Adventures with Twins! + Building our Dream House!

Real working class here!

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:09:38 GMT

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor -
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home - Yep!
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
9. Were read children's books by a parent - Yep
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (I was a majorette) - swimming
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs (costs after scholarships)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them - gosh they didn't even buy me a car!
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home - they weren't even paying it off - they always rented
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in High School
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

Birthdays, Christmas and New Years

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:32:14 GMT

What a busy few weeks we've had! Firstly was Emma and Brandon's 3rd birthday - man where did all that time go! We celebrated it on Sunday the 23rd, as DH had to work on Christmas Eve. We had a party here at home with relies, and two friends from EB/FB (a parenting forum). Emma and Brandon were majorly spoilt with lots of pressies including My Little Pony, lots of cars, play dough toys, Wiggles DVD's, Cash Register, Camping Chairs, doodle boards, clothes, sand pit toys, and jigsaws.

Aunty Helen made the cake as she always does. This year we opted for just one cake.

Then Xmas! Heaps more pressies for the kids including another My Little Pony, a Tonka Digger for Brandon, more DVD's, Dora Pony House for Emma, Fisher Price Little People Princess House, Fire Engine, and much more!

We had lunch at our house (First time we've had Christmas at our house since I left home in 1998.

And lastly a pic of Emma and Brandon at there daycare Xmas Party on the 22nd - in their Christmas outfits - I made the bottoms - denim shorts, denim skort, mum made Brandon's shirt, Emma's shirt was a WAHM one I bought, and the hats are crocheted - bought them online too.

Christmas Card Photos

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:21:15 GMT

Tooks 3 sittings, but finally I think we nailed something suitable this arvo. The winning photo and outtakes are below:

Yah

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:30:02 GMT

I finally worked out why pics weren't showing!

Here's some more

What I'm up to at present

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:23:33 GMT

I'm still at home with the kiddos - and enjoying it immensely. I'm doing bookkeeping (10 - 15 hrs a week) for a local butcher, and have picked up a few clients for my Accounting business. Only 2 businesses at present, and a few individuals. I have an ad in the yellow pages, I did a flyer drop to about 2000 nearby residents, and an ad in the paper. Things are going as well as I'd hoped, but it's a start. So far I've only had two days that I've had to send the kids to my parents/in-laws to see clients. Most I've seen on Wednesday when they're at daycare, or it's been after hours.

The house is great. Still to get power connected to the shed, and still have to put something under the fence in a few places to get our dogs back, and have half a retaining wall to finish, but things are going great.

We have a nice big vegie garden now:

And most of our backyard is dirt!

But we have a new lounge suite

And dining setting

And a little bit of grass

Update coming soon

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:29:21 GMT

I promise. I'm still alive and will update soon.

Me

Mon, 28 May 2007 13:23:56 GMT

I'm still here. House is great - pics (lots more done on the yard since these ones but) at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78358550@N00/

Working full-time at present - been there for 3 weeks - it's a temp job for 4 - 6 weeks - when I'm finished in a week or two I'll come and do a big update. But at present I'm sleeping, working (both at home and at work), eating and sleeping - not much time for much else!

We are moved!

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:45:08 GMT

We moved last week. Had lots of hassles with phone being disconnected too early, then waiting a week to get it reconnected, then adsl being transferred back to our old place etc. We still don't have adsl here so net time is limited, plus we have heaps of work to do. Emma and Brandon come home tomorrow (been at my mum's for a week while we pack, move, unpack, landscape etc.).

Our driveway is being poured tomorrow, and we have some more paths to concrete ourselves (to the clothesline etc). Finally got our antenna up a day ago so I can watch tv again!

Will post a long post when I have time (at this point it might be before Christmas lol!).

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:41:52 GMT

Tiling in our wet areas (bathrooms, laundry, kitchen splashbacks)

Laundry floor

Laundry sink

Ensuite

Kitchen

Kitchen

I'm free!

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:20:42 GMT

I quit my job this afternoon. Well I was given an ultimatium - quit or we will sack you. So I quit - then they asked me to finish up this afternoon (they gave me the ultimatium at 3pm - I finished work at 4.30pm. I don't think it's really hit me yet!

Mind you it's the best thing. I hate my job and was only there until I started up my own business in July. In the meantime I have a bookkeeping job lined up to tide me over that I start this week.

Tomorrow is daycare day so I'll be home alone for the first time in a loooooooong time with no kids. After 12 months (6 of those working full-time) of work it's going to be weird to be a SAHM again.

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:16:44 GMT

1. Can you cook? Yes - but DH cooks tea 99% of the time.
2. What was your dream growing up? First to be a Dr, then to be an Accountant (which I am)
3. What talent do you wish you had? Singing
4. Favorite place? Fiji - we went for our honeymoon there.
5. Favorite vegetable? Sweet Corn
6. What was the last book you read? Can't remember it was that long ago (pre-pregnancy)
7. What zodiac sign are you? Libra
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Ears - 1 hole in each only
9. Worst Habit? Eating and biting my nails
10. Do we know each other outside of Livejournal? no
11. What is your favorite sport? Tennis
12. Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude? Somewhere in the middle
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? Chat
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? Honestly - nothing.
15. Tell me one weird fact about you.
16. Do you have any pets? Two Maltese Terriers
17. Do you know how to do the Macarena? Yes
18. What time is it where you are now? 8.15pm
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Cute
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? My weight
21. Would you be my partner in crime or my conscience? Conscience
22. What color eyes do you have? Blue
23. Ever been arrested? No
24. Bottle or Draft? Niether
25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it? New furniture for our new house
26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew? Yuck I hate it
27. What's your favorite bar to hang at? Bar? I never get out the house to do shopping alone let alone go to a bar
28. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Spare time???
30. Do you swear a lot? No
31. Biggest pet peeve? mmmmm Untidy people
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Boring
33. In one word, how would you describe me? Normal
34. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you? Yep

Ok everyone elses turn now!

More progress

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:57:18 GMT

Front doors!

Air conditioning

Kitchen - Before and After

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:35:26 GMT

It was fixed today - still not 100% happy - but much better then it was

Our House

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:52:11 GMT

5 weeks till easter and I really don't see us moving in at Easter. Still to be done is all internal doors, front doors, portco lining and detail, electrica (switches etc), tiling, painting, taps etc, shower screens.

Here are some recent pics - the ones of the kitchen and ensuite are taken through the windows (as we aren't allowed in the house anymore) so aren't the best - but you get the idea.

Kitchen (the two cupboards that don't have doors on yet are where my problem is - that whole section is white - but just the doors above the range hood (the two that are on now) and the two drawers directly below were supposed to be white - now those two doors will be brown and the ones either side will have smoked glass in them)

Laundry

Our ensuite

Back patio area

Front of the house - with garage door finally on

Front unfinished portico and the boards that are screwed on to stop people (including us) getting in

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:05:28 GMT

Moving!

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 01:26:10 GMT

In 8 weeks - the house - provided nothing goes wrong from here on in should be ready first or second week of April. Considering second week of April is Easter - I'm praying it's the first week. 8 weeks! I can't believe it.

The pillars will be finished bricking on Friday (they rang out of bricks), doors should be on next week or the week after, internal tiling (wet areas - we will do the family/dining/hall/entry after we move in) in about 3 weeks.

Almost finished bricking!

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:35:29 GMT

And they put the cornice up inside

Then yesterday (Wednesday)

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:48:04 GMT

It looked like this

Bricks!

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:46:27 GMT

This is what it looked like Tuesday

And they did some more plastering inside. It basically just need sanding and the cornice put up.

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:26:07 GMT

It's finished! (well as much as it can be until the house is finished) - We plan on planting natives (grevilla's and bottlebrushes) on top of it, and then a mowing strip and then a low chain wire fence.

My clothesline will go at the end of it.

More Progress!

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:54:54 GMT

Well today they were busy too! And started actually plastering! And it looks like the brickies might start tomorrow as the bricks are scattered around the paremeter of the house (instead of just sitting in pallets), and the air con is getting installed tomorrow (yeah I know they're slack - they now have a hard job as the internal sheeting is all done).

The garage today!

Entry

Ensuite

Looking from entry into family room

Kitchen

House Update

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:58:28 GMT

We now have windows, doors (not the front doors yet), and interior walls! Bricking will be done this week or next week.

Firstly looking into the kitchen and the bulkhead that will be above the bench

Next 3 are the work we did on the 40m x 1m high retaining wall on the weekend

Lastly our sewerage system.

Lots of photos

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:01:06 GMT

Emma - I knitted the skirt for her (it has a soaker underneath)

Brandon

Birthday present from Grandma and Granddad (my dad made it - a Thomas toybox)

Brandon's birthday cake

Emma's birthday cake

Emma (I made her outfit)

Brandon (I made his pants and appliqued his top)

Mmmmmm cake!

Party food!

For Belinda!

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:54:49 GMT

Ok someone suggested I should update about what my kidlets are up to!

They're now almost 25 months old.

Brandon is 83cm tall and weighs approximately 9.5kg (21lbs), Emma is also 83cm tall and weighs approximately 10.5kg (23lbs).

They are really becoming little people. They come out in the morning and ask for weets (weet-bix) for breakfast. They love juice (we water it down 50/50), nanna's (banana's) gogurt (yoghurt), meat (as in meat!), arrot (carrot), toast, rapes (grapes) and bikkies (biscuits).

Photos coming up next (from their 2nd birthday party) - but I had to show you this one first - I asked them to go and stand together - and shock horror they did! This is the best photo of the two of them in years!

House pics!

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 08:32:51 GMT

Builders got a move on this week - finished the roof off, put the windows and doors in (bar our stacker and front doors), and did the outside wall insulation. Bricks were delivered too!