Daredevil Children

Obstacle course time! We have been wanted to do this for a while - we believe in encouraging Miss S to explore anything she wants to and also to take risks in her play. 

When we go for walks, we encourage her to walk on walls (she always wants to hold our hand!) and we jump over things all the time. She is quite confident doing things like this but will always let us know if she isn't. 

Some things work, some things don't. 

Miss S was hanging from a tree branch on the weekend, and LOVED "falling" into big piles of leaves. In the end it was all about the fall for her! 

Then on Sunday she was climbing on our lounge and decided to dive over the arm. Sorry. Not such a smart choice missy! There was crying, but no broken bones and I am sure (WELL I HOPE) she learnt a lesson! 

Here is our little obstacle course, I would love love love to keep it down permanently but it would kill the grass! What do you think? Have you done something similar? I want to see it! Personally I think next time we need to up the ante! This was too easy for our daredevil!

If you are really serious about your sun protection - this is the way to go. DER.

19 things you NEED to know

Pardon? What did you say? You want to know more about me? Well since you ask - here is a comprehensive list of all things you didn't even realise you wanted to know about me.

> Mr G and I got together when I was 17.
> My star sign is Cancer.
> I go MENTAL if I don't have me time.
> I am interested in tarot.
> I dream of being more crafty (watch this space).
> I love the Real Housewives of any city.
> I hate cats.
> I think french fries dipped in thick shake should be classified as a meal.
> I believe ALL people who love each other should be able to get married.
> I hate not making my own money.
> I am obsessed with Tori Spelling and her family.
> If I try to stick up for myself, I always make things worse!

> I snore like a mutha trucker.

> I hate gardening, the stupid weeds just grow back!

> I care TOO much about what other people thing.

> My favorite singer is P!nk.

> I love yoga.

> I am in awe of the fact that getting poo or boogers on my person does not bother me in the slightest anymore.

> I currently have 2059 photos on my iPhone. 

Don't you love how instagram gives you a nice glow in photos? I look like an angel! right? 

I would love to hear something random about you - share with the world! 

Pebbles Crunching

Sounds of brakes and engine slowing down.
Pebbles meeting tyres in the drive.
Dog: Barking, waging, excitement plus. Finds nearest shoe for mouth.
Car door shuts.
Miss S: "Daddy!"; runs to front door, opens it and yells out for him.

My favourite time of day. What's yours?

Disclaimer - followed closely by any kind of sleeping, on the couch, daytime, night time, on bed, on floor. Not fussy.

Eco-Gs

In an ideal world we would all live on a couple of acres and have access to everything you need to have a successful vegetable garden to encourage sustainable living.

I am a "greenie" at heart but have always been quite lazy about it. Mr G and I have visions of grandeur. We imagine ourselves river cottagesque - only ever eating things grown in our own garden, drinking organic beer whilst watching our children play in the yard in their bamboo cotton clothes.

Instead I find myself thinking - how annoying that you have to wash the vegemite out of the jar before recycling it! Really? That's absurd! I need sunlight to dry my nappies, when there is a dryer? What the?

Since I have unloaded a couple of things and organised my life a little better I have more time to make our house more eco-friendly. On our immediate to do list is:

> Monthly meal planning to assist in less wastage and use fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season.

> Taking care of our vegie garden instead of expecting it to take care of itself.

> Buying some reusable snack containers - instead of glad bags!

> Recycling EVERYTHING that I can. Including vegemite jars.

> Less car use. 

> Use vegies from the garden.

> Using reusable nappies and wipes FULL time with new baby. 

Our long term goals include:

> Chickens!

> Solar power.

> Water tanks.

I have included some photos of our vegie garden (from December!), unfortunately we seem to have many problems with animals (possums? slugs? rats?) eating everything but we WILL solve this problem! 

Any suggestions or helpful hints? 

Cockatoos and decisions made

I have been struggling a little lately about what to do with my life. I find it it so hard to let go and just enjoy being a mother because I feel like I need to plan for my future. 

I am currently studying my Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) via correspondence. This degree covers ages 0 to 8 years so I figured I could teach at a preschool or at a primary school. Unfortunately, I have been finding it difficult to study online and I don't feel like it's the right way to study for me.

So I decided to try to attend university here in NSW once my new bubs is old enough. Only catch is the NSW degree only covers 0 - 5 years so that limits my career options. So to continue with Early Childhood or move onto primary?

I wanted to share with you how I found the answer...

I walked to pick Stella up from her kindy yesterday and we had to walk up to the shops. Stella is (mostly) very cooperative and I allow her a little freedom when walking so she is always very well behaved! 

Except for this day. 

Tantrum city. 

Molars. I hate them (they are the devil! DEVIL!!!). Once we cuddled and sung ALOT I knew I would have to use distraction techniques all the way home.

It was dusk so all the local cockys were out and making a ruckous! I pointed some out and we went on a hunt trying to spot more. 

Stella loved pointing them out! I decided that this distraction technique was working!

Next step - flapping like birds down the highway on the way home. Sometimes you just have to let your shame go!

THEN we found a feather! Perfect! We talked about wings and how they help the cockys fly. 

Once we got home we googled images and videos and watched them in the wild, playing guitars and even dancing to Backstreet Boys (he was good!)

To finish off we videoed ourselves making cocky noises! Here is the finished product for you:

We relayed our stories and lessons learnt to Daddy when he got home. 

I was so proud that I managed to let go of any hang ups about myself and just go with it, finding things to elaborate more on what we were learning and just having fun! 

The wonder, the excitement, the fun, the shame (or lack of it) - of course this is the age group I want to work with.

Once bubs is born, I will start studying again but for now I start my life as a "cheater" SAHM (I work as a bookkeeper too!)

I am apprehensive and nervous but also so excited and I have started to feel so much more relaxed about my life now. 

I look forward to sharing more toddler lessons (for both me and Stella) in the near future.

Ciao for now.

T x

PS. Normally I would have about 50million photos to share with you but I was too focused on  Stella to even think about it! :)

Smussssshed.

The only way to describe this week. Smushed. I had a luscious five whole days were I got to share parenting duties, relax, rejuvenate and even fit in some couple time with a movie (American Pie - you have got to see it!)

Then something happened, its called Wednesday. I was back to trying to fit EVERYTHING I have to do into 3 days. 

So today - I decided to give up. I'll call it Easter recovery...

I gave up trying to clean, I gave up trying to finish my uni work for the week, I gave up on trying to sort out our business lives, I gave up on fighting day naps, I gave up on trying to decide my future career, I gave up on thinking about my new baby to do list.

And just browsed blogs and pulled funny faces with the little bug. 

Sometimes you just gotta. 

Routine and normal life next week. 

Peace out. 

x

10 Things I Have Learnt Today

1. Just because you are full doesn't mean you don't need another hot cross bun.
2. Just because the bedroom door is shut doesn't mean she is asleep.
3. Just because you think it will be a quick trip to the shops doesn't mean it will be.
4. Just because you are considerate of other drivers doesn't mean others are considerate of you.
5. Just because you are excited to get out of the house doesn't mean said driver won't make you cry.
6. Just because your 2 year old usually is a dream when shopping doesn't mean she always will be.
7. Just because you can threaten said 2 year old with no purchase of flashing lights slippers does not mean she will do what you want.
8. Just because you are generally fit and healthy doesn't mean you should carry 2 year old around around a Westfield.
9. Just because you ate McDonalds whilst 2 year old is asleep in the car, doesn't mean it actually happened. 
10. I can make impulsive shopping purchases that work. Orange + me = match made in heaven. Even if you think I look ridiculous, let me live with my delusions for one more day PLEASE.

What did you learn today?