A Big Idea ...

We toyed with the idea last year but decided the Wee One was still too small and I didn't really fancy taking her, well, honestly ... anywhere at all at that stage.

But this year it just seemed right. We have discussed it for the last couple of weeks as being an early Christmas present for the kids (and us) and worrying that maybe they won't get the whole early Christmas present idea for which I then started kicking myself that I hadn't remembered to do it for their birthdays.

But today we finally bit the bullet and all headed down to Movie World to get our Queensland VIP annual pass for all three fun parks, Seaworld, Movie World and Wet n Wild. We got there at about 4 and went on more rides than you can normally get on in a day due to the crowds. Heck we were even allowed to stay on the rides because nobody was lining up to take their turn.

The photo opportunities were also easy to come by and the girls got photos with just about every character there today something we have never managed to do before from memory.

And the Wee One (who also gets in for free) absolutely loved it.

She is just old enough to enjoy a few of the little rides which keeps her entertained and I daresay she will LOVE the animals at Seaworld.

I am so glad we decided to buy them. The girls had an absolute blast this afternoon, there was no stress due to huge crowds and long lines where little people get so impatient and the best thing, we knew there was no pressure to be there for X amount of time because we can go back any time we like for the next year!!!

CJ and I looked at the girls' faces towards the end of our afternoon expedition and looked at each other and agreed that this beats more toys any day of the week!

Money very well spent indeed!

So Not ...

Techno savvy but thought I'd add a pic just for something new.

Would really love to find some time to play with design etc but just not finding it at the moment.

*sigh*

Maybe one day.

My little Schmooey starts kindy five days a fortnight next week. I am going to be. So. Lost without her. And then she goes off to Prep next year and leaves me for even longer. She is my easygoing buddy that makes my days so much fun.

AJ does these days too, don't get me wrong. She is growing up right before my very eyes but, for the most part - as long as you excuse the eye rolling and teenagerish attitude that we get when a certain tween is having a moment. Oh joy for the times ahead - she and her younger sister are very self-sufficient these days and just get about doing whatever it is that they do.

And then ... then there's the tiny cranky, needy, whiny one. I know she won't always be tiny and needy and cranky but I fear she may always be whiny. I think it's her nature. And that's okay too. For the most part she is the sweetest little girl you would ever lay eyes on but there is a hint of whining in all that she does. She too, is growing up so quickly and it won't be long before she will be at kindy five days a fortnight and then Prep and ...

I'll be here most days by myself. And right now I think, well, it would be bliss but really, truthfully, deep down I know I'm going to miss my noisy house every day. Oh sure, there'll be days I'll love it but I'm guessing that most days I'll be watching the clock to rush out and pick them up and hear all about their days.

So many changes coming in the next six months, all good, but also making me realise I can't stop time.

Is it just me or is time speeding up? Is it kids? Age? What?

Either way, I'm trying to take it all in so I don't forget a single moment.

And now, I'm off to my Dad's 60th and he'll be the one saying he can't believe his three babies are all grown up and have children of their own. Eight grandchildren for him to be precise.

And they all adore him!

And I love that my Dad has taught me so many things about raising children with some degree of success. He would always prefer to know where I was and what I was doing - even though, for the most part, I'm sure he didn't agree with it - so that I always could call him if I ever got into any trouble. He knew that we would go and we would do and we would experience the good and the bad and that we would grow and, as long as we knew we could call him, we would always have a safe place to fall.

We have had a good partnership, Dad and I. He has sat and held me while I've rocked in front of the fire, crying a river of tears as a teenager, he has given me the strength and confidence to pursue my dreams all the while promising a roof over my head whenever I have needed it. He has sat with me and spoken softly when I have had my heart broken. He has been on the other end of the phone through troubled times with so much pressure and crying babies and feeling like a failure and he has been there with business advice and encouragement.

And I have in turn sat with him when he has had his heart broken or watched a business partner betray him and cost him almost all he owns. I have sat with him while he has cried a river. I have watched him take the greatest care of his mother and also helped him to farewell her with a heavy heart. I know how much he misses having her here. I have encouraged him to take on business ventures and talked him through one computer process after another. We are a great team. We seem to always find a balance.

And we laugh. We have had some really good laughs along the way. Even when things aren't looking so great, we'll always throw in a joke or two to keep things in perspective. All three of his kids have inherited his quirky sense of humour and when we are all in the one place the four of us will always be laughing even when everyone else just doesn't get it.

So this afternoon we will honour my dad and we'll sit and listen to him whinge about not wanting a party but secretly I know he will be happy that his children and grandchildren will be there to celebrate 60 years with him!!!

Not to mention the 60-70 people that will come along to the party as well which is a testament to the kind of person he is. I am blessed to have a Dad that is strong and loyal and generous. He thinks he's just a "dumb chippy" who didn't finish school but I don't think he realises just how capable and smart and warm and funny he really is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, GRANDPA, MAC!!!

What's With That???

When everything is going along just fine and then, out of the blue yesterday I just feel ... well ... blergh!

And it's reaching escalation point today. I just want to sit here and cry.

Is it because we have had such a hectic school holidays? Is it because that excess of work has finally quietened down for the week? Is it the messy office, the messy house, the messy brain space? Is it because the last two days have seen us finally have quiet time at home? Is it because some of my plans have been changed to suit others when I didn't really want them to be?

What? What is it?

I just want to be able to put my finger on it, deal with it and move forward. What am I stopping myself from seeing?

The real underlying issue that has me so unmotivated, unproductive, un-anything right now.

I know there is something more to this. Something that I can't voice right now and has me questioning my own feelings and security. I would have said I am not an insecure person but maybe. Maybe I really am.

And I want to write it all out in the open here to get a feel for what others have to say but I'm scared. Not scared for myself but scared I will hurt someone that is probably an innocent party to this. But see there? I say probably because I don't know. Because I don't trust. And I'm not sure if that speaks more about me or my instinct about this particular situation.

Honestly. I don't know. I just don't know.

Eh. Maybe it's just the weather?

Some Thing I Have Learned Part ...???

No idea what number I'm up to there.

But here goes...

* the advice that you should clean only after school holidays are over was given by someone with only one child. There is no way I could let my floors go for two weeks. Heck, it took me double the amount of time to mop them the other day after leaving them just that little bit longer than normal (usually about a week - hey, I'm no cleaning nut lemme tell ya!) so I won't be falling for that piece of advice again.

* You can never/will never please everybody no matter how hard you try. Now I just need to learn that you don't need to feel guilty for not accomplishing said task.

* the advice that if you do a job badly should save you from being asked again does not work with my family. Apparently it is just another reason to ridicule said organiser at said organised event but requesting said organiser to arrange another event shortly thereafter.

* never look at a tattoo that you love too much because the more you look at it the more faults you find. Only took me about 6 hours to find the first one and now ... let's just say I'm trying not to look anymore. But I just love it oh, so much that it's hard not to look at it.

* when one gets a tattoo on one's wrist, chances are one will look at it ALL day.

* if you come from an era where tattoos should be hidden - that's me, you know, in case your employer doesn't like them? Lucky I'm not in the habit of firing myself. Although a tattoo would be low on the looong list as to why - every time you look at a tattoo in an extremely conspicuous place (read: your wrist), you will constantly shock yourself.

* most people will surprise you at their lack of observation for having said tattoo in a conspicuous spot. Not that I'm judging 'cause I am observationally challenged myself. I am the worst offender. I just don't notice stuff. At. All.

* I think I may be in the minority of parents who actually love school holidays. I really do it find it so much easier than rushing against the clock morning in and morning out in a half-arsed attempt to get the school child to school on time.

* I also think I may be in the minority of parents who have children that really don't fight much. Considering they spend most of their time together I have to give them credit because I really think I would be fighting a whole lot more spending all day with the same person. Come to think of it, I do fight with them more than they fight with each other. Not sure if that's good or bad???

* three kids is a whole different ball game to two kids. Really. I never thought it would be much of a jump but let me tell you I'm really feeling it. And I love it.

* I love the mid year toy sale for Christmas although I almost don't need it these days.

* I have discovered that you can, by the age of seven or four or two, have more than enough toys.

* I love spending Sunday afternoons at a kid friendly pub. There is something about the atmosphere on a Sunday even if you don't have a drink. It's just, well, cruisy.

* My husband is a pretty good catch.

* It takes me too long to finish a post. I started this on the 2nd.