Oooh, it's been a while ...

since my last blog entry - sorry about that! Guess I've been pretty busy just with day to day life lately ... and trying to get some things sorted out before the mad Christmas rush. I've already got 4 presents sorted - most unlike me :)

Well, Family Bradford had a lovely day again today - we decided to head down to Werribee Mansion for the annual Harvest Picnic - never been before, but heard through a friend that it was a great day.

Was great wandering around and trying all the food - pastries, olives, dips, nougats, spanish donuts, bruschetta, sausages, kebabs - and the boutique beers, wines and ciders were a nice way to wash it all down of course! And the homemade icecream was a hit with Ashton too! In fact, he was having such a good time he actually agreed to have his face painted for the first time ever - he's always been to shy for it in the past. So, we spent the day wandering around with a little spiderman - he looked especially cute when he had licked off the paint around his mouth while he was eating his icecream ...

We called in to Williamstown on the way home and Nick and I had an icecream, and we all wandered around on the foreshore, and then walked out along the pier and Ash and I went on the the retired navy ship that's moored there and had a little sticky beak. He loved it!

Another great family day ...

Talk to you soon,

Ness.

I have been tagged by two lovely ladies - Gypsyangel and Lexie - and I'd like to nominate them right back for this wonderful award, as well as Chelle and Miss Cropalot.

Thanksfor thinking of me ladies ... :)

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

What a start to the day!

Well, I had the most interesting start to a Monday that I've ever had today ...

It was about 12.45am this morning when Ashton came down to our room with a terrible croupey cough, and he was getting really distressed. He's had croupe a few times before, so I'm familiar with the whole 'barking' cough thing, but for the first time he was actually really having trouble drawing in breath, and was gagging and reaching and really struggling for air, so we called for an ambulance for some assistance.

The MICA ambulance arrived in about 6 or 7 minutes, and then a normal ambulance arrived shortly after that, but by the time they had arrived, I had managed to calm him down enough that he could get some air in, but he was still very tight in the throat.

So, they decided we'd need to take a little ride and head to hospital, so he could have some steroids and open up the airway. My first ever ride in an ambulance! Nick stayed home with Liam who was fast asleep and totally oblivious to the whole thing, and I sat at the hospital with Ashton while he was given medication and monitored for a while. We headed home shortly after 3.00, and then I settled him back in bed, and made it back to bed myself around 4.00am.

Needless to say I'm a little weary today, but happy that we got him treatment so quickly. This was the first time I have ever really considered calling an ambulance, and I'm glad we did ... he got the help he needed in super quick time, and is all the better for it!

What a start to a Monday ....

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Family fun!

Well, the Bradford family had a lovely day out in the sun today.

We headed to Eltham Lower Park, where they have a fully operational miniature steam railway, and took the boys for a couple of rides. This place has been going for as long as I can remember - half of my photos of me as a kid were taken there! The ride is such good value too - tickets are $3, but you're on the train for just over 10 minutes, and it winds through lovely parklands, and goes over bridges and through a few tunnels (where all the kids scream, of course!) - it really is great fun. If you're interested in taking a look-see, here's the link! http://www.dvr.com.au/

Ashton also had a ride on a shetland pony called Toffee, then we headed over to Warrandyte, and grabbed some lunch at the bakery while the kids had a run around the playground, then wandered along the river, grabbed some icecream, and made it home around 3.00. All in all, a great family day!

Talk to you soon,
Ness.

Here are my layouts from the getaway ....

Hello everyone ... sorry it's been a while since my last post! As you've no doubt gathered I have returned safe and sound from the weekend retreat, and had a fabulous time. I was hoping to get a few layouts completed, but nowhere in my wildest dreams did I expect to get 17 done! Very pleased with myself about that. Had a few late nights, had a few drinks, did karaoke for the first time ever (don't ask!), went for a lovely walk, and hope to be able to go back again same time next year.

If anyone's interested, the retreat was run through the Remember When Paper Company. Here's the link to their site ... http://www.rememberwhen.com.au/

Thanks for looking!

The time has come ...

... for me to head off to my very first ever scrapbooking retreat. It's being held up in Toolangi in the mountains and I'm really looking forward to it. Nick's even letting me take the RX7 for a spin! :) Woot woot!

Finally got around to packing all my stuff up tonight - oh the dilemma of deciding what to take!!! - so, no doubt I've taken way too much stuff, but oh well, at least I'll have a nice selection of materials to choose from.

Anyway, you won't be hearing from me for the next few days, but I'll post some pics of what I accomplish on the weekend once I get back. Here's hoping I do get SOME scrapping done this weekend ...

Oh, and a quick thank you to all the people that check my blog - I've only been blogging for 2 weeks and 2 days, and already I've had 99 hits. Not bad considering hardly anyone knows I even exist in the blogosphere ... so thanks for reading my ramblings!

Speak to you again in a few days,
Ness.