Stuff to Do

Lachlan has driven to work today, which gives us girls a much-needed/much-feared day at home. Much needed because I think my bottom is starting to conform to the shape of the driver's seat in the car. Much feared because it means that we're going to be here...all day. I'm hoping to take the girls for a walk later on, but mostly I want to get caught up with housework. It must sound to you like I either a) am a bit obsessive or b) my house is truly filthy. I assure you that neither is true, it's just clutter and chaos that comes from having two small people living in your house. You know, laundry, food colouring, books, toys, clothes, beds needing to be made, and so on. I'm also going to a 'Girls Night In' party tonight, to help raise money for cancer research. It should be a really good time, and because I'm bringing a fruit platter and a veggie platter, I won't have to worry about breaking my diet. I don't think I'm going to wor

I've had to start the NaBloPoMo clock over again. I'm starting in November. I went away for a few days, and didn't even think about it, as I was so blissed out. Huge bed, heated pools, Olympic-sized bathtub, perfect shower, and a spa. That's right, a spa. I came back refreshed, which is a good thing for the entire family. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go clean up purple food coloring and muddy footprints. And puddles in the bathroom. The puddles happened because of the purple food coloring and the muddy footprints. And despite the puddles, my children still have pink/blue/purple hands and feet. And I'm not sure the colour will ever come out of the grouting in my kitchen. But I digress...   XOXO, Sarah

I'm sitting here, planning a birthday party, thinking about the playdough I agreed to make for playgroup today, thinking about making Lachlan's salad for his lunch, and just having a quiet moment. I hear gagging from the other room, and the following conversation ensues:   Me: Are you okay? Charlie: Yes. Me: What are you doing? Charlie: I'm doing exercising in my mouth.   Here's to the moments that make you smile. May there be many in your life today and always.   XOXO, Sarah    

For every opinion out there, there is an opposing view. Or maybe not opposing, but just differing. And I totally respect the right to those opinions. But that means that I respect my own right to my own opinions and choices as well.   Eczema sucks. My kids never stood a chance, really. With both parents having eczema, asthma, and various food allergies, it's not surprising that they both have all of those either diagnosed or are exhibiting symptoms. I've tried to control their diet, which has helped with the food intolerances. I've changed to a washing powder that's designed for sensitive skin. I've stopped using fabric softener. I've tried more creams and lotions than you can imagine. And periodically, they have perfect skin. But here's the rub. They both also have various external allergies. Dust and grass, for sure. And no matter what I do, I can't prevent that. I will not bubble-wrap them and keep them indoors, even if it means they get

It's just dawned on me that yes, it's THIS weekend that Lachlan is whisking me away for a little romance. Which means that his mum is coming here to look after the girls. And I haven't done anything to prepare. Normally, I'd be preparing this place like the Hilton, days and days in advance. But here we are, on Wednesday, and she's coming tomorrow, and I haven't done anything! Today is also Bible study day, and I'd really like to go. I've decided that I'm being proactive and cutting the morning sleep out for good. Which is fine, except that it means we have to stay out of the house until lunchtime, and hang on a second why is it so quiet? Weird - they were both just sitting quietly watching a program. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Staying out until lunchtime, which means I've got to pack a box o' goodies, to keep them fed and happy. So we've also got to go to the shop, to pick up a few things, and I hope they are happy enough to

As a child, I remember my mother being uptight about a lot of stuff, but particularly, dirt as it relates to personal appearance. I think she might have felt that if I were seen to be dirty, it would somehow reflect on her abilities as a mother. I guess all mothers feel that way to some extent, but she took it to extremes.   So I've tried to be a bit more relaxed about dirt. Case in point, last night the girls were out playing with their dad in the garden, and at one point I peeked out and Charlie had removed her pants, and her shirt was only hanging on by a thread. She was filthy, and happy. Pippa was still clothed, but also filthy and happy. I was not bothered by this in the least. Which isn't to say that I'd let them be feral at the local playground or anything, but we were in our own backyard.  Enter the kids from next door. I went out to help Charlie with something, and there were four kids hanging over the fence, and they asked me to put some pants on C

We had a rough night here. I'm still not sure what it was all about, but Pippa was so unsettled. It's really rare for that to happen, so when it does it's a shock to the system. I tried everything, and in the end, I think she just got so tired that she gave up and fell asleep. With me. You don't necessarily want your children to be upset, but I generally don't get a lot of snuggles with Pippa - and as hard as it was to snuggle her when she was crying, it is quite lovely waking up with her beside me, safe and content.   A few errands to run today, and some laundry to catch up on. Some phone calls that need to be made, some shopping and menu planning that need to be done, and of course, housecleaning. It looks like a gray, dreary day, perfect for staying indoors and relaxing. Maybe even baking something from one (or both) of my new cookbooks! Or going to the shops and redeeming my gift voucher for a CD or two! Whatever we do today, I'm in a thankful

What do you want from me? Holding, Snuggling, Cuddling Rocking Swaying Bouncing Patting Are you itchy? Let me put some cream on you. Are your new teeth sore? Let me give you some teething gel and Nurofen. Are you hot? Let me take your socks off. Are you cold? Let me get your blankie. Are you hungry? Let me get some milk. Are you wet? Let me change your nappy. You're still not happy - what else could it be? Unless of course, all you want is... Me. I still don't know why you were so upset. And I know that at 3 in the morning, it seems impossible and eternal. But in the light of the early morning, with you snuggled close to me, the whole world melts away we're in our own private universe, where nothing can touch us. I love you...   XOXO, Sarah

this was for yesterday. I got busy, and although I had mentally composed a post, I was already in bed so I decided to do it this morning. You get a two-fer today! So here's today's random funny: What is up with children and toilets?? Everywhere we go, Charlie has to check out the toilet. She tells me she needs to do wee or poop, even when she really only wants to check out the toilet. Do kids have a rating system? Does a wall flusher rate higher than a regular tank flusher? Does pink soap rate higher than foamy soap? I do know she's freaked out by the air hand dryers - refuses to use them. So really, what are your thoughts on this? I remember my family referring to my sister as "the bathroom inspector", so I'm pretty sure it's a common thing. But it's funny to watch, that's for sure. She has to ask all manner of questions, and inspect everything before we can go. Which is okay, unless it's a smelly toilet. Who wants to loiter in there?? It'

I've always had a 'flighty' characteristic to my personality. My primary school teachers always had something to say about it on my report cards. One teacher said to my dad, "Sarah... doesn't think like other kids. She'll almost always have the right answer, but she'll get there a completely different way." And she was totally right about that. Like when I was diagnosed with double vision, and when my dad asked me why I never said anything, I told him I thought it was normal. I remember my thinking went like this: I've got two eyes, so of course I'd see two images. Doesn't anyone else see the logic in that? It simply didn't occur to me that it could be different. I remember in 2nd grade, taking a math test, I was sitting there thinking about how I wanted to know WHY two and two made four. Who decided that? And how do we know they were right? When I was in 4th grade, I wanted to do a whole research project on boogers. Yes, Bo

Which means National Blog Post Month.   I've signed up for a challenge that will, I hope, encourage me to write more. Not just quantity, but quality. Speaking of writing, I've kinda sorta decided what kind of book I want to write. A funny book. A book that makes people laugh. About ordinary stuff. Like the following:   Why, in all the time since toilet paper was invented, has no one thought to invent a roll of toilet paper that kids can't unroll? A child-proof toilet paper. That's what the world needs. I can't be the only parent to ever have walked in to the bathroom and found a massive pile of unrolled toilet paper. What are you supposed to do with it then? Me - I'm a cheapskate, so I rolled it up around my hand, and placed the new 'roll' on top of the toilet paper holder. I'm not throwing away a whole roll just because it was on the floor! It's not as though I have to worry about wiping germs on my parts, is it? Which brings m

Where is the missing library dvd?   It's been missing since July, although I admit that after an initial (and in my opinion thorough) search, I stopped looking and just planned on forking out the cash for it.   To add to the mystery, I'm only searching for the dvd itself. Not the case. Apparently I returned the case empty. Genius, right?   My first thought was that perhaps I had put it inside another of the cases we borrowed from the library. They checked - not there.   My next thought was that perhaps it fell out of the case while in transit (in the car), and slid under the seat or something. Nope.   I searched in and behind every single dvd we own. Not there. I searched in and behind every cd we own. Not there either.   Then we got crazy. I searched in the plastic box full of the girls books. I moved the tv stand to see if it had been wedged underneath. I searched the plastic tub of clothing in the lounge room. I searched our reusable shopping ba

How to describe my everyday life without sounding like I'm complaining. Which is why I've not posted a lot lately. I don't want to be a negative person all the time, but how pleasant can you make some stuff sound before you hit the sarcastic threshold? Like if I said, "I love it when the kids don't listen to a single word I say" - clearly, I'm being sarcastic. I'm totally thankful for my family.(I've dropped the sarcasm here)  With its unique challenges, or as some would say, opportunities for growth. With its tantrums and tears, with its looniness and laughter. I love them. I love my life. Except for the times when I wish everything was different. :-)   On to other items...   I'm tired. I know, nothing new there. But this is a whole new level of tired. And I'm not sure whether it's something I should ask my doctor about. On one hand, I don't want the doc to laugh at me and say "You've got two children under

Sometimes my brain is like an internet browser - and someone is surfing the web of my mind, flitting from one topic to the next, until they can't remember where they started out. Words escape me when I try to put fingers to keyboard. My mind doesn't seem able to focus on any one thing, and I'm constantly distracted. I can't even seem to pull together a to-do list today. So I'm just going to roll with it, and hope that it all gets done to some degree. It's not sadness, per se - it's more just distractedness, absentmindedness. I seem to remember the nickname Space Cadet from my childhood, and it fits pretty well in this situation.     I am very tired, as I haven't been sleeping well at night. No dreams to speak of, none that I remember anyway. Just waking up tired. Which, as I understand it, is par for the course. I said to Lachlan last night that it's not just me that struggles with parenting - anyone would have difficulty managing two y

I mean, REALLY!     When you're a teenager, they're bound to get you into trouble. When you're in your twenties, they cloud your judgement more than liquor. After you get married, they never show up when they're supposed to, and when they do grace you with their attendance, it's never the right time. And after you've got kids? Forget about it. No predictability whatsoever. Or is there...?   I've been having these insane mood swings. One week I'm tripping on happy hormones, and then 3 weeks later, I want the purple Kool-Aid. (I actually do like purple Kool-Aid, but not the special kind. ) A good friend pointed out that perhaps these changes were due to hormones - as they happen at about the same time each month. Bright as the sun light bulb comes on, et Voila! An explanation of why my mood tanks every 4 weeks.   So, mystery solved. It does feel a bit better being able to predict, with some regularity, when I'm going to want more pot