A grandparent's job

I think I understand the old saying, 'If I knew how much fun it would be to have grandkids, I would have had them first!!!"

We went camping with my mum & dad for the June long weekend, and we spent a great few days with them in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. There was a great caravan park that we stayed at - with putt putt golf, heated pools, and this wonderful huge big jumping pillow!! The kids had a great time at the park, and also at the Ginger factory when we spent a few hours visiting. Just before we were due to jump in the car for the drive home, lovely Nan pulls out these two wonderfully delicious looking lollipops!!! And boy did the boys eyes light up!!! They still have them and when they remember we pull them out for a few more licks, won't be long to go now as they are starting to chew into them!!! If I didn't have to act all grown up so much, I would grab a lollipop just for me and enjoy the sugar high with my boys too!!! Damn you common sense!!!!

So here are the 'before' photos for Hayden's bedroom makeover extravaganza!!! Please don't mind the mess - it was spotless 2 minutes before - but this is pretty much what his room looks like most of the time!!! I'm allowed to call this 'an eclectic mix' because I have a tendency to buy lots of little things that don't match at all, and I think this is genetically hard to fight if it's been handed down to others, so poor Hayds is going to be the same!!!

Soon though (don't hold your breath!) we will have a room full of wonderful solar systems, moons, rockets & general space themed items - WON'T THAT BE EXCITING!?!!!

We have chosen colours and some accessories so far, but will have to do all the preparation before hand, which will take the most time!!!
I hope to update very soon with some progress, but first I have to pick up hubby from the airport - this time he's been in Melbourne on a boys weekend, not for work for a change. He'll be very tired and terribly hungover I would suspect, so I'll be taking the boys across the road to a big festival 'backyard bonanza' for a few hours so he can sleep it off - before I head to a workmates place for high tea - how fancy!!!!!

Mark is away again tomorrow to Fiji for another week..............I know he feels guilty about being away from the family for such long amounts of time..........but he shouldn't feel like that - the boys are very understanding and Hayds knows that he's the man of the house while Mark's away - and now that I'm getting to know more people in my neighbourhood, I don't feel alone at all - to be honest I mostly enjoy my own company over others, but then at other times it always nice to have someone else to chat to!!!

And when he comes home I know that I can name my time and go out for a few hours, even if it's grocery shopping or just wandering around a street on my own (or visiting!) he is happy to oblige. It's a pretty good balance that we have - and if anything it makes our relationship stronger - gotta love that boy!!!!! xxx

PS - Yes that is me in the corner of the first photo - I thought I was being clever taking a photo above my head to get the most of the bedroom in the shot - couldn't be bothered doing any photo shop - and I don't have photo shop anyway!!! LOL

The gorgeous devil spawn

So young Master Thomas is asleep at the moment in bed - he's 3 in every sense of the word, and it's only something other mother's understand fully. I remember my sister telling me about the terrible two's that don't stop on their 3rd birthday, they actually go forever!! And the other mum's at playgroup that all sit and nod their heads and tell you the horror stories of their ones when they were playing up at that age.......and I suppose it's never something that you want to admit to - but there are days when I just want to stop what I'm doing, and walk out the door with nothing but the shirt on my back, never to return. I don't care that they are too small to fend for themselves, or that they may be damaged for life from that moment on, I just run out of patience and I don't feel like there is any answer.

Lucky for me (and them!) I've never got to that point - I've always been able to compose myself - or close the door and lock them in (or lock myself in my room if the situation has been unbearable!) and then two minutes later that good old Mother-guilt has crept back in, and I end up just hugging my baby, no talking, no words, no sounds..............just cuddles and a feeling of undying and unlimited love for my beautiful son. Usually that's all that they wanted in the first place, but I haven't been able to provide that, as I've been too sidetracked with other aspects of my life.

I know that when children are this small that we as mother's are THEIR WHOLE UNIVERSE, and nothing that we do will change that. We are there (so they think,) to do whatever it is that they want us to do - which half the time is just be there with them..................but like John Lennon once said - 'life is what happens while you're busy making other plans'..............

Sometimes I need to stop the rest of my life and embrace that need, rather than feeling like a victim of the situation that is completely out of my control.

And at other times, like right now, when he is tiny, and asleep, and defenceless, and the most amzingly complex creature I have ever laid eyes on, it all makes sense!!!! I want to say sorry for all the times I've yelled at him, lost my patience and (heaven forbid) smacked his tiny little bum and sent him to bed with no tea. I want to make it up to him and be there for him for every moment that he needs me........................................but I can't be there all the time, I have to let him go and be himself without me. And I know that soon will come a day when he doesn't even want to know me (far into the future I hope!) so for now, I'll play tigers with him, and dance when he wants to, and play chasy, and make 18 playdough snakes for as long as he asks me, and hopefully he may remember these little moments that we shared..........just the two of us!!!!

Enjoy the circus that is young children......................it's not in town for very long!!!!! xxx

Sunday Mornings

Ahhh the bliss of it all!!!! Hubby has left for an early golf game, so he'll be happy...........I've had a sleep in until 7.00, so I'm feeling well rested.............Hayds has met me downstairs and is now happily writing up his memoirs on the computer.............and young Master Thomas has just woken up with a dry bum and a big cheeky grin - what a great start!!!!!!

We have a coffee machine that Mark's dad gave us (he won it at a golf day and very graciously gave it to us, we love it!) Now I'm not a coffee drinker at all (I had to drink two cups out of politeness for an old Aunty when I was about 10 and I still get shivers!) but I love to try and make the perfect cuppa for my darlin' - We have sourced some wonderful beans from a friend, (http://www.roastandpost.com.au/) I grind them freshly just before brewing the cup, and then I froth the milk to perfection. Once it's all poured into the mug, we sprinkle on some hot chocolate and dig in for a lovely, creamy start to the day - mmm mmm!!!!

Now I wanted to get in on the fun of the frothy milk, but was sick of hot chocolates. Luckily hubby suggested chai latte's - OH MAN THEY ARE GOOD!!! They are like tea, but with cinnamon and spices, they smell just as good as they taste!!! So now whenever I make a cuppa for Mark, I make a chai for myself - and of course, the boys love having their 'babychino's' too!!!! I'm not a girl who gets too excited about fancy schmancy stuff like espresso machines, but now that I can enjoy a delightful cafe style taste without leaving home, I'm a big fan!!!!

I think I'm sounding too much like an ad for Breville, so I'd best get started on this day. Where else in the world do you wear a jumper - and sunscreen - in Winter!?!!! I'm not a cold weather fan, but I sure am loving these Queensland Winters!!!!!

The scarf is finished!!!

So I put my hand up at playgroup, and said that I would be happy to make some scarves to sell at the local markets to raise money for our group to have a few funds...................WHY DO I DO THIS!?!!! Is it a need to feel thanks from others, have I suppressed feelings from childhood that has left me damaged and continually wanting people's approval!?!!!

ANYWAY!! I have FINALLY finished ONE scarf - it has taken me close on a month and the markets are about 5 weeks away, SO i'd better make the next ones a little thinner and a little less fancy!!

I think the model showing this scarf is certainly loving the job - just bring out a camera and he'll be happy to give off that cheeky grin, so long as he can see his picture straight away - (I think he gets that from his father!!!) LOL

Hubby went to Samoa & American Samoa this week - he got back this morning and had to have about 4 hours sleep in the middle of the day to try to catch up with the time difference. He'll still be a bit 'doughy' tonight but should be right for a day of golf tomorrow - lucky bugger!!! Hopefully he'll get home early enough for me to get out of the house for an hour or two of 'me time'

Oh - almost forgot - I finished a watercolour picture that I did.................I wasn't happy with some of the colours so I started to add some acrylic and am pretty happy with the result. Not sure how it will look as a photo, but I'm pretty happy that I've finally finished two things on my long, long list. 2 down, 28,000 to go!!! (give or take two or three!!)

Switching modes

Tuesday night is 'dance like a goose in your lounge room' at our place!!!!

So tonight is Tuesday night - I have finished working two full days, and am pretty well spent!!!

Darling Snag hubby is away in Samoa this week (high flyer I know, he has promised to take me with him one day!!!) and so I have to look after the cherubs on my own. As I've said to people beore, it's not a hard job looking after kids, I think the hardest thing is to be at their beck and call all the time, and not getting things done (as you know I have a fairly long list!) when I want to get them done. But that's ok, I can now dedicate the next two days and nights to doing things with and for them.

Wednesdays are usually spent around the house with Thomas, catching up on washing and cleaning, and Thursdays we go out and about - play group in the morning, shops or wherever we need to go in the afternoon. Of course there's never enough hours in the day on these 'days off' - I try to make a bit of an effort with tea, instead of the packet quick mixes that we have on the days we both work, and that usually takes time.

I ALWAYS make lists so that I know what as to be done (or maybe I just like feeling that little bit of accomplishment from the small things!?!!) and I try to make a bit of time for me to do something purely for me - whether it's scrapping, or reading a magazine, or painting, or even chilling out in the hammock with a cup of tea (or delicious chai latte!) I find that having even 10 minutes of me time can keep me going with the boys for another day!!!

When hubby gets home from this week away he'll be jetlagged on Saturday, then playing golf on Sunday, and then he'll be heading off again the next weekend............so I've arranged a girls movie night on Tuesday - gotta schedule me time when I can!!!!!

Anyway, thought I should just add some proper pickies of the boys - Thomas is 3 and Hayden is 5, and I know I'm biased, but I personally think that they are the most gorgeous boys I have ever see!!!!! I'll have to make sure that I write a few notes about each of them - it's quite funny how different two boys can be!!

Anyways - Home made is on, and I'm ADDICTED!!!! Chow for now!!!

Did I mention I may have OCD!?!!

You see, I have a tendency to itemise all the things that I want to do during the day, and then instead of just leaving it at that, I write down times next to each listed item, and I sometimes go around with my stop watch, and time myself.................it's terribly depressing and extremely sad to think that this is what works for me (must be my army kid upbringing!?!!) but for some crazy reason it gets me excited to check items off a list, regardless of how long they have taken for me to do!!! I could probably scan one of these pages and add it to this blog, just so you can see how my brain works...............it's very regimented and concise, and disturbing!!!

Anyways - now that I've been through a weekend, I've decided to add to the list of things that I want to do with my life!!!! Short term, they include -

1.Making a profit from selling Avon, without buying half the stuff myself! I have loved the products for ages, and thought that it would be a good idea to sell the items myself. Now if I don't make any money out of it, at least I still get out of the house with little man for a half hour before we pick up big brother, and I've got my daily exercise!!!

2.Decorating my sons rooms - we went out and looked for some pretty cool colours and furniture for No.1 Son - he'll be sleeping in the solar system one of these days, we've decided on the furniture and colours, but I'll be doing a lot of the accessories (apparently now I know how to whip up a few cool cushions, some meteor curtains, and we saw a funky looking lava lamp/night light) - once I document every detail in my 'big magic book of ideas', (that's a whole other blog!) we might actually get something done!!!! Before pictures to come soon!!

3. I have this great idea that involves wood & paint, and a heap of happy kids and parents, but the details are a little fuzzy!!! Once I know how to turn the wood into a fun thing for the kids, which in turn makes the parents want to give me lots of money, I'll let you in on the secret!

4. I love nothing more than to create stuff - at the moment it's painting that's doing it for me - just the feel of the brush on the end of my hands making some gorgeous textures on a canvas is amazing. I'm currently working on some watercolours of a few lillies - and before you know it, I'll have masses of art collectors commissioning me to do some pieces for them. (isn't that how it works!?!!)

5. If the painting doesn't work, then there's always the local pottery studio that I've joined with my sister-in-law.....I do have a very run down pottery wheel in the garage downstairs, but have BIG PLANS to create a mini studio (wouldn't that be nice!?!!) where I can merrily work when I have a spare 10 minutes, and create some beautiful pieces (I can take orders if anyone is interested, might have to give me a few months - I seem to have a lot on my plate right now!!!)

It's all a part of my elaborate plan to be a stay at home mum that works for the local radio station in the morning, then does some crafty work (because I'll be an in demand artist!) at lunch time, just in time to pick up the kids from school and be an awesome mum!!!! Wouldn't it be lovely!!!! I know if I keep putting the energy out there, it'll happen eventually!!!

But in the meantime, there's always the collages that my boys do at child care and school. I nagged hubby for a while into putting up a piece of canite (corkboard,) so that we could pin up the boys items - proudly displaying their artistic prowess - but I've filled the board now, and don't have the heart to take any old pieces down - maybe I should try and organise some memory boxes for the boys where I can put the old pictures - OH MAN WHERE'S MY BIG IDEAS BOOK!?!!!!

PS - Did I mention that I did some work on the radio station on Saturday night!?!! I took the family to a local school fete where they had kids rides and steak sandwiches and FIREWORKS!! I rang my local station as required and did a few 'crosses' from 'out and about' - the first time I've been on air in over 10 years!!! I LOVED IT!!!! It wasn't much, but it was a start, and who knows, the station manager knows now that I'm happy to do these things, might end up being a step in the right direction for my dream job!!!

PPS - I want to add so many things to my blog right now, but it's taking up a lot of space, and this may be too long to keep people interested (what's not interesting about me - maybe I should write a list!?!!) I might have to keep it simple in the future, but then again, I'm happy to go with the flow (as long as the flow doesn't take any longer than 10 minutes, I have things to do!!!) xxx

Sic Infit (so it begins!)

Wow, where do you start!?!! I want to start this 'blog-venture' with something whimsical and poignant, but there's only another two ads before Private Practice starts up again, and I just can't miss what will happen next!!!!

So here's what I'm going to try and do..................I'm going to try and update my blog (at least 3 times a week,) with all of the little things that I do in my life, that gives me a smile!!! I work 3 days a week, I have one son who has started school, and my baby is a busy 3 year old boy who likes nothing more than to scream "Mummy" all day long (he's lucky he's cute!)

I'll try and keep this work/life balance in check, and I'll make sure to have fun along the way!!!! I'll also try and grow my own vegies, save money while grocery shopping, watch less tv, lose a few kilos, find my personal style (in the house AND in the wardrobe, I'm such a dag!,) and I might even try to fit in some renovations along the way!!!! If that's not enough, then I'll also be a member with the school fundraising committee, try to start my own hobby business, and also volunteer with the local radio station. DO YOU THINK I TAKE ON TOO MUCH!?!!!! Wish me luck!!! xxx