Time to be strong mum

"Ok time for mum to be strong, give you a kiss and get going now" the teacher said to me and Teapot as we sat on the mat trying to not be teardrops.

Try as we might though the tears were unavoidable. Her more so than me but there were certainly stain marks on my cheeks by the time I made it out to the car. 

After five years of constantly being by each other's sides it is only to be expected that we both greeted today with hesitation. Especially since recent years have seen me lose complete faith in the education system and the notion that we should send our children off to be institutionalised and the earliest possible moment.

The offending forgotten lunchbox

Upon arriving home to quickly pick up Lovely and start getting her uniform sorted and have a tour of the school I discovered that somehow I had neglected to put poor little Teapot's lunch box in her bag.

I kid you not.

I had one job. To make lunch and put it in their bags. Not hard really, yet somehow I managed to fail the final step. FFS.

Thankfully school is an incredibly short distance away and I had plenty of time to stealthily return to the school and slip it in before any one was any the wiser of my short comings.

Her teacher seems absolutely delightful. A softly spoken woman who took the time to call me at recess to let me know Teapot had settled in just fine. Such a kind and thoughtful gesture my eyes started to leak once again. Ridiculously sensitive and overly emotional I know. Talk about feeling guilty about all the horrid words I thought of her when she was telling me it was time to leave.

My mind is still boggling at the fact that we have suddenly stopped living on the road and are now buckling down to a life of normality. Moreso that normality involves me being at home alone. It's a weird feeling after fourteen years of always having a child by your side.

All that time to myself. Whatever will I do? What would you do?

Happy Birthday Baby

Today my baby turns five!! Which just between you and me I find a little hard to believe. Mind you the fact that in ten days time my eldest will turn fourteen is as equally mind blowing. 

Where does the time go? And more to the point how does it simultaneously pass in the blink of an eye yet before their arrival seems like a lifetime ago?

There was so much more I wanted to add into this post when I started it this morning. However there were cakes to be decorated and children to be amused. 

Thanks to a sudden onset of constant drizzle intermittently broken up with slightly heavier showers our plans for a party in the park with our only buddies here in the south west quickly became as much fun as we could muster inside with a heap of balloons and five kids. Though given one of them is a teenager I guess there were really only four. 

Being inside wouldn't have been such a big deal if I hadn't have gone all out with a sugar and junk overload when I did the catering. I had expected wide open spaces and climbing frames to burn off the excess energy of the sugar rush. 

Sigh. 

Thankfully though the clouds managed to hold off releasing all over their drops for a tiny bit which gave us the opportunity to banish the sugar laiden kidlets out to the back paddock to madly chase each other with a bubble gun. Oh how I love being on a farm. 

As I tucked my little Teapot into bed she wrapped her arms around my neck and happily declared a most wonderful birthday was had. Which at the end of the day is all that really matters. 

Still hanging at Barn Hill. Day 59 (Sept 16)

Today I took the opportunity today to finish reading the Hunger Games series. Still amazed that I had written it off when the rest of the world was raving about it.

While I submersed myself in my book the girls happily entertained themselves. Though by the afternoon they started to require my attention.

I loved how Lovely was so insistent on being the one
to run beside her.

Since I had not really done a lot of moving over the last few days I decided it was the perfect time to work on teaching Teapot how to ride her bike without training wheels. There was plenty of flat open ground and not a lot of people around so it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

She has such a great sense of balance and can ride a scooter incredibly well I figured it would not take much to get her biking riding. It was more about building her confidence up to try than anything else.

After a bit of convincing to just have a go she was away and before long the big sisters were in on the act of helping her get started and she was cycling like a professional.

Once the novelty of cycling wore off, or rather we got sick of helping her get started we headed down to the beach to explore in the other direction. So far most of our waking had involved walking to our left. Today we headed to our right. 

It was much like the left only completely different as well.

The rocks didn’t seem to be as red and the distance the water came up seemed to differ as well. We did however find some lovely spots to take a few selfies!

As is so often the case, the walk home so every one else out in front while I toddled on behind, snapping away at all kinds of things that took my fancy.

Including this,

Father and daughter skipping along the water's edge together

which could very well be one of my most favourite photos ever. 

Though this one also rates rather high on the list.

The perfect end to another fabulous day in paradise.

Thankful Thursday - The Teapot Edition

It is going to be another short and sweet round of thanks from me again this week. My assignment is still oh so patiently waiting to be completed and with the due date of tomorrow afternoon looming closer by the moment I really need to just knuckle down and get on with it.

Without a doubt this week I am thankful that I work well under pressure.

In fact sometimes I can't help but wonder if I only seem to work under pressure. It would explain perfectly why said assignment is still waiting to be finished as opposed to actually being finished or even close to.

While still on the topic of the assignment I am thankful that it is slowly starting to make some sense. it gives me hope that I may just be able to get it done after all.

My main thanks this week goes to...

That smiling little cherub. Oh how she makes my heart sing. 

I am thankful that she is quite happy to entertain herself when I need to immerse myself in my books. I am thankful for the snugly cuddles and delightful smiles.
I am thankful for the wonderful conversations that she has with me on all manner of things. Like how she wanted to send her friend an Easter card but now Easter was over she wasn't sure if she still could.
I am thankful that she is still relatively happy to clean up at least some of the mess that she makes.
I am thankful that she listens and takes so much of what is going on around her.
I am thankful that she doesn't fight sleep.
I am thankful that as agreeable as what she is there are still times when she fights for what she really wants.
But more than anything I am thankful to call her mine.

Other thanks this week goes to

- registering for the Mother's Day Classic
- my blood levels nearly doing what they are supposed to
- customers who say the kindest things
- another long weekend
- being able to operate on not much sleep
- running (again)
- being mentioned in someone's favourite bloggers list

Over to you. What are you thankful for this week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Thankful for cheating cakes and typing quick

It is the early hours of Thursday morning and I was just putting the finishing touches on today's post. I had actually started on Tuesday, which is something rather unusual for this last minute Lucy.

As it turns out most of what I had written onTuesday got sent to the rubbish, but it was nice thinking that I was semi organised. Of course when Blogger kindly froze without saving any of my changes I did wonder why it was I bothered with the whole organisation thing.

The joys of modern technology hey?

So here is a quick recap of what I said.

I am thankful that Teapot had a lovely birthday and enjoyed a simple day.

I am thankful that for my birthday last month I was given a cheat's cake book. Made by the awesome ladies over at The Australian Woman's Weekly I think it is a must have for every mother.

As much as I love getting my Martha on and trying my hand at creating things for the kids, I find it incredibly disappointing when I fall well short of the mark. This book however seems to be the answer to all my prayers.

This is the photo from the book that my little Teapot adamantly requested I recreate.

And this is what I created

I am beyond thankful that it worked out as well as what it did. 

Other random and quick thanks goes to

- saving my blog template when I thought I had lost it all.

- beautiful friends that stopped by to help make Teapot's day super special

- school holidays

- being able to get by on limited sleep

- this post actually saving and working and it not taking nearly as long to get out the second time round

What about you? What are you thankful for?

An InLinkz Link-up

Babies, four year olds and impending teenagers

Yesterday saw my little Teapot turn four. Which as you can imagine has sent me into a reflection overdrive. Birthdays just tend to do that I guess.

It is hard to believe that four whole years has passed since she was born.

Little Teapot, less than 12 hours old

In so many ways it does feel like it was only yesterday. Till I stop to think of all that has occurred in that time of course. Though truth be told the the main thing that I think of in that time is the fact that it also roughly equates to how long my dad has been dead for. Which feels like so much longer than four years I must say.

Not so little Teapot, four years old

I often look at her and wonder just how much of him is in her. Dad passed away when I was about three months pregnant. I am so glad that even though he never got to know her at least he got to know she was on the way.

As it stands this should be the last time that I have a four year old. As much as I may have wanted a whole tribe of children years ago, now I am happy to stop at three. In fact I am more than happy to stop at three. While I totally love having babies and loved every moment of having a baby in the house I am pretty excited to be moving on past the baby stage as well.

Turns out this mothering gig is so much more than just babies.

Lately I have found myself stating how there should be a warning that comes with babies. One that reminds you that they will not always be cute and cuddly. That one day they will grow into teenagers. A time that may very well try you more than any baby moment.

Did I mention that in ten days Lovely will become a teenager?

Joining Jess for IBOT

Snapshots of Us Week 3

As I mentioned last week I love the idea of making sure I take at least one photo of the girls each and every week, just linking in with Practising Simplicity's The 52 Project didn't feel right. There was something about all those children's faces on the link up screen that didn't sit well with me. Especially as it was clearly not a community that shared some comment love.

After much thought and consideration I have finally come up with a way round it. I am just going off and doing my own thing. So I give to you Snapshots of Us. 

It has been a week of torrential downpours here so when the sun decided to shine we made the most of it and jumped on our bikes and head down to the foreshore for a fish 'n' chip lunch and a play at the playground.

Teapot going round and round and round

 Zany, also going round and round

And you guessed it, Lovely, going round and round

Me and Mr Awesome, not going round and round

Snapshots of Us Week 1

It is ridiculously early here. And by that I mean just gone 5.30. Which alright, is not quite stupid o'clock but it is not far from it especially for a Sunday.

I have been awake for over an hour, there was a little person (Zany) who decided that my bed was far more comfortable than her own. Which she is incredibly right about. It is. I know because I tried laying in it after she invaded mine. Mental note to look for an online bedding company to sponsor me. 

Anyway, here I am gleefully in front of my beloved Mac surrounded by silence. Save for the old gently breeze and left over rain drops from the last monsoonal downpour.

As I began wondering through my various feeds seeing who had posted what since last I dropped in I came across Karen's post for today. I too have often thought of trying to keep track of regular snap shots but for whatever reason (probably my laziness) it just never happens.

Amazingly this week saw me snapping a few shots of the girls while we were checking out the big waves on the jetty. Which means I am able to join in this week with Practising Simplicity's The 52 Project

Zany looking out to sea to see how far she could not see

Lovely, contemplating whether she has what it takes to be a model

Teapot, just doing what she does, making my heart melt

 I am still contemplating whether I will go back and post for weeks one and two of the project. It is not like I am adverse to back dating posts if the need arises. Particularly if it encourages me to complete a challenge. Either way I hope I remember to take a few snaps so I will be back next week.

Completely and utterly unattended

The silence is almost deafening. In fact it is so silent there is a ringing in my ears. I struggle to remember the last such a stillness descended upon the house. 

image from esheep

Of course now that I stop to think how quiet it all is I find my ears barraged with a range of sounds. From cars passing in the distance, to the buzzing of the electrical appliances, not to mention the fish tank aerator, squawking birds flying past and the constant tapping of my fingers upon the keyboard.

Some how the universe managed to swing it that I found myself at home. All alone. Completely and utterly unattended. Which believe you me is completely and utterly amazing. Perhaps even beyond that.

Mr Awesome has his work Christmas party tonight. Which meant that the girls were shipped off to my mum's as I was expected invited to attend said party. All very good and well until when dropping the children off at Nan's the littlest one says my ear hurts mum. And then promptly bursts into tears.

The fact that she willingly took the panadol offered to her was quite possibly a sign of just how much pain she was in. Mother of the year here though decided to ignore it because, well, a night out is a night out, even if it is with a bunch of people I have little to no ability to communicate with. Plus I may or may not have planned to pike early on the night anyway to enjoy some quiet time at home.

Being all organised and not rushing things, I was dropping the children off with an hour or two to spare before the party started. This meant of course by the time the party was about to start I felt obliged to check in and see how it was all going.

Stupid me.

Of course it was going terribly. 

Teapot was still moaning about her ear, while Lovely was still making attempts to escape. It was with great reluctance that I even got her there in the first place. She is currently without access to her iDevice, however felt it was only *fair* she got to take it to the sleepover. Naturally her version of fair and mine are vastly different. The device was left at home and she promised to cry blue murder about it until the situation was rectified.

Poor Lovely is in the process of learning the world does not actually spin on an axis that revolves purely around her. Unfortunately for her, and all involved, she appears instant on doing this the hard way and fighting me every inch of the way.

Sigh.

Anyways being the Mother of the Year that I am, I went on partying. Actually the party was at a bowling alley so I stuck around and had a game. I did not however enjoy an alcoholic bereave. Which was really the only real attraction of going. Instead, deciding to be just a little bit responsible and stay with soft drinks. Once I had remembered how incredibly crap I am at bowling though I decided that maybe it was best if I went and saw to the children. 

By now Teapot had been to sleep for a bit, woken up and was still going on about her sore ear. Lovely had also come to terms with the fact that sometimes I do actually get to pull rank on her and not give in. Aside from all of that the 35 week pregnant lady and the recently engaged chick were well and truly doing my head in with their constant chatter about their impending life changes. Ones that I have already been through and without being rude am not really interested in hearing about from other people I see but once a year. A three year old with a sore ear and her hormonal twelve year old sister suddenly appeared very appealing. (No I don't understand why I don't have many friends do you?)

So I get to my mother's house only to discover that Teapot's ear has had a miraculous recovery. Apparently a bath can fix anything. Oh to be three. Thanks to the panadol for finally kicking in perhaps?

After an hour of hanging with them Teapot informed that she did not want to come home with me. Lovely of course was using every inch of self restraint that she could muster not to scream out how much she would like to come home with me. Bless her. I love it when she shines out rays of hope like that.

I loved her even more when she was so accepting of me returning to the party. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing a child learn a lesson. Even if it will only be temporary before she decides to see how far she can push me once more. The never-ending dance of teenage power struggle.

Of course I had no intention of returning to the party. I am not a very good sober bob. Even there is a drink to be had then I would most certainly like to having it. How else can one tolerate the idiocy of a drunk if one is not drunk also? Plus, the temptation of a silent home is very hard to resist.

So here I sit. Alone and unattended. Basking in the glow of my screen and the silence of my ears. Cautiously waiting for the message to say it has once again all come undone. For now though as I inhale the beauty of solitude I will just enjoy me. Doing things that I like to do, that only benefit me. Like trawling round the internet and catching up on some blog reading and writing.

Wordless Wednesday - Picnicking with the birds

 

With the second of four weeks holidays well under way we have been making the most of our local parks and playgrounds. Enjoying many a picnic with both the birds, friends and Nan.

Joining in the fun of Aussie Wordless Wednesday 

with Trish and the gang