Oh What a Beautiful Mor-ning!

 

Early mornings have never been my 'thing'. An early morning, to me at least, consists of getting up before the sun. (it's just not natural!!)

When I was much younger my mother would be up before the sun making bread or other food related activities.( She is an awesome woman ) A friends mother used to tell me that she loved getting up early. She got time to herself and the added bonus of her kids all being asleep. I used to think the same of late nights. But lately instead of waking either just before the kids or with them I have started to get up at least an hour before them and there are some benefits.

#1 Waking up without someone asking you a million questions or telling you about the dream they had. Granted these things still happen but my brain is functioning above the basic level by that time  and I can actually tune off, without any ones feeling being hurt. If I have just woken up, a sudden comment of 'Oh for goodness sake! I just woke up!!' is usually barked and the child/adult is rather offended by my tone.

#2 You can actually do things in the mornings with out the morning rush. I didn't know that was possible... like write this between the morning coffee and the kids wake up alarm, well most of it.

#3 Witness the sun in all it's glory rise over the horizon! Now thats a reason right there. Except for this morning... it is cloudy (and windy AND cold.)

#4 On the mornings My Beloved is home (and hasn't been driving night shift)
we can have actual grown up conversations. About, well ANYTHING AT ALL! No spelling things out or G-rating the conversation. No looks above heads or subtly giving each other hand signals. And no sitting cuddled up on the outdoor couch with a child of varying size squeezing their way in between. Who would have thought such a thing was possible!

Oh yes this 'Early Morning' business is OK by me. I think I will keep it up.

Oh dear they're awake... gotta go!

Got Milk?

A friend has a 'Moo Ta-ow'. The same friend milks her cows and always has milk and cream on hand. I hate to pay the ridiculous price of milk though I do. I always have a few bags of milk powder as well as 24 'boxes' of long life milk at hand. I will never ever, ever buy that $2.00 milk from any of the supermarkets and will buy the most local milk brand I can get.

My friend has finally succumbed to my blatant suggestion that she keep me in supply of REAL milk. So now I drive four minutes and get out my coke and 2l ice coffee bottles and take home 'straight outta the cow' milk.

 It was a horrendous idea for the three little girls who had not ever had REAL milk. The older two used to have it all the time and I grew up on the stuff. But to the girls it was akin to eating a live baby cow... or something. 

Little Miss almost vomited in her mouth when I told her where the milk had come from and Miss Independent was not having any of it. Miss Thinker was a little more receptive and told me she would try it but if she didn't like it I was not to get it ever again. She added Okay? to that statement, which made me laugh, she thought she was making a deal. I poured the ice cold milk into a small glass and Miss Thinker took a small sip. 

"It tastes like milk mum.' she said 

"Give me a try", Little Miss said, " It does! Wow it tastes like actual milk! OMG"

"Mmmmmm" Mr Cheeky informed me.

 

Miss Independent was next to try it and it got her seal of approval (she is fussy about anything without sugar). I then started telling the girls about all the diary products I was considering making now, butter, buttermilk as a result. Cottage cheese (kinda), sour cream,yogurt and feta cheese.

 Naturally a week has passed since I have been using REAL milk and I have not even managed to separate the cream from the milk... I just shake the bottle. It is easier that way...

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

Today I kicked My Beloved's butt. Four times in fact,whilst bowling. I didn't even try to aim... It just turns out, even though 'toss and catch' sessions in day to day life leave My Beloved's eyes watering or have him flinching and covering vulnerable bits, when the Wii is involved I turn into some kind hand eye coordinated Grand Master. (Of course I could just be pretending to be clumsy in day to day life... What? A girl gotta get her kicks somehow!)

So after my second strike and other so called spares or some such thing. I had a dance across the lounge room carpet, Micheal Jackson style. Well a little bit of Micheal and then some kind of hommie/gansta arm motions thrown into the mix. I was also at one point, inches from his face holding my 'finger and thumbs in the shape of an L' and 'waving them around like I just don't care' singing in what I think could very vaguely be described as a RnB like tune 'Loser, yeah yeah, yeah, loser'.

It was hilarious. My Beloved was adjusting the angle that the ball was to roll down the alley (keep in mind this is all happening on a television screen)to knock down those pin things. Mean while I was waving my arm and following through with hip and butt swings, often balancing on one foot like a ballet dancer but no where near as gracefully. And I just kept on hitting those pins over.

He was starting to become rather upset about the whole thing and was 'Gonna take it serial this game' he said at the beginning of game three. That was when I started saying 'Bring it oooooooooon'. It must be said I was having a ball! Miss Thinker and Little Miss were laughing at mum and were barracking for dad because as Miss Thinker said. 'He needs all the help he can get!'

He actually won game three by two points, which soooooooooo doesn't mean anything! I triumphed again in game four! Yeah!

I don't know why he wont play Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Poker and now Wii games with me... It's really got me beat.

Ants in His Pants, Mum

 Our dog Buster has been barking at 'nothing' a lot lately. Day and Night and sometimes followed by a pained yelp. I figured he was annoying something like the Frill-necked Lizards or maybe the Lacy Monitor who occasionally calls in on his way from the dam to the back of our place.

 Today we were visited by an 'Ta-kid-na'. More commonly known as an Echidna (E-kid-na). He was surprising happy for Mr Cheeky and I to sit down and watch him and video him for five minutes whilst he continued digging for ants or grubs. He had ants crawling all over him and Mr Cheeky remarked about how he thought it had ants on its pants. That, and where was the 'Ta-kid-na's mum and dad?

Now we know what Buster has been barking at constantly and it even explains the yelps we sometimes hear. This fella has been roaming the front and side gardens that back onto the house. Eating what ever insects he comes upon. Cute but not so cuddly pest control! 

He was not too bothered by our presence and spent a while digging into this stump. We even managed to get some video of him where he looked at the camera for a little while as well. The rest of the kiddies loved watching it when they got back from school.

Thanks to the drought breaking here in Queensland we have seen a boom of our local native animals The Furry, The Spiky and The Scaly. 

Oh Mr Sandman. Bring Me a Dream.

Mr Cheeky went to bed early last night. 6.30pm, a miracle. I put him in bed as he fell asleep sitting in Littlest Misses's walker (don't ask). Everyone was informed that any noise would now no longer be tolerated. He had not had an afternoon sleep and if he was woken than that would be it. He would be up all night. He has never been one for too much sleep. Not like his mummy she loves sleep. But he could always be relied upon to sleep though the night. Well, not anymore. Not if My Beloved is to be believed.


My Beloved informed me in each of the seven phone calls we made to each other last night, that when he had finished his taxi shift (about 2am) he wanted some lamb roast left in the warmer for him. 'No dramas,' I assured him. At 11.30 I called it a night. I decided I would sleep on the couch as My Beloved was going to eat the left over roast and watch a movie. It was our Wedding anniversary after all. 9 years married and no present for each other. I didn't get him one because I say that September 13 is our real anniversary because it is 19 years we have been 'married', though not technically. And he didn't get me one because he has death wish.


When My Beloved came home. He came home to see My Cheeky sitting on the dining table colouring in (forms for the high school) and drinking milk. Littlest Miss and I asleep , and if truth be told snoring on the couch. 


'What ya doing mate?' he said to a wide awake 3 year old.


'Hi dad. I draw.'


I woke up at 3.00am to see them both on the couch, a blanket over them and a plate of roast each watching American Chopper. After asking why 'He' was a wake and was told about dads welcome home. I realised...  That dream I had about Mr Cheeky playing with his toys, loudly in his room earlier that night. Was not a dream. I also realised 6.30 isn't a good time for Mr Cheeky to go to bed and he doesn't always sleep though the night!

We watched the Dawn service on telly today. We do it every year. It is important to, I feel. Miss Thinker, not so much. She was a little put out.


'We learned about this ALL day yesterday mum.'


'Did you?'


'Yes. We didn't do ANYTHING but gullupily.'


'That is good. You would have liked that. Wouldn't you?'


'Yes.  But we didn't do number facts or anything.' 




The Ode always gives me goose bumps and the Last Post is beautiful. I was thinking about how the Man Child is at the age of some of those brave boys who went and lost their lives on that cove. So sad. Of course looking out my door this afternoon to see him rolling around the yard with his dog made me grateful that he was not living back then... Something tells me he would not have survived. But then I don't think there are many boys his age these days who would... in this country at least.  


I am grateful for the ANZAC's sacrifice and the sacrifice that so many have made since then. Who, in one way or another have ensured that my 16 yr old can roll around in the yard with his dog. Safe and in no danger. There are so many others in this world who can not.


I read comments this year about the tradition of remembering the ANZAC's is akin to 'keeping the war propaganda machine going'. I was saddened to hear that. Obviously the point of ANZAC day is really missed by those people. I hope my children remember what it is really about... 


Next year I think we should go to the Dawn service.

Shooting Blanks

Well. He survived! He was put under... hence the 'luxury' Vasectomy. I waited outside with Littlest Miss & Mr Cheeky. I am pretty sure that children, surgical equipment and Testes are not a good mix. We waited outside so Mr Cheeky could run riot in the van... Yes it is big enough for that.


The nurse came out to let me know it was done and I could come in to help wake him up. I should have taken a photo, but despite how I may seem I am not that mean. So there he lay. Asleep with a sheet, ice pack, shirt & socks on, a common thing with men in the vasectomy room I am assured. 


'Hey Darls.' I said


'Oh are they going to let you in?'


'No. It is done now.'


'Is it?'


'Yes. How do you feel now your not a real man anymore?' I joked


'Is it really done? Are you sure?'


'Yep. All done everything is intact and all is well.'


'Well I don't remember it.'  he was looking at his watch and trying to comprehend that 45mins had passed since he could actually remember anything.


'Well. That didn't even hurt at all.' he said.


The nurse and I giggled and the doctor came to check on him.


'I wont bother telling you anything,' he said to My Beloved ' You wont remember anything.'


 He then told me that for the next 48 there was to be no walking around (toilet trips excepted) ice every fifteen minuets and no lifting anything for a week.When it was decided he could get up I helped him dress. It was funny to see a grown man a little confused about which part of his slacks were the front and even funnier to see him try to put them on! 


'Ok' I said after buckling up the kids. 'Do you want to get something on the way home?'


'Yes, Mitre 10 is having a closing down sale and I saw decking oil going very cheap.' He said. 'Oh and I want some yummies.' he laughed, oh yes off his head.


'Ok. We will get that later. How does KFC sound?'


'Yes. Some yummies.'

'Ok'


'Did I 'Veet' enough area. Did they say anything about that?'


'Yes. They were impressed, in fact it was the first thing they said to me. What a good job you did.'


'Did they? Good.'


So clearly THAT was a serious concern for him. Who'd have 'thunk' it?
I drove home astounded at how many bumps were in the local roads but didn't worry too much about avoiding every one. I mean it not like he'd remember. ;)