Wishes

Shouting out big birthday wishes to two wonderful little boys!

Max and Ben turned three today. Yay!

Their cake rocked. Max had a green crocodile and Ben had a chocie teddy bear. Hmm, I wonder if I am too excited about the cake?

Will post pics tomorrow! Thanks Meagan, you are a great Mummy!

Tempting

This plate of nutritional goodness, this mouth watering delicacy, this salty/sweet collection of the worlds best creations, is my favourite meal. Especially created by Jamaica Blue. Of course I don't mind sharing this with everyone, but when I saw this most perfect photo, I needed to share with my sweet JJ. Rock on!

Thick french toast with bacon and caramelised banana topped with maple syrup and a dash of cream. Oh. My. Heart. Be. Still.



I do have to thank my (great with tucker!) sweet friend Mel for this addiction. Initially, as you might, I thought what a strange combination. She makes a *great* dish except with strawberries (that *totally* rocks also) and took my 'french toast/bacon/selected fruit with extras' virginity.

I have made it and I did a great job, happy happy family that day!

However, Jamaica Blue is quick and easy, minimal mess and dishes (for me).

Nepal?

Driving home from our adventures this morning, Caleb asks 'Where's Santa?'

'He's on holidays' I replied.

'Nepal?' is what I 'hear' float from the back of the car.

Keh? What the?

'Ahh, yes Caleb, he is at the North Pole!'

Chocolate is Evil

I suppose you all know about my friends news? Nic is preggers! I am happy for Nic and Keith, truly I am. It is a nice chapter in their love story. Did you hear the reporter ask them is it a boy or girl? Really? Are you that much of an idiot? I hope they don't get totally hounded by the media (yeah right!) and I am happy to hear the baby will be born Australian. That is the way it should be. That is the good news story of the day.

The embarrassment story of the day involves my daughter. We went to Kmart to get a booster seat for her and put the highchair out to greener pastures. In and out was my plan. The little angels got off the leash (truly, I am joking, however after reading this I must just invest in a couple!) and had fun darting around the aisle. Thankfully we only walked down one aisle to get it and return to the checkout. I got in the *slowest* checkout and stood waiting for ages. Which was basically a green light for the angels to play chasey.

When they had detoured around a stand or two, my brows started to furrow. Caleb comes walking out slowly and happy, is he eating something? Can't be. Zali then dawdles down the aisle toward me chomping. On a Freddo filled with chocie drops (like the kinder surprise type with goodies inside). You little ... !

I scooped her up, she had eaten the bottom of it, drat. I wasn't sure if she had eaten the foil wrapping or pulled it off. Drat. Well, better buy it now, I don't think I can blame rodents when she is caught chocolate handed. I look for the bar code. Um, I think she ate it. Maybe I should run her through the scanner! (Self, wonder how many Fly Buys I would get for her?)

Of course to be fair, I told Caleb to go and get one for himself. He takes off and comes back saying he can't find it. Drat. Off I go to grab it and get back to the checkout. I can't find it. How come little miss-bar-code-eater can find something that no-one else can. Drat. Obviously by this stage we have lost our spot in the checkout line. I am walking up and down the damn confectionery aisles looking for another green Freddo dude. Surely she could not find a one and only lonely Freddo. Just as I was giving up and heading to ask a friendly Kmart employee, I saw the green shimmering on the bottom shelf - prime taking for a 17 month old!

Yes, you may ask, why was I going to all this trouble? Two reasons. I had to take a bar code to the checkout, remember? And Caleb was *not* going to miss out. I tried to shake the contents out of half-eaten Freddo to share, and, erm, let me just say that wasn't an option. This was one instance where trying to reason with a jealous three and a half year old was the last thing on my mind with little miss-bar-code-eater getting chocolate over most of her face, not wanting to part with it and wanting to adventure through the centre and socialise with any child that came within sniffing distance.

Remember I said the Kmart visit was in and out? It was more like a comedy skit showing a frazzled mother wondering if having children was the best option or should she have gotten a guinea pig instead?

Thankfully there was a Gloria Jeans on the way out and I got me some caffeine. While waiting for my 'refreshment' I kept Miss happy with a plastic spoon and Mr occupied with the thought of helping to vacuum when we got home.

Sweet

The gorgeous Kerry sent me some photos from the kids' kindy Christmas party. This photo is sweet, Caleb wrapped around Kerry like a koala. He was tired, and he has a very special spot for Kerry. Love it.






Looking at some photos lately, I have realised where Caleb gets his strange photo faces from . . . me!

Honestly, I try and look normal when the camera is about to blink, but I just don't think I can do normal. No comment needed, thanks Sheree!


Man, today has been a challenge. Putting it politely! The sticky heat is so draining. The kids don't like it, and don't hesitate in letting me know. The two half shells had scored pretty decent amounts of rainwater. I dragged (and broke a bit, oops) the shell from the yard up onto the covered cement. Then proceeded to dump mop bucket loads of rainwater from the other half a shell into the 'shell pool'. The kids were in the nicky-noo-nar splashing around in the water having a great time. They definitely enjoyed the cool play, but still didn't mind the whine when someone touched someone else's water jug.

Make sure you are drinking lots of water, it is good for you!

She in Boots

I love this! My little girl in Uncle David's work boots. Thanks for sending the photo Sheree!

She is loving big people shoes and I am finding odd shoes all around the house. Caleb walks around in one shoe also. The worse part is when you are late to leave the house, I run to find my shoes and then have to begin a Hide and Seek game to complete my pair.

I had to try bigger shoes on Caleb to see if his new AFO would fit inside. Not much luck. One pair has red in them (they are basic play shoes) and he is really liking them, wants to wear all the time. Won't go back to his nice brown sandals. Dammit. This thing of having an opinion and wanting to wear certain things, hmm, don't think I like it.

What a yucky sticky day. When we were heading home from the markets at 6.30am, it was uncomfortable already. Cripes. And Caleb still wants to vacuum, I say nope, too hot to vacuum. Report me to Child Services if you must, but I am not vacuuming in this heat for the entertainment of my child. Zali was vacuuming in the nicky-noo-nar this morning, however I suggested that doing that chore in that state of undress has bought much misery to certain people doing strange things with stated equipment. She gave me a look, then continued on her merry little way.

Lesson of the day? No-one listens to my dribble, not even my Mummy-loving-little-girl.

Wake up bright, smiling and happy on Monday!

Yay

Yay! Mel and Brent arrived home today! Missed them and can't wait to see their photos and hear about their travels. Will be *really* nice to see them.

When I was packing on the Friday before Christmas to head up to Toowoomba, the kids were downstairs playing. Hard life for some. There were lots of giggling, I knew they were doing something no-no. While they played though, I had peace to get stuck into the packing. It was quite warm and I wanted to get it done and hop in the car so they could sleep on the way up.

After a period of silence I went to check on them, silence can be worse than giggling in the no-no stakes.

This is what I found . . .


The poor dears had tuckered themselves out.

Caleb had perched himself on the lounge for a few minutes of Rags before having a nap.






Little Miss Zali was stuck on the ottoman, complete with sheepskin for added comfort. No wonder they were quiet!

When I first saw Zali I thought she was covered in sweat and might be unwell. Yeah, no. That was what the giggling was all about. She had gotten Caleb's water bottle and been splashing around like a human fountain. She was covered in large patches of water, the water bottle was empty. Least it was good clean fun for them. Plus now I had more quiet time to finish the packing!


Here is Campbell blowing out his candles on his birthday cake. Sheree made a chocolate cake with yellow butter icing. Different coloured lollies spelt out his name and the four balloon lollies had tails made with Sheree's brand new piping set. It was fun to make, I helped only slightly with the lollies. Making the letters, not eating them. Except the peanut M&M's.



Cripes it is hot today. Sticky hot, uncomfortable hot. There is a list of things I wanted to get into tonight, but I have the motivation of a dead mosquito.

I heard during the week, but today I saw it myself. Hot Cross Buns. At the supermarket. Totally wrong. Lordy.

Remember to get stuck in to the chilled water people - hydrate! Off to get me some.

No Way

I visited Spotlight this evening and the kids were both in bed when I returned. I checked on them just before and Adrian had not shut the window or blind. Normally the window is open a small amount for some fresh air and a touch of coolness. The blinds are drawn up to the window opening to keep out the light of the morning, my feeble attempt at getting them to sleep longer than dawn!

In the process of fixing the situation, I moved Caleb's 'torch'. It was a present from the Telfer family. There is a light part, wheels, handle and a noisy part. The noisy part hadn't bothered me . . . after years of training I can ignore (some) recurring sounds. It was sitting next to Caleb's bed sticking out a bit too far.

Self, pick it up gently so to not make noise, and relocate to quiet spot so it doesn't accidentally get touched.

You see, you turn the torch light on, but the noisy part starts when absolutely any part of the contraption moves.

I must have moved a wheel 1/5000 of a millimetre. It starts chugging and choo-chooing. It cuts through the quiet still air like a megaphone.

Self, you *idiot*!

I wait for noise or movement from either little person. Nothing. Phew.

I continued fixing the blinds and all was good. Self, exit room now while the situation is good.

Self. Kicks. Thomas. Torch. On. Exit. Of. Room. It starts chugging and choo-chooing, again.

I grabbed it and ran out of the room, bursting into giggles when I was a few metres away from the alleged scene. I could not believe it. Trying to keep quiet and leave the room safely and I am like a moving, talking, dancing clown. I only need big colourful boots, curly coloured hair and a honky horn and I could be a professional!

Unbelievable.

Back on Deck

Alrighty then. I have finally got my software I need to play with my photos (and make them blog-size!) . . . yippeeeeee!

It is way past my bedtime, but wanted to share one photo. I know it ain't in focus, I know you can see way too much lunch, but I really love this photo. These kids are *nuts*! Love them.


P.S. Jill, will book out the entire month of April for you. I will sit and wait everyday, just so I am ready and able. Hmmm, does this sound like I have no life?

Welcome 2008!

Happy New Year to you!

2007 went fast. Christmas is over. The fireworks have all popped and brought in the brand new year. Public holidays are done and normal starts to resume. Ha! Normal, like anything is normal! Least though I might start to remember what day it is again.

I really hope you and your loved ones (and ones that are around but annoy you) had a lovely Christmas and completed the season with a spiffy New Years Eve. Pinch and a punch.

My NYE was so exciting! Gee, I don't even know where to start. I was asleep in bed at 10.30pm. I am *so* uncontrollable!

Luckily, cause my two angels were up at 4.40am (again!) this morning. Some folk might have been on their way home and/or feeling a little worse for wear, but we were watching Hi-5 and eating green apples.

Late this morning we had some sad news. Claude, our long time blue feathered friend passed away. He has gone to Budgie Heaven and we truly hope he enjoys his new home and flies free and happy. Rock on, Claude.