oscars alehouse is finally open...

Last night was the first night the doors opened at Brad's bar. It looked amazing. I had dropped E off earlier in the morning, but purposely didn't look in because I really wanted to experience walking into the bar with fresh eyes. It really felt bigger than I remembered... maybe because all the tools and junk were not there. It looked perfect. Eli promptly set himself up at the end of the bar (his equivalent posi from the Townhouse in LA). I think he is really proud of all he (and Brad) have accomplished.
I hardly spoke to Gyps as they were so busy working, but can see in time it will be such a nice place to go and have a catch up (seeing as we hardly see each other now, between work and kids etc).

crazy upwey weather...

Today was pretty warm. I had to get about 3 buses to get to a doctors appointment and by the time I got there It was really hot in the bus and kind of stifling. Anyway it started to storm after the kids got home and then the hail came down. It was amazing and HUGE! The roof felt like it would cave in under the heavy pelting. This is the kind of weather I missed all those years in LA.
I have been pretty sick this week, but not letting it keep me down too much. I guess I should try and rest a little bit but can't seem to find the time. Right now the house is a bit of a disaster and I have been trying to clean up without too much success. I am madly trying to find my guitar tuner, which I think Liam may have thrown in the bin... maybe I should learn to tune my guitar without one (please dad!)... it's just so easy to use.
The bar is opening on Friday night so we are all planning to head down there to have the first of what I think will be many fun nights. I am so excited to see the final product of Brad, E's and (Gyps) hard work. Something tells me Oscars is going to be a pretty cool place...

fun party for lily's birthday...

It was Lily's first birthday party today and even though it was storming and hailing up here it was a really nice day. Simmone's house looked beautiful. Everyone was having fun and the kids seemed relatively subdued and relaxed for the most part. Kaisy started to fly later in the day due to extreme tiredness and sugar consumption... He really needs to have some kind of a nap or quiet time during the day, but it was a party and not an option.
Simmone's whole family were there including Caine and it was really cool to be able to see everyone together. I must admit after knowing Simmone for so many years I kind of felt like part of the family and that was a nice feeling. I guess that's the thing about getting older, your old friends start to be like an extended family. I just love getting together with Gyps and Simmone. We started to really talk, like the old days and I wish it could have gone on, but it started to rain on us and we moved inside.
I am so wiped out and don't know if I can outlast these kids tonight...
I left Eli at the party at the top of a ginormous pine tree. He and Stell started to climb for some reason and he was up way too high and had drunk way too much for me to stomach it... anyway I left and trust all will be OK... ahhhh!

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS...

hiding out in my undies drawer!

This one was a little more feisty than the others... it freaked me more because it was jumping around my undies drawer and harder to catch... ahhhh
I have just dropped the kids off at school... and am drinking in the peace and quiet around here. I have so much work to do I don't know where to start. I have been procrastinating all morning but need to get a start.
We had a pretty good weekend. Eli looked after the kids all day Sunday while I went to the city to see Wicked with my Nana (Harvey). She used to take me to the ballet and opera when I was little and when I started working in my early 20's I started to take her to shows that were on in town. We saw Sunset Blvd and a couple of others. I am trying to keep up the tradition now we are back here and thought Wicked would be a fun show to see. We did both enjoy it, but also agreed we prefer to see plays more than big musical extravaganzas. Also we both found the fact the Australian cast spoke with very strong American accents off putting. I just wondered why they couldn't speak the dialog and sing with Australian accents... apart from that it was pretty entertaining.
Walter is in town this weekend and we have two kids parties to go to so it should be a pretty busy and fun weekend. Mart said she may come up on Friday night too, which would be great as it's really hard to get her to make the trek up here.

survived another friday with the kids...

I have learned that on Fridays I have to really plan what to do with Kai and Liam. I usually just pack up the pram and start walking, we sometimes get the train and sometimes go and visit a friend. I play netball with a mothers group on Friday so Ferntree Gully is where we are usually bound.
Today Kai woke up banging his head and ears telling me he couldn't hear me. He seemed pretty freaked about it and I made a doctors appointment straight away. I didn't have the car and because it was pouring with rain, Roula drove us there. So lovely to have her as a neighbor. Luckily she wanted to come to Glen Waverley with us so I didn't have to get the bus. I went to buy Liam a chest of drawers and found some great ones. Then we went to a special chocolate shop and had the most amazing cake ever! I am still dreaming about it. When we got home I just herded the kids outside and we played in the little house together. Kai is getting really good with the camera and he took some of these photos.
Unfortunately I think I may have wrecked the new chicken coop by opening it before it had dried from the rain and Eli may have to rebuild some of it... he's not too impressed, but the kids couldn't wait to jump around in it.

sunset at st. kilda beach

I drove Gaye home after she visited on Wednesday. It was such a hot day and I knew it would be a hard trip going back on the train.I also really wanted to go for a walk with Mum. We only then realized it was the first time kai would have watched the sun go down on the beach. We stayed until it got dark and then I drove home and kaisy fell asleep in the car.

sunday in st kilda...

The boys and I headed down to St. Kilda today to meet up with Mart and Mum before heading onto the book club. Mart had to rush around getting ready for a Christening so it wasn't our usual lazy wander around that we usually have. I think I like it better when we have no plans and we end up at the beach or at the Adventure Playground... or just walking...
Lovely to see all my aunties and Nana and we got to organize the Christmas party. I thought maybe we could have everyone up here but reneged a few minutes later thinking about the massive clean-up... so Jells park it is, which everyone loves anyway.
Mum looked after the boys for a while but then came to Gaye's and immediately fell asleep with Li, those kids will do that to you!
Everyone was reading great stuff, but I think I'll read American Dad (Gaye's book)... after I get through the stack of bodice-rippers I have by my bed.

i guess they just like it here...

This one was under an orange i picked up...
ahhhhhh!!!!! It was even bigger than the other one!!!!

beautiful... beautiful... beautiful...

Beautiful Boys...

li and I caught a huge spider in the kids playhouse...

It totally freaked me out. LiLi didn't seem too fazed, and he helped me catch it and put it in the garden.
It was just a big huntsman, but I think the biggest I have seen...