On the 20th Day of Christmas

I have an unwell little boy who is requiring a lot of loving (for the last few days). All other plans put on hold - drat that Christmas is so close and time is fleeing.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

16th Day

Hey Donna! Lovely to see you. Hope you have been keeping yourself inside in the air-con? I haven't worked out possible date for us to come and visit, will talk to you soon - perhaps very soon - you only have 3 sleeps to go, yeah?

Wednesday. Zali at kindy. Griff, Caleb and I went to the park - Caleb rode his bike most of the time and ended up totally shattered. His legs are getting stronger and his steering is improving and he is loving it. The 'shattered' tanty on the way home/at home was a little undesirable but he slept at least.

Griffy has turned into such a little boy now he is walking. He thinks he is so cool (and so do I!)

Off to sew, lots to do.

The Fourteenth Day of Christmas

Was very hot and very long.

We were at Carindale Shopping Centre around 9.30am to get to Santa (at David Jones) early. Basically to avoid a queue with impatient children and get 'done' before they hit their tired-uncooperative-monster-state. All three were quite well behaved, all keen to see Santa (mostly), loved eating in the food court and bounced and plodded along happily. I took my time and let them enjoy the experience instead of my usual of frazzled-ness.

This is the skirt I made - Zali loves it and had to wear it today. That was the bribe I had to use to actually get it off her when I finished it yesterday afternoon.


Poor old Griffy has had a pretty good bruise going on his cheek - now it is dirt coloured which matches the rest of him. Ha.



Ok dokes. Off to play with the skirt design.

13th Day

Wowsers December is moving along pretty fast. I am still trying to catch up to November!

Been sewing again/still. Learnt a few more skills using my over locker and I am in fabric heaven.

Hope you had a rippa weekend!

On the 11th Day

we suffered in the heat. H.O.T!

Dipped feet in wading pool and splashed around. Slept for two hours in air-con. Mucked around on the floor, flying and wrestling and growling. Drank water and more water.

Oh how I wish for a white Christmas!

A Big 10th Day

Some cutting and pinning and sewing from this busy little bee to make . . . shorts for Caleb


and a skort for Zali. Do I need to mention how hard it is to get your over-tired children to stay still for a photo?



Today marked the end of an era. Sniff. The last *ever* day of Little School. The last ever school bus ride. The last ever Lynne and Koula - Caleb's teachers who totally rock! Sure, they said come back and visit and stuff, but, no longer will our visits be regular. Next year is Big School with new friends and new teachers.


Zali, Griffy and I met the Husband in at Little School for Graduation. They sang some songs and played instruments and then came the 'official ceremony' with the Principal. When Caleb's name was called he flicked on the shy button and acted all coy - but proudly got his certificate and 2.4 seconds of glory.

We danced, we ate and we played. We packed up and came home to have a rest in the air conditioning.

Afternoon time meant splashing in a smidge of water and a good chunk of freshly cut watermelon.

We had take-away for dinner.

On the way to pick it up Caleb asks 'are we going to ABC Mum?

My tiny motor starts whirring and I am trying my best to make sense of his question.

Oh.

'No honey, its KFC'.

9th day

hi. am busy sewing. will show you tomorrow.

p.s. happy birthday janene.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

we got a new member of the family - a Second Skin arm for Caleb. Red - woo woo! Plus a motorbike - woo woo!



The kids were up at 4.40am. The Husband left for the airport at 5.30am. Grandma left for work at 6.00am. Around 6.07am I was already gritting my teeth and flaring my nostrils.

Chris our mechanic came at 7.30am to service the Carnival, I dropped Zali off at kindy and then was able to sit down to have breakfast. Around 10am Caleb, Griff and I headed off the Wesley Hospital for the Second Skin (new arm) appointment while on the phone to the Royal Children's Hospital making appointments for therapy follow up in January.

Sleeps didn't really happen. Sigh. Did a little Christmas shopping in the late arvo before I picked up Z from kindy. Then the usual crazy evening routine. I also made up some bowls of goodies for Caleb to take to little school tomorrow for his friends. If I have time in the morning I will make up Zali's stuff for kindy.

Wednesday both big kids are gone. I am really wanting to get some *good* photos of my Griffy walking. It is tricky - he still won't perform on cue. Drat it. Here is a shocker, but you get the idea.

Night.

The 7th Day

was a very challenging day. Very.

There wasn't much to photograph today. With steam coming out of my ears and cleaning/tidying/picking up after or some other tedious task that naughty children had left/caused, I wasn't very much in the mood.

Other parts you would not want to see in pictures anyway.

Like when I saw a naked 13 month boy standing at the back door. Like when I saw his nappy, which he had removed, laying in the kitchen. Like when I went to pick him up to re-nappy and the smell of what was in the deserted nappy wafted and tickled my nostrils. Like when I saw what he looked like with said smelly stuff all over him. All over him. The feet, the legs, the rudey parts, the hands and arms and even the face - he must have had an itch to scratch.

Un.Be.Liev.Able.

We had to shower ourselves clean and dry and start afresh. Afresh, that was my aim, until I saw Little Miss 3 standing at the bottom of the stairs rolling around a particularly nasty smelly piece of brown play dough - which was *not* play dough. What the?

Lets just hope tomorrow is a *much* better day. Yes?

Sixth Day

twas an early start with markets just after 5am. I couldn't get to sleep the night before and finally dropped off about 2am to be woken by the Griffster about 3.15am. Bit tired.

My little man is walking. Sniff. My baby is well and truly growing up. Sniff. He doesn't seem to perform when I have my camera - I think he does it to tease me.


Had some help with cooking - well the mixing part. Thankfully, oops, I mean, sadly I only started the baking and throwing on the M&M's part about 9pm and my sweet little helpers were up in snore-land.

Hello Mr 3-tier-cooling-rack! My new BFF. It rocks for my biscuits. A very *sweet* investment from my pals over at http://www.debskitchen.com.au/

I put my new 'cookie press' to work and created Christmas trees and decorated wreaths. These are being bundled up and shared with our teachers and carers and people like that.

Hear that? My bed is calling. Night!

On the Fifth Day of Chocolate!

Oh, headache in a box, you haunt me! Seriously, what would actually equate to a 'mountain' of chocolate? How many blocks, pieces or bits? I think this is only a molehill.



Those nice little squares have upgraded and moved in with some new friends. These roomies get on *very* well together and have a fun sugary little life. It may perhaps be a short life, but a good one while it lasts.

Tomorrow is a new day for these roomies. They all separate and find smaller square-type homes with roofs!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

two kidlets had 'sick eyes' and stayed home. Egad. Friday is a one-kid-day normally. The little miss brought home sick eyes from kindy and gave it to bubby Biff. He seems to have suffered more though and looks very sad. They both *do not* like the drops and I nearly have to wedge open their eyelids with toothpicks to get a fragment of medicated drops anywhere near the eyeball.

Next to the chemist was this little beauty in a window. I got one and some kids stickers and I also got me a stubbon little tired girl who wanted to push me to the limit. Sigh. Thankfully they both went to sleep in the car (for a little while).

I had fun putting this up (its just inside our front door to give us a bright and Christmassy greeting awwwww) but straight is something that defies me.


Caleb has gotten some really cool presents in the last few days. Today he got a water colour painting book. Nice! I haven't played with water colours for ages. He had a bit of a go and then moved on to decorating a painted Christmas tree that needed finishing. When I was able to shove them out the door to play in the backyard (oops did I say shove?) I grabbed an easy page and had a go. I have never been good at painting - huge problems keeping the paint brush under control and perhaps a little too shakey. What a cool present though. The hard thing will be keeping it safe from Zali.

Friday evenings seem to go way too quickly.

On the Third Day

the kids were up *before* 5am and ready to decorate the tree. Egad.

I let them do it on their own. There was no way my anal-ness (is that a word?) was going to be able to share the job - I decided for my own sanity to just let. them. do. it. Egad.

I set them up with a chair each and handed over the decorations. The biggest rule: only the top half to be decorated! This is the norm for our tree over the recent years . . . to keep all those little terrorist fingers away from the eye candy.



They were pretty chuffed with their handiwork. When I inspected (there was only one bauble within Griffy-reaching distance!) I noticed that each side of the tree had a 'collection' of items . . .obviously the reaching part of the equation wore thin quite quickly.

Snapshot of a half decorated tree. Tinsel you say? It drives me a little nuts. Or should I say the little bits laying everywhere after it gets dragged around the house or worn as a necklace or used as a tug-of-war rope. Maybe when they are teen-ragers we can invest in tinsel. Maybe.

Note: twas only the afternoon when there was a disagreement (with one of my *favourite* decorations) and a breakage. Gasp. Sigh. Sniff.

Second Day

of Christmas involved going to Big School!

Orientation Day this morning at Mayfield SS where we learnt what is needed for next year and expectations of the first day of Prep. Caleb handled himself very well, a huge improvement from the Fun Day in October where he totally shat himself with the overwhelmingly huge crowd!

Straight after that we had a meeting with Caleb's Prep teacher, the current teacher at Little School and some support teachers who will be involved when he commences his official school-age programs (ie begins Prep!)

We ducked in to the uniform shop first up to purchase a bucket hat. He thought it was pretty neat to have part of his uniform and was wearing it around (with the tag on!) happily. The main point of the hat was 'show and tell' at little school. I wanted him to be proud and have ownership of 'his' new school. He raced in with it telling all his friends and teachers about his new hat - pretty neat indeed!

After Griffy and I dropped him off at little school, we scooted home for some lunch and play. Poor little Griff - those nasty teeth are still going hell for leather. I am pretty sure at least two are trying to come through. There is 4 teeth still growing with only a tiny incy bit of white protruding from his little red gums.

In the afternoon when Caleb leapt off the school bus he wanted to know when we were getting the Christmas tree out and decorating it. It is bad that I was trying to get out of doing it, is it?

Anyway it is up and we will all decorate it in the morning - we needed to wait for Zali to get home from kindy (& then I was too tired and a little unmotivated . . . but it was good bribe material . . . if you want to help decorate the tree, blah blah blah . . . . )

On the First Day of Christmas

my true love up and went at 6am for an out-of-town job. Hmmpf. Grandma left before 7am for her job.

Tra-la-la-la-laaa, la-la-la-laaa.

I was left with 3 loads of washing, 3 hungry mouths and 3 cuddles-in-waiting who were all wanting to go first. I hadn't even got myself showered yet.

Got Zali to kindy about 9.30am when everyone was just sitting down for morning tea - good timing Mummy!

Got Caleb and Griff to CP League Skills for School/Playgroup Xmas Party 2009 right on 10am, phew . . . made it!

Annabelle, the Early Childhood Teacher extraordinaire, had set up the room with activities, toys galore and a craft table. I wanted to play with the craft stuff, but I resisted.

Morning tea was a rippa with Christmas food and a nice cup of tea.

A chime of bells echoed down the hall and this rockin Santa came to visit and deliver some cool presents to the kids . . .

When Santa called out for Caleb, he had a look of fear in his eyes and wanted me to accompany him. I had my trusty little picture-taking-device in hand and didn't want to sway from my good vantage point. Vicki (the Speechie) was able to walk him up, where he then proceeded to through himself up on Santa's lap - he was comfortable pretty quickly, all hesitation evaporated.



Being a good big brother, Caleb tried to 'carry' Griff up to Santa (again Vicki was able to help?!) for his turn and Caleb willingly jumped upon Santa's other knee - basking in present heaven. Griff wasn't exactly liking it and the bottom lip dropped. I don't think he liked the rest of the crowd all looking at him, but he warmed fast and sat on his designated knee holding the present with his little legs crossed.

Santa had a present for Zali. She opened it up when she got home from kindy. A cute My Little Pony with long luscious hair ready for the brushing - including a tiny hair dryer and an assortment of clips. It was a hit straight away. She took it to bed tonight.

Griffy got a bath basketball toy and Caleb got a flippin car (which had thoughtfully been loaded with batteries (thanks Annabelle!) and a policeman with motorbike (and a tiny walkie-talkie and speed camera!)

We have gotten two Christmas cards on this first day of December. (Crikey - some people are very organised!)

Just Needs Fuel

How early is too early to begin your chores? My nearly-walking-little-man was having a ball outside this afternoon pushing the mower around. He took it slow and steady and strong - he looked so darn cute!

Not so cute (ok, as his Mum I still thought it was cute) when the mower would reach the shed/concrete/pole/trampoline and he was stuck. Turning is another skill for a future adventure. He wasn't impressed that things got in his way.

I would change his direction and he would happily be on his way.

Until he was *thrown* and went for a full-on strop - priceless! Suppose it didn't help that he was tired and some teeth are trying to break through. Speaking of, he has just woken up again - poor little bloke is in pain with said teeth.

I was trying to set up this shot when a 'streaker' rudely interrupted the broadcast! Eeeek!

Stay cool!

Retreating

That was a big weekend - retreats are *hard* work.

I left home at 5.30am - a beautiful day and driving early was very refreshing . . . so was the loud music and my screeching (oops, singing!). A very nice drive down the M1 arriving at Darlington Beach (just north of Coffs Harbour) around 10.30am - lost the hour with daylight saving.

Michelle did a *wonderful* job making cocktails - a fruity champagne pleasure in a glass concoction - for a splendid welcome drinkies on Friday afternoon.

Enjoying our drinks: Liz, Jolene, Chelsea and Donna

There was a bit of scrapping and creating and cardmaking and laughing and eating and champers scrap shopping and late nights and little sleep. Here are all the chicks from the retreat just before some started to head home on Sunday.

Us five Queenslanders (go you good thing!) shared Gumnut Villa #2. After the craft room was shut down at midnight we would adjourn to our lounge and have some drinkies and *heaps* of giggling and chatting. Bedtime would be around 2am and then my bed buddy - we shared the king size bed - Donna and I would continue talking and giggling and talking for at least another hour before we would try very hard to go to sleep. Hence the weekend was a biggie - a few hours sleep each night after a long creative day was definitely not enough!

But it was fun. And really cool to meet some new lovely ladies with similar interests. And they liked to laugh. The only thing missing was my old scrapping buddy, wish you were there to share the fun Jill!

Off to Play

I am heading off very very very early tomorrow morning to a retreat.

sigh.

Right now I am packing up my scrap and crafty type things (ok, I am typing this, but I should be packing), will cook some dinner then pack up my clothes and toiletries and (man, I am getting more excited now just talking about it!) then I will try and catch up on some of my TiVo shows.

Up with the sun tomorrow for a quick shower and hit the road, jack. Will be cruising down the highway to a place north of Coffs Harbour to a scrap retreat put on by the lovely Chelsea at www.scrapboutique.com.au

3 days and 2 nights of scrapping and craftyness with a bunch of other like-minded ladies with all meals included - ie - *no cooking*! wahoo!

Lucky me.

Note: the three kids and one husband do not suffer, never fear. they are heading to nannie and pop's place to be spoiled and play heaps. all good.

Nice Things

It's always fun to play with new things. It's fun to bake and create (and eat, lets be honest!) and use pretty things. I played with some new pretty and useful things today I got from a new little shop www.debskitchen.com.au

I had a helper to do the mixing - obviously the head and hand moves in sync. Just a basic biscuit mix I always use and this time I was attempting to create some masterpieces using the 'biscuit cutter'. I had seen them in the shops and wondered how they would go . . . until I was reminded (been eating them for years - doh!) that my Mummy-in-law had one. A well-used-over-20-years-loved beauty. She let me borrow and play.

How could I go past a pink one? I got a silicone bowl scraper - nice and solid to hold - and scrapes quite nicely also. The big winner is that 'sheet' draped over my sink, holding said scraper. Reusable baking paper! It is *so* nice. On my big baking tray I placed the sheet and splotted all the biscuits straight on . . . and those sweet little mouthfuls glided off beautifully.

I suppose now wouldn't be the time to kick oneself after generously giving one reusable baking paper sheet from my 2-paper-pack to my big sister. The two sheets would work together - one in the oven baking and the other on my bench having more biscuits splotted on. Next time I will have to get us both a 2-pack.

I couldn't keep the pile of biscuits for long . . . there were some little fingers grabbing them and eating faster than I could re-pretty the pile.

After experimenting with the 'biscuit cutter' and having success, I think I want me one! I am sending a container of biscuits to little school tomorrow for Caleb to show off his baking and to share the love (er, calories!). It's nice to share.

The Cutey, The Fashionista & the Rock Star

Who on *earth* is this cool giraffe?


A cutey-patootie Griff. Teagan had this done for Griff's birthday - it is very cute.

A future fashionista doesn't conform to rules. She has her own rules. There can *never* be too many dots and spots . . . This was her choice to go to kindy on Melbourne Cup day, fitting but not intentional . . . little horse races don't really rate in Zali-world!? Maybe next year.

This screams 'Rock Star'! This dude has been rockin' these sunnies and getting *plenty* of compliments.

A very cool gift from some very cool people from a sweet little shop www.littlebarebear.com.au - thanks!

Time for a Nap . . .

I set up Griff in his highchair with a snack to watch ABC for Kids with Caleb . . . I was having a shower. When I came downstairs . . . this is what I found . . .

Melts my heart. I took him up to bed *after* I took the photos - how could I miss out on capturing this?

So . . .

Sunday 4 October 2009

Matilda Jean Tealby

Naming Ceremony

I am a Godmother - here we are saying our promise to her (L-R: Mummy Janene, Bubby Mattie, me, Jim's sister is a Godmother and Janene's brother David is Godfather).

She changed from her ceremony frock to her party attire - we all need multiple outfits for special occasions! Mummy helped Bubby Mattie cut her cake (white chocolate mud!).


A beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony.


This little blossom is a card I made recently. It is a challenge at ScrapBoutique - Liz showed us how to make the flower and I threw on some pink felt ribbon.



My little Griffy likes cords. He likes the study. Which is full of cords. I caught him in the act . . .

Heading up to the beach this week for a little R & R while the Hubby has some leave. I am ready to suck in that fresh ocean air baby! Enjoy your week!

Travelling in Style

Did I tell you that I got one of these things?

My butt still wonders what on earth I am thinking. I am *positive* I have a bruised tail bone or bum bone or something. Whatever it is, it is sore. The gel seat cover assists a little, but I think I could do with another 3 or 4 of them.

The trailer is the 'chariot-of-le-kids'. Those lumps get to sit there and comment on their surroundings while muggins huffs and puffs up the mountainous terrain.

As I am a serious glutton for punishment (e-gad) my two wheels also supports a child seat. Just got that on the weekend, will need to get a piccie. Basically I can take all three kidlets out for a ride. Pretty clever I thought.

Yep.

Who thought straight away . . . what an idiot? Sure, everyone, thanks for that!

I can load them up, but then I have to pull them all! Oh My.

This arvo we went out . . . crikey, baby awake, will finish tomorrow!

Hey!

Miss Giggly Ida . . . I heard you sniggering down there . . .

How the bloody hell are you? I still have to check out your royal palace . . . soon . . .

DVDV

Tuesday we went over to Civic to get some $1 DVD's. I was *astonished* to find out it no longer exists! Obviously we don't hire them frequently and had no idea of the change.

$1.50 DVD's. Oh. My.

I decided to 'go wild' with chick flicks - my fave type of movie. See?


Caleb picked Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go DVDV's. I picked romantic comedy, teenage light stuff and a cartoon. However, The Tale of Despereaux - it has some scary rats, so I stopped watching that. I don't do scary. I don't mind admitting I am a wuss. I don't do blood, scary, intense type stuff. I like fun fairy floss soft stuff. And Zac Effron. *Sigh*

Note: I am not mis-typing. You may have DVD's but we have DVDV's. That is what the kids call them. Mum, can you put on the Dora DVDV please?

Wonderful

I just found out some *wonderful* news from a friend. I am over the moon! Very exciting. Excellent excellent stuff. Wahoo! Big hugs to you!

Can't Quite . . .

reach . . . need water . . . stretching up on tippies . . . doh!

Yesterday we had a fun play at the park - just to make sure everyone was tuckered out and ready for a good sleep. Park wasn't real busy and the kids ran around madly getting dusty and barky and filthy. As you do.

Washing

Lots of washing today. A couple of loads of clothes and stuff - Grandma did most of that. Up at 5am, as usual, for the markets adventure. I went to the gym for a quick 'session' . . . and even though I was pretty scared, I . . . rode my bike there! Gulp. It was all good though and I will be doing it again, felt like a bit of a kid racing down the hill . . . weeeeeeee.

KMart was the next adventure (after a very nice shower and fresh clothes) to purchase Zali some sneakers and a bike and socks and things. She picked out a fun pair of Dora sneakers and has been traipsing around the house with them still tied up with the elastic.

I made an *awesome* fruit salad for lunch. The Mango Man was back at the markets so we indulged ourselves with our 'first of the season'. Cutting up and sharing a mango - jeez, that takes every ounce of goodness in me - I find it hard to share that sweet ball of yummo! Zali says 'mmm, I like that mango!' Hmpf. She has already taken an interest in my kiwi fruit bowl. Sharing is *so* overrated.

After a nap, it was time to get wet and dirty. We hosed down our windows to clean up after the almighty dust storm. The fun part was pretending to spray the kids with the hose as they watched from inside the window/glass doors - they ran away giggling . . . Sadly with our run of droughty-type weather the kidlets hardly even know what a hose is!

The little angels came outside and we all washed the cars. They enjoyed being 'good helpers', splashing around on the wet cement and a finishing treat of getting in the front seat to move the cars back in the garage.

Dinner was made as Zali drew pictures and Caleb set up a truck stop. Made a quick cheese and bacon pizza and did a bewt rump and vegetable stir fry.

The weekend went a little too fast!

Sat-er-day

Caleb recently finished a six week therapy project following his last Botox injections, a project with the Royal Children's Hospital researching Individual Vs Group therapy. Caleb was plucked out to participate in the group - which was great as the company of other kids made the whole thing much more fun. He got a special shirt to wear . . . with a big smiley face on it!

I managed a few (dodgy) snaps at the last session. The kids occasionally were treated to a wall climb at the close of the morning - not sure if Caleb was sleeping upright or clowning around.



Griffy watched on while the group played Balloon Tennis - every one's favourite game.

One of the boys uses walking sticks . . . Griff was intrigued . . .

At eleven months and one day, the Biff-meister had his first ice cream cone. It was a winner with his sore little gums and nasty budding teeth. Not so much a winner with his clothes, the high chair or anything/one in the vicinity. His little red cheeks and nose was from being emerged in the freezing ice cream. He likey.

Looking at a toy brochure sitting next to me - up the top corner it screams '12 weeks to Christmas'. Cripes.

Hope the dust is settling at your place!