Natalie's Birthday

Thank to everyone for your calls, gifts and well wishes. It is late and the internet is slow so I'm sorry to say that the full detail and photos are on the Cozens Blog, but I did want to show Nanna & Grandpa the lovely nighty and outfits and Aunty Heth here is a picture of the new bathers. Thanks.

An Interesting Day

What an interesting day!

Any day when four students are charged with offences under the Explosives Act has got to be action packed. Going home in the middle of the day to have a shower - that's fun too. Dropping a bottle that a student has passed to you because it is bulging, bubbling and getting warm is always a real highlight. Having an explosion that is so loud it could be heard in the staff room (150m and two buildings away) occur before the bottle hits the ground next to your foot is an absolute blast! And learning how easy it is for kids to make a chlorine bomb - that's always interesting. Fortunately I wasn't hurt, and neither was anyone else.

Michael's fishing expedition

Here is a belated image from Michael's school holiday fishing expedition down at Waitpinga (just outside Victor) with Opa. This was from the first week of the holidays, when it was around 35C, a little different from their last trip where it was 9C!

This time they did catch a fish, Opa said it was a good sized Tommy Ruff. Dad got Michael to throw it back though, as they wouldnt eat it (it isnt flake or salmon!), unfortunately, Michael isnt all that well educated in throwing fish back, and might have accidentally done a bowling throw, and the poor fish might have landed a bit harder than he needed to, but he did swim off rather quickly after that!

After fishing they went and saw my Aunt that has a property down there, Michael had fun playing with my cousins and second cousins, who are all around his age. 

Oops...

Anyone got any tips on how to get tomato sauce out of a nice white tshirt?

Michael is going to The Gov to see Hilltop Hoods

My god its started!

Triple J has been running a competition to win tickets to see Hilltop Hoods (SA hip hop outfit for those who need to know). I got through once the weekend before last only to be told that as I was not listening to Triple J on time delay I had to call back in half an hour! Ok so I rang back the next morning when I heard the announcement again, this time you had to be under 18 to win tickets, so I put on my thinking cap and rang on Michael's behalf! I won the tickets, and the radio show producer was way impressed that Michael was 8 and wanted to go.

Rob and I then ummed and ahhed about who should go with Michael to the gig and we decided that it was best for Rob to go. Rob for the fun of it entered an online competition of skill to win tickets, where he had to do one of those 25 words or less what you would ask the band. His questions was "What would you say to my 8 year old son who wants to be just like you?"

I phoned Triple J this morning to let them know of who will be accompanying Michael to the gig, and when I spoke to them, they asked my name, and I said Cherie Kitto, the response I got was 'Oh you must be Michael's Mum, that is so fantastic that he is going to the gig" - famous already! LOL

Anway Rob ended up winning his tickets to the show also, so now we are all going. It will be wicked. Its also being filmed for TV too, so look out for us! ;)

He can sport his new funky blonde streaks at the gig - for more info see my blog :)

I told you it was healthy!

Richard Hammond recently revealed something very important about life, the universe, and everything.

I told you so.

Gift Ideas for the S&D Kitto kids

I have been asked what things our kids might like for Christmas, and I would like that our kids DON'T get lots of new toys (I spent ages clearing out their toys the other day and they really do have a lot of stuff!). So here are some suggestions of non-toy or adding to toys that we already have. Hope it helps. Would be glad of some suggestions for Jacob and Michael (Sam is taken care of :)

Calvin

Wooden train set from Ikea

A kids cook book (Calvin LOVES to cook)

A new hat for outdoor play – a Wide Hat

Bob the builderish, Fireman, Knight, Mechanic or other dress ups

Buzz, Thomas or Wiggles Jocks (the more he likes the character the cleaner he keeps them!)

Calvin has been asking for some time for a Buzz poster for his wall

Largish plastic dinosaurs (actually, any dinosaurs really)

Natalie

Basics Lego (blocks and roof pieces etc)

A new Wide Hat

Barbie Accessories (dresses & stuff)

Games. (eg board games, cards, things she can play with friends)

Generic (stuff for either)

Books

Big Socks and Jocks (they always seem to need more!)

Colin Buchanan “Jesus Rocks the World” DVD

Any good kids DVDs that are around

Beanie Kid bears (both the kids are into them)

If I think of anything else I'll add it. Hope this helps.

First Offical School Visit

We offically survived the first morning of school. We picked up daddy before we went to take Natalie to her class. Natalie has a place to hang her bag and her own draw with her hat, pencils and workbook. She was welcomed in and we were VERY pleased to see that when the kids moved out ready for morning fitness one of the older kids told Natalie what to do and showed her where to go. Mummy is feeling a lot more relaxed now about Natalie being in a R-2 class. We stayed for a little while to watch her doing some exercises out in the yard with the other classes and then had to take Stuart back to his school. She was there from school starting time until the end of recess (11:20am) and she will do the same tomorrow. Then next Monday she will be there until 12:30 and then on Tuesday (her birthday) she will stay until 1:40pm (till the end of lunch) and then the following Monday she with be there full time all the time!
When I collected Natalie after recess she said that she had had a fantastic time. Apparently she did fitness and some drawing and is VERY excited that she gets to go back tomorrow. She also mentioned some new friends that she has already made and she enjoyed exploring the new playgrounds at recess. When I asked her teacher how she went, she said "it's like Natalie has already been here for a term". Wow! I guess all of those kindy trips over to the school library paid off.
I am unbelieveably pleased that today has gone well, and obviously hope that tomorrow and next week are also as good. Now I just need Calvin to continue being "clean and dry" until bed time (so far so good today) and this will be a very good day indeed.

Cars

Hi All! I think you all knew our lovely red Commodore is due for change-over this December? We sorta hoped we could delay it for a month, but that ain't gonna happen! Dad had all sorts of trouble trying to find out what mileage VH Ministers generally do (bound to be lots less than here ... 30,000k/yr), but finally got some figures (probably about 20,000k/yr). The choices for lease car are Commodore, Commodore with dual fuel, Ford with only gas, 4 cylinder Camry .... and I'm not sure what else. The dual fuel and gas options are more expensive for Parish and Minister, (more than you'd save on using gas) and Dad decided they weren't for us. Of course the 4 cyl Camry is cheaper for Parish and Minister, and Dad had much angst trying to decide what to do! On our way to Gladstone/C Bk on Tuesday we test drove a Camry Altise at Berri, and he gave it a pretty good go (!!!&*&!). Thursday morning, before he went to Renmark he finally put in his "order" for a Camry! Colour requested is a very pretty light blue pearly one .... hope we don't miss out because the order was late in - not much we could do about that! Not sure when we'll get it, or if they'll deliver it like they did last time ... we'll wait and see!

I think most of you also knew that I was hoping to get a little car for me ... I'd been waiting for the "we can't afford it"! Even tho that still hasn't been said in so many words, after I found a little "Swing" (I think it's a Holden .... got the lion thingy on the front) in the car yard here when I walked past yesterday morning, I got the message! Bugga! This little car has power steering, air cond, and is $7990 .... it also happens to be red, but I was quite prepared that I'd have something different! (preferably not white or sliver!) Anyway, it seems that ain't gonna happen!
No moving date yet - will keep you posted!

Don't work too hard! Love you all! Mum

Brock boys

Thought we'd stick up a few pics of our little guys for you to enjoy... Grand Final Day BBQ (our back deck's been cleared since then!); Sam at 3 months; Jacob enjoying his rainbow jelly (made specially for playgroup but lots left over!); Sam in jeans kicking back on the couch; Jacob reading his Bible (his 'Jesus book' with the special fish - getting into that lots at the moment as part of the Great Bible Adventure at Church); and a brotherly kiss. Awwwwwww!

Oops!

Can one of you smart people please erase one of these duplicate entries ... I was a bit weary last night! Love Mum

Word verification

Hey there everyone,

Just a note to let you know that I have removed the 'word verification' from comments as its been driving me CRAZY!!! If you really feel that you want it on there, it can be put back on, but I feel its just a waste of time that really isnt all that necessary. After a day (and evening due to work being so busy), of squinting at a PC screen, I dont really want to do it when I am doing something in my leisure time!!!

oops

Can someone please delete one of those?? Taa ... and yes, I am tired! XXX

Granny & Grampa

Hi All! Back from our visit, and just letting you know Granny and Grampa have both had falls this week ... down the street Monday with one of the Carers, Grampa fell crossing the road, and hurt his left shoulder again. Then yesterday afternoon he went off with his walker before tea (alone!!), and fell, up past the Post Office! The son of one of the staff members saw him and rang ambulance and the Home, and he had stitches in his left arm and left shin/knee .... and REALLY hurt his shoulder! We arrived at the Home about 10 past 6 to find Mum sitting there quite unfazed ... told us Grampa was in Hospital as he'd had a fall! Jo (Boss lady - lovely!) was about to go and get him, so while we waited Dad read Grampa's diary a saw, for Monday, "I fell over ...." ... so we were a bit confused! When he came in and saw us there he saluted us, as he does, and just laughed .... I hadn't heard him laugh so much for ages!! His shoulder was very sore, but he was saying he'd really done his dash this time - wouldn't be allowed to go ANYWHERE, would have to toe the line, etc etc .... poor old darling! He looked very very old, trying to get up out of his chair, and we thought he'd have a pretty awful night!

We spent the night at Maria and Andrew's, and enjoyed a chat and a catch up! They said if ever any of you go up and want a bed, just yell - they know how good it is for Mum and Dad to have visitors!! This morning Dad had a ball helping Andrew with some sheep work - you can take the boy out of the farm but you can't take the farm out of the boy!! We went in to the house too, and collected the piano stool and a chair, and the hall table ......and 4 more boxes of "stuff"!!!! Oh dear! ..... and Dad managed to fit it all in the car!! Back to C Bk after lunch, and Dad was good as gold!! Didn't seem stiff or any sorer than usual, and only mentioned his shoulder once ... amazing! ....but .. Mum somehow slipped off the edge of the bed, and has a nasty graze on her arm!! (Not worrying her at all!) We took them to Gdstne for Mum's dental appt at 3, on our way home, and as we left Jo said "please try and keep them both upright!!"
We chuckled!

Maria picked them up after appt and took them back to the farm for tea, then back to the Home tonight .... would have been good for Mum and Dad .... I bet they've all been hearing about his ambulance ride!! They told us several times how much they loved seeing the young ones, so please all know that the effort is well and truly worth it!! ... and remember they're not gonna be around for ever!!
Hope you're all doing well, love you all, Mum

Uniforms & Paint

This morning we went and bought Natalie her first School uniform! While we were there we also met her teacher (Miss Schwidder) and saw her class room. It was very strange seeing lots of older kids (it's a R-2 class) and a bit sad that there was no one from kindy in that class, but Natalie is still happily excited which is good.
And the photo of Calvin is just to prove that he is still here. Since he is not having arvo sleeps now mummy had to come up with some afternoon entertainment, so today was painting.

Dunno what it is but I'm loving it!

For some strange reason, on Saturday Jacob didn't wake up until 9am!!! (This is after consistently waking at 6 or earlier for a few months). Since then he hasn't been up before 7 - 7:30 which is wonderful! The only thing we can think of that may have caused this, is his new Colin poster he has on his wall... He sometimes gets a bit funny about walking out of his room past the poster and says 'Colin hurt'! so he may be thinking the poster may fall down and hit him, or he may be remembering when he got donked on the head with a big beach ball at the concert last week. Or it may be not related at all. If we knew it would be that simple we would have stuck a poster up ages ago! Sam's been pretty good too, didn't need a feed til after 6:30 this morning, then after a little play went back to sleep til 10:30! Makes up for yesterday when he didn't sleep more than 50 minutes at a time... Ahh well can't really complain when we have such good nights!

Term 3 Kindy Pictures

Today I collected the disc of all of the kindy photos from last term. It included photos of Natalie with the fire brigade and ambulance officers. It was a very busy term at kindy and there are more photos on the Cozens blog.

had another think ...

We completed the inventory form and Dad will lodge it electronically! But in the process the very clever thing calculated that we're going to need 66 cubic metres of space in the truck (for everything, furniture and all)! Then Dad had another think and we worked out that the size of their "boxes" is more like tea chest size, and we'd calculated on smaller ones - the size of 6 cartons of orange juice! So we went through again and revised (down!) our "guess-timate"! I sure wouldn't want to put books or fabric in tea chest size boxes ... but i guess they've got trolleys and things! And hopefully will send some smaller boxes too .... previously they've delivered the boxes for us to use, so i spose they will again this time! And so this particualr saga continues, as I'm sure it will for another couple of months! Bye! XX

9 Cowan Ave Victor Harbor

Some photos should be shared

Well we've been n gone n done it!

Well, we've started packing!! After lunch today Dad packed 5 boxes with the diaries, books, letters, slides etc we brought home from Granny n Grampa's before our holiday! So it's kinda funny .... we've got 5 boxes already - and haven't packed anything of "ours"! Dad also removed the wadding he stapled on the lounge wall 2 years ago as his design wall (that's never been used for designing, just for Tiger-clawing and bug hatching!) and we're stacking boxes along that wall as they're packed! Yesterday we completed the Inventory forms, stating how many of what pieces of furniture, and how many boxes .... well, how long is a piece of string??! We guess-timated 216, which is 27 cubic metres of space .... guess we'll find out in a couple of months how accurate or otherwise we've been! I've given Dad the Plan, Debbie and he'll see if he can scan it and Blog it ... we'll see how he goes! My very rough pencil sketch was actually quite accurate, so I did well! I think my next job is to go thro the Inventory form that Dad's about to email me, fill in our numbers and email it back to Allied Pickfords! So it all really is happening .... only 10 more services here for me (8 for Dad), and the last one will be Christmas morning ... that will be a bit strange - a bit of an anti-climax, probably! Anyway, hope you're all well, n not too busy! Enjoy school, Stu and Michael! Love you all Mum/Nanna

Some pics of Granny and Grandpa

We stopped off at Crystal Brook on our way home Thursday. Granny and Granpa seemed pretty good. Granpa is really deaf, and it's very hard to talk to him - it would almost be easier to have some paper there to write stuff down when he can't hear what you say - and he doesn't like being treated like a baby. Granny was very chirpy and happy, though.

Thought we'd share some of the photos.

trying again

Michael's been busy

While Michael has been having a holday with us he has been making some Lego things. here they are: (Well, they would be if Blogger woud do something when I click on the add image icon!)

Colin Rocked.

We went to see Colin Buchanan yesterday morning and it was GREAT! We went with Aunty Heth and Jacob and Sam (and Aunty Luci B pretended to be Uncle Al!). It was a shame that Al had uni, but it was lovely to be able to go with Heth and Jacob again, and Sam (and Luci) for the first time. Thanks guys.
We also met up with the Stott family, so Natalie was able to enjoy the concert with her friend Hayden and Calvin with his friend Hannah. We all thought Colin was very funny and Calvin liked the toy dinosaur he had on stage with him at one point. Funnily enough, both kids liked it when we sang Isaiah 53:6 (Baa baa do baa baa) while Colin was back stage changing!!! It ended with a bang, lots of streamers and big beach balls to hit around and the kids really got into the danving at that point. After the show I didn't make the same mistake as last year and made a B-line for the merchandise table, got my poster and DVD and got straight in the line to meet Colin (we stood in line 1 1/2 hours last year! Only 10 mins this year :)
It was lovely meeting Colin again and now Calvin has another signed poster for his wall and Natalie a signed DVD (which says Happy Birthday from Colin on it). The kids are watching the DVD now and it is a lot better than I was expecting, including the CSI (Christmas Investigation Squad), Dancing with the dummies contest and an Ali G looking rap! Fun.

I'd be interested to know what Jacob is thinking! Or Natalie for that matter!

Thank you Nanna and Grandpa

I have just written a rather large blog on the Cozens site, so sorry I've run out of energy to put one here also. I will say though that it was lovely to go and holiday with Nanna and Grandpa up the river for the last time (can hardly believe that next time will be in Victor - very exciting). It was lovely to play games, eat and and generally just relax (the sleep-ins were great too, thanks).
Thank you for having us. I hope that Michael will enjoy his holiday there this coming week.

Duck and other things...

This is us at our picnic at the Botanical Gardens last week. We'd been planning to go there for ages (well I was) so took advantage of Al's uni hols and the nice weather. Was a very lovely day!

Jacob's latest favourite friend is the little rubber duck that was part of Sam's nappy cake. It has to go to bed with him every night and has been lucky enough to have a swing with Jacob this morning (and needed sunscreen on cos we were outside). Albert Bear and Baby seem to be second best lately! We also like to see the ducks on our walk, and are enjoying the two little ducklings at the pond. Very cute.

He's also been having fun watching the trucks and diggers out the front of Tim's place - his eyes lit up like he'd been given the world when he first saw them! There's been a bit of action on the block next to us too so he's gonna LOVE all that.

Sam's not quite as excited about the trucks (or duck), but he does love to have a kick and a play on his mat and see himself in the mirror. He successfully moved into his own room this week and I only need to go in once overnight to feed him. He usually has at least one 3 hour sleep during the day too.

Al's getting back into the uni thing (not that he really got out of it) - only 2 months til he's finished for the year! He got a distinction for his first assignment so we're all a bit pleased, and he seems to be juggling the work quite well. We're slowly sorting out a few other things around the place too. Life is good!

Happy Birthday Uncle Stu

Belated Happy Birthday greetings to you from us (well belated blog greetings anyway, there was the phone call and msn yesterday!)... Glad you had an enjoyable day and hope your weekend holiday is even better! We look forward to catching up next week :)
Love Heth, Al, Jacob and Sam
xxxx

holiday snaps to stop Stuart picking on me

We were very wet after the storm.
there are lots of other photos of the coast like these...
What was Karen thinking???
Newcastle was stormy still.

Continuing the saga!

Sat 23rd folk in Motel room next to us left at 5.30am, and once we were awake, figured we could get going early too! Had to wait for petrol station to open, but got away from West Wyalong by 7am, and as we left the town saw signpost saying "Adelaide 9hundred n something ks" .... Dad said "only 900 whatever ks to Adelaide!" I said but we're not going to Adelaide .... but of course, as you know, we were early enough - so we did! Had half an hour home, to unload the car, and pack clothes for Dad's meeting, then sent Heth a SMS from TB saying something like "At Tailem Bend. Shall we bring pizza for all of us, or just us?" They were a bit surprised, but we certainly enjoyed catching up with the little boys again, and it was a real bonus having Michael there overnight too!! We were pretty weary on Sunday - our 950ks the day before caught up with us! But it was good to see Grandad and Rob Cherie and Michael for lunch, too! After they all left Heth and Dad and the boys and I walked up and visited Mum and Isabelle, and Dad and I both found that very hard this time ... guess we were both tired, but both got teary again .... you just never know when things are gonna catch up! Jacob's very sweet "bye bye Bret Brumma" and "bye bye Baby Bell" were very beautiful but ...! I think about how much Mum would just adore all our beautiful precious babies, and also how we should all be enjoying a sweet little girl - buying little pink clothes and watching her grow and smile and respond ... and it's just not happening! NOT FAIR!

Monday Dad went to his meeting - his last PRC, as he's on as the rep for our Network, and he won't be in that Network next year! Jacob went to Care and Heth Sam and I went to Castle Plaza and had a lovely day - even found some clothes that were just what we were looking for, so were very pleased about that! Dad and i came home by 7.30, and Dad installed the new modem for our computers, so we didn't have to use dial-up any more - thank goodness! (Thanks Al!) I started sorting, tidying, putting away gear from our holiday, and that took me basically until Friday! I did a few other things, tho, as well - Tuesday I had another lovely day, this time at Barmera for a riverland quilters get together - saw some old friends, and some beautiful quilts, and enjoyed catching up with our girls, too.

Dad managed to find some photos to enter in the Show, and we took Rob and Cherie's entries in, as well as some quilts - what a surprise! Thank you Rob n Cherie for the delicious dinner Saturday night for my birthday - that was very yummy and much appreciated! Yesterday we all went along to the Show after church, and congratualtions to Cherie on her beautiful rose photo! .. and to Rob for his lavender!! Their flower photos, and sunsets were all particularly good, i thought! I was pretty chuffed too - I got a first for that Celtic wall-hanging that hung above Granny's fridge for 12 years, and Dad said "I should have got half of that!" .... where have we heard that before??! He did indeed stitch one of the celtic knots, and I'm quite happy to share my prize money with him, altho I DID sew it all together and hand quilt it!! But that's OK! I got a second for a bag I made Granny years ago, and a first for the "Friendship Medallion" quilt that I finished this year - and it also got a trophy for most outstanding article in that section! So how bout that??! I'm intending to give it to a friend, so will be nice to give her a prize-winning quilt!

Well that's the end of our holiday ... and now we're looking forward to having a few days with Debbie Stu Natalie and Calvin, who are arriving in time for tea! It will be beaut to have some time with them/you! I suspect my Blog-ging will take a break for a while ... not so much to tell!
Love you all! Mum

A rose by any other name

For the horticulturists amongst us, the image that got "First Prize" (a popular rose name), was actaully the floribunda rose "Brandy". 

The results are in....

And for my first entry into the Loxton show, I am pleased to announce that in the flower catagory within the photography field, my image of a rose came first, and Rob's image of lavender came 4th (certificate of merit). Yippeee!!! (The images of the hibiscus and the daffodil are also our entries)

We did enter another 40 images that didnt turn up trumps, but its all fun! A massive thank you to Mum for doing the hard yards, and actually entering in our exhibits.

Quote of the day from Dad, after being asked if he won anything....
"Not this year.......!" so its game on again next year!

Sadly there seems to be no consistancy with the judging, so its hard to note what the judges are actually looking for in the exhibits.

A massive congratulations to Mum with her exhibits, but that is her story to tell :)