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!

I need help deciphering this.......

Last night Matthew gets out of bed, walks into the lounge room and says to us "Mum, Dad, I'm ok when I'm cuddling puppy, I'm ok when i'm eating breakfast, I'm ok when I'm playing with friends, I'm ok when I'm eating lunch, I'm ok when I'm playing with my brothers, I'm ok when I'm underwater, I'm ok when I'm eating BUT all the other times I'm not!"
Well, by the time he got to being ok when he was underwater I dissolved into giggles. As he finished his speech I looked over to his father to pass on the parenting baton to him and HE dissolved into giggles! And we still don't know what he was banging on about! Aren't we in line for parents of the year!

Autumn

We're going to the coast

So I drove the boys to Batemans Bay today. The workaholic couldn't (or wouldn't!) take time off so we went by ourselves. We hit the sand just before 11am.

Matthew and Ben hit it running!

Ryan made it in slowly but got there. In the end he was just a courageous as Ben and Matthew.

Ben did NOT stop running the whole time we were there!

Ben showed Matthew how to get really wet.

Ryan tried and decided it was too cold! Although later on he was fully submerged.

Ben was first on the boogie board. Uncle Brenty this is how you surf apparently!

And when you get really good you can do this!

Matthew was too fast for the massive waves!

Ryan just completely missed the whole concept of "catching" a wave. Mostly the waves caught him! But he had a blast anyway!

Check out that leg action! As an experienced swim coach that is awesome!

Ben tired of the wave running after a while and decided to chase the sand. He started with the wet sand.......

Then ran around the beach scooping up sand from all over the place. A scoop from here, run, a scoop from there, run!

Then it was back to the boogie board. It is the same size as he is! He kept running with it directly infront of him so he couldn't see a thing!

Then it was time for monster trucks! (as only a Rickard boy can!)

Then when the chaffing from all that sand got too much.........

it was pants off!