Josh's School Camp...

After over four years of waiting he finally had to wait no more. He finally got to go on a school camp. They were all on their best behaviour and the Principal is still bragging about them :) They got to do all sorts of things and were gone for a whole week. :)

They even went Ten Pin Bowling and to Australia Zoo... Also had swimming lessons... Was a fantastic week away from all accounts. And the best part was that because of a few determined parents there was no fee to pay either. :)

Cheers Damaris

Day at the Beach...

Love the beach...

The boys love it when we go there... They can't get enough... We try to get there every holidays as much as possible. Usually making a whole day of it... I am happy to have a magazine with me or a book while they enjoy the water... :)

Cheers Damaris

Being pampered...

Being spoilt...

Went to spend the night at Margaret's the other week and loved spending the time with her. It is sooo easy being around her. She is so dear to my heart... So while I was there she took to my hands and have them a buff and a bit of nail polish. She even put some glitter on them :) Such a lovely girl. Am so lucky to have her in my life :)

Cheers Damaris

Warwick Art Gallery Visit :)

My favourate :)

I had a couple of hours to kill during the holidays with Lisa's kids and Josh after they went to the movies so I ended up taking them to the Warwick Art Gallery... It was amazing what they had on display...

There was woodworking that had been done by people from the Woodworking Club in Warwick as well as Paintings that had been done by the Warwick Painting Group. That's what I call the groups anyway. If they are different then I am sorry for misnaming them. Was wonderful to see so much local talent...

Naomi Potter who did the teaching on drawing was in there allot as well :)

Cheers Damaris

Going to the dam...

My lovely new plants...

Wivenhoe Dam :)

Last Sunday was such a wonderfully beautiful day... 3 Support Workers went on a little trip with some of the ladies and gents that we support.

First we went to the Fernvale Markets... We then made our way to Wivenhoe Dam. There we had a lovely BBQ lunch and then desert as well as Birthday Cake as one of the gents had his Birthday that day as well... On the way home we had an ice cream.

It was a beautiful and glorious day out. Loved it...

Cheers Damaris

James at the show...

James checking Mum was still there lol

James watching the show :)

When the boys and I visited Margaret, Dylan and James for the whole day last Tuesday we went to the movies... We saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and I must say it was a great movie. :) James even survived most of the movie... At one stage he was hitting Margaret and I encouraged her to sit a couple of seats away from him and he sit next to me... That worked really well as she didn't have to leave then :)

When we got out we had to still pick up Timothy's blisterpac that he would use the next day for his stay at Blue Care so we went to the bottom of Redbank Plains Shopping Centre. There was a show going as well... Captain Popcorn. :)

James straight away had to go and sit in the front to see the performance. Was great to see him join in with a little encouragement from Margaret :)

It was the tail end of the show which was just as well as it got really noisy and James doesn't deal with noise very well but he had a lovely time all the same... :)

Was glad to be there to witness it :)

Cheers Damaris

First lunch out...

Joshua trying his best...

Last week Timothy went to Blue Care for four nights from Wednesday lunch time... Once I dropped him off, Joshua said that he was rather hungry...

This was the perfect opportunity for him to take his mum out for lunch. He did it all... He opened the door for me, he pulled out my chair and he even ordered for me... He kept calling me 'Mam'. So cute.

This was the first time that he had been out to a restaurant. It was very special that we got to spend such a lovely one on one time together. :)

He tried the chop sticks for ages and so did I. He learnt how to hold them very quickly... Champion...

Then last Friday night, Russell and I took him out to Bestbrook Mountain Resort for a lovely dinner. We used the voucher that I had won at the Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea two months earlier :) and this ensured that our meals were much cheaper. We all had a lovely meal and our food was cooked to perfection. :)

The meals were not completely failsafe I must say but we ensured that the next couple of days we monitored him and he didn't seem to react too much. Bit down in the dumps was about it.

Was great to have the experience :)

Cheers Damaris

Lions' Picnic

 

The band was great :)

Lovely views on the way home...

A week ago, I had my first all-day outing with the lovely people us support workers support. There were about 18 of us altogether. The scenery on the way there and back was beautiful. I had not been on the Warrego Highway for a long time and though there were plenty of road works that didn't diminish the excitement of the day ahead at all. :)

We all got into a coach bus and made our way to our destination, where a whole heap of Lions' vans were waiting for us. There was so much food, drink and games that there was plenty to go around.

There was even a marching band with bagpipes... :)

Everyone had a wonderful time, including me. Was a fantastic day out...

Cheers Damaris

Box World... by Warren Thomas :)

An overall picture...

CD's are in the windows...

Base of the graveyard is a keyboard :)

I realise I have been away for a while. I am so sorry for that. I have been really sick and not getting onto the computer at all. Today is the first time I have been on the computer since I last posted... I have been using Russell's iPad as he has the iPad2 now and been doing allot of computer work that way. Can't post from there though... Anyway I am back and must better. Throat is still sore and nose still running but better all the time :)

So Joshua and his school went to the Warwick Art Gallery last week of term and they saw 'Box World' which is made by a Tasmanian Artist Warren Thomas. The kids even got to meet him and he answered lots of their questions...

He is quite amazing really. It has taken him 12 years and the display that we saw was only 1/3 of what he actually has built. Takes two whole days just to set it all up. Everything you see in the pictures is recycled... From cans, bottles, CD's, straws, boxes, milk cartons... you name it :) Only thing that isn't recycled are the cars... Amazing stuff. :)

We have seen it three times now and keep taking other friends to see it as well. We just love it... And what's even better is that it is free to see as well. :)

Cheers Damaris

Sisters...

Lovely cakes made by my lovely Mum...

Sitting in my kitchen :)

Me, Tina and Lis... The three sisters. :)

I love my sisters. I have said that many a times but I really mean it... This last weekend I had the pleasure of spending it with them again. We also got a lovely visit from my mum. She brought two lovely cakes. Yummm. Time was spent just hanging.

I also went to a couple of markets as well. I love markets and like to go to them whenever the opportunity arises. Got some great bargains. :) Especially love the three tiered pot plant arrangement from an old guy that I got at Fernvale Markets. He was so lovely. :) Another favourite is that I finally have lemon grass again... Miss that from my last house. Also the two bird feeders I got were cheap and are really well made. One will go to the Hall for our coming up Cent Auction, the other is going out to the cubby. Josh loves it :)

All in all it was a lovely weekend and am glad that first weekend in June I am doing it all over again. :) Can't wait. :)

Cheers Damaris

'Wicked' was just that :)

Big boy going on his first real excursion...

The stub that will be kept forever. :)

Timothy had the wonderful opportunity this week on Wednesday to go to QPAC in Brisbane along with other Music students from Warwick SHS to watch the awesome show 'Wicked'. He was not so keen to go at first as he didn't know what to expect.

I tried really hard to get him to understand that it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that the three hour show would be fantastic. I wish I could have gone as well. :) Our other major issue was that he would have to wear his formal school uniform... He has not worn it before and he didn't know how he would go wearing long sleeved shirt as well as long black trousers for the day. He was hot when he got off the bus but the trousers were a nice soft material so it was wearable. Plus he was allowed to loosen the tie and have the top button undone. Thanks to his wonderful teacher for that one...

Upon return at just after 7pm that night he was unstoppable. He couldn't stop raving about how fantastic it was and that I had been sooooo right. It had been awesome. :) He gave it a 5/5. He loved the costumes and said the sets on stage were fantastic as well.

The great part about it was also that he was upstairs with the female teacher as well as five other female students... Cheeky :) He was in heaven I reckon lol

All in all it was a huge day for him. He had to go over The Gap in a bus, which was a daunting prospect in itself but he came out of it with having had a wonderful experience. One that he will not ever forget. He still talks about it and lets everyone know that will listen that they really need to see it :)

Cheers Damaris

A special lunch...

My beautiful friend Angie. :)

Yesterday, I had the privilege of catching up with a friend of mine over lunch. I must say that this time was probably the longest that we have ever talked over lunch. I had such a great time and didn't want to go but knew that Russell would want to work a bit more on the cubby.

It is always a great time catching up on each other's news. I love it how interested she is in my life and how open she is in sharing hers with me. I have allot of respect for this lady, that's for sure. She has been through allot and admire her immensely. I also found out about Angela's plans to go to Ireland and Denmark... Hope Crown Princess Mary remembers to meet her for coffee. hehe

She sooooo deserves this holiday. She has worked so hard for it and wish I was going too... I love it how the pressure of the plane taking off pushes you into the seat... Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming... One day again. I am sure of that...

Can't wait to catch up again. Thanks for a fabulous time Angie. :)

Cheers Damaris

Craft Group Christmas Morning Tea :)

Even Boule was played :)

On Tuesday the boys and I went down to one of our parks. The one near the creek. There is a lovely walk you can take there where a group of people back in the 70's made the trail. Even plaques are there... There is a large platform as well, under cover and Tuesday was the only day in a about a week where the weather was fine.

We all brought presents for each other as well and names were drawn out of a bag by Santa, aka Joshua. Timothy handed out the presents to everyone :)

The boys had a ball at the creek and I loved to mingle with the rest of the group. We got together about 10:30am and the boys and I left just after 1pm. Was a wonderful way to spend a chunk of a morning. :)

Cheers Damaris

Pool time :)

Indoor swimming area...

Timothy in the foreground...

My busy day while they were swimming...

Joshua's hands at the end... :)

Chilling at Lesley Park :)

Yesterday the boys and I had to venture into town. Must say I don't like to at this time of year as it is madhouse wherever you end up going. I had a 9am appointment with the Optometrist though so had no problem getting a park. Even undercover. :)

After our appointment had to get a couple of things and then we spent a good 4.5 hours in the pool. Our local pool in heated and under cover. Run by the Council and very, very cheap. Boys cost me $3.20 to get in :) :) Gotta love that price. :) They have it all there... Normal size pool for laps and diving, rapids, baby wading area, deeper pool but not diving depth and a huge spa. :) Needless to say the boys had a ball combing the whole area, many times. There were nowhere near as many people there as I thought there would be. Then again most probably were shopping. :) Good for us either way. :)

They had a ball in the water and I stayed out as I have just had my piercing done and has not completely healed as yet. So with some Scratchies that I scored from Russell's Mum for Christmas on the weekend... I cashed them in ($17) and got myself an Earth Garden Magazine. My winnings also paid for the boys to go swimming. :)

I sat there happily watching them from the Cafe area which has huge glass panels so you can see the pool area but without all the horrible chlorine smell... Was very happy about that. :)

Joshua made a new friend, Cooper and we hope to see him after Christmas. :)

In the end the boys were soooo wrinkly that even the tops of their feet looked like 'old man's feet'. Was very funny to see...

We also spent some time at Lesley Park which was nice. Was nice to sit in the sun... The shade was rather chilly. :)

After that we went and got milk on the way home and got home just before 4:30pm. Long day but the boys had a ball and were rightly exhausted... Not much arguing went on that night. hehe

Another fantastic thing that happened yesterday also was that our 6 little solar panels produced 8 kWh and 6 of those went into the Grid. Gotta be happy about that :) :) :)

Cheers Damaris

Christmas Get Together...

Joshua doing his Diabolo show for everyone :)

Family watching Joshua intently :)

Mum taking in her family :)

Russell, Victor, Alison and Mum, Her three kids :)

Timothy, Mum and Joshua :)

Joshua and Uncle Bob mucking around :)

Yesterday was Russell's family's Christmas get together...

We only see most of them once a year and was nice to see them all in one go :)

Russell's sister Alison is getting a new car soon and said she would come up and see us. Can't wait to see her as I love to spend time with her... Oh and the car too. lol

Few things have changed this year in every one's lives and was nice to see Jason's kids growing up and getting taller... People said the same about Timothy and Joshua as well. :)

Loved watching Russell's mum sitting at the table and listening to the conversations going on. Think she might have been in her element... Was also a great opportunity to get some family photos done. :)

After my Brother in law and his wife move into their new home, Mum said that she would like to come and stay with us for a week. The boys and I can't wait. :)

Was soooo lovely to see everyone. :)

Cheers Damaris

The Boulders are coming Down...

Big shipping containers there to hold the force of rubble back...

Many trees have been sacrificed...

Bridge going in??? One huge hole...

Many rocks lying against the barricade...

Since last Monday, The Cunningham's Gap has been closed during the hours of 6am to 6pm and down to one lane in one part during the rest of the time as well...

Currently they are removing bit by bit, two 100 tonne boulders that are threatening to come down with all the rain that we have had. There was work done on it earlier in the year around April but that was only a bit of a Band-aid job really by the sounds of it. Now there has been some much needed funds injected into the project and they are getting rid of the boulders.

Couple of weeks ago we had seven mudslides that people in charge thought might have an affect on them as well. Only one was affected and then only a little. So am rather happy that they are going. With all the rain that we have had this week though I doubt very much that they will be finished by the end of Monday this week. That only gives them today and tomorrow.

Then further down the mountain another crew of workers seem to be building a bridge??? There is one side of the road totally blocked off and the hugest hole in the ground and down into the embankment. Is amazing how big the hole is actually. They are reinforcing everything at the moment and looks like it will still be a while also. Many more delays I fear...

We went through The Gap Friday and last night and they have a long way to go by the looks. They are making huge progress though. :)

In a way I can't see Authorities keeping it open forever. I believe that they will have to find another way over the mountains somehow, be it Spicers Gap maybe??? Time will tell... Just too many things go wrong on The Gap... Glad I don't have to travel it very often at all these days...

In saying that I do hope that The Gap is open on Thursday as I have to go to Brisbane for an appointment. Plus I have to deliver Christmas Presents... :) :) :)

Cheers Damaris

Nearly Camping Time :)

For our frozen food...

For our fridge food, even is on wheels :)

On the weekend we went and got ourselves some new containers for our food... One for frozen food and one for fridge food... Our old ones had seen much better days and one Esky doesn't even work anymore. The plug for the seal at the bottom of it has gone as well... The inside all broken up. Was great for the 15 odd years that we had it though.

Think these two will be companions for a long time to come. :)

Cheers Damaris