What A Way to Spend the Day ...

After my grumpy start today - due to not being graced with a sleep in, pretentious thing that I am - I went off solo to indulge in some Max Brenners and retail therapy with the girls for a few hours leaving CJ to fend for himself against the three Musketeers.

On arriving home, the preparations began for our first journey to the beach now that the sun is finally shining and spring is kind of thinking about sticking around. At least it did for this weekend. I can't guarantee that state of our State tomorrow but from all forecasts rain is on the cards just for something different. Ugh.

The girls were extremely excited and we had been invited by some friends to join them down at a little place I used to go as a child. Oh the memories. Sitting there today, all the grown ups (yes, that's me) were discussing how often they used to frequent this place as kids. I remember the bribe reward for going to Sunday School each Sunday was to head to the beach afterwards to frolic in the waters whilst Mum sunbaked in her crotchet bikini! Now this will show your age. Hands up who remembers those little numbers? Can't for the life of me imagine why they haven't made a comeback yet. It's only a matter of time really.

The three Musketeers pretending

to not be cold.

Anyway, I digress. The water today was crystal clear, just a small ripple, perfect for the kids and we arrived around two o'clock so not too hot. To be honest, the water was ridiculously freezing cold and there was no way I was going in but the girls refused to get out, lips turning blue and shaking from head to toe.

Never far from her Daddy.

It was such a lovely way to end the day and our weekend and it got me thinking. This place is maybe 25 minutes from our home and we never go there. Why not? We take where we live for granted, that's a given after today. So we shall endeavour to spend more time rediscovering our back yard - well front yard is probably more geographically correct - and showing our girls the fabulous places that are only a short distance from our front door.

My family.

Unfortunately the other thing we realised today is that the weekends fly by so quickly that we are left with little time to soak up these experiences. I guess there's a lesson in what's important right there.

After farewelling our friends - and me promising to buy the best grocery bags I've seen in a while which I hastily purchased on my return home - the girls came home and jumped in the pool, had a nice warm shower, something to eat and then off to bed.

There is no better tool to wear out children than letting them run and play outside in the fresh air and sunshine (or rain if you take care to avoid them catching a cold).

How was your weekend?

The Visitor ...

I thought I would hang out yet another load of washing today. Hey, you've got to wash while the sun is shining. I feel like I've used the dryer for the best of this month and I'm dreading the electricity bill that is sure to come.

But as I went to walk out of my laundry door I did a double take. My door looked a little ... not quite right. There was a bit more to it than normal.

And it took my brain to register for just a second as to what it was.

This guy ...

And on closer inspection a three legged one at that.

No idea why he decided to climb up our laundry door? Maybe the cats, maybe something caught his eye that could be yummy to lizards. But that's where he stayed until CJ came home to the rescue.

And my weird little kids. They love these animals. They were patting and him and ooh'ing and aah'ing over him and how "koot"* he was.

He has thankfully been relocated and I can walk out my laundry door again.

It should be noted that no more washing was done today. Poor excuse but I'll take it where I can. ;p

*I could listen to the Wee One say "koot" over and over and over. It sounds so ... well, cute!

Raising Girls ...

Times 3!!!

It's going to be tough. I know.

Since the end of Prep, AJ has increasingly made me aware of what raising girls is going to be like.

And. I'm scared! I believe in my heart of hearts I have good natured, kind hearted, sweet girls but I am not naive enough to believe that they won't stray from their true selves and dabble in the manipulative, power tripping, sometimes downright nasty traits that they feel are necessary to become one of the "in crowd".

It is really hard to always be the advocate for taking the higher moral ground - I should know considering my recent experiences. I just had a friend say to me last week that something should be said by me rather than doing just that and taking said higher path - when sometimes you wish, just for once, they'd "win" the war against the most popular girl in school who is picking on them or making their friends run away from them. Just once it would be nice to see another little friend stand by the underdog and not follow the pack.

I know they are only seven. But. OMFG. If they're already doing this at seven, what the hell am I in for in five or six years from now? And I'm scared now!

And I look at all the fairytales and notice how not one of them overcomes evil without some form of magic or luck. Being kind hearted doesn't win in any of these situations. Not without a little help anyway.

So, I continue to instill in AJ the values I believe make a good, loyal friend. I encourage her to find good, loyal friends and stick by them especially if they are being targeted by the other girls. I have suggested that it is okay to be friends with everyone but we have also tried to be realistic and advise her that not everybody gets along all of the time. It doesn't mean that either party is in the wrong but it doesn't mean they can't be polite. And I've tried to impress on her that even if today is one of those days when you don't feel like playing with someone there is definitely no need to be nasty about it.

I advise her that even if you're not the one "doing" anything, if you are with the girls who are leading the way, you are still in the pack that is doing the hurting. I applaud her for walking away from a bad situation and not allowing it to get to her. And I try to educate her that if her "friends" are not being nice to her, that they may in fact not be very good friends. And that true friends accept you and love you for the unique person you are.

And on the days we have these discussions, I go over and over them in my head and hope that I have said/implied the right thing without making her think she can't be strong, independent, unique or even just nice if she wants to fit in.

And then just when I think I have become fairly good at tackling one situation, I get blindsided by the fact that my seven year old - yes. SEVEN. Still a baby if you ask me - turns to me and says she thinks she will change her face when she is older to make herself pretty. And my heart breaks.

And then I speak to other mothers who say their daughters are already discussing weight and kissing boys at SEVEN and I notice that my little girl is losing her innocence right before my very eyes.

And from the inside out all I see are such gorgeous little girls who are smart and talented and funny and I wonder what on earth is going on for them to already be feeling this way? When did they get so switched on that they realise that one friend is a better artist, speller, story writer? At SEVEN. And why are they feeling inadequate about it at seven?

AJ often says her two best friends are much better at art and I have to remind her that her friends would love to be as good as her at spelling. Not to even the score but to try and impress on her that we all have our own talents and that we should celebrate our differences. I use my friends as examples and how business partnerships have worked well when one of us is the bookkeeper and the other is the creative spark. And I hope with all my heart that she gets it!

So.... any suggestions? I'm all ears. Because honestly, with three little girls to raise I seriously need to bring my A Game.

This post is part of the Seven Cherubs' Mother Heart Linky. :D

It Ain't So Bad ...

When you get locked out of the house. ALL DAY!!!

Yes, I am not exaggerating. I re-entered my home at around 5pm on Monday night.

For some reason my regular set of house keys has gone missing. Something that seems to happen when you entrust them to other family members (*cough* DH). Anyhoo, not so bad when there is always a spare set.

That is until, of course, you come home in torrential rain on a Sunday night with three little people asleep in the car and in need of being transferred to bed and you, of course, leave said spare keys on the laundry bench because as if you're going to put them back in said pouring rain.

And then, because you had a late night on Sunday night, you're running late for school and kindy so you run out the door without giving those keys a second thought. Until you get home and you can see the keys sitting inside the door on the laundry bench.

So this is what you do ...

You go for coffee with a friend. You get the new tyres you were too busy to get any other time - which is the exact right time to grab an icy pole. You do the groceries - minus anything cold because, remember, you don't have a fridge to put anything in until who knows when. You go back to school the looong way so your toddler can get her day sleep and then you head over to a friend's house until your husband arrives home with his set of keys just in case it's not till late so you can at least bath and feed your kids with the groceries still in the back of the car.

A certain shopping centre made a fair bit of coin out of me on Monday. ;p

For Me???

Well, anyone who is a mother will know how few and far between the gifts are that one is not required to share.

And while this has to be shared for a short while, technically I can claim this as my very own.

Whilst buying BMX bikes for the girls for Christmas on behalf of their Aunty, who spoils them rotten, I stumbled across a gorgeous treddly that I was sooo tempted to buy but, me being me, thought it was a bit impulsive and refrained.

I have to admit to giving it more than a second thought over the last couple of weeks but then the reality of where we live and the fact we would have to drive somewhere to ride them had basically talked me out of buying it.

Fast forward to this afternoon. After waking up the Wee One so we would make a doctor's appointment, fearing that the dreaded chicken pox torch has been passed down the line and battling the shops at the not so great hour of 3:00pm and still feeling kind of okay on the way home but really thinking how grateful I would be to call it a day. And also not expecting my husband to be home and dreading doing the bath/dinner routine solo, imagine my surprise when I opened the gate, walked back and got in the car and there, in the car port, right where I should have been parking my car, sat...

... MY bike.

The first bike I have owned since I was 15. And, as I said, although the Wee One will be on the back for a little while, it is still MINE!

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. To think that he had thought of doing this for me just to make ME happy has just made. My. Day.

Brownie points to the man, for sure!

But pay particular attention and you will see the part that made me want this particular bike oh so much more than if it weren't there.

The perfect coffee cup holder! Not only should every car have one but every good cruiser too.

Could this bike be any cuter - especially with the Wee One on the back? Seriously?

Copy Cats ...

And so, we have come full circle, again.

The Wee One was sitting eating breakfast this morning - read: she was drinking all the milk out of the bowl and then asking for more mook - and, upon asking for yet another top up, I told her she would have to eat the cereal portion instead.

The reply?

From my not yet two year old and one that I expect I will hear for years to come now that she has worked out how to say it.

"Not fair."

And this is when I recounted the infinite number of times I had heard this comment in the past week by my two older girls.

*sigh*

So now we are back to the The Wee One watching Schmooey watching AJ and doing all the things that the other one does, good and bad. Thank goodness AJ is the one leading this progression or I fear things could be a whole lot worse. At least, for now (she says in hushed tones for fear of jinxing herself) most things copied are for good not evil. For now ...

Today ...

... as I watch my two youngest play so nicely together and smother their new puppy with love.

... as I get ready to go and collect my oldest daughter from school who is super excited that she is having a friend for a playdate.

... as I think of what to cook them all for dinner - and don't be fooled that girls eat less than boys 'cause my oldest is just about to eat me out of house and home!

... as I think of how much I have to prepare for the Christmas that is just around the corner.

... as I am on the brink of closing the 'baby' chapter in my life - the Wee One has decided toilet training might be fun. I'm trying to persuade her otherwise but, seriously, can you change a girl's mind?

... as I think of that chapter, with all it's ups and downs, and how I feel some sense of relief that it will not be revisited until my own daughters decide (if they so desire) to travel that path.

... as I think of my own daughters and hope I will never need to find the "right words" as they travel this path.

Today ...

... I remember and send a silent wish to all of my friends who have lost babies. It's not that I don't think of them any other time BUT today I stop. Really stop and take stock of what I have and although my heart is full to overflowing it will always remember.

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Today ...

... light a candle and please take a minute to remember and honour those families and their lost angels. They say time heals all wounds but, in this instance, time merely softens the pain that is loss.

Puppy Size Revisited ...

On going through the camera this week and finding these gorgeous shots of the Wee One with Ms Digit, I was reminded of a story I shared here waaaay back in 2008. I re-read it and I still love it, even more so now that I see my girls with a puppy. Cuuuute!!!!

Cuggles

Mother load ...

So, we have one child at home with chicken pox and AJ at home because her mother made the executive decision to not drive up the mountain in the pouring rain for two days straight now.

BUT some good things have come of this ...

The girls made me scones yesterday for afternoon tea! YUM!

Take particular note of the Wee One making sure she is right in with all the goings on when she was supposed to be sleeping. Not one to miss out on. A. Thing that little girl. Have I mentioned I can no longer see my baby in that toddler face and how quickly she has grown up? It is really lovely to see her interacting with her sisters and watching the three of them getting along so well (for the most part).

The girls have happily entertained each other and themselves and watched some TV as well.

And today, after the two older girls decided to have a picnic - the Wee One got the all clear to go to kindy today and I have to say it's nice to know someone else is dealing with her today. Although I should point out that she almost made me trip over the enormous mother guilt mountain she created this morning when she started crying and hugging me and begging to go back to the car to "ouie" (aka Schmoo) - AJ calls me to say she has discovered the location for our rogue chicken to do her laying and to "come quick." On first inspection it would seem she had only laid maybe five or so eggs in said location.

That was until we went around the other side of the tree to try and get in and grab them and this is what we found ...

I believe at last count there were something like 20+ eggs all snuggled away, hidden from view.

So sometimes it pays for the kids to be home and bored enough to go and make some adventure for themselves. :D

Now it's just a matter of whether we waste what could potentially be all fine and yummy eggs by dumping them all and negate the chance of stumbling across a rotten one. Ewwww!

Everyone Gets Along on the Farm ...

It would appear that even the animals understand that, over everything else here on the farm, the most important rule is that we all get along.

It really just subscribes to my theory of wanting a peaceful home.

The new puppy and the cats, not so much yet but it's only a matter of time really. Digit so wants the cats to love her but the cats are standing their ground. To watch Digit bound around and bark at them and try to act all cute and puppy like is adorable. She isn't too silly though because she keeps a fair distance through it all.

Now if all the humans in the world could learn as quickly...

Taken Back ...

I was sitting on the back verandah a couple of days ago with our new puppy giving her all the love and cuddles required when I was transported back to a memory of my childhood.

I would have been around eight, I guess, at the time - very much around AJ's age now - and was told of a family who were giving away kittens. I have no recollection of who but they must have been friends of ours as I was at their house staring at these kittens and wishing with all my heart that I could take one home.

Mum said a flat out no and, totally out of character for me, I went back to my friend's mother and told her my mum had said yes. I must have been so desperate to have a pet.

The lady turned up at our doorstep with this little black furball and my mother was enraged but agreed to take the cat on a trial basis. I remember distinctly the woman telling my mother that maybe it would be good for me to have something to love and care for. Maybe she knew more about our situation than I remember?

How right she was. Not that I probably cared for that cat a lot and no doubt most of the responsibility fell to my mother but I loved that cat. I named him Misty at the protest of all and sundry purely because one of Mum's friends had a cat named Misty too. I LOVED this particular friend so it is no surprise I named my cat the same name even though our cat was black and Mum suggested names like Sooty and Blacky. I should state that my mum always does come up with great names usually (not that the aforementioned would attest to that but as a general rule she always does) but eventually let me have my way and so Misty was his name-o.

The novelty wore off as it does with kids and Misty lived with Mum until I was a young adult. Sadly I don't remember him passing such is the whirlwind, often self-absorbed life I led at that point and the need to be as far away as possible either by distance or emotion.

But this is more about getting that same feeling that I do with our new puppy. I feel eight years old again. Feeling in need of that unconditional love and loyalty with nothing expected in return and the comfort in knowing that it is unwavering.

And I have picked the perfect dog!

Toilet Trainer Needed ...

It would appear, after just over a week with our newest addition, that I am not and quite possibly never will be good at toilet training.

Anything.

Dogs, children, cats. Anything. Can't do it. Drives me. Fucking. Crazy!!!

I should add that it doesn't help when, upon asking CJ where he wanted the dog to be trained to relieve itself, he has suggested a spot at the top of our driveway. Not exactly easy for a puppy to get up there each and every time she feels the urge and definitely an unrealistic expectation when said puppy is on her lead while we sleep, do school pickups, whatever else where puppy can't come along.

So I am no toilet training master yet, scarily enough, I still have one more child to train and let's not even mention my various unsuccessful attempts at getting Schmooey out of night nappies.

I should also say that I do realise it has only been a week but there is that side of me that just wants whoever/whatever I'm training to just get it! You know?

She is such a good little puppy and we have only had to clean up two or three accidents in the house since we have adopted her so I'm not complaining but just saying I'm not a huge fan of the TT.

Getting Down With JD ...

Funny how things pop into your mind. While talking with AJ this morning and trying to explain a joke* I found myself humming this tune. AJ had to know how the song went and I could only remember one or two lines so, thanks to my old friend Google, I have given my daughter another little memory from my childhood! And I actually remember seeing this on The Muppet Show too. We have two or three videos of this show and the girls love it!!!

And for those of you wondering what the joke was ...

Q: How do you get down from an elephant?

A: You don't get down from an elephant, you get down from a duck.

See? Not too far a stretch to Grandma's Feather Bed.