SWINE FLU

A few weeks ago they sent a note home from school stating that if you had been to countries affected by swine flu, Japan, Mexico, USA, etc or the state of Victoria in Australia (they are being affected badly by the swine flu) you had to quarantine your children at home for seven days.

So what about if you have someone coming to your house from a swine infested country?

Well I went and asked at the office yesterday (Kev says I shouldn't have). The secretary wasn't sure what they would have us do. After school today I talked with the big man himself, the principal, I could tell he wasn't sure what the answer was. Lucky for us we are going to Cairns anyway. Monday was the only day they would go to school. Not anymore. We just got one more day added to our holiday.

We also have visitors coming from Victoria (friends of grandma and grandpa are coming to stay with us for a week to see them). However, by the time they get to our house the seven days will just about be up so if they have swine flu they would know by the time they get to our house.

Good ol' swine flu gave the kids one more day with grandma and grandpa.

Seriously, it shouldn't be THIS big of a deal. Unfortunately the World Heath Organization just raised the swine flu to a pandemic sweeping through the world. I still think they are making too big of a deal out of it. But we got another day off of school - the kids are happy!

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

I have had two very wonderful ladies show me love recently with an act of kindness and I feel so blessed and loved.

Last week my friend Carli showed up at my door with this delicious banana bread. She knew we had been sick around here so she thought we could use a little something. She lives about 30 mins one way from me and totally went out of her way. I wish I were more like her.

Then early this week a package came in the mail for me. I didn't recognize the name or the address (there was only a last name on the package). This is what was inside the box

After a little research I finally figured out who it was. One of my scrappin' friends, Rachelle (Chelle's creations), sent them to me after some chatter on the SM forum about smores and my love for them. She created a really cute camping kit with these fabulous pictures of smores in them so I created a LO about my love for smores and she decided that I needed the makings.

When you haven't had a smore for a long time it tastes so good. Not only that what a thoughtful thing for Rachelle to do for me. I wish I were more like her.

So if you have a thought of something kind to do for someone - don't hesitate!! You just might make their whole day!

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

To celebrate the Queen's birthday, and our last weekend before the next three crazy months begins, we went to Wiseman's Ferry for the afternoon. Kevin had been there before when he went on a ride with our friend Donald on his scooter -read more here. Since the rest of us had never been there we figured today was a good day to go. The sun was shining so off we went on another adventure.

First we got fish and chips and then headed to the river and the par where we found a spot to eat. Then had a small play at the small park. We then headed over to the small beach on the mighty Hawksbury River where we spent the rest of our time.

We watched the ferry go back and forth,

and played in the cold water.

This little girl was supposed to stay dry - yeah right!! Good thing we had Madi's hoodie for her to wear afterwards as a dress.

On the way back to the car we played in the leaves while many people stopped to watch us - apparently we were very entertaining.

Another successful adventure and more treasured moments in Australia!

WHAT'S ON MY MIND?

I was just out weeding my yard and could not believe how many thougths went through my mind in such a short amount of time:

I should really weed more often it wouldn't be such a chore if I did it more often.

When I have my own house I will enjoy this again....I will plant a snowball bush, lilacs, bleeding hearts, and of course daisies! Oh how I love daisies!

I wish I could plant a veggie garden - I miss my veggie garden.

Cooper just told me a joke - why does he think it is funny?

I wonder if Rylee is awake yet.

Really I should do this more often.

I wonder if I could blog something funny so I would actually get a few comments - too bad I am not that funny.

Why does it matter if anyone comments on my blog or my scrap pages - I should love them anyway and not care so much what other people think.

Oh how I wish that I was funny like my friend Mindi - she cracks me up.

I am soaking in the rays and getting my Vitamin D!

Really I should weed more often.

I think it would be fun to have chickens in my backyard - maybe next year when we are settled.

4,000 more lay-offs going to be announced at AMEX world wide in the next couple of weeks - if we have to go home is that a good thing or a bad thing?

I wonder if Rylee is awake.

I took the cutest pictures of Rylee yesterday - can't wait to scrap them....picturing what I am going to do.

Eat, Pray, Love isn't really living up the hype....I fall asleep everytime I crack it opened.

I just remembered I have sharing time tomorrow - OOPS!!!

Good almost done - I am going to have sore fingers tomorrow. Better not do anything in sharing time that requires fine motor skills.

I wonder where we will live when we move back to the States and what type of house I will have - I hope we have lots of space to run and play. Gotta have room for those chickens.

Done!!! Finally! I won't wait so long next time.

Seriously, it is amazing I get anything done with so many thoughts running through my head.

2 YEARS OLD

Can you believe that this little baby

Is now this 2 year old?

I was excited to give her this pressie and she seems to really like it. How fun to look at a book with you on every page!

Rylee is such a sweet little girl. I know I have said this before, but I think that she was sent into our lives when we needed her the most.

She is sweet and kind and loves to give hugs.

She still bounces all of the time - we hate it when we are sitting next to her on the couch because it makes you a little motion sick as she bounces along.

She wants yogurt for breakfast every morning.

She talks really well for her age and that has reduced tantrums.

She is so independent. Getting in and out of the fridge on her own. Climbing on everything to get what she wants. Wanting to do everything on her own with no help.

We love her and are blessed to have her in our family.

SICKIE BUGS

Sorry I have been MIA. We have been sick around here. It all started last week when I was fine and then 20 minutes later not so good. It hit me that fast. Every year I don't get a flu shot and every year I get the flu - you would have thought I would have learned by now. I have a really bad immune system and seem to get sick easily, so you would think that I would really consider getting a shot to prevent me from getting the flu. Nope. It is too big of a pain. When I worked at the front desk of a doctor's office they would come to us to give us flu shots - that was so much easier. So basically I am lazy.

I got the flu. I was a bit nervous that it might actually be swine flu. As it is now running rampant in Australia. We didn't have any cases a month ago but not now. There was even a cruise ship stranded in the ocean because it couldn't dock due to swine flu on the ship. They finally got to come to dock and the cruise ship was docked right outside Kev's building. Although when I truly thought about it I realized that I haven't been around anyone with swine flu so I probably just got that regular flu - you know the one that actually does kill thousands of people yearly.

After a few days I was worn out but a bit better. Although still today two weeks later I am still not myself. I still have body aches and a cold. I am telling you the flu in Australia seems worse to me than anything I ever got back home. Every time one of us gets sick here it seems to last longer and be worse than what we had back home. The girls got sick as well. Then yesterday Kev stayed home from work because his wasn't well. Although after sleeping in he felt 100% better - maybe he is just a little worn out from the stress at work recently. Now Cooper is home from school today because he isn't feeling and Rylee still isn't herself.

I just want all the sickie bugs gone. I guess we are just getting everything before all our visitors start showing up.

TWO WEEKS!!!

In two weeks from today we will have our first visitors from the States. How fitting that it should be Grandpa John and Grandma Susan who love Australia as much as we do. 10 years ago they served a mission for our Church in Melbourne, Australia in the mission offices. Now they are coming back to see us!

We can't wait to see you and are counting down the days!!!

MY MOM WILL LAUGH...

...BUT I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE ONE OF THESE:

OR ONE OF THESE:

I found this shop, Nuxie Made on etsy the other day and I am in love with these hats. For a while now I have thought I could make some, but I don't really know where to start. My mom tried to teach me how to crochet when I was little - I never got past how to make chains, but I did make really long chains all through the house.

So anyone who knows - where do I start?

I probablly need to find a book to teach me some bascis - any good ones out there?

What kind of needles and yarn do I use?

What is the difference between crocheting and knitting anyway?

I see big things in my future if I can learn this - scarves, hats, hair clips, and bags. The possibilities are endless!