Winter Fun

 In a concerted effort to avoid cabin fever during the winter school holidays, we braved the frigid wind on Tuesday and ventured out to the playground. We had one thing in our favour, the sun was shining. We played for an hour. I chased Mr Darcy around the soccer oval, taking photos as we went. We had fun.

I'm still yet to achieve the photo shoot I want, the girls continue to insist on choosing clothes that aren't particularly photo worthy. Charlotte has worn a Rapunzel costume for the better part of two days now. She even wore it to the supermarket...with her red coat on over the top. She looked liked a confused character. Little Red Meets Rapunzel. Adorable.

The weather has turned even more bitterly cold, the kids were nearly frozen solid after we walked the 3 blocks to the supermarket today. We came home and snuggled and did some fun indoor activities.

I certainly am hoping for a return to winter sunshine before school goes back, they all need a bit of outdoor adventuring every day, Darcy especially. (Partly for my sanity, but mostly for them to burn off some energy and not spend the whole day bickering)...that's no fun.

 

Cindy..

 

 

 

Broken

She fell off her scooter a week ago...

She has a buckle fracture of her right wrist...

 

 

It was about 4.30 on Friday afternoon last week when I heard a scream from her, not an unusual occurrence...she ran inside telling me she had fallen off her scooter and landed on her arm.

I gave her 5 minutes to calm down while I held her and then we talked about going to the hospital. I rang her Dad and told him to meet us there after work.

We went straight into triage, where they gave her a dose of panadol, and then off we went to x-ray. Looked like we were in for a long wait, the ER was full of people. She found one of her school friends. They went off to the playground.

She was throwing cushions around, being silly, not in any apparent pain. After an hour I was fed up and told her we were leaving. She agreed.

We headed over to "that Scottish restaurant" for dinner. She hurt it again on the playground there, so we went home so she could sit calmly for a while.

She seemed fine on Saturday morning. No complaints. We packed her off for a sleepover at her Gran and Grumbles that night.

Sunday morning she complained that her wrist was still sore. It was swollen and her fingers were fat. Off we went to the ER again. Only 2 people waiting this time.

The doctor came out to us, I told her we already had x-rays done. She went off to review them. I was confident she would come back and say it was just a sprain.

Another half hour and the doctor came back to tell me that it was indeed broken.

I felt horrendous. I had failed my daughter.

She was fitted with a fibreglass slab and a bandage. She needs to wear it for 3 to 4 weeks.

We have a appointment on Christmas Eve with the Orthopedic Surgeon to make sure it is healing properly.

She has coped quite will with it so far. In fact I don't think it has restricted her much at all. Except that she maybe splashes less in the bath.

It's a good thing that school has finished, it being her right arm and all.

 

It's so difficult to know when she is being genuine, and I feel bad that I didn't trust her enough to stay at the ER and wait for the x-ray results. Live and learn I guess.

 

Cindy..

Fail

My attempts to take a nice photo of my three children together for a Christmas Card...

Total fail...

The littlest was not in a cooperative mood.

I did manage to get this one though, so it wasn't a complete disaster.

 

 

Running out of time now...was trying to be more organised with this regard in 2012.

Oh well, if you don't get a Christmas Card from me this year again, I do apologise..

 

Cindy..

I'm so behind...

in posting to this blog. Busy busy busy...

 

Sophias school had a book character walkathon fundraiser about three weeks ago now.

I tried to talk her into going as Alice in Wonderland, but she insisted on Rapunzel. So, I got to work and whipped up her dress based on Disneys Movie Rapunzel.

She loved it. (I was quite pleased with the end result too:)

 

I went up to school and walked four laps around with Sophia and her little entourage...all holding hands and trying to get away from a little Harry Potter and his out of control wand.

I may have got a little sunburnt, even though I was decked out with hat and sunscreen.

 



 

 Not to be left out, Charlotte dressed up as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Cute. Only missing her ruby slippers. Pink ones will suffice.

 

 

We all returned later for a little mini fete. Popcorn and gingerbread and fairy floss. Sophia had the best time throwing wet sponges at one of the grade six boys. We purchased tiny little water pistols and nail polish.

 

We all had the opportunity to hang out in Sophias classroom and watch a movie.

Then we headed home and filled our water pistols and all got very very wet playing in the backyard with them.

 

What a fun day.

 

Cindy..

This Girl

has been elusive of late.

 I guess that's what happens when they are at school for most of the day. Some days I miss her. Some days I wish she could stay at school longer.

She has changed since starting school. Some good, some not so good.
She loves to share with her brother and sister, most of the time.
She has a kind heart, and always tries to help her friends.
She has lovely manners.
She can be contrary, not liking it when things don't go her way.
She takes forever to get dressed for school in the morning.
She struggles with perfectionism, not wanting to try something if she thinks she might not get it right first up.
She has been invited to six birthday parties so far this year.
He hair is dead straight and getting so long now.
She won't eat yoghurt if I put it in her lunchbox.
She loves apples, and avacoado in a sandwich.
Her teacher tells me that some of the other kids in her class are in awe of her.
She is absolutely a social butterfly, she makes new friends so easily.
She still fits into a size four skinny jeans.
She would prefer to wear a dress to school over trackies every day.
She is doing taekwondo and fitness circuit after school twice a week.
She loves to read, and is at the right level for someone at the end of Prep.
We have just started giving her some pocketmoney, she likes to spend it on a fingerbun after school on Fridays. Not just for her, but for her siblings as well.
She always wants a hug when she has been in trouble, and she is difficult to resist, it helps calm her down.
Her temper can be volatile.
She likes me to drop her off at the gate for school, she has always been very independent in spirit.

She is a school girl now. She is six years old. I love watching her grow and learn. I am always amazed when I listen to her read, and spell, and add up.
Can you teach me to count by sixes, she asked me this morning as she was getting dressed.
I love that she has a voracious appetite for learning, and that she hasn't once yet complained that she doesn't want to go to school.
It puts joy in my heart.
Love my girl.

More Pillow Pretties

I've been busy sewing...

This one was a small version at 40cm x 20cm for another of Sophias school friends.

Going back to my original format...including a little detail in the hand stitched hearts. This one is 60cm x 30cm. I think the bigger size makes for more of a statement piece. It looks great on a bed.

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood...Sophia is playing the title role in a little school production...it's really only a bit part, no speaking...but I offered to make the costume to take a load off her teacher. I love it...thankyou to fleecefun for the fabulous and super easy pattern. The only alterations I made where to line the entire cape and take the shoulders in slightly for my small framed girl.
I think if I ever make another, I will use a contrasting lining...perhaps black, perhaps white??

Mini Model

She was half willing...of course she wanted to choose her own clothes.

 

So we shot some photos of her wearing what she wanted to wear...then I got her to change into this.

She mostly followed directions.

We got some very cute shots.

She doesn't normally smile like this for photos.

Must have been enjoying the one on one time, the little man was in bed and her big sister was at school.

We had fun.

She has a grey front tooth. Can you see it??

She is a sweet kid and an absolute terror.

At some point in the past 12 months we must have reinforced for her that if she has a big enough tantrum or cries for long enough we will give her what she wants. It's going to be a tremendously difficult habit to break with her. She stamps her feet and stands on the spot and screams. She cries at the drop of a hat if things don't go her way. She makes the most annoying screeching noise. I guess it's tough being the middle child. She certainly does not like to share...especially with her little brother.

On the plus side she now goes to bed easily. No more needing her Dad to lay next to her until she falls asleep. She gets up and goes to the toilet and then takes herself back to bed.

She can count to thirty, and sings the alphabet song impeccably.

She also likes to sing, at the moment P!nk, at the top of her voice...LOUD.

She loves Kinder and brings home lots and lots of artwork.

She is cute and tiny and adorable and a handful and I wouldn't change her for the world.

This Girl

I was just taking a few shots to check the light in the girls bedroom...

She is starting to come around to the whole idea of posing for me...

I converted to black and white

...this photo took my breath away.

Grateful

So very very grateful for the existence of these precious little people.

Sure, they're hard work. They make a mess, they often don't get along , and I complain about them over and over.

BUT

They are my world. I love them with my entire being. I fought very hard to get them here.

They are my little weirdos.

Mothers Day is a good time to remind myself how difficult the journey to parenthood was. It also gives me pause to think about all the people out there who haven't been as lucky as we are. 

I had been wanting for the longest time (before Darcy was even born) to order a pendant with the kids names on it, I just couldn't decide what style I liked. This Mothers Day I finally decided!

The hearts are for our babies that couldn't be with us...I still think about them EVERY SINGLE DAY, so I thought it appropriate to have this reminder of them.

The card is from my gorgeous school girl, who is doing so very well with her reading and writing.
So proud of her.
After the kiddos let me has a little sleep in, they bombarded my with cards covered in glitter (which is still in my bed).
Sophia bought me a pair of gardening gloves and a cute little spade (she has high hopes :)) at the Mothers Day stall at school.
Charlotte made me a lovely beaded necklace (definitely one of a kind).
Lots and lots of cuddles...absolutely the best bit of Mothers Day.

Hope everyone else out there had a wonderful Mothers Day.

Cindy.

A Week Of...

Sickness, School, Photos, Doctors Visits, Working, Creating, Laughing, Crying, Driving, Worrying.

It all started on Wednesday night, after a frustrating day at work all I wanted was to get a good night sleep. Darcy thanked me for working by waking up every hour during the night. I get it baby, you missed me, but EVERY HOUR! Then I heard Charlotte making strange noises at 3am. She vomited all over herself in bed. Cleaned that up. She was sick all day Thursday. Mr Pixies headed off the the football on Saturday night. We had a cruisey Sunday. Darcy coughed so hard on Monday he vomited, took him to the doctor, what a waste of time that was. Sorry can't do anything for him. He suffered with gastro all of Monday. Took the kids over to the park in an attempt to get some nice photos for Mothers Day. Didn't really go as planned. Work on Wednesday. Nice little break from the kids. Come home to find that Sophia now has Gastro. She threw up all Wednesday night and stayed home from school Thursday. Darcy again thanked me for going to work by waking every hour from eight until midnight. Got him up and watched the Nascars at Talledega on the TV. He slept better after a little one on one Mummy time. House looks like a bomb hit it. Don't even know where to start cleaning. Kids constantly arguing. Trying to find my Zen. Sometimes it's difficult to find the silver lining.

I know I do a lot of complaining on this blog. It's just my nature I guess. It's my "Princess Bitch Face"!

I prefer to read about reality instead of the saccharine sweet crap that alot of people post about. Some people would have you believe that their lives are perfect. They like to blog only about the good parts of their lives. I like to blog about the everyday! It is for this reason that I have dramatically culled the list of blogs I read. I like a dose of reality, I don't need to be made to feel like I don't measure up. I don't need to feel that if I don't enjoy my kids 24/7 I am a bad parent. It's an Illusion.



She's two and a half years old...

and the strangest little kid...

I wanted to write a piece about all her little idiosyncrasies...she has many...but I'm sleep deprived and my head hurts, so I thought I would just share the photos...

Maybe I will be thinking straight again by the time she is three!!

Cindy..

This Little Girl...

...turned FIVE yesterday

She opened a present to find just what she wanted...

We partook in a spot of brunch at Gran and Grumbles followed by cake...

made by mumma...and guaranteed to give you a sugar buzz.

The boys wondered why on earth they turned up to the party in the same outfit...how could such a thing happen???

We went on a little impromptu photo shoot...just the two of us...it was COLD...

Then it was Birthday Girls choice for dinner...homemade pizza...with lots of olives (more got eaten than made it to the pizza). They even got to roll out their own base...can you tell??

and to finish the day in style...

blue goo bath.

followed perhaps by a little pre bed tantrum...big day, big emotions.

What more could a five year old want?

Better go...I have a gazillion tiny little cupcakes to ice for Kinder tomorrow...

Cindy.



Wordless Wednesday

Cindyx

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday...

Bedtime Rituals

In 2010 I am trying to take pleasure in the small things...so with this in mind I thought I would document our bedtime ritual.

The girls know the routine...we've been doing it for quite some time now.

They both LOVE bathtime, as you can probably tell from the wrinkly old prune toes there. The biggest JOY for them both, however, is that after they have had a bath and are dressed in their pj's they get to go outside. The look of absolute delight on Miss C's face when we open the front door is amazing...she literally runs to get outside. They love sitting on the fence and waving to people in their cars...not many people wave back, but when someone does Miss S just beams. Then it's inside where Dadda reads S a story and tucks her in and I feed C in our bed and she drifts off to sleep.

It's a really nice end to a usually hectic day...