Point + Shoot : Magoo Wiggle

This weekend's point + shoot is brought to you
by four Wiggly men and their friends.

Sunday 9.45am : Langley Park, Perth
Go on - play your guitar with Murray

As much as I didn't want to, I've become one of those Wiggle loving Mums.

I even have a little 'thing' for Anthony, the blue Wiggle.

I just adore that he's cheeky and fun and a little spunky.

Oh man - would you listen to me?!

We could pretend that the picture quality is deliberate
- like I'm one of those arty folk
and not a half door who forgot the camera.

I love that these blokes gave my serious baby his dancing feet

- and arms and hips and shoulders and head....

(If I had a buck for every "Oh, he's very 'serious', isn't he?")

I love that he rocks out to their tunes and performs Magoo concert extravaganzas on a daily basis.

Like most of the Aussie population under four, Magoo just loves to

 'play his guitar like Murray', 'move his arms like Henry', 'rock-a-bye his bear'

and throw himself a 'Wiggly party'.

There was loads to see and do at the Wiggles concert even before entering the big top, with activities and attractions on the grass.

I'm proud to say I didn't put my hand in my pocket once.

(Yep - headliner - 'parent of only child did not purchase paraphenalia'.)
Ahem - Unless you count the musical Wiggles shirt [it sings!] and Wiggles undies
- but I bought them on sale the day before the show!!

There was so much free stuff on offer, Magoo didn't even bat an eye at the merchandising stands anyway and he still managed to head home with masks, hats, books and a show bag.

I do feel for the sucker parent that forked out 25 big ones for a helium filled Dorothy that ended up waaaaay up in the roof before the show even began.

Ooooh - particularly 'arty' pic, this one.

As usual, the Wiggle boys put on an awesome show and managed to make us feel like they wouldn't want to be anywhere else on a Sunday morning - even after 20 years and heart surgery. (On ya, Jeff!)

Oh - he's very serious, isn't he?

The huge tent was a hit and I think it's terrific that there was no such thing as a bad seat.
The round stage means everyone has prime possie and they were mindful of doing anything spectacular twice over - one on each side.

(I don't recall Beyonce making her way out into the crowd and acknowledging her fans so enthusiastically at her last gig.)

Come toot toot chugga chugga Point + Shoot 

with Lou @ Sunny + Scout.

Shar :-)

If you're as Wiggly pathetic as me,
you can create your own personalised
Wiggles photos and e-books
here



Grateful For... Good Eggs & Gorgeous Gifts

Good eggs. 

As in the dozen people who broke bread with me last night.

Well, more accurately the dozen people who caught egg with me last night.

I've been a lucky old chook and enjoyed a beautiful teppenyaki birthday dinner out with Hubby and some great friends to start this fabulous weekend.

 

  

  

It was a beautiful (30th +) birthday filled with special people, gifts, pastimes and gorgeous Magoo-isms.
(Hubby tells me Magoo spent fooooreeeever choosing my card - because it had to be just right and match my birthday. That's my boy.)


I do love me a bit of balance and those in the know, well,  knew.
Just look at some of my loot, would ya:

Something for my inner Nanna

and my inner (wannabe) athlete

and my inner woman

and my inner happy camper

and my inner sparkle

and my inner Bunnings chick on the ads

and my not so inner glutton.

Bit of this, bit of that. Exactly how I love it.

So spoilt.
But I guess it's not every year you turn 30 for the fourth time.


As if my teppenyaki celebration and gorgeous gifts weren't enough, the Wiggles are throwing a huge birthday bash in the city this weekend  - just for little old me.
Can't wait. Genuinely.

Fancy having to purchase tix to your own party, hey?

Must be how the cool kids do it these days.

Joining in with Grateful For... being hosted back home @ Maxabella Loves this week.

Pop over and enjoy some gratitude.

Shar :-)

Suddenly Thirty (again)

Turning thirty is such a terrific, significant milestone that I have chosen to do it four times now. Each time as good as the last

(and infinitely better than the first - let's blame the newborn).

This year, as my (next 30th) birthday king hits me from behind rolls over me

(excuse me, who let October in while my back was turned?) 
I feel content and balanced.

This year has been one of serious growth with a serving of achievement thrown in the mix.

I feel that I've learnt so much about myself, my family and what really matters to me.
It's too bad Oprah hung up her couch 'cause I would love to jump around on it in my newfound joy!


Since my last 30th...

• I have ran a marathon. It probably escaped your attention as I don't like to bring it up - but I did. Run a marathon.
• I have finally introduced Magoo to my family and been a mother in the presence of my own mother.
• I have reconnected with my Dad and happily watched Magoo turn him to mush.
• Circumstances tested my marriage - and I'm (thankfully) still his wife and happier than ever.
• My baby turned into a kid. A kid with quite the temper. Which, ironically, has helped me curb mine.
• I was thrown in the deep end at work and have moved from survival backstroke to a relatively fluid style (even if my legs are still going hell for leather under the surface).
• I've reached a point of understanding and appreciation in my friendships. I truly 'get' the adage 'those who matter don't mind - and those who mind, don't matter.' I'm blessed with plenty that matter and I choose to focus on them.
• I've made some progress along the path of no longer constantly apologising for the way I live my life, instead throwing my energy into people and pursuits that are positive and healthy for me. A year ago the magnets that read 'I can only please a certain amount of people today and you're not one. Tomorrow's not looking good for you either" would have seemed quite rude. These days I think that's amusing. so much so, I bought one. For a colleague.
• I've travelled over(many)seas with a toddler and some serious luggage in tow.
• I've absolutely loved the tropical family holiday of a lifetime in paradise.
• I have delighted in marriages and births around me, wept with sorrow at illness and deaths.
• I've developed an 'online' space of my own and (virtually) met some pretty fabulous people.
• I've reached an age where it's perfectly acceptable to admit that I've forgotten the rest.

This aging gig really isn't as bad as The Rolling Stones and Meatloaf make it look.


So, happy unbirthday to you and happy birthday to me.


Shar :-)

No, Me Not.

Kids.

Insert eye roll.

Kids and their 'phases'.

Insert additional eye roll.

Magoo has taken to responding to our perfectly reasonable statements such as

"we're sitting down to have dinner now"

or

"tomorrow you're off to daycare, remember"

or

"you're being silly/dangerous/rude"

or

"you've got to pick those up before your bath"

or
"you get to go in the pool without Mummy or Daddy now that you're three"
or

"you're just so adorable"

with

"no, me not"


No, me not have a rest when me get home.

 Luckily, he's still fairly compliant, so it's more lip service than anything else.

No, me not.

 

First things first - the grammar.

Oh my, the grammar.

'No, I am not'

is the correctly formed negative response if he feels compelled to be painful resistant.

Secondly - "no"????

I. beg. your. pardon.??

Thirdly - the tone.

The boy has perfected a fast, smug effect to those three words that has Hubby and I repeating it to each other long after his last "no, me not" of the day.

It's both cute and irritating all at the same time.

A lot like a Smurf, really.

It is a 'phase', right?

I believe "I don't want to" comes next.
Or will it be "me no want to" just to please my inner grammar goddess.

Shar :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 3

So, it's week 3 of the 52 Week Project here...
Another self portrait wants to get all up in my face...


Mean fighting machine

Not!

Float like a butterfly slug,
Sting like a bee paper cut...

 I have rediscovered my love of boxing (for fitness) in the last few weeks...
and I'm smitten again.


I've been a boxercise fan for a long time.
When I met Hubby, he was my boxing instructor at the gym.
Corny as.


You'd be surprised how two minutes in the ring with someone can really change your entire life!
If you've ever boxed you would know that two minutes in the ring can feel like a lifetime - so I figure you may as well marry whoever you're stuck there with!


When Magoo was a wee baby,  both my wrists had themselves we-can't-hold-him-any-longer meltdowns and packed it in. Fetching casts and cortisone replaced my boxing gloves and I've been hesitant to get back into them until recently.


Boxing is the most intense, efficient and productive workout I've ever endured enjoyed.
It's also an excellent outlet for channeling frustration.

Apparently, it can do wonders for your love life too.
Just ask my lucky Hubby!!! Ha ha!

Joining the fabulous My Mummy Daze in her 52 Week Project.

Unleash your inner model (?!) and get in front of the camera with us.


Shar :-)

Point + Shoot : Happy Place

Saturday 2.00pm

This is my privileged view when in my very happy place.
Namely, the deck that Hubby built in our garden last year.
The 'deck of love' that I like to think he built exclusively for me, seeing as it's completion coincided with my birthday.
Hubby's happy for me to think whatever I like, as long as I'm not lodging any complaints about it.


This is that view reversed with the tap of a finger
(ooooh - the iPad 2 continues to impress!!)

Much prefer the first, myself.
Definitely less offensive than the just-a-tad-too-graphic-for-me 'Rat Dissection' app that Hubby has dicovered though.


This is the view when 'the little one' awakes from his slumber inside no more than five minutes after you've taken residence on the deck.

Saturday 2.05pm

He's too cute for me  to complain about though.

This is the view only a few hours later when the illusion of Spring comes crashing to it's knees and threatens to put an end to all 'deckscapades' for another few days.

But not enough to dampen a scoot or two.

I was determined not to drop the 'f' word ('food') in this week's point + shoot - but then Hubby goes for the paper and comes back with ideas like this :

Hope you had a fantastic weekend.

Come enjoy the view over @ Point + Shoot with Lou @ Sunny + Scout.
Shar :-)


P.S. Total 'Hubby' references in this post =  4.
       Will the honeymoon ever end??!!

All About Balance

There might just be something in all that astrological caper.

I am a Libran and obsessed with the notion of balance, symmetry, equality.

I am constantly striving for balance in every aspect of my life.

This morning was one of those beautiful unplanned ones that unfolded into my perfect idea of balance.
I'm feeling incredibly content - even if Mt. Housework is yet to be fully conquered.


Every now and then, I get a hankering to punish myself change things up a bit and head to Jacob's Ladder in the city. Jacob's is a set of 242 steps that attract maniacs people looking for a solid workout followed by jelly legs.
 
After a family snuggle in bed, we decided we'd all head to Jacob's.
While Hubby or I tackled a couple of sets of the stairs at a time, the other parental played on the grass with Magoo.

I enjoyed a few sets of these

interspersed with a bit of this

then back for a few more sets of these

and some of this.

Luckily I wore this as a  reminder


NEVER GIVE UP -  well, not until after at least 7 of 'em anyway





















If Jacob's doesn't take your breath away (then maybe you're a robot?) - the view might.

All that action on the calorie burning side couldn't go unanswered from the calorie consuming team, so this was their reply.

Bit of this, bit of that.
Exactly how I love it.

Happy Sunday!
Shar :-)