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.