At the foreshore.

This tree has been cut down into a chair. Today was the first time we have been at the foreshore since it was finished so Christopher and Joseph had to have a seat and try it out.

Smart Martha Monday.

Last week, I had take Joseph to Adelaide for a MRI and to make the boys some backpacks for their pump consumables.  The MRI went well although we don't know what they saw or what they found from it. I suppose in this case, no news is good news. 

I cut out one backpack so should be able to finish it off this week. 

This week I also want to pray each day with Steve and get to adoration for one hour on Thursday.

I hope you all have a good week. 

Shrove Tuesday and the start of Lent.

Today after mass, Christopher, Joseph and I stayed for pancakes with our parish priests and parishioners. We also had pancakes for afternoon tea since some Tom and Amelia had some friends over after school.

For lent, I am giving up sugar in my coffee. Daniel said I should give up coffee instead of sugar in it. I don't think he would be suggesting that if he lived here. I may try and have a few coffee free days. Will see how it goes.

What are your plans for lent?

Therese.

Smart Martha Monday.

My list last week was to get Lenten activities planned and be a bit more vigilant in looking after the boys sugars. I did both. I also took the week of facebook.

This week I have to take Joseph to Adelaide to have an MRI. I am also going to make the boys some backpacks for their diabetes consumables.

I hope you all have a great week.

Happy Birthday Christopher.

Yesterday, Christopher turned 7. He had a great birthday. 

In the morning, after Brigette had been dropped at school, Christopher had his first ride in the front seat of the car. 

We went to the church to say some prayers and Fr. Paul was there. He gave Christopher a blessing for his birthday.

Last night we had birthday cake with Fr. Paul and today we went to Hungry Jacks with 8 friends to celebrate. The video above, is everyone singing happy birthday to him. Editing because my computer is not cooperating with me and I cannot get the video up yet. I will have a go at getting it up tomorrow morning. 

Happy Birthday Christopher. We love you very much and are so happy God blessed us with your life. May you have many more happy and blessed birthdays. 

Mum and Dad. 

Push UPS.

Steve has been doing push-ups every night. Tonight Joseph thought it would be good for Steve to do them with a bit of extra weight.

Smart Martha Monday.

I had two things on my list last week. I did them both. I was in bed each night by 10 but I didn't turn the light out till around 11.00 on Friday night and Saturday night too. I did our meal preparation and we have them all worked out for this week. I still have to cook our meat pie filling but should get it done tomorrow morning.

This week, I want to put caring for the boys diabetes on a higher responsibility. We had a couple of good weeks with them both and I have become complacent about caring for it. I haven't been checking sugars as much and haven't been checking up on Tom's care at school. I want to be a bit more vigilant in what I am doing. 

I also want to get some more planning done for lent and some activities we can do together as a family. 

I am also going to give up facebook for the week. I will still play words with friends but I am not going to be going and reading or posting status updates. 

I hope you all have a good week. 

Therese.

Weekend Wrap up.

We had a great weekend here. My mother and Daniel came from Adelaide for a visit. It was great to have them here.

I sewed a couple of tops for my girlfriends daughter so that Daniel could take them back.

Daniel, Sam and Madeline all went to a vocations afternoon at the church yesterday. I think they all thought it was worthwhile.

Last night we all went to mass early so that we could get to reconciliation before. Today I spent a fair bit of time preparing main meals for the month. I made chicken schnitzels and apricot chicken. Tomorrow I will make some spaghetti sauce and meat pie filling.

It was pretty busy here but productive. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Therese.

Happy Birthday Joseph

2 years old today.

Here is the post that I announced he was on his way.

Here is the post Steve did when Joseph was born.

First Birthday celebration and some cute photos and a video from his first birthday.


Happy Birthday Joseph.

Smart Martha Monday.

last week, I only had two things on my list.

To get up and pray early each morning before the children got up and to make some new tops for my friends daughter.

I got up early every morning except Wednesday and Friday. I didn't finish the tops for my friends daughter though. I think I should be able to get them finished this week though.

This week, I want to be in bed every night before 10.00. I am also having my big cook this weekend for our main meals.

I hope you all have a great week.
Therese.

7 Quick Takes.

Thanks so much to Hallie from Betty Beguiles for hosting 7 quick takes for the next few weeks while Jen finishes of her book.  

-1-

This week was the first week of school term 1. We had a good start on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday were hard days but today seemed better again. I am glad it is the weekend and we can sit and relax a bit again. 

-2-

Next Tuesday, Joseph turns 2. I cannot believe how fast it has gone.

Here are the first photos Steve put up of him the day after he arrived.

Here is the video I did on his first birthday.

-3-

On the 11th of February, Christopher will have been on the pump for 1 year. He is going really well with it. Whenever the boys have a significant event to do with their diabetes, I give a donation to The Faustman Lab.

-4-

Tonight the children are watching The Sound of Music. It is on the top of my list of favourite movies from my childhood. One of my most memorable birthday presents was the soundtrack from the movie.

-5-

I decided tonight to change the colour of my blog. I may change it again when lent starts.

-6-

Only two and a bit weeks till lent starts. I am starting to prepare activities for the children to do at home. Catholic mom has some great ideas for lent.

-7-

Next weekend, Daniel and my mother are coming for a visit. We are looking forward to seeing them both.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Therese.  

Smart Martha Monday.

On my list last week I had, 

Get to mass each day and to finish working on Christopher's curriculum. 

I did both things. I did end up ordering some RE resources last night from St. Paul's so they won't be here for a while but I have all our lessons plans and timetable worked out. 

This week I want to get some tops made for my friends daughter. I also want to get up early each morning and pray before the children get up. I managed it this morning so hopefully will be able to all week. 

I hope you all have a great week. 

Therese. 

7 Quick Takes.

-1- 

Yesterday Steve and I celebrated 21 years of marriage. To celebrate, we went out for lunch to the Flinder's Hotel. It was a great day. We also asked all the children to come to Mass with us and they all did. I am so grateful to God for all our children and our faith which has made our marriage strong.

-2-

Today I took Tom, Amelia, Christopher and Joseph over to Booleroo Centre to visit Linda and Bill.  We picked up Christopher's spelling and maths curriculum and shared lunch. It was good to catch up with them both.

-3-

Tonight Steve and I are watching The Kings Speech. I have read a few reviews on this movie and I am looking forward to seeing it.

-4-

School starts on Monday and I am looking forward to getting back into routine again. This year, I am limiting our children to one extra curricula activity. Last year, many of them had two and life was just too busy. This is one of the actions I decided on since my word for the year is simplicity.

-5-

Another thing I want to do this year to keep it a bit more simple, is baking muffins and snacks and freezing them.

On my list of things to bake is:

Zucchini bread.

Pumpkin bread.

Date muffins.

-6-

My girlfriend's daughter has just been fitted with a halo devise. This is needed as she has Torticollis. I am going to make her some new tops that don't go over her head over the weekend. Please keep my friend Di and her family in your prayers. Especially Nicole.  


-7-


Joseph now has his date for his MRI. I will be taking him to Adelaide on the 24th of February for it. 


His walking is really improving with the AFO. When we first got it, he didn't like it at all and was even hiding it from me. We can see a great improvement though from persevering through with it. He even asks sometimes to have it on. 


Don't forget to visit Jen at Conversion Diary for more 7 quick takes. 


Have a great weekend. 


Therese. 

Wordless Wednesday: Islet transplants.

I believe islet transplants or some other adult stem cell will be the cure my boys need.

Smart Martha Monday.

Once again, it is a whole week since I posted on my blog.

I did everything on my list but I changed my mind. I sewed this top instead of a dress. I will hopefully get a dress done this week.

On my list this week is to prepare for school next week. I have all of Christopher's curriculum worked out but need to go through and fine tune some things.

I also want to get to mass each day. It may be a challenge once Steve is back at work. He starts work on Wednesday.

I hope you all have a great week.

Smart Martha Monday

On my list last week, I wanted to clean out the clutter from the boys room. I changed my plan though and decided instead to get the younger children's sewing finished. We are going to  my brother's 50th birthday this weekend and I wanted them to all have a good outfit made by me so I decided to focus on that. Now that they all have an outfit (except for Christopher's shirt, I can start on a couple of outfits for me.

So my to do list this week is to sew Christopher's shirt and a dress for me. I also want to start putting a spiritual thing on my must do list each week so this week it will be to get back into spending one prayer hour at church in front of the blessed sacrament. I haven't been for the last two weeks and want to keep on doing it regularly.

Amelia's new outfit.

Finish today. Now all 4 younger children have something sewn by me for summer. I just need to do a bigger shirt for Christopher since his is a bit too small. He must have had a growth spurt.

Weekend Wrap up.

Yesterday Tom turned 12. He got Skylanders from us for his birthday. We also have Harry Potter DVD set coming for him. It was a busy day since I had to drive to Melrose to pick up Madeline.

Madeline and Brigette have been at the National YCS Conference which is in Melrose this year. It is on till next Tuesday but Madeline wasn't feeling too well so decided to come home.

I wanted to do another oamc this weekend. We haven't done many since Joseph was born but thought with the trip to Melrose I wouldn't have much time to do this. I was able to get 3 spaghetti sauces and 9 chicken meals in the freezer though over the weekend. I will do a few more this week too so that we have enough for the next month's main meals.

There is only two weeks of school holidays left. I have a list as long as my arm that I want to get done in the next two weeks. I hope I will be able to get most of it done. If I can make myself go to bed early and get up early, I am quietly confident I can.

I hope you all have a great week.
Therese.

Wordless Wednesday: How our garden grows, continued.

Wordless Wednesday: How our garden grows.