CASEY

Let me tell you one of my eldest son's passions it puts the fear in some people I do tell. To me it is not a big deal as we have always been involved in this sport. Casey LOVES riding bulls it is his great passion. He was actually named after a world champion cowboy "Casey Tibbs" When he was doing career choices in senior he told me he might just rodeo instead. "No No" I said that is not my idea of a gap year I'd actually rather you backpack the globe. Well as you might know he joined The Australian Army as an Infantry soldier which is really not a much safer profession but probably more permanent and hey he gets a regular pay cheque each f/night. So my line a thinking is well there could be worse things my adrenaline addicted son could be doing. Oh and yes for all of you out there wondering if I hold my breath till he's clear of the bull yep!! I sure do.

JUST LUCKY

Thank God for dirty dishes
They have a tale to tell
While other folks go hungry
We are eating very well
With home, health & happiness
We shouldn’t want to fuss
For by this stack of evidence
God’s very good to us.

Gardner Falls

"Who Me"
Did you say smile Mum?
My Gorgeous Emerald

Lane loves to have a "spa" at the bottom of the fall

We love to go to Gardner Falls, we can sit & have a picnic and then a swim & then have a picnic than a swim etc etc (get my drift) At gardner Falls the water is always cool & clear like mountain

water usually is.The waterfall flows down into a large and very deep waterhole. Casey who can swim a 25metre pool underwater can not swim down & reach the bottom. All the kids like to jump off the top of the falls into the waterhole. The downfall (pardon the pun)LOL!! is every time I have ever been to the falls I have seen a snake on the walking track that you take to get there. I'm sure they need a sign saying "Snakes Cross Here". The funny thing is they're different types of snakes each time, last time a Red Belly Black the time before a little Brown Snake.

Here goes em jumping off the rock

The falls are very dangerous after rain the actual fall becomes twice as wide and angrily pounds down into the hole below which then churns around rapidly in a whirlpool with all kinds of debris,sticks and logs. We would never ever swim there at that time but it certainly is impressive to see mother nature in full glory.

And there was Birthday Cake!!

This is to go with the blog I did for Emeralds Birthday on Saturday.As I wrote that in the morning we were yet to see the day out. So here it is, as expected she had a lovely day in the city with her big brother Casey spending all her birthday money etc etc. When she arrived home we had her yummy Birthday Cake. Then went out to dinner that night. They had even decorated the table with ballons & streamers for her.We had a fantastic week-end school hols are now over & school started back yesterday.

SLEEPING CHILDREN

Aren't sleeping children just one of the most perfect things on earth. No I don't mean this beacause we mums finally get some peace or though this is true. It's the perfection,the innoncence, the pure peacefulness that a child has on their face, it's as perfect as a sunshower on a spring afternoon, or a perfect flower bud opening to the world. As you have probably noticed this is not a look just reserved for us humans it's a look we can see on any young animal the look of not having a care in the world at that moment in time. It's as if the world has stopped turning just for the little people. Cherish these moments look at them with thankfulness and wonder and remember above all to enjoy this time before they grow up so quick.

Have a wonderful day and remember to smile at a stranger you might never know just how that may change their day!!

Don't forget to comment & vote on my poll. Take Care xxoo

MOTHER & ME

Emerald told me she was doing today's blog so it will be a surprise for me to???

Well two days ago i asked if i could make a blog for my mum's site and i was to think of a theme and about 15minutes ago i decided to make my theme all about my mum and me. My mum is the most fantastic, supportive ,sensitive, beautiful, encouraging mother any one could ask for. After everything in my life that all of us have gone through she has always been there for us no matter what, no matter how tough situations may get she is always there encouraging us and helping us get up when we fall. Mum's motto has always been "As long as we have each other" and that's all that matters. I know i can go to her if I'm sad, worried, confused or what ever my emotion or need help she always has advice or answers.

From Emerald

BUNYA MOUNTAINS

Bunya Mountains is a great place to escape for a week end or day picnic. It is approx 110km from Toowoomba, or about 60km from Dalby or Kingaroy. We like to get up there a couple of times a year. It is so very peaceful no shops or big money costing attractions just nature, bush walking, lovely rainforest's and the bird life is exceptional.The King Parrots come out of the rainforest's several times a day where the visitors are able to feed them, you used to be able to feed them anytime but there has now been guidelines set for the health of the birds.2 of the many birds that watched us hopefully! while we picnickedWhat a view!!!
Lane's bushwalking find(was it a dinosaur)

Happy Birthday Emerald

Today is the birthday of my gorgeous, pretty,funny,intelligent, second born and only daughter Emerald.It's early and she is still asleep a good time for me to sit with a cuppa and reflect on the last 15years and how blessed i have been to have such a wonderful person come into my life as my only daughter.

Emerald is always in a hurry everything is done in top gear and it was no exception the night she was born after dinner,cleaning up the kitchen & putting Casey(then 3 1/2) to bed I thought I would finally be able to have a shower and relax. Oh no not me, no rest for the wicked. I had more work ahead of me that night. After going into labour at 9.15pm Em was in a hurry to see the world and was delivered at 10.30 a quick but intense 1hr 15mins later.It's been full pace ever since, she's either that or asleep.

At the time of Emeralds birth we were living on a cattle station out of Injune -Western Queensland. Injune having only a small bush hospital didn't deliver babies, you had to travel another 100km to the bigger hospital with a maternity unit in Roma. Well of course they delivered a baby in Injune that night. Luck was with me though and my wonderful friend Carolyn who is a nurse just happened to be on duty that night. Carolyn has a special part in Emerald's heart. Often after Carolyn has made the long trek to visit with us, she will say to me "Carolyn has known me Mum as long as you have known me, since i took my first breath". Aren't friends just the most treasured things the help Carey & Carolyn have given us, specially after Emeralds fathers death is immeasurable.

Emerald will be waking soon to a sunny spring day, after getting her pressies from Lane & myself she is meeting up with big bro Casey where he will no doubt spoil his little sis by taking her out shopping and lunch.Then tonight we will be going to our favourite restaurant for dinner.

A good day ahead of us hope you have a good one too!!!

Don't forget to scroll down my blog and vote on my poll.

Wellington Caves

Wellington Caves in Western New South Wales is a great place to visit.Our guide gave us a wonderful tour of both the Mines and the Cathedral Caves that kept both the adults & children interested. I liked the Cathedral Cave best but everybody else enjoyed the Mine tour the most. Western N.S.W in winter can be freezing and believe me it was when we were there, but of course underneath the ground was a lovely comfortable constant temp.

WESTERN PLAINS ZOO

In June we went to Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo. I have wanted to take the kids there for about the last 8 years & finally we got there alas without Case. We had a fantastic day and i can thoroughly recommend it to anyone young or old. The animals seem so content as they are not caged it also means you can view them better.You can either walk,hire bikes or a buggy or drive your own car around the zoo.

For any of you who have watched Meerkat Manor on T.V you will be surprised when you see them in the flesh as they are so much smaller then they look on the telly everybody at the exhibit was voicing the same.

My absolute favourite are the giraffes, I've always liked them since I was a kid and had I not worked with horses giraffes would have been the next best thing.When they canter they look so graceful and slow however they are really travelling about 50-60KPH. Emerald and Lane fed the giraffes(Check out the tongues Looong as)It was only about $3 to feed the giraffes the carrots a lot cheaper than some other places we have been to where it costs a fortune to feed the animals.

She needs Jenny Craig!!!
Em & Lane @ Elephant Enclosure