hi everyone

hello everyone

Our cottage opening is getting closer and closer...amazing really...less than 3 weeks to go! Our first family will hopefully be in by 13 March...

We have been so busy...now the cottage is basically taking care of itself (apart from some gardening)...its been down to fundraising...which has been AMAZING...check these out for our MELON'S COTTAGE MOTHERS DAY RAFFLE:

1st prize - Dinner Party for 10 (massive thanks to Nath and Tash from Duart Homestead)...there are a few conditions with this one...but its a RIPPER! (value $850)

2nd prize - Mothers Day Hamper from Terry White Chemist Bairnsdale (value $300)

3rd prize - gorgeous Rip Curl Watch from Sandbar Surf (value $250)....

We are just in the middle of getting tickets organised, but if you can help us sell some PLEASE LET ME KNOW...this is going to be one of our bigger fundraising efforts for the year and we need all hands on deck! Please let me know if you can sell a book by emailing me on eli-simpson@hotmail.com and we can get you one or two organised!

We also have a brochure which sets out the basics but most importantly, ways you can donate to Eli's Foundation. We have set up a direct deposit, or you can send through a cheque or cash donation...the best news is we can NOW OFFER A TAX RECEIPT for donations over $2. That is what we have been working towards for such a long time and we can finally say its come through! YAY. A massive thanks to MinterEllison for helping us through the tax world maze...its been a long time coming but gee we are just so proud...its such an onerous process, but one we are glad to have sorted...we are just so keen to be as transparent as we can and this is the one way we can do it...and help you guys willing to donate as well...

If you would like to donate, please let me know on the eli-simpson email and i will give you details...we are still getting our receipt book sorted, but hopefully it will be right to go next week! we are just so excited.

i better go, i only have had a few minutes to update...more exciting stuff to come!

We are just so proud to be doing this for melon...we are nearly there mate...nearly there.

luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

Some stuff for sale to help the cottage

Hi gang

ive facebooked the goods we have which has melon's cottage on it...and then i clicked and thought we should probably do the same on the blog as well! So...here it all is...well, not a huge amount, just stuff that i thought you might like....some stuff may seem a bit pricey, but because we have not ordered huge amounts, it keeps the cost fairly high (like the pens)...but the otherstuff i reckon is pretty good value...

If you would like something, please contact me at eli-simpson@hotmail.com...please note, that where we can we will deliver it for you, but if we cant and have to post, there will be an extra cost!

Other news from the simpsons - bugs and i are off to brisbane to visit cousin casey for a few days next week which should be great fun...pete is staying home to hold the fort! I figured if we can look after a child in hospital, I can survive a plane trip for 2 hours YIKES! We also have a busy month ahead with a couple of exciting things happening - but i will blog those when it happens...

Lots of 1st birthday parties coming up for us which should be loads of fun for archie. He had his first day in childcare yesterday and survived much better than i did! I figured we should probably start the 'weaning' process now (him off me and me off him)...before i head back to work which is in around 6 weeks time...i cant believe how quickly that time has gone...archie is 9 months already...astounding. It will also give me a chance to be at home with archie if he picks up some cooties from care (massive probability). We very proudly managed to breastfeed until a couple of days ago when he said he had had enough...i must admit it was really hard for me given i had such a wonderful experience with melon...but archie was a different ball game and i had to convince him that he should stay breastfed lol...but he finally removed himself much to my sadness...but happy for him because he has his independance.

Anyways...again, if you would like some goods to help the cottage, pls email me and we will get it sorted for you.

much love and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

Melon's Cottage pens - $7

Melon's cottage key rings $6

Melons Cottage magnets (size of a postcard) - $4

Melon's cottage totebags - $12

melon's cottage mugs - $12

Melon's Cottage opening draws closer!

Hi everyone

Ive just been reading through the blog again...and i have tears pouring down my face...who would have guessed that even after 3 years those words would mean so much to us. After reading the blog, it feels like it was all yesterday. And to be honest, im kinda proud of us for being able to share such an intimate time with you all especially knowing how hard it was with what we went through...

but...we are so very close now with the cottage, and that is FANTASTIC....just another 6 weeks to 'spruce moose' the place. A fair bit of gardening work to do (mulching and pruning)...the new herbs have been planted, with the inside basically complete. AWESOME...we absolutely cant wait to have the first family through, it will be bloody terrific and something pete and i have waited so long to do...

anyways...just a short hello from the family...we are doing well...Archie has 8 teeth now and is commando crawling - not too fast thank goodness...he is a cracker of a kid...and our little 'rooster'...5am starts are starting to get a bit better, it still hurts a bit though LOL.

anyhoo...take care everyone and we will keep you posted...

luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

One step closer!

hey everyone

happy new year and we hope everyone had a brilliant and very safe xmas....again, our xmas was bittersweet...especially having archie on board and no melon...we lit all our candles (archie has one for melon too)...and reflected on what should have been, but we knew melon was with us...

Christmas was a bit overwhelming for archie this year...he woke up in a terrible mood which slightly improved when we went to stratford for our wonderful and traditional xmas tea...lots of other little ones to play with which was exciting.

Pete and i are glad we had xmas at home with our own traditions...will have to wait and see what this year brings...weird saying this year already...geez...time flies...

So, update on the cottage...we are so bloody excited...we have the cottage pretty much to where we want it...and it is basically ready for families...our grand opening is 6th March, so it will have families from then onwards...we still have a little bit to do...we have to keep on top of the garden and grounds...but the inside looks an absolute treat and functional...we are aiming to have some new bunks in by the opening...it will have a single bed on top, with a double on the bottom. Extra room which will mean we can fit 4 in our old room...with a family of up to 6 if needed. Not bad really!

We are just so bloody excited...it has been such a long slog for us all...and to have the dream realised is amazing...I have been invited to do a couple of presentations for lakes rotary and the rotary "inner wheel" group...so hopefully that will lead to some volunteers giving us a hand here and there...

The cottage itself doesnt really need anything...we will just update things as we can afford them...first will be a new flatscreen tv... LOL...

For those who are keen to donate $ to Eli's Foundation, pls email me on eli-simpson@hotmail.com...i can give you the bank details directly but please note...you wont receive a tax receipt - we are still waiting for that to come through (hopefully in the next month or so)...All monies will go towards the running of the cottage, including paying for bills (electricity, gas, rates and most importantly insurances)...at this stage, i think if we can raise about $5000 a year, it should cover everything...but i guess we will need to just wait and see. Our aim really is to keep the overheads as low as we can, but with the cottage being used up to 48 weeks a year...it might be a bit tough!

anyways...best toodle...it was just a quick update...

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xoxoxo

Merry Christmas everyone

Wow...what another busy month

The time has flown by yet again...teething babies (yuk)...moving (yay) and cleaning the cottage after nearly 4 years of living there (yuk!)...thanx to wamma and nana by the way for helping us cut through all the grime after so long...it looks FABBO!

Archie and i went to the xmas service held by Silver Lining Funerals again this year...havent missed one since we started...it was as awesome as always...just so proud to see melon through the roll call...but so sad to see so many people spending christmas without their loved one...grief hey...never leaves no matter how hard you try.

The cottage is pretty much decked out thanks to a huge amount of people who have helped from all over victoria really! amazing effort...and also a massive thanks to Challenge who helped us with the remainder of the stuff including a bed...it has saved us heaps!

We are hoping our official opening day will be in early March - just before i go back to work, and just before archie's 1st birthday at the end of april. It will be so awesome to have families finally come through and stay...it is what we have been striving for for so long now...it gives me goose bumps to know we are so close.

We are ALMOST finalised with all the legal stuff...we shouldnt be too far off receiving our gift deductability status. When we have, i will post so for those who would like to make a donation to the cottage - you can...but only when it comes through...

We have also purchased some stuff which has a groovy little Melon's Cottage logo drawn by our great mate marnie...we will have some mugs, key rings, magnets, pens and tote bags for sale shortly too...Ive still got quite a few t-shirts sitting here so it will be a nice reminder...

All profit from the sale of stuff goes to melon's cottage...so if you think things are a whisker expensive...just remember it goes to a great cause.

ive also been busy lobbying for help with our rates etc from all the companies..so hopefully in the new year we should have some good news...we are aiming for all families to stay FREE OF CHARGE...so when you donate, thats what you are helping with...basically the cost of running the cottage.

Anyways...just wishing you all a merry xmas...for those without their loved ones...our hearts go out to you...while we dont know EXACTLY how you feel, we certainly still feel the loss every day.

Luv and sunshine to all

Merry Christmas

the simpsons

xoxoxo

We remember

Hi everyone

yesterday was our third year without eli...cant believe how quickly the time has flown...and just how much we miss him...its a strange thing when people say time heals all wounds...i think it does to an extent...i guess the day to day dealings with life get a bit easier...but i think as time goes on...the emptiness and profound effect of losing melon hits more and more as each anniversary, birthday and special occasion visits us. I know i am finding the special days harder as each one passes. Im not sure how pete goes...we deal with our grief so very differently but yet stand strong together to celebrate melon's life.

It was a bloody hard day yesterday...i cried many tears. Its probably a bit harder knowing archie will never meet melon...but melon will definitely be part of our family as we grow older...so archie can get to know melon through us and our family members...i am inspired by just how other families manage their grief and am appalled at times at how ignorant people can be...comments like "you should be able to move on now you have archie"..."come on, enough time has passed, you should be over it by now"...all i can say i guess is that until you have walked a mile in these shoes, comments like that are best left unsaid. I can see that those individuals have never expressed a deep and painful loss - they still have their parents and those close to them...perhaps one day we may get an apology, but until then, there is lots of biting the tongue and being diplomatic rather than flying off the handle...my nan was fantastic at that....being so graceful and dignified. So i definitely channel her when im challenged.

On a lighter note, i do love the fact that we are asked about eli...my belly swells with pride and i could talk all day about our son...to us, its the best thing you can do...we love talking about melon..and it reassures us that he is not forgotten by others.

here is what pete and i put together for his memoriam:

Simpson, Eli Charlie
28/9/2007-16/11/2008

Our beautiful boy. Three long years since you left us on that Sunday afternoon. To this day, 12.55pm every sunday is when our world stands still and we are left to comprehend the fact we have lost you. You would have been 4 years old. You now have a baby brother who gives your photo on the fridge the most glamorous raspberries. You have a dad that still has a flag flying at half mast in his heart and a mum who would give anything to have just one more hug. The hole in our hearts never seem to fill regardless of how hard we try. We love you big melon and are so proud that you chose us to be your mum and dad. We think about you every single day melon. Love mum, dad and baby archie. xoxoxox

With that, i will leave you now...

if you have kids, make sure you give them an extra hug for melon...

lots of sunshine

the simpsons

xoxo

Small steps

Hi everyone

well, like always, we have been flat out! Excitingly, Eli's Foundation is getting closer and closer...we now have a company, and the trust deed has been executed which is great...we are just in the middle of applying for an ABN which will hopefully come soon. We are also looking to trademark Eli's Foundation so the paperwork is in for that as well...hopefully, we are not too much longer off all the paperwork being sorted...all i can say is thank goodness for Shoba, Dianne and Anton from MinterEllison who have helped us through this maze...we would have never been able to do it without them...

We get the carpet laid for the house tomorrow which is kinda exciting...we are not looking to do a full on move all at once, i suspect it will be over 1-2 weeks when we can fit it in! Just small steps at a time i guess! It looks like the cottage will hopefully be open for business early next year...geez, nearly 2 years late but we WILL get there...lol.

We are all going ok...touch wood we have only picked up a cold here and there this winter...for that, we are definitely grateful...pete is still busy with work. Archie and i are just hanging out and taking advantage of the gorgeous weather by going for a few walks...im guessing that the next couple of days will be filled with a bit of painting on the outside...we only have one coat to go on the front eaves...and we still have the balcony to do...we will get there though!

Archie is going really well. He recently met up with all the relatives on the Brown side of the family...he was covered with kisses and cuddles and was pretty good all up...i think there might be another tooth on its way as he has had the grizzles for the past couple of days...

We had our visit with Dr Goss on Thursday and got the all clear which was great...we have a maternal health nurse check up this Thursday and i suspect that he will pass with flying colours...he is a very big boy! Fully clothed last thu, he weighed a nice 9.6kgs! little poombah! Very different from his brother...will try and get some pics of the last couple of weeks up soon.

Thats really all the news we have from the simpsons at this stage...will write again soon...

luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxoxox