LONG update - sorry

Life is exciting right now. I'm having a great time, and can only see it getting better. I will try and keep this brief, and it will be all over the place as it come to mind - sorry. If you want more information on anything, just drop me an email.

Lately I have been really getting into my art. Not just scrapbooking, but real art. I have started a Drawing and Mixed Media course, and have found out that I can actaully draw (we haven't go into the painting part yet). It's really exciting to tap into the right hand side of your brain and discover some talents and 'likes' that you never knew existed.

You may notice that there is a slide show at the top of the page of my layouts. I will put a slide show wit photos of Ardyn on soon. Hopefully I willadd some of my artwork in the future.

I spent a week visiting family and friends last week - well 2 weeks ago now. I went down to Tassie for a few days to visit my grandmother for her 89th birthday. She was rapt to see Ardyn, and you could tell that on the day of her birthday she was so proud to have nearly all of her family around her. She had all of her three kids, to of their spouses, her niece, 3 of her 5 grandchildren and 6 of her 7 great-grandchildren. She sat like a mater in the corner quite happily, but I'm sure tha she was delighted when all the kids left her little flat.

She always goes on about how she's never going to make it to her next birthday, and when she said it this time, I actaully beleived her. I can't believe how much she's aged in the last 12 months. But as she says, she has to go sometime, and when she's ready, she's ready. I have no regrets. She has gotten to know her great-granddaughter as well as anyone can get to know a 22 month old. She has lived a good life. I just hope that when her time comes that it is quick and painless.

From Hobart we flew over to Melbourne for the weekend.

I got to meet the gorgeous Mel and her family. What beautiful people they all are. I am just spewing that I never got to meet Rani. I guess that it was never meant to be. We just kept missing each other. John is one of the sweetest men that I have ever come across, and it seems that he and Mel are suited to the ground. They are adorable people, and even though I have only met them IRL once, I love them both dearly.

Friday I picked Cal up from the ariport, and we spent a lot of the day together as a family just bumming around. It was good. Relaxing.

We celebrated Eric's third birthday and Adam's 40th birthday on the Saturday. It was great to see Eric. He's growing up so quickly, and smart as a whip! Unbeleiveable! He knows more about the Solar System and the planets that I ever have or will. We gave him a telescope for his birthday, which I hope is working for him, as Duncan was having trouble getting it to work......I hope it's all okay.

Adam celebrated on Saturday night with an 80's-themed party. We all dressed u in our best 80s garb. Cal went as Indiana Jones, and I went as a punk/rocker chick. Sal thinks I would have looked more at home in Brunswick than in the 80s. Ha! It was a great night. And Duncan and Sam were kind enough to look after Ardyn for the night. I was so glad that she got to spend a little bit more time with them and Eric.

Sunday was lunch with Jane. What a bugger than Darren was in Pakistan - I heard that he got a bit sick over there, and hope that he's feeling much better (sorry I haven't called/emailed Daz). After lunch Janie took us to see their new house being built. What a beauty! I can't wait to see it finished. It's going to be gorgeous! It's very exciting for them, and I have to be honest, I fell really excited for them. It makes me want to build another house again, but I don't think that that's going to happen in Sydney for us in the near future....

Sunday night was a quick De Forest family dinner for Adam's birthday.

Monday Cal went to work and Ardyn and I stayed home, as Ardyn was sick (AGAIN)! She always seems to get sick when we're in Melbourne. Within 2 days of returning to Sydney, she was fine. The humidity here acts like a permanent vapouriser. It's not too humid here, but enough to help.

Friday night, we saw LIVE in concert. It was awesome! I missed thier last tour as I was in hospital with Ardyn (3 days old). We kept calling Daz and Jane throughout the concert so that they could enjoy the concert too. I'm pretty sure that they were getting sick of us by the end of the night. I'm definitley sure that they didn't like Cal's 'singing' along with the music.

So it's abck to the daily grind. Although my daily grind is changing. I....wait for it.........joined the GYM! I am getting off my lazy butt and losing some of this weight that I have put on over the last couple of years. Although my weight isn't the bad thing - it hasn't really increased. It's my fat contect. Now THAT definfilty has increased, and needs to be decreased. So Body Attack 2 times a week, Body Balance once a week, and Stretch once a week. By the new year, I should be able to see some definite improvements.

Lastly, we have Shane coming up for a visit this weekend. Should be fun! I don't know what the boys have planned. Golf for sure.... We'll be busy over the next month or so, but it will be great, as we'll get to see HEAPS of family and friends. Skiing at Bundalong next weekend, Noosa with the Virgonas a couple of weeks after that, In-laws and the Carrozzas here the week after that, then back to Melbourne for Christmas 3 weeks later. Then the new year.........it just hasn't stopped since July.

So, that's about it for now. I'm sorry it's so long. If you're still reading, thank you.

Hugs and loves
K xx