Fun and Games

Fun and games has been going on a bit here of late. I don't know whether it is the heat or the full moon but we are all over the shop and my tiredness isn't really helping the situation.
Last night I arranged to go to my brothers to do some logos for the big squirrel. We went to the pub for a quick dinner but ended staying there and doing trivia. It was a really nice impromptu night which made me feel a bit human again. We did actually do the logo stuff, but it was nice to just be me, and eat all of my dinner and not be mum for a couple of hours and worrying about everyone else. BUT and there always is a but, I got home late - and paid the price. Yes, they got up early. First there was a little man cuddling into bed with me, but then another one and I noticed wet stuff on me. Initially I thought it was dribble, but was thrilled to find it was actually foundation. The little 'angels' had been in the bathroom drawers and painted the sink, the toilet, the bath and the floor. I had moved most things but they are just getting into everything at the moment.
Overtired, overheated and generally over it we herded into the car for a pre-arranged trip to Scienceworks with this chick. This is just a great place - there is nothing they cant climb on and everything is there to touch. It was nice to be out and we even managed a fairly calm lunch. The boys all had fun and a great play, we had a lovely catch up and as soon as the twins were in the car they were asleep. So what started as another one of those days it was actually rather lovely and I was pleased we had gone.
Oh, I can also show you the pressie we gave Hugo for his birthday.
And just when you think the change has come, Spencer was a bit quiet and he had climbed up and got my bag and applied a little mascara. I think it really brings out his eyes - dont you?

Baby soft skin

This is how they get it....they just don't usually get caught! (Spencer)

A bit blurry...

• late night (working nothing fun)
• early kinder start
• playgroup
• aldi (argh)
• screaming (kids not me)
• eating (kids not me)
• nap time (kids not me)
• kids not asleep and manage to destroy everything within reach - including pulling every wipe out of a new pack
• screaming (me not kids)
• destination - outside
• all blurry eyed waiting for end of this day where even the camera wouldn't do what it should!

Lemonade

Since Tuesday Alexander has been harping on about making Lemonade. Our lemon tree has fruit and he keeps picking them and adding them to the bowl for his project.

So today we did it. He was so excited and squeezed a pile of lemons, added hot water and honey. He had seen the recipe on telly and would only do it like that. In his head he was making the sweet carbonated commercial lemonade, not cold bitter lemon water. There was no telling him but he knows now! I call it payback!!

Entrapment

It was like a scene from a movie - sans Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery.

We had another early morning today, but I let Alexander up 15 minutes before me because I wanted to listen to the news on the radio (and it was tooooooo cold to get up!) This was the scene through my family room - red wool just added to the authenticity - and was impossible to untangle!

Makes my heart giggle..

All the boys love books - especially Alexander. We always have a story at night. He really enjoys a chapter book and I have really enjoyed reliving my childhood reading Enid Blyton's Wishing Chair series and the Magic Faraway tree. When we finished the final Faraway tree book we needed a new book and we have moved onto Ronld Dahl.

We have to be a bit careful because some of his books are a bit old for a 4 and a half year old. Also, like Disney movies, the first chapter is usually the parents dying in some freak accident and the child going to live with someone awful. Anyway, he love Fantastic Mr Fox, and we really enjoyed the audio book of Danny the Champion of the World. On a recent outing we found The Twits and the gross humour of this book is right up Alexander's alley.

Tonight we couldn't find our book, but Alexander wanted to play with some alphabet cards. We were chatting well but he was looking interest. We then started to do some spelling with the cards and started with Mum. Chatting about the sounds letters make when they are joined up - and then it hit me. Some unsavory words would get him interested in this spelling caper. First was bum and then fart.

He was engaged and interested in the sounds the letters made and how they joined up to make the words. The pureness of the giggles he gave me- the kind that don't seem like they will ever end was worth the trip down the ruder path. He said "it makes my heart giggle"

No reprieve

As you can see, sleep just made them more creative and active. The house was deceptively quiet as I crept down the hall I could hear the sound of paper - like the newspaper being pulled apart. I forgot that I had left the 70m roll of brown paper in our room (from our Christmas!!) They were so proud of themselves and then they moved onto the sticky tape!!!!!

Is it wrong of me to be looking forward to going to work tomorrow??????????????

Suck it up!

Some days just suck.

I could leave it there and I know you would all agree. I am feeling better after our aeroplane 'crash' but I think it always takes time for these things to really repair. So, I had decided today was going to be a good day- but not so far. I finally hussled all the kids out the door to playgroup. Alexander hadn't been since kinder so it was all going to be a bit weird. The only thing weird was the lack of people - only us and one other family.

So a nice intimate play happened with the twins and her child, and while chatting she tells me the bad news that she and her partner have split up. At least it is all amicable, but the whole thing just sucks. Not a very nice place to be in.

Spencer fell out of a box and they were all getting tired and ratty so we came home. After a lunch of left over turkey, I allowed them a quick play before their sleep. Well, one was in my sewing cabinet undoing cottons at a rate of knots, only to spin around to see the other spreading pins all over the carpet from the pincushion he had swiped. It is hard enough to get time to 'do' anything, let alone have to pack it up all the time.

With the twins tucked into bed and Alexander engrossed in Ratatouille I may sneak some time for some handsewing of Peter Pan - and a minor pin hunt.

KEYS!

When did life get sooooo hectic?? Some days I don't know how we manage. Today was one of THOSE days.

The big squirrel was home to look after the kids while I did some things at kinder. This volunteering thing itself is a lot of work. Once I was finished it was home to follow up the issue further while he went off to work.

I got caught up on the phone and the twins were given - how do I say it - a long leash. So, when it came time for kinder pickup something rather essential had gone missing - the keys. While it is a goal of mine to walk more to kinder - there just wasn't time. What there did appear time for was to tear the house apart and tip out every single box and drawer. With toys and clothes everywhere and still no keys - I had a very kind and helpful friend pick up A - who coincidently was already going through a phase of worrying about being left behind. This really didn't help.
Then the keys turn up - in a bag hanging on the door - no not my handbag, but close.

Nanny 911

It had been coming for a while. A busy schedule, catching up for playdates, running a small business, volunteering at kinder and the general running of the house- it all gets a bit too much.

Saturday around Ikea - probably not the best idea with the kids. I managed and the kids were all very good really. It is just such a pain to push around two heavy boys and manage and entertain a four year old.

I was probably a bit unprepared and we managed a snack and a rest. Next on the agenda was a trip to kmart for some shoes. After trying them all on, we settled on a pair of boots - and this is where it started to unravel. From kmart to the car, change nappies in the boot, put all the kids into car seats, pack the pram away. A tried on the shoes which are all of 5 minutes old and decideds they are too big. Now this seems like such a little thing, but it was just the end of me.

Some times it just feels like everyone comes first. Get up feed everyone, whoops no time for food for me. Get everyone dressed, feed everyone, put them all in the car - even just to get out of the door is an enourmous task. There is not enough time nor do I have enough hands. I want to give them all the time in the world - they deserve that but some days it is just too hard. When you are close to the edge - what good are you. People always say - make sure you take some time out for you, and I know how much better you are after this - but how do you get this? There is no time out. What do I do with them while I am 'off duty'? Mum is great and I don't think I could do it without her, but she still works and its not fair to always burden her. The guilt of not being there is almost as bad as being there on a bad day.

I ended up calling mum and she actually took A for a sleep over. He thought it was fun and he was a bit special. The big squirrel was working late, so I put the twins down to sleep and settled down on the couch to wallow in self pity. Nanny 911 came on with a family who had 6 kids under 5. They had twins who were almost five, then 3 girld who were two - yes -TRIPLETS and then had a one year old daughter (how with that many kids they even found time for sex I don't know!!) Watching this family struggle with the day to day task was great. A lot of their struggles echoed mine - but can I say they made my life look easy. Its a bit sad that you have to see someone worse off than you to appreciate your own situation - but it did help.

Little Boys

My little boys are growing up so quickly. This week they were 18 months old. They are big happy boys. Spence is in red and Benji in blue.

Spence is such a funny little boy. He is the talker of the two. I don't think he will do single words - he is already trying sentences. If you can decipher him the regulars are 'what's going on' and 'where's Benji?'. He is happier to watch first - and then try. He will often be the second doing somethings- but not talking. His eyes sparkle and his smile lights up his whole beautiful face.

Benji is my bugger. He is full of mischief and right from the start you could tell he was thinking. He will get Spence into a lot of trouble - I can tell. He is into everything. If there is anything to climb Benji will be up it- with Spence not far behind. His beautiful big eyes melt your heart and he is so affectionate- giving the best kisses. Benji is into music and will bop away with any tune. Spence loves his books and can often be found lying on his tummy in A's room reading his books.

Some days I can't believe I have twins. To me they don't even look alike because they are such different characters but I hope they will be great mates. It is hard to balance to give each child individual attention, praise and affection. I know they know no different but I often feel guilty for not giving them what I did for A. Having said that they are such settled souls - they sleep well and are so easy to put down at night (compared to how I set myself up the first time!) and are happy to be strapped into the pram because it is too hard to let them out. I suppose the difference is that they always have each other - and early in the morning you can hear them 'talking' to each other and giggling. The belly laughs that come out of these cherubs can't help but make you smile.

I am getting all sooky now - mother guilt and love tied up together. No-one changes your life like children. Bless them.