Suckered in.....

And it was beeeew-ti-ful!!

No. I'm not talking about the lack of sleep I got last night, thanks to Monkey deciding that feeding for an HOUR is a good thing at night.  *bleurgh* 

I'm talking about what I wasn't going to watch. The thing that had me rolling my eyes at 6pm when I tuned in for the news forgetting that that as it normally is wasn't happening. Also that I was going to boycott coz I like ending my week watching 7Days. How else do I know it's time for bed on a friday?!?

The Royal wedding. Those 2 babies getting hitched. (well, they look young to me!! I think it's a sign I'm getting old. Even the British PM looks young to me!  Argh!!)

I got suckered in, thanks to all you peeps on The Twitter tweeting like crazy about it.  And once Captain Awesome had dragged his tired arse off to bed, I had control of the tv and could watch it without him rolling his eyes and groaning at me. I am glad I tuned in when I did - when the ACTUAL wedding bit started. Coz all that Pre-Game Hype just drives me bat-shit crazy! 

It's probably why we don't watch sport here in Chez ToastFairy.  Ugh. 

So, suckered in I was.  And I have to say I was impressed. Impressed with the way She looked mostly relaxed,  confident.  Impressed by Harry chatting with his big brother as they waited at the front.  Impressed by him saying she looked beautiful when she arrived next to him.  "aawwwwwwwww!!"   Squeeeee.  

I was also impressed with the choreography of the police and miltary in crowd control - so amazing!!  And who could not be impressed by all those sparkly shiny guards on horseback?? ;O) 

Captain just made me realise they had fluffy hats on too - maybe that's why I like them?  They are "Spaaaaarkly" (it's about 2:30min in, but watch all of it. coz I said! + it's funny)  and also "So Fluffy!!"

And it was amazing to see the people out in force. Most of them well behaved, loving the day, and for all the talk of not wanting royals anymore - they seemed pretty chuffed for the couple. 

The kiss on the balcony was sweet. (yes I know!! it was late - 1225am - but after feeding Monkey for an hour then putting him to bed at 12am, I didn't see the point in *not* waiting for the wavey bit)


I'm glad I did wait. Coz right at the end was my favourite shot of the day. I'm not entirely sure why, but this was, for lack of a better word, Neat. 

Hmm. No, that's not the right adjective. I dunno.... you check it out.    Beautiful, just beautiful   (I tried to imbed the pic, but it wouldn't let me - sorry. bout all the linksy thingys)   


But now, I think I'm gonna go have a nap or something. The Dynamic Duo starts school on monday and they need school shoes.....that should be a fun trip.  Esp with GingerNinja, in all his Speech Delay Glory clearly saying "No! I don't want to go to school."  yay.  :O/

Things in my head....

Getting dressed was too hard today. So here's me in my pj's :O)

And thoughts as what to write about today led me to hearing a tune in my head, so I thought that I would share some with you lovelies!!

So, I love music. And I often have tunes pop into my head.....when I'm in the shower, or just pottering around dying a little inside doing the housework.
 

Here's an example of the electic, weirdness that resides musically in my head.

Hrm, thanks Dad for raising me believing that this was normal music that everybody else was listening to. Altho I will admit, I have many fond memories of enjoying music as a family, singing along. And the sense of achievement when I not only knew the words, but could singalong with Rolf without missing a beat!    #SmallTownEntertainment


Then there's this.  A recent addition, courtesy of my Lil Brother.....

Ahhh.....just the tune I need to be humming to the kids. 


Mind you.....it's better than any of this guy's songs.... A favourite of which I hum to console myself when I'm having a bad day

So, that's a little look inside my head.....musically at least.  Scared yet??  ;OD

For My Big Lil Brother.

For all his smarts, and trust me he's got 'em. In fact I think he may have somehow gotten some of my share of the family brains.....  (Thankth Igor!)

*ahem* anyways, for all his smarts, my Big Lil Brother's education is slightly lacking in some areas, it has become apparent.

For example, altho he had heard of Jimi Hendrix, he was unaware he was a black man.  *sigh*  c'mon m&d there's some basic stuff kids need to know!!

And so, today, in the theme of educating my Lil Bro, I give you

Too Many Daves (by Dr Suess)
Did I ever tell you that Mrs McCave
Had twenty-three sons and she named them all Dave?
Well, she did. And that wasn't a smart thing to do.
You see, when she wants one and calls out, "Yoo-Hoo!
Come into the house, Dave!" she doesn't get one.
All twenty-three Daves of hers come on the run!
This makes things quite difficult at the McCaves'
As you can imagine, with so many Daves.
And often she wishes that, when they were born,
She had named one of them Bodkin Van Horn
And one of them Hoos-Foos. And one of them Snimm.
And one of them Hot-Shot. And one Sunny Jim.
And one of them Shadrack. And one of them Blinkey.
And one of them Stuffy. And one of them Stinkey.
Another one Putt-Putt. Another one Moon Face.
Another one Marvin O'Gravel Balloon Face.
And one of them Ziggy. And one Soggy Muff.
One Buffalo Bill. And one Biffalo Buff.
And one of them Sneepy. And one Weepy Weed.
And one Paris Garters. And one Harris Tweed.
And one of them Sir Michael Carmichael Zutt
And one of them Oliver Boliver Butt
And one of them Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate....
But she didn't do it. And now it's too late.




I too must suffer the same sad fate. It's too late to name my kids anything nearly as cool as our Beloved Dr Seuss comes up with. I'm heartbroken to be sure. 


I nearly had Captain agreeing to Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate. Then he woke up.  :OD

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells" - Dr Seuss 

Hot Cross Buns Are Hard

Well, at least mine were....   :O/

After 3 batches were put in the breadmaker I realised that I was putting the fruit in too early and this *might* be the reason they weren't rising. 

Then I proceeded to forget to put the crosses on 2 batches of them.  From henceforth these crossless hot cross buns shall be known as TombStones. (it fits in with the Christian Easter Theme too!)

Then when the fourth batch was in the breadmaker we realised (we = I had my mum here helping out with the thinking and eating, along with Captain Awesome who used to be the main bread baker of the house), so we realised that we were using the wrong yeast. *facepalm*  I used Surebake, like I do in all my other bread stuffs. The recipe said to use Active Yeast.  and look at that there -IS- a difference.  

I'm over easter buns now.  SO over them. 

I might try making them again next week. I wanna kick that sucker to touch. Get them right this time!!

But, ah, this was just one of the litany of errors that was my easter weekend......

I managed to put my wedding rings (one of which is my only REAL diamond ring) through the washing machine  *facepalm* 

I mentioned the failed, slightly burned bums, and forgotten crosses of my easter buns  *facepalm*

And there was more. I know there was more. But I can't now remember what it was that went wrong *facepalm*  There must have been more than that, or I wouldn't have come up with the phrase "litany of errors" And yeah, ok  *sheesh* I know it's not really a litany per se. But isn't it a cool phrase? I think it's a cool phrase and I just wanted to use it.

On the up side, Easter holidays has meant that my Big Lil Brother has come up from Quakey Town to visit, and brought with him our sheepskin 

and coz Dad hasn't sent thru the pic of me on the sheepskin (on the table) I will just have to  leave you with this clip, and you'll have to just imagine how lovely our new Sheepy is   *happy sigh*  :OD

I did Nothing. I learn it from a book.

Oh yeah. I got my hair cut too 

  ;O)

Yup.

There's nothing to report. As I have been doing nothing. 

Well, mostly. 

I spent a lot of monday in bed, reading. Thanks body for sucking at the monthly thing now. oh yeah, and thanks kids for messing with my body on your way through.  *CHEERS!*  :O.

Yesterday I took the Tribe of Lunatics to the dentist - all is well. Their teeth are "a credit to mum"  me that is. I added that Captain Awesome helps lots too  :O)

Then we crusied over to my mum's place and hung out.... Knitting. Me and mum. Darling Girl did some too, but she is just learning, isn't very focused so makes mistakes and then gives up. Not so awesome.  And here I thought she had learnt perseverence at Playcentre. Maybe she did. And then unlearnt it at school.  Cool.  

Fun tho, coz Dude wanted to learn to knit too. Nanna taught him french knitting (you use a cotton reel with nails hammered into it), Padawan took to it too.  It was quite a nice relaxy afternoon.  Just what I needed. 

And then we were a bit late home, so Captain AWESOME had cooked dinner.  I could get used to this.  

He tells me not to though  *sigh*  

Ah, well, a girl can dream right?   :OD

Thanks Fuck For That.

Yes I dress like this in public  :O)

It's the end of term.  Thank Fuck.

I don't think I could face getting outta bed again. In the morning. *don't panic* it's not that bad.  But as previously discussed - I'm not much of a morning person.

I do them. But only coz I have to. Only coz the kids can't drive themselves anywhere yet.  Even though they can drive me up the wall. *thinks* how does that work i ask you?!  ;O)
 
And why has it been such a long arse term?  Fucken. Rugby.  

They lengthened the first two school terms of the year to 11 weeks each to accomodate the rugby world cup (and NO. it doesn't deserve capitals. Bite Me)  Do we get longer holidays later in the year? I hear you ask.   Um.   No.  We don't. How arsehat is that?  Muchness I believe is the answer there.

So, anyways. On that note, I celebrate with a vodka and coke.  What do you mean it's too early in the day for that??  pish.  Also, I should note, it was more like a coke and vodka such was the weak strength as I know I still have to pick the kids up (see reference earlier to their slack driving skills) and it's not a good look being pulled over for drunk driving while the kids are in the back.

I may be crazy.

I may be delusional.

I may like me a little tipple.


But it'll be a cold day in hell when I let myself be *that* parent.  nuh-uh.  "not gonna do it"  (not even -I- can remember where that quote is from. But I hear it in my head like a quote from a movie, so hence the speech marks)  (and I might have even remembered it wrong too)  #FuckenWIN  :O/


And now to survive 6 kids at home for 2 weeks.  Somehow I should get a sleep in or two. They are capable of getting themselves breakfast. Cereal too. They is good and don't eat candy and shit for breakfast if I'm not around.  SHHHHHHH don't tell them it's an option!!!  Sheesh.  
They even feed Monkey.  Good wee kids.


They don't always avoid sounding like they are killing each other while they get breakfast unattended tho......  


Time to start the holidays!!  Yippeee!!  *sarcasm much?*  :OD

 

Ah, The Lovely Circle of Life...... :O/

Today's post is brought to you by Bjork (yeah and I know that should have a thingy over the o but I couldn't be bothered looking for it on my English keyboard - sorry!! I love her music tho, surely that is homage enough?!)

*BigBreath* when I get to feeling like this.....

Captain Awesome pants does this for me.....

Which is lovely and makes things all better again. Which is kinda what he did this week. He's awesome like that.  

And I usually ruin it by going all like this....

But hey, we all have our little foibles don't we? It's what those who love us, love us for.

Well, I hope it is. Otherwise I'm in some big trouble here!!  ;OD

Postscript = I don't think I've ever watched that last video clip before. But I have been listening to this album for years and years and years....Thanks Big Lil Brother for introducing me to this awesome talent.  *huuuuuuug*  :O) 

It's winter already

And do you know how I know??

This is our crappy arse shower and I -still- don't wanna get out of it in the morning.

Ok, sure we have heat to the dribble. But tweak it even the slightest bit and it's cold. Go back a smidgen the other way and your skin gets burnt off.

Maybe I exaggerate a little.   A little.  It still sucks arse though for a person who loves water.  And finds solace in her morning shower. 

Also, it's just about the wrong size on the small side that I'm always bumping the dial handle with my elbow when I'm washing myself, or trying to shave my legs.  

But for all that crappiness......I still love me a shower in the morning, and don't wanna get out to face the world. 

And that's how I know it's winter. Coz in summer it's warm and therefore the slight warmth eminating from the piddling water flow doesn't entice me to stay put!  ;OD

Stick a Fork in Me

I'm done. 

I'm so tired, physically and emotionally, I don't care if all the kids are with me when we leave the house in the morning. This is not a good sign. 

I often get asked how I do it. How I cope with 6 kids. 
This tune here comes to mind. Particularly the first line....

Now, I'm not a whiskey drinker per se, but mostly coz I figure if you're gonna do it, do it right and drink good stuff. and that's frankly a little outside my wee housewifey budget. 

But that's how I do it folks.  coping = alcohol and afternoon naps

Lately though I noticed that 'friday night drinks' was fast becoming 'everyday drinks at 3pm'  and that can't be a good habit.  So I made an effort NOT to drink.  I can choose not to drink. so I'm hoping that means I'm not turning into an alcoholic.  

Also, have been trying not to substitute chocolate for drinkies, coz that's just that. Substitution.  Still leaning on something.

But then, that cheeky little voice in my head rationalises it by saying "well, it's not crack. at least it's non-prescription. It can't be as bad as all that if it's just the odd drink and a butt load of chocolate."  right?? oh please say I'm not delusional here. 


Wait. hang on. What's the title at the top of the page? *looks up*  oh crap....

Annnnnnnyways......And naps have been falling by the wayside coz of school visits twice a week, then y'know, all that pesky house work that needs doing.  And I've been thinking about it - I do the bare minimum of housework so that the house isn't filthy or falling round our ears. I keep the washing done, and occasionally it gets folded (Padawan was doing this, but he's been getting grumpy with it lately and I've decided I'd rather do it myself than fight with him about it, then end up getting told off by Captain for shouting).  I wipe down the bathroom and toilet everyday or so with some natural spray and the old handtowel before throwing it in the wash - it occurs to me that I may just be wiping the germs around, but otherwise I was only getting to cleaning those rooms once a week. With 6 boys in the house, 8 of us all up? once a week Just. Wasn't. Enough.  eeeeeeewwwwwww.  :O/ 

I vacuum when you can see lumps of shite (not literally. most of the time) on the floor. Just to clarify - I'm not so far gone I leave poos on the floor. Not knowingly anyway.  Just food scraps. and dirt. and toys. and food.  you know, the usual "kid droppings"


I cook dinner. Most nights. It's even real food for the most part.  Not fish sticks and peas. 

Not that there's anything wrong with fish sticks and peas. *thinks* Well, maybe if you throw them on the table frozen and yell "dig in!" 

Unless your kids are happy to eat them frozen. Your kids are weird. But at least they are low maintenance. Be grateful.

oH yeah. I also do the 'mum taxi' drive the kids everywhere thing. Altho they do walk to school some, so it's not all the time. Just some days it feels like it. :O/

I had to hang some washing out, and take the kids to sport, so now I've lost my train of thought. It was something along the lines of.... I cope with 6 kids by utilising afternoon naps and alcohol.  And I'm not really getting those anymore.  

So I guess I'm not coping. 


I will leave you with this though.....while doing stuff and ruminating on writing the rest of this, I was thinking about what I would do if I -did- wig out.  Some healthy fantasying to avoid -actually- doing anything isn't so bad.  but this tune came to mind.....

Like I said before,  If you're going to do something, do it well!

Not that I have time for any of that now - there's dinner to cook, kids to put to bed, lunches to make for tomorrow, washing to fold, dishes to wash, husband to talk to, and hopefully some sleep to be had. In a perfect world and all......  :O{
 

Survival is Possible

I was waiting till after saturday to write a big long post about The Event - namely the Dynamic Duo's joint 5th birthday party.

But you know what?  Buggerit I'm just too knackered.  

So. you're gonna get some stats. some pics. and you'll be happy about it too!!  :OP

We had 24 kids. 18 adults.  Give or take a few.  Thank god we were down at Playcentre not trying to squeeze all that into our house. Now our place isn't teeny, it has to house our wee Tribe of Lunatics, but still....

They played with the hose, actually 2 hoses, in the sandpit. As my brother asked "does the sandpit *ever* dry out?!"  In answer, sometimes. Not often.  :O)
They had pipes and funnels attached to the sunshade posts, tipping coloured water from the water trough down these, and onto each other.  No, Darling Girl wasn't soaked through head-to-toe, chasing Ginger Ninja round and round and round and round. Not my wee girl. She's dainty and tidy and demure. Just like her mum.   *snort*  yeah, right!! I hear you chorus!! 

They also had bubbles and dressups happening too. Then we cleaned them up and fed 'em (coz we are nice adults) and ourselves.  Let the frenzy of present opening begin!!

It was insane. I think it's just boys. and 2 of them opening at the same time! But the paper flew, and I was hard pressed to keep up with what SirTalks was given. Captain was supervising Ninja, so I have *no idea* what he got. And less who from. Captain doesn't monitor those kinda details.....


We watched a wee girl (2 days older than my monsters boys) open her gifts today (yes another day, another party both at Playcentre, so a little confusing for Ninja who thought all those lovely gifts were for him too. Never mind that 90% of them were wrapped in pink....
ANYways! My point here was that she opened her gifts so nicely, sedately, reading all the cards (and she can read - she is sooo awesome!) and flicking thru the books.  So different it was weird to watch. Nice. But weird compared to the previous day.


Then there was cake.  CAKE-S.  *eyeroll*  I'm never having twins again.

Dude's cake from last year - with a bionicle ontop

here's the thing about cakes in this house. I foolishly, foolishly got in the habit of asking the kids what kinda cake they wanted. The older kids got used to having a plain cake covered in lollies, or lego models. Or both. All going well.

SirTalks 2010 = Clutch Powers!!!

Somehow the little ones have yet to cotton on to this way of doing things for the sake of my sanity.   so we had a colossal squid cake (he changed his mind in the last week - he had asked for a colossal squid eating a plane!)

I was SUPER pleased coz it *actually* looked like a colossal squid!!!

Then I had to come up with something for Ninja. Last year I did bugs and a flower on his cake.

 I had to come up with something different, even though he's still really into bugs.  I dunno why, but I wanted it to be super cool too. Maybe I was compensating for his lack of language, which sometimes means he misses out (altho we try not to let that happen), or coz he so often just plays by himself, in his own head. Or maybe it's coz he's ginger.  *shrug*  anythings possible!!


Finally, about a week ago it hit me. What he really likes, and has liked for a while now - Where The Wild Things Are. He LOVES that book. He has a few puppets that we found for him that he sleeps with. Sleeping with a toy with that boy is a sign of love, even if he doesn't play with it during the day.   And so I dreamed of this.... 


*side note - coz I'm making 2 cakes in one day, they do get a smaller cake. I take my standard birthday cake recipe (Destitute Gourmet's Dana's Chocolate Cake) and cook it in 2 loaf tins.  1x the effort = 2 cakes. "now there's thinking lass!" :O)

He sailed off through night and day...

and in and out of weeks and almost over a year....

I'm kinda proud of these cakes. But I have also kinda set the bar a little high.  This does not bode well for next year. Or even for Monkey's 2nd birthday coming up in a couple months :O/  altho, that is a couple months away, maybe inspiration will strike.

Not likely though.  :O.  

Thoughts. I'm sure I had some here. Somewhere.

Yesterday

Four O'Clock and all's well!!

ok, so no one's dead. But it's about the same right??  Coz often round here, about now, I lose the will to live. Let alone cook dinner, feed the baby, or interact with the children. As lovely as they are.   

Hang on a second. Have to sign homework. 

Great and then coz I'm trying to feed while I type I hit "publish" instead of "save draft"  *facepalm*

Tried wearing my boots today....

Annnnnnnnd the kids have turned ferral. I dunno what they have been eating today (nothing out of the ordinary) but they're running round, being extra noisy in their games, and nagging me for shit.  Can we just blame the weather? Or some cycle of the moon? Yeah that's a good one!  Moon = Lunar = Lunatic.  That sums them up today My Tribe Of Lunatics.  


And henceforth they shall be known as such. 


My Darling Little Tribe of Lunatics.  :O.


Ah, I am sooooo blessed.

So I wore my comforty boots instead

In case you missed it too, and coz I'm sure not *all* my readers live in the same region as me my beautiful kids were on the front page of the paper last week, coz of all the milk we drink. I was keeping my kids outta the interwebz as best I could, but then it was on Stuff.com  and friends linked to it on thefacebook. so *sigh*  #ParentingFail there.


But at least I got lots of compliments about how Gorgeous my kids are.  and they are. Even when they are re-inacting Lord of the Flies in our front yard.  *sigh*  :OD

 

ow ow ow son of a bitch ow ow *phew* thanks!!

I went out saturday night. It was a friends 40th so I had to go, reagardless of feeling exhausted (as previously discussed. Many, many times! *sigh*) Also, she's an awesome lady and I was honoured to be invited. So in honour of her it being her 40th, a special Grown Up Age, I dressed in my serious clothes......

I got almost half way there and realised -thanks to Supergroove - that I was wearing the wrong top. So I raced home again to change. These things are important. 

I left my scarf and bag in the car, picked up my black velvet coat, swapped my top for a shirt, got Captain to take another shot and then left home again.  


I was only a couple hours late for the party, but that didn't matter as it went into the wee hours anyways....

I think Captain did something sqwiffy to the camera, coz I look all squat in this pic, but you get the idea.


Today's news!! 


I went to the doc and got him to dig that blasted piece of glass outta my foot. I'm kinda bendy, but I just couldn't get so I could get it out of my heel.  erm.


It took a bit of digging. then deciding he needed a finer pair of tweezers (I'm sure I mentioned to him that I had tried to get it out already).   ANYways....he dug around for a bit longer - I swear it felt like he was just pushing it back in as punishment for me being stupid enough to step on glass in barefeet in the first place. In my own kitchen. What a stupid place to be barefoot. Honestly LilToastFairy. COME ON!!!


One last big push (hey this sounds familiar) and he got it out.  The little fucker was a 5mm shard.  OW. No wonder my foot has been sore and it hurt to walk on it.  


Altho, in chatting afterwards while he put a dressing on it (I paid $41 I'm getting the full service thanks!!) he commented that I mustn't have been walking on my foot that much (um. Hello? It hurt like FUCK of course I'm not walking on it! #Asshat). Apparently most people will walk on a foot with glass in it, so that it pushes up further into the foot so the docs can't see to get it out. 


I'd like to end with this observation - even though it's not a new observation -  This is just more proof.  Most People Are Stupid.    >:OD 
 

Exhaustion is a Bitch, and She's Made Me Her Slave

using red lipliner as eyeliner to match my bloodshot eyes.  And check out those black rings baby!!  :O(

Dinner was late last night. Almost epically late. Like 7pm.

Don't laugh. It's late for us. So the little ones didn't get to bed till 730pm. 


Not cool.   Especially now, the following afternoon, when the kids are being over-emotional, reactionary and complaining about other kids coming into their room. They -share- a room.  Anyone else see a slight problem with their logic?! 

Not that I really expect kids to make much sense in the first place. I know better. This isn't my first rodeo.  Which brings us back around to exhaustion. Yup. I know I've mentioned it a bit lately, but I'm tired a lot lately.  It makes it hard to be excited and energetic about life.  Hell, it makes it hard for me to think of jazzy fun topics to write about.


Yesterday's school visit went ok. Well, maybe. The boys were more like their normal selves, and I left them with the teacher for a bit, also I let the teacher guide them a bit more. The theory I figure is that my kids need to learn to respect the teacher's authority in the classroom, and I need to support that learning process. 


When we left she was encouraging me to come for the other 4 visits we had lined up. "they'll need them" she said. I agreed.  But nice conformation for me, as I had to ask for extra visits. Kids mostly get 2-4 pre-school visits at this school.  I guess she saw what I had meant when I explained SirTalks with  "you'll see when he gets here. and then you'll think 'oh so that's what she was talking about' "....


In other news....I stepped on a piece of glass about 10 days ago. In our kitchen. Weird.We hadn't broken anything recently, why are there slivers of glass lying around??


And my foot has been sore ever since. Also? the cut isn't healing. I rang for an apppointment with the doc today, speaking to the nurse at the same time. Did you know that glass can stay in the body for years? It doesn't work it's way out. It doesn't get infected. Which kinda explains a few things about how I thought I was going mental thinking it was weird my foot wasn't healing but wasn't getting infected....


But someone pointed me to this, which I think is brilliant.....  My kinda smart arse :O)


And then this.... which if this is normal twin behaviour, then our twins have never really been 'twins'. They were -never- like this. Not that we saw. Although Captain points out that maybe never saw it coz we were so busy with all the other kids..... But I don't remember this kinda thing even before Ginger was diagnosed with Speech Delay, and before SirTalks started talking quite so much.  

They have never looked alike, or had the same interests, or really joined at the hip.  "womb mates" really does sum them up  :OD