Home of Slightly Cracked Dreams

Before anyone asks, I’m 28 today. That’s going to take some getting used to. If you don’t mind I’d like to be 26 for a few more years? 26 seems like such a respectable age.

It’s cold, windy and raining here today. Now, before those of you who live far south or far north of here complain, yes, it’s cold when it’s only 15 degrees. I cannot shut up my house, I do not have any heating, and while it’s 15 degrees outside, it’s pretty muchly 15 degrees inside too.

So rugging up is in order, and snuggling under blankets with my kids watching crap on tv.  Or, you know, whatever else we can think of to do.

It’s an interesting exercise to sit and look back at the last year. 12 months ago I was pregnant and still suffering morning sickness. Just finished my first semester of my law degree. Trying to get our house on the market.

So much has happened even in the last two weeks, I find it hard to keep track of.  And it doesn’t stop. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life is too short to be bored, or to sit around and waiting for things to happen.

So here’s to the next 12 months. I just hope it’s as good as the last 12

So much has been happening around here lately. I have to go back almost two weeks to tell you about Hubby’s birthday.

After getting soundly told off after last years event I scaled things back significantly. Firstly I got him something fun for a present

Oh yeah, go the Tonka Truck. Of course, with two girls I couldn’t just get one, so I got a truck and an excavator thingy. They have both been well played with.

I told him in advance, and I invited a few friends around to play our new Cranium game on the Saturday night. The girls stayed up for it and it was very entertaining. Even if the boys had to cheat to win, it was great fun. Then the Sunday night his parents came around for dinner and cake.

So a much quieter birthday than last years, and I didn’t get into as much trouble, which is always nice.

Today someone very special in my live celebrates her birthday. I won’t post how old she is, but it is a special one (ie one with a “0″ at the end of it ).

My step-mother is quite a woman. I mean, she voluntarily teaches large numbers of teenage boys French for starters. She is always there when her kids need her. She speaks some rediculous number of languages, sews, knits, quilts, cross-stitches and 300 other craft I’ve never heard of.  Of course she’s still working on the cot quilt for my first, second, third child, but I won’t hold that against her. Not yet anyway .

And since she always tells me off when I buy her a present as her birthday is so close to mother’s day as well, and I know she reads my blog, I thought I’d send her some virtual flowers.

Happy Birthday

And enjoy jumping out of that plane!

Love Kin, M&M, Kiki & Miss Moo

That’s right, princess #3, Megwyn Eleanor arrived bright and early last Sunday morning at 5:15am. I’m still debating weather to share the whole story, but the pertinant details were as follows:

Weight: 9lb 4oz (4140g)
Length: 56cm
Head circ: 37cm

Labour was about 7 hours, although the time of day meant that by the end of it I had been up for 24 hours straight, which kind of took it out of me.

Unfortunately, there are no suitable photos yet (ie ones without me looking like a mad woman) but I promise as soon as there is I will be sharing.

And now it’s not quite so painful to sit, I’ll be back here a bit more regularly.

With kids birthday parties, I started out with the rule that for every year you were turning, you could have one friend over. Thus for M&M’s 3rd birthday last year, we invited 3 kids, but only 2 were able to come. So this year I’ve invited a few extras, to make up for any that can’t come. So for M&M’s Birthday I invited 7 kids, and 5 came - oops! For Kiki’s 3rd birthday, I invited 6 kids, and 5 came. Doh!

 Of course, it also helps if you keep more than a mental note of who’s actually coming. I forgot a child was coming. This is why it’s important to either a) keep a list of who’s coming and who’s not, and b) make up extra lolly bags. Fortunately we had a packet of 8, so I still managed to nab one for myself

 Due to the ages of the kids (2-3) we didn’t organise any activities this time. Between the birthday presents the girls brought for Kiki, and the swing set outside, food and cake, an hour and half went far too quick. In fact everyone stayed for another half an hour and it was only then that the kids started struggling with keeping up with everything.

As for a cake, unfortunately I have no funny story to share. I delegated the task to mother-in-law, who, while having challenges of her own, managed to produce a chocolate Dora cake which delighted all the kids (and didn’t taste too bad either ).

So all in all quite a successful day. Kiki got some wonderful presents, including a kite (which hubby gets to play with more than she does), a new set of pj’s, a dvd, a book, a game, a Wiggles dancing guitar and a train set from Grandma, which she and M&M have been playing with constantly.

 But I think I might need some more inspiration for next years party.

I should start with the reason I haven’t been posting. I blame Hubby, although in this case I’m sure he’d be happy to accept blame. After another restless sleep on Wednesday night, I was sent by Hubby to the cute pharmacist to get something to help me sleep. Unfortunately the cute pharmacist was busy, but the other pharmacist, also good looking, was happy enough to help me out.

So now I’ve had 2 nights of almost solid sleep, I feel like a different person. Plus I’m not often awake at midnight or 2am to write posts. Which is of course where the problem comes in. So why am I up at midnight tonight? We’ve got visitors. So let me take you back to Thursday, when I find out the visitors are coming. I start panicing a bit, because the house was in a bit of a shambles. Then I knew I was going to be out all day Friday. Friday was busy. I was out of the house from 9am to 2pm. Then in and out from 4pm to 6pm. Firstly I had to deliver the kids to daycare. Then an appointment at the bank. In the carpark I ran into mother-in-law, so of course we had to have coffee. After I delivered some Tupperware. Then I went to the post office and posted my Christmas cards, the solicitor to drop off some paperwork. Then I got to start Christmas shopping. Hubby joined me for lunch and I finally got home at 2pm. I collapsed for a while, dozed a bit, then got up to sort the latest load of Tupperware that had arrived. Arranged delivery of that, wrapped presents, delivered Tupperware, wrapped more presents, picked up kids.

Got home and ordered pizza.

While I don’t suggest these tablets knock me out for 8 hours solid, or anything like that (I’m taking a half dose), they do make it easier to go back to sleep when I wake up. Which I did, many, many times last night.

Thus, today, I was able to face the day with some measure of energy. After sending the kids off to swimming lessons with Hubby, I headed off to deliver more Tupperware, then went to the shops to finish the Christmas shopping. Which I did. Then I did the grocery shopping. Came home with the kids while Hubby finished his shopping (oooh, the suspense is huge in this house…).

With an hours notice our friends would be on our doorstep, we managed to get the spare bedroom, living areas and bathroom presentable and clean. They decided to take up our offer of a bed for the night, so we juggled everything around with the girls daycare party this afternoon and Hubby’s work party tonight and we spent a lovely evening chatting and making lolly bags for tomorrow’s party.

So I was a bit late taking my tablet, which is why you’re getting me at nearly midnight. But it won’t last much longer, so I’d better finish up before I stop making sense. Like now, you should have seen what I just wrote.

Be prepared for a party update either tomorrow night or Monday, and I hope your weekend is proving more restful than mine.

Well, first off, yes, I’m slack. But I promise there’s a photo of the cake. If I promise to share will you forgive me?

See, it all started when I stupidly left the kids birthday books on the table after I’d been looking for something to do for M&M’s birthday. And she found them. And she wanted a butterfly. Soooo, off I trudge to the shops in this shop-forsaken town, and blow me down, find a heart shaped tin. Except it’s one of those rubber things. That I’ve never used before. Successfully anway. I also saw next to it a set of 4 small, heart shaped tin’s (made of actual metal) which I picked up because a) it was $7, b) it was small and cute and c) because it had a picture of cheesecake on the packageing. Yeah that’s me, you can get me to buy anything if it’s small and cute and has a picture of food on it. Give me a break, I’m pregnant remember.

So the time came on Friday night to bake the heart shaped cakes for the wings. In the rubber tin. Which didn’t work. In fact it was a miserable failure. After a quick dash to Woolworths for 4 packets of cake mix (it’s nearly 9pm by this stage) I decide to make “little butterfly’s” using the little cake tins. Excellent call.

By 1am I had enough cakes to do 4 butterflies. ahem.

Saturday night was the night I used, for the first time, premade icing. Now, I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m rather short. As in, 155cm short. 5 ft. Our kitchen bench has been designed for someone, say, 4-5 inches taller than me.

So imagine me, 10pm at night, in the daggiest clothes I can find (playing with food colouring here) in my favourite, lime green, 4 inch heels (is that enough detail for you Kelley, or do you need more?), rolling premade icing on the kitchen bench. Hubby thought I looked a sight too.

Anway, I think by midnight I was done, and here is one of the finished butterflies:

The birthday girl was quite chuffed - even more so when I sent 3 butterflies to daycare on Monday to share with all the kids there. The funniest part is I still haven’t given her the birthday presents, and she’s got $50 from Oma to spend, which I might put away somewhere until after Christmas. Or else buy her some new clothes…

Well, it’s getting to be that time of the year again, in October will start the great end of year birthday rush, which will now follow through until February when the little bean (ok, not so little bean now I guess) makes his/her entrance.

First up is Miss nearly 4! I can’t believe my baby is so big. While cleaning out the garage on the weekend we found all the pictures of my assorted birthday parties, and let me tell you, this kid is the image of me, if not in looks, then obviously in personality and style. Even the same tragic obsession with Strawberry Shortcake I had at her age. As I looked further back I found photos of me that prove I’m not insane when I look at Miss 2.5 and feel like I’m looking in a mirror. I might even share them one day.

But back to the important aspect of planning birthday parties for little people. We have a rule which hopefully will only last until their 12th birthday, that states however old you turn, you can have that many friends to your party. This year that makes it 4 kids, plus my two, plus parents, grandparents and assorted other family friends. I’m thinking about 20-24 people. Can you imagine if I said she could have 6 people??

Anyway, we’re thinking 2 hours was enough last year, maybe 2 or 2.5 again this year. With a theme. Oh I’m going to love this. Both my girls, and apparently any other girl I know between the ages of 2 and 6, are obsessed with Dora the Explorer, and Miss nearly 4 has asked for a Dora cake. Soooo, I’m thinking of planning a Dora expidition. I’ve watched enough DVD’s to know the format. Problem, someone hands them the solution, they check the map, remember the things to do on the way, then off they go to face 3 challenges along the way - but don’t forget Swiper the Fox! I figure that could take them a good 20 minutes. Which only leaves 1 hour and 40 minutes to fill. Last year we did some great activities like beading (even the token male got into it making jewellery for his sister and mother), dancing (freeze), pass the parcel, decorating cupcakes, before the culmination of the party and presentation of the cake. Dead on 2 hours. Anyone would think I’d planned it.

Of course plenty of food in there as well, although not too many lollies, which I think the parents were greatful for.

Well, only one of the kids who was here last year will be here again this year, so I guess I can recycle the same old activities as well! Unless someone can come up with other activities to do….?

Goodness, adding up the dockets took my breath away momentarily. Just a moment. There, I’m back. Drumroll please… The grand total of toys I have on layby is…. $475. Ouch! So, here comes the part where I justify the expenses:

Soon to be 4 year old’s birthday gifts:
Dora Pj’s $18
Dora computer game $10
Dora Hopper $10
Dora House $30
TOTAL $68

Soon to be 3 year old’s birthday gifts:
Dora Pj’s $18
Dora Hopper $10
Tricycle $30
TOTAL $58

Christmas Gifts
For nephew (6 years) Magnetix set $15
For neice (4 years) Disney Princess $5
For friends daughter (9 years) Jenga $15
For friends son (1 year) Fire Engine $20 (thought the tag said $10 - I’ll quiery that)
For other neice (4 years) Disney Princes $5
For daughters friend (4 years) Disney Princess $5
For nephew (2 weeks at xmas) Giggle Duck $15
TOTAL $80

For two kids (combined gifts):
Cranium Superfort (from us) $70
Wiggles toy organiser (from Santa) $60
Encyclopedia of Animals $18
Cash register $15
Mr Potato Head $20
Wiggles Guitar (x2 - one each) $30 (for both)
TOTAL $213

In the past my budgets have been $10 for other kids, $50 for birthdays, and $100 for xmas, due to the larger gift size, and buying some from Santa, some from us (ie the wiggles guitars will probably also be from Santa). I don’t think that’s too bad. You may notice that doesn’t quite add up to $475. I’ve found a couple of discrepencies I’ll go back in and quiery this week. As the time gets closer I will also put aside some new summer clothes for the girls to give to them for Christmas, and I try and buy them each one nice dress a year to be the “party dress” for the year.

Apart from that, the bulk of my Christmas shopping is now completed. Stockings here are generally filled with some useful items like pencils, hair ties, toothbrushes etc (with the odd treat thrown in). I’ll start collecting for those once Miss Nearly 4’s birthday is over and done with. Rumour has it she wants a mermaid party this year *sigh*. And here I was hoping she’d go for a pirate party so I could justify spending money on Pirates of the Carribean merchandise. Maybe next year….