The Gruffalo

First of all, if you have not read this book to your children go out tomorrow and find a copy! It is the best book! Written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Awesome! However if the stage show is coming to a theatre near you, Take your children!
I went last year with Ryan's preschool class, Unfortunately the show was sold out so we couldn't take the others. When I heard it was coming back this year I booked early. This time Daddy took all the boys and they all thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Rickard family gives it 5 stars!

I had a beautiful Mothers Day!

It started with a little lie in. Then it was breakfast time and the natives were getting hungry so daddy had to get out of bed to assist! I was offered breakfast in bed but listening to them eating breaky together while I am by myself in bed is no fun so I joined them at the table.

This was the first batch of toast. The second batch was a fair bit darker than that! So dark in fact the smoke alarm went off! But my house wasn't the only house. As I was walking around Mt Rogers I heard 2 others going off too!

I got spoilt with gifts. The best thing about school is the hand made gifts that are lovingly crafted there! Ryan covered a whole A4 card with gold and silver glitter! Matthew made a flower out of his hand prints, cut out and stuck on a straw! All three boys also attended a card making class and made a card and a stationary set. (Poor Daddy had no choice but to take Ben as he had missed out on going to the mothers day stall at school and was NOT missing out again, even though he really is too small for stamping classes!) I of course got my Pj's and slippers that I requested. I also scored massively from the mothers day stall! But before I tell you what I got here is what lead up to me receiving them.......
I picked the boys up from school on Friday and they were carrying their gifts in special taped up bags! (The mums running the stall must know surprises drive me crazy!) So I asked Matthew to show me. He said no his teacher told him he wasn't allowed to! I asked Ryan and he said the same thing! So I tried asking for clues. But no mustard! So I started asking is it a coat hanger? NO! Is is chocolate and Matthew goes Awwwwww Mum! So now i know what Matthew got me! (The best things is I know know that Matthew has a tiny sliver of me in him, he cant keep a secret either!) So I turned on Ryan. But no matter what I did he would NOT tell me or give me a hint!
On Mothers Day I found out why! He had no idea what it was that he bought me! All he knew was that it looked pretty and he thought I liked pretty things so it satisfied the requirements that Daddy had previously laid out! So what was Ryan's Mother's Day gift you ask?????



Wait for it.......



A packet of paper serviettes! Printed rose ones of course!

I am seriously the most spoilt Mum on Earth! Seriously! I think I will keep them always.

Anyway the day got even better because when the boys got back from Auskick we went for a family bike ride. Made even more special because it was Ryan first ride completely under his own steam!

He is now a bmx bandit! Well done Rye!

Apparently its good for boys.....

To pull things apart to see how they work! It develops their sense of manliness apparently! So when I go a new food processor for my anniversary I donated my old one to science!

This is a switch!

This bit goes round and round and round.

Very intricate, important scientific stuff!

Very happy boys doin' manly stuff!

The guys LOVED it. Nathan did strenuously point out that they can only pull something apart if it isn't plugged in and Mummy has given her permission!

Mothers Day Stall

Today is the mother's day stall at school. Lets hope this year doesn't end up like last year. It has taken me a whole year to figure out that last year Matthew bought me the cheapest thing in the stall and then spent the rest of the money at the canteen!
This year daddy has clued them in. Mummy does NOT need any more covered coat hangers. The reminder conversation at the breakfast table this morning sounded like this:
Dad : So at the mother day stall today you need to look for something that she might really she doesn't need any more coat hangers ok!
Matthew : I'm going to get her a candle
Ryan : I'm going to get her a dressing gown.
Matt : No! I'm going to get her some PJ's (they went shopping with daddy last weekend and bought me new jarmies!)
Ryan : No! I'm going to buy her some slippers! (Also purchased last weekend!)
Ben : I'm going to buy her a racing car! (he's not even going!)
Daddy : I'm not sure Mummy wants a racing car!
Ryan : She does if it's pink!

Who else thinks that the whole 5 bucks is going to end up at the canteen this year cos they have already got me everything I would already like!

Ben's current most beloved possesion

A postcard from Nana Bev and Grumpy from their recent cruise! He hasn't let go of it since the postman delivered it! A mail just for him, apparently! He even fell asleep with it! Mum you might have to post him one from Darwin because he thinks his card if from where you live!

And just because we looked SOOOO young!

My Gorgeous Bridesmaids.

Beautiful!

My Daddy helping me get ready!

We don't look nervous at all!

Vows.

The Kiss.

Signed, sealed and delivered!

The boys, heavily hung over, getting ready.

Bubbles!

Me finding out it is my new husband that stunk like a brewery not the minister!

The family church in the background, where my mum, aunties and sister got married.

Cutting the cake

Awww.

Having fun!

The guys

My bouquet was really heavy!

The boys checking out the Sydney Rock Oysters!

Our first dance

One of the best days of our lives!

To have and to hold from this day forward;

for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,till death us do part.

This is what Nathan and I promised each other 7 years ago today. Up until now we have only had to deal with the positives in these vows. This past years we have been given the full range! Most certainly the better or worse and sickness and in health part. Our marriage vows have certainly been tested this year. Despite these tests that we have been given we are coming out the other side stronger and more resolute in our desire to fulfill them for the rest of the days of our lives.
Nathan, we have proven that what ever life throws at us we can succeed if we support and love each other. At times you have been my rock, this year I have been able to show you my strength and my desire to help you be the best person you can be. I am so proud with the way we have communicated and worked together to achieve our goals. You and I have grown up together over the last 14 years and managed to grow together and share the same path rather than adjacent paths. I look forward to growing old and wrinkly with you and I am absolutely certain the journey to get there will be action packed with ups and downs. This years has shown us we will get through the downs just as well and we get through the ups! I Love you!