8th January

A very busy day today, with barely a rest in between exciting adventures!

The morning started off with adding our new worms to the worm farm.  A lot of our worms died off last summer in the heat, so this year we have put them in more shade and will keep an extra eye on them.  The kids love playing in the worm farm, naming them all and working out who is the "Mum" worm and then finding babies for her.

Next up, was our first family walk/ride leaving from our house.  The kids have been nagging to take their bikes for a ride from our house ever since they got them.  Now, considering we live on a hill, it's not the easiest of things to be doing.  We decided to give it a go, and take the dogs, cause we like the challenge!  The kids walked their bikes up the hill, and we had a few wobbly incidences when they got speed up going  down the hill, but for the most part they were perfect and loved it.  We went for about an hour, and we all came home covered in sweat.

We came home, had a shower and then headed of the the next activity.  I met up with some of my friends and their kids, and we took them all to see Tangled, the Rapunzel movie.  The 5 kids were lined up in their seats, my kids enjoying their home-cooked popcorn (to avoid both the crap in movie popcorn and the $$).  They were all wonderful and barely took their eyes of the screen for a second.  Xav was getting a bit tired towards the end and asked a few times when it would be over.  It was a really good movie though, plenty of excitement for the kids, yet still entertaining for the parents.

Then tonight, the kids were exhausted and in bed at 6pm, so Duane and I decided to call up our babysitter (the wonderful Mil) and see if she'd come watch them.  Lucky us then got to double date (and crash their anniversary date!) with The Dews.  We headed to Anand Sagar first, which is our absolute favourite Indian restaurant, then we had a little hiccup before heading to see the new Fockers movie.  The hiccup was that we had Duane's parents car (Wendy didn't want to leave it out the front of our house, so said we should take it), and when we parked for Indian, Duane decided to put the steering lock on.  So, then when we tried to leave, we couldn't get it off.  Anyway, after a very funny and frustrating half hour it was finally worked out that we were using the wrong key and then it came off.  All the non-drivers had enjoyed a few beverages over dinner and so some smart alec comments were being made, which combined with the a frustrated "driver" made him mention some "F" words, something that very rarely comes out of my husbands mouth.  This just made us laugh and giggle even more.

All was good though, we made it to the movie with plenty of time to spare.  Could have quite easily missed it though, it certainly wasn't anything to rave about.  I think all the laughs had been used up in the first movie.  It was still a good night out with great friends though!

I just want to end on this photo I took of Xav today.  I was trying very hard to get his profile in focus, but being the non-cooperative child that he his, wouldn't stand still. I really love it though, not because of anything technically "correct", just because it captures his sweet little profile.  Ski-jump nose, lovely lashes and he has yet to loose his toddler cheeks.  But, the thing I love the most is his little half-smile/smirk - it's just so him.

Quick update

I started this post a few days ago and for some strange reason whenever I save it as a draft it publishes. It's just a lazy update on whats happening in the Penney household at the moment.

Me - I joined up to Weight Watchers last night and I am determined to loose at least 7 kgs, hopefully 10! I've always hovered around 67kgs, but after having Xav its slowly crept up to around 74 (even though my scales say 72kg), so I thought it was about time to stop calling the extra kg's "baby weight", (especially since my baby is now 2! ) and do something about it. So my mil and I joined up and Nicole is going to come along next week too. It'll help having each other to stay on track and keep motivated. Plus, I'm going to pay a month in advance at a time, so having already paid will keep me going back as I'd hate not to get the value out of it. I'm hoping to loose 1/2kg a week, and hopefully by Christmas I'll be under 67. I don't find following weight watchers all that hard, I did it just before I was married and lost 10kgs quite easily, getting down to about 57kgs. I just have to remember to drink lots of water, watch my portions sizes and make an effort to exercise more. Sounds easy hey? My weigh ins are on a Thursday, so in an effort to keep myself accountable I'll put my stats on every Friday. Crap, now I have to stick it out!

I am also getting very excited about the upcoming birth of Bubba Dew. Trude been one of my best friends for over 10 years and I feel so honoured and privileged that she has asked me as a support person to her birth. She is looking & feeling fantastic, especially considering she is 41 weeks tomorrow. I set up a "guess the stats" game, and every ones birthday guess has been and gone - except for Trude. The crazy girl is wanting to go over, she's even hoping to make it to 7/8/09, which takes her to 11 days over her due date. She has been desperate to avoid family birthdays, but after midnight tonight it's a clear run, so really she can go any time. My psychic abilities are crap, every night for the last week I have thought "tonight's the night", and every night nothing happens.

I feel like a lovesick teenager, obsessively checking my phone for the call out, even calling it from my home phone just making sure it works. Just thinking about her & Murray becoming parents makes my eyes spring leaks. Seeing them meet their little boy for the first time and witnessing the moment where they go from a couple to a family is going to be so precious. I have tried to describe to them how amazing birth & parenthood is, and I'm sure they think they know. But it truly is something that you just don't get until you've done it. nobody can explain to you the immense feeling of love as you've never known it before. I also can't wait to meet their precious little boy - he has chosen a very special family to join. Gosh, I know this little fella is going to send my hormones spinning - but I must stay strong and keep repeating, "In a few years, In a few years".

Grace - She's being a typical 3 1/2 y/o and perfecting which buttons of mine to press. Man, she drives me batty sometimes, mainly with the whinging and constant chatter. Shes asleep beside me now and looking like an absolute angel who could do no wrong. She is lovely, caring and thoughtful most of the time, it's just a few times in the day that she has me hollering like a mad women and ready to ship her off to boarding school. I know that at the moment my patience is thin with her, not really sure why. I think it has a lot to do with being together so much. I love spending time with her, but really the only break we have from each other is on a Tuesday and snippets during the week. I'm going to have a chat with Duane and arrange for 1 afternoon that he takes the kids out every week. he normally does, it's just these last few weeks we have been doing things around the house of an afternoon, but I'm finding I want some time home by myself.

She has been very sweet lately and learning lots of wonderful things at pre-school and her new playgroup. Duane and I both been going along with her to the playgroup, which she absolutely loves. It's at the Steiner school and runs from 1pm-3pm on a Thursday. It's lots of singing, storytelling, craft as well as inside and outside play. The kids also make their own bread rolls which are baked during the session and ready for them to eat on the way home. Whilst the kids are playing the parents do craft. Duane took her last time by himself and got stuck sewing a felt whale, which I thought was hilarious (he didn't!). This week I started finger knitting a flower garland that Grace will wear at the Spring Festival.

Grace is also loving pre-school and is really starting to feel comfortable there. She is still only going one day a week, but from next year it will be 2 days. The teachers are always telling me how great she is and how much she loves doing all the outside things. She's always wanting to visit the worms, play in the veggie patch and potter around in the garden. Apparently she is always polite, friendly and willing to help with anything. The kids are encouraged to help clean, cook and prepare the food - which Grace really enjoys doing. Last Tuesday she told me that she spent most of the indoor time polishing the bookcases - sounds thrilling. Maybe I should save the fees and just have her do my housework!

The Dogs - The dogs nearly got the boot the other day. I woke early before the kids and thought I'd head out for a cup of tea in the peace and quiet. All was happy in my world, until I noticed random bits of green and yellow plastic all around the dining area. On closer inspection I realised it was my LIMITED EDITION Silicone cupcake moulds, damn dogs had dragged them of the bench where I had left them last night after making individual apple pies. Out of the 6, 5 were now laced with canine teeth marks - and even though Tupperware has a fantastic guarantee, I really don't think that being used as a dog chew toy comes under normal wear and tear. Those bloody dogs better hope that research keeps getting released sprouting the benefits of pet ownership, or their time at the Penney residence could be nearly up. Man, why don't' Labradors ever grow up. I mean they are 7 & 8, surely they should be out of the stage of chewing things up? Lucky they are cute most of the time.

The chooks - Well turns out 2 of the babies that we hatched were roosters. Kinda gave it away when the both started wanting "special" cuddles with the other chooks, well actually it was their Mum they harassed the most. Sounds a little incestuous, but I guess technically she was just the incubator as it wasn't any of her eggs so really they weren't related. Either way, chicken sex & crowing was not a good combo to have happening in the front yard. I didn't mind the crowing, but I'm sure the neighbours weren't too impressed with the 4.30am wake up calls. So Frizzle and Da were shipped of to Duane's friends farm and apparently have fitted in well. Also was goof to know that the guy doesn't eat chicken - not that he would get much of their skinny frames. They have the run of a huge area and lots of hens to hit on, so perfect for them. I do miss having them around though. Although they weren't tame enough that we could pick them up, they were both friendly and also beautiful looking roosters. Frizzle is a "frizzle" breed, with beautiful soft brindle coloured feathers that actually grow backwards. Named by the children of course because of the breed, original hey!

~~Frizzle with Da in the background~~

Da is the other chicken, who had a name change after the humping and crowing incidents. Grace had called him Trudy, but after turning into a rooster we change the name to Da. Why Da? Well Xav likes to mess around with people, and insists on only saying "Da" when he is around Trudy, even though he can say a gazillion other things. Da is a small brindle bantam that in the sunlight is a green/black colour. He was the gentleman of the hen house, always waiting outside on dusk to make sure all the other chooks were tucked up in bed. Only once everyone else was in did he head off to bed.

~~Da, Frizzle and their incubater Silkie~~

The other chooks are all happy. Why wouldn't they be though really. They get to wander around out the front from the crack of dawn, eating the kids breakfast leftovers and any other food scraps that they choose. All we ask from them is an egg a day and to stay out of the veggie patch - otherwise everything else is free reign. They really are fantastic animals to have though. I initially was hesitant, thinking that chooks would need a larger area but they are fine on our little 800sq suburban block. Sending the kids out to collect the 3 eggs a day is a big bonus, and then cracking them open and seeing clear egg white and a big orange yolk. Nothing beats it.

I often catch Henny & Bertha nestled in a dust whole, looking like a couple of old bitties having a gossip:

~~"You don't say Bertha!~~

January 6th Photo

So the kids weren't being cooperative today. Grace was just pulling crazy faces and declaring loudly that she was not modelling today! She wouldn't even be swayed with the promise of teeny tiny marshmallows -uh, oh, I really hope this modelling strike doesn't last, there's still so many days of January left!

Anyway, someone that was willing to sit and look adorable was my beautiful Daisy. I did try to take some of Lily, but it was late afternoon and the lighting was a bit dark to get any good ones of her -I most definately do not have a favourite dog.

Happy birthday Daisy

My first "baby" turns 7 today.

Poor Daisy has had a lot to contend with over the last 7 years. She was showered with love and affection from both Duane & I. She was our pride and joy, we took her everywhere and bought her the best of everything. She had daily walks and regular trips to the park to have doggy play dates. She got new toys reguarly, and her nautiness was just laughed off and thought to be cute.

We then thought she might be getting bored, so along came Lily. They became the best of friends, playing together all the time. Lily then was treated like our 2nd child, getting the best of everything just like Daisy.


Then came along our real baby, Grace. The dogs still got plenty of attention and taken out, not as much as before Grace but we still made the effort. They did get put outside a little more than usual, I was being a normal new Mummy and not wanting a stray dog fur on my baby at all.

Grace loved playing with the dogs, but she always insists that Daisy is her dog and her favourite. She dresses Daisy up all the time, putting a handbag around her neck and laying clothes all over her back. Daisy puts up with it all, happy for any attention. They play tea parties, have birthday parties and play shops. All the time Daisy is patient and obliging of Grace's offerings.

Then along came Xavier. I have found it hard enough stetching myself between the kids, let alone the dogs. So my poor Daisy, who just wants a bit of attention has been missing out. I used to sit down beside her, cradling her beatuiful head in my lap and stroke her soft, silky ears. Now I have barely time to give her a pat as I rush past on my way to something else. I sometimes catch her looking wistfully at me, no doubt remembering the fun times we used to have.

I still love both of my dogs dearly, it's just there is only so much you can spread yourself between people. It's great now that the kids are older, they all spend so much time in the backyard playing. The kids through the balls and the dogs chase them, the kids also chase them around in the bikes.

Having the kids around hasn't been all bad for the dogs, they are loving all the leftovers and I am loving the instant vacuums. If the kids make a mess with food I just open the door and the 2 hoovers some in and all mess is gone in an instant. Perfect!