1st day at school and sudoku takes a back seat

Kelly's 1st day in grade 1 today. She has 2 teachers this year, both part-timers. I am not sure how it will all work but I spoke to one of them this afternoon and she reassured me a little. Looks like they may cross over on some Wednesdays. Both specialise in literacy, with one being a literacy recovery teacher. Hopefully they know a little about maths as well.
Kelly was happy to catch up with all her friends. First birthday invite for year received at 8.55!!! What a social life.
She was quite hyped up tonight. In bed reading to her by 7.15 but she didn't go to sleep until 8.30. And it was a big struggle this morning to get there on time as we have been staying up late and sleeping in, as you do, on holidays.
So if you know me, you will know that I like to do the odd puzzle or two. Actually last year I got Kelly into doing grown up jigsaws with me (800-1000 pieces) which was fun. Will restart doing those when we move in 5 and a bit weeks and counting...
But I digress, which is an unfortunate part of my nature, but oh where was I??? Oh yes, Sudoku has been a favourite puzzle of mine for quite a while and I have progressed from the easy up to the difficult. My sister gave me a puzzle book for my birthday and it had Kakuro in it...what the???!! (from Japan, described as the bigger and harder brother of Sudoku). It took me a while just to figure out what I was even meant to do but now I can say, um, unofficially, um, no officially, I am hooked. Only getting the easy ones out so far.
First day at work as expected but I came out alive so that is a positive :D

Last day of holidays

We got down to Werribee Zoo on the last weekend of the holidays. It was a lot of fun and the African music at the end was good, would have been more enjoyable if I didn't have a splitting headache from the heat. Phew it was hot.
Kelly was in charge of the camera for the day and subsequently we ended up with about 90 photos!!! This photo she has taken of herself whilst we were in the safari bus. Check out her 2nd tooth that fell out on the holidays...luckily they seem to fall out at Lukes as the tooth fairy is very generous over there...$4.00 per tooth...we used to get 20c. The Hippo water fun was the best bit by all counts. Even I ran through for a quick cool down.
School starts up again tomorrow. Thought better check out that the school shoes still fit...oops...her feet have grown, quick trip to the shops, last minute, 25% off :-)
Work for me tomorrow, not looking forward to it. Just destressing from JDE after 2.5 weeks holidays. But everyone in the same boat so we just have to cope. Last one out, turn off the lights!!!
I found a packing box that Kelly has acquired for her scribblings She has written in different colour textas, so cute...
my mum is the Best that i hat to make the riting Big as i can. mums my favret beces she makes me cakes and she bys me iceepols

Happy Birthday Mum (for yesterday!!)

Dare I say it???
Oh what the...
Here I go...
Phew take a BIG breath
Mum turned 60

Had all her cronies up for a 'Ladies Day'.
Many sandwiches, cakes, cuppas, wines eaten/drunk
Mopsy's pavlova has to be the best - I had 2 pieces :)
Oh and the little cheesecakey cupcakey thingies were fairly good too.
Oh and then I didn't mind the homemade sausage rolls and party pies

Dad was meant to be the driveway attendant but disappeared off to work...probably a good idea...he popped his head in about 4ish with his blue eyes twinkly like a naughty school boy...then did the hello's and disappeared again...

Leftovers for dinner...more party pies, oh and how could I forget Honey's meat balls...I ate that many and took some home to freeze for spaghetti sauce...mmmm.
Did manage to get to gym and ran off at least one piece of pav, chocolate slice any maybe a club sandwich!!!
Good day had by all.
Happy birthday Mum (Nanny Banny) and see you at your 70th
xx
c&k

Pengwens are lovely

On one of our many boxes, Kelly has written 'Big hevey starf' - read as big heavy stuff!!! Another box she had put Kelly's starf then she knew by the look on my face that it probably wasn't correct so she added an 'e' on the end... so she has been listening to me explaining how the 'e' on the end changes the sound of the vowel.
Today she was playing Madagascar on the computer and she was designing a card with penguins...she asked me how to spell 'lovely'...I replied it is love with ly on the end...to which she replied 'oh i did that before and it didn't look right'. So the card had on it
Pengwens are lovely!!! Now Uncle Grant, you probably can't see anything wrong with that at all, after all you can fit a five letter word into the four letter slot in a crossword and vice versa.
I got her a denim rapper hat from Target today and she put it on sideways and started rapping...god i cracked up...must take a picture of her and post it
Kelly had pottery this morning and made a lovely mermaid. Lazy lunch followed by a spot of shopping (bought bag I didn't think I needed :D). Afternoon was restful, read half of my book, 2 cuppas, bikkies and Kelly played Barbies. Maccas for dinner - Bad Mother

I think I can, I think I can

We went off to Puffing Billy today. Very expensive but was a really enjoyable day. It is nearly the same as I remembered it from my school days. The kids still sit on the hard wooden ledge and dangle their feet out the window. And um, yes, this big kid did it too...but after an hour my bum was very sore (even with my extra padding!!)...ouch.
Last stop for us was Emerald Lake. We stayed for two hours. Kelly made 2 friends in the pool and all 3 of them persuaded me to join them. I waded into the coldest water you could imagine (well we were up in them thar hills) and they all proceeded to splash me until I went right under. We all shared watermelon and grapes. I retired onto the park bench, reading my book, The Kite Runner and they played on the playground and went exploring the bushes. Then another 1 hour journey back on the train. Fun day.

Yesterday we went to the Ferntree Gully National Park and climbed the 1000 steps...must have been named by an Irishman because there are only 760 - thank god. The mountain air had me huffing and puffing, but Kelly just charged up the hill, 'no stopping Mum'
I would like to go to Werribee Zoo or Healesville Sanctuary on the weekend.

Starting to get used to this life of luxury :D though I am exhausted!

Hangman rules

Answer to one of the Hangman games tonight was Fredd Frog (what the???? wheres the 'o'), next answer was Bindi (I knew it was a DVD name as the furtive glances to recheck the spelling gave it away!!).
Hangman carried on after last game warning

K - Mum, can I have a drink of M I L K
C - Yes but after that, do you know what it is?
K - Yes B E D cos I have B A G S

Gotta love her :-D

Vegetarian crocodile

To me holidays are about staying up late (watching the Australian Open) and sleeping in until Princess Kelly demands her breakfast served up to her on the couch...things are about to change young lady!!
Off we went to the park today with my friend Lynne and her daughter, Hannah. We are original mothers group friends so Kelly and Hannah have known each for all but the first 3 months of Kelly's life. So it is interesting to see the competitive/friendship dynamics at play.
Poor Lynne and I got roped into a made up Crocodile game. Two grown women balancing on a small (for our butts!) round disc connected to a rope trapeze whilst Kelly jumping up and down on the 3rd disc. Starts out in laughter, ends up in tears.
Hannah was in the middle being the crocodile. She had to spin around with her eyes shut and snap at a person, then you were out. Last person to be snapped won and got to be the crocodile. Well Hannah snapped Lynne and Lynne says 'I have never seen a crocodile with such small teeth' to which Hannah instantly replied 'Its cos Im a vegetarian crocodile!!'
I am loving this time off, I really need it

Wanted - wheelbarrow pusher

How many boxes can I pack?
We now have limited bowls to eat out of and cups to use. So that means I have to do the dishes all the time... I can hardly wait to buy a dishwasher - unfortunately new place doesn't have one -I have been without one for a year now and still have not grown accustomed to it. Old habits die hard, I suppose.
Kelly and I tried to clean up her playroom this morning. She won't throw anything out, even if she hasn't played with it for ages. Maybe it is a reaction to my monthly clean up and out. I think a puzzle and a babyish doll house may go, but wait and see, she could re-evaluate the situation.
I have sold my outdoor setting on ebay and currently have listed, last years shoes that I have hardly worn, Kelly's school uniforms and shoes, Kelly's bed and mattress. My bed is getting donated either to my friend's cousin or the op shop.
The way I am going, all I will need to move is a very large wheelbarrow or two! Any volunteers to help push them...

Kelly returns brown as a berry

After being away for over a week, Kelly catches up with learning her new Nintendo DS games. This was after numerous games of Xmas bingo, crazy eights and the old fave, Hangman.
She is very brown but unfortunately got slight sunburn on her face. Protective mum has been lathering her face with after-sun lotion and lots of kisses. She has been to the carnival four times, won heaps of useless stuffed toys (my pet hate), collected shells (she is getting them made into a special birthday necklace for me - does that mean I have to wear it in public??!!) and I don't think she has had much sleep except for the car trip home.
God I love her.