ACTION

School goes back tomorrow and it was time for our annual celebration dinner. Nachos, Chicken Parma and Fudge Brownies were on the menu along with discussion on our word of the year:

This one word again encompasses lots of different things. It is about putting plans into actions. Not being a gunna and being a doer. Do it Now philosophy. 

Why put off til tomorrow what you can do today?

I know I am very guilty of not doing things straight away. Being late everywhere. Talking up these grand schemes - getting to the point where I spend money and then not going any further. 

The boys also need to take more action. To practice their skills is the only way they can improve. Do you reading straight away. Homework. Shoot some hoops. Mathletics. All of those things are important - much more important than laying sloth-like on the couch in front of mindless cartoons.

Personally, this word is two fold. One is about taking control as ignorance is not bliss. It is not great to be always chasing your tail. Things like staying on top of the bills and not waiting for the disconnect warning. Actioning emails straight away. The other plan is to stop always planning and make something happen for me. I've not quite worked out what yet, shop, sewing lessons, designing....not sure but something will happen. 

Fairies

This weekend is a busy one for us. Theres a lot going on. It is Australia Day long weekend, Alexander has basketball here there and everywhere, we have parties and playdates to attend and the big squirrel needs to clean out his things from the garage of his childhood home.  We were in the garden there when I got a call from Mum.
She was just ringing for a chat. She had not been well- just a cold. She had visited her GP on Wednesday with a sinus infection and got antibiotics. I had seen them on Friday and she wasn't good. I think she was having trouble seeing, but had headaches - sinus ones she said, and she spent most of the visit asleep on the couch. What troubled me about this was the last time she'd felt like this was when she had had the bleed on the brain which started this whole journey, over 18 months ago. As you can imagine I was worried.
I am in the large, overgrown backyard in the sunshine with the kids and the big squirrels families are saying their own goodbyes to the house that has given them so many memories. Mum calls and it doesn't even feel like it is her. She is distracted to say the least. She cant get her phone to work. I call her back and they can't answer it. Conversation is disjointed to say the least. She just stops talking mid sentence as if she has disappeared away somewhere. If she is there she will ask a question, listen to the answer but say something else. Random. Disconnected.
I talk to Dad who is at a bit of a loss. He said she is 'away with the fairies today'. So accurate a description. She was slipping away. He couldn't talk much as she was there. I couldn't do anything and we would only be in the way, so continued our day with the worry never far from our minds.  After basketball the next day we called in to see them. She wasn't fabulous, but had obviously improved since the day before. Dad explained to me what had been going on and it was like she had slipped into a dementia state. She couldn't use a spoon for example and had to be fed.
Desperate for some understanding, I spoke to a girlfriend who works in the neuro ward at the hospital and has a good understanding. She explained that an infection can bring on symptoms. It can speed the process up, it can be a momentary spike or a general decline. The body spends all its time fighting the mild infection, that it leaves the big fight for a bit.
Thankfully, she seems to have come out of the fog but I feel that you can see the progression of the disease from last week. She can get around now and eat, she is just weaker, less of her.

Much less.

Happy Mothers Day

 My darling boys spoiled me this mothers day - even with one of the heat packs I made! and I thankfully got the change to spoil my mum one more mothers day.

 We had a lovely turkey dinner and raspberry cake served hot - a Donna Hay in todays paper.

Happy Mothers Day - to all the mothers everywhere.

Celebrating

It would be true to say it has been a tough 12 months for us. It started last Easter when Dad was diagnosed with cancer, then his treatment the following holidays. Then Mum had her seizure. Tender hooks for a good 6 months and then her operation and subsequent diagnosis. In that time we had a visit from the detectives and then tax worries. The last two are very separate issues - but I can say very confidently that both matters are resolved. The fact that the tax is all done is one huge relief and we had talked about taking the kids out to celebrate to what they call the chocolate fountain restaurant.

 Or as it is better known, The Conservatory at Crown. We had told them about it and they really wanted to go, and on a whim, we went today. It had been refurbished since we were last there and it really looks so much better now. 

We went with the buffet dinner which has a full array of international cusine, and we made a deal that they had to eat dinner before they could visit the dessert buffet. And they did. Sushi, stir fry and numerous duck pancakes were consumed before they could wait no longer. And when it looks this good, I can understand! This was one side with the array of petit desserts. At each end of this was icecream which you could help yourself. There was even a man crushing lollies int the icecream at request.

 This was on the opposite side - the chocolate fountains. Again improved since our last visit. There are four flavours of chocolate for you to dip fruit, strawberry, pineapple. rock melon or marshmellows.

There was also a tower of Macarons which were lovely and light.

 Would you believe the Big Squirrel also has a sweet tooth?

 And the view - where we could see the gas towers along SouthBank

Crown Foyer

 And outside watching the gas towers which really throw out some heat (with the noise)

And finally  our night came to an end - we were home by 8:30 but two little boys were out to it. Sugar Coma me thinks. 

Rolling along

Sometimes change happens and you don't even notice. Small, slow changes that evade the every day.

Things are always changing. Elvolving. Growing. Learning. It happens so slowly that I don't always see it happening until BAM one day it hits you that there has been a change.

The bikes came out today and as a family we set off for a ride. The preparations were quick and we were off. We rode at speed. We rode past the parks. We rode a distance. We stopped for a milkshake and we kept riding.

My little boys are growing up. I know it is happening every day but this was a BAM kind of moment. They grow up so quickly but sometimes it is a lovely surprise.

She yelled and she yelled.

I do not like to yell....but some days.....In fact if I am totally honest it has been a few days lately where I have done nothing but yell.Today I was so angry and yelling that I almost cried.

We have all been tired and cranky round these parts. it has been hot - not so much hot but humid. To be covered in sweat both day and night is uncomfortable and unnatural to us. We are all sleep deprived from the hot nights.

This morning it was one of 'those' mornings. I was cross because I'd forgotten that we didn't have any food. I know its sill right, but I'd intended to get up early and duck to the shops alone and grab some fruit. But no. I was already behind schedule and surprised to find myself a modern day old mother hubbard!

Light bulb- Lunch orders. I found the price list and filled out envelopes (nope didn't even have brown bags). Money. Money? No change. Went to raid piggy bank only to discover rice (thankfully uncooked) sprayed all over lounge room. Argh!

When cleaning said rice, managed to misplace lunch order envelopes. Rewrite. Poor Xandy can see I am stressed and is trying to help. Anxious for a job I give him the exact change for each lunch order. He mixes it up. Yep there it is - the inconsequential action that caused my to unleash my tsunami of yelling. Yell at kid who wont get dressed. Yell at kid who wont get off computer. Yell at dog for well, being a dog. 

I yelled and I yelled and I yelled.

It didn't make me feel any better.

"I'm sorry" she said. And she was.

Light it up

The city of Melbourne certainly knows how to turn on a celebration. The March long weekend for Labour Day is also celebrating Moomba (at one point this was sold to us as Aboriginal word for Lets Get together and Have Fun - but now I would question that!)

Regardless of the reason, there was a celebration along the Yarra and with the hot nights continuing, after dinner we grabbed a rug and some chips and headed off to the city for the night. We walked along Southbank and saw various street performers - the statue, the guy that recreates the old masters in chalk on the footpath (amazing) and one guy that got all locked into a straight jacket and chains and managed to get out of all of it.

We made our way under St Kilda Road and set out our blanket on the river bank. There was a real community spirit as the crowd grew for the fireworks which started at 9:30. The boys loved it. It was their first in-real-life fireworks display. The noise, the colours, the atmosphere is always so much better in person.

Together

Today has been lovely - like one of those days you see in a sitcom about happy families. We mucked around and all had breakfast together and then headed out for a ride. With the twins now both of training wheels, we can travel at a decent speed and its fun. We actually did a 10k circuit today, punctuated with the obligatory icecream - but it was great.

Home all sweaty and we blew up a paddle pool and the kids had great fun in that.

Xandy and I made Lego he got yesterday and we sat enjoying slurpees watching a movie.

My only request - more days like this.

Sunday Funday

Early morning the decision was made to pack up a bag and get on our bikes for breakfast. We rode up to the 'new' park which not only is it fenced in and has a nice toilet - it also has BBQ's and tables. Off with our eggs, bacon, and muffins we went and had a really lovely morning.
The boys played as we cooked our breakfast muffins and then we enjoyed a leisurely return trip home. Sometimes the best plans are no plans at all.

By the horns

We were lazing around this morning - reading the papers when we saw an ad for Walking with Dinosaurs. An amazing lifesize dinosaur production. Spencer is currently obsessed with dinos, and while we had thought about going the cost was prohibitive ($100 x 5!!) Today we saw they are closing tomorrow and all remaining tix were $50 so we booked and saw it this afternoon.

There was no preparation, just jumped in the car and went - amazing for us.

Poor Spence - who is the reason we were there- was PETRIFIED. Not of the dinosaurs, but of entering the arena. He would not go in, and once forced in continued to cry and carry on while squeezed in behind my back. He was suggesting he needed to go in an ambulance or to hospital because he felt so bad. I felt like a terrible mother forcing him to go, but then he went on and on and on that it actually became a bit funny (I know awful).

However, as soon as the show started, he stopped. He LOVED every minute - hopping quickly on to his own seat and almost giving me a running commentary. I knew that would happen which is why I pushed him to go in. He hasn't stopped talking about it - mission accomplished.

(We all enjoyed it too - worth it if it is near you)

Over scheduled!!!

8am Basketball

9am Open Kinder

9:30am Kick football at Mothers day Auskick - wear Pink

10am Door Bitch Greeter at Kinder Open Day

1pm Relieve my mum from looking after twins

1.05pm Fall in screeming heap

I must learn to say no - but not to my babies.

Its so easy for you

yelled the 7-11 man. He was angry because I moved my car from in front of the petrol bouser to in front of the door. I moved my car so he could sell more petrol and also ensure the safety of my 3 boys as they accompanied my inside.

He was mad because it was hot and he was busy. People were buying slurpees - so many that the straws and cups had run out. He was mad because a buzzer was sounding to make him aware that someone may have run out without paying for $30 of petrol. He was mad because he was the only one in there and couldn't keep track of everything. His biggest problem was getting mad at me.

I was tired. On the tail end of 4 days of solo parenting I managed to actually get the boys out of costumes and into some nice clothes for a lovely party. We had a lovely party but they are busy boys and hard to keep track of. It was prettier and hotter than I had anticipated and while we had a lovely time, I was longing for 5 minutes of silence.

We needed petrol. I don't like filling up with the kids in tow but we wouldn't make it home otherwise. We pulled in and I moved the car. It was hot and I daren't leave the kids in the car. No doubt the 7-11 man would have found time to report me if I did! We went inside and got our slurpees and were actually never far from the front counter. We joined the queue only to accosted by the man.

"Did you get fuel?" He spat at me while still 'serving' someone else.

" Yes" I replied "$30 worth at that pump"

and then his tirade began - telling me that I shouldn't move my car unless it is a busy day and it is a busy day inside the shop but not at the petrol and he couldn't see it and now the buzzer is making a noise and and and "IT IS ALL SO EASY FOR YOU"

I actually gave it back to him (which is a little out of character) and after I got over myself, I thought about it. My aim is to make it look easy, project this perfect picture , like a duck gliding effortlessly across the water. The reality is vastly different and we hide our duck feet frantically paddling underneath.

This is more my reality - luckily there is no sound and you cant see the chocolate I bribed them with.

Community

It has taken me a long time to feel part of our community. We have lived here for about 10 years, but it wasn't until the kids were born that I even thought about the local community. With mothers group, kinder and school it is really nice to get to know those people who live close.

Today we were looking after a friend and took the kids for a bike ride along part of the local track. They could ride ahead (as we shuffled along behind) as we could see them and it is a popular track with families. We came back via the park where we bumped into some friends and all the kids had a lovely time playing together, enjoying the sunshine.

It is those random meetings that I love about being part of the community.

Oh - here is a picture of the pencil cases I made as an easter present to our friend. I bought three different types of pencils so this was the best way to separate them. The kids had fun doing some drawing.

Australia Day

We packed the bikes, the kids and some food and headed up to the Dandenongs to celebrate this Australia Day. While we weren't the only ones who decided that Emerald Lake would be a good place for the day, we had a great time. We walked the kids around the lake and they are getting really quite good on their bikes. The handles are more for slowing them down as opposed to pushing them along!

And the Big Squirrel had a lovely time on the waterbikes with Alexander - and I enjoyed the opportunity for a bit of a relax in the shade on the banks.

Impromptu Beaching

What started as just a normal day, ended as a lovely family day when the Big Squirrel came home early so we decided we were off to the beach. We packed the bikes in the car and headed for St Kilda where there is a great beachfront bike track. The boys rode well to Elwood, had a play and then about face. Alexander ventured into the water - but Benji and Spencer were not so keen - and fell asleep in the car on the way home. Fresh air, sunshine and a walk certainly does refresh.

Does this make me Mrs Incredible?

......or their maid?

banks of the yarra

A hot night so we took the kids off to the yarra river for a bike ride and a picnic. It all went off quite smoothly - with the FREE bbq's on the river banks and the kids really enjoyed the outing. It was also the first outing for my finished picnic rug.

happy new year

We went off to Werribee Zoo to celebrate New Years Day. A bus tour around the zoo is included in the admission and is well worth it. You drive through the animals in there natural surrounds - giraffes, hippos, rhinos and a whole heap of other animals. A nice relaxed version of a zoo and really enjoyable.

celebrate

We had a christmas celebration with mums family early and there was a new little girl Charlie to welcome which is always lovely. A nice relaxing evening with good food and company.

StarWars

Scienceworks in Spotswood is currently exhibiting StarWars costumes and Props etc. My brother and Dad to Alexander off to this and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr P is a bit of a star wars freak and has spead this disease to both Alexander and Dad (to a lesser extent).
They all had a great day together and Alexader sees it as the pinicle to a great and busy holiday.