Why can't mornings start later?

I admit it, I am NOT a morning person. Picture Garfield, snarling his way to the coffee machine -- yep, minus the stripes, that's me.
Ii's even worse when I sleep in. Like this morning.
Or when it's really cold out. Like this morning.
No-one wanted to get up, or eat breakfast, or get dressed, or find their shoes. Handsome Son developed a mysterious pain in the leg that caused him to hobble dramatically (arms wheeling for balance) and whinge non-stop.
The Princess's curls were all knotted and she cried piteously while I combed it out.
My coffee was cold by the time I got to take my first sip, and I felt like this


(minus the baby. And no post-it notes either)

I hate it when days start that way. Even though I know the kids will come bouncing through the door this afternoon, I always feel like a bad mum when we begin our days frazzled and crabby.
Mother-Guilt. Isn't it wonderful?

finally .....

What an insane week!
I have unpacked and moved furniture and set up electronic stuff so it WORKS (without any teenagers helping!)and now it's down to a couple of boxes of craft stuff that I need to find homes for.
We're all settled in, and loving it!
The kids have started at their new school and they love it. (the emblem is a magpie and if you knew my Princess you would know that is totally HER)
So now I finally have time to catch up on my bloggie reading.

..............

SO -- Dancing With the Stars (Aussie) is back on and YAAAAY! I LOVE that show. I can't dance to save myself but I do so love ballroom and Latin, and more YAY to see Wirra on there. Wirra is the most AMAZING AFL player (that's Aussie football) and he just recently retired from the West Coast Eagles. Though they're not my team, he has always been a beaut bloke and I hope he does really well.

..............

Dear Council -- must you start cutting concrete outside my house before 9 am?

I'm alive!

I'm not a good driver. I mean, I follow the road rules, wear a seatbelt, stick to the limit -- but my reactions are slow and I tend to panic.
So to get my car to our new home, I had to drive myself and my kiddies about 750 kms (about 500 miles) -- and 300 kms of that was across a dirt road. I've been in 2 roll-overs on dirt roads (I wasn't driving in either) and the mere thought had my stomach doing its' own little roll-overs.

But I DID IT!

I put Roald Dahl on the CD player, and we listened to Georges' Marvellous Medicine, and The Witches, and we drove into BeachTown in gorgeous late afternoon sunshine.

I am very proud of myself. I know it's hardly like discovering the cure for cancer, or winning a gold medal, but I conquered a real fear, and that deserves a little pat on the back, doncha think?

Veggie Tales

I don't know how this works.

GorgeousGeorge (who is 17) eats vegetables if you ram them into his mouth and pinch his nose shut till he chews and swallows. Then he turns pale and gulps for about 10 minutes, all the time looking at you with watery, puppydog eyes.

The other two LOVE their veg.
One isn't keen on tomato -- the other eats them like lollies.
They love cucumber, capsicum, raw beans; they eat carrots by the kilo.
The Princess usually orders a salad when we eat out (and she's 5. Amuses the waitresses no end)
They sneak beans in the veg section at the supermarket, and will also attempt to steal the broccoli from your plate. Yes, you read that right. MY KIDS LOVE BROCCOLI. More than boogers, even.
But last nights' dessert wins the Veggie Tale of Awesomeness Prize. The Princess ate her icecream with frozen peas sprinkled on top.
MMMM....

OOPS! sorry 'bout that.

I put the slow cooker on yesterday, and packed all day. Emptied the china cabinet and the Tupperware cupboard.

Fabio takes over meal duty.

"I'll serve," he says.
Pause. I hear cupboards being opened and closed.
"Where are all the bowls?" he asks.
I look at him.
I slowly point at the packing boxes.
He shrugs, and smiles, and serves our dinner into two stainless steel mixing bowls.

my life in boxes....

WOW. I hate moving.

No, that's not true -- I actually don't mind moving -- I hate the chaos, I hate the mental stress, and most of all, I hate PACKING!
I start with good intentions.
I try to have LOUNGEROOM ORNAMENTS and KIDS' TOYS and BATHROOM CABINET neatly separated and boxed properly. But by the end I'm so frazzled I'll wrap a chunk of salami and my high heels in a dishtowel and throw it in the box marked STUFF.
(to paraphrase Betty McDonald)
Admittedly, this makes for an interesting week or so, unpacking at the other end.

On the plus side, I can tell you we are moving to BeachTown, and we may have found a house to move into.
And I'll be living nearby some of my best friends EVER.
So... YAY! bring on that truck!!

Time to break free. Nothing can stop me, Yeah.

OK, so hands up if you love that song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOhcyNbyQpk

Well, I'm the one who's movin on up -- and out of Dreary Town


And where am I going, you may legitimately ask?
Well, I haven't organised that yet. But I am packing my bags (and books, and wine, and the saucepans. And the kids, I guess) and I'll keep you posted.
Wish me luck! I need a nice house that isn't too expensive -- preferably with a granny flat that my BFF can move into. Oh, and if it could be out in the 'country' that would be just FINE.

fourteen years....

So. Fourteen years ago, I was doing this:


(not actual picture)

And I got one of these:


(actual picture)

And in theory, today should be his fourteenth birthday. But instead he is forever 48 days old.

I know times are hard and there are a million worthy causes out there, but please, please think about donating to Red Nose Day on June 25th. SIDS is still killing babies.

5 things, 5 fingers....

... coincidence? I think not!

So -- in theory, at least, I was tagged to complete this meme by Katie. OK she didn't specifically say me, but she DID say "do it if you want to". And I do. SO here we go.

1. Where were you 5 years ago?
Hmm. I was living in Kalgoorlie, with a new baby and a toddler and a pre-teen and 2 teenagers at home. I hardly slept, I had recurring mastitis, and I had the Worlds' WORST Neighbour. BOY haven't things changed since then! Now I have 2 little kids at school, and one teenager at boarding school. Life is definitely easier. I have far more time to myself, and I get to sleep well nearly every night. No mastitis thank GOD. And good neighbours.

2. Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
Hmm. Living in my own, architecturally-designed home, in North Queensland. Can anyone say "Lotto Dream"?

3. What are 5 things on your To-Do List for today?
dishes
beds
washing/folding
walking
weeding

Exciting, hey? I know you're jealous.

4. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Smiths Original Thin Sliced Chips
Vegemite toast
fudge
cocktail onions and cheese cubes
Saos with tomato, salt and pepper

I'm hungry.

5. What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
well -- the dream home, obviously
travel! with kids and all
buy a home for each of the kids
go mad shopping for T!m Holtz products and set up a studio
do some 'Fairy Godmother' stuff for people who need it (how FUN would that be???)

So -- now it's your turn. Do this if you want to. I promise I'll read your answers.