Holiday planning.....

So there is a lot of organising, planning and excitement going on in our house at the moment, with the pending overseas holiday! I have a list a mile long that needs to be done over the next week

Crazy Hair Day

It was a mad morning here before school, as today was THE day! The kids have been looking forward to crazy hair day for a few weeks now. Crazy hair day is a fun day organised by the src at the kids school. It is a fundraiser for the luekemia foundation. Basically, the students pay a gold coin donation to be able to go CRAZY with their hair for a day. What a great idea!

So my Munchkins were up, breakfast, dressed and teeth brushed all by 7am ( usually I'm still getting teeth brushed as we are getting in the car). So the morning was awesome with everyone happy. Noone's socks were too tight, everyone had the same for breakfast, and the fights were minimal.

 I say lets do crazy hair day at least once a week!

All the munchkins wanted half purple and half green hair. This included master 2, who was definitely not wanting to miss out on the action. He was just as excited to be putting on an old shirt of Dad's as he was the spraying! lol

He went first.

The munchkins tried to convince me to do this little miss

I convinced them though, that she has crazy hair day everyday. She does have some crazy hair going on for a four month old!

The rest of the Munchkins tried for all they could. Everyone with half green and half purple.

Miss 8 has 3 plaits with wire poked through each one to make it stick out.

Master 4 waxed up his hair for it to stick out as much as possible. ( it was so waxy though, by the time we had arrived at school, it had mostly dropped out!) 

Master 2 had a very light spray, due to the big warning on the bottle NOT to use it on light blonde hair. ( didn't notice that when I bought it). 

By the time we were finished the munchkins thought they were looking pretty cool!

If only every morning was as fun!

Going back in time

Was on youtube today and curly haired hubby reminded me of this video. It brings back lots of fun, crazy and stressful memories. This was a promo video for topless/strapless thongs business we ran a few years ago.
Pretty funny looking back!

The Fine Line of Motherhood

Night upon night of very little sleep,

Big gummy smiles between chubby cheeks.

Nappies, vomit, sour milk smells all combine,

Delicious baby skin smells divine.

Discovered permanent pen aftermath,

Cute bare bottoms after bath.

Spilled bolognaise, milk on the floor,

Overflow of kisses, cuddles and more.

The ''Why'' interrogation unending,

Pure faith from heaven transcending.

Destroyers of almost anything in sight,

Resting angels illuminated by moonlight.

Insignificant tears and frustration,

All consuming joy and elation.

Pancakes

Happy Shrove Tuesday!

One thing about our family is that we LOVE any reason to celebrate...
So today we celebrated all things pancakes!

Making them

Eating them

Racing them

and the best fun was flipping them!

The best medicine

Yesterday I was given a questionaire to fill in about myself. This questionaire was pretty simple, but boy I found it harder to answer than I would have thought. It was a basic questionaire that asked questions like
What is your favourite movie?
What is your favourite colour?
What are your hobbies?
What skills do you have?

10 years ago I would have known my answers exaclty without any thought at all, even five years ago. It's funny how life with a family becomes sooo not about you. I could list all of these answers so easily for each one of my Munchkins. I'm guessing that's how life is meant to be and will continue to be for a while yet!
One of the questions asked was 'What do you enjoy doing?' A few answers came to mind. - Being with my family, or at the other end of the scale.. peace and quiet on my own. As I pondered the question, I really had to ask myself, but what really makes me happy? What throughout my life have I ALWAYS enjoyed doing? Then I knew what it was so easily. Whether in fits with my children, uncontrollable in innappropriate situations, to absolute tears with friends. I LOVE to laugh!

It makes me so happy. Infact the reason I fell so in love with my curly haired man in the first place was that he could make me laugh in almost any situation!

After filling in my questionaire I got thinking... When was the last time I had a good laugh? Why didn't I laugh as much as I used to? I decided I can be too serious. Too serious about life, about munchkins behaviour, about what people might think of me, about getting somewhere on time, about anything really! So today I found reasons to laugh. Laughing at the munchkin master 4 'accidentally' knocking all the plastic cups out of the cupboard to make a big noise. Having a laugh with munchkin Miss 8 when she was sulking about not getting her way. Laughing with the curly haired man and all the munchkins as we played leapfrog with them down the hallway tonight. I am glad for all that laughter, for tonight I am going to bed feeling very happy indeed.

Stumble

Well, it sounded so easy when I decided to do it. Three little weeks without junk.
 At the time though, I hadn't considered those mid morning munchies I often get at around 10:30am, after the morning routines and rush are done with. Nor did I consider the crazy late afternoons, when a hit of chocolate is just what I need to keep going and stay enthused to help with homework and reading. No, I didn't think about that beautiful quiet time at night when reading, watching my favourite show or chatting with my curly haired man and just  a nice drink or some shared chocolate is such a delight.
Nope, didn't consider any of these things. However, each day for the past week I have been able to handle myself and cope............until last night. Yep, I lost it. I completetly lost all self discipline and restraint.

Have you ever had those days when you feel like you're the meanest mum in the world? When no matter what consequences are given out, the children are just wild? Well, that was my day yesterday.
Having a husband who works all day saturday and it raining cats and dogs; yesterday turned into my mean mum day! Admittedly it was my fault in the beginning.

The munchkins seemed happy playing together, so I started scouring the papers for a house to buy. (a whole other post ;) The noise and rabble starting getting louder and louder. I could hear fighting and carrying on. I ignored it and reasoned that it would be good for them to work out their battles once in a while without me. Finally after what I could hear was fast becoming world war status, I got up from my chair in the study and discovered just how they'd worked out their battle.

My kitchen and dining rooms were literally covered in tiny pieces of white stuff. I wondered what it was, until I saw munchkin master 2 eating it. It was bread. I quickly went into the kitchen to not only compose myself before I handed out the consequences, but to quickly find and rescue the rest of the loaf they had obviously found from my shopping expedition that morning. Checking we 'd still have enough for sandwiches at lunch. Of course I did'nt find it, because they had torn the WHOLE loaf into tiny pieces all over my floor!

Upon this realisation, all composure went out the window and I entered into that world war myself and thus my day began. Munchkins angry with their Mummy, Mummy cross with her munchkins.
 After a clean up and some dancing around the kitchen to our favourite tunes, things did get better throughout the day. Still, by the time my curly haired man walked through the door at 8:00pm, I was tired, exhausted and dissapointed in my mothering skills( or lack thereof).

That wise curly haired man suggested a 'break' from the 'no junk' policy, and together we enjoyed M & M's, a handful of chips and a bottle of Patritti. I smiled and enjoyed my man's company before giving up on the day and heading to that more-than-ever inviting bed.

So yes, I stumbled not only with my 'no junk' plan, but also as a Mum. I am however, grateful for forgiving Munchkins, a wise husband, and a new day. Today I am back on my 'no junk' diet, and trying again in the awesome mum stakes ( i can only try!).

The Smell of Newness

How I love the smell of a newborn baby, it really is THE most delicious smell.  Oh, how I love that newness, and those early days of just breathing them in. That smell is clean, and warm, and new, and fresh of promise.
Less than four months ago I was in the midst of all that newness smelling. Four months on and I'm still smelling my baby's delicious breath, but those moments of 'newness' are already fading.

I have here now my own 'newness' to enjoy. A new avenue to record these precious moments and sunny, happy experiences I so love.

As a Mum to four precious munchkins, and wife to a handsome curly haired guy; I am on an awesome, yet often very bumpy journey.

As I muse and reflect here I want to see, recognise and enjoy those sunny moments. Sunny Musing.