Happy Easter 2013

We have been camping since Wednesday now and the kids, especially Alex, were a buzz with questions about whether or not the Easter Bunny would find us in the bush.  Once again I had to remind her that the Easter Bunny finds children everywhere.

We also lost a tooth in the aftenoon - Alex for the second camping trip in a row had managed to summons the Tooth Fairy as well!!

So last night with the tooth sitting in prime position of the camp table in the kitchen tent.  This was easier than expecting the Tooth Fairy to manoevre the jumble of the kids' tent.

Bedtime came and with kisses and further reassurances that both the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy (ironically two opposites - teeth falling out and free extra sugar) would locate the Murray's both Oliver and Alexandria went off to bed....

Sunday morning.....

 

As you can see the Easter Bunny did find us on Easter Sunday.....

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE.....

Gundagai Railway Station and Prince Alfred Bridge Viaduct

We came across this old train station in Gundagai on Good Friday. It has been restored to close to original condition and both Noel and I were really impressed by finding such a treasure in such a small town.

Menu Plan Monday (3rd April - 9th April)

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!!

We had another busy start to this week.. Oliver had his birthday party on Saturday night with 3 friends staying over and me taking 5 kids to the movies to see Alice in Wonderland (which I had to say again I thoroughly enjoyed). I have to admit though that by Sunday night all I could be bothered cooking was toasted sandwiches for dinner.

One more week remaining of school holidays and then it's back to normality with the kids back to school and more importantly back home with us.

They are off to Nana and Grandad's again for a few nights this week as Noel and I are still working while they are off school. The lucky ducks will be treated to a holiday down the coast with their grandparents, which will be good for them and also good for Nana and Grandad to get away.... cross fingers that my two angels (monsters LOL) behave themselves.

We had a busy weekend with Easter and due to some change in plans we ended up being all over the place with our menu. The Lynbrook hotel was nice on Saturday night with Vera, her boyfriend Paul and all the families. The kids were well behaved but as usual I ate too much.

Our usual family Easter Sunday lunch didn't eventuate this year with everything that has been happening, which I must say felt quite weird not seeing the family during this time. Nana and Grandad wanted some quiet time (for which I do not blame them) while Sean and Vicky already had plans to go to Vicky's family for the day. We didn't end up doing a great deal at all, the usual Easter Egg hunt, Nana and Grandad popped in and that was about all. To be honest, not in the mood for a huge Easter dinner we ended up with a pasta dish while watching a movie.

Spending the day out yesterday was great - just the four of us. We ended up at Phillip Island, somewhere we haven't been for awhile. Lunch was at an old-style pub, The Isle Of Wight, in Cowes where the meal was huge therefore leaving us not wanting much for dinner. Dinner ended up being "grab your own" where the kids had frozen dinners and I had some french breadstick and butter!!!

However this is how our week was planned - cross fingers we can stay on track for the remainder of the week:

Saturday ~ Lynbrook Hotel with Vera, Paul and families

Sunday ~ Creamy Tomato, Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
Monday ~ Isle Of Wight Hotel, Cowes, for lunch so grab your own dinner

Tue ~ Roast Rack of Pork with all the trimmings

Wed ~ Carribean Lamb and Sweet Potato Curry with Steamed Rice

Thu ~ Chilli Ginger Teriyaki Beef with Noodles
Fri ~ Sticky Lemongrass Pork Patties with Steamed Rice and Asian Vegetables

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

School holidays again.....

Well we are pretty much in the middle of the school holidays and Easter has been thrown into the two week break as well which I do like the idea of.

Noel and I are working through the holidays (as usual) but are looking forward to spending the 4 day long weekend with the kids. They have been at Nana and Grandad's this week and will be back up there next week - even though Oliver believes he is old enough to stay at home by himself now that he is 12!!

The house once again has been quiet all week in the evenings but Noel is getting a chance to get a few early nights and relax from all the overtime he has been doing latey. As for me, I am catching up on a few things along with just relaxing also.

Tonight the house will be filled with chatter, laughter and hopefully no arguments as the kids return. There is always a buzz in the air when the four of us have been seperated especially for a few days......

Cannot wait to see my babies (sorry Ollie) again.....

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

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.