Happy Days

Some pictures from the Brisbane mob. Enjoy

Aww, Tim took this picture on Monday.

These photos were taken at the end of March when Jesse went to Band Camp at Cavendish Rd High School - this one time...

Isaac with Nick Earls, MP Vicky Darling and David Whitehill at our first Earth Hour press call.

Here is the pic Carl took running down the road. You didn't believe me did you??

Tim turned 8 in January and had a 'Survivor' party. Carl was Jeff and everyone had a ball, it was so much fun. The eating challenge was the favourite competition of the day. Kids collected medallions for winning challenges and at the end they were allowed to pick prizes in order of most to least. The winning team received extra lollies. some of the boys went home telling their mums this was the best party ever. I wonder what we can come up with for Isaac and Jesse in November.....

Lots of love from Brisbane.

Stay tuned for Sea World pics in the next post.

XXX

It's Been Too Long

Well, the mad boys are all back at school, and the beautiful princess is biding her time at home, cooking delicious dinners and scrumptious treats for her wonderful family of mischievous males. Soon enough, she will have to return to the land of the folk who work for a living, and will no longer be a lady of leisure.

So, yes, in between lodging some 70 odd job applications, showing up to the odd interview and spending lots of time at Tim & Jesse’s school, I thought I would give everyone an update on what has been happening in the lives of the Morch mob in Brisbane.

A lot has happened since our return from beautiful New Zealand, we all had the most amazing holiday, and cannot wait to return for more. Carl, Jesse, Tim and I returned to Brissie shortly after New Year, and the first thing the two young ones did was take all their clothes off and run around in their normal Brissie outfit. UNDERPANTS!

Young Isaac stayed a little longer in NZ and cycled the Otago Rail Trail with Jenny and Bruce.He had a ball and lots of tales to tell upon his return to sunny Brisbane late in January.

Soon enough, it was back to school. Day one for the youngest Morch at Clairvaux McKillop High School. Dad was very proud indeed, and ran down the road taking pictures. Isaac’s old principal from Junction Park also mentioned how grown up he looked in his uniform. I must say I am very impressed with the amount of work and effort Isaac is putting into his high school studies. Often while Tim and Jes get to muck around, Isaac is sitting doing his homework. He is very dedicated and determined to do well, which I am sure his report card later this term will reflect. Very soon he will start playing Oztag for school winter sport, and is really looking forward to it.

Jesse is now in grade 5 and still loving Junction Park State School, the Principal knows him by name, and I am not sure this is a good or bad thing?? Just kidding, he is doing really well, and is quite a busy young lad what with trumpet and soccer commitments weekly. He has trumpet practice on a Monday and this one time even got to go to band camp. At the end of term 1 he spent 4 days at Cavendish Road High on band camp with a couple of hundred kids from around the area. On the last day they put on a concert for parents, it was just amazing. Jesse’s group played The Mickey Mouse March and We Will Rock You, as well as this, all the kids got together and sang three songs. I was blown away and very proud. On a Friday he plays interschool soccer for the junior school team, and whilst they haven’t had very many wins, he is getting some great goalie practice. One of the bonuses of me not working is that I get to go down to the Annerley soccer fields on a Friday afternoon and watch Jesse’s team play. The boys all think I am ‘really nice’ as I have been bringing them fruit for half time. Twice now though I have ended up washing all the team shirts….. hmmm

Young Tim, aka shark bait, is going great guns in Year 3. He is working hard and getting great results. I am very curious what his report card will look like, as behaviour has always been a struggle in class, but I have a feeling that this semester he might just get a fantastic mark. He has made lots and lots of friends and is regularly having play dates and cinema visits. Quite a busy little social life for an 8 year old.

All three boys are playing club soccer again this season, Tim and Jes at Clairvaux FC, and Isaac at Annerley FC, as Clairvaux could not field a team in his age group. Needless to say this makes Saturday mornings a little bit challenging, but so far, so good. I am managing Jesse’s soccer team this season, and am pretty excited that they have had three straight wins with a 20point goal difference so far. At the moment both Jes and Isaac are waiting on their fixtures to be finalised, after the first three rounds of grading matches, so they both miss out on a game tomorrow. Young Tim has a 9am kickoff at Clairvaux, and then Carl and the lads are heading out to do some mother’s day shopping. I have already found one yummy present at the back of the fridge, YUM!

On Monday Carl starts his last round of prac at Cavendish Road State High. This is one of the better schools in the area, and I think he has lucked out big time getting a spot there. He has had a few observation days this week and last week, and from the sounds will have an enjoyable month or so there. Hard to believe the year of ‘back to uni’ is nearly over, time has gone incredibly fast. Looking forward to the graduation and having a big party after – of course you are all invited. Once we know the exact date will definitely let you know. Will be serving up some Brizzie crush on the night.

It was so funny when Kris and Greg came to visit after Easter, we realised that not one of us was earning any money – 1 student and 3 unemployed job seekers. I am sure a few months down the track that situation will have changed for all of us. We had a wonderful time with Kris and Greg here, and look forward to more visits soon. The kids are all pretty excited about Thomas coming to visit in a couple of months. Jo, make sure you bring some warm clothes, we are starting to have some pretty cool weather. Still the sun is shining, so all good.

Well, as for me, I am still waiting for the ‘right’ job to come along. Despite sending out some 80 applications, I have not had a lot of positive response, which is bizarre. Currently I have three government job applications pending, so am really hoping I will get some interview call ups over the next week or so. If there is one thing I learned at WWF though, anything to do with the government takes a long, long time. Well, fingers crossed and sooner or later it will happen.

This morning I helped out at the mother’s day stall at school, and I am loving being able to spend time at school and meeting other parents. Next Saturday the 15^th is the annual school fete at Junction Park, and I have been doing a lot of promotion / advertising for it. Something I could not have even considered if I was working full time. On Tuesday a photographer from the local paper came out to take a picture for this week’s edition, Tim and Jes are both in the photo, so can’t wait to the see the paper on Thursday.

Well, that is a very condensed update from us, promise that we will post a bit more frequently from now on. Hope everyone is well, have a fabulous weekend, hope to see you all soon.

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Cheers to All.

Cheers to all the wonderful NZed's who made our Christmas?New Year trip wonderful.

We had a great time in NZ as can be seen from the various pictures below, which is just a selection of the 700+ photos that were taken.

I'm not quite sure where to start, so I may as well start at the beginning.....

Once apon a time there were 4 mad males (Carl, Isaac, Jesse and Tim) and a beautiful princess (Tanja) who decided that it was far too hot in their land for them to spend Christmas in comfort

. So they got into thier magnificent flying machine (2 of the boys had never been in it before), and traveled for many days and nights, and inand out of weeks (borrowed from a great book) to the Land of the Long White Cloud (and wind, and rain). They landed in the middle of the night, it was cold, so cold that they ran screaming to their

awaiting transport and pounded on the doors, this in fact was an utter waste of time , as they had to wait for the locals who picked them up to arrive anyway (they didn't run as they were used to the freezing conditions).

When they did arrive at where they were going, which was a little town in the realm of the great Wirarapa called Greytown, they slept and slept, until they could not sleep anymore, then they woke up, ate and slept some more. This seemed to go on for days, so I'll skip the rest of the sleeping and the eating and the sleeping again, but you get the point, there was an awful lot of sleeping going on (and eating).

The weather was beautiful, exactly what they were looking for, fine and sunny but not too hot. They spent many an hour in the yard, reading, lying in hammocks, drinking the finest brown ales that the realm produced, and generally lazing about. Sounds relaxing aye?

Then a mammoth storm hit the village, his name was Tom, and he was ferocious (but so soooo cute at the same time as being ferocious), he kidnapped one of the boys Tim and followed him around for days, saying things like Tim Tim Tim Tim look at this, Tim Tim Tim Tim come here

and play this, generally they had a great time together and bonded like chewing gum on Jandels. In the end Tim didn't mind being kidnapped.

Then came the time of great presents. No one had ever seen a tree with so many presents under it in there lives. (But first they had to battle the tree keepers and bring one of the prized 'fur' trees to the great hut). There where presents big and small, and the Princess Tanja managed to get some pretty good bling, as she was the farest in the land all would try and woo her with thier gift giving abilities, but......

there can be only one winner.

One of the Gods trying to battle the storm (Tom), lets call him Steve, had a bit of a misshap

while taking a break challenging the tiny males in a game they called Soccer, me thinks he is getting a bit old for all this sky larking about, but the tiny males did so love watching him run around and falling down.

The tiny males also enjoyed playing a game they called crocket (or something like that) in the land behind the great hut, it pays to be small and quick in this game, else one gets tripped up while running.

Stay tuned for the next riverting episode of "Cheers to All" when the clan discovers another realm called Taranaki...

Who's a clever Kiwi?

Isaac's Grade 7 Graduation

Last night was the official end of Isaac's primary education, my how the years have flown by.

We took a few snaps on the night, but the light was not great, so only limited to these four. But i think i might use this space for some words to Isaac.

So here is my little ode to Isaac.

You make me so proud to be your Dad mate, not just on nights like tonight, but every day i feel so blessed to have you as my son. The way that you conduct yourself everyday, to me, you are what a real man should be, caring, thoughtful, kind, generous, selfless and proud of who you are.

The things you have achieved at primary school are too many to name here, you know what they are. What you may not know is how respected you were by the teaching staff at Junction Park, they have always commented to me and others on what a wonderful student you are and how caring you are to others in the school. When Jesse and Tim started this year I heard many stories of you looking after them, and just helping them become part of the school, Tanja and I thank you for that. Mrs Woods (Principle) said to me just last week, "Isaac is one of those kids you just enjoy having around, he is always willing to help and does it with a smile, he will be missed at Junction Park", What more can we ask for.

I know that you are going to have a great time at high school, i know how scary it seems right now, but believe me, in a few short months you will be having the time of your life, make the most of it. Remember to be yourself in everything you do, don't change for anyone, and always look after your mates.

In this world we are not about what jobs we have, what cloths we wear, what cars we drive, or what house we live in. We are about who we love, and who loves us. Friends and family are

what keep us living.

Congratulations Isaac for graduating grade 7, you rock !!!!

xxx your Dad

Pre Christmas Camping

About 6 weeks ago i finished building my new Vegetable garden and planted some veges. The sun is so hot during the day that i had to buy some shade cloth just to give the veges a chance to get started. The boys enjoy helping me plant, and water every afternoon after school, and needless to say Maddie tries to tell me she needs watering everyday too.

It is starting to get established, left front section are herbs, tomatoes on the right, lettuce, rocket, carrot, and capsicum down the back. I also have some sun flowers and beans about to grow up the trellis at the back.

Is a nice way to keep busy during the day, and saves us heaps of money on veges too.

Maddie is enjoying her new bed, and has learnt to stay on it when she is inside, so as a result is spending more time inside at night.

She tends to loose a little bit of class when she is deep in sleep, but we try not to judge.

We all spent some time putting up the Christmas tree the other night.

Here is a picture of the head elf (that's the beautiful one on the left) and the boss (that's the beautiful one on the right).

Tim got the honour of putting the angel on top, mostly cause he's the smallest.

Is it me or does that tree look like it's on a lean ? (doesn't in real life)...

As you can see Isaac and Jesse tend to spend most of their time in their undies, it is hot after all, and it's a lot easier than trying to colour coordinate.

We just spent a few days camping down at Kingscliff and all had a very nice time, unfortunately the camera ran out of power half way through, but Tanja did catch this shot of the Boys on the beach with the storm about to dump in the background, 5 mins later we were running for the shelter of the tent, half an hour after that it was all over. This is about 30 mins before sunset, but is almost pitch black due to the storm coming from the west. Made for a beautiful sunset though.