An evening's work

Well-the first fine day in quite a while inspired a watery response from the children. 

Armed with water guns, the hose and an

Unsuspecting sprinkler, they proceeded

To cause as much water damage as possible

To themselves, each other, my laundry, 

And the trampoline,  which was the

Reluctant site of the battle. 

Much squealing ensued! 

I had thoughts of gardening in mind. 

We are planning a considerable

Reshuffle. 

But more on that later!

Washing the vehicles parked in my

Driveway won over. 

But then, with the sun still beaming on

Sunny Mosgiel

I happened to glance around and spied

Orbs of lustrous purplish black

Glistening behind a leafy expanse of foliage. 

It was time....

To pick the black currants. 

This task always fills me with mixed parts dread and pleasure. 

I find the tarty lusciousness of this berry quite irresistable ...

But the task of picking, cleaning and

Preserving them is sometimes

Daunting to say the least!

And so I began... 

Nana leant her willing and able hands

For a short time. And little miss N also came to my aid for a shorter time, and with less able hands, and a much more voracious appetite! 

Despite all else this was the result of

My evening's work.

Work widowism

Well, this year has been eventful in many large, and in even more small and simple ways.
As always, the balls are in the air and I'm not sure exactly which one I'm supposed to catch next to prevent the whole lot tumbling and bouncing and dropping all around me.
One large ball this year has been the gaping hole left in our day-to-day Family life by the necessity of Husband having to travel away to slog out his daily grind of bringing home the bacon. Poor darling!

I have to admit right here that I do, occasionally, envy him!

But in the next microsecond I shake my curly head and thank my lucky stars that I am lucky enough to be at home for my four little darlings.
Being here is what I do best. It is my job, my vocation, my destiny to be Mummy.

Being a work widow is not easy. There are times when I dread the phone calls from far away,  simply because I know that the phone call will not be enough for me, for him, for the kids - not to express and communicate all those daily, impossibly ordinary moments that make up our lives. The funny ones (like Niece#5's experience with "the wrapper") or the cute ones like watching No2 son bouncing our baby dumpling on the tramp to help her feel happy after hurting herself. Or the maddening ones like the infuriation of a prolonged bedtime ritual (usually No 1 son), or the dramatics of my little Princess. Why is 7 such an age of difficulty, melodrama and angst? 

When you deal with these "issues" on your own all the time, the joy of Mummy-dom does sometimes lose its glow. I often find myself having to remember that poor Husband working away does not need/want to hear my every gripe, grumble and disssatisfaction. He needs me to be his support. The one who holds the fort, keeps the home fires burning and just manages to keep the balls in the air so that when he does make it Home it's nice for him to be there.

Being a work widow isn't much fun at all. But being a wife to a good, generous, hard working man is a true blessing. Honey, I am so grateful for you xxx

School Holidays

The last two weeks were holiday time! For some mums I know the mention of these two words fills them with dread and despair. For me...I relish not having to get out of bed so early, not having to make lunches, find homework, rush kids out the door etc etc etc.

But gosh have the last two weeks flown by fast or what!!! I could hardly believe that it was really back to school day this morning. Good job my big boy was eager and ready to get up at 6:30 this morning!! I had set the alarm for 7:00 and it did go off - but it was only Ben coming in and out with queries and cuddles that made me get out of bed in time to get everything done on time for out the door at about 8:45.

These holidays were filled with all sorts of busy-ness. Nothing really really exciting but lots of little things that kept the boredom bug at bay.

Of course we had other little boys and girls come to visit fairly regularly which always helps the time pass. We had an outing to the Tropical Forest at Discovery World at the Otago Museum. This was my first time and I loved it!!! What a great way to pass an hour or two. I was planning to post photos but my camera lens steamed up as soon as I got it out so that was the end of that! Could have had some awesome pictures of the boys running through the tropical "jungle" and my wee girl trying to "pat" the butterflies! I even had one land on my NOSE which would have made a great shot I'm sure!! And seeing Darcy just about collapse from having two beautifully blue winged creatures flutter from his bald head to his ear was very precious!! I was the butterfly magnet of our family that day which made the boys a bit envious!! Well, what can I say...I'm delicious!!! Hahahaha

Another holiday highlight were going to see "Ice Age 3" with Jen and the boys. It was great entertainment - although a certain small person did try to hide from the dinosaurs at one point ...she's just too cute! Seeing the boys laugh out loud at movies is always a highlight for me!! We recommend it!

The other great time passer this holidays was Desi's fold out foam couch!!! The fun had by bending and folding it into various huts and jumping places was second to none! And it was something all three kids could do together! I like it when they play like that! Warms a mother's heart!! :-)

Sorry there are no photos but what can I say....I just enjoy the moments and sometimes recording them pictorially just passes me by. I'm already looking forward to the next school holidays!

The best thing...

• about being pregnant is having Ben give my bump kisses ands hugs goodnight!!! So cute!! He is such a great big brother - most of the time!! :-)
  

• about explaining why sharing is important to Caitlin is seeing her teach her big brother about sharing - and seeing him give her hugs and kisses to make her happy again after he didn't share his sweets with her.
  

• about already being a mum is getting to help a friend with all her first baby needs/issues/problems/concerns/joys etc and also remembering all those things from my own first-time experiences....and second time....and third time.....and looking forward to fourth time!!!!

• about winter time and our not-so-recent house renovations (see old posts for more on this) is my fire!! I love it and how my whole house is warm almost 24 hours a day. Everyone coming through the door mentions how warm it is here and I love that! 22 degrees is good for me!

• about going to church and teaching my Relief Society lessons are the things I relearn all the time! Like counting my blessings....I need reminding now and then....and how to really try harder to live a life following the example of the Saviour. We are very blessed in all aspects of our lives and i am so grateful for all the many small blessings I enjoy on a daily basis. 
  

There really are too many things that I could add to this list so I'll stop...maybe there might be some more in the future! Start your own - I dare ya to get positive! :-)

I miss Nana

I really am the luckiest daughter-in-law that ever lived!!

The old saying that goes "you never really appreciate something until it's gone" is SO true. I know that whenever she goes away I think to myself that things will be fine, Phill will step up to the plate, the kids will be angels and I will be able to handle three kids, two cats, three guinea pigs and a husband with grace, charm and elegance; but lets be real here!!!! 

Doing all that is hard!!! 

Especially when it's been raining pretty much constantly for two weeks (ever since she left - coincidence?!!!!) and a lot of things have happened in between times (the Jenkins family arrived the day after her departure; District Conference (say no more!); two boy birthdays; a baptism (actually took place the day before she left but did cause a little stress!); a confirmation; Ang had her baby (yippeee); Phill wanted the bookwork done for the tax return time of year (aaaaaaaaargh); etc etc etc (I will bore you no more with the list that has been this month!).......suffice it to say that I appreciate Nana more and more with each time she goes away. 

I get a little bombarded with being the only one who does washing, folding and putting away...although the boys are pretty good at helping with that....and dishes breakfast, lunch and tea...although Lissa does sometimes help with that....and cooking those breakfasts, lunches and teas seven days a week....although on Sunday Phill did a fine job of roast chicken, roast potatoes and veges (loved him so much for that one!! Yay for you honey!)....it really is hard work all this household stuff. And when you try to fit in homework for the boys, funtime with all the kids, a little one on one with each of them and hubby as well.....alone time for me or doing what I really like is a bit thin on the ground!!

This is not a whinge - please don't take it as such - it is simply an appreciation of how much I miss and appreciate Nana. She helps keep me sane and stable and not constantly running round in circles.

Look forward to August!! But then a whole new chapter begins............mmmm enough said!

My claps go out to all mums out there - especially the ones doing it on their own! The ones who manage to stay youthful and fun and have their homes organised by ten each day get extra claps! 

I might get there one day - and pigs might fly - I'll enjoy the ride!!!! teeheeehehehhehe

Two little girls...

    In a way I kind of hope this new baby is a girl! Not just for selfish reasons I must add...it's for Caitlin! 

She just loves having other little girls around her...whenever anyone comes to play she is so happy and excited and she is a true entertainer.

We have Tori over this morning and they have been playing with no help or intervention from me for the whole time!

We did have some trampoline time and swing time that needed my assistance and supervision but aside from that they have played in the playhouse, put out a blanket on the grass in the sun and read books together, watched a little of Barbie's Swan Lake whilst playing with other toys etc in the mean time.

They are so cute and fun to watch!

So I kind of hope this baby is a little girl too so Caitlin can have her own built-in little playmate and person to love....the way she loves Carys, Tori, Summer, Jashia and all the other little girls in her life.

By the way these photos are a little old but they just serve to illustrate what I mean!!!