Beating the Winter Blues ...

I am linking up with Fi from My Mummy Daze today for Windows of Happiness.

My window of happiness was Friday last week. My sister and her family live in Karratha and have been down in Perth visiting for the past week, staying with my parents. My brother and his family live down south and they too were in Perth visiting. My SIL and two nephews were heading back down south and were dropping into my parents to say goodbye so Sophie and I were going to visit.

I have been feeling tired lately, OK I have been feeling exhausted. Sophie hasn’t been sleeping the best and had decided 5am wake ups were a wondrous treat for her Mama along with several wake ups in the middle of the night. I started to prepare breakfast for Rob and I when I decided that I needed to change my attitude, yes I am tired, but I can easily change my way of thinking, the days are too precious to sit around and mope about how tired I am. I proceeded to make poached eggs on toast with mushrooms and fetta … YUM! The eggs gave me the perfect pick me up so I got Sophie and myself ready and decided to walk to my parents’ house.

It is only 2.8kms and it is a beautiful walk, I get to cross over the river and enjoy the beautiful winter sun that Perth is having lately.

My family is very laid back, there are no rules when we are at the family home, we all hang out and just have fun.

Friday morning saw my nephew racing my sister around the block and winning, 3 of the family doggies all playing together, coffee being made, my nephew opening up to me about being bullied by his older brother and his friend one day, plenty of cuddles for Sophie, high fives from my beautiful littlest nephew Cooper each time he said bubble and then another 2.8km walk home.

It is the simple things that make me the happiest … spending time with family and soaking up some rays.

Bad habits !

How Rob made it to 30 without me in his life I still wonder.

Yesterday morning as he made his way to the study to start his day, I proceeded to walk around the house clearing his trail of destruction.

Fry pan after making eggs for breakfast just left on the bench.

Because recycling should be left on the kitchen window sill.

Random tablets.

Empty strepsils box ... empty vitamin bottle ... wallet ... I could go on !

Because one plate for breakfast just isnt enough.

Golf clubs have been here since Sunday, he is playing again on Sat, I know they wont move until he leaves for that game. Sophie's empty vaporiser box ... again recyclying ... bin is OUTSIDE babe !

My pet hate (pardon the pun) ... he leaves this out EVERY night (well every night that the dog is let in), I hate walking into the lounge and seeing it there, it should be put behind the couch.

He had a relatively neat and tidy apartment when I met him ... what have I done for him to have lapsed with these skills? DId I take over too much too soon?!

My constant nagging doesn't seem to get anywhere, i'm hoping this blog post will!

Babe ... ARE YOU LISTENING?

My 80th post ... AND an apology !

My 80^th post! To celebrate my 80^th post I have decided to write a post to the girl who inspired me to start my blogging journey.

So to Kate from the amazing katesinmelbourne I owe you an apology!

Some 15 years ago in April Kate was having a birthday. I excitedly purchased her a present and my Mum drove me to her house for the delivery to be made.

Oh yeah … I know Kate.

We became friends in 1992 … two girls starting year 1. I saw her standing there with her Dad by her side on our very first day. She looked scared, I was scared, the friendship was meant to be.

I gave Kate her present … none other than an AQUA single. Oh yeah that’s right, Dr Jones & Barbie Girl on CD. Could the girl want anything else?!

She then confessed that her family did not own a CD player.

I told her that I would exchange it and get her something else.

I NEVER DID!!

So Kate, this is my apology, 15 years isn’t too late is it?

I am sorry for not replacing your CD with another birthday present. I truly am.

PHEW !! I am SO glad to have that off my chest.

Sisters !

Yesterday marked my sister’s 28^th birthday. My sister and my best friend.

I am so proud of the person that she is today.

We have been each other’s rocks for the entirety of our lives.

We fought when we were little.

I would play rough with her and always get away with it, pays to be the younger sibling.

I would borrow her clothes and try and get out of the house before she noticed.

She would borrow my clothes and I would find them crumpled on her floor with the rest of her wardrobe.

She convinced me to put blonde streaks through my hair when I was 13, Mum was less than impressed.

I guarded the door while our older sis coloured her hair for the first time, the brightest blonde patch formed on the top of her head, she had to miss school the next day and proceeded to spend the entire day at the hairdressers with Mum trying to fix it.

 
I was 17 when I decided to be inked. My sister told Mum and Dad whilst I was there, I had their angry selves waiting for me when I got home.

We spent many nights out together partying; she always included me with her friends.

I was the one she called when she got caught driving home after a few too many. I was in my PJ’s, I pulled up, got out of the car and marched towards her like I was her Mum, all the police thought it was hilarious.

She moved to Melbourne … it was the longest 12 months of my life.

Mum and Dad flew her home for my 18^th as a surprise. Best present ever.

She moved home. We moved out together.

Then she moved out.

I supported her through what will be the most difficult thing she will ever experience in her whole life.

I stuck up for her.

I lied for her.

I cried with her.

I argued with her.

All I ever wanted was for her to be happy and healthy.

I always answered my phone when it was her ringing, even if it was 3am, these were the calls that needed to be answered the most.

There was no hesitation, I would jump out of bed, throw some clothes on and drive like there was no tomorrow, pick her up and continue the fastest drive to the emergency department at the nearest hospital.

You can’t mess with heart palpitations.

Quite often Mum and Dad were not told of these instances.

At her worst my Dad thought the only answer was to take her to hospital, she refused to go unless I was with her. Again it didn’t matter what time it was, Dad would call, I would answer and all three of us would drive together in silence to then demand answers from yet more Doctors.

‘Sorry, we are unable to help you.’

Words a Father & Sister don’t want to hear at 2am when as a family we have all been suffering for too long.

Finally, she searched for an answer which would help her, she would fly to Canada for three months.

By this stage she was too sick to travel such a distance on her own, I would travel with her.

We packed her bags, tears were shed, we were all hoping for the best.

We had an 8 hour wait in Hong Kong airport on our way there, she was too sick to walk, she slept lying across chairs using her bag as a pillow, I stayed awake to watch our things.

I had to leave her at a house in a remote area of Vancouver; I bid her farewell, not sure when I would see her again.

I spent 3 days staying with friends; I received phone calls each day filled with tears on the other end.

She gave Rob strict instructions before we left ‘do not propose whilst I am away.’

Rob has never coped well with instructions. He proposed at the airport when I arrived home.

It took me two weeks to work up the courage to tell her the news.

She missed my engagement party, I was devastated.

We were meant to be reunited after three months … it was extended to six.

She was my maid of honour 4 months after she arrived home.

She was beautiful.

For the past three and a half years she has fought … fought to stay healthy … fought to stay happy. She has had slips but she knows how to bring herself back. I admire her for this.

My sister is an extremely strong willed person. She only ever wants everyone around her to be happy, she is there for me whenever I need her, she is not only Sophie’s amazing Aunty, but also her godmother. I wouldn’t have had anybody else.

This year she celebrated her 28^th birthday, she celebrated by being healthy which makes me the happiest sister ever.

We are the best of friends. I couldn’t have wished for a more amazing person to grow up with and to have by my side each day.

Claire, Happy Birthday, I love you !

News

I read this post yesterday that Eden from Edenland wrote http://www.edenriley.com/2012/06/helicopter.html.

It struck a chord with me.

Why do these things happen to the ones we love, to the ones who deserve it the least, of course nobody deserves to suffer but to those that have only done good in their lives.

I made a phone call on Sunday afternoon, one that I had been putting off for too long.

My Uncle recently passed away, of lung cancer, leaving my Aunty a widow and my 3 cousins without their Dad.

He died a month ago.

I am in shock as I type that … it took me a month to call my Aunty.

Terrible niece is what you’re thinking isn’t it?!

My Aunty is my Mum’s sister; she lives in Sydney as do all of my Mum’s family. I have met them maybe 6 times. It is not like I don’t know them but living in Perth we of course didn’t have them in our lives for all of the special events, therefore we didn’t have a relationship with them as a typical Aunty/Niece would have.

My Uncle was a very quiet man, with the times that we were together, not many words were exchanged. I definitely had a different relationship with him compared to my other two uncles who live in Sydney.

My Mum has been harping onto me to make that phone call. What was I going to say? What words would I use to try and express my sadness for her?

These are family members who I didn’t invite to my wedding, my aunties, uncles, cousins and even my Pop, my only living grandparent. How I regret this decision. At the time my Mum wasn’t on talking terms with them, something we all regret. A decision that was made by my Mum, a decision that I should have persuaded my Mum to change.

Sunday afternoon rolled around, Sophie was put in her cot for a nap and I actually had time. Time to make this phone call, I picked up my phone and searched for her number.

It was the nicest 40 minutes.

We chatted, we laughed, we exchanged words, as Aunty and niece, as two people who deserve a relationship.

She was so appreciative of my call. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, it made me appreciate having all of my immediate family around me, it made me realise how important one phone call can be.

We are all heading to Sydney in September. By ‘we’ I mean, me, Rob, Sophie, my Mum, my Dad, my two sisters, my two brothers and my two SIL’s. It is the first time that we would have all been together since 2005. We will all be together to help my Pop celebrate his 90^th birthday. A time that I am longing for.

Weekend Fun!

I had one of those weekends where at one point I found myself thinking ‘I am having such a good time.’

Sophie attended her first birthday party on Saturday, she got all dressed up, well Daddy got her all dressed up and she got to play with all of her friends. The birthday party was for Zane, our godson’s little brother, he looked super cute with his spiked hair and new outfit.

I made some cupcakes to help out his Mumma, it was a jungle themed party and I found the perfect cupcake toppers.

I have been super lucky with this group of friends, considering there is such a large age gap between Rob and I, I have meshed well with his friends since day one. They are such a gorgeous group, sincere, friendly and loads of fun.

We stayed in on Saturday night and we were in Thermo heaven. I made a Beef Rendang, of course completely from scratch and it was super easy and super quick – am I selling it to you yet?! It was delish, and we had THE yummiest Sticky Date Pudding for dessert. It’s a big call but I think it has to be the best I have ever eaten.

Sunday rolled around and we headed to Perth Upmarket for some handmade goodness. The stalls are all so gorgeous and I could have gone shopping crazy, the amount of people deterred me from spending loads which is a very good thing. Sophie now has two new gorgeous beanies and Mumma got a beaded necklace.

We then ventured to Wagamama’s for lunch.

It was then homeward bound for a lazy arvo.

It feels so nice to just have ‘us’ time. It almost feels like a new relationship when we are out and about on weekends, after renovating for so long and by renovating I mean Rob renovating, my weekends became just ‘me’ time. I learnt to plan things without even considering what Rob was doing as I always knew it would be things around the house.

Finally I have my hubby back.

Downside was a sore throat presented itself yesterday arvo and I have not woken up feeling better. Hhmmm my crazy days are catching up with me.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Any exciting adventures?

6 Months New !

I am in awe each and every day that you are in fact mine. You are my little girl, my very own baby and I am your Mummy, still 6 months later this is completely surreal to me.

I get to look at you and admire you, I get to experience your smiles each hour of every day, I get to cuddle you as many times as I like and I never have to hand you back.

I love that.

A few milestones have been:

You made your first attempt at a front to back roll on the 21^st March. Daddy and I were so excited. You used to be really lazy with tummy time and all of a sudden your left leg was lifting from your mat and you were trying so hard.

It only took you a week and a half to fully master this.

The day you rolled from your back to your tummy was super exciting, as soon as you knew how to do it; it was an automatic move as soon as we placed you down. You kick your little legs like crazy each time you’re on your tummy.

A week prior to your 5 month birthday you started grabbing your feet.

You sat up for the first time on the 25^th May … you were 5 months and 6 days new. We were in the front garden; I think the squishiness of the grass helped.

You went on the swings for the first time on the 28^th May. It was a Monday and we went for a stroll to the river with Daddy and Dakota and I sat you on my lap. I sat back and took it all in, the view, the peace and the fact that one of my childhood loves was now being shared with my very own little girl.

You were super amazing when we started solids, we started with carrot which you loved, Mummy on the other hand not so much as it was super difficult to get out of your clothes. We had to give a bag full of them to Grandma and of course she managed to get them clean again.

Your newest trick is to blow raspberries each time the spoon gets anywhere near your mouth. I have been spat on numerous times.

You went through a phase of fake coughing, you still make the strangest noises, I am forever worrying that you are going to hurt your throat.

Your awesome sleeping hasn’t quite continued. Each night is pot luck, some mornings you wake at 6, other mornings we get your old trick of 7:30 (this has become rare), it seems to be the norm lately to have a 5am wake up, so it’s a feed then straight back to bed for you and me. It’s the 1am, 3am and other ridiculous hours that I can’t handle.

You are attending your first birthday party tomorrow for your little mate Zane, Mummy already has the outfit planned and laid out.

Yep, your Mum is a little crazy like that.

The past 6 months have gone by super-fast, everyone said they would.

You have grown in leaps and bounds over the past three months. Your personality continues to evolve and both Daddy and I fall more in love with you each day.