The Smith's Journey

Follow us on our journey through family life. No matter where we live you will be able to keep up on our happenings. Have fun and remember to leave comments.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Finally!

Okay everyone, I know I've been really slack and not updated my blog. It's just pure laziness really; although I have been busy with the usual stuff and in the evenings I'm basically mush!

I entered a photo competition a few days ago, won't know the results till the end of April, and I found out some bad news for me. With printing out other photos with my competition ones I discovered the photos look really grainy and off focus (don't really know how to explain it), anyway after paying a bit of money for them I went to return them, found out that because I had changed the size of the photo on the computer - and saved it - I changed the way they will print out because of the change in megapixels (or some other tech word). So the hundreds of photos that I resized on the computer (because it uploads faster) and saved without saving the original as well, every time I print one out it's not going to look right. Most of them are okay from seeing from a distance so I'll still scrapbook them - if I ever find the time - and hope they will look okay. So for all you folks who do digital photos I suggest you save the original and then copy it and save it under a slightly different name and fiddle with the copy i.e. resizing, colour change e.t.c.

I had a lovely, albeit short, time in Aussie with Mum & Dad. I loved just spending the time with them, shopping with Mum and just relaxing.
I absolutely loved surprising Melanie! This is the way it went down:
Mum asked Mel if she would like to come stay Saturday night with them with no kids or hubby (no offence to them). She had no idea I was there! As soon as Dad saw her pull up the drive I raced up stairs to the bedroom Mel & I would share (how many years ago was it we last shared Mel?). As she was putting her bags down without actually looking in the room, I said "Gidday Mel"! The look on her face was priceless!! After we all calmed down (lots of oohhs and ahhs and hugs, talking at the same time etc) Mel admitted that Shane had a feeling that Mum & Dad were up to something.
Well, that night we had a great time, and we still would have had a great time without the wine but hey, the wine was really nice with our lovely bbq meal too.
On Sunday morning - with drooping eyes due to the late, or I should say, early morning bed time - we went to Mum & Dad's church. It wasn't the usual service but we got to meet some of their friends etc. In the afternoon we watched the movie Fireproof which their church put on at a local cinema. Great movie, I would recommend it to all couples (singles as well, but couples mainly). We have the dvd if anyone is interested in borrowing it.
The weekend came to an end too soon with me leaving on Monday afternoon. Mum & I did some last minute shopping at a mall close to the airport, and then it was off home. The plane was delayed on the way there and on the way home, I'm glad I bought a book at the mall!
I arrived in ChCh about 11:30pmish and was very glad to see Terry there. I do have to admit that I didn't actually miss the girls that much; I don't mean that in a bad way but I think it was just really nice to have a break.

The holidays have just started with the Easter weekend at the beginning of it, so for the next 2 weeks it will be pretty full on. I'm hoping to still get to the gym, I've lost about 11kg now except with the my and the girls' birthdays only 2 wks apart the cakes (which I had to have some of) helped me put back on some of that weight. :-( But I am determined to get back on track - after Easter!

The proofreading is almost non-existent. I am employed as the church cleaner which is 2 hrs a week, so that is a bit extra coming in. Those of you who pray...please pray for more proofreading work.

I am blessed to be a parent help on Emily's school camp in May; well actually I'm not sure whether 'blessed' is the right word - let me get back to you on that one! 144 children will be converging on Hanmer Forest Camp for 5 days! And we're doing the cooking as well! Okay, now that I think about it 'blessed' is not the right word! We'll be hiking, tree climbing (not me), orienteering, swimming (don't think I'm brave enough to get into my togs in front of all those kids), mountain biking (not me) and cooking, cooking and probably more cooking! I do admit I'm looking forward to it. First school camp as a parent help for me.

We're currently hosting an Alpha course at the church. We have 4 guests and Paul is co-host. For those who read this and aren't sure what it is, it's a course that introduces people to what christianity is and why we believe what we believe. We'll be going on a weekend away in May so May is going to be a busy month for me! I feel like the group has gelled together nicely so the weekend away will be great fun.

Emily is now 11 and Sarah-Jane is now 9 and Aimee is 7 at the start of June! How time has flown! another 12 years and they'll possibly be moved out going on their own way! I am at a crossroad as to looking forward to when they are older and more independent and on the other side I'm seeing how fast they're growing up and thinking "slow down - I'm not ready to let go yet!"

Well I'll upload some photos now. I'll do my Aussie weekend first - sorry Mel, a couple of these photos will be... how should I say it... unflattering. But they are expressing the fun we had!

These cockatoos are enjoying Dad's feed troughs, the two photos below I like because the way the cockatoo is walking. In the left photo it is walking toward the lorikeet to 'tell it off'.






These photos are of us feeding the wild magpies.




Now this gets interesting! Mel decides to give Mum a foot massage, I'm not sure whether Mum's laughing at the thought of Mel even wanting to touch her feet or that Mel is tickling Mum's feet more than massaging.


I have no explanations for the following photos except to say we had a lot of fun!!


Mum you are looking great!!

Mel - now I have the proof that I'm brainier than you!!





Some beautiful photos; by the way Mum, I still like that dress I'm wearing and any time you like you can send it over!
Dad what are you doing? It's great to see you love each other so much; but please it really is gross to see your own parents kiss!!


Hmm, it's a tough thing to clean eye glasses! And Mel, over here in NZ we call that a ceiling! :-)

Sarah-Jane went to an overnight birthday party and the next day she was in bed by 5pm and slept till the next morning! Isn't she beautiful. This is just before I woke her to take her to bed. Our party girl!


Well, I think that's about all at the moment. Terry's gone to soccer and the girls are playing schools and I'm eating my chocolate easter egg as I'm doing this. So on that note; see ya later! And I will try to update more often, I did say try!