We Will Remember Them ...

I don't think I can say anything that I haven't said before in regards to ANZAC day.*


I attended a ceremony at the school this morning and, once again, they did a stellar job. The mountain where the girls' school is situated is all about community so it is no wonder then that this community has their own fallen soldiers to mourn. And that the surviving soldiers are invited to attend the school's ceremony.


The feeling this year was no different to the past two years. Except in some aspects I am no longer an outsider looking in. I am feeling more and more like I belong up there. It is home.


And today as I watched Punk Chic lay a wreath with her classmates, I shed a little tear and wished I had thought sooner to persuade my grandfather to join us. To show him that his great grandchildren are still being taught the meaning of ANZAC and that his story will live on in them and they will know.


They will know what it means to be Australian. They will know freedom. But they will also know that for freedom, there was loss. And they will remember.


CJ is taking Punk Chic to her first dawn service in the early hours of the morning. He and Miss Tween have been going for the past four years or so and now that Punk Chic is old enough to really understand and want to be included, she will be attending as well. And in a couple of years it will be Gumboot Girl's turn. And we will go as a family.


But, for now, the school ceremony is my time to remember and be thankful for those who fought for our country. For us. For our freedom!


Lest we forget.




*You could go here though and check out Claire's post for the ANZACs. ;)

The Home Stretch ...

As I mentioned in my last post, I have committed myself to the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.

 Week 11 started today.

I'm still not sure if I am brave enough to post my "before" photos but I am glad I took them. And I'm looking forward to taking the "after" photos next week!!!

Who knew I'd make it this far? Not me. All my protests of I'm not going to follow it religiously. I'll just do what feels right and if I want a can of Coke, well, dagnamit, that's what I'll be drinking. AND ... I was wrong.

By Week 2 I was detoxed. From a can of Coke a day (and on some days even two) to thinking about having one (but really not feeling like it) to not even thinking about it.

Six kilos lost. 30+ centimetres gone from my body. Hell, I didn't even look overweight and was doing it more for the constant lagging feeling I had which, of course, was dietary. It has changed our world. Seriously.  BUT ... I have also learned how supportive my family is. My husband has worked with me to ensure that I have always had time to fit in my exercise which, at the start, was very handy until I got my head around the amount of exercising required. Six. Times. A week! 

Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? It is. Trust me. There are days when I don’t know where to fit it in – who knew a diary and planning would be the key to success? I have tried both planning and winging it and I have to say winging it is not the preferred option although sometimes that’s all I’ve got. I get dressed in my gym gear first thing in the morning and I’m still dressed in it at dinner time, determined to fit in something. Anything  so I don’t feel guilty. Or worse still, get grumpy. Go a couple of days without exercise once you start this program and you’ll know what I mean.

I now know what my husband was on about all these years when he would say how horrible he felt if he didn't get in some exercise for a few days. I used to think he was weird. Hot. But still a little weird. And now I get it.

And my kids. They have tried most of the food in our nutrition plan. And I have explained to them that this is about a healthy lifestyle. And they have embraced  it. And I love them for that. I love that they have backed me as much as little people could be expected to. They really have been so amazing. Even down to Miss Tween getting out there with me and being my coach. Telling me I could do it when I wanted to stop and with Punk Chic telling me I really should before I vomit. It’s certainly clear which side of the family tree these two came from. Miss Tween has descended from a long line of ridiculously determined, never say die people on her dad’s side of the family. And Punk Chic. She is mine, through and through. If it looks bad, maybe you should stop! I’ll still think you did a great job anyway. LOL

I’ve learnt that the people I have surrounded myself with are supportive and will cheer me on and make me feel like I’ve done something amazing! Some of them are my training buddies and I am very grateful that I have never felt alone. Not once.

 But you know what else I've learned?

It’s about myself. It’s about my ability to motivate myself.  To get up and do exercise when there is nobody else around to do it for me. It’s about wanting to go for a run or go to the gym. About being excited that I have my first PT session on Thursday. About knowing that this week is the start of reaching a new level. About entering the 4k run in the Mother’s Day Classic to raise money for breast cancer research!**

It's about knowing that I do have willpower (although it is still a little negligent where chocolate is involved). 

**If you’d like to donate, follow this link. :D

Dot Point ...

So I haven't been around for a while. Just busy. You know? Kids, work, holidays, work, kids, work. But here are a few things to bring you up to speed.


*  I have a new hairdresser AND ... I got the best haircut. Ever. Even now after a few weeks, it still looks great. It has been so long since I had a hairdresser who knew exactly what to do and I am never going to let her leave this town!!!

*  We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary AND ... see that gorgeous little necklace in that photo above? That was my gift from my husband and I LOVE IT. It is perfect. Shame I forgot all about it but then he forgot for the 10th so we're kinda even!


*  Punk Chic has been to the dentist AND ... I was devastated that she had holes in her teeth. But while I am sad that she needed fillings, I am glad they are her baby teeth and we have been given a second chance with the reminder to be vigilant with their teeth. I will never again be too busy to check their teeth and teach them to floss! 


*  They also gave Punk Chic a filling in her mouth without giving her any pain relief. She didn't flinch. Not once. And she is quietly in love with the student dentist that sees them. It is really very cute and I will try and get a photo of the girls with their dentists at our next appointment. They still can't convince Gumboot Girl to get on the chair despite their best efforts to win her over.


*  We went on our first "real" camping trip over Easter (complete with a Rodeo, Yeeha!). Three families comprising of 7 adults and 10 kids. Yes. TEN! AND ... it was awesome fun. It is apparently the first time in six years that is hasn't rained over Easter so I have been warned to not expect a repeat of the gorgeous weather we were blessed with this year. But we have booked again for next year anyway and I can't wait for the next camping adventure.

* I have been doing the Michelle Bridges 12WBT. I am now at Week 10. AND ... I have loved it. Well, most of it. I have so much to write about this particular journey that I have just deleted it all and will make it a separate post. It really has been an unexpected journey and I have learnt a lot about myself and my family.

*  We have had an extremely busy Easter holidays. AND ... with me still having to work and thinking I would have all three girls there with me (because someone didn't take the long weekend into consideration so vacation care was booked out), I have to say it again that I truly have some of the best friends a person could ever ask for. Seriously. My girls have had so much fun it's crazy. From gymnastics camps to horse riding, they've had a blast! And I love that they get so much adventure in their worlds. They really are some of the luckiest kids around.

*  I still maintain Miss Tween was born to be a big sister. Through all the moods these days we still witness things like this ...

AND ... it makes my heart overflow (and think that maybe all the brainwashing is paying off).

*  My mother-in-law is moving closer to us. Yayyyy! The girls will get to spend so much more time with her and we really love having her around! Although she is heading off overseas in a couple of weeks, she will be back at the end of  May and will be looking for a house up the mountain near the girls' school! Double Yayyy!

* So tonight as I sit here, I can't help but think of how blessed I am. I HAVE ...

**A supportive husband who is also an amazing dad! Who would walk to the ends of the earth for us. Who is missed by his girls when he goes to work and is happy for them to smother him when he gets home at night. Who doesn't mind being their very own jungle gym and makes their faces light up when they are with him. Who will get up with me at 5am to exercise even when I am cursing him. Who will cook dinner if I haven't quite found the time or have become sidetracked with the 101 things I am doing right now. Who checks my blog daily to see if I've found the time to write something new. AND ... who praises and compliments me on a daily basis.^

** Three gorgeous, healthy daughters who are vibrant and funny and intelligent and polite. Who are adventurous and oh so brave. Who love hanging out with friends but love hanging out with us more (for now). Who come home from a sleepover and want to share their stories with me. Who want to cook dinner with me.  Who sneak into our bed in the middle of the night.  Who love cuddles on the couch and who are growing up so very fast.

** Amazing friends who are never far away. Who we wish we could see more often. Who will cheer me on not only from the sidelines but running along beside me! Who love our children as much as they love us (maybe more). Who keep me smiling even when I'm down. Who I couldn't live without.

I'll try to be back before the end of April but don't hold your breath! :p


^And who is patiently (or not so) waiting for me to publish this so a) I can go to bed and b) he has something new to read!