Wordless Wednesday - Life at the Zoo

More fun taking the kids to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo...we bought yearly pass but have only made it once and a bit !

Chillin'

Pity about ugly structures near the Giraffes.

See the cute baby Meerkat - I can watch them for ages.

 What is your favourite zoo animal ? 

Please visit others linking up in the same row as you , so everybody gets a visit and comments.
Win Playstation PS3 here
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Wordless Wednesday ~ Just Harbour Cruisin'

Southern Swan -

Can you guess which boat we sailed on ?
 Which one would you like to cruise the harbour upon ?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

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Imagine if ...

Picture yourself ...on an idyllic island.

See yourself on the sun-drenched and bleached white sands.

Gaze in awe at the blue,blue sea.

Imagine what you are wearing, the relaxed way you are lying , or walking on this beach at sunset.

Feel the breeze flowing through your hair.

Hear the soft roar of gentle waves lapping the beach.

 

Note the calm smile on your face ...

now this is where I want to be.

 

Now imagine yourself ...what it feels like to be there!

It's been raining here today. Not that I complaining we need the rain and it is filling our water tank.

Later, I plan on being a top mum because I'll let the muddy brothers out to jump in the puddles and fling some mud.

The Silver lining ...  when you are close to the ground

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful." ~E.E. Cummings

I guess we all know how much fun mud flinging is ...

"Are you feeling, feeling, feeling like I'm, feeling
Like I'm floating, floating, up above that big blue ocean
Sand beneath our feet, big blue sky above our heads,
No need to keep stressing from our everyday life on our minds
We have got to leave all that behind"

-At the beach, The Avett brothers

What have you got planned this weekend ?

♥

The Hunger Games ~ totally Pinworthy

So it seems totally wrong to post about running and health , after chocolate, but lets run with it anyway.

I find it challenging to run outside, on the road,due to my hearing impairment . I worry about not hearing cars approaching. I mainly stick to the treadmill. I love the treadmill workout programs I found via pinterest.

My right sided peripheral vision is impaired so I have to be careful too - not to run into low tree branches.

As well , the farm has uneven dirt tracks and it's dusty at the moment from a lack of rain .

There is a paved track to the zoo I plan to try in the coming weeks.

Source: eathealthy-getfit-sleep-repeat.tumblr.com via Trish on Pinterest

Last week I ran 8km in secs under an hr and I'm working up to 9-10km this week. It isn't easy but I know can do it. I've been inspired by Naomi @Seven Cherubs all the way.

The 14km City to Surf ,with Team World Vision, run is August 12th .So far I've raised $275 of my $1000 goal.

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Source: feel-that-burn.tumblr.com via Trish on Pinterest

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Source: fitsugar.com via Kirsty on Pinterest

This is my training focus this week - mixing up my treadmill workouts so it feels like I am running outside.

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Because it is really about the food

Source: greatist.com via Trish on Pinterest

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Inspiration for the week

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{Giveaway} The Question is irrelevant ...Saturday by the numbers & Cadbury marvellous creations

... Chocolate is always the most reasonable answer .

These are not

 4  ~ number of cups of tea I've had while reconciling the teen's unauthorized use of my toll pass for 5 months -His personal ~ $87.06  and work related trips ~ $774.15!

Can you guess the number of trips to the bathroom ?

 7 ~ the number of times I tried to unzip a certain file before I Google'd how to do the right way

1 1/4 ~ pieces of burnt fruit toast I ate whilst doing it

602 ~ the number times I told my five years olds be shush up or close the 2 exterior doors ~ maybe less politely after 499 ...

39 ~  the no of things on my to do list this weekend

8 ~ the number of kms I am going to run later today.

 3 ~ Yes, I was sent 3 x family size Cadbury's new 'Marvellous Creations' range - Peanut Toffee Cookie , Jelly popping Candy beanies and Jelly Crunchy Bits

to be precise and a rather purple apron.

 

Marvellous Creations is the first Cadbury Dairy Milk product to be delivered from the magical and mythical land of Joyville !

Let's say I can't stop at one piece of the newest addition to my long list of favourite chocolate options.
One that combines quirky and unusual flavours to produce a unique taste sensation. My favourite is the deliciously new tongue-tingling Jelly Popping Candy beanies.

I may be watching my bottom waist-line, but if I'm honest, I really don't care some days .I'll sweat run it off eventually !

If you have too little in the way of willpower I warn you to steer clear ! The other family friendly

'joyville' option - if you want to limit yourself to just a couple of marvelously shaped pieces (be equally warned they aren't littlesquares and they aren't even sized pieces) -is to share with your chocoholic spouse , kids or even friends.


The kids love the ad ...

Onwards to the Tantalising I mean ...  GIVEAWAY

You've GOT TO get your lips hands on this !  and five of you can win three family size blocks
plus a rather Marvellously ' purple ' Marvellous ~ Creations apron of your own.

Since Marvellous Creations is the first Cadbury Dairy Milk product to be delivered from the magical and mythical land of Joyville ...

To enter  leave a comment below this post  in verse, telling me why chocolate brings you joy ?  :-) 

Be it a poem, a limerick, Haiku or a silly rhyme or whatever if you are challenged and really just want to win - remember it's a family blog too.

Crunchy, Chewy, Brown
Heavenly sweetness taste
No more once eaten

Alexandria Rios - haiku example

The 5 comments that interest me or make my hubby laugh the most will win! 

Australian resident /addresses only .

I'm feeling generous so you can enter once a day if you like as long as it's a new comment or rhyme or whatever .

Extra entries if you tweet or Facebook tagging My Little Drummer Boys and leaving a creative comment.

Closes Wednesday 30th May 2012.

Winners will be contacted by email and announced on this post.

The lucky winners are

ellierock

A farmer's Wife

Reta

Lilly

ConspiracyCat

{Disclosure: I received a 3 x family blocks of Cadbury Marvelous Creations and an apron - I assume it was to share with my family ;) - . I am sure she didn't think I'd eat it all myself - I was not compensated financially for this post. Opinions expressed in this post are all my own.}
 
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Lego City - Team up to Catch the Crooks ~ GIVEAWAY

 

Uh on it is villain alert !

LEGO^® City

The baddies crooks have stolen all the gold from LEGO® City and are now hiding in the Forest. It’s up to the City police and the Forest police to team up to catch the mischief-makers and restore the peace and bring justice to LEGO City.

It is no wonder Lego has been popular with boys and girls , Mums , Dads and gift givers alike for 50 years ~ Did you know 2012 is the 50th Anniversary of the LEGO brick in Australia.

LEGO City is based on the re-creation of everyday life scenes . LEGO has just introduced 13 exciting new products into their range including Forest Police, Forest Fire and Great Vehicles.

Lego is fabulous for encouraging kids to use their imagination with enhanced role-play. I get so many laughs watching my boys play LEGO together. I also laugh when they step on Lego they have left on the floor !

Watching the intense concentration as they work out which bit goes where and waiting for them to ask for help - it is a great way to bond with my boys. Free play or following numbered 'instructions' besides inspiring imaginative play, it's great for their fine motor skills and teaching opportunities (about Police)

The Forest Police and Forest Fire crews have the optimum to catch and cuff the pesky robbers and team up to fight the fires. With patrol cars and quad bikes the villains won’t stand a chance against the Police hotshots who promise to save the day!

The Forest Fire team will be the first on the scene to fight the fires, with powerful fire ATV’s, trucks and planes to extinguish the flames and keep LEGO City safe. Prices range from a pocket money friendly RRP$7.99 for the Fire ATV to RRP$119.99 for the awesome Forest Police Fire Station.

The LEGO play experience and opportunity to role play is even more enhanced with a new concept called Great Vehicles recently introduced into the LEGO City range. It boasts great vehicles for your little BIG heroes! Products include the Ambulance, Garbage Truck, Dirt Bike Transporter, Tipper Truck and Caravan. Starting at RRP $29.99.

My boys love their LEGO and the new tipper truck is one of the favourite - It even tips just like Grandpa's.

In my opinion LEGO City Great Vehicles are great value for money perfect for gifts or anytime treats!

Each individual piece vehicle adds to the LEGO City scape collection . A collection that most families will want to keep forever.

Older kids can also team up in a cool online game to help the LEGO City Police and Forest Fire crews catch the crooks at www.LEGO.com. 

What boy (or girl)  doesn’t want to become the hero of their very own LEGO City ? 

Thanks to Lego Australia I have 3 vehicles (sets) to giveaway - 1 winner takes all !

To win

4434 Tipper Truck x 1
4437 Police Pursuit x 1
4436 Patrol Car x 1

Tell me ...

Why would you like to win a this set of LEGO® City Forest Police  & Concept vehicle

or your favourite Lego memory. 

1. Follow my blog or Like my Facebook page ~ 
2. One winner will be chosen for their creative comment in answering the question above.
3. Open to Australian residents only. 
4. Entries Close 16th April 2012

Disclosure: I received the same 3 LEGO® City products for review purposes -  thanks to Lego Australia and One Green Bean . No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
 STOP PRESS !

PS - LEGO^® Australia in conjunction with Toyworld stores, is searching for the nation’s best LEGO builder in 2012 for the National LEGO Building Competition with entries opening on the first of April 2012. 

To enter, all children are required to build their ultimate LEGO creation (using only LEGO products) - See the full details here  - entries are via Toyworld stores starting 1st to the 30th April 2012

The competition gives Australian children of all ages the opportunity to use their creativity and construction skills to build the LEGO model of their dreams for the chance to win the grand prize of a family trip to LEGOLAND® California.

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Chalk it up ...

A few weeks ago I mentioned how I had plans for a little play space project after reading the latest issue of Inside Out magazine.

I was all inspired to Chalk it up and let my boys get creative with chalk.

Finally, we had three dry good weather days in a row to get started.

I also planned to use an old coffee table but that is a project for another day when I can crank up the belt sander with a new sanding belt. It would have involved a bit more preparation. I may use it for a destination board.

Step 1: Choose a tabletop to re purpose - , fill in holes and sand it smooth* or in our case hubby cut a piece of flooring ply to size to fit our existing saved from landfill play table. He sanded the plywood smooth and decided we didn't need to prime it. 

We didn't have to mask our edges but you may have to if you need neat edges.
*If using an old table remove all loose /flaking paint or vanish, and the same applies for glossy or enamel surfaces.

Buy a tin of blackboard paint - available in black or school green (we already had rollers and paint brushes) - we used White Knight because it was what was available .Our project used every drop of the 250mls.

Step 2: Apply First coat - leave it to dry  (Follow the paint tin instructions - we painted in outside in 28 ° - the paint was touch dry as quickly as we applied it almost. (Don't paint above 30 °) 

Of course I had to have helpers :s

Step 3: Re- coat  after 16 hrs

 

Step 4: Chalk it up 

Black is really hard to photograph

I was amazed how easy and quick it was to create and how great it looked. The boys love it.

PS: This is not a sponsored post - I just loved the idea. Like them on FB here.
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