Life is hectic right now!

Life is just crazy right now, just go go go! Well to start with I got the part time job that I went for and I am now working as a sandwich artist at one of the MANY Subway sandwich places in our area. It is going pretty well and I am enjoying it and enjoying the extra money and freedom that having a job (even part time!) gives you. It was quite difficult learning all the different varieties of subs, wraps, salads and dressings but now I just about have them all memorised now-I think!!
One thing that is not nice is that the cost of childcare went up due to my working now which totally is not good. I thought I would have to give up work ALREADY as the cost of daycare/after school care meant that I was not really coming out better off and if my hours dropped I could actually be much worse off because I would still have to somehow come up with the money for both! I looked into family daycare which turned out to be much cheaper and better for Conor too I think because it is a family environment and she only looks after 3 other kids. I went to see her on Saturday with the kids and was really impressed, she was a really lovely lady and very well organised and equipped. Conor took to her straight away which is amazing for him as he usually takes awhile to warm to new people and it was a relief for me! Hopefully all will work out well. He starts there in 2 weeks.
I got my results back for the two subjects I did over Christmas-2 credits! I was amazed to have done that well considering that I had nothing but disruptions over that time and found it difficult to find ANY time to study! I don't think I will attempt that again!!
We went to see a movie today- "Meet the Robinsons" which was pretty good for a kiddie movie. Conor was pretty good-sat still and watched it although I did have to shush him many many times!! He was so funny though and I don't think (hope!) that anyone minded!
The kids are just at the end of their Easter holidays and they have had lots of fun I think, we went to the movies today, visited their grandmother yesterday, went to an Easter event last weekend, stayed over at their grandmother's, visited their great-grandmother and aunty, Mika stayed over at a friends etc etc etc! Cody went to a fun fair with a jumping castle etc which he loved!
Easter of course meant lots of eggs, lots of chocolate and yummy hot-cross buns-I just love them! The kids love the choc eggs of course and ate tons and tons of them and were just about bouncing off the walls-lots of fun for me!! lol!

Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!1

Today our house smells like a hospital-an odd mix of vomit, disinfectant and bi-carb............... Mika was sick on Monday morning 2am and better by the afternoon. Conor then threw up with NO WARNING at all Monday night (last night) all over my bed! YUCK! Then just as I was cleaning that up he threw up again all over the carpet-why I didn't have the bucket handy after the first spew I have no idea! Then he threw up a few times after that- all but one of them in the bucket but unfortunately one on the couch.......... Cody then started throwing up at 2am this morning, luckily in the bucket, don't think I could handle any more spewy cleanups!
So this morning has seen me madly sprinkling bi-carb to get rid of the smell, just got to vacume it up yet, it is bloody good stuff though let me tell you!
There is a bug going around the daycare-yesterday when I took Conor (when Mika was already sick) there was a teacher and a couple of the kids out with the same thing-sigh! At least it seems to be only a short sickness-Conor seems better today already and Mika is back at school.
On the positive side though, I have a job interview and short trial tomorrow-at Subway, hopefully I will get it as we desperately need some extra money!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I received my FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY PRESENT ever! I received a beautiful bunch of flowers from a very very good friend of mine. I think it was just because he felt sorry for me NEVER having received anything before (yes I seem to have a talent for choosing the most unromantic guys-sigh!) but hey it was still just lovely!

blah blah blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I feel blah today-maybe the last few days lol. I just feel so tired and just don't feel like doing anything........ I am getting very tired of studying all the time and CANNOT wait to be finished and have my degree!! WOOHOO!!!! I think it is worse at the moment due to not having a break over Christmas/New Year this year. It will be worth it in the end though-I hope!!!!
We had a friend of mine from Sydney stay with us a couple of weeks back which was great, haven't seen him for about 3 years! We didn't do that much, movies, playground with the kids, maccas for coffee and kids playing in the playground, a trip to the city, to the beach and we went to the brand new State library (the old one was pretty sucky) and the gallery of modern art or GOMA for short. GOMA was fascinating-a real eye-opener!
The kid's father is coming next week for 3 days, they are excited about seeing him as they should be but I of course am not. We are going to stay at a little mobile villiage which has everything you could think of- playground, mini put-put, pool and even bird feeding! The kids will love it I think. We are not staying at my house-even for the last night of his stay as is usually the case because I don't think it should be up to me to put him up everytime he decides to drop in for a visit. Yes I am a bitch I know. The thing is, I am happy for him to come and see the kids but I do not want him staying at my house. We are over and have been for a looooooong time, even before I left Japan and having him stay even for one night complicates things. He can afford to stay in a motel nearby, I mean he seems to be able to afford to drink and party all the time, why not pay for his accomodation?? He certainly doesn't pay much for his kids!
Yikes I really am feeling negative and blue at the moment but everything is getting to me at the moment.

A new year, a new me............

Well it is another new year and time for resolutions- not! I do not think it is worth the effort to make a promise that is, in all likelihood, NOT going to happen! I love my chocolate to much to give that up and I don't smoke or drink (much!) so not much to give up or change anyway! hehe!
One thing I have decided for the new year though, is to end this farce of a 'marriage' and get a divorce, yes divorce. The ex and I have been separated, living oceans apart, for 4 and a half years and I am tired of loose ends. The ex STILL does not want one, why I have no idea although I suspect it has something to do with the taxcuts that married men receive in his country.......... Pity he didn't throw some our way! Anyway, the secret is out! I have told him before that I want one and he said that he didn't but this year it is going to happen anyway! As I told him- he can still see the kids whenever he wants but not as my husband (in name only anyway these days), just as their father.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy new year to everyone, may 2007 be your best year ever!

Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Well it is Christmas time again and it seems to come faster every year! The kids are excited by presents, pretty lights, chocolate, Santa etc etc etc! Conor is just loving everything about Christmas this year-he even talked to Santa! He doesn't usually talk to anybody that he doesn't know but happily told Santa what he wanted for Christmas, lol! He just adores the "PRETTIES", the beautiful Christmas light displays here in the suburbs that just seem to get better every year!

I haven't taken any piccies of the lights because my piccies would simply not do them justice! They are just gorgeous though let me tell you!

We went to a Christmas festival a couple of weeks back and it was great-free rides, free bar-b-que, free games and lots of fun for all! Conor had a ball, he tried just about everything they had for the little ones, he especially liked the Merry-go-round! He tried the bigger kids jumping castle but got scared at the top and would not come down and I had to get the ride attendant to go up and get him! That was quite funny! Mika and Cody had a great day too!

We went to see a Christmas show followed by a preview screening of "Santa Claus 3" a couple of weeks back also. It surprisingly was quite funny, being a 3rd installment and a kid's movie I had my doubts but was pleasantly surprised. The kids just loved it and raved about it for days.....

We have been busily preparing for Christmas and are just about done. We are doing a bar-b-que this year which should be nice-simple and relaxing! Can't wait!

My brother is getting married early next year (March) and their baby is due in April so he is gearing up for a busy year!

Recent developments

Well what else has been going on recently?? We got a kitten, yes, a black tortoiseshell named Suzie. She was 8 weeks old when we got her and has done quite a lot of growing since. She is one of the family now and is certainly loved by all!

Wildlife Park Piccies

Visitor from afar

Yikes just realised how long it has been since I last wrote and how much has happened in that time! Well to start things off, back in August we had a visit from the kid's father and we stayed at the Gold Coast for the duration of his visit (one week). He stayed at my place the last night which completely pissed me off because of the fact that he seems to think it is his right to stay whenever he feels like! I mean, come on, we have been separated for 4 years now and he does not pay regular child support and does not support us, and DOES NOT pay the rent so where on earth does he get the idea that he has a right to stay???? It just annoys the total crap out of me! If I went to Japan for a visit I would not just expect to stay at his house!
Anyway back to the visit, it wasn't too bad and we managed to stay civil to each other for the kid's sake. He brought the kids an old laptop each which they thought was just it and had loads of fun with. Not quite so much fun for those forced to listen to the noise of them though lol! There was a pool there and the kids made good use of it!
Daddy took Mika and Cody to see "Hoodwinked" while I took care of Conor outside. Conor's attention span isn't really long enough to watch a full-length movie yet! The kids loved it though.
We went to the beach and playgrounds and stuff like that too which was lots of fun! We went to a wildlife park too-I'd never heard of this one before and was a little nervous about taking the kids there for that very reason but as it turned out, there was no reason to be. The park was quite small but absolutely lovely-lots of animals for the kids to see, no huge crowds of people jostling you all the time, the park was clean and the animals well cared for and they had a snake show which really thrilled them all! They all had to touch the snake and were just rapt! I, on the other hand, kept my distance and hoped to hell that he wouldn't bring the snake my way and thankfully he didn't!! For some reason the photo of the kids with the snake wouldn't appear after I uploaded it so will have to try again later.
The kids just had a ball though down the coast and weren't really that impressed about going back to school after Daddy went back to Japan.

Rest in Peace Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin is dead-I can't believe it. He was always larger than life and seemed invincible. My thoughts and sympathies are with his friends and family in this difficult time. Rest in Peace Steve.

where do I begin????????????

Yikes it has been a while again! Well to start with we had the kid's school fete last Sunday and it was a big hit with my kids (Conor stayed at my mum's) and all the many others who attended! I was the arm band stall convenor and so was kept very busy for most of the day but it was fun too. The kids had a ball, lots of rides, junk food, sample bags etc etc etc!! There was a great turnout! At the end of the day both were worn out!!

We are all well again now, after spending half of the holidays all feeling sick from one ailment or another which wasn't much fun at all!! None of us should be sick now for at least a year or so!

I am back at uni again next week after a much enjoyed break, looking forward to getting back into it all again. I did very well in my exams after all the stressing that I was doing, was very relieved to see my results!

The kid's father is coming to visit soon which they are looking forward to, we are going to the Gold Coast for a week which will be a nice break. Pity I will still have to study though and the kids will have to do a little school work there too due to the fact that their father refuses to come during the holidays. That is due to the fact that it is easier for him that way, never mind anyone else! It will still be nice to get away for a week though.
We are going to stay at a place we stayed at a couple of years ago for a few days. Cody took a liking to the garbage disposal plug and smuggled it home! I was horrified and after a very apologetic phone call to the managers of the complex, sent it back in the mail!! Hopefully he won't try that again!

back again

This month has been a bloody nightmare! Exams, sick kids, sick me, sick of it all me!!!! I was only sick for one day so not so bad but kids have been sick for past couple of weeks-not all at once mind you. They all get sick one at a time (so considerate!) and one after the other and just don't stop! Today it was Mika, although Cody was saying his tummy hurt too and Conor is still coughing up a storm.............. I had to pick up Mika from school as she was throwing up-yuck. So many people are sick at the moment, someone (some bigwig) suggested that it is because the dams are so low and the water has become of a lower quality.
One plus is that I am now on holiday for the next few weeks and by golly do I ever need it!! I am looking forward to relaxing a little and recharging and getting some semblance of sanity back!
The kid's fete is coming up soon and this year I am running the ride armband stall which so far hasn't been too bad, will be busy after the kid's holidays though! They are looking forward to the fete, they just loved it last year!!

It's a miracle

Wow, today a miracle happened here in Australia, down in Beaconsfield Tasmania. Two miners were rescued from an underground cave-in, 14 days after it happened!!!! They spent 14 days underground trapped in the small cage that they had been working on the shaft wall, and were kept alive by food, water and other essentials being pushed through a small tube that had been driven through the rock. The rescuers were forced to tunnel underneath to rescue the miners, through rock tougher than concrete.
The trapped miners said that they wanted to walk out and they did to the roar of the crowd and into the arms of their waiting families. All of Australia cheered with them! It was truly an amazing moment, and an amazing day that I will remember for the rest of my life.

What time of day are you?

I got this from Andrea's blog http://andreainjapan.blogspot.com/

You Are Noon
You are upbeat, ambitious, and never at loss for energy.You have a lot that drives you in life. The desire to be the best, and a secret hope of fame and power.And while you definitely have a Type A personality, you are still fun to be around.You have a ton of charisma and a genuine interest in others. You are adored by many.

I agree with some aspects of that-I would really love to be famous and powerful!!!!hahahahaha

Yahoo! Chocolate heaven here we coooooome! hic!

Well, it is Easter this weekend, today is Good Friday and while I am well aware of the significance of Easter I keep being distracted by the over-supply of chocolate EVERYWHERE we go! Even at the corner shop where you drop in to grab milk for breakfast there are chocolate eggs at 10 paces! And it has been that was since JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS!! Sorry for the big letters but it is just riddiculous in my opinion!! Makes you wonder when the "Chocolate" (most easter egg chocolate is just that crappy compound choc!) was actually produced doesn't it??!! The kids are looking forward to seeing what the easter bunny will bring for them and I am looking forward to some yummy chocky eggs too-from cadburys though which actually taste like real chocolate! Yum! The kids don't care-to them if it looks like choc and smells like choc and tastes something like choc then it is good enough for them!! Actually I think it is just the fact that it is sweet! I will probably have to peel them off the ceiling at the end of the day though!

It's party time- commando style!

Last Saturday Mika and Cody went to their cousin's birthday party. It was at a place where they put on packs, get guns, go into a big darkened room and basically have a ball dividing into teams and shooting each other with laser guns! The kids all just loved it!! Cody got a bit miffed at first because, being the youngest and smallest, he made a fantastic easy target and kept getting shot! Luckily he was ok by the end of it and managed to get a few of them! The kids didn't want to leave! We adults had a great time too having a quiet chat while the kids were playing shoot ems! Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos of the kids inside the play area but I got some of them enjoying the cake and yummy party food!

To see piccies of the Tachibana gang head to

http://au.msnusers.com/TheTachibanaFamily

Time flies...........

when you're having fun!! Well, not so much fun I guess but busy!! Just realised how long it's been since I've last written so thought I'd better update. At the moment I am verrrrrry busy again, crazy in fact, getting an assignment done! I am almost finished it now but got another one hot on its heels! Uni is great but the assignments get to be a bit of a pain after a bit! Never mind, it won't be forever, eventually I will be able to work with my new found knowledge!
Kids are great, Conor is going through a stage where he is biting everyone-ouch! Not at daycare mind you, just here with us! Maybe I should feel flattered that he only treats us to his teeth....... He is finally almost potty trained, it has been a long hard struggle and I think we still have a little way to go! I don't remember it being quite this hard with the other two! He fell over at daycare the other day and split his chin open, luckily it only needed a butterfly bandaid and no stitches. It is healing now but still looks pretty awful, doesn't seem to worry him though! He is such a dare devil, unfortunately he is a little accident prone as well.......... He is finally beginning to eat some different foods which makes meal times a little easier!
As for Mika and Cody, they are loving school and having a ball! Mika is doing a space project at the moment and Cody is learning his times tables and how to tell the time. Mika is going to the science centre next Monday she'll love it there! Mika says she wants to be a vet when she grows up but she loves science too!
Mika wants to learn ice-skating so when it starts up again after the school holidays she can start. I told her that she has to last the whole term-yep ten or so weeks so even if she hates it she has to stick it out for that time then if she still hates it she can quit! Hopefully she will like it, if not she can try something else!
I have tuckshop tomorrow again, not my favourite job but if no one does it then the kids won't have a tuckshop! As it is they only have enough volunteers to keep it open 4 days a week(shut Mondays). The kids love it when Mum helps out on tuckshop too so it's all ok!
Well got to get back to the assignment now, it won't do itself will it??!!!!

happy days are here again.............

Yes I am back at uni again for another gruelling semester and I am looking forward to it. Looking forward to graduating too finally and getting a job! I have officially dropped the teaching component of my degree and in June I am going to change degrees again-it was too late to do it by the time I had finally figured out what I wanted to do! sigh!

This week just gone was Oweek and I worked again as info booth attendent/tour guide and it was sooo quiet-I only did one tour on my tour day and worked the booth instead. There were still quite a few coming for their free diary etc but none were particularly interested in a tour. Maybe they thought they knew it all already or something???? I enjoyed it though, was good to be earning some decent money for a change-cleaning doesn't pay much and it is much harder!

I worked Tues, Fri and a training day and it was lucky that I had those days as Conor got sick on Tuesday. I got a call saying that he was running a high temperature and I had to pick him up. Luckily it was almost the end of my shift when they rang. I got a call from Cody's school too saying that Cody had walked into a pole and had a big egg on his head and I had to pick him up also! Yikes! Cody still has a nice bruise on his head today but says it only hurts if he presses on it! Conor was boiling hot off and on until Thursday night and I had to cancel my cleaning job on Thursday but luckily he was on the mend for Friday! Yes!

Friday night though saw a rash start on Conor's face and eventually cover all of him...... I have no idea what it is, he has been immunised against measles and rubella and it is definitely not chicken pox. The doctor is closed today and tomorrow so if it is still there on Monday it will be yet another visit. He seems ok but very very very cranky!

Mika and Cody are healthy and happy and are, shock horror, not fighting with each other for once! They are playing the make a word game and even Conor is getting in on the act! We are going to my aunty's house tomorrow for a swim and they are looking forward to it, even if the water is stone cold they love it!