March 2018 Done and Dusted!

Following on from last month, we now have temporary stairs at the back door.  We had a ladder kind of stairs, but the job is going to be a bit bigger than we first anticipated (isn't that always the way?) so the Big Fella amended them so they're more stable and comfortable to use.

Uni was off and running in full swing, and I handed in my first assessment.  I haven't got my results yet, but the Big Fella said it was "actually really good", which is a massive compliment from him on a first read through of a uni paper!

Peppa thought she'd help me out with my studies

We finished up the Little Big Fella's cricket season for 2017/2018, which is a relief but we miss the new friends we've made.  Definitely need to make a few catch up times before the next season starts!

A 4am wake up for the last game of the season was balanced with a beautiful drive, with the sun rising through the fog.

The Little Big Fella bowling

The team with our super-encouraging coach

A bit of fun at our final practice with a ball machine!

The Little Big Fella and his coach having a chat

The Little Big Fella's class had a performance at the school's weekly assembly this month.  They've been reading "The Twits" by Roald Dahl and sang a song about how gross this old couple is.

I had a parent/teacher interview with the Little Big Fella's teacher.  Unsurprisingly, he's doing really well academically and his new teacher is really pleased with how he's getting along with his class mates.  One thing we discussed though, is that the Little Big Fella hums and makes noises... a lot!  It helps him concentrate, but it distracts the other students (and his teacher).  I know I have a soundtrack in my head almost constantly, so I've talked to him about trying to keep the songs in your head while people are working.  We're also going to try some things that he can (quietly) fiddle with while he's working and see if that helps as well.

I had a lady stop me in the supermarket one day.  She recognised the Little Big Fella from a community event he'd been at and commented that he'd been such a lovely boy.  It turned out she was the aunt of one of the Little Big Fella's class mates.  She made a point of saying that parents often get told when their kids aren't behaving or whatever, but are rarely told that they're doing a good job and she wanted me to know we're doing great.

Definitely have to give kudos to both mine and the Big Fella's parents on this!  Without their excellent examples (not perfect, of course, but excellent) we wouldn't parent the way we do, and the Little Big Fella wouldn't be the awesome kid he is!

The Art Society had a cleaning bee on a Sunday early in the month, and the Big Fella was at work so the Little Big Fella got to come with me.  He was SO helpful and didn't complain once!  We were out in the garden area and he was such pleasant company and the other ladies commented on how great he was.  Makes me so proud!  The hall and gardens are now looking lovely thanks to the combined effort of everyone!

One of our older Art Society members turned 84 so we had a little party for her. I have to say (again) how much I love this little group!  It's such a supportive environment and is SO good for my soul!

Oh!  I finished my picture of the Big Fella, and as promised, here it is!

I have two projects on the go this month.  One for our monthly challenge, and one I'm hoping to have ready for the High School's art show in May.

Updates next month :-D

I had a fun night in with the girls, eating cobb, drinking cocktails and buying linen.  Which reminds me, we haven't planned our get together for April yet!  

We had another haircut and pizza night this month as well, and I got my hair cut from a bit past shoulder length to chin length.  I was waiting for the weather to cool down (it's SO much easier to put your hair in a ponytail when it's hot) but I think I was a little bit early.  It's still in the 30's most days and I have to try to pin it up off my face.  But I love it and it's so nice to be able to do something nicer with it without spending hours in the bathroom.

Unfortunately we had an incident at work, which saw one of our boys in hospital.  It affected everyone quite deeply, and there have been some significant changes at work as a result.  However, I'm ecstatic to say he has been released this week and is recovering remarkably well!

Have I mentioned that I live in a pretty impressive place?  It's semi-outback, but we have a limestone escarpment just "there" and I took a few photos this month.

The Big Fella worked the Easter weekend and it was the Little Big Fella's birthday just before then, so we took the weekend before off and spent it in Brisbane with the Big Fella's parents.  It was lovely to see them and the Little Big Fella was well and truly spoiled again.

Grandma and Grandpa had offered a Segway ride from this place.

After looking at the options, the Little Big Fella chose this electric trike thingy and had an absolute ball, while we sat next to the beach and chilled out.

Of course, you need a birthday cake to celebrate a nearly-birthday!  The spinning candle sang Happy Birthday (and ended up in the bin because we couldn't turn it off).

My mum-in-law and I had a bit of a pamper, getting a pedicure at the local shopping centre.  It was great, except for the foot-tickling part!

Birthdays were always such a special time for me as a kid, and mum made sure we always had a party.  It didn't have to be spectacular, just special.  So despite just getting back from our weekend away, and that things were insane at work, and everyone was getting ready for Easter, we had a few boys around for a party.

It was SO loud!!!!  I reckon it took them nearly an hour to stop shouting every time they spoke!  But we had a great time, some of my all-time favourite games, chips, watermelon, burgers and soft drink, and there were smiles all around.

Definitely a winner of a game!

This one?  Not so much.  The toilet paper kept breaking so they couldn't get a good wrapping going.

Have you ever played this one?  Plain flour is packed into a bowl and turned upside down on a plate.  A single lolly is placed in the middle, then everyone takes turns "cutting" some of the flour away.  Whoever knocks the lolly has to retrieve it without their hands.

And then it was on!  Flour face painting (throwing was stopped immediately!).  Had to follow this with a hose off and stripping down a bit.

The chocolate game... with a twist!

The Big Fella had to go to work at the end of the party and wouldn't be awake in the morning (for the Little Big Fella's actual birthday), so he gave the Little Big Fella his present half way through the party.

Handball in the driveway

The birthday cake.  Not quite as professional as last year, but I had a good teacher and remembered a lot of her tips.  At least you can kind of tell it's not a push bike!

So that's pretty much March, 2018!  I'm glad it's over because it was hectic and difficult, but there were some GREAT memories and people in it.