Autumn...

We finally got together for our annual family Easter picnic.

Just a few weeks late but with our busy schedules we were lucky to fit it in. The weather was a bit doubtful & at one stage we did get a little wet but it turned out to be a wonderful day.

We did a lot of talking & laughing & eating...

We did a little walking along the dry river bed in the Gorge...

Then we chose a few suitable rocks for skipping...

And then we tried to fill up Graham's Dam in the Lerderderg River with our skimming efforts.

I think all the perfect stones are in the middle of this body of water as there weren't many really perfect stones, but we had a lot of fun trying.

Teapot Sunday...

it was such a beautiful day today in Melbourne. Hayley & I ventured out for lunch, we were heading out to Daylesford but decided to go closer to home to Ballan.

We stopped at the The Flying Teapot Cafe & had some yummy food & drinks.

The former house turned into a funky cafe is full of mosiacs & curios has a really fun vibe.

And as it was so nice we sat outside in the garden. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful daughter who will spend time with her mother, laughing & joking, sharing conversation.

As you can see my attempts at reverting back to my natural hair colour (whatever that might be) was frustratingly unsuccessful. I couldn't stand the half & half any longer, I am happy with the new colour & I probably don't need to see all that grey after all.

You've got to pick a pocket or two...

Erin got in!!!!

She was accepted into the children's chorus of Oliver! The agonising audition was worth it & they start rehearsals on Saturday. Now with drama lessons at school & after school & on the weekends I expect to see no drama at home.

Baking...

Today we were supposed to be on our (postponed) Easter picnic but the weather is terrible - raining on & off and very windy.
So I decided to do some baking instead.

I got to use these very cute measuring cups that Ness gave to me for Christmas



I whipped up some honey nutmeg cupcakes & a delicious choc cherry cheesecake slice.

Healthy eating is also postponed.

End of the week...

and last day of the school holidays.

While I was at Louises today Hayley cleaned up & did the vacuuming & dusting. Cal cleaned up the kitchen & when I got home we had fish & chips for tea, so its been a very easy day. The washing is still hanging out on the line...wet because it started raining but that's OK, it can come in tomorrow.

Our postponed Easter get together planned for Sunday has to be rescheduled as the weather & our busy lives have put it on hold for now. Maybe the moons will align for the 25th & we'll have a nice day then.

And we were hoping to hear about Erin's auditon today but there was no mail in the box, so we'll have to wait a bit longer...fingers crossed.

Rosters...

Our rosters are clashing.

Chris is on nights & I am on days. And I miss our time spent in the afternoons when we debrief. Usually we can spend time together & chew the fat, discuss the tedious bits of our jobs & the funny or lighter moments. But at the moment we see each other for just a few minutes before we set off. There is no-one better to have a grizzle to, the older 2 don't get it (when they are home) & while Erin can be a good listener she doesn't get it either. Chris has been getting better at just listening rather than always trying to solve problems, his magic answer to any issue used to be 'just tell 'em where to get off' ...tempting but not always what's called for!

Chris didn't think that at this stage of his life/career he would be back to shift work or night duty. He is a terrible sleeper & barely copes with his rotation. I hope to never again have to work night duty. I've done years of it & am not pleased to read studies that show that shift work & night duty are bad for your health.

And to top this off we have gone off daylight savings time & I miss the light in the evenings, the days feel shorter already. Shorter & a bit lonely...until the night duty is over.

Easter time...

for us has been pretty quiet this year. The Easter bunny came in a very low key way, Chris is working & with the school holidays it just feels like any other holiday weekend.
Maybe next weekend when my sisters come back from their camping expeditions & we get together for our annual picnic I will feel a bit more celebratory.

I'm enjoying the sleep-ins though & an extra hour today was blissful.