watch Hugo.

Enjoy your Saturday xxx

Busy Busy Busy!!!!!

Thank god I am part of this family or I wouldn't keep up with the happenings of late.  The Murray family has been very busy.

Currently I am away again with work.  Sitting here at the moment in Longford Concrete Plant, Tasmania.  It's a chilly 2 degrees outside and about 3 degrees inside the batch hut!!  I flew into Launceston last night after spending Monday evening in Geelong, working on another project.  I am here with Terry to complete a Front End Loader assessment and also the Housekeeping Photo capture.  The two of us will be moving on to Hobart this afternoon where we have a Zero Harm presentation and will meet up with our manager Veronica.  All 3 of us will leave Hobart Friday afternoon - YAY just in time for the weekend.

Noel and the kids are well. 

Noel has had car troubles this week and thankfully was able to stop his car Monday morning without damaging it or any ofther vehicle.  A malfuncation whilst driving to work causing the Land Rover to loose it's brakes making for an interesting trip up the freeway.  One tow truck later, a missed day of work and a car sitting at the mechanics waiting to be fixed.  Luckily we have kept my old Magna (as I have a company car) so he has a vehicle to drive around in.

Alex is busy with a school project about the Federation of Australia.  I love how she loves school and learning, always putting in a 110% effort on school work both in the classroom and at home.  For extra project points she is making a bust of Edmund Barton, Australia's first prime minister.

Oliver finally returned to football this weekend after breaking his arm 5 weeks ago.  He was pretty excited and played well.The team won against the Rovers so that was a bonus also.  At school they are discussing career options and education choices - strange to believe that my little boy is nearly in Year 10 and half way through high school!!  Where has the time gone?

Enough blogging...the sun has risen so I can start my Japanese tourist impression with my camera taking photos of the Longford plant.  Hard to take photo's in the dark!

Enjoy xx

Cyber Safety

Alex and a few of her friends from Grade 6 had a great night at the school's Open Night when they did an on stage act about Cyber Safety.  It was brilliant.....

They all took turns discussing Cyber Safety and introducing short films about the subject.

They were all very brave and we are sooo proud of them all.

Fundraising Chocolate Drive ....

The Karingal Bulls Juniors have once succumbed to a Fundraising Chocolate Drive, which while it brings in great profit for the club it does mean many families eat too many chocolates and grumble about having to pay for them.

Alex and her friend Sarah embarked on selling the box that we brought home and within the hour the whole box was sold and they were quite proud of themselves.

Well done girls for supporting the Karingal Bulls Junior Football Club.

Our little Princess is sick.....

Last night I was awoken by Princess who said in a sad voice "Mam I really need to be sick".  This has come totally out of the blue as she had gone to bed as normal and in good spirits.

A full night of either Noel and I keeping Princess company meant that the two of us were knackered but not as much as Alex was.....

Love you Princess.... hope you get better quickly!!  MWAH!!

Another great win for the Unders 11's

Today the Under 11's played Edithvale Aspendale.  There was some rain to which I was one of the parents that ran for cover to the inside of the pavilion while the kids ran around in the drizzle.

A really good game played by the Bulls....  The Under 13's also won their game but Oliver didn't play due to his arm being in plaster.

It is Mother's Day here today so I received some gorjus presents and lots of special treatment.  While nice and relaxing it was strange not to be surrounded by other members of our family with my Mam being in Brisbane and Noel's Mam being overseas on holidays.  I received a text message from Sean and Vicky wishing me a Happy Mothers Day which was really nice of them taking the time to make the effort.

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.

Alex's birthday party.......

What a huge day yesterday was......

2pm Alex's friends arrived for a surprise event in the afternoon and then a sleepover.  As you can imagine it was an afternoon full of giggling girls.

The party table is set and cake is made .....

Once the girls arrived we had some lunch and then it was off on our big surprise..... the girls didn't know but we had organised tickets to see Stardust Circus.

No photo's from the circus due to "no photography allowed" but everyone enjoyed the show including Ollie, Noel and myself.  The acts were really good including the lions, the poinies and the clowns.  Afterwards it was back home for the requested dinner of fish and chips.

They were full after dinner so the cake would have to be done in the morning.  That didnt' stop them from having the usual and required sleepover pillow fight though......

Lots of giggles..... and giggles.... and giggles...... they fell asleep at 3.30am and that was only when I went into the loungeroom to tell them to go to sleep!!

Breakfast of lemonade pancakes with all the trimmings...

Then we sang Happy Birthday to the birthday girl!!!!

A Heatwave..... Forecast 40°C!!

Summer has well and truly hit us here in Melbourne.  Thankfully the wading pool was a good investment.  Alex loves it in there - getting in at every chance.....

It was so hot today that we went to the cinema trying to hide from the heat.

We saw The Adventures of Tin Tin and it was brilliant.  All of us enjoyed it including Grandma.

Dinner was cooked on the BBQ as we really didn't need any extra heat in the house.  We had Barbecued Lamb and Vegetables which was delish.....

Walkathon Pink Fairy Princess

Today Ballam Park Primary School had there annual walkathon and all the classes had a different colour theme... Alex's class theme was pink!

Alex did really well completing the whole walkathon (10 laps) in the heat of the Melbourne.  It was 33 degrees, very muggy and she was exhausted by the time she got home!!

Well done to our PINK FAIRY PRINCESS!!!

Bubbles and bubbles ....