The end of our holiday

I'm finally at the end of our holiday blog posts. We had such a wonderful ten days away but we were actually looking forward to getting home as well (well some of us were - Mum wasn't too keen :)  On the day we came home we didn't have to catch our plane till later in the afternoon, so we had the whole day to spend in the sun (and of course it was the nicest day for weather the whole time we were there!). 

We did feel sad about saying goodbye to our lovely hotel and view that we woke up to every morning.

Chrish had taken the boys to an awesome park earlier in the week, while Mum and I were having a massage, so the boys were begging us to take them back.  It was such a cool park with a jumping pillow, little tanden bike things to ride and a cool flying fox that we all had a go on.

We then spent a little bit of time at the beach which was actually 'closed' (for swimming) because the surf was too dangerous.  

The boys kept commenting on how much Aaron would've loved jumping in the big waves. 

We had a lovely time meeting up with Ande and Josephine again, this time at Max Brenner.  Oh boy! It's lucky that we don't have it here in Tasmania because I fell in love with it!   Ande shared her chocolate pizza with us and it was delicious!

Kobe was loving his chocolate shot, but he had enough after a while which was lucky for me as I got to finish it off :) 

We left Chrish with Ande and was going to be staying with them for a couple of days before flying home to Sydney.  That meant I had to be brave and drive for the first time up there. It was much easier than I thought and we made it safely to the airport in one piece. 

The boys were so happy to see that our plane to Melbourne had TV screens, so it was a very quick flight as they were entertained the whole time. 

Grandma was obviously exhausted and ready for a holiday! 

In Melboure airport it was lovely to have the Watsons waiting at our gate for us, for a quick catch up of twenty minutes, before we had to catch our flight to Tassie.  The boys were so happy to see their cousins and Linc was giving them lots of hugs.  It was funny as there were heaps of people on our flight that we knew, which is always the way when you are in Melbourne. 

We had such a lovely holiday and it was just what we needed to bring some happiness back into our lives right now, and it really helped Jalen especially.  It was nice to see the boys smiling lots, and to know they were really having a great time.  They are asking when our next big holiday is already!

The Scariest Ride Ever!

Just a couple more posts from our holiday, and I'm done. 

From our hotel room in Surfers Paradise you could see a beautiful ferris wheel that ran every night till late.  We thought it would be fun, so on the last night of our holiday we went on it.  I had bad memories from when I went on one at Luna Park a couple of years ago, but this one was totally enclosed so I thought it would be a lot better.

Huge mistake!! I was petrified!

I don't know why I could handle going on the Superman Escape roller coaster but then freak out on a ferris wheel!   I think because with the fast thrill rides it's over before you really have time to think about it. With the ferris wheel it was going so slowly and the carriage was blowing around in the wind.

When we got on the guy told us that it was a fifteen minute ride, and that each carriage would stop at the top for a little while.   As soon as he said that I felt my hands start to sweat.  He then showed us where the 'emergency' button was and said that if any of us wanted to get off before the fifteen minutes was up, to press that and he would let us off when it got to the bottom.

As we went higher and higher I started freaking.  I tried to stay calm as Kobe also started to get scared and really wanted to get off.


Everyone thought it was a great joke and kept laughing at me and taking photos! What a cruel brother I have!

You would think with these faces that Harri and Mum were the ones that were scared, but they actually loved it.

At the top I ended up hitting the emergency button and they all cracked up laughing, as I got out with Kobe at the bottom. I told the man that Kobe was scared and everyone thought it was hilarious :)  Kobe and I were quite happy sitting on solid ground as we watched them go around and around.  Every time they would go past us I could hear them laughing and making chicken sounds.

It was good to say we survived the scariest ride ever (even if I did make an early exit!) and I don't think I'll be getting on a ferris wheel in the near future!

9 months

It's hard to believe how fast nine months goes. It's nine months today since Noah passed away. I miss him so much and think about him all day, every day. I miss him lying on the floor on a blanket in the lounge room. I miss hearing his sounds all day and all night.  I miss his cheeky smiles when he would hear our voices or when we would rub his legs. I miss looking into those big brown eyes. I miss stubbing my toe on his wheelchair that sat in the hallway.   I even miss the routines of having to do everything day and night for him. 


I would give anything to go back nine months ago and be doing all the things for him that he needed - tube feeding, giving medications, suctioning, showering, dressing, changing his happy, moving him in bed at night, giving his nebs, lifting him in and out of his wheelchair, doing physio and everything else to keep him comfortable.

It doesn't sound like a great life, but it was.  He was such a blessing to us as a family, and I would give anything to go back to that again. 

Aaron was always the joker.  Once while Noah was in hospital he pretended he was a doctor called 'Docta Steve' and the joke went on for ages, with him even making a Facebook page for him, but unfortunately I don't know the username or password that he used for it. 

This video makes me smile so much. I would give anything to have him sitting on Aaron's lap having a laugh with us.  Miss them both so much and still can't believe they are both gone.  

How it's Supposed to Be

Today was Aaron's Pop's funeral.  It was a lovely funeral and was run by the same funeral home that did Aaron and Noah's funerals.  I didn't know the funeral directors but the one of them saw me and said 'oh Lisa, you shouldn't have to be at another one of these this year' so she obviously knew me and what had happened.    The boys decided not to come with me as they said it would be too sad to go to another funeral.  They didn't really know Pop very well anyway, but Harri has been very teary all week with it bringing up lots of feelings.  Most days he's had a big cry over anything little, and when I ask him what is wrong he says 'I'm missing Daddy and Noah'.

It was nice to see Aaron's Nan, and I couldn't help but think the whole time that today was how it was supposed to be.  You are supposed to lose your husband when he is 95.  You are supposed to be ready to go.  You are supposed to be an old lady using a walking frame when you farewell your husband after being married for over 75 years.




I couldn't help but think how Aaron should've been one of the pall bearers as well. He shouldn't be six feet under greeting his Pop up there.



It was nice to see Aaron's sister Trudy again who flew down from Melbourne just for the day, and to also catch up with Aaron's nieces and step sister.




 It was also lovely to catch up with Aaron's cousin Tracey and her family.  I feel like I can never repay them for how they helped us to get our garden done, and it was so nice to see them all again.

After the burial I wandered over to Aaron and Noah's graves which are just a stone throw away, and then some of Aaron's family joined me.  It still doesn't seem real and I wonder if it'll ever truly sink in?

 Aaron's Nan has lost her short term memory so I don't think she was really aware as to what was going on.  I asked her if she knew who I was, and she said she knew my face. I told her that I was Aaron's wife and she was so happy when I said that, but then I had a feeling that she didn't really know what had happened.   I think that's probably a good thing, and wish that I could forget what has happened to.

I'm having a day when I'm not feeling so positive about things, and I'm sure that because I'm feeling sick it isn't helping my mental state very much (plus every now and then reality just hits you in the face).    Hopefully in a few days I'll have some energy back.  If it's quiet on here, you know I'm stuck lying on the couch trying to rest up while the boys run rampant! ;) 

Heaven is getting crowded

It's been a shocker of a year and it's only just hit July. Yesterday Aaron's Pop passed away after being very sick from an infection he had for a week or so.  Until a month ago he was quite well and living at home, but he recently moved into the same nursing home as Aaron's Nan.  It's sad because they had been apart for a while as he waited to get a place in the home with her, but he lived a great life and would've been 96 next week.

Aaron was very close to his Nan and Pop as a child and teenager and we used to see them a lot more when the boys were younger, before they got too frail, and when it was easy to get Noah into their home.  It got too hard to take Noah there as he got bigger as they didn't have good access and Aaron always wished he made the effort to visit them more. 

On the weekend Aaron's sister Trudy and nephew Charlie came down from Melbourne to see Pop for the last time, as they knew he probably wouldn't pull through. It was nice to catch up with them.

Trudy has had a shocker of a year, as her Mum (also Aaron's Mum) actually passed away a couple of weeks after Aaron did.    Aaron wasn't close to him Mum and they hadn't spoken for a number of years, but we kept in touch with cards and photos of the boys at Christmas time.   I feel for Trudy who has gone through so much this year with first of all losing her brother, then her Mum and now her grandfather.

I can only imagine all the reunions up there right now. I bet Aaron couldn't wait to greet his Pop.

Australian Outback Spectactular

While we were in Queensland I thought it would be fun to go to the Australian Outback Spectacular as we heard a lot about it. We bought discounted tickets while we were at Movie World and saved heaps by doing it that way.   Mum had been before with Dad and said she really enjoyed it, but they had changed the show a bit since she went. 


I wasn't sure what the boys would think of it so I was so surprised by Jay and Harri as they absolutely loved it.  Kobe however was scared right from the beginning as it was quite dark inside, and there was a lot of noise with the whip cracking, thunder sounds and lightening and firecrackers going off. He kept crying saying 'I want to go back to the hotel now!'.

I was very impressed with the show, and also impressed with the three course Aussie meal and organisation of it all.   The horses were amazing as were all the special effects, the interaction with the crowd and the music. It was all very professional.

Kobe finally fell asleep on my lap, so I could then relax (as much as you can with a four year old on your lap!) and enjoyed watching the rest of the show in peace.


We weren't able to take photos during the show because of the animals in the show, but if you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend you go along.  We couldn't resist buying the souvenir photo they take for you before you go in. If anyone needs a cowboy hat for anything I know where four are tucked neatly away for a rainy day :)

Our Blockaholic Take 2

Last year Harri was obsessed with the TV show The Block. This year was no exception. Earlier in the year he was so excited to get some messages from some of last years blog contestants, which Katrina who was on last years show, was lovely to organise.  He loved it just as much this year and has been glued to the screen every night.  During the week he was so excited to get The Block magazine, and has been reading it ever since.

Tonight he was a very lucky boy and got to stay up late to watch the finale.  He was going for Dale and Sophie as he loved them right from the start. 

This was him as he watched the auction of Dale and Sophie's house.  He didn't mind that they didn't win because they won so much anyway with the profit they made.

We were all blown away with the outcome and how much they all made, and were very happy for Brad and Lara who took out the extra $100,000 prize.  I wish that it was the same for all the contestants last year as well, but I'm sure they would all do it again just for the amazing experience.  Harri said at the end 'when I get bigger I'm going to on The Block with Jalen!'. I think Jay had other plans as he said he would be in LA.  It's nice to know my boys dream big! ;)