Back to School

Back to school.... How wonderful to even utter those words, to know that Monday-Friday they are learning something new....while I get a break from my oldest 2 children fighting.
It IS the most wonderful time of the year....for parents that is!

Sean said his 1st day was rubbish and that he would prefer to stay home to look after his little sea monkies.
Nicholas said his 1st day was rubbish.
Gracie loved her 1st day.... she cried as she went into the class, but is so excited every morning for Kindergarten!

Anyhow................

some pictures below of my 2 girls.... just because!!!!

Have a nice rest of the 'Back to school week" I know I WILL!!!

Say cheese!

So yesterday I had the privilege of shooting some V.I.P's.... Yes, you guessed correctly, my own adorable kids.... Well 2 of them anyway, the older 2 prefer I don't encapsulate them in image form.

I was wowed at how they loved the camera, and were willing to be goofy. I am sure going to try and remember this positive time when they're having meltdowns about me not allowing them a 3rd freezie, or letting them paint their lips with nail polish, or that they HATE home made shepherds pie, because it tastes like worms!

So I'll just end this small and quick post by saying, take a picture, it'll last forever!

Sunny

All winter long, the promise of summer has kept my spirit alive. Counting down the months till the time I can wear shorts and sandles. BBQ and wine on the decking, kids playing in the paddling pool. Looking at the blue sky as I enjoy the heat of the soothing sun.
BUT, did I not just utter the ultimately worst words you can after many months of snow and minus 30 conditions???
"It's too hot"!!
Shut your mouth Maggie.......Never repeat those disgusting words again!

What's for dinner?

I have the same predicament every night.....What's for dinner?

I have very limited cooking skills, and find it difficult to cook something awesome everyday. My speciality is a Sunday roast, which after 16 years of cooking I am quite good at.
Now though, I have found a way to make it even more awesome...... By getting free child labour....My own kids no doubt...

Gracie is peeling carrots.... She absolutely loves helping.

Harlow is the potato selector. She's very efficient and a great quality control person, she takes a bite out of the raw potato and spits it on the floor to make sure they are worth peeling.

My own Yorkshire puddings, very nice and delicious. I score a 10 out of 10 in this department!

The finished result..... yum.

Toddlers and their wonderful Tantrums

As you know, I'm a mum of 4 so I have experienced a few toddler tantrums in my time. But, over the last few weeks I have been pushed to the brink of insanity by Harlow, my cute and vivacious 2 year old. 
I don't quite remember my other kids being such hard work in their 'toddlerhood' I am sure it was just my own body/minds defence mechanism...

Tantrum number 1: Popcorn must be served upon waking, 
Tantrum number 2: a drink of milk should be presented at every possible moment. 
3. put some shoes upon feet. 
4. after I take shoes off said feet, I DEMAND that they shall be put on my feet again for them to be taken off again, it's a game I enjoy!! 
5. I WANT to peel carrots with a sharp knife.....I DEMAND it.... I will scream for almost an hour if I cannot use a sharp knife to peel those carrots. 
6. my Blankie must be placed upon my torso the correct way, so I don't despise every morsel of your being......
7. A movie shall be placed into the dvd player of my choosing, I cannot vocalise what dvd this will be, I shall keep screaming and crying until the correct one has been chosen.
8. I am very cute, you shall tell me this frequently whilst feeding me candy.
9. I don't like to have my teeth brushed, I shall close my mouth before you try and clean my teeth. Wrap me in a towel you may, trying to get the better of me whilst making sure I have zero cavities but I shall get you back later with a vengeance  by crapping my diaper the moment you place me in bed to sleep.
10. Waking up at sometimes 530am, the television will be put on, popcorn shall be made, milk will be warmed, a yogurt on the side table, in between while I am watching baby tv and looking at my toes I want you to read a book. If you do not live up to this challenge I will still love you, just I will cry whine and behave.....well....like a toddler!!

50 Shades of Stay at Home Mum

Cleaning the countertops from Breakfast, full of crumbs, looking at the cold, long dirty taps. Oh no, I think they needs polishing I think to myself, so I whip out a rag and some rubbing alcohol and begin to buff them up....Yeah, I buff èm up good, they look so shiny now. I am so happy with my work, I crack open a can of coke and tear off the wrapper to the kit kat, looking at the bar of chocolate with lustful eyes, I love 4 fingers of chocolate, so delicious.
After I have finished my snack I go to slip my husbands dirty undies into the washing basket as he has not quite got the hang of throwing them in the laundry hamper...... That`s ok though, after I do the laundry I`ll sit down and watch some t.v. for a couple of hours whilst eating crisps and left over food from the kids plates.
When my husband arrives home, I hungrily look at his package, in anticipation....Yes, he has brought a take out home....No cooking for me tonight....booo yah.....

Flight to the U.K. with 4 kids 4 suitcases and 4 carry on bags and a stroller

Recipe for disaster wouldn't you say?

I would have to agree, the whole flight with a 13 year old, 8 and 4 and 19 month old was agonising.
8 and a half hours of toddler/pre schooler/brothers fighting--- mayhem....

Harlow kicking the seat in front, reaching through the seat to pinch the persons arm sitting there. The man sitting in the seat in front getting so angry, gets up and gives us 'the look'.... Sean saying continuously, LOUDLY, upon take off and landing, we're gonna crash, we're gonna crash tee hee.... Then Gracie copying to my shear annoyance....arrrggghhh

Coming through customs at Manchester Airport, waiting in line for 45 minutes with a tirrreedd toddler, and fighting brothers and a whiny pre schooler, to be told we're in the wrong queue we'll have to join the other queue..... Faking some pathetic crocodile tears to be put to the front of the other queue.....PRICELESS.

Then coming through to the luggage carousel in Manchester where you have to PAY 1 pound ($1.60 ish) to use their carts for your suitcases.... Pushing a stroller, carrying a backpack, pulling a suitcase while recruiting the kids to help with the rest of the luggage of torture.....NIGHTMARE.....

Next time I have a bright idea to travel ALONE to the U.K. with 4 kids I will eat a chocolate bar and drink a glass of wine instead.

Add 2 hours each end onto your international flight and there you have 12 hours or torture. Although an experience, I can honesty say, never again.

Just thought I would like to get that off my chest.... :)

Above picture taken at Chassen Train Park, Flixton, Mancester in the U.K. on a rainy day!!!