I Love A Good Read

Do you love reading a good book? I've always read a lot, even as a kid. I love to read in bed at night before I go to sleep, it helps me unwind.

A few months ago one of my favourite Australian authors, Kate Forsyth, whom I am friends with on Facebook (and who I got to meet in person a few months ago) invited me to a website called goodreads. Basically it's a social networking site for readers.

Goodreads is built around books. You can join groups and discussions on your favourite genres, authors or just talk about books you love. You can even keep track of the books you have read or want to read. Once you've reviewed a few books (and it doesn't need to be a written review you only need to give a book a star rating out of 5) goodreads will begin to recommend books for you to read based on your literary tastes.

If you're into books and want to join a social network based on books you should sign up. Even my boys have joined. If you want to find me here's my profile page although I'm not sure if you are able to see it without joining.

A Big Day Out

We went to visit Mark's Dad and step mum today for lunch. It was really nice to see them and it was such a relaxing afternoon. They have the most beautiful home in the Dandenong Ranges and the view from their front garden is very pretty, especially in autumn. The boys even behaved themselves which was wonderful. Angus was such a great helper cleaning up the table and putting things in the kitchen. I was so proud of him for being so sweet and kind and I told him that too.

We sat outside for most of the day which was lovely and the sun just felt so good and warm. The breeze was a bit chilly but the sun sure made up for it. I loved it. The only thing that concerned me while I was there was the trail of flakes I left indoors. It was fine while we were outside but inside was another story. Thankfully they have cream coloured carpet and the flakes 'hide' among the pile but the lovely terracotta tiles was another story. I could certainly see where I had walked around the table and in the kitchen.

I don't care that I am flaky at home but when I am out and visiting it's another story. I worry so much about what they might think. I know it shouldn't matter to Mark's Dad because Mark's Mum has psoriasis but it still concerns me. This is about the only time that I really hate having psoriasis. Other times I could care less what it looks like or what others see but today it mattered! Silly I know and to tell you the truth I don't think that it matters to Mark's family at all no matter how self-conscious I felt today.

Noah's Ark Applique

Last night was applique night and it was definitely ON this week! Woohoo!! I took Brodie to Young Men's and he was going to organise a ride to the Bishops house when it was finished. So I didn't have to leave too early to go and collect him which was great as I could get a lot done this time round. It had been a few weeks since I went and I was hanging out to get some of this Noah's Ark piece done.

I am loving how it has turned out. It looks even better the more I get done. These three blocks are for the top row .. I really love the one with the penguins but I have to admit I found that one the most frustrating to iron as I had to make sure that the pieces were lined up and positioned correctly & it took a while. It was certainly worth it all.

All I need to do is when I have the time is to start the hand sewing. That should keep me busy enough until next week.

Applique Patterns - Still Waiting .. .. ..

Before I forget I am still waiting for those patterns I ordered. I sent an email to the lady from Millamac on the Wednesday before Easter (about 10 days ago). I set the email to send a receipt to say that she read it. I am thinking she declined to send a read receipt. Anyway the day after I sent the email my Visa card was charged for the applique patterns that I had ordered. The payment for that cleared yesterday morning (or it could've been Thursday I can't remember). I have yet to hear from her though to say that she has posted the order or not.

I have been waiting for a month or more in total for her to contact me or to supply the patterns. For someone who is running a business it's not done very well. I certainly wont be recommending her to anyone in the near future.
I have started designing my own applique patterns. If she isn't able to supply people with good service maybe I can!!

Each Tuesday that has come and gone for the last month without me being able to go to applique sessions with the girls from Church. I have finished my first project and have been stuck, unable to begin my next one. It's been school holidays and I could've gone out on my own without the boys in tow for Young Men's or Young Achievers but without being able to begin a new project it was pretty pointless in going. As things are going at the moment I doubt that I will ever be able to go to an applique session without having to leave early again. Looks like I will have to do this all on my own at home without being able to socialise with anyone from Church.

Enrichment & the Movies!

OMGosh I don't believe it I had some ME time yesterday!! I was able to go to the chapel and join in with some of the enrichment activities they had organised for the sisters. It was so good to get out of the house without the boys tagging along.

I made this cute little accordian scrap book for Dad for Christmas with photos of the boys in it. I know he is going to love it and I had so much fun making it. I didn't get to finish it at the chapel but that was okay I made a good start with it.
I even got to really yummy recipes. One for Corn bread and the other was for a toffee that you cook in the microwave. Both were really yummy but I found the cornbread a little dry but that's how it was meant to be so I was told.

This morning we went into town to the cinema. Mark didn't end up staying but the boys and I did. We went to see Monster House. It wasn't bad for a kids movie. The little dude kept hanging on to my arm during the movie. I have no idea why as he has seen scarier ones than this. He still said he enjoyed it though which is always a good thing.

Life stuff!!

Gosh I just don't know where to start writing at the moment... So much has gone on since I last blogged I don't know where to begin.

Let's see on Wednesday the big fella was suspended but I already wrote about that. Hmm on Thursday we stayed home and didn't go out at all. After all what's the point huh. I didn't have to take the big fella to school the little dude was on camp so there really was no reason to leave the cabin. It makes for a change because there isn't a day that goes by that I don't have to go out somewhere.

Ok now for Friday ... would you believe there was ANOTHER meeting at the High School. I only have to walk up to the reception and they know me know and I don't think that's a good thing. In fact its downright sad really because I never go up there for a good reason now. Gosh I don't even want to think about that because I'll start crying. I can feel the tears stuck in my throat. I hate that feeling.

The meeting .. well the big fella was included in this meeting and the poor fella I bet he felt smothered with 5 adults in the room with him. I know if I was him I would've felt very uncomfortable. Apart from Mark and myself there was the Assistant Principal, the Middle Years coordinator and the Guidance Officer. I can't remember the exact details of the meeting, in fact the meetings all seem to say the same thing. I'm sad to say that it's kind of becoming a blur. Almost like one meeting melts into another.

Anyway during the meeting we did discuss a 'testing' session that the big fella had on Tuesday with the Special Ed teacher/worker. It turned out that she was the same lady who tested the big fella way back when he was in Grade 3 or 4. Back then she said that he did NOT have Apsergers Syndrome which was around the time he was diagnosed with it by the paediatrician. HELLO!!! It's not like the paediatrician didn't know he specialises in working with children! Well anyway this woman has now agreed with us that he does have it, well according to what the Assistant Principal said anyway. So where does that leave the big fella??? If she had said so all those years ago would the big fella had extra help? Would he be in the same predicament he is in now if he had an integration aide all those years ago? Somewhere in the not to distant future we will be getting a report of the testing that was done.

After the AP and the coordinator left the Guidance Officer (GO) had a chat with us. Well he got to see what the big fella is like interacting with us and how he reacted with the teachers. I can't remember exactly what happened but the big fella was in one of his moods. Refusing to follow instructions and not listening properly. The GO said that we have A LOT of work to do ... well as if I don't know! I know I sound snarky but it wasn't like he was pointing out something I didn't know.

After we had finished at the HS we had some time before we needed to collect the little dude up. He was arriving back from camp. We had at least 45 minutes to waste before going to get him. So we went to Tarago Park. It was on the way back from the HS. It was okay but I don't think I would go back there in a hurry. Not at least until the weather was nicer anyway.

So we went on to the school where the little dude was being dropped off. We had a bit of a wait before the bus arrived. So Mark and I talked with a couple of the Mums from our school and the Principal who arrived about 10 minutes before the bus did. I think he was surprised by the little dude while on camp. He was amazed at how much he could eat. Apparently the little dude ate 4 meat pies for lunch!! Mark & I laughed .. we have a missionary in training after all rofl.

Last night we also went out for dinner to a family from Church's place. It was really nice to go out. Hopefully we'll make some really good friends with these people. I know the boys loved being there. In fact they've already asked when we can go back again. The boys were even relatively well behaved while we were out which was such a wonderful thing.

I know I said the boys behaved last night but they made up for it today .. they were beginning to fight a lot today. The big fella has such an annoying way of talking to his brother. It's like he thinks he is the Dad and orders him around. He really needs to stop it or one day I can see the little dude turning around and punching him out.
Mark & I tried to get the boys to clean up their room this evening. In the end he and I were so stressed that we just gave up. There is always tomorrow .. after Church that is.

I've typed up just about all I can for now. My arm is still hurting like crazy, not to mention my skin is hurting so badly I just want to cry. Mark says I should go back to the Doctor but what's the point? It's not like he will really do anything. All he said last time was take some nurofen that should help!
Oh well I'm going to get ready for bed and read for a bit!

It's been a long day .. .. ..

Goodness what a day it's been today and it's seemed awfully long. I know why .. I didn't get much sleep last night. I just didn't want to go to bed, oh well.

Today we went to the Ficifolia Street Parade which my babies school was participating. They were carrying a whole range of flags from different Commonwealth countries. Some of the flags were made by the kids but the larger ones were donated by the Ficifolia festival (festival site). The kids were so excited, it was the first time that their school had been invited to participate.
We saw The Roulettes, (Aus. Defence Site) who are part of the Royal Australian Air Force & are an elite aerobatic display team. They were just so cool and the acrobatics that they did just totally amazed me. Seeing them reminded me of when I was the boys age and how I used to climb up onto the roof of the house with pillows and blankets to watch the RAAF Base airshow. They also has the RAAF Rescue helicopter there. I had forgotten how noisy they could be but it was wonderful to see it land and take off.
We also saw some old cars, gee they were just awesome. I was telling Mark which cars I wanted to take home :P and which ones we would drive on the weekends, to the shops, etc.
I was so disappointed in myself though. I had forgotten to take my digital camera with me so I missed out on some wonderful photo opportunities. I know I wont make that mistake again.

When we got home I was so tired I ended up having a catnap on the couch. I didn't realise that I also got a little burned but it was such a cool day that I didn't think to put on any sunblock. In fact I think we all got a little burnt on the face. We'll have to make sure that next time we do something like this we put on the sunblock.

Gosh Angus had such a hissy fit today. All over the Play Station and how I wanted to watch a movie on TV. He was at his best that's for sure. He did a 'Moaning Myrtle'!!(hp-lexicon)
Mark even commented on how bad Angus was. I think he had forgotten how bad he could be.

Anyway it's time for me to hit the sack I think. Everyone else is already asleep!!