Campbell is 4!

Will update with some photos another time, but I need to send out big birthday wishes to a big four year old! (Drat! Can't upload at present cause Adrian just setup a computer for me and is still getting my regular programs and bits loaded.)

Happy Birthday Campbell!

Campbell is 4 now. How exciting! Adrian, Caleb, Zali and I joined Sheree, David, Campbell, Finn and Grandma for a yummy cooked breakfast, presents, play, lollies, play, knocking Christmas tree over (thanks Zali), talking, laughing, sleep, more food, Pop n Top (I just beat Sheree 3-2), cake, cuddles and kisses.

The four years seem to have whizzed by. Crikey. Best wishes for a wonderful year and be good to your parents! Hope you had a lovely day! Love always to you.

Off

We are off this morning to visit the family for Christmas. Sadly our plans had to change cause Campbell and Finn are not well, so we are not heading there for a germ-share visit. The car is mostly packed, I am heading off to shower in a minute. Lordy it is sticky hot.

I was up with Zali last night so I am tired and need to be bright eyed for the drive - doh! Meanwhile the kids have nodded off while I was packing upstairs. It went eerily quiet and when I checked they were snoring. Makes packing easier but I hope they like sitting in the car for the journey, we have had quite a bit of grumpy this morning. I normally travel at sleep time so they nap and only notice a short drive.

Better keep going. Sorry Miss Karla for having to postpone our play, will catch up soon.

Adult Work

That is right, today I am doing adult work. Paid work. Appreciated work. No-one is hanging off my dress burying their vegemite stained mouth on me. No-one is grunting at me. No-one is saying 'Mummmmmy, Mummmmmy, Muuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmyy! It feels a little strange.

I have been told that I look lovely (I have a dress on, makeup and diamante sparkling), I have been thanked and given a present. That also feels a little strange. Could definitely get used to it, but I think if I was a regular here, perhaps the compliments wouldn't be coming so think and fast. I will just live in the moment and enjoy it.

It is very quiet. I miss hearing 'It's a Hi5 Christmas' though. It is a lovely DVD with great songs . . . hmmmm, does that sound sad? I am playing it just as much for me, the kids do benefit as well though. Caleb is learning Christmas carols and constantly asks where Santa is, Zali loves dancing to it and I love us all being happy.

I do like a bit of time away from the kids but it doesn't take long for me to miss them. I miss the cuddles and kisses and hanging out. Hmmm. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, is that the quote I am looking for?

The noisy staff here have left. They had breakfast and games in the main boardroom, which also dribbled out into the reception area. They have all jumped on a bus and heading somewhere north to a boat, or water, or someplace that has food and drink. I don't need to know, I only need to know where the breakfast leftovers are. The gorgeous Ida gave me that important information, so I am set.

I feel a little full. This relief reception gig is *tough*! Miss Ida did a delivery of punch, chocolate danish, ham & cheese danish, sliced fresh fruit, crackers and an assortment of cheese. There is a box of chocolate covered cashews sitting next to the computer that I have been instructed to eat. The pressure - you have no idea. I don't think I will need to raid the leftovers for a while yet. I also think the vegemite sandwich I bought with me for lunch will not be vacating it's warm and comfy position in my bag.

Let me think. There is one other person on our entire floor. The place is quiet. The phones aren't ringing much at the moment and I am a lady of leisure. I get paid for this. He he. It is only one day a year, but I think I will make myself available for it next year also. The management and staff have a whole day Christmas party/End of Year Celebration. Not bad at all.

I wanted to update about the last few weeks, but I think I might read my magazine instead. Or surf the net. Perhaps I should have bought in my scrapbooking.

Kiss kiss.

Sleep

Sleep rocks. Any person who has children who sleep for long naps during the day, you don't know how lucky you are. My kids seem to be 45 minute sleepers. Sometimes, on a real tired day, they might get up to 1 hr 15 minute sleeps. I am very happy with this longer sleep.

The last few days, the angels have slept. And slept. Today Caleb slept for nearly 3 hours. Yep, three! Zali slept for just over 2.5 hours at kindy - wholly! Yesterday both of them slept for 2.5 hrs. I got *so* much done! Sleep totally rocks.

I think I might go get some myself.

Zipping

First off it was 'where has the year gone?'. Now it is 'crikey where is December going?'. The days are slipping by so fast. Doesn't help that I was sick all weekend and spent the majority of it in bed. Total waste of a weekend.

I have re-injured my back, I think in the same spot as last time. Really don't want that now. Grrrr. I am sitting here in pain, but wanted to drop in, before I drop off to sleep and rest my squeaky-out-of-warranty body.

I have lots of catchups this week, plus have a day of work, then take off for the Christmas celebrations with the Telfer family. All the last minute things need to be done in the next few days, and the list is building. I have so many lists going on I can't even find them all.

Had a lovely dinner tonight with Kerry, Damo and Riley. The kids and I went over mid afternoon and the two hubbies joined when they finished work. Caleb and Riley went nuts for most of the afternoon, Zali had some 'precious' moments then liked the party, we opened presents and I lay on the floor trying to groan softly (my back was very ouchy!) I enjoyed it. I think Kerry enjoyed her beer. : )

Gotta take pain killers and go rest. Be good to yourself.

What Mum Wants for Christmas

This is from today's Kidspot Daily email. V. cute.


Dear Santa

I've been a good mum all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold 62 packets of lollies to raise money to plant a shade tree in the school playground.

Sorry I had to write this on the back of a receipt with my son's red crayon, but I'm in the laundry room between wash cycles and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years!

Here are my Christmas wishes:


I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any colour except purple which I already have) and arms that don't flap around in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the confectionery aisle of the supermarket.

I'd also like a waist since I lost mine somewhere in the 7th month of my last pregnancy.

If you are giving away big items, I'd like a car with fingerprint-resistant windows and a radio that only plays big people's music, a television that doesn't broadcast talking animals and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the vegetable bin where I can talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a pair of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. Oh, and a recording of Tibetan Monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "take your hands off your brother" because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog!

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning. And would it be too much trouble to declare tomato sauce as a vegetable? That would clear my conscience immensely.

Well Santa, the beeper on the drier is beeping and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and help yourself to the biscuits, just don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always

Mum

P.S. One more thing, you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children happy, healthy and always believing.

Can You Beat This?

I swear my day could be made into a comedy. It must be funny, in a few days, I hope I will laugh. Now, well, I am a tool.

This morning was ok. All things went normal and I enjoyed a fun morning with Caleb at Little School. The parents visited and had morning tea, as well as playing and watching and learning what the kids got up too. They have so much fun, no wonder Caleb loves to go. They all love the Yakka Yakka room. A big black room, air conditioned, filled with a pool of coloured balls, a climbing wall, jumping mattresses and jungle jim and slide. They went nuts. I think all the mum’s wanted one at home to use before nap time.

I did some Christmas tasks and watched a bit of Oprah. Caleb came home and we left to get Zali. Here it starts.

On the way over to check our mailbox, I realised I had left my house keys in. the. house. In the car was Caleb, Grandma and I, so I couldn’t use Grandma’s keys either. Picked up Zali at kindy and went I tried to start the car, it wouldn’t. Great, I thought, locked out of our house and car broken. I tried a few times and she wouldn’t tick over. I let the red beast rest for a while, on the fifth (and last before I called the RACQ chaps) attempt she ticked over. Thank. The. Lord. Caleb sitting in the back saying where is the battery? Why? When are we going? Why? Shut the door Grandma, let’s go! Why?

We went through the McDonald’s drive-thru (because we couldn't turn the car off) and took some dinner home. Sitting on the back verandah we ate dinner and fended off the mozzies the best we could. Zali started to drink the sweet and sour sauce instead of eating chicken nuggets, and by this stage I didn’t really care. Surely something that is sweet and sour should contain nearly five food groups?

Forgot to mention there were kiddie size ice-creams on the way home. Well, I think they ate some, the majority seemed to be on their clothes, the seat belts, their hands, rubbed into her legs and up their nose. To clean them up (we had no wipes, clothes or anything else useful) we had to use two serviettes. One for each messy kid. Of course the next problem is I am busting to use the toilet. No possible way I could wait. I had to go to the side of the house and ‘go’ near the wall. Like a three year old. Like I tell Caleb to. And use the serviette in lieu of a sophisticated product like toilet paper, the ice cream serviette that is. Could you imagine how *fun* this was?

Did I tell you I also had a big headache and would have sold a limb for a couple of Panadol?

Caleb had to wee, no problems, he runs off to the fence to assume his usual afternoon wee position. A few minutes later he had to, erm, do something nastier than wee. Oh. Lord. Off to the side of the house we go. He drops his load and says ‘whoa, big poo!’ Yep. Actually at this point I was laughing so hard I had tears. Could this afternoon get any worse. Thankfully we have a big fence. What would you have thought walking past someone’s house and they are poohing in the yard, do we have any standards of personal hygiene? I wanted to yell out ‘we are locked out of our house!’, just in case anyone saw us. Back to the situation and the fact we have no toilet paper. Grandma fishes through the pram and finds a couple of tissues, a small girl’s nappy and one nappy sack. Again, thank-the-lord! Least he could be cleaned and I could dispose of the evidence.

Five minutes later Adrian arrives home from work. It felt like we were being rescued by the Australian Navy from the deserted island, it was *such* a relief.

The kids had a bath, I had my Panadol and now we all need a comfy chair. Bugger, I better go and call my mechanic. Fingers crossed he can come in the morning.

Wedding Part C

The night kicked on. There was a torrential down pour at one point with a very nice breeze and the gorgeous smell of rain. There was a small hiccup with the wedding cake.

It was a, um, *insert special name here that drongo can't remember!*, made up of profiteroles filled with a coffee cream and custard cream. Hmm, I think I had better confirm that with the bride, note to self.

For some reason some bright cookie put it on the table for the ceremony in the afternoon. It was a warm day. This cake needs to be kept cool. When it was found to be leaning more than the Pisa and hanging on by a shrapnel of toffee, it was taken away and chilled.

However the lumpy thing could not be saved and ended up being re-plated. See below. Doesn't really have the same niceness does it. Didn't matter of course, it tasted absolutely d.e.v.i.n.e. Each plate had one piece of each flavour accompanied by double whipped cream and coulis. My lord the tongue is quivering just thinking of that precious plate of goodness.

The pair had their dance. I said it should have been like Robert and Amy's wedding dance on Everybody Loves Raymond. This is a cute photo, the little lovebirds!

Then everybody had fun. We danced and drank and talked and played. Belinda, Gemma and I with our 'come hither' looks. Sexy huh? Belinda was the Master of Ceremonies for the night. She did such a fantastic job! She rocks, really. Gemma is fun. But I won't mention her glass of red wine and my dress. Nope.

The cutie is Melynda. She has been friends with Mel for a long time. She is funny and easy to play with. This was the first night she had left her baby (4.5years!) so her and hubby were making it a good night. She wants to have a post-wedding hens night!

The two bridesmaids. Scrub up alright hey?
Bunch of crazy girlies here. From left: Belinda, Melynda, Mel, Gemma, me and Erin (Mel's sister).
Plus Sonia, all having a good time.

It was a beautiful and fun day. We all enjoyed seeing Mel and Brent get hitched. It was pretty cool just walking upstairs to go to bed too! Can't wait to see the professional photos, they should be cool.

Mel and Brent left for their six week honeymoon a few days later. Mexico, New York and some places in Europe, a white Christmas and then home to this heat. Phew.

Important!

Since I updated my picture up the top, it really makes me smile when the page loads and I see my crazy kids. That is the way it should be.

I have so many things to talk about, but I have to send a friend some photos first. I have other stuff wanting attention also, I don't know if I will ever catch my tail this month. It is a crazy busy tiring hot demanding month of seasonal delicacies. Don't bother telling me that doesn't make sense. I know already.

There is one thing I need to say because I needed to say it yesterday . . .

Happy Birthday to my sweet friend Janene!

We cannot believe it has been a year since the last one (which I remember vividly) - even Adrian said 'was that a year ago?' It was a lovely breakfast and even better being able to see you (and my little soft spot for Baby Amy). Please don't let this next year go so fast, I'm counting on you!

You are a wonderful woman, mother and friend. I won't say lover cause I don't know and don't want to know, too much information! Back to it . . . it is so fantastic to see you happy and content and loving life. I wish for that to continue and I think you have another beautiful year ahead of you! Love you!

Added later: Ok, popped back however I can't focus my eyes on photos. My eyes are blurry and need to go to bed. There will be the last wedding photos up tomorrow sometime.

Wedding Part B

Here is the view from our apartment to the right (the one I deleted last night, oops). Nice. Remember you can click on the pics and it will load a big version.

Due to wind, rain, dark scary clouds, the decision was made to move the ceremony to the reception venue. Ebb @ Maroochydore. A beautiful restaurant nestled on the river. The ceremony was to be held at Point Perry, a stunning view up and down the coast and out to the deep blue ocean. Both were beautiful places and the main event still occurred. Mel and Brent were married. I love this photo of when we had finished walking down the aisle and the look of pure happiness on Mel's face. All the preparation and work and sweat had all been for this perfect moment.
The vows were sweet, Mel's two sisters said a poem and the ceremony was finalised with the special 'first kiss'. I stood quite still, lip occasionally quivering, batting the eyelids to keep the tears at bay, deep breathing to keep myself together. It was perfect and beautiful and sweet and about two friends getting married. These two people are very special to me and it really was a fantastic day, and an honour to be involved in.
Cripes, trying to sign the official papers while every single inch of me was shaking, now *that* is a challenge. How happy do they look!
This is the six of us. And Mel's Dad has his head blocking Brent, but this is the only photo I have of the group. Can't wait to see the professional ones! Left to Right: Sonia (Mel's friend), Joel (Brent's youngest brother), Garth (Brent's younger brother), Brent (groom!), Mel (bride!) and me (spunkrat extraordinaire). (Note: how come spunkrat didn't clear my spell check? Honestly!)

The official newly-crowned Mr and Mrs. Awwww, aren't they cute!
The old married couple all dressed up. That really is us under all that finery.
My speech. I was trembling (again) and trying (badly) to hold back the tears. Didn't work. M&B came and supported me. I wished they would have held my notes still, between the trembling hands and teary eyes, they were hard to read. I was told I had a few people in tears. My job was done.

Next post I will show you the yummy cake and some afterward/party type photos.

I am tired and want to go to bed. I am the taxi for the husband who is currently out celebrating Christmas with his work colleagues. I will be a cross, tired wife if he rings me at an undesirable hour.

Wedding Part A

My eyes are a little tired and blurry, but here is the story . . .

Once upon a time a prince and princess were preparing to be married. Ok enough of that, my fairytale telling skills aren't too flash so I will stick to the real stuff.

I met Mel for a couple of dress fittings in the week before the wedding. It was fun and exciting! Paul Hunt made her dress, he was a lovely bloke and produced just what the bride wanted. This gem was taken on Wednesday morning for a final fitting and try on off all accessories. Mel picked it up later that afternoon and then the LWD (little white dress) was whisked away the next day when they headed up to the apartment.


On Friday I drove up to Maroochydore. Great drive, since I was by myself and had free choice of music, I went back into the CD collection and grabbed a Garth Brooks. I sung my little heart out. I think other drivers might have thought I was a bit nuts. I was grooving and bopping and singing so much I made myself a little carsick. While I was driving. Confirmed, I am a nut. I was actually getting hoarse I was belting out the words so strong and proud. Honestly, I do hope the car was soundproof.

I checked into our apartment. The Duporth on Duporth Ave. Very. Nice. I took pictures of the whole apartment but I won't bore you with the pile. Instead, I will focus on the view. It was pretty spesh. Looking left I saw the mountains and hinterland area.

Looking right I saw the ocean become the Maroochy River. That is a balcony you could perch yourself on for a few hours, nice cool drink in hand. Sigh. I can picture it now.

It was a spacious three bedroom apartment. The main bedroom had these views and shared the huge balcony. There was a TV, large walk-in robe and flasho ensuite (double vanity, separate toilet, shower, spa bath, enough room for waltzing, if you so desired). The lounge had comfy chairs and a large screen television and was next to the dining table. The kitchen was beautifully equipped, and all we used was two cups. We were hardly there. Very long hall joined the other two bedrooms (which both joined onto a small courtyard), main bathroom, toilet and laundry. It was ducted air-conned and *delay exciting news for added impact* had awesome automatic blinds. They rocked. Honestly, I think you could not appreciate their cool-ness until you see them. The blinds were a talking point all weekend, the bride and groom were equalling impressed. If those lotto numbers ever come up, I am definitely getting automatic blinds. Side note: I just deleted the right hand view from the balcony. I think I will go to bed and do more tomorrow.

To finish off part a, here is the bride herself and the spunky bridesmaid. Obviously the hair and makeup wizards were still working their magic.
We nibbled and we sipped pink champers, darrh-ling.

Ohhh.....

There is one thing you *must* try this Christmas . . .

take yourself down to Wendys and get a tub of Cherry Christmas.

Oh. My. Lord.

If you like the good old Cherry Ripe, you will *love* this ice cream. You see, with any purchase of Cherry Christmas you can complete an entry form to win an ice cream cake. Reading this sign I thought, self, what is Cherry Christmas? I asked for a sample. Make sure you do that to have a wee taste, then ask if you can take the whole bucket, please. Then invite me over.

It is cherry ice cream with bit of chocolate, coconut and cherry. Trust me though, if I first read that ingredient list I would not have had any. Cherry ice cream doesn't really ring my bell. Go on, spoil yourself, try it! Let me know what you think.

Ooops, better get some paper towel to wipe up this drool.

Have You?

Ever been to the Honey Factory on the Sunshine Coast? No? Us either. Thought we would check it out. I think it might have been nicer, say, 20 years ago.

It was very quite, nothing was open, it was old and a little disappointing. I believe the dirty-old-rust-bucket-looking-things sitting quietly were called 'children's rides'. There were large aviary-type cages dotted throughout, that were empty. There was a little house where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs hung out. The Dwarfs were a scary.

The last time we visited the Big Pineapple we were disappointed. It is old and rundown, things were closed, bits were dirty and there was no life. I remember going there when I was a young (good looking of course) lass and it was fun. There was life and people and things to do. You had trouble finding a seat at lunchtime and the parfait, man, that was my cup of tea. We haven't been back since those memories were given a beating. This Honey Factory reminded me of that. If it was back in the day when I was the younger, but equally good looking, Gail, it probably would have rocked.

The kids didn't really notice. There were ducks. They got to run. We ate cheezels.



The birds were pretty keen to see us, thinking we had some tucker. I went to the Cafe and got a few pieces of bread and bought a couple of bags of feed from the reception counter.

There were ducks, scrub turkeys . . . and a lizard.

Turns out everyone likes Cheezels. More than animal seed and bread. They had a snack of normal stuff, but it must have been the bright cheery colour of the wonderful creation called the Cheezel. The lizard loved them. See?

Lizard didn't like the scrub turkey. Anytime it merely glanced at an object resembling food, the lizard ran in to frighten and/or grab the food for itself. Nasty little lizard.

My two animals like Cheezels as well. Glad I got the tiny ones. Actually, it would have been funny to see the lizard attempt the normal size Cheezels.

Note: no animals were hurt or mistreated during this outing. As responsible humans we did not feed the lizard and/or bird life Cheezels. They stole them. Then I wanted photos to prove it.