Things to do on School Holidays Part 2 ...

So you could watch videos on a rainy day or play in the cubby house or, as previously mentioned, clean out the dog house or you could ...

Get "tattoos" courtesy of your dad!!!

Minnie was keen to be part of the action.

Lulu up next...

Lulu's chosen design.

Audrey's first tattoo that she exclaimed

"was a bit stingy!"

In the studio

Back for seconds.

Daddy's turn. Lulu drew the spider

and Audrey did the skull and Darth Vader mask.

Happy Customer

Things to do on School Holidays ...

You could go to theme parks - or not if you don't want to get caught in a downpour and get home to everything being drenched as was our day yesterday. Poor Schmooey waited all day to go on a particular ride. We queued, we were patient, we got to the front and sat in the seats, they locked us in and then ... the lady announced that we would have to step back out of the ride due to lightning strikes. So close yet oh so far. Luckily we have a yearly pass so we can go back again or I wouldn't have been quite so happy to make a dash for the car after only being there a mere two hours - or the beach or pool.

You could even go the movies.

OR ...

You could invite a friend over and clean the dog house.

Beware the boss!!!

Who knew it would be this much fun???

Very big house for one so tiny.

Couldn't not be part of the clean!

Fun times here at Freddo's Farm.

Too Soon But Also Right ...

The girls got a new puppy on the weekend.

CJ and I struggled with the short amount of time that lapsed between saying farewell to our girl, Daisy, and the girls deciding that the place was too weird without a dog so the logical thing to do was to get a new one.

I decided I would scope out the Animal Welfare League to see if there were any suitable candidates. CJ and I both knew that once the girls set foot in that place we would be getting a dog no matter what so we wanted to make sure there was a puppy* - yes the girls were adamant a puppy was what they wanted and CJ and I agreed that they were old enough to share in the responsibility of one and that they should experience a puppy at least once - that would suit our family.

Normally when I walk into that place there would be at least ten puppies/dogs I want to take home with me that instant but this day just one little puppy looked at me and I knew she was the one for us. We had a dilemma though. We were heading out for the night and the AWL wouldn't allow me to pay for the pup and collect her the following day so I decided to fill out the paperwork and leave it to fate that should she be the puppy for us she would be there the following day.

On arriving home I spoke with CJ and our big ears, Miss AJ, overheard us and begged and pleaded to see the puppy TODAY! So the deal went something like this.

Me: If you can think of someone who might be kind enough to puppy sit for us then we can go get her.

AJ: There has to be someone who will do it. Who has looked after our animals before if we've gone away.

Me: I'm not sure that is the same as puppy sitting but Grandma did look after them the last time.

AJ: Well let's call her.

And so the next conversation to my mother was one of "Soooo, we're thinking of getting a puppy ..." My mother agreed to be the puppy sitter and then we had the task of preparing the girls for the possibility that the puppy might have already been sold. We hastily packed our bag for our hotel stay - we were heading to a 30th birthday and some very generous friends offered to look after the girls while we lapped up the luxury of a hotel room for the night - and headed off.

On arriving at the AWL, I was sent in to do the recon to ensure our future family member was still available. My heart sank when I went to her kennel only to find her nowhere in sight. I almost walked back out as the guy on duty was stuck in conversation with another couple. But I waited, because I needed to hear him say she had been sold, probably just so I had to believe it.

He advised that they hadn't sold a puppy in the last hour or so and that he would check. As soon as he opened the gate to her kennel, she came bounding out from her hiding spot. I went and grabbed the family for their chance to meet this little pup and, of course, they all fell in love with her and it was agreed she was "the one".

CJ gave up choosing rights that day and did so happily to allow the girls a chance at their own dog. He has resigned himself to the fact that he will get a dog of his own choosing again one day.

To add to his challenge though, he also had to release naming rights as well. Audrey has chosen the name and, although it is not something we would have chosen, it is. Well. Unique.

Blogging world meet ...

Digit!!!

Do you think she's settling in okay?

*Can't say I'm happy with the prospect that I'll be the one doing all the training on top of toilet training my eager almost two year old but I insist on having dogs that are well trained so more often the not the onus falls onto the most consistent amongst us. ;p

When It's Time ...

Daisy

When our second puppy, Hemi, was claimed by the road we were desperate to find another dog to fill the void. Not replace her of course. No puppy could come close. But we didn't feel "right" with just Dodge.

We also knew we wanted to help a dog that needed a home. CJ was keen on the idea of a Great Dane and we found a rescue and rehoming site for these big beautiful dogs. And then we found Daisy.

Daisy was flown down to us from Darwin. I drove to Brisbane airport to greet her. She was such a timid, good natured girl and extremely obedient. We were told she was only two (we think she may have been a year or two older) but, being that Audrey was only one, we weren't necessarily wanting a puppy so we were very happy to be introducing her to our family.

I brought her home and she met Dodge and Audrey and CJ, our tiny family at that stage. She settled in beautifully and it was like she had always been here. She saw our tiny family of three grow to a slightly bigger family of four and then to a family of five - I still find it odd that Centrelink considers us a large family - and she has remained patient and loving with all of our babies as they have grown and explored what would, I guess, be her turf.

She was never an overly active dog but she loved to play with water from the hose and she loved a good scratch on the head - she would put her head in your lap and you had no choice but to give her some love - and just some good ole TLC.

She never escaped but always dobbed on Dodge when he was MIA and although she was the skinniest Great Dane we had ever known - we used to call her the Supermodel because she lived on fresh air - her bark was enough to stop the biggest of men walking through our front gate without a cautious phone call to us first, you know, just to check!

Everybody who met Daisy had a soft spot for her but would soon tire of having her face in theirs every time they were seated at an outdoor barbeque. She was affectionately known as our Pirate Dog due to only having one eye - a cat had scratched her other eye as a puppy yet, funnily enough, she grew to love our cats much to the previous owners' shock. She would often be seen lying in the sun with both the black and whites close by - and occasionally, because of this, she wouldn't see you if you came up by her blind side.

The more we knew of her the more we realised what a sweet natured girl she was, never once snapping or growling at the girls but more often than not whimpering if we roused on her and skulking back to her bed.

But as is always the case with time, she aged and she became skinnier than we could have ever imagined leading to hip issues which were extremely apparent at my birthday barbeque just the other week.

The vet came by today.

She discussed Daisy's health and agreed we could do a number of things to prolong her life but also stated "For who?" She would not have had any more quality of life than she does. She was showing signs of bone degeneration as evidenced by her falling off her back legs from time to time.

The vet was lovely. As far as these occasions are concerned, we couldn't have asked for a more supportive, informative and wonderful vet.

And although we thought we knew, it was nice for a professional to assure us we were making the right decision especially for our Daisy.

Schmooey and I retreated to the bedroom and AJ and Daddy stayed by Daisy's side through the process returning all of the unconditional loyalty and love that Daisy has shown us through the years. AJ is such a brave, brave little girl with an enormous heart and it is times like this that it is ever more apparent.

And so, it was time and Daisy is laying peacefully on her bed waiting for her resting place to be prepared.

RIP Miss Daisy.

On A Brighter Note ...

The girls are having an absolute blast with their Grandma.

This is the first time we have sent them up there by themselves for any length of time and I think all parties are loving the experience.

It gives Grandma a chance to bond with them on a totally different level to that when the parents are around. And being that Grandma lives in the country, it gives the girls a lot of experiences they would not normally get a chance to partake in.

Like watching a re-enactment of a train robbery at one of the train stations over the weekend. And milking cows at a nearby dairy. Feeding the calves in their raincoats made out of garbage bags. I so hope there are photos.

And apparently the Wee One and Grandma get their own special bonding time when she is the first one to wake up of a morning. They sit and have breakfast together and then go off to feed the horses.

And I just think. What lovely memories for my girls to have as their very own. Not something read in a book or heard about from other friends but their memories. Ones they can keep for a lifetime.

We have decided to make this a more regular thing. Providing Grandma agrees, of course.

But I think secretly, although Grandma will be extremely tired after kid wrangling three tinies for the best part of a week, she will miss them terribly when they are gone.

Funnily enough my own memories are of being at my Grandma's for a week too. Although not quite as far away, it certainly seemed just as far back when I was a kid. We would go and hang out at Grandma's for a week and she would take us shopping and to the movies and we'd eat strawberries that had been covered in sugar and left to ferment in the fridge overnight and she'd buy us our favourite cereals and make us milkshakes every night.

And we would play shopkeepers and bankers and go and explore in the strawberry garden behind the house and tinker in Granddad's shed - although I can't remember him as he passed when we were very little. Actually my strongest memory of him is him sitting in his chair with his bonds singlet and brown trousers on, drinking tea - and we'd walk down to the park and catch three buses to get to town.

And Grandma would catch three buses to get to us if we couldn't visit her. A trek that today would take about 30 minutes tops must have taken her at least an hour. But she would come and buy us icecreams and lollies and then catch those three buses home without uttering a single complaint.

I loved staying at Grandma's and I loved her coming to visit. I miss her incredibly and those innocent childhood days where life was just perfect.

So I am glad that my girls have a Grandma like that too. Because that is what I hoped for my children. To have a Grandma who would be a safe place to fall and have hugs at the ready. And to top it off, they get the added bonus of farm life to add to their experiences.

Happy, happy days...

I am off to pick them up this morning after a few tears last night on the phone. They're ready to come home and I can't wait to see them.

She'll Be Right ...

Or not.

I am so sick of this "she'll be right" attitude where plans get left to the last minute and then, of course, it all goes to shit and said plans fall through.

I know not everything needs forward planning but surely there has to come a time where it is obvious (especially if one is told that one needs to make said plans in advance) that a little forward planning would ensure a good outcome.

As I've said time and time again, actions speak louder than words.

The girls are away and this was supposed to add to the healing process but instead today I feel as though I'm back at the beginning. It had to happen I suppose. Getting caught in that routine of school, kindy, shopping, kids ... well, life. It was only a matter of time before I was slammed back to a reality of where things became stagnate. Where it all got lost amidst the routine.

I'm trying. I'm really trying to put thought towards rather than thinking about this but I'm finding it hard. Really fucking hard to get past it all. And then a day like today where plans have fallen through make it even harder to find my way clear of this mess.

And I feel as though it's the girls that are making this normal and with them not around the true feelings of this reality start creeping back in. Would I still be here if not for the girls? How do I know the answer to that? The reality would be so different.

And it's hard when not being given the space to figure this out. I'm being smothered with kindness and I know that sounds ungrateful but it's just. Too. Much. It feels like a desperate attempt to hold on when all I'm hearing is Let Go.

It's a whole sliding doors game really, isn't it? Except it's not a game. It's my life and the life of my children and my husband.

Something's gotta give soon, right?

The Sweetest Thing ...

To finish off my perfect weekend, I went in to give Schmooey a kiss goodnight and thanked her for a wonderful birthday weekend.

She cupped my face in her hands and said "I love you so much Mummy. Happy Birthday."

Melts my heart that kid!

She then continued with her nightly routine dialogue of "Goodnight. Don't let the begbugs bite. See you in the morning for breakfast!"

I love that she says begbugs!

Another year older ...

Late lunch on the mountain.

It has been a lovely weekend full of beautiful gestures, great friends and more than a few drinks.

The view.

Can't believe this is the first time we have been

here and it is literally at our back door..

After recent events, I really couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend! And isn't funny how some people can say just what you need to hear without saying much at all. A comment from a friend last night made me take stock of all that is good in my life - I have been blessed by so many words of wisdom and caring over this past little while and I'm guessing this was the last little statement to really bring home what has been said by each and every one of my confidantes.

My favourite photo of the day.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by a multitude of friends, near and far, who show me nothing but love and respect and remind me of what's important. To you all, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart!

You Capture - Mornings ...

Okay so a little bit late and I haven't done this in for-e-ver!!!

But this is a typical morning in our household during the week!

Playing Chase ...

Good morning sleepyhead -

Schmoo is almost always the

last one awake. She's the only one

allowed to come on holidays with me.

Group hug to get your morning started ...

And a not so typical one when I become Mumma of the Year by letting my oldest stay home for the day can be found here.

But I'll take either of these mornings any day over the morning I had this morning with the kids arguing and refusing to get ready to leave the house. Two at school and kindy today and just me and the Wee One home today so I should get to relax just a little.

Check out more You Capture Mornings over with Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Hope you're all having a great morning!!!