My Sister's Wedding...

On Friday I was lucky enough to be part of a very special occasion....I watched my baby sister marry her wonderful partner of 7 years.

Baby sister has always been the life and soul of our family. She is vivacious, fun and pure goodness. Being six years younger than me I always thought she was adorable...until she started stealing my clothes and ripping the heads off my barbie dolls that is.

Watching her grow into a beautiful young woman has been a joy. Then, when she met someone who understands, loves her and makes her happy, it seemed to bring a whole new dimension into her life. Having their first baby last year completed the picture.

When I made my way down the aisle as bridesmaid on her wedding day and spotted her adoring husband to be waiting at the end, I started sobbing hysterically. This was the moment, a moment that seven years of accumulated joy, fun, trials, tribulations, laughter and love had ended in... a new beginning, the start of something spectacular.

I turned and watched with pride as my sister walked down on the arm of her beloved Daddy. Our Daddy who, until a few days previously had been seriously ill in hospital.

The ceremony was beautiful, the setting true to their personalities and style. It was a privilege to be part of such an incredible moment.

The rest of the day was a celebration of pure joy. A celebration of their love. I wished it had gone on and on and never ended, but unfortunately it had to.

So congratulations to my lovely sister and my new brother. May your lives be filled with love, laughter and happiness.

Thank Goodness for Little Boys....

When Mr 5 was born and they handed his wriggly and screaming little body to me it was apparent quite quickly that he was a boy.

Firstly he had a huge noggin that greatly resembled his Fathers. Secondly he had a penis. Thirdly he proceeded to poop all over me. Such is the charm of boys.

A boy! I was overjoyed. Then, slightly perplexed....What does one do with little boys? Or more to the point how does one deal with a little boy's private parts?

I'm used to girls. For starters I am one. I also grew up in a female dominated household (sorry about that Dad) My first child was a girl. Girls are well, familiar.

Not that girls are easier...not in the slightest.

Admittedly I did have a reasonable amount of experience with my stepson; who I have known and loved since he was three. But he was well out of nappies by that stage, and I generally let his Dad deal with any 'boy issues'

But what to do with a little chap all of my very own?

The first time I scored a face full of wee was a shock to the system....I had no idea boys could pee so far.

Rather than make all the chitter-chatter noises my big girl had made he uttered the one noise continuously 'Brrrrrm, Brrrrrm, Brrrrrrm'

He was greedy and gulped his milk down rapidly. He would tug painfully if I wasn't fast enough.

Despite these few interesting traits he was a delight, a joy. After the debacle filled first few years that was Miss 8's start to life ( which was wonderful...but exhausting) he was easy going, drama free.

He followed a routine like clock work. Ate when he supposed to. Slept when he was tired. He was the only child of mine to sleep through the night before 12 months of age.

He always has been a cuddly, snuggly little thing. Sensitive and cautious...just like his big brother. Sometimes a bit sooky. A temper I can only describe as volatile. A natural ability to care and think of others. One of his favourite things to do is curl up into my lap for a 'snuggle' with his thumb firmly place in his mouth ( I know, I know, still sucking his thumb at five.....we're working on it)

Don't get me wrong; he is a real 'boy's boy'. He loves cars, footy, building things. He idolises his Dad......and Lightning McQueen. He loves wrestling and thinks that girls stuff is 'the worst ever'. Once he spent an entire day outside catching stink bugs......charming.

His head is like a battering ram. He is constantly hitting it on things, bumping it, knocking it. I have had more hospital visits with him than with the other three combined. His head is criss-crossed with little scars from his accidents.

Having boys has been an incredible learning curve. The girls are more stubborn, determined and high maintenance. they push boundaries that the boys wouldn't dream of pushing. I love my girls, they make life sparky and amazing, but it is nice to shift down a gear that is life with boys.

Granted not all boys (or girls) are made the same. But my boys make my world a softer and gentler place. I'm really grateful that mine are the special little men that they are.

You can read my post on my special little girls here.

Weird Celebrity Crushes.....What's yours?

Celebrity crushes........We all have them - Or maybe just I do. A bit of a school girl / school boy crush on a particular celebrity (or celebrities for that matter) you watch them in a movie, on television, or on the sporting field and you feel a little flustered. You appreciate their brooding looks (if it's the male of the species you're fawning over) their deep, husky voices, their muscular physique - (Sorry if any blokes are reading, but I'm directing this post towards the ladies). Most of the women I 'interviewed' (or rather hassled) for this information were happy to tell me all about their conventional lust-haves;

For instance;

Brooding looks, 'undress me' eyes - Gerard Butler gets the tick of approval.

Slightly kooky, absolutely gorgeous and incredibly talented...Johnny Depp....Mm mm!

I can't stand a man who requires more grooming than I do....but many women think David Beckham is to 'die for'

Knew he had to crop up somewhere. I guess Brad Pitt is handsome, but a bit too mainstream for me.

Sometimes being so good looking should be a crime...Paul Walker I'm talking to you.

But what about the unusual....the unconventional....and honestly, some of the downright creepy, celebrity loves?

Tex Perkins? Interesting to say the least.

A man with pubes for hair and a pot belly? Ugh!




Steve Martin? Really? Honestly? Well, each to their own.

How can you not love someone that's all that's right with the world?

 

Now I kind of get this one, definitely left of centre, Nic Cage exemplifies the word 'weird'

So, what about me? You may ask....who do I 'secretly' lust after? Who do I go 'ga-ga' over? What man could possibly make me go all googly-eyed at the television set? My girlfriends all know and they think that's it hilarious that I could fawn over a bloke who is vertically challenged, has terrible hair and is approaching middle age......

Please excuse me while I drool....

Now I want to hear all about your celebrity crush(es) whether weird or not...so come on, spill it, share it, divulge all......I'm waiting.

One Lucky Aunty!

I have the extreme privilege of being the member of a very tight knit and close family. My parents brought us up to be the best of friends. To support and love one another, to know that we can rely on each other.

When I had my first baby my family were all there at the hospital to greet the newest addition to our ‘gang’. Each subsequent child was welcomed in the same way. My parents; loving but firm grandparents. My sisters; fun loving, affectionate (and sometimes naughty) Aunties.

Last year it was my turn. To greet my sister’s new additions. Not once, but twice. My younger sisters had been partners in mischief for quite a few years. They continued the theme when they fell pregnant within weeks of each other.

My beautiful nieces were born two weeks apart;

 Harlow came first......

Followed by Ruby......

Becoming an Aunty added a whole new dimension to my life. A love different to what I felt for my own scallywags.......but intense and beautiful all the same. I love cuddling and playing with them. I love their smiles and laughter. They are so funny and adorable. And best of all, when they cry or poo I can hand them back to their parents!

My children adore having baby cousins. They help to care for them when we visit. They revel in being ‘the big kids’, the responsible ones. It is wonderful.

Miss 8, Miss 2, Mr 5 and their little cousins.

I just can’t wait for my sisters to have more babies (hint, hint) for me to spoil!

                  

Dreaming....Aspiring.....Hoping.

I wrote my first story at the age of eight.
It was a lovely, whimsical tale of an adventure in a faraway land. A wicked witch needed to be defeated and a good friend, saved.

My story was loved by my teacher. I remember clearly my pride - mingled with fear - when he singled the story out as the new school play.

My enjoyment of writing was, from that moment on, firmly established. I wrote continually. When I wasn't writing I was reading. I inhaled words. One of my greatest loves, encouraged by my parents and that one supportive teacher, was in full flight.

Then, my hopes and dreams were dashed, destroyed, ruined. In high school I ended up with an English teacher who despised my style of writing. She picked at my work endlessly. My sentence structure was sloppy. My grammar, appalling. My story lines were weak. My humour, forced. Rather than help me to overcome these issues she simply piled on more criticism.

My confidence plummeted. My dreams of writing....of becoming a writer....were dashed.

Although I continued to write in private, I didn't have the bravery to show my work to anyone.

Until now.

I don't know whether it is because I've grown into myself. Whether Motherhood has shaped and changed me. Whether my confidence has grown thanks to the wonderful people in my life. What ever it is, I am no longer scared or ashamed to show my 'work' to others.

Admittedly, every time I go to hit the 'publish' button on a blog entry I have a little internal battle with myself.....
What if nobody likes it?
What if it's absolute crap?
What if everyone thinks I'm crazy?

But then, I hit that damn button anyway.
You know why? Because I love it.
I love writing. Crafting my words. putting them together to create some semblance of sense.

And I love that you read it.

Thank you.

Little People.

Two mornings a week I volunteer at Mr 5's Prep class. It's always a lovely experience. I help the children with their readers and teach them and test them on sight words. The most rewarding aspect of this little activity isn't the focus on learning however, it is the funny conversations I have with these little people. They are a mix of the vivacious, polite, shy, cheeky and brutally honest.

For instance; one little cherub informed me that "I smell just like Daddy", probably because I had to borrow Hubby's deodorant that morning after having run out of my own. Another informed me that I have 'big teeth', ummmmm, yes, yes I do, thanks for noticing. One likes to correct me. Another acts as though reading to me is the greatest torment of their little life.

Some are bursting at the seams to tell me every tiny nuance of their day. 'I ate breakfast this morning, I cleaned my teeth, the dog ran away, we had to chase it, I put my shoes on all by myself'. I love this. I love how the simplest things, the most mundane, come to life in a child's eyes. The excitement of just 'being' is infectious.

They show me their wobbly teeth, their grazed knees, the bruised apple in their lunch box, their love letter to the teacher. It's all beautiful, amazing, incredible. The joy on their little faces when they accomplish something new. The pride when you give them the accolades they so deserve.

The other day I received my own love letter from a little person in my son's class;

It now has pride of place on my fridge alongside the million other pieces of love from my own children.

Slow Down.

image from weheartit.com

Driving home from my morning errands is usually a time for quiet reflection. Miss Two inevitably falls asleep in the car and I either listen to my favourite music or sit in silence. Contemplating, pondering, writing stories in my head. The scenery back up to where we live is breathtaking, the views are endless. This is the part I love the most...the slow meander into the hills and far away from everything.

Before I hit this little slice of tranquility however I have to survive the chaos of peak hour work and school traffic. People pushing, shoving, rushing. Tyres screech, horns honk. It's a pulsating, throbbing mass of barely concealed hysteria.

Usually I find myself detached from the whole scene. Basically because I don't really care. But today I do. Life is a fleeting, beautiful time of love and discovery. We rush through it. Jumping from one thing to the next. Always wanting more and more. Not appreciating each and every moment. The beauty of just being us. The beauty of just being alive.

Most days I ground myself. By looking at the scenery, by watching the clouds, by listening to the laughter of children. Today I am annoyed. My mind is occupied by other things; the to-do list, the scariness of bringing up children in today's world, my friend in need, the pressure of just getting by.

So, when I drove up and away from the craziness, I finally felt like I could breathe and take in my surroundings.

At home there is silence. Miss Two remains asleep and I listen to the bird song. I have a million things to do but right now there is just peace.

Today I'm going to take things gently. I'm going to appreciate what I have. I'm going to slow down.

What do you do to help slow down and appreciate life?

Grateful for.....................Us.

Contemplating what I'm feeling the most grateful for this week was basically a no-brainer. Hubby and I had a rough start to the year. Not relationship wise, just every other aspect of life felt like it was on top of us....weighing us down.

Now, we've come out the other side. The clouds have lifted. We have breathing space again.

So this week I'm grateful for us...Hubby and I.

Affectionate
Devoted
Enduring
Tender
Beautiful
Solid
Complicated
Honest
Funny
Crazy
Impossible
Generous
Sweet
Frustrating
Annoying
Nurturing
Sympathetic
Loving
Eternal


Head over to Maxabella Loves and share some Grateful Love.........

It's the little things..........

When I get woken up each morning with a cup of coffee from Hubby and wet kisses from my toddler.

When I receive the first cuddle of the day from my big girl; she snuggles into my lap, her head rests on my chest.

When my son is completely ready for school by 7:30 am - such is his eagerness to get there.

Watching my children greet their friends with glee and they rush off to frolic, make mischief and have fun.

When I'm outside in the garden watching my toddler play with delight, the sun shines, a light breeze blows and I enjoy the moment.

When my baby is tired and sucks on her thumb, playing oh, so gently with my hair. I tuck her into bed, she snuggles down and closes her eyes.

When Hubby comes home for lunch and puts the kettle on to make us a cup of tea, we eat lunch together and enjoy the last of the lemon meringue pie, his incessant chatter makes me smile.

When my son first sees me after his day at school and his whole face lights up and so does my heart.

My daughter cries after another difficult day and I wipe away her tears and silently remember doing the same when I was a little girl.

When we have cuddles and cups of tea every afternoon while we swap stories about our adventures.

When we snuggle in for our story time and I make up another crazy tale; my children's eyes are wide with excitement and they cry 'Tell us more Mum, Tell us more!"

They are tucked into bed after cuddles and kisses and they're safe and warm and look like little angels in the warm cocoon of sleep.

When Hubby and I sit and talk and relax all while holding hands.

And I realise how lucky I am and I feel thankful for each and every day.

Life is fleeting.......embrace it while you can.