Wow, thank you Nicole!

{Firstly, photos have now been added to my organization post! }

Well this morning I've been completely humbled!

This post could turn into a really long one but I'm just going to cut the story short for you all.....I have been award 'A Sisterhood Award' by a lovely lady who's blog I read, but that's not all. Nicole from The Life of Us (who awarded me) is the partner of Luke, my eldest Ashlee's Dad, and the mother of Ashlee's two half brothers! We got talking a while ago after Nicole contacted me through Facebook. I bit of a shock but no Nicole I didn't think you were a loony :) Then a little while later I came across her on a forum I frequent, Essential Baby. We have never met IRL but its been nice to have contact with her. Maybe someday in the future we will meet?!

So there you go, a bit different but such is life.....now on to the award.....As Nicole puts it....

What is this Sisterhood Award I hear you ask?

Its an award that you pass on to other women whose blogs you read that you find encouraging, uplifting and inspirational.

Did I say yet that I'm extremely humbled?!

So I have choose just a few blogs that I find encouragement and inspiration from? Geez, that is going to be hard......lets try though.....

Firstly, super crafty CurlyPops! I tell you this woman makes me jealous! So many pretty things. So much talent! I have A LOT of her posts saved with awesome ideas on things to make, bake or just admire. I really look forward to her posts!

Next up, Retromummy! Another mummy to adorable twins. Lots of wonderful inspiration and adorable cuteness on this blog! Making, baking, fabric, knitting. Its really nice to peer into the life of another mummy of twins and see that you are not alone in your trials and tribulations :)

Then, Many Little Blessings. I find heaps of information and inspiration here. I started reading when she was the host of Works for Me Wednesday (which has now moved to We are THAT family). LOVE love love her Organisation posts. She always has so many great ideas and I have used a lot of them around my home.

Moving on, if you need a real pick me up check out [I] LoveLife! You can't read this blog, daily, and not feel happy. She is so up beat, happy, organised and talented! Not to mention those two ADORABLE little girls, Pilot and Penn! Aren't they just the two most original and gorgeous names?! Large, daily, happy photos to put you in the right mood. She is the first blog I turn to if I'm feeling a little down.

Oh I could go on but just one more.....I could not received this award and not pass it on to my beautiful sister in law Melissa at Remember to Live, Laugh, Love! Have I mentioned that she and my brother Dan are expecting?! Can you tell I'm soooo excited?! Melissa is a number one girl, and I'm not just saying that because she is my SIL. I have known Melissa for quite a few years and in that time she has never been anything less than a beautiful person. I can truly see why my brother waited so patiently for so many years to win her over. Melissa is crafty (when she's not under the weather with morning sickness! - hope your feeling better Mel!), talented, happy, beautiful and most of all a devoted Christian. She really gives me inspiration to live a better life. Melissa also has a online shop! Heart and Home, check it out!

That will be it for now. I could list HEAPS of blogs that are truly inspirational and maybe one day I will.......off now for a shower, I smell....hahaha. Zach and Anna also need a sleep. Anna was up again last night with Croup and her ever loving brother decided he needed to with her! Keep Anna in your prayers as we head into winter. Anna suffers quite badly in the colder months. Lets hope this year she doesn't have to spend most of it in hospital! Mitchell is at the farm today with Daddy so I'm going to try and make the most of it!

Where does the time go??! {The Organisation Edition}

This week I think the terrible is beginning to happen! NOOOO! My delightful two are no longer a dream to put down for their day time sleep......I have been dreading the day.....How in the world am I going to get anything done now?! They don't even seem to need it - most days. So today I did spent a little time reading some posts in bloglines that I saved because I wanted to sit down and read them later. I thought I would share some with you....

***

Firstly we have some Organising and Cleaning posts:

: Simple Mom has one great post about Starting your day off right and also these great post on 4 Simple Ideas to Help you Clean a Messy House, Weekly Home Managment at a glance, 40 Tips to go Greener in your home.

: Simple, Green, Frugal has 20 uses for Vinegar. What about giving the gift of an All Natural Cleaning Supply Basket! Or this post about living Frugal with Children.

: Jolly Mum shows us how to make Homemade Cleaners at a fraction of the cost!

: Organising Junkie has some brilliant information including this Free Grocery Template, or this Menu Planning Template,

: Virtually Organized has Bedroom Storage Tips

: Some Wardrobe Organizing Tips - and here!

***

Decorating Posts:

: How about some Wall loveliness with A Sassy Affair

: Etch some glass with Create Studio

: Add some Silhouette's your walls with Home Sweet Home

: Domestic Fashionista teaches beginners how to get started in furniture painting

: Some DIY wall Art with EightCrazy Designs

***

How about some Gift Giving Ideas or Just fun Crafting:

: Sew a Burp Cloth and Dummy Holder with Create Studio

: Diamonds, Fur and Laundry shows you how to sew a crayon and notebook cosy

: Make some lovely Bath Salts to give to Mum with Three Peas in a Pod!

: This is a fun idea! Rubber Band Prints with Pajamamama

***

Lets Cook!

: Find out how to cook once and eat 10 times at MoneyWise Moms

: So many things to cook here at Fabulessly Frugal!

: A year of crock potting! Brilliant, what more can I say!

***

My delightful two are getting up to some mischief so I better step in before someone gets hurt! Ashlee is back to school today and Mitchell is in Preschool. Think I better go and get something else done before everyone gets home.

Went to Canberra yesterday for Zach and also received my Mother's Day Pressie early so more on that soon......

Time for that promised....

Update I think.....

I will get straight into it then....

Firstly, Ashlee:

Mummy's girls {heart}

Not to much going on. Still a few days left of school holidays. She looking forward to going back to school but not. Just to have some time with friends and no 'little people' around. They get a bit tiring sometimes for a nearly 12 year old. Other then that she will start netball this term. Her big love. She has also been chosen for the district team too so that means a lot of driving and training.....something I'm not looking forward to much.

While away for Easter we stayed at Mum's/Nan's and Ashlee decided to have a bit of fun one night and play a bit of 80's dress ups. Oh so funny!

What she was on?......No idea?! Hahaha. Also why she even owns the clothes that enabled her to do 80's dress ups......?!

Mitchell:

Nearly a big 5 years old! Loving preschool and has a wonderful best friend Max. Those two are just nuts together! He would go everyday if he could but at the moment he is only going 3 days a week. Can you believe he will be starting 'big primary school' (as he puts it) next year! Just 10 short months away! My little baby - where has the time gone?!

Mitchell is also really keen to learn to read at the moment. We read ALL THE TIME! I love it (most of the time) and I'm sure he will be reading away before he gets to school. They do say that if I child can read before they start school they have a brilliant start and do a lot better than if they can't. He still adores Thomas (and friends) and has gotten both Zachary and Anna in on the obsession too!
Mitchell loves riding his bike.....

And being a TOTAL boy, he loves playing with trucks in the dirt.

Alone....

Or with company....

And of course....

He loves his Mummy!

Now, My sweet little Zachary:

Everything with Zachary at the moment is pretty stable. We have put in our application for funding for his Kaye Walker and should have it very soon. Kaye Walkers are not all that great for outdoor, uneven ground use so Brett made up a little walking frame for him to use outdoors. He loves it!

For some reason we don't have one of him walking around in it so here is Anna doing a demonstration on the same day.....

Brett has since added a curved rail a bit lower so it is easier for him to use at the moment. Mitchell even has a ball pushing it around so we know it will do him till at least 5 years old. Brett is going to give it a bit of a paint job too - soon.....

We are having a bit of a break from therapy over the Easter period but will back into it from next week. MEIS (Monaro Early Intervention Services) starts back on Tuesday but we will be in Canberra for Zach and Anna's 2 year check up with the Paed and also a review for Zachary. Only for the day this time so thankfully we don't have to pack up half the house to go!

Overall, Zachary doesn't let anything get in his way and if he comes across something that does his ever helpful and loving twin sister is there to help him!

And he just loves her :)

He is the happiest little man I've ever met.....its truly hard to get a photo of him when he is not like this.....

Or this....

He loves hanging with his {little} sister....


What would we do with him?! Love you little man!

Last, but definitely not least.....

Our little Princess, Anna:

She has so much sweet, sweet love for Mummy....and everyone else!

Talking at the speed of a freight train! She really is a laugh a minute! Always saying some thing cute and has a 'Hello!' for everyone. Dribbles like nothing else at the moment while cutting those 4 eye teeth but it definitely doesn't take away from the cuteness!

On a more serious note.....We have been referred from our eye specialist in Canberra to the Eye Clinic at the Children's Hospital in Sydney. He thinks she will most definitely need surgery to fix her eyes now that it is starting to affect her vision. Unfortunately she has gotten to the stage were she just doesn't see things and either runs into them or trips over. Oh, my poor baby, its the last thing we wanted for you. We will take it one step at a time though and see what they say in Sydney.....

Both Zachary and Anna love Preschool (daycare). Adore it really. Sometimes it takes a bit to settle them down in the beginning but they settle in ok.

Anna has a few odd pass times....

Like standing on her head?!

Or just laying in odd positions?!

But loves to 'cook' with her brother...

Your are beautiful though.

And I adore your hair!

And your pretty (chubby) face

Now.....my crafting Mojo?! It's still here! Really it is. The problem has been my Organising Mojo - now that seems to have taken a little walk. I haven't been able to get into my Office/Craft Room lately as it currently looks like this....

And my 'craft space'? Like this...

That there on the desk is a fairy floss machine....?!

Oh wow, did I just post those photos?! Now there is no turning back is there!

All those boxes contain a hoard of clothes that I have cleaned out recently from the kids wardrobe and mine also. Oh, ok. Maybe my organizing Mojo isn't gone! Its just been put to use somewhere else...... Yes, there is A LOT of clothes and I'm currently sorting them out to give to my SIL who is expecting number 1, the op shop and some of it I will sell. We have in those boxes Sz 00000 to Sz 10 clothes in both girls and boys and also Maternity clothes and clothes I have come to be sick of. Some day soon I hope to have them gone and Crafting back! I'll keep working on that. On Monday and Thursdays mornings when the twins are in Daycare.

I'm also hoping to get back into these:

































Well, that is some post! (For me) So I'm off to try get some more house work done before the delightful two wake up. Glad you have beared with me this far :) See you all later!

OMG OMG OMG!!

This year I again participated in the Great Down Under Nappy Hunt - for the third time.... AND it paid off!

I WON GRAND PRIZE #1 !!!!
Worth $490!

• Belly Bumps to Baby Hugs is donating a breastfeeding cover, a booboo buddy & a drop buddy.
• Baby Soft Landings is donating Embroidered Berry Plush Cover.
• Booroi is donating a 3pk of Booroi Bamboo Prefold Nappies.
• Cinderella's Stash is donating Large Funkies Carnival Shorties.
• Hurphy Durphy is donating a Hurphy Durphy seat belt buckle guard.
• The itti bitti nappy co is donating a yellow bitti d'lish snap in one.
• Mamma Bellah Kids is donating a Kids Eurotrike.
• Poppy Bean and Bloss is donating an Art Folder.
• Ollie Rose is donating a Sock Monkey Bib, washcloth set and ribbon blanket.
• Scamps Eco Boutique is donating Creamy Cream.
• WAHM Naps is donating a Size 2 Rainbow Night Nappy and a Soy Wax Candle, Goat Milk Soap & mini Cupcake Soap.
• The WeeWuns is donating a Large Very Baby Natural Bamboo.

I'm sooo excited!

The best thing is that Mitchell has been at me for sooooo long to him a Scooter and now with his birthday coming up in July he will definitely be getting one.

This one in fact....

Shhhh, don't tell him though...hehehe

Ok, better go now. I am planning on an update but today I'm just enjoying not having to run off to appointments, run anyone to school/preschool and also the peace and quite now Zachary and Anna are having a nap :) And loving some time with Ashlee while the school holidays on on!

I've made some.....ummm

supposed to be charges but I stuffed up somehow. I saved my template {check}, uploaded my new template {check}, lost all my things {check} - that's ok I'll just reload my old template and sort it out later, ummmm....no sorry, blogger doesn't want to do that and instead kept throwing me errors. Damn! Oh well, so I'm starting fresh. All my posts are still ok but all my side bar things are getting revamped - not by choice!

I like it (for now). I have spent the morning doing some major house work and now I'm going to park my bum at the computer while Zach and Anna sleep and Mitchell is at Preschool and make a few side bar headings and maybe even a new header - still trying to sort the size out for that one.

In other news, Anna is ok. Still not 100% but home and happy. She spent a few days on Prednisolone (a type of steroid) and has needed her Ventolin as well as being back on Flixotide (a preventer). She sounds like a freight train when she breaths but apparently that's just the congestion in her chest that (being a virus that you can't treat with antibiotics) will clear up in time. Anna also has her appointment next Thursday with an eye specialist in Canberra. Fingers crossed for that one!

Zach has an appointment for an xray for his hips this Thursday. He has migrating hips (the muscles on the inside of his thighs are so tight that they are pulling his hips out of there sockets. If not sorted he will require surgery) and he is just getting tighter so fingers crossed everything looks ok - still. He is seeing Dr Lowe in Sydney on March 13th.

Mitchell is not well, he has the same virus that the rest have but is handling it well and on the mend. Today he is at Preschool, he LOVES preschool!

Ashlee has registrations for Netball this afternoon in Bombala so we are off to that and I'll get some shopping in while we are there. She is pretty excited to be getting back into some sport again. She has been doing any since we left Bairnsdale.

Me, well my headaches - or migraines - have gone, YESSSSS! Dr thinks it was a combination of blocked sinuses and stress. I totally agree. I have caught up on some sleep and feel a little more normal now.

Right, times ticking by so I'm off - see you all later!

Well here I am (again)

A little bit more to say before I head to bed. Its late and Brett is going to wondering where I am.....

This afternoon I was able to finally finish some shorts! Yes, I couldn't believe it either! But its real look, I have photos to prove it!

Zach's (on the right) are completely finished and are also post-wear in the picture. He loves em'! Anna's are pretty much finished but the hem and waist are still currently pinned. I had a 'problem' with the cotton and ended up having to pick up some more while I was in town picking up Ashlee from school - she was getting back from school camp! I had to unpick all the hems and the waist too! Boy was that a job! Long story but it looked, well, cheap. Its done now and when I get two seconds tomorrow I will sew it all up and stick it on her! Photos to follow.

Here is my little man in his new adored shorts! Doesn't he look 'chuffed' - oh you melt my heart 'little J man'

Other things that went on here to day...Anna decided she wanted to cuddle! Zachary though and ONLY Zachary. He loved it to begin with.....

Took it for a little bit more....

Then decided enough was enough and wanted to be left alone. Anna didn't really want to :(

After a while she found my sunnies and proceeded to 'model' them - darling you crack me up!

Yes, little Anna. You are a stunner!

And how could we have a few photos with out one of my big boy - complete with photoshop-ed off (does that even make sense?) sauce from around his mouth....

Photos of the Apple Custard Slice (which became Apple and Blackberry Custard Slice!?) to come tomorrow and some more sewing! Oh and I'm going to tackle Ashlee and get Mitchell to sit on her so I can get at least one photo of her before she is 30!

Where is my witty title? - VERY photo heavy!

Well, what has been going on here lately??

Not to much apart from everyday life - busy busy! I don't seem to have much time to get on here and blog - as much as I want to! The days seem to be flying by even with daylight saving. By the time I get everything done around the house its time to head to bed it feels like!

I have had a few minutes here and there which has been spent reading mostly. Organising a few last minute handmade gifts and organising some Christmas food ideas. Today I have spent a bit of time with this.....

Although I don't usually buy this magazine, this issue had some super yummy recipes in it for Christmas. I have found myself spending a bit of time hovering around this page

Looks like Christmas dinner might have some delicious dessert!

But I'm really keen on this too!


I thought this idea was cute...

Might even try it! I certainly have plenty of baby socks hanging around here!

I have been loving the 'practical uses' in this book (and have been using a lot of them too!)

Cleaned the microwave with a simple wipe after boiling up vinegar, water and bi-carb for a few minutes. Adding vinegar to my rinse cycle in the washing machine to cut down lint and even smells. I especially love using vinegar with my MCN's now. No more lingering 'smells' that make you think somethings gone on down there when it really hasn't.

Yesterday I had a lovely prize arrive in my mail box. A sweet smelling package from the lovely Angelique from No life without Wife! When I entered this giveaway I never thought I would win anything (I never win anything). Well I in fact came second, and only through luck as even having a second prize winner was never mentioned.

Take a look a this lovely fabric and some absolutely beautiful smelling soap! You could smell it before you even opened the package! Devine!


THANK YOU Angelique! The package has arrived and it is loved!

Lately I have been spending some time in my garden with my camera, I am loving spring. This is our first spring here and I can't get over how this garden comes alive in spring!

The beautiful flowers that adorn our carport - complete with little bees!

The gorgeous pink flowers that are growing in a corner by the pond - which is now full thanks to Mitchell and the hose today!

We have heaps of rose bushes around , all producing lots of lovely flowers...


We have an old shoe cleaner by our back steps and I thought this would make a lovely 'antique' photo. (Thanks to Coffee Shop Photography Free Actions and Tutorials!)

Just enjoying the sweet clear sky and.....

...the beautiful view from our back deck.


I have also been loving the water shots over at Sarcastic Mom. I thought I would try some out myself.
Lots of fun!

We also took a little trip down to see 'Pop' at the farm. I did get some lovely shots while there. Loving the blue sky! It was a beautiful warm sunny day!

See for yourself! When I say warm - I mean warm!


Mitchell did some 'fishing' in the river. Brett and 'Pop' fixed the water pump.

And its always fun throwing rocks in the water too!

We also marvelled at the circle of life...

I think that is about all for this post. I decided not to join in this week with 'Not Me Monday' as I was just Not Me. Feeling unwell and lacking for words. Lets hope this week goes a bit better.

We are heading to Canberra this weekend too! Looking forward to seeing everyone again....

Catch you all later!