Nov 23 to 29

Do you know that I LOVE to "burn the candle at both ends"? Even at 35 weeks pregnant???

Why not I say! you only live once, "sleep while you're dead" (Bon Jovi).

This was the week for doing that.

Lots of preparation for my boss Chris' retirement dinner, guest book scrapped, photo slide show done, final payments made and some finishing touches. I was never in bed before 12 and on the night of the retirement I crawled in at around 1.30am with MASSIVE feet! On Friday night I marked reports to late and then shopped for most on Saturday morning. Alison came over for a swim as it was 40 degrees on Saturday afternoon. Sunday involved housework and then the ANNUAL AUST. IDOL celebrations were held, a week late as Karen was in the US the night of the real grandfinal. Tina and I came 2nd and 1st and had to dress as Smurfs, we had a great time as Papa Smurf and Smurfette. Lots of laughs nearly put me into labour, I was in some serious pain!!!! It hurt to walk to the car at midnight!!!! I crawled into bed again just after 1am!!! I needed some sleep for another busy week ahead.......yawn...!!!!!!

Nov 16 to 22

A tough week at work.....all the temperamental kids are starting to show their heads....end of the year silly season kicks in and the hallway is FULL of fun people to TALK to. We had CPR and a very late parent to keep Rel, Al and I working into Thursday night too.
On Saturday Narelle and I went on a shopping adventure for our bosses retirement. Max provided us with some entertaining moments ........!!!!! That night I decided after a HARD day shopping we would go and see NEW MOON. I was happy that we picked the new cinema in Narellan as they had reclining seats for only $5 extra and my feet were very thankful. It was a great movie and we had a nice time laughing ...thanks for interpreting the story in parts too my vampire friend. Sunday saw lots of housework, we celebrated Darren's mums birthday with yummy fish and chips and a swim after a HOT day.

PROJECT LIFE

OK I am going to commit to this...I need something to commit to next year. I PROMISE it wont be like all those OTHER unfinished projects, 2010 is going to be fun and memorable......so this is the project for me. Anyone want to join me. We can keep each other on track and as I will be on mat leave I can print your photos for my full time working friends out there.....lets DO IT.

I think it is great value.....and everything is PRE CUT and ready to GO!!!!!!!

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/projectlife/

NOTE to self.....today will go down as one of the most emotional and upsetting days in HISTORY...hormones, tears, silly thoughts.......tears welling now....and I tell you I NOW know WHY in the old days the department of ed made you leave six weeks before the birth of your child. I spent most of the day in tears.....i sobbed so much when I got home I thought I would go into labour...... and do you know what it was over ???? NOTHING really...... little tiny things that set me off from Stage 3 being upset Maths groups ended this week to just wishing I had more time to do things better .......grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

WOMEN

the emotions were running HIGH this week. I woke up all teary about work....about the things i need to wrap up, about the things going on next year and the fact that I wont be there. I started to hate the fact I wasn't going to be there in 2010 after the good year we had all had.....I then started to get upset with myself that next year was going to be one of the best years for me....a new baby and Max's last year before he starts school. I was cranky at myself that I was thinking of being at work. I just don't do REPLACEMENT WELL. I am a control freak......I have MY THINGS.....I am just weird like that and when I went back to work in 2007 it was difficult......just fitting in and getting MY THINGS back.......weird why my brain is working overtime on such silly things....all I have wanted for 2 years is coming true and I am crying like a baby over work....being sad about not being there.....WHO would have thought!!! bloody hormones even making me cry now!!!! The boss said a nice thing...."mate we came in together and we go out together, we did some good things and we learnt alot.........enjoy it until you have to come back". It still does not make it any easier.....

After ANOTHER interesting week at work and trying to hide some upsetting emotions I realised I am blessed to work with another wonderful woman...Narelle I know you pop in here, what you DID and saw and faced last week showed that you are and always will be SUPER TEACH, a term I know that makes us laugh, that you and I will only ever get. Working with you is great and I hope I get to do it for many years to come.

I then went to Max's preschool meeting on Thursday night and we chatted about so much.....we got onto the topic life and motherhood and having to do it all and how it impacts on WORK. It opened my eyes that I was not alone and I was not the only one facing the roller coaster ride of work, time, kids and career. I came home upset as Max's teacher has to move on next year BUT she is doing it for all the right reasons and although I LOVED the year she has given him and looked forward to another year of it I know all will be ok.

SO when I can have a drink to say cheers to 2009 I WILL look back fondly and be happy with all that happened. I will also give a big cheers to the year to come and be thankful, happy and REALLY enjoy all it has to bring....especially the sleep ins!!!!! (if baby no.2 is like baby no.1) - fingers crossed

photo by Janine Kaye 2008...can't wait for MORE!!!!

Nov 9 to 15

Another FULL TIME school week whizzed by with remembrance day and week 33 of pregnancy!!!!! It was my last week of teaching to my full timetable as all the big jobs ahead LOOMED. We experienced some HOT weather.

I went to a gold party and sold my old, broken, unfashionable pieces and made a great $468!!!!!

On Saturday (in 32 degree heat) Max and I ventured off to the Preschool Market day to sell our JUNK, I made around $70 and we had a nice day. Max was very well behaved and loved playing with his friends and painting. He got a great 30cm Superman with a cape for a bargain $2, it kept him happy all day. We came home for a swim and then Max went off to Nanna's and Darren and I went to see Michael Jackson's "this is it" gold class. We had a nice time spending our voucher Ann got us for Christmas. Darren was asleep 40 minutes into the movie!!! My sore and puffy feet loved relaxing after a HOT and hectic day.

Nov 2 to 8

I started the week with a sickie - Monday-i-tis and a 3.8 year old with a sore throat. The day went to quick and after a doctors visit, some housework and a coffee at my place with Alison the plan to finish Max's quilt was just a thought.

On Wednesday we had a nice dinner with Dad for his birthday. Max loved picking out pops cake. We ate Chinese food and we chatted to 9.30 it was sooo nice.

On Thursday night I PROVED (once again) that YES i can TALK. Karen (after her holiday to PARIS/LONDON) and I talked for just over 3.5 hours on the phone.....I crawled to bed at 2am ....I was soooo lucky i had a nanna nap in front of Glee that night.

Max went to Ashleigh's 4th birthday....these 2 have been in the same swimming class for 3 years and he just adored her lady bug cake.

Oct 26 to Nov 1

the week was a blur, school is catching up with me and I should stop counting down and look at wiping things off my massive list of things I need to do.
The weekend was HECTIC, we never stopped. On Saturday we went to the NEW local scrapshop with Narelle and the boys. It is a nice shop with great product. We then shopped some more, ate and then chatted as the hours ticked by toooooo quickly and before we knew it it was 3pm. A much needed catch up with out the interruptions of detention or meetings. Max was not on his BEST behaviour....he is so strong willed and when he has an audience he WORKS IT.

Home for a quick pregnant lady nap and then off to a Halloween BBQ. The kids got on the back of the fire truck and were taken to several locations to trick or treat. Max would not put all of his new Batman suit on as it was hot. He was so in awe of the whole process.....shocked that he would knock and get lollies of complete strangers......he was soooo cute and polite, thanking everyone he met. At one point he skipped down the street screaming at the top of his lungs "I love CANDY". He had a bag as his bucket was left behind......someone asked him where his fancy bucket was and we was not fussed he had a coles shopping bag as he said "I have the biggest bag here".

Home late but up early to prepare for our annual family BBQ on the Vandyke side. It was at my cousin Peter's house this year. We had wonderful weather, a shady deck and a big pool for the kids. The food was glorious and I love eating my cousins trifle, which I need to get the recipe for. Look at my two in the back of the car as I dropped my dad home........PLEASE !!!!!