This is SHASTAR the newest member of our Family who has so far cost a small fortune
Four days after we bought Shastar home willow dropped her and broke her toes so off to the vet and about $250 later she was home with the cast on.

Well once again its been over 3 months since my last post.
I think the advent of Facebook has stopped a lot of people's need for having a blog when you can post short notes on there and all your friends are linked. Technology moves on again!!.

Marley turned one the end of last month, 12 months gone already it has flown by. She walks, waddles and generally brings havoc and mess to the household everyday.

Well 3 months since my last post i have really let this get away from me. I think the personal blog is dying quick these days with the advent of facebook and twitter ect. Everyone can know what you are doing by just logging onto there. I must admit i have had lots of fun with this blog and i will endevour to keep posting and post more regualr here.

Easter has come and gone again for another year we spent part of it in lakes Entrance at my parents house. Rebecca and i had some time to sneak off to the Water Wheel tavern in lake Tyers for a pint or 2 of Guinness. Its just such a great pub on the foreshore of the lake over looking the ocean. The night we where out there there where some people out in the middle of the lake letting off fireworks. I mean good fireworks too not little ones big big suckers that lit the lake up and echoed around the valley it was excellent.

Been buying some camping gear, got a tent yesterday its a beauty 9 person dome tent. We plan on doing some camping in the summer months with some friend who are also keen to do it. I think it will be good for the girls to experience camping in there childhood. When i was little i have some very fond memories of family camping trips to Wilson's Promotory, Lakes Entrance and even one to Sydney. In todays hard economic times it makes sence to go camping. Its cheaper way cheaper , you can probably get a camp site for 5 days for what it would cost you for one night at an apartment or a flat. Even cheaper if you bush costs you nothing to camp. Bec being FEMALE though says we cant go anywhere where there is no toilet ,i told her take a shovel and dig a hole. Anyway willow and i are going to set the tent up Saturday night and camp out in the backyard just to see how it goes and make sure all the parts are there, she is really excited about it.

Kids are doing fine marley is standing up and trying walk in bits but she is so fast moving around you have to watch her all the time.

Hi Everyone!!

Hi
It has been a long time. Mark has been struggling to find things to write about lately so he has asked me to finally do a post! We are all doing great. I had my 30th birthday party on Saturday night (my birthday is on 25th December) and had a great time! We had old Harvey Norman friends there and some of my playgroup friends there as well. I got absolutely spoilt by everyone, especially my friend Emily, her partner Andrew and their wonderful kids Tye and Imogen. She even got me a cake, the first that is not at all associated with christmas in afew years! Everyone needs friends like them. It was also nice that some friends that we have not seen in awhile came as well. We had some problems awhile back and it seems to be sorted now, which is great!

Well onto my babies. Willow is getting ready to start 3's kinder in February. We have been shopping for some things for her and I think she is very excited. I'm more on the scared side. It has come so fast and I just thought that it wouldn't. I know that I am going to cry on the first day and she is going to just wave goodbye and have a great time! Marley, well she is just unstoppable! She's commando crawling all over the place. She thinks she is pretty special when she gets into Willow's room and Willow is listening to one of her Hi-5 C.D's. She gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth! Willow swears she is dancing and loves it! The only problem is she is so quick and she's discovered the two holes in our bathroom floor an heads straight for them. So now we have to have the door shut which is a problem for Willow!

This warm weather has been hard on Marley, she doesn't seem to deal well with it. But she is a water baby! We took both the girls down to the pool and she is more than happy to paddle around the baby pool in her floater! Because she can touch the bottom she can push off and go wherever she likes! Willow loves it too. We are finally seeing the benefits of having her in swimming lessons for nearly 2 years! She is very confident but sometimes too confident.

Mark and I have not been up to much. He has just been working and playing golf. Some people have the life! If he is not playing golf he's talking to his golf "boyfriends", watching golf or unfortunately crapping on to me about bloody golf. I am now officially a golf widow!I am supposed to be going back to work at the start of next month but I am thinking of leaving it till later. Marley is still feeding so I will re-assess it in a couple more months. There's no hurry, plus because she is my last baby I want to spend as much time with her as possible, she's grown so fast!

Anyway hope this finds you all well and having a great new year so far! I will try to post more things more often or give some ideas to Mark!

Bec

Well the silly season has come and gone again and we have it all to look forward to again this year.

I had to work on Christmas day for a few hours which was ok it was pretty busy so time went fast. It was from 2.00pm till 5.30pm so it was mid afternoon and i still got to have Christmas lunch and dinner with our respective families. The Anderson's for Lunch and the Wyld's for dinner.The kids got plenty of presents as one would expect. Willow seems more keen to play with marley's toys than her own.

On the 27th we went down to Seaspray for the afternoon to see Scott and rachel as they where camping down there again this year. It was not a very good day sun was out but it was windy. Willow was very keen to go in the ocean. We went down there and there was a channel when you first get in there about 3 foot deep and about 10 foot wide then a very shallow sand bar about a foot deep. Willow was fine until she wanted to chase a wave in and fell into the deeper channel. And that was it she was out of there in a flash and used one of her favorite saying "I don't think thats a good Idea!". Spent the afternoon down there having some beers and chatting.

Went to lakes Entrance on New Years eve and had a BBQ at my parents house. My sister and brother where there. We stayed and watched the kids fireworks at 9.30pm and then drove back to maffra arriving back at 11.35. Got the children into bed and asleep waited till the clock struck 12 and we where in bed by 12.03am 1st january 2009. It was probably the quietest New Years Eve i have spent since turning 18.

Some hot weather has finally struck in the New years had a few days over 30 in the last few weeks. We took willow out swimming the blue pools near Briagolong on Tuesday she loved it its a beautiful spot out in the bush with a great fresh water swimming hole.

I have to work all weekend this week which sucks but hay a man has to make a living some how i guess but i could think of better ways to do it but hay it allows me plenty of time to spend with my girls and even allows the odd game or two of golf every week.

Well its here again wishing everyone a happy christmas and a safe new years

Heading back to Yarram today to play golf again as i will miss Maffra golf tommorow. Looking forward to takling Yarram again and this time coming out on top of it.

Going to Melbourne Tommorow on the train with my Rebecca and the kids plus Rosie, Steven and my Mum we are taking the kids to show them the Christmas windows at Myer in the city and do some last minute Christmas shopping. My mate Detmar in Munich has been asking for a polo top with Melbourne on it so i will finally get the chance to buy him one.It will be the first time i have travelled to melbourne on the train since i was a teenager and its quiet cheap if you have concession only $17 return.

I have to work a few hours on Christmas day from 2 till 5.30 which is not too bad as i still get to have Christmas lunch and Dinner but i am straight back there boxing day morning at 4am but hay what can one do when you work at a business that is open 365 days of the year and 20 hours a day they want the dollars and us minions just help them make it.

Marley is such a rabbit she is always rolling around and moving she is wanting to crawl and brings the knee's up under her and gets so frustrated that she cant move but it will happen soon, she has also started eating solid foods well puree anyway. Marley and Willow are so different so different Willow is such a little princess and Marley is very easy going. I tell Rebecca that Willow is like her and Marley like me.

Ventured 80 kilometers down the South Gippsland Highway to Yarram Golf Course today for a hit. Had a 79 which is to handicap but had to do it the hard way with 3 birdies in the last 5 holes. Its a very hard course if you dont hit the fairway off the tee and i missed too many fairways today.




My golf Mate Shaun Little in Action






Approach to Par 5 14 hole




Par 4 Eighteenth at Yarram Golf Club

well its been an eventful couple of weeks.

Marley ended up in hospital for two nights she had the onset of phenonia ,flu (not sure how to spell it. She and Rebbecca spent a couple of nights at Gippsland Base Hospital in Sale in the paediatrics ward. Marley is now fine and all good. Willow also had a cold at the same time so i was looking after her at home and what a pain she was all i herd was dad, dad", dad" DAD" get me this get me that.

On Saturday gone we went to Traralgon to the annual family christmas get together, it was good to catch up with family members i always look forward to having a beer with my cousins Sharon and Simon. Speaking of cousins congrts to Fionna on having her second baby.

Christmas is fast approaching again another year gone by where does the time go thankfully all the girls Christmas shopping is done signed sealed and delivered. I have to work a few hours on the big day buts thats ok as i am having a day off on the monday after it.Scott and Rachel are heading down to Seaspray so we will go and see them for 2 days.

Well its been well over a month since i last updated yes i am getting slack and the blog just does not do it for me as it once did so i would say that post will get more and more less frequent as time goes by.

Well isn't it good to see petrol prices falling finally it has come down by around 40 cents a liter here but that nothing compared to the 100 dollars a barrel that oil has come down. We are just unlucky that the Aussie dollar's arse has fallen out of it other wise it would be much cheaper still.

On Saturday went to a BBQ at Lee Blakes house which was great it was also attended by some other old mates like Hags. Scott and Rachel made the trip down from Melbourne and a good time was had by all. I got stuck into the Woodstock 9 percent Bourbon Cans that lee did not like. I can tell you i was highly pissed by the end of the night and don't remember much of the trip home.

Marley is growing all the time she was 5 months old yesterday and she already has 3 teeth. She just rolls around every where. We have started her on farax ( infant rice cereal)and she loves it. She is such a different baby than willow so much easier less demanding.One similarity is that both have never had a dummy or even wanted one when offered . I think thats good as its one less thing they need to be taught to give up. Willow is now very much fully toilet trained she does both wee and poo on the toilet which is great she still wears a nappy to bed but come the warmer weather we will do away with that too.

Have not been playing so much golf lately but still about once a week, i love playing my golf and its a real challenge or frustration depending on the day. Golf is the greatest solo sport on the planet you play one day and play really well and you can come out the nest day and play like shit for no apparent reason. It does my Fucking head in sometimes!.

I attended Salefest last weekend and had an absolute ball. Salefest is an organized pub crawl basically. They had 6 venue's in town with bands playing all for you to go to at certain times, mind you there is nothing saying you had to move from one to the other. I managed to go to 5 of the 6 venue's and only did not go the other one was the line was out to the road. Every year they have a theme this year it was school so lots of people dressed up in school uniforms, and yes girls still look hot in school uniforms. I went with Andrew ( Rebecca gets together with his other half the lovely Emily for play group)and we had a ball. We started at the Star Hotel at around 3.30 m moved on to the Sale hotel, then the gippy Hotel wanded into Jack Ryans Irish Bar then bypassed the Kas bar as the line was too long and finally onto Ringers night club. It had been a few years since i had last been to Ringers. Rebecca was pregnant with Willow last visit there but in my free and single days it used to be an every weekend visit Friday and Saturday nights.I bailed and headed home about 11 that was long enough i really enjoyed it but would not want to do it every weekend again. I say Bring on salefest 2009.

Well my work hours are changing again i have gained some but there is a sacrifice it means starting work at 4.15am two morning a week. To me i like it it means my day of work is over by 11.15 am which i like, may even be able to sneak in some golf afterwards.

some pics from willow's birthday

I thought i better update since it has nearly been a month since the last one.

Willow turned 3 the on the 1st of October, man 3 already they grow fast well time goes fast the older you get. I remember when in High School when you could not wait to get older and now you wish you could get younger.Yesterday we had a party for willow at home and had some family and friends around it was a good day. It started at 12 and we finished up at about 8 last night. Had plenty of beers and a BBQ and a good time was had by all. Willow's god parents Scott and Rachel ( yes rach I have finally updated) came down from Melbourne for the afternoon. Some of Rebecca's friends from playgroup turned up and Andrew and i settled in for some beers well alot by the time Emily dragged him out of here at about 8.

Well the AFL Grand Final was on last week and the Hawks won. They got lucky and got up at the right time. Geelong which lost only lost one game all year and then where beaten in the Final. Sometimes i think we should have a soccer system where the team that wins the most games wins the title, it would be fairer for sure and Geelong would have been awarded the title for being the best team which they where.

The weather has been getting warmer here and summer is coming. Had the first BBQ for the season on Thursday night with many more to come and daylight saving starts tonight here so more daylight as well. I love daylight savings means you can have people around for bbq's and still do things after dinner.

Have a pretty busy month this one ahead, have to attend my Brothers Wedding reception ( he had a small wedding early last month and is now having a reception this month)on the 17 and then have to go to Scott and Rachel 10 year Wedding anniversary party. 10 years man i remember there wedding day i was the best man they got married in a nice park and we got a limo back to the wedding reception.I guess i better start doing some Christmas shopping soon as well since that will be here before long as well.

and finally go the Melbourne Storm tonight in the NRL grand final even if the league have tried to screw then over i say stick it right up the NRL bastards in Sydney who dont like Melbourne and the success the storm have had.

I am sure all Australians but not some of my International readers have herd about the Underbelly TV series based on the Melbourne Gangland wars. I can not tell you that i have seen it as that would be illegal in Victoria but if i had seen it i would tell you its one of the best Australian TV shows i have ever seen. I can see why its currently banned in Victoria still with at least 4 of the characters who are in the show still awaiting trail in Victoria for Murders that where portrayed in the TV series.If there is anyone left in Victoria who has not seen Underbelly hopefully it will be on the small screen soon.

Ah the weather has finally started to get better and we are seeing some beautiful spring days happening now well in the this part of Victoria anyway its been fantastic it was great out on the golf course this week.

Its hard to believe that Willow will be 3 years old soon it only seems like yesterday that she was born and i was sitting in the maternity ward for 17 hours. She is real little miss and the terrible 2 is true and i am fearful of the frightening 3's. Her mother insists on having another birthday party for her again this year ( yes Rachel have given you plenty of notice so you can come).Since we are having a party for her Rebecca has started a mission to clean up the back yard so she has been busy buying new plants and preparing the garden beds for them.

I went and played golf at Yallourn Golf Club on Wednesday its about 70 kilometers away, its a good challenging course a lot harder than Maffra. It is good to go and play another course it makes you think about your golf more.

Poor Marley she is sick at present she has a bad cold and is sneezing and has a dripping nose all the time. She is a trooper though and is getting through it. She is ment to have her needles today but not sure if the doctor will give it to her since she is sick. Time flies by she was 9 weeks old on Tuesday just gone. Speaking about time flying i am turning 35 on Friday, where did it all go who knows but i am not one to celebrate my birthday whats to celebrate about getting older. Willow will also be 3 in just over a months time ( Rachel we are having a party for willow first weekend in October just giving you some notice so you and Scott can come up).

The golf is going well had my best score yet since resuming playing yesterday, had a 77 for 18 holes which is pretty good a 5 over the par of 72 holes, Could have been better considering i played 4 over for 2 holes and 1 over for 16 holes.

Work has been pretty good starting to actually not mind it at present, the days go fast as there is always something to do there which is very different from some of my past jobs and the people i work with are very nice.

Thinking about maybe bringing the blog to an end
I am struggling to find things to write about at present and the motivation to write and the time to write.

Well life has been very busy and only getting busier. Rebecca spends most of her time looking after Marley needs while i take care of Willow's needs which is job in itself i can tell you. She is at the age where every second word is daddy i want this daddy can you get me that daddy listen to me. At the same time you also get the great moments like this morning when she told me i am the best daddy in the world.

Played golf yesterday as usual on a Wednesday did not go very well i need to buy a new pitching wedge hopefully a Titliest Vokey will do if i can find one cheap. Shaun a guy i play golf with we are going to have a hit at Morwell on Sunday which will be good as i have not played any other course bar Maffra since i started playing agian

Little Moo Moo

Hi All

Well when I had realised that Mark had not made a post in so long I thought I'd do one. It seems like forever since I did one! Everything is going really well at the moment. Marley is great and Willow is being fantastic with her. I thought she would be really rough with her but she is very gentle and everytime she cries she yells out that she's not ok and "needs to be fixed!"

Marley is very different to Willow. She is very content and is quite happy (she has just started crying!) to lay on the floor and kick. Willow on the other hand was always on me and very rarely just layed on the floor by herself. They say that the second is easy but I' not sure if it's just me or she is just really great. We'll go with the she's really great. I've also found some really great friends who help out with everything. I met some of them through playgroup and when that all went bad we stayed together and just do it from homes. There are 7 of us, originally we all had one child each and now we're up to 13 with two more due layer this year. When I had Marley they sent me home with a wonderful nappy cake as a present and ready made foods. Bec and Lauren also dropped off some essentials (lollies and chocolate) to me in hospital. They are fantastic friends and I can't believe I had to have a baby to find them!

Not much else is happening at the moment.

Yaeh yeah i am pretty slack lately with the posts

I;m still trying to play golf some days good somedays bad. Yesterday was was a good day i beat my handicap by 2 shots which is great considering the weather was very windy. It has been one of the coldest and windiest winters we have had in a long time.

There is still some hope of getting Willow to follow the pies, but all these bombers supporters around her are not helping

Well the shark did not win no surprise but it was a great effort from a man 15 years past his best golf and a pleasure to see one last time