Life is a Journey not a Destination

I have known Annie online for over a year (after meeting through an online scrapbooking class). She lives in California so when I found out her family was going to be visiting, for her dh Mannie to play some baseball games, I immediately told her we’d have to meet up. Things were very up in the air as she wasn’t given much information about the game. Originally the game was supposed to be at Olympic Park so the girls and I thought we’d spend the day in Sydney and then meet them at the game (or possibly in town beforehand). As it turned out the game was moved out to Blacktown and Annie had misplaced my phone number (and only found it 15mins before the bus was picking them up). Without even being 100% sure we were going to the right place we drove out (in LOTS OF TRAFFIC) to Blacktown and somehow managed to find the right place. It was so wonderful to meet Annie and her family in real life. She was friendly and welcoming - just like on her blog. Her kids were great and all everyone hit it off immediately. The kids had loads of fun exploring, collecting and getting very dirty. I only managed to get a few photos as they were so very busy.

I got to meet Mannie briefly and watch him play a bit of baseball, which was fun.

It was a late night and driving home wasn’t a lot of fun but I made it and tumbled into bed just before midnight. It was a wonderful four hours and I’m so glad we managed to meet up with them all. It was only the second day of their trip so I hope they have a great time during the rest of their stay. We also exchanged presents, but I’ll do another post about that.

Oh, and Mickey, Annie said their cell phone isn’t working (which was part of the reason we had communicating).

This year I had so much trouble finding decorations in the shops - there was NOTHING much at all. In the end I gave up and made this sign I saw on Scraphappy and hung it on the front door. it looks great and the kids love it. The girls are planning to go trick or treating tonight (hopefully with another family that they usually go with). I’ll stay home and hand out chocolates.

EDITED: This is what I get for trying to be smart and setting up something to publish at a later day. It was supposed to post on Friday morning. Today/night we meeting Annie and her family, tomorrow night the girls will go trick or treating.

On the weekend we had the pleasure of puppy-sitting our friends dog, Axel. All three dogs get on really well and had a great time playing together.

He’s a very sweet dog and he seemed to enjoy becoming a part of the family for a couple of days,

However, on the 4th (and final day) they were all pretty worn out and just slept.

I actually forgot to photograph todays muffin tin but this is the one from last week. It was just for Amy as Christy was unwell. She had cheese, dip, carrot, crackers, a homemade cheese scroll and a piece of peppermint chocolate.

For more great muffin tin ideas please visit the new host at Her Cup Overfloweth.

Last weeks menu plan went well. There was a hitch one night when I didn’t have any TVP left so instead of Tortilla Pie I made Sweet Potato Burritos. Oh, and I when I went to do the falafel (which hadn’t yet expired) they were mouldy. We had mexi-bean wraps instead. So I bit of improvising went on. Another easy week coming up.

MONDAY: (SO HOT!!!) Kids - toasted sandwiches, adults leftover frittata

TUESDAY: Fried Rice with tofu

WEDNESDAY: Corn Quiche

THURSDAY: Chili Con Carne with Organic Corn Chips

FRIDAY: OUT (meeting Annie and her family in Sydney)

SATURDAY: Our Halloween Party

SUNDAY: I’m thinking leftover party food…..

For more great menu idea visit the organising junkie.

is right on my doorstep.

Yesterday Kevin and I dropped the girls off for a drama rehearsal and went for a ride on the motorbike. I wanted to go up the coast and drive over the Seacliff Bridge (which opened a few years ago but I still hadn’t been over). It was a gorgeous day for it. This is just 30mins from our home.

We stopped at Stanwell Park and had an ice-cream. There were LOTS of bike riders there so it’s obviously the place to ride to :-). Don’t know why I didn’t take more photos but here’s one of us enjoying the view (just excuse the helmet hair)

At least it’s his own bowl he’s trying to get down. I love how Rosie is just watching him.

Aren’t they cute? I was devastated when my favourite tea cup was recently broken.

It was bought in Adelaide in Starbucks so also had great memories associated with it. So the hunt was on for a replacement. When we were in Sydney on the weekend we hunted out one of few remaining Starbucks and I was thrilled to find another one I loved. This time I got two…. However the shop lady told us that new designs are released every season…. I’ve already told Kevin if he sees new ones to buy them for me….

Last weeks menu plan went really well. Tuesday nights dinner from the garden was delicious. For our BBQ on Sat night Kevin felt like having a pepper sauce on his steak so we bought a gravox mix at the shop. I had it over a veggie pattie and it was very nice. Quite a few easy meals this week to use up some things we have on hand.

MONDAY: Veggie Ravioli with Cheese Sauce

TUESDAY: Potato Kugel

WEDNESDAY: Falafel (pre-packaged) wraps

THURSDAY: Pumpkin Lasange

FRIDAY: Mexican Tortilla Pie

SATURDAY: Tomato & Feta Frittata

SUNDAY: ?????

For more great menu ideas visit the organising junkie.

We didn’t participate in Muffin Tin Monday this week, though I did make one up for Amy, but make sure you go check out all the great Halloween tins soon to be at Sycamore Stirrings.

Sorry I haven’t been posting much. Not really much to report lately. I had a bit of a pamper day yesterday. I had my nails done, then a hair cut (feels so much better), some scrapbooking, dinner out with friends and then watching the basketball (the Hawks won - yeah!!!!).

Another day to look forward to. Kevin and I are going up to Sydney to see the musical My Fair Lady. We’ll do a bit of shopping and stop by Haigh’s to get some of my favourite dark chocolate.

Then tomorrow we have a list of home jobs to tackle….

I nearly forgot that it’s once again my job to document A Day in My Life. I was up around 5.20am. Not that I wanted to be but Kevin had to leave early to go to Sydney and since our bedroom opens up to our bathroom there was no staying asleep for me. A shame. It’s rainy and overcast and would have been a great morning to snuggle in bed with Rosie (guess, I should have said Kevin ).

Downstairs to let the dogs out for the toilet. Then I made myself a cup of tea which I enjoyed while watching the slide show presentation for my Design Your Life class, and reading blogs in Google Reader.

Got Bailey his breakfast and watched him and Rosie playing. He’s growing up so fast and is nearly as tall as Rosie (esp. at the back end).

At 6.45am I headed upstairs to have my shower. Christy was already up so I helped her get dressed and put away some the girls clothes. I made my bed, not easy with the dogs.

Then had my shower and got dressed for the gym. I didn’t realize quite how warm it was and should have waited to shower AFTER my workout. I cleanse, moisturize and put on a bit of makeup.

Now, I’m all ready to face the day.

Back downstairs. I put the washing on - adult clothes today.

Help Christy organise her lunch and make breakfast. Really couldn’t decide what I felt like this morning. Ended up with cruskits and cottage cheese and a Milo (which I have about once every 6 weeks).

We had been planning to walk to school but it had started raining so we drove. I had to open the uniform shop at school. We had NO customers today. I forgot to take a photo until after I had closed up but here’s were all the action (!!!!) takes place.

Aren’t these flowers at the school absolutely beautiful?

Next stop was the gym.

Today was lower body workout so it’s a quick one and I was back home by 9.45am. The dogs helped  me bring in the mail.

Put the washing in the dryer. I don’t like to use it but the rain looks very set in and is supposed to hang around tomorrow as well.

Time to rest my jelly legs and enjoy a protein shake while reading blogs. If you’re looking for a good one to read go check out simple-green-frugal-co-op. It’s new but you can tell it’s going to be fantastic.

After recovering from my workout I ventured out into the garden to get some cauliflower for tonights dinner. We’re also having snow peas but I’ll go get them later when it stops raining. I bought them inside, removed the leaves (gave some to the guinea pigs) and washed the florets. I then took some leaves out to the chooks, who were in an area by the back door (where the’re not supposed to be). No eggs yet today.

I then did a bit of ordering for the uniform shop. We have the kindy orientation coming up in a few weeks.

I then made up some fruit loaf and got it started in the bread maker. Our machine is working out really well and even Christy likes “some” of the bread I’ve made in it.

I’m feeling VERY lazy today. Normally after my weights workout on Tues I do my groceries. I’ve worked out I never have a lot of energy for a while afterwards so I do my cleaning on days I do cardio early in the morning. However, I don’t think the weather is helping things today. So I made myself a cup of tea and wrote up some of this post. So many things I should be doing but I’m just in the mood today.

I ended up getting motivated enough to go and do an 1/2 hour of ironing and managed to get it ALL done. Now I just have to put it away - I hate that job way more than the ironing.

Time for some lunch. Today I had a grain roll with a slice of cheese and some pasta salad. I ate while reading blogs (bad, I know).

At 1pm I headed into the scrapbook room to work on some layouts from our big trip. I got quite a few done and am on the home stretch with the album.

At 2.45 I left to go pick up the girls from school. It had stopped raining but had turned quite cool. However by the time we got home and out of the car, the sun was out and it was rather warm (didn’t last long though). Christy played a bit of basketball outside and I sent Amy to pick some snow peas and broad beans.

She go the beans out of the pods for me, then upon doing some research I realized they have to be boiled slightly and then peeled again. I did this and it wasn’t as bad as I feared. The bread was ready and Amy enjoyed some for afternoon tea.

I got back on the computer (and a cup of tea) again and got side tracked finding photos for Kevin to print on canvas for our loungeroom (it’s been on my to-do list for some time now).

Time was getting away so I thought I’d better finish getting dinner made. I got the dogs their dinner, which they devoured.

Dinner tonight was cauliflower in the cheese sauce, snow peas & broad beans and honey carrots. Amy and I ate together. Christy had already eaten and was over and Nan & Pop’s, and Kevin was late home.

After dinner I got the kitchen cleaned up and Kevin arrived home. We sent Christy up for her bath and Kevin had his dinner. We settled down to watch and episode of the Tudors Season 2 and I finished up this post.

To read about others days make sure you visit Little Jenny Wren.