30/11 - Painting

With today being the very last day in November, so the day before the Christmas lights have to be ready to go, I thought that we would spend the day putting them up so that we could get ready for tomorrows turning the lights on BBQ. As it turns out, Nathan had other plans, and our once manor red gates are now Surf-mist white. Painting the gates was loads harder than any part of the house that I have done so far, and the worst part is, after all that effort, I really don't like the colour and think that we should have gone with a darker grey. I suppose it is lucky that paint is pretty easy to change if I am still not convinced on the colour in a few months.

29/11 - CSIRO Art Day

We finally got out to the CSIRO art session that we have been meaning to get to all year, only to find out that because of all the government cut backs, that this class will be their last one. Maddie loved making her leaf mobile, leaf rubbing's, and little pipe cleaner trees but didn't interact with any of the other kids which I thought was unusual for her. As we were leaving the class one of the girls that works in the building was getting out the giant stick insects to show the kids, they were big enough that they could be petted, which is gross! Maddie liked it, and thankfully I could stand a few steps back while she did get a close up of the insect. The centre looks like it will be an awesome place to visit when Maddie gets older, so hopefully I remember about it and it doesn't get closed down with their budget cuts.

28/11 - Christmas Crafts

Christmas Craft days are just not the same without Grace and Leah's presence, and its not just me that thinks that way, Maddie asked so many times today if Grace was going to swing by to do her own bauble and paint with her and Hugh. I had planned to attempt to make the kids hand prints into little snowmen ornaments but I was quite happy with keeping it plain once I saw how they printed. There is also a lot less chance of me making them look terrible if I did attempt all the other bits needed. 

After their work was finished it was free time painting with paint brushes at first before they decided to do the same as last year and use the paint and paper as a running track. I think the little footprints are super cute, but I am not so sure Nathan will approve of them all over the driveway. 

Day 273 - Insulation

After a call from Kim letting us know that he wont be coming down for a wedding next weekend we decided to insulate the extension in the hoped that it will help keep the rest of the house cooler. Insulation is crazy itchy stuff to work with, but thankfully really easy to use and it all went up in no time. I worked out that we needed three bags of the stuff when I first did the costings which is definitely too much, as with the amount we have left over we will be insulating the internal walls as well before they are plastered.

Day 272 - Letter Boxes

Maddie and Grace made paper mache boxes with a fair bit of help from us mums for the girls to put any letters that they send each other in. Maddie loved all the glueing involved, and seems pretty pleased with the effort that she put in with all the stickers. Hopefully she remembers it and when Grace sends her pictures or letters in the future she will put them in it for safe keeping.

Day 271 - A Big Day

Today we had quite a bit on, starting with the Plane's party at Toys R Us where there were at least another 100 kids. Nathan had the morning off so he came to this event and to say that he was overwhelmed and over it would have been an understatement. Still he did really well waiting in line for at least half an hour for Maddie's face paint, and he had a great time in the photo booth with her.

After leaving Majura park we went over to Floriade to try get nightfest tickets with the Canberra Milk labels that Judy gave to Nathan yesterday. Unfortunately, after getting through the traffic, then the cranky traffic controllers we found out that the booth to get the tickets was actually closed, and it was the only place that you could use your tokens. As the booth opened at 4 Nathan had to run out to get the tickets while Maddie and I rested before we headed out for a late night.

NightFest should be renamed Moth-Fest as that is what it was, there were moths everywhere and you couldn't avoid them easily. The gardens looked totally different at night and the entertainments was pretty good once you got through all the queues, but there really wasn't all that many options for dinner, or non alcoholic drinks. Simon may have ruined fairy floss on a stick for me when he mentioned how easily a moth would get stuck in there. His hilarity had me dry heaving at the thought and definitely not having fairy floss of a night time, on a stick or in a bag.

The laser show was awesome, but totally freaked me out that you can't really see what is going on in there with other people, so I pretty much put my head down and pushed my way out to the other side to wait on Nathan and Simon who really loved that part. Maddie and Grace had an awesome time on the jumping castle and tea cups, making up their own little chant and giggling with each other for the whole tea cup ride. I will have to bring Maddie back next week during the day so that she can have a better look at all the gardens and hopefully if it is quiet enough we will have a go on the ferris wheel.

Day 270 - Ouch

I look like a drug addict! I looked down at my arm today after I took the days bandage off and was horrified by the track marks on my arms from having four blood tests in this past week. The nurse this morning asked if we needed to use the other arm as this one was looking a little well used and I didn't think anything of it, but looking at my arm now, perhaps there is a need to try my other arm. The problem with my left arm is that all of the pathologists that have used that arm have had to chase the vein around, and that either leaves a bruise or hurts so while I can get away with it, we will stick with my right arm.

It is day 18 in this cycle, on .75iu of Gonal-F and so far, it is not looking like the shots are doing anything for my ovaries. Fingers crossed that the hormones start to work soon, as jabbing myself in the stomach every night it not a lot of fun.