Holiday by the sea

Living inland, our children think that seeing the ocean is better then winning a million dollars. But you can imagine how expensive it is with 6 of us to find some were to fit us in let alone have it be safe for Mario and Tank so Man of the house and I don't have to watch them 24/7.
We were given an opportunity, via our Career support - Villa Maria to stay, 2 min's walk from the beach in a lovely big house..paid via funding.

We spent 4 glorious days at Rosebud, were we ate fresh fish and chips, made sand castles and sand angels at the sea's edge. Mario found a star fish and lovely chased Dudie, who was screaming louder then mini me up the beach with it. Mario decided that this star fish would be his new 'pet' and took him to the house ever so lovingly.....sadly little star lacked water and was found the next morning quiet alot smaller then he originally was.

Sadly today I was informed by our case worker that the houses were being sold off by the main branch. I felt a little twig break in my heart. The 4 days we spent away for us were so much and badly needed by us. Our live are extremely busy as we both work, I do therapy with Tank still at this stage, every day and the ups and downs of school life with Mario let alone my other 2 gorgeous children. Being there was like waking up on Christmas day for 4 days for my babies. We woke to the sounds of sea gull's, crossed the road to the local stores for fresh fruit and vegetables and little bargain shops. Walked for miles with sand in our toes.
We bought a kite and watched Dudie joyfully fly it for hours on end. Collected so many shell's on our many many trips up and down the beach. Laughed, cuddled, talked and shared every precious moment together, just us....happy. No therapy, no worrying about the little things we normally have to with the boys. It was utter bliss.
One high light for the amigo's was having our gorgeous Raven come and visit us for a few hours taking photo's and capturing us, in the moment with her magic eye and lense. I will be looking back at those photo's with so many fond memories and now a little sadness, that other people, who need what we had for those 4 days are now going to miss out on

.
Villa Maria.....thank you for giving us a little escape from the madness and filling up our hearts with the joy we felt then.

Your generosity and help is something we are forever grateful for.

Family photo taken by - Samantha Jayne Photography - http://samanthajaynephotography.com.au/blog/

Our Forever Friend

This week we have been a family in mourning.

After 8 years of friendship, unconditional love and cuddles we lost a valued member of our family. Our beloved Shrek was found, beneath his favourite tree, curled up forever sleeping.



Shrek was such a big part of our family. He was our councillor when we needed someone who wouldn't judge us, our priest to listen to our confessions, sitting nurse when someone was sick and best of all he was our much loved friend.

He found us. One morning there was a cat at the front, I gave it some milk and tuna to eat and he never left. He attached himself to us immediately and followed Dudie like he was his shadow. When Mario had bad days, he was there to help settle him. As our family grew, Shrek would sit and almost cuddle my expanding tummy. When Mini me and Tank were newborn, he sat guard beneath their bassinet...as they grew into their new rooms, he sat at the bedroom door like a guard dog. He was the 5th child in the family and was always playing between the kids outside or sitting on them on the couch....he even sat under the table waiting for food to fall at dinner time. Shower and bath time involved him being in the room with us as well.

I am forever thankful for the times that you seemed to click that one of our amigo's was sick...especially Mario and Tank. If either of them was having a bad day you were there to sooth them, you had this way about you that calmed them and settled a bad situation. You were my knight in shining amour in those times. You often came looking for me when I hide myself to have a cry and would nudge me with your big butt head and purr........oh how I wish you could find me now.

Mario screamed at your grave as we said our goodbyes. He wanted you to wake up and get out of the hole. I havent heard him scream like that since he was 4. Tank finally said your name and my heart jumped into my throat. Dudie had no words, the tears streaming down his face were enough. Mini me sat the day after, singing to you...you remember how much she loved doing that while trying to put what short hair you had in a clip or 3. Man of the house has no words, he mourns you in slience.

I will forever miss seeing you waiting beneath the letter box for us to come home and watching your backside slowly strut up the driveway in front of us. I will miss hearing the doorbell being rung by you wanting to come in for the night and hearing you open the sliding door to get a drink from the en suite. I wont be able to play which babies bed is Shrek sharing tonight.....all we have now is memories and that sinking feeling knowing life will never be the same, with out you.

Thank you Shrek for all you gave to us. I hope you realised how loved and missed you are.
xxx