Yeah me!

Its been a weird couple of days. There hasn't been much whirring of the machine as there has been the threat of more fires - thankfully they have not occurred- but we have been busy looking after friends in potential danger areas.

Today, with cooler weather and a party looming, the machine was uncovered and whirring again. The request was put in for a personalised towel, so I had to ablige.

Instead of wasting money and resources on expensive wrapping paper, I am trying to be a little more environmentally aware. So, my towel was packaged in another drawstring bag, which should be useful for other things too. I appliqued a j on the front of the bag (with the embroidery machine) and then a lightning bolt moment. I could do the same thing on the card! I have a stash of white cards which we use for every occasion, and it was so easy and really effective. I was so pleased with myself, my little 'yeah me' moment!! (Oh, and it looked SO good on the present table - even better)

Wavey Day

Today was Alexander's last Wednesday off. Next week he will start full time school and it will be that way for the next 13 years - at least! So I had planned a special day together. The big squirrel had even taken the day off to look after the twins. While it wasn't exactly what I had planned, he had a great day.

One of his good friends from kinder invited him over for a morning play date and I couldn't refuse as they have really missed each other. So I took the little boys to playgroup, Dad went to work, and Alexander had a great play. We all got home and had lunch together which was really nice.

The afternoon was more what I had in mind. We went off to the wave pool at Monash- just Alexander and me and had a lovely time practicing swimming and jumping in the waves. He said he had the best day ever. I had a lovely time and it was nice to celebrate the end of an era.

Pancake Tuesday

This is a day I always try to remember, but often I only do after the fact. But today, I actually remembered.I got these cute little silicone egg rings from Aldi with the thought they would make great pancakes. This morning I made them to pop into Alexander's lunchbox, instead of a sandwich. Hopefully he will eat them.

Sunday Funday

We had a lovely day today which was very fluid. We all headed off to breakfast, and then stumbled across our local street fair. We went for a lovely walk, chatting with friends who were also out, and looking at things in the community. It was a lovely morning and nice to be out in the sunshine.

Once home the little boys went off to sleep and we started the large task of doing some jobs around home. We are trying to turn this little nook into our information centre. We now have all the books there, but also want all school notices etc.

Its been a long time since he has done any overall worthy work!!!

but he did get in and help paint our sliding door into a blackboard. This is still a work in progress but we are getting there....

Sadly, size matters

I was browsing today and tried on some jeans- they were on special for a good price at an outlet store so they looked like a bargain. I tried the size 12 and they went nowhere near me. I was not going back for the larger size.
Now being a dressmaker for a number of years, the majority of my clothes don't have sizes on them, but those that do vary from 8 - 16 from S to XL. I have tried them all on today - and started to purge those things that dont fit, I dont like and I wont wear. And while there is a bit more storage room, there are still 8s and still XL sitting side by side. What saddens me is the need for TWO piles. Yes, one of pants that fit and one of pants that dont.
Having children certainly messes with your body, and rather than lamenting the loss of my waist, it is the gaining of the flubber that is of more concern. The back fat that wasnt there before and the favorite jeans that used to fit, now with not only a muffin top, but one with cream icing hanging over the top!
There are four pairs of pants that do not fit. They used to fit but they cannot be worn because they look disgusting. It is not about the size on the label as the pants that dont fit are 10s and 12s but there is a miraculous pair of 8s that weren't even going to get a try on that actually look quite good. There was also a couple of 12s that were too big and went in the donation pile. This is why I know in my head that those little tags that tell us what size things are, really shouldn't matter, but in a lot of ways are a mental barrier to many of us.
I love my 'Trinny and Susannah', Tim Gunn and Gok so it was with a critical eye I looked if things actually fit and whether they also looked good. Some things were rediscovered, some were discarded to those in need and the biggest decision of all was made - Hi Ho, Hi Ho its off to gym I go!!

Dad with his boys

The big squirrel had little helpers to put together a chair. They were all attentive and helpful and enjoyed spending constructive time with their dad.

Progress

As a general statement, things are on the improve. The twins behaviour and mine too, has all been much more even and tempered. Their communication is improving every day, with Spencer chatting in full sentences now and Benji only a little behind. This has calmed things a bit and they seem to channel their energy into mostly positive pursuits. I say mostly because we still have some of this... clean and still wet washing being distributed down the hall

and this, a picture being removed from the wall,
and of course finding things like this- milk flavouring - which was unopened, being strewn across the floor. I don't know how they even managed to get that silver bit off the top, obviously childproof!