Twinkle twinkle little star...

NOT!! Summer storms are happening sumthn wicked over here. Was on my way bak from getting the kids from daycare about 5 when it all started. It had been building up all day but when it hit, it hit. Cloudy blue skies & forked lightening started it all off. Freaked all the kids out coz it came quite close 2 the car but I got the 1st lot home safely. Then as Maddy & I made our way home, torrential (the only word I can think of 2 describe it) rain started goin on. Came home & watched the weather from the safety of my deck. I heard from NZ & found out that some parts of home were expecting a cyclone that was building in the pacific. Really got me thinking about all that is happening in this crazy, f#*#*d up world we live in. Not only is mankind killing each other, but mother nature has decided 2 screw with us 2. Sorta reminded me of that story from the bible. The one called Noah' s Ark .....

Bye-bye Harry

Knew it would happen. Just as we get used 2 the new member of our family, he grows up & moves outta home. After only a week or so. Poor Maddy was upset, she adored him. Was ok 1nce daddy explained that every1 grows up & moves outta home. He assured her that he' d be bak 2 visit. Unfortunately LJ heard & insisted he was never going newhere. I told him I' d ask him again in 10yrs or so. Funny thing was that yesterday morning AJ talked about Harrys size & the fact that he was becoming more active & other stuff that Harry was doing & that he wldnt be surprised if he moved on soon. Bet he bloody jinxed it!!

Introducing Harry.

About a week or so ago, we acquired a new pet. Not by choice, but hes here. The weather has been strange lately, more unpredictable than ever, & 1 day the kids noticed a visitor on the ceiling of our lounge. He was a tiny little thing with half his tail missing. Excitedly the younger 1s started running around yelling "gecko" at the top of their lungs. Now when we came to oz, the 1 thing that really got 2 me was the strange insects & small animals. The mozzies r the worst. They really hurt when they bite & the ants. Massive those things are. Then I met a few gecko' s & tho I would never physically touch 1 by choice, they sort of grew on me. So I allowed this 1 2 stay. At 1st he never moved if the kids were around. Now he allows us 2 look at him, as he looks back, & runs around the ceiling all the time. He also keeps the lounge relatively free from flies & mozzies, which is a better alternative than gross chemicals. & he has grown so big. AJ decided to give him his name while watching Harry Potter. Perfect pet, so low maintenance.

Trials & Tribulations of a (almost) teenager

I find at the moment that I' m reaching a stage in my eldest daughters life that I dnt no whether wat I do or say is going 2 be met with laughter & joy, or tantrums & arguments. Kyla is only 11 (nearly 12), but 4 the past coupla years, she has reminded me of me, at age 13/14!! & it scares the shit outta me, not 2 mention her overprotective dad. She is a very bright girl, excelling at her schoolwork (when she puts her mind 2 it), & reading at 15yr old level. She is such a fountain of knowledge that I have 2 admit that she puts me 2 shame sometimes. But the flipside 2 all that is that she has an overwhelming strong personality, she insists that she is old enuff 2 make all decisions 4 herself, she hates being told what 2 do, & she has discovered boys. The thing that I find these days is that kids are doing things in life so much more earlier than when our generation did. Its like a rush 2 do everything now rather than 2 wait & take the time 2 enjoy all those new things that age allow you 2 do. Im not saying that every child is like that, but it isnt as rare as it used 2 be. AJ is so freaking out rite now. He came in2 the kitchen the other nite 2 discover Kyla talking 2 me about a boy she likes at school. Now I don' t encourage her but I don' t use threats 2 dissuade her either. I mean whats the point. I want my daughters 2 be able 2 talk 2 me about things like that & no that mums not going 2 go overboard in my response 2 what they have 2 say. But I will pull rank & stop them in their tracks if I have 2. & I have made it clear that I won't hide anything from their father either. Any1 who knows AJ will have some idea about his reaction 2 that conversation. Me, I hate being in that position where Im having conversations will my 11yr old about boys, but as her mum I want to be involved in every aspect of their lives for as long as I can. Becoz before 2 long, for one reason or another, its all taken from us. They leave home, have their own babies & lives & then you miss it all. I wonder how different things are going 2 be with my sons compared with my daughters. It will be a wondorous experience finding out, thats for sure.

A typical day

Well 2day was pretty busy for me. Katy, Maddy & LJ decided 2 stay home with dad on his day off so he had company. I went 2 south brisbane 2 take my sister & 3 of her 4 kids to the docs. She has 4 children 5 & under so they keep her pretty busy considering 3 of them are under 3. Even tho I have 5, it amazed me how she copes as a fulltime mum. As Ive said b4, my kids are well spaced out in age so Ive got it pretty ez, at least I think after actually spending a full day in her shoes. I was so jumpy with them, it was out of it coz I felt so out of my depth around them. It totally proves the theory that theres nothing like knowing your own kids. From there it was off shopping with the whanau. My children were pretty well behaved today that it actually ended up being a pleasant trip this time round. Unfortunately their routine went totally out of wack as we had a few visitors for the nite. AJ is now out for a few hours. Poor thing has been stuck with the kids for most of the week so figured he needed sum time for himself!! LJ a bit sick. Hope hes only got the 24hr bug that seems to be going round. Ehtan set to have a good nite after his very restless nite last nite. He had 2 teeth coming out at once which seemed to give him alot of grief. Very strange for us as all our children never really had any trouble with their teething. In fact we never knew they were coming till they were here!!!

Old Mcdonald had a farm...........

Maddisyn' s daycare decided to bring old mcdonalds farm in for them & Maddy had to have this little baa lamb pried from her, literally!!! She is a bit sad at the moment. Everyday, I not only get to take her to skool but I usually carpool 3 of my nieces & my nephew to the same place so shes never lonely. Unfortunately everyones bak off to NZ within 6wks xcept my nephew so shes finding it hard to accept.The next coupla wks is full of end of year activities with the children; year 7 dinner, Maddys xmas concert nxt wk, LJs school invention presentation, an excursion with Katy so a lot to do & alot of photos to take!!
Ethan has learnt a new word; Shuddup.

Sum photos

I can remember the birth of every one of my gorgeous children. I loved being pregnant & even enjoyed the marvel of giving birth 2 them. Yes it was painful, exhausting & messy. But the rush of love you feel when you see that small little part of you for the 1st time isn' t anything that you can duplicate. Even tho I have had 5 children I have never actually seen a baby being born so it was a great rush for me 2 be present when my niece was born recently. It brought tears 2 my eyes thats for sure.

AARGH!!!

Omigosh this is like the 3rd time Ive had 2 redo our blog!! Ethan is so fast with his hands. All I did was turn away to help Maddisyn & when I turned bak, it was all a mess, so had 2 start again. AARGH!! He amazes me all the time, the rate at which hes learning things. ud think that since hes numba 5 we' d be used 2 it but the way he is picking up on things is so much faster than his siblings did at 14mths. I put it down 2 the fact that he has so many siblings 2 learn off that its easier for him 2 process things. He won' t be my baby for 2 much longer. He has hayfever pretty bad at the moment, but even tho hes a bit grumpy, he still has the stamina 2 cause a bit of mischief. He loves his dad & bro 2 bits & follows them around endlessly & has discovered that he can wrap his mum & sisters round his chubby little finger so he has the best of both worlds. AJ & I are revelling in his milestones, moreso since he is our last. Honest. No more babies for this family!! Only 2 more weeks untill the school holidays are upon us, then I have the near impossible task of keeping my children constantly amused for 7-8 weeks. Alot of movies & travelling in store for us.