Hmmmm Clothes

Hi my name is Trudi and I am an addict.

I am addicted to gorgeous clothing for my daughters.

Yes thats me, can't wait for new seasons releases and pre-order before it hits the store.

I can spot a child in gorgeous clothing within a 1km radius and can usually state the designer to within 99% accuracy.

I feel ok about all of this because the habit developed when I gave up smoking six years or so ago.

Since then my husband has rolled his eyes daily as I have something new to buy or demand he look at my latest 'find'.

It certainly isn't cheaper than my smoking habit was it IS certainly better for my health.

Some of Emily's winter clothes for 2008 arrived today - Yes I DO know its January and hot but I don't want to miss out AND some of these items ARE already nearly sold out.

For gorgeous kids clothes have a look at Buckets And Spades, the gorgeous Zlata will be able to help you!

Lessons Lessons Lessons

The wonderful thing about life is you continue to learn. Some good things, some bad. Some lessons are easy and some are hard.

The lessons I learn are usually the hard way.

I usually blame this on being blonde (dyed or not it is an excuse you can trust).

Here is my latest venture.

Picture if you can, me in my little Mitsubishi Colt AKA The Canary.

No its not a grand car, hell I try NOT to look at it too closely on the days I use it, its just my A to B and C ride.

Driving to do my groceries on Monday I was a little (ok little means clutching the steering wheel and saying fuck an awful lot)concerned to see the oil light come on.

Now I DO NOT do cars. I drive them - that is the extent of my relationship.

Hmmmm Oil.......I ponder this on the scenic drive, well Sam had just left that morning so he was no help for another five days.

I could pull in at a servo I suppose. Oh shit I am so not going to pull into a servo and look like a total twit about putting Oil in the car for christ sakes.

How hard can it be, you get oil you pour it in, I know where it goes after all sheeshhh.

Feeling slightly smug and imagining how impressed Sam is going to be with my new found car independence I get on with the important task of shopping AKA avoiding spiteful grannies ramming trolleys into my ankles because I got the last box of washing powder on this weeks super special.

Get to the oil aisle and HOLY FUCK there is a lot of oil on the market oh well it only for the canary, cheap is good.

Finish the shopping, pop oil in the car and drive home feeling pretty bloody good.

You know you can nearly hear Helen Reddy roaring 'I am Woman!!!!!

Not too long after I get home Sam rings.

Quite excited I say that I have put oil in the car.

Oh babe he says, that's great I actually forgot to do it, sorry - how much oil did you need'

Im thinking der what a daft question.

Only one bottle - yeah like Id cough up for more than one bottle for the canary right?

Sam's voice is somewhat quieter when he asks............

Babe what size bottle did you buy?

Oh the 5lt because it worked out cheaper, and just as well I say as the poor canary was obviously right out of oil because the light was on and everything I had to use the WHOLE bottle.

There is dead silence on the other end of the phone and then he starts laughing.

Laughing I tell you.

What is so funny?

Babe your car only needs 3 litres max, it sounds like you have overfilled it, don't drive it till I get home.

WTF are you talking about I say, if the car only takes 3 litres why did it let me put 5 litres in it, that is so stupid, and what do you mean I cant drive it??????

Babe you are meant to check the level on the dipstick add a little bit of oil and check it again.

WTF the whole car is a dipstick this is a bloody joke, clearly a man invented it because woman aren't quite so fucking stupid. If something is meant to take 3 fucking litres then it would be 3 litres in size - right? RIGHT!

Apparently wrong!

So take pity on me as I am carless until Friday.

So how do you......

Manage to work full time and manage four children? How in the world do you manage to find time? These are questions I am often asked and generally I meet them with a bit of confusion as I don't think there is anything special about what I do.

So how DO you manage an evening meal when you work all day a friend at work asked me last week.

Well you keep it simple and you teach your kids to cook at a young age.

Each week we create a shopping list based on a set menu for the week, all of the meals are very easy to throw together in less than 30 minutes or they utilise the slow cooker.

This is just so important when I don't get home till 5.15pm and we have netball/dance/gym or swimming to attend.

As Sam is away with work this week it is a very kid friendly menu. If he was home it would no doubt be razzed up a bit, but he of course would be home to cook it!

This week its:

Monday - Roast Chicken, Chips and Salad
Tuesday - Curried Sausages, Creamy Mash and Steamed Vegies
Wednesday - Spaghetti Boloagnaise with a side salad & garlic bread
Thursday- Tuna Morney
Friday - Help Yourself Night
Saturday - Potato Bake and a side salad
Sunday - Taco's

We ALWAYS eat at the table during the week now, its an opportunity to catch up on the days events and spend some extra time together.

It also means food can be served in central plates/bowls for everyone to help themselves.

My girls are old enough to be sensible in their selections, although I do still need to urge Jessica to have a little more salad or veggies.

The twins at 10, are quite capable of preparing Tacos for dinner, or making the side salad. While Sarah at 14 will happily cook any of the meals on our menu this week.

Taco's or wrap nights are always a favourite!

Happy Australia Day!

Yes its another Australia Day!

Time to reflect on just how damn lucky we are to live in this country.

To be honest I have never given much consideration to Australia Day, however this week I spent some time with a lady that sponsor's six children through World Vision.

I should add that she has been sponsoring six children at any given time for the last 15 years or so.

In Australia, even the lowest of income families can afford to put food on the table, clothe their children and see a doctor, sadly when these basic needs aren't met in Australia it is usually due to another underlying issue such as drugs, alcohol or gambling.

The children she sponsors wouldn't have access to any of these basic needs without her contributions.

I often take for granted just how lucky we are to live in Australia.

There are many people who stood for their Australian citizenship today they may have come from countries where there are no freedoms and life is a struggle for survival each and every day.

I hope they find peace in their 'new' country.

Happy Australia Day.

New Year, New Ebay

Yes yes, holidays are over and I am back.

Slowly adding things to the store, and I say slowly with a big emphasis on the slow.

I am hoping to be able to add more this weekend but who knows what will happen in this crazy little house of mine.

I do have some super cute Fifi and The Flowertots Winter Pj's in store now, and I would grab them if your little one loves Fifi because they are not going to last long.

BlingBlingKidz

Sarah's Netball

There was major excitement here just before Xmas when Sarah received a letter from Netball Tasmania saying she had been selected for a Regional Academy Scholarship

Click the link to read all about it and see her name (and others) up in lights!

The selection day was very long and involved hours of drills and games.

As the selectors where from TIS and Netball Australia, they didn't know any of the girls, so each and every one of the girls know they have been selected based on the natural skills ability and potential they displayed.

Its going to be a VERY busy and exciting year I think.

Not only will she have her Regional Academy commitments she will be playing school netball on Saturdays, Club Netball Monday and Wedensday not too mention she is the Netball Co-ordinater for Leighlands Christian School next year for one possibly two teams which will involve one night training and coaching on Saturdays.

I am exhausted just thinking about it all, and think it sounds an awful lot for your average nearly 15 year old to take on.

But she loves netball, it is her passion and I am forever grateful she has found, at such a young age, something that she truly loves and is committed to.

Over summer she has followed a sensible healthy eating plan and trained to improve her overall cardio fitness all by herself.

I of course have been watching like your typical neurotic mother to make sure she hasn't gone overboard, and can happily say she certainly hasn't, she is just being extremely healthy

I can barely haul my fat butt to the gym three days a week and have more bad days with food than I do good.

I am a little bit surprised by all of this because it can mean only one thing.

Maybe she gets this from her father?????

Is it possible that I really only gave her beauty and brains?

Friggin Fuck It's PMT

I am not very good with PMT.

I am the first to admit it and my long suffering husband is usually the first to notice it (though the der shit he is he actually thinks it is funny to annoy me at this sensitive time in my life).

You would think that somehow I could control this inner demon, but seriously I just can't by the time I realise I have been completely unreasonable, argumentative and a true bitch for three days or so the worst is over and I, once again, have become the loving mother and wife (hehe sort of anyway).

Clearly this means I may have exposed my children to a complete lack of control over hormones, which is probably fine if you don't have LOTS of girls.

As they get older it is becoming more and more apparent that they suffer from the same lack of control over these strange hormones that I do.

Or is it that they have had a dismal example to follow and think moaning, bitching, crying and sooking for three days a month is normal behaviour.

Whatever the answer it scares me.

What if because of this I can't marry them off?

What are the chances of finding FIVE dumb guys who don't notice until its to late, and they are already sucked in for life like my DH?

WARNING WARNING WARNING

I am going slightly mad, crazy, mad.

Danielle is pregnant...........yes, baby number two, at the ripe old age of 20 to daddy number two.

I mean who does she think she is Fucking Britney Spears? (Sorry Brit I know it was just K Fed wasn't it, and I truly hope you do feel better soon.)

I think this eldest child of mine was delivered by a stork on freaking LSD clearly the stupid bird lost its way and gave me the wrong bundle.

Oh it was an a c c i d e n t mum, OMG PLEASE, just how many accidents do these young girls think we are going to believe?

Seeing as I went WITH HER and saw that 3 year implant go in the first time, and then there was no implant and Beth, leads me to believe my daughter believes I am seriously stoopid.

AND NOW we have baby number two on its way a year later?

Another a c c i d e n t ?????

I don't think so.

Mouth From The South

That is my Emily. You know after she was born I promised her I would look after her and make sure that as the youngest of five sisters that she didn't get overlooked.

Ha! I needn't of bothered, this girl came out with her arguments ready.

She has her hair tossing, door slamming indignant attitude finely tuned thank you very much.

Her super brat stare reduces her Dad to Jelly faster than me draining the savings account can.

Tonight they had an argument, I can't even really remember what started it, all I know is when miss nearly nine batted her baby blues and said:

' Well I DID say sorry Dad, and I think you REALLY must have heard me because I was right up close to your ear and everything'

I walked away with my smile firmly out of view lest I get into trouble.

I believe Emily has won another round because she is sitting up watching tv eating an ice block and poor Dad has gone to bed!

Disappointment in your child

Disappointment in your child is just a feeling of pain. It is a little like a catch of your breath a sinking sensation in your stomach and a head that seems to float around somewhere out of your reach.

You close your eyes and ears hoping that perhaps, just maybe, what they have told you isn't true.

When you realise it is true, I think the parenting part of your brain kicks into gear and you turn into this amazing (often not completely appreciated) tower of strength for them, you let them cry on your shoulder and wonder why you aren't the one crying.

You provide the most well balanced advice you can think of and do everything you can to love and support them through whatever difficulty has befallen them this time.

Quite often you may do this at the expense of your other children because you reason, quite certainly they will have their turn one day too and after all you would do just the same for them.

What happens when you have been through all of this not once, not twice, not even three times.

What if it just continues to happen?

What if its like a merry go round spinning crazily out of control. Its spinning so topsy turvy over and over and over again.

What do you do and say then?

When all the words you have, and some you didn't even realise you have, are spoken and your child just keeps jumping on that crazy giddy merry go round?

What do you do then?

Do you jump back on again with them, and try try some more?

Or do you stand back and watch them spin?

After parenting for nearly 21 years, I just don't know the answer.

I wish I did, truly I do.

Its So Quiet You Could

Hear a pin drop!

I kid you not. The three younger girls are away at camp, Sam is at work and Sarah is out with a friend. I can hear the water fill in the washing machine over in the laundry, I can hear the soft whir of the computer ticking over. It is soooooo strange!

The younger girls get home on Friday morning and boy that will be nice, I miss them terribly. It has been Emily's first trip to camp and I was so worried about her and then so very proud that she didn't ring home on the first night wanting to be picked up. Just because she has rung twice a day since then just means I am the most adorable mother in the universe - YEAH its my tiara to wear this week baby!

Back to the whole idea of school holiday camps. My girls love it, the twins seem to see it as a big time out from the hassles of family life (yeah to be 10 again huh), they don't have to face doing the dishes every third night or cleaning their room. Sadly for them this time they still have that one little annoying sister there but from what I understand they have adopted her out to potential new siblings.

Its a very cheap camp in my opinion $85/child for 5 nights, compare that to our usual daycare bill of $30-35/child PER DAY and you can soon see the savings ching ching chinging!

A Poem From My Sarah Bear

My little (well maybe not so little anymore) angel Sarah Bear wrote this for me and emailed it to me while I was at work today.

I was a little teary eyed!


My Mum
By Sarah Davidson

The only person I could trust with any secret,
The one who doesn't mind if I snot on her top,
She is so understanding, so caring, so loving,
Accepts me just the way I am,
She manages to keep her head high through any trouble
Fights till she wins our arguments
It makes me proud to watch her play netball
To know after all these years I have taught her something
After the millions of things she has taught me
Her smiles make me smile
Her laugh makes me laugh
When her lip twitches when you think you in so much trouble
So much trouble you feel you broke her heart
You know that she still loves you,
That she will always love you,
That you can never truly disappoint her
Because no matter what I do
She is always so proud of me
Through the amount of times I have messed up
I know she will always be with me
Threw everything last year,
I have learnt she is the one person
That will never ever give up on me
For that I question God
Why did you bless me with her?
Why did you bless us with her?
Why not all those other children?
Whose parents fail to provide
Our mum never fails
We know we can always count on her
We know she will always love us
And we can pray she knows how much we
Love her
Need her
Respect and cherish the moments we have with her.
We love you. Xx

Back to Work

It had to happen, the silly season is over the decorations down and today is my first day back at work.

My clothes are ironed, my healthy lunch is ready and my yummy healthy breakfast eaten.

I will be on that 7.48am bus with hair and makeup in place. I will be in my office about 15 minutes early to settle in and start catching up on emails.

Tommorow I will sleep in, struggle to find anything to wear, skip breakfast because of a bad hair day, run to the bus stop and miss the bus by mere seconds, run back home and get the car, grab breakfast and lunch at the fat enriched little cafe on the corner, bowl into work looking like I just rolled out of bed right (barely) on time.

A Little Bit Of Tasmania

The one thing I truly love about living here is that you can visit the countryside, take a trip to the beach and visit the hillside all within an hour.

A Little Bit Of.....H I S T O R Y

Now THAT is my Great Grandmother's Grotto. Sadly she passed away giving birth to her second child, leaving my Nana Pat in the care of her grand-parents and father. The family where devastated with her passing and her parents built this Grotto outside of the main Catholic Church in Burnie as her memorial. Her actual remains rest in the Burnie Cemetry at Wivonhoe near her parent who passed years later.

Apparently ALL of my Nana Pat's family used to live on this great North Western coast of Tasmania, including my Great-Great Uncle Wilf Campbell who is largely remembered as being an owner of the Burnie Hotel, for his large donations of land to the community and also the Wilf Campbell Memorial Lookout in Upper Burnie where a plaque honours him.

I of course being the estranged 'black sheep' of all things families, had no idea about any of this until about a year AFTER we moved to Tasmania and settled in this EXACT location that so many of my ancestors lived many, many years ago.

Incredible isn't it?

New Years Eve 2007 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Some of the fireworks at Burnie's Children's Fireworks at 9.30pm on New Years Eve.

It really was a beautifully planned and presented event. Held on Burnie's foreshore the children's entertainment went from 5.30pm to 9.30pm when the fireworks where held. There was a band, jumping castle, face-painting, balloon making and various performers milling about.

At dusk on the beach there was a fire baton performance which was just brilliant. They also had some candle lit animal creations parading around.

Some pictures of fire girl though these are a bit hard to see clearly (I seriously suck at photos - sorry)




Yes! That is a ring of fire around her neck - crazy LOL.

Candle Lit Animal Creations (for want of a better name for them LOL)


Some of the fab attractions earlier in the evening






It was also an opportunity for Miss Emily to wear her pettiskirt! This skirt twirls like you wouldn't believe! Thanks so much Kylie for ordering it for us!



A picture of Sarah and I, she has been insisting on a lot of pictures of us together lately, I keep telling her my double chin isn't looking any better in them.



And finally my awesome foursome, I found this on my camera, a random shot they took themselves. (Danielle couldn't come because poor Beth has gastro (Blerk))



So that was it, Sam is at work of course (back late tommorrow night), the girls and I where at home by 10pm and safetly tucked up and asleep by about 11pm - yeah I know didn't even make the New Year in how sad is that!

Tommorow afternoon we are heading back up to my BIL's as my nephew is here from Adelaide for a couple of weeks.

We are having pork and chicken on a spit (oh YUM), roast veg and salads, seriously it sounds like just another Xmas dinner to me and I seriously cannot afford it. I think I have put on a couple of kgs since being on holidays, maybe the gym tomorrow morning will help ease my conscience.

Sam is meeting us up there, so sweet, I messaged him to tell him what we where doing and asked if he wanted to meet us up there and he replied with 'I would go anywhere if it meant I was going to see you' AWWWWWWWWWWWWW them is come to bed words me thinks - LOL.

Five days of holidays left and counting, eeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.....