Little Fish! (Wordless Wednesday)

A few months ago I wrote about how my daughter (Miss H) was scared of swimming.  I should have said petrified as she actually shook at the mere mention of getting in a pool.  It was even a challenge to get her through the pool gate!!

After lots of lovely advice from readers and friends we decided to get her some private lessons as it was really stressing me out (especially as we live so close to water) that she couldn't swim.

Well......... it is absolutely AMAZEBALLS how much she has progressed in less than four months.  She spent the first two lessons on the top step, not even moving a finger (just slightly stubborn) and then suddenly her confidence started to soar.  She now counts the sleeps until her next lesson and has taken to bossing her teacher around no end!!!

I'll leave you with a few pics for Wordless Wednesday. (One day I might actually manage a wordless post!!)

 Do you have a little one who is afraid of swimming??

Linking up with the lovely Trish from My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.

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Top toddler and kids ipad (or tablet) games

My kids LOVE the ipad's in our house.  I do have to limit their use on them though, as they could quite easily become 'sucked in' and absorbed for hours if I'm not careful.  (It's a bit like logging onto Pinterest).   I also have to very carefully monitor the internet now too as Master J has discovered Youtube!  He is very good about coming and telling me what he is watching but I have to admit I sneakily turn the wifi off every now and again when I can't monitor it (at least he's young enough not to have figured that out yet).

On the flip side it is pretty damn amazing how well they are able to use these devices.  Even my 20 month year old Miss L is a dab hand at the ipad and knows EXACTLY where her games are and how to get to them.  Her chubby little fingers are always tapping and swiping away.  Some of the games available are really fantastic and can open up a whole world of learning for kids of all ages.

Here are just a few of the games that are keeping my kids entertained at the moment.

SAGO MINI - BUG BUILDER

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This the cutest game where kids can create their own little bugs.  They can choose a body shape and colour it in.  It then 'hatches' into a colourful little creature for them to feed, tickle and wash. It's a fantastic App for creativity, and is perfect for toddlers as well as younger kids.  Both my girls love it.  Sago mini also has a whole range of great Apps to check out including:

SAGO MINI - OCEAN SWIMMER

Ocean Swimmer

This cheeky little fish will get loads of smiles and giggles from your little ones, as well as teach them to navigate an ipad/tablet using their fingers.  You have to move the little fish around an underwater world with your finger, encountering all sorts of surprises along the way.

PEEKABOO TOY BOX

Peekaboo Toy Box

This is a great game for toddlers with lots of brightly coloured gifts that shake and rattle around the screen until you tap them.  Then they pop open with a surprise!!!!  Guaranteed to keep your toddler happy for ages.

NURSERY RHYMES

Nursery Rhymes

If your toddler loves singing nursery rhymes but you (like me) are a bit hopeless at remembering all the words, then this App is perfect!  These brightly coloured animations are interactive so kids can tap on different characters to see them move around.  The song lyrics also appear on the screen as each word is sung, so you'll be able to join in with them - and believe me, they love it!! Unfortunately not all the nursery rhymes are free and there are a few 'in-app' purchases available.

DISNEY STORY TIME

Disney Storytime

This is kind of like a Kindle App but for kids, and it really is fantastic (if you have Disney lovers of course).  The App comes with three free books and the rest are available as 'in-app' purchases. It used a child friendly credit system too, where the kids can download stories with coins that you have previously paid for (as apposed to running up your phone bill).  It is probably more suited to ages 4 and upwards.  The stories are fabulous and can either be read by your child or they can opt to have them read aloud.  You can also record your own voice for certain characters, which my Miss H loves.

What Apps do your kids love?

Oh and a very HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to you all xxxxxxxxxxx

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Never judge a mother!

What is it about parenting or in particular, mothering, that gets some people so heated and to some extremes 'over opinionated' and judgemental??

Master J showed me a tiny little sore on the back of his leg a couple of days ago and it looked like a small blister.  He wasn't too bothered by it and it didn't for a second occur to me that it could be a spider bite.  We've all been eaten alive by mosquito's recently that I just thought it might be a slightly infected mozzie bite that he had maybe scratched the top off.

Tonight he came and showed it to us again saying that it was sore and starting to bother him.  We took a look at it and it had almost quadrupled in size, was very red and swollen and little 'weepy'. Mr D took a picture and googled it and it looked almost certainly like white tailed spider bite. We've read as much as we could on google and although some of it looks pretty frightening, there is really not much you can do by means of treatment.  So we put a dressing on it, gave him some panadol and off he went to sleep.  Very un-distressed I might add.

Being a mum, I can't help but worry (and feel bad that I didn't diagnose it sooner), so I've decided to take him to the doctor tomorrow morning just to have it looked at and checked.  In the meantime, there is a local Facebook page that I belong to where you can post any kind of mummy related topics and then get advice and comments back from other mums.  I've used it many times before and always found it really friendly and helpful.  I decided to post about the bite as I wondered if anyone else had had any experience with it and what they did.  I just wanted some advice.  Being a non-Aussie I don't know too much about spider bites and I wondered if there was something simple that I might have missed.  My post went something like this:

"My son has been bitten by a white tailed spider.  Any advice on what I should do?"

I was absolutely shocked to receive some really nasty and abusive comments!  I was honestly expecting some helpful advice.  Under no circumstances would I ever put my children at risk nor would I neglect them if they needed help and I find it amazing how some people can suggest just that from one sentence without even knowing me.

Anyway, without ranting any further, I think I am just really disappointed to have been so harshly judged as a mother by other mothers!!

Is there any need to mothers to judge each other so harshly?

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A weeks worth of photos for Wordless Wednesday

So much goes on every week in our home that sometimes the days pass by in a giant whirlwind, and if you were to ask me what I did I would probably have no idea!! This morning I downloaded some photos off my phone (to make space as I have waaaay too many on there) and looking at them make me realise that quite a lot went down last week!!  As it's Wednesday today I thought I'd share some them with you for Wordless Wednesday!!

I have to visit these shops more often than I'd like every week for bread and milk supplies!!  It is nice just having one little buddy with me instead of three!!

The tooth fairy had to make two visits in as many days!!  He looks kinda cute don't you think??

She made a friend whilst mummy was shopping for new bed sheets.

Dance class is back after the holidays and she couldn't be happier

Bad move leaving her with my flowers whilst I unpacked the car! 

These three little cuties watching their big brothers do Saturday afternoon Nippers training.  Luckily the lifeguard didn't need his board.

I REALLY need to find a new place to store the breakfast cereals.

My cousin came for a visit from Melbourne for a night.  The kids loved seeing their 'cool' aunty

Wave hopping with Dad

Cool as cucumbers (with my sunnies on!!)

Linking up today for Wordless Wednesday with the lovely Trish from My Little Drummer Boys.

Are you an iphone happy snapper too??

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Tips for temporary solo parenting

Before I start,  I should just clarify that I am not really a proper single parent and I am hugely grateful to have my awesome hubby, Mr D around to help out with the kids (and maintain my sanity).  We just wouldn't be a complete family without him.  However he does travel quite a bit and there are often periods where I find myself a 'temporary' single parent!

He's been travelling on and off for years, and you'd think that I would be an expert by now of 'just getting on with it'!  However, for some reason, every time he leaves there is some kind of disaster and it ALWAYS happens as soon as he steps on that plane!!

When Master J was a baby, he would sometimes be away as often as every other week and I could almost guarantee that I'd be camped out at my mum and dad's for a night or two.  The boiler went once and we had no hot water, and another time the heating broke and we almost froze in our beds.  Oh and there was that time we got totally snowed in and mum and dad had to come to our rescue.

There was one time I will never forget though and it still makes me chuckle to this day!  Mr D's parents were staying with us from South Africa and I almost had the police out in the middle of the night.  My father-in-law is a journalist and although he were visiting us on holidays he still had a few stories that had to be published by a certain date (many of us know how that feels!!). One evening he decided to stay up and write them all while a (pregnant) me and my mother-in-law had an early night.  My bedroom was up in the loft of our house and at some time that night (late, I think) I heard this terrible BANG and then a couple of loud CRASHES followed by frantic footsteps!!  I absolutely froze in fear (and I totally forgot the my in-laws were downstairs).  In my panic, I managed to grab my phone and call Mr D (who was in Amsterdam).  I got through to the hotel operator "hello" I whispered (remember - complete fear) "can you put me through to Mr D's room".  Operator "Sure, of course'.  A few seconds later "I am sorry but there is no answer to that room".  "Please" I begged "Can you go and wake him up, it's his pregnant wife calling from England and the house being burgled!!!!!  Honestly, I don't know what I thought he was going to do from a hotel room in Amsterdam - in the middle of the night!!!

Suddenly the banging got even louder and I swear my legs wouldn't more.  I knew that I should peak down the stairs but I was just too scared.  Then my mobile rang - thank GOD!!  "Babe, we're being attacked - there's a burglar in the house!!! I managed to blurt out. "Just calm down" he said "and tell me whats happening"  "Well, there is really loud banging and crashing and I can hear foot steps going up and down the stairs!!!!!!!!!".  "Where're my dad" he said.  "Ummmmm (suddenly remembering that they were there) I don't know - downstairs I think."  "I think I know what this might be, said Mr D, I'll call dad and phone you back!!

Well....... it turned out that the laptop my poor father-in-law was working on had a sudden hard drive crash and ALL his work had just vanished before his eyes.  When he tried to get it back, the computer blue-screened - and we all know how bad that is!!  (This can quite easily tip even the most placid person over the edge).  So a coffee mug might have been thrown and there were a few rushed trips down the stairs and back.  NOT A BUGLAR AT ALL!!  Oh how we laugh about it now (and wonder where I got dramatics degree from).

I have also managed to crash the car and get a $500 parking fine during one of Mr D's trips too!!!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally hopeless and the kids and I have had some pretty stress free times too.  Over the years I have realised that its so much better to be prepared than to just wing it!

My tips for 'temporary' solo parenting

1. Be organised!!!  Make sure the groceries are done BEFORE he/she leaves, have a plan of action for every day and cook and freeze meals in advance.
2. Consider hiring a nanny to help.  When Miss L was a baby our lovely babysitter used to come over every day between 5pm and 7pm to help me with the dinner, bath and bedtime. Doing that on your own every day with multiple kids is HARD WORK!
3. Ask friends for help.  There is no shame in asking a friend to help with the occasional school pick up or drop off or to have your kids for a play date to give you a break.  It's taken me a long time to master this one, but it's so worth it and you can always return the favour later.
4. Go to bed early!!
5. Make sure that any 'hard' jobs that you may need doing are done before he/she leaves (for example putting the bike rack up on the car or getting anything you may need down from the loft).
6. Make sure there is wine in the fridge.
7. If you are going to be alone over a weekend, try to arrange to meet up with a friend, so that you and the kids can have some company.
8. Try to remember that mess never killed anyone.  If you look beyond it, you'll definitely have more patience.

and if all else fails..........

hopefully with a full glass!

Do you find yourself an occasional temporary single parent?  

Or are you a full time single parent (serious hats off to your guys).  

What are you survival tips??

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New Beginings

Me and my beautiful girl on her 1st day of 'BIG' school.

As of last week I became a mum of TWO (out of three) school kids!!  It's going to mean big changes in our house this year but it really has been a long time coming.  Miss H has been absolutely desperate to go to school since about the middle of last year.  It's been a long and sometimes painful wait, but she finally made it!!  Master J is sitting on the fence at them moment about whether or not it's cool to have a little sister at school.

I had mixed emotions on the first day.  I found the summer holidays soooooo long, especially towards in the last couple of weeks - the kids were driving me crazy!  As much as I adore them, I am pretty sure I am a much better mum when they are at school and I have a little bit of time to use my brain in-between parenting.  However, I was a little sad to see her go (and might have had a tiny tear under my sunnies) and found myself lingering around outside the school just to make sure she was ok.  She was of course, but out of experience I know that the wobbles and tiredness only start to creep in around week 4 when the novelty wears off and they begin to realise that "This is it and you have to go EVERY day!"

I am also sending my baby off to daycare twice a week this year and letting her go was so much harder for me, as at only 20 months old it was impossible to explain to her that I was coming back.  I know I've done the right thing though and she will flourish with it.

Here are a few photos of the first day of school this year.  Miss H has gone into Kindergarden and Master J will be in Year 2.

And off they go........Kindergarden and Year 2!

2014 is full to the bring of new beginnings for us and I feel so very grateful for them all.

Did you have a little one starting school this year?  Or maybe even daycare or High School?  I hope it went well and you have a fabulous year full of smiles (and not too much homework resistance).

Linking up today for Wordless Wednesday with the lovely Trish from My Little Drummer Boys and Bree from Twinkle in the Eye.

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The great camping debate!

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One of my Goals for 2014 is to go camping.  I say my goal, but it's actually a family goal.  (I'm pretty sure I can hear a few of my friends back in the UK sniggering at just the mention of me plus camping!!!)

I do have a teeeney bit of a reputation for being a princess, and camping is just one of those things that has NEVER been top of my priorities.  I just don't like the idea of crawling around on my hands and knees to get in and out of a tent (which in fairness is a temporary home) and worry about what creature might decide to join me in the sleeping bag!!  The idea of a shared bathroom - or even worse, no bathroom at all, just makes me want to wrinkle my nose up like a true snob!!

When we lived in England camping was just never on the agenda, which suited me fine.  We did actually go camping once, and in the middle of summer it was so freezing cold the Miss H and I ended up abandoning Mr D and Master J (and everyone else) and booking into a B&B.  That was only a one night trip too (and one I'll probably never live down).

However the Aussie weather just lends itself to camping and it really seems to be a popular sport (if you can call it that).  After three years I have finally been worn down enough to actually consider giving it a go.  Funnily enough Mr and D and I both camped as kids, but both our families had caravans, which is an entirely different experience if you ask me.

We have never camped as a family before.  Oh except for that one weekend a year ago we spent at a campsite so close to home that I went back to cook, wash up, shower and sleep!!!!  Not only have we made the decision to camp this year, we have also booked a whole week (over Easter) in a camp site about 7 hours drive from home!! EEEEEEEEK!!

So this is where the Great Camping Debate sets in.  We don't actually own any camping gear at all.....not a thing!  So between now and Easter we have to purchase EVERYTHING.  It's kinda cool starting from scratch and Mr D says it's 'an investment', but we just can't seem to agree on what things are essential for camping!!

So this is my vision of what our campsite is going to look like

All images and links can be found on my Pinterest board 'Glamping'

and this is Mr D's vision...... or something along these lines.

So will we be glamping or camping??  All I know for sure is that it's happening and clearly we still have a lot to learn!!  At least we have been able to chuckle about our slight difference in camping styles.  I've even convinced him to get his own Pinterest account so he can have a camping board (and I can spy on it).

The one thing that I am very excited about is that I think I have almost convinced him to buy that beautiful teepee tent.  We went into a camping shop to have a look at it the other day, and even Mr D had to admit that it was pretty cool.  No decision has been made yet, so please keep your fingers crossed for me.  Who says camping shouldn't be pretty???

The kids are beside themselves with excitement about our upcoming trip and I have to admit that I am a teeny bit too!!

excited much?????

This is so going to end badly!!

So are any of you experienced campers??  Especially camping with kids??  Tell me everything you know........

Linking up today with the lovely Jess for IBOT at Essentially Jess.

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