Long time since Last BLOG

Using this Blog kinda like a  personal diary as I'm pretty certain nobody is reading it.  WOW...how life has changed..... the kids are all growing up... Mia is now 18 Ash nearly 16 and lola 13.  Yes we are in the throws of teens and young adulthood.  I think the stress of it can often be a little invisible.  Older kids you don't tend to get the love and cuddles or the appreciation.... and to top it all off it's hard to feel as useful. It is usually in a fleeting moment of a lift or a small favour and of course the cleaning up after them is always there..... See less of them too as they get their own lives in order.  

Both Mia and Asha have jobs now.  They both work at the same Pizza Shop and Mia also works at another job as well as juggling university.  The world is experiencing a pandemic at the moment.  COVID 19.  Even typing that down is weird.  Life has changed for many and we are the lucky ones to find ourselves quite sheltered from the rest of the world.  Still.... no overseas travel - which really doesn't affect us much as we didn't travel much - it did however kill the one trip we did have planned to Thailand with all the girls.  Never taken the fam os together so was going to be a trip of a lifetime whilst they are all still home and with us.  Ho hum...there has been far more disasters because of it one can barely complain.

On the upside Marnz, Tom and the boys have moved back home.  They are in 126 which originally meant we were to move next door to 124.  Dad ended up selling and we then made the decision to move to the beach.  Mia was forever travelling to and from the Coast and so was Ash.  It's where the wanted to be.  Shawparth is at a point now where we don't have to be in the office as often so we made the move.  Overall it has been a wonderful move...improvement in lifestyle and a change of scene.  Still I do miss being closer to the family especially Dad and my brothers.  See plenty of Marnz as I visit there and they come down here quite often....which is so awesome.  

For now my work is from home doing Accounts for our business and also keeping the home.  We have a wonderful little house which suits our needs very well.  Just a few minutes walk down the street and your smack bam in the middle of two of my favourite places.  Winter is approaching now though and I wonder what we will do during those months.  Still walks on the beach no doubt and I know you can still get some pretty warm days.  Think I will have to visit the forest more often and perhaps more trips to Brissy.  The girls love having the house to themselves anyway.  Both Ash and Lols are still playing footy so that also takes up weekends in the winter.  Glad they are still both active that way............god knows kids have too much screen time nowadays!!! A modern parenting issue.  

So on it goes.... Life changes as we all grow older.  Bloody perimenopause is knocking at my door and it's just bloody awful.  Some days I feel so far away from who I am I don't even know myself let alone the people that have to live with me.  Juan I guess cops the biggest brunt of it all as I can be really short with him and such a short fuse.  It's not fair but all I can do is try and control it.  Slap myself around a little more and just keep on breathing I guess.  I do want to get more into my hobbies which I will attempt to make an effort on this week.  Back into my plants and creating things.....that's where my spirit is at.  So that's all for now.  

It's been many many years since I posted...it was actually my daughter who reminded me I had a blog.  We now are a family dealing with older children in suburban life in Brisbane.  What can I truly say about life today?  It is peaceful, happy and challenging.  There are also a few frustrations thrown in there but nothing that a quick reality check doesn't take care of.  We are lucky enough to still have three happy healthy children and a marriage that ticks most of the boxes.  About to hit mid 40's and I guess I never really had any major dreams or aspirations (apart from being a good wife and mother) that I feel I've not achieved.  I recently completed a Certificate III in Horticulture as I identified nurturing and growing plants as one of my passions and my partner in life stood behind me 100% and invested in my desires....needless to say it hasn't really amounted to much.  Still yet to take that leap of faith and trust in myself to make it contribute to an income for the family.  I have a lot of wonderful plants and surround myself with the natural beauty only mother nature (with a little assistance) can provide.  I think this year could be the year where something gets started!!!

Our family business is going really really well.  Full steam ahead!!! Juan keeps at it every day with great enthusiasm and never wavering from his end goal, which is to build a successful business.  Every day I am so proud of him.  I now work a couple of days a week doing administration and bookkeeping.  I'm happy to be a part of his business world.  Still, I do find it challenging to keep home and be the mum I want to be with two less days a week.....(totally first world problems!!).....I guess I'm also used to a lot of time on my own....as all the girls are well into school now.  It truly is a blessed time in History and in our Western Culture where we have the choice to seek out and try new things and hobbies.  I love to paint and I love plants...and I have the space and time in my life to amerce myself in what interests me and I really do try not to take it for granted.  It really is a blessed time to live.

My mother passed away June last year.  This is still impacting me on a daily basis.  I loved my mother more then a realised.  I had always been a good daughter, and I take comfort in that, but the impact when the matriarch of their family is gone is something that is hard to prepare for.  I was lucky.  Mum had cancer.  I know this sounds like a contradiction but we had time.  Time to prepare, to digest and time to say goodbye and say all that was needed to be said.  Again, I can say here I have no regrets.  I loved my mum dearly.  As much as I was a part of her she was also a part of me.....at times our connection was not as strong, especially having a twin sister (not possible to have  closer relationship) but Mum for me was a massive part of my world.  If anyone is reading this who has a parent or someone close battling cancer please do not hesitate to tell them everything....all your fears, all your happy times and memories in your relationship and most importantly how much you will miss them.  It is so so hard to believe someone is actually going to be gone until they are gone.....and that is the word that best describes it for me.........gone.........I have and am still struggling with what this actually means....is it forever??? Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and not a day goes by that I don't realise the massive hole it has left in my heart and life.  I know I will miss her until the day my time is done on this earth.. Also one other thing terrifies me..... I actually was nowhere near as close to my mum as my daughters are and I hope remain to be...how will they deal with my passing?? I want them to know that I will live on within them and if there is a spirit world I will be watching over them...just for the record.

So....in a nut shell that is me today.  As for my girls daily they grow into woman.  I do my best to still teach them every day, how to take care of themselves and be responsible for their lives.  It shouldn't stop with just teaching them to walk and talk....it goes on.  I now try to prepare them for adulthood and heading out into the world on their own.  I am not of the belief  (like a lot of parents I have spoken to) that it's too expensive to leave home.  It's a right....not just for them but also for us as their parents. I know they will flourish and grow when they are independent and facing the world and it's challenges on their own.  That is my job right?  To help prepare them for building their own lives.  I'm a great believer in that children are a temporary gift....we never will and never have owned them. Through us they have been given life and we have been given the privilege of creating these people and sharing in their lives and it is inevitable that one day they will have their own lives...of which I hope I will always be a part of.  Stand by for my blog when they do actually leave the nest.....that should be interesting.

Well....that's about it for now.  I'm pretty sure no one will read this accept for me and in a way I  am treating this a little like a personal time capsule.  Bless the internet.....and I do pray that the Universe keeps blessing us with wellness, happiness and success.  I appreciate how blessed we are. 

                                         
    Two of mum's sisters, niece and brother that came over from Singapore for mums life celebration.

Two high school girls now.

                                            Mum had a bit of a special bond with Lola.

                                          Dad....who soldiers on and always tries to make the best of life.

 Precious time is all we had....but still the reality of losing someone is never quite real until it happens.

                               And so, lucky for us,  life goes on................................till next time.

Change is in the air......

Yes.... I can feel that change is brewing for the Parthenides family.  Juan's business is just getting busier and busier - which means yes....we are seeing less of him.  The old trading time for money thing..... I guess it had to be done at some stage in our lives.  God only knows the girls aren't getting any less needy.  I do have a little trick under my sleeve however.  It seems when my dearest oldest daughter feels she really 'needs' something I simply let a couple of months go by whereby she begs on a regular basis....and then eventually she sees her friends get bored of the 'latest must have item' and realises that she doesn't need it.  It's working for now anyway - we shall see if I get away with it for much longer... have my doubts.

Our time living here is soon drawing to a close.  Mum is soon to retire and I think they have other plans for this property (boo hoo!).  Still life must go on and change is inevitable.  Having grown all my children in this home and with so many wonderful memories here I know I am going to be devastated.  Luckily Juan is getting us into a better financial situation so fingers crossed wherever we move to might be able to help accommodate  some of my growing desires.  Which would be having a bigger place to accommodate for family and friends that we love to spend time with.  I know - there are families of 20 in the world that share the one room and yes we can always make do - but one wants to feel that their guests are comfortable - or at least getting the level of comfort they are used to.  Another thing would be having another toilet.  Can see foreseeable problems with having the one bathroom with the toilet in the bathroom.  Can't imagine the girls being comfortable having us doing our business as they brush their teeth for too much longer.

So - as another year is rapidly approaching to its end I ponder on how much longer we have in our small happy home..... sometimes you just wish you could freeze time, but alas that is not reality....

Love to all  xo

Easter Time.....madness!

Yet another fantastic Easter was had by the Parthenides family.  It was full and fabulous.  I guess you could say that April was a great month kicked off with a visit from Papa Parthenides, Grum, Tamara, Geoff and their daughter Charlotte.  We all had a night at the Gold Coast together and of course Mia and Asha stayed and got thoroughly spoilt! 

It has become apparent to me that Liz does not like being in photos.  We had a great time and is always wonderful for the girls especially to see their Papa and Grum.

The next big thing in April was heading to Sydney to visit the Spicers.  I hadn't been to check out Marni's and Tom's pad yet and to tell you the truth it felt like I had gone to England.  Sooo many similarities!  I guess it really feels like you are in the big smoke....yes Brisbane is a little country town, well what I experience of it anyway and you know what?  I like it!  But I was given a clearer insight into why Tom might have a few problems moving here....perhaps in retirement huh Tom?

We went to Marni's local park which had people on horseback going around in circles as well as any other mode of transport you can imagine.  We also checked out Marni's local fave beaches, which were lovely.  We did make a trip out to her National Park too, which I have to say was a little disappointing as you drive through all this wonderful uninhabited space to then pull up at a place that even has it's local IGA and bottle'o ....still it was a lovely spot, regardless of having to pay to be there! Truly love spending time with my nephews and of course it was awesome to get to know where they all spend their days together.

On our way to Sydney...girls borrowed DVD player, awesome for long drives.

Happy, very happy to have made it in one piece.  Dancing on Marni's kitchen counter (few vino's later)..

At the National Park beach....smile!

At Marni's favourite beach.  Nelsons beach or something along those lines! Girls loved the rocks and the little cave.

High School re-union Mt Gravatt High Class of 91

June July Hols and life is sweet!

Sunday afternoon and thinking of a Nana nap. Juan is happily spending time with Lola (our only child at the moment) as her sisters are enjoying being thoroughly spoilt in Melbourne with there Papa and Grum to celebrate Ash turning 5 at the end of June. A promise now fulfilled that was made to her when Mia went on her 5th Birthday. Holidays are officially over for the girls tomorrow but they don't return until Wednesday afternoon. I do miss them and the house is eerily quiet without them. Yes even loud little Lola hasn't yelled once since they have been away, which is a welcome change!

The holidays have been full and fabulous with lots of family and friends that have helped create many memorable occasions. Apart from Ash turning five we also had mum and dad's 40th anniversary to celebrate. I don't think Mum and Dad have been happier then they are today, and it is highly commendable that they are still together (even though at times they seemed better apart) having stuck by each other through thick and thin.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to take life slowly and ease into the day with no school rush or even kindy drop off. The girls on the whole have been having a great time together and are tightening their bonds to each other as their relationships develop and grow. We haven't seen as much of Juan as we would have liked but as you can imagine weekends have been a welcome change with another pair of hands on deck.

My outstanding memorable moments during the hols have been many. I had a wonderful day I spent with my girls at South Bank, as well as a great day out at the beach with mum and Mia's little mate Maria. Catching up with Chook, who came to stay for a couple of nights was fantastic, as well as seeing Fi with her boys here during Chooks stay. Chook and I were shouted a decadent night out at a Turkish restaurant (thanks Fi) which was a lovely catch up as we could blab for as long as we liked, uninterrupted by any needs or wants from our little darlings. To finish off the hols Juan and I went and spent the night down the coast with Ant and Lauren, which was really lovely. I do however now feel I need to spend the next couple of weeks on detox.... get back to feeling healthy again.

I now anticipate Mia and Asha's arrival back home on Wednesday afternoon. Can imagine there will be a little unspoiling to achieve before we get back to our peaceful existence. Life is good and here's hoping it stays that way for some time to come, if not forever (if only!). Big hugs and kisses to all my closest in life xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Chookies, Crazy Kids on Holiday and Chocolate!

Easter Hols 2010

Well before you know it Easter weekend is behind us and we are now heading into the week of school holidays. We have had a very full Easter thus so far. Thursday, the last day of school was an exciting fun day with a craft day for the year 2's which Ash joined in on, due to her having been sick all week, Easter bonnet parade and a sausage sizzle. At kindy there was an Easter egg hunt and afternoon tea for Lola at 3pm...which they all enjoyed. Check out the hats on the kids... and Mia's class.

Ash crashing the party.

Mia's best mate Maria

2T...

That afternoon I had the pleasure of heading out to the Carol King/James Taylor concert (of which I have NO photos, camera was flat)... which was SOOOO much better then I had anticipated. Am now an even bigger fan! Great night back at Cins after the concert as the boys looked after the kids back at mine. Carly, Cin and I stayed up until 5am gas bagging... insane.... I guess that's what happens when drinks continually get topped up and you begin the night at midnight (time that we got back). It was like two nights in one really.

On Saturday the kids, Juan and I packed up the car and headed down south to Chooks place. We all had an awesome time at Chook and Shane's lovely home, which is so lush and green at the moment and just is looking fantastic with all the work they have been doing to it. We had bonfires, bbq's, martini's (what a great combination) amidst old friends as well being able to meet some new people. Chook, Shane and kids are really more like family to us - perhaps that is what inspired the 'Clarparths' (that would be the name Summer, Mia and Asha gave to themselves). The Clarparths hung out being very creative and enjoying each others company. Asha is starting to fit in a little better with the older two but still has a little way to go until she can really join in with everything they do... well done though Ashee, you're getting there. Next I am sure it will be Lola's turn to become the tag along, but something tells me she is going to be more a 'little miss indipendant' as well as probably prefer the company of Finn...the little Tomboy that she is!

The lucky couple...

Roasting the mellows...

Easter Morning...

Yes the car does feature in the last 3 pics...what do you reckon Marnz?

Loooove this pic...

Ash wasn't too impressed with the bunny ears.....

It was actually our first trip in the Tarago, whom we still haven't figured out a name for yet.....I am sure something will stick soon! She got us there and back in great comfort with the confidence that only a Toyota can provide (no this is not advertising!), my faith from childhood that dad installed in us still lingers. It seems Lola was a little under the weather during our stay, and now poor Juan isn't feeling so crash...hopefully that doesn't last for long. At first he thought it may have been a tick, as there were a few around, and he has a sore spot on his head which he got the last time we visited Chooks place (quite bizarre!)...still sounds like he is more battling a cold or something... details details, who wants to know!

As you can imagine the girls were thoroughly spoilt with WAY too much chocolate, even before Easter Sunday. The huge package from Papa and Grum had arrived and as you can see the girls were pretty happy with it all.

We of course had the egg hunt on Sunday morning at Chooks place...which the kids enjoyed and now I think we have enough chocolate to last us until Christmas... kid you not it isn't eaten too often in this household so you can bet there will still be some left over in the fridge door.

The Clarparths....

What Papa and Grum sent the girls..see what I mean!

I hope you enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed yours Chookie... I can't wait for you to be able to join us one day Ma....and mum and dad hope you had a very Singaporian Easter... is there such a thing? Love to all... until the next blog x