Day 272 - New Phone Photos

Maddy and I went to Bunnings today to buy some oil for our new fence that we are putting up out the front. It turns out that we don't need it yet. So instead we had a play at the little playground in there and purchased some new plants for the garden.

Isn't the colour in this photo awesome, it's been taken on my new iPhone 5. When we have some spare time, I think its time I did a photography class, as I am fully intending on doing this challenge again next year.

Day 271 - Bye Bye iPhone 4 and your terrible photos

This is the last photo that I took on my iPhone 4 as my new phone was finally picked up tonight. I got a new iPhone 5, white 32gb. Ner Ner!!

Today we went to have my car serviced and to catch up with Dad. Maddie uses this half of a shape sorter as a hat every time we are out there, it is pretty cute. While we were there we were able to watch a semi final game of their ping pong tournament which was pretty cool.

Day 270 - Fish

We tried a new recipe tonight for fish, I wasn't overly thrilled with it as it was a bit bland, But it was healthy. We had the blue Grenadier with grated sweet potato and zucchini as well as some onion and herbs. I'm sure we will have it again as it was so easy to cook and clean up afterwards.

Day 269 - 2 At Once

 

 

Some days Maddie takes me totally by surprise and today was no exception. While I was sitting at the table talking to Amy, Maddie wandered in with two dummies in her mouth very pleased with herself. She is just too cute some days.  

Day 268 - Flowers

 

 

Nathan came home tonight with three bunches of Gerbera's for me. Maddie adored them and is convinced that they are for her. She carried them over to me and reluctantly handed them over then looked at them all night. We ended up having to put them up high so she would stop trying to pinch them.

Day 267 - Beach Play

 

We went to the beach this morning and had a little play in the sand with Grace's dinosaurs. Maddie was really unsure when she had to walk in the sand initially but she soon loved it. Nathan took her to play on the edge of the water, which she really enjoyed, then we played for a bit while I tried to tackle Nathan into the sand. I lost and ended up with sand everywhere which proved really uncomfortable for the rest of the day.

 

We went to Magic Mountain before we headed home, it was awesome and as Maddie is under 4 didn't cost us anything other than for food and drinks. We went through the little dinosaur park, the girls played in the cars, on the jumping castle and then in the pool, which the boys said was very cold, they had a great day!

 

Luckily for me Maddie only slept for about an hour on the way home, so we were able to stop at the Christmas barn, I hope Maddie likes Santa this year, but it isn't looking good, as she is terrified of the light up one they have in there. I didn't take the pram with us down the coast so she was walking free in the shop, she was amazingly well behaved, I will have to take her more.

 

Day 266 - Merimbula

After Nathan finally finished work and packed some extra clothes for himself we headed to Merimbula to meet the Morgan's for a weekend away. We didn't arrive until a little after three, so we unpacked the car quickly and headed to the aquarium so we could see it before it closed. The girls loved the fish, seahorses and turtles, and were really well behaved while we were there, but once we went outside to the jetty, Maddie turned wild.

While I hung back scared to stand near the edge, Nathan had to keep tight hold of Maddie as she wanted to go overboard, the drop was at least 3 meters before hitting water, but she struggled and had a huge tantrum to try get in. Thankfully when she heard she was going to go jumping on the pillow at the caravan park she cheered up.

This is my favourite photo of Maddie from today, she looks so excited to be able to squash and cuddle Grace without being yelled at. Poor Grace probably didn't imagine Maddie was going to be so excited when she put her arms out to catch her.

Day 265 - ARRRRR

Theme day at kinder gym today, and although Maddie wasn't dressed up as a pirate she still seemed to enjoy the difference in activities. The cardboard boat made by Geraldine's husband was awesome and Maddie loved it, although she refused to look through the binoculars the correct way which provided me with a lot of amusement. Maddie played stick the eye patch on the parrot, was in a treasure hunt, walked the plank and climbed the rope ladder where she proceeded to hang for as long as she could. Luckily Leah was there to hold Maddie as I was on a terrible angle as she went higher and higher.

 

 

Day 264 - Escape

 

Maddie was so so so happy to get out of the house and see some friends this afternoon. After a week in exile I think she thought she was never going to see a park again. We met Grace, Leah, Hugh and Claire this afternoon at the park in Oaks Estate and as soon as Maddie was out of the Car she was running excitedly into the park, and straight to everyone yelling HI HI HI, It was very cute. She was so happy being out and really well behaved to my relief as the cars zoom past that park and I worried she would try to run out of it and onto the road. When Simon arrived Maddie even ran up to him for a cuddle, She is so like her dad, social and loves people!!

Day 263 - Peacock

I have been meaning to take Maddie to see the peacocks at Willow Park for ages, and as we had to get out of the house and do some errands, while we were out we went for a walk through Willow Park. Maddie was pretty pleased to be out and about and was excited by the peacocks but liked the Galah's more. I could not believe that the 3 nursery's we went into didn't have the plants I needed. Luckily I did get the things I needed from Tuggeranong otherwise I wouldn't have achieved anything all day.

Day 262 - Tough Day

 

Today was HARD!! Maddie was miserable and cried for most of the day, so this is literally the only photo I took. We use this spray to remove texta off almost anything, and it works really well, which is good for me as Nathan is anti texta, and Maddie gets them everywhere as she colours in so enthusiastically. 

Day 261 - Evolution Of The Tantrum

 

Tantrum's sure are funny, which is bad, because I am pretty sure that I am supposed to stay serious and get cranky when they are happening. The last photo is from today, Maddie got cranky every time she sneezed today, and because she has a cold that was a lot. Put on top of that, she was cranky that a toy wouldn't move where she wanted to and it was an epic disaster. Tantrum's these days even involve tears, but even with tears, I still laugh. Gosh Maddie has grown a lot hasn't she.

Day 260 - Tidy

 

Our list of things that I wanted to achieve before the extension starts actually reduced by two tasks today. This morning Nathan took away the third wine barrel that I wanted to be rid of and while he mowed the lawns this afternoon I finished cleaning up the shed. Now it is mostly all organised and ready for us to be able to use for the building. There are still a few more things that need to go this week as per Nathans and my deal for him to get the table saw, and hopefully he keeps up his end of the bargain.

Day 259 - HEAVY

 

This Morning when Amy popped in I took my chance to run down to Aldi to grab a few things for us, and this table saw for Nathan. I was not expecting it to be so heavy so when I went to lift the 30.5kgs on my own I was very shocked! Thankfully another lady was nearby and helped me load it on the trolley, and another man turned up in time to stabilise the trolley as we loaded it on. Then as I went through the checkout a super duper old man offered to help me get it into the car. I was relieved that I had taken my car, so I could tell the man that I was able to just push it off the trolley and into the boot, he was way too old to be helping.

Day 258 - Sick!

Maddie woke up at about 4am over night wheezing, coughing and with a fever, it was pretty horrible. So this morning we were off to the doctor to find out what is going on. Maddie either has croup or asthma and we are definitely hoping for croup. Maddie loved curling up on the couch with her puppy and a blanket, but doesn't she look so sick.

Day 257 - Stay At Home Mum

I always remember Mum cooking piklets or cakes for us for school or afternoon tea, but never thought I would be the same person, as I hate cooking so much. Looks like I was wrong, as this is twice in a week now that I have cooked Maddie cupcakes. She just gets so excited when they are on offer, even when I am making them she stands in the kitchen and excitedly yells cake. She sure did enjoy helping clean up the batter today, she wouldn't take her eyes off the prize for me to take a reasonable photo.

Day 256 - D.A Submission

Well we have submitted our plans, finally, and its only 4 months after I had thought we would start building. In 4 to 6 weeks depending on which way we decide to go, we will have holes dug in our back yard for the piers or footings, which is the first step to the changes planned for our home.
I'm feeling both nervous and excited about this happening, its so real now and all of the horror stories I read and hear about extending and renovating are terrifying. Hopefully with us doing most of the work it wont be so bad and will run smoothly and save us a fortune.

Day 255 - Blanket

Another photo of Maddie asleep, taken after midnight last night when once again I went to bed too late. I haven't taken any other photo's today which is really unusual, it must be because I was so busy cooking satay for Nathan and the Morgan's. The satay was really bland which I am guessing is because I never measure anything, so it is different every time.

I think we are ready to submit the DA tomorrow, so no more super late nights for a little while. I'm crazy nervous and excited about handing over my paperwork.

Day 254 - Yummo

As we were expecting Mum and Geoff for Dinner I thought I would cook chicken with garlic cream sauce, but due to Mum's plane being turned around over Jindabyne, they didn't make it. I don't get why the plane gets to be 15 minutes outside Canberra before being turned around for a technical problem. It sure would make me feel pretty nervous for the longer trip back to Melbourne.

Maddie, Nathan and I still enjoyed our dinner, although Maddie wasn't convinced that my corn on the cob was worth her time. She certainly loved the sauce, which I made on Zymil cream so that she could have some. I have to say making it on the Zymil,  resulted in the sauce being the nicest it has ever been.

Day 253 - Garden

So I hurt, and I mean hurt!! It turns out, moving loads of dirt, rocks and pebbles, oh and pots too, is not good for my back. I am pretty pleased with how the area turned out though, instead of red bark filling the area as nothing grows in that space, I emptied it out, then refilled it with fill, concrete, giant rocks and pebbles. We went to Rodney's early this morning and had planned to have a coffee, but all but one table was reserved and Maddie was a bit fragile, so we purchased our Hellebore's and left pretty quickly. Nathan tells me the colours make the area look emo and that we need to buy lighter coloured pots, I liked the contrast.

While I was getting all of that done, Nathan replaced another 5 meters of the side fence. Just a bit more and I should be able to start on refreshing that garden, although I am a bit sceptical of the timing of that as I wonder if it will get trashed during the extension.

Day 252 - Cupcakes

Maddie is madly in love with anything to do with Cakes at the moment so I thought I would make her some. Silly,Silly me, told Maddie what I was up to, so she stood in the Kitchen calling out cake and stomping her feet until Nathan distracted her. Maddie sure did enjoy her dessert tonight, but ohmigosh did she make some mess.

Day 251 - Beer

 

Nathan's Beer needs to be tested every day now to check for stability, at least I think that's what I am testing for. I watched the DVD finally, and worked out where we went wrong with the measuring thermometer like thing, we had it upside down. I wonder how long it will take to be stable for two consecutive days so that Nathan can have his beer tasting.

 

 

Day 250 - Spring

Spring has sprung, or so I thought, today it was crazy windy and cold and didn't feel like spring at all. While I was outside trying to subtly take a photo of the phone wire caught in a tree that had just been trimmed by council, I thought I would take a photo of the flowers in one of my gardens. I am looking forward to the weather warming up on the weekend, today was just horrible.

Day 249 - Too Late

 

I have been pulling some late nights lately sorting out the costings of the extension for the council. Last night was no exception, I went to bed sometime after 1220. The Photo is of Maddie when I went to check on her and cover her with another blanket. I cant believe how much she loves that bear teddy. 

Day 248 - Funny

Maddie and I spent most of the day out in the sun again today, working in the yard this morning then catching up with Claire and Hugh this afternoon. After our visitors left Maddie and I went back to our yard work and we managed to empty one of the wine barrels, which was my goal for the day. While I was putting the tools away and chatting to mum on the phone Maddie yelled out "Mummy stuck, stuck, stuck, stuck," she had decided to sit in one of the buckets. Gosh it was so funny, I laughed so much that she joined in.

Day 247 - How Much?

 

This morning I wanted a tomato, and I don't mean, just wanted one a little, I wanted one NOW. I assume after yesterday's talking about them and the yummy grilled one I had for breakfast in Goulburn I just wanted more. The lady was putting through my groceries quietly when she suddenly said "How much is that tomato?" I was surprised that this yummy little bugger cost $3.02. Yep you read right, they are $13.98 a kilo for tomatoes, I cant believe it. I have to say it was worth every cent it was a scrumptious tomato. Now this week another goal is to get some growing, there is no way I am paying that much for tomatoes long term. 

Day 246 - Mysteries

Lake George is one of the few places around Canberra that absolutely fascinates me. I don't know if it is because of the stories my parents and others told me about it, that the landscape has changed so much or if it is because I am crazily obsessed with the idea of driving across it.

I remember when the lake used to come up to the old highway road, which Nathan and I could never agree on until I called in others to back me up. It was only a few years ago that the lake appeared completely empty, so it is exciting to drive past it and see all of the water slowly coming back. I wonder what happened to all of the fish when it dried up. The urban myth about it being linked to another lake on the opposite side of the world was another of my favourite stories, when their lake is full ours is empty and vice versa.

I was also told tales of people walking out into the lake to fish, and disappearing believed to be sucked into the mud in the lake and also of a boat load of men disappearing on the lake, their boat being capsized by a giant wave. The first tale was not true but it turns out that a little boat of navy men did capsize and they were thought to have drowned. In the story that I was told they were never found, I should really research it some day and find out whether there is truth in that tale.

I can't wait to be able to tell Maddie stories like these as she grows up. I hope she remembers them as fondly as I do

Day 245 - Nathan's 2011 Christmas Present Gets Used

So today with some planning, we finally used Nathan's Christmas present from last year to put some beer onto brew. Not sure how well its going to turn out, but at least we can say it has finally been used.