I'm not dead!!!

I'm such a bad blogger. My poor blog has been ditched since December the 9th, That's not a month that's closer to two months. Heck. Since then we finished school, had Christmas, saw in the new year, my baby turned one and now its almost time to send my biggest two back to school.
Anyway this is what we've been up to, you know in a six week nutshell. That totally works right?

Girls Night Out requires big hair, red lips and semi drunk selfies. 

The boys and I got into the Christmas spirit trying to be Rudolph. 

We went overboard with Christmas, well Santa did. Next Christmas one present each. Maybe two. 

Nanny Pants came for Christmas and my gorgeous sister and her man. I of course took no photos. 

I'd like to point out my 7yr old who is almost as tall as Nan, whats that about. 

I drank lots of these.

See that's me drinking it there, with him, in our own apartment for the night, with no kids. Yes we lived it up. 

I just want one nice photo of the four of them. Just one. I'm going to pay someone else to do it. 

Someone took to my kids head. 

11 Months, poor baby doesn't even get his own post, but I did take the photos, that counts as something right? 

I bribed him with biscuit. He looks so impressed. 

So that's us, six weeks of school holidays have been so full on but so nice to sleep in, stay up late, not have to be anywhere at 9am, and not having to wake up anyone for 3pm pick ups. Amazing how good it's been. There's of course been lots of fights and I have been drinking almost everyday but I will miss them when it's back to me and the two littlest boys but geez my house will be cleaner and I may actually blog occasionally. Not making any promises though. 

Partying... Rainbow Style!

Yesterday we had Charlie's third birthday party. Still can't get over that he's three. Anyway. 

We had a rainbow themed party, I made the mistake of searching pinterest for rainbows and rainbow parties. I had ideas coming out my ears! I went with a few I could do in advance or wouldn't be too hard like filling a glass gar with gum balls ans tying helium balloons to it. Cute and easy!

It was a hot day and perfect sunny skies for a party and the kids made the most of it. Between the jumping castle and the food they were pretty happy for a few hours.

Oranges as jelly cups, seriously where do some people get these ideas from?!

Fruit 'rainbow'

I'm pretty sure dad was in!

The magic of icy cups, most of them sat and ate them. Amazing. We had about eight kids, both our neighbours and a few of our close friends. It was only small but it was perfect for Charlie.

My biggest boy has been feeling a bit left out this week, James had a party to go to on Friday night and Charlie's birthday has been going on for weeks so to cheer him up we took selfies and I let him take some photos on my camera. Whatever works!

Happy Birthday to my big three year old! 

Three!

Yesterday Charlie turned three. Three people. If he is anything like his big brothers this will be a good year. Three is when they get that their actions have consequences and they learn sympathy, and turn into little people rather than toddlers. Three is a good year.

Love that surprised face. We have taken that truck with us everywhere for two days now. It was a huge hit. 

Being a Monday we had to take the big boys to school so to convince him to stop playing with his toys and actually eat his breakfast I tied balloons to his chair and called it his birthday chair. He thought it was the best thing ever and I think they might have to stay there forever. 

Once we'd dropped the boys to school he wanted to go to the marina and look at the boats then go to the park for a play. I told him this slide is a big boy slide and now he's three he should go down it, so he did. There is no way I would have convinced him to do that a few months ago. 

He did it about 20 times before we left. 

After the park we headed for 'shushi' this is his new favourite lunch, fine with me I'd rather do that than take him for maccas.  

After school we had Charlie the caterpillar cake. He has been hassling me for months to get this cake with his name on it. Now we've done it hopefully I can stop hearing about it. 

Love this kid. Three! 

7 Months

Somehow we've made it to seven months.
Were still not sleeping through the night which apparently means I should be weaning him and teaching him to sleep through the night. I'm pretty sure he has other ideas and for the sake of everyone in the family, and everyone who lives on our street, I spend most nights with him in bed with me.
Poo is still a big issue and were trying everything to fix it, I'm sure that's not helping with the lack of sleep.

He's started really getting into food, he's very interested in what we eat and has been sampling lots of different things, he's very keen on his pumpkin zucchini mash (looks awful to me, but hey) and we have weet bix for breakfast just like his big brother.
Although he's not crawling he's started commando crawling, not for long distances but it is hilarious to watch.

Gummy smiles there's nothing quite like them. 

Flying baby! 

Still no teeth but he does spend a lot of time chewing on his lips, fingers, fist, dummy, toys, anything he can get to his mouth really. 

I love the concentration on his face, oblivious to anything else. 

Charlie still thinks William is his toy and should be awake if Charlie is. I don't agree with him but considering how much of a mummas boy Charlie is I'm just glad that he loves him so much and isn't trying to get rid of him, or stuff him in a toy box. Well not yet anyway. 

See his 6 month pictures here

Juggling

I love blogging. I love the community and 'meeting' people and seeing what their lives are like and realising although we are all so different we are all so similar as well. I love this chick and what she says resonates so much with me. After reading this post last week one sentence stuck with me
'I'm not getting time to spend with my children, I'm just supervising them'
I keep seeing those pictures around the web with a happy mumma and a small kid with the words ' The best thing you can spend on your children is time' Those mum things always make me feel guilty, always.
Although I spend every day all day with my small people I could get through the day without spending time with them. Charlie watches playschool when we get back from dropping the big boys to school while I feed William and put him to sleep, then Charlie does an activity drawing, puzzles, playdough, trains etc. I usually get it all out set him up then put washing away, clean bathrooms, tidy the kitchen etc. He usually gets bored moves on to something else, goes outside, then before I know it its time for his lunch and nap time then back to school for pick up before hectic afternoon time, then its bath, dinner, bed and the day is done.
So for the last week instead of getting William to sleep then getting on with stuff I've been splitting Williams nap time in two, half for the housework then half for Charlie. Today we played with a sticker activity book and did some colouring. By the end he was sitting on my lap and we were colouring a dinosaur pink and yellow and laughing at each other. It took three quarters of an hour out of my day but it was time well spent and yes my washing is still sitting waiting to be put away and my dishwasher needs emptying. I know it's a terrible cliche but being a mum really is a juggling act at the best of times and no matter how long I've been doing it, it doesn't seem to get any easier, different but not easier.

Charlie, my not so little baby

Yesterday was my Charlie's first day of daycare. 

Michael and I had talked about him going somewhere next year, it's his last year before Kindy and I know that spending all day with his mumma will get boring. I was fine with that. 

Then a few weeks ago a friend who is an awesome daycare mum mentioned she had an spare spot on a Tuesday and Michael snatched it up. I really wasn't ready but I know daycare spots are like hens teeth and if I didn't do it now I probably wouldn't get a spot next year. I stressed about it, and changed my mind about taking the spot at least 10 times a day before I got over t and just took it. 

So on a Tuesday while the big two are at school Charlie will be off playing with three gorgeous little girls while William and I hang out together and I get some housework done. 

This is what my bench looked like this morning, I can only imagine what it will look like when all four start school.

All ready to go, he didn't want his photo taken here, he wanted to 'Outside photo mum!' 

We dropped the big boys off at school and then it was Charlie's turn, after we got out of the car while I was still getting his stuff, he waved and said goodbye mum and ran up the front steps, thanks for the love Charlie.  I wasn't too worried about him he's been there before for a play with the kids but never without me before, so as the day went on I was wondering how he was going, then I got this:

Seriously the best message ever. She sent me a few pictures and updates during the day as well, made me feel so OK with sending him much earlier than I had planned.

She brought him to school with her at pick up time and he was so excited to tell me about his day and give me a big hug. He looked so big and grown up in someone else's car. It was a big shock but it really is only another 12 months before he starts Kindy then he'll be at school then he'll be moving out. 

I'm so not ready for all that! 

Mum Sit

My snow man, including scarf. I think he's pretty snazzy! 

This morning William fell asleep on the way home from school which is pretty usual for him and usually when he sleeps Charlie does some activities while I'm doing housework close by so I can help out with puzzle piece dramas or peeling stickers and make sure he's not drawing with texta on the walls. This morning Charlie's request was play dough and 'mum sit' 

We have a house inspection on Thursday so I really have a lot of other things to do on top of my usual everyday housework but who can say no to 'mum sit' so I sat and for almost an hour we made things, laughed at each other and generally had a really good time. 

Charlie made me 'nunch' he told me 'it's bake-a-beans'

William actually slept for 2.5 hours. Amazing! We managed to play with play dough then do a few puzzles together before he'd had enough of me and went outside leaving me to clean walls and fans.

 

I made a boat and got a bit creative. 

'Prise mum!' 

Considering he got shoved out of the baby spot in the family then lost his play mate to school a few weeks later he's done pretty well this year. We fight every day. Without fail one of us cracks it but I know there's only a short time when your kids are home before they go to school and you aren't the center of their world anymore so I'll soak up the 'mum sit' while I can.

It's an outfit.

Yesterday was free dress day at the boys school, they were meant to wear something purple, green or white. Purple is a hard colour to find in the boy section, green is their school colour and white with little boys is crazy, so this is what we have. 

Jack and I created this outfit, I was so impressed he called it an outfit and was happy for me to gel his hair and snap a few pics before school, doing his KMart pose obviously. 

James, natural born model and poser extraordinaire. I often find him standing in front of his mirror checking himself out. No lack of confidence with this boy. 

There always has to be a picture together, their rules not mine.

Of course once there's photos being taken Charlie needs to be in on the action even if he is still in his PJ's.

Cheap kids fun

Well it's been two and a half weeks since Michael and I started our money detox. I haven't blogged about it, but were doing pretty badly. Before we even started this happened. Now because Michael hadn't officially started his job he didn't have any holidays up his sleeve so taking a week off to drive fourteen hours away for one day then drive all the way home means we have been chewing through our savings instead of adding to them. That's why you have saving though right? Anyway we knew Michael wouldn't be getting paid for a few weeks and we'd have to be careful so I've been avoiding the shops as much as possible. The end of year sales are killing me!

It's been school holidays here this week (and next week) so to keep the boys busy and happy I bought some cheap crafty activities and they are loving them.

I got this idea from Pinterest, it was done with plastic eggs but that looked like an expensive pain. James is doing so well with his reading and writing since starting Prep and his teacher suggested letter and word games to keep him busy over the holidays so this is my take on that. Find the upper case and lower case letters and put them together. I love craft stuff that doesn't make a huge mess that the boys can do independently. 

So a 100 packet of paddle pop sticks costed about $3. Cheap right? 

My Charlie needs to be in on whatever is going on so I grabbed some $4 textas and made these real quick. It's simple just put the two sticks together to make the shape. He spent ages at the table doing this and telling me 'mum! circwle!' 

Cheap picture book stuck on paddle pop sticks, wait for it to dry cut the sticks apart and tada! Simple easy puzzle. 

Patterns and colours. awesome right? Ice cube trays were $4 for a pack of 2. Pom poms were $2 a packet and mini tongs were $5 for a pack of 3. 

He's got his concentrating face on. 

I love activities that they can get out and put away themselves, is some what educational, and covers all three age groups. This one has been on high rotation this week. Gotta be happy with that! 

Running

On Friday my big boys had their sports carnival, neither of my boys won a ribbon but they had such a good time and really that's all that mattered. I was so busy trying to keep up with both of them thankfully Michael was with me so he could chase after Charlie and watch the kid that I wasn't watching. God knows how I'll do it in a few years when I have to keep an eye on all three of them. 

I won't bore the hell out of you all with a million pictures but these are some of my favourites.

He cracks me up this kid. 

Go!

Two hours following around your mum and dad, cheering on your big brothers is hard work. Must have a sit down on someone else's chair.