Merry Christmas From Afghanistan

A Special Phone Call

I had a very very special phone call this morning,

-in fact I am still in shock :)

My Dil rang and asked if I would like to come to her ultrasound/scan

........would I ever!!

Wow she has made my day/week...cause not only do I get to share this very special occasion with her, Soldier Boy is able to be there to.

I did mention to her that I didn't want to intrude on their privacy

seeing as he won't be here at the birth, but she said it's not a problem.

Soldier Boy,Dil & her little poppet are coming up tonight for dinner so I'll be able to get all the details then!

So today dear Dil I feel very honoured THANK YOU.

Caroline xo

PS-I have received a couple of emails lately that I haven't got around to reply to yet. You both know who you are -thank you.

I shall email back soon.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Lane

with much love from us all...xoxo

They've started.....

Schools holiday's have begun at our house

so this is what I will be letting my boy do come tomorrow morning.

He's just at the age he needs no encouragement to have a sleep in.

The age of hollow legged boys, tired in the morning but can stay awake all night type of boys.

With just a little but enough back answering to let you know

they have spirit :-)

He's my youngest.... gee I'm going to miss this when it's gone.

Caroline xo

Homemade Pasta

Oh so fun for the girls to make

& easier than I thought.....

we borrowed the Pasta maker

but I'd definitely think about getting one.

Does anybody else make their own pasta?

Any hints,tips or best brand to get?

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend

Caroline xo

What is Christmas?

What is Christmas?

It is tenderness for the past,

courage for the present,

hope for the future.

It is a fervent wish that every cup

may overflow with blessings rich

and eternal, and that every path may

lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo

A Neglectful Blogger, Sydney & a Grandbaby

Haven't I been a neglectful blogger of late. Thank you to the people that still follow, check in & send me an email to see I haven't dropped off the earth -I haven't lol!

but wow! where do I start...

First & foremost next year my first Grand-baby will be born. (I posted about my son's wedding back in July)

As you know my son is a soldier & therefore will not be here for most of the pregnancy nor the birth. Which is so sad & very hard on both of them, fortunately though DIL has been through it all before (DIL has a child to a previous relationship) & hopefully this will make it a little less stressful & scary for her. You can only wish, hope & pray for the very best as unfortunately we have been told that nobody will be holding the baby after it's born, and our friends have now said they will just wait till my son gets back to see the baby & Dil.

However my Granny-who will be the babes GREAT GREAT GRANNY is pretty upset cause as she says herself at 88 "I'm on borrowed time" Anyways I am sure it will all work out & they will both be the best of parents.

How big the contrast is to my friend that is due around the same time & has asked several of us to help her so she can at least have some time with her other kids and an undisturbed toilet or shower(I think we all remember what that's like)

We have had these little control issues come up in the past and we are hoping with maturity & a feeling of security for her & her daughter they will disperse. They really put a dampener on things. We have also been told we are to come & leave at a certain time on Christmas Day. To us this is not what Christmas Day is all about so we will probably stay at home where friends/family can come & go as & when they please -it's really not the day to rush! While we are all sympathetic to these issues our family has decided it is still best to stick to our principles & the interests of all family & not to the wishes of one.

A few weeks ago I went to Sydney to Equitana. (a national horse event) I took a friend that had never visited Sydney before so after Equitana we had a lovely few days doing the tourist thing.

Lane has now finished school for the year. (only two more years to go) & is getting some work with a Baker, we all have our fingers crossed that in time it may lead to an

apprenticeship as he would love to be a pastry chef. The school has given me a contact to an organisation that negotiates with employers about employing kids with disabilities so hopefully that will work in our favour as well.

Yesterday I spent the whole day 5am to 6.30pm at The Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. My neighbours baby had an operation and she had no one to go with her to support her. How terrible it would be to have to sit there by yourself for hours while your little baby was in theatre, anyway the operation went well & I hope I was of a little assistance in taking her mind off things. Yesterday I felt so thankful for my children & was reminded of how impossibly hard it was after their father died doing it all myself. I am forever thankful for good friends & hope I am somehow returning the favour done for me.

Emerald started a new job and now within 3 wks she has been made a supervisor. This has given her a lovely self esteem boost as she wasn't being treated very well in her last job & ended up being hurt as they didn't provide the necessary protective equipment for her to use. The new boss seems to be so much more understanding of her Uni hours & that it must always be her first priority. Emerald has now finished the first year of her nursing degree and is very excited about becoming a second year student.

Anyway I must be off only 25dys till Christmas and this is the most disorganised I have been in as long as I can remember.

Take Care

Caroline xoxo

A Prayer for Soldiers

We Said A Little Prayer Today

We said a little prayer today

A Prayer for mates who died

And no one here's ashamed to say

There's been some tears we've cried

For good mates full of zest for life

Cut down while in their prime

Amid the war's furore and strife

Now gone before their time

We said a little prayer today

For all their families

And asking Lord for strength that they

Can bear their sadness please!

For parents who have lost a son

And kids who lost their Dad

And wives who've lost beloved ones

So tragic Lord, so sad.

We said a little prayer today

For strength and courage for

The mates And colleagues who must stay

Away to fight this war

We're sure they're sad to lose their friends

So help them bear the strain

That when one day this fighting ends

This cost won't be in vain

We said a little prayer today

For those who sacrifice

Their lives in service in the fray

To pay our freedom's price

O help us God to realise

As tears flow for the lost

Our peace and freedom is the prize

That's won at such a cost

- Padre Jim Cosgrove

Wordless Wednesday

Emeralds 18th @ The Deadwood Saloon Part 2

Well...Part 2 was a little while coming wasn't it.

These are photos off someone else's camera & I have been trying to remove the date on the photo(as it's not the right date anyway!!) I was unsuccessful as you can see but I thought I would post them anyway.

The star of the show in character -Sally Starr

Distinguished Gentlemen -that should give you a laugh Lacey!

Playing it up!

Oh my gosh what IS the Marshall doing to moi

(I think my face tells it all)

I got Emerald's cake made in theme with the night. She was so surprised when we bought it out because I told her I had just bought a Cheesecake shop cake.

(Blogger has very thoughtfully turned the photo around for me Ggrr....)

Caroline xo

Emeralds 18th @ The Deadwood Saloon Part 1

A couple of week-ends ago we held Emerald's 18th Birthday.

Now because she didn't want the whole big party thing happening like her brother had where we had over 100 people(insert big sigh of relief here from me ;-) we had to decide on something VERY different to do.

Saloon girl Sally Starr (Emerald)

with Banker Bob (Lane)

Then it just so happened I was having a delicious lunch with my new daughter-in-law at our local Bed,Breakfast & Coffee shop when we saw the blackboard up saying they were holding Murder Mystery Nights.

Well my heart did a little flutter & I just knew this is what we would be doing come the second week in October.

Oh my gosh that's ME!-Henrietta High Stakes(hope you all dig my wig)

with just one of my girls-Sally Starr(dd)

It all worked out great as we were told it was perfect with just a small number 25-35 so this fitted in well with Emerald's wishes of just a small gathering.

Included in the murder mystery night was a 2 course meal.(Fantastic for me no work to do catering)

We had a lovely mix of family, close family friends & only the bestest & closest of Emeralds mates, a great bunch with some travelling 950km's just to join us on her special day.

Whose this trio???

None other than- My make believe LOL! husband Harry High Stakes

with a Lady from the east Elizabeth Money(much more dignified than us Saloon girls but I'm still digging the wig)

along with Mitch Maverick.

I was so excited & impressed leading up to the big day that everbody was putting so much effort into dressing up to play their character. All the information was sent to them along with their invite & an informal script straight from the venue. (no fuss or work for me here either)

Playing dress-ups is still so much fun when your older

After wards we all ventured home to have Emeralds Birthday cake with nibbles & a few drinks.

T'was a great night

Caroline....

Bathing Dogs

Dogs that decide to roll in disgusting things then enter houses

to sleep on lounges must agree to baths WETHER they like to

be bathed or not!!

AND that means you Chloe....

Hope your having a lovely weekend(without any stinky dogs to wash)

Caroline xoxo

Ps-she does look oh so cute though. Dont ya think??

Making things with old horseshoes

We have a LOT of old horseshoes lying around so

The Blacksmith & The Soldier Boy got put to work in the shed to make me a new boot pull. So quick & easy for them to make, with virtually nil cost as the shoes are of course being recycled.

Soldier Boy made one to take home to his place then we had a friend visit the next day that took a liking to mine that I had put by the front door so he then took that home to his place & before you know it I am once again without a boot pull.

I think the boys will have to venture down to the shed again to make some more as we now have a couple of orders for them as well.

Meanwhile back at the house little old me has been searching the Internet & found many nice things that I would like made out of old shoes including one VERY large outdoor table.

But alas it's the time it takes dear always the time.....

Have a great day all

Caroline xoxo

The Weather

It's been funny weather around here of late

you can awake to blue skies then an hour later this arrives

only to be followed up by blue skies again.

They say we are to have a bad storm season this summer but honestly don't they tell

us that every spring. The best advice they could possibly give is just to be prepared

but please please powers of the universe hold the flooding this year!

Caroline

Happy Birthday Simone

Happy 21st Birthday to you,

to a sweet girl that I've known as long as my own children.

(from the day of your hasty arrival in an Ambulance)

I hope you had a fantastic day.

Love from us all

XOXO

Rainbow Cake

Years ago I saw a picture of this cake in a magazine....and as usual it has taken me this long to get around to making it.

It's a little time consuming as you have to cook 5 cakes, I suppose it would be heaps quicker if you

A. Had a really big oven - I don't

B. You had 5 cake tins all the same size - I don't

However I did have a lot of fun making it & of course my family got a big surprise as uncut it just looks like any iced cake, once cut it surprised everyone with a little bit of Rainbow Cake cheer!

Try it sometime it's well worth the time & effort. I just used a simple Butter cake recipe (doubled) & then split into 5 bowls.

Caroline

I LOve this girl

I Love this girl

Who is still only seventeen (So young)

Oh the joy of being seventeen again!!

Who is nearly, but not quite through the first year of a double degree.

A Bachelor of Nursing & just to put a bit more pressure on herself, a degree in

Paramedical Science. HEAVY!!

A girl that joked with her Mother, when asked of her marks?

(While we were washing up one day)

"I haven't even got a pass yet Mum"

And as I was about to go into PANIC!! mode

(Before I dropped the stack of clean dishes)

She turned around gave me a mischievous grin

and said....

"Well, Mum that's because I only get Distinctions, High Distinctions

& a few Credits"

Gosh I Love this Girl!!

Caroline xoxo

PS-Emerald's away doing her nursing placement atm, so I do hope she checks in & reads this.

PSS- The Universty system here in Queensland is (but not always) a - Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or a High Distinction.

Winters end

The last of the peas from my little garden

Caroline xox

We Remember....

before you complain.....

Don't just think of them on ANZAC Day their out there doing it tough 365, 24/7.

Caroline xoxo

For Today....

A lot of lazing & resting, tissues & more tissues along with a hefty dose of

painkillers waiting for this dreaded lurgy to pass.

Caroline xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Fathers Day

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday honey it sat in my drafts all day- but we did have an awesome day didn't we.

Thank you for being such a good Dadda in my children's

life since they lost their own Daddy.

We cherish it & you have made my life so much easier by it.

I love the way the kids write such thoughtful kind messages of love in their cards to you.

Soldier Boy's blew me away this year, for a guy of his age to write such loving words to you has made me so proud to be his Mumma.

Love Caroline xoxo

PS-And thank you for sooking me this week while I have the flu.

Not MORE Wedding Pictures!

Sunday...

relaxing & reading

Today....

The chooks are enjoying the little bit of damp weather

we are having.

What's the weather like at your place this weekend?

Caroline

Soldier Boy's Wedding -Part 2

You'll have to ignore the C*!# scanning job my scanners been playing up of late & even when you put the photo's in straight they come out looking like this. Hope you can see past it to the beautiful photos.

I still couldn't resist posting them....Mmmm a mother's heart.

And don't start me about blogger...it hasn't let me load photo's for weeks

Emerald(Dd), My new daughter, Soldier Boy(Ds), Lane(Ds)

My Two Boyz!

All of us together!!

Have a great weekend

Caroline xoxo

PS-Just for the record I will probably just HAVE to post more yet.

Stay tuned!