Third week of January. Love Instagram!

This week has been the last week of the school holidays, so we've tried to pack in as much as possible before the new school year starts.  It's quite sad that the holidays are coming to an end but at the same time I am starting to crave some routine (and a break from the non-stop little voices).

Little dudes

Baby with a view

These photos were taken the other day in Manly.  Miss H was at Kindy and I had promised Master J I'd take him to the Water Works.  However it was a scorcher of a day, and we got there a little late (getting out of the house on time in the mornings is not always my strong point!) The queue was HUGE and there was no way I was standing there for an hour in plus 30 degree temperatures   So I braced myself for the whinge of all whinges and gently suggested to Mater J that we "go to the beach and cool down instead, and try again later......................"  "YEAH" he said and raced down to the water.  Well!....... I honestly didn't see that one coming - I was sure there would be tears!!  We met up with some friends and sat and chatted under a shady tree with the babies and a speculator view, whilst the boys played in the water for hours!  Don't you love how unplanned, impromptu days turn out to be the best sometimes?

This week also saw the launch of my New blog "Mrs D plus 3".  Well, it's the same blog really but I just decided that I wanted to separate my personal blog from "Candy Bows Australia".  I really wanted something that would be "me" and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.   I hope you like it too.  You can also find me at my new Facebook page Mrs D plus 3. 

UH OH!!  Sh'e almost on the move!

My days are numbered ........

A very rare moment!  School holiday fun taking it's toll

Twinkle Toes

Mr D came from a business trip to Las Vegas and brought back these very sparkly boots for Miss H.  She was in heaven!  Pink, sequence, sparkles and shoes!!!  You can't get better than than in her books.  Even though they are a size too big (so she can wear them in the Winter) and the weather at the moment has been in the mid to high 30's, she has not taken them off for a minute!  They have been worn to the beach - and to bed!!

This is what summer is all about!

School holiday play-dates are the BEST!

She is the perfect 'dolly' for Miss H to dress up!

Swimming the Bold and Beautiful from Manly to Shelley Beach and back

My preparation for the "Big Swim" was to swim the bold and Beautiful from Manly to Shelley Beach and back.  A lovely friend volunteered to do it with me and we had a great morning.  It was so refreshing swimming in the Ocean and a great way to start the day.  We'll definitely be doing it again!  Anyone keen to join us??

The Big Swim

With very little preparation I managed to swim "The big swim" from Palm beach to Whale Beach in truly horrible weather conditions!!  Vey proud of myself.

My "plus 3", just chilling on the beach enjoying the last few days of the holidays

Watching a movie with dad (dad is the sofa!)

Never thought I'd day it but it's quite nice having a rainy, pyjama day every now and again!!

Next week is "back to school!!!!  Is everyone ready??

A little practise and a jelly sting!

With just two days to go until I do the BIG SWIM from Palm Beach to Whale Beach (approx 2.5km) I thought I had better do a little practice.  I have swum in the ocean pool a couple of times this week (although only about 1- 1.5km at a time) but have yet to actually get in the Ocean!!!  Something that might be important - maybe????  

Last night after the kids finished their dinner we all walked down to the beach for mummy to test out the water and have a little practice.  As it was early evening I needed Mr D to come and keep an eye on me.  For two reasons really - firstly, the lifeguards had finished their shift and gone home and secondly, we all know that sharks come out to play at dusk and dawn!!  (Not sure how entirely true that is - but I wasn't taking any chances!!  Not that Mr D would have been any help either under those circumstances  because he is more scared than me - but you know, safety in numbers and all that!!)

It was the most stunning evening and the water looked AMAZING!  The waves were perfect and it actually looked really inviting.  Lets just hope the conditions are like this on Sunday morning!!  Fingers crossed everyone please.

heading down to the water

I didn't really have a 'plan' as such as I really just wanted to overcome the unknown of 'getting in and getting out".  There were only a couple of little waves to jump over so I was out over the break in no time at all!!  I powered out for a few seconds, then popped up to have a look at how far from the shore I was.  It was probably only about 50m or so but I suddenly felt VERY deep.  I'm not scared of the ocean but being out there on my my own (except for a couple of surfers), surrounded by blue, I suddenly felt a tiny bit panicked!!  "Don't be ridiculous I told myself" and I put my head down and started to swim (parallel to the beach of course - I wasn't going any further out than I needed to).  

My eyes were still tightly shut and I realised that I needed to open them if I wanted to see where I was going!!! For some reason I just couldn't do it!  It was like that feeling you have when you are home alone and you hear a noise downstairs.  You're too scared to look in case you see something..........you don't even know what, but you start picturing all sorts!  I couldn't help having that same feeling - like I was going to open my eyes and have some big sea creature staring back at me!!

Good job I'm doing this practise run - I don't want to be too much of a nervous nelly on the day!!  Although I have decided that swimming with a huge group of people can't be as scary as swimming on your own!!

Once I relaxed, I actually started to enjoy the swim, although it's totally different to being in the ocean pool.  I was close enough to the shore to get the swell before it broke into a wave, so on every other breath I was met by a huge wall of blue that lifted me up..........and then down...........up .......... and then down.  I also kept lifting my head right up to check where I was and that I was still swimming in a straight line.

Watching mummy in the water

It was much harder than being in pool, so this is definitely going to be a challenge!  I kept going for about 200m or so and then felt a sudden sting on my leg.  I stopped in my tracks and spun around to see what had got me.........!  Then I felt all those tiny needle like pricks start to tingle at the back of my knee and knew it was a jellyfish (of some sort).

Ok, time to get out I thought!!!  Not much of a training session really, but at least I have managed to get in and and open my eyes in the sea!!  Now to get back to the beach - challenge number 3!!  I swam towards the shore and just prayed that I wouldn't get dumped by a wave (especially with those few surfers watching........now that could be embarrassing!!).

Luckily for me the tide was really low and calm, so I only needed one wave before I was able to put my feet on the ground.  As soon as I felt the sand I started to run - trying to avoid getting knocked down and face planting by the next wave that was coming in fast behind me!!!

OUCHIE!!!

PHEW!!!!  I made it!!  I can tick that one off the list.  Now all I have to do is swim the Bold and Beautiful tomorrow morning (a lovely swim, I believe, from Manly Beach to Shelley Beach) and it'll be D-day!!

For anyone out there thinking of doing an Ocean Swim - this really is a guide of 'how not to train'!

Miss H stole my beach dress, so I had to walk home wrapped in my towel!

(For those of you that didn't read my previous 'swimming post' you can find out about my crazy challenge HERE)