I'm Back

Hi All I'm Back and finally snapping out of holiday mode.

Here are some pics from our 3 week trip to Tallebudgera.

William killed in the fishing department, Ian was too busy pumping yabbies (gabbies as Alex calls them) to get a decent fish. William caught some fantastic fish: whiting, black bream, trumpeter. No flathead unfortunately - that's my favourite eating fish. Ugly to look at but very sweet taste.

We met some fantastic people while we were away. We have made some wonderful friends and I hope that we will see them for many years to come.

We met Terry, Laura and their kids Alex and Alicia the first week. We had some fun times and it was great as Ian had to work most of the first week. Terry and Laura live in Salisbury and hopefully we will catch up in the next little while.

Second week we met out neighbours and being in a caravan park we have loads. Next door were Rachel, Shane and Jack who turned one in January. Over from them were Rachel's mum and dad - known as Jack's Grandma and Grandad! They all live in Samford and Rachel and Shane have secured the site next to us now and Rachel's mum and dad have been on their waterfront site for 17 years!

Across from us were Graham and Christine, behind them Janelle, Steve and their kids Jay and Jess. Steve has been coming for 30 years to Tallebudgera at Christmas and about 7 sites down from us were his sister Deanne and her family - they stay for the whole 7 weeks of holidays.

Next door but one we met some wonderful friends - Warren, Andrea, Joseph (8) and Anna (5 and three quarters - as she tells us). They live in Gladstone and we are hopefully having a week in Woodgate with them in September/October school holidays. They were such fantastic people and we are looking forward to many January's together. The pictures are taken with Warren and Andrea's boat and tube. Many an hour was spent with them. Next door to Andrea & Waz are her parents Shirley and Ken - lovely people who made our kids feel like their own. Across from them were the PB's - Steve, Karen, Kate and Nick. Karen is a teacher at Prince of Peace Lutheran College in Everton Park and has known our friend Lisa Harris for about 20 years.

Next to them where Al & Bev who taught us all how to play SCUM!! Fantastic card game where you have to change places according to how you win the hands. You can have up to 8 players and there is 4 main positions - King, Queen, Lowlife and Scumbag. I can't wait to play it again - I will have to teach some friends so we can have a few games.

Ian's mum and dad came down for the day with Liam and Eloise. Liam and William spent most of the time in the kayak paddling around and Eloise and Alexandra had fun on the boogie boards in the swimming enclosure.

My mum and dad came for a day too. Mum unfortunately was suffering from neuralgia so rested in the van and read some mags. I got to spend some quiet time with her which was good. After the 3rd lot of pain killers started to work we went for a walk. Dad took William for a walk to try and find the site that we used to come to when I was small. That site was near the playground closer to the highway. I also went kayaking that first day and loved it. When Dad was watching me he was taking a picture and yelled out "Slow down Trish you're a blur". Smarty pants!!!!!

We came back on Jan 22 to go to the Police Concert Brisbane this link is to a youtube of "Don't stand so close to me". Fiction Plane (Sting's son's band) and Fergie supported them. Fiction Plane were fantastic. Ian's fav was Fergie I think although she got a bollocking from the media.

Then we were back in the land of the living on 25 January.

We kids have settled into school now Will is in Turquoise (4/5) and has a new teacher and she is lovely. Alexandra is still in the same class (Yellow 1/2).

More Soon

Kisses Trish xxx

Merry Christmas!!!

Ian, Trish, William and Alexandra wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas. Stay safe during this festive season.





We are looking forward to Santa coming a little later. Tomorrow we will be getting up and having breakfast - traditional to our family - homemade sausage rolls, ham and pine orange juice. I'm going to add a new ingredient this year, croissants.





After breaky is present time. There are loads under our tree and all one big one out in the pool - William's Kayak. Then we are off to Dohles Rocks to christen it for an hour or so and also there will be another surprise Ian's Kayak. He doesn't know I got it but I figured he works so hard he shouldn't have to wait for it.





Back home for a quick change and then off to Alison and Dave's for a Christmas lunch and dinner.





We will be home around 9pm I expect. Early night and then we do it again on Boxing day. Why should Christmas be just one day??? Tonight we had Christmas with Ian's family and the beautiful girls Eloise and Alex put on a concert for us - music by Delta and The Veronicas - so cute.





Well I best go before Santa gets here.

Kisses Trish xxx

Is it hot enough for you???

"No actually it's not hot enough, when is it going to reach 52???? ".


I know it can get hot but think of this. What does summer bring - here's a few on my list.

• Christmas
• BBQ's
• Swimming
• Beaches
• Holidays
• Storms
• Longer days
• Parties
• Kids playing on the street until dark
• Cricket

I look at this list and I can't think of anyone who doesn't like these things. So next time someone complains about the heat, you be thankful that we have all the above and more to look forward to.

The Kling's have also been elfed - have a look at this http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1450404981.

Here are some pics Ian took in Fiji earlier this month. What beautiful countryside. He was working at a hydroelectric power station, in the most primitive of surroundings, but look at the area what paradise!

Kisses Trish xxx

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Alexandra, Santa and William Christmas 2007

Look at this beautiful picture. Santa and the kiddlies met and exchanged information about the big day at Strathpine Westfield this morning. William lost his front top tooth last night and the tooth fairy came with 2 $1 coins for it! Jeepers, I only used to get 20c.

Just to give you all a scare it's only 16.5 days until christmas and if you take out sleep, chores, eating and showers that leaves about 6 days - then take out time spent with the kids, wrapping presents, shopping, drinks and nibblies - that leaves about 20 hours - ekkkkkkkk 20 hours until Christmas.

Take care
Kisses Trish xxx

Erina Update...

Here is the beautiful Erina Isabelle. She's doing very well. A hefty girl (gawf) at now over 6.5 lb (2800g). She's 6 weeks and 3 days now. Here is a picture of her in Mummy and Daddy's bed....so cute!!!

Drama Queens and Princesses

We had a very busy weekend with drama presentations and birthday parties.
My lovely nephew Liam turned 8 yesterday (4th) and his sister the beautiful Princess Eloise turns 6 today (5th). We had a busy schedule with Ian away in Fiji as well. (Will post some of his photos later.) Alexandra had drama practise in the morning followed by Eloise's Bellydancing Party then back to drama presentation and then back for "family party" at Deanna's. Meanwhile William was with Liam and Paul at Liam's Ten Pin Bowling party at Aspley. Then back to Dee & Paul's for cake and then off to drama and back again about 5pm for dinner and drinks. Whhhhheeewww! It was a wonderful day I got to spend hours and hours with my lovely nephew and niece. Eloise came back for a sleep over and the girls then had another party to go to on Sunday at Splash! waterpark at Chermside. Paul took Liam and William to golf for a family fun day and William is now looking at starting golf next year.

I'm Back

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I bought Erina this swing - so cute! Mummy, Daddy and Baby at the park. My beautiful girl - Alexandra Rose. Daddy, William and Manny.

Sorry I've been away so long - resting after a tooth extraction. Not a pretty time. Never mind back with pictures for you. Here are a couple of the Beautiful Erina Isabelle at home. She's growing fast and is up to a whopping 6.5 lbs!!! She's doing well and so is Christa and Stephen. She is now over a month old - almost 5 weeks to be precise.

A couple of pictures taken Sunday 25th November at the GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program) Christmas Party at Capalaba Race Club. Manny was in the finals of MR GAP 2007 but was pipped at the post by a taller bloke - he's too short to be a supermodel. The kids had fun showing him off in a few competitions - smiliest dog, best looking, waggiest tail (he doesn't wag his tail much but while William was leading him around Alexandra was moving his tail! And of course he made it to the top 3 out of about 20 dogs for Mr Gap 2007. I recon he should have won but I'm biased.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

ONLY 4 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!

I love christmas especially the decorations. I have started putting a few decos around the house and have finished one tree, the wire one with exquist glass and mercury decorations. It looks lovely even if I do say so myself. The HUGE picture of Santa Claus is actually a Hobbytex picture done by my lovely mum about 30 years ago - I always remember it hanging outside the front door on the veranda. I feel so special that mum decided to give it to me. She put binding around the edges and did the rope etc and presented it to me on Sunday. I was so happy I could have cried. Mum has passed down alot of christmas decos to me as they only put up a 4ft tree nowdays. My plan is to put our 7ft green tree up in the lounge with red and green decorations (no tinsel hate tinsel!!!) and so the front room also has red and green santas and decos in there. Moving through to the family room I am putting up our new pink christmas tree - and that room will be very "shabby" being cream, white, aqua, pink and pink!! We are putting up the trees on Sunday (if I can wait that long). I might have to do them Friday instead.

Kisses Trish xxx

WELCOME HOME ERINA!!!

Welcome to the world Baby Girl - this is Daddy's wedding ring on my fingers.
Help - I'm yellow!! Poor darling had 3 treatments to get rid on her jaundice. Poor little Girl.
Stop posing Dad and let me out of here - I want to get dressed.

Very proud Nanny.

Welcome home Erina. About time too. Erina Isabel McCarn came home on Saturday 3rd November with Mummy and Daddy. She is settling reasonably well as any newborn would. Erina is up to 2400g which is wonderful. Nanny loves seeing her baby granddaughter and makes her think of when my two were babies. Erina better get loads of cuddles and kisses as it's going to be 7 weeks before she sees Nanny again, this time with a very excited Granddad at Christmas time.

Kisses Trish x

Happy HallO'ween

Happy HallO'ween to all!!!!
Li'l Devil & Bart
Bart with his skateboard.
(L to R) Emma, Alexandra, Georgia and William.


Trick or treat anyone? My darling kiddlies have been soooooo excited about Halloween. They planned their own costumes - William (Bart Simpson) and Alexandra (Li'l Devil).Such a cute Little Devil!!!

We also had some friends with us, Emma and Georgia. Emma is the witch complete with black cat and Georgia is in the red polka dot dress.

Kisses Trish xxx

My Niece - Erina Isabel McCarn

Introducing my beautiful niece ERINA ISABEL isn't she gorgeous!!! So pretty - just like a dolly!

I'm so proud of Christa, Stephen and Erina, I just wish I could see them.

Christa says: "Here is our beautiful daughter 7 days old today. This photo was taken on Wednesday, before she turned bright yellow!

She decided she'd had enough of life on the inside, at 36 weeks and one day. After a vacuum extraction, and the cord around her neck, with a purple head and very silent for a while after, she entered the world. She went to the Neonatal unit and is still there, unfortunately she has not been with Mummy in mummy's hospital room like everyone else on my ward. I was discharged today, but will still almost live at the hospital until she is coming home, maybe by Saturday. (fingers crossed)

She is pre-term and low birth weight, and the obstetrician said my placenta just ran out of gas, which Erina sensed and created her own cortisol to mature her own lungs before she came out. Usually little early babies need a hydrocortisone injection before they come out, but she has healthy lungs thank god, so Dr said she must have made her own cortisol- she is clever already!

She could not suck when she first came out, so had a nasogastric tube inserted for feeds.

As she had a massive bruise on her head from the vacuum extraction, and this and the fact that she is little and premature, she got jaundiced, and required UV light for 48 hours.(thurs/fri) The jaundice and the uv lamp makes her really drowsy and she took a step backward in her feeds, too tired to suck- so them going half in a bottle and half down her tube, sometimes all down her tube. after 24 hours without the lamp, they took another blood sample, (her poor little heel) and her jaundice sprung back with a vengence and she is back under it again.- prob until wed, When she is under it she is just wearing a nappy, though less settled this time. Her feeding is increasing, and although she is not her birth weight yet, she gained weight the last 3 weighs (only 5 grams this morning!)

Anyway, gotta get back to the hospital. Finish the story later".

Kisses Trish xxx

How many storms can we having in a weekend? Depends if you are camping or not!

Alison (the Games Co-Ordinator) and (L to R) Jack H, Jack Lightbody, Connor, William, Connie, Mollie (right at the back), Alexandra, Tayla, Camille and Alison. They are preparing for the treasure hunt which the boys won by about 1 minute.

Our Home for the weekend!!!


Alison & Dave's new purchase!!!

Storms - huh did we have storms. I am so proud of everyone in tents because I sure wouldn't be sleeping in a tent with the wild weather we had on Thursday and Friday nights. After the pink ribbon morning tea the Klings and Lightbody's headed down to BroadwaterTouristPark for a long weekend. We were all set up before storms and rain and wind and tornados started so that was a blessing. On Friday at lunchtime the Harris' arrived along with Kev and Connie and early evening the Poupardin's and Julie arrived. 19 of us altogether that includes our 9 children. They all had a ball and were angels all weekend. The adults had a great time too - the kids were happy, we were relaxed and even played a few games which made my cheeks hurt from laughing and Ian hurt because he didn't know something about me!!!! We played a Mr & Mrs game which was fantastic - we had to remember things about each other.

On Saturday night we all went into Surfers to the Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise we had fantastic meals and Alison, Michelle and I had beautiful cocktails. Alison had yummy sweet one, Michelle had a to die for cosmopolitan and I had my favourite a Margarita!!! Yummo. Afterwards we went and had ice-cream.

Sunday at 11.00am we were all out and on our way home. Oh well, only a few more weeks until next trip. Ian and I were in holiday mode and could have gone on for another week or so but it wasn't to be.

Erina Update

Erina has responded really well to the light therapy for her jaundice. She is sleeping lots which is good for her development. She still has her nasal gastric tube so she is getting good size (60ml) feeds every three hours. Mum arrived over in Perth Friday afternoon and she will probably be there for 3 weeks or so. All is well!!!

Swap News

I want to say a big hello to Kathy my swap partner. She is from Las Vegas and we are doing a christmas garland swap through GaGa for Garlands. Hello Kathy - hope you don't think we are too made over here.

Have a good Monday everyone.

Kisses Trish x