Adelaide Zoo visit...

Well we are home from holidays.... and my poor old blog has been very neglected.

I have so much to share from our travels....

but before I start....I really wanted to share some photos from our recent Zoo visit.

It began when we realised we would be away for Brookeys 3rd birthday...

We wanted to do something special before we left....

and as Brookey loves animals....we thought a trip to the zoo would be a lovely gift.

So....we gathered the family together...and headed to Adelaide for the day.

It was awesome....and I am so thrilled we did it ...

The girlies loved it...  they had a ball... there were happy smiles all day.

So I can honestly say.....the Adelaide Zoo was fabulous....

The animals were all so easy to see and we were able to get up nice and close...

The petting zoo for kids gave us the biggest laugh of the day when this overzealous goat continually harassed the kids trying to get the bags of chaff out of their hands. The most hilarious part was...he would flick all the chaff onto the ground and gobble up the paper bag.

He even bailed Bella up against the fence in his quest to score her bag..poor Bells didn't find it quite as hilarious as we did....I don't think eye-balling a goat wasn't her idea of fun....Brookey was more cautious...she hung back a little from the pack....which turned out to be a wise move.

We saw the Wang Wang and Funi the Pandas....who were just beautiful... as well as the Lions...Tigers...Giraffes and cutest little meerkats...among plenty of others.

 Bella was most intrigued to learn that the lions ate 'horse meat'.... she asked a few times if it was true...and I could see her little mind ticking over.

So that was our day.....

I am sure the memories of the day we all spent together at the zoo will last for many years to come.

PS: Some Holiday posts to follow....

a little about our incredibly amazing trip from Bangkok (Thailand)  to Beijing (China).

Escape to Create Layout share...

It feels just  like old times...

I have layouts to share!!!

I scrapped up a storm at the retreat.....

I don't know what the trends are....I don't know what's in...I don't even know what products are hot...

I just did my thing.....with whatever made me happy...

Here they are in a little more detail....

Turning 4

Thats a fact

So very happy..

Sweet heart

Clever Chick

Go the Fro

444 ?

Play

Enjoy

My Ebony class layout....

My Sharmaine class layout...

My Kim class file folder....

The best bit....

I brought home a lovely stash of new supplies....

Some papers...some mists...tags.... washi tapes....

and a bundle of inspiration....and a a HUGE desire to scrap more.

So...stay tuned... many more layout shares to come this year.

Easter 2013

This was our Easter...

We spent it on the River...another fantastic camping adventure.

So thrilled that James...Kel and kids could join us..

We fished...or at least ...the boys did..

We skied....kneeboarded....

paddled...

Cooked camping food...

hunted for Easter eggs....

Made mud pies...

Got dirty....wet and smelling like campfire...

The girls had a wonderful time...they loved spending time with Evie...

They were in a constant state of filthy...and loving it...

Brayden seemed to love it too... I'm sure he was looking on.... thinking about just how much he would love to be in the boat....or on the river too.

I hope your Easter was a good one too...

Etzcetera Magazine - Issue 9 -

Just popping in to say to say this.....

It is possibly my most favourite issue yet!

I don't know how Kim does it....but she manages to find some of the most amazing creative people ...and then brings their story to us all....so inspiring....and interesting to read..

...and little old me...

I had a bit of fun this issue as well...

I shared my 'sprout gardens'.... my little pots of healthy goodness that bring a smile to my face every single time I step into my laundry  (Yes I sprouted my sprouts on my sunny laundry window sill)

If you haven't already you can buy your copy HERE

Escape to Create - 2013

This retreat is AMAZING....and when you realise that it sells out in just minutes once the registration opens...you can imagine how lucky I felt to get a spot again this year.

Meredith and Amanda do an incredible job....

Every... single... little detail is thought of.... and this year was no exception.

The theme was yellow  / black / grey /chevron.... and the room on entering had WOW! factor!

Each retreat'ee received a gorgeous chevron bag filled with goodies to kick off the weekend as well as a personalised coffee mug.

The classes this year were absolutely fabulous....I loved each and every one of them.... thank you so much to Kim Jeffress...Ebony van der Starre and Sharmaine Kruijver.... their classes were inspiring....and it was such a pleasure to meet and get to know them too.

I scrapped 13 layouts....omgosh...thats ridiculous!!

I flew over on Friday morning.... 

The beautiful Lauren collected me from the airport and allowed me to tag along with her... Tatum and Ali for the morning....we had coffee....and shopped for some last minute things to take along for the weekend.

The highlights from the weekend....

The delicious food....honestly...the catering is just amazing...beautiful salads...perfectly cooked steak..as well as an afternoon tea on Friday to die for.

I was so thankful for awesome table and room buddies...

The hilarious conversations and antics as the night wore on ....and even the early morning bush walk to the beach in the dark....only to realise were were about two hours too early for sunrise.

The chance to shop for some lovely new supplies....

Learning some new techniques and being inspired to use them on some layouts soon.

...and just soaking up some girly chat....laughs and sillyness...

It was the perfect weekend...

I have fingers crossed again for next year.....I wonder if Ill be lucky three years in a row.

Happy birthday Brent...

This year we decided pizza at the playground was the easy option for Brents birthday....

We ordered gluten and cheese free pizzas so they were suitable for Mitch....

and all met at the Monash Playground for dinner and a play.

Yes....even the big kids played...including me....I loved the big swing too.

Then is was home for the traditional chocolate pudding / cake.

This year the candle situation was even more grim than last..... 

so grim that we had to resort to a tea light candle!

I think we all agreed it was a hit...

I think Monash might become a new favourite birthday venue from now on.

A little family update....

I don't often blog family details these days... 

I know my kids prefer if I keep things 'in house' and I respect that

However ....I know that our extended family and friends who read this hang out for a glimpse 

of what we have been up to .....so here is a brief rundown.

Its been a crazy few months (and that's an understatement)....with a lot of changes around here....

Mitch has been unwell again... his Crohns has flared....and he has complications relating to it....including a recent surgery...

It has been extremely stressful for us all....and we all feel for poor Mitch who has had to suffer it.... as usual he takes it in his stride ...adding in as much humour as he can muster.

I think the most worrying part for me looking on was his weight loss....

To have him fade from 100kgs at his heaviest....down to 66kg....has caused me many a sleepless night.

We are hoping that with the medications....a course of steroids....and the continuation of his diet that we can turn the corner and get him back on the mend again.

here he is....pre-surgery..

and here....trying to swallow and keep down a litre of prep before his CT scans...

...and whipping up some gluten free spaghetti bolognese for dinner the other night.

His diet has had a huge overhaul over the last 6 months.... generally (with the exception of a few binges) he eats gluten....dairy and sugar free....it seems to suit him. When he maintains this diet.. his crohns settles...this recent flare up was so frustrating.... because even though he was doing well with his diet the crohns had a mind of its own....and there was no stopping it.... drug intervention was the only option for now.

Briony has also had a huge change....

She has moved to Adelaide for Uni....and we are slam bang in the middle of an adjustment period for her.

She is a family orientated home bod...so to leave us all....and move away has not been easy.

She is luckily living with two beautiful friends...who are all starting off on the same Uni journey together....so although there has been homesickness....there has also been a lot of laughs and good times.

Uni has been a tough gig so far....she hasn't found it easy to navigate...and she feels like she is floundering at the moment..... time will help though....and things will fall into place.

The exciting up side is....she has been able to enjoy setting up a home with her friends....and she can assemble a 'flatpack' in jiffy.

I had my annual Breast cancer check... I wasn't concerned....but its funny how there was still a little sigh of relief when I walked out the door knowing I was another year clear.

Having Briony living in Adelaide now makes it a much nicer place to visit....

We shopped and had lunch together....

then I made her and the girls a home cooked dinner before heading home late that night.

Brent had happy mail day when his 'Apprenticeship sign of papers' arrived...

We are so proud of his achievement... and for him... nothing beats that feeling of being qualified.

Belly and Booka (and bubba brayden) have breezed in and out...

Bells is a Kindy girl now.... so Alex often calls in after she picks her up....although trying to find out what she did that day is like pulling teeth....she is more interested in raiding the pantry or fruit bowl.

Ian and I have been addicted to this ....

So that is a little of what has been happening here....

Lets hope that by the next update ..life has slipped back to normal...and is happy healthy and predictable.