Rat_girl has an ear infection

I was ready to walk out and resign from being a mum last night.  Rat_girl was just completely uncontrollable.

Then during the night she woke screaming of a sore ear, I have never ever heard her complain of a sore ear so I thought something might be up, after pandol and some sleep she woke up this morning seeming quite fine.  But as the morning went on the usual morning dramas were a lot worse and I just knew it was differently to normal, just have a feeling.

So I decided to keep her home from kindy and take her to the DR, and he confirmed she has a middle ear infection.  Thank god because her behaviour last night and today has been horrid!  Thankfully though he said wtih kids her age generally 48 hours, rest and some pain relief it should clear on it's own but if it doesn't if she gets worse he gave me a script just in case.  Lets hope it doesn't get to that!

Posting fail

Been trying lately to upload photos so I can update from Rat_girls birthday and all the things we've made and done for Christmas so far.

But each time I try to upload photos it keeps telling me it's failed.

I feel like I have so many photos to load and so many things to blog about that it's all going to come out a jumbled mess!

I'll let you in on a little secret

But before I do I should mention that I have so much to update on!

Why in the last 2 weeks I've had Rat_girls Disco birthday party and her actual birthday.   Concrete_man has come back from work Rat_boy, well he's done nothing very exciting and me, I've been busy trying to get into the christmas spirit.  We've made some tree decorations, I'm making some photo brag books for christmas presents and some hangning frames (I'm out of tape though so on hold for just a minute).  Later today or tomorrow Rat_girl and I will be making some very easy lil chirstmas puddings for the kindy teachers plus wrapping some of the homemade decorations for her friends all to take to her kindy party tomorrow.  AND I did hear news straight from the North Pole that Santa himself (or alteast one of his helpers) will be coming along to give presents to the kiddies YAY.

I will update on all of this, with as many photos as I can very soon.

BUT now for the secret.

Over the last 6 weeks I've been participating in a local weight loss challenge.  I have been working very hard at it and most of the time have been quite focused.

I'm happy to announce that today was the last weigh in and the final wrap up for  the challenge.

My results were a loss of 5kgs (4.62% of my starting body weight) and 16cms!  I was over the moon.  Now the winner is based on % and I was very surprised to find that I had come 3rd and took home $55 in prize money.  I am very excited and very please with myself.  I was hoping to have before and after photos but the daughter of the lady running the challenge deleted our before photos.  But I still might be able to find something to compare.

Anyway the next challenge is in January and runs for 12 weeks, I'm super excited and can't wait to get involved!

O Christmas Tree O Christmas tree

Well I was thinking I would have more photos, but I obviously wasn't thinking clearly...

Me, (almost) 4yo Rat_girl and 6mo Rat_boy...how exactly was I going to take photos!

I got a few, but the most important one, the best picture of the tree topper being put on...well that was pretty much impossible.  I could not hold Rat_girl up and take the photo at the same time.

I haven't finished yet, I'll do more of the decorations around the house and the lights tomorrow.  It took a lot longer than normal as I was forever moving baby out of the way...plus I had to feed baby and put baby to bed during and we had one tree fall which bought along a major meltdown from Rat_girl.

Either way it was fun, the kids dressed up a little, we played The Santa Clause 3 in the background and at bed time we read Christmas stories, one of which was a personalised Christmas story from when I was a little girl.

Enjoy...

Merry 1st of December

YAY so many things to achieve today but the biggest of all...get up the tree and decorate the house..

Pictures to come!!!

*sings "And so this is Christmas...."

Summer Daze and Fresh cut grass

It's been so hot and humid lately that by the afternoon the kids are just feral and painful.

So each afternoon while concrete_man has been away I've put a little water in the kiddies pool and let the rats play.  Rat_boy wasn't too sure about it to start with but now each after noon he goes a little nuts when he sees the pool.  It was especially great this afternoon after both had had a few tantrums and screaming fits it helped to bring normality (I use the term loosely) back to the house.

I swear just looking at the pictures cools me down, the water is so cold!

One of my favourite smells is the smell of fresh cut grass, but I believe it smells even better when you have cut that grass yourself.  I always thought that mowing the lawn was a mans job, but after the first time I mowed a lawn (4 years ago) I realised just how satisfying and relaxing it is, not to mention it's an awesome workout.  I mean I'm outside in the fresh air, I have a friendly little willy wagtail that follows me the whole time, I'm sweating it out, I'm alone with my thoughts, no one bothers me and unlike when I clean the house, the lawn stays mowed for more than 10 minutes.  I love it, I can't believe that before when I lived alone or when concrete_man was away I would pay someone to mow my lawn.

Even the 4 legged rats love it...I tried to get a shot of her rolling around on her back but she spied me!!

The only down side I guess, is the sunburn...yes yes I know, I can remember to lather my kids in sunscreen but never myself.  Oh and that fact that generally after I have mowed the first strip the dogs like to 'christen' it...!!!

Photo update

Rat_girl cooking some nachos that were delicious...but she still didn't eat them :-S

A couple of bday cards I made, "2yo lady bug" "10yo Ben 10"

Just before the end of the term we were allowed in to watch the kids, it was painful!! I completely understand why we aren't allowed in normally.  I felt quite embarrased as pretty much all the kids behaved except for Rat_girl and her BFF.  However I did notice something (** the person reading this that knows her BFF please close your eyes now), Rat_girl was actually doing her best to participate in the class but her BFF was constantly trying to tickle her, cuddle her, grab her etc and it was very distracting.

All that aside it was still very cute!

Rat_boy rather chuffed that he can now sit on his own!!! And play (annoy) his sister more!  Just a few days later he learnt to crawl, now just over a week later he is sitting himself up and pulling himself to his knees.  SO very close to standing himself up!

Helping Mummarat