SURPRISE PACKAGE!

As a parent I am always on the look out for some advanced way ward gene that may have been passed on through the generations and onto my children.  For example, when Robbie is excelling at computer games I attribute it directly to the hand eye co-ordination of our ancestorally deceased shooting champion.  When Rocci break dances on my gym mat, I think of mums old tap dancing days.  When they are checking out the stars at night, I know dad has something to do with it.  But this week, something amazing happened, something from MEEE! 

I have a lucky gene, I won my first raffle at a scout fair when I was 13 and I have won so many things since then, that I actually have a file in the cabinet for winning letters - and its full.  This week for example, I bought four crossword scratchies and won on all of them to nearly $50.  In Powerball on Thursday I picked up over $600.  I won the main prize at a school thing last week, and without gloating, I win something about once a month.  Needless to say, I am always falling over lucky things, and I even have a reputation for it.

Robbie got a parcel in the mail from 'The Courier Mail" and it could only have been a prize, I was so proud, and everyone was excited.  We even waited for Rob to come home to open it.

A Parcel Has Arrived.  What could it be? Everyone is over excited because he had entered an 'Inventors' competition. The excitement dulls slightly as he realises he has won a girls prize.  From the movie 'Enchanted' he gets the DVD, a necklace, girl tattoos, pink magic 8 ball, and other trinkets.  But he keeps searching the bag for something a little less girly.  No luck there! The magic ball says he will never find a girlfriend.Regardless of the prize being girly we are all excited that we had a free movie for Movie Night.  And even more excited about him having my lucky gene, until..... he finally realises that he never actually entered this comp.  "It was you mum" he said degectedly "you're still the lucky one".  It's true, I enter girl comps for the girl cousins in his name.  Sorry Robbie, But it was fun to think that just maybe he had the lucky streak too.

HELP, I'M GYM JUNKIE

Two years ago I took up running around the park which is down our hill, just for exercise, and I gradually built up the distance to a longer run every fortnight.  Within 6 months I was running 5 kilometres, 3 times a week, but I began to rethink my exercise needs, as this was a bit boring.  So to boost my routine I added a weekly weights training class which within a month or so, turned into 3-4 classes a week, plus the running.  I seemed to be very on track.  I progressively ran out of time (no pun there) to keep it all up as I began to work more.   But I did keep up the classes and went regularly for 12 mnths.  Now I basically don't know how to run because its been so long, but I have great biceps sticking out unnecessarily for no purpose at all other than to lift the weights during my classes.  But..... this week my gym membership ran out.  Help, I'm going to turn to mush.  It's too cold/dark to run now and I don't know how long I will be in this town so I don't want to renew my membership.  I thought about going up and down our hill a few times today in an attempt to keep fit, but got stuck talking to neighbours and having coffee and cake with them.  I fear my next post will be from a big, fat wobbly, blob of saggy muscles.  I don't know where to start without my gym.  Any ideas.  (Anyone who suggests 'walking' doesn't know me at all.)

MOMENTS OF AAAAHHHHH!

Not Ahrrrrrr, but aaaahhhh! I had a lot of difficulty with Robbie as a baby because he cried a lot and needed a lot of nurturing time.  After having many many sleepness nights, I started to count my days by how many peaceful moments I had and thus 'Moments of Aaahhh' was born.  As Robbie grew and got easier to care for, these little moments turned into bigger moments, and by the time he was 18 months I no longer needed this mantra, it was all good.

Now that we have Rocci, these moments of Aaahhh are back, and I can honestly say sometimes my aaahhhs really sound more like aarrrrrs.  But every now and then, I am reminded of  how much I treasured my old aaahhhs.  Just yesterday something incredible occured that made me take a big deep breathe and loudly let out the biggest sigh of.......you guessed it... AAAHHHH!

Anyone who is still in the throws of babies and children, will be able to appreciate this.  Rocci was (how shall I say??) 'in a Business Meeting' in the toilet and normally yells loud enough to start an earthquake in China, saying he is 'FIIIINIIIISHED' and that can only mean one thing to any mother.  Wet Wipes!  But.....instead he yelled "I'M DOING IT MYSELF MUM", well, I didn't even check for left overs, I congratulated him on being a big boy, and breathed a giant sigh and smiled, chalking up another MOMENT OF well you know AAHHH.  I'll never have to do THAT business again.

Hope you get some Aaahhhs today too.

BUY MY HOUSE!

The view is different everyday The garden path around the side, perfect for adventuring children Look its a view from the study And a view from the lounge And even a view from down stairs. Hi everyone,  I have had a request to put in a link for the sale of our house.  You can view the sale details by clicking on this link www.realestate.com.au and enter house code: 104793648.

The real estate guys did say that I needed to tell as many people as possible, so please pass on the details to anyone you may know.  The photos on the site are few but, I hope this encourages people to come up and view it.  You could also direct your friends to this site to contact me and arrange a private viewing or private sale.  And just for the heck of it here are some pics of our gorgeous view - this weeks philosophy is "the kitchen may date, but the view never will."

SELLING YOUR HOUSE, KID STYLE!

I thought it was time to wash all the windows in the house for weekend house inspections so I sent the boys outside to play, turned up the music and blissfully kept to my job at hand.  I knew the boys were playing down the hill, but I didn't realise what they were up to until I went down to see what had kept them so amused for an hour.  They were writing all over the road in front of our house, listing our house features and writing neighbours names on the road with arrows pointing to their house.  They also welcomed any aliens to view the house.  This particular message clearly written for all interested buyers "Bey house No# 9 because its COOL".   I thanked the boys for doing their part in selling our house and secretly pray for rain.

Chelsea is a Dancing Star

Tonight, my student Chelsea placed 3rd in her song and dance section at the dance Eisteddfod.  I am so pleased with how she sang, she worked hard during preparation and it showed on stage.  Her first time singing and dancing and it seems all my students have caught the performing bug and want to do more of it.  To have confident children performing strong contending routines in public and loving it - This is the best result ever.

Happy Mothers Day To All Mums

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MUM! 

I have had a lovely day today, woken up at the crack of dawn by a stereo chorus of Happy Mothers day.  I put my feet out of the bed and straight into a new pair of slippers, changed into my new pyjamas (the ones in the photo) and then was given tea in my new gorgeous tea cup with bacon and eggs on toast on my new cake plate.  It was just beautiful, and after Robbie took this photo of me I was reminded just what being a mum is all about:  Sorting out "I had that first" and "stop pulling my hair" and more.  By 9am I decided - Like every self respecting good old fashioned mum - to turn the tv on and have a strong cup of coffee.  This was delightful!  

Then I did the grocery shopping.  Played a board game with Robbie.  Scratched my scratchies and after a false win (read the letters wrong), we went off to Robs parents to cook a good old fashioned BBQ.   While we were there I made some Mandarin cakes for afternoon tea.  They were delicious.  Now back at home after a bike ride and walk and bathed children eatingsome hearty vegemite toast, I'm about ready to crash for the night.  It's fun to celebrate an ordinary day.

My Little Troupe

PIC:  GRACE KEELEY JACKSON ME

Congratulations to my three under 10yr students last night for their outstanding performances.  They scored very highly amongst the more professional dancers and the singing was fabulous.  The adjudicators report also was full of positive comments.  Jackson especially, after recovering from a severe panic attack prior to performing ended up wanted to go again.  They all loved it and thankfully it was a positive experience for them.  Well done guys.

I'm A Dancing Star!

As part of my company profile (singing teacher) I have decided to boost my image on the Sunshine Coast.  Not because I need more students, but to show the ones I already have that I am involved in the local entertainment culture.   So I donated money to the Sunshine Coast Dance Eisteddfod, its a big deal up here and runs for 2 weeks with dancers competing from the Gold coast up to Gympie.  I always go and watch, but this year I organised four of my singing students to meet with a fabulous choreographer to learn song and dance routines and polish them to performance standard.  They will be performing tonight.  I'm very excited about it.

But as I donated money, my name is in the program about 12 times as the sponsor for the song and dance sections, Yippee, I'm famous.  So here I am in the audience watching - with Rocci........bad idea by the way - and the announcer calls me up out of the audience to present the trophies.  Holy Guacamole!!  Where's my lipstick?  What will I do with Rocci?  There are bicky crumbs all over my shirt and Rocci wants to come on the stage with me.  I tear out of our seats clutching, bottles of drink, chip bags and books with Roc trailing behind booming "I'm coming on with you, you're not going on without me"  which entertained the audience.  I come around to the side door all flushed with adrenalin and as I'm about to walk on stage I look at my child and see his scared face - He's afraid of the dark.  He was taking a breath of panic when I just stopped in my tracks, I couldn't do it.  He could shadow me infront of 900 people on the stage (we might get away with it as cute), but I couldn't make him walk the 10metres of darkness.  We went home instead.

Needless, to say, later that day.......I very famously presented 8 different trophies to well deserving participants.  Even if the famous bit is only in my mind.

Captain Robbie

The biggest, most shocking news of the year was from Robbie last week, announcing that he has just been nominated and voted as Class Captain for his Grade 6 class.  How can this possibly be?  Sadly, my quizzically negative frame of mind responded to his announcement accordingly.  I said things along the lines of "Don't be silly!" and "Stop kidding around!" and "You did not, stop lying!"  I was thinking that I probably don't deserve mothers day this year.  Until Rob came home and repeated my sentiment exactly.  Poor Robbie! So! Here's where I make up for my disbelieving remarks.

Congratulations Robbie!

You deserve it!  I am so excited to hear that your friends wanted you to be their leader.  They understood your personality perfectly, and knew that you wanted the job, but wouldn't ever stand up and nominate yourself.  I hope you enjoy your new role as Captain of Grade 6RS.  

I have already heard Robbie give a speech confidently in front of parents at Culminating day and he is leading the class in many activities during camp this week.  He is clearly enjoying this new responsibility, and will make a fabulous class ambassador. (Mothers day - here I come).

Not so Thrilled

When purchasing new videos for my boys to watch, I suddenly remembered how awesome some of Michael Jackson's music was for me at a young age.  And in my determination to keep them up to date with all varieties of music (I like classical for dinner) I uploaded 'Beat It', 'Billy Jean', and 'Thriller'.  I thought perhaps to broaden their horizon even more, I would get the extended 10 minute movie clip that I never had growing up.  I remember seeing parts of it at a friends' house and wished I could have it too.  At age 11 I opted for the 'Thriller' tape instead of a Barbie Doll. 

So I diligently uploaded it like a good little mother, put it on for them, and raced off for a 10 minute peaceful shower (I'll do whatever it takes to get one!!!), only to over hear lingering screams of horror and the boys totally shocked by what they were seeing.  Keeping in mind we are a PG household, my boys were horrified and sickened by the violence of the video clip.  Rob raced over to supervise them while I cringingly washed the shampoo out and trying my hardest to come up with anti-nightmare ideas.

It wasn't until I took this photo that I remembered why I never actually remembered seeing the entire clip all those years ago.  I would have been too scared to watch it, and I probably looked a little like Rocci when I saw it too.