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..

 

 

 

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..

Sad News and a catch up

I was hoping to be able to share with you all a plethora of divine wedding photos.

Unfortuantley, things didn't go to plan.

I was in the middle of making up some cute little last minute photo props the night before the big day when the phone rang. It was the brides brother...informing me that it had been called off. My first thoughts of course where with the bride. I was upset and worried for her. Something obviously had gone wrong for her to make such a huge decision.

 

I had geared myself up and I was completely ready for my first wedding shoot. It's really difficult to explain my emotions about it all. I was disappointed for myself, but I was also concerned about my friend. My confidence has taken a little bit of a battering.  I didn't even touch my fully prepared camera gear for a week. I felt like a caged lion, with the need to get out there and take photos...of anyone other than my children. I guess that is frustration.

 

Anyway, life goes on. I hope that my bride and groom can work things out. I am certainly thinking of them.

 

 

So with nothing to do on a Saturday, Sam off work and a lovely babysitter arranged for the kiddos in the evening...what were we to do?? Go out for dinner of course...Just the two of us. That's something we haven't done in I don't know how long. Too long. It's difficult to have a date night here. We had a lovely couple of hours, and we were home in time to get the kids to bed and have a few glasses of wine with our lovely friend.

 

That was a few weeks ago now, and I have had a birthday in the meantime...thirty-seven...with three kids...how did that happen??

 

I think I like being closer to forty. I'm not worried about hitting that milestone. I am relatively happy with my life at the moment. Wonderful partner, three beautiful children, a house, a job, fantastic parents.

 

It was AFL Grands Final Day on my birthday, and the Hawks lost. That didn't go down so well in this household. Although I do think I yelled at the television quiet a bit more than Sam. Maybe I was worried about him being grumpy face for a week. Or maybe it's because I have kind of adopted the Hawks, considering how badly Melbourne are doing. Circumstance made for an interesting birthday.

 

To make up for this, we headed down to Geelong for a nice leisurely stroll around the Mill Market. (interspersed with the complaining of two small girls..I'm hungry, I'm bored, can we go now, I want to go on the carousel, this is taking for...ever!!). I saw so many things I would love to own, but alas the budget is very very tight at the moment...maybe after Christmas I'll ditch the loved ones and make a day of it alone, dragging a trailer behind me.

 

We eventually made it to the carousel, followed by ice-cream for lunch (oh! the horror). A stroll along the waterfront, watched the sea helicopter take off and land, then made our way home...with a bucket of coffee.

It all made for a lovely birthday...thank you to my people :)

Wow! That's was a jumbled up ramble...congratulations if you made it to here!! I will endeavour to update my blog more often, but I have been fairly busy with work and school holiday activities. In fact I should be working right now. Back to the sewing machine for me!! Talk to you again soon.

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.

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.

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.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

It's off to work I go.

I recently received an email from an old work colleague. I knew that she had started her own business a while back. A bridal shop. She wanted to know if I was interested in some dressmaking work. I wasn't sure. When she rang me I said no, sorry, can't do it, my kids need me. I argued with Mr Pixies. He said he could have the kids on Wednesdays. I still wasn't sure. Did I really want to go back into the world of the Bride. An often unpredictable creature. Anyway, I called in to see her about three weeks ago and told her I was available on Wednesdays if she still needed me. She said she would get back to me. I thought I wouldn't hear from her, going into winter is usually a quite time in bridal for obvious reasons. She phoned me last Thursday and said she needed me. Slight freak out moment. I wasn't expecting it. I tried not to think about it too much in an attempt to hold the nerves at bay.
Anyway!! Long Story Short...I left the kids in the capable hands of their father and headed off to work :) and...

I LOVED IT!

It was peaceful, it felt good, it felt productive, I had some adult conversation, and I felt needed...in a different way.

So I guess I am officially a "working mother". Ugh! I hate that distinction.
I have very strong opinions on this! I don't see the point of dropping the kids off at daycare and going to work all day, then picking them up, bathing them, feeding them and kissing them goodnight only to do it all over again the next day.
I want to raise my  children, I want to be there for them, I want to teach them their core values, I don't want them lost amongst 20 other kids at such a young age.
The ONLY reason I took this job is because it is one day, and their Dad will be caring for them, NOT a stranger.

I will admit that after experiencing a day away from them at work I felt a great temptation to look into some daycare for them, just for one other day in the week.
 I think people imagine full time parenting as a pretty cruisey existence...well it isn't. The demands are constant, you need to be mediator, nurse, counsellor, climbing frame, cook, cleaner, taxi driver, teacher, source of food, and above all patient and nurturing...I'm the first to admit that I don't always do a great job at parenting, it's tedious and frustrating, but I chose to have children, and I choose to raise them. The rewards for me in raising my children are immeasurable. There are the obvious rewards...the hugs and kisses, the love, the pride in their achievements. There are also less tangible rewards, the knowledge that you are making a difference, moulding them for their future lives, trying to ensure they are valuable and valued members of society.
To all those people who tell me I'm not a valuable member of society, I would like to ask...Why is raising the next generation of future employees, employers, leaders, not something to be valued? Some of the MOST important jobs are undervalued in this society. Teachers, nurses, carers and stay at home mums amongst them. I don't like where many of the values in our current society lie, we have become a nation of selfish, self serving, money driven individuals. I happily sacrifice not having the latest and best car, house, television to stay at home with my children. We live within our means.

Wow!! That wasn't meant to turn into a rant, but it feels good to get that out! Just my opinion, if you don't like it...well that's your business :)

On a less serious note...I tried to take some photos of the middle child during the week. She's a difficult one. Not so keen on the modelling. She is so different looking, very angular...no rounded edges :)

Oh! and in case anyone actually noticed, I didn't post a self portrait for March!! Because I forgot to take one...Oops.
Aprils will be coming up very soon, It will be done :)

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.



A letter to my 5 month old

Dear Mr D,
My oh my how quickly the last five months have flown by. How much you have changed and learnt. I would never have imagined that you would be rolling and sitting up on your own at four and a half months. Very clever of you really.
Unfortunately your not so clever when it comes to sleeping. Don't you think it's time you started sleeping more than 45 minutes at a stretch during the day? (Even if you do wake up happy on most occasions). Or perhaps you could think about sleeping longer than 2 hours during the night...I must admit that although you do tend to wake often in the night, you barely ever wake up completely. It's just the kind of awake where I can roll over and give you what you need to drift back off. Which isn't to say that it's not exhausting, because it is.
For all your catnapping, you are a remarkably happy little bubba...I love the way your sisters can set you off into mad giggling like no one else can.
I love that you are happy to sit on the floor and play with your toys for a while now.
I love that you breastfeed to sleep (could cause problems later, but it's lovely to live in the moment).
I love that you are right there next to me every night...so I can hear you breathe and feel you reach out for me. I wasn't so happy when you started screaming every time I swaddles you, so I think graduating to the sleeping bag was a good move. It hasn't made you sleep any worse...nor any better.
I love laying in bed and watching you sleep when I have the opportunity, not that your sisters afford me that opportunity very often.
I love your gorgeous blue eyes, and those divine eyelashes...not so keen on the constant dribble.
I love that you have been cold free for two weeks now...yay!! (knocks on wood so as not to jinx it!!).
I am so glad that you are in our lives, that you make our family complete.
Of course it hasn't all been sunshine and roses...there have been some very dark days for me, but I think at last that the fog is lifting. It's time to focus on raising you to be a good man. To raise your sisters to be good women, to be respectful, to dream big.
I look forward to watching you grow, to being a family...to being the best we can be...looking forward.
Love you more than you can ever imagine,
Mumma.

Hello Old Friend...Daybook Monday

FOR TODAY...6th June 2011

Outside My Window...COLD!!

I am thinking...I wish I knew how to get Mr D to sleep through more than one sleep cycle during the day...it's driving me nuts. The only successful way so far is to hold him while he sleeps. TOTALLY impractical. Once he opens his eyes he's totally awake...point of no return.

I am thankful for...A return to better night time sleeping...hallelujah. 3 hour stretch of sleep is BLISS.

From the kitchen...An oven waiting for an expensive repair job!!!How long can one live without an oven?? Not much longer would be my thought...2 birthdays coming up in the next 3 weeks...can't bake cakes without an oven :(

I am wearing...something comfortable and warm...NOT one of these..although that's looking pretty darn tempting!

I am creating...still working on photo books for the kids first year! Miss C is almost done, Mr D's is started (not yet up to date though), and Miss S...well I'm dreading looking through all those pre-SLR photos. Monumental task...bit of perfectionism going on here.

 

I am reading...Japanese sewing book...well obviously I'm not "reading" it considering I can't read Japanese...but it has pretty easy to follow pictorial instructions. Clothes for the pixies to be made in the near future.

I am hearing...the 2 pixies playing the electric organ that was my late grandpa's. We get it out occasionally and they have fun with it for about an hour before they get bored with it (and the noise gets to be too much).

Around the house...my toilet is in a disgusting state...and I don't want to go near it. I can't avoid it for much longer...

One of my favourite things...fresh dates...

A few plans for the rest of the week...I need to sew...desperately...clean the oven, make a cake hopefully, get my hair cut (wishful thinking on that one). Try to train the boy to sleep a longer stretch during the day (wishful thinking on that one also).

A photo to share... how cold??

Have a good week

Cindy



4 months

At four months he is...

rolling both directions

sleeping terribly

distracted while breastfeeding

sitting up momentarily by himself

bouncing when held in a standing position

recovering from a nasty cold

grabbing everything within reach

mouthing everything

fighting being swaddled

catnapping

"talking"...such cute noises

six and a half kilos

wearing mostly 00 clothes

drooling...this boy can soak a t-sirt through in a matter of minutes

loving attention from his sisters

loving getting out and about

staying awake longer between sleeps

growing way too fast

being a pill

being a delight

asleep on me at 12:30pm following waking up screaming (immunisations??)

Time for bed....zzzzz

Cindy

Oh My!! Too Soon

My little man rolled from his back to his tummy.

He wasn't happy about it..

He's been out of sorts for the last couple of days...lots of crying, not feeding to sleep, only wanting to feed when he's truly hungry (hello full boobs), only happy when being held constantly....sigh 

I put him on the floor for just a minute to do something and he threw himself over effortlessly..What The! Not once but twice. That's a week earlier than his sister rolled...and I thought she was early.

Stop moving so fast little fella...you need to be my baby for a while yet.

Cindyxx

3 months

Wow!! How quickly 3 months goes by.

I looked at him today and thought "he doesn't look like a tiny baby anymore"

Well, he was never really tiny...but you know what I mean.

He's lost that new look.

His eyes are focused, his cheeks are full, his skin is smooth, his hair is growing.

At 3 months he is

Growing rapidly

Feeding 4 hourly

Sleeping in the family bed

Waking at least twice in the night for a feed

Catnapping

Giggling

Smiling

Drooling

Likes his new mode of transport

Being smothered with love by his sisters

Asleep on me right now

Loving nappy free time

Happy to lay on his play mat...for a little while

Adores his Pa

Grasping things and bringing them to his mouth

Still being swaddled

Rolling from tummy to back

Trying to roll from back to front

Loving to shower with mummy or daddy

It makes me sad that he is growing so quickly...and I really miss this

but it fills me with joy that he is learning and changing and engaging.

Life with 3 is hectic and sometimes chaotic, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Cindy xx

Road Trip Easter

Expectations Exceeded...

The little man was an absolute dream in the car...there and back.

He did however wake up the neighbours at 4:30am...but I made no apologies for him.

The girls had great fun on a very very cold Easter Sunday morning...hunting for eggs around the caravan and tent...

They gathered their share of an obscene amount of chocolate eggs...

All in all the trip went far better than I anticipated...even with a sick Miss C and an unsettled Mr D.

We did all come home with a nasty cough and sleep deprivation and a sugar buzz...but it's worth it to enjoy Easter with family.

Bring on Easter 2012.

Daybook Monday

Outside My Window...It looks awfully cold for early autumn...a giant orb spider has taken us residence in our potato creeper, it spins a huge web every night and catches moths. It's getting so big that it is starting to creep me out a bit. I won't go out there at night to put a nappy in the bin for fear of walking into it's web.

I am thinking...that everything is just a little bit more difficult with 3...and that a bigger gap between 2 and 3 like I planned would have been better...but then we probably wouldn't have our handsome boy!!

I am thankful for...co-sleeping, because even though Mr D woke up every hour last night, he was right beside me and I didn't have to get out of bed in the cold.

From the kitchen...Chocolate Waffles, YUM! S asked for waffles for lunch so that's what we are having. It's been so long since I made these that I actually had to consult the recipe.

I am going...to walk to the supermarket if I can time it right. Hoping for a sunny spell when Mr D is due for a sleep so he can go in the hug a bub for a snooze.

I am reading...blogs, gathering ideas for future projects...when Velcro Baby is not quite as sticky :)

I am hoping...to create a photo book for each of my girls for the first year of their lives. I'm struggling to find photos of Miss S that are good quality. Am learning that my photography has certainly evolved in the the past 5 years, and making me glad I now have a DSLR and a better lens.

I am hearing...Miss S singing 'the opposite song' from this DVD (a new favourite), while she cuts and pastes (she's making a monster).

Around the house...dishes to be washed; floor to be vacuumed; clothes all washed, dried and put away;  baby asleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week...finish washing the windows, do some gardening, enjoy my children, do some sewing (making one of these for Master DS)

A photo to share...my babies...