More birthday stuff!

I got really spoiled!! See???
Turning 30 wasn't so bad afterall.

Body Shop stuff from my brother and his wife. Let me tell you that strawberry lipgloss smells so good you wanna eat it!!



A Christmas book and ribbons from Mum. Christmas stuff... *sigh*... heaven!!


A toiletrie bag for camping from Mum. :) This got good use on our little getaway recently! It was soooo good not to have to share with the boys!


A cooking magazine from a lady in my church. Awww she's so sweet. I LOVE cooking magazines!


Clothes from Daz and the kids - a skirt, white top and white belt.


A necklace from Daz and the kids. It's very sweet. You can't see from the photo, but there is a little pink stoned flower that rotates when I move.


An Il Divo DVD from my bestie in NSW and a new Singstar game from Daz. Disney!! COOL!!!


A tea chest filled with tea and a gorgeous teacup and saucer from my bestie in QLD.




AND a puzzle which is torturing me because I can't do it!! This was given by my older brother and his wife. I am going to go crazy.... LOL


So I was totally spoilt and I had a wonderful day.

New Year's Resolutions

My New Year's Resolutions for 2009.

1. Body: Exercise for 3 hours a week minimum.
2. Mind: Enrol in study
3. Spirit: listen to teaching/messages when I go walking.
4. Money: Get on top of our finances
5. Organisation: Get on top of our to-do lists that have exploded over the last few years!
6. Family - have a day trip for the benefit of the kids once a month.
7. Family - go away camping once every 6 weeks.

Christmas/Holiday photos

Hey ho!!
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. We just rocked up home from our 4 day break and we are feeling very relaxed and much better for it.

So without further rambling from yours truly, here are the pics.

On the 23rd the kids opened their "big" presents. That way they could play with them for a bit.

Sir E got a Wiggle Water playset. He loves it!



Milly got a F&P Baby Grand Piano. Excuse the topless shot, but she had dirtied her clothes up and since it was the end of the day, I couldn't be bothered redressing her.





And Mop got her own little Laptop thing with educational games, stories and stuff on it.



This is how we saw her for the next two days.



Christmas Morning!! Stocking time!!






I must admit, I ran out of time to make Milly's stocking... so she got a bag. That's ok, she was stoked with it.



Here she is with her Maraccas she got in her bag.


And the hot guy in the background is NOT available. All mine!!!


Here is Sir E engrossed in his In the Night Garden Activity Book - wearing his brand new In the Night Garden PJ's from Grandpa and Grandma.


Then he got his very own Iggle Piggle stuffed toy that squeaks and sings the Iggle Piggle song. He LOVES ITNG. :)


More of Milly


I think she thinks her bouncing Tigger is possessed.


Mop's Jubilance:


Now this I want to do a shameless plug.
My friend Madame Jacquiline (she is soooooo going to kill me for calling her that) is the most wonderful lady, and she whipped up this little number that Milly is wearing for Christmas Day. It fitted her perfectly and everyone said she looked adorable in it!

So if you are looking for something rather cute, head over to Jac's shop and I am sure she will have something for you!








Now here we have a few shots of the kids on holiday.


I has TEEEF!





So there you have it. A small tiny weeny glimpse into the last week.

I'll be back with my birthday present photos and stuff.... soon.
Also will be back with New Year's Resolutions. :)

Have a very Happy New Year, however you choose to celebrate it. I hope 2009 will be filled with blessings, new hope and precious times for you and your family.

I just butt in on the tag.. LOL

I stole this from Mel... who stole this from someone else. So it's ok! :)

You have to bold what you have done already. If you read my blog, and have one of your own, I tag you. Make sure you comment, send me a link so I can read your answers too!!

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain. Sigh. Got proposed to in the rain. Dreamy moment.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book. E-books count don't they?
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Hmm done a fair bit haven't I? But there is so much more on the list I want to do. Mainly the travelling and visiting interesting places in Australia. :)

...on Christmas Day in the Morning!!

Good Morning!!

I am so tired. I've been awake since 5am and I seriously can't shut my brain off enough to go back to sleep. I lay tossing and turning and then finally gave up about 15 minutes ago and decided to get up so I would stop disturbing poor Daz who is very tired.

So it's Christmas morning... the house is so quiet. Probably in another hour the house will start stirring.

I am so excited about the day. It's going to be lovely. The kids will open their presents, then we will have special breakfast. Then I guess we will do whatever we like until lunchtime, when we head to Mum's for the afternoon. I am sure she will feed us up and then we can swap gifts. I already know what Mum is giving us... a new boardgame!! Sequence.... totally stoked by that. Shall give that a good workout on our time away.

Then tonight we have Nick and Lindsey over for tea with their boys/men. They are on their own at Christmas, since their family is in the UK. So we may as well make them part of our celebrations.

Last night we had Daz's family's rellie bash and it was fun! I really did well for Kris Kringle. I got an insulated picnic bag!! And it's a satchel for easy carrying!! That will get some good use for when we go away.
Cousin in law that I gave to loved her Pink Christmas Decoration and her pink butterfly necklace. She commented that she likes being paired up with someone who has similar tastes to her. :) So I think that was a hit!!

The kids had a wonderful time. They were spoilt rotten by Grandma and Grandpa. There is a whole wall lined up of presents over there that I am refusing to look at.... why? Because I can't stand it when things don't have homes. I have a huge urge to put things away, but can't for obvious reasons of slumbering babies. I have problems I think. LOL

I will post more photos of my birthday presents and details of the day soon. Just been too busy to scratch lately... actually this is the first time in a while I've sat down... and not resting from some huge task and on the way to another.

Today is going to be a lovely day.


From my heart to yours, I hope your Christmas is or has been absolutely wonderful. I hope and pray you experience joy, unity and love in your families, and happy memories are made with lots of laughs and good times.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Never forgotten

Dear Pops,
Today I have been thinking about you alot. All morning I have been making a big batch of cheese straws in your honor. Mum can't make them anymore, I think it just cuts her up. I make mine into stars instead of straws. I know how much you loved cheese straws, and Mum used to make you a batch at Christmastime.



My beautiful daughter - the one you knew about but never got to meet - she helped me make these stars. You would love spending time with her Pops - she's so much like me it's not funny! I watched her while she pressed out the star shapes and I was sad for her. She will never know what a wonderful man her great-grandfather was. She will never hear his gentle chuckle or his cheerful whistling. She will never investigate your veggie garden and nick your peas. She misses out on so much because you aren't with us anymore. We all do.

I wish you never left us. Life turned upside down, inside out and back to front when you went to heaven. But I still thank God everyday for the wonderful years I got to spend with you and the special times that we shared. I got almost 24 years of memories stashed up. That's alot of time and alot of memories.

But for every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose. You taught me so much in the last few months of your life. I will never ever let life beat me - it will knock me about, get me down, but it will never beat me. In the midst of your suffering. In the midst of your pain, you taught me the greatest lesson of all. How Great is Our God.

Even though you have been gone for 6 years now, you are still in my heart and I love you as dearly as I ever did. I still see your eyes when I look into both my girl's eyes. They inherited the Richardson Blues. I see you sometimes in my son. I feel you when I paint my house. I feel you when I work in my garden. I smile and remember when I hear my water feature tinkle.

I miss you so much and you are always just a thought away.

My first Birthday present.

Today Daz came home with a gift bag with a few gifts for my birthday from his parents.

I was sooo excited and so stoked with what they chose.

First of all is a Cookie Factory. I can't WAIT to try this out!! Christmas baking day is Monday so I'll definately give it a whirl. I am a huge fan of kitchen appliances. I use most of my kitchen appliances... the only one I don't use regularly is a juicer. I just can't be bothered. Makes too much mess and it's hard to clean.

Anyway... so I have a new appliance! That always makes me happy!

Second thing I got was a Quilting Calendar. It has a pattern for everyday!!! This is so wonderful! I am just starting out quilting and I really enjoy doing it.

I am just a bit spoiled. :)

I also scored a big bag of Fruitchocs! So my 30th year is off to a good start already! :)



Sorry this one is a bit blurred - I had shaky hands.

Small vent.

I love PJ's

I want PJ's for my birthday.

But there are none in my size ANYWHERE!!

DH hunted high and low.

Mate I must be a popular size. Only the skinny butt sizes are left.

Will have to order online I think!

A quiet moment - a rarity

I am sitting here, legs curled under me, like my Mum sits, Milly in bed, and the older two tikes out with their Dad buying my birthday present. The wind chimes are tinkling, the dishwasher humming and all is still. I've been deep in thought.

I'm at peace. My heart feels smooth again. My mind is quiet and calm. I don't feel like I will get anymore grey hairs this week.

It's been an interesting few weeks, and I believe yesterday was the big explosion. I don't really want to talk about it here, because it's unfair to those involved. A relationship had to end yesterday - and as sad as that it, my soul is at peace. I believe that for every thing there is a season and time for every purpose. That season is over for me now. But a new one is beginning.

Where will this new phase in my life take me? I turn 30 in a few days - and all of my friends tell me it's the best years of their life! Donna tells me it's the beginning of a new decade for me. I never saw it that way. So where will these next years take me? What will I be able to accomplish in these years? How can I serve God, my community and family? What will I acheive? What will I be?

I plan to rediscover myself in my 30th year. Who am I? Define Skipper. Emerge into my 30's confident and absolutely fabulous darling!

So the door of my 20's and the life I had in my 20's is closing. On Sunday a new door opens - into my 30's. There to walk with me are dear friends and family who are growing old with me. I am at the beginning of a decade, a fresh start!! I'm ready.

So on Sunday I won't be curling up in a ball and pretending it's not happening, I most certainly won't be having 30 candles on a cake, and I don't think I'll drink myself stupid... but I intend on embracing and "sucking it up" - because I am going to be 30 on Sunday, whether I like it or not. So may as well like it and make my life easier.

And it's now closing time at the shops, so I am going to get ready for the troops to arrive home and get on with things.

Her first trophy

Mop had her awards night last week. We were so proud of her! She won a trophy for scripture memorisation. I expect next year, she will be giving the rest of the kids a run for their money, she won't be a mid-year student so has a better shot at earning awards.

She sang a cute song that I sang as a kid:
Somewhere in outer space
God has prepared a place
For those who trust Him and obey
Jesus will come again
And though we don't know when
The countdown's getting lower every day.

CHORUS:
10 and 9, 8 and 7, 6 and 5 and 4,
Call upon the Savior while you may,
3 and 2, coming through the clouds in bright array
The countdown's getting lower every day.

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
BLAST OFF!

Awwww so cute. She folded her arms as she sang it, which was hillarious. Too bad I own a non-SLR with an awesome lense - because the photos were awful. We didn't get a shot of her on stage getting her award or singing because of our non SLR. I swear with my first paycheck and maybe second too... I will be buying an SLR camera!

ANYHOOO.... We did get this picture of her with her trophy.



Doesn't she look so cute in her uniform?
Oh I have added stars to the front to protect her - name and school :) But you get the general idea of the trophy.
She didn't like it. She wanted a pink and purple trophy. Brown is NOT her favourite color.

Mirror has been shattered... totally

8. Horrible virus transformed into evil bacterial infection and knocked me for six - I'm on antibiotics
9. Milly contracted the virus.
10. E contracted the virus and looks like he is on his way to a whopping ear infection.
11. Our lovely wonderful doctor whom we have seen for years - and also is a paediatrician, has just announced he is moving to another practice - private health care only AND it's ages away. :(


What's next? Bring it on!!

*I am being sarcastic... really I want to curl up in a ball and cry*

Perhaps this is a sharp lesson in life where God is saying "Seeee? Turning 30 isn't so bad after all is it???"

How do you see yourself baby?

My big, long legged girl was sitting in front of me, chatting to me while I was doing her hair. I took just that little bit longer, to savour the moment. It isn't a school morning where everything is usually crazy. I brushed her soft hair and listened to her talk about the flowers in the bushes outside our bedroom window.

When she was done she stood up. When I am sitting on my bed, I am staring into her chest.

"Give your ol Mum a hug"
She threw her arms around my neck obligingly.

"I love you Mop. You are such a wonderful, special girl, did you know that?"

"Yep!" she replied confidently "That's because I am your special gift from God"

You got it, baby. You got it.

Now I need to remember that, not only in the nice times, and when you are being good and lovely but also during the times when you frustrate me, when you answer me back, when you argue with me, when you yell at me. I also need to remember that God has an evil sense of humour and gave me a girl who is exactly like me. HAHAH!!

You are so precious, Mop. One day soon I won't be doing your hair, because you are so insistent in learning to do it yourself. That special time will be gone... I need to make the most of it.

Awwww..

She just came in and said that she was going to help me "You need to rest Mummy!" Awwwwwwwww....

It's nice when she isn't in school - she isn't tired and moody. She's quite pleasant!!

The Doctor is a comedian.

Diagnosis: severe viral infection. Apparently it's everywhere.

Treatment: Rest. Complete rest. Early to bed. Nanna naps. And ABSOLUTELY NO STRESS.



PFFFFTT What a joke!!!

I have three kids, with a gazillion xmas presents to make, with kids who are intent on killing themselves.... and that isn't supposed to stress me out?

Hahaha...

Gotta love him.

Right WHO broke that mirror!!??

We are on a bad run here.
In three weeks we have:

1. A split head from Master E and stitches
2. A dive off the change table, and nearly knocked unconscious from Milly Moo.
3. A hard fall on the arm and slinged for a while from Madam Mop.
4. A scream that rendered her unconscious - from Milly Moo.
5. FIL in hospital because his medication doses weren't correct.
6. Our car cracked something vital and had the towed away, insurance company hasn't gotten back to us, and we have no idea how long it will take to repair.
7. Now I am on my way to the doctors because I have been crook since Sunday and it's just not getting better.

I swear we are keeping our local surgery in business. Should buy shares in the place.

I thought bad things come in threes? Well we are into our third lot - I think we have inherited someone else's share!!

A horrible moment

I just had a horrible horrible moment. I have no idea what is going on with my kids and their self destructing at the moment. What next??? I am half expecting a broken leg by Christmas!!

Milly has been a bit clingy today - not a big deal. She is going through a clingy phase. She is not happy unless she is on my hip. Awwww, loves her Mummy. Anyway - after feeding her some lunch, I cleaned her up and laid her down in her cot for a nap. She was grizzling the whole time, and I thought it was tired signals. As soon as I laid her into the cot she suddenly started to scream - and she did one huge long scream - I picked her up straight away and tried to soothe her - all the air left her lungs... and she didn't inhale again. But she was still "trying" to scream - no sound coming out of her.. I started to pat her back talk in her ear, telling her to breathe... she turned a horrible shade of purple - then blue.
"MILLY BREATHE!!" I was getting frantic, and I was hitting her back, not sure what to do to get her to inhale. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she slumped unconscious. I quickly changed position to support her limp body.
"MILLY!!!!!" I was yelling in her face.... Thankfully she inhaled while she was in that unconscious state, and she came to a few seconds later, crying.

She howled and howled... I sat in the rocking chair with her, too scared to put her down again. I rocked her until she was in a deep sleep, then put her into the cot. Poor little mite..

I never ever want to see that ever again. I might give the parent helpline a call to find out what I can do in that situation. That was soooo scary!

A surprise and a picture.

First of all - this is a picture of the birthday girl, on her birthday wearing her "birthday suit" - we gave her this for her birthday.

How many times can I say birthday in a sentence?? LOL




As for the surprise. I woke up the other morning hearing Daz tapping away on the laptop next to me. "What ARE you doing??" I groaned, slightly grumpy - let's face it, I am NOT a morning person.

"Booking tickets to see Phantom of the Opera"





I'm sooooo excited!! I've been wanting to see that for years and years!!

That is showing in May so I have a bit of a wait. Oh well... I'll just have to be excited for 6 months! LOL


Well I best get going. Milly is having a little party tonight with my family - just a dinner and cake, but still, it's a celebration and I have a few things that need doing. The kids are off to my niece's fairy birthday party. Mop is dressed to kill in one of her fairy outfits.

Happy Birthday Milly Moo!!

Milly precious...

YOU HAVE NO REGARD FOR TRADITION!!! It's your birthday and you are still asleep!! Daddy and Mop had to leave for school/work without the tradtional sitting on our bed, opening presents and lots of birthday cuddles. Why?? Coz you are busy catching Z's. :) That's ok, you've had a few rough days with your teeth so you sleep all you like.

I can't believe it's been a year. Milly Moo you have bought such incredible joy to our lives. You are so affectionate, good natured, sweet and very social. I love that you want to be with us all the time. I love that you are so happy and so chatty. I love your funny little things you do. I love that you are so clever. I love your big blue eyes that are so expressive. I love your smile and laugh. I love your chubby little legs. I think you are just so beautiful. I am so glad you joined our family. You are such a blessing to us and we all love you dearly.

It feels just like yesterday when you were laying in my arms after you were born...


... now you are a beautiful big baby.



Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Hark! I hear the sounds of Milly chatting quietly in the cot. :) Best get my birthday girl her milk.

They are gonna think I beat my kids!!

On Sunday Mop had a fall. She was hanging upside down on the swing and fell really hard, landing on her arm. She cried very hard.

Yeah sure.... that's what they ALWAYS say.

Ever since then she's been complaining about her arm hurting and not doing anything with it. Today I finally took notice when I moved her arm slightly and she started to howl.

Took her to the doctors, they x-rayed her. Her arm is fine - well... not fine really. They got a sling thing set up for her to rest it a bit. If it's not better next week, we need to go back.

Poor kid. I can't believe I didn't think it could be anything serious - I just thought she was being a wuss bag. Then again, come to think of it, she's not really one to dwell over past hurts - she sucks it up and gets on with it. I really need to pay more attention.

The doctor who sewed E's head up saw me waiting for the sling to be popped on - saw that it wasn't E getting his stitches out and looked at me odd. Yes yes... I've been here recently.

SOOOO....
In less than 10 days we've had stitches, a suicide attempt jump off the change table and now this arm injury. What next? DH falls over and breaks his nose? I slip on one of the million Duplo blocks on my floor and break a leg? Or is it true, that these things happen in threes and it should be all over now??

Drama drama drama!!
Where did my nice quiet, level, peaceful, non-eventful life go?

Another bump, another book and other stuff

Hi everyone.
This week has been rather hazy - I can't even be sure it happened. Midnight last night - dead on deadline, my Domestic Guru Organiser for 2009 was released. I feel a huge sense of relief and satisfaction of seeing the finished product ready for sale. I'm really proud of it - I worked so hard on it. It's good.

On Saturday Milly Moo gave me a terrible scare. She decided to dive off the change table while I had turned to get something. I didn't manage to catch her - it happened so fast. All I heard was the sickening thud. She was laying as if she fell funny on her neck. I started to freak a bit, I picked her up, and her head was rolling around, and she looked like she was struggling to stay conscious. Poor kid, must have been a huge bump. She was tired and a bit clingy for about an hour, then she was back to normal. She had a bruise on her face to show for it.
The changetable is now in the garage. I won't be using it for her ever again.

Yesterday afternoon, we headed to Daz's work for his Annual Christmas Family event. It was so wonderful! It had a ball pit, face painting, a ride which I didn't even think about getting on, jumping castle, a big slide and lots of characters dressed up to talk to the kids. E was terrified of the big bouncy tigger. He shrunk into Daddy, while Tigger tried to interact. Tigger offered him a lolly - which E took LOL
Mop had her face painted as a butterfly, she looked lovely. The face painters were excellent. They both went on the jumping castle - E was very unsure and wouldn't move away from the side. The man who was running the jumping castle was very kind, and went in and grabbed E's hand and showed him what to do. E was very confident by the end of his turn and was having a marvelous time.
Santa came to see the kids and each child was given a present. Milly received a Little People Train, E got a drum filled with musical instruments, and Mop got some mystic creature thing. I was expecting little $2 toys, not such nice gifts.

I've been spending a bit of time with my Mum in the afternoons doing craft. She has a craft room - so I put Milly down in Mum's cot for a nap, and E potters around the garden, while I can work away on different things. It's great!! Mum makes me cups of coffee and chats to me. It's nice having her company and she has lots of good ideas with crafts.

I have 21 days left until my 30th birthday.
Milly turns 1 in 4 days.
Xmas in 25 days.
It will be 2009 in 31.

Where has time gone?

Don't look if you don't like blood.

Happy Anniversary to us - 8 years today! WOOT!! We aren't doing much - we have postponed because my best friend from Brissy and her hubby are coming over for dinner. Eh, it's ok.

Thankyou for the kind emails, comments and messages I have been getting, making sure that E is ok. He's fine now. A bit touchy about his head, which is fair enough. If we mention the word blood or try and wipe the area (his hair is caked in blood) - he starts to wail. Eh, the boy has been through alot, he has every right to be annoyed. We have kept him quiet for the last 2 days so he didn't bump it or get his blood pumping too much. Tomorrow he will permitted to run and play. :)

I have below a picture of E's head. Beware - it has blood and is stitched up, so if you get queasy, I suggest you don't look. :) Consider yourself warned.
































Ok here it is.

War injuries.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. DON'T CLIMB ON THE DESK! Mop get down from there, the thing will topple on you! Mop don't climb, it's dangerous.

Well...

I was finishing up cooking dinner when I heard a crash and an almighty scream - followed by what sounded like another child burst into tears. DH was down that end of the house, and heard him head in to investigate.
"Their's blood!!!" I heard him say.
I dropped the spoon and headed straight into the general direction of screams. Mop staggered out, crying. I saw E with blood on his fingers, so I pushed Mop down into the lounge to sit while I sorted out the blood. E was screaming blue murder, with unexplained blood on his fingers. I couldn't see a wound --- my eyes drifted to his shirt and saw alot of blood drops on his shoulders, running down his back. I glanced up again and saw blood splurting out his head.
"It's his head! We need to get him to emergency!" - I grabbed a handtowel and shoved it on his head, told DH to hold it firmly while I rang for Mum to come rescue us.
E objected to the pressure and started to scream louder. Got hold of Mum and she came over immediately. I walked over to Mop, and she was sitting quietly on the couch, white as anything.
"Are you hurt?"
"My ear." - it was red but no blood.

E was dashed to the local surgery and waited our turn. A lady's name was called - and she told the doctor to please see E first. How very kind of her. I felt tears spring to my eyes. We saw the doctor - he said it was quite deep and needed stitches. We had to agree to hold him down while they stitched him, or go to a Children's Hospital where we would more than likely be waiting for hours - but they would sedate him so they could work on him. They wrapped him in a sheet and the torture began. Daz had to lay on top of E to keep him from wriggling. The nurse held his head firmly, and E screamed and screamed and kept insisting "I finished now. No more. I wanna go home now." Poor kid. I tried singing, counting, playing, distracting him. It was ruddy hard and harrowing. The doctor and nurse struggled to stitch him up but finally it was all done. E was sweaty and exhausted - but not bleeding so much anymore.

Poor tike.

Next time I opt for the hospital for sedation. That was horrible.

Poor E is now sitting, watching Tigger, thumb in gob, almost asleep.

Another week gone

Hey ho
Nothing much to report, apart from that it's nearly the end of the week. I can't believe how time is wooshing by me. It's time to be planning Milly's birthday and quite frankly I can't be bothered with it all. I just want to crawl into a hole and pretend it's not happening. There is something depressing about your baby turning one. That means they aren't the baby anymore. Toddlerhood is before them.

My big three O is looming too and I'm in denial.

Life is going well over here. Kids are all good. Daz is all good. I'm all good.

Christmas preps are going good. I have started wrapping the stuff we got off layby because the kids are discovering them... well.. they are sitting in the middle of the lounge room. Lucky for us, they are so vague about this sort of stuff... they don't get that it's for them!! LOL. Mop has such a short memory that when she opens them, it will be like she is seeing them for the very first time.

I have almost finished my Secret Santa with a group of friends. I organised it this year, and we had to have something homemade, something smelly, a Christmas decoratation, something you wear and something personal. I have gotten everything except the smelly thing. I am still debating what to buy. The homemade thing I have got the stuff for, it's just a matter of sitting down and making it.

I've been watching movies on You-tube lately. I have watched the series of "Road to Avonlea" and I watched "Anne the Continuing Story" plus a few on my favourites from yesteryear. It's a great way to get things done. Each part is 10 minutes long - and after the 10 minute section is done, I jump up, run around and do a few bits for 10 minutes then sit down again. It's particularly good when I am headachey or really tired - which is happening alot lately. I'm not sleeping so good... so I guess that is why I am tired.

I ordered a beautiful Christmas dress for Milly to wear on Christmas Day. My mate Jac made it - such a clever lady.

Speaking of clever, I have decided to give dress making a go... actually not the actual dress making itself.. more a skirt. I want a few skirts but the cheapest I can find that looks half decent is $40.. so I figure I could buy a pattern and fabric for that. Then make myself more and more for cheaper! YAY!!

OK I should stop rambling...

Mwah!

Christmas photo shoot 2008

Well after a spontaneous "Quick! The light is fading! Let's do a Christmas photo shoot!" - DH nearly broke his back shifting the living room around so we could set up a make shift studio look for this year's Christmas cards. I will probably do another one because Milly didn't co-operate much - she was tired. I'll do the next one on Saturday morning when she should be happy and more obliging.

Anyway these are the results of our photo-shoot.


















I plan to put these on Creative Expressions - my craft blog. as well. So if you visit there, then it will basically be the same as this one. Just in case you get your hopes up that I have created something wonderful.... well... I have created something wonderful, just not EXTRA! LOL If you understood all that you deserve a medal!

Brag moment

I am so incredibly proud of my firstborn girl. She's such a clever little lady!



We were having problems with Mop not "bothering" with her bookwork - she probably found it easy and couldn't be bothered with colouring it neatly, she just wanted to finish it fast and get it over with. So for incentive, Mum said that Mop could go over to her place for a play-afternoon if her bookwork was neat all week. This has worked like a charm. Mop's teacher said that Mop must REALLY want this reward because she is working very hard at her bookwork and doing it well.

Then the other day her teacher said to me "Mop's bookwork was PERFECT today!" I'm so proud of her!

Yesterday I popped in to ask the teacher if her house sold - since I knew there had been an offer made on it. The teacher mentioned to me that Mop had sat a special test that the junior primarys sat for to see how much information they retained - and I guess to catch kids with learning difficulties. She said Mop did REALLY well on the spelling part of it. Since she was a midterm entrant, she didn't expect too much - but out of 70 words, Mop got 62 correct!! The teacher was really impressed and said, "I didn't expect her to do THAT well!!" She was just marking Mop's reading comprehension test so I didn't find out how that went.. But how good is that???

She really is clever and I am so proud of her.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Christmas time is beaut!!

I love this time of year. Seriously it's just so wonderful. It makes me so happy!!



First of all, I organised Secret Santa for a bunch of friends - and yesterday Sir E helped me by drawing names out of a hat. I know who I am buying for now and it's so exciting. I have a month to come up with some good stuff for her!! I love dreaming about what I could get her and how I could make it really creative. I can't say who it's for because she might read this blog, but I am so excited about it!!

Second of all, I'm excited because I love all the Christmas decorations that are going up everywhere. It's a tad earlier this year for some reason, but I have a whole month more to enjoy it! I love the corny christmas carols - mate I even listen to a Christmas radio station online for the entire month of December!!



Third of all I am excited because I love to give. I love to give gifts to my friends, family. Especially my Mum. I know it's a good gift when she bawls her eyes out. Can't talk much more about this, because I know Mum reads this blog occasionally! But I reckon this year will be a rip snorter of a howl. Perhaps I should enclose a hanky as part of the gift tag??

Fourth of all I just love making Christmas stuff. Gifts, cards, food. Mop was talking about all the special things that I make when it's christmastime and I must say it was very exciting to think that it's all upon us once again. I really need to finish my E-book so I can get on with it all!

I love, absolutely love Christmas.
When I was a kid, Christmas was soooo cool. We usually had it at Nanna and Pop's house. They lived in a cottage so it was crowded, snug but still great - especially when we were all there - aunts, uncles cousins etc. Nanna had all these old ornaments that she hung on the tree the night of my birthday. She popped the tree on the table, so gifts would all fit around it. The worst part of Christmas day was waiting. In fact that is a tradition I threw out the window with glee when I married - as soon as we woke up we did presents. When I was a kid, we had to wait until after lunch!!! OH THE AGONY!!!!

Roast chicken, roast veggies, steamed veggies, bread sauce and gravy for lunch and christmas pudding for dessert with custard. YUMM. Mum still does that for her Christmas dinners - she's hosting this year. I will probably move away from that - I like to make different stuff.

We are having Daz's rellies over for Christmas Eve and there are going to be sooooo many of them. ALL the cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins... it's going to be soooo huge! So fun too. The cousins are mostly insane. I love them dearly! They are fun, they crack good jokes, they are loud, rowdy and I have been accepted as one of them. It's a good feeling to be friends as well as loved by your extended family. I just hope I don't get kissed all day. The worst thing about Daz's family as they all kiss me!! YUCCCKK!!! I am SO not a kissy person. Especially when a certain female family member has more facial hair than Ned Kelly. :) Ahem.. LOL



SO now... the most important part of Christmas.. my wishlist.
I'm not expecting much this year because we are only just turning a corner financially.. but this is what I would really love.

Perfume - Moonflower from the Body Shop.
Vegetarian cook book
All Saints DVD's.
Fabric to make quilts with (not for me, but still.. I'll enjoy it!!)
An overseas holiday. *snort* Not going to happen, but I can still wish!
Earrings and bling.

And considering it's my birthday 4 days before - I get a double whammy. I will be turning 30 this year. Shhhh... I plan to pretend it's not happening. I'll be busy doing a Christmas service in church... I won't be turning 30. It's not happening.. I'll stick my fingers in my ears and say LALALALA. Not turning 30.

When does midlife crisis time kick in?? I may just go and do something really radical... like... spend some time and money ON MYSELF!! Now that would be radical!!

An update

It's been a rough few days - and nights. Poor little Milly is cutting her two top teeth. Last night she screamed from 7-11pm, then from 1-3am. I ended up rocking her to sleep. I tried walking her around outside (she preferred to look at the lights and the police helicopter that was circling around) I tried everything. It was a hard night and I am exhausted.
She's been really clingy as well. It's kinda nice because she wants me. She has been a "Mum-mum" girl alot. She just wants to be with me. Kinda makes it tricky cooking dinner with a Milly Moo on my hip. :)
I can tell she's in pain, she's not her happy little self. I've never heard her cry so much. Poor cherub.

What better way to soothe her gums than to sink your teeth into your brother's apple?? Poor boy nipped off to the toilet and while he was gone, Milly quickly climbed up to the table and swiped it.





I've been exhausted for a while. I stopped sleeping well when Daz got sick, and it's been just bad since then. I'm tired, cranky - and I think yesterday I hit the end of my tether when I wanted to pick my whinging son up and chuck him over to the pitbull terrier in the neighbours yard. Poor kid. Didn't have a very good Mummy day yesterday.
A plus is that we started the ball rolling in getting him enrolled in Montessori. He'll have one or two mornings a week playing with other kids and not wandering around, whinging, whining and missing Mop. Mummy isn't very fun to play with - he'd rather be bossed around by Mop. LOL

His toilet training is going really well. Poo's all in the toilet and probably a wee accident once every couple of days. I'm thrilled with how well he is going - and the savings of money spent on nappies!! WOOT!!
I am getting frustrated with his lack of trying to dress himself. It's a battle every day to get him to help get dressed. Though today I saw he put his own jocks on without him screaming "STUCK!" before he even put a foot in a leg hole! He often walks around with no jocks or pants on because he wants me to dress him all the time. Sorry bud, not going to happen. So independant in some areas and totally not in others.

Me, well I am really excited. I have a friend who is going to give me a Yummy Mummy make over. Help me stop looking like a daggy ol bag and give me some style and some tips on what to wear. Ziz is a very classy lady - and I am so thrilled she can pass on some of her tips to me! She is very clever and has worked out my style and what my body shape will look good in. Very very clever lady. Funny thing is that she lives in Melbourne, so she'll be working her magic via webcam. *giggle* Gotta love modern technology.

I've been working on my E-book - which will be a Yearly Organiser - trying to get it out for 1st December. I am working so hard and am really happy with how it's going so far.

We got an invitation to Daz's work Christmas party. It's a family affair which is lovely. It's apparently very kid orientated so that's lovely, and Santa gives each of the kids a present too which is nice. Not sure how I am going to explain this guy to E - Mop has already expressed scorn about Santa and how he isn't real. LOL I quickly explained that he is real to other kids and that she shouldn't tell anyone he isn't real - let them discover that on their own, otherwise she will ruin their Christmas.

Mop is getting very excited about Christmas. She is doing alot of Christmas activities in school and she's got the countdown thing happening. She's her mother's daughter!!

Ok well I better head off... I need some shut-eye.