Hows this for a big ol boost to your confidence?

As you can see from this picture - and its not pretty - I'm BLOODY HUGE.....

I have two weeks until I'm due to have this baby and all I can say is bring it on.

Back to the photo... Jon assures me that I dont really look that bad - its just the angle, my slouch and the fact that I'm wearing stripes horizontally.... but I dont really believe him.
They say the camera doesnt lie. Sigh.

It brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it - its that bad.....

If Lucy's pregnancy is anything to go on I should be in labour next thursday night - 6 days early - but who really knows. Its just a waiting game now.

A New Years baby comes with a bank account complete with some cash - if its the first born of the year that is. Not sure how much the account contains - will have to do some Google-ing to find out. If its a decent amount will then have to google all the insane ways to bring on labour.
Im sure Jon wont mind helping out with the most obvious one!

Well enough for now - even sitting at the computer is tough - Im very uncomfortable and restless.

Will keep you posted.

Ya-Hoo-Hey We're Going on Holiday...

Just quoting the 'Wiggles', although they say 'Ya-Hoo-Hey I'm Combing my Hair Today'... but its still close enough!

Only two days to go till the pilgrimage and boy are we all excited!

We just have to attend my cousins wedding in the heat and charred remains up in Clare and finish packing and we are off! Woooo Hoooo.
Can you tell I'm excited?????

So anyway wanna hear about my day yesterday? On reading back thru this blog I realise just how many of these days seem to happen. Its just not fair.

Will cover it like Jasons....

7.10am: Awoken with phone call from FIL (father-in-law) to say we left the extension of car seat in his boot on Sunday and he will drop it into Jon at work. Ta -thanks-no worries....

8.40am: Bumped into an old (being the correct word) Capers family friend at shopping centre who told me off for lifting lucy and heavy shopping as it will put the umbilical cord round babies neck!!!!
-Perhaps I should have asked her if she wanted to come live with me then - as all I do is lift Lucy and heavy things!!-

8.42am Put Lucy in car where she begins to run around it.

8.45am: Drop keys on front seat (via back door) as family 'friend' continues to go on and on.

8.50am: Say goodbye to family 'friend' - shut back door and realise - FUCK!!!! Doors have been locked by lovable 2 yr old...........................................
..........................inside handbag, keys, 2 yr old and phone (with no credit!)....................................

8.50-8.55am: (5 VERY long minutes) try to cajole, plead and bribe 2 yr old to pull up door lock (without making too much of a scene in getting crowded carpark) while frantically trying to think of what I will do if this and other tricks Dont work....

8.56am: Decide to turn on Girly Water Works (not actually all fake!!) - think that if it works for kids then it may work for me!!???!!

8.56 & 15secs am: Success....... Store that trick in memory bank....

9.30am: Lucy picked up by her Granny so I can have day off - Whew.

9.35am: My nephew dropped at my place so I can babysit him for the day while his mum and dad work and do work related stuff
(Dont get me wrong you two - he was fine and I was fine - Am just telling a story)

10am: Nephew begins to cry....Hmmm what else can it be when a one yr old has clean nappy, biscuit, water & toys???

10.30am: Still crying... Ahh found Dummy - No - he is crying so hard it wont stay in his mouth.

10.45am: Realise its sleep he needs - Begin to rock to sleep.

11am: Asleep - but as soon as I put him down on bed he wakes and begins that cry again. Still cant keep dummy in mouth.

11.10am: Ring mum in desperation. She suggests to use the pram.

11.30am: Asleep again. Ahhhhh

11.30 - 12.50pm: Peace reigns... while I bake 3 mud cakes for aforementioned wedding - make ganache and white choc slats.

12.50 - 3.10pm: Happy child playing with toys - Auntie Lea still baking - Choc everywhere.

3.10pm: Daddy of nephew arrives

3.15pm: Daddy of nephew leaves - on a mission to find a baby car seat to take nephew home

3.16pm: Nephew begins to cry again.......and keeps going and going...................arrrggghhhhh.......

4.10pm: Daddy and Mummy of nephew both turn up - Crying stops. Ahhhhhh.

4.30pm: Quick cat nap on couch

5.10pm: Lucy and Jon home - get woken to be told he has to leave in 5 mins......

5.15pm: Jon leaves for dinner out with old work friends.

5.16pm: Ring and cancel my evening work.

5.20 - 8pm: Some happy and some not so happy playing in pool outside.

8pm: Ring parents for help in buying Nappies.... disaster.... have none!

8.30pm Watch 'Da Kath and Kim Code' - Hilarious.

8.45pm: Lucy finally asleep.

10.10pm: Jon arrives home stinking of perfume......... Assures its just transfer from Hugs.

10.15pm: Me in bed with 2 panadol....... Cant deal with anymore of today.

Anyone wanna swap?????

Mo-Vember is done....

(Hmmm must work out how to upload images properly - not sure why they are out of order... Bloody computers!)

Well as you can see from theses pics Jon can grow a pretty good Mo - and he raised over $200 in doing so. Bloody good effort I reckon and well done Jonnie I am proud of you.

His team - the "Choppers Choppers" raised about $2000 between them all - not too bad for 5 men with some extra facial hair.
Most people know that all of this excess hair growing was in aid of raising awarness of mens health including prostate cancer, among other things. If you dont then perhaps you had better Google Movember.

I think they all did a top job - but thank goodness though that it is all over!
The money raising I can deal with - the chopper Mo I cannot.
Way to hairy scary looking... too old man lingering near toilets.... and too much like dodgy porn stars in C grade movies.
Phew! we can now all get back to our smooth clean shaven lives - er - Jon that is.

Other photos shown are of the wonderful gingerbread house that my sister Kayla made tonight. I think she was a little unsure at first of where to begin - but as soon as those first lollies went on she just kept going and going and going.
I think it looks great and I'm sure it will taste delish.

Well off to bed now - These 34 weeks of pregnancy are taking their toll!!!!

**Gingerbread Fest 2006**

Well here you have it - our marvellous creations.... for 2006!

Wish we had taken photos of last years efforts where the roofs caved in under the weight of lollies!!, but sadly we neglected to.

So this year Google was my friend and I found a great website - gingerbreadlane.com - which supplied me with an 8 page instruction manual on how to bake and build a great Gingerbread House.

And it worked.

So after an afternoon of hard labor - bit of sweat (it was 35deg) and a LOT of lolly eating - we made them. And dont they look delicious.

My family are gonna love eating the lollies - and all that will be left will be the boring as gingerbread..... ha ha ha.

Catching up...

I haven’t written for a while because life is just soooo busy. And the funny thing is – it’s about to get a whole lot busier!!!

This baby is only 8 weeks away from arriving and the doubt about how easy life will be once she arrives is starting to set in.

We went away overnight this weekend just gone, to Goolwa – and it was great. It was to have been a girl’s weekend, organized by another friend, but everyone pulled out bar me (what commitment!). So we decided to go halves in the cabin – and her family stayed Friday night and mine stayed Sat.

We stayed in a cabin in the local Tourist Park, which I must say is something we never do. Well we stay in Tourist Parks – but only ever camping in a tent or in our camper trailer. I think that this is a throw back from both of our childhoods.

I - Having grown up in a family of 6 – and throw in the Scouting factor – Tenting was the only style of home we knew when staying in a Tourist Park.

And Jon’s family were big on rough-ing it. They didn’t even get to stay in caravan parks.

So on entering into the cabin I knew nothing of the greatness I was about to see…. They have their own bloody toilets and showers!!! How good is that?

And to those of you who have either been or are pregnant – your own personal toilet is wonderful.

No walking across other peoples space, in the dark, at 2.30am to empty a bladder that feels so bursting that you can’t roll over or sleep – only to find that the ‘very full’ bladder only contains about 20ml of liquid!! Arrrgghh.

But anyway apart from wonderful amenities, we did have a great weekend.

We walked down the main street of Goolwa – stopped at the local “Dolly & Lolly” shop (what pure bliss!), and ended up on the River front.

There we discovered a new Brewery, Called “Steam Exchange Brewery”, has only been open for 6weeks and is housed in an old warehouse. It was really funky. Jon sampled a few of their beers – which is made much easier to do so cos they do ‘tasting’ glasses for $2.00. Bargain. He found them to be very delicious. Lucy and I settled in to drink our cool glasses of water and eat the chocs bought from afore-mentioned Lolly Shop.

On our way back to cabin Jon wanted to stop and test out his new, you beaut stunt kite. No expense was spared on this baby…He bought it from those door-to-door sellers for the princely sum of $12.00.

Lucy and I played on the playground while Jon wrestled with the bloody thing. It was a pretty gusty afternoon down in the south – so he was having all sorts of trouble getting up into the sky.

I kinda felt sorry for him struggling on his own – but with a belly as large as mine (I'm 32 weeks prego) its just so hard to keep running after a kite, let alone bend down and pick it up.

He did persevere for about 20 mins and to give him credit he didn’t get cranky at all. But we decided that it is best left in the packet until we hit the beach – where there will be all other family members at the ready to help… Sorry Jonnie – I’m just too ungainly when running at the moment!!!

Sat night was Fish & Chips – ‘Red Faces’ re-runs, a little of ‘Wizard of Oz’ and then all of ‘Happy Gilmore’. Good.Good.Good.

Rarely do we get to sit and watch a movie at home, so just to do this was great.

Sun morning was spent leisurely eating hot crumpets (ooohh that sounds rude – no nothing happened –we have a two yr old and a big fat belly remember), and slowly packing up.

We headed into Victor to catch the Horse Tram across to Granite Island. Which was fantastic. Children under 4 are free – which is even better…

The weather was absolutely beautiful – no clouds and about 28deg. Pity we didn’t take sunscreen!! We hiked up the stairs to the top and posed for some pici’s, and then came down to sit in the shade to await the return trip on the tram.

It wasn’t a long stay on the island as it was just too hot for me to walk for any length of time – but it would have been lovely!

We had a picnic lunch on the grass in front of the Crown Hotel – and headed home.

Stopping at friends in McLaren Vale for a cuppa, Medlow Chocolates for a top up on lollies & Jon’s parents for dinner.

Wow what a great weekend.

Freedom is great - but is it worth it???

Having just had the last two weekends off from Parental Duty this is where my question comes from....

Lucy has three sets of Grandparents (divorced parents remarried/repartnered) & two out of the three are teachers.
So seeing it has just been school holidays we thought we would take advantage of their time off to ship our little blondie off to them to have some quality time. For us & them.

Lucy spent two nights & two & half days with each of the Grandparents - & as far as everyone is concerned - a GREAT time was had by all.

Going back to my question... is it worth it?
Well yes absolutely but it certainly makes the coming back down to the parental world of responsibility a VERY bumpy, long & tiring ride! You see its so easy to forget how much work a two year old is.

We had only been home with Lucy for 2 hours yesterday when Jon & both looked at each other & said "Oh my goodness - she doesn't let up does she?"
Our house has been quiet, clean & calm for the last 48+ hours & now within the space of TWO it had been turned on its head.

In that space of time Lucy had managed to say 'Huh' about 150 times.

('Huh' is Lucy's response to ANYTHING that Jon or I say. And even if we repeat two or three times what we have just said - we are still met with a 'Huh'.
AAARRRGGGHH!)

She had also cried a very false & annoying cry about 25 times - or each time she just slightly tripped over the smallest speck - or bumped into the merest corner of any piece of furniture.

She commented numerous times 'I want to e-e-eat'.

She changed outfits.

She had stripped off nude.

She had spilt water all over the floor when trying to pour her drink from one cup to another.

She had swept a newly mopped floor & left bits of fluff all over it.

She watched the Wiggles.

She rode her bike outside.

She learnt that when you put your finger onto a spinkler valve it squirts in all different directions...even over yourself.

She pooed in the shower.

She pulled the vacuum cleaner cord out & let it retract back in about 20 times.

Phew! Thats a pretty busy two hour time line.
It certainly lets you know that you have entered the parenting world again... BAM! (thats me crashing into the parenting wall!)
We were stuffed by the time she went to bed at 7.30pm. Only 3.5 hours after she had come home.

So again back to my question... the re-adjusting - from being single, carefree, get out of you car & walk away without getting anything else out of it, coffee without walking round the cafe & sleeping in - to the full on responsibility of a two year old would have to be about the hardest thing you have ever got to do.

But will I pack her off to that wonderful place called a Grandparents home again????
With the knowledge that we will have to go through the trying adjustment period again....

ABSO - F*******- LUTELY.... Bring on the Xmas Holi's!!!!

We all had a wonderful time - & we really do appreciate the time to just be US again!
Thanks Rob & Liz, & Liz & Don - we love you guys!

Long Weekend Recovery

Well we had a really busy long weekend...but it was good.

Jon had to work all 3 days & Saturday night, so I have been on Lucy shift pretty much full time. I feel I need a holiday now too.
Seeing she is a typical 2.5 year old - the day just seems to drag by about 4.30pm, which is when witching hours begins.

She's bored - she's hungry - she's too awake to go to bed & too tired to be nice. All in all she is just 2.5....

What didn't help matters is that we have been busy either having people over or going to other peoples places or babysitting young friends...so her tiredness was escalating & my tolerance levels were depleting.

But yeah...thats what you get I suppose!

So anyway on Sun night we had two of the girls from my mums group & their husbands & their kids over for a BBQ. It was a fantastic night - with the two girls letting their hair down & getting way beyond tipsy.

Being the sensible prego woman that I am - I kept it down to one small glass of red (sigh!) & sat back & watched the merriment.
Jon too also helped in emptying those 4 bottles of red - & boy what a laugh we all had.

One of the husbands was celebrating his birthday that day & had already spent a great deal of the day at the pub, so his involvement in the merriment was fairly quiet - but he had the odd comment to throw in.
And the other husband was the DD - so he like me - watched three pissed minda's from a sober position. Which as most people know its not nearly as much fun as when you have a few under your belt to loosen you up.

With all three kids tucked into various beds around the house we kicked on to the great time of midnight - wow! I know everyone must be saying - what party animals.
But when you know in the back of your mind that you have to get up to that 2.5 year old in the morning (and its 6.30am at the moment cos of the early rising of the sun!) the mixing of midnight & alcohol - is a BIG thing.

I must admit tho I did give a 'mum' warning to Jon at 11pm to remind him that he had to be up at 6.30am to go to work. Awful I know....
But once upon a time evenings on the piss would be easy - get up in the morning & keep going - but the age factor creeps up on you & suddenly you find that recovery is not as easy as it once was.
But Im sure a couple of panadol, berocca's & some serious bench leaning helped mightily the next day.
An afternoon 'grandpa' nap was taken too - Before heading out again for another get together.
I did notice tho that my bottle of softdrink was being drunk way faster than it should of.
Even hair of the dog gets harder...doesn't it Jonno!

So it was a good weekend... Long but good!

Now honestly...Why wouldn't you have one!

Children...Ahh!

One of life's little miracles - & also one of the best ways to get comedic stories... to tell her at her 21st.

Lucy, while in the bath last night, was scratching her butt. When her fingers got a little too far round the bend & she commented to Jon...

"Look daddy - Little hole"

No need for Anatomy 101 in our house.

"Its a ......"

Its a GIRL!!!!!

Yes now I can introduce you to little "aggie"... don't panic - its just a nickname. You will find out what her real name is when she is born!
We even know it yet.

I don't think that I need to put a mud map picture to this ultra-sound - although I could learn to use the scanner on photoshop a little better.
But it is obviously the profile of her little head. That has a circumference of 5cm. Soo Tiny!

I am now 21 weeks into this journey and I am getting larger, looking larger & feeling larger.
Its really amazing how you forget all the little tiny niggly things that go hand in hand with pregnancy. Heart palpatations, terrible dreams, sleeping on your side while your ever expanding gut hangs lopsidedly, head colds that you just cant take anything for..... I shall stop now for fear of putting anyone off.

There are obviously good, no even great things that also go hand in hand with pregnancy - but if you want to hear them - come talk to me later.
Later that is AFTER I have re-folded all the washing - that Lucy has lovingly strewn across the lounge.
Later that is AFTER I have put the rolling TV cabinet and all its viewable inners back in their spots.
Later that is AFTER I have tidied Lucy's room for the second time today - because she didn't feel like going to sleep - she felt like emptying her clothes drawers - her bookcase and her teddy bear basket.
Later that is AFTER I have put all my cross stitch patterns away - and the very expensive $20/Mt Aida cloth away, that she decided to use as a Zebra crossing while I sung the Wiggles song that says about crossing the road...(I suppose I should praise her for knowing how to cross the road...??!!)
Later that is AFTER I have been into my ensuite and cleaned up all the make-up that she has painted, and very artistically I might add, the cupboards with.
Later that is AFTER she has finished her two hour sleep-my two hours of solitary time out - now that she has finally deemed it time to go to sleep (55 mins after putting her to bed & 3 times of me going in getting cross!)
There must be some thing good I could find to say about having another one surely....!

The amazing thing is that we got home from grocery shopping at 12.25pm.... and I put her to bed at 1.55pm.... and she went to sleep at 2.50pm, so if my math is correct and its usually not but we will assume that it is - it only took her 2.5 hours to cause mammoth destruction to the house.
Oh joy - Oh rapture!

Welcome.

And introducing to you all the newest member of the Hogan family...

A name does not yet exist for the little alien like creature - but Butthead may or may not be used.
We used to call Lucy in-utero Beavis - but Butthead does not hold the same appeal for me. Hmmm not sure why?!

I have included a stick figure to help all those people who can't work out ultrasound pics...they are very much like those 3D images that were a huge craze in the 90's. You either get or you don't!

Some amazing facts and figures:

- it is 5.5cm long <____________________> Wow that's tiny!

- it already has eyes that are fully formed - but are fused shut for the while.

- it has all its genatalia - and a trained eye can work out what sex it is - apparently.
(A penis would be bout 1mm long - wow that's tiny!)

- it wriggles like there's no tomorrow.

-it has fingernails

- it will be coming in 6 months!

Stay tuned!

Is there a Doctor in the house?

Well my life this past two weeks has revolved around doctors.

Lucy has been plagued by some strange rash/infection that most of them had absolutely no idea as to what it was.
So their best solution to the problem was to prescribe anything... and hope that it works. If not "well Im sure the mum wouldn't mind paying again to come and see us - so we cant prescribe something else that doesn't work"

In the last two weeks I have seen 3 doctors for the problem, until finally I went to the W and C Hosp in the city- and a lovely young doc worked it out.

Meanwhile - seeing this is about her - my poor little Lucy continued to live thru what we now know was very painful and very bad thrush..... all the ladies out there will understand.

But like everything else that has ailed her - she has carried on her life as if it is only a minor issue. Not crying much - or complaining - or whinging. What a trooper...

Although it probably would have been good for her to complain more cos then the doc's would of had to sit up and take notice.
Good news is that she is now on the mend - really was even after 24hours on the latest prescribed stuff - and should make a full recovery to her normal 2 year old self soon.


And news on the new baby - well Im now 11 weeks prego - and am suffering with my version of morning sickness - that happens in the afternoon.
Now I know that many more unfortunate woman suffer far greater than I am - but compared with Lucy's pregnancy (where I got nothing) this is horrible. Very tired, queasy and perhaps even a little moody....

But apart from that - Im well.
Oh not really - my veins in my legs have blocked again - which are quite painful - but nothing too major.... dont want to sound like a whinger!
Its just that I saw 4 doctors last thursday in the space of 5 hours at the hosp app. and plenty more to come.

So Im a little over the whole doctor deal....

Sick & Tired!

Even though this title may sound like it needs an 'of' added to it - it doesn't.

I'm just feeling very tired - cos of being preggers - and feel sick too.

This pregnancy is slightly differnent from the last because I'm feeling alot worse - and it is strange cos the morning sickness doesn't kick in till 2 in the afternoon!

And by 4pm I'm in desperate need of a nanna nap.
Wow how quickly you forget how a preganancy takes over your body.

The other thing going is my brain -take this blog entry for example. It may look all nice and well written but I will just for one minute type without corrections...then you will understqntd the stupidsness of my brain.
of course noew I cant think of anything eslse to wrtitse about. ( I was alsso a littel scared taht my rwritting fwaws going to be perfecdtr - but no!0)

Dp So anyway...now Ive fucked up my typing completely!!

Right then, now I have wawsted so mcuyh time trying to correct six billion spwelling mixstackes I have officially run out of time.

Ciao.

Lock in 'C' Eddie.....

And this question I ask of you all....

What will Leanne be doing on January 10th 2007?

a) Will she be making a wedding cake?

b) Will she be Knitting a scarf?

c) Will she be in excruciating pain while trying to push out a watermelon sized child?

d) Will she be going out for dinner?


The answer is 'C'..... She will be in terrible pain while trying to have a baby!

Yep IM PREGNANT!!!!

6 weeks pregnant. Due in January '07.

Wow can still hardly believe it myself!

Rest In Peace

Well today we had to do what most dog owners dread - we had to have Sannie put down.

And let me tell you -IT SUCKED! IT SUCKED! IT SUCKED! and then IT SUCKED some more.

We have had her in our family for 11 years.

We picked her out of the Sat 'tiser, went to a house that was full of stoned boys, and paid the whopping sum of $25 for her - which probably went straight into buying more dope...

She has been a really great dog, very loyal, loves a walk & all the other doggie stuff. But had been getting very cranky in the last few years - old age maybe - new child in the family- terrible arthritis - lots of reasons.

Being a cattle dog she could also be very quick to 'nip' at heels of anyone running by (sorry again Mel!) and we were always nervously watchful whenever children were round.

But the crankiness began to become too noticeable.
She would consistently growl anytime that Lucy came near.... (who by the way is an extreme animal lover - eek)
And had 'nipped' Lucy a few months ago - on the arm.

But when she did it again on Tuesday -this time her face - we knew we had to make the awful decision.

And it was so hard - as we had to have her destroyed on the potential that she may do it again - but next time could be worse.....

Decisions like that you just want to sweep under the carpet and ignore - but I didn't really want to end up on 'Today-Tonight'... (James would never let me hear the end of that!).. so we had to decide.

And unfortunately the Animal Welfare League is only open 10am-4pm, which meant that I had to take her down there.

We could of waited until Sunday - when we both were free - but it would of been just terrible having to count down the days.

Michelle at the Animal Welfare was just lovely and has a 3 year old child- so could completely understand what I was saying - and was so unjudgemental... my biggest worry!

What sucked the most was that because the reason we were having her put down was due to a 'bite' - I had to muzzle her before they would handle her......I know, I know OH&S rules....but it is still awful and she hated it. Its is not the best image to finish with.
(I could have gone and seen her 'after', but I just didnt think I could manage that)

It was a very strange car trip home, and an even more unusual sight to see the back patio door deserted.

I know my head tho that we have made the best decision.

RIP San... May you run free forever.

Stop! Rewind..... I didn't get a mention!

STOP!

Put the bloody Commonwealth games back on....They forgot to give me my medal!

I have changed 5 Poo-ey nappies today!

Thats a Personal Best - and a World Record in the Hogan household.

Go on - play the National Anthem while I move my lips to look like I'm singing.

'Thankyou everyone, I could not have acheived this without the help of Lucy, my little friend Wil and some very strong bum wipes.....'

The Shedley....

To even say those two words conjures up a huge amount of memories - some amazing - some interesting and some just down right deplorably cringeworthy (the name Short suddenly springs to mind.....)

Northern Light tonight are opening the "Wizard of Oz", and wow what a show it is.
I only got to see it from the really crappy TV in the top dressing room (more memories..) but it was still looking fantastic.

I was of course helping my mother with - yes - costumes.

A job that she very much loves and never tires of, although the remaining 5 members of her family seem to tire all too quickly.
Dont get me wrong, we all think that it is great that she has a hobby, a creative outlet, developed some wonderful friendships & is certainly not sitting at home waiting for "The Bill" to begin (does it ever end...?) - but it does get a little tricky when her whole life is consumed by them - her thoughts are consumed - the house - the car - her work - my house.....

Ahh but now it is all over, with her saying "thats the last show I'm doing"....for 6months - then its Grease, and then and then...

Well this wasnt meant to be a vent session - but it seems to have gone that way! Right well now thats out I shall move on.

The Shedley... Ahh my old stomping ground.
My early/late teenage years and also my early/late 20's, were spent in and around that building. So many years spent running up and down those concrete steps - with the same silly arrows that no one ever pays attention to!
So many years sliding down the banister to the (former) Brin Whiting Lounge, and sitting around the foyer eating huge triangles of pizza on the first Saturday show.... It all still makes me smile.

It doesnt really matter what show I go to see or am involved in, there is just something about the The Shedley that.... well softens my heart.

I just love being there.

PS Go see the show - and look out for the Lions Cape - I stitched those bloody flowers....

Question Time....

Ever get the feeling that your day was going to go the same way his did?

NAME: Don Music
BIO/STATS: A frustrated, wild-haired composer.
APPEARANCES: Sesame Street
FAMOUS FOR: Getting taken off Sesame Street for banging his head on his piano keys and setting a bad example for the viewers.
SPECIAL TALENTS: Banging his head on his piano keys.

Here a few multiple choice questions for you to answer......

1/ What reduced this 30 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) A tantrum throwing almost two year old when she was told off for kicking said mother while nappy was being changed
b) A sock

2/ What reduced this 30 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) An almost two year old who 'REFUSED' to put her shoes on
b) Toast

3/ What reduced this 30 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) The iron will of an almost two year old who wanted to eat cereal while standing on a chair at the kitchen bench
b) A chair

4/ What reduced this 3 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) An almost two year old who wanted to 'stir' the bowl of washing up water with a sharp knife, who then "fell" on the floor screaming, writhing and crying crocodile tears when she was told not to play with the knife
b) A ruler

5/ What reduced this 30 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) An almost two year old who wiped snot down said mothers clean top - and then threw a tantrum because she was told not to do that.
b) Milk

6/ What reduced this 30 year old mother to tears this morning?

a) A 30 year old mother who got so cross that she smacked the almost two year old on the bottom and left a terrible red mark of 4 fingers..........
b) the fact that all of this happened before 8.30am!

Cancel all Search Parties.... I'm Back!

Wow what a long break.... Boy I've Missed you blogger!

This is just a shortie as my 2 year old blonde alarm clock has just woken up, bugger. She is currently shouting "Where you" - so I guess I had better go.....

I'll be back to write more about the Hogans exciting adventures later.

ThirtyThirty

So in honor of both Jon's and my 30th Birthdays this year we decided to hold the second Bi-Annual degustation (http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Wine/wine_dictionary2.shtml)dinner.

12 pretty funky courses sampled by 14 pretty tanked friends.... Oh boy what a night we had. It certainly will go down in the annals of history.

We started this fine evening of eating at 5:30pm and finished at 1:30am... with 1/2hour in between each course.
And of course we had to choose one of the hottest days so far this year - just a meager 43deg!!
It was really great fun working in our kitchen while our monster of an oven was melting the grout in between the tiles!

This is what the menu contained: the shortened version...

*tom,must and ricotta tarts
*chicken pate, tom relish & lavasch
*Indonesian prawn soup
*pork & prosciutto mignon & balsamic pear
*crab,tom,dill pasta with wine, saffron sauce
*chicken,water chestnut wontons with satay sauce
*herbed whiting with corn salsa, garlic aioli (or Aerioli's)
*shin beef, shiraz pie with chips
*citrus sorbet (serving time: 10:30pm x 43deg heat x 15 bottles of wine = clitoris sorbet)
*rum,raisin pudding with vanilla cream
*Australian cheese
*almond rochers, bundy truffles, cointreau creams

It did seem a bit much for such a hot day, but it was all so good to eat that I dont think anyone minded...well actually the 18 bottles of wine may have had something to do with the 'I dont think anyone minded'!!!

Yes we were all pretty munted. And it was fantastic. We had opted for the 'no children' rule so that everyone could relax and it worked. Most people had to catch taxi's home. Just like the good old days.

There was plenty of talk of previous moots attended, sandblasts attended, conquests that we made and spews that we had. All the pre-requisite old-boy talk. Oh yeah there was also the ever wonderful " 'insert name of old boy' takes it up the arse" phone calls... these are just the best! Had to shut our doors and windows though... neighbours are a little close in these estates!

One young man - who is JUST out of his 20's - aka the chef - passed out at about 11pm!!! hee hee- which was pretty funny. He even had a quick chat on the white porcelain phone to god...
There were of course the obligatory group photo's with the drunk, passed out man, and then he never resurfaced till morning.

I do know that he is only holding up his own tradition - having spewed at his 18th, his 21st and now his 30th. He did comment that he is not looking forward to his 40th!

All up it was a farken good night, and Im sure there are 13 others round Adelaide that will agree...

Can't wait for the next one - 2008!

PS Thanks for our birthday prezzie!

Jon turns the big 30...

January 17th 1976 - a cute little red haired boy was born..... 30 years on and we still have a cute boy - just a little bit taller - and with a lot more skills.

Happy Birthday Jonnie! Here's to another 30 good years.

Christ that will make us 60.......................................................!

Whiiizzzzzz....

That my friends is the sound of this month whizzing by!

Jon is about to celebrate his 30th birthday tomorrow, and its 3pm and I still haven't bought him anything.... Eeeeeeek.

My only excuse for this is that I still feel like his birthday is 2-3 weeks away and I've got plenty of time. Sadly it is not. So I will soon have to go and do the male version of shopping and madly run around at 5:15pm hunting for the 'perfect gift'.

We have had such a busy year already, that I cant even think about events happening in the future cos I have so much to think about today!

In year which is only 16days old we have:
* had 3 family dinners
* made one wedding cake
* gardening working bee at Nan's
* had dinners/breakfasts/lunches with friends - several times!
* made one 50th wedding anniversary cake
* been to the pools twice
* been to the beach once
* painted and decorated Lucy new bedroom
* shifted 3 bedrooms round
* and catered for 150 people for all meals in 24 hours at the 24 hour show

Whew! No wonder jons birthday gift is the last thing to worry about.

One day I will slow down (this I have said for many years), I do know it will happen. Just not sure which decade.

Well must be off, as I also have to plan the 12 course dinner (for 15 people) we are having this saturday night in honor of jons (and mine) 30th birthday.

EEwwww!

We are dog-sitting!
And up until now it was ok... I guess.

The dog is a Kelpie.

We have a blue heeler, so we know that these breed of dogs have a lot of energy. But this one takes the cake. Its like a nervous ball of energy all the time - wandering round and round and never just sitting or lying. It drives you insane after a while, and it does not help that we have wooden floors - so its click-click-click-click......
No wonder the owner always says "Your a fidget".

Let me tell you another thing: this is one well fed Kelpie. Wide Load is another good way of describing her. Im sure she gets fed all the good stuff at her house!

So sent with her for this weekend was one of those dog food 'Rolls'. Im not really sure what is actually in them - and Im not about to begin guessing either!

Now its very difficult to feed one dog this food and not let the other get at it, and seeing as we don't feed our dog anything other than dry biscuits - cos she has a pretty sensitive gut - you can probably guess what has happened.

Yes our dog ate some, and only just 10 mins ago she did some seriously bad explosive craps - INSIDE our house.
As most people know we have a toddler, so we are well accustomed to some really gross things - but this.....

All I can say is EEEWWWWWWWW!

Hmmm. Not so sure I'm into this dog sitting thing.