Autumn Water Reflections

(the water and part of its surroundings)

(red and green reflections )

(yellow and green reflections)

The stillness of the water captures the mood of autumn.

A Misty Moist Morning

This is the morning scene today.

Views Around Circular Quay

One of the things that I always like about a ferry ride going to Manly from Circular Quay is that I can get spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and its waterfront surroundings . Taking a ferry ride is the most preferred and best way if you are aiming to see all of that. Some pictures were taken through the glass window of the ferry boat for the chilly wind was blowing hard against us and we needed to close the window to be more comfortable with our trip. We were right up in the second deck of the ferry boat.
(Pictures were taken sometime last April 2009 during the school holidays)

This is what I fancy today!

A whipped fresh cream with slices of strawberry topped with icing sugar. I actually prefer vanilla or chocolate custard as topping for something like this but none is available in the kitchen so I just settled with icing sugar instead.

At the park

We needed to get out that day so we decided to take a walk in the park close to where we live. The kids were getting excited and decided to take their scooters rather than their bikes. It was such a beautiful day with just few cloudlets scudded around the blue sky. I decided to take my camera with me so I can also take some pictures.

10th Place in the District Cross Country

( the warm up time )
I was just as excited as the kids and can't wait for the day to come. Just a normal feeling I guess being a mum of one of the runners.I canceled my schedule as a classroom helper so I can be there for the entire event. I just liked to see and watch the kids run and enjoying day. The fun and the excitement were the main thing that the kids were looking forward to for this big event.

(at the starting point)

(close to the finish line)

Dorothy's race, for 11 years old was before midday which was great. There were more than 50 kids from different schools for that particular race and Dorothy's school had about 6 runners for that said race including Dorothy, of course. The hardest part of the race was when they ran up hill for nearly 2 km. Most kids were struggling to maintain their speed and just walked to recharge energy every now and then. It was not bad at all for Dorothy for she was able to get a place of no. 8 right away and was able to maintain her speed close to the finish line of the 3 km run.When she was in the last turn to get to the finish line two girls from behind her speed off, running as fast as they could and Dorothy can't do much to overtake them which put her to the 10th place overall. Not bad after all and the best place so far she garnered of all her District Cross Country Races because last year, she ended up 13th place. She was the first one among others from their school to reach the finish line.

Lovely Blog Award

I got another award from Vicky and Meryl and this time it's a Lovely Blog Award. Thanks a bunch for sharing me this award, Vick and Meryl. How sweet of you to include me in the list.


I tag everyone in my list who has not been tagged with this wonderful award. Please feel free to grab it.

Dorothy is off to a bush camp

Finally the countdown was over, the most awaited day of Dorothy and her friends had arrived. They'd been waiting for the day to come with so much excitement. A wet and chilly morning was the schedule of their departure off to a 3 days bush camp. And as early as 6:30 pm we were already in the school car park waiting for the bus to take them to their destination.
Right from the start of the school year they had been informed that something big is coming up for this year exclusive only for the stage 3 students (5 & 6) and this is it, the 3 days bush camp in the North Coast of NSW. This is part of their learning thing that Dorothy can't afford to miss. Aside of the fun and excitements being with friends, the things that she had not done before are just something she was looking forward to like canoeing, kayaking indoor rock climbing and to anything that meets her abilities and age. Her first camp without us actually and she is very confident to go.
Dorothy had spent a holiday with her half-brother's family for a week in the country side and she had a good time enjoying every minute of it. I don't see any problem on her being separated from us for few days or so. Hubby had a sit down discussion and a briefing with her regarding the rules and regulations while being in the camp. This is another big step for her learning independently and taking care of herself and her own things without mum and dad around.
As a mother, I admit that worries and concerns are mounting up inside me,what if this and this will happen. I can't help it thinking of those things. I have one of the teacher's contact number anyway, if we should need to ring them. The thing that the students cannot take mobile phone with them is something that upset me a bit but I think they avoid it for good reasons. David definitely misses her both at school and home. I just hope they have a good time there that even weather is not cooperative enough, they still enjoy immensely for the entire stay . I let her bring a camera so she can be able to capture some moments of their stay.
They will be arriving this afternoon and can't wait to see her and hear her stories about it .

Friendship Chain Tag

I was tagged twice with this Friendship Chain by DavidFunk and Rossel . They are constant visitors to my blog and good friends of mine. Thank you so much for including me in the list.

~~Begin Copy~~

This is the easy way and the fastest way to :1. Make your Authority Technorati explode. 2. Increase your Google Page Rank. 3. Get more traffic to your blog. 4. Makes more new friends.

Rules :
1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.
2. Put your own blog name and link.
3. Tag your friends as much as you can.

1. Picturing of Life 2. Juliana’s Site 3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future.4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space5.My Family is my Life 6. The Simple Life of a Baghag 7. On A Wonderful Day Like Today 8. House Everything 9. The Creativity in Me 10. Travel and Photography 11. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 12. You Are My Sunshine 13.Song to Remember 14. Super Blog 15. Philiippine Tv Marathon 16.Simply Blue 17. Breaking the Boundaries 18. Top Five 19. A Simple Life 20. Simple Happy Life 21. Basic Bloganomics 22.Moments to Remember

~~End Copy~~

Now, I would like to pass this friendship chain to the following: wena's thoughts ,ismat28 ,ibjsprinting and anyone else who hasn't been tagged with this friendship chain can grab this. Thank you and happy blogging !!!!!

Interesting Blog Award

Two of my good friends here tagged me with this award. They are DavidFunk and Vicky . Thank you so much for this . Although I am not sure if I deserve this award but honestly I feel honored once again.

Now I'm going to tag everyone in my blogger list who has not been tagged with this award. Please feel free to grab this. Thank you.

Today's Sunset

At around 5:30 pm taken from our backyard

Simply Amazing?

While we were on top of the hill, Dorothy's attention was captured by this figure peering out from the grass few meters across from where we were and called our attention. I was tempted to take a picture of it at the first sight. It looks like the head of a big lizard. Ins't it?
Well, it is actually a piece of rock that somehow looks like a big lizard's head. Was it by nature or just someone else with expertise did it just for fun? We really dont know.

8 Things Tag

Thank you so much Vicky for this tag. I was having fun doing it. And here is my 8 things list:
8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:
-our next camping trip to Ocean Beach
-go fishing with my family
-a boating day out with my family
-hubby's birthday sometime next month
- arrival of my sister's from the Phils ( we miss them so much)
-David's 6th birthday (no plans yet. i have to remind hubby about this)
-friend's visit sometime next month
-Dorothy's upcoming district cross country race
8 Things I Did Yesterday

-did the washing
-cleaned the house
-cooked hubby's vegetables soup
-took the kids to school
-picked up the kids from school
-read my new recipe book (to check out a recipe to try this coming weekend)
-went to the shop and bought things i urgently needed
-packed a package to be sent to the Phils.
8 Things I Wish I Could Do

- bake a yummy chocolate mud cake
-travel around the world with my family
-make everyone happy
-play a keyboard
-exercise everyday ( I am lazy to do it especially it is getting cold here now)
-visit my family in the Phils more often
- sing
-sleep early before 10:00 pm
8 Shows I Watch

- 7 News

- Better Homes and Garden
-Ellen DeGeneres show
-City Homicide
-Border Security
-Funniest Video
-Sydney Weekender
-Huey's Cooking Adventure
Anyone who hasn't been tagged with this tag can grab this . Please do grab this. It's fun.

Our Cross Country Runners

(Dorothy and David)

At their Hughes house team while waiting for their respective races.

It was David's turn first to run being a kindergarten. They ran 1 km around the school back playground.It was his first race and he ran with all his best along with the other kindergarten boys. It was not a bad finish after all for he came out 6th place. Everyone made it to the finish line with no drop outs which was great.

While Dorothy on the other hand, ran about 3 km in the 11 yr old girls. Luckily, she came out 1st place and will definitely be representing the school for the District Cross Country sometime next week. She is so happy of her performance this year. Much better as compared to last year though, for she was just in the 3rd place. Her second time in a row to represent the school again for the District Cross Country. Good luck to the school runners team for this coming big event !

My Mum's Day

Usually my Mother's Day is a day of surprises, excitements and be with my family. Gifts that come from the heart and the home/school made cards are my best gifts ever every Mother's Day.
My kids were getting excited too and cannot wait for the day to come. They'd been hiding the gifts they bought from school a few days before the day came and forbade me to enter their rooms..hehehe..I think that it would also serve right as I didn't like to be able to see what they had in store for me. They slept early that night so they can get up earlier before me . When morning came and with hubby's supervision, Dorothy made my breakfast and arranged the table with all their gifts around my breakfast. This is always her designated task every Mother's Day to be in charge of the breakfast table. I wasn't actually sleeping at that time but pretending to be asleep and listening to the clattering from the kitchen. I think that was because of my excitement building up inside me that's why I cant anymore drift back to my dreamland the first time I opened my eyes.
After a time, the door of our bedroom suddenly opened with David first in the queue to greet me, then followed by Dorothy and hubby. Dorothy and David jumped on the bed to be with me and gave me big cuddles and kisses. Then they asked if I am ready to come out from the bedroom and see what they had in store for me. I was having teary eyes to see my breakfast was all surrounded with their gifts. Dorothy bought me a scented candle, card and 2 packs facial tissue while David gave me a fancy pen, cute teddy bear and a card. Hubby gave me a recipe book which I actually need for my slow cooker. Thanks for all the gifts ! I love everything you guys gave and prepared for me for the day. It's another memories to remember and cherish in my entire life.

Then, as part of the celebration, we had lunch in one of the local clubs here, Penrith Panthers. I devoured again my favourite seafood platter as well as hubby while the kids had salad, fish and chips. I was a bit famish when we arrived there so I eat what my stomach could fit in ..hehehe

Sunset

Just another addition to my sunset collection:

On April 29, 2009

a wide angle sunset on april 14, 2009

Over The Top Award

It is such an honor again to receive another award from DavidFunk. I have been getting awards from him and I am so glad he always include me in the list . Thank you so much for this award, my dear friend. Even though, I am not really sure whether I deserve this award but I really appreciate it. And guys, please check DavidFunk out. His blog is always worth a visit.
Rules
To receive this award your blog must be exceptional in design and content; presenting us with new knowledge, a sense of style, or at times just giving us a smile!
Each recipient of the award will acknowledge the person who honored them with the award and then go to http://overthetopaprons.blogspot.com to copy/paste the award : Your Blog is Over The Top. (located on the right sidebar, scroll down).

Now, I am passing this wonderful award to all who are in my linked list. Please do grab this award if you can get a chance. Have fun blogging..

Chrysanthemums for Mother's Day!

While me and hubby visited a nursery garden nearby, the flowers caught my attention. Lucky me, I had my camera in my bag so it gave me a good opportunity to take some photos to share with you while hubby was busy looking for a particular thing.

Chrysanthemums are loved all over the world and popularly called "Mums " . They come in different colors, pattern and sizes. They naturally in season here in Autumn and make a perfect gift for Mother's day. Giving a bunch of chrysanthemum to Mums is a tradition here carried by many generations. It's quite cheap and abundant this time.

To all MUMS and MUMS TO BE, Happy Mother's Day!!!!!