Our daily lives...

....I think they have hit Harrison with a vengeance. That combined with James teaching him bad things is making for an extremely fun household. Night times at the moment are the worst!! Harrison has all of a sudden decided that he needs to sleep in our room. Last night I spent 3 hours trying to get him to sleep, only to give in in the end because I was getting tired and agitated, not to mention he had woken James up and it was 11pm.

Harrison's favourite word at the moment is NO!!!!! Ask him to do anything, and his response is always no!! I know that it's just the age that he is, but come on, enough is enough. He seems to be worse than James was at this age!! I guess that's the joys of having an older brother!!!

We had a bit of a scare with him yesterday due to him being defiant. Both James and Harrison have taken to jumping on my couch and Rich's recliner. I discourage it at all costs, but there are times that they just don't listen or do it while I'm not looking. I turned my back for all of 2 second, and Harrison started screaming. I looked around and there he was laying face up on top of the vacuum cleaner. From what I can understand he was standing on the arm of the couch and slipped backwards, landing with the back of his head on a pointy piece of the vacuum cleaner hose. It took a good 20 minutes to calm him down. He'll have a bit of a sore head today, and had a nice egg to show for his efforts. You'd think that it would teach him something, but I'm guessing that he's forgotten all about it, as he's back jumping and climbing on the couch...

Now they've decided to jump on top of each other and kick each other. I guess I'd better get off here and try and separate them. Ah the joys of being a Mum.

slack slack slack.. That's the only way I can explain my long overdue absence again. I get on top of blogging and then I seem to forget all of a sudden again, once again it's been 5 weeks. So that means that this will probably be my first and last enrty for February..

Well as you can see, I've changed this blog around a bit. Made it a little nicer, I wasn't overly happy with the last design, but knowing me, I will end up changing it again sometime soon.

Not much has been going on in Adelaide lately. Rich is constantly working, and I'm still at home looking after the boys. Although they are growing. Some days I get to the point that I've had enough, but I think we all do at some point.

I was laying on the couch the other day (was really tired after having a rough night with Harrison) when I closed my eyes for about 2 mins. Next thing I knew James was putting his sleeping bag over me and telling me that he loves me, and that he will see me in the morning. (we have a night-time routine here, that when he goes to bed, I say to him, "I love you, Good night, see you in the morning.") So of course he copied what I said!! :) It was soo cute.

Harrison's now putting sentences together, his favourites at the moment are... Mummy where are you??... Mummy take me to Nanny's now... Mummy James is hurting me... and.. Mummy we go car now... He's such a little cutie...

My weight loss is going well.. I've lost 2.7kgs in 5 weeks.. Not huge amounts, but enough, which I'm happy with.

Well must be off.. Hope everyone reading this is well.
xoxoxo

I finally decided to bite the big one and got my hair cut (first time in 13 months) and a proper colour put through it. I kept with the red theme that I often go, but went a lot darker.. I'm really impressed with it, and everyone that I talk to or see, tells me that it suits me and they all love it!! :)
So I'm thinking that it was well worth the money that I spent on it... Maybe next time I won't wait as long between cuts.

We had planned on going into the botanical gardens today for a picnic and some photos, but just as we were about to head out the door, Mum rang to remind me that there was something going on in the city to do with the Tour Down Under, so thought it might be hard to find a park. We ended up going to Bonython Park. I hadn't been there in about 15 years (I was amazed when I worked out how long it had been) Last time I went was for a Family reunion on Dad's side before he left, and that's been 14 years this year.

The kids had soo much fun there. Playing on the playground, going over to the Eskimo totem pole, and then down to the river to see the ducks. Mum, Granny and Richard came with us as well, and we all had a great time. While we were there, we tried to get some photos of us all as a family, but as usual Harrison wouldn't co-operate. I wish just once, that we could get some nice family photo's of us all, where all 4 kids were looking at the camera.

We're supposed to be going to Warrawong Wildlife Santuary today, but I'm not sure if we're going or not, the kids don't seem too overly enthused at the idea, so I'll just wait and see...

Just a couple of photo's from the New Year's Eve celebrations last night at Elder park.
We caught a train into the city with a friend and her little boy. We had a great time, and then left after the 9pm fireworks.

Ok so I thought while I had 10 mins spare, that I'd pop up my New Year's Resolutions. This year rather than putting down HEAPS of things, I'm just going to focus on 2 or 3 BIG ones..

1.) Is to loose at least 30kg before my 30th Birthday in December
2.) To blog at least once a week here, and to track my weight loss on a new blog.
3.) To follow Skip's DG's organizer and keep on top of my housework.

I think they're the one's that I'm going to focus on more this year.

Ok so I'm a day late, but I was soo busy yesterday I didn't get time to get on here..

My day started out with the girls trying to make pancakes for me, but I ended up having to make them. And due to the recipe they used the pancakes were very rubbery, (so rubbery in fact that Kristen wouldn't even eat them) So after cooking the pancakes and bacon, I got back into bed, and the kids bought it all in to me, including my presents. I got very spoilt this year, I got a Wii Fit - to go with the Wii that I got for Christmas, and some gorgeous turquioze jewellery - a necklace, some earrings and a bracelet. I LOVE everything.

I also got some lovely cards and money from Rich's family in the UK and Toowoomba, and the money that I got from the cards, went into buying the Wii Fit as well.

The last night we had a BBQ for dinner, we invited a few friends over. It was lovely, Bec, Nigel and Hunter came, as well as Suzanne, Josh and Aerin. Mum, Granny and Paul also came.

I can't believe that in less than 1 year now I will be 30!!! that's just come up WAYYYYYYYY too fast for my liking.

Just a few photos to finish off with... Hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve. Will be back tomorrow with my resolutions for the new year... xoxoxo

Kristen, Phoebe, James and Harrison with me on my Birthday for the Annual Birthday shot with all the kids.

My gorgeous birthday cake (which was bought not made this year)


Me after blowing out the candles, and cutting the cake.

I'm bored.. Can you tell.. I'm sitting here at the computer, typing up a post which probably won't make sense. LMAO!!!

Rich is outside on the phone to our best friends, Phoebe's in the bedroom singing and playing with her Christmas presents, and Kristen, James and Harrison are outside kicking the ball around. I guess I should be out there with them, but James just tells me to "Go away mummy!!!" So I'm safer in here. hehe..

The girls arrived last night, at 6pm. Because Rich had to work, Mum picked the boys and I up and we went to the Airport. I couldn't get over how much Kristen had grown up from the last time we saw her. She's not a little girl anymore, she's becoming a teenager.. OUCH that's scarey.. Then after the airport we went back to Mum's for something to eat, a game or two of bowling on the Wii and then went down to the Brewery to check out the light display they have down there. I know it's the same every year, but I LOVE heading down there to see them year after year. We got home about 10pm, watched a little TV and then went to bed.

As I'm sitting here, I'm looking straight at my Wii Fit, which is sitting under the Christmas Tree (still unwrapped mind you - I'm doubting it will ever be wrapped) wishing that I could open it and play with it. But alas it's not to be, I apparently have to wait until Tuesday morning to open it. (My Birthday..) We're having a little BBQ on Tuesday night with a few friends for my birthday, so I have to go out tomorrow and buy all the meat and salads. Not sure about a cake yet, I just don't have the motivation to make one, but knowing me, I more than likely will end up making a cake. Just have to decide on which theme/design/type of cake I'm going to do. I might even get Kristen to help me make it, after the cakes that she made today. They were REALLY REALLY yummy.

As of Thursday morning when we get up, I'm starting on a year long life changing way of eating. I'm determined to loose this weight that's keeping me unhappy. So I'm hoping to blog my way there, it will either be via daily or weekly posts. Fingers Crossed I'll get to my goal weight by this time next year.

Well I should get going, I have two little boys who need to get ready for bed, and I'm just imagining the arguments that I'm going to have. James doesn't think that he should go to bed at night now that the girls are here. Wish me luck.....

To my friends and family who read this, I would just like to wish you a Merry Christmas.. I know the day is almost at an end, but we still have a few hours left in the day...

What a wonderful day we have had. The day started with Richard txting me at 6am to let me know that he was on his way home from work. I was meant to get up then, but was so tired, as I didn't get to bed until 2am, after finishing off a few bits and pieces. So as soon as Rich got home, we woke the boys and opened presents. The look of complete JOY on their faces was just priceless. James couldn't quite comprehend why there were soo many presents just for him, and Harrison really didn't care.. I think next year will be great in the Clark household.

After presents the boys played while I got myself ready to go out. At about 9am, I packed the boys into the car and headed to Mum's, and that's where we still are..

At Mum's there were more presents, from her, and granny.
It's now 7pm and both boys are well and truly ready for bed. So on that note I'm heading off to put them to bed...

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas Day.

WOW here we are 3 days till Christmas. I can’t believe we’re at that time of year again. When on Earth has 2008 gone???

We had Harrison’s 2nd birthday 2 weeks ago, and had a lovely day. We woke up and he opened his presents, then Mum and Granny came round for afternoon tea, and I made a number 2 cake for Harrison to blow out.

On the 13th we had a little party for Harrison and a few of his little friends. Bec, Nigel and Hunter came, Aerin and Aerin’s mum, and Grandma, and of course Mum and Granny came as well. We had a lovely lunch and another cake that I’d made. This time round was a zoo cake, and then we played pass the parcel. Later that night we went for a drive into the city, and had a look at the Christmas lights that are around the place.

We’re gearing up for Christmas and the girls coming. All the presents are bought and now I just need to wrap them and make sure everything is set. The boys as usual are getting spoilt this year, I think I went a tad overboard, oh well, they should never get bored anymore. Fingers crossed anyway. The girls then arrive on Saturday coming (27th) for almost a month. So yesterday, we had to put the bunk beds together, and get Mum to bring the trundle over. Being in a tiny 2 bedroom unit, makes it really hard for space, and having all 4 kids in the same room is going to be a test in itself. But I know we’ll manage.


Well better go, boys are starting to irriate Richard by hitting him on the arms. So I should really go and save him.

OH wow.. Who can believe that it's December already. The one month a year that I hate with a passion. Not because of Christmas, but due to the fact that there are so many birthday's, (4 in just my family and about 5 friends), an anniversary and of course Christmas. Although I do have to admit that I love having the girls here for 4 weeks at a time.

It's scary to think that this time next week Harrison will be 2, and on Monday Phoebe will be 9. I can't get over the fact that the years have flown by. Phoebe was 17 months old when I first became a part of her life.

We had a fairly uneventful weekend. Saturday we went to Thorndon Park for a picnic lunch, although that ended up being a lot later than planned. As I was putting the boys in the car, Harrison decided to play with the window, so before I put my keys in the car I dealt with Harry and strapped him in, and accidentally left my keys on the boot of the car. When we got to Mum's I couldn't find them. We had to go home and look around, in the end Rich had to for a walk to find them. He found them alright all battered and broken, about 5km from home. The only key that still works is my car key. So once we'd found them we headed off.. Then Sunday we just spent the day at home because Rich had to work Sunday night.

I'm looking forward to Sunday, our Hamper King delivery is finally here. I've waited all year for this, we've ordered so much stuff this year due to having the girls after Xmas. yum yum, Christmas will have come early yet again for me.

Just quickly before I go, Skip, if I don't talk to you tomorrow

We yesterday I got my new Xmas present.. A canon EOS 1000D... I'm in LOVE!!!! It takes the most amazing photos. So to test it out properly today we went to Thorndon Park.. Here are a few of the pics that we took...

Just thought I'd show off some pics of the boys from our Xmas shoot this year... I think that they are adorable but then again I am a bit biased aren't I??? Hehehe...

Will be back after the weekend with photos from Mum's party.

Oh and Skip if you are reading this, yes, it is a little late for a Halloween party, but Mum bought so much stuff back from Canada with her, that she's decided she wanted to have a Halloween party. Can't wait for it should be fun..

Went to mum's a few weeks ago for the day, - what else is new, so we could go out looking for marked down Halloween stuff. Went to a few places but found nothing. So went back to mum's for lunch, while we were there mum got out a heap of dress up costumes she bought the day before - batman, a clown and a pirate. We tried them all on James, and he looked so cute in the pirate costume. All that was missing was the eye patch. Mum managed to find one but James complained that it hurt his eye, so in the end we used some black lipstick and he looked sooo gorgeous..
Harry is going to be a vampire, and I'm going to be a fairy, all ready for Mum's 50th Halloween Party on the weekend... Whooo hooo....

aarrggghhhh I've had enough...

James has been trying me all day. Just not listening to what I have to say or ask him.
We went out this morning to pay rent, and he decided there and then to throw a tantrum coz he wanted to continue drawing, when I told him no, he threw himself to the ground and made such a scene. So much so that I had to carry him out of there by the arm. Then at Mum's he kept back chatting, NO I'M NOT DOING THAT MUM, hitting harry, hurting Aerin the list goes on. Then to top it off tonight, he was waving his pj's top around and kept hitting me with it. I asked him to stop time and time again, and after a while I took it off him and put him to bed. Let's hope he'll go off to sleep now...

Nope spoke too soon, he wants his quilt put back on. Better go and do that and get him his nightly Milo...

Oh wow... Look how long it's been since I last updated in here..

So much has happened.... Too much to try and fill you in, so will just go recently with what's happened...

Yesterday, we had a 1st birthday party to go to. A little girl that Mum and I look after turned 1 on Thursday and had her party yesterday. She's such a gorgeous little girl. James and Harry think of Aerin as their little sister, and Aerin's mum calls the boys her brothers. When we got to the party yesterday, she introduced the boys to everyone as Aerin's brothers. I thought that was quiet cute. Here are a few pics.

Harry finally sitting in the water.... James in the water

Aerin the birthday girl.. James, Aerin and Harry

We were going to go to the beach last night as it was 38 degrees here yesterday, but about 10 mins before we planned to leave, James threw a tantrum and hit harry with a toy. So I had to make a decision to stay at home and try to punish him. I think it worked to a certain degree, as about 8pm he asked to go to the beach but I told him that we couldn't because he'd been naughty, and he ran to his room and started crying. Today, was a much better day from him, I think he learnt that if he was overly naughty he didn't get to go anywhere.

On his way to bed tonight, Harry ran into his room, slipped on a toy and hit his head on the metal railing on James's bed. He was trying to jump onto James's bed so that I could change his bum and get his pj's on him, but didn't quite make it. So he will have yet another bruise on his face, to match the massive one that he has at the moment.

Well I think the title shows my excitement!!

A good friend of mine tonight got free tickets to the Michael Buble concert in Adelaide on Tuesday night, and she's taking me!! YAYAY!! I can't wait.

I was only watching a concert of his today on TV wishing that I was able to go and see him when he was here. Then tonight these tickets become available and she gets them. whooo hooo.... So now I just have to talk Mum into babysitting the boys for me Tuesday night. Fingers crossed.

Not much to say at the moment bar

Not much to report at the moment. Life goes on as normal.

We are getting ready for James's birthday on Saturday. Wow it's that close!!!! We're just planning on having a small get together with a few friends, and afternoon tea.

Richard's still working quite long hours, I'm starting to get used to them, still don't like being on my own for 13 hours at night, but what can I do. My work is going well, I've just picked up another weekly place, so I'm now working M-Th 3-5 hours a day depending on the day. I just need 1 more weekly place on a wednesday and I'll be quite happy.

Just under 2 weeks until I go to Melbourne. I can't wait for that. I finally get to meet, Caroline, Caz, Jess, Laura and of course I can't forget Rene who is driving all the way from Griffith for this meet up. YAY!! IT's going to be so much fun. But the main reason I'm heading there is to spend the weekend with Solly, it's been 4 years since we last saw each other.

The girls arrive in 4 weeks, we spoke with them on the phone last night, and they can't wait. Phoebe said that they have been marking off a calendar when the days pass, so they know exactly how long it is until they get here.

James is now fully in a big boy bed, it's taken a while, but he does all his sleeps in there. Which means we've finally been able to put Harrison into the proper cot, and take him out of the port a cot which he's been in since birth. It took a while for him to get used to the different sides and size but he seems ok in there now.

Well that's about it, will update again soon.

Hello Everyone

Once again my apologies for being so slack. I have been really busy with work, plus I thought no one read this anymore.

WORK!!
I'm now working 4 days a week, Mon-Thursday, between 2 and 5 hours a day. The extra bit of money is nice, it means we can go out and do things without stressing too much. I actually picked up another place on Tuesdays. Cleaning houses isn't exactly a glam job, but it's something.

RICHARDS WORK!!
As thouse of you who receive Rich's emails know, he absolutely loves his new job. He's just abot to start the first of his 4 off for the week, which will be nice. We can go out and enjoy some family time.

THE BOYS!!
Well those of you who haven't seen the boys for a while wouldn't recognise them. They are both growing up so quickly.Conversations with James are so clear now, and Harrison's picking up new words everyday. He has now just started counting to three. Not to mention that he is still calling me Gail instead of mum, but I blame my brothers for that one. James is fully toilet trained during the day now, but we are still having trouble with nights. Also he is starting the transition from his cot to his big boy bed. He spent all night last night in there, and didn't get out until I got him up this morning. I wonder how much longer that will last. Harrison is going through a bully stage. He's hitting and punching anything and everything.


MOTHERS DAY!!
I had a lovely Mother's Day this year. Mum took Granny and I to a lovely restaurant for Breakfast on Sunday morning. We had bacon and eggs, pancakes, chocolates, OJ, Coffee, you name it we had it that day. Before we went though Rich and the boys gave me my pressies. I got a slow cooker, which has been used sooo much already, a new dressing gown as it's getting rather cold here now a days, a big box of choccies and the new Michael Buble CD. The boys had also made me pressies at Mum's while they were there during the days. I got a really nice photo collage of them. 1 each and a little earring box that they had both decorated for me. I got quite spoilt that day. Later on that evening Mum and Granny came round for dinner, and Rich cooked a BBQ. All in all it was a lovely day.

JAMES'S BIRTHDAY!!
James has decided for his birthday that he wants a Tiger theme. He has a real obsession with animals at the moment. We have to go to the zoo at least once every 2 months or else he starts whinging that he misses all the animals. So he told me that he wants a Tiger cake for his birthday, and that he wants a bike to ride. So I guess I'll be out looking for something for him soon, being as there are only 4 weeks until his birthday.

MELBOURNE!!
The weekend after James's birthday, I'm going to Melbourne for 2 nights. It will be GREAT to catch up with Solly, it's been AGES since I last saw her, (before I fell pg with James) and I'll also be catching up with some of the Mum's from my online Mum's group. We have all been together through so much over the past 3 years, and it will be awesome to meet them at last. I can't wait for that one. It will just be me going, so a weekend as Gail and not Mummy. YAYAY!!!

Ok I think that's about it. I really only have one more thing to say

Well at 14 months old my little boy is certainly growing up. We have been teaching him "round a garden" and he's totally getting the hang of it. You go "round and round a garden" and he points to his hand and starts drawing circles on his palm, and then mumbles something and ends up saying garden. Then when you get to the one, two, he says 2.

He loves to Jump and dance, when you ask him to Jump, he bends down and then says "ump" and dance he stands there and waves his hands in the air. Similar to what James used to do at the same age.

He's also walking really really well. To the point that you can walk in a shopping centre with him, which is really good these days, saves having to take the pram everywhere we go.

I just can't get over how quickly he's growing up, this time last year he was only 12 weeks old and we were getting ready for his christening, and now he's walking, talking and getting into sooo much trouble.

He just loves to get James into trouble, by teasing him and punching him up. I've seen Harrison in the act hitting James, and then running away and crying, making me think that James has hurt him instead.

.... I can't believe that I haven't posted since Jan 3rd. I've been meaning to get on here and do something up, but I guess I just haven't had the time. And then with not having the internet for the past 3 weeks, it's just made it impossible.

So much has been happening.

RICHARDS BIRTHDAY

Better start back at Richard's birthday. We had a lovely day at home, the boys and I did breakfast in bed for him, then we just spent the afternoon lounging around at home. And that evening we went to Mum's for dinner. After dinner, James was begging us to go to the Beach, so Mum took us in her new car. We had a lovely time down there.

Well as the title suggests I had a rare night out on Tuesday night. Kristen and I went to the Cricket at the Adelaide Oval. South Australia were playing New South Wales. It was a 20/20 match, so the perfect opportunity for Kristen to go to her first Cricket game. I'm not sure I like the format, but it's good for the little kids to go and watch. Although in saying that she now wants to go to an Australian international game. Unfortunately she'll be back in Brisbane before the games are here, but I promised her that if she's still interested come September this year, I'll get her a ticket for a one day game for Christmas. So we'll see what happens.

South Australia fielding..

The historic scoreboard at the Adelaide Oval.

NSW after getting a wicket.

Just wanted to quickly pop in and wish everyone a