Life is a Journey not a Destination

Had a good weekend. On Saturday Amy had singing and drama. Christy and I baked a chocolate cake and I just pottered around getting a few things done. Then I had my bookgroup in the afternoon. Had so much fun - we all must have had an extra good time as didn’t finish up until nearly 5pm. Normally I’m home around 4pm so Kevin wasn’t too happy when I got back (and I’d forgotten my mobile phone). We had a BBQ for dinner. Then on Sunday morning I cleaned out the garage (so good to get that done), we then went to Bunnings Hardware (girls did craft while we shopped), then lunch at Hogsbreath. Christy needed a new bike helmet so we went to the bike shop and three bikes and 1.5 hours later we left. Both Kevin and I have got new bikes - the one I was riding is over 10 years old and Amy got a new one the next size up for her. In the morning I had put Christy onto the next size bike so in effect we all got new bikes. They didn’t have mine in stock though so we won’t get it until later in the week. Came home had a spa, Amy made us Nachos for dinner. We finished watching Micheal Moore’s documentary Sicko (so grateful for our medical system - when Amy had her appendix out in the States it cost over $20,000 and they wouldn’t even look at her in emergency until we’d paid $1,500 - lucky we had travel insurance - pretty scary stuff). After Sicko we watched Dora the Explorer with Christy, then Sliders (we’ve just started rewatching those), then to bed.

Tonight Christy and Amy were sitting watching Spirit (kids movie with horses) and I came through to find her crying cause one of the horses was hurt. She was so upset and I just thought it was so sweet. Apparently when I was away she cried watching The Wild as well so she must be a rather sensitive child. Guess that balances out her wild, naughty side :-).

Actually it’s been a pretty good week. I feel I’ve been rather productive, I’ve eaten well and got in all my workouts. I’m still recovering from my cardio workout then I’m going to clean out the spa room and maybe venture into the garage, then I’ll have my shower, lunch and do some scrapbooking. Picking up Amy from school early today as it’s sport and she’s not well enough to do that. Also need to take Rosie for her run sometime - maybe before lunch. Also need to try and finish my book for book group. I’ve been enjoying it but falling asleep very early and therefore only getting to read for about 1/2 hour each night.

It’s a lot cooler today and overcast but we did have a beautiful sunrise.

Was it just yesterday I posted about Winter Essentials. Today it was Spring - 21 degrees (70 for you Americans). Now my perfect day is 22 degrees so I was one happy lady. I opened up all the windows upstairs and cleaned all the rooms. Didn’t wash all the bedding (might try and do that tomorrow). I decided since it was such a nice day and I was feeling pretty good that I’d ride to the gym. Did that, did my upper body workout, rode home, picked up Rosie (from Mum’s) and took her for her run (me on bike). Came home absolutely exhausted. Proceed to sit on my backside for the next hour or two, getting up only get some some lunch (leftovers from last night - Rice & Lentil Pilaf).  The girls are at dancing now and I’ve just made some bean patties for dinner - to be served in a tortilla with salad. Looks okay and was nice and easy to make.

Somewhere on the web I saw a scrapbooking challenge to scrapbook your winter essentials.

Here’s my list so far:

* Hot Tea & Hot Chocolates

* Scarves and beanies

* Gas Heater

* Blankets

* Slippers

* Jigsaws

* Soup

I’ll be sure to post the page when I complete it. Tomorrow I plan to take some more photos. Might even scrapbook it if I have time.

Well, it’s been a busy start to the week after a rather lazy weekend. Monday I did cardio at the gym, cleaned downstairs, bought some food for the chooks and guinea pigs. Did manage to find a bit of time to scrapbook a few pages, then after school Amy had to see a speech lady (she makes a “s” sound like a “th”) and then her doctor to get the results of last weeks blood test. Test came back fine so we’re waiting another 2 weeks and if she not better (doc thinks it’s some kind of post operative trauma) then we’ll go to a pediatrition. Time in home to make dinner for a hungry husband and watch some telly (currently watching Monk).

Today I dropped the girls at school (doc has said Amy should keep going), then did the groceries, went to the gym (legs today but only set of squats), come home to unload the groceries, then back out again for my bone scan. Since I was in town I picked up some rice paper rolls (so yummy).

Came home to eat lunch and check e-mail, then back into town to have photos taken of my bones. Back to pick girls up from school, home again for 1.5 hours, make dinner and am about to take the girls (or at least Christy) to swimming lessons. Boy, I’m tired just typing this all up. And I’ve had a killer headache most of the day (actually I’ve had one most days the last week).

Okay, so maybe it’s my own fault for missing my last 2 weeks worth of lower body workouts, or maybe it’s my fault for not having done squats for a couple of months, or maybe it’s just that squats are evil.  I’m voting that squats are evil. I had no more than finished doing 2 sets of weighted squats and taken 2 steps when I realised I was in trouble. My upper legs were already painful. Now normally I won’t feel DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) until the next day or at the earliest late in the day I’ve worked that muscle. NOT immediately afterwards. Needless to say yesterday afternoon and today it’s sore to walk, painful to sit and stand and agony to walk up or down the stairs (guess who’s spending the day downstairs).

Well, I’ve been on another organising mission. Got to visit my favourite shop Howard Storage World last weekend and got some beautiful green striped baskets (had to buy some more yesterday as the 3 I originally bought are already in use). I remember when HSW first opened in Sydney I was soooo excited (would love to visit the American Container Store sometime) We now have a local store and the owner knows me rather well :-). Went to another favourite Office Works mid week and got some more containers for the scrapbook room. Then yesterday got to pick up my new tupperware. I’ve been trying to cook and freeze more meals (mainly for Amy to have when we’re having something she doesn’t like) and needed more containers.

Today we’re having a very lazy SUnday - it’s 10.30am and we’re all still in our jammies. Amy is still unwell and Kevin doesn’t feel the greatest so we’re just hanging out. I’ve been reading e-mail and cooking up some food for the week ahead and tidying the kitchen. Mum & Dad got back from their trip yesterday so we had them over for dinner last night. Will go have my shower shortly. Want to go through the veggies and see what needs to be used up before our next organic delivery on Tues, have some ironing to do and would love to do some scrapbooking (feeling more inspired after Friday).

Had a lovely day Friday. 5 girlfriends came over to scrapbook (some knitted). We chatted and caught up with one another. Had such a nice time. One of the school mums joined us for the first time. She fitted in just fine and couldn’t stop saying how much she enjoyed it - it was her first time scrapbooking in a group. We have these days every second Friday. I’m really pleased with the pages I got done and am feeling the creative juices returning again. Here’s a few I did.

Okay, it’s true. I am addicted to travel. Kevin says I’m never as happy as when I’m planning a vacation and I guess it’s true. Every time I catch up with a friend I haven’t seen for a while they always ask “And where is your next trip?” I really should have been a travel agent. We even have a plan of our overseas trips for the next ten years. The following photos were taken in Scotland on our first digital camera in 1998.

2007 - Mexican Riveria/Disneyland DONE

2009 - UK (possibly Europe)

2011 - Antartica (40th birthday present for Kevin & myself)

2012 - Canada/Alaska or NY/Washington/WDW

2014 - Africa

2016 - Europe

Our goal is an overseas trip every second year and a local trip the other year.

Annie Adams (a fellow blogger) put together a list of 50 her family want to travel to. I think this is a great idea - problem is I think it would be easier to do 50 places I don’t want to travel. Kevin laughed when I told him about his cause he think all I want to do is Disney. While I LOVE disney the main reason we’ve done it so much is cause it’s such a great family vacation with young kids. Christy will be 8 around the time of our next overseas trip and should be interested in seeing more of the real world. At this stage I’m thinking UK (esp. London) and possibly a European cruise and maybe extra time in Scotland for just the kids and I.

Anyway, here’s 50 random places I want to travel to (the most):

1. Perth, Western Australia ( whale sharks, dolphins at Monkey Mia)

2. The Maldives (stay in a hut over the water)

3. Greek Isles - sailing

4. France - love to do a bike trip
5. Russia

6. Germany - black forest

7. Norway - cruise

8. Alaska

9. Canada - Banff & Lake Louise

10. Jamaica (loved the one day we had here)
11. The Great Ocean Road, Victoria

12. Ayres Rock

13. Kakadu

14. New York

15. Boston/ New England

16. Harvey Bay (Mum fell in love with it)

17. Switzerland - alps

18. England - again

19. Venice

20. Hawaiian Islands

21. New Orleans

22. Washington

23. Fraser Island, Queensland

24. Queenstown, New Zealand

25. Fiji

26. Lord Howe Island

27. San Francisco (again)

28. Eygpt (Pyramids of course & cruise down Nile)

29. Turkey

30. Train ride on Orient Express

31. Montreal

32.Niagra Falls

33. Alcapulco, Mexico

34. Rome & Pompeii

35. Coffs Harbour (haven’t been in over 10 years)

36. Daintree Rainforst, Queensland

37. Northern Scotland

38. Ireland

39. Wales

40. Africa

41. Antartica

42. Galapogas Islands

43. South America

44. Sail the Whitsundays

45. Washington, DC

46. New Zealand ski fields

47. Kangaroo Island, South Australia

48. Byron Bay (where all the hippies live)

49. Cruise through the Panama Canal

50.Vienna

I typed all this on Monday and thought I’d lost it. Found it again today and am oh, so happy.