Well, I managed something I have looked forward to and dreaded for a long time - a weekend away from my children! I know I am a wimp, but the time had more than come, so I packed up my ridiculously small number of items required to keep myself and only myself clothed and fed for two nights.
And off we sped to out annual 'PrimaVera' Girls weekend away - this year at the beautiful coromandel beach of Onemana. We had 6 out of possible 7 girls attending, two babies and one toddler. One meal each to organise. Magazines and movies. Tea bags for the eternal cuppas. Beach walks and chatting took most of the active time with cuddling babies (the give back when they fill their nappies kind) as the relaxing option.
Thanks to my lovely husband who went solo (with help of friends husband and toddler for one night). No sweat for Dad. He was as tired as I was refreshed, and we both happily resumed our more traditional roles.
In a previous life a weekend with the girls would have involved packing some ridiculously painful but sexy pair of foot-hating heels for a big night out. The first thing I packed this trip - my woolly fluffy slippers.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sweet and so soon forgotten
These are the smallest memories I will forget as the boys grow older:
Big brother at nearly 3 and Little brother at just 1, sitting in the trailer with their helmets on, little brother sound asleep after a 10 minute ride, snot pouring over his top lip, helmet fallen to one side and squishing the side of his face. Big brother is sitting beside him, sucking his ever-present thumb, and holding onto his sleeping brothers ear.
Biking along the road I hear Big brother yell indignantly - ' I want to hold (Little Brother's) hand'.
Big brother kneeling on the floor, with his toy cars on the couch, play acting -
'Talk to me Lightning Daqueen'
'No No No, I am Fred'
'Brrummmmm'
'Watch out for the sharks, Arrh Arrh, they biting my foot !!!'
Little Brother's Toy of the Day - yesterday was the wine pump, today an old DVD (the most fascinating part being the little hole in the centre to poke your finger through, which comes standard). Each is transported to a distant region of the house, oohed and aahed over, then dropped and forgotten. And in the case of the little paddlle that goes in the bread maker, never to be seen again.
Big brother at nearly 3 and Little brother at just 1, sitting in the trailer with their helmets on, little brother sound asleep after a 10 minute ride, snot pouring over his top lip, helmet fallen to one side and squishing the side of his face. Big brother is sitting beside him, sucking his ever-present thumb, and holding onto his sleeping brothers ear.
Biking along the road I hear Big brother yell indignantly - ' I want to hold (Little Brother's) hand'.
Big brother kneeling on the floor, with his toy cars on the couch, play acting -
'Talk to me Lightning Daqueen'
'No No No, I am Fred'
'Brrummmmm'
'Watch out for the sharks, Arrh Arrh, they biting my foot !!!'
Little Brother's Toy of the Day - yesterday was the wine pump, today an old DVD (the most fascinating part being the little hole in the centre to poke your finger through, which comes standard). Each is transported to a distant region of the house, oohed and aahed over, then dropped and forgotten. And in the case of the little paddlle that goes in the bread maker, never to be seen again.
Monday, July 7, 2008
A Dentist in the family
After all the extending of our extended family we may have cracked it...a dentist among us.
Little brother has taken to heart the lesson of brushing teeth regularly. It is absolutely his favourite thing to do. So much so that every time the bathroom doors opens he is running down the hallway - pointing a chubby little crooked finger and grunting - 'uh, uh, uh'.
Amazing how much you can communicate with only a grunt and a pointer pointing in the wrong direction.
He is pointing at the toothbrushes and toothpaste, and obviously has a bad case of that furry feeling. But every time I go to the bathroom... here comes the little grunter, and boy do we have a tantrum if we cant keep our (limited number of) pearlers in tip top condition. He mostly chews on the brush, and sticks it under the tap for a rinse cycle.
It doesn't fit with my mental picture of a 'good mother' when I hear myself saying - 'No, dear, we only brush our teeth twice a day'. ' No you CANNOT brush your teeth!'. 'Not again!'.
Hopefully this is the start of a lifelong habit which will translate into free dental care and other perks for his parents. Meanwhile I will keep both the toilet and bathroom door closed at all times, and encourage everything (including personal hygiene) in moderation!
Little brother has taken to heart the lesson of brushing teeth regularly. It is absolutely his favourite thing to do. So much so that every time the bathroom doors opens he is running down the hallway - pointing a chubby little crooked finger and grunting - 'uh, uh, uh'.
Amazing how much you can communicate with only a grunt and a pointer pointing in the wrong direction.
He is pointing at the toothbrushes and toothpaste, and obviously has a bad case of that furry feeling. But every time I go to the bathroom... here comes the little grunter, and boy do we have a tantrum if we cant keep our (limited number of) pearlers in tip top condition. He mostly chews on the brush, and sticks it under the tap for a rinse cycle.
It doesn't fit with my mental picture of a 'good mother' when I hear myself saying - 'No, dear, we only brush our teeth twice a day'. ' No you CANNOT brush your teeth!'. 'Not again!'.
Hopefully this is the start of a lifelong habit which will translate into free dental care and other perks for his parents. Meanwhile I will keep both the toilet and bathroom door closed at all times, and encourage everything (including personal hygiene) in moderation!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Welcome to the family
Little brother was the centre of attention this weekend. We all gathered in the middle of the north island, to celebrate his Baptism. We had a great turn out with 4 grandparents, 10 aunties and uncles and 21 cousins!!
He was a little star - only bolting out the church at a run twice! He didn't cry when Father poured water over his head, and looked appropriately solemn in the solemn bits.
Seeing him being picked up, tickled, fed and put down by a series of cousins (some only barely bigger than him), aunts, uncles, grandparents, was wonderful. He ran amongst the big kids playing soccer, and climbed up onto the knees of the various adults sitting around drinking bubbles and mulled wine.
All this ceremonising and celebrating was totally over his head, but I think he got the message - you are one of us, you belong. We believe in you. You belong to something that is bigger than the sum of all the parts.
He was a little star - only bolting out the church at a run twice! He didn't cry when Father poured water over his head, and looked appropriately solemn in the solemn bits.
Seeing him being picked up, tickled, fed and put down by a series of cousins (some only barely bigger than him), aunts, uncles, grandparents, was wonderful. He ran amongst the big kids playing soccer, and climbed up onto the knees of the various adults sitting around drinking bubbles and mulled wine.
All this ceremonising and celebrating was totally over his head, but I think he got the message - you are one of us, you belong. We believe in you. You belong to something that is bigger than the sum of all the parts.
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