Shells and Beans

Before and After

2009-07-14T16:51:00.004+10:30

.....there was enough blonde hair on the floor to make a nice wig!! - Maybe for Papi ......?

Cashmere Refashion

2009-07-12T17:46:00.003+10:30

If I was a good blogger I would have photo documented this refashion and had detailed instructions for a tutorial.

Suffice to say I am a pretty crap blogger anyway.

A few instructions if you needed them :

*Take a large Mens cashmere jumper and wash it on hot.

*Cut down the middle and scoop the sides.

*Machine sew some fuzzy wool in loops onto the felted and rather shrunken jumper.

.......Hey Presto!!!

Very cozy and even a little bit glam!!

Pairs

2009-07-12T09:05:00.000+10:30

Stuff

2009-07-10T07:28:00.005+10:30

You know if you want to make things happen they really can. Have signed with a realestate agent to sell the house. We are still deciding if we want to go with an Auction - I am being selfish and thinking it is only 4 weeks I have to keep the house 'home beautiful' looking!! We need to do a few things around here first - touch up painting and new carpets.

Have shown the kids photos like this and they are sold on the idea! Well you have to make the carrot worth eating! Not that we can afford this place.

Funny how I want to escape winter - yet i am enjoying...

*Cooking Risottos- my favourite thing to cook.

*Knitting my fourth sock - yes that would be nearly 2 pairs!!!

*Flannel PJ's

*Scarves

*Tucked in singlets

*Early mornings where it is still dark and I can feel like I am up late!!

Do you think we could use the above drawing as the image to sell the house?

Home...very jet-lagged.....bit unsettled....very annoyed...

2009-07-01T06:46:00.004+10:30

It is only 6.15am although I have been awake since 3AM!!!!! For the past 3 mornings!!!!!

We arrived back in Australia very early on Sunday morning. The flight was long but fine and the kids were great. It appears that I am the only one in the family who is having trouble sleeping at the right time. The kids all went back to school the next day and have been fine and settled back OK.

Hubby and I are a bit unsettled and even more so after hearing the news that a road is going to be built at the back of our house. This had been debated in parliament years before we bought the place due to rare and endangered legless lizards living here. The road was not built and in actual fact the local town centre was built further away. Our view has been our saviour and there has not been a day when I have looked out my kitchen, my bedroom or my office and not appreciated the view. We also built two decks to take advantage of the view. I don't really like my house but am happy here because of our location. Now the powers that be have decided a road shall be built!! Bastards!!!!

This is an older photo but you can see how a road 30 meters from my back fence would annoy me.

So at 4am this morning after looking at houses on realestate.com in warmer climes and deciding that I don't really want to fill in the application form to be a permanent teacher here in the ACT - I woke hubby up to say we are moving!!! He grunted 'ok' and went back to sleep. Just before at 6am while eating some cold lasagne with Shay (maybe she is jet-lagged) I mentioned to her about the road and she replied "Then let's move. Can we take the birds and kangaroos with us?"

I know I have had plans to move in the past but then decided I needed to finish my Uni degree here. Well now I have finished it and although I really want to teach and have a class of my own, I still need to give some more of my time to my children first - especially if/when...no we are going to - move!!

...I'll keep you posted!!

PS. The something special I picked up the day before we left Switzerland was a ring........a wedding ring.......after 13 years of marriage.......and three children!!

Home soon.....

2009-06-25T06:29:00.002+10:30

In less than two days we are heading back to Australia. I cannot believe how fast three months has gone. To us and everyone else it seemed that 3 months in Switzerland was going to be a holiday however it turned out that it was more about 'living' in Switzerland again. Naturally with the kids going to school for 7 weeks and I doing my 8 week teaching Internship it wasn't really a holiday - but so so so worthwhile. I couldn't have imagined how well the kids would adapt to school here and it all being in a foreign language. I am just so proud of all three of them.

My Internship went really well and I was lucky to have a wonderful mentoring teacher who I learnt so much from. I still want to be a teacher - just with my own class. It was hard work and I had a lot of Uni work to do at the same time. So I am very thankful to my husband and in-laws who looked after the kids and myself!! I will graduate in a few weeks, fill in applications and have an interview....who knows what will happen.

I have caught up with some of my most beautiful friends since being back and it really has defined to me that true friends are the ones that you can pick up where you left off....4 years ago and really 6 years ago when I lived here!! There has been a few people that I haven't been able to see and some I just thought that things have changed so much that I didn't call. Time moves on and I do feel sad and even guilty but have realised that some people we are friends with due to circumstance and time and when that changes the friendship changes too.

We are all looking forward to going home and even Marcel has said "Home is wherever the five of us are." - which is lovely coming from my very Pro Swiss husband!!!

.....am picking something very special up tomorrow so will try and post a photo!!

more underwater babies

2009-06-19T16:01:00.005+10:30

Socks!!!

2009-06-17T19:29:00.002+10:30

Well I guess I should say SOCK (singular)...as I have only knitted one!!! But this is my first ever sock that I have knitted!! I am so happy with it ....will be happier when I have knitted two of course!!!!

Thanks to my mother-in-law for her patience in helping me troll through a knitting pattern in German!!

Underwater Dancer

2009-06-14T19:36:00.002+10:30

mmm??

2009-06-03T06:52:00.002+10:30

...so if the chocolate appears to be full of holes but still weighs 100grams - do I still need to worry when I happily can eat a whole block???......and then another??

balloon.....

2009-05-28T06:08:00.004+10:30

Pictures are in the opposite order.......still a balloon this size can crash and cause a small grass fire!!!!!!!.......lucky.

M-Day

2009-05-11T07:15:00.003+10:30

These three make me smile everyday and today being Mothers Day they made me smile more!!

Lots of handmade cards and gifts from school and here at home .......the jigsaw noises turned out to be lovely hearts that the girls made and painted! Together they made me breakfast in bed which was lovely although lonely as everyone else was downstairs. So I brought my tray down to join them and told them next year to make enough for us ALL to eat in bed together.

I have to admit though that I wasn't much of a Mum to them today as they all went out to do some touristy things and I sat in front of the computer all day doing an assignment that is due this week - my LAST assignment ever!! Shay was rather annoyed with me but I really had to work. I have been really busy with my teaching internship and God knows how I would have managed without 3 other adults looking after the kids fulltime!.....and doing all the cooking and washing etc etc.

......must get some sleep....big week ahead!!!

Power Tools

2009-04-28T03:49:00.004+10:30

My two daughters are down in the basement using a bandsaw to cut out wood in animal shapes. They are printing off the animals from clipart!!! I am 2 floors up waiting for screams of "I have cut my finger off!".......

......Pa is watching them though!!

Swiss Stuff

2009-04-21T05:02:00.009+10:30

How cool is this floor of some toilets in a fancy restaurant!
The playground that the kids are spending hours on.

Three kids and a dinosuar!

Meditating!!

Things still going well here on the other side of the world......
**Busy catching up with some wonderful people and their children - who I love and have missed.

**Eating lots of Chocolate!! The Easter Bunny really was loaded this year!!

**Enjoying Spring and really appreciating beautiful days and warm weather.

**My three children started Swiss school today- they were so excited and had a great time!

** Zoe was thrilled to do woodwork and has joined the class half way through their unit on chocolate -she is already excited about the trip to the chocolatier to make chocolate!!

**Shay was a bit unsure about the 'squiggly' writing on the blackboard - "So I just copied what it looked like"......maybe Australia should introduce cursive a bit earlier? Plus first day at school and two birthdays in the class meant lots of cake!

**Luca was so excited to go this morning that he had 'bumps in his tummy'

**The kids are OK with Swiss German which is only a spoken language and in school their lessons are in High German which none of them know! This is a real experience for them and I am so happy that they are happy. Their Swiss German has improved so much thanks to Grandparents but also the 3 kids who live across the path and play at the playground just out the door.

**I had my first day of my 8 week teaching Internship today and also with 'bumps in my tummy' this morning - it all went well and i am looing forward to my weeks of teaching ahead.

**I need to get some sleep.............

At the River

2009-04-12T06:10:00.004+10:30

Conversation at the river the other day.

Shay - Can I take my shoes off?

Me - Yes

Shay - Really?

Me - Yes

Shay - And can I roll my pants up and go in the water?

Me- Yes

Shay - Really?

Me - Yes

Shay- But it is really cold.

Me- Well you decide.

Shay - So I can really put my feet in the water?

Me- Yes.

Shay - WOW - you are not always the meanest Mum in the world!

Me......no words!!!

It was so lovely to lie in the sun (remember I am currently in Switzerland and it is uncommonly warm) and listen to the shreaks of laughter!!

PS. The water was f.........ing freezing!!!

Belgium - It's all about the food!!

2009-03-31T06:31:00.003+11:00

Where else would they perform a boob job in Chocolate!!
They really are great Fries here - double fried is the rule!!

You have to try them with mayonnaise - it is quite good! Though I prefer vinegar and loads of salt!

Belgian Waffles!! They are so good!!

....really really good!

We are having a great time!

We're Off........

2009-03-25T11:50:00.001+11:00

.......to Switzerland!!

.......for 3 months!!!!!!

Will keep updating the blog with photos and news!
Take Care

Juanita

2009-03-20T21:32:00.002+11:00

Sometimes we are blessed to have someone come into our lives who is truly a pleasure to have around. Someone larger than life (she is really tall compared to my 'tall' self ) who you can really depend on and who manages to be the 'glue' that holds a beautiful groups of friends together. I am not often the one who is left behind as I have usually been the one leaving but this is hard - tearfully hard! There are 3 of us feeling quite numb today as our dear friend departed for the other side of the country (that would be west - far west!!!) - yet wish her and her family the very very best for a wonderful life. They really deserve it!

All the best Juanita - I really will miss you!
xo

Just for Thomas!!

2009-03-06T09:05:00.004+11:00

Change of colour - especially for Thomas!!!
Because according to Thomas "That is a really nasty red colour and it hurts my eyes after reading your blog for 5 minutes!"

At his request we now have a blue blackground!!!

Long weekend here - so we are off camping at the beach!

Happy weekend to you all.

PS. If you don't like the colour - blame Thomas!

...just a few ramblings....

2009-02-26T20:39:00.007+11:00

It has been awhile.......

I am back at Uni and really pissed off that my list of things I wanted to do (back In October) hardly got touched!! - I don't know what happened - it's not like I sat on my arse all day!

Now in my last semester of Uni and very happy to be finishing soon. Not happy that there are still a few students who will graduate with me that I do NOT want teaching my kids!! Should I have given them a hint in the first or second year and told them they would be crap teachers?

I know I am a mature aged student and try not to make it so obviuos but there are others who really give us a bad name!!

We have had some birthdays in the house! Zoe made cards to remind us of ages!

There was a swimming carnival where we were able to see that the money put towards swimming lessons went to good use!!! Shay won her two races and when I told her she would get to go to the school district carnival she replied "No I don't want to go and swim again - someone else can go!" - Zoe did very well too.

We all had a lovely weekend in Sydney with a lovely family who live in a gorgeous house with two fantastic dogs. The kids were in heaven! Beaches and bushwalks saw close encounters with puffer fish, bluebottles, huntsmen (in the car) and leeches on legs and shoes - no one was hurt and everyone remained very calm! I am very proud of my children!

I am off this weekend for a girls weekend in Sydney - nice hotel.....good food....wine and bubbles of course.....laughing....and maybe crying as one of the four is moving to Western Australia!!

In an effort to solve my slow computer issues etc - Mr IT (as in Information Technology - who I am married to) decided to reset my computer. we saved everything - EXCEPT all my emails and of course email addresses! I am not too worried - if people want to get in touch with me they will and I will again have their addresses.

My daily 45 minute walk is not having the desired effect.....I should be stick thin by now!!!!

Aldi Milk Chocolate with Almonds is sensational!! It is the yellow packet. Usually I hate chocolate with nuts and any chocolate that isn't Swiss of course - however this is loved by ALL the family - including fussy Mr IT!!!

Kindergarten.

2009-02-16T05:58:00.002+11:00

Well Luca has been to school for two whole weeks now and we have had varied cmments and conversations. They have been along these lines and in this kind of order.

* 1st Day - School was really good and the playground is fun.

*2nd Day - I had a fun day at school and my teacher is really nice.

*4th Day - We did lots of Paper Stuff and it was really fun!

*5th Day - Do I have to go again? I don't want to go!

*Monday Week 2 - Is that all I get now - just two days at home to play? I don't want to go to school.

*Tues. Week 2 - I can say hello in Indonesian!

*Thurs. Week 2 - All we do is paper stuff and it is really boring.

*Fri. am Week 2 - I am too tired to go to school.

*Fri. pm Week 2 - School was fun today - and this..... and this....happened.

*Last night (sunday) going to bed - I want to go back to Preschool - I am going to quit school!!

My baby starts school.

2009-02-01T15:37:00.003+11:00

My little baby boy is starting big school tomorrow!!! He is my youngest and many are asking 'will you be sad that your youngest is starting school?' ummm NO!! Only because he is so ready and really wants to go - it will be a joy to watch him start his school life.

I am always sad that school holidays end and we have to get into a routine and the whole school uniform and packed lunches business! I love summer school holidays for being lazy days and long mornings and just being together! This year we have been really lucky and Marcel has been home for all of the holidays. So with the youngest starting school it feels like we are now are grown up family and all things toddler and baby are well behind us. Not that they weren't wonderful times either - now we are a family who can all hike and ride big bikes! It is a time where the kids still want to do things with us and they don't think we are yet from another planet and an embarrassment to them! I hope this stage lasts a long time...!!!

So to my baby Luca who is sometimes too grown up anyway - I wish you all the very best for school. May it be a really happy time for you and if you choose to - learn a few things!

Summer is all about.........

2009-01-27T20:24:00.002+11:00

....going to the beach.....

.......doing hand stands and the chicken dance!!

Getting fit.....well trying!

2009-01-21T07:20:00.003+11:00

Not one to enjoy computer games at all - this Christmas present is really good! I have my own trainer who tells me i need to work harder, that I favour my right leg and then rates me as a couch potato! There are some great things and my thighs have been really sore from the lunges!

Each morning I go for a 45 min walk with a bit of a jog in there too that is getting longer. My trusty companion Zoe rides her scooter along too - all the while looking out for bugs and asking if I can hold slaters in my pockets for her!!

Must get ready and go before the heat of the day runins it.

Back again.

2009-01-18T21:06:00.004+11:00

Well we had a great week despite camping in a very crowded campground!!! The area was lovely though and the weather was mostly fabulous. I did come back with a few ideas that could make camping a little easier.....

*A campground that offered a "pack up" service would really rock!
*Not only should the milk, bread, prawn and fruit people come through the campground - an early morning Latte would work better!
*Campgrounds need little lockers that you could pay a few dollars to recharge your lamps and phones and not have to hang out in the toilets or the bbq area and listen to disgusting teenage chat!
*Upon returning home the Front Loader should morf into a top loader - just to get through the washing!!! Even a fast wash is 1hour 18 minutes!! Times that by 8!!!

......anyone have any other ideas??

We took a boat trip to see these wonderful creatures!
My foot just to show how close we were.

With some fish heads the fisherman were throwing out the girls were able to hand feed some more amazing creatures.

This photo taken by Marcel while snorkelling.