tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7711830513508606872024-03-13T19:13:46.193-07:00This Treasured LifeCourtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-26612658916789109712011-12-26T04:30:00.000-08:002011-12-26T04:32:04.380-08:00This Moment...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JL5TE8eOV4M/Tvhmb2cUfJI/AAAAAAAAADc/n7ZdoQI4XU0/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JL5TE8eOV4M/Tvhmb2cUfJI/AAAAAAAAADc/n7ZdoQI4XU0/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1823.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Hoping::: That moving to Moranbah isn't as bad as I think it is going to be in my head.<br />
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Appreciating::: Time spent with my family. As soon I will be living 10 hours away from Mum, Dad, Jordy, Jono and Tarl.<br />
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Learning::: That I need to have more patience. That playtime with my kids is more important than the housework.<br />
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Making::: A patchwork throw to go over the couch.<br />
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Looking Forward To::: 2012 and it's possibilities.<br />
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Planning::: Moving your entire life 10 hours north involves a whole lot of planning. Boxes to collect, over 100 books to pack, children's toys to cipher through and organizing the moving trucks!<br />
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Eating::: Left over's from Christmas.<br />
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Reading::: Strangely, I have nothing on the go at the moment. Hopefully when life calms down and we are all moved into our new home I can start on this book I've been meaning to read titled 'The Help'.<br />
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Listening::: To a band called The Middle East.<br />
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Watching::: We got given the complete Harry Potter DVD Box Set for Christmas. So Zachy and I are going to have Harry Potter week this week, as Josh goes back to Moranbah tomorrow. :(<br />
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Missing::: My sister already.<br />
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Dreaming::: About our new life in Moranbah and how I hope to get into more art and craft projects once we are up there and settled in. Also dreaming about buying a new camera and blogging more. :)Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-70391010386943091942011-12-07T06:52:00.000-08:002011-12-07T06:52:13.404-08:00Wordless Wednesday #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW2oCkWo7WFYTrbSswoXVbFg0yRuvHrniTwucyry-Ldq2nvyshpMDOrIlgpq1T0yvBhZTngxXIdOg1ZSjzFCVCQtPe9iHtmsyoGhwfd2nIRGDytChN2c5onQDpQeAZl5ccPBh7C_cihde/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW2oCkWo7WFYTrbSswoXVbFg0yRuvHrniTwucyry-Ldq2nvyshpMDOrIlgpq1T0yvBhZTngxXIdOg1ZSjzFCVCQtPe9iHtmsyoGhwfd2nIRGDytChN2c5onQDpQeAZl5ccPBh7C_cihde/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3LAAYqVQJZG2YNcDqc2MF1yhBGRm75NmEQTDDpoOXundTsa3b3TC-mWeMQlhhCODJFKOd9wu12UP5u37gef7eXJOZRsDU55lJgNoYTDotC06PwyHEPUyOZypuLBaGbp8l3qIykIwmNw9/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3LAAYqVQJZG2YNcDqc2MF1yhBGRm75NmEQTDDpoOXundTsa3b3TC-mWeMQlhhCODJFKOd9wu12UP5u37gef7eXJOZRsDU55lJgNoYTDotC06PwyHEPUyOZypuLBaGbp8l3qIykIwmNw9/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1838.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cwaj4qSMrMJ5tOdVBwQ6xbAZT9HVja7H0cOBQZwFAZsictgBMumw7lK0MnwmPxrEk3bafIXcrukPK76HaGf-tyj5P_6A5faKw-LoAKwT_-ldBuKNjg21nKt3TYfx-As3gnnYG4lAEFw5/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cwaj4qSMrMJ5tOdVBwQ6xbAZT9HVja7H0cOBQZwFAZsictgBMumw7lK0MnwmPxrEk3bafIXcrukPK76HaGf-tyj5P_6A5faKw-LoAKwT_-ldBuKNjg21nKt3TYfx-As3gnnYG4lAEFw5/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-90604388183885671272011-12-07T06:14:00.000-08:002011-12-07T06:14:19.153-08:00Welcome To Holland...A gorgeous friend (who I am yet to meet, but would still consider her to be a friend) linked me to this poem and I knew I just had to share it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html">http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html</a><br />
<br />
please hit the link and have a read. It's so beautifully written.<br />
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much love.<br />
<br />
oxoCourtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-38719026487530705462011-12-04T20:29:00.000-08:002011-12-04T20:29:32.714-08:00Parenting 101...So today I found a spare minute while Maddy is napping to write a post on parenting and simply, well, how difficult it is sometimes.<br />
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Last night I made the decision I wanted to be a better, more teaching parent. So today I'm sitting down with Zach trying to teach him how to write his name by following dot to dot that I had drawn. When I come to the realization that I have no patience. Zip. Zero. None.<br />
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Zach doesn't tend to watch what he is doing, making my job of trying to teach him thoroughly hard. Ever tried to teach someone who simply stares off into the distance? (trust me, its very frustrating).<br />
As a 4 year old sometimes I feel that Zach should be more advanced than he is. I know he has echolalia (which I've explained about in an earlier post but incase you missed it <a href="http://www.brighttots.com/Echolalia_Child_Autism">here</a> is a link explaining what echolalia is) but I think, should he be able to do other things like draw a picture? Zach will just draw lines or scribble, there's no real picture that he is trying to draw. He just sits there with the pencil and draws and says 'around and around and around' while drawing big squiggles.<br />
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He also has no fear of strangers and no common sense, he would walk straight out infront of a car and not think twice about it. He walks up to people (almost like an involuntary action) and says "Hi what you doing" even when they answer him, he still says "Hi, what you doing" or repeats what the person has just told him.<br />
Like I said in my earlier post, we had Zach checked over by a private paed and he came back with a negative diagnosis of ASD (Austistic Spectrum Disorder) but now I'm not so sure. I walked out of the pead's appointment not really feeling satisfied and feeling like he didn't really answer any of my questions at all! I spoke to Josh about this and he told me to stop being so silly so I put it to the back of my mind.<br />
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I'm so tired of trusting 'professionals' because as a mother I know when something isn't right with my children. From now on I will always trust my gut instinct and my gut is telling me to get a second opinion. So that's what I'm currently in the process of doing.<br />
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I'm not writing this post to try and have a big whinge about how naughty my kids are.. I'm just trying to write out what's in my head so I can read it myself and get some perspective.<br />
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I'm just so tired of yelling, but honestly some days, that's all that will get through to Zach. I just want to know how to help him and how to help me also.<br />
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There are those days when you question your ability to be a mother and if you are even doing a good job at all. I'm currently having one of those days. <br />
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Maybe I just need a cup of tea and a lie down. Fingers crossed Maddy stays asleep for me long enough to recharge my battery for the afternoon.<br />
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I hope everyone out there is having a slightly better day than me. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2kn0Y02aw1fg9e_5ht3n57wmW8hnjGY6qbo_I_Fzg9D3wkf1AQWmZqtzjdB-pJUI8ICEft-m661BId40xn3jSWKfSgXNu6dn_VFHVyZ-CXcrINMGPJuCEINQ3YSBBMVpQhLCheDH1Ht2/s1600/Kickbusch+Family_036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2kn0Y02aw1fg9e_5ht3n57wmW8hnjGY6qbo_I_Fzg9D3wkf1AQWmZqtzjdB-pJUI8ICEft-m661BId40xn3jSWKfSgXNu6dn_VFHVyZ-CXcrINMGPJuCEINQ3YSBBMVpQhLCheDH1Ht2/s320/Kickbusch+Family_036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this pair more than life itself</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I just want to feel like I'm</div><div style="text-align: center;">doing the best I can for them. </div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-45937777185985405192011-12-03T05:16:00.000-08:002011-12-03T05:16:51.795-08:00only slightly obsessed with this song...<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWlIEBPKl7M">y</a>ou can watch it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWlIEBPKl7M">HERE!!</a>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-72592834311959952312011-12-03T04:37:00.000-08:002011-12-03T04:37:34.602-08:00I am Grateful..... For This Amazing Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q-pYDWy6ntFMYVXOaXpAayhq1r3hWBAnBC2CJnsFFiIWfsYskakKnqW3MUUBi2E7Al6VVDs4y3FiLJ9EeNcm9o5YVp0IDKnqZMeWKPyZcsJMSIvwmL7PGrSq4LD-yUX2ihDHfQrjaO52/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q-pYDWy6ntFMYVXOaXpAayhq1r3hWBAnBC2CJnsFFiIWfsYskakKnqW3MUUBi2E7Al6VVDs4y3FiLJ9EeNcm9o5YVp0IDKnqZMeWKPyZcsJMSIvwmL7PGrSq4LD-yUX2ihDHfQrjaO52/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+004.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My best friend, my fiance, my Josh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That handsome specimen right there is Josh. Yes ladies, he's taken! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have been with Josh for 7 years now.. 7 LONG years.. I say LONG because we have had our fair share of ups and downs.. I met Josh when I had just turned 18 and he was 21. He was annoying at first to be perfectly honest, but he grew on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;">People go their whole lives trying to find what I have and for that I am grateful. Josh puts up with my outrageous moodswings, for e.g. I can go from being completely happy and normal one minute, then I suddenly realize the house is a bombsite, I haven't been productive enough today and go into cleaning/bitch mode for about an hour.. (sorry babe, I know I'm nuts... and thanks for sticking around anyway)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This past year we have had to say goodbye to this house:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT2i-1O_fhFGdV6J5szS2luI8mc38sOEw24dY-5re0sx8fo8-D-TOkuFGdyqGrGtID_QaOHSlQDfFzvyk0dQMY_-_NVRXHYFtY9XThl2a9WlMidPaFf5Dvc9lNALIhi6PUpLXrIHBcNzu/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT2i-1O_fhFGdV6J5szS2luI8mc38sOEw24dY-5re0sx8fo8-D-TOkuFGdyqGrGtID_QaOHSlQDfFzvyk0dQMY_-_NVRXHYFtY9XThl2a9WlMidPaFf5Dvc9lNALIhi6PUpLXrIHBcNzu/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">27 Popes Road. Our 1950's art deco home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Josh worked in an incredibly shitty job just so we could pay the mortgage on this, the first home we ever bought. After Josh lost his job and our mortgage (which we did not get on a fixed rate) kept going up and up and we got further and further behind, we realized it would be best if we simply handed it back over to the bank before they came in a forced us out. </div><div style="text-align: left;">It's funny, because there is just SSSOOO much you have to do to obtain a home loan.. so many people you have to go through, so many documents you have to sign. But when you hand your house back to them, all you have to do is sign a single piece of paper and its done. No sitting down with bank managers, no lawyers, no nothing. Just go in sign a piece of paper and walk out again. You are now homeless! (we were lucky enough to find a cheap rental before we signed out home over, so we weren't homeless)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a truly tough time, especially for Josh who felt like he had let us all down. But he still remained strong and positive throughout. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm grateful for this man! He makes everything worth while, is generous, is loving, always supports me and even let me sneak off for a iced chocolate at Gloria Jeans today with the bestie and my sister while he watched the cricket and played the Wii with Zachy.. WHATTA MAN HUH?!?! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-78054983967882711492011-11-29T05:42:00.000-08:002011-11-29T05:42:54.824-08:00Zachary James...So, at the start of this year in the second week of February we popped a 3 year old Zachy into daycare for 2 days a week for the first time ever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYEe97vn38Kd4z4TxQKYH5uwT7oesd86JRW5hLPj2K2_iMJTEZzwCMxIBEm6DF7T7lsXV0S_kgPLuXcSavgtuBrpYH07WIGM8zS7nE1lDG5jI7BalLM5a0RYI_kvVMfAFYj3IEMLW67J4/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYEe97vn38Kd4z4TxQKYH5uwT7oesd86JRW5hLPj2K2_iMJTEZzwCMxIBEm6DF7T7lsXV0S_kgPLuXcSavgtuBrpYH07WIGM8zS7nE1lDG5jI7BalLM5a0RYI_kvVMfAFYj3IEMLW67J4/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+148.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">first day of kindy :(</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was a little apprehensive at first, like all mothers, I just wanted Zach to never leave my sight and just be around me... but on the other hand, I was looking forward to reclaiming a day where I could go to op shops without having to take Zachy with me and the tantrums, toilet runs and "i'm bored" that goes with taking Zach anywhere. </div><div style="text-align: left;">He went amazingly well when I dropped him off, Zach is a super social little boy and ran off and didnt even look back as I left!! :'( (am I really THAT boring??) When it was time to pick him up, he chucked the biggest earth shattering tantrum and did not under any circumstances want to come home with me!! (how rude right??) </div><div style="text-align: left;">anyway, so he had been going for about 3 months and everything was going pretty swimmingly and then one day the director called me in and wanted to have a talk to me.</div><div style="text-align: left;">she said she was worried that Zach was showing signs of a child with autism and that I should take him to see a private paedatrition. I was pretty upset by this and thought immediately "what the hell does she know? there's absolutely nothing wrong with him!" (this is called defensive mother mode.. as a mother you will experience many a time)</div><div style="text-align: left;">At that stage we were financially unable to take him to see a private paed, so we opted to go on the hospital waiting list... AND BOY DID WE WAIT!!</div><div style="text-align: left;">A few months passed and they were able to get Zach some funding to get Zach his very own teacher. (which was an absolute blessing) </div><div style="text-align: left;">Long story short, the hospital jerked us around so much we cancelled and got Josh's parents to pay for a private paed to see Zach.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He was diagnosed with a severe form of Echolalia and no autism! (I did a mental high five when the doctor told us he wasnt showing any of the signs of autism)</div><div style="text-align: left;">so it was off to speech therapy we go!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday was Zach's second speech therapy lesson.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMCEDLt6PujRSijftuDPkhqPnFoXAEsW512lsdAX2gqOZhoHyT34rbUhl-bXD84V7eOCaPx4zOB21dsTtQ7VA_bOi7difnGoWjG8UZU7WhETJSaEhHGy0hZhh0Vxl8plxaBSavVfpi7eA/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMCEDLt6PujRSijftuDPkhqPnFoXAEsW512lsdAX2gqOZhoHyT34rbUhl-bXD84V7eOCaPx4zOB21dsTtQ7VA_bOi7difnGoWjG8UZU7WhETJSaEhHGy0hZhh0Vxl8plxaBSavVfpi7eA/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1836.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zachy learning to associate words with his therapist Kylie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At $75 a pop plus $30 in fuel to get down the coast every fortnight, its no easy feat for us to afford this, but when it comes to your children there absolutely nothing you wouldnt sacrifice for them. Nothing you wouldnt do for them! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Zach is coming along in his speech in leaps and bounds. He can even sometimes tell me what he did in the day if he concentrates hard enough. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">sometimes I get that awful mothers guilt, like, "is this my fault? did I not read to him enough? should I send him to daycare where the other kids dont really like to play with him because his speech is a little different? what could I have done differently?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">the answer to all the above is something I just cant answer or fathom in my head yet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We have cut him back down to one day a week, as I just cant handle him possibly being picked on 2 days in a row.. kids that age can be so harsh, and altho it doesnt affect Zach (its seriously water off a ducks back) it may affect him later on in life. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02eC9r-_t5TKQyc_9NpAOMAkNY_MVFd2Q-1t579JrVML4sU1ukKDv9LAJfEoBAf-vDOVX3NoCzT0YTpHh8CylELOOOCJkZVcTxXW_lcxtBfR2IuT9wwhMFTleq4Tgh4N-c8FtiLCCUvUp/s1600/Kickbusch+Family_047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02eC9r-_t5TKQyc_9NpAOMAkNY_MVFd2Q-1t579JrVML4sU1ukKDv9LAJfEoBAf-vDOVX3NoCzT0YTpHh8CylELOOOCJkZVcTxXW_lcxtBfR2IuT9wwhMFTleq4Tgh4N-c8FtiLCCUvUp/s320/Kickbusch+Family_047.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">most adorable boy God ever put on this earth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I just want Zach to experience happiness every day.. I'm not going to lie tho, he is a pain some days and I struggle to cope with his tantrums (especially in public), but at the end of it all, I want him to be truly happy with who he is and know that I am so proud and honoured to be his mamma! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-13636470871583139392011-11-27T20:54:00.000-08:002011-11-29T05:54:40.295-08:00This Moment...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnUlT1rXxKLj0-sqyPMrLZcCikctvuRW4gHv6ddgalNRikCpjiZU9BEFcKl_kcI3xN9xiCvHdBrf1Dnx9IFL2RnOEPsDa4bRdcVSBUsUiIRDyfegoLZ_twBNjen3M1wQdFu7eNjF0j8Yk/s1600/Kickbusch+Family_075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnUlT1rXxKLj0-sqyPMrLZcCikctvuRW4gHv6ddgalNRikCpjiZU9BEFcKl_kcI3xN9xiCvHdBrf1Dnx9IFL2RnOEPsDa4bRdcVSBUsUiIRDyfegoLZ_twBNjen3M1wQdFu7eNjF0j8Yk/s320/Kickbusch+Family_075.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">hoping...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> for some rain today to water the vegie garden.</span></div><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">appreciating...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> everything about my life.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">learning...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> that it's ok to lose everything you thought was important. What's important is the health of my children, my fiance and my family. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">making...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> bunting for christmas.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">looking forward to...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> seeing the back of this year. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">planning...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> to have a much better 2012 than 2011.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">eating...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> red rooster for lunch. (my bad) </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">reading...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Game Of Thrones.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">listening...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Rise Against.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">watching...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I'll tell you what I've finished watching is Home and Away for the year!! What will I fill my 7:00 - 7:30 time slot with now!! :(</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">missing... </strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">certain friends and family.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /></div><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">dreaming...</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> about a holiday away with the fiance and kiddies. </span>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-69691260272039628012011-11-26T04:29:00.000-08:002011-11-26T04:29:09.724-08:00Let's Get Organic!!So in the last week I've decided that I want to live a more eco friendly life for me and my kids and my partner. So what I've decided to do is start with putting Maddy in mcn's as I've read up on the nasty toxins in disposable nappies and I dont want to expose Maddy to those certain chemicals anymore.<br />
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side note:: I dont judge any mums who choose to use disposable nappies at all. I dont want to come across as preachy or anything, because I'm definately not. It's just something I feel really strongly about now that I've done a little bit of research::<br />
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I've also decided to throw out my nappy wipes and make my own (I will do a demo of these next week).<br />
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And I've also decided to make my own soap, shampoo and conditioner. :) (I will be posting a tutorial of these next week also)<br />
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So this afternoon I thought I would start out with something that sounded fairly easy, body lotion bars! here is the end result:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg554q6FhYY28Yxips2CRSxo_-MffMXt0R5R8WqPXsBwqDjp5A2Ms5BInZkS-blRDR3kwmQn0g3n7ss_bnmHhgAb2xRzb3OWa2p9O8Ovxb1Cqk_WcqS-kl4D94zPBqMOnBo2VQyvxlM04Lm/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg554q6FhYY28Yxips2CRSxo_-MffMXt0R5R8WqPXsBwqDjp5A2Ms5BInZkS-blRDR3kwmQn0g3n7ss_bnmHhgAb2xRzb3OWa2p9O8Ovxb1Cqk_WcqS-kl4D94zPBqMOnBo2VQyvxlM04Lm/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1832.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">this is my first attempt at a bar of lotion :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Once I have perfected the formula I'll post the tutorial here... mine came out a little harder than I would have liked.. but thats what learning is all about isn't it? trial and error. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">anyway, thats where I am upto on my quest to live a more organic and eco conscious lifestlye.. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">you can find the links to info about the chemicals in baby wipes, nappies, shampoo and conditioner <a href="http://antiagingchoices.com/infant_children/baby_wipes_and_lotion_dangers.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.prlog.org/10197577-the-real-dangers-of-disposable-nappies.html">here</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">have a lovely day/night/afternoon or whenever you may be reading this :)</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-19050949427918964462011-11-15T20:17:00.000-08:002011-11-15T20:17:57.765-08:00We Didn't Even Make It To The Sand.So last Sunday I went to the markets nice and early in the morning to try and beat the heat, it was still bloody hot, but i did manage to find a couple of cute vintage earrings. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wueXXk573sbu5yC9KrlosBVnmKRaQ3fsCulixnlYKKhyoLk2Sx96CmH7YS1cnetSXNb-G4DeM8MPZiM_odAeibaBRMJoIl6Z2XRG7gg3-KJCnm4bN6yrNVyaVqDampXslPw5HJyjpbPR/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wueXXk573sbu5yC9KrlosBVnmKRaQ3fsCulixnlYKKhyoLk2Sx96CmH7YS1cnetSXNb-G4DeM8MPZiM_odAeibaBRMJoIl6Z2XRG7gg3-KJCnm4bN6yrNVyaVqDampXslPw5HJyjpbPR/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1761.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also found a cute little boat for a girlfriend's little boys room. (alas, I forgot to take a pic), So I went to drop it over to her and she suggested we go to the beach for the day.. I thought this was a fabulous idea and agreed straight away and left to get the kids ready.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ofcourse asked Josh if he wanted to come and he said yeah, so we piled in the car and were off for our beach adventure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKQOjEbMCKBrH73h52MFRQAz6qI2h4pBy9BuQt9yj-7J3Un2gvZnBvJUwWvknwgaUun-07iyFkbAuHwR7MwZA_svE12nzSFsPtuvlCQcoVaD8pPeHAX70mW9-SWJuu41G4kWzL2XI2Zt6/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKQOjEbMCKBrH73h52MFRQAz6qI2h4pBy9BuQt9yj-7J3Un2gvZnBvJUwWvknwgaUun-07iyFkbAuHwR7MwZA_svE12nzSFsPtuvlCQcoVaD8pPeHAX70mW9-SWJuu41G4kWzL2XI2Zt6/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Family On The Way To The Beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We drove to Tin Can Bay and found a gorgeous little spot with lots of shade and the tide was in and it looked devine. We parked and jumped out of the car eagerly wanted to paddle in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On our way walking to get to the sand we had to walk through a park, this old lady was riding along on her bike, got the speed wobbles and fell off!! I missed it as i was too busy trying to control Zach and Maddy, but Josh spotted it (ofcourse he did). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He turned around and was like "that old lady just stacked it" and proceeded to laugh about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He was still laughing when BAM!!! he trips over and falls to the ground like a sack of shit... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I raced over and said "karma's a bitch" and was giggling at him until i got abit closer and saw this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG_-a__PLHbQQeHImTNOiY6e3SEYeoNOE8xIZQu5Kz0eS4E3DSYc58kOIJXuq02vqA9PtqmccjU_eLm1VNN3AVGcY46hiYgkBmstUK-dSn_nXsuqznFfbnHwS2mJYujQPuV_Tw1BJsDkv/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG_-a__PLHbQQeHImTNOiY6e3SEYeoNOE8xIZQu5Kz0eS4E3DSYc58kOIJXuq02vqA9PtqmccjU_eLm1VNN3AVGcY46hiYgkBmstUK-dSn_nXsuqznFfbnHwS2mJYujQPuV_Tw1BJsDkv/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1752.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, that's a stick, sticking out of hubby's foot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I honestly didnt know what to do/say.. i just kept asking him "how did you do that?".. we raced to the nearest ambulance station and asked them what we should do. They told us they would take Josh in the ambulance back to Gympie hospital and to meet him there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to call my mum and organize her to look after the kiddies for me while I went and sat with Josh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the time i got to the hospital it was all over and this is what they pulled out of Josh's foot: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QUZ_wj9egGNNPZWOKJ4p2g_q6scUdKIwV6WbXuKX9cMzaRMbtgZ6FMjAlUawZKrsEBrRVdVhSdpQREq5psck-cJk2mVZ2IOEiH-23EApYayXouN00cTAg4oQF7gq7diw2V6bubuF-n8c/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QUZ_wj9egGNNPZWOKJ4p2g_q6scUdKIwV6WbXuKX9cMzaRMbtgZ6FMjAlUawZKrsEBrRVdVhSdpQREq5psck-cJk2mVZ2IOEiH-23EApYayXouN00cTAg4oQF7gq7diw2V6bubuF-n8c/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1755.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh, pretty high on morphine!! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So our big beach adventure turned into a big hospital adventure and we didnt even get to touch the sand!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you all had lovely weekends! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">much luv. :)</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-9670493489432815032011-11-08T18:34:00.000-08:002011-11-08T18:34:20.025-08:00WORDLESS WEDNESDAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqFHzdHGZIhJl9GkTp6wVVxmv2NGA69HAnSDgj2RuHiz6IULkemJonVD802iP5_SRNrnC5uKfsed9bKkZ7Pb2V-5S10-GIxFJtQvhEj71Xuk-N3Wn45UxBW_cuoW4SRpF69vFUSLIgxGN/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1711.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqFHzdHGZIhJl9GkTp6wVVxmv2NGA69HAnSDgj2RuHiz6IULkemJonVD802iP5_SRNrnC5uKfsed9bKkZ7Pb2V-5S10-GIxFJtQvhEj71Xuk-N3Wn45UxBW_cuoW4SRpF69vFUSLIgxGN/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1711.png" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMYtNCX9fLvs8I6QQBvQrtJdpGQxP2LMoAT3OV1raug3Lhjy-ZslXQsUXeq6Bz61A2tbKmRb3nGA0w-Id2PIVsEz82_rImYq3RvqBYgMf178wPeDVOv43ikdrYf0vIXAo_bHpMnZ15mu3/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMYtNCX9fLvs8I6QQBvQrtJdpGQxP2LMoAT3OV1raug3Lhjy-ZslXQsUXeq6Bz61A2tbKmRb3nGA0w-Id2PIVsEz82_rImYq3RvqBYgMf178wPeDVOv43ikdrYf0vIXAo_bHpMnZ15mu3/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKwG_k2Xrimo6bsvyaKnMOr62tK-tNRmg0rqJyPKJEjGQNbkQjDJ4fxC9eKw8_6YNYvR__blxGomQaPiuYvnvVI0ZkDZshlsew7mxSaS0JrUFs0ojDV7yWSEbmoMAAeAXgZsBhLsqaaHB/s1600/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKwG_k2Xrimo6bsvyaKnMOr62tK-tNRmg0rqJyPKJEjGQNbkQjDJ4fxC9eKw8_6YNYvR__blxGomQaPiuYvnvVI0ZkDZshlsew7mxSaS0JrUFs0ojDV7yWSEbmoMAAeAXgZsBhLsqaaHB/s320/courtney%2527s+pics+2011+1681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-42838117338775487352011-11-08T18:29:00.000-08:002011-11-08T18:29:57.215-08:00What Being A Stay At Home Mum Really Means...It means you get to sit around a watch Oprah while you snack on Tim Tams all day long. Your children needlessly entertain themselves for hours on end and your baby gets their own bottles and changes their own nappies makes their own food and generally takes care of themselves. All while you sit back and relax without ever having to leave the couch....<br />
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YEAH RIGHT!!<br />
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I know a couple of men who HONEST to goodness would believe this!! They are called Working Away Dads or Dads Without A Clue..<br />
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Being a stay at home mum means this: cleaning endlessly all day because lets face it, KIDS ARE MESSY, it means everytime you sit down your 4 year old wants a drink or a sandwhich, and then the next time you go to sit down your baby needs her nappy changed. (unless like right now when she is sleeping and Zach is happily playing and I am typing hell for leather so i get this post done before I have to get up again!!)<br />
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It means very limited contact with the outside world and you start to talk like a toddler.. you crave other human contact because a 4 years olds conversation is not very stimulating!! (unless your toddler is like, super human or super smart and can tell you all about Kim Kardashians divorce!!)<br />
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It means you try and fit EVERYTHING into kindy days. ie. groceries, catching up with gf's, op shopping, mopping and paying bills.<br />
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But in saying all that it also means this: getting to play with your gorgeous kids 24/7, getting to be there for everysingle 'first' your baby has, getting to listen to phrazes such as: "mummy, you need to slow down" - zach telling me my driving is abit reckless! ;-) or this one "I Love You mummy".. my heart melts just thinking about it...<br />
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If you are a stay at home mum and proud to be one then let me hear you ROAR!<br />
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It's trying at times and most days at some point I find myself wanting to rip the absolute shit out of my hair.. but i certainly wouldnt have it any other way!<br />
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Much love to you all tho.. working mum or stay at home mum.. your all doing a fabulous job!!<br />
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:)Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771183051350860687.post-53487741700220819882011-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:002011-11-08T17:55:52.608-08:00I've decided to cross over from wordpressSo this is my first blog post and I've decided to use blogger instead of my wordpress account, pretty much because blogger has prettier backgrounds. (call me vain) and also a few of my gf's use blogger. :)<br />
I'm pretty much all about living life happily on a budget (yes this can be achieved) and having fun while doing it. I honestly love all things craft and sometimes wish I could be a little craftier.<br />
anyway, anything I make i intend on posting on here (terrible or otherwise) along with a shit load of pics of my kids.<br />
because lets be honest, who doesnt love a cute kid in a photo?? :)<br />
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please sit back with a cup of tea, relax and enjoy my blog!<br />
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much love.Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03932962770953000733noreply@blogger.com0