Merry Christmas & Happy Boxing Day

3 hours to open all the presents Chrstimas morning. 3 hours. My God. That should tell you how much stuff was under the tree. It's a complete madhouse here. Of course Teddy's favorite present it the Wii. I have to say, it is really cool. I got Wii Fit and if Teddy ever lets me get near the Wii I might be able to really enjoy it. Connor got a doll house which has been HYSTERICAL listening to her play with it. "I have to go to the pizza shops - if you're bad while I'm gone I'm going to be very sad with you!"

Connor and Tessi got a bunch of princess dolls and I can't help myself - every time I walk by the doll house I put Ariel in the bath tub. I don't want her to start molting or something. Tessi got a bunch of things but has no real favorite. If you ask her she'll say, "Presents!" So it's all good.

For Boxing Day we had 2 sets of friends come over so last night we had 18 for dinner. It was a zoo and it was wonderful. Really. A ton of food, wine and fabulous conversation and the kids running every which way. I just loved it. Australians are right for mandating the day after Christmas as a holiday - it just works.

So Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Boxing Day. Now I'm off to figure out how to pry the Wiimote out of Teddy's hand and hose off the back patio.

Holiday + Children = Misery

What twit decided children need to be off from school the week before Christmas? Seriously, how the Hell can anyone get anything done? I have 3 extra people in the house to help and I'm STILL behind the eight ball.

Sigh...Merry Christmas everyone. Hang on until the 26th, it's coming.

Counting Down to Christmas

The week before Christmas is rarely fun. It's a matter of tying up loose ends. Finish presents that I'm making, still trying to figure out what to get people and of course the mad dash shopping trips to the stores with other raging lunetics.

Very difficult to feel the Christmas spirit. But I'm trudging along and hoping that somewhere somehow a tiny bit of cheer will squeeze in between the girls fighting and threatening each other about not giving presents, Teddy sulking over what new toy he wants and of course darling husband. At least my in-laws are a bright spot. They are doing whatever they can to make us all happy. Now if I could only figure out what to get THEM for Christmas.

I myself am looking forward to the 26th. The best day of the year in my book.

Too Many People for the Car?

No problem. Just tell your gullible son that he will be riding on the roof. He will believe you, I promise. Next, have a good friend with a camera standing by. Then tell son to get into friend's car, watch for disappointment on son's face.

He really thought I would let him ride on the roof. I mean come on, is he NEW? I won't even let him walk backwards on the escalator at the shops but he thought I'd let him car surf? Wow.

They're HERE!

My in-laws arrived from Texas yesterday. 6 weeks of free qualified babysitting by people who think little girls fighting and 8 year old boys being surely is CUTE. OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They arrived with suitcases full of stuff, for us, not them. In fact, I think I may end up having to take them shopping for clothes for them! They brought an entire suitcase stuffed full of clothes...for the kids...just clothes. Crystal Light tea mixes, canned cranberry sauce, cake mixes, dozens of tortillas, chili powder - OH MY!!!!!! I can't even remember everything, it's a blur.

We are so lucky to have them here - and no, I'm not writing this just because they will read it. Right now Mom is is finishing up the dishes - I think I'm in LOVE! The kids are over the moon and Ted and I are plotting our escape. Merry Christmas!

This Makes My Day

It has been a lousy couple of days. We all got a bit of sun poisoning at Ted's company picnic - Tessi the worst. She's been throwing up for a few days. Even had to take her to the dr. Fortunately, she's doing better. But it's been rough, really rough.

But today Ted took off of work to take Teddy and a friend out to a Waratah's meet and greet. The kids got to watch the rugby players train, got autographs, face painting and dinner - all for free. Yes, you read that right, FREE. Take note NFL owners, get the kids in YOUNG at cheap or free events and they will become lifelong fans and grow up to buy all your worthless junk at a 150% markup.

Here's the best part Teddy got to pose for a picture and this is what he got. His head photoshopped onto a waratah's body. How cool is this?!

Is There Some Particular Reason....

...that kids like being sick better at night rather than during the day like decent people? Thursday night Teddy woke up at 12:30 with a fever and cold symptoms that set off his asthma. So we were up for a bit getting his breathing back in order. He didn't want to go back to his room and I didn't want to be too far away so we both slept on the living room couches. Him on the 3-seater and me on the 2-seater. Yeah, I know. My logic is a bit fuzzy at 2 am.

I kept him home from school because of the fever obviously but also because he has a lot of stuff going on this weekend and quite honestly - they are in full end of year mode and that class isn't doing ANYTHING of real value right now. So home he was. Since the medicine was working he was pretty much FINE the whole day. I'm not one of the cool moms so when you're home sick from school you stay...in...bed..the...whole...day. I let him out for lunch, legos and one movie. Yes, mean Mom. I know, I've been told.

My point? Well it's 2:30 am in Sydney now and we're up again. This time asthma is ok, but he's sick so a bunch of meds have been poured down his throat. He has a 9am cricket game and after that is Ted's office Christmas party. It's a family event. The office is hiring a Santa and getting nice presents for the kids - yet ANOTHER reason to happy not to work for Travelocity as last year all spouses and children were banned from the Christmas party. Atlassian is soooo much better. But that's another post.

Don't know if Teddy is going to Saturday's events, I doubt it. Poor kid, he will be CRUSHED to miss a game -after all, it's not everyone who gets to perform in front of GOD weekly and have GOD say, "Good on ya, Teddy!" Then to top it off and miss Santa? Ooohhhh. Maybe I'll have Ted tell him.

Why is that little girl interupting the performance?

Hi, Mother of the Year here. Wedensday night was Teddy's Christmas Concert at school. A small school but every parent and every human being they've ever met attends this thing. Seriously, we had to arrive 2 hours before the show just so I could set up my blanket where I wanted it. Amazing. Complete free-for-all with hundreds of parents and kids running around. Fortunately, even though it's a public school it's ok for parents to bring wine, so we all packed a picnic dinner and several bottles of wine and sat around to watch the show.

Connor and Tessi had a great time running around, chasing each other and finding friends to play with, but I made them come sit in our general area when the show started. They took turns sitting with us, goving over to Penny's blanket, then to Pip's blanket, and again to Genevieve's blanket, really anyone they could even slightly recognize. It was really nice.

About 4 or 5 songs in Teddy's class came out. The stage was actually the concrete, open area in between the buildings. So we're sitting up on the grassy knoll area watching, "Let There be Peace on Earth" but Teddy's class. Very cute. A nice quiet, serene song and I was looking for Teddy and enjoying the pretty song. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a little pink plaid dress walking down around the Year Two class. I think, "Oh how cute, a little girl is down there walking around...pause...pause...Crap, it's Tess" She has somehow left our immediate area, walked through the crowd a good 50 or so yards, and found her way to the makeshift stage and is weaving in and out of the Year Two performance. I turn and yell at Ted, who jumps up, almost falling down the hill and he races to the edge of the hill, which leads to brick wall down to the open area.

EVERYONE AROUND US IS LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY.

Ted gets teased from some of the dads, "Oie Mate, you gotta watch your kid!" One dad was down on the groud so he swooped up Tessi and handed her back to Ted and she sweetly says, "I see Teddy"

Grrrrrrrrrr. The good news is that everyone there knew us and the only danger Tessi was in was from me strangling her with my bare hands. Fortunately there was still some wine left at that point. Have I mentioned that I REALLY like this part about Australia?

Big Bad Beautiful Bug Lover

I got the pictures today of Connor touching the bugs during the bug show. I think Connor's teachers and I have different definations of "touching a bug." To me that includes actually connecting a part of her flesh to the insect. Apparently to her teachers that means pulling Connor onto Jacqui's lap and physically pulling Connor's arm out in the general direction of the bug as it crawls on one of her friend's arm.

Maybe it's just another one of those quirky Aussie translation things?

New Parenting Style: Playing Apart

Well, it's new to me.

They have been home together for 1 hour and all 3 have taken turns to come to rat out the other one at least twice. So now they are all allowed to play, but not with each other. Can't talk to each other, can't touch each other, can't be around each other. Now I'm yelling out every 30 seconds or so, "Stop talking to each other!" Really, the irony is a bit staggering.

At least I've done something. Wouldn't say it was necessarily constructive or even helpful, but I've done something. Next threat is the Santa card. Teddy still talks in horror about the time I called Santa 2 Christmas' ago from my cell phone because he was being a snot. May just call and say the whole fam damily has converted to Judaism. Wait until Teddy and Connor hear that they only get 8 presents. Connor will pass out.

Off to parent now. Don't want to but I feel a slight obligation. S L I G H T

Today...we got...THE letter...

Today we got a letter sent home in Teddy's backpack inviting us to attend the school award presentation ceremony. This means that he has earned an award but they won't announce what it is until the ceremony. Teddy earned a letter last year when he earned the Most Improved in Reading for K-2 (even spiffier when you know that he skipped the last month of Kindergarden and the first half of the year of Year 1. I'm not sure what he's earned it for but whatever it is - it's a wonderful accomplishment that he's earned two.

I am so thrilled for him. Yes, he's been a miserable little snot the last week and yes, he got grounded for "accidentally" swearing at me but yes, I am proud of him and proud of what he has accomplished.

Teddy is happy too. Today he's gotten the coveted letter, it's December 1st and therefore time for daily chocolate and finally, today...his bruise on his face has turned a weird yellow green color and it looks like he was hit. Oh happy day.

First Cricket Injury

Last night at cricket training the last exercise involved the boys throwing a frisbee to each other. This was to, I suppose, improve eye-hand coordination. Teddy is apparently LACKING in this coordination and instead worked on his head-frisbee coordination. Spot on. Last night he had one HELL of a goose egg but the bag of frozen corn brought it down before Ted got home from work - Ted was crushed. He really wanted to see a good war wound. Teddy was really upset about getting hit at first, in fact he was actually worried that the kids at school would tease him about having a bump on his head. I informed him that not only would they not tease him - this would actually make him their god. We'll see.

This morning, alas, the bruise isn't that impressive. The swelling is still pretty nice. Here is some evidence, er um, pictures of the damage. I think you'll agree that it's not terribly bad, but enough for his mom to take pictures and post on the Internet.

When Ya Got it...Flaunt it!

Just had to share this little video I took of the girls. I just started playing Christmas music yesterday and Connor insisted that she needed to dance. Which of course meant that Tessi had to get up and boogie too. Until the inevitable collision which leads to tears, of course. But they are cute.

No Lie Needed

It's a bonafide miracle. It didn't rain. I am utterly shocked. If I've learned one thing about Australia is that in Sydney at least, it rains...all...the...damn....time. However, not today! So no one knows about my filthy house...except all of you reading my blog. Thank God there aren't that many.

New Plan: Lying, Lots of Lying

None of these ladies coming today read my blog so I feel fairly safe in stating this. There's NO way I can let people into my house and there is too much filth to clean before 9am. So I'm going to embrace a more morally flexible thought process. I'm going to lie like there's no tomorrow.

"My husband is home ill and can't possibly have a housefull of screaming kinder around. There's a park right near the mall, we can go there and if it rains pop into the shopping center and eat lunch in the food court."

I like it. I really do. Since Ted will be home for about 5 minutes at 2pm to grab the car and go to the dentist it's not really a complete fabrication. Just mostly one. Yes, that works. There. I'll work on cleaning a bit later...maybe, unless I can keep coming up with these pearls of half-truths.

We Make Plans and God Laughs...

Today is Connor's last Kindergarden Orientation. A few weeks ago I set up a little play date afterwards with a few of her friends. I thought it would be fun if we all went to a park afterwards with the girls lunchboxes, had lunch and the girls played. I said if it rained we could meet at my house. Fun right?

Now it's turned into this "THING" About 8 or 9 girls, including kids I don't know at all. That's fine, the more the merrier. But yesterday I didn't clean up at ALL, too much running around and I checked the weather and it seemed good for today. Just checked the weather now and yes, you guessed it. Showering drought on and off all day. Now a WHOLE bunch of kids, including ones and their mothers that I don't know, coming to the house...this should be FUN.

Off to clean furiously now.

Yes! The Weekend is Over

When you are a mom the work week takes on a whole new meaning. I love Monday mornings, just love 'em! Friday? Eh...not so much. This weekend in particular....very, very glad it's over. Ted's tooth has been killing him since Wed. so all through the weekend he was utterly drugged up just to not be in gut-wrenching pain. Friday and Sat. night Teddy had a friend stay over. The boys were good, it's just that I have to be on duty a few more hours than normal and that's never good.

Saturday's cricket game started off with of course...pouring straight down drought. Ted stayed home so I had the kids and was following a friend because she knew how to get to the oval. Which was good because not only was the oval not in the place it said it was on the map - it was actually named something else entirely. Hey Rand McNally! You got a booming business opportunity over here! Correct maps will sell MILLIONS over here. Hell, I'll buy 3 or 4 just for the fun of it!

The rest of the day and yesterday had a bunch of drought, whiny children, an outright rude 8 year old and general misery in the house. I managed to escape for a bit on Sat to go to a craft warehouse sale. Hey, who cares if Ted was in pain, right? Yeah, not one of my better wife moments. Sorry about that.

But today is a new week. A glorious Monday. While the rest of the planet sits and grouses over the start of another hum drum week I say, "Yeah verily! It is MONDAY, let us REJOICE!" 3 Children in school, a husband going to the dentist and me embracing some silence. You keep your Friday Happy Hour, I got Monday Quiet Time.

Happy Friday All

It's been a fun parenting week so I'm adding another line to my DOCS folder and not take Connor to Lifestart - just straight to school. It's bug day and I don't want to chance her missing it...yeah, that's it. This way I can be home when the phone call comes,"Could you please come help us with Connor, she's attached herself to the ceiling and won't come down" To which I'll respond, "Just put Tessi on a chair, she'll be happy to swat her down with a broom" No really, she will, I promise. I gotta get a picture of those two in mid-brawl...if it wasn't so loud and painful, it would be utterly hilarious. There is just someone really humorous about seeing screaming faces with sparkly bows on top of their heads and hands on their hips.

Actually, I'm tired, bone tired and just want to sleep for a bit. Nothing's wrong, it's just been a long week in the trenches and I just want to curl up for a bit. Teddy is having a friend sleep over tonight and possibly tomorrow night so I need to catch up on my rest a bit. Both of these boys, while extremely likable, are not known for their complacency. Then again, none of my children are known for that either. Hence my being tired. It's a vicious circle.

Australian Drought My Tush

Weather for the week from the Morning Herald

WednesdayRainMin: 18°C Max: 24°CUV: Extreme
Thursday
UV: Very High
FridayMostly sunnyMin: 20°C Max: 24°CUV: Very High
SaturdayWindy with showersMin: 18°C Max: 23°CUV: Very High
SundayPossible showerMin: 16°C Max: 20°CUV: Very High
MondayMostly sunnyMin: 16°C Max: 23°CUV: ExtremeTuesdayPossible showerMin: 17°C Max: 20°C

It started droughting last night and it continues through today. I understand that west & north of here are really suffering. I really feel for them. But Sydney? Not so much. People from Seattle would come here and complain about the rain...seriously. We can not plan our class year end party at a park because everyone involved knows it will rain. Even though we're in a drought.

So today the girls and I will head to the shops for morning tea before their swim lessons...which are indoors. Yes, I am chuckling a bit at the irony.

Kindy Open House Week 2

Also known as yet another learning moment for Cecelia and why it's important not to procrastinate. If this doesn't teach me....I swear, it's hopeless.

Connor's BFF is coming over early this morning and I will be walking the girls to the open house. I will also have Tessi and Teddy too - really should be ok, it's not that far and once we're around other people, eh, it'll be fine. The catch is that I have to go to the office and make copies of an announcement about our class year end party, turn one into the secretary's desk, get the copies back to Teddy's room and on his teacher's desk with a note asking her to stuff them into the Year Two's backpacks. The rooms and office are several buildings apart with kids who will be desperate to get away from me. THAT'S the fun part. If I had done the stinkin' memo over the weekend and made the copies yesterday while the girls were in school....well...I think the rest is best left unsaid.

Thank God I'm bringing lamingtons (chocolate, coconut tea cakes) to the Kindy morning tea - that should keep the girls at least slightly in line.

And So Begins Another Week

I've come to love Mondays, I really do. The beginning of a new week, almost a big Life Do-over. Today is going to be a good one. I have to stay home instead of my normal activities. Connor has a make up prep-for school program so I have to be around to ferry her to it and back to preschool. That means that I'll have about 3 hours combined today where I can decide what to do. Woo Hooo! Be still my beating heart!

Since we're at less than 40 days until Christmas I hopefully will use this time wisely to work on Christmas projects I have going. I doubt I will, but I'm hopeful about it. Tessi doesn't have speech therapy tonight so I don't have to worry about dragging the kids to that and Ted is working late and going to his office basketball game. He needs to help redeem the company honor as last time they were beaten 32-20. No, that's not a typo. I can't even really make fun of it too much - it's just too shameful. Geeks playing basketball is hilarious, Aussie geeks who know nothing about basketball playing in an office tournament should be outlawed. Really, at some point you really have to wonder what is the point?

I will be trying to figure out some stuff to fill the day. I have a meeting scheduled with Teddy's principal after school starts this morning to try to convince her that we need to advertise a bit more for the school. I think we're in danger of becoming too small. We'll see what she thinks - hopefully I can convince her that I'm more than just the crazy yank.

Teddy Continues Quest to Drive Me Barking Mad

Last night at the dinner table Teddy looks up and says, "Oh by the way, I forgot..." immediately I start glaring and start to reach for the bread knife. I figure I get hit him with it and not cause too much damage. "Um, I have to turn in my library book tomorrow. I got a note saying it was overdue and I have to take it back or pay for it" Which is reasonable...unless you know that he had Library time LAST Thursday which means he waited a week to tell me the night before it was due that the book is lost. Even less reasonable when you know that he was ABSENT from school last Thursday with a fever so this pearl is from TWO weeks ago. Better yet...he can't remember the name of the book. Only that it's brown and has a gecko on the cover.

So it begins. He looks everywhere. By that I mean he walks into a room and says, "Nope, it's not here" I leave to go get my hair cut and leave Ted to search. Insert eye roll and uproarious laughter here. Come back. No book. Only now Teddy is frantically looking because Ted has explained the HE has to buy the book, not us. No joy. He goes to bed. In the morning we start again. By we I mean I as I am actually looking underneath things for book - I use this as another opportunity to point out the merits of cleaning out one's room every millennium...which is in turn ignored.

No book. It's gone. Teddy bursts into tears and laments downfall of western society as he is forced to pay for everything in the world. I sob too - -just to hide my laughter. Go to school and walk to library, librarian not in yet. I ask Teddy's teacher to help look and quest becomes a school matter. I leave a rather morose Teddy.

Pick up the prince after school and hear, "Mom, we don't have to pay for the book. I forgot to tell you that I already returned the book a while ago" I turned to 2 women standing next to me, interrupted their conversation, " Excuse me, if I kill my son in front of you, would you be willing to testify in court that I didn't do it?" Having met Teddy before they both agreed readily. One mother on the jury and I swear to GOD I would be carried out on their shoulders.

Connor's First Transition to Kindy Day

At Normanhurst Public School (NPS) they have 3 events called Transition to Kindy for all the upcoming Kindergarden students. Connor dressed in her school uniform - which I was told to do by other moms, but apparently I'm the only one who got the memo. Grrrrr. No matter, Connor LOVES her uniform and begs to wear it...constantly.

We went to the open house and Connor colored pictures and sang songs. She had a wonderful time. It was a little overwhelming with noise and kids she didn't know. She ended up sitting by herself for a while just to escape the noise - but it wasn't anything that was noticeable to anyone else. The co-ordinator from Lifestart Early Intervention was there to observe and she felt very positive about the school and how they will be able to help her.

Tessi joined in the fray too, there was no chance of holding her back. She did get very mad though when I made her put the scissors down. Tessi with a weapon...yea right....whatever...

Let me make one comment though, this really struck me yesterday. I felt a little sad and more than a little jealous yesterday when I looked around the room and saw that most other parents in the room got to see their child coloring and doing craft. I didn't. I watched and saw my child working to manage her temperament, manipulate her fingers and work to control her dexterity. Connor was able to to respond to some of my verbal cues to help keep her focused on work and she tolerated a peer using a light touch on her hair. I wanted so much just to see her coloring and nothing else.

But before I get accused of not being happy about her accomplishments, let me say that I am. She did beautifully yesterday, she really did. Up until I made her change out of her uniform at home and then she blew apart. Thank God I was able to appease her with red butterfly hair bows.

Only in Australia, I swear to God

Last year at my daughter's preschool they had a traveling farm come visit. The guy brought baby ducks and chicks, a goat and some other farm creature. It was cute and the kids all liked it. This kids were allowed to hold and pet the animals. Not a bad idea so they thought they'd do it again. Only this year it's not farm animals. Nope, it's bugs.

No, that wasn't a type, it's a bug show. They are bringing scads of bugs, including one of the world's largest cockroaches, which is apparently a native to Australia. Open your hand and look down, it'll fit just barely inside your palm. The kids will be able to hold them if they want to.

I have to pay $20 : that's $10 per girl, to have them walk into the room and have Connor go screaming through a window. Remember, this is a girl that goes running sobbing from flies. Tess isn't scared of Beelzebub himself but even she will look twice at this one.

The only good point about all of this that I don't have to be there. They promised to take pictures if Connor should actually touch the bugs but I'm not holding my breath. All I'm expecting is a bill for the window she goes through.

Ahhhh, the Sound of Silence

Teddy stayed home sick yesterday - thanks Ted, in fact he woke up at 4 am with a fever. Obviously that meant I was home too. Soooo, I did 5 loads of laundry (even took down off the line and put away 4 of them), cleaned the kitchen, swept the back patio, swept entire house, packed away clothes and toys, cooked dinner, picked up girls from school and entertained angry sick 8 year old - angry because he had to miss the mini fete at school.

So today? Not a damned thing. I'm going back to bed now and resting up. Not feeling guilty about it either. So there Martha Stewart lovers! I'll clean something up later. Right now leave me alone.

Be Careful of What you Wish For..

...you may get and man, will you be sorry.

Yesterday Ted stayed home sick with a very sore throat. Connor decided to take the new stickers her Aunt Mickie sent her and put them on my new yoga mat. At swim lessons Tessi decided she could only wait her turn for her lesson while sitting on my lap and trying to fall to make me catch her...for 30 minutes.

I wished for a day at home so I could get the pig sty straightened up. I'm getting it. Teddy now has the sore throat and a fever to boot. Today is the Year 6 mini fete at school so Teddy is missing games, the white elephant stall and lollies, cakes and candy. As you can imagine he is taking it very well. I think the next door neighbor will be coming over to get an explanation for the sobbing.

I told Ted that if he got the children sick not even dental records would be helpful in identifying his body. Looks like I have to start digging the hole in the back yard. Off to get my shovel! In the mean time, I may break into my Christmas present stash and see if there is something the prince would like to play with until he's better.

I Blink and it's Wednesday

Story of my life. After Halloween and Teddy's cricket game I dashed out the door to my girls weekend away and come back Sunday night right back into the fray. Nothing terribly bad, it's just that I feel like the last 3 days were gone in a second. This does not bode well for the upcoming holiday season - time just does not run it's normal course during December.

I did make it to yoga last night and survived without getting my arms wrapped up like a pretzel. I really am enjoying yoga and wish I could do more but unfortunately the instructor is not willing to rearrange her class schedule to fit in with my children's school, cricket training, swim lessons and speech therapy sessions...how rude.

Still waiting to hear about the election results in the States. If nothing else, it will be nice for the campaigning to be over. I do love that about Australia - election talk over 2 weeks is just unheard of. Certainly beats 2 years!

Happy Halloween!

We went to the best party last night and I'm proud to say that some of the best decorations were the ones borrowed from us. Not all, Pip had an amazing amount of her own. Thank you Pip for letting us crash your party, it was fantastic!

The kids had an incredible time. Aussies don't use the porchlight rule so it does make it tricky to know if a house is participating or not but kids had a great time running around from house to house. Pip also has a trampoline in the backyard so when ever a flash of boredom hit that solved the problem. It was so nice to out somewhere and not have my kids be the loudest ones there. The girls did fantastic. They really did. Some meltdowns but nothing out of the ordinary. We knew though we had pushed our luck too far when at 9:30 (2 hours past their best time) both girls were standing and sobbing, "I want to go home" Ted and I were having so much fun we could have stayed longer but that whole nasty parenting thing kicked in. Teddy was having a good time with his friends and sneaking as much candy as he could.

Now we're getting ready for an 8 am cricket game...ugh...this is going ot be ugly, but after that I'm going to spend the night AWAY with some friends for a little girls getaway. YEA!!!!

$30 for a Stinkin' Barbie Mariposa Costume

AND IT RIPS AFTER SHE WEARS IT FOR 45 MINUTES! Sigh...I have just spent 15 mintues sewing, glueing, tacking and swearing at this costume. This is of course in 36 degree weather. The A/C is on full blast, Connor is nipping at my heels...where she has been all.day.long. 3 more hours until this party and then finally it'll be fun. Or so help me God.......

25 - 36 - 25

No, these are not the ideal measurements...these are the temperture highs for yesterday, today and tomorrow. For the American Non-Metric System types that is 80 - 102 - 80.

Connor and Tessi were going to be Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty for Halloween. Well...bugger all that now. Tessi is going to be a ballerina, sans the tights and Connor and I are headed to the shops after we get Teddy to school but before we go to Lifestart in order to find her a cool, lightweight fairy dress as Mommy has no damn time to sew another damn costume.

Teddy, Ted and I can keep our original costumes thank God. I'm used to warm weather costumes thanks to many years of living in Texas but this weather change is insane. Literally last week at Teddy's cricket practice I wore a damn SCARF! 3 days later we were all in shorts and had the A/C on. But this??!!! 22 degrees difference, back and forth like that? Sick, I tell you, just plain sick.

I'll let you know how it ends up, I've head there's supposed to be a rain storm...sorry, drught storm tonight to cool things off. I'm sure of course that it will come just as we start trick or treating or at least while we are all at the party. Of course. At least there will be a lot of wine at the party and we need to we can all walk home. Then again, Teddy has an 8 am cricket game tomorrow so we don't want to enjoy too much.

2 yoga Classes Plus Girls Jumping on Back..

..equals SNAP! I'm ok, but last night my back whet OUT. I have a weak back and after 2 yoga classes it was on edge. Yesterday I was desperate to entertain the girls after a long, long day in the house trapped by rain. Sooo, jumping on mommy's back and rolling off seemed like a good idea at the time. No, really it did. After the day we had, you would have done it too. I was ready to stab Ariel's plastic fin in my eyes if it would have kept them from fighting with other. Hmmm, I may have to remember that for next time.

Anyway, after 15 minutes Tessi, yes, it had to be her, stood up, jumped and came down on the one leg and it caught me right on the edge of the small of my back and yea verily, the snapage occurred.

Fortunately, Ted was home in about 2 minutes so he helped me up and walked me to bed. The real bummer about the whole thing was that I was supposed to go quilt last night at a friend's house. I really, really wanted to go do that. Someday, I will get that damn quilt done. Someday.

Today I am a bit better. Up and moving. The girls are going to school so even if I was in a body cast I'd get them there. For my friends and family reading; I am ok. It's sore and I'm "aware" of the back, but the stabbing pain as subsided, I promise.

More About Teddy

Oh my, I'm not even sure where to start with this kid...

Over the weekend he and the neighbor kids were bored so they created their own Olympics. The nice touch is that they charged a small fee to play the games so between the 3 of them (and 4 generous parents) they raised $30.40 - all of which they donated to the Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Pretty cool. The HILARIOUS part is when I had Teddy right down the amount of money and what it was being used for he wrote Breath Cancer. As I choked down my laughter and corrected him, he gently said to me, "Mom, in Australia they say breath." No, Teddy, even in Australia, it's breast.

Then he went back outside and was playing with Lachlan again. Ted has moved his weight bench to the back patio now since the owner put the roof up on the patio. He's offered to teach Teddy some weight lifting and the two of them are having "Man Time" out there. Teddy knows upon pain of death that he and Lachlan are not allowed to touch the weights. So I was surprised to notice that the two of them were standing near the weight set, so I went closer to eavesdrop. I managed to hear, "Yep...(deep breath and puff out chest) my dad and I are lifting weights now." I almost hemorrhaged. Lachlan was suitably impressed and Teddy went on about the work he's doing. It's even funnier if you can picture Teddy talking while having his chest puffed out as far as possible - so essentially he's talking while holding his breath.

It's these moments that help keep Teddy alive. I swear I had no idea he could be this funny.

Connor is a 4 Year Old Female

Grrrr. Connor is truly a 4 year old female. She loves pretty clothes and insists on picking out her attire. If you annoy her (ie..breathe) she will stamp her feet and point out everything you have ever done wrong. She is quite certain that she is in fact, allowed to wear makeup and believes firmly that her younger sister should not. She knows that she LOVES Hannah Montana even though she's never seen an episode and she knows, by God, she knows that she is much prettier than everyone around her.

Maybe I am a dullard, but I honestly wasn't expecting this for a few more years. This morning I found myself blinking hard to my heartbeat as I furiously tried to come up with responses to her ramblings. All I could come to grips with was, "Just do it my way, NOW" Yeah, that was awe inspiring prose.

I think I may just end up cowering behind the Princess vanity until she goes away to college. I think Ted and Teddy are already there.

Teddy Got His Name in the Paper!!!

The North Shore Times has listed the results of last week's cricket game and Teddy's name was mentioned!!! He is over the moon with excitement. He and 2 other boys got their names mentioned because they got 20 or more runs.

And to top it off, God himself appeared at our doorstop this morning to tell us. Since Morgan goes to school right up the street he dropped off his copy of the paper so Teddy could have it. I'm actually starting to feel a little bad for Morgan. You see, Morgan is nice and polite and says hello to Teddy and Teddy just stares at him. As soon as Morgan leaves, it's, "Did you see Morgan, he talked to me, Morgan brought me the paper, I can't believe Morgan came to my house to bring me the paper, Morgan talked to me..." Honestly I wish Teddy would just speak to Morgan so I could stay out of it.

Well done Teddy. Daddy and I are so proud of you. We have absolutely no idea what's going on with cricket but people tell us it's good so we're happy for you.

Teddy Learns His Lesson the Hard Way

Mickie's comment about "sexy momma" reminded me that Teddy has had an unfortunate learning moment this week. Thou shalt not say stupid things in front of thy sister thouest do not wanteth repeated. Ooooh...this is a good one.

For a week or so now Teddy has been saying, "Ooohhh, sexy mama" every chance he gets. It's a phrase he picked up at school and has been having a BLAST saying in front of me because he thinks it annoys me to no end. However, he didn't pay attention to who else he was saying it in front of...or else he didn't think she cared enough...but oh yes, she did.

You see on Monday when we all took the girls to school Connor walked up to one of her preschool teachers and said, "Sexy Momma!" Her teacher Jacque, a VERY pretty little blonde thing looked shocked and asked her what she said. Much to Teddy's horror, Connor repeated it and then said that her brother said it. Teddy turned purple and immediately started backpedaling, actually LYING that he never said it. Then we left with Teddy cringing, "I can't believe Connor said that!! Why would she say that?! I TOLD her not to say that to anyone" Ha, ha, ha. Welcome to my world kid.

Well Connor apparently wasn't done there. After we left she went up to every. stinkin. person. in her room, including parents as they dropped off kids, and informed them of Teddy's phrase dujour. We learned this from Ted when he picked up the girls after school. Teddy's had 3 days to stew about facing people at the girls school. This morning went well, not too many snickers for the Sexy Momma kid.

Hopefully this will teach him a lesson. I doubt it highly as he has two much 8 year old boy in him, though. In the mean time I have to say that I have REALLY enjoyed this Teddyism.

Risque Swim Lessons

Tessi...dear God, that girl is going to destroy me. I firmly, FIRMLY believe that someday in a post-apocalyptic world Tessi will be standing on a hill covering my body with death and carnage around her saying, "Ha! I win and you lose Mom!" Trust me, that is said with a mother's love.

Here we are at the pool waiting for her turn. Start getting her dressed in the swim suit...er um...cozzie here. No problem, it's all good. That is until Miss Silly decides to get cutesy and as she pulls off each piece of clothing she flings it at me. Ok, no big deal, I can handle it. Unfortunately the underwear was a bit more elastic than Tessi was counting on and her aim isn't exactly Rodger Clemmons-like so the knickers squip off to the left a bit and WHAM! Right into the face of the woman sitting next to me. Nothing like a pair of pink and yellow apple undies that do NOT belong in your family knocking you for a loop.

Normally the only socially acceptable thing for me to do was walk over to the pool and put my head under water and drown myself but Fate was kind and let the woman be someone I know. Her girls go to preschool with my girls so she is well versed in the ways of children. In the end her laughter was almost as loud as Tessi's and my exclamations of horror; while appreciated, were not necessary.

Still...I mean come on! How unfair is that!? I think Tessi is still laughing...

Not Connor Bear

Life is getting a little bit back to normal. Tessi rediscovered her bear from Build a Bear this morning. She was very excited to get the bear and dress it in clothes. She kept repeating over and over, "This my bear, not Connor's" So I said, "Yes Tessi, it's your bear. Her name is Tesser Bear" - Sorry I wasn't that creative last year when we were naming it in the store.

Anyway, She has spent the last 2 hours walking around with it saying, "Not Connor Bear" It took me a few minutes to understand that she has renamed the bear to Not Connor Bear. I'm trying my hardest not to laugh my tush off when she says, "I want Not Connor Bear"

Of course now they are fighting over who gets to color the Yo Gabba Gabba coloring book pages. This is impressive as they each have one each of each character. Connor is now ratting Tessi out for trying to steal her Foofa page. Tessi is now in the hallway screaming for her other Foofa.

I hate Yo Gabba Gabba. But we are getting back to normal.

Feeling a Little More Empowered

Car is fixed, not as bad as originally thought. In fact, a lot less than I thought. A friend of mine's ex-husband is a car mechanic who comes to your house. He only charged me for parts!!!! Amazing! If you're in the Hornsby, Australia area and you need an honest mechanic let me know and I'll send you his phone number.

Lice has been treated, pharmacist said I didn't have to treat all the kids, but I will anyway, just to be safe. I've cleaned up a little bit for the inspection but honestly, I don't like these people and the owner of house hates them as much as we do so, to Hell with them. Things are looking up a bit.

A little sad note. I missed calling my father today. Yesterday was his birthday - well I guess now it's today but I didn't get to call him. I'm sorry Dad. I miss you very much and I thought about you all day yesterday and most of today - except the time I needed to call you. I love you. I'll call tomorrow.

Back to the grind, Miss Connor isn't really enjoying me being on the computer.

I'm Speechless

The car broke down yesterday, actual smoke billowing out, barely made it home. The home inspection by the real estate agent was supposed to be done weeks ago - now they are coming tomorrow and a case of lice amongst the kinder.

If it was a novel right now the cow would be dying, the farm in flames and the heroine would be gasping her last breath because of TB.

Since I'm not terribly heroic I still have to keep going. "Once more into the breach dear friends..." Keep an eye on the news though...I'm making no promises.....

Survived Yoga Weekend

Made it through the beginners course of yoga this weekend. I really did enjoy it. Wouldn't say I was particularly good at it, but I did enjoy it. I do like the idea of the stretches and the breathing and learning to keep things in focus. I have a nasty habit of being blinded by my surroundings so I tend to not pay a lot of attention to what is staring me in the face. Not fun if I'm about to walk into a pole...which I do...a lot.

The instructor kind of lost me a bit when she went off on a wild tangent about "professionals" as she called them...ie...doctors. Her philosophy is that through yoga, she is aware of her body completely and she is able to heal herself and does not need doctors. She had "proof" of doctors and physios failing her, meaning her stories of them telling her they couldn't help her, and then her telling us that she concentrated on the afflicted muscles and cured herself. It's all mind over matter according to her.

My problem with that isn't the belief in the power of the mind; I firmly believe that. I just found it humorous that she went on and on about achieving balance in life and couldn't see that there can be a balance between self-awareness and modern medicine. Maybe she saw doctors and physios that weren't the best or maybe she wasn't able to describe the pain in a proper way, I don't know. What I do know is that I believe in modern medicine as well the power of the mind. You know...balance.

Anyway, I thought she was a good instructor and my friends and I enjoyed going. So I do plan on going back. Even if she was lousy, no one shouted, "Mommy, mommy, mommy!" and starting fighting over who gets to clean up first (yeah, they did that once) so to my mind it was a good thing.

An American Can be Good at Cricket!

Teddy had a great time at cricket today. He had 20 runs, not out and partnered with his friend Seth for a total of 48 runs not out. He also bowled a wicket.

I have it on great authority...meaning every Australian at the oval over the age of 4; that these stats not only mean something, they mean something great. I'll have to take their word for it.

Ted also is doing his part and was assistant scorer today so he can learn the ropes and help score and maybe someday, gulp, umpire a game. I will be charging admission tickets to see that game. I did my part for helping the team also as I went with Penny on a coffee/tea run. Everyone has to make sacrifices you know.

I should also mention Teddy's coach Morgan. Morgan is a young man who has been a tremendous help to our team. I don't know if we'll ever be able to adequately explain to him what his presence has meant to Teddy's team. The boys love him - simply love him. He has an amazing way with them and has taught them a lot. I have to mention also that his mother, my dear friend, reads this blog and I want to suck up because us parents want to hire him as a babysitter on a regular basis. "Morgan's Cricket Training Sleepover Boot Camp" We'll pay, I swear to God almighty, we'll pay. If he takes my girls also I'll pay triple.

Congratulations Teddy. I'm so pleased that you did well. I'm even more pleased that you had fun.

...and it Gets Better

I really didn't want to go into details with Teddy as to why I was in the hospital. No real reason, I just didn't want to burdon him. However, as luck would have it a fellow patient has a son who goes to school with Teddy. The kid saw me and told Teddy that he saw me. At the time it ended up not being so much of a big deal as Teddy doesn't like that kid and just ignored him.

Until this afternoon.

When the mom, who I have NEVER seen at school before, seeks me out to say hi, goes and gets her son to talk to Teddy and point out how we were in the hospital together.

Yep. Karma has got me in the cross hairs today. I have to go to yoga tonight just to get my eye to stop twitching.

Excuse me. I have to go get dinner and help Tessi put her baby in it's front pack carrier.

My Day Today

Got Tessi to school after fight over whether or not dress was ballerina enough. Still not sure what that means.
Took Teddy to school and showed Connor around the Kindergarden room
Walked back home to phone call that Teddy forget his swim gear for swim lessons.
Walked back up only to learn class was no longer in the quad. Stupidly listened to First Years who said that he was still in the office.
Walked up to office only to learn that his class had in fact left already.
Got mercifully generous friend to run swim to stuff to memory-challenged son.
Drove Connor to Lifestart playgroup at new location and struggled to find parking.
Found parking, walked down the street to building to learn OH! Didn't I get a letter from them stating that today was individual meetings and that mine was in the afternoon? No, I did not.
Drove Connor back to school and then gave up on it all and drove to Spotlight to look for fabric for Halloween costume.
Spent 1 hour at home surfing the net looking for Bakugan, a new home (pipe dream) and new dog (even bigger pipe-dream)
Now I'm about to walk back to Teddy's school to pick him and friend up and come home.
At 4 pm I will drive said children to indoor soccer.
I will then leave to go pick up the girls and head home.
Wait for Teddy to be dropped off by same merciful friend
Cook dinner
At 6 pm leave for 2 hours of yoga.

That's my day...how is yours?

Yoga Starts Today

Today is Friday and therefore the weekend is offically here. This weekend I am doing an intensive beginners yoga class the entire weekend. Two hours tonight, two hours Sat and another two hours on Sunday. That's six hours away from the family and learning to put my ankle on top of my shoulder. Ok, not really the ankle part...I never was that limber.

My friend Penny is going with me again. She's no beginner so for her it's a refresher course. But she doesn't mind being around beginners. She has 3 chilren too and she's in the middle of a home renovation. So getting away isn't exactly a bad thing for her either.

Wish me luck! I hope I don't strain anything too much. But if I do I'll just go to the movies instead!

Finally! A Sunny Day!

Yea verily! It's supposed to be sunny and slightly warm all day. Not overcast, not pouring down drought. Finally a good day. All 3 kids will be in school so of course, how will I be spending this fine beautiful day? Inside the shops racing around trying to snap up Bakugan, looking for cricket shorts, grab some groceries and having a cuppa with a dear friend. I marvel at the irony.

No matter, it will be a nice day because I love shopping, tenfold sans kinder, and I love having tea. Now, off to finish booting kids out the door.....

Time to Nap...

Unfortunatly, there's no one else here to finish the laundry, play with Connor, work out dinner, clean the house, get Tessi up after her nap and then trek up to collect Teddy and his friend Tyler and bring them back for a play until 5. Crud.

Oh well, at least it stopped droughting. It's actually a bit chilly so I can bundle the kinder up a bit before I throw them outside to play. Yesterday was a bit rough because of the rain everyone was.in.the.house.all.damn.day. Not good. At all. But when Ted got home I escaped with my iPod and my Lost episodes - I'm slowly getting interested in this show. Not sure if I'll become a Lostie or anything but it beats the Hell out of anything else right now. High praise indeed.

Tessi is napping and Connor is on the couch watching Mulan - keep your fingers crossed for a quick nap for her. 'Cause if she gets one then I get one! That's fair I think.

Tuesday is the Quiet Day

Today is my quiet day now. Connor doesn't have OT on alternating Tues anymore and Tessi's Autism services is only coming 3 times this term and that was moved to Wed. afternoon. So today it's me, Connor and Tessi. All day. All together. So what are we going to do? A trip to the shops of course!

It's not as masochistic as it sounds. I have to pick up Christmas presents from layby (also known as layaway) and the girls know that across from the store we're going to is a Mrs. Field's cookie shop. As soon as I say, "Let's go to Big W" Tessi responds, "I want cookie" Pavlov and his stinkin' dog...

It's weird...with Mrs. Field's they both still say cookie. With every other type of cookie they call them the Aussie term, biscuit. Or even better they use the diminutive...bickie...I'm not even sure how you spell it, that's just what they say. Aussie diminutize EVERY.STINKIN.THING. When we bought Teddy the cricket stumps, also known as the wickets, Teddy said, "I'll get the wickie's out of the car" I gave flack for using baby talk - an ANNOYING habit he's picked up and he was so confused and said, "No, Mom, that's the name"

I guess to fit in here I have to say, "We've off to the shopo to get Christmas prezzies and a few bickies, darling" Pronounce darling as Dah-ling and by george, I think you've got it!

Yoga Good, Connor Up All Night Bad

Went to a free yoga workshop yesterday and really, really liked it. The whole time I didn't really feel that I was working out per se...however, when I walked down the steps to leave (sick people having the studio on the second floor) I noticed that my thighs were jello. Hmmmm, must have done something right. Anyway, going back next weekend for an intensive beginners class and I'm really looking forward to it. My girlfriend Penny is going with me. She's not a beginner, but she's nice enough to come along to keep me company. We're going to try and take a regular class together after this weekend. I figure if I have someone calling to remind me that the class is already paid for and I'd better get off my rear and go that I might actually go.

Bad side is that Connor decided to be awake last night...several times. Soooo, I am tuckered, a bone-numbing tuckered. Being the new Me and all I've decided not to preservere and go ahead with the days plans and after I get Teddy to school I am going back to bed. Yes, that's right. Laundry to be done, dishes in the sink, floor to be swept, sewing to complete...I'm going back to bed and sleeping as late as I can.

Yes, the new me is turning into a rather selfish person. I'm ok with that...so far. If I get a tiara for Christmas then I'll know I've pushed it too far. Unless it's a real one and then I'll know I'm on the right track.

Becomming Aussie After All

Yep, it's a slippery slope but I think we're on our way. How can I tell? Yesterday we willingly got up and drove the whole fam damily to Teddy's 8am cricket game, which was next to a construction site, sat through a rain storm, after 2 hours (yep, the short kids game is only 2 hours) and then drove to K-Mart to buy the girls a Disney Princess cricket bat and ball and a set of stumps for Teddy to practice on. Yep, we'll be trying Vegemite and shouting Fair Dinkem!" soon. Well...maybe not the vegemite stuff. I still think that's a big joke the Aussie's play on the rest of the world.."Let's tell the Yanks we actually eat this stuff!!!"

The girls had fun hitting the ball around although Connor did get bored quickly. The picture where Tessi is on the ground crying is because she's mad because Ted won't let her take a swing at him with the bat. Yep, she's sobbing because Daddy won't get close enough, he kept backing away, when she was swinging with the bat. Mean, mean Daddy.

Teddy was having fun for a bit unfortunately my bowling skills are a little sub par so he had a hard teeing off on a shot. Still managed to knock the ball into the neighbors hard 2 times. Impressive.

I don't know if we'll end up being a proper cricket family or a cricket tragic (a fan) but Teddy likes it so Ted and I are trying to understand it. Still like football better though...

Aussie Money for US Money

Not that I'm happy about the world economy tanking...obviously, I'm not. However, I've managed to scrounge up $82 US dollars and according to today's figures that would be $116 Aussie dollars. Since we've officially started a Wii collection fund (yes, donations will be accepted!) an extra $34 is quite a windfall.

I am sorry that so many people are suffering though. I'm not going to turn this into a political blog, but I do hope that the new powers that be end up remembering who they work for and and actually work.

Anyway, I'm off to try and find more US money. Time to break up open that last piggy bank!

Well Mom Left Today

Sigh...she did it. She actually did it. She left us. Sigh....I don't blame her. 6 weeks of sleeping on a couch is enough to make a saint crack. She didn't even crack though. She was sad to leave and a joy to be around the entire time. Hurry back Mom! We miss you already!!

Now we're trying to settle back into the normal routine. I started the laundry and managed to put soap in the fabric softner dispenser. Wooo Hooo! Hurry back Mom!

I invited a girlfriend and her kids over this afternoon. All the boys will get together and play Bakugan and the girls will converge on the princess, babies and Dora stash. We figure we'll let the kids turn on each other like a pack of wolves and we'll sit back with a cup of tea and watch the show. Mutual of Omaha's Wildlife programs have NOTHING on a pack of 6 kids, ages 9 down to 2.

If it gets really bad Penny and I will flank them and lob a round of lollies and chips at them.

Lo Hicimos! We Did it!

Yep, we made it! The Dora show was a hit! Largely in part because of the huge box of popcorn and bag of Starbursts I bought, but a hit nonetheless. The girls really loved it and got into the show. Connor started yelling out, "WHERE'S DIEGO?!!!" which made me fall apart. Almost as good as Delaney yelling, "SWIPER, WE DON'T LIKE YOU!!" Tessi was sitting next to Mom, on the other end from me and so she decided to walk back and forth to me to get the popcorn. Not a bad idea except that each time she got one piece of popcorn. After the 15th trip I cut her off.

It was a cute show but I have to say that the show promoters shot themselves in the foot with their greed. We all know that the toys and trinkets for sale at these things are ridiculously overpriced. I expect it personally. However we all trudge up to the counter to fork over money to buy some useless Dora crap. Up at the counter all they have are these wands that glow for $10, a t-shirt for $20 and get this...a small cloth Dora or Diego doll for....wait for it...$30!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kassi and I looked at each other a slowly backed away. Get real. I budgeted $20 for each girl but that was insane. My girls do NOT want a t-shirt and those dolls were only slightly higher quality than the McDonald's toys. Get real. Way to go, you guys lost my $40 by not having a middle range available. I scanned the crowd too, not a lot of dolls and wands floating around either.

The next show should be a hit. In winter 2009 (that's summer for my American friends) Disney on Ice is coming back - only with an all princess show. All Ariel....all the time. Oh yeah, that'll work.

D-Day

Today is D-Day.

No, New Zealand hasn't gotten fed up and is planning the invasion of those damn Aussie shores...it's far worse. Dora the Explorer is coming Sydney and I have tickets. Connor, Tessi, Grandma, myself, Connors BFF Delaney and her mother Kassi are all braving the elements to storm Acer Arena and 5000 of Dora's closest admirers for an audience with the Holy One.

I think we would have a better chance of surviving Normandy and Gallipoli combined.

Blog? I have a Blog?

Hello All,
Yes, I am alive. The last 6 weeks or so have been a little different for the Tencza family. I did a stint in the hospital and and now I'm back home, trying to get our lives back to normal. Just another bump in the poorly-taken care of road full of pot-holes, cracks and dead bugs of life. My that was a cheerful analogy wasn't it?! And now for something completely different....

The kids are doing well. Connor is really gearing up for Kindergarden and I'm actually looking forward to it, not dreading it anymore. My mother-in-law has been here the last 6 weeks taking care of the kids while I was away - thank GOD for her. Seriously, she is amazing. The kids have loved having her around as she is a traditional grandma and that means for the price of a well-placed smile she can be had. Both my girls had convinced her that she was supposed to carry their backpacks to school - not them. Yeah, like I would EVER walk around carrying a Dora and Disney Princess backpack for them...whatever. Teddy also had Mom believing that his backpack was stored on the kitchen floor rather than in his room. Unfortunately for the kids, Evil Troll Mom reappeared and the world is slowly realigning itself.

Sorry to disappear like that. I hope to return to my normal witty self soon.

More Drought

Woke up this morning and got on computer and then I realized it was droughting again. Damnit. An extra damnit because I realized that I had left clothes on the line all night. Damn. Went out and got them, fortunately not too soaked but the inside now has clothes strewn all over. Lovely. Great start to the day.

This is used to be one of my so-called "free days" but now that Connor is in this prep for school program, so much for that. It's just 2 hours but hopefully it'll be enough to help her with going to school in January. Connor also has a birthday party to go to in the morning. It's nice to see her having some social interaction.

So another day in the Tencza family, not terribly exciting but you never know with this crowd. Teddy is supposed to go see Clone Wars this weekend - that should liven things up a bit.

Not Much to Say, I'm Afraid

Sorry not to be witty right now. A lot going on and very little to be humorous about. I'm working on a new dress for Connor and if it weren't for the damn sleaves being too wide for the elastic it would be done. Maybe I'll get it done next week. Maybe.

Busy downloading a bunch of shows that I can't get on Aussie tv. Thank God for that. Haven't developed a taste for Neighbours and Bondi Beach Rescue and I'm sorry Project Runway Australia is a poor, poor substitute for the original. Not bitchy and catty enough.

Saint Tess

Yesterday Tessi's Building Blocks coordinator (Tessi's Autism therapist) came with us to the shops so she could see Tessi's meltdowns in action. Tessi always acts great when Mary comes to the house. So yesterday we all went to Woolworth's to do a little shopping to set a situation where Tessi would blow up. Naturally, Tessi did not.

Mary started going on about things for me to do when Tessi did blow up and I just tuned her out. When Tessi did start to act up a tiny, TINY bit Mary was able to stop, bend down and reinforce the life story she had written for her, get her to stop and we went on. What was I doing? I was grocery shopping and keeping an eye on Connor. How in the Hell am I supposed to grocery shop, keep an eye on Connor and keep Tessi going before she loses it and get this all done under 2 hours?

Oh that's right, I can't.

If nothing else, life on the spectrum does highlight all your failings. Just what I needed.

Off to start another fun-filled day. Today we have speech therapy, swim lessons, Teddy wants to have a friend over after school. and Ted works until 7. I bet I'll be in bed by 7:30 again.

Weather Curse Strikes Again

Once again, I say we're going somewhere and the guaranteed weather flitters away. Not bone chilling cold, just some chilly moments. No snow, it came last week and is sure to reappear next week.

Oh well. Yet another Tencza vacation not quite what was planned. Should start planning with Costanza precision so we can get what we want. If we ever go anywhere again, I'll have to try that.

Kids had fun, looks like the Blue Mountains has a lot to offer if I ever get a chance to go sans kids...fall down laughing now. Anyway, the kids loved the chocolate store and riding the railway. World's steepest incline - 52% - pretty serious. Tessi loved riding a pony, kept yelling, "Yee Haw" and Teddy loved playing tennis and catch with Ted. Connor was happy as long as the various animals didn't chase her. All of them liked making smores over a campfire but really just preferred to eat the marshmallows off the stick.

Blue Mountains HERE WE COME!

That's right! We're going on HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!! We leave Friday and come back Sunday. We're staying at a cabin in the middle of nowhere so the screaming (the kids, not mine) doesn't bother the neighbors. We're going to tour the Three Sisters and do the whole Blue Mountains thing. Here's a website to give you all an idea. No snow, but WAAYYYYY cold! A high temp of 34 degrees!!!!! Ted is sobbing into his scarf just at the thought.

http://www.bluemts.com.au/

Of course my Aussie friends feel a little bad for us since we're only going for 2 nights. I had THREE separate people tell me when I said we were going away for the weekend that means we should be leaving Thurs and coming back Monday. Sigh....I wish, but for us this is a big deal. Here's a link to the cabins we're staying at. http://www.werriberri.com/ It's going to take 3 hours to get there. God help me....3 hours in a small station wagon with the triumvirate of terror....oh well, I'm bringing wine and my iPod and I'm not sharing!

Are you in trouble if I don't say you are?

A philosophical point brought up by Teddy yesterday. The neighbor kids were over yesterday and with 5 kids under the age of 8 running around literally, you count the seconds until someone starts crying. We lasted 32.
I'm inside..hell it's cold, these kids can handle it but I'm staying in. I hear Tessi crying, nothing unusual, it's how she gets an extra 5 seconds of attention these days, only difference is that she' not running inside to scream about her war wounds. So, I trot outside. Teddy and Lachlan are slowly trying to slide past me with their heads down as Tessi sits in the wagon sobbing and Connor and Caitlyn try to race up the hill to get away. So I tell Teddy to confess, the boys looked shocked that I figured out it was them (yeah, I'm a genius) and Lachlan says, "I was throwing the food (fake , plastic food) and it accidentally hit Tessi" Fari enough, that was honest. I pick up Tessi, no cuts, no blood. Ter her she's fine and I go back in.

Go to the back of the house and Lachlan has come to the back yard and is pouting. I try to figure out what's wrong but he won't talk and I'm cold so back in I go. A few more minutes later more crying. Tessi again. Only this time she's trying to come in but Teddy is chasing her and trying to hit her with a rope. I give him Hell, not that much even and back in I go. 5 minutes this time. Now it's Connor. Same thing, hit with food, by accident, only this time it's Teddy. I tell Connor she's fine and go in.

Now 5 more minutes pass, only this time I hear, Lachlan saying, "I'm going in to dob on you!" I've been here long enough to know that means he's telling on someone. In he comes and he tells me that Caitlyn is standing on Connor. Teddy has Lachlan's back and races in to confirm the horror. So out I go, ask Caitlyn what she's doing, tell her not to do it again and tell Connor to get off the ground.

Apparently this wasn't enough. A few minutes later the kids had to go home and Teddy comes in crying because he got in trouble the WHOLE time and Caitlyn didn't at all. Apparently when Lachlan was pouting it was because he was in TROUBLE. I never said he was in trouble, I thought the whole thing was an accident Now I did yell at Teddy for chasing a sobbing Tessi but all I said was, "Use your head!" I never said the boys were in trouble, I didn't take anything away from them, nothing. I told Teddy he put himself into trouble and that was not on me.

So at what point are you in trouble? Is the first statement, "What the Hell are you doing?" Is it having to explain your actions? Is it having a consequence bestowed upon you? Stupid me, I though it came when I said, "Man, you are in soooooooo much trouble now" But that's just me.

NJ/TX Accent trying to Understand OZ/Eng Accent

Oh good Christ, I am hosed. At the girls swim lessons there is a little girl from Connor's preschool class. Her mom is a really nice lady and we talk in between refereeing girls - she has 2 herself. She's originally from England, married to an Irish National and they live here. I, obviously am from America but I have some TX euphemisms mixed in with my hardcore Jersey slang. Most of the time we have no flippin clue what the other is saying. We keep blaming it on the loud noise of the indoor pool but who are we kidding? We're trying to translate between several different languages.
For example, she said her name is Esta. Now, I'm not sure if it's actually Esta or if it's Esther. Aussies' seem to hate er endings just like our friends from Boston...don't be angry Bostonites - you know damn well it's true.

We've talked about getting the girls together for a play...at least I think we have...I don't know, maybe I've just signed Connor up yodeling camp. We'll see if anyone shows up for her. At least Esta/her is in the same boat as I am. I can see the smile form when I talk and the furtive looks from her eyes trying to pinpoint the moment I speak to the moment it'll be something she understands.

I'd offer to start using Sign Language but I've found out the hard way that Aussies have their own damn sign language too. Sigh...maybe I'll just make up flash cards.

Another Exciting Day Down Under

Just the normal mad dash around the house to clean, get kids up and fed, dressed and then we'll take Teddy to school. After that Mary from ASPECT, the local Autism support program will come and we'll talk about Tessi for 2 hours. I get a little frustrated with this because as my luck goes, Tessi is a model child every time Mary comes. Mary has yet to see one of the "fun" temper tantrums.

I know I should be grateful because this does mean that Tessi can control it a bit, which is usually not possible, but I am tired, I really am. All I seem to see of Tessi is her anger and negativity, I wish I got to see the angelic child that others do. Because she is a gorgeous child and can be so much fun, if she wants to be.

Anyway, no more fun for me for a few hours. I have laundry all over the place so I need to get that folded and put away...either that or grab it all and throw it on my bed until Mary leaves...hmmmmm.

The TV POPPED!

Sigh, another fun filled night at the Tencza's. The power blew for a bit. That happens a LOT here. Not just our house, but about 5 or 6 houses, as far as we can tell, it is a bit dark you know.

However we have the added bonus of the Foxtel box (Australia's cable/satellite company) (yes, there really is only one and they handle both cable and satellite, it's bizarre) makes this LOUD popping noise when the power is killed suddenly. And worse...Connor is terrified of it. Scared to death. So she's laying sobbing on the floor and I'm making a mad dash for the flashlight...sorry, I just can't call it a torch. The super good, expensive one, the one I bought to use in these situations is dead. Dead because even though it charges 24/7 and should always be on, the fact is that it has a limited battery life...only about 1000 hours or so. And when your 7 year old likes to borrow it to help his friend stalk his cat under the back porch and then uses it as a nightlight 9-10 hours a night, every night for a couple of months...well it died.

So I race into Teddy's room to get the wind-up flashlight. The one I bought after realizing he had killed the last one. Since it's DARK I can't see the stupid thing. I grab what I think is the light and try to open up the arm to wind it and only then do I discover that it is a Transformer. I'm winding the arm. DAMNIT! Finally find it and make my way out to living room and there is poor Connor crying her eyes out, poor Teddy looking bewildered trying to get her to stop and of course Tessi, who sees me and starts shrieking, "My turn, My turn!" She wants to wind the flashlight. Of course, what else did I expect.

A few minutes later the lights and more importantly the tv came back on. Connor spent the next hour until bed time reminding us that the tv popped and that she didn't like that.
Yes, Connor I know. I think even the neighbors figured that one out. I'm off to the shops today to get another spiffy flashlight and a spare wind-up one for Tessi. One must be prepared for emergencies.

WARNING! Science in Progress

Hope Tory from Mythbusters doesn't mind, I stole his title. We got the science kit stuff from Steve Spangler Science from the States and WOW!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!! If you have children under the age of 10, maybe older if they aren't too "cool" yet...stop what you are doing...open another browser and go to http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ right now and buy his geyser kit and extra menthos geysers tubes. Incredible fun! For my Aussie friends, get a friend in the States to have it shipped to and then shipped to you. Steve only uses Fed Ex shipping and MAN it's pricey.

Here are pictures of yesterday morning's events. We learned that rock salt is AMAZING for achieving height. We also learned that it's ok to have little girls help with the science experiment as long as both get the same number of turns of putting the menthos in the tube. Then we learned that Connor and Tessi don't like Mentos but want to like them so they tried to eat them 3 or 4 times before I cut them off...don't want to diminish the supply. Learned also that Teddy is gullible. We told him to put Diet Coke and menthos in his mouth and he did...of course this was after Ted did it. The Y chromosome sometimes.....

We ran out of soda early and had an emergency break to the shops to get more. No offense to my friend Judie but we had the BEST results with the cheap Home Brand cola rather than Diet Coke. Maybe they've altered the formula? We figure we got between 20 and 25 feet...I'm not sure how many meters that is....8? Just guessing, I hate converting!

Off to the shoppes again today, need more soda!

Connor's Going to Kindergarden!

Ted and I decided yesterday, after my meeting with the psychologist, to send Connor to Kindy this January. This is a big shock to the system as she will only be 4 1/2 then but the psychologist and her preschool teacher think another year of preschool would not only not be helpful, it could be detrimental. She's made incredible progress the last few months, simply incredible.

This does NOT mean that Connor is cured or that we're even out of the woods with her. Connor will always be Autistic, she will always have to struggle in situations that other's don't. Kindergarden will not be easy for her, not by a long shot. But at Normanhurst Public we'll have a pretty good set up for her.

The school is small, very small. Every teacher there will know Connor. Several of them know her now.
The principal and one of the Kindy teachers are planning to go visit Connor at her preschool to evaluate her.
Normo has it's own prep for school program for kids who need a little extra help.
The neighbor girl loves Connor and is your typical 6 year old girl, she'll squeal like a stuck pig if she sees anyone being mean to Connor on the playground.
Connor's best friend from preschool is going to Normo and may possibly be in the same class- there are 2 sections.

Right now, more than any other day I am grateful we are no longer in Justin, TX. Connor would not have survived at all at Hatfield Elementary, Teddy's old school. 6 Kindergarden sections, over 800 students, riding the bus....no way, Connor could not have handled that. But here...starting today we'll start going into the Kindy building and looking at things and ease her in slowly.

Wish us luck. I'm still sick to my stomach over our decision. I imagine that I'll be throwing up in the weeks to come before school starts!

Connorism

Yesterday was a rough day. I screwed up my appointments and scheduled things too close together because Teddy was sick on Monday and we had to skip things. So yesterday, a friend came and walked Teddy to school so I could take the girls to Hornsby. There we went to Connor's OT, 5 minutes to walk 2 blocks and then Tessi's speech therapy, then swim lessons. It was hectic to say the least.

But as we were racing across one street poor Tessi fell. I was holding her hand so I held on tight and swooped her back up and kept walking. She was fine, just scared herself. But Connor started commenting on how Tessi fell. After the 4th time of, "Tessi, fell down, didn't she Mommy?" I finally got her unstuck out of the loop. Then Connor got quiet and said, "Tessi fell, but I didn't say JESUS!"......right as a group of grandmas were passing us by. Damnit...or should I say Jesus. I got a few looks, but mainly a couple of smiles.

Thank you Connor. I applaud your restraint.

Photo Journalism Attempt

Yesterday I thought I'd take a few pictures of the kids as we were walking to school. I wanted to paint a picture of our wet life. At least that's what I thought. It ended up more of a, "Mommy, stop taking stinkin' pictures, it's cold" motif.

Anyway, this is us leaving our house and heading up the driveway. We live in what's called a battleaxe. Our house is directly behind another house so we have no yard on the street. I don't particularly care for this way of land development, but it's very popular here in Sydney.

You can see that the kids are bundled up...gearing for the snow...I mean drought...I mean rain.

Morally "Flexible"

Talking about the great Sydney snowfall and having some Texan friends remind me of the heat got me to thinking last night...dangerous I know.

Today is July 30th. If we were back home we would be about 1/3 through the fun Texas summer. Now usually as August starts, I become angry, really, really angry. It's too hot, all the time and I have had it. It doesn't cool of at night so it's either damn hot or hot every stinkin' moment I'm awake. Not good for the moods. This would go on until the first cold snap. In North Texas that could be the end of October, in San Antonio, well towards the end of November.

Also by this time I'm checkin' weather reports daily for rain. As shocking as this may be to my Aussie friends, it just doesn't rain in Texas. Seriously, I didn't own raincoats (save the really cool one Teddy had with fake bugs on the pockets that my MIL bought), gumboots (rainboots), or umbrellas. So I would scour the news for any hopes that it might, just might rain.

This brings me to my morally flexible moment. Hurricane Dolly that just hit? I used to LIVE for hurricane reports. Not that I could ever enjoy someone getting hurt or dying but I would lovingly track the hurricane as it drifted west across the Gulf. Why? After all everywhere I ever lived in Texas was too far inland to get hit by the storm. Well, the really, really big ones would send rain storms for hundreds of miles. I used to sit and say,"We could rebuild Galveston, if it hits there we might get rain for 2 days!"

But I don't have to do that anymore. Trust me, there's no praying for rain coming from me. Maybe now the Texas coast can be saved from my wrath over the heat. Stay cool everyone back home, only 3-4 months to go.

Wanna Cause a Fight?

Here is a sure fire way to start a fight...every time. Buy one daughter a Little Mermaid II pinball game for Gameboy. Just one...that's the secret. Then give said daughter the game because you're checking the mailbox coming back from taking son to school and just want to check one last time before you pile into the car to head to the shops. Then explain to daughter that she can hold the game but we won't be going inside to get brother's Gameboy until AFTER we get back from shops.

The fight you ask? Have 2nd daughter hear all of this and obviously forget that she is a new converstion to the Disney Faithful and she wants to know where HER Ariel game is. She can't maneuver the game system, she has no idea how to play video games but by Christ...she wants her game.

She stopped screaming when we pulled up to the end of our street. This was ONLY because I managed to get Connor to let Tessi hold the game cartridge for 4.5 seconds. Then they'd switch. In a 7 minute car ride they switched the game at least 12 times. Tessi is finally sleeping. I think I may fall asleep on the couch myself. Connor can't be bothered. She's inheritated Teddy's devotion to the gaming machine. I need to check to see if she's still breathing before I lay down.