Putting Up the Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree finally went up a week later than usual. Adrian had to go to Sydney and was too busy preparing for that to put it up before he left. He wanted to be a part of it so we waited for him to get back from Sydney to do it. That suited me fine, cause I just couldn't be bothered putting it up this year. Left most of it up to Adrian and the kids while I took the photos.

They were having too much fun pulling out all the decorations and Bailey was playing around with them, as you can see.....





Better not pout Bailey, Santa won't come to you.

Long Time No Post!!!

Been so busy of late, I haven't had time to come on here since the wedding post. Must be about 3 weeks ago by now.

PB RACE NIGHT

Well Micayla had a PB Race Day at kings swim centre. She beat 2 of her 3 pb's. She was so excited by that. These nights are really fun and she has lots of fun. Especially the fun relays at the end. She has to wait now until February for the next one.

SCHOOL TRANSITION

Bailey's had his prep transition at school. He didn't like it. Because he was in a group with kids he doesn't really like. Except for one of his friends Mason, but he was in America for 2 out of the 3 sessions. We have bought his school uniform and he looks sooooo cute. But OMG he's way too small for school. The smallest size I could buy him was size 4 and that's huge on him. We could only choose 1 style of jacket because the size 4 of the fleecy one (the one I like the best) was, I think equivalent to a size 8. Would last him until Grade 3. It's going to be interesting sending my baby off to school. I think I will cry.

DIPLOMA IN PHOTOGRAPHY

I used to think I'd cry because it means I would have to go back to work and I didn't want to do that. But now I'm studying for my Diploma in Photography. So I am planning on getting work doing photography. I'm so excited by this. I am absolutely loving it. I got 9/10 for my first assignment. And can you believe it, the scrapbooking has taken a back seat for a while (just a while mind you). So I have no layouts to share. Oh well, actually I do, because I went to a crop night at Artypants, just so I could get some scrapping done. I had some design team work to do. I did 4 layouts, but they still need some finishing touches. As soon as they are done I will upload and share.

LEAPFROG LEARNERS

Bailey has also been doing a program run by the school called "Leapfrog Learners". It's for kinda kids preparing for prep. It's been running for the whole term 4 on Wednesday afternoons. The last one is next week already with a party in planning. Can't believe the term is nearly over all ready. Seems like only yesterday Bailey starting doing this program. He has absolutely loved it and I think it's been a wonderful headstart into prep.

KIDS SLEEPOVER/BIKE RIDE

The kids had a sleepover at Adrian's parents from the 21st - 23rd November. We were planning on a trip to Dargo, where the boys would ride their bikes and us wives ride in the 4 Wheel Drives, but it didn't eventuate. Glad it didn't the weather that weekend was disgusting. But the kids still wanted the sleepover anyway and we had a nice weekend together. Instead the boys went for a bike ride just for the saturday, but only 3ks into the ride and Marty came off his bike and broke his collar bone. So that ended their trip for that day. Marty won't be riding again for a while.

BAILEY'S HEARING

Bailey had a hearing test because one of his grommets came out and he can't hear again. Turns out the other grommet is blocked and not working and both ears are all blocked up with fluid again. So it's back to the hospital in February for his 3rd set of grommets. GRRRR!!! So over the plugging of the ears.

GYMNASTIC SQUADS

Micayla went to Gymnastic squad tryouts during the week and YEAH!!! she made the squad class. She'll still be going on a Monday night but for longer now. She is so excited. I think this also means that Mel is her teacher (is that right Mel?). Something Micayla has wanted ever since she started doing gymnastics.

Adrian has been in Sydney since Thursday. He had a meeting and a presentation to do and then he has his Christmas party. So I've been all alone with the kids. Except for today (Saturday) Adrian's parents took the kids to a Christmas function in the dutch community and they got to see St Nicholas and Black Peters. Bailey didn't like Black Peters, he was scared of him. LOL he's only just got used to Santa and then they throw Black Peters into the mix. Tania rang me later in the afternoon and I was telling her how I was all alone and feeling lonely, so she invited me over to their place. So I picked up the kids and went over there for tea. So thanks for the company guys, and for the bourbon Scott.

That's it for now. Thanks for making it to the end of another long post. And this post is all words, no photos to scan over and take up the page.

I will be back soon to share my layouts.

Actually I do have some photos to share. I was taking some photos for my assignment and while I was doing that we got some photos of the family. So I'll share them.







And this was a photo I took for my assignment. I had to choose an object, study it and then close my eyes and visualise how I wanted the photo to look and then shoot it. Then record the whole experience to detail. This is the photo I took and it came out better than I first imagined it because I discovered other possibilities as I was shooting. It has taught me to look at the detail of what you see in the viewfinder. There is more in that viewfinder than your eye first sees. I've now started looking at the world around me through my camera lens, so to speak. By the way, I haven't been lazy, there has been no photoshop editing done to this photo.



OK, that's really the end now. Thanks for making it to the end.

Steve & Mel's Wedding

It was Friday, 14th November. The day for Steve and Mel to finally get married. After all, they've been together forever. They are such a perfect couple, it was only natural for them to tie the knot.

Steve is Adrian's cousin for those reading this that don't know.

This is Steve (left of photo) and Best Man Sean (Siera) waiting for Mel to arrive. Steve was a bit green around the gills, thanks to Siera the night before.


The beautiful and energetic bride, Mel and her father.

The following photos need no explanation.

Introducing the new Mr and Mrs Overdyk

This is Darren's car. They didn't want red, and given that Adrian's one of these was used in their last 2 family weddings. (are you drooling Darren???)

Adrian looked so spunky in his new shirt and tie so I just had to get a few photos. And I just love playing with my camera, any chance I get.

And of course I had to make him matching to me.

The happy couple.

The whole Overdyk immediate family. Just about need a wide angle lens to photograph this lot.

And of course the new addition... little Axel in Damien's arms. Very left of the photo. He was such a dream. Slept in the pram in the corner all night without a peep. So tiny and so very cute too. You've done well Yve and Damien.

The Bridesmaid Amy and Sean.

The Bridal Party.

Cutting the cake. My camera was tucked away in the camera bag under the table, cause I wasn't expecting this to happen. They did everything all arse about. They just walked in and then cut the cake. So I whipped my camera out, ran over and rushed a couple of quick shots. That really put the Canon EOS 40D to test. It started up and was ready to snap shot after shot within seconds. Even with setting the right settings.

The bridal waltz was done all out of order too, so again I whipped out the camera from under the table....

With enough time to see Mel kick off her shoes, turn to Steve and slip slightly on her dress....

As she did a running jump into his arms for the spin. Would you think anything less from Mel!!!

Again...Amy and Sean during the Bridal Waltz.

Mel with her new sister-in-law Laura. Laura is married to David, Steve's brother, for those that don't know. Laura is the one who did most of the wedding planning.

Mel and I

One of the other brothers, Joe who now lives in Sydney because of the Army and Adrian.

Guess what Steve is doing here???

This is obvious!!!

Check out Mel's face LOL

Check out the girl going the specky!!!!

This is on the bus trip home. Laura really loves me for this shot... not LOL! She's on the outside of the bus, I'm inside.

Can you tell we're all a bit drunk. This is also on the bus home. This is the other brother Greg.

Of course us hoodlems are sitting at the back of the bus where this photo was taken from to get the driver... Uncle Tony, but you can't really see him. Immediate left is Aunty Liz, mother of the groom.

And there the night ended and I only woke up with a slight head ache that soon went away with a couple of panadol and I was fighting fit for the rest of the day. Must'nt have drunk that much. Or maybe the night just didn't go on long enough, cause I was still ready to party when I got home. Instead we just ate some dim sims and went to bed.

Helicopter at Hillsmeade

Bailey does a pre prep program at the school every Wednesday. It's called the Leapfrog Learners to help them get to know the school and what happens in the classroom. When we went along today we found out that there was a helicopter on the school oval. It was all to do with a grant that the school had won for the environmental something or other that they get involved with. The grant goes to improving the school grounds and gardens. All the kids got to sit on the oval and watch it take off, including the leapfrog learners group. Some of the kids even got to check out the inside of the helicopter, which Bailey did. I didn't have my camera (cause I didn't know it was happening) but captured some of it on my camera phone.

Bailey is with his friend Brighton. He goes to the same Kinda and will be attending the same school.

Here they are waiting for the helicopter to take off. It was so hot sitting out on the oval. I heard it reached 35 degrees this day.

And take off. Finally! We all got covered in dust. It was awful. Doesn't help my allergies.