Living in the land of the lost

Over the past few weeks thing's have been mental!

We got through the Christmas School holidays..just!

We had many nights of little to no sleep.

We had 2 VERY tired kids...and 2 VERY grumpy parents!

We had a dreadfully sick little man and a daughter feeling a bit unloved!

We have had very little good food, due to all of the above!

So now I am hoping we have turned a corner and we can get back on track. 

Below is a story of a spanner that was thrown in our works last week:

After 7 weeks of a sick little man I decided to see another Dr as the first one didn't really do much.

Baby O had been coughing all night for about 7 weeks upon our change of Dr's and I basically told him there is something not right and we need some help.

Dr was great he sent us straight off for a chest X Ray. That was on a Friday....on the Monday I came out of a meeting to have a message on my work phone to call the Dr back ASAP.

So this is when the initial panic set in. I called the Dr back he asked me to get my husband and go the see him straight away.

By the time my husband and I got to the Dr we were both a mess...crying the works!!!

Finally we go in and get told the Baby O has Pneumonia.

We didn't know if that was good news or not...but would take it as we had something more horrible in our heads!

So now we are on some hardcore antibiotics to help get rid of it...in saying that we are back to the Dr today to get new meds and he cant take the one we were given.

So I really have been living in the land of the lost. I feel like I have been a walking zombie for the better part of those 7 weeks. 

It really put hubby and I to the test...again!!! And poor Daughter E was unintentionally put on the back burner while we just tried to make it through a day.

Back on the up and up now (fingers crossed).

Daughter E has started Grade 1 and is so super proud that she can walk herself to school.

Baby O has started walking or should I say running around.

And hubby and I are still just trying to make it through each day!

Ah the joys of it all.....

Anyway...here are some pic's from the last few weeks!

Sibling love

Some park time

Flying Fox time!

First day of Grade 1

Baby O trying to get in to Daughter E's room

He waits patiently

My Australia Day Egg...it looks like the map doesn't it!?

This is what my street looked like for the past 3 weeks!

Busted out a Veg Lasagne one night!

Crumbed A LOT of Flathead

But it was delish!

Date Night was a bit of a fail. BUT A for effort!

My in laws have just left with our Daughter after staying with us for the past few days.

They have taken Daughter E back to Adelaide then off to Port Elliot for the week.

Ahhh. Bliss for mum and dad for the next few days.

So last night the in laws offered to babysit while we had a night off! Ahhh..Bliss again..double score.

Hubby was in charge of booking us in at Gold Class.

I did remind him for the last few days that he will need to call ahead and book us in.

But it got to lunchtime yesterday when he started his calls and everything was full for what we wanted to see.

When he broke the news to me I wasn't too fussed. I would of been happy to spend the last night with Daughter E on the couch before she left us for a week. PLUS we are dead broke till pay day and we didn't have cash to splash around at a fancy restaurant.

But he said we don't have this opportunity often so he was going to arrange something.

I started to worry a little.

By dinner time he started doing shifty little things and loading the car up with bits and pieces.

After dinner he stuffed me in the car while I was asking a million question's about what the hell was going on.
Talk about not being able to be wooed....

So he whacked an address in the GPS and away we went.

About 40 minutes later we arrived at Kangaroo Ground.

He had arranged what he called a "Night Picnic" at this amazing lookout point.

He had a big rug, our big pillows off our bed, a candle (probably not so great with all the bush fires we are having), a big box of Krispy Kreme and then a bottle of veuve clicquot!!!!

Well played mister well played!!!

Anyway, we have a walk around, go all the way to the top of the lookout, we got asked by another couple if we had any weed and then set up our little picnic to watch the sun set.

It was truly lovely. And I had nothing to do with it.

So we enjoyed the sunset and were having a nice chat when a lady yelled out she was shutting the gate in 15 minutes and we all needed to leave.

What a pain...we hadn't even popped the bubbles yet!

So we packed up our little camp and drove out in search of somewhere else to go.

Just over an hour later and a near miss with an actual Kangaroo we called it and headed home.

It was lets say a very interesting Date Night. At least we have an awesome bottle of bubbly on hand though for next time.

Please let me now if you have had any failed attempts of date night also. Would LOVE to hear them!

Beautiful Melbourne

Amazing views!

Sunset!

Kangaroo Ground

Did I mention the views!

Evil in a box.

At the top of the lookout!

With all good intentions.

One of the main things we miss from Adelaide is having a good beach at our door step. 

We lived across the road from the beach and probably didnt realise just how good we had it!

I decided since our return from Adelaide at Christmas that I would make more of an effort to get our family back to the beach for swims and sand castle fun during this summer in Melbourne.

So yesterday was the day we were going to explore Torquay!

It is about an hours drive from us but I had heard good things about this beach so I didn't mind the drive at all.

Now Baby O is teething like a MOFO at the moment and Saturday night bought us very little sleep. And to add to that it was 40C most of the day/night. JOY!

There were a few signs in the morning that made me think this day isn't going to go to plan.

Like:
We were all walking around like zombies from the lack of sleep.
The screaming baby.
The daughter who was glued to cartoons and not wanting to put her bathers on.
And my favourite the husband who was now grumpy because he strolled into the bathroom while I was trying to have a shower and asked for sex. When his request was denied we had a grumpy hubby on our hands for the entire day!

So the drive out to Torquay was great; baby still screaming and no one talking.

When we arrived we things got a little better. We set up camp and headed for the water.

Daughter E had he second go at snorkeling and really enjoyed it. there was heaps for her to see too and not that far out.
Baby O cheered up a bit too when he got in the water, made a few sandcastles and ate a lot of sand. I think he enjoys that the most actually.
Hubby & I barely talking.

I liked Torquay and would like to go back when it's not so windy. But I still want to try out as many beaches as possible this summer to see if we have anything here that stacks up to the Adelaide beaches.

So after a few hours of beach side action we packed up and headed home.

When we got home we were all starving, so we knocked up some BLT's (while not speaking). But Daughter E has decided again she is vegetarian so she requested hot chips. Which we did, and I promised her I would make her a pasta for dinner a little later.

Hubby had his volunteering last night so left before dinner time. As soon as he walked out the door Baby O started his night time routine of screaming, so we decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. By the time we got back it was bed time for all of us. But at 10pm last night I realised that Daughter E had only had hot chips for "dinner" and I forgot to make her a pasta...oops!! She seemed to survive!

Overall my attempt to have a day at the beach with the family and have fun is sitting at about a 6 out of 10. Better luck to me next week hey! 


Oh and hows the situation with hubby you ask???
Hubby is still fast asleep so we still haven't spoken!

Torquay

Tourquay

Sand eater!!!

Emelia having a rest.

Every time Emelia gets out the ocean she rolls in the sand like a dog. Don't know how she does it!

Happy times!

The aftermath of a road trip.

It's strange over here at my place cos we just got back from our trip home to Adelaide and it feels like the holidays should be over.

But oh how they are not!!!

Another 4 weeks to go people.

I go back to work on Monday which means Daughter E is off to School Holiday Program and Baby O back off to child care.

I was looking through the school holiday program and they have so many cool things planned. The first day they are off to a swim center for the day! Wish I was going.

Anyway I digress - today my house looks like a junk yard. 

There are still unpacked suitcases in the hallway.

Washing machine is on 24/7 and I have not stopped doing dishes for the last 3 days.

God 4 of us all home makes a real mess.

I finally got the floors done today between Baby O's nap and ushering Daughter E into her room for about an hour.

The outdoor Christmas lights and decorations finally came down too.

So busy day today...and now I have to start thinking about dinner.

I did manage to bake a cake in all the choirs today too. I got to use one of my Christmas presents which I just love to bits!

It's a fluro lemon/lime colour cake stand! Sweet isn't she!?

Raspberry Cake
1 1/2C SR Flour - sifted (I use Wholemeal flour)
3/4C Sugar ( I use Raw)
2 Eggs
125g Butter - softened
1TSP Vanilla extract
1/2C Milk
2C Frozen Raspberries

Pre heat the oven to 160C.
In a bowl add all the ingredients except the Raspberries. Mix together with electric mixer until all the mix comes together - about 1 minute. Now fold in your Raspberries.
Pour batter into a greased cake tin then cook for about 25 - 30 minutes - but just keep checking it. Mine only took about 25min.
Once cooked serve with some cream or ice cream.

My awesome cake stand and cake!

Now I only had a handful of Raspberries left, that's why it looks a bit sad on that front.

Emelia took this and wanted it on my blog...cute hey!

Christmas & New Year done for another year.

We have just returned from out trip home to Adelaide for Christmas.

Boy did it go quick! 

We were only there 9 days this time as Hubby had to come back to Melbourne for work this week. But it was great being home even if only for a few days.

I don't have many photo's as I was so busy with family & friends. But I think that is a good thing!

We just went with the flow and enjoyed our wonderful everyone's company.

We had my son's FIRST birthday (it was a scorcher 40C) in a park.

We had many days at the beach just swimming, relaxing and building sand castles.

We had lots of amazing food and of course I consumed a fair bit of wine!

We had a girls only day at Ovo.

We even had a husband & wife lunch in the city.

I had a fantastic lunch with my besties down the beach.

And spend some quality time with my sister and her family...and their new puppy - Bella!

Also during the trip Baby O started walking, like proper walking...crazy!!

It was a great trip home and I cant wait to go back...soon.

Hubby already asleep...about an hour into the trip.

Awesome house we found on the way over

Nice cuddle with mum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new addition to my sister's family. Bella!

Christmas morning..they are not ALL my kids presents.

Some Light Saber Action!!!

Baby O getting in on the action too.

Lunch with Hubby at my old work and best place for Pizza in Adelaide - Scoozi Rundle St

Good old Rundle Street

Franks - still a great place for a cheap cut guys!

Uncle Dave helping Emelia with her Lego

Happy families. Emelia with Aunty Rox & uncle Dave

OVO = AMAZING!!!!

Playground at Nhill on the way home.

 
So last night being New Years Eve we had a real quiet one. I cooked us a nice light dinner, had a few drinks and ventured out to see the early fireworks.

We then watched Rocky Horror Picture Show on TV and crashed out before midnight!

A very Happy New Year indeed.

So the dish I made last night was actually made for us on Christmas Day by my mother in law. It is from the Donna Hay cookbook - Fast, Fresh, Simple. Which I just so happen to have.

It is a Field Mushroom Galette and it is simply divine! Below is the recipe but you could swap up the ingredients to whatever you had in the fridge I think!

Field Mushroom Galette
1 Sheet of Shortcrust Pastry - defrosted
30g Butter
1 Clove Garlic - crushed
6-8 Field Mushrooms (I used 6 and it was heaps)
2TSp Lemon Thyme
1C Ricotta
1TBSP Lemon Zest
1/2 Leek (I used 3 of my baby leeks) - Finely sliced
2TSP Olive Oil
S&P

First pre heat the oven to 200C.
Then in a hot pan put in the butter and garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds then add in the mushrooms, cook for about 3 minutes of till the mushrooms are golden brown. Take off the heat and add in the S&P and Thyme. Set aside and let the mix cool.
Cut your pastry into a circle (I just rounded off the corners) then spread the ricotta on the base but leave about a 5cm boarder. Add the lemon zest to the top of the ricotta then put on the cooled mushrooms. 
Then fold the 5cm pastry boarder into the middle of the galette, all rustic like.
Finally toss the leeks in the olive oil and sprinkle on top. And that's it!
Pop in the oven for about 20min and try not to burn your mouth when you want to dive straight into it.

Mushroom Galette

Soda with Lemon and Vietnamese Mint. So refreshing!

Around the backyard.

When we moved to Melbourne almost 5 years ago my hubby wanted us to move into a trendy inner city apartment.

I did see the fun in that but knew I loved having a yard and also having kids I knew they would want the ease of walking out the back/front rather than getting dressed and packed and walk to a park to play.

So we did get a house with a really good sized backyard and even the front has plenty of room to have a play. The back has a lot of fruit tress to, so I am very blessed!

I was fortunate enough to have a 2 wonderful little veggie boxes made for me. By the very resourceful and talented husband. The sleepers are actual railway sleeps from the side of the road where that had just been dug up from the train line.

I love them to bits and over the years have had so many veggies and herbs thrive in them.

This year I have not been as focused on the veg garden as Baby O has taken up a lot of my time. But what I have planted and cared for have rewarded me and the family so much.

I think there is nothing better than being able to get veg from your backyard and on to the dinner table. Makes me one happy lady!

So here are some shots from the backyard.

Veg Box No.1 - filled with Mint, Silver beet and Roma Tom's

Veg box No.2 - filled with Cabbage's, Squash and Baby Leeks

My little herb patch - Viet Mint, Thyme and Rosemary

Figs anyone!? Seriously if your in Melbourne let me know!

Vietnamese Mint...I am in love!

Rainbow Silver beet

I see you hiding Roma Tomato

Hello baby Squash

Beautiful Broccoli

Hello there little cabbage head!

The Apricot Tree

Our very overgrown Fig Tree

And we have Figs!!!

Our amazing Plum Tree

Plums are a plenty

Our girl Sunny

What a beauty!

Just the right size for our family

Red Cabbage will be part of Crunchy Noodle Salad within the week!

Thanks to the Broccoli we had a great pasta for dinner

 Dinner was the meal above!

Wholemeal Spaghetti with Chicken, Broccoli and Basil Pesto
1/2 Pack of Wholemeal Pasta
300gm of cooked Chicken thighs - sliced
4 heap Tbs of Pesto
1 Small Head of Broccoli - chopped up into small florets
Olive oil
2 Cloves Garlic - crushed
S&P
Parmesan Cheese - Grated

Real simple dish.
Cook pasta as per pack instructions. Just before the pasta is cooked through in the Broccoli for about a minute. Drain pasta and Broccoli together and set aside.
In a fry pan add a little olive oil, the crushed cloves of garlic and pesto. Fry off for a minute then add in the pasta & broccoli and Chicken (Now I had some left over cooked Chicken Thighs form the night before so I sliced them up and in they went)
Give a good mix through and makes sure everything is heated through. Have a taste add in salt and pepper and any extra oil if you think it needs it.

Pop into bowls and sprinkle some Parmesan on top.

Easy peesy lemon squeezy!