Grateful For... Her Next Door

As the Swedish say
'Love Where You Live'.

Well just the folk at Ikea, probably.

But I do.

Love where I live.

We won the neighbour lottery and have ended up smack bang in the middle of,
roll up, roll up, ladieeees and gentlemen... 
the greatest street on Earth.
Or close to anyway.


Where people just click - but not clique.
Where everyone waves, smiles or flags one another down.
Where we can chat, yell, laugh, cry, offload or drink an afternoon away.
Where our kids play - horribly one day, beautiful the next. And it's all good.
Where the older kids look out for the younger ones and make them the sweetest home made birthday cards.


Where random Thursday evenings somehow morph into little street parties on our lawn.
Where it's a-ok to be having a bad day.
Where someone's got your back at all times.
Where the Christmas street party is looked forward to and even 'rehearsed' for!
Where the comfort level is as high as the kids tearing around the place.


Where we deliberately leave our garage door up, the front door open and blinds raised.
Where kids can watch from the window and squeal "he's/she's hooooome now Mum!"
Where we can run over anytime pyjama-clad or bra-less for that cup of sugar, egg, thermometer, bottle opener or second opinion.


A great little cul de sac around a bend where the only traffic is local.
Where said traffic knows to be considerate of dogs, prams, small people, balls, bikes, scooters and anything else that moves.
Where even stray animals are cared for by the whole street - and toasted with a bottle of bubbly.


I'm so grateful for her next door, him up the street, those across the road and them in the corner...

I'm not alone in my gratitude here.

Grateful For - this week hosted  @ A Day In The Life Of Us

Shar :-)

Reduce Speed

All this thinking about slowing down here reminded me of one of the many ways my little borther used to get a rise out of my Mum when we were younger.

Of course, he got away with it every time.

He's not affectionately known as 'Golden Balls' merely for his b-ball skills.

Mum : Right lads, everyone into de car.
Bro : Mum, are you Irish?
Mum : Of course I'm feckin' Irish. Now get in de car would ya.
Bro : Mum, are you sure you're Irish?
Mum : I'm Irish, yes. Are you wrong in de head or someting? Hurry up.
Bro : Mum, are you really sure you're Irish?
Mum : Ah to be Jaysus, Mary and Joseph didn't I say I was feckin' Irish. Get. In. De. Car.
Bro : Mum, are you really, really sure that you're Irish?
Mum : Ah now you. Get in dat car before I clip ya. I'm Irish and that's de end of it.
Bro : It's just that it seems to me, you're always Rushin.

Apologies to any international visitors, but I don't want to always be
a Rushin Mum.

Must. Slow. Down.

Shar :-)

Telltale Signs Part 2 : The Reflection

Sooo, yesterday was a roller coaster.
Nobody was hurt or maimed riding  the ' Boy's Birthday Comedown' , but I certainly did not want to ride again after alighting from the carriage last night. 

The problem is I know that I was a huge contributor to yesterday's angst.
Not by engaging with Magoo's frustration or taking the bait when he was ridiculously unreasonable (surprisingly).
I didn't pay attention to the warning signs that the little man was posting along the way to Meltdown city.

I have written about how Magoo is my reminder to slow down and live in the moment before.
I thrive on being busy, productive and social.
We have been insanely busy, productive and social lately.

Magoo has coped remarkably well with a whirlwind few months and I'm thinking yesterday was the culmination of serious overstimulation on his part.
The life I have created for him, for us, is too much for him.
If that indicates that my boy belongs on some spectrum somewhere, so be it.
(Or indicates that I belong in an institution somewhere, so be that too.)

I was disappointed with Magoo's behaviour for most of playgroup yesterday  - when he went from being a normal, law abiding, tax paying citizen of Tantrumtown to being the self appointed Mayor in a matter of minutes.

But, maybe he was disappointed in me for not listening when he specifically told me he did not want to go to playgroup. When in my infinite motherly wisdom I thought "he'll be fine when we get there".

Or maybe it was the fact that I dragged him to four different places to buy more stamps, mail thank yous, deliver presents and return property - before arriving at playgroup.
Hmmm. Take the pedal off the metal , Mum.

It's time to pull back and remove some of the useless 'busyness' from our life.
From Magoo's life.
Time to make play doh while the sun shines.

There'll be a time when he'll spend his days being 'busy' with other people and I'll crave some down time with my boy. I can run around like a headless chook to my heart's content then.

Even I am feeling the pinch of the pace I've set here.
I've lost a little running mojo and don't wake up looking forward to hitting the road.
I literally crawled onto the couch and dozed for a few minutes yesterday evening, before I'd even put Magoo to bed.
This does not happen here.
The only time it ever has, I was in the early stages of pregnancy with Magoo.
It's so rare that, yes, I tested and no, I'm not.

So... Spring Steps...

• chill the heck out
• get back to basics
• stop overplanning and  super cramming our week
• ignore those sweet little smears on the window/tv screen for now
• limit outings, play dates and social activities to one a day where possible
• go to bed earlier
• say 'no thank you' occasionally to some parties,  invitations, requests.
• stay at home, for goodness sake (without inviting the world over)
• set two nights a week only for school work/committee meetings
• let Magoo set the pace and direction of our day at least once a week

Any tips on 'finding the balance'?

Wishing you a happy feet kinda day.

Shar :-)

Telltale Signs

How do you know your spoilt toddler has been

particularly 'challenging' and 'vocal' today?

You spend most of playgroup lip reading over the sound of shrieking and persistent whinging in your ear - while everyone else pretends it's not bothering them at all.

That's how.

Thank you patient Mummies.

Your beautiful neighbour takes it upon herself to bring you over a freshly poured glass of muumy juice at 4.30pm!

That's how.

Thank you kind comrade.

Your Hubby hasn't been in the door two seconds before sending a certain little three year old into his room.

That's how.

Thank you beautiful back up.

You put dinner on and lock yourself in the study, desperately trying to distract yourself and ignore the commotion on the other side of the door.

That's how.

Thank you lovely blogland.

Wonder where my neighbour put the bottle?!

Shar :-)


What's the go with the Boy Wonder today, Mum?



Point + Shoot : A Dad & A Lad!



Sunday 6:30am
The much anticipated sock monkey joins the family.

I'm a sucker for a lovely mushy father/son moment

- and around here there are plenty for the picking.

Testament to what a super special Dad young Magoo has.
(Or the fact that I do most of the nasty disciplinarian stuff?!)

After a week or two of Magoo telling his Daddy at every Mummy-free opportunity that he was

"not going to talk to woo bout sock monkey pwesents,

or shishing wods or beer (port, actually love)"

- it's little wonder Hubby was not-so-much blown away by his Father's Day gifts.

Magoo did forget to blab about the father/son photo frame, cute book and personalised mug - so at least there was a tiny element of (corny) surprise left.

Luckily for Magoo, 'adorable blabbermouth' holds far more value

 than 'secret squirrel' in this home.

Hubby is easily pleased (a trait most evident in his choice of life partner, I'd say) and we enjoyed a beautiful day simply hanging out.

After the heart stopping surprise gift opening, I cooked a rather ordinary but much appreciated bacon omelette and we took our sweet morning time as a family for the first time in what seems like forever.

The rest of the morning was spent hanging out with the neighbours in the teaser of sunshine, playing with new toys at the park, getting absolutely drenched when the clouds gave way and soggily stopping for milkshakes and a "babytuna".

After all the exertion/excitement of unsuccessfully outrunning the rain,

Hubby had himself a paddle, Magoo had himself a nap and I had myself a mopping great time.

In the afternoon, after a spot of fishing in the backyard pool (?),  Hubby's family came over for another ordinary culinary effort on my part

- this time a lazy roast.

We played, refereed, ate & drank ourselves into contentment.

Somehow, a weekend that was apparently all about my boys'

special days was just as beautiful for me. 

They don't have to know that though.

Come point + shoot with Lou @ Sunny + Scout.

Shar :-)

Nee Naw, Nee Naw!

I think this is the bit where I'm s'posed to say that the weekend was hell on Earth and I am never planning another birthday party as long as I shall live.
Or nominate a fast food establishment for Magoo's big 0-4.

You know, the part where all the build up inevitably leads to one gigantic, red and yellow disappointment.

But, I can't.
I absolutely loved the (fire fighting) pants off Magoo's 3rd birthday - and it's pretty safe to say he did too.

Yep. Fo shore.

Unlike our cheapo red & yellow helium balloons, I'm still on a high from Saturday's celebrations - and it wasn't even my birthday.

I won't bore you with the details that only a mother could love, but I'll subject you to a photographic monologue instead!

Magoo was allowed to stay on the truck for all three rides.
I certainly wasn't going to be the one to tell him otherwise.

Love my little firey!
Firey by theme & sometimes fiery by nature!




The part where your Mum ruins your birthday party memories with an inappropriate joke.

 

I will state for the record that we are absolutely blessed to be surrounded by the most wonderful people.

Yes, I have a thing for a theme. (You don't say?!)
I was quite taken with fire engine pretty much everything in my party prep mode, but all the coordinated tableware, party favours, balloons, sugar buffet, party bags and decorations in the world don't equate to birthday bliss.
(Hence, why I forgot to photograph most of it!)

I most definitely, absolutely, truly did not make this cake.
I have friends in talented places!

I did make these if that's any consolation!



The friendly, warm, caring, fun (ridiculously generous) folk that we are proud to call our friends or family are what it's all about. Magoo is one lucky little man to have such incredible little friends and we are pretty rapt with their families too.

I also have friends in firefighting places.

Nee naw! Nee naw!!


Fire Chief Shar
signing off from birthday duty for another year

:-)

Grateful For... This Blink Of An Eye

Tomorrow morning, Magoo will wake up a three year old kid.

No longer technically a baby or a toddler.

But always my baby.

Tomorrow morning Hubby and I will wake up and wonder how we managed to blink 36 precious months away.

36 precious months filled with the lowest lows and the highest highs in my simple life.

36 months of the greatest education money can't buy.

36 months of insight into just how much love the heart can hold and just how far I'm willing to go.

So, tonight I am beyond grateful for the privilege to be this gorgeous kid's Mummy and for every little thing that comes with that honour.

Grateful for three beautiful 'blink of an eye' years that can reduce this :

Thailand  - Jan 2008.
After 3 positive pregnancy tests in two days.
Mocktails R Us.

 to this:

 Couch - Sep 2011 @ 8.30pm
After 3 years of Magoo.
Toys R Us

Happily haggard,

Shar :-)

Linking with the grateful community hosted this week @ The Beetle Shack