Blog This and That.

I found a little display folder in the bookshelf that I had forgotten about.  It was my first blog that I had printed out - biglittlesister - which I began on one of my sister's typepad accounts.  It was my first time at 'blogging' and the date was July 5, 2004.  Two months before Monet was born.  Now here she is reading it coming up to eight years later...  Weird.  That original blog is now deleted as I started my own 'blogger' account in October 2006.  That's this blog you are currently reading.

I thought I would post a photo of the table runner MrL brought home from Abu Dhabi for me.  I requested a couple (I have a purple one too).  It is gorgeous - lots of detail and looks lovely on our dining table.

That's it for today. ;)

Art Outside

We have really been making the most of the gorgeous tropical weather that has been happening over the past week.  In the afternoon when the backyard starts to get shaded and the heat of the sun isn't so bad, we sit outside.  Usually with bevvie in hand (considering MrL has been on break before starting a new job).  

The girls usually annoy us run around and play games of types.  I suggested the other late afternoon for the girls to lie on a big piece of paper and trace their bodies.  Lily was not keen and disappeared to do something else, but Monet quite enjoyed the little project...

And her result made me smile.

Easter Morning 2012

Easter Sunday saw ME waking the girls up at 7:30 to tell them that I thought Easter Bunny had left them some chocolate and they better go and check for themselves.  Monet was most thrilled to see that Easter Bunny had not entered the house but had left their bounty outside.  (Hence me waking them up as I was scared that the chocolate could melt when I had spotted them outside!  I was unsure what time Easter Bunny had left the goodies.)

Both girl's eyes popped out their heads when they spotted the Bunny had left them a Chocolate egg trail...

After collecting their chocolate trail (in the paper lantern Monet had made the previous day, complete with bottom so she could collect eggs!), they sat down and counted and sorted their goodies.

Lily was thrilled when I suggested they eat chocolate for breakfast.  She quickly ripped off the wrapper off a chocolate chicken and immediately bit into it's head.

I hope you and yours had a pleasant Easter and you are still enjoying your long weekend!

We've Moved.

So, as the girls and I wait patiently for our favourite Male to return to live with us from Abu Dhabi, we've been busy trying to find new digs and waiting patiently (ever so patiently) for our 20 Foot shipping container to arrive. After passing successfully through quarantine and customs (via Brisbane) I was most pleased to hear that it made it up to Cairns on the weekend.

Lucky I was successful finding a new home for us to live in, for at leas the next six months.  It is a difficult task trying to organise a place to live with two young girls in tow and a husband half a world away.  We (MrL) and I have similar tastes (I believe) so I am sure he will be happy with the house I was successful in applying (and subsequently getting) for.  I know our beautiful girls were.

With a lush green back yard, well, who could blame us feeling a little joyous at the occasion of moving in?

This house is something a little different from the ordinary.  We like that.  Built with colour bond and cladding and lots of timber shutters and window frames I know MrL will love it as much as I do.

I have had some teething problems here at the house (air cons/tv/gas - don't ask!) but it'll all be sorted out before I know it.  With MrL arriving here v. v. soon, I still have some unpacking and sorting to do.  But he won't care.  He just wants to be reunited back with his little family, as much as I want him to be too.

I Love This Photo

I took this photo a few weeks back now, whilst staying at the In-laws.  Taken with my iPhone and changed from colour to B&W.  I need to get this one printed for sure.  Enlarged and framed even.

New Beginnings

Things are seriously falling into place here for us.

After searching high and low for a suitable place for my little family to live in Cairns, a perfect one turned up.  And I subsequently got.  I think it helped that that I befriended the agent and within three hours of putting in the application she rang me back to say it was mine.  I think it helped that I viewed the property twice, just to make sure I was doing the right thing.  It is tough to try and find a perfect place without your partner in crime who is still residing in the Middle East.  But we have similar tastes in most things so I am positive he will approve of my choice.

I was contacted too yesterday by our removal company that our shipping container had been given the all clear from Australian Customs and Quarantine.  It is heading up this way on the weekend.  All ready for me to take on the same day I take over the lease of our new abode.

Slowly falling into place.  New beginnings.

Reasons why I am happy to be back in FNQ and one reason I am not...

It is lovely being back where you feel like you belong, even though there is one element missing. And that's MrL. He is back in the sand pit of Abu Dhabi but it won't be too much longer until we are reunited for good in the tropics of Far North Queensland.

I wonder if you can see some of the reasons why it is so lovely to be back...

Monet is now back at school full time.  I still haven't co-ordinated my driving time to her school.  We've been quite early every day at both drop off and pick up times.  She's coping well, Monet, arriving at a new school with only a few weeks of first term left.  I still feel bad taking her out of school in Abu Dhabi where she had 'found her place' and had a nice group of friends, to now being known as the 'new girl'.  She will find some new friends all in due time (this is her fifth day), this I know.

I had my Mother-In-Law stay for a week.  She saw MrL for a couple of days before he returned to the sand pit and helped a lot with Lily.  Now since she has returned back to Victoria, it means I now have to start cooking meals! (instead of going out every night! lol)

I still need to find a place to live (our apartment has tenants in it still) for us to live in and wait patiently for our shipping container to arrive.  I'm missing our stuff!  Fingers crossed something comes up soon.

But it is good to be back in the humidity, the sunshine, the lush tropical surrounds.  This, makes me happy.

Taking the Bad (Back) with the Utter Happiness....

I neglected to tell you in my previous post that I 'did' my back in last Tuesday. There couldn't be worse timing, let me tell you. It was the final week I was spending in country Victoria, a week I had been looking forward to with the anticipation of moving on towards our new chapter. But I buggered up all that excitement by bending down to pick up a piece of laundry off the floor when "shit!"

Long story short - was very much out of action for a good four days with me completely resting, sitting for an hour, hobbling around for a bit then sitting back down. I was in agony sitting down and then standing up. Agony lying in bed. I visited a physio a couple of times which helped and I will have to find one now in Cairns for visiting permanently, as it was noted that it might be a reoccurring thing, seeing it has happened twice before over the past two years. However last week's incident was the worst yet.

One thing I am thankful for is that MrL's parents had Monet stay over for three nights whilst my parents looked after Lily (and myself).   Lily was brilliant.  Being very much a 'mummy's girl', she quickly became a 'Grandma's girl'.  There were a few firsts last week, but the big one was Lily getting to sleep by putting herself to bed (in a big bed at that!) and falling asleep rather quickly without having her Mum near by.

So here, I will publicly thank my in-laws for looking after Monet for three nights and four days and to my parents, especially to my mum, for letting me do bugger all and looking after Lily.   It was shit timing doing my back, but in a way, good timing that it happened in a place where my girls were able to be looked after by others.

Sunday saw my parents drop Monet, Lily and I off at the airport, where we checked into the Park Royal Airport for the night (takes the stress out of getting to the airport in the morning, when you have to travel two hours to get there).   The girls thought it was great fun - so did I as I didn't have to share a bed with a certain 2 year old, after sharing a bed practically each night for the past six weeks!!

I can't describe to you how it felt to be flying back into Cairns after a three and a half years absence. I'm pretty sure I was close to tears (of happiness and relief!)

I'm pretty sure it was the same feeling I got roughly three hours later when MrL rocked up in a taxi after his flight from Abu Dhabi. Six weeks without your best friend and father of your children was (at times) tough going.

MrL's mother arrives tomorrow for a week - she's up here to see MrL, who she hasn't seen for over a year, and the short term apartment we are in is a three bedder, so I said if she wanted to visit she was more than welcome to. I didn't have to convince her. MrL leaves for Abu Dhabi again on Monday for another four weeks. Not before seeing Monet off at her new (lovely) school on Monday morning!

So our new chapter has begun. And what a chapter it is starting to be. Awesome.