O O O what did we do before...

the Olympics? Was there life before? Will there be life after? If I feel this exhausted how are the athletes going to survive?

Its been a telly-fest. The boys have loved it.

During the gymnastics Big Brother started launching himself off the back of the couch, twisting his body into spins and flips and landing on his head in the cushions. Not quite a 10 out of 10 routine but his training schedule has been rather neglected.

Then came the swimming and the Ph-(elps)-ish (disguised as a man). I examined the boys feet to see if they were paddle-like or sported any webbing that at any other time would mean a trip to the plastic surgeon, but this week would inspire me to phone a swimming coach. I measured their arms span in relation to their height (Phelps is taller sideways). Bit too cold to throw them in the pool this week.

Then came the Lightning Bolt. We ran and thumped our chests and tried to look like we weren't even puffed.

And the rowing and the shotput (had to send them outside to throw oranges).

After watching the swimming one night I said to BB - 'Do you want to be an Olympic swimmer?'
'No', he said.
'What would you like to do?' I asked
'I need to run' he said, and paused (I visualised the odds of winning gold in the 100m sprint with the genetic disadvantage of me as his mother) but then he continued, ' with a rugby ball'.

Of course there is life after the Olympics...its called rugby.

Where did he get that from?

For sooo long I've been waiting to get a glimpse of what is going on in Big Brothers head. Now at last his language skills are getting closer to being in sync with his wee whizzing mind.

(I imagine its like a scene in star wars where the little space ship finally docks onto the side of the massive space ship, and suddenly gets thrown into it's over whelming information/gravity field). (Made more sense in my head than on paper, guess that's why i need more practise at this writing lark)

But since he's docked he is coming out with some simply great observations and conversations:

Today: 'I'm not feeling very well'
Concerned Mother: 'What's wrong, dear'
Reply in grave tone: 'I'm a bit big'.

Actually I wasn't that concerned. Ever since he was unwell last week he has used the 'I'm not feeling very well' call as a lead into 'I need to watch a d-v-d-va'. Or 'I need some Pamol'.

A few weeks ago as we hopped into the car : 'I smell horse poo'.

And another example from the where-did-he-get-that-from-basket, I took a crayon out of his mouth and said 'Don't put that in your mouth, dear'.
'But', he yelled ' I'm smoking'.

?????!

Like all well evolved predators...

..they hunt in packs.

They assess the weaknesses in their prey and adjust tactics accordingly.

And yes I do mean my children.

I am being exploited for my pink disability.

Little brother will not lie still to let me change his bottom. I am just waiting to get a whole heap of smelly stuff down my cast and then have to put up with it for 3 more weeks. He lies still for our lovely home help lady, I notice. And I also notice he tends to drop 'em when I am alone and vulnerable.

Big brother is more subtle. He knows when to ask for some Thomas the tank engine on tv - just after he has stirred us all up into a frenzy.

This morning I had them cleaning their teeth in the bathroom while I showered - I just got myself sorted washing my hair with one hand while holding up the pink arm. It was carefully encased in a rubber glove (they remind me of the ones the Agriculture boys from Massey would wear to the pub when they visited our University).
Showering away.
And then i hear ' I need to do pooos!'.

Like all well evolved predators their timing is perfect.

Uh Oh

Uh Oh means a lot of things in our house.
It is infact 97% of Little brothers vocab (accompanied by the universal chubby pointer finger).
Today uh oh meant, among other things:

'turn on this battery operated train, please mummy'

' i just dropped a big smelly one in my pants'

'i can't seem to spear this piece of potato with my fork'

'i dont want anymore carrot so am spitting it out into my hand and throwing it onto the floor - see?'

'the train has just disappeared into the gap beside the freezer'

'oops i kicked the ball under the house. Can you crawl under hat small space and get it out.'

'i can't get these 2 pieces of lego apart/together'

It's communication at it's finest, and he's totally delighted when we Get It.

Curse of the pink arm

Short entry. Lots of spelling mistakes. Typing with left hand only. Broken right arm. Snowboarding. First run of 2nd day of 2 week holiday. Trying to impress my husband with (obviously lack of) skills. Wanaka beautiful. Nice holiday anyway. Boys happy, didn't get big brother on skis.

Hooray for Dr Simon at Aspiring Med Centre. Best fragment of bone manipulation under local block I've ever had. Gassed up. Also FAB colours for cast - now sporting arm in Big Brothers favourite colour...hot barbie pink.

Saving the planet by buying great value recycled clothing from Wanaka Wastebusters THE ultimate in waste management recycling...every town in New Z should have one.

W. George Quotes of the holiday
"We saw the ceciles! " (Translation : eels)