melbourne...!

we just got back from melbourne where we spent a week for jo's wedding. maddie was an angel, but was sick the entire week. :( she is never sick, so i was totally thrown. she snoozed away on the plain but was all smiles at the airport when our friend kris picked us up. (kris served his mission here years ago and we have remained friends... he totally saved my butt! big big big fat thankyou to you if you ever read this!)

we went and had lunch at chadstone where maddie munched away on her sushi rolls and then wandered until jo came and collected us...

maddie likes to show off exactly how cute she is and pushed her pram around much to the delight of everyone watching...

and then played peekaboo in the potplants at taco bills where we had dinner.

but later that night...? from 10pm onwards until the early hours of the morning, she puked and puked and puked. all over me, all over the floor, all through the bed, all through the cot that we had kindly been loaned and then just kept going. i had the thrill of cleaning each lot up and then eventually she cuddled up to me and went to sleep. thank goodness. she was still conked out at 10am the next morning.

but when aunty jo arrived the next morning to take us to the wedding venue, maddie was excited to see her and allowed herself to be cuddled, dressed and sat happily in her car seat all the way.

best reception venue ever! check out the taps! i want them for my house... totally got a sneak peek before the wedding...

and this dreamy front garden, reminded me of something like the scenes from great expectations... maddie was mesmerised and stood watching the water as it streamed through the fountain. she is so adorable. i could watch her for hours.

 

i then got the pleasure of watching her try to find her doll when jo threw it in the bushes... hilarious. she started by trying to climb the bush and then did the whole if i can't climb up it i'll go under it move. classic.

on wednesday we spent our day with kris. jo dropped us halfway to his house and we went to the local markets and walked around... they were pretty average, but we did have the highlight of watching maddie meet her first chicken. it was so freaking funny, she walked up to the cage all brave and then when it clucked at her she freaked out and cried and cried. poor love. she's clearly a sensitive soul.

we also got to have dinner with the dicksons. it was kris's mums bday and we had pizza with them. such an awesome family, it was so nice to meet them after knowing kris for all these years - and i can totally see where he gets his whacky sense of humour from now. they are so great!

and as an afterparty - i got to meet courtney! she lives close to kris's parents, so we dropped in after dinner. we popped maddie on the doorstep, rang the bell and hid. steve (another guy that served here years ago!) answered the door and maddie looks up and says "hiiiiiiiiii" steve was like courtney! courtney! there's a baby on our doorstep!! priceless!

wedding day arrived and i went to the temple along with jo's grandparents and got to be a part of the lovely sealing! ♥ doug's cousins had offered to pick me up from the temple so i could spend the afternoon with them, and then it fell through! i nearly had a heart attack - i know all of two people in melbourne and one was currently in their wedding ceremony... so i called kris again and bless him he came and collected us from the temple and took us to his parents house... where sick miss maddie laid on the couch with me while the poor boy finished his uni work. thank goodness for kind friends who help when people are desperate!

i gave her a bath late in the afternoon cause she seemed to be hot, and left the room for all of two seconds - and when i came back in - shes swimming around in the bathtub throwing around her freaking clothes!! her wedding stuff!!! holy moly! thank heavens for dryers... but - we i did have to try and keep her still in a towel for almost 2 hours while they dried.

maddie with aunty penny at the reception! we haven't seen her since our last trip to brisbane a year ago! maddie snuggled up to her though, it was like she'd seen her yesterday.

under the chair at the reception. these shoes are killing me mum!

and snuggles with mama... i love this girl!

and maddie with newly married aunty jo! this kid can duckface like a pro! 

wedding was gorgeous, but week ended as badly as it started - next morning i woke up and had my turn puking... i was so sick that i even considered changing my flight back to perth. rank. jo's lovely grandparents looked after maddie, took her for a walk and gave her some lunch while i tried to sleep it off... but drive to the airport was gross. hopefully my next trip to melbourne will be more fun!

so grateful to lovely people who took care of us. x

o-p-p yeah you know me...

just recently i had the most amazing weekend opping and got some awesome stuff. if you're new to my blog - then you should know, now... that i am op-sessed. i cannot think of a way that i would rather spend my day than digging through a bin of old cast offs from someone's place. can't help it - that's my hobby (disclaimer, i am extremely ocd and my mum thinks it's hilarious, but that's what hand sanitiser and baby wipes were invented for right?)

so the above dish was bought at the local st vinnies warehouse... an anchor glass cake dome... brand new, in the box. i crap you not. i was so flipping excited and snapped it up instantly. $25 was well worth it, especially once i had googled it and discovered they were $90ish in the states and who knows how much shipping would be to get it here...

and this? this gorgeous, combination lockable black travel case (complete with an internal swivel mirror and all) was the best bargain in ages for only $2.50!! i was stoked and snapped it up for my beautiful sister in law to stash her kilos of makeup in.

i know there are so many bargains to be had and can't help getting out there pretty much every weekend. can't think of anything better and i am gradually converting all my friends too... so stay tuned for more bargains - cause i do love to show them off. x

sensory pillows

we are currently doing a stake relief society service project constructing "sensory pillows" (and aprons) for the alzheimers association of wa. these pillows allow persons suffering from alzheimers a possible opportunity to reconnect with past memories and places by using their sense of touch.

i went into a little op shop this morning and looked for some random items all with different sizes, textures and feel and got the whole lot for $2... score! then home to drag out all my things i have stashed away and i got sewing! i had to do most of it by hand unfortunately due to the awkward cushion shape... grrr, but eventually had both finished and ready to hand over to stake! yay!

i actually enjoyed it in the end and am pretty proud of my efforts. makes me feel good that i've done something nice for someone else :)

cousin love

i snuck these pictures of miss maddie and her cousin emma-kate at our mothers day lunch at my older brothers house... both of them were completely oblivious to me taking them, but after seeing them having a tea party out the side door of the house i couldn't resist.

what absolute cuties!

"cousins are usually the first friends we have as children, and usually they remain that way." - anon.

mum and dad leave

and just like that - they're gone. mum and dad left this afternoon on their flight to nz, where they'll spend a few days before they fly out to samoa to begin their mission. we were so lucky to spend yesterday (which conveniently happened to be mothers day...) with them.

 it's so hard to believe that for the next 18 months that i can't just pick up the phone, drive an hour - or just have mum and dad nearby. but i know that they are needed there, that they will help people in ways i don't even know about - and be so much to so many. so i am doing my best not to cry and upset mum more about leaving. 

  

last night we went with them to be set apart at our stake presidents house and it was an amazing experience. they were promised so many wonderful things for their faith and i know it will be something they will remember forever. good luck mum and dad! we love you heaps and can't wait to see you again.x

freshly set apart elder & sister goodlet with our stake president

mother's day

i have the best little girl with the best daddy who knows exactly what this mama likes. needless to say i was pretty thrilled with my mothers day gift's - a bottle of my favourite perfume, marc jacobs daisy eau so fresh and a madeline board book to read to, my madeline - obviously. what cool gifts.

i also came home from ben and laura's wedding yesterday to these gorgeous flowers from my mummy, what a lovely surprise! i am going to miss her very much... ♥

ben and laura get hitched!

yesterday we went to ben and laura's wedding. such a beautiful day and it was amazing to see all his family, it's been so long since we have seen them all! we know bens family from queensland days, in fact ben's sister beth is the one that introduced doug and i (we used to live together) - thus our little girl being madeline beth! 

ben also served his mission in perth many years ago and it's lovely to know that he'll be back - for good. thank you laura!

a few pics of ben's lovely fam (including some of the boys that have married in below...) while we were waiting for laura and ben to come out after their sealing ceremony.

ben's parents jim & debbie 

beth and my dougie - besties from way back

perth temple... the best place on earth. where my little family started for time and all eternity - and where i have had the chance to see so many others do the same.

doug and i with laura and ben - such a cute couple

and us having a bit of fun... how i love my boy! 

ben's dad jim is a mad rugby fan and was a bit bummed that he was missing a game during the reception. it's all for a good cause!

the cake!

loved up at the bridal table...

all the kids minus two, sarah who was too pregnant to fly, and emma...

my camera getting a workout... ain't nothing like a good bathroom selfie!

ben and laura's first dance....

we had such a good time at the wedding. it has been a long long time since i have laughed that hard. ben's best man had the entire place in stitches, he was telling the best stories and was just a complete crack up. i am so glad we have remained friends with this wonderful family for so long, and had the chance to share in their special day.

there is a happiness that has no end, it comes when marrying one's best friend ♥

congrats ben & laura and best of luck as you embark on your next adventure of happily ever after...

i had my personal hairdresser beth whip me up a 4 minute hairdo. freaking amazing!!! couldn't resist showing it off. :)