Zita

This year H decided to have a hush hush birthday celebration. Of which I agreed to, after all it is his special day. So I thought maybe I'd make us a Lebanese dinner. I've previously posted the recipes on the dishes that I made such as  Bamja. The chickpea salad recipe I'll post in due time  and as for the kafta, well that was store bought, but I did acquire the recipe from Aunty H when I came to Sydney last week, I've yet to try it though.

 

As for dessert I bought us some really nice cupcakes from Cupcake Parlour. The owner of the shop I met a few yrs ago when she was just selling them at the markets (both Power House and West End). P and R came over for coffee and dessert.

 

Over all it went nice, just the way he wanted it.

 

When a girlfriend of mine found out they were preganant, she asked if I could be one of the godparent. I immediately said yes, not that I would refuse to be one anyway! I think you can't refuse an offer such as that, especially if that friend of yours is one of your childhood friend. So we flew down to Sydney for the event, and I also decided to stay a few days rather than just be there for the weekend.

 

The event went smoothly as what the parents would expect. They've been pretty lucky cause they had friends from church who helped organised it. I didn't have to lift a finger at all! LOL

 

It's been great to catch up with Ia and her family. Thank you for letting us crash into your place for a few days. I must admit I had a good time, and I haven't eaten as much fish as we did. At one point P even said "Fish again Mum!" as if to say can we have something else?

 

There is also the incident of getting lost while driving in Sydney (luckily I was not in a hurry to get to A-Z, it did take me afew hrs to get to my desitination) , forgetting to pay toll because my hired car didn't have an E-Tag, and window shopping at one of the best laid out shopping centre I have ever seen.

 

I haven't posted anything in ages. Sorry for being slack. I did part time work last december. Next thing you know it's Xmas and summer school holidays. So I have been pretty busy.

 

First week in school is going well. So well, that when he came home he told me that he loves going to school, hurray! Making lunch and afternoon tea is not as hard as I thought it would be. When he was going to kindy at Lady Gowrie, part of the fees included their food, so I have been spoilt on that part  

He's also back to tennis lessons this arvo. The coach even asked if he was playing over the holidays. I assume that she's impressed with P's volleys. H has been playing with him out in the courtyard and it also helps that they hit the ball when we went to Couran.

 

Swimming lessons starts this Saturday morning. Yes, I finally gave in to booking P into a weekend activity. I have been procrastinating on that bit for the longest time! From this Saturday onwards I will be one of those lunatic parents rushing around town to get to their childs activity on time.  Sigh....

 

Enjoy the photos. 

 

I'd like to thank family and friends who have given me their wisdom on what to make for school lunches and tea!

This is for my sister. Thank you for sending the Ben 10 costume for  P! By the way, the postie forgot to give me a parcel notice ergo we didn't get it in time for P's brithday on the 15th. He finally had the chance to wear it yesterday at a friends brithday party.

 

At the start of the school year I keep reminding myself to put my name down on the class diary so I can spend the day with P. Seems that the only time I do get around to doing it is when it's his birthday! Better late than never I suppose.

 

Children are funny creatures, the things that come out of their mouth can really make one laugh their head off, sometimes one becomes red of embarassment from what your offsrping might have said. A friend of mine even suggested to write things down, so we can recall they've said when they were young. Aaahh time does fly when you're having fun.

 

I brought cupcakes and lolly bags to share for P's birthday celebration in kindy. It's nice to be a kid once in a while. Even if it's only for 5 hrs. I must say it was the most fun I had in a while. My son was quite happy that I was around and whenever they would sit on the mat he kept asking me to sit with him on the floor. I would have but alas I was wearing a skirt and it did limit my movement a fair bit.

 

We've been lucky with P's school. I think it's the best around! Kudos to Mrs. L and Mrs. R for guiding our littlies and for giving them enough room to learn things at their own pace. We've been fortunate enough that this year there's more structure in their routine, and that the teacher actually does take the time in creating a fun learning environment for the kids.

 

I think maybe I should come and spend the day again with P before he goes to prep, might not be able to do it again.

 

 

 

 P's day started w/ opening his pressie, from mum and dad. We got him a Ben 10 watch (omnitrix). It's the only thing that he's been asking me to get him for his birthday. Every time we would be near a toy shop he would ask me if we can find the watch. Unfortunately I couldn't find one. I thought it wouldn't be hard to procure, but I was wrong. Ebay was the next stop, lo and behold I found heaps. All from America, hah! He still thinks it's the best gift that he got this yr. Jackpot!

 

I had a discussion w/ a friend of mine about organising birthday parties, especially if it's for your child. We both agree it is far more stressful to host one than being invited as a guest.  Running around like a loon is part and parcel of it, making sure that it'll run smoothly was my goal. Times like this makes me appreciate my mother-in-law more!

 

The party went really quick! I'm glad that our guest had a good time and that they had heaps to eat. I nixed doing any party games, N said that I shouldn't even bother as the playground is there to wear the children out. She was right.

 

Thank you all for coming and the lovely pressies that P got. How great is it to be 5?!

 

 

As of 17th September 2007 I am officially an Australian Citizen. Coincidentally it was also Citizenship Day which made it all the more special, 606 people from different parts of the world became Australians.

My family and friends were seated at balcony of the Brisbane City Hall Auditorium, it would have been great if we were all seated together I suppose it makes more sense that the candidates are all seated together, it makes the ceremony flow more efficiently.

 

DIAC put on a show, an aboriginal dance group welcomed the candidates, they even made fire (the old fashion way) inside the auditorium, at one point I thought it wasn't going to happen, but it did! Hurray! There was also a cuban dance group who entertained us, I thought one of the drum players was an acquitnance and the same lot who played at the Food and Wine Festival at the Gold Coast, I could be wrong.

 

After Lord Mayor Campbell Newman asked the candidates to say their Australian Citizenship Pledge we were showered by confetti. That bit I loved. It's like being in the movies! We sang the national anthem, the official party left the auditorium, then we were ushered out.

 

We ended up having a very late dinner at Jojo's at the mall. Lucky for us the kids were able to entertain themselves. I had reef and beef and a crownie, it couldn't get more Australian than that eh?

 

Thanks to H and P for supporting me.

Thanks to the rest of the clan for being there and celebrating with me.

Thanks to I's family, the boys had a good time as well.

Thanks to M and N for coming as well.

 

What does being an Australian mean to me? I can now vote and help find the "right" people to run the country, I can apply for an Australian passport, I can run for office if I wanted to, but most of all, it is being lucky to be living in a great country with the people I love and made a family of my own.

 

The goal is to loose 5 kilos asap. I am a bit sore from yesterday's workout with the trainer, not as sore when I first came in and attended a class,  I do feel a little less sluggish. Thats the upside to it. The classes that I've been going to are quite enjoyable. For the past two days I've been telling P about spending an hour or two at my gym's creche tom am. He doesn't like it, calls it the "baby gym" because it's mostly babies and toddlers. But he's getting his head around the idea, provided that I pack morning tea for him, specifically vegimite sandwhich cut into triangles! I did say tht he has to  get used to playing with babies so that when his cousin is a bit older her can play with him, or if we have another baby he can entertain the little one.

 

So far so good, after all it's only been a week. Crossing my fingers that I WILL loose a bit of weight in time for summer.

 

I'm hibernating, it's winter. Apologies if I have not posted anything. Spring is almost here, maybe then I can get my act together. See you soon.