Giving Thanks

Thanks to two wonderful people who let me invade their space, and play with the newest addition to their family yesterday (and move furniture, destroying a beautiful nursery setup which Troy will need to put back together...because Renai isn't lifting anything heavier than Tia are you Renai?).  

They have been blessed with another miracle (they already have twins who are also miracle babies in their own right). Miss Tia is two weeks old and was the most awesome model. Her Mum and I got so caught up in the day, I actually forgot to pick up the girls from school....well I actually didn't forget, I just remembered that that I needed to pop off and collect them AN HOUR AFTER SCHOOL HAD FINISHED!!!!...Bad mother {hangs head in shame}!

The kids and I do have plans in place incase I do get caught up, Jordy did what she was told to do, Tess however just sat outside school hoping I would turn up and one of the Deputies gave her a lift home. Tess does NOT like walking and I'm sure she would have been there at midnight if no-one had turned up to collected her OR if Mrs L hadn't offered her a lift home. Thank you Mrs L.

Renai and I were like two little girls playing with a doll....and we played so nicely. We didn't argue over who got to play with Miss Tia, we shared like good girls do. Thank you to the powers that be for bringing Renai and her family into my life.

The weather was crappy so the natural light I was yearning for was no where to be found (cyclones tend to do that!!!). The shot that I had envisaged in my head did not happen, and I'm ok with that because Renai and I will have another 'play date' and perhaps I will get the shot then. I am bursting with pride because I think I did get some awesome shots. I have much editing to do and will enjoy the hours I will spend playing with (editing) the photos I did get on the Mac, Gompsey (that's Byrne speak for Grandad) and Dee sent me.

I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at Miss Tia's photos, which Renai has given me permission to make public. Actually Renai as much as told me WE (she and I) would be putting a portfolio together and promoting me around town as a photographer of babies. I blushed and am humbled by Renai's suggestion. 

You gave my silly self esteem a much needed boost Renai, but I've already told you that haven't I?  {{Jewelz blushes}}

Thank you Renai for our time together. Thank you Troy for letting me boss you around a little, and thank you Miss Tia for being an absolute angel....and for making me feel like a chicken, can anyone hear me clucking????

Lastly (almost), Thank you Kal Barteski for your quiet inspiration, your generosity and your out and out awesomeness. You know what I am talking about and I shall email you shortly letting you in on my PIF of your RAK and how I made my decision on who needed to be RAK PIFed.

(for those of you who are screwing up your face, saying WTF is RAK PIF let me enlighten you, They are acronyms for Random Act of Kindness and Pass It Forward) Kal committed a RAK for me and told me to PIF, I just had to decide who would recieve my PIF act. I have decided but I will let Kal know what is going on before I let the cat outta the bag. For those who don't know of Kal, hit one of her highlighted names...they are all links to her site. She is a graphic designer (like my beautiful brother Dee), an artist, a photographer, an author, a mother, a wife, a dog lover, a fellow coffee devotee and out and out awesome, inspirational kinda woman (I didn't put those things in any particular order of importance...Kal may order them in a different order. That's just how they spilled out of my mind and onto the screen)

I'll finish by sending Grandma Froggy and Gompsey LOVE. They are back safe and sound from Yemen and it was lovely to hear Lyn's (Mum's) voice today. She has been given the task of finding a photo or six for me to post. Some of their beautiful kitchen and some of their trip to Yemen...so I can show you how differently our dear Matt lives in Yemen. He most certainly does NOT have the oooh ahhhh kinda kitchen the other members of the Byrne's Brood are blessed with as I have said in a previous post! However, he is doing some fantastic humanitarian work in Yemen as an educator of adult Yemeni people. He teaches English to adults. You Rock Matthew!

That is enough from me today.

I have some more editing to do and must tidy the kitchen so my beautiful husband can rock the house by cooking up a storm for dinner (as opposed to the storm that is brewing outside).

Off I go

Cheers all

Jewelz

Todays gifts

 I love how my fav on-line cosmetics company delivers your orders wrapped {in the box} AND how they tie a lilac ribbon around your parcel. Makes me smile every time I get a delivery!

Living in the Pilbara means we do not have access to many shops. So embracing on-line shopping means the mailman can deliver lots of smiles when he delivers the mail. StrawberryNet is an absolute blessing for me. 

I can access ALL my favorites including my new BESTFRIEND Touche Eclat.

It has had amazing reviews so I decided to check it out {{this is actually the 'spare' that arrived today...WHAT??? It was on special WITH free delivery, how could I pass it by LOL}}

.................and to top it off at three o'clock I had ANOTHER appointment for a mini pedicure and manicure! The spoil time I had last week was fantastic, however the nail polish I chose must have been stuffed because it was all smudged before I left the salon. It was so soft. The girl thinks the nail polish had had it, so they rescheduled me in this week to re-do them woohoo! So I have pretty colour on my nails {{for the moment, it never lasts too long for me. It chips and peels quite quickly. I'm not the most lady-like person I know LOL!}} I nearly did this lot in before the sun went down!!! 

Our darling son Josh whines endlessly when asked to mow the lawn and whippersnip it {{remember I married a LANDSCAPER not a GARDNER, so Justin does NOT maintain the garden, that's why our front lawn is now artificial turf, I love it...water wise AND the best looking lawn in the street AND SO green!!!!}} and I always end up whining just as hard after he (Josh) has finished, because MY finished and HIS finished are very different. So tonight I supervised. He carried on so much I pushed him off the lawnmower (well not literally, I just took over mowing) and made him whippersnip. Then when I'd finished with the mowing I took the whippersnipper off of him and 'finished' the job. Then went inside and hung sh!t on him, because it wasn't as hard as the little toad made out. I told him he should be feeling 'shame' because I did a WAY better job than he and that in the future, when he was asked to do the back yard, I wanted it JUST the way I had done it...or I'd give him a hard time about what a limp d!ck he was if his Mum can do a better job mowing AND whippersnipping than he can....he smiled and I think I had a little breakthrough (better than a breakdown I suppose  LMAO)...we'll wait till the next time it needs doing though! 

The older kids all headed off to the Dentist today. Whoot, whoot (double arm pump)!!!  We finally have a dentist at our clinic. She's only here for 10 weeks, so I wasn't letting this opportunity pass by. No telling when another dentist may be back through this way, another draw back living in the North West! Apart from Tess needing a very small filling, all is well. One filling for three kids in ALMOST 15 years, not bad I think. Grandma Froggy will be pleased their teeth are in such good nick! (sorry Lyn...Belle still insists you are Grandma Froggy :0) ) 

So all in all a good day came to pass. Hope everyone else had a nice day. Off to snuggle my man now. Bedtime.

Sleep With Angels All

Cheers Jewelz

EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

OF ALL THE REASONS ONE WOULD NEED TO HAVE

A DETTOL BATH.........

WHY DO YOU THINK MUM MADE ME HAVE ONE?????

BECAUSE I AM GROSS

THAT'S WHY!!!!!!!!

{{{I SAID IT BEFORE, NOW I'LL SAY IT AGAIN

EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW}}}

CHEERS

JEWELZ

P.S

So this isn't written on a Tuesday...but it is true. Rachel 's story over at Once Upon a Miracle made me cast my mind back to this post...posted in February after Belle's silence got the better of me!!!

I know it's cheating...but I thought I'd jump in casting back to a true story Rachel made me remember...I'm just glad MY toothbrush was in the other bathroom LOL!

Artelicious.... mmmmmmmm

Belle can be such a fussy eater...she sort of picks and grazes. 

I am always stressing she isn't getting enough.

So now I have made up a little creative enticement to get her more excited about her meals.

We are experiencing moderate success WOOOHOOOO!!!!!

She enjoys helping me put it together too :0)

I pay homage to an online friend Ms D.J (aka LunchLady)

She does awesome things with Pizzas :0)

Hey Hey D.J, I Miss chatting with you Babe.

Cheers

Jewelz

Other things I am grateful for......

JELLY SHOTS

40..HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY..40

THANKS TO BOTH TANYA AND RAY

FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY ON SATURDAY NIGHT

AND FOR THE GOOD COMPANY {{and jellilicious shots}}!

IT WAS GREAT TO CATCH UP WITH 

OUR OTHER AWESOME FRIENDS

DEL, TIM AND THEIR BOYS,

AKA 'THE BAKER BOYS'!

IT WAS ALSO NICE TO MAKE SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES.

IT WAS FABBO TO END THE EVENIN {{EARLY MORNIN}} CHILLIN OUT

IN THE SPA .

WHO SAYS LIVIN IN THE PILBARA SUCKS???

{{OK MOST OF US THAT LIVE IN THE PILBARA MAY UTTER THAT PHRASE EVERY NOW AND THEN...BUT MOMENTS LIKE THESE MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE WORTH~WHILE!!!}}

CHEERS

JEWELZ

GOOD MORNING MONDAY

Hello Monday....what will you hold for us today? I am spending a moment being grateful. Exercising gratitude. 

Every time I see this photo I am over come with gratitude....man I am blessed. Yes I am :0)

Bring it on Monday, come on week. Lets Rock It!!!!

Cheers

Jewelz

Spoilt Spoilt Spoilt..I am LOVED!!!

Oh My...no more catch up blogging for a few hours. My dear husband has just phoned to tell me that after I have picked up the kids from school, I am to make my way to the Health and Beauty Shed {ok...for those not in the Pilbara I agree that a SHED doesn't sound much like a place to be spoilt in BUT this one is} Where I shall be pampered for a little while...an hours massage, a mini pedicure AND mini manicure. I'm outta here.........

whoot whoot whoot TRIPLE ARM PUMP

xXxJewelz

More sharing....

Why Do I HEART Broome So Much?

We have some fan~freakin~tastic times in Broome. Sometimes with family, sometimes by ourselves. Actually, never ALL by ourselves! Belle is always with us, however the older kids and family (Dee) has joined us in Broome in the past. Love the little get a ways we can take from Hedland! Magical.

Awesome home cooked food.........I told you, ANY kitchen ANYWHERE! BUT they are a messy bunch {{sighs}}

Christmas 2007...Part of the Byrne Brood in the Kitchen.....need some help Uncle Dee?
Cooking........it's in the Byrne Jeans.....errr Genes {{snickers teehee}}

Cheers

Jewelz

Kitchens...they're a Byrne Thang!

This is Dee, Dee is my BIL.

I think calling him my Brother-in-Law is a little blahhhhh!

Because the 'In-Law' thing, at times, 

implies a degree of separation that is less personal.

I HEART MY IN-LAWS VERY VERY MUCH!

Dee is my brother and I love him!

And this is Dee's kitchen...Perdy aint it?

I need a few digital copies of Mum and Dad's. It's beautiful as well.

They are all just back from Yemen, where Matty, the youngest Byrne Boy

lives and works teaching English to adults!

His kitchen is NOT this pretty. 

I'm sure I can find a Yemeni Kitchen to show you sometime!

ON A ROLL............

Cheers

Jewelz

After a gentle pause.........................

Sit Back And Relax

Time for a little catch up.

Perhaps a few random bits and pieces for you to cruise through.

Yes Juzz bought himself a new barbee.

One does not complain because the man cooks up a storm

no matter what kitchen he is in!!!

He is however on warning...he is NOT to set this one on fire!!!

I bought him a BBQ for his birthday in 07. 

Before it was a year old it went up in flames!!

"I DID check the drip tray!"He protested 

as the fire extinguisher spluttered and died! Used. Spent.

{Jewelz rolls eyes}

You see much like 'He is a Landscaper, NOT a Gardener!'

In a kitchen 'He is the Chef, NOT the kitchen-hand!'

The mess that man makes in a kitchen....whooooooooooa baby!

Ok so that is my first piece of randomness for today.

I may just have a bit of a blogfeist posting random bits all day.

Just to catch up and appease myself for my bloggy pause :0)

Note for Amanda :0)

The previous post was bugging me too

and as I am still getting the hang

of this blogging stuff

I wasn't sure how to fix it.

So I cut and pasted and re posted.

Then silly double spacing showed up 

and I was happy to leave it at that, because

I had NO idea how to get rid 

of the extra spaces! LOL

 CHEERS

Jewelz

Sunday Randomness

A busy week this week, everyone was back to school. Even Missy B headed off for her first two days of "Playschool".

She waved over her shoulder and headed off in search of adventure! 

Dad and Mum were left staring blankly at each other and simultaneously uttering sadly the phrase "Our Baby!".

We hung her bag, signed her in, dropped her shoes into the basket and followed after her as she headed towards the "Land of Little People" 

and the little people's kitchen area, she was checkin out the produce in the fridge and what cooking implements she had at her disposal! 

With out a word of a lie. That's where I found her!!!

Now tell me it's not a genetic thing and I'll tell you YOU HAVE NO IDEA! I have been immersed in the culinary culture that IS the Byrne Family.

I shall find piccies and post. The Byrne Family create kitchens you just want to be in...even if you can't cook! 

If you can't cook, you leave their kitchens feeling like you at least want to give it a try!

If they go away on holidays, they take all that need to ensure what ever kitchen they end up in, they can 'play' to their hearts content!

Truly, ask anyone that has been away with us, in hotels OR camping. Miss I...who would you choose as a camping partner if you were going tooooo Karijini?

Or Eighty Mile Beach, even?

 

Perhaps I shall return later to post some Sunday Randomness Photos of the Week! Just perhaps

I may even pop out and take a photo of Mr J's newest 'kitchen plaything'! It's price tag made me gasp...

then quiet calm spread throughout my body....If he can have new toy, I can too...[Jewelz smiles widely]

...especially if I would only be spending HALF the amount he spent on his 'toy' if I bought a wide angle lens for my 'toy' LOL 

Can anyone guess what it is?{hint, It won't fit through the front door!}

Cheers

Jewelz

Check Out this for a little Sunday Randomness! I {heart} ukuleles and talented ukulele players.

Here's two to start your day. Daniellesmagic is not as awe inspiring as Jake Shimabukuro however BOTH are each spirit lifting.

ENJOY