Christmas at my house...

My side of the family came over to our place this year on Boxing Day. Every four years we get it. All siblings, except Tina, take turns. Easier that way to share it around... Was nice to get together with everyone... Was lovely to do things differently this year as well. I had the cricket on in the background as well as music. Don't usually do that we are so noisy don't need more noise usually. But it all worked really well...

Cheers Damaris

Margaret's visit...

Chilling with the candles on...

Having a little bonfire outside while watching the stars

Sun going down...

I love her coming and visiting me... Doesn't happen very often due to how far apart we live but when we do it is always a great time... She is one of my true treasures in my life :) I love her dearly...

Cheers Damaris

Let's play :)

Kate and UNO = Love it :)

Kate taking the shot with Josh and James looking on :)

The day we had James and Kate over we also got a chance to play some pool... Girls against the boys. Yep, we won one and they won one as well so that was nice to have it even :)

Kate also really wanted to play UNO and you don't need to convince me to play that with kids :) So we played till Lisa got back... Fun times. Love those memories :)

Cheers Damaris

Making some noise...

Every Monday, Fiona comes up to my house with a bunch of kids... Her daughter Bec, Carson and Josh joins in too. They have their own little band going and are sounding really great... They are even performing at the end of year concert for school. Can't wait to hear them in front of a heap of people :)

Cheers Damaris

Snooze time x 3...

Bailey, Nova and Erica snoozing together :)

Russell's mum was staying with us for a couple of weeks a couple of weeks back. Boy did we have fun with her. She loves spending the time with the boys especially and gets a kick out of watching them grow up before her eyes... We love having her here as it gives her a break from her home and gives her company all round...

That is whether she is awake or asleep for that matter... :)

Cheers Damaris

Cuddles for Nova...

Kiarah and Nova :)

Looked after Carly's two kids last Friday for a little while. Ethan and Kirra loved seeing how the school chicks are going... :) They are growing quickly. :)

When Carly turned up, Kiarah took to Nova straight away and at one point she was on the floor with Nova. Nova was lying there taking all the loving in. :)

So cute to watch...

Cheers Damaris

Horse Endurance Ride...

Some of the kids counting their loot...

Fiona, Phoebee and James selling Dinner Tickets...

Sunday Morning... Very chilly indeed...

Carly, P&C President running the show :)

Our lovely Principal, Mr Polis...

Emma and Joshua in their get up. :)

Maryvale was taken over a couple of weeks ago... There were a couple of hundred endurance riders down at our Cricket Oval as well as vets and support staff... It was amazing to watch them in action.

Our School's P&C had the honour of feeding them and we did a great job even if I do say so myself... Was allot of work from the Saturday we started at 10am and went till about 9pm at night. Back again the next morning at 5am and didn't leave until about 3:30pm that afternoon...

Was well worth it though as I know we are able to help our kids more with funds raised... Was great to work along side a bunch of very fine people...

At one point Joshua and a couple of the other kids dressed up with the dress up clothes from school... Joshua and Emma ended up doing the rounds down where the riders where and having them in giggles. Joshua said it was allot of fun pretending he was a girl with boobies. :) lol

Cheers Damaris

Helping hand...

Fiona was over the other day giving Joshua a lesson on the guitar. He has been having problems with the metal strings so I got him some nylon ones... Fiona even showed Joshua how to change them and restring his guitar... Was so lovely of her... :) She has a truly generous heart. xo

Cheers Damaris

Anzac Ceremony...

Had a great community turnout :)

Joshua getting instructions of what to do when...

The beautifully restored stone...

Anzac Day is this coming Monday but with school being on holidays we had seven diggers come out a week ago and hold a ceremony for the locals here. The council had just completed cleaning up the area too. The headstone was beautiful. The path around it had new pebbles put around it and also new plants had been planted. All the old was gone. On top of that we have had two new metal benches put in as well as the old rotten wood benches taken out. It is such a beautiful place now... Thank you Southern Downs Regional Council for such a fantastic job...

The ceremony was lovely too... Joshua got to do the flag... He was very proud of that one. Seeing it was his last one with Maryvale State School...

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

Big Fellas...

These couple of green tree frogs reside at my baby sisters' place... They come out each night from behind one of the down pipes and sit a while. Then they hop off to do some feeding and come back again. They are so lovely to watch...

Cheers Damaris

Adam's visit :)

Getting ready for Monopoly... Adam was also the Bank :)

Russell won, what a shark :)

A electronic break from UNO

Timothy hitching a ride :)

Wrestle Mania :)

Last Friday our family eagerly anticipated Adam's arrival. Had not seen him in about six months so was rather busting for a huge hug. He is one of those men that just knows how to give really good hugs. :)

So there he was arriving in his mum's car as he had flown up from Melbourne and stayed with us for a wonderful 24 hours. We had lots of food and drink. The company as always was fantastic. :) Russell and I took him along with us to Joshua's Parade at school and after Parade we even got to look at the wonderful vegetable garden that the kids have planted out. The pumpkins have taken over for sure. hehe

We played Monopoly and had a UNO challenge, which I think in the end actually won. And yes.... I didn't even cheat this time. My grandma taught me well but I behaved myself. lol

The Wrestle Mania had to happen as well off course. We have the futon out already as that is where he sleeps when he comes to stay with us and the boys all take full advantage of that. :) Apparently Timothy is getting really strong... Adam fared well don't worry. He came out alive in the end to leave and go back to sorting out stuff for his mum who was really badly affected by the recent Brisbane floods loosing everything. Tradies are on the job though and she will hopefully be back in her 'new' home in about eight weeks...

Oh how wonderful a time we all had... Can't wait for next time :)

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

Party Time :)

Party Time at Mandala...

People camped for the night as well...

Last Saturday, friends of ours from Mandala had their 10th Wedding Anniversary. They have moved to Brisbane for the last two years now but still have their place out here in the country so had a party to celebrate. Joshua and I went and had a great time catching up with people we had not seen for a while... My short hair was a shock to a couple of them :)

This was also a great opportunity for Joshua to catch up with one of his best friends, Ari. He loves that kid to bits and next time they come up again he is booked for another sleep over. :)

Again, Congratulations Theo and Justine. :)

Cheers Damaris

Happy Birthday Lily...

Birthday Day Girl Lily and my Mum :)

Tina holding my hand as we all visit :)

Last Saturday was my baby sister's Birthday... She was 29. She is the baby of the family. There are five of us kids spread over a 10yr span. :) This was her first birthday with us since she turned 21 so was very special.

I made sure I was there for it the whole day. :) Was a lovely way to spend it with my Mum, Sister and Sister-in-law Sandra. My other sister Tina was not able to make it but we ended up visiting her instead. So we still all saw each other. :) My other Sister-in-law Mary unfortunately couldn't make it either. Next time :) :)

We met at my mum's and we started out the day with a lovely cuppa and wonderful Hazelnut Sponge cake. Yummmmmm. Then Mum gave us a lesson on making Gulash. Being the wonderful cook that she is she put that lot to keep cooking away while we ate some that she prepared earlier. That was made with Nockerl which are homemade pasta bits (closest that I can describe it sorry). I was so glad at this point that I had not eaten any breakfast. You see I knew what was coming... :)

This is the sort of feasts that my mum used to make quite regularly many years ago and something that I miss terribly. Once Tina is better though we are all getting together again to make Apple Studel which is a speciality of Tina's :) Can't wait. Something that I have not made before. My Oma used to show me and try to encourage me to do it but once it came to the step of stretching that dough it was just beyond me. I was always so terrified of tearing it. Hope I can overcome that as I would love to be able to make it. For us it would have to be peeled Red Delicious apples not the green so that it was failsafe. Don't mind changing the recipe to make sure it fits our little family :)

All in all the day was wonderful. Lily and I ribbed each other allot as usual and had others laughing... I hope she enjoys her 30th year of life. She deserves nothing but the best :)

Cheers Damaris

Our Camping Trip (Not)

Lots of German Rummy was played :)

Markus and his beloved Mustang...

Timothy feeding banana skins to a baby goat. :)

Lots of room for everyone. :)

Marshmallow time :)

We were all geared up and ready to go. It was 1.1.11 and we were on our way. Animals at home were kindly looked after by our lovely neighbour Garry...

We got through Brisbane and as soon as we hit the Bruce Highway to get to our camp site, it started pouring. This had been going on since 6am that morning, not that we knew as at home it was warm and sunny.

We went where the GPS told us to go, which ended up being the back way. Had no luck getting in there as there was a road closed due to flooding. We had allot of trouble backing up the trailer and car back up a hill so that we could turn around at a flat area and then go back. By this time my brother called and said that they had been to the campsite and it was way too boggy. The creek was way too swollen and there was debris coming down it. Way too dangerous for kids. All the sites were slippery as well.

He had been in contact with the park management for days prior and all was apparently fine up until the day that we were to arrive. Needless to say due to us cancelling on the day we didn't get a cent back. Keeping the 50% deposit was fine. I understand that they are running a business but for them to not even offer the other half for a future trip there was terrible. They end up making 100% of our money and then just resell the site. When I asked about the chance of getting the balance for a future visit I was chuckled at... Not nice. :(

The boys were so disappointed and needless to say I will not be attempting to go there again. Shame as apparently if dry it is a great site. My brother and his band of at least six families will not be back either. Shame on them...

Anyway a good outcome was had though as my brother and his lovely wife offered for us to backtrack to their place about 45 mins and stay with them for the time instead. We had a ball. They have a pool so that is where you mostly found the boys. All five of them. :) We went to a local waterhole as well. All the boys went to Redcliffe to a seaside pool on one of the days and my SIL, little sister and I went and visited my other sister in Hospital. Everyone had a great time and everyone flung themselves happily and tiredly into bed each night.

It was so nice to know that the boys had grown enough to not have to be supervised every two minutes as well. Gave us adults more room and a great time of relaxation...

We made our trip home on Tuesday and just missed another shower. Since last night though it has set in once again. One of our exits was still not crossable yesterday so will be up again now, well and truly. Won't take much for the other two exits to be under either...

We did get into Warwick yesterday to stock up on bread as well as milk and fruit so we are fine till we go in again on Tuesday hopefully. Russell's car is in for a service and a movie will be caught while we wait.

Cheers Damaris

Celebrating Christmas with Friends...

Dylan and Joshua...

Beautiful spirited James...

Determined blowing Timothy. lol

Two great friends and their wonderful kids :)

My present from Margaret, she knows me very well :)

Went to Brisbane yesterday to see my Doctor. I only see her when I really need to now as she is 1.5hrs away from me but oh she is sooooo worth it. :)

So while I was seeing her at 3pm I made sure that I was able to see my dear friend Margaret and her boys Dylan and James (as well as housemate Ken). We ended up spending just over four hours there and oh we had so much fun.

I love talking to her on the phone but it is nothing like seeing her face. I love that girl. :) She makes my heart sing. Over the years we have been through allot and one thing that is always a reassurance for me is that she is there for me if I need her to be. :) I love her dearly and her two boys as well. :)

Thanks again Margaret for a lovely time. :)

Cheers Damaris

End of School Concert...

Timothy got up and danced too :)

Kids performing on stage...

Joshua dancing to a laser show :) Cool stuff :)

Joshua and Russell dancing...

Joshua receiving his Christmas gift (Book) from Miss Farrell...

More dancing...

Joshua looking good... but then I am rather biased. :)

Having a sit down after all the activities...

Last Friday, Joshua had his school's concert... What a lovely time we had as a family. The boys participated in the dancing at the end and Joshua had asked earlier in the year if he could dance with Dad this time... taking turns with me from last year... Russell tried to get out of it but he did it anyway in the end and his smile says it all. Fun was had. :)

There was not such a huge turnout this year as previous years, which I was surprised about but from what I could see the 14 kids and their parents were all there. :) Some extras supported the school as well.

We also had Lisa and the kids up for the night and James then stayed on for a couple of nights as well to catch up really well with Joshua. Was lovely to see them.

The night started at 6pm and all the children had worked so hard in the performances. One of them they choreographed all by themselves... Clever little people :)

I know that Joshua will miss his acting Principal next year. I had hoped that she would stay on as a teacher but on the night we found out that she is going to a school out west... Lucky them :) Thanks Miss Farrell for all your wonderful work this last half a year. Now we look forward to our new male Principal...

In the end Joshua was exhausted and was glad to crash into bed. A good sleep was had by all. :)

Cheers Damaris