Grace's 6th birthday celebrations

 Grace's 6th birthday celebrations were spread over Saturday, Sunday and Monday!  The day before her actual birthday, she invited 3 of her bestest school friends along ice skating.  She's been wanting to ice skate for a while now, so when we were going through the birthday ideas she knew exactly where she wanted to go. I was a bit worried about how they would go as none of them had been before, or even roller skated.  Duane and I were going to be playing hostesses on the ice, and although I had visions of us whirling the girls around, I probably shouldn't have dreamt so big as I havent' skated for over 10 years!

All ready to hit the ice!

The very excited birthday girl

The first lap we were all very tentative, and it felt like a very, very long time making it back to the start.  All the girls clutched onto the side rail and jaggedly made their way around.  I really though then that it would be a "one lap wonder" and we'd chalk it up to an "experience" and go back to the table and eat all the yummy food.  However, the girls were all just warming up and after gaining a bit more confidence and balance, were eager for another lap.  This time only clutching onto the rail with one hand.  It was only another few rounds like this before they were even more adventurous and started letting go and actually skating!!!  It was only a few slow laps for me too before I was back into the skating groove, then I ditched the kids for a few fast laps.  I'd forgotten how much fun it is to be zooming around the ice.  My only problem is I'd forgotten how to stop, and so after once quick lap, I slammed straight into the side barrier and did a very dramatic slide down.  Apparently looked very hilarious for the mums standing on the sidelines!

Grace skating up a storm

I'd opted not to take the birthday party food provided by the skate rink, I wasn't overly fussed with the options of party pies, sausage rolls and soft drinks!  So, instead I made up special little boxes for each of the guests.  Grace chose what she wanted in them, with each one having a chocolate milk, avocado sushi, chocolate cupcake, packet of chips, plain popcorn and a scattering of lollies.  The girls adored them, and were very excited that at the end they got to take their special little personalised boxes home.

Grace's hand-picked selection of treats!

All the girls loved it and are wanting to arrange another skating session over the holidays.  The hardest part was dragging them off the ice at the end, as by that stage they were all off by them self and didn't want to finish!

The next morning, on her actual birthday, Grace snuck into our bed bright and early for a cuddle.  After birthday hugs all round, we handed over the very much anticipated birthday gift - a camera.  Now, there is a bit of a back story to how this came about.  Grace has been wanting a camera for ages, but mostly over the last year.  She has had small turns of mine, but as my cameras are some of my most prized possessions, I've only let her use them under strict supervision.  When she asked for one last year, I was unsure whether she was ready for the responsibility and so we had a little test.  I gave her one of my old cameras, that had completely stopped working - so basically it looked good, but there was nothing she could do with it.  I told her that she had to prove to me she could look after it by always making sure it was put away safely and to never leave it lying around.  If she could do this, I was happy to buy her one for her 6th birthday.  She diligently looked after it all year.  She took it out places (even though it didn't work) and always made sure it was in a safe spot.  I was amazed at how serious she took upon the responsibility.  Although she knew that a camera might be in the pipeline for a present, she never nagged or asked about it - so when she did open it up and see that it was in fact a camera, she was over the moon.  It's a fancy schmancy water proof, drop proof, dust proof and most things proof camera.  It takes pretty decent photos and video and she is loving having the freedom to play photographer whenever she wants.  I do have to go through the footage every now and then, as she's managed to get some very unflattering photos and even video of Duane and I arguing about discussing something.  She's also got some great photos, and it's lovely to see her view of the world through the lens!

Grace VERY excited about getting her camera

Probably the only photograph I'll get of her now!

Sunday afternoon was spent down having a relaxing BBQ down at the beautiful Broadwater Rockpools.  It was a glorious day and such a perfect way to spend it surrounded by our favourite people.  Grace was extremely spoilt with presents, and so was I.  Apparently, I needed a present too (I guess I did do all the work 6 years ago!) and the very generous Pengs gave me an Ipad - an absolute top of the range one too!  I'm loving it too.  It's so ridiculously easy to be instantly on the Internet now, instead of starting up the old clanking laptop.  They also loaded Grace up with a massive box full of Country Road clothes and Xav

The kids danced, ran and played on the oval in the beautiful late afternoon sun - a perfect photo opportunity for me to take advantage of the golden light.  Grandma had also made up a pinata - which although took a bit to smash, was enjoyed by all.

 ~~ My beautiful girl and I ~~

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~~ Happy 6th birthday my sweetheart ~~

The celebrations were also extended into the following week as Grace had her birthday celebration at school.  She has been patiently waiting for her school celebration right from the beginning of the year.  Grace is one of the youngest in her class, as at her school the children have to have turned 5 before they start their prep year.  So she has sat through all her class mates birthday celebrations, with the anticipation building for her own and finally the day came.   Duane wasn't able to get the morning off work, so Wendy came along with Xav and I.  All her friends went into class when the bell was rung, except Grace stayed outside with us.  After a few minutes, her teacher came out singing "Somebody is having a birthday today, I wonder who's birthday it is today?".  Miss Pam put the special rainbow birthday cape on Grace as well as her crown that I'd slipped to her earlier.

We then headed into the classroom where we found all the children on the floor in a circle.  Grace had a special seat that had been decorated in gold material.  We all sat down and then Miss Pam told a beautiful story about a little girl called Grace and the birthday angel.  Grace was then asked to light the 6 birthday candles whilst all her class mates sung the school "birthday song". 

  

After the song, the children put their hand up and Grace called out their name one by one.  Each child said a birthday wish for Grace, which had me in tears.  Listening to each of the children articulate so thoughtfully things that they loved about Grace and why she is so special.  Most of them said how good a friend she is, and how they love playing with her.  Own of the boys said that he loves Grace as she always makes him feel happier when he is sad.  Another said that when no-one else will play with him, he always knows that Grace will.  The teachers then said their wishes for Grace.  Miss Pam told her she was one of the kindest and gentlest people that  she knows and how wonderful it has having her in the class this year.  She talked about a few special moments she'd had with Grace over the year - once again, tears from me!  I was then asked if I'd like to share something, and so I told her how amazing and wonderful I thought she was.  I also told her that that I love her kind and gentle nature and that she will always be my sunny little girl.  Miss Pam then presented Grace with a little yellow doll in a walnut shell that she had made especially for her. 

The rest of the day Grace wore her special cape and crown, sat in her decorated chair and got first pick of everything.  Although she's not fond of being the centre of attention, she loved her day being the birthday queen. 

~~ Heading up to the library after her birthday celebration ~~

Prep

It's been an exciting few weeks and I have so many blog posts to catch up on.  I've been so busy with Grace's birthday parties, birthday school celebration, summer festival, dance concerts and general end of year celebrations.  It really is a crazy time of year, and although I love it, I'll be glad when all the festivities are finished and the relaxing part of my holidays begin!

Today was Grace's summer festival concert.  Both the Prep classes did a play, taking us through their first year of school and all the wonderful experiences they have had.  Grace loved being up on stage with all her friends, especially as her, Jasmine and Lily got to be butterflies!  It was lovely, but sad, as this year is coming to an end very quickly.  The Prep year is just so magical and special, and it's been such a lovely introduction for Grace to school.  The whole class have absolutely adored the teachers this year, and I don't think we could have got anyone better if we hand-picked them our self.  It was an extra special year too, as it was Miss Pam's last, she's sailing away (literally, she lives on a yacht!) to Tasmania to do her masters in Psychology.  She is one of the kindest and caring people I've ever met and always makes the children feel extra special.  I was really worried at the beginning of the year about Grace adjusting to school, but Pam and Louise have given her the most beautiful start to her school life.  She has loved this year, but it's me that is sad about her moving onto the next grade.  She is so excited to be heading into Grade 1 and all the new things that come with that - having her own desk, being able to go to tuck shop by herself and playing up at the "big" school.  To me though, it means she really is growing up.  She has learnt so much in Prep, but I could kid myself and pretend it wasn't like real school - but Grade 1 is.  I'm really excited for her that she'll be learning new things, but the time is passing so quickly and I just need it to slow down a little.

Tomorrow is her special graduation ceremony and I think I may need to pack some tissues and dark glasses.

Free!! (nearly!)

Uni is nearly finished for the year and it couldn't be more welcomed - not just from me, but my whole family!  All my exams and assignments are done and dusted, now it's just the nervous wait for results.  I'm 99.9% confident that I passed, it's just whether my gpa is going to remain a healthy high 6 or take a dive - which will most likely be from damn research! I should find out results in a few weeks, and whatever I get I'll be proud!  This semester has been very busy and I am just grateful to be coming out the other end.

I've still got 5 shifts to finish at the hospital, and I'm hoping to get them finished this week - yes, I'll be busy and tired.  I just want to get them over and done with though, as I've got big plans for the summer break!  I've still got one lovely little baby to welcome into the world - little stinker is 8 days over today!  It will be a beautiful birth centre birth, which is always very special to me as that's where I birthed and met my little boy.  I've got my fingers crossed that tonight's the night, as I think poor mum is over being pregnant and just wanting to meet her little baby.  I'm very excited about this birth as it's one of my friends, so this baby will be in my life for many years to come!   I do get very attached the babies that I welcome, especially the ones where I've cared for the mum all through her pregnancy.  It feels like a break-up at the 6 week appointment, when have to say our goodbyes and that's why this one will be extra special. I'll get to watch the baby grow up from a slippery, slick newborn into a little person.   

I've got so many things I want to get done over the break.  I want to de-clutter and clean every room in the house, which is going to be a big, but very satisfying job (just have to sneak things out when Xav the hoarder is not around).  I have new curtains to sew and hang in the lounge room and lots of little craft projects to start and finish.  Grace's birthday is in 2 weeks, so I have her party to organise as well as her school celebration.  We have multiple Christmas carols to attend, as well as the schools summer festival and Grace's graduation ceremony from prep to year 1.  Then there are lots of bbq's, beach and picnic outings to have!  I'm so excited to actually have lots of time to do these things, all without thinking that I should be studying!  I'm free!!!  I can't wait for Grace to finish up at school and we can go back to the good old days of me being at home with the 2 kids, and doing as we please every day!  I'm very nostalgic for those days, although I do love what I'm doing now too. 

Anyway, I'm off to get a few hours sleep as I'm hoping (every things crossed!) that I get a call in the middle of the night to say a little baby is ready to join us xx

Jabbing the child

Xav had his 4 y/o needles on Wednesday and after my last attempt at doing this by myself, I organised it for when Duane would be home.  I'd explained to Xav what was going to be happening, and pulled out the parenting big guns - BRIBE!  I'm not fond of using bribes for everyday things, but this is a one off and I was hoping that it would make the whole experience a little less stress full for everyone involved.  I asked him what he would like and he suggested a Mintie as he'd caught be the week before with a mouthful of one.  I'd bought a family pack (although I didn't share with the family!) to munch on as I was churning out a very boring research assignment and he decided that one of those would be a perfect swap for a jab.  I also said he could play on my i-phone (another very special thing that he rarely gets to do)  and have the headphones in.  Now this proposition, of chewing on a mintie AND using the i-phone was enough to actually get him excited and begging every day in the lead up, to actually go to the Dr earlier.

So, with all this excitement and constant nagging to go get his needles, I was feeling very confidant when Duane said he'd have to work late and wouldn't be able to come along.  No problems!  This will be a breeze - I have a willing participant!

Well, he was all big and brave until he realised once we were at the Dr's what was actually going to happen.  He must of glossed over the whole "getting and needle" thing and just focused on minty goodness and technology.  Once he realised though, there was no way he was going anywhere near the nurses station.  I had to carry him screaming his head off and writhing in my arms.  Once in there, I managed to shove a mintie in his mouth calm him down, so I could sign all the forms.  After the mix up last year, I also insisted that I would be checking each vial for the correct medication. Xav, was ok by now.

Until I had to take his top off to get started.  Then he cranked up the screaming again, but this time he was yelling "Check my heart, just check my heart then let me go home"  I'm guessing he thought if we used the stethoscope, we'd forget about the 2 needles that were drawn up and ready to be inserted  There was nothing I could do but bear hug him, whilst he was jabbed simultaneously in each arm.  Over and done with nice and quick, and then the screaming stopped.  Could have had something to do with the stickers and freddo frog the nurse had just handed over.  He smiled, filled up his mouth and skipped his way out.  Over and done with.

Thank goodness that doesn't need to happen again for a while!

Rhyme Time

Every morning in the car on the way to school drop off, the kids and I play a different game.  Some days it's me asking them the names of particular baby animals, eye spy or thinking of a different animal starting with A and then working all the way through to Z.  Yesterday, Grace decided that we'd pick a word and then go through all the other words that rhyme with it.  It's usually nice and simple and I'm often amazed at how clever they are at coming up with an abundance of different words.  As she chose the game today, she got to chose the first word.  She chose "Witch"

You can see where this is going hey?  I knew as soon as she uttered that word that it could get messy.

She came up with "stitch" as the first rhyming word.  Perfect.  But then I could hear Xav over the back going through the letters and adding a different one to the start, trying to work out a word.  Excited, he then yelled out,

"I know Mummy, Bitch rhymes with Witch, doesn't it?"

I was hoping I hadn't heard right as I was fairly sure he'd never hear this word before, so I asked him what that word meant.

"You know, when you are a drummer you have a good Bitch" 

Oh, crap - now I was starting to get nervous about where he had heard the word and what context it had been in.  So I re clarified, asking again what that word meant.

"Mummy, like a drummer.  You know, they have good Bitch - like in music"

Then I clicked.  He was trying to say PITCH!  So after much reinforcement of correct pronunciation, he got it and was still quite happy that pitch rhymed with witch.  Later I realised that I probably should have explained that Bitch really meant female dog, but at the time I was a little taken aback! 

Xavier

I really need to brush the cobwebs out of here, but every time I come in I get overwhelmed!  I've had so much that I want/need to blog about, but trying to work out where to start after such a long break has been weighing me down.  So, I thought I'd just plonk something down to break the ice.

My little boy just cracks me up at the moment!  I meant to blog ages ago about his funny little habit of slipping the word "actually" into every sentence, sometimes twice.  He managed it seamlessly for about a month, but stopped suddenly a few weeks ago.  After quizzing him on it, he said that he'd overheard me telling someone, and was a bit upset so stopped.  Oops!  I "actually" thought it was very cute, and it just proves again to me how strong willed my little boy is - he stopped immediately!

Some other funny little Xavier moments.  He told me the other morning that he wanted to start a rock band and travel the world.  When I asked him where in the world he's be travelling he said "Africa, Trude's place, Logan's place, Nanny's place - all over the world!"  He's allocated himself to the drums and lead singer, whilst Daddy will be on the maracas, Grace on the tambourine and I'm on the keyboard.  We are going to travel around with Xav the self labelled "rockstar".  Sounds like fun hey!

There are many more funny Xav moments, but it's hard to remember them all.  I spend most of the day laughing with him or engaged in deep, thought provoking conversation.  He is the coolest kid to talk too and sometimes the way he analyses and thinks about things just blows my mind!  He's been so patient and understanding over the last few weeks as I've been spending lots of time on assignments and study.  He plays happily with his cars/lego/planes/bike only bothering me only for something to eat.  Sometimes, I can tell he's so desperate for someone to play with though - so I have a break and immerse myself into his little world.  To see his whole face light up and his play get even more animated  when I'm pretending to be the voice for a car or whatever job I've been given, is just beautiful.  He still misses Grace crazily when she is at school, and although he is quite happy to play by himself, when she is here they are in their own little universe together.  They play so wonderfully together, and the thought and imagination that oozes out when they do is beautiful. 

Xav is such a loving and cuddly little boy.  Every day he tells me he loves me (although today he told me that Rockstars don't kiss their mummies!).  Every night, without fail, he still sneak into our bed and hops in beside me for a cuddle - which I love. 

September

September has been and gone.  Spring was here too, although for a brief moment and has now morphed back in to winter.  I've been busy studying, midwifing, parenting, procrastinating and trying to keep all balls in the air.  There was a mid-semester breakdown last week.  I'd had enough of spending the days trying to write essays, construct reports and just generally keep up with the uni work load.  I wanted to be out enjoying the beautiful spring weather with my family, not stuck in the abyss of databases.  My mini breakdown coincided with the "normal" mid semester break on the timetable.  Unfortunately my course doesn't allow for such a frivoulous waste of time, so we just keep ploughing on.  I am taking this week off doing shifts though so I can at least spend some time doing fun stuff with the kids whilst Grace is on holidays.  I still have course work, appointments and a few quick hospital appointments I have to make.  I've also got someone coming up to their birthing day, so that can always change even the best laid plans.  I've completed all my skills and practical exams now, so just needing to finish all my hospital hours, 2 assignments, 1 exam and then I am officially halfway to being a midwife.  Oh, that is a little exciting and very scary.  I've also been fortunate to be invited into the honours program, which apparently is a big deal and something I should be putting some serious thought in to.  Later, when I have time I'll think about it.

Apart from the pulling and tugging in all different directions, I'm loving this semester.  Having so much practical at the hospital is fantastic, and although there are some people to be wary of, most of the midwives are wonderful and so keen to share knowledge with the next wave of midwives.  It's such a hands on course, and I'm still blown away about some of the exeriences that I've already had.

The kids are wonderful.  Grace is enjoying her holidays, spending lots of time with Grandma and Daddy.  Next week though I have some fun adventures planned with her and I.  She had her spring festival on the last day of term and was so excited to be hanging out with the big primary kids. The theme was "Dreamtime" and all the children where asked to wear yellow, red or black.  The older kids danced around the maypole, which was mesmerising and exciting for everyone.   All the classes had been busy coming up with business adventures to develop and sell at the spring markets.  The preppies got off easy and just had to harrass their parents for home made goodies, which were sold at the market for 50 cents per serve.  Some of the wonderful ideas from the older classes were badges, ice blocks, potted vegies and seedlings, second hand clothes, mystery show bags and face painting.  The children were all asked to bring along $5.00 to spend, which managed to go along way as everything was so cheap.  Grandma also came along, but spent most of her money on the children that were busking

She also lost her second tooth.  It had become wobbly on Jaspers birthday and she lost it on Logan's birthday!  It was put out for the tooth fairy, who left another little charm for her bracelet.

Her first lost tooth

 
After 5 weeks of having a wobbly front tooth, Grace's very first tooth has fallen out.  I think she's had the longest wobbly tooth in history, she was so gentle and careful with it - both excited and nervous about it coming out.  She put herself on a self imposed diet of soft food in the last few weeks, scared that she'd bite into something hard and without realising, swallow her own tooth!  She was also worried about the blood loss (she's getting better, but still not great with blood) and having to deal with that at school.  Lucky it all worked out exactly as she'd hoped, and she lost her very first tooth in the privacy of her own home with a parent around to help.

When it did finally come loose (it had been barely hanging on over the last week!), it was just after school and Duane was home with the kids.  Grace started crying, and Duane wasn't sure what was wrong as she sat crying with her mouth firmly closed.  Finally she said it was her tooth, so Duane asked her to open up so he could have a look and sure enough there was just a big gaping hole!  The tooth was floating around loose in her mouth, so he got her to spit it into a tissue and they cleaned it up.  Once I was home, we put it in the little decorated match box that we had waiting and left it on the kitchen bench for the tooth fairy.

The next morning, immediately after opening her eyes, Grace said she just knew that the tooth fairy had been last night as she'd felt her tickle her on the cheek.  Xav, who was hoping for a visit from the fairy himself, was quite dissapointed that he hadn't felt her come, to which Grace explained that she wouldn't be visiting him until he also started loosing teeth!  She jumped out of (our) bed and ran out to see if her tooth was still on the table.  The match box was still there, but also was a little wooden tooth box covered in fairy dust.  She carefully opened up the drawer of the box and inside was a delicate silver charm bracelet with a single fairy charm.  She was over the moon and thrilled that the tooth fairy had left her something so special.  Xav was unfussed with the offering, and just said "Where is the money?"  The tooth fairy had also been kind enough to allow us to keep her tooth as it's her very first lost one and something sentinmental Mummies like to keep - very understanding tooth fairy!

Catching Babies

I'm 5 weeks into this semester and I'm still not sure how I'm going to fit everything in!  I thought last semester was busy, but this one is even worse and I'm having a great time but longing for some down time.  I've started shifts at the hospital, which has been amazing, but taking up so much time, that I've haven't even started any study yet.  I was rostered in birth suites for the first 2 weeks and was so lucky to have a beautiful birth on each shift.  On my first shift I cared for a woman from the beginning of her labour until about 4 hours postnatal - it was a wonderful spontaneous birth and I was lucky enough to catch the baby at birth.  I was buddied that time with a midwife that seemed to have a skewed idea of being "with woman" and spent most of the shift downstairs sucking on nicotine.  It was stressful for me at times, being in charge of monitoring (via doppler) interpreting and caring for the woman - mostly by myself, on my very first shift.  I felt like I was constantly looking for the midwife, so that she could teach and support me - but mostly having to just do it all myself. There was a shift change just before the woman birthed, so a new midwife was their for pushing.  I can't begin to describe the feeling of catching my very first baby!  Knowing that I was the first hands on a brand new baby, is such an honour and privilege and a moment that I hope to always respect.  Seeing that brand new family bond and meet their baby for the first time is just so beautiful and it almost feels like an intrusion to be there. 

The next shift I was also lucky enough to support a woman from the beginning of her labour to the end.  This time though, I had a wonderful midwife who was so kind and supportive and gave me lots of confidence.  I once again cared for the woman through the labour, but this time I knew that the midwife was close by and would be there instantly if I needed her.  A funny thing happened this time though.  We'd just examined the woman and she was 4 cm dilated.  About half hour later the midwife went out to the Midwives station to right the results on the board.  It was a quiet night and I was the only person in with a labouring woman, all the other Midwives and Dr's were sitting around talking and drinking coffee trying to stay awake during the night shift.  About half hour after the midwife left (so 1 hour after the examination) I started noticing signs of what I thought could have been second stage, which is time for pushing.  I thought during each contraction I could see parts of the head, but wasn't totally sure  as it was a first time mum and we'd only just assessed her an hour before as 4cm dilated.  A few other things had me questioning if it really was second stage though, so I walked out to the Midwives station (remember, it's my second shift and I've fronting up to all the midwives, Dr's etc here!) and said "I know we only just assessed her and I've probably being very presumptuous and over cautious, BUT I think I can see signs of second stage"  They all kinda looked at the board then looked back at me as if to say "Crazy student has no idea what she is talking about!"  The midwife I was with said, "Ok, I'll come have a look and then go for my break - baby may just be in a posterior position and giving early signs of pushing, but it's most likely not time yet"  She came in, checked her quickly then announced "You were right!  Head is on view"  Half an hour later I caught my second baby!

On another shift, I also made the rookie move of not getting gloves on quick enough.  It is drummed into our brain to "Never trust a Multip", So never trust a woman that has laboured before - I've definitely learnt that now!  I was with a fantastic midwife caring for a woman having her 3rd baby.  She'd just done an examination and she was 7cm.  I turned around to wash my hands and get some new gloves on, turned back and there was a head out laying on the bed - I missed that catch!!  All the midwives had a laugh about that and recalled there own stories of taking their eyes off the woman for a second and turning back to see a baby already there!  I'll hopefully never do that again.  Everything was fine though, and even though baby came out very quickly she had no tears - thank goodness!

I also had one of my follow throughs have a magical birth on Monday.  It was by far my favourite as I'd been able to do all her antenatal care and we had such a great relationship and understanding of each other by the time she was in labour.  I felt so comfortable in her birth, and having that connection antenatally made caring for her in labour so much more intuitive.  I was able to once again do all her care and support in the birth and catch her beautiful little baby.  The high after that birth was amazing and I can't believe that I get to feel so good doing my job.  Seeing her grow through the pregnancy and then watch that transition from woman to mother is such a special relationship to witness.  It is an absolute privilege to be there at that moment and I try very hard to be respectful of the new family whilst still going about doing all the things I need to do. 

I've got a couple of week in the Antenatal clinic now, so lots of talking, blood pressure, palpation's and education - which is certainly different for the highly emotional and sometimes full-on environment of birth suites.  I'm hoping that these few weeks won't be as busy though so I can finally start on my actual course work as I haven't even opened anything yet and I have a research literature review due in a few weeks followed by 2 more essays not long after.  I'm not stressed about the work though, I know I'll get it done.  It may not be at the standard I normally like to submit, but I realise now that my time on the shifts is where most of my learning will be happening and although my marks won't reflect how well I'm going clinically (it's just pass/fail) I will be gaining so much. 

Happy 4th Birthday Xav!

Dear Xavier,

You have been so excited to be turning the big 4, and now you are finally here!  Although the time has probably felt like forever for you, it certainly hasn't for your sentimental Mummy.  I feel like it wasn't that long ago that we were synced together in labour and meeting for that first magical time.

The last year has been an adjustment for you, working through the new family dynamics as Grace is now at school and I'm having to spend more time away from you for Uni.  I know it's been tough at times for you, but you are bravely moving forward and forming a different type of normal.  Your growing into such a beautiful little boy, but there is still a part of you that needs that reconnection back to me - which sometimes means you get upset if I have to leave.  When I am around though, you often find me for cuddles and kisses and then you are happy to go off again.  It's not unusual to have this happen every half hour or so, or even just a quick cuddle of my leg as you dash from one activity to another.  I hope you never get to old for cuggles.  You've also wanted to spend more of the night in our bed having cuddles.  I know it's probably because you are missing me during the day, so just catching up on time overnight and I don't mind at all.  I love waking up in the morning, with your arms slung over me and your soft breathe on  my cheek. Every morning you wake so happy and I really cherish our morning talks and snuggles.

You are loving pre-school and have a little group of friends that you have become very attached too.  One little boy especially that has become one of your favourite people.  We hear stories about Deklan all.the.time!  Everything is judged by if "Deklan would like it?"  Deklan for a while only wore shorts to pre-school, so of course, that is all you would wear - even on cold winter mornings!  I had a chat to Deklans mum and from then on she sent Deklan in pants, so then you were happy to wear yours.  We bought you a new pair of running shoes and the first things you said about them was "Deklan is going to love these!"  You were so excited when I said we could invited Deklan along to your birthday, but then I think you were a bit star struck when he did come!  I haven't got the heart to break it to you that Deklan will be heading off to school next year and you have another year of pre-school.  Another little boy that you have become good friends with and who will be in your class in prep is going to be starting up at pre-school soon, so I'm hoping that makes it easier for when Deklan leaves.  You teacher Miss Amanda says you do wonderful at school, and have so much fun.  She's always telling me about the crazy and witty things you have to say and says they are always laughing about you!  Funny little boy!

The love you and your big sister share is beautiful to witness.  There are plenty of disagreements, but most of the time you spend together is in sibling bliss.  You've both gotten to the age where most problems or arguments can be sorted out between you, which makes life very easy for your parents!  I love hearing you both manipulate negotiate with each other, and most of the time it all works out perfectly fine with no adult assistance.  Although you've adjusted to lots more time playing by yourself, you still relish the times you and Grace can engross in some togetherness.  Every morning I feel guilty for hurrying you both up and breaking the wonderfully imaginative games that you create together.  Grace, being the beautiful soul that she is, is still very inclusive of you and not yet showing signs of being too cool to hang out with her younger brother. 

You have such a beautiful imagination, and spend so much of the day playing in your own little world.  Your cars and trains are favourites at the moment, especially the little electric trains you got from Nanny and us for your birthday.  I'm trying to spark your interest back into drawing, but your not fussed and more prefer to be riding your bike or zooming the cars around on the tiles.  Your beloved matchbox cars (all 100 of them!) are still your go to toys.  you can spend hours pushing a tiny little car around the house, pulling up mats as you go to make bumps.  I've always got a few random cars in my handbag, which makes for waiting around or uni visits with me so much easier as you play around on the floor.  You also love cooking, and we often have impromptu cooking days baking some of your favourite recipes - mainly muffins, cakes and biscuits.  You have a real sweet tooth, and unlike your sister who can regulate how much sweet stuff she can eat, you could quite easily gorge yourself forever.  

I'm expecting a growth spurt soon, as it seems you've been the same height and weight for a while now!  I weighed you the other day, and at 4 y.o you weigh 17kgs (in Pj's) and are 105cm tall.  I looked back over Grace's book and at the same age she was closer to 20kgs and 115cms tall!  You are such a lightweight to pick up, and as you are so small, I'm able to carry you for small times if you need it.  You've stepped up the amount of food you want lately though, so I'm expecting some growth to happen! 

Xav, you are my little shining beam who lights up our life.  Having you around is never boring, whether we are laughing at your quick wit or pulling our hair out with your crazy ways - it's always fun.  I love you so much Xav, and the last 4 years have been some of my favourite as I've watched you grow and bloom into a confidant little boy.  I feel so blessed to be your Mother, and also for the special bond that we have together - it's overwhelming sometimes how connected I feel to you. 

I love you Xav xx

Uni Update

Just wanted to not somewhere that I've got my first semester results back and I was pleasantly surprised!

3 Hd's - Thank-you very much!  I was quietly confidant that I had 2, but the third was not expected.  I thought I'd gone ok in the exam, but as it was a 70% exam and the other 30% was based on group-work, I wasn't expecting to do so well in the exam.  Seems I'm very bad at judging these things and ended up getting the 2nd highest exam mark for all the students.  Not bad for someone who spent the previous night tending to a sick little boy having a horrendous asthma attack!

It means I now have a very healthy GPA of 6.889 (damn that distinction in my very first semester!) and I'm very proud of myself.  I know that marks probably don't mean much in the long run, but right now, they are motivating. 

The next big step is starting 2 x 10-12 hour shifts EVERY week, starting in 2 weeks time.  I'm not even going to begin trying to work out how I'm going to juggle that, study plus I still have 4 women left to birth.  Eeek!

Winter Festival 2011

Grace's school always celebrates the seasons on the last day of the term, it's a nice way to wrap up the term and to break up for the holidays.  They are normally held during the day, but Winter festival is often held in the late afternoon or night, as often lanterns are used to celebrate.  It was our first winter celebration up at the school, so we were not sure what to expect.  The children had made special invitations, asking us to bring along either fresh bread or a pot of vegetable soup and to meet at the prep rooms at 4.30pm.

After getting to the school, the lovely Miss Pam put us into groups of 2-3 families, with instructions to follow the golden path up to the main part of the school.  She also told us to keep our eyes wide open as we may be seeing some magical things on the way.

We were in a group with 2 of Grace's closest friends, Molly and Olivia. Trude and Jasper also came along to celebrate. The children excitedly skipped ahead as the Mum's and Dad's brought up the rear.  As we rounded the corner to head to the Grade 1 class, there was somebody all rugged up in Pj's and dressing gown and resting on a chair.  In front of them was a lantern and a bell, with instructions for the children to ring the bell if they were asleep.  After much encouragement to the girls, who were very unsure of what was happening, the bell was finally rung.  Up jumped the woman in her Pj's and she recited the poem:

"Jack be nimble,

Jack be quick,

Jack jump OVER the candlestick"

The girls, still unsure, soon clicked and after a bit of a nudge, each jumped over the lantern.  They were then each given a candle and told to keep following the path.

Next on the path was a farmer with a tree full of apples beside him.  He also told a little poem and presented each child with their own pre-cored apple, telling them that their candle should fit in it perfectly!

We set off again, and the next stop was to the banker.  She gave each child 3 gold coins and told them at the next stop, they may be able to buy something very special

The next point on the journey was to the woman who was milling the flour and the children were asked if they'd like to buy some using their 3 coins. They were then given a bag of flour and sent on their way.

The baker was the next stop.  The children swapped their bag of flour for a bag of freshly made bread, which upon closer inspection, Grace worked out that it was actually THE bread they'd made in the class today!

Last but certainly not least, was a trip to visit the wizard and her fiery cauldron - a nice warm place for a cold winters night.  The wizard asked the children to make a wish and each wish was thrown into the cauldron and dramatically disappeared in a puff of smoke!  The children loved the whole trip, but mine especially were enchanted with the wizard and her flames.








We all headed back to the prep rooms, and waited for all the other families to finish the tour.  Whilst we waited, the children impressed us all with their sewing abilities, whipping up a little moon headband to celebrate the festival.  Below is also just one of the wonderful things that Grace has been busy making this year - a beautiful cushion that she embroidered her name on all by herself!  The children use them when they are sitting on the mat to kneel on. 

After everyone had ventured back from the exciting walk, we got to have a big, yummy dinner!  There was such a variety of warm, hearty winter soups and crusty bread with butter - Yum!  We all sat around in the prep rooms lapping up soup with chunks of bread, the parents chatting and the children playing.

After everyone was finished and cleaned up, Miss Pam told us that she'd be turning the outside lights off and we were to come out in family groups to say good bye.  The children were to hold their candle, and she would light them as we left.

It was so still and quiet as each child waited patiently for their moment with Miss Pam.  She lit the candles and whispered a wish to each child.  In the dark, just with candlelight, it was a very special and reverent moment.

We then walked out to the carpark, on a path lined with candles and went home.

What a wonderful and special night and just another reason why I love the community and school.

Intermission

I'm obviously a few days late with my photos, but I've given myself permission to have a break.  There are too many other things that I need to focus on, to get through this week, and then I'll be back to all the photo's I've missed (I have got pics most days, it's just the uploading etc that I don't really have time for at the moment.)

I have an exam on Wednesday at 1.30pm, backed up by my huge one the next day at 8.30am.  To say I'm not happy about them being so close together is a given.  I like to do an exam, then "brain dump" to allow a day or so to concentrate on the next one - something I'm not going to be able to do this time.  I've also got the added concern of one of my follow throughs being due, and going into labour at any time.  I'm hoping that if she doesn't go into labour tonight, she gives me a few days and then preferably goes after my exam on the Thursday.  I know that if I'm at the hospital and she is in established labour I can defer the exam, but that sucks too.  The deferred exams are a month away, and I'd prefer to just get it over and done with. 

Also added to my dilemma's is a sick little girl.  After boasting that she hadn't even had a sniffle since December last year (and dammit, I touched wood!)  she has spent the day lethargic and vomiting constantly.  She's sleeping beside me now, so I'm hoping that a good nights sleep will give her the rest she needs to recover.  I don't really want to go down the hospital route as per the last 2 vomiting episodes she has had.  Thank goodness for my lovely Mil who is coming up to watch both kids in the morning so I can go to an  appointment and then do some last minute exam cramming.

I'm so looking forward to Thursday afternoon when exams are over and I can relax.  I'll still be doing appointments and births etc, but it'll be a nice 3 week break from school work.  Before the onslaught of next semester anyway.

June 6th - From below

 

This beautiful hibiscus flower is on one of the trees up the side of the house, above the chook pen.  I had planned on taking some photos of the chooks from down low, but didn't realise how hard that would be to execute.  After unsuccessfully getting low enough to the ground  to get an "up" photo of Henny, whilst avoiding the chook poo, I gave up and went searching for pretties instead.  We have a very tropical garden with the only flowers around being these hibiscus and frangipanis.  When time and money permits, I'm actually planning on filling in all the empty pocket in the garden with colourful flowers.  Maybe then we won't have to raid the next door neighbours for fresh flowers for the table!

June 5th - From above

~~From above~~

It wasn't until the end of the afternoon that I remembered about today's photo for the challenge.  In between cooking a roast, as Duane's parents were coming over for dinner, and making all the snacks for the week, I grabbed Grace and we went outside for a quick photo shoot.  It's not very imaginative and certainly didn't involve any circus tricks to get high angles as requested, but it's technically from above.

Miss Grace is so easy to photograph (not like my other child who is a camera hater!) and so it didn't take long to snap a few photos from above.  I've also put 2 more of my favourites from the shoot in.

Whilst I'm here and I've got my beautiful daughters picture as inspiration, I thought I might give a quick update on Grace.  She is amazing and an absolute sweetheart and such a pleasure to mother.  She is loving school and we still haven't had a day where she's even hinted that she doesn't want to go.  She told me tonight that Kyran (who is one of the boys she's thinking about marrying - she has options!) kissed her - On.The.Lips.  She giggled and said that she didn't like it, but once questioned about if it really happened - she wasn't quite sure. and when  I asked whether I could ask Kyran about it, she made me promise that I wouldn't.  Man, isn't it to early to be dealing with this?

Apart from kissing boys, she's loving all the fun stuff at school and is busy knitting a scarf for her doll Marabella.  Each child has there own little basket of stationary and she was so excited last week to show me that she had been awarded her own pair of scissors and explained all the safety aspects of being a "scissor" owner.  They have 3 lessons per week of Italian, so she's been teaching us at home some words and songs.  Xav is her model student and is picking up the words easily, always wanting to know more about what she does at school and envious that he can't go too.

I was telling her yesterday how much I love her hair, especially since it's so silky straight and the colour is stunning.  Especially beside my frizzy mop that I can't seem to do anything with at the moment!  She did suggest I take her into the hairdressers and tell them I want my hair exactly the same.  If only it was that easy!

Pottering and the park

Today was a lovely, lazy Saturday - a perfect way to wind down after a very busy week.  I've been crazy busy this week, fitting in appointments all over town and trying to study for these damn exams I have coming up.  I'd decided to take today off school work, which was much needed.  Duane worked this morning, so unfortunately no sleep-ins for me, unless you consider the 6am wake-up that my little cherubs decided was wake time!

We spent the morning pottering around the house in our Pj's, something I relish now that our weekday mornings are so rushed and hurried.  I scrubbed out the oven with some Norwex cloths that I bought at a party-play thingy - I'm so in love with this product, they actually make cleaning fun!  The kids amused them self washing dolls in a plastic tub of water and then making playdough farm animals.

Then this afternoon we met up with the usual gang at the beautiful botanical gardens.  Trude wanted some photos of Jasper, so we spent quite a lot of time chasing the poor kid around poking a camera in his face!  He was the perfect little baby model though, although played very hard to get sometimes - such a quick little boy!
We got some very cute photos (not hard with such a cutie though!)

 

 ~~Cute Miss Lucie~~

June 4th - Green

 

The photo challenge today was of something green.  This beautiful tree, at one of our favourite parks, looked absolutely glorious is the setting afternoon sun.  It's not a perfectly composed shot, but as I can't bear to take of my 50mm lens, there are limitations with how much I can fit in the frame!