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

Mainly Music

This is how we pass the time while the older kids are in their violin and guitar lessons...at least on the nice days! Thanks to Mrs Moses for the loan of the butterfly wings :-)

With bike in tow, and a bag full of apples and water bottles we hit the junior playground at school for an hour and a half.
Today Miss N followed her cousin around the playground and figured out that she can go across the beam bridge and the horizontal ladder to get to the slide! Yay for her, but a little nerve racking for me! Still, we celebrate all the achievements right? ;-)

Life's little crazies...

You might think from the title of this post that my kids have been up to more than their usual share of mischief making - typed even as I hear the boys getting ready for bed upstairs with more than the expected level of thumping, banging and raised voices, after being told quite specifically to be quiet and non-silly as their little sisters are already settled into bed!!!! Oh brother! Boys have sewn on ears - I am sure of it!

Anyhow...

Anyhow...this is my musings on the way life throws us curve balls, and fast balls, and hard balls, and so many different sized balls that we can barely think, let alone dodge some of the more harmless ones headed our way.

Since October I have dodged a few odd shaped balls but have also suffered a full on assault that took my breath away.
The biggest, and most painful being that my sweet mother died on November 9th at lunchtime. She lost the fight against her fourth aggressive cancer attack in the Oamaru hospital with me and my dear Dad by her side. If I could share that event in such a way that would adequately describe the depth of feelings I experienced, the thoughts that ran around my head, and the painful happiness that tugged at my heart, then I might start to try...but words fail me, and my heart interferes, and it generally becomes a bit sacred to me. She was my Mum...I miss her crazily...enough said.

A few of the other little curve balls include my 39th birthday...only significant in the fact that 40 looms but one year away, and I had grand intentions of achieving quite a few things before that number reared its ugly head. Maybe I'll list them here some other day...maybe!

I find myself at times in very philosophical frames of mind, and have to actually kick start the "just get on with it" button. Not because I'm unmotivated, but more because I sense change is on the horizon, and I'm unsure as yet whether or not I a) want the changes, b) can handle the changes, or c) even anticipate what the changes are.

Balls are in the air - dodge, catch or take it to the body?

 Some of the good craziness that has been going on - yes there are some positives - is that by driving to Mum's funeral with no oil in my car (that is a whole miracle story right there!), I now have a lovely 2004 Honda Stream Absolute; red, and sleek, and sassy, yet still spacious enough to hold our family of 6! Thanks to my darling husband who still manages to surprise me with his love and generosity after nearly 15 years of marriage!!

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Since writing the top part of this post life has thrown quite a few more dirty curve balls!  8 months almost to the day after my sweet mummy died my dear daddy also said goodbye to the world after finding out he too had the dreaded C. Such calm, courage and collected contemplation in the face of grief and dying I have never witnessed. He was my first hero.

I am also back to "work-widow" status, with my darling Husband back in the North Island on a weekly basis. That brings a few body shots with it - particularly from my little ones and their own longing for their male parent.

My biggest little one has almost completed his first year at College. Eeek - how is that possible!?  It seems barely a few years ago that I was taking him to primary school for the first time. He is handsome and so grown up in his uniform, and becoming more so in his daily life. Stop growing my son - but become the best man you can be!

I also hit that foreseen, but not anxiously anticipated hurdle, of my 40th birthday. I am officially middle aged!  ;-)
I still "feel" about 23 so I guess it ain't all bad!

More changes to come!  I've been through the key changes to the morbid minor (thank you Angela of Striking Keys for that analogy and the inspiration to actually post this monologue on life) so hopefully the key changes to come will be to brighter, happier tones.

Whatever the case, embrace it and carry on and learn what you can on the way.

Young Women's Camp

Saturday's activities were all outside and all physically active, so as I write this at approx 9:30pm the hall is empty except for a few leaders cleaning up and me, recording events for posterity's sake. The girls have all turned in for the night...oh my!!!
We got up about 7am for breakfast. Then it was outside for archery and horizontal bungy. The girls released their inner Katnis and got down in the mud on these activities.
After morning tea it was over the hill to Taieri Beach for a walk down to the rock pools...I forgot my camera!
Lunch was a yummy pasta,sauce and salad affair followed by peach crumble and ice cream.
After lunch we braved the soggy and slippery Millenium Track where there was much laughter, screaming and other hilarity, oh and eggs! Not a one was broken ;-)
Everyone was worn out when they got back...well mostly everyone!
Games after dinner topped off our energetic day. Ninja, Mafia, indoor newspaper hockey...what a riot!!!
All set for a good night's sleep and a happy Sabbath tomorrow.

Oh how I love the iPad

I have just discovered Blogger on the iPad...why this has not happened earlier I cannot say...could have something to do with my lack of most technological knowledge and interest lol.
But now the Songster is back on track with life experiences that make me laugh and cry and everything else in between!

Kids need me now so hold your breath...I'll be back soon!!!

Just a quick photo update of the kids...boy how they grow!

The first water fight of summer 2011

Today was yet another beautiful, summer day in sunny Mosgiel

To celebrate the heat and 'just about holiday-ness' of the day, the first water fight of summer was born!
It all began with me mowing the lawns...

Hubby chose his most advantageous position (the upstairs window in our bedroom overlooking the front lawn)...
chose his weapon (an empty contact lens solution bottle)...
took aim and fired!

I was completely unaware of the stealth attack and ended up well doused right down the front of me! It was actually a welcome and refreshing wetting...for a change!

Of course, the main event occurred later in the day. The pictures tell the story better than I ever could...




The end result:
Five perfectly soaked and happy children.
One thoroughly soaked and happy daddy/uncle.
A well watered lawn, therefore happy grass (?).
Five children showered, warm and clean, therefore happy mummy.
Lots more towels in the laundry to be washed tomorrow...mmmm!

Magic at home

Cheeky three year old that she is, little Miss C has discovered magic!! Thanks to Barbie movies, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and other Disney wonders.

Anyway...we enjoy the odd trick or magic show at home these days which usually take the form of her pulling something "super-amazing" out of something else - not always a hat!

The best one so far made me laugh out loud (excuse the expression but it really did!). She found a lovely golden envelope (the hat) and a Thomas the Tank Engine domino (the rabbit), and took her stance before me. With a twinkle in her eye she slid her hand into the golden envelope - much like they do at major award ceremonies - and glanced merrily up at me. Now this next bit is the bit that made me laugh...

She glanced merrily up at me and said, with all the expression only years of showmanship could develop, "Wait for it" - Oh how I laughed at that in itself but then, as if my breath-held face of anticipation didn't convince her fully, she added, "Are you waiting?". I couldn't hold it in...hence the laugh out loud!

Oh the funny moments only mummys get to enjoy!

What a treasure! Too good not to be shared!