Muddy Farmwife

I so want to show you photos!!

2012-03-06T08:51:00.000+11:00

But I can't!
I'm still computerless(not sure it's really a word!) the computer doctor says it's able to be saved, thank goodness, but will still be away for a little while. Things happen a bit more slowly in the country.

So anyway, I digress, Saturday night Muddy Hubby and I headed out to the 2828 Dinner Under The Stars. This was the tenth year they've held the dinner and I don't think they've had to have it indoors once. Friday night we had 61mm of rain, our road was quite literally a river, the water had nowhere to go except straight down our road. We got all frocked up, loaded up the kids for drop off at Muddy Grandma's for a sleepover and headed out in the water to make sure we made it to the dinner, whether it was inside or not!

You know what, the sun came out, it shone happily until sunset and kept the evening balmy and lovely. They had gone with an Oscars theme this year, which meant everyone was looking amazing, blokes in suits and bow ties, ladies all frocked up, and excitement in the air.

There were some great photo opportunities, but unfortunately they passed me by! One of the highlights for me was definitely Les Schirato, the CEO of Vittoria Coffee. This is an Australian Company, that sells 1.6 million cups of coffee a day!! They are a family run business and he was utterly charming and entertaining and was happy to have a laugh at himself. You can check out a send up on their ads made by one of our MC's on YouTube, you just type in 'Dinner Under The Stars 2012'. Al Pacino made a series of ads for Vittoria Coffee, and they're the only ads he's ever done, being a serious actor and all! The YouTube send up is our country version.

What amazed me though was that Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after Oil! This is a legal addictive substance and it is traded worldwide on a phenomenal basis.

The 2828 began as a community building and has grown into an amazing story. It helps the local community and provides traineeships for local Aboriginal students. The Cafe itself is run by community volunteers and TAFE students. The staff are all trained as Baristas by Vittoria Coffee, and it has a great range of giftware. You can read more about the story of 2828 here and if you're ever traveling through I absolutely recommend stopping for a coffee and a bite to eat!

The Dinner Under The Stars is their major fundraiser for the year and as well as the dinner and dancing they had a number of auction items and Bon bons with prizes. I didn't come home with anything much to Muddy Hubby's delight, but I had a great night. I only wish I could show you photos!!!

Do you have a hidden gem like the 2828 in your area?
Is there a highlight on your social Calendar?

Time to get my Frock on!

2012-03-03T13:53:00.000+11:00

Hooray for March! It's here! At last it's here. This month gives me the opportunity to frock up not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times! Two Weddings, One Ball and One Fabulous Tenth anniversary 'Dinner Under the Stars'. Three of these will be child free events, this is almost unheard of in our house. Can you tell I'm just a teeny bit excited?!?! I think I'm already socially excited and the events haven't even started.

The opportunity to talk to adults uninterrupted, to start and end a conversation without having to tend to the Muddy Kids Inbetween and come back to the conversation only to forget where you left off. The chance to admire Muddy Hubby all decked out in a suit and smelling of something other than sheep or engine oil. One morning to have the chance to sleep in. Three chances to not have my clothes pulled on or spewed on, or covered in sticky finger marks.

Don't get me wrong I love taking my kids with me to places and sharing in exciting events with them, but I'm feeling ready for something different. Some Muddy Hubby and Me time, some adult company time, a glimpse into 'oh yes I am still a person under all those children and piles of washing' time. I can safely say October was the last time I got all frocked up and I had a six week baby in tow, so not exactly a relaxing evening!

I have been feeling a little chaotic, a little unsettled, I'm hoping that some Frocking up time will help recharge my batteries and get me back on track, Help me remember I have some mojo in there that keeps me going each day!

Do you love getting dressed up and heading out for some child free time as much as I do?
What's your favourite outing for you and Hubby?

He's taken over!

2012-02-27T22:20:00.000+11:00

At the moment my house is in chaos, there's furniture spread out everywhere waiting to be put back or find a new home. Wet carpet that's dried hard and smelly, wet paper that has dried wrinkly. A rogue mouse that I'm trying to catch, but which has left a lovey smell to tell me where it is. I've reached sensory overload, too many smells, too much stuff everywhere that I can't think straight when I look at it all.

Normally when I reach sensory overload I take some time out cruising my favourite blogs and catching up on my Word With Friends games. It calms me, gives me a chance to refocus before getting started again.

With no laptop I'm relying on the iPad, but unfortunately so is Muddy Hubby! He's addicted. He says he's checking weather, but really, I'm sure he's playing Bejeweled! Who would have thought my Muddy Hubby would end up addicted to my iPad! Each night he seeks out my iPad before I've even stopped all the jobs. He settles in on the lounge and maintains possession of the iPad until lights out.

I'm actually excited that he's come so far since I first met him that he's comfortable with technology. The downside though is that I miss out on my favourite blogs! The days are so busy at the moment I can't catch up. At night I can't reclaim the iPad until Muddy Hubby goes to bed, and my eyes are already drooping. I miss my iPad and I miss my downtime with my favourite bloggers!

Maybe soon things will settle down and my senses will return to normal. For now I'm trying to find new ways to manage my sensory overload, exercise is helping a little. I'm thinking I may have to take up knitting or crocheting, but pretty sure that would just increase my stress, so I'm still searching for ideas, something to distract my over active brain, give me a chance to refocus, recharge and relax!

Has your partner taken over something that's yours? How did you reclaim it?
How do you manage sensory overload?

A Freak Storm

2012-02-23T14:12:00.000+11:00

Monday afternoon the weather turned wild, it was sunny and steamy one minute and the next a massive storm blew threw, wild winds, torrential rain, lots of thunder and lightning that would probably send an Epileptic into a seizure. Caught up in it all was my office.

The roof couldn't cope with such a massive downpour, so chose to spill the water into my ceiling, directly over my office and land smack bang on my desk. If it had my computer as a target it was spot on!

This is what the Wireless Keyboard resembled, however it wasn't waterproof like this one:

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My laptop, and all it's plug in bits, is currently at the Computer Doctor to see what can be saved. My Lovely SLR Camera which I have only just learned to use properly is at the Camera Doctor to see if it can be saved, I had been uploading photos right before the storm.

Me, I feel a little lost. I never realised just how much I rely on the computer! I do all our business accounts, correspondence, everything on the computer. Not only that but I spend LOTS of time cruising blogs and updating myself on the world's happenings.

I am Thankful for my iPad to keep me in touch with the world and my favourite blogs, I'm also excited to have discovered some new Apps to help me with the banking and business stuff! There is always a bright side! I haven't yet worked out how to blog from my iPad, using photos etc (any tips welcome), but at least I don't feel fully cut off from the world.

At the end of the day though I haven't freaked out, I haven't screamed or cried (OK I did when I first saw the rain pouring in, but not after that). The world of blogging has shown me that there are some amazing people out there going through some pretty tough things, and sharing them with the world wide web. So at the end of the day I can repair or replace my computer and camera, they're so minor in the scheme of things. Family and Friendship and Good Health are the most important things. It could have been worse, the whole ceiling could have come down on My Muddy Puzzler who was sleeping in the room next door. We're all safe and sound and together. Thank You to the amazing bloggers out there for widening my world, and helping me not freak out.

Have you been through a Freak Storm? What damage was done at your house? If you had to rescue one thing in your house (other than your family) what would it be?

Cookies and Cream Slice

2012-02-21T13:29:00.000+11:00

Ok, so I'm now a fabulous cook/baker/chef, but that doesn't stop me from giving it a red hot go and having fun in the process. I will warn you that this is NOT a recipe for being healthy or trying to lose weight, this is one of pure indulgence! My Muddy Sister-in-law sent me this recipe a couple of years ago, I have a feeling it's from a Delicious cook book but I'm not 100% sure, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!

I used my lovely Coles Gift Card I won from the Philly Comp run by Julie at Mama of 2 Boys to buy the Philly Cream Cheese to go in this recipe. Now when I make it I'll always be thinking of Margaret Fulton and how jealous I am that Julie got to meet her, she is my idol!

You will need:
350g Oreo Biscuits with filling
150g Unsalted butter, melted
2tsp Powdered gelatine
400g Cream cheese
300ml Thickened cream
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Caster Sugar
200g White Chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
Melted Dark Chocolate to Drizzle

This is how it goes together:
Line a 4cm deep, 18cm x 25cm lamington pan with baking paper.
Process 250g of the biscuits in a food processor until fine crumbs(I use a stick blender or rolling pin). Then add the melted butter and process until all combined. Then press it all into the pan and put in the fridge to set for 30 mins.

Sprinkle gelatine over 1/4 cup cold water in a heatproof cup. Put the cup in a saucepan of simmering water and stir until dissolved.

Put the cream cheese, cream, vanilla extract and caster sugar in the mixmaster and beat until it's all smooth. Then you can stir in the gelatine and melted white chocolate.

Chop up the last 100g of Oreo biscuits and stir them through the cream cheese mixture. Once they're mixed through you can pour and spread the mixture over the chilled base and put itin the fridge to set overnight.

When you pull it out in the morning drizzle the melted dark chocolate over the top and return it to the fridge for 15 minutes until set. Then you're ready to slice it in the pan and serve it up!

Just so you know I used milk chocolate because I didn't have any dark chocolate and I have not perfected the art of 'drizzling' chocolate so mine doesn't look anywhere near as good as the picture but still tasted great!

Do you have a favourite recipe that's pure indulgence?

Love An Excuse For A Party!

2012-02-20T09:12:00.000+11:00

What better excuse for a party is there, than an impending wedding! I got myself all dressed up, waved goodbye to Muddy Hubby and the Muddy Kids and headed off on Saturday to a Kitchen Tea/Hens Party. I had thought it would be a nice reserved affair, it soon got interesting, competitive and lots of fun.

We got to design wedding dresses out of toilet paper, newspaper and garbage bags. Our design had a lovely sweetheart neckline with a long train and pink veil (which we won as a bonus) and of course won us first prize. I learnt some new games and that I'm not very creative when it comes to poetry! We strapped on tennis balls in panty hose and relay raced across the hall, again we were a winner! Can you tell I'm a teeny bit competitive?!?! Then we got offered lovely cake, which I just couldn't bring myself to eat.

It was a day for female laughter, catching up with friends and even having a champagne or two. I haven't had a day like that in a while, I came home very relaxed (although that could have been the champagne) and reinvigorated. For me a good girly catch up will recharge my batteries. It was a day all about the bride to be (except I got some bonuses out of it), now I can't wait for the wedding to have even more fun!

That's our prize winning design in the middle!

Linking up for the first time with Sonia at Life, Love and Hiccups for Wonderful Weekends.

Did you enjoy a good catch up with the girls this weekend?

Five Fun Facts - Tag You're It

2012-02-17T09:43:00.000+11:00

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The awesome Karla at Irommum Karla and the always Wonderful Julie at Mama of 2 Boys have awarded me the Liebster Award and tagged me to share Five fun facts about myself .

To be honest at first I didn't think I'd be able to come up with five facts to share, but when I started thinking I ended up with more than five and have narrowed it down to these quirky, little known, facts about me:

- I can't stand Pumpkin and Sweet Potato, don't eat it, can't tolerate the smell, taste or texture of it. Every time I tell people this, they look at me like I have 3 heads because apparently pumpkin is everyone's favourite vegetable!

- As a teenager I LOVED (and still do love) the original TV series of Beverly Hills 90210, but only up until Shannen Doherty left, after that it all went down hill. I own all the series with Shannen in them on DVD.

- I am a teeth chatterer, when I'm cold my teeth start chattering and they don't stop until my whole body is warm. It drives Muddy Hubby nuts and he's always trying to put his fingers in to see if I'll chatter through them.

- My grandfather was an orchid grower, he used to create new types of orchids and I have an orchid named after me, so do both my cousins. To this day I LOVE Orchids, can't get enough of their beautiful blooms.

- I have absolutely no sense of balance, never have had. To prove the point, all in one day I fell off a motor scooter I was driving and I fell off a horse I was riding, both on Magnetic Island. When I called my Mum to tell her, she responded with 'Well, you never did have very good balance'.

The Liebster Award is designed to help drive traffic to blogs with fewer than 200 followers so, here I go tagging Five blogs I love to read, but please ladies absolutely no pressure to share Five Fun Facts if you don't want to! The choice is yours:

Peggy @ Cake, Crumbs and Beach Sand

Shar @ Mum on The Run

Jo @ Country Life Experiment

Mel @ Coal Valley View

Bee @ Fumbles and Bumbles

Wordless Wednesday - Looking back on Lupins

2012-02-15T09:53:00.000+11:00

In 2010 we grew a lovely Lupins Crop, we didn't get to strip it before the floods and storms laid it flat on the ground, but we did get to go out and take lots of photos in it. Fingers Crossed for a good crop this year and even better photos now I'm learning to use my camera properly!

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys.

Big Tick!

2012-02-14T14:00:00.000+11:00

So at the start of the year I put on my bucket list that I wanted to do a Digital SLR Photography Course. I had no idea how on earth I was going to accomplish this, as the closest course was 100km away and ran for 6 consecutive weekends. There was no way I could guarantee Muddy Hubby would be around to look after the kids, let alone that I'd have the energy to commute the 200km for six weekends in a row.

One weekend after a day of fencing we stopped in at the local pub (5km down the railway line) for an ice cream with the kids. A special treat for Muddy Preschooler's last day as a 'preschooler'. I noticed a sign on the back of the pub door with a beautiful photo as background. They were running a Digital SLR Photography course at my local pub! A one day course that covered everything I wanted, run by the same person who runs the ones 100km away - SCORE! I signed up Muddy Hubby for Daddy duties with 2 of the tribe and organised a friend to look after the other 2 kids, and signed myself up for the course.

On Saturday morning I was so excited, I'd charged my camera batteries, made sure I had my lenses ready, packed my notepad and pen, just like starting school! As usual it was a morning rush, and I made it to the pub with just seconds before start time.

I wanted to know how to make the photos that I take better, what makes a 'nice' photo into a 'great' photo? How do I give a photos like the one below the 'wow' factor?

I know I expected miracles in a one day course! But that's the kind of person I am, I expect the best and want to know it all at once. I didn't learn absolutely everything there is to know about SLR Cameras or everything there is to know about taking photos. I did however learn what a lot of the buttons and dials on my camera do, as well as what the numbers on the display all mean (a good start really). I learnt a bit about the composition of photos, taking portraits and landscapes, the photos I would take the most of. We are trying to talk the presenter into coming back one night and presenting on night photography, and maybe doing a refresher.

The most important thing I did learn though was the best way to work out which settings work best for your camera and what makes a good shot, is to get out there and take photos, thousands of photos. When you take a photo that has that 'wow' factor, right down the settings you had on your camera so you can remember them and use them again (I actually think my camera saves them with the photo, so I can go back and look), rather than forget what dial you changed or button you pressed like I usually do!

To help with this I'm aiming to take more photos EVERY day and I'm going to put them up on here so you can let me know what you think, what works, what doesn't, what you like about a photo or don't like, what it's missing!

How are you going with your Resolutions or Bucket Lists for 2012?

Have you ticked any off yet?

How do you take photos, do you snap away like me or sit waiting for that perfect sunset for 2 hours like our instructor?

A Working Bee

2012-02-13T14:07:00.000+11:00

When I lived in Rental Houses I tried to take good care of things. I think it was the continual fear that if it wasn't in good condition when I moved out I'd lose the bond and be out of pocket a few hundred dollars, which when you first start work is a lot of money! So now I'm on the other side of the coin as a landlord and I'm learning not everyone thinks the same!

Take for instance my last tenants, she decided that she was allergic to grass, so rather than just avoid it, she sprayed out all the grass. I'm talking ALL, including the Nature Strip out the front. I think that they actually forgot that they didn't own the place, there were lots of little additions or removals we're discovering as we start to do some work on the house. Quirky things that make you wonder 'why would you put that there?'

We camped out in the house on the weekend, with all the Muddy Kids, they kept calling it our 'holiday house' (not my idea of a beachy holiday house at all). Muddy Bubby got the best sleep in the port-a-cot, the rest of us were on the floor or thin mattresses, but it was an adventure and we all came home smiling! We planted lots of grass and dug up lots of weeds and herbs that had overgrown the garden being left unloved for so long. We had a picnic rug on the floor and takeaway for dinner (my favourite part), we worked together to help try and restore some order to the garden.

The whole time though I had this feeling of disappointment, disappointment that what was once a lovely garden was not loved at all over the last few years. Muddy Hubby tells me I have to stop having such an emotional attachment to the house, that 'the next tenants will probably do the same, so don't worry about it'. For me though I'm disappointed that people haven't cared for something enough to give it a water or a weed, or worry about their bond. I guess I thought people would take pride in their home (even though they don't own it), to have a place that is nice and welcoming and that they can enjoy and entertain visitors and they can enjoy it too. I know I would have taken care of it as a tenant, so why couldn't they?

3 Cheeky Monkeys Swinging on the rail!

Happy to be outside

Overseeing the hard work

Unloading Grass and Dirt

Am I expecting too much?

Did you care for the garden when you rented?

Do you take pride in your rental place and call it home?

Bootcamp Week 2

2012-02-10T21:54:00.000+11:00

Oh My Goodness I am sore this week! Princess Pain worked us hard this week, I don't think there was one person in our group who was not red faced, lathered in sweat and feeling like they'd had a great workout! Because really when you have that red faced, sweaty look going on, you actually feel like you've worked hard and are getting somewhere. At least I do anyway!

This week's session was based around boxing with cardio activities thrown in between each set. My sparring partner was away so I got to have a catch up with another Mum, not that you really have time (or breath) for talking, but it was good to mix it up a bit.

My nemesis this week was not the 'Mountain Climber' but the 'Burpee'. After sets of boxing I just didn't have the oomph for full blown 'Burpees', but I did give it my best shot! The thing I'm loving about Bootcamp is that while she's tough she also knows your limitations and doesn't push you past them unless you want to push yourself. It's this that actually makes me want to push myself harder, stretch those limits and actually see what my body can do after all these years of inactivity.

Now to make sure I'm on track with my meal planning to try and marry the two together. The morning rush to the school bus and preschool and day care drop out has thrown me a bit out of whack, so I may just have to start my meal planning for a whole week rather than just the whole day, now that will be a challenge for me!

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How's your exercise going? Do you have a Bootcamp Commando?

My Muddy Organiser

2012-02-09T13:58:00.000+11:00

OK, so I've been holding on to the 'Muddy Preschooler' tag, but really she's not a preschooler any more, she's a big school girl. My Muddy Preschooler is my first born, my first foray into parenthood and really my first experiment! Lots of things were trialed with her, because really with your first born it is trial and error! There are plenty of books, you can choose one book as your parenting bible, or you can take bits and pieces from here and there, but really what it comes back to at the end of the day is you and your first born learning together what it's all about.

My preschooler is a precious little thing, not just because she's the eldest, but personality wise she can be a bit precious! Things have to be done a certain way and that's how she operates, in an organised and thorough way. Meals are done in her particular order, she likes to sit in her same seat at the dinner table, she likes to know where we're going and she'll make sure her bag is packed before I even get a chance. Hence why I'm calling her my Muddy Organiser! She helps to keep me in line!

As the older sister she's gradually had less and less of mine and Muddy Hubby's time, and like all children has developed resilience and learned to adapt to the changing face of our family. With my Muddy Pixie she had a love hate relationship (still does) but for Muddy Puzzler and Muddy Bubby she has all the time in the world. She will sit down with Muddy Puzzler to do a Puzzle or play a game, she makes sure Muddy Bubby has a toy or moves him from room to room if she's moving so he's not on his own.

My Muddy Organiser is incredibly shy and at times very anxious, it is hard to get her to say 'Hello' when we're out or say 'Thank You' if someone gives her something. We have worked very hard at this and slowly she is getting better. She has made friends at school and on the school bus, and is getting better at acknowledging adults when they're talking to her.

My Muddy Organiser has a strong stubborn streak (I attribute this to my Dad, but I think she probably gets it from me) and a fiery temper. Before she started school I was tearing my hair out, we were coming to blows on a regular basis, I just couldn't keep her stimulated enough and the things she wanted to do (and you couldn't change her mind about them) just weren't possible with all the Muddy Tribe around. Now that she's started school there is almost an air of calm about her (except when she's tired) she has structure and order in her day at school, she knows where she's going and what she has to do and she's loving school so she's calmer at home.

My Muddy Organiser is somedays my saving grace and other days my nightmare when she refuses to change her mind on something. But as with all first borns she will always hold an extra special place in my heart for letting me learn on her how to be a parent!

Do you have a red head? Do they have a fiery temper?

What is your first born like?

Wordless Wednesday - The LIfe of a Rainbow Cake

2012-02-08T19:50:00.000+11:00

It took a few hours in the kitchen and a 5am start to get this baby together, but my Muddy Preschooler LOVED it. Thanks to Meredith at Count It All Joy for the recipe. The look on Muddy Preschooler's face made it all worth it.

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys.

Down Memory Lane

2012-02-07T21:03:00.000+11:00

When I turned 25 I decided that I was now a grown up and as such it was time for me to buy a house. I do these things sometimes, get a big idea in my head and it's really hard to change my mind. I rang my mum and dad and told them of my big idea. They were pretty supportive, given it came out of the blue and I think they were secretly hoping I'd move back to Sydney at some point. But I ploughed ahead and within a few months was the proud owner of my own beautiful little 3 bedroom house. I loved this house, it was very central, I could walk everywhere, including home from the pub, it was mine (and the bank's). I was living on my OWN for the very first time, with visits from Muddy Hubby, and life was great.

Then as life is want to do, things changed, I got married to Muddy Hubby, moved to the farm, had 4 babies in 4 and a half years and my little house continued on without me. Yes it had tenants in it, but none could love it as much as I did.

Due to some much needed bathroom renovations, I got to go back to my beloved house today (with Muddy Hubby and 3 of my Muddy Kids in tow). The second I walked in I remembered just why I love it so much (other than the fact it will always be remembered as where Muddy Hubby proposed). Don't get me wrong I absolutely adore living on the farm and only miss the close proximity to town, but for me that house was my independence. My first BIG thing for just me (and the bank of course).

As the house is currently unloved I took a bag of toys to entertain the Muddy Kids while I met with the builder and the real estate agent. I could tell they loved the house as much as me, they were exploring all the rooms and the yard. Houses in town with fences are a bit of a novelty for my Muddy Kids!

I'm looking forward to spending a bit more time in my beloved house, as we do some work on the bathroom. I'm looking forward to a new bathroom, to be able to make my mark on the house like the owners before me. I know that it's a LONG LONG time before we spend any money on farm houses, so I am secretly looking forward to picking basins and taps and tiles! Is that crazy or what!?!

Muddy Bubby kicking back on the floor

Muddy Pixie practicing writing like her big sister

My Muddy Puzzler running wild!

No cot or bed, hard life having to sleep on the floor!

After a few hours of waiting for the builder the house is strewn with toys!

Do you have a house that you love? One that's special to you?

Do you like renovating? Any tips for me?

Bootcamp 101

2012-02-06T13:33:00.000+11:00

This week will be my second Bootcamp session. I decided to sign up for Women's Bootcamp being run in town by a local Mum because I need a kickstart. Someone to tell me to get my butt into gear and get active. 'Princess Pain' as she calls her personal training service is definitely the one to do it, but in a nice way!

I didn't want something like this

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And I especially didn't want 'glamorous mum' Bootcamp like this, because I am far, far, far from glamorous when exercising.

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It was hard work, it got my heart going, pushed my limits and by the end I was busted, but you know what, it felt good! It felt good to actually be doing something, getting more active than just walking with the kids while they ride their bikes, or pottering in the garden. I signed up with my neighbour, and my Muddy sister-in-law has decided to give it a go too, so it's nice to have someone to be doing it with, keep me going and keep me honest! I also paid up front to make sure I go.

It had been a while (try 6.5 years!) since I've been to a gym or done any exercise other than farm work, walking or the cross trainer, but it bought back so many memories! I could remember how to do most of the circuit. The one that scared me the most was called 'Mountain Climber', not because I found it overly taxing, but because when you do it EVERY LITTLE bit of you wobbles, you feel EVERYTHING move and that was not fun!

My next step is to make sure that in between sessions I'm getting more active at home, even if it's just little bits here and there. 'Princess Pain' also has a facebook group for us where she posts hints and tips to keep us going, she's done a course in nutrition so we get some info on that too, so after one week I'm pretty happy, and actually looking forward to week two.

Have you done 'Bootcamp' before?

Was yours hardcore or more sedate?

First This, Then That......

2012-02-05T21:49:00.000+11:00

This week has passed in a kind of surreal haze. I seem to have been on a physical and emotional rollercoaster trying to keep up with it all and I have no doubt that when my head hits the pillow tonight it will be lights out for a solid sleep. I know that when you have 'firsts' it's always a big thing, but somehow this week has been action packed with them. We have ridden this roller coaster of firsts as a family, revelling in the little things and being able to share them together as a family.

This week has made me realize just how lucky we are, tired but lucky! I will post more details, especially on Bootcamp, later, but for now here's some snapshots of our week.

Muddy Pixie started Preschool on Muddy Preschooler's first sports day!

Walking into preschool for the first time!

Muddy Hubby and Muddy Preschooler shared a birthday, half a cake each.

Muddy Preschooler had her first girly sleepover with her best friend!

Muddy Preschooler won pass the parcel at a friend's birthday party

My first Bootcamp! I spent the whole time being cranky at myself for letting myself get this unfit!

Muddy Preschooler celebrated her fifth birthday with her first 'friends' (not my friends) birthday party

I made Rainbow Cake for the first time!

Wordless Wednesday - Fencing with Dad

2012-02-01T11:19:00.000+11:00

On a dreary and rainy day we went fencing with Muddy Hubby, to keep the Muddy Tribe busy! We had fun on the back of the ute, until it all went pear shaped. Muddy Hubby was hard at work and gave the girls a run down of what was left to go (lots of fenceposts left to pull out).

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys.

A Bungee

2012-01-31T14:01:00.000+11:00

We survived the first day of school! No tears from our Muddy Preschooler, just a few tears from me, as she lined up so beautifully and filed into the classroom, holding tightly to the hand of her best friend.

I was so excited to pick her up and absorb everything she had done in her day, I had a tonne of questions all lined up and ready to go. I didn't even have to ask, my Muddy Preschooler chatted non-stop all the way home! I heard all about who is on her table, what she did at recess and lunch, who else is in her class, who her Year 6 buddy is. Our stumbling block was what she actually did in the classroom. I know she coloured in a picture of a rocket and 'we did a Bungee'. I asked her to repeat it, I still got the same answer 'We did a Bungee Mum'. I went through a series of questions, but still we got 'a Bungee'.

This morning I have learned that they coloured in a picture of a bungee jumper! Who knew they'd learn about Bungee Jumping on their first day at school!

For me, a Mum who has been keenly involved at preschool, I think I am going to be a little lost, as no doubt I will be left wondering on many ocassions what she has been learning or playing at school, as I get half stories or mixed up information from my Muddy Preschooler. I think it's another part of me that has to learn to let go and trust in her teacher! A harder task than I thought, I'm hoping it gets easier!

Maybe today she'll learn about sky diving or rock climbing, but not quite sure how you top Bungee Jumping on your first day!

Mandatory family photos

The back pack which is almost as big as her!

Best Friends

Lining Up!

How did your little one's first day go?

What stories did they come home with?

A Letter to my Daughter

2012-01-29T21:24:00.000+11:00

To my Darling Muddy Preschooler,

Tomorrow you will have your first day of Kindergarten and begin your journey through school. I am writing you this letter, that I hope to keep for you one day to read.

I am overwhelmed with emotion as this day draws closer. You know that I am a big softie and I cry at the drop of a hat. This is different though, I am filled with a big knot of anxiety. I so want your first day at school to be wonderful for you. I dream that you can make some new friends and adore your teacher. I wish for you to have the happiest of first days, to enjoy your first day and come home tired (of course) but with a big smile on your face. I want you to not be bullied, not feel scared, not feel like you can't do something.

I am a control freak and I think my anxiety for you is that I can no longer control some aspects of your life, to protect you, to be there to pick you up when you fall over, to wipe your tears when you cry. For five days a week from the time you hop in the school bus, until the bus delivers you home you will be your own little person, beginning to make your own mark on the world.

To help control my anxiety I have been drilling you for the last few days 'remember to answer a question when it is asked', 'when someone asks your name, what do you say?', 'if you need to go to the toilet, what do you do?', 'if you're having trouble with a task don't be afraid to ask for help, because that's how we learn'. You, my beautiful girl have been so patient with me, answering my questions, telling me what I need to hear. You have been pretty confident about starting school, we have talked about it lots and you know your teacher and lots of your class already. You tell me you are excited, but a little nervous.

I have tried to be as prepared as any first time school mum can be, we have labelled everything, talked about what you want in your lunchbox (jam sandwich and fruit), Dad has practiced tying your shoe laces with you, and today you almost have it mastered. You are an old hand at catching the school bus, and I think this is the one thing I am relaxed about.

The one thing I keep repeating to you is this 'Remember that some things we learn quickly and some things will take more time, it's OK to ask for help or to take your time, never doubt yourself and remember you can do anything if you try'. Soppy words I know,but the best I can pass on at this point.

I have no doubt the next year will be all about your teacher and everything that she knows and is teaching you, I'm sure she will do no wrong in your beautiful blue eyes. I am looking so forward to all the new things you will learn and the delight I see on your face when you come home with the excitement of something you have learned.

Tomorrow we will take you into school, on what is supposed to be a wet and rainy day. I have no doubt I will cry. You are my first born child, the first to start your school journey, you are breaking me in to this whole school thing, and I do not doubt this next year will be a roller coaster and I have my fingers crossed that no matter what happens you have a smile on your face.

Good Luck my beautiful girl.

With all my love,

Mum xoxo

Do you have a child starting school for the first time?

Are you as much of a Nervous Nelly as me?

The Rat

2012-01-26T14:14:00.000+11:00

At the moment I feel like I'm living in an episode of Fawlty Towers, you know the one, where Manuel has a pet rat, but he is adamant it's a hamster and it escapes and he spends the whole time looking for it while it happily explores the hotel. We don't have a pet hamster, guinea pig or pet rat BUT at the moment there is a Rat in my house.

For the last two nights I have been ensconced on my lounge, iPad in hand when out of the corner of my eye a rat has run across the lounge room floor, to under the lounge I'm sitting on.

When I first saw it, I had to look twice, thinking it was one big bloody mouse, then it clicked 'that's not a mouse, it's a rat!' I then promptly jumped off the lounge, running into the bedroom to wake Muddy Hubby, screaming, 'there's a rat in the lounge room'. Muddy hubby stirred from sleep said 'what can you do?' turned back over and promptly fell asleep. I on the other hand dragged out every single mouse trap we had and proceeded to lay them all around the house. All in vain, as next morning not one single one was let off.

Last night, same thing, sitting with my iPad on the lounge, across the floor runs the rat! This time I had the traps already set, and didn't waste my energy waking Muddy Hubby, as when he went to bed his instructions regarding the rat were 'just kill it!', very helpful honey! Me a city girl, kill a rat, I think not!

I have since discovered the following things about rats:

They can do a lot of damage gnawing on things (so far no damage I can find).
They are cunning and you have to put traps unset in their path for a few days before they get used to them, then you can set them.
They are not carnivores, rather they prefer seed and grain (this allays my fears about being eaten while sleeping)
Rats are seed and grain eaters, but can be herbivores (which is why they're around the farm) and have likely moved around the house in search of food now that there are no crops in the paddock
They're out of luck in our house (which is why I'm not sure how they're here) as the food is confined to the kitchen and dining room, vacuumed after meals, and everything is securely packed away in mouse proof containers thanks to the mouse plague last year.
My house has never been cleaner, it has been disinfected from top to bottom as there are certain diseases you can catch from them and the health warnings state 'If bitten seek medical assistance', so that's not a reassuring thing

So today, a different Australia Day, I have baited in Muddy Hubby's workshop (pretty sure his workshop is their breeding ground!). I have vacuumed until the polish is coming off the floor, laid rat traps, mouse traps, investigated purchasing a cat and badgered Muddy Hubby about staying up to catch the rat.

My sleep is suffering as every sound I hear is in my mind the rat coming for me (silly I know, but a childhood fear I can't shake!). I'm ready to issue Muddy Hubby an ultimatum, get rid of the rat or I move out until it's gone. I can cope with snakes, frogs in the toilet, spiders, sheep, mice plagues, but rats are a big no no.

Have you got pest problems?

What would you do with a cunning little rat?

Wordless Wednesday - Nothing like a good sisterly hug!

2012-01-25T21:18:00.000+11:00

Sorry Muddy Bubby, but brothers give a different kind of hug to what sisters do (and they'd probably squash you too)!

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys.

A sad, but happy, Morning Tea

2012-01-24T14:26:00.000+11:00

Ever since I've had my Muddy Preschooler (maybe even a little before I had her) I have been having the most wonderful morning tea catch ups with the most wonderful group of friends a woman could ever ask for. It began with ante-natal classes, grew into a mother's group and while the frequency and attendance has waxed and waned there's been 5 of us who have continued our friendship on, through many, many, many morning teas, dinners and lunches.

Today we hosted morning tea at our house, what was special about this morning tea though, was that it will be the last morning tea that we have, where our firstborn children will be there (other than school holidays of course).

For the five of us our eldest children will start school together on Monday for the first time. They will all be going to the same school and will have each other there as a support. I've discovered that you cannot force friendship onto your children (much as times we may try to dissuade them from one wild child, to another, with a gentler influence) but we have been lucky enough that our 5 children have formed a lovely friendship with one another.

And so this morning while our children played just beautifully together, with minimal fighting and only a few tears, I felt both happy and sad. Happy that my Muddy Preschooler will go to school with friends she knows, friends she adores and friends that will keep an eye on her. I did however feel sad at the same time, that this is the end of 'early childhood' for my Muddy Preschooler, in 6 days she will be a 'School Girl' and a whole new chapter of her life (and mine) will begin.

I am honestly both excited and anxious at the same time about My Preschooler becoming a School Girl, and some days I'm not sure which emotion is stronger! Today though I was reassured that she will not be doing it alone, she'll be starting her journey with good friends, and that I think is worth so very much. At least for me it is as it helps lessen my anxiety and worry.

One of our first Mother's Group Morning Teas.

Fun in the Fig Tree

5 Cheeky Cherubs

Is your Preschooler becoming a school kid too? How are you feeling?

Are there friends starting with your children too?

Or is it a whole new world, with the opportunity to make wonderful new friends?

A week of Appointments and Learning

2012-01-23T14:58:00.000+11:00

In the past week I have seen three different health professionals as part of my healthier me campaign 2012 (unofficial title get your butt into gear Nat). Over the course of these appointments I have learnt several things about myself and my body, some are very obvious and others made me go 'why didn't I think of that before'.

I have learnt lots but here are the keys things that have stuck in my mind from the appointments with the Nutritionist, Chiropractor and Dentist:

Having four babies in four and a half years isn't the best way to look after your back, it means your pelvis goes out of whack and one leg ends up an inch shorter than the other (fixable, but not the best).
When you brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush your toothbrush shouldn't be parallel to your teeth, but at a 45 degree angle towards your gums, otherwise you start to take off the enamel.
For kids that grow up on farms drinking rainwater they need to use fluoride toothpaste and be brushing their teeth with it for about two and a half minutes twice a day (not swallowing the toothpaste) thus enables them to get some fluoride which they don't get like town kids.
For me, I am eating the right foods but some days I'm not balancing out my day with all the major food groups, so I have to mix up my diet a bit, including planning dinner based around what I had for breakfast and/or lunch, who knew your meals had to be so co-ordinated?!
My girls have only about a 15 minute tolerance for appointments before they loose it and start dancing and running around the room, or fighting. Hot chips as a reward work wonders for keeping them calm an extra five minutes (not good to say in front of the Nutritionist though).
Exercise is no longer avoidable, it's a necessity, to reach my goals of where I want to be (women's boot camp is booked for term one).
With a soda stream in the house I can easily drink 3-4 litres of water a day (hooray!)
I hate getting on the scales to be weighed, I find it humiliating, frustrating and demeaning (especially when the person weighing you is a size 10). I did already know this but to have it reinforced was not a pleasant experience.

The Muddy Preschooler and the Muddy Pixie at the Chiropractor

Our household has already started to implement some of the changes suggested by the Nutritionist, and I'm excited about trying some more of her ideas around menu planning and especially excited about trying some new recipes.

I'm not so excited about going back to the Chiropractor, it's the anticipation right before she cracks my back that I can't stand!

As for the dentist, I got given the all clear for another 12 months. Now to make my appointment for the naturopath and make sure my shoes fit for boot camp, then we'll really be on a roll!

I really enjoy learning new things, especially if they're things that are going to help me achieve my goals for a better me. I have tried Internet advice etc before, but for some things there's nothing like sitting down face to face with someone and really nutting out a problem til you reach that light bulb moment of 'That's what I need to be doing!'.

How do you occupy your kids at appointments?

Have you been making plans for a healthier you too?

Play-Doh - Get over it Nat!

2012-01-21T16:15:00.000+11:00

I am going to fess up straight away and say that I loathe play-doh. Can't stand the stuff. I used to not mind it, I really enjoyed playing with it, with kids in our therapy sessions and found rolling out the play-doh somehow therapeutic while we targeted sounds, language, whatever the client was working on.
Now, as a parent, I can't stand the stuff. I don't make it from scratch, I don't add glitter or smell or any of that exciting stuff. We do however have LOTS of play-doh and play-doh related equipment, that we have been given over the years, but I am a terrible parent. Every time the Muddy girls ask for it I find some excuse to not get it out 'Puzzler's awake and she'll eat it', 'why don't we do some cooking', 'Dad will be home soon, so we won't have time'. Today I ran out of excuses! It is raining, that slow rain that has no breaks for going outside, just slow and steady, so before I knew it the Muddy Preschooler and the Muddy Pixie had dragged down the big box and were into it, having a lovely time.

For me it just reinforced my dislike. I have a suspicion it's my control freak gene that influences my feelings. The mixing of colours together that you can't separate out, the tiny bits that get stuck and then go all hard and dry, the little bits that get ground into the ground when they fall off the table, all contribute to our decision not to get it out.

As I was cleaning it all up today and making comments about how I don't like it my Muddy Preschooler replies with 'Well why do we have it in the house then Mum?'. Sometimes I am amazed at what comes out of their mouths. I replied with 'We have it in the house because you love it'.

I know how much they love it, how creative they can be with it, how it stretches their imagination. Today they had planned out a whole 3 course meal, sorting dessert from entree from main and making each individual piece. This is why we have it in our house. This is why I need to get over my hang ups on clean up and mess when it comes to Play-doh and let them enjoy, after all isn't that what parenting is, in part, all about, letting go of some of our boundaries to let them explore theirs?

Muddy Puzzler sneaking a piece to eat when she thinks I'm not looking!

Is their Play-Doh in your house?

Do your kids like messy play that you don't?

Tiredness

2012-01-20T16:35:00.000+11:00

Tiredness is a funny thing. You can be going along just fine and then suddenly you can keep going no more, your eyes droop, you can't concentrate on anything for very long and you are forgetting things. For the last two weeks, we've got up, got ourselves organized and headed into swimming lessons every day. Today was the last day (hooray) and now we're home I'd really love a sleep. The tiredness which has been looming for the last two weeks has decided it's time for a rest.

It's not that the swimming lessons weren't worth it, they definitely were, but the physical and emotional toll has been more difficult. Mainly the emotional toll. It took a few days but my Muddy Preschooler began to enjoy the lessons, and by the end she was about up to where everyone else was on day 3, but she was happy and we were very proud that she learnt some new skills and improved her confidence in the water.

My Muddy Pixie though had me crying on several occasions, in the pool and out of it. She had started out OK but by day 3 would cry and scream through the entire lesson. One day we had a stand off in the pool for ten minutes because she refused to paddle, something she had already done on day 1. Then yesterday, the second last day, she merely protested a couple of times, but actually started to paddle on the noodle on her own. I was very proud of her, but at the same time frustrated that it had taken her so long to get back to where she had started.

I always struggle when my Muddy Kids cry, it goes straight to my heart and to see her do it every day was very tough. My theory though was if I gave up and let her get out of the pool, that I wasn't likely to get her back in any time soon, so we persevered and today I am dead tired. I have 50% of My Muddy kids asleep, but the two that should be as tired as I feel, are full of beans, so no sneaky nap will be coming anytime soon. And so we plod on, tired and slowly, maybe tomorrow a full day at home will help to revive us all.

Who knew they got to play in a boat on their last day?

They loved it though

The cheeky gang, born together, swimming together, starting school together!

The second round of babies

Do you have any tricks for getting your kids to have a day time rest?

Did you do swimming lessons and feel as tired as I do?

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Thunderstorm

2012-01-18T13:22:00.000+11:00

Family Fun in a Summer Downpour on what was a hot and sticky afternoon

Linking Up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys

To Invite or Not To Invite?

2012-01-17T14:59:00.000+11:00

My Muddy Preschooler's 5th Birthday is coming up and I'm having a slight dilemma, or maybe it's really a crisis of conscience. A couple of nights ago we sat down together and made a list of the people the Preschooler would like to invite to her birthday party. She reeled off a list of the usual suspects, kids I know and I know their parents, either very well, or know them to say hello to at preschool pick up and drop off. Then she threw in the name of a little girl I do not know. I don't know this girl's parents, I don't know where she lives. I do know she's going to a different school to the preschooler this year (courtesy of another parent), but other than that I know nothing.

The question is, do I send an invite? How do I send an invite when I don't know where to send it? It's not unusual in our town for children and their parents to not have the same surname, so that's the first stumbling block. The second is, there are lots of people in the phone book with the same last name, so how do I know which one to send it to. I asked around at swimming lessons this morning but nobody could help me out.

I explained to the Muddy Preschooler this afternoon that I didn't know this little girl's address and she asked 'Why not?'. So I'm having a battle with myself, do I spend hours trying to track this little girl down, making phone calls and leaving messages, so we can send her an invitation to the party or do I let it slide and hope the Muddy Preschooler doesn't ask about it again?

What would you do?

Muddy Preschooler's 1st Birthday Cake

Sharing with Muddy Hubby who turned 30 the same day

The joint birthday cake, with her cousin and neighbour for the 2nd Birthday

Shared Birthday Cake with Muddy Hubby for the 2nd Birthday

The first of 3 cakes for her 3rd Birthday, shared with the neighbour who is born the day before

The 3rd Birthday Cake for Day Care

Home Birthday Cake with her cousins and Muddy Hubby

A shared 4th Birthday Cake (Cheesecake Shop Special) while on holidays 2011

Monday, Fun Day

2012-01-16T21:40:00.000+11:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, sometimes I just love living on the farm and being married to my Muddy Hubby Farmer. Today was one of those days. Ask me again tomorrow when it's 40 degrees and we're in the dusty sheep yards and I can't see or breathe through the dust and I might say different. Today however was a good day, with Muddy Hubby getting to spend some time with the Muddy Kids, while working. The Muddy Kids get to do some work with Dad, learning all the time, asking questions all the time. Today's big question was from our Muddy Preschooler who says to me 'How do sheep sleep?, 'Do they sleep with their both eyes closed like we do, or do they sleep with one eye open like a Crocodile?'

While it is hard at times to live on the land, I am very grateful for the life we are living. I am especially glad on those days when the kids are getting ratty (like they are at the moment) when we can go out and explore in the paddock, or lend a hand in the shearing shed, or workshop, or simply take a drive to see what Muddy Hubby's doing. It's that kind of small things that help keep us all from going insane. With only a few weeks left of school holidays, I am trying to make a conscious effort to relax a little more with the kids, hopefully today was a good starting point of more to come.

Muddy Hubby, Muddy Bubby and the Muddy Puzzler headed off to work in the shearing shed while the Pixie, Preschooler and I went to swimming lessons

A trip to the shearing shed to see Muddy Hubby after lunch

In a very spread out convoy

A dip in the small pool to keep cool

Having fun before the storm rolled in

Extra fun when Muddy Hubby jumps in to cool down too

Back to shifting sheep before it poured down rain.

After such a great Monday I'm now wondering what tomorrow will bring! The pessimist in me has me thinking it might just go downhill from here, but fingers crossed it doesn't.

How did you spend your Monday?

Our Restaurant Challenge

2012-01-13T22:30:00.000+11:00

I honestly can't remember the last time we went out for dinner at a restaurant as a family. It was probably about the time Muddy Pixie was born and it all just got too hard. When we do a non-cooking night (which isn't very often) we generally get a takeaway and bring it home, or take it to the park.

Tonight though we challenged ourselves (with reinforcements as Nana and Grandpa are still here until tomorrow). We went into town to the local Chinese restaurant. It's your typical Chinese restaurant you find in every country town, complete with tacky decor, plastic tablecloths, the table set with spoon and fork, and you have to request chopsticks if you want them. We went in early, in the hopes of feeding the Muddy Tribe before they got too overtired and out of control.

It started out pretty well, they were happy to colour in while we waited for dinner. Our biggest challenge though was the Muddy Puzzler and the toilet! I counted no less than 8 trips to the bathroom with no success. Eventually Nana took her outside for a 'grass wee' and once that was over we were able to enjoy the rest of our meal.

The Honey Prawns and the spring rolls proved the favourites. It was actually really lovely to go out to dinner as a family, and as my Muddy Pixie started to lose it as we were finishing eating I wouldn't have wanted to be there any longer, as it would have ended in tears! We just might challenge ourselves again sometime when I don't feel like cooking, as it wasn't as terrible as I had feared it would be.

Do you take your family out to dinner?

How do you manage tired kids in a restaurant?

The Grass Wee

2012-01-12T22:07:00.000+11:00

When my Muddy Preschooler started toilet training and we were outside and knew she wasn't going to make it inside we'd get her to 'just do a grass wee', she'd pull off her undies and go on the grass, she would still prefer to use the toilet but if we got stuck she was happy to go outside. Muddy Preschooler we tried the 3 day toilet training program with, and it worked very well, it was also our first go as parents so we wanted to do the right thing.

When My Muddy Pixie started toilet training same rules applied, except we didn't do the 3 day thing, we followed her lead, it took longer but we got there.

Now we face the challenge of the Muddy Puzzler, a strong willed little thing. We had dabbled a little with wearing undies but hadn't been consistent, until this week! We have reinforcements this week, with my parents visiting to help out with swimming lessons, so into undies she went.

Muddy Puzzler had picked them out herself 'Timmy Undies' she calls them as they have pictures of Timmy Time on them. Initially she started out on the toilet, but somehow for some unknown reason she will now only do them on the grass. The Muddy Puzzler is getting very good, she tells us when she's ready to go, then bolts out the front door, strips off her undies and assumes the 'sumo' position, as she gradually straddles her legs wider and wider before she lets go. It really is hilarious to watch, we've upped the rewards if she goes on the toilet but this has not worked. It's starting to get a little problematic.

It's not that I mind her doing grass wees, I think she's doing a fantastic job in a short space of time, what's nagging in my mind is the conversation I had with the day care teacher when I first started training the Muddy Preschooler she said to me 'we have a small problem some times with our farming families, where the kids just strip off and go outside, and they really need to be using the toilet'. I can remember laughing at the time, and now, we're one of those 'farming families' whose kids don't know how to go inside!

We have 2 weeks to get her back inside before she starts day care again and at the moment I'm really not sure how I'm going to get her there. Any tips or suggestions most welcome, because at the moment I'm getting to ready to rename her 'the sumo' as she assumes the position for her outside time.

Source
Muddy Puzzler doesn't quite look this angry though

What toilet training method did you use?

What rewards worked for your kids?

Wordless Wednesday - A Day Late

2012-01-12T15:33:00.000+11:00

Finally some smiles for Swimming Lessons

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys,

A Day Late thanks to a hiccup with Blogger.

Hi, This is.....

2012-01-10T21:38:00.000+11:00

Before I moved to our local shire I used to get introduced a bit like this 'This is Nat, she's a Speech Pathologist, working for disability services, she's originally from Sydney' etc etc. When I met people the way I was introduced was about me, what I did for a living, where I worked, where I was from, where I was currently living . It was all about me and I was recognised as an individual, recognised for my qualification, what I'd achieved, where I'd come from to get to where I was.

When I got married and moved to our community it was like all of that was secondary, the introduction went something like this 'This is Nat, she's married to Muddy Hubby, you know, he's one of Noel's boys, they live on this side of the river, you know Noel he's Shirley's second son', it ceased to be about me as an individual and became all about who I was married to and how they fitted into the community, where their history was, not mine.

Now initially I was in that newly wed bliss where not much mattered outside of my little bubble of wedded happiness. Then I started to notice that there was no questions asked of me when I was introduced, no 'What do you do for work?', no 'What are your career plans?', most questions revolved around the weather and how much rain we'd had or hadn't had and what Muddy Hubby was up to. Now I understand that for the older generation they like to know how people fit into the friends of their generation, but seriously do people in their youth need to dwell on where you fit in the family history of the community (according to Muddy Hubby , Yes!)? I can understand that it gives people some context, especially those who have lived here their whole life. but surely it could come second to me as a person.

Now, when I meet someone new, and I've been meeting lots of new Mum's at swimming lessons, I make a conscious effort to find out about them as a person first before I find out who they're married to and how they fit it. Because I know how annoying I find it to be identrified as Muddy Hubby's wife, Noel's daughter-in-law and Shirley's granddaughter-in-law before I even get asked how much rain we've had.

Maybe it's different in a big city. as there's so many people and so many different suburbs, but for us it's all about the family and the family history with the introduction. I'm starting a new trend though, when I introduce my Muddy Hubby to my new friends I tell him all about what they do, where they're working or not working and something special about them before he puts the hard word on me about who they're married to and which branch of the family that is!

Source

How do you introduce people?

How do you get introduced? Is it all about you first?

Day One - Not so great.

2012-01-09T21:36:00.000+11:00

Have you ever organised something, co-ordinated it down the the last detail and then got to the start of it and thought - why did I bother? Today was one of those days, the first day of a two week intensive of swimming lessons for My Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Pixie. I had organised baby sitters for the Puzzler and the Bubby. I'd done a trial run at the local pool, we had a mini-break over the weekend at My Muddy Sister-in-law's with her 3 kids, spending lots of time in the pool to help build their confidence. By the end of the weekend My Muddy Preschooler could paddle on the noodle, was riding it like a horse, with very little assistance and was having so much fun. My Muddy Pixie, while reluctant to get into the pool until we had evicted all the frogs, was by the end paddling on the noodle and kicking and floating.

So when this morning dawned I was feeling pretty good, knowing they were a little more confident and knew the kinds of things they'd be asked to do. Then it all went pear shaped. Muddy Preschooler was up first, she refused to get into the pool, then once she got in she cried and cried, the swim instructor (who is also a Mum) was really lovely and positive and helped her do the first few tasks. Then the crying got old very quickly, Muddy Preschooler flatly refused to do what was asked, even when I climbed in with her (the only parent in this age group class to do so), hoping it would encourage her. It didn't matter what amount of firmness, niceness, flat out bribery I used it was a disaster and I asked myself several times 'Why am I doing this?'.

I tried to be patient I really did, by the end I was threatening to go home (I know, not the best thing to so, but after 25 minutes I was getting desperate), Muddy Preschooler kept saying she didn't want to go home, wanted to stay, but kept the crying up, which for the last 5 minutes was admittedly only a whimper. As soon as the lesson was over she put her towel on and stood by the pool watching Muddy Pixie's swim lesson.

Muddy Pixie started out really well, until we got to the part where she held my hands and jumped in the pool, she slowly backed away from the pool, to where she was out of my reach and no amount of coaxing was getting her back towards the edge of the pool, finally a Dad who was observing gave her a little nudge from behind to just put her into my reach and then I didn't let go.

Not the best of starts to our swimming lessons, and admittedly I came home a little disheartened, I am determined not to give up, to try and remain as positive as I can, as I know it's probably very daunting for them. The disheartening bit is I know they can do everything they were asked to do, they chose not to though.

My plan for tomorrow is Bribery! Lolly bribery (not my favourite, but at the moment it's what works) and so far I've had firm agreement from them that they will participate and not cry, several big statements such as 'I'm going to jump in really big', and 'I'm going to do everything Alicia asks' and my favourite 'I'm not going to cry', because I can cope with the refusal, I can cope with the excuses to get out of the pool 3 times, but the crying breaks my heart. If you have any ideas on how to manage my swim lesson dilemma, or anything that has worked for you please share! I have another 9 days of swimming lessons in front of me and I think I'll probably run out of bribes by Thursday.

Muddy Preschooler having fun with her Muddy Aunty

Muddy Preschooler paddling on the noodle

Muddy Pixie and her Muddy Grandma

Pool Time

2012-01-05T19:53:00.000+11:00

After a few exhausting days of being home I was feeling pretty low, still trying to unpack, Muddy Hubby missing in action catching up on work and one sick Muddy Bubby . I was already snappy with the whole Muddy Tribe (Muddy Hubby included even though he was only around for a couple of hours!) so I made a decision to step back and do some relaxation and actually enjoy some time with the Muddy Kids.

This morning we made our first trip of the summer to the pool in town. I rang to make sure it was going to be open (no guarantees with this local pool) and packed us all up. My Muddy Puzzler opted out at the last minute choosing to go on the Tractor with Muddy Hubby, so Muddy Preschooler, Muddy Pixie and Muddy Bubby piled into the car with me for a lovely morning.

Really it was a bit of a litmus test. My Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Pixie are booked in for 2 weeks straight of intensive swimming lessons. Every day for 2 weeks, we'll traipse into town, a bit different for us living out of town! I really didn't know how they'd go with the pool, last year's lessons were a bit of hit and miss, so I thought today would be a good test. They LOVED it, especially Muddy Preschooler. I am actually now looking a little bit forward to going to the pool every day and after this morning came home feeling a little more relaxed and like I'd had some lovely quality time with 3 of my lovely children. I also bought a half season ticket for all of us (Muddy Hubby included) to make sure we keep going back, not just for lessons, but for some nice Muddy Family and relaxation time, something we don't get a lot of.

Ready for a swim

Hard to contain that excitement!

Pretending to drive a boat

Splashing around

This is what Muddy Bubby thought of his very first swim!

Worked up an appetite

Building up my Will Power!

2012-01-04T21:57:00.000+11:00

Have you seen that Quit Smoking Ad? The one about Will Power being a muscle and how it gets stronger every time you use it. Now I'm not a smoker, but I do have weaknesses when it comes to food, mainly chocolate, but other favourites as well. In line with my attempt to give us a healthier house I'm trying very hard to build up my will power strength. I've even put a little sign up beside the bed to remind me to use my will power more. I know I can do it. I've just been a bit slack and let it slide.

I also, was so taken with my lovely chalk and whiteboard sticker find that several places around the house, now have them adorned with messages and reminders. the ones in the kitchen remind me to drink water and my tasks for the day or the month.

I also have sneaky little ones on the cooking cupboard and biscuit cupboard! I was hoping Muddy Hubby might subliminally take the messages in too, time will tell! Although just as he was heading out the door tonight to start tractor driving he tried to sneak a packet of the girl's biscuits past me to take with him, so maybe the subliminal stuff hasn't kicked in yet.

How do you remind yourself of things?

Are you building up your Will Power too?

5 Years Today

2012-01-02T13:55:00.001+11:00

This morning I woke up and I cried (no this is not a sympathy, woe is me post), I cried because I was remembering a woman I loved with all my heart. Today it is exactly 5 years since my beautiful Grandmother passed away. When she passed away I was 36 weeks pregnant with my Muddy Preschooler and I remember thinking she was invincible, she's made it to 92, surely she'll make it another month. Exactly one month and one day after she passed away My Muddy Preschooler was born.

We had spent Christmas in Sydney and shared a lovely family Christmas, including my Aunt, Uncle and 2 cousins. Muddy Hubby and I left Sydney on New Years Day and we stopped in and said goodbye before we left. As we were leaving she asked 'What are you going to call the baby?'. I flatly refused to tell her, I was being a precious first time Mum who wanted to keep it between Muddy Hubby and I. It was the last conversation I had with her, she had a fall that night and passed away the next day. It is the one regret I have, not telling her the names. I know it's silly, and you can't change anything, but I would have liked her to have known.

My Grandmother was a beautiful lady who would have loved to have known my 3 Muddy Girls and 1 Muddy Baby Boy. Each time I look at My Muddy Preschooler in particular I see in her my Grandmother's stubborn streak (she lived in her own home until she passed away, refusing to move) and each time I look down at My Feet and My Muddy Girls Feet I smile and laugh, as we've all got my Grandmother's fat feet that point outwards, rather than straight ahead. Feet that are hard to find shoes to fit!

So today I fondly remember my Grandmother and sit down with my Muddy Tribe and talk about the Great Grandmother they didn't get to meet, but who would have loved them with all of her heart.

Grandma and Grandpa - Entertaining!

Grandma with her 3 Granddaughters on her 90th Birthday - Same house as above, same corner even!

Grandma and I, our last Christmas

New Year, New List!

2012-01-01T20:09:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year Everybody! I saw in the New Year fast asleep after wrangling 3 Muddy Kids on Grandpa's boat for the 9pm fireworks and today was spent driving the long drive home from Sydney.

It's photos like this that put a photography course on my Bucket List

I'm not a big one for New Year's Resolutions but I've been thinking a bit about the year ahead and what I'm most looking forward to as well as things I'd like to achieve in my own little world for the year. If I don't get them done, no dramas, I'll try again in 2013. I thought I'd share my thoughts with you, I LOVE a good list and just couldn't help myself. If you've got any ideas on how to help me work through my Bucket List (Thank you Laura for the title) please feel free to share your tips for me (trust me I'll need all the help I can get).

Things I'm looking forward to in 2012

· Muddy Preschooler starting Big School and all the adventures that come with that

· Muddy Pixie starting Preschool and having a place that's just for her
· Muddy Puzzler starting to toilet train (also dreading this at the same time, but looking forward to when she has it mastered)
· Muddy Bubby growing and changing into an active little boy and discovering his personality more
· A hopefully good rainfall for sowing with a nice crop for harvest
· A return to work in August
· Spending time with family and friends
· Having family fun times
· Exploring the wonderful world of blogging, working to find my own little voice in the www
· Getting back into exercise in some shape or form

My Bucket List for 2012

· Find a local SLR course (or internet one) and do it, so I can hopefully take better photos

· Volunteer for school canteen
· Make an appointment with a Nutritionist and follow through with some (I'm not going to kid myself and say all) of her suggestions so we can be a healthier Muddy household
· Borrow a book a month from the local library and read it, rather than just let it sit there
· Use my new Food Processor once a month to show Muddy Hubby just how much we needed it!
· Throw a birthday party for each of my Muddy Kids (they've been a bit neglected the last few years!
· Make some time for me on my own at least once every 6 months
· Aim for two date nights with Muddy Hubby
· Make a new friend (or more than one) pushing my comfortable boundaries

From my Muddy Family to you and your families we hope you have a Fabulous 2012 with lots of fun, frivolity, love and laughter ahead.

Simple ones are the best

2011-12-31T10:29:00.000+11:00

With our time in Sydney drawing to a close My Muddy Tribe are all very tired and
getting crankier by the second. We have had a busy week and when we're at Nana and
Grandpa's house they go a bit stir crazy inside, so we've cracked open a few
presents to keep them occupied outside.

A Mum from home once said to me the best presents are the ones they open and can use
straight away, because they're not waiting for batteries or help from Mum and Dad,
they're just into them and occupied!

These are the presents that have entertained My Muddy Girls the most this week in
their down time. Bubbles, Bubbles and More Bubbles. Of Course the Water Play, while
needs some help to plug in the hose, has kept them plenty entertained.

Thank You Aunty Laura

Thank You Chrissy

Thank You Annie and Maggie

Challenging hopping in water!

What are your hit presents?

How do you keep the kids entertained when they're over tired and not ready for bed?

Home Away From Home

2011-12-29T22:13:00.000+11:00

Being a born and bred Sydney-Sider who now lives in the country (and still on occasion pines for my pre-country life) I am always harping on to my poor Muddy Hubby 'I want my girls to go to Sydney', 'I want them to have some of the experiences I had growing up', 'I don't want them to end up in town for the rest of their lives, having never experienced anything different'. It's not that I wouldn't be happy for them to live in our town the rest of their lives, but I want to ensure they have the OPPORTUNITY for other experiences and adventures and other lifestyles, before they settle down.

I am very blessed to still have my parents living in Sydney, as well as a wonderful circle of friends and extended family in Sydney and Newcastle, so we are able to visit and explore the City and the Coast a couple of times a year. My most favourite time is this time of the year, as many friends are not working and are free for a wonderful catch up. We can generally get from A to B without too many traffic hassles or public transport hassles and the weather is generally pretty good, warm, but not Hot like home!

For me this week in particular has felt like coming Home (but now with a Muddy Hubby and 4 Muddy Kids), slipping back in to a comfy place, finding it hard to believe that I haven't lived here for 10 years! We have taken the Muddy Tribe to the parks I played in when I was growing up (with much newer and updated equipment), travelled up the coast and been to the beach, we've been to the fish markets and the local shops, had some delectable morning tea and GOOD QUALITY coffee. Most importantly though we've had some precious and memorable time with family and friends, providing our Muddy Kids with the opportunity to form 'City' friendships with the children of my friends. Something very special, which I hope will continue to grow over the years ahead.

Tomorrow we're off for some more exploring of the City, to show our Muddy Tribe just what Sydney and life outside our farm has to offer.

Bargaining for a good price!

A newly rebuilt park!

Certainly more exciting than the old swings when I was a kid.

Muddy Pixie taking it all in at the beach.

Showing the Twins how to play in their new Kitchen.

Group Hug!

On the Beach

Muddy Bubby's First trip to the beach.

Fun on the swing with Muddy Hubby

What's your favourite piece of Sydney?

Do you have a place that feels like a home away from home?

The Drinking Fountain

2011-12-28T14:27:00.000+11:00

OK, so living on a farm we have LOTS of ways to entertain ourselves, plus living 30k's out of town we don't really get in to go to the park so much, so when we come to Sydney My Muddy Tribe LOVE to visit the local parks, as well as our friend's local parks.

On Monday we visited Aunty Laura and the wonderful park across the road from her new house. My Muddy Puzzler had her first experience with a Drinking Fountain. I never realised how hard they were to master, until she tried to give it a go! We really should get out more to get some practice in. Not sure how Muddy Preschooler will go with the Drinking Fountains at school next year?

What's your favourite activity at the park?

Any tips for teaching kids to drink from fountains?

Passing on the Tradition

2011-12-27T09:30:00.001+11:00

For as long as I can remember boats have been a part of my life. There are photos of me strapped into a seat that is strapped onto the deck of Dad's old yacht when I was only a month or so old. There are countless stories and photos about sailing and the harbour in my parents household. The one thing that has remained the strongest though, even since I've long left home and had a family of my own, is that on Boxing Day everything for my Dad stops so he can watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Boxing Day Lunch would never start until the boats had cleared the heads and were heading south.

Yesterday was no different, Dad turned to watch the start while the rest of us tucked into our lunch. The one thing I noticed though was that my Muddy girls were fixated by the yachts, asking countless questions about when the race was going to start and where they were going, what happens on the boats, 'do they sleep?', 'how can they see at night?' and most importantly 'Where is Tasmania?'

For the remainder of the day my Muddy Preschooler kept asking where the boats were up to, how long would they race for, will they keep racing through the night. We patiently answered her questions, but she wanted to see the boats and could not understand why they weren't on TV until the end of the race. Grandpa patiently sat them down at the computer and pulled up the official website showed the Muddy Girls where all the boats were up to, what the wind was doing, what speed they were travelling and what he thought was happening in race tactics. It warmed my heart to see my Dad passing on his love of sailing to my Muddy Girls, and I hope that they remember even a little of the knowledge he's imparting, and continue the love of the Sydney to Hobart once a year.

Do you watch the Sydney to Hobart in your house?

What are your family traditions being passed down?

Done and Dusted

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000+11:00

Well today is Boxing Day and that means Christmas is pretty much over for another year! It was a big couple of days with the long drive to Sydney, the kids making sure Santa had something to eat and drink and that Muddy Preschooler put out the Reindeer Food she made at Day Care.

Then there was the great unwrap! Santa was very generous to all of us this year and we are very grateful we are so lucky. The Muddy Tribe have all been enjoying their presents and today is, as always, a day for leftovers and watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Also a day for really getting into all the presents! So far today we've made cards with Muddy Preschoolers Card Kit, taken a million photos on the cameras they got from Santa, followed the Zhu Zhu Guinea Pig around (he's currently missing in action somewhere) and we are about to put together the train set and the jewellery kits! New toys are always good for distraction!

We took lots of photos in the morning, but not so much in the afternoon, as everyone was a bit weary. Below are some snapshots of the great unwrap for Muddy Bubby's first Christmas.

Happy Christmas and our Muddy Family hope you had a Lovely Christmas Day and are enjoying time with family and friends.

How do you spend your Christmas? Is it Traditional or more Modern?

The Gingerbread House

2011-12-23T16:56:00.000+11:00

So the other thing I'm a scaredy cat about is building a Gingerbread House. I would LOVE to make one that's super fabulous and even one tenth as brilliant as Zumbo's but it's not going to happen. I have only just mastered making Gingerbread biscuits so there's no way I'm ready for the house. Despite this my Muddy Sister-in-law always strongly encourages me to make one. Having made several herself including ones from scratch she is quite confident in her Gingerbread abilities.

This year my Nephew's Preschool had a fundraiser and they were selling Gingerbread kits. So My Muddy Sister-in-law kindly bought one for my Muddy Tribe! She posted it in the mail and surprisingly it arrived intact. You just needed to buy the lollies to decorate it.

I started to get a little apprehensive, but lo and behold a change in plans meant that I was in Sydney and My Muddy Mother-in-law made it with my Muddy Girls. I am forever Thankful for this! I know it's probably a bit over the top, but I know that with my shaky hands I'd crack the roof or my walls wouldn't meet up, then I'd get all cranky that it wasn't working and the whole thing would go in the chook bucket. So really it's been a good thing that I couldn't do it with the kids.

Last night Muddy Hubby Cracked it open for the Tribe and the Muddy Kids (and Muddy Hubby too I think) have been on a sugar high ever since! We took some photos to send to My Muddy Sister-in-law, they were a one handed effort as Muddy Bubby wanted in on the action too!

Maybe a Gingerbread House needs to go on my to do list for 2012 Christmas, as I slowly overcome my anxiety over making one. Or maybe I just need to learn how to pipe icing properly first, small steps.

Have you ever made a Gingerbread House?

Do you have any hints and tips?

Mint Slice Balls

2011-12-21T23:00:00.001+11:00

Tomorrow is the last day of Day Care for the year, and the last day for my Muddy Preschooler for good. How do you say Thank You to people who have cared for your child for the last 3 years on a weekly basis, they've helped shape her from a VERY shy and anxious little girl into a more confident little girl who is now able to make friends and have a lovely time. They fought the day time sleep battle so she wasn't a total ratbag when I picked her up late after work. They have helped with the toilet training and all the little preschooler dramas. When I put it this way, baking for them probably isn't a big enough Thank You, but for now that's all I have to offer.

Today my 3 Muddy Girls and I did the final bit of cooking in our second round of Christmas baking for Thank You and Christmas presents. Our final is 'Our Favourite' which is what my Muddy Preschooler says every time we cook something. Muddy Pixie calls them Mince Balls and rolls them into Snakes, Muddy Puzzler is so focused on smashing the biscuits that she forgets that she has to share. They are Mint Slice Balls, and I tend to only make them at Christmas because they are so very delectable that Muddy Hubby and I would be the size of a house if I made them more regularly, as we'd sit and eat them all.

You need:

1 Twin Pack Mint Slice Biscuits

1/2 Tin Condensed Milk

1/2 Pack of Dessicated Coconut

- Put all the Biscuits in a bag and smash them up as finely as you can. The chocolate and mint filling will stick to the bag.

- Put the biscuits in a bowl and mix in the Condensed Milk and Coconut. You may need to add more coconut if the mixture is a bit runny.

- Once you have a fairly firm mixture take a teaspoon size amount and roll into balls

- Place in the fridge or freezer to set

- Enjoy!

These can also be frozen and pulled out for a later time.

Muddy Puzzler helps to smash up the Mint Slice Balls

Muddy Pixie has a different smashing technique

Muddy Preschooler just wants her photo taken

Throw it all in a bowl and mix

The finished product

How do you say Thank You to the carers of your children?

Do you have a 'only for special occassions' recipe?

The Santa Photo

2011-12-20T22:42:00.000+11:00

OK so I'm going to come right out and say it, when it comes to Santa Photos I'm a bit of a scaredy cat. I can't stand the thought of getting my kids all prettied up, taking them the 100km to our nearest Santa Photo opportunity at Myer and have them freak out or not smile or the worst for me (because I don't like having my photo taken when I'm stressed out because my children won't behave) I actually have to get into the photo myself. So because I'm a scaredy cat I've never taken my kids the 100km to even attempt a Santa Photo.

To make up for it though each year we go to the local village Christmas party where the same Santa has been handing out presents for about 15 years! He's a skinny Santa with a bit of padding and a very daggy Santa suit. He arrives each year on the local Fire Truck with lights and sirens going. He rings his bell, sits down next to the tree and begins to hand out presents (parent provided of course). The first year we went with Muddy Preschooler we didn't even do the present thing, let alone a photo.

The next year we did a present but she refused to even sit next to Santa to get it, clinging desperately to Muddy Hubby.

Our Muddy Pixie on the other hand didn't care whose knee she was sitting on, she just had eyes for the present.

Then in 2009 Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Pixie were brave enough to walk up to Santa and get their present but wouldn't sit on his lap. While Muddy Puzzler was the one who only had eyes for the present.

2010 was a better year for us, EXCEPT for the fact that Muddy Hubby and I had to sit in the actual photo, which wouldn't have been so bad except that Santa I discovered likes to snuggle up to the Mums more than the kids. I'm thinking Santa may not be our Village Santa for too much longer.

This year we had another party to go to, so we didn't make it to the Village Christmas Party to see Santa, so we didn't have to sit encourage and cajole the kids to go up to Santa, let alone sit in the photo. The way I figure it, when they're ready to go and talk to Santa when we walk past him at the shops or not hide behind my legs when he's around they'll be ready to go and have the Santa Photo experience!

What do you do about Santa photos?

Do you have to get in them too?

Are they a tradition in your house?

The Jumping Castle

2011-12-18T16:13:00.001+11:00

When I was growing up, Jumping Castles looked like this - made out to be a castle! I can remember having hours of fun jumping on them at school fetes, shows having a ball until a bigger kid jumped on you and it all ended in tears.

At our recent Preschool Christmas Concert and Fete we had hired a jumping Castle and Inflatable Slide (Bubbles they call them in the business!) and man were they cool. The Jumping castle was like a whole world of it's own with slides and animals to wrestle and stairs to climb, It was massive. None of this old fashioned jumping around a flat rectangle and running from one side to the other. On these ones you could go up, down, under, over, through, so much fun! My Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Pixie could have stayed on their for hours, except their session ended and they had to get off! I'm guessing they call them Bubbles now because they definitely don't look like a 'castle' anymore.

What I've been really surprised about though is the growing amount of small backyard jumping castles. They appear in Toy Catalogues all the time and I know several families that have one they will pull out for parties, or if the kids are bored, if it's wet they'll move the car out of the garage and set it up in there. I was a bit of a cynic about these backyard castles, I thought they were a bit over the top, then we had a huge amount of kids coming for a birthday party/Christening and we borrowed our neighbours backyard one, and it was the BEST thing we did. It kept our kids entertained for hours! Obviously it's not for the 'big' kids, but for kids the age of My Muddy Tribe they were perfect.

Yesterday we went to a big Christmas Party and we again borrowed the Jumping Castle, I think I saw My Muddy Tribe for all of about 5 min intervals once the Jumping Castle was set up! So I've had to pack my cynicism away and admit that for some occasions the backyard Jumping Castle is not over the top, it's an ingenious way to entertain the kids! They may not be as I remember them, but they still provide hours of entertainment and it still all ends in tears when the big kid lands on you.

Muddy Preschooler on the Jumping Castle (note the animals and slide in the background!)

Muddy Pixie and Muddy Preschooler at the Fete

The Backyard Jumping Castle, too much?

What do you remember about Jumping Castles? Are they Over the Top with Backyard ones?

The Advent Calendar

2011-12-15T15:32:00.000+11:00

When I was growing up we didn't do the Advent Calendar thing. I think one year I got one of those Chocolate Advent Calendar things, but other than that nothing. I knew no different so it didn't really matter. Now that I have my own kids it's a whole different story. I didn't want to do the Chocolate/lolly advent calendar things. I thought about the little gifts you open, the ones with drawers and the ones with little pockets. I ruled them out as I figured I needed to put things in; that either I'd made (not really my cup of tea) or that they could eat (see avoiding chocolate/lollies above). So when I came across a lovely little Advent Calendar at my Card Party I decided that this was the way to go for us.

They had several little Advent Calendars, one modern day one with a town house, a festive foods one which had a festive food for each day and an explanation behind why that food is associated with Christmas time. I thought I'd start with the traditional though for my Muddy Girls (Muddy Bubby is a bit little yet, but seems to sit and listen each night!).

The one I picked was the stable scene and each day you count down you add another piece to the picture, so for the last couple of nights we've added each of the 3 wise men. It has the Shepherds, the Archangel Gabriel, some animals that live in the stable and the last three pieces to go in are Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. The Muddy Girls absolutely LOVE it, they take turns each night getting it off the hall table where it lives and they each take a turn to put a piece in, as we tell the story of The Nativity. They ask questions and remember who each piece is and why they are all at the stable and how they got there (following the star). It's pretty solid cardboard and I'm hoping it lasts a few years, as it's been really nice to sit as a family and talk about the real Christmas story, and not focus on the whole Santa and Presents thing, as I think we're going to get lots of that in years to come as they get older. I'm hoping they'll retain some of this information for future reference too!

It sits on the Hall Table and during the day the Muddy Girls check it out and ask questions.

Do you do Advent Calendars in your house?

What's yours like?

The Present Debate

2011-12-14T14:10:00.000+11:00

The other day when I asked Muddy Hubby what he wanted for Christmas he replied with 'A Day Off'. This of course was not much help to my very tired and stressed brain. Each year I struggle to think of a good present for Muddy Hubby. I know that there are lots of things I would like to buy him, but most of these I cross off the list very early, as I can hear his practical voice in my head 'That's really nice Babe, but what do I need these for?' or 'You shouldn't have bought me that, I already have one of those' (ignoring the fact he's had it for 15 years and it's practically worn out!

Last year I took a new tack, I went VERY practical. I went to Bunnings, grabbed a basket and walked down the aisles filling the basket with little tools and handy items for the truck and workshop. I wrapped up these parcels and put them in a Santa sack with some VERY practical socks and undies. It was a success, the only time I heard 'You shouldn't have bought these, I already have a pair' was on the new Levi Jeans I bought him, and I bought them because they looked good on him and his other jeans are old and way too short on his long legs.

This year I'm thinking I'll take the same path, I've already purchased a couple of small items, including Ear Muffs for the lawn mower (really they're for me), a magnetic tool holder thingy and my plan is to get him a camping chair to keep in his truck for long waits at the silos! I'd love to be able to guarantee him a day off, and if we FINALLY finish harvest and make it to Sydney for Christmas he may even get a few days off, some time on the boat and maybe even some fireworks like we did a few years ago!

Muddy Hubby and Muddy Preschooler relaxing on Sydney Harbour

Enjoying the New Years Eve Fireworks

What do you buy your Hubby's?

Are your Hubby's as practical and money minded as my Muddy Hubby?

The Christmas Bake

2011-12-14T09:16:00.000+11:00

I have known that Christmas is coming for a while (kind of hard to miss), I've pretty much done all of my present shopping, and there's only a few small things left to buy. What had slipped my mind though was that this week is the last week of term! For Muddy Preschooler at least term ends this week, we have one more day of Day Care next week and then it's holidays until the end of January.

For us the end of term means not only a Thank You present and card for the Preschool Staff, but also a Thank You present and card for the staff in 3 different rooms at Day Care, plus the Director. The big thing though is a present and card for Muddy Preschooler's 4 (yes 4) Bus Drivers! These are the people that ensure my little girl gets to and from Preschool Safely (They only slipped up once when she missed bus changeover once, and got the bus bogged only once at our stop, so not a bad result).

I'm not big on buying presents, I think that they all probably get enough nick nacky, kitsch, tacky gifts, so I go down the food or plant route. Because really who doesn't love food, and who couldn't do with a nice little plant. This year we settled on baking (can you call it baking if you don't actually bake it, and just melt stuff and put it in the fridge to set?). Muddy Preschooler and I picked four items to make to put in our little packages (9 Packages all up!).

Today we had a massive day (had to be today because it had to be ready for the morning because Bus Driver Phillip only drives the bus on a Wednesday). We made Rocky Road, White Christmas Slice, Peppermint Bark and Mint Slice Balls! A VERY sweet, but yummy, combination. The hardest part of the day was trying to remember whose turn it was to stir or add ingredients! All in all a fun day in the kitchen and the packages, while not all finished, look not too bad. Now to make sure they all get delivered safely before Muddy Hubby finds them and tries to sneak some onto the Tractor.

My Muddy Pixie

2011-12-11T20:35:00.000+11:00

My Muddy Girl 2, Muddy Bubby and I have had a little sojourn together in Sydney over the last few days. It has been really really lovely to spend some one on one time with My Muddy Girl 2, My little Pixie as I often call her. My Muddy Pixie was the smallest born of all my Muddy Babies, weighing in at 6lb 4oz. I must say she hasn't grown much! My Muddy Pixie is very petite, long in the limbs and very lean. About 2 years ago I was a little bit worried, she just didn't look healthy, it wasn't just the lack of weight, but she was pale and wouldn't eat much and it was a battle to put weight on her. I ended up taking her to a Naturopath/Iridologist/Herbalist - Jen and she worked wonders, the colour came back into My Muddy Pixie's face, she started putting on weight, she turned into a different child and I am eternally thankful we went and saw Jen when we did.

While My Muddy Pixie still remains slight of build she consistently puts on weight, eats all her meals (especially if it's sweet or spicy) and has lots of colour and energy in her world every day. The one things I struggle with though with My Muddy Pixie is her concentration! I am always commenting 'She's off with the Pixies' as it is hard to gain her attention and hard to get her to focus on a task. Yes, I know she's only 3, but My Muddy Pixie lives up to her name. Muddy Pixie will start Preschool one day a week next year and I'm very interested to see how she'll go in a new, and at times chaotic environment. I am sure she will thrive, but being the overanxious Muddy Mum I can be, I got her assessed by an OT, to make sure if there was anything I could do to help her I had a heads up and could get started. I think too because I'm a health professional by training I definitely over think and over worry, hence the OT assessment, probably before she needed it!

My Muddy Pixie is an absolute delight, always keen for a cuddle, loves a good laugh and will retell stories over and over just to keep laughing. Muddy Pixie is so far my only Muddy Bubby not to get Car Sick (see here for our car sick history), she also doesn't like to sleep much. My Muddy Preschooler always loved to sleep, especially in the car, we'd go somewhere and it wouldn't take long and she'd fall asleep (still does). Muddy Pixie on the other hand has never liked to sleep much, in the car she always just used to scream, until we got to our destination or she passed out from exhaustion. Now, she fights sleep with all of her being, talking her way through roadtrips, commenting, asking questions, drawing pictures and telling us all about them, reading books to her Baby Brother, whatever it takes to stay awake! The same goes for a day time rest she pushes herself all day until eventually she passes out from exhaustion, wherever she happens to be at the time, after she's flitted from one activity to another and the house looks like a bomb has gone off!

My Muddy Pixie I feel sometimes gets a little neglected (not on purpose, but by default), she's pretty independent, isn't as loud as her two sisters and doesn't need the regular attention that Muddy Bubby does, so these few days have been so refreshing to provide My Muddy Pixie with some undivided attention, including an outing for a cupcake which she LOVED so much so that she spread crumbs from one end of herself to the other!

Muddy Pixie on her Birth Day

On the Tractor early on

My Muddy Pixie on her 2nd Birthday

Her Best Gene Simons Impression

My Threenager!

Ready for a Cup Cake

Exhausted at the table

Starting Early

2011-12-08T21:18:00.000+11:00

On Saturday we had Muddy Preschooler's big Christmas Concert, Graduation Ceremony and Preschool Fete. A BIG Day. Lots of excitement from Muddy Preschooler in the lead up, with comments such as 'I'm going to walk around the fete with Emily (best friend) not you', and 'You go off with the other girls, I'm with Emily', 4 going on 14 I think.

Beforehand I struggled to get out of her exactly what the concert was about, other than she was going to be a Rabbit and the Rabbits were the last ones after all the other animals. Anyway the concert was a great success, as was the fete and no, I didn't let her go off with just her friends, as much as she tried, she is still only 4!

After the Graduation Ceremony though I got into a conversation with Muddy Great-Grandma who asked me 'How many more graduations will she have?'. It got me thinking about whether we're going over the top with things. Yes it's great that she's finishing preschool and moving onto Big School, do we need to have a graduation for that? Not only that but we also have a Day Care Graduation and Ceremony with another certificate. Are we starting on these things too early, come the next 3 children to graduate Preschool and Day Care will we be so over it that it doesn't mean as much? Are we peaking too soon, starting Graduations at the age of 4. I know I didn't have a Graduation when I finished Preschool, an end of year concert yes, but Graduation No.

My Muddy Tribe will move from Preschool to go through Primary School and then Graduate, then High School Graduation and fingers crossed either University or a TAFE or Trade Certificate and the Graduation Ceremony for them. Am I being a cynical Muddy Mum? Should I just be making the most of all opportunities to see my Muddy Tribe shine up on stage or am I right, we are peaking too early?

Muddy Hubby dropped in to play photographer for the duration of the concert before slipping back to harvest duties.
That's Muddy Preschooler looking at the other Rabbits to see what she's supposed to be doing!

Muddy Preschooler collecting her Graduation Certificate

Exhausted Rabbit passed out once we got home and she came down from her sugar high

One Thousand Acres

2011-12-07T14:29:00.000+11:00

It's raining again. Actually it's not raining at the moment but it has rained, now it's steamy and yuk and the forecast is for more rain. For something like 5 days, rain and a bit of it (I've looked at the satellite and I can't work out where it's coming from but Mr Weatherman is sure it's coming).

My Muddy Puzzler's facial expression sums it up. This is pretty much how all the Muddy Males around here are feeling at the moment.

We have been progressing through this harvest in a very stop start way thanks to the rain and storm interruptions, we are now down to 1000 Acres to go. 3 or 4 more days and our 2011 harvest would be over, but thanks to the 2mm of rain we're delayed again. I took this photo yesterday as the clouds rolled in, our 'Clover Paddock' all stripped and ready for spraying out the weeds, to get it ready for 2012 sowing. 10 Paddocks and 1000 Acres and I'm looking forward to seeing Muddy Hubby for more than an hour at a time and especially looking forward to seeing a smile back on his face, knowing Harvest is over. The countdown is on.....provided the rain stays away.

'Boys Toys'

2011-12-06T22:46:00.001+11:00

Having 3 Muddy Girls we have a house full of dolls, dress ups, dresses and skirts and LOTS of things in shades of pink. I have never consciously pushed the girly angle, in fact for Muddy Preschooler's first Christmas she received a Tool Bench, which remains a favourite to this day. I find it so interesting though to watch what toys the kids choose to play with and how they choose to play with them.

We have a couple of trucks and a loader for the sandpit which the Muddy Kids love to play with. The trucks have been used to cart all manner of things from dolls, to flowers, grass clippings, the dog etc. The latest game of choice is to create a house at the base of the fig tree and the trucks are used to cart ingredients for cooking. Today the trucks collected dirt that went into making a mulberry cake, tea and coffee, pink water and a strawberry cake.

I am continually fascinated and amazed at their creativity. While I look at a truck and think building, roadworks and sandcastles. My Muddy Girls have looked at the trucks and thought about carting ingredients for cooking. I think it is so valuable to ensure they are exposed to a variety of toys including ones that are traditionally 'boys toys'.

Then there's the other side of the coin, now that we have a Boy Muddy Bubby does the reverse apply? He will automatically grow up exposed to dolls, prams and dress ups. What would it be like though if he was the eldest? Would I still have bought dolls and prams for him to ensure he had a variety of toys like my Muddy Girls have been exposed to trucks, diggers and tools? I'm glad I haven't had to think about that, that by being the youngest with 3 older sisters he will be ensured of a well rounded exposure to both the traditionally assigned 'boys' and 'girls' toys.

The Bad Mother Book

2011-12-05T15:07:00.000+11:00

I absolutely LOVE to read. It is one of my favourite things. I don't get to do it often, as with most things it takes a backseat to the Muddy Tribe and the Daily Grind. Every so often though I pick up a book and squeeze in a few pages here and there to work my way through it. It might be a couple of pages while Muddy Hubby has a shower before he comes to bed, or a few pages while I eat my lunch at the kitchen bench. I just fit it in when I can.

Even more rarely though a book will come along that I call a Bad Mother Book. These are the books that you just can't put down. You sit the kids in front of Play School for half an hour so you can have a good block of reading time, you snuggle up on the couch with it rather than talking to Muddy Hubby at night, or you sit outside next to the sandpit and read while the kids play. See - a Bad Mother Book, your kids (and Muddy Hubby) are neglected, or paid little attention as you plow through the captivating read.

I'm reading one of those Bad Mother Books at the moment. Michael Connelly's new book 'The Drop'. I have always loved Michael Connelly's books, from the first time I read 'The Poet' he had me drawn in. I think it takes skill to weave a story, let alone a story that will keep you guessing and turning those pages to get to the end as quickly as you can, and for me Michael Connelly does it every time. There are some other authors that I feel the same about but for me Michael is consistently good.

My litmus test is that I like to be able to pick up a book, read the first page and have that feeling that I want to read on. If I pick it up and that first page doesn't do it for me, it gets put back on the shelf. I'm not going to waste hours of my time on something I don't find interesting from the get go. So as my children are neglected (only slightly really) I am working my way through this Bad Mother Book and enjoying it, as it will probably be months before the next Bad Mother Book comes along.

That Sense of Unease

2011-12-04T21:53:00.000+11:00

You know, I had thought we were doing pretty well, we have a pretty good routine and the Muddy kids are all doing pretty well, no major illnesses, no major dramas. But I feel it building the sense of unease, that queasy feeling that things are starting to unravel. And they do you know. You can travel along just nicely for a while but every so often things have to unravel, and they generally do so in a major way, whether it's a major illness with one of the kids or Muddy Hubby, or the latest 'major' issue with the Pre School Committee, or the wet weather. It's this unraveling that lets you know you're human, that it's OK if things don't go to plan.
At the moment it's the little things building that are giving me this sense of spiralling out of control. My house looks like my washing machine threw up, with piles and piles of clean washing yet to be folded and put away. A half put up Christmas Tree because the girls were adamant that it was finished and my need for order and completeness disagrees and thinks we still need to finish it with the other 30 odd decorations yet to go on. Then there's the unmown lawn, because who has time to mow while it's harvest! My list goes on, and on.

I hate, absolutely HATE this feeling of unease. I like order, control, routine and a tidy (rarely clean, Thank You Muddy children) house. I was hoping that after the big Preschool Christmas Concert, Graduation and Fete that this sense of unease would lessen. It hasn't. I'm now pinning my hopes on it disappearing when harvest is over, still many days away!

In the interim though I'm finding peace in the small things, the absolute feeling of pride watching My Muddy Preschooler as a Rabbit in her Christmas Concert and getting her Certificate for finishing preschool (don't get me started on my thoughts on this, another post I think). The feeling of awe each time Muddy Bubby smiles and the little drawings from my Muddy Girl 2 and the hugs from all my Muddy kids. That is the only way I have found to fight the unease, for now anyway.

One of those days

2011-12-01T21:59:00.000+11:00

Do you ever wake up and have that feeling that 'it's going to be one of those days....'. The day started out OK (I do always try to start the day thinking positively), in fact the day started out like a dream ALL of our Muddy Kids slept in. My Muddy Puzzler was the first one up but even that was after 6:30 which is unheard of!

Then.....I didn't make my bed. I always make my bed. It's just the one thing I do as it helps me feel like I'm starting the day off on the right foot. If I don' make it, it's because I've stripped the sheets straight away and I'm going to wash them, either way it's a god way for me to start the day.

Then I couldn't make it because Muddy Hubby put the suitcase on top, and things just went downhill. It wasn't so much that lots of big things went wrong, I just couldn't get a rhythm going in my day, my head felt like it was mush, and I'd start one task only to get distracted and start another and forget about the first one, til I had started about 10 things but hadn't finished a single one. I HATE THAT. It makes me feel stagnant, unproductive and like I'm treading water rather than moving forward and not getting a sense of completion on anything.

So I decided to start my day again. I went back and stripped my bed of the sheets and made it with fresh clean sheets! One of my favourite things is getting into a freshly made bed with clean sheets, there's just something so calming and cosy about it. From there my day improved, for the space of about 2 hours, not bad really, I actually completed a couple of tasks then I went into town and my productiveness was over. The wait at the Doctors, leaving my wallet at home and picking up 3 very tired Muddy Girls, as well as an extremely hungry Muddy Bubby because we were running behind schedule all combined to make for a very strained remainder of my day.

Now though my evening is looking up! I've had a bit of a vent (thank you for the wonderful world of blogging), I'm up to date on all my Words With Friends games and Stalkbook happenings, and I'm enjoying the alone time (Muddy Hubby is up the paddock) before bed. My day comes to a close and I get to climb into a bed with clean fresh sheets. Tomorrow morning though, I think I'll make my bed straight away, because I'm not sure my nerves are up to another one of those days!

It's all about perspective

2011-11-30T08:15:00.001+11:00

Lately a few things have happened that have me thinking about Perspective, namely the way that different people see things, deal with things, interpret things. I think that sometimes it's easy to just get caught up in your own world and how you see and deal with things, you tend to forget that for others their view is slightly different or the total opposite, as the case may be.

The first conversation I had was with a very good friend of mine who has two beautiful little kids the same age as Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Girl 2 (really have to work out her nickname!). I offered to make a birthday cake for a mutual friend, and she commented that it was too much for me to do that with the kids. It was a preschool day so I only had my 3 youngest cherubs, so it would be easy (well easier than with 4), I said as much to her and she laughed. I hadn't thought anything of it, but she had thought it would be too much trouble. For her personally she is challenged by 2 children and baking a cake, but for me, it was easier with 3 than 4. My parenting perspective versus hers, both very valid and based on experience and what each of us is able to tolerate.

The second conversation I had was about the weather (Muddy Hubby's favourite topic). I was talking to a medical professional here in Sydney and he asked where I was from and we made small talk about farming etc, and I commented that 'I never thought my life would revolve so much around the weather', he very seriously stated that 'Yes, my life too revolves around the weather, whether it's sunny and I can go for a surf, whether it's raining and I can ride my bike to work'. For him that was his perspective and how the weather affected him, whilst for me I was thinking of our farming income, the fact that each day of rain meant a decline in the quality of our wheat and consequently in the price and then our income! PERSPECTIVE!

Then My Muddy Puzzler and I pulled out an old M. C. Escher Puzzle of mine from when I was a teenager (I used to love his puzzles and images). Again I was reminded that depending on how you look at something it can take on a whole new meaning. Not only that but also that just because someone has a different perspective does not mean it is any less valuable an opinion or idea or experience or choice.

Ascending and Descending

I know that it seems the most obvious thing in the world, that everyone sees things through different eyes, but for me it's been a really nice reminder to stop and listen (which I love to do), and remember to look at things from all angles, especially when making decisions.

My Muddy Puzzler

2011-11-29T15:19:00.000+11:00

When I was pregnant with Muddy Girl 3, I was in a bit of denial, I kind of sailed through in a haze of work and two busy Muddy Girls, thinking I'll deal with it when the baby arrives. Even once my maternity leave started I didn't think too much about how I was going to cope, I just assumed I would have to. Somehow I did, it helped that she was a dream baby, slept, ate, giggled and everything was easy, she just fitted in. Then she turned One and man oh man did she change! It was like she realised 'I have to stand up for myself or I'm not going to get anywhere or anything'! Our Muddy Girl 3 has a VERY strong will, she will set her mind to a task and make sure nothing stands in her way.

I have started calling her my Muddy Puzzler, partly because I am still puzzled as to how she went from the MOST easy going baby to the MOST headstrong of my Muddy Tribe, but mainly because of her love for all things Puzzle. It started with 2 piece puzzles, she would sit there and put them together, then pull them apart and start over. Then she moved onto the wooden shape puzzles, and she would do them over and over. Her next puzzle mastered was the Tupperware Shape-O (a favourite of mine from when I was a kid). Then we moved onto floor puzzles, and gradually the pieces are getting smaller and the puzzles are getting bigger, with more pieces.

Nana has a lovely collection of puzzles and over the week that we've been here Muddy Puzzler has done and redone the entire collection multiple times. We have been able to distract her with trips to the park, putting up the Christmas Tree, watching the buses, reading books and doing a small amount of craft, but she will always come back to the puzzles and has barely touched any of the other toys.

It's an interesting process to watch her complete a puzzle, she seems to have this knack of picking up a piece and knowing just where it goes, or laying her hand on just the right piece. It probably comes back to Muddy Hubby's systematic mathematical brain, as she just logically works through it. Definitely different to me, who flaps a bit and gets a bit vague at times! It's been really lovely to just spend some one on one time with My Muddy Puzzler and tomorrow we get to go home to My Muddy Hubby, Muddy Preschooler and Muddy Girl 2 - HOORAY!

Working away on yet another puzzle

All Finished

Always a smile

Never misses an opportunity for a swing, especially when her big sisters aren't around to push her off

Exploring

Climbing up high, as much as I encouraged her not to!

Heart Sick

2011-11-27T17:45:00.000+11:00

Muddy Hubby and I came to Sydney a few days ago, with the intention of only staying two nights. We'd go to our appointment and head home the next day. As they say the best laid plans........it's now been 4 nights away and this morning Muddy Hubby flew home to our eldest two Muddy Girls.
It's not that I mind being in Sydney (in fact I love a Sydney mini-break) but being the organised person I am I am not coping well with the unplanned extension. Firstly I definitely did not pack enough clothes for any of us, secondly I didn't pack enough formula or nappies and thirdly and most importantly, I am not coping at all well being away from two of my Muddy Tribe. Not only am I constantly worrying about their routine, getting to the bus on time, making sure the lunch box is packed for preschool just the way Muddy Prsechooler likes it, but I'm worried that they're missing us too.

I feel heart sick being away from them. We check in twice a day on the phone, my Muddy in-laws are yet to discover Skype! All reports are that they are having a lovely time, they even slept in for them (an unheard of thing in our house) and I am sure they are getting thoroughly loved and spoilt. It doesn't help that my very well meaning Muddy Mum-in-law says in happy tones, 'you don't need to worry you know', as if it's the simplest thing in the world being away from your children!

Now while I will miss Muddy Hubby as I stay on for a few more days with Muddy Bubby and Muddy Girl 3, I feel a little less heart sick knowing they'll be sleeping in their own beds, playing with their own toys and at home with their Daddy. I have no doubt they are VERY well looked after by the Muddy in-laws, but there's something about wanting your kids to be with their parents to feel complete and safe.

I am very much looking forward to all of my Muddy Family being together again (in hopefully the not too distant future), and know that I won't feel complete until we're all sleeping under the same roof again. Then I'd give it a day or two and I'll be wishing for another mini-break as they all start pushing each other to the limit!!

Muddy Preschooler - God Bless the Camera Phone so you can always have photos of your kids on hand!

Cheeky! Muddy Girl 2

Oh how I LOVE Balmoral

2011-11-26T12:30:00.001+11:00

It was a wet and cold day on Thursday in Sydney, and after our appointment Muddy Hubby and I headed out for some lunch together, just the two of us. Unheard of really, a rare opportunity! I took Muddy Hubby to one of my favourite places in Sydney - Balmoral Beach. Oh how I love Balmoral, no matter what the weather or time of day. It also holds special meaning as it was where my best friend Laura got married (you can read about that here). It's also where my beautiful Mum first lived when she moved to Sydney from Canberra, and where I spent many days and evenings with friends just chilling out over my high school and uni days!

Sometimes I think it's even better on a wet and cold day, because you get a front row park, get to walk the boardwalk without having to dodge hundreds of people and don't have to wait too long for your lunch. You can actually take the time to enjoy the beauty of the place, made even better on Thursday by it just being some quality time, and child free time, for Muddy Hubby and I.

Love the little bridge and the serenity

So lovely to stroll along without people everywhere

My Muddy Hubby is really a big kid at heart!

The Value of Good Friends

2011-11-25T21:14:00.000+11:00

Before I had my Muddy Preschooler, I didn't really have many friends in town. Muddy Hubby's circle of friends mainly consisted of his brother and cousins, with only a couple of other friends. Then I started antenatal classes and I met the most wonderful group of ladies, and this antenatal group has grown to be my close circle of friends out here. I know that whenever I need anything they are always there for me. They are always there to listen and not judge, and to offer advice when I am in desperate need of some!

There is just no way you can place a value on these types of true friendships. To give you an example, last Friday afternoon we headed over to a friends for Friday afternoon Harvest drinks (usually without the boys, but due to rain there were a couple present). Everything was going great, the kids were playing together beautifully, we managed some good quality catch up time, then Muddy Preschooler comes up, lays down on my lap and says 'I want to go home Mum' (VERY unlike her who always wants to stay til the end so she doesn't miss anything). Needless to say I was happy to oblige, as I too was feeling a little weary, I was about to stand up when she jumps off my lap and much to my mortification, vomits all over the kitchen floor!

It was one of those moments where you think - is this really happening. I scooped her up before she could vomit again and held her over the sink as she was again sick and very distressed. Before I knew it I was ushered into the bathroom, my friends had the shower running ready, they cleaned up her mess without a second thought. Now bodily fluids are not the most pleasant job in the world, yet my beautiful friends didn't hesitate to step in and help me out, as I know I would do for them in the same position. That to me is a true friend, always there for you, no matter what the situation.

The Car Sickness Gene

2011-11-24T15:29:00.000+11:00

I have always been blessed with a relatively strong stomach (Thank Goodness), I have never got car sick, I can read, write, do practically anything while the car is in motion and not get sick. Muddy Hubby on the other hand (and all his siblings) are afflicted with the car sickness gene. My Muddy-in-laws always talk about how horrible their car trips were as they all had ice cream containers, were always pulling up because someone was sick, and, when you live west of the Sandstone Curtain, you can't get to the lovely coast for holidays without traversing long and winding roads. Needless to say the same applies to us, for us to reach the coast we have to go through windy mountain roads. We thought we were doing pretty well with our Muddy Girl 1, until she turned 2 and started to be sick on car trips, I thought that's not too bad, one sick child. Unfortunately the car sickness gene has struck again and our Muddy Girl 3 gets car sick on most long trips.

Yesterday (thanks to the horrendous rain) Muddy Hubby and I have squeezed in a quick trip to the coast for an appointment. We left Muddy Girls 1 and 2 behind and bought with us the two littlest Muddy Kids. The trip started out OK, both cherubs slept for the first leg, and just as we pulled up for our first stop Muddy Girl 3, lost her morning tea. It breaks my heart to see any of my kids sick, especially when there's not much you can do to help them. We cleaned her up, let her walk around for a bit and get some fresh air and she insisted on having something to eat!

The next leg again started out OK, Muddy Girl 3 filled Muddy Bubby's capsule with books, a hat and her water bottle. Then just as we were heading through Lithgow, Muddy Girl 3 started to lose her lunch, she held tightly to the ice cream container, willing herself not to be sick. Muddy Hubby's theory is that you should just sleep through it, so we encouraged her to close her eyes and go to sleep. I have never seen her close her eyes so tightly! But eventually she went to sleep and slept til just a few minutes before we got to Nana and Grandpa's house. I am not looking forward to the drive back and I am praying that the car sickness gene doesn't strike Muddy Bubby! In the meantime we'll try the car sickness lolly pops, the wrist bands and if worse comes to worse Phenergan! Anything to help stop my Muddy Kids feeling so sick and miserable, because it breaks my heart every time.

Muddy Girl 3 uses the Capsule as her storage

That look of pure misery

Please let me sleep

The Joy of a Smile

2011-11-21T21:32:00.000+11:00

This morning when I rolled over and opened my eyes, as I heard three little sets of feet come wandering down our hallway, I saw the red sunrise, red light reflected through my window onto the bedroom wall. Now while the light was a beautiful colour, I also knew it meant it was going to rain (Red in the morning shepherds warning!). It took a few hours, but eventually it arrived and it's still raining, that slow gentle rain, that is continual and just adds up in the rain gauge. This afternoon this is what the rain clouds looked like and it still pretty much looks like this, it's not moving anywhere anytime soon. Which is a little bit depressing and really doesn't make for a happy Muddy Hubby. In fact it makes a grumpy housebound Muddy Hubby!

Someone must have been looking over us today though, as miracle of miracle, both our 2 eldest Muddy Girls actually had a decent daytime sleep! Pretty much unheard of nowadays, they both have my stubborn streak and fight a day rest with every ounce of their being.

This rest time meant I had some just lovely time with Muddy Girl 3 and Muddy Bubby. In the midst of my Words With Friends addiction ( I admit it, I am 100% addicted), I took some pics of Muddy Bubby on the iPhone and continue to be enraptured by our little Muddy Bubby. The way his expressions change in the blink of an eye, how he can go from serious to smiling, from chubby to slim, depending on how he's held or looking at you. It will forever light me up from the inside.

Chilling out while Mummy plays Words With Friends!

So Funny!

Chatting away

What is that in your hand?

So in this dreary depressing weather the joy of my Muddy Tribe's smiles help to bring sunshine and happiness to this house! The rain is set to stick around for a few days, it's a bit too early to bring out the Christmas Tree, which is what we did last year when it started raining like this, I think I'm going to have to be a little creative about how we keep ourselves entertained, to ensure we keep smiling!

The little things

2011-11-20T13:46:00.000+11:00

Sometimes it's easy to forget that it's the little things that keep our farm going, like checking the dam, the gates, fences, feed etc. As I am again a Harvest Widow (also at times known as a Sowing Widow or Shearing Widow) some of these jobs fall to me, my Muddy Mum-in-law and my Muddy Sister-in-law, we've each got a few mobs of sheep to check, dams and troughs to check and sometimes clean. I actually really enjoy doing these kids of jobs, keeps me busy and the girls always like a trip up the paddock.

Today I dispatched Muddy Girls 1 and 2 to a Naming Ceremony with my Muddy Sister-in-law and Muddy Girl 3 and I headed up the paddock, while Muddy Bubby stayed with Nana for come quiet time. Muddy Girl 3 and I don't get much one on one time together so it was nice to check sheep together. As always, she had a running commentary on everything, telling me where Muddy Hubby had shifted the sheep to and where the troughs and dams were we had to check. I'm glad she was on the ball! I just wish she was a little bit taller so she could do the opening and closing of gates, I counted 4 gates to open and shut both on the way up to the paddock and on the way back, at least my legs were getting a workout!

Stopping to check a trough, Muddy Girl 3, issues instructions from inside the ute!

It's one of those Hazy days here, neither sunny nor cloudy, just a greyish haze, not really good for photos. The bright side is that it's too windy for it to rain and the wind helps to dry out our crops for stripping.

The sheep's hoofprints tell me they've been sneaking down for a drink, and lucky me none were bogged so I didn't have to pull any out of the mud!

Tomorrow's little job is to check the mob of sheep next to the yards, to make sure none got themselves stuck away from the water. I'm just hoping Muddy Hubby's fences are built strong, because fencing is one skill I have yet to master, I somehow get myself tied in knots with the wire each time I try to help!

Cooling Down

2011-11-19T21:59:00.000+11:00

The rain is gone (for now, expected back tomorrow onwards) and it has been HOT HOT HOT here, it has pushed us all to breaking point and exhaustion. We only have air-con in a couple of rooms, and being confined to them with 4 Muddy Kids gets a little bit trying at times. The kids don't have air-con in their rooms, so rest time is a little bit of a challenge, as is bed time when it's steamy and there's no relief. Our favourite part of the day has become the late afternoon, when enough shade comes across to be able to pull out the paddling pool. It's like a total mood change happens as soon as we pull out the swimmers, and outside we go.

I had one of these same paddling pools as a kid, I can vividly remember my Dad filling it up for me, and splashing around in it for ages. So for me I am loving reliving my youth with buying one of these for my kids. The Muddy Girls spends ages playing in the water, moving water from one place to the next and wetting each other! It's the best $23 I have spent (we're on our second one, as we wore out the first one) and gets us through a long HOT summer, even Muddy Hubby likes to have a sit in it when he's around and the Muddy kids are playing, or even if they're not.

Teamwork

Happy Muddy Girls

Muddy Preschooler Cooling Down

Revenge!

Muddy Bubby and I taking it all in.

Revived with Colour and Friendship

2011-11-18T12:13:00.000+11:00

I had forgotten how good it feels to have time for myself. To enable myself to relax and think about just me for a little while. My beautiful new car has already hit 10,000km so it needed a service, and it also needed the roof racks fitted, which the dealer forgot about when we bought the car! This meant they would need the car for all of the morning and a little bit of the afternoon. Lucky for me my wonderful mother agreed to look after Muddy Bubby for the day, so I dropped the Muddy Girls at Day Care and set off for the Main St for some time on my own! I even managed to fit in a sneaky Pedicure after dropping my car off!

As soon as Day Care drop off over, straight for a coffee and a quiet read of Style,
while checking out the happenings in the main street.

The highlight of my day though was lunch and an afternoon of shopping with a VERY good friend. I hadn't seen my friend Jen in a few months, in fact last time I saw her I was still pregnant with Muddy Bubby, so I was very much looking forward to a good catch up. We hit the best Cafe in town for a long lunch, including dessert, then we did a spot of shopping in one of the little gift shops in town (there's only 2 of them). I'm not sure that after my little spending spree Muddy Hubby will be letting me spend the whole day in town on my own again. I scored some BEAUTIFUL new earrings (Thank You Jen), a new wallet (who knew Eel Skin could be so soft), a lovely necklace and I managed to tick off some birthday, baby and Christmas presents on the list too.

A spot of shopping helps to soothe my soul. I've got a thing for Blue at the moment.

My Beautiful New Wallet, with a HUGE amount of card slots

All in all a lovely day, I came home feeling very refreshed and lighter in my heart, and the day was capped off by the spectacular coloured sunset. Muddy Hubby always says that a red sunset means no rain and a red sunrise means it's going to rain. Needless to say he was pretty happy to see red in the sky, and today he's headed back north with the aim of getting the Header going again, Fingers Crossed.

Red in the Morning Shepherd's Warning, Red at Night, Shepherd's Delight

Much to Muddy Hubby's Delight, he took the Red Sunset as the rain is gone for a bit - Lets get back into it!

The Weather Forecast

2011-11-16T14:49:00.000+11:00

It's raining again and this is the weather forecast for the next week. Pay close attention to the start of next week and the amount of rain expected.

This is what we ended up with last year after lots of rain on some of our wheat. They don't pay much for this sort of wheat.

Elders Weather is Muddy Hubby's favourite website, so much so, that it is the home screen for our Internet browser. He checks the weather whenever he can, or asks me what the weather's doing if I've been on the Internet. I'm not too keen to look at the moment as it keeps telling me it's either raining or going to rain. And all I have going through my head is the children's song:

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day!

A big first.

2011-11-15T20:18:00.000+11:00

Today was a very big day for our Muddy Family, our eldest little girl went to big school for her Kindergarten Orientation! As of next year she will no longer be my Muddy Preschooler, but my Muddy Kindergartener (not sure that is a word, but sounds good to me!). It's such a massive thing when your child starts school, especially when it's uncharted territory because she will be the first of our Four Muddy Kids to start her school journey. I know that it's ONLY orientation, but it's still a prelude for what's to come on 30th January (we've been sent all the info).

The day didn't get off to such a great start, I slept in, got out the invitation to orientation and realised I had forgotten to RSVP to let them know we'd be coming (a frantic phonecall to the school assured me that they had a name tag ready for her)! Then Muddy Girl 2 bit Muddy Preschooler on the arm (a little bit of jealousy going on at the moment). I also had to do a Harvest drop off to my Muddy Mum-in-laws before we could head into town. I was VERY worried about how we were going to go as she asked questions non stop all the way to town 'where will you be, who's going to be there?, what will you be doing in the hall?, what will my teacher tell me?, what will I learn?'. Muddy Preschooler also announced that she wasn't going to drink anything because she didn't know where the toilets were! I answered these questions as patiently as I could and we managed to arrive on time, and I reassured her they would show her where the toilets were!

I must say I have never been so grateful to have her already catching the bus, as she walked in and before I knew it, she had several Year 5 and 6 girls saying hello and taking her down to play in the playground before she had to line up and go into class! Off went my Muddy Almost Kindergartener as happy as could be, while I was tearing up at how well she was doing and how overwhelmed I was feeling! It couldn't have been a better start to her school life. I think though, that I'll probably need a full box of tissues for her very first full day in January!

They each got an Orientation bag with their name on it, a workbook of activities they did and a spider they made.

Our Muddy Preschooler explaining her workbook to Muddy Girl 2

She loves this workbook, sat down tonight and kept practicing her writing and colouring! It's going to be a long few months until January.

I love the space

2011-11-14T08:07:00.000+11:00

As a mum to 4 Muddy Kids I do sometimes feel like I'm pushed to the limit. Some days are brilliant, some days run very smoothly, with only a few little hiccups (a day with no hiccups is an improbability), and other days not only do I feel like I'm chasing my tail, but feel like, if one more thing goes wrong I just might cross over into insanity. It's these days that I love the space. I love the fact that we have several thousand acres on which to entertain the Muddy Kids. I love that I have the space to have a fantastically big house yard, and an orchard (thank you to the Muddy in-laws for establishing when they lived here) in which the girls can explore.

Friday was one of those insane days, it started out pretty OK with my fabulous Card Party and once it was over things went pear shaped pretty quickly, I had 2 very tired Muddy Girls, one overtired Muddy Bubby and one Muddy Preschooler to pick up who would also be tired. Things just seemed to steam roll until Muddy Girl 3 covered herself and MY bedroom in PERMANENT Red Marker, right before we had to race out the door to meet the bus. In case you wanted to know Eucalyptus oil and Hairspray work wonders at removing permanent marker on a wide range of surfaces, including the doona cover and Muddy Girls.

I won't bore you with all the little things that made my day a shocker, but by the end of it we all went to bed exhausted and I resolved to have a fresh start in the morning. It's the space that helped, we spent a lovely morning outside, exploring in the orchard, playing on the swings, running around outside. After rest time we got out the paddling pool and had more fun with the space, with no neighbours to annoy and no limit to the fun that could be had.

Don't get me wrong, I think the city is fabulous and I love it ('spoken like a city slicker' as Muddy Hubby would say), it's just for me as a Muddy Farmwife and mum of 4 Muddy Kids, for me the space is my saving grace, the one thing that turns my world from insane to delightful.

Muddy Preschooler exploring the Fig Tree

Muddy Girl 3 exploring the garden

Muddy Girl 3 ALWAYS loves a good Hat

The Red Permanent Marker on some chubby legs

The Laundry Run

2011-11-13T17:18:00.000+11:00

I have said before how lucky I feel I am to live where I live (at least when the weather's doing what Muddy Hubby wants it to do). Today was another fantastic reminder of how lucky we are. Muddy Hubby and the crew have been stripping our wheat up North since Friday, so today it was time to do a run up, take some more meals up and bring home 4 men's dirty washing, so they can have some clean clothes sent back up in a day or so. Before Muddy Bubby was born we used to pile the Muddy kids into the trusty dual cab and off we'd go, now it's my trusty Kluger (which I absolutely adore) which has already proven itself able to cross paddocks when needed! So I packed up all 4 Muddy Kids, made a couple of batches of muffins, made a couple of phonecalls to see if there were any extra special requests for me to bring up, and away we went.

The boys camp in swags in a variety of caravans, trucks and old bed frames, the toilet is a long drop, with an old toilet sitting on top (very flash compared to what it used to be) and the shower is a bit of poly pipe hung in a tree with a shower head screwed on the end, very classy and so not my cup of tea, but more than functional for Muddy Hubby and the crew (my Dad included, Pitt St Farmer that he is).

We arrived just in time to have morning smoko with Muddy Hubby, while he waited for his turn to load his road train full of wheat to cart into the silos. The Muddy Kids had a great time checking out the caravan and finding out who was sleeping where, trying out the beds etc etc.

They got to ride in the road train up to where they were loading wheat, then Muddy Girl 1, Muddy Bubby and I jumped in the tractor with the chaser bin and collected a couple of loads of wheat from the header. Our day was captured in pictures by Muddy Girl 1 who commandeered the camera and took some not bad photos that sum up our day.

At the end of the day I've come home with 4 very tired, but very happy Muddy Kids and 4 Dusty (not Muddy) bags of washing, and the reminder that we are lucky to be living the life we live.

Muddy Girls 2 and 3 checking out the water set up

Bottle time for Muddy Bubby and rest time for Muddy Brother-in-law

Muddy Hubby in the road train

Muddy Bubby's first ride in the tractor (I love my Baby Bjorn)

The overloaded Header unloading wheat into the Chaser Bin

Waiting for the Header in the tractor with Grandpa

My second love......Stationary

2011-11-12T21:13:00.000+11:00

Oh how I LOVE a good bit of Stationary! I go all weak at the knees every time I get a catalogue for Officeworks or look through our Office Stationary Catalogue. I especially LOVE cards, wrapping paper, note paper. These are things I think you can never have enough of, as they are a fabulous way of sending thank yous, letting people know you're thinking of them and of course to mark special occasions. I have found the most lovely range of cards, gift wrap and note cards from Phoenix Trading and we are lucky enough (one of the few times we are out here) to have a consultant working out here.

Now I am not really a partyplan kind of person, I'd rather just invite my friends around for a good catch up rather than invite them over to have a salesperson try and push their product onto them. In saying that though Phoenix (or at least our consultant out here) is the total opposite, she simply sets up, has a chat while we have a cuppa and then you can just browse and pick out things you like and anything she doesn't have she orders in and it arrives within a week! EASY! So, I was brave and hosted a Card Party. Muddy Hubby thought it was hilarious, kept cracking jokes about 'Do you even know how to play 500' or 'Have you brushed up on your gin rummy rules'. Then he got jealous when he saw the morning tea spread I put on!

Some of the lovely cards I purchased to stock up my supply

Some Funky Notecards and Christmas Cards

I now think I have enough cards and notecards to last through next year (and possibly beyond, but don't tell Muddy Hubby). I am also feeling braver about the party plan thing, they're still not my favourite thing, but with the right person, can make for a lovely morning!

Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

2011-11-10T12:18:00.000+11:00

OK, so I'll fess up right now, I'm a swearer, as hard as I try not to be for some situations I do still swear. For example I trip over the coffee table and fall flat, for me it's an automatic swear word. Muddy Hubby and I do however try very very hard not to swear in front of the Muddy Kids. So it came as a very big shock the other day when Muddy Girl 1 came out, not only with a great big swear word beginning with F, but accompanied it by calling her sister a very not nice name which I will not repeat, needless to say it is not a name she has ever heard uttered in this household. So......my question is what do you do? How do you deal with something like this. I was prepared to cope with a swear word, but not the awful name.

I decided to deal with each part separately, mainly because I figure the swear word issue will come up again and again down the track and I want to be consistent, but the awful name I never want to hear uttered past her lips again. My gut feeling (and I'm pretty sure it's right) is that she has absolutely no idea what the awful name means, she merely associates it with name calling such as 'Sooky Baby' which she is often calling her Muddy Sisters, and which we are forever reminding her not to call them names.

Muddy Girls 1 and 2 when they're happy to play together

So we sat down on the bed and we talked about how we don't call people names and that we especially don't call people by this name and that she is NEVER EVER to say it again (yes it is that bad). Then I went the very hard line on the F word, yes she doesn't know what it means, but if she says it again it means that her mouth will have to be washed out with soap, yes I know I'm a mean Mum. I'm really hoping I never have to do it, but given I made the commitment I'm going to have some soap ready, as I've learnt follow through and consistency is the most important part of discipline. It was automatic instinct to warn her about washing her mouth out with soap. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't said it, but it's out there now so we'll see what happens.

For the life of me I could not get out of her where she heard it, I pushed and probed and gently questioned and reassured. EVENTUALLY she admitted she heard it at Daycare, which I had kind of suspected, she tells me no-one said it to her, but that she heard someone say it to somebody else, but Muddy Girl 1 would not cough up a name. Now I know it's my issue to deal with and I expected that at some point I would have to deal with it, but I still felt I needed to make the Daycare Director aware of what she'd said, mainly so the teachers keep their ears open in case it happens again. The Director was very understanding, was quick to reassure me she'd be onto it if she heard it etc etc.

The real thing that scares me though is that the other child that has said this awful name, accompanied with a swear word, has obviously either had this said to them or heard their siblings or parents say this, and that is very very sad, that there are people saying such awful things in the presence of children or to children. I can do whatever I can to try and raise my children as I feel is best and to the best of Muddy Hubby's and my abilities, but what about kids that don't have the same love and nurturing, who looks out for them?

Almost Dejavu

2011-11-08T21:08:00.000+11:00

Today it rained AGAIN! Another 10mm, still nowhere near as bad as last year but enough to again put everyone on edge, people are trying their headers on wheat here, there and everywhere in an effort to try and get some crop stripped before any more rain, and yes they are predicting more. It's whispered in very hush hush tones, almost as if you say it in a normal voice it will make it real.

Last year was a very hard year, we didn't park the Header up in the shed until February and it's normally all cleaned out and parked up before Christmas. Sometimes right up til Christmas but never through Christmas. Last year Muddy Hubby and the boys went to work stripping wheat on Christmas Day, needless to say it wasn't the happiest Christmas we've had, but at least we were together as a family.

The rain just didn't seem to want to stop coming last year, our road was covered in water, enough so that Muddy Hubby could surf down the table drain to the front gate being pulled by the ute. The girls could be pulled along in their washing basket boat almost to the mailbox. You almost needed a boat to get out to the highway, as the water was part way up the doors on the ute. The most depressing part was watching the wheat crops go under water. The Castlereagh River is a dry river, it flows underground and only flows above ground when there is lots of rain, last year it ran for a few weeks. Then there's the wheat that shoots in the heads of wheat, pretty impressive looking, but not really worth much!

Muddy Girl 2 in her washing basket boat

Muddy Hubby pulling the girl's boat through the paddock

Castlereagh River flowing through our Wheat Crop

A very memorable year was last year, but as the thunderstorm rolled in tonight I was starting to feel that icky feeling of what if that rain doesn't stop. Then I really need to slap myself on the wrist because a couple of years ago we were the opposite, in drought and praying for rain. We really do just have to suck it up and make the most of a bad situation, because like life farming is swings and roundabouts. I just never thought my life would be so dependant on the weather!

I like to call it Happy Hour

2011-11-07T14:46:00.000+11:00

This morning the Muddy Kids and I packed ourselves up and took off for a morning playdate at the house of a little boy that Muddy 1 goes to Pre School with and a little Girl that Muddy 2 and 3 go to Day Care with. Now this house it set up for kids, there are 4 little cherubs living in this house, 3 girls and a boy, a family made up just like ours, except in different order. It was such a lovely morning, Muddy Bubby was happy to chill out for a bit before his bottle and the Muddy Girls were more than amply entertained both inside and outside the house with an abundance of play equipment and toys. It was a just lovely morning, no fighting, no crying, just good old fashioned happy playing. With the added bonus of a couple of cups of good coffee and a yummy morning tea for us Mums.

The other side of a lovely morning out, is the sleep factor. We live 30kms out of town, we were headed 5 kms out the other side of town, so, by the time we got there Muddy Girl 3 was sound asleep, and of course woke up straight away so as not to miss out on anything. Now one would think that the trip home would send all 4 cherubs into a nice snooze, but alas only Muddy Girl 2 nodded off. Now we're home and all 4 cherubs are ready to continue partying. We've tried the quiet lying down, some joint lying down in the lounge room and even a boring TV show, but alas they are all awake still! No rest or quiet time for me today.

Three very awake Muddy Girls

It's not the lack of any respite today that concerns me, it's as the dinner, bath, bed hour draws closer that everything will go pear shaped due to the lack of day time rest. I have friends that call it Acid Hour, or Cranky Time etc etc, but for me I prefer to call it Happy Hour, because if I just focus hard enough I can imagine in a few time when they're all a bit older and able to function a little better with no daytime rest or quiet time, that this time of the day will for me be Happy Hour, with a glass of chilled white wine, some nibbles and good friends around!! So rather than call it something yucky I am already focused on the good times ahead.

Ahhhh good times ahead

For now though I need to refocus on being organised for the rest of the day and the happy hour ahead, to minimise the impact, early bath and dinner and some quiet reading before bed. However as they say the best laid plans........

Not a great start

2011-11-06T17:18:00.000+11:00

Tomorrow we were supposed to head north 100km to the block we share farm to get started on our big wheat harvest for 2011. We've cut the Canola and picked up some of it, and yesterday the Header tried 30acres of wheat here at home in the front paddock, our 3 Muddy Girls and Muddy Hubby were pretty excited, even though the wheat was too green and we had to knock off. Anyway it's all over for the minute as it's raining. This does definitely not make for a very happy Muddy Hubby and it makes for a big day of entertaining 3 Muddy Girls inside.

This morning it wasn't too bad, we went and shifted sheep, stopping at the local silos on the way to get a sample of wheat tested, and then on the rain came as we were headed home. VERY unhappy farmers around I can tell you and everyone is a little bit on edge due to last year's big rains and looooong drawn out harvest.

The Graincorp Sample Stand through the rain

On the bright side, being stuck inside this afternoon has meant some productivity in the kitchen, cooking up some harvest meals to send north, and some muffins and cupcakes to stockpile for the duration of harvest. I think Muddy Hubby has also made some headway on reading this week's Land Newspaper (his bible).

Harvest meals are a challenge to cook, Muddy Hubby and the boys head north to a block where they sleep in a caravan, or in Muddy Hubby's case he sleeps in the road train, they use a generator to run a microwave to heat up meals, they have a TINY gas run fridge, so limited cold storage and a couple of hot plates and saucepans. Given they're normally up there a few weeks there's a few meal runs up and back for supplies etc. Today I cooked up rissoles, mashed potato and veggies, so at least some of the time they're getting veggies. Muddy Hubby has put a special request in for lasagna, so that will be this week's cooking task. At least the girls enjoy cooking, and are happy if we're inside cooking for a small part of the day, or in the case of today all afternoon as it rains down on our harvest plans! If I was a church going kind of person I'd be praying right now for the rain to go away!! Not sure that we'd cope with another wet harvest year like last year.

Rissoles and Veggies

Muddy Girl 2, fun with cupcakes

Cupcakes in our oven

Not so easy!

2011-11-05T17:00:00.000+11:00

It's getting hotter by the day here and with the foreboding of rain coming (PLEASE NOT ANOTHER WET HARVEST) it's all steamy and sweaty, so I've been putting Muddy Bubby in some cooler summer clothes. Now pretty much all of Muddy Bubby's clothes are hand me downs or loaners, my Muddy Sister-in-law has 3 little boys and has kindly gifted us with boxes of their clothes which they've outgrown. As with 3 Muddy Girls we didn't have much blue in the house.

Funky Muddy Bubby

Anyway one of the very cute items we have been dressing Muddy Bubby in is the Bonds Easysuit, it is way cool with a white background and funky shades of blue spots. The only problem I'm finding is that the Bonds Easysuit ain't so easy! It's got elastic so you put it over the head and then stretch it to pull on over Muddy Bubby's feet.

The Stretchy Elastic

Now I'm thinking this thing was not designed by someone who regularly uses it, or dresses kids, because they are bloody hard to put on! Every time I pull it out because I want Muddy Bubby to look cool and funky he starts screaming as I squash his chubby legs up in an effort to stretch the leg holes over his feet. So really, the Easy Suit isn't so easy. Don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE Bonds stuff, I wear VERY comfortable Bonds Knickers, as do my Muddy Girls and Muddy Hubby, and the Muddy Girls lived in Wondersuits, and Muddy Bubby has been given some gorgeous Bonds suits that he is yet to grow into, it's just Bonds have really disappointed me with their Easysuit.

Muddy Bubby's Chubby Thighs

Some days I do wonder if I'm doing something wrong, if I've got the technique wrong or I'm putting it on back to front??? Because surely someone wouldn't design something that is so hard to put on?? Please Mr Bonds if I'm doing it wrong let me know!!

Mother Guilt

2011-11-04T15:07:00.000+11:00

From the moment I had my first Muddy Baby I experienced Mother Guilt, this terrible feeling (which for some reason manages to escape the Dads) of guilt over actions or decisions or care for my Muddy Babies. Now I've experienced a lot of Mother Guilt over the last four and a half years the reasons for which have varied from stopping breastfeeding, to returning to work, to being late for a day care pick up to something as simple as I couldn't be bothered feeding my kids vegetables for a night. It unfortunately can hit at any time for a wide range of reasons, I have found that there is simply no escape and for me the best way to deal with it, is acknowledge it, sometimes discuss with my friends and fellow mothers.

That was until my WORST experience of Mother Guilt so far. Muddy Girl 1 goes to Pre School in town twice a week, we live 30kms out of town so Muddy Girl 1 catches the bus in (no this is not the bad bit) and home. We slowly built up to this, catching it first with friends around the corner from Pre School, then catching it with the neighbour (a little boy born the day before Muddy Girl 1), we still do this in the morning. However since I started maternity leave Muddy Girl 1 now not only catches one bus home, but changes buses and catches the second bus to the end of our dirt road (still not the guilty bit).

On Wednesday the bus reached the end of our road, there was just one problem, Muddy Girl 1 WAS NOT ON THE BUS! The driver just shrugged and said he didn't know where she was, while all the school kids on the bus were calling out to let me know that she was still on the first bus sound asleep! Yes MOTHER GUILT in the extreme. I am a very lucky Muddy Farmwife as I have the most wonderful friend and neighbour who was collecting her little boy off the 1st bus and collected Muddy Girl 1 (who by this point was in tears, waking up and realising she'd missed her stop for changing buses), we were straight on the phone to each other and met along the road for a changeover. But this still did not assuage my Mother Guilt.

I felt (and still feel) like the worst mother in the world for making my 4 and 1/2 year old not only catch the bus (and it's a big bus with a lot of school kids) but also making her change buses to catch 2 buses. So many thoughts keep going through my head - Am I a terrible mother, should I be driving her into town in the morning and driving in of an afternoon to pick her up?

Next year Muddy Girl 1 will start school and will be catching the bus every day, in letting her catch the bus (and she was dead keen to do it) I thought it was a nice introduction to something that she's going to be doing for the next 13 years, or until she gets her licence! For lots of city kids buses aren't even a realistic choice until late primary, early high school, and even our town kids either get dropped off or walk to school, but for us it's the way life is. At the end of the day I still have extreme Mother Guilt over this, but I figure if my Muddy Hubby survived it as a child then our Muddy children will too, and I am now tied to the bus drop off and pick up, until Muddy Bubby finishes school, which equates to about 1/4 of my lifetime!

The only time I won't have to do the bus run is when our road is flooded out like December 2010,
then we don't go anywhere.

Mail Day

2011-11-03T15:24:00.000+11:00

One of the small joys we have 3 times a week is the day we call 'Mail Day'. 3 times a week the postman brings our mail and deposits it in the mailbox. Even more exciting is when there is one of those little cards saying you have a parcel or special letter that you need to come into the post office to collect. I live for these little cards as they're either a present or surprise being sent or (and this is more common) it's my online shopping arriving! Now I hadn't had one of these little cards in a while and I had been expecting several things in the mail, most importantly Muddy Bubby's birth certificate and my new Inner B Diary that I ordered.

It had been 8 weeks since I applied for Muddy Bubby's birth certificate, and I thought that was a fair amount of time for the registry of Births Deaths and Marriages to get my form and print out the official certificate, so I contacted them and they printed a new one and sent it again, presuming it was lost. Again 2 weeks pass and no little card. Then I am anxiously awaiting my new diary, as appointments for 2012 are already coming in thick and fast, but again no little card. I checked with the online shop, yes it's been sent, it should be there..........but no little card for us on mail day :(

So, not being an overly patient person I call the post office, 'yes there is a parcel here for you, no it's not that consignment number!', so I start to ask about the birth certificate, 'yes it's here, actually there's 2 here, oh and I just found your parcel!' I was so excited, not only was Muddy Bubby's birth certificate there, but I would get my new diary and a bonus parcel on my next trip to town, which was today.

You know what.......they lost my precious parcel with my new diary in it. 'I'm really sorry we can't find it', despite the fact that 2 days ago you told me it was here and it definitely wasn't in our letterbox yesterday (I wouldn't have missed a parcel as our letterbox is too small!). I was very disheartened by my mailman, as he is the one that sends out the little cards, but obviously hadn't been (does he not realise just how happy those cards make me???), not only that but he has managed to lose my diary how is that possible in a not very big country post office??????

Turns out.......it fell behind a cupboard. The post office just rang and they've found it, THANK GOD! I tell you what this Inner B diary better be worth it! I'll let you know if it is.

Inner B

It's almost that time of the year....

2011-11-02T13:55:00.000+11:00

It's November and for us November is definitely a month we associate with harvest! The big H, the most important time of the year for us, other than sowing and shearing. It's the time of the year where the really big machinery comes out in force, you can't drive anywhere far without encountering a header (Harvester and Combine if you're American) on the road. Now these big pieces of machinery always make it a challenge to overtake, they don't have a really high top speed, generally around 40km/hr depending on whose driving (Muddy Hubby likes to take it slow and take in the scenery, whereas Muddy brother-in-law likes to get into it!). They are long and cumbersome and definitely take up more than their own side of the road (no staying on the left hand side with these babies).

When I first moved to the country I was in awe of the big machinery on the road, then I'd get frustrated because I could never overtake, now the shoe's on the other foot and I love it, I move over to give the Header enough room, I sit patiently behind until I am able to overtake and think how lucky we are to live where we live and be a part of something as exciting as harvest (I will NOT be saying this in the next drought, or if it rains and floods like last year, but for now it's all good).

The other thing that's important (especially if you ask a 4 year old) is what colour is your header? Do you have a Green header, a Red header or a Yellow header or another colour entirely. For Us, we're Green - John Deere, and trust me, it takes a lot to change colour, especially if you've had a green one for as long as Muddy Hubby can remember! As we start to get geared up for harvest there's an excitement in the air, it really is a great time of year! (Ask me again in 2 weeks and I will probably have a totally different response)

Header getting ready to hit the road

On the road

Cutting Canola

The Cup

2011-11-01T14:06:00.000+11:00

Today is Melbourne Cup Day!! I'm not sure why, but I always get a little bit excited when it's Melbourne Cup Day. It's not like I grew up around horses, or horse races or placing bets or anything like that. Actually come to think of it, horses and I have never ever got along very well, they either spit on me, throw me off or go anywhere but where I want them to! So really, by rights I should be turning off the TV at 3 O'clock and forgetting there is even a horse race on. But alas, it draws me in EVERY YEAR!!!

I always like to place a little bet if I can, the problem being that as an at home Mum at present, my options for betting are very limited! It's not like I can run a sweep with my Muddy Hubby and 4 Muddy children, nor can I just pop down the street to place a bet (wouldn't that look good, a Mum with 4 kids betting!) when town is 30kms away, it's not worth the trip. That leaves online betting! I did try this, a couple of years ago, I felt very seedy doing it, almost like I was trying to hide a gambling problem (must be all that advertising sinking in). It's actually very easy to set up an account, you give them your details and then credit card details and a few mouse clicks and your bets are made.

So, you ask, why don't I just do that again? Well you see after you initially set up your account they then send you forms and info and request that you go and have your identify verified to maintain your account. I got countless emails about this, but decided that I didn't actually want to be the proud owner of an online betting account, so I let it slide, but come today when no-one is heading into town who can place a bet for me, I'm kind of wishing I did have that account!

The Melbourne Cup for our household really does mean drop everything and watch, the girls know where the hands on the clock need to be before we turn on the horse race. I think it's actually a bit nice to have this one Australian tradition carried on by my Muddy family, even if it only means a few minutes of joint attention of cheering on our horses, it's still Muddy family time.