I've Been Tagged.

Thanks for the tag Tiff. Sorry it has taken me this long to get to it. I haven't felt any urge to blog lately but i am making an effort to get back into it. So here goes:

Rules:
1. Go to the section of your computer where you store all of your photos.
2. Select the 6th folder.
3. Select the 6th photo from that folder.
4. Post and explain about that picture.
5. Tag 6 other people


This photo was taken at our house when my family came over to celebrate Christmas with us. It was after we got back from Bali. They gave the kids a sand/water table and this is Claudia playing with the sand.

OK, so now i tag:
1. Lisa S
2. Ruey
3. Dannii
4. Felicity
5. Clair
6. Pamela

Sorry if you have already done this.

SO Funny!

Check this out:

http://www.parkwayreststop.com/archives/2937

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig.

We have been home since Sunday but i just have not felt like blogging until now. I have so much to catch up on and so much unpacking, washing, cleaning to do. Grab a cuppa and get ready for a BIG post....

At 7.15am on Tuesday 23rd Dec, we arrived at the Long Term Carpark at Melbourne Airport. After gathering our 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks plus our 3 kids lol, we jumped aboard the shuttle bus which took us to the International Check In Terminal where we met up with our group. We checked ourselves in to find out that the girls weren't on the system, even though the travel agent had done their job and included them. We went over to another counter to arrange the seats with baby bassinette's for the girls plus meals for them and Coban. That was all done and we eventually went through the rest of the rigmarole. It's funny how nervous you get when going through Customs even though you have done nothing wrong lol.

We met up with the rest of our group and went and bought some alcohol from Duty Free as there was/is a shortage of alcohol in Bali. Well, spirits and imported wines anyway. There was plenty of Bintang!!


Finally we boardered the plane and were in the air about 11am. The kids were all perfect on the trip over there. I gave Miranda & Claudia some Polaramine and then gave all 3 some ear drops to help with the popping. The girls slept for a fair while and when they weren't asleep, they were quiet and happy to lay in the bassinette's watching what was going on. Coban played, ate and slept and was just perfect!!!

We arrived at the airport in Denpasar and my goodness, what a contrast to our airport!! We had to get on a shuttle bus from the plane to the actual arrivals area where we bought our Visas. And OMG, the heat!! On the bus, there were a bunch of guys swearing and acting like tools and Daniel said something to one of them. He was polite and really didn't want to start something but the swearing and loud, drunk behaviour was quite offensive and there were a number of kids on the bus. The main culprit (who was considerably drunk) couldn't quite let it go and once we were in the line waiting to get through Customs, he had some more words with Daniel. This guy was making comments about Shappelle Corby and then when Daniel said he wasn't interested in talking to him about it, the guy started making comments about Daniel having drugs in his bag. I swear, if we weren't standing in a Balinese airport, with our kids and family, Daniel would have belted this guy. But as it turned out, an official came and ushered us off to another office to let us sit down with the kids while everything was being processed. As we entered the office, i started getting rather concerned as to why we were there and what the hell was going to happen to us. Especially after the drug comments from the moron in the line. But we were just being looked after because we had the kids. I just love the Balinese people!!

We caught up with the rest of the group, grabbed our luggage and then headed outside to find our rides back to the villas. We watched all the traffic go past from the comfort of our airconditioned car. Boy oh boy, it is absolute bedlam on their roads. There are cars, vans and small lorry type trucks driving around swerving in and out of the traffic in any lane, no matter if it's the wrong side of the road lol. And then the scooters and motorbikes...My god, some of the things i saw people carry on the backs of these bikes was amazing. People would have their entire family riding on these tiny motorbikes (even babies breastfeeding) and then there were some people with cages of chickens on the back and dozens of big water cooler bottles. It was such an eye opener. And to us it looks like chaos but it is the way it is over there and nobody gets angry with each other for cutting them off. There is no such thing as road rage and there really are no accidents. It's funny that we have so many rules yet still so many accidents.
{{The entrance to our villa}}


{{The view from upstairs}}

We went for a walk around Seminyak and checked out the shops. These shops are pretty much all fixed price stores and they are the more expensive ones as Seminyak is a little more upmarket. The roads and footpaths are not very good and we were constantly having to walk out onto the road to get around motorbikes and broken drains etc. Also the water over there is undrinkable so we had to get used to drinking, washing food and brushing our teeth with bottled water. After a bit, we all got used to it so it didn't really bother us at all. We did a few trips to Kuta and Legian to do some shopping and that was completely different. Bargaining is full on around there and i started to enjoy it a bit. It was strange getting used to the currency though. Luckily our phones all had currency converters on them lol.

Some of the market stalls around Kuta were a bit too full on for me. The people there are in your face telling you to come and look at their shop and even grabbing your arm. We had to look down and walk through them all without acknowledging them. I felt rude at first but then realised that they don't find it rude so i didn't feel bad.

{Riding in the car with no seat belts or car seats}}


Daniel & I stayed in the villa more often as the kids didn't cope too well with being out and about all the time. I was fine with that but decided that we needed a whole day to go nuts and shop, shop, shop. That's what we did on our last day in Bali. We headed to Kuta Square and bought up big time! I even got a gorgeous leather jacket fitted and made for me for about $150AUD. They made it and delivered it to me in a day. It got dropped off at the villa about 10 minutes before we left for the airport lol. Talk about timing!!

I also got myself a 'Pandora' style bracelet. I paid about $125AUD for a full bracelet. 2 'Guess' purses, 2 bags, 2 pairs of runners, clothes, DVD's and more.

There were dramas on our way home. :( We called the airline in the morning to book the baby seats on the plane and to arrange for us all to be sitting together. We get to the airport about 9pm to find out that they booked the wrong seats for us and the baby seats had all been taken. Daniel got pretty mad and spent the next couple of hours trying to get them to do something to fix the mess. Finally we got Business Class tickets (after a LOT of mucking aorund) but no baby seats. We get all the way onto the plane just before it was due to take off and then we find out that they hadn't actually arranged the seats like they said they would. GRRRRR.... So after some more arguing and a few tears from me (by this time it was midnight and we were carrying all 3 kids aorund) a couple of the passengers who overheard what was going on offered up their seats for us so that we could sit together. Thank god for friendly, compassionate people!

So for anyone with babies thinking about flying Garuda...DON'T!!! The crew were absolutely lovely and treated the kids beautifully but the organisation and communication with the airline was shocking. Never again!

But we are home safe and sound and we did have a great time. I would go back to Bali in a second. The place was such an eye opener and the Balinese people are just divine. I would love to go and see the rest of the country as we didn't get to see too much outside of Seminyak/Kuta. We saw a tiny bit of Ubud which was just beautiful. So yeah, a fabulous holiday all up. :)

Halo from Bali!!

I just thought i should blog to let you all know that we arrived in Bali safe and sound. :)
We got to Melbourne airport at about 7.20am yesterday morning and when checking in, we found out the stupid airline didn't have the girls listed on the system. We finally got through and were allocated the seats with baby bassinette's and extra leg room which was fabulous! We weren't sitting with any one else from our group but it was all fine. We went and had breaky and I got my yummy Hudson's Caramel coffee. We continued through and bought some alcohol as there is apparently a shortage of spirits. So then on to Custom... I can't even tell you how petrified i was that something was going to go wrong lol. But all was fine and we were taking the walk towards the Departure Lounge. Gate 11 we boarded at. :)

I was terrified that my girls were going to cry and carry on the whole time but i was shocked and amazed when they were complete angels!!! They only just fitted into the bassinette's and spent hours laying in there looking around and then sleeping. Coban was also perfect!! So the 6hr plane trip was actually quite bearable. Did i mention how much i love my kids?? :) Of course a dose of Polaramine was needed but OMG that stuff is incredible.


Claudia fast asleep in her bassinette on the plane.


And Miranda. Sorry for the blurry pics.

Now the airport in Bali is something else!!!! Again i was petrified that something was going to go wrong and then when we were standing in the line to get our passports stamped, one of the official people came and asked us to follow him. Off we went into a little room full of cigarette smoke and i was sure this was the end for us lol. Obviously we hadn't done anything wrong but i kept thinking that someone must have stashed something in our bags. But no, they were just letting us sit down on the couch while it was all getting processed.

We spent the day today doing a bit of shopping (although we didn't actually buy anything), swimming in the pool and eating out. We get breakfast cooked for us each morning in our villa and tomorrow we are getting Xmas lunch cooked here as well. Most of the shops will be open here too so i think we'll get a bit of shopping done. We haven't yet headed to the beach but i think we'll go there soon. And i think we'll spend Boxing Day doing some shopping in Kuta.


If you look carefully, you can see my reflection in the window. :) Just after a swim in the pool. That's about as close as a pic as you will see of me in my bathers. :)

I got to enjoy a 1hr massage today as well as a pedicure. All in the comfort of our own villa. Each was less than $30 so i think i'll get a few more done before we come home.

I think i should end this post here now as it is getting late and i need some beauty sleep for Santa lol. Merry Christmas to you all and i hope Santa is very good to you all. Stay safe!!

Kinder Xmas Party

Coban had his Xmas party for kinder today. It was probably the last time we will see any of the kids or teachers again which is a bit sad as it was a really great group. Coban loved the kids and the teachers. He gave the teachers their presents and said' Thanks for being a great teacher.' Awww...I did prompt him earlier but i didn't think he would actully say it. What a boy!


He was a little hesitant to go up to Santa but after watching the other kids, he went up there like a big brave boy. He wouldn't look at me when i took his photo though lol.


Outside playing. :)



Miranda enjoying a Gingerbread man and watching all the big kids.



Claudia eating her Gingerbread man. :) Both girls were sitting up on the kids chairs beautifully watching the action.






I also recieved this Butterfly award from Tiff for having a cool blog. Thanks gorgeous!!! I think your blog is pretty cool too. :)

I still have so much to do before we leave on our trip. Not big things but lots of little things that i keep forgetting about when have the time to do them lol. I still have a little while to get it all done so no stress here!!

A little more baking.

After a lovely morning with my ABA group, i had to come home and make some goodies for Coban's kinder Xmas party which is tomorrow. I made some chcolate truffles for his teachers to go with the Post It Note Holders. And i also made some little Mice cakes for all the kids to share. Originally i thought they were meringue ones therefore thinking that they would take no time at all to make. I was wrong!! They are little patty pan type cakes which were very easy to make but just took me hours to cook and decorate. They turned out pretty well though and even tasted yummy!





I also found out today that a guy i went to school with passed away a couple of years ago. It is very upsetting news to me as he was my big love in Primary school and early high school. RIP Campbell!!!!

Making & Baking

I thought it was about time i posted some photos of the Xmas frame & Pegs I made a week or so ago. The pegs took ages because i decided to do so many of them and i had to wait for the paint to dry before sticking things on them. And Coban was supposed to be helping but decided after a few minutes that it really wasn't his thing lol.



And the frame was just something i decided to make when i was going through all the photo frames that i had stored under the landing. This frame was the odd one out and i probably wouldn't have used it if i hadn't have made this lol.




These are the little Post It Note Holders i made for Coban's kinder teachers.
I have to make some Chocolate Truffles now and that's them all done. I am also making some little Meringue Mice for his Kinder Xmas party on Wednesday. They are SO cute. I'll be sure to pop a photo up when i've finished making them tomorrow.


And lastly, i made this little Muesli Slice today and OMG it is DELICIOUS!! I thought i'd add the recipe for anyone interested. It is reasonably healthy and so easy to make. All my kids love it too which is a huge bonus.


Muesli Slice

Preparation time 20 mins
Cooking time 30 mins
Makes 12 pieces

1 1/2 cups toasted muesli
1 cup wholemeal plain flour, sifted
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut
100g butter
2tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp golden syrup
1/2 tsp bi carb soda
1 Tbsp boiling water
1 egg, beaten
Icing Sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 180c. Line the base and sides of a 28x18cm lamington tin with baking paper. Put muesli, flour, sugar and coconut in a bowl and stir until combined.
2. Heat butter, vanilla and golden syrup in a pan over a medium heat until butter has melted. Dissolve bicarb in boiling water and add to vanilla mixture. Stir until foaming and add to dry ingredients, along with the beaten egg. Stir mixture until well combined.
3. Spoon into prepared tin, smooth the top and bake for 20-25 minutes or until firm to touch and golden in colour. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
4. To serve, cut into squares or fingers and dust with icing sugar.