Ipod Issues

We have an enormously loooong drive to school and back each day, and to help ease our traffic droll-dum-ness I bought an ipod.  Its great!  Now with the push of a button I can randomly choose a song for each of them while posing no danger to other drivers - like I used to do - searching for cds, changing cds, sorting out aguments about who's turn it is etc.   Then even more recently, Robbie bought his own ipod (after saving for over a year), now there was near silence in the car while both boys wore their own ear plugs and listened to their own music.  This was all very refreshing for about a week, Until I felt a bit left out.  Suddenly I felt like the stinky foreign taxi driver that no one wants to speak to.  A Pick them up, drop them off, See you later, sort of arrangement.  So, to get a little attention my way, I put MUSIC VIDEOS onto my ipod (Robbie can't afford these).  So with just one ipod to watch we are back to 'TURNS"!  Ah, Blissfully refreshing arguing.  

FAMILY HEROES

Joseph Gordon Lobb Light horsemen moving to EgyptJoseph Lobb was part of the Light Horse Brigade in the 1st world war.  He cared for the horses in Egypt and came under fire while there.  His team was bombed with mustard gas and taken as a Prisoner of War by the Turkish for some time and then traded.  Back in the battle  he was wounded by shrapnel and taken to hospital for treatment.  With wounds preventing him from further battle he was sent back to England, where he met Nanna who sewed uniforms.

We are fortunate that he survived the war, married and had Grandma Woody.  We can remember this brave soldier as another of our relatives for ANZAC weekend, but this time as a survivor of World War 1 and pay tribute to his bravery under fire.

TRIBUTE for our ANZAC

Robert Charles Keeble Monks Eleigh England - Home town Postcard from his father Arthur This post is dedicated to the memory of our late ancestor who was killed in the line of duty during the first world war.  Corporal Robert Charles Keeble died on Wednesday 16th September 1914.  He was 22 years old.  He was a signal man and among the first troops to be sent to the front lines to set up telegraph communications when he was shot by a sniper.  The war began only 2 weeks earlier.  

You will remember grandma Woodys mum - Nanna.  She was one of 6 children, all girls, except for the youngest - Robert.  Sadly the family was left with no male heirs.  He was buried in Vendresse in France and just this past year we have heard that one of his other sisters' children has taken soil from his family home to the grave site, the first visit to the site to date.  Although he was not an ANZAC (because he was English) it is on this day that we have the opportunity to remember those from our family who were killed in the line of duty.  There are many sad and gruesome stories told during ANZAC weekend and it's easy to cast aside the sentiment.  Please take the time to look into the eyes of one of US, and Let Us Not Forget!

Heavy Load

Last weekend I bought 2 tonnes of rocks and 3 cubic metres of mulch and had it dumped on my driveway.  I wanted to repave the side walkway and the under the house garden walk.  I had rocks and mulch delivered at 2pm and by 6pm the driveway was clear for Rob to return home from work and drive through.  I used our neighbours wheelbarrow and made hundreds of little trips all over the yard to complete it in time.  It looks great now.  I was so totally buggered though, that when Rocci wanted me to tuck him in bed, I denied him a kiss goodnight as I couldn't bend over anymore.  I was expecting to wake up the next morning with stiffness and aches but nothing, so I did the painting instead.  I thought maybe I would get delayed soreness, but the next day, nothing.......I weeded instead.  (2 car loads of full).  The soreness still didn't arrive.  Thinking that perhaps I really was a wonder woman attempting daring feats of strength... my week continued in the same way.....until today.  

After picking up Robbie from school I once again donned the finery that is yard work wear and began to do attempt twighlight mowing.  Alas, half way through the steep hill mowing, I nearly passed out, aching muscles, headache, shaking, and dizziness.  I suppose I should just take a break now.  My Wonder Woman powers seem to need a recharge.  

Computer capers

Ah the joys and hassles of selling are very time consuming and I seem to be allowing the boys to go from TV to PSP to ipod to Computer games.  Is this neglect?  Or a clever way to introduce them to our modern age of technology.  You decide!  I sure enjoyed the joys of delight at a mastered maneouver from Rocci.  I also love it when the big guy can show the little guy what to do, and once again my parenting involvement is relegated to observer.  A great games web site for 3-8 year old is www.NickJnr.com games

This site is good for at least half an hour of neglect!  Ooops.... I mean, entertainment.  

Robbie hard at work

11 year olds are great.  They want to try new things and need minimal supervision.  He helped with painting inside the cupboards and then made a casserole, it was delicioso.  Not only does he help us, but he fends off a relentlessly high maintenance little brother.

Pa, The Handy Man

We are making improvement to our house for selling, so it's basically all the things we had planned on doing, except now we are doing it in fast forward.  Robs dad has been around with his high pressure hose, wood, nails and handy man expertise to help us out.  We are so grateful.  

Rocci especially loves the masculine example........when he's in the mood that is!!!

Moving house

Rob and I have decided to move closer to our school, to save time.  We have put the house up for sale and look forward to an impending sale.  Anyone want this view?  We have been busily preparing the house and I am quickly tiring of cleaning.  My holidays have been physically exhausting with painting, mulching, weeding, planting, high pressure hosing, hiding stuff, cleaning stuff, throwing out stuff and organising for what I hope is an impending move.  Think happy thoughts for us.

Cross Country Sick Bay!

On the last day of school Robbie ran in his school cross country marathon.  A total of 3ks, which is a huge run for anyone.  The weather was freakishly hot for April and the sick bay tent was overflowing with exhausted children - some before they even started running.  The girls race was led by an adopted Kenyan child who came in 5 minutes before anyone, an amazing achievement - and the boys.....well, not as fabulous.  Too many ran in from the finish line and straight to the sick tent, but we are very proud of them.  

Each year at cross country we count Robbies achievements by how many from the end he is.  Last year he was 12th last.  I think that was his best yet.  BUT THIS YEAR.......dah, dah, dah, dah........ 14th place - from the start.  I was so proud of his efforts and caught it on camera for everyone to see.  Sadly, I also caught spewing action from the two boys before him.  An enlightening snapshot of only two of a total of 15 spewers.  

(I'm having trouble uploading, I will keep trying.)  here is a picture preview, Robbie is at the back and the boy in front is just about to spew, ewwww!!

Holidays are fun

We have two whole weeks of holidays and the boys have been hard at it making lego, sharing lego, arguing about lego, fighting over lego and best of all....throwing lego.  

I even said that I would sit down and make something with them today, but, because they were happy for five minutes I thought of a thousand other things I could do while they were quiet.  I wonder if I can get away with it tomorrow?

Learning to be a blogger

I have a sister in law who is a big fat blogger.  She uploads images and text daily and I can barely keep up with her ramblings.  I am so impressed with her ability to broaden my friendship with her without even realising it.  I am fascinated with how easy it is to keep in contact with family members using the internet and thought perhaps who ever wanted to know what was happening with our family, can do the same.  I'm just not sure if this will work though.