Nothing We Can't Do

image by Jomphong


I was going to come back here and list my woes, to have a good little sulk session about what's not going right and what has been making me grumble lately, but you know what? I dont want to anymore. After having a week of feeling sulky and grumpy I'm done with it. Done with letting other people bring me down, done with doubting myself and my actions, done with feeling sorry for myself! Grumble no more Lauren, I am OVER it!

Which leaves me a happy little place planning adventures and activities for my little family for the next week. I always do this, start planning the week before it begins. The things I think up aren't always logical or practical but I love the blank canvas that is a new week. There is nothing that we couldn't do. Load up on wood, nails and a hammer and build our very own cubby house? Sure thing! Go snorkling at the beach? Yup! Get in the car and drive, letting the Bear call out 'left' and 'right' at random and see where we end up! Let's do it! All these little activities don't always get done (I've been wanting to go hot air ballooning for a while now, not exactly practical with a 3 year old and 11 month old but hey, one day we will) but it leaves me with a nice feeling just planning them, knowing that in the next 7 days we can do anything.we.please. Pretty cool thought hey?

Another cool thought is one that my hubby had today. I have always loved making things, especially for the little ones - decorations for their rooms, jewellery, head bands, toys, dress up clothes, etc. You name it and I have probably made it. Or want to make it. There isn't one specific thing that I like best, if it involves a glue gun, great fabrics, googly eyes, glitter, a camera, a paint brush or anything of the like I'm bound to love it. Today hubby suggested that I make up a bunch of my 'stuff' and put them up on Ebay, or start an Etsy store, or a facebook store. I really liked that thought and think I'm going to do it! I'll probably just start with a little selection, make a couple of gorgeous headbands for little girls, some fabric butterflies to hang from the ceiling, paint some pictures in little hand painted frames, make string of bunting. Just to put something out there. I'm fully aware they may not sell, but hey, they might! Someone might see them, love them and want to make them a part of their child's bedroom or playroom. And how cool would that be? To have someone look at something I've made and say yes, I'd like that for my child!

So that's my little personal adventure for the week, start collecting materials and fabrics and what not. Woohoo!

In other news it's Dad's Day tomorrow. The Bear went to bed tonight whispering "one more sleep...one more sleep!" He has been counting down the sleeps since he chose his present for hubby - a new fishing tackle box and a little fishing rod for himself. Can you guess what we are doing tomorrow morning? :) I dont even like fishing but I will happily go down to the jetty with my boys and my Butterfly tomorrow morning and watch them. The Bear has never been fishing before and hubby hasn't been in so long, even though he loves it so much, so it should be a lovely morning. And provided we dont actually catch any fish I will be happy - teeheehee. Though I think we are going to make a sneaky stop at a fish shop before hand and purchase a couple of small, non-scary looking fish to hook on the end of Bear's line when he isn't looking to ensure he gets the buzz of catching something.

Have a great Dad's Day, whatever you are planning on doing!

Party Plans

Image by Danilo Rizzuti



I can't quite believe it but my little Bear turns 3 next week. It's actually a really tricky thing to wrap my head around. First of all I just can't believe that he's growing up so quickly - this is my baby we're talking about here, the one that I was told by two doctors and a sonographer that I was loosing when I was pregnant, the one that proved them all wrong and stuck with me and grew into a perfect little baby. The one who stayed breech for the entire pregnancy, his (big!) head sitting under my right ribs. When he would stretch he would push his head out so far you could SEE it clear as day. That was quite a party trick, it would freak people right out :D This is the bub who turned dark blue as I held him after he was born, who was rushed away to special care and hooked up to countless tubes and monitors. This is the baby who fought to get better as he lay in his little humidicrib, the baby I stared at for hours and hours, my hand holding his through the special cut out hole. It was the only contact I could have with him for a couple of days and it near killed me. This is the baby who they were about to send away to a dedicated children's hospital to get him further help, but who that night fought on and got out of the danger zone. This is the baby who they finally wheeled into my room, announcing they had someone who wanted to see me. From that moment he has just blossomed. I know I keep saying it but he is amazing. He is so clever (and I'm not just being biased, at the age of 1 1/2 he had the comprehension of a 3 year old), so sweet, so kind and so burst-your-sides-open funny. He's such his own person, an entire lovable, complex and amazing human wrapped up in a little body. How can he already be 3??! Three seems so grown up, it's so far from being a baby and so much more of a big kid.

But then on the other hand if I think of how long it feels he's been with us, how long he's been part of our lives, it feels like forever. When I think of three as actually only being 36 months, it seems tiny. 36 months. Doesn't that make it seem like a blink of an eye? How do little ones grow so much, learn so much, become so much in a mere 36 months?!? My overwhelming feeling about him turning 3 though is pride. As I watch him run around, play games, sing songs and make up dance moves, cook cakes or clean up his toys, tickle the Butterfly or nestle in a corner looking through a book I could just burst. He is doing so well. He is so happy. Which means I am so happy. God help me when he turns 13. I'll be an emotional wreck.

Anyway, he has requested a fancy dress party this year and wants to go as Bob the Builder (he's also issued instructions as to what we are to come as - apparently I'm to be a princess (complete with crown, a big special dress and a wand), Hubby is to be a cowboy (which I think he was secretly thrilled about) and the Butterfly is to go as Wendy, Bob the Builder's sidekick. His costume was easy peasy - a pair of overalls, a red and yellow checked shirt, a Bob the Builder tool belt complete with tools, a hard hat and a pair of boots! Woohoo! He's asked for a Muck cake (Muck is Bob's big red dump truck) which I'm really looking forward to making. I ADORE making and decorating cakes, I spend so much time on them and the perfectionist in me rears her head, but god it's fun. I'm planning on making the dump truck itself out of a number of different cakes then hollowing out one big piece to be the dumper itself which I'll fill with different types of lollies. I've ordered a Bob the Builder candle which I'll stand in the dumper amongst the lollies to make it look like he is riding in the back. Fingers crossed it works out!

Activities-wise we'll be having a treasure hunt, pin the hardhat on bob, pass the parcel and biscuit decorating. I'm also contemplating making up a few tubs of slime (he adores it) and letting them get all messy, or giving them balls to try and throw into the tubs (which will then in turn make a huge mess when they splash in). The food will be pretty standard - mini sausage rolls, sandwich triangles, fairy bread, fruit kebabs, jelly cups with chocolate frogs stuck on top, mini spring rolls, veggie sticks with dip and a bucket full of poppers.

I'm making the decorations (yep, I'm a sucker for punishment) so will no doubt have a few late nights coming up. I'll take some pics when they are done. It should be great fun though! Have I mentioned that I love planning parties for my little ones?! lol.

And the best thing is when it's all over and done with, we'll start again. The Butterfly's first birthday is in September :)