What an absolutely amazing weekend I have just had with my astounding lil mini folks.
Saturday was our quest to find some nice fabrics for the girls so I can make them each a dress (as they have outgrown all bar one or two). So we toddled off to Highpoint and had a wander around (aimlessly as it would seem) for quite some time before stumbling upon Lincraft, wherein we found some gorgeous fabrics - Lexi got a white fabric with heart pattern in rainbow colours, and Tabitha got a pink fabric with multicoloured butterflies. As we had by that stage been wandering for a good hour or so and the natives were getting restless we headed to the food court for a bite to eat, all sat down at the tables and had a lovely lunch together.
Following that we went for a little drive so the sleepiness could kick in and the minis could have a rest, then back home via the supermarket where we got a huge variety of fruit in order to make a massive fruit salad for dinner (their request). I proceeded to start getting myself ready for an evening out with one of the girls with whom I undertook the grad diploma, and mum came up and watched the kids for the evening.
My friend and I enjoyed a magnificent seafood meal at Crown Casino, followed up by a light drink at one of the bars there, before I headed home, by 11, feeling rejuvenated, and energised by the fact that I could, physically, leave the kids with someone apart from myself and actually leave the house!
Today was brilliant too, aside from the ridiculously early waking, as we headed to the Grand Hyatt for brunch for a dear friend's birthday.
Amazing. The only word for it. And I'm not just talking the food (which, let's face it, is just mindblowing). All three of my babies were so so SO well behaved, as were the other two littlies who attended. My heart was swelling with pride as they showed their manners in full flight, they ate "proper" food before hitting the dessert bar, and left without incident.
We did the obligatory "drive" after lunch so they could all have a kip, during which I found myself internally and externally smiling at just how wonderful they had been, and how enjoyable a day it had been.
Once we got home we played some games, messed around a bit, then we had dinner, which they ate both meat AND vegies, dressed for bed without incident, and all down by 7 (though Tabitha repeated the up down thing a good half dozen times).
And now they are all asleep. And I feel sensational.
What a truly fabulous weekend.
I hope all out there in the big wide world had at least half as good a weekend as we did, because if you did it would have been out of this world.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
First full week
as a lawyer done and dusted :)
It's fair to say I'm happy with my job. So let's not get all over the top. Back to the most important thing in my life - my babies!
They are doing amazingly.
Lexi. Well. What can I say about Lexi? She is truly a little angel. So very helpful, so incredibly polite, and a gorgeous, beautiful, gentle soul. She is incredibly excited about starting "big school" next year. Her speech is gradually improving, but still a long way to go. She still has difficulty hearing, and we have a repeat audiogram in October so hopefully they can work out what's going on, or even better, we will see the difficulties resolve. I know that is wishful thinking, but I'm allowed to do that cos I'm her mum and I want everything to be okay for her. So we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
Tabitha is Tabitha. As per usual. Although she is, slowly, 'maturing' for want of a better word. When she tries, she is fabulous - polite, caring, sharing, empathetic, logical. When she doesn't, well, let's just say that the small child in Bewitched and she share something in common. She is doing brilliantly at "school". Just brilliantly. She has already achieved all the goals needed to attend kinder, and yet she isn't due to go for 18 months. I'm hoping that because the kinder room at daycare is a dual purpose kinder/4 y/o room that they will allow her to be in there for 2 years as she is itching to go. Just itching. And she would thrive on the challenge. Such a smart little cookie. I think that is part of the problem a lot of the time - she is too smart for her own good and gets frustrated at everyone else treating her as though she is younger than her mental age!!!
Angus is sensational. SUCH a lil man. He is just hilarious - loves his shoes, hates wearing jackets, loves having "product" in his hair, runs around like nobody's business, nearly always has a smile on his face. Not too fond of the whole "sharing" thing, but he's at that age. It's funny though, he's my smallest (not by age, but by comparison with when the girls were his age). And yet I'm sure he'll probably end up being the tallest. Poor mum will be left in the shadows as far as the height goes - they will all overtake me!
Me, I am doing well. It is amazing how what you tell yourself can change how you feel, even if nothing effectively changes. To illustrate this, imagine you constantly emailed a radio station to try and win a competition, and they never even so much as emailed back to give confirmation they had received your entry. Again and again you would be disappointed. Change the way you think and act. Stop emailing the radio station. Effectively nothing changes. You are still getting no response, but it isn't painful anymore. Wonderful the power of the mind isn't it?
And so on that note I will just say that I caught up with a friend from school today who I haven't seen for 21 years. It was wonderful to hear news of what he'd been up to since school, and to hear about his new lil man - the joys of parenthood in its true infancy. And so very much more ahead.
And to make things even better, he brought a lovely piece of pancetta as a gift for me. How very very thoughtful. How did he know......... :)
It's fair to say I'm happy with my job. So let's not get all over the top. Back to the most important thing in my life - my babies!
They are doing amazingly.
Lexi. Well. What can I say about Lexi? She is truly a little angel. So very helpful, so incredibly polite, and a gorgeous, beautiful, gentle soul. She is incredibly excited about starting "big school" next year. Her speech is gradually improving, but still a long way to go. She still has difficulty hearing, and we have a repeat audiogram in October so hopefully they can work out what's going on, or even better, we will see the difficulties resolve. I know that is wishful thinking, but I'm allowed to do that cos I'm her mum and I want everything to be okay for her. So we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
Tabitha is Tabitha. As per usual. Although she is, slowly, 'maturing' for want of a better word. When she tries, she is fabulous - polite, caring, sharing, empathetic, logical. When she doesn't, well, let's just say that the small child in Bewitched and she share something in common. She is doing brilliantly at "school". Just brilliantly. She has already achieved all the goals needed to attend kinder, and yet she isn't due to go for 18 months. I'm hoping that because the kinder room at daycare is a dual purpose kinder/4 y/o room that they will allow her to be in there for 2 years as she is itching to go. Just itching. And she would thrive on the challenge. Such a smart little cookie. I think that is part of the problem a lot of the time - she is too smart for her own good and gets frustrated at everyone else treating her as though she is younger than her mental age!!!
Angus is sensational. SUCH a lil man. He is just hilarious - loves his shoes, hates wearing jackets, loves having "product" in his hair, runs around like nobody's business, nearly always has a smile on his face. Not too fond of the whole "sharing" thing, but he's at that age. It's funny though, he's my smallest (not by age, but by comparison with when the girls were his age). And yet I'm sure he'll probably end up being the tallest. Poor mum will be left in the shadows as far as the height goes - they will all overtake me!
Me, I am doing well. It is amazing how what you tell yourself can change how you feel, even if nothing effectively changes. To illustrate this, imagine you constantly emailed a radio station to try and win a competition, and they never even so much as emailed back to give confirmation they had received your entry. Again and again you would be disappointed. Change the way you think and act. Stop emailing the radio station. Effectively nothing changes. You are still getting no response, but it isn't painful anymore. Wonderful the power of the mind isn't it?
And so on that note I will just say that I caught up with a friend from school today who I haven't seen for 21 years. It was wonderful to hear news of what he'd been up to since school, and to hear about his new lil man - the joys of parenthood in its true infancy. And so very much more ahead.
And to make things even better, he brought a lovely piece of pancetta as a gift for me. How very very thoughtful. How did he know......... :)
Saturday, August 18, 2012
3rd time around
and you would think things would automatically gel.
Apparently not.
I have a nearly 2 year old. He has been very unsettled for the past week, and I have been at a loss as to why. He is still eating and drinking (more than usual in fact) and is not ill, nor is he out of sorts in any other way during the day. But at night....different story.
And it was only tonight that I realised. He is nearly 2. They have teeth named after that age. And as he reached for his ear, the penny dropped with such force that I nearly hit the ground. He's teething. My poor lil man is getting his 2 year old molars. It has been such a long time since teething was an issue in this house that it simply didn't even cross my mind. When the girls were getting their 2 year old molars, there was always another child teething in the background, so it was at the forefront. Not this time.
So at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Doesn't make it any easier, for him or for me, but it does at least give me something to work with, and some way of approaching what's happenining.
So much as today was horrid (long story) at least I have some answers at the end of it in one respect.
And a point of note - if you put the children to bed and see a rocket ship toy in the middle of the floor, move it. For when one of the children stirs and your presence is required, it is inevitable that you will forget the location of said rocket, promptly trip over it and wake everyone up.
This has been a community service announcement.
Apparently not.
I have a nearly 2 year old. He has been very unsettled for the past week, and I have been at a loss as to why. He is still eating and drinking (more than usual in fact) and is not ill, nor is he out of sorts in any other way during the day. But at night....different story.
And it was only tonight that I realised. He is nearly 2. They have teeth named after that age. And as he reached for his ear, the penny dropped with such force that I nearly hit the ground. He's teething. My poor lil man is getting his 2 year old molars. It has been such a long time since teething was an issue in this house that it simply didn't even cross my mind. When the girls were getting their 2 year old molars, there was always another child teething in the background, so it was at the forefront. Not this time.
So at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Doesn't make it any easier, for him or for me, but it does at least give me something to work with, and some way of approaching what's happenining.
So much as today was horrid (long story) at least I have some answers at the end of it in one respect.
And a point of note - if you put the children to bed and see a rocket ship toy in the middle of the floor, move it. For when one of the children stirs and your presence is required, it is inevitable that you will forget the location of said rocket, promptly trip over it and wake everyone up.
This has been a community service announcement.
I don't understand
how some people can put work before family. Consistently.
Work isn't everything. It is a substantial part of life, and a necessary one for most, for without it we wouldn't be able to manage to do things in the "down time". But there needs to be down time to see the benefits of working. Surely. That makes sense doesn't it?
Maybe things will change for these people. Maybe they will realise that life goes on whether they are there or not. Or maybe they won't.
I still believe people can change. They just have to want to is all.
Hopefully the workaholics of the world will realise there truly is more to life than work. After all, it's called life.....not work......
Work isn't everything. It is a substantial part of life, and a necessary one for most, for without it we wouldn't be able to manage to do things in the "down time". But there needs to be down time to see the benefits of working. Surely. That makes sense doesn't it?
Maybe things will change for these people. Maybe they will realise that life goes on whether they are there or not. Or maybe they won't.
I still believe people can change. They just have to want to is all.
Hopefully the workaholics of the world will realise there truly is more to life than work. After all, it's called life.....not work......
Friday, August 17, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
What a fabulous weekend
Took the minis out for breakfast yesterday with some dear friends, managed to get some things for lil man's birthday party, a brief stop at Aldi yielded a sensational rice cooker for less than $10, and all the kids ate their dinner, vegies included. Add to that an early night for the kids and my getting my head around a few things and the day was great.
Today we headed out to a friends' farm for the day. And my wasn't it lovely. It was wonderful to see my friends again, and see how much their little guy has grown. And watching the kids run around and frolic and play was amazing, and made me realise just how much I miss the country and that we will, eventually, get back there.
Everyone slept the full way home (except me of course) and when we got back home we had an early dinner of beautiful free range eggs (courtesy of my gorgeous friends) and sat down together and watched the Lorax, a truly wonderful feel good "film".
And now, at 6.54pm, all the kidlets are safely tucked up in bed, I have a load of washing on, several more to go, and think I might sit myself down and watch a movie.
I am loving that we are getting out and about so much. The kids thrive on it, as do I. And it is brilliant that now we're back in Victoria we can catch up with so many people who, over the years, drifted away.
I wonder what next weekend will bring.......
Today we headed out to a friends' farm for the day. And my wasn't it lovely. It was wonderful to see my friends again, and see how much their little guy has grown. And watching the kids run around and frolic and play was amazing, and made me realise just how much I miss the country and that we will, eventually, get back there.
Everyone slept the full way home (except me of course) and when we got back home we had an early dinner of beautiful free range eggs (courtesy of my gorgeous friends) and sat down together and watched the Lorax, a truly wonderful feel good "film".
And now, at 6.54pm, all the kidlets are safely tucked up in bed, I have a load of washing on, several more to go, and think I might sit myself down and watch a movie.
I am loving that we are getting out and about so much. The kids thrive on it, as do I. And it is brilliant that now we're back in Victoria we can catch up with so many people who, over the years, drifted away.
I wonder what next weekend will bring.......
Saturday, August 11, 2012
3 days
until I am a lawyer.
It has been a very long road.
And it hasn't been easy, in so many ways. And in so many ways it still isn't.
There is an undertone of sadness, in that the person with whom I thought I would be sharing and celebrating this occasion now chooses to ignore 99% of the communication I attempt with him.
But life does go on. There is simply no other option. It has to. And the kids still continue to be their wonderful selves, and I adore them with every iota of my being, and will continue to do everything possible for them to ensure they have everything they need, and feel as loved as they truly are. They are my world. My everything.
So all in all, I am feeling very proud of myself for getting to this point.
What will change? In the grand scheme of things, very little.
But still, it is an achievement of which I am very proud.
I am also incredibly proud of Tabitha for eating all her vegies tonight.
You never stop being a parent.
I don't anyway.
It has been a very long road.
And it hasn't been easy, in so many ways. And in so many ways it still isn't.
There is an undertone of sadness, in that the person with whom I thought I would be sharing and celebrating this occasion now chooses to ignore 99% of the communication I attempt with him.
But life does go on. There is simply no other option. It has to. And the kids still continue to be their wonderful selves, and I adore them with every iota of my being, and will continue to do everything possible for them to ensure they have everything they need, and feel as loved as they truly are. They are my world. My everything.
So all in all, I am feeling very proud of myself for getting to this point.
What will change? In the grand scheme of things, very little.
But still, it is an achievement of which I am very proud.
I am also incredibly proud of Tabitha for eating all her vegies tonight.
You never stop being a parent.
I don't anyway.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Following on
from yesterday, I hurt in places I didn't even know I had.
There are muscles twinging most likely because of the fact that they have never really been used. I have random bruises in places bruises should not be. My shoulders are the density of stone. I could use a massage. From someone with incredibly strong hands. Because seriously, the knots I have could win scout badges.
That aside, as we were reversing out of the driveway Lexi said "wow that's amazing". And I said "what?" And she said "the lawn, it looks wonderful". And there you go.
Love my babies.
Great day today too, but tale for another day. It hurts to type.
There are muscles twinging most likely because of the fact that they have never really been used. I have random bruises in places bruises should not be. My shoulders are the density of stone. I could use a massage. From someone with incredibly strong hands. Because seriously, the knots I have could win scout badges.
That aside, as we were reversing out of the driveway Lexi said "wow that's amazing". And I said "what?" And she said "the lawn, it looks wonderful". And there you go.
Love my babies.
Great day today too, but tale for another day. It hurts to type.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Guess what I did today?
I bought a lawnmower. My lawn has been untouched for approximately 5 months, and as you can imagine it was looking fairly ordinary. In fact at the back it was around a metre high with weeds in parts...
Anyway, I actually did it. I bought the mower, got it home, got it all set up, got the petrol and oil, put them all in the right bits, read as much of the manual as I could understand, then set to yanking the chain to start it. After about 30 tries I felt defeat waving over me. So I went and had a coffee. I regrouped. And I messaged a few friends to try and work out why it wasn't starting.
Is the throttle in the right place? Um, what is the right place? Is it the rabbit or the turtle?
Is the fuel on? On? What do you mean "on"? I put petrol in the thing, isn't that enough? Hmm. Apparently not.
Well I kept on pulling at the string thing and nothing happened. So I opted to get down to its level and see what it was doing. It was then that I saw there was a cord thingy unattached. As it turns out this was something called a "spark plug" and apparently fairly important in the starting, and continuing operation, of a lawnmower. And what do you know? It literally roared into life!!!
And so an hour or two later, I had mowed the median strip, the front yard, the back yard and the side yard. And that was less time that it had taken me to get the thing running in the first place.
But I did it. And now I have lawn again. I will of course have to mow several more times in order to get it to the level of "good" but for now "good enough" is indeed good enough.
And I am so proud of myself for doing it. By myself (albeit with the help of some very handy advice from friends, in the purchasing department, and subsequent operation).
Tick another thing in the list of things I never thought I would be able to do. Done.
Anyway, I actually did it. I bought the mower, got it home, got it all set up, got the petrol and oil, put them all in the right bits, read as much of the manual as I could understand, then set to yanking the chain to start it. After about 30 tries I felt defeat waving over me. So I went and had a coffee. I regrouped. And I messaged a few friends to try and work out why it wasn't starting.
Is the throttle in the right place? Um, what is the right place? Is it the rabbit or the turtle?
Is the fuel on? On? What do you mean "on"? I put petrol in the thing, isn't that enough? Hmm. Apparently not.
Well I kept on pulling at the string thing and nothing happened. So I opted to get down to its level and see what it was doing. It was then that I saw there was a cord thingy unattached. As it turns out this was something called a "spark plug" and apparently fairly important in the starting, and continuing operation, of a lawnmower. And what do you know? It literally roared into life!!!
And so an hour or two later, I had mowed the median strip, the front yard, the back yard and the side yard. And that was less time that it had taken me to get the thing running in the first place.
But I did it. And now I have lawn again. I will of course have to mow several more times in order to get it to the level of "good" but for now "good enough" is indeed good enough.
And I am so proud of myself for doing it. By myself (albeit with the help of some very handy advice from friends, in the purchasing department, and subsequent operation).
Tick another thing in the list of things I never thought I would be able to do. Done.
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