What is wrong with this ?

I don't know how many times I have been unable to log into my blog , no excuse I know, but it has been frightfully busy here.
I am leaving tomorrow night, and will try and find time to blog most days of our trip.
Stay tuned..............

ohhhh woe is me

I hate to be a sad sack, but gosh I am sooo anxious and stressed right now..I am not going to moan about it, because it is just everyday stress, and the monotony of life that is getting to me.
It has been a long hard slog, saving annd paying for our holiday, and although it will be completely worth it, it as been so long that I haven't been spoilt, that it is making me flat.
Comments from others that we are "lucky" to be having a holiday, just give me the shits really, if they only knew how hard it has been.
Car needs new brake pads urgently, on top of the bloody hot water system, it is always the way isn't it ?

Now on to this holiday.. I haven't updated the blogland on the final itinerary.
So here it is.
Flying Tiger to Melbourne, we are staying in Prahran, spending our first day catching up with my wonderful Victorian EB friends.
On the second day we are off to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, then back to Melbourne for the Fremantle Vs St Kilda match at The Telstra Dome.
The next day we leave Melbourne for Corryong. We are taking the Great Alpine road from bairnsdale, having Lunch at Maccas for our Second daughters birthday.
We are not sure of the exact route once we get to Omeo, it will depend on the conditions, but we are stopping in Corryong for the night. Corryong is the resting place of the real Man from Snowy River, and there is a museum there that we hope to check out. We are having a birthday dinner in the restaurant of our accommodation.
We then head off to Thredbo, via Jindabyne where we have to collect our discounted Ski Hire. Travel agent providore met the owner at the travel expo.
We are staying in a 3bd loft lodge in woodridge with a spa bath and an open fire. Walking distance to the kids club, and lifts.
5 days of skiing and also of using the heated swimming pool in Thredbo. We have bought our own snow wear, which the kids are excited to wear.
Leaving Thredbo after 5 days we head towards Sydney via Mittagong, where my cousin lives. We will be entering Sydney via Wollongong, and staying in a cabin in a holiday park in the southern suburbs, only k's away from where I grew up.
Sydney will consist of lots of catching up with firends and family, a day trip to the blue mountains, Australia v France in the Rugby, My fair lady the musical (My Big girl and I)and on the final night NSW v QLD in the decider, State of origin 3 !!!
6 days in sydney then we hop on a plane to Hervey Bay QLD, where we will then drive to Noosa via Maryborough and Gympie.
6 days relaxing on the shores of the Noosa River with my dad and my brother, fishing and BBQing, pure bliss !.
Will be popping into Australia Zoo again.
Then to Brisbane for a week, where the man of the house has a reunion, and we will meet up with our friends also travelling from Perth.
a day trip to Movie World is also Planned.

On the last weekend of the holiday we will be spending some time with some of my other wonderful friends from EB.
Then Home, no doubt broke and exhausted.
Now I know it will be worth it, but how to get myself through the stress of the pre holiday period ?
Now that is the big question.

Oh, Alas ! I missed so much !

This is a special blog, it has been a week, I had forgotten my password and no time, no time to do the whole reset my password thingy.
I should have though, as it has been a momentous week, highlighted by the birthday of my first Born.

Let me tell you something about him.
Firstly, one can't help but notice he is very handsome. Blessed with gigantic hazel eyes, long eyelashes, gorgeous full lips, and beguiling dimples in each cheek, fortunately or unfortunately for him, this will long be the thing most people remember him by.
Born as two devastating cyclones moved down the WA coast, reeking havoc only days after he was born, and named only 12 hours before him, it is not unusual for him to be described as a human cyclone, but in a manner of affection.
The first thing you noticed about him as a newborn was his lips, they were huge, and definitely required some growth on his part to fit them.
As a baby, I would be stopped everywhere by people staring at him for ages, he got comments wherever he went about his looks.
My mother told me, on me explaining the people in the shops, that "every mother thinks tier baby is the most beautiful looking baby in the world", she was eating her words , however, when she overheard some people in Myer coming back to tell their other relatives, to "come and look at this AMAZING looking baby".
There is more to my son than his looks though, and if you can get past the purely skin deep, you will see a treasure of immeasurable worth.
Deeply empathetic, he feels things deeply, particularly other's pain. I often have mothers coming to me to tell them how he has assisted their child at school when they were upset.
He has a very strong sense of justice, he shows outrage at things he thinks are wrong.
Trees being cut down, people committing crime, and some political judgements all attract his attention.
He is a media buff, watches the news with great interest, and has a love for history.
He enjoys the cut and thrust of politics, including working from sun up to sun down in the federal election to help his mum and dad's friend get elected.
He is a very capable sportsman, exceptionally good at the rugby codes, and better than average at most other sports.
He is strong and confident, has a large vocabulary, and revels in public speaking.
He is not a boy easily ignored.
He still enjoys a cuddle with his parents, and we treasure every moment with him.
He has taught me more than any other person I know, he made me a parent, he has challenged me and delighted me, and brought an enormous amount of joy into my life.
Happy Birthday to my 9 year old.

Has it been that long already ?

Sheesh, what a blur of a week.
What on earth did I do ?, did I achieve ?. I know weeks like this must be taken in a large family mum's stride but for goodness sake, I am also a results oriented person, so damn it !, I expect outcomes baby !.

Let me think, hmmm...the stand out for me this week was spying my boy's infatuation whilst I was at the school for St Pats day.
She is tall, very tall, taller than him. She has a long neck and dark hair, and the most impressive feature was a funky little hat that she wore as part of her St Pat's day outfit..Perfect !.
I was very impressed, she looked like a girl I would like. Doubt I will ever meet her, but at least I know he s on the right track.
Think I would have been a bit flawed if he like the blonde "girl next door" type.
But the elegant, sophisticated brunette will keep his mother happy, (as if I have any say in it ! HA !). I can dream.
The school gave me the willies this week with thier level of communication, I think they think being a mind reader is part of being a parent these days, actually no, being a parent means being an expert in all matters legal.
Duty of care, public liability, police clearances,working with children checks, allergies etc, being a parent is a legal minefield these days. Lucky I am married to a Lawyer to be (if he ever finishes his damn degree !)
Gee I am scatty tonight, if you think this is bad, you should see my house, it is clothing audit time, an awful time of the year.
Clothes strewn from one end of the house to the other.
Tomorrow, I might be able to describe it, for now, I am out of cerebral RAM.

Enduring Exhaustion

Gosh I whinge a lot about being exhausted, but I guess the mere fact I blog mostly after midnight every night might skew that statistic somewhat.
Busy weekend, 3 parties on Saturday, one for Audrey at 9am, one at 3pm at the same place (weird)for Antonia, and a 40th for which I had to travel alone due to a baby sitting mix up.

The 40th was lovely, I really enjoyed the company of the small numbered gathered guests. My friend has a knack of befriending very interesting, but genuine and lovely people, from all walks of life, it is a credit to her as a person, and it was a befitting night.

I subsequently sent the providore to cricket with my boy, and my baby. It was the last game of the season and they had a little picnic afterwards.
Then in the afternoon the boy, and the man went to the rugby with my son's friend and his dad as a birthday treat. His birthday is in 10 days.
So all in all, 5 separate appointments /functions for us this weekend, gosh, what will it be like when the little ones are older !.
Some more photo's gave me a relaxing weekend's artisitc entertainment.
Holiday planning is getting to fine tuning stage, and we have hit a hire car hump. Our usual company Hertz, have a car, but won't allow us to take it to Thredbo. Avis are out of cars, and Thrifty want to charge us an extra $800 *ouch*, we will see what the mastermind can do to fix this little quandary (that is me in case you didn't know).
Night

Sleepy Time

Is it really worth blogging most days for continuity's sake ?, or is it better to blog only when you have something profound to say.
I don't know the answer, suffice to say I may learn as time goes on, and I look back and cringe at the monotonous tone of some of my late night ramblings.
So my boy has a girl .
He came to me late last night and asked me to make him a bracelet, it took me a moment or two to realise he wanted it for someone else. Strange, as he has never shown an interest in the opposite sex, but I guess he is growing up now at nearly 9.
He says her name is Daisy, and she is new to the school.
I whipped up a pearl bracelet today, he preferred pearls, and he is very pleased with it, and it is in his bag to be gifted tomorrow.
I couldn't pry too many other details out of him about her, but perhaps in time, he will feel more comfortable telling me.
It was an honour to make the bracelet for him to give to her, a truly wonderful moment as a parent.

Public Holiday for all (except 1)

Today was the labour day public holiday, so in my traditional protest, I worked harder than I did yesterday, and the providor went to work to do what he does best.

I did some more pics, (you will be sick of them soon), and I watched Xanadu with the kids(and danced around the room).
My gorgeous eldest daughter is as enamoured with this movie of very dubious quality, as I was 25 years ago.
We can be ONJ fans together. Actually, the clothes are starting to look very fashionable again, last time I watched it in the 90's, they looked positively hideous.

On the holiday...It is fuelling my every thought.
We ave finally booked all of our accommodation, Prahran in Melbourne, Thredbo, Sydney, Noosa and Brisbane.
We will be taking in both the Wallaby test, and State of Origin in Sydney, Movieworld and Australia Zoo in Queensland. Then there is the skiing, I can't begin to describe how excited the kids are about the thredbo part of the trip.
Oh, jeepers, the irritation of interruption.
Anyway, I need to do my tag thing (thanks Nic), but I need to work out what I have to do first, so maybe I will do that tomorrow when the kids are back at school.
Here are my pics from today.

2 for the price of 1

This afternoon's blog wasn't really up to standard I think. Some times I am in a narrative type mood, where it is enough to just jot down in a rather un-interesting way, all the "things" I have been doing, or "things" that have happened, but it is always busy here anyway, that is to be expected.
The more interesting side to a large family comes in the emotional responses we have to the things that we do, and see and experience.
There is so much we experience, just the sheer volume of personalities means that the times shared are dynamic, and interesting.
It can take you on a rollercoaster ride throughout the day, sheer inimitable joy, anger, frustration,annoyance,and fun, are part of every day.
I have to honestly say, that we are lucky to not have too much sadness touch us.

My daughters friends dad was laid to rest the other day, another reminder to cherish what we have.
Yesterday we watched videos of our eldest two children as toddlers, the video's are only 6 years old, but by looking at the same children now, you would think it was a lifetime ago.
another reminder to cherish every moment.

A challenging weekend ?

Friday evening was excruitiating for me, I ended up exhausted at the end of the day (again). There seems to be a pattern to this, Friday night cricket training is really too much, thank goodness it finishes this week.
On that subject, Lachlan starts football training this week, and still has cricket (who organises these things !) so there will be three seperate training sessions this week, one can only imagine how I will feel next Friday night.

The hot water system is currently inoperable, and we are having to have cold showers, ok while it is still hot, but I am not sure how long we will be without water. Coming up with a couple of grand for a new one, is not all that easy in this house.
Looking at Solar, though, just wished they had returned our call to get the ball rolling on Saturday.

I spent a lazy Sunday photographing the kids this weekend, here are some of the results.

A true entertainer never ignores an audience.

Part of the allure of a blog, is the opportunity to put into words, the chaos and the beauty of the most mundane of life's events.
Mostly, everyday events are actually the most interesting of all, there is a sense of the unknown to add suspense, the known monotony, and the sheer joy of living the life you have created, and actually enjoying it.
In essence, the sheer act of recording one's thoughts, is enough to satisfy, but it is equally enjoyable to know there are others coming along for the ride.

Today was hot, clear crisp and with a piercing sunlight, I found it unbearable today to be in the sunlight without glasses.
Still extremely weary, but buoyed by another long night's sleep, I had one of those mightily unproductive days.

Yesterday, a lady said to me "wow 5 kids, you must be so organised, somewhat jokingly I replied, No, I just have lower standards" she said OK (not getting the joke) but after talking to her for some time, and feeling so wound up by the tension she imparted, I realised I have a somewhat more relaxed approach, and given how happy I am, I wouldn't change that for anything.

Children make you realise that life is to be treasured, and I guess, the more you have, the more apparent that becomes.

For Reb

Here I was, content in the knowledge that no one is reading my blog, how wrong was I ? !.
Wow, busy old household here, the usual twoing and froing from school, to school, to sport, to birthday parties, and back again.
I am exhausted actually, and I put it down to my schedule, but I am starting to suspect a virus is imminent.
My darling eldest daughter is watching the oscars, her little eyes light up when she watches the actresses go up to collect oscar, she is busy planning what she will wear when she collects hers.
She watched a young Irish girl get nominated, "how did she get to be in a movie ?" she asked me, I asked her if she thought she could be in a movie ?, se said "yes", I asked if she thought she could remember all the lines, and she smiled at me with a quietly confident nod.
Captain destructo is banging on something loudly in the hallway right now, and as I type I can hear her father removing her from the situation, luckily.
Holiday planning is taking up most of my thoughts, not just where to stay and what to do, but also how to pay for it, we are budgeting like mad, but it seems like for every dollar we save, something completely unforseen, raises it's head to eat up all our cash.
The providor came home today and sheepishly told me he thought the volvo was "struggling" as he put it, and suspect it is, it has been a while since it went to the volvo doctor, and I am not sure it will make it to July before it needs to go again !.
ah, such is life !
Night Reb !

Where the heck has February gone ????

Wow, time flies when you are having fun !
I have weathered back to school, and turning 35, and I must say, back to school was a much improved effort from me this year, I am finally getting it together.
I am absolutely swamped with planning the holiday at the moment, and spending ALL my time on the piddly 2 days we are spending in Victoria. Don't know where to stay, don't know where to go, don't know what to do yadda yadda.
I keep changing my mind about where I want to stay, because really, I have no blinkin idea.
I will attempt to do a slightly better jon in here for the rest of the month, but I am not holding my breath, football season starts soon !.

Chaos and the Artist

When everything gets chaotic, I often turn to creative pursuits to calm the giddy ride.
There is nothing terribly worrying in the house at the moment, just dreadfully bored children at the end of a very long summer break.
I spent this Australia day weekend doing arty portraits of the kids to have for the walls in the house.
I really love them, they are just the right blend of photography and art, that is really my style, it is similar to the pics I did a year ago for my jewellery.
Here they are

Antonia, my 3rd child, exotic beauty, she is really growing up at lightening speed, strong and independent, she is my wise one.

Scarlett my baby, youngest and very cheeky !

Sydney, the comic, a natural mimic with amazing facial expressions, helped by her huge blue eyes, she is terribly entertaining.

Audrey, my eldest daughter, I often get the feeling with her, that the names you give a child can be prophetic, she is Audrey, elegant, sophisticated, demure and very much a lady.



























My only son, Bold,brassy, confident and exhuberant, he will do anything he chooses.

OH the joy of really "getting it "

I have been thinking a lot about My son's WALNA test results, which were very bad. I have also spoken to quite a few teachers (friends) over the holidays, and I think I have worked it out.
I come froma family of writers, my grandmother used to write, she loved poetry, and always said if she hadn't been stuck on a farm in SW WA, she would have been a famous writer, I won awards for my poetry in primary school, and also wrote a children's story which was to be published in yr 6.
My cousin is an award winning playwright.
When I write, I write very fast, with little structure or logic, but the ideas just come out like a great waterfall. I always struggled in high school with essays that had to be so so.
Lachlan is like me, he has the same strengths and weaknesses in his learning abilities that I had.
What I have learned, is that writing is now taught with an emphasis on structure and composition.
I felt this was probably not playing to his strength, but never the less, I challenged im to write a short story a night.
When I asked him to get started tonight, he tried to put it off, and said I don't have time, I have to plan the characters and settings, and it takes too long.
I could never have written like that, totally stifling the creative process.
It was like a total light bulb moment.
I sat down with him and told him about the family gift for writing, I explained to him the joy it brings when you can write and write and write without having to "think" about it.
I told him to just write from his heart, and let all the words fall out, don't worry about spelling, or characters, just write.
The look on his face of absolute releif was palpable, he was so happy, he is sitting by me still writing, and he has already used up 3 pages in the time it has taken me to write this.
I feel so proud, and I have tears streaming down my face.
I got it !.

Week Busy

wow, has it really been a week, things have changed a lot in a week.
My baby girl is now no longer a baby of months, we refer to her as one year old these days, we had a party that was a tad dissapointing, the clean house I presided over last week has been replaced by an unrecognisable version, and the fiance situation is on the up (but I know better than to get excited).
The Party was lovely, a little bit hot, but bearable as January days go, loads of no-shows, and far too much food.
we had a lovely day though, I really enjoyed catching up with My cousin and his wife.
Lachlan had fun in the cricket nets, actually everyone did.
Thats all for now, part two later..

Hmmm No title post day...

They don't call this the windy city for nothing, 80km an hour hot desert winds kept me awake all night, coming like a freight train through the big Lemon Scented gums outside my bedroom window.
I guess it wasn't the wind really, but my unsolvable finance problem.
I know there must be a way, I just need to find it, and all the people telling me to "be careful" "it is not the right time", "you are crazy" etc etc, just make me more determined, but it takes an enormous amount of willpower to keep going when you keep getting knocked back.
Still I didn't get this far by listening to the naysayers(there were plenty) and by giving in, so on and on I go...

Oh the WOes of finance !

Yes, we want to buy an investment property. We can afford it, and we can't afford not to.
One bank says yay..we love you..how many kids do you have..oh that's too many..can you lose a few and then we will lend you the money, other bank says..yay, we love you, will do a valuation on your property..oh oops, it is $100,000 less than the real estate say it is, oh and $85 000 less than all the other houses in your suburb..what a croc of shit.
I am convinced having been through this a number of times now, that the valuation process is corrupt, they get the figure they ask for.
God I am annoyed.

Oh she's on a Roll....

Just because I can ha ha ha......
Another late night for no other reason than I like having the place to myself, I am exhausted however, and SHOULD be going to sleep...
One muses though, how many people are really happy in the whirlwind they live in.
Time is very precious, we should enjoy the ride..
I am enjoying my blog finally..
Goodnight.

Oh she's on a Roll....

Slack Blogger returns to her half-cocked effort.

You know I think I will get used to the idea of talking to myself, just for the sake of removing the endless stream of conversation from my head.
Even though my kids are old enough to talk back, they really don't want to listen to my musings, and probably no one else would either.
I am a communicator, someone who has to talk in order to function, it makes staying home with kids all day somewhat of a challenge in that department.I keep thinking about my baby, and how she insists on calling me dada. I know she knows I am mummy, and she calls her dad dadd-y-, but she grins at me like she knows it annoys me, but she is going to do it regardless.
I grin back knowing full well darling , that all girls grow up to be their mother.
I also wanted to tell someone, anyone how much I am enjoying sitting in my garden as I type.
Thank the Lord for my new Garden, and wireless broadband, now if he could just invent quiet traffic, and trains, I would be in utopia.

Ok here goes

I have always been a sucker for a new "thing" and seeing as everyone is blogging these days, I realised I had to do it.
Surely the minutiae of everyday life in a household of 7 would be interesting to someone ??

Today has been interesting, another quite cathartic day in parenting terms, dealt with a very difficult issue for the first time and J and I saw it through to the end, this is the challenge isn't it ?
I also realised why so many people are unhappy.
I played happy housewife today and cleaned all day without a break like most people do. I felt like shit after I did it..I thought it would make me happy to have a clean house, it didn't..it made me feel tired, and unable to function properly, so I think I am off that idea(conveniently).

Thing is I really am still that rebellious little girl I was back in school, I have always HAD to do things differently to everyone else..including having a large brood !
Anyway I am blogging when i should be in bed.....
Tomorrow, I may have learnt how to write an interesting post..Bet you can't wait.