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We had a really busy weekend, 2 baby showers on Saturday, DH’s 20 year school reunion on Saturday night and In-laws over for lunch on Sunday.  I only went to the reunion for a while, hubby managed to crawl home at 01h30.  I was in a bad mood on Sunday morning just thinking about how he feels and how miserable he might be for the day, when he was actually fine.  Am I the only person this makes sense to?

Then, on Sunday night (in jest of course), I tweeted: ‘Picking a fight with hubby just so I don’t have to put out’

Oh my word, what a barrage of comments ensued, that ranged from “WOW, I do that too” (Female, Mom of 2) to “Do women really do that?” (Male, single. DUDE, you have no idea!). And then, when I was tweeting later “Aren’t you supposed to be having Sex?” (Friend and fellow Mom of 3). I even had a (sympathetic) comment from one of his friends that never tweets, he only reads. 

How many of you are brave enough to admit to doing this that have been married for longer than 5 days?

Second lastly:  I LOVE my hairdresser.  I went for a much overdue haircut today and got it into my head that I needed to cut a fringe.  She was good enough to show me why it wasn’t a great idea.  I love that she was so honest with me!

And lastly: here is a pic of the girls playing in the bath.  They know no end. 

The brother has decided that I am no longer allowed to take pictures.  I think he is about to fire me.  This morning I was really cross and he said: ‘Mamma, moenie shout nie.’  Go on, send the Parenting Police.  I don’t care. 

Some oldies, but all still funny 🙂

The Zen of Sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me either.
Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tyre.

3.  It’s always darkest before dawn.
So if you’re going to steal your neighbour’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.

4. Don’t be irreplaceable.  If you can’t be replaced,
you can’t be promoted.

5. Always remember that you’re unique.
Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you’re alive,
try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone,
you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them,
you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.

9 . If at first you don’t succeed,
skydiving is probably not for you.

10 .   Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11.  If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.

12 . If you tell the truth,
you don’t have to remember anything.

13. Some days you’re the bug;
some days you’re the windshield.

 
14. Everyone seems normal
until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is
to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like ‘The Force’. It has a light side and a dark side,
and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women.
Neither one works.

19 . Generally speaking, you’re not learning much
when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don’t get
until just after you need it.

21 . Never miss a good chance to shut up.

AND

22 . Never, under any circumstances,
take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

I recently did this post about a rather eventful trip to the doctor.  Today, being Friday, was of course a perfect day to have to visit the doctor, it being weekend and all.

The main reason we went is because I seriously think Daniel has a hearing problem.  Our friendly homeopath suggested that he might have some fluid in his ears and offered to take a look.  Which meant that I had to drag the whole circus with me as she also needed to check Mignon and Isabel’s snots and chests.

In all honesty, I thought, how bad could it be.  I survived the last time.  With a little dignity in tact.

I should have known it was going to go pearshaped when Daniel promptly took off his jacket, dumped it on the floor and the doctor had to step over it.  He then INSTRUCTED her to take off his boots whilst he was sitting on the examining table.  Which she did, only for half a sandpit to fall on the floor. 

This while M and I were unpacking all the kiddies toys in her office and checking to see how much of it bounces off the walls and the floor.

Then there was a fart.  One of those eye-watering vomit-inducing farts that sticks around for ages..

The practice is in a converted house and there is the original bathroom and then a toilet at the entrance, but to get to this toilet you have to walk the length of the house and through the waiting room (original lounge) and past the reception area (original kitchen)  And of course Mignon needed the loo. And of course the closest bathroom was being painted.  And of course I had the Von Trapp children with me.  So we traipsed across the house, past the people in the waiting room and the 2 reception ladies.

What I failed to register was the look of horror on Mignon’s face when she told me she needed to make a poo.  Or was it denial?

So, imagine my surprize when I pull down her pants and there a runny, brown blob awaits me that has partially run down her leg.  Whilst the other two loudly give a blow-by-blow account of what I am doing.  In full view of the waiting room and staff.  Because CLEARLY I cannot lock myself and my 3 children in a small little toilet.

I will spare you the agonising detail, but I’m sure you get the picture.

But I did see the staff snigger when I walked past them.  And apparently the psychologist’s office is right next to that toilet.  Gulp.

I feel like the Scarlet Woman, I dread going back there ever again!

It’s official, I’m a people-pleaser and big fat old wuss.

I used to be very active on Facebook and religiously used to upload pics etc.  These days, because my work circumstances have changed, I don’t see many of the people I am friends with and in general life just moves on.  Also, because I heart Twitter, FB is so slow in comparison. 

So, I was going through my ‘friends’ and I was overcome by the urge to unfriend a whole lot of people that I won’t be in contact with anymore for various reasons.   I had an internal dialogue about not having so many people have ‘access’ to my life.  But then, it’s really easy to find my blog and twitter account anyway.  And it’s not like I have anything to hide.

That’s part of why I love Twitter.  People constantly follow and unfollow you, and that’s ok.

And then I had the most ridiculous thought: do people judge me by the number of friends I have on FB?  Do you judge people by their friends on FB?  To be honest, I do.  A little.  How silly is that?

I unfriended a couple of people recently, but it feels a bit petty.  Almost like when your 4yr old says : “I’m not your friend”  It just feels a bit juvenile.  So, clearly I am just too much of a wuss to unfriend everyone that has annoyed me unless they have really, really annoyed me. And then they usually beat me to it anyway.  Like our friend whose soon-to-be-ex-wife unfriended me.  She just beat me to it.  Or the friend that behaved really, really badly.  I did the honours there.

Which brings me to my next thought:  is the end in sight for this kind of social media (for those of you that part-take) or are you more/less active than before? Are you a trigger-happy short-fused unfriender or a big old people-pleasing wuss like me?

I took a quick break at lunchtime today to pop out to the shops and whilst I was there the school called.  The girls are coughing and haven’t gone to sleep yet.  This is an hour into their nap time.  So, off I went to fetch them, thinking I could give them some medicine and put them down.

HA. HA. I eventually gave up when they started signing the Bob the Builder song.  For the 15th time.  They have almost never not slept in the afternoon, so I was dreading this evening.

Here they are just before we finally carted them off to bed.  They kept on saying they are very ‘tyaad’. But they were really good. 

ps: They are wearing new PJ tops my Mom bought them and dropped off just after supper over their own PJ’s

pps:  Yes, I haven’t posted a pic of Daniel in ages. The child is not obliging me at the moment.  My best shot so far is one where he is stuffing a strawberry in his mouth.  Very attractive.

Minds out the gutter people, we took too long getting everyone settled and got to chatting, so I’m just doing a quick pop-in.

If you live in Cape Town you’ll be very familiar with this sight.  The Athlone cooling towers.  They are being demolished on 22 August and, although they really need to go, the N2 will just not be the same. I remember, as a child, looking at them whenver we used to venture to that side of the world and I found them fascinating.

(ps, I took this pic with my cellphone today, whilst driving, so if they look a bit wonky, that’s why.  Yes, I’m the crazy cow in the Mommy car swerving across the road.)

This is a hectic week, I really need to squeeze about 7 days’ work into the 4.  But I’ll be really grateful when weekend rolls on by!

there was snot.  No kidding!  Out came the special drops, and it looks like we managed to kill the worst of the bugs, thank goodness.  I realised with a shock I hadn’t given them any vites the entire time hubby was gone as it is normally his ‘job’.

It was touch and go this morning as we all had cabin fever, but instead of shouting I politely dressed them all warmly and we all went for a walk.  They were very confused as I said “Kom ons gaan stap ‘n entjie” and they heard “Kom ons gaan na die eendjies toe” (let’s go to the ducks). After much negotiation and promises of all kinds of wonderful snacks and drinks and expensive gifts we managed to walk around the block and everyone was happy.  And calm.  Ish.

But, we survived the morning and hubby arrived at around lunchtime, just after the girls went down for their nap.  I greeted him passionately, made vague promises, and ran off to have a nap.

We are all really happy he’s home and looking forward to a short week.  It’s going to be a hectic one.

Here is a pic of the girls, I have no idea what they were doing, but they play like this a lot, in their own little world.  It’s really amazing to watch and at least their poor brother gets a break and can build a puzzle in peace.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Women’s Day and you were spoilt rotten!

Lessons learnt this weekend (so far):

 

• Don’t just take 1 set of extra clothes with you per child when you leave the house.  Because one child might just have 3 accidents in 2 hours and end up in her 4yr old brother’s tracksuit pants. 
• Never, I repeat, NEVER rush a 2 year old when leaving the house.  There will be wee.  And another wardrobe change.  And the the other 2 yr old will also want to use the loo.  Just when you have locked the house and switched on the alarm. 
• Children like pancakes for supper.  A lot.
• Your house ends up cleaner than EVER when you are responsible for cleaning it yourself.  (bar the play room, that’s a free for all) (ok, will get to it tomorrow, promise)
• When you are single parent for a weekend, be with good great friends that will just let you be your stressed out, angst-ridden self.  And do dishes.  And buy you coffee. And bring wine.
• It only took about 30 minutes to miss my fabulous hubby.  I have new-found respect for Single Moms, Single Married Moms and the parent that stays behind when the other one travels!
• When flushing the almost dead gold fish, make sure to flush twice.
• Peanut butter on rye can fix almost anything.
• Bedtime is easily delayed with threats of pooing in nappies and jumping toddlers.
• When you leave washing on the line overnight it will rain.
• Spooning is nothing to be sniffed at.  And that easy, casual conversation with your partner.

All in all, they have been really, really good.  I love them even more now that they’re asleep though 🙂

 

May everyone have a wonderful Women’s Day tomorrow!

How cool am I?  I managed to feed and dress everyone, clean the kitchen and make the beds AND left the house 5 minutes earlier than usual.  Without shouting once.  There was some scary frowning at Daniel when he didn’t want to get dressed, but that was about it.  Oh, and every-one’s teeth were brushed (I would rather iron than fight with children to brush teeth.  Really) 

All went really well until we got to Daniel’s school and he wanted me just to walk to the gate, about 10 steps from the car, very much within sight of the car, the school, the play area, other parents etc etc etc.

Mignon had managed to take off her shoes (another standing fight), so I left her in the car whilst Isabel and I walked to the gate with Daniel.  The next minute a hooter starts blaring repeatedly.  And there is MY child, sitting in the font seat, hooting like mad.  Of course it was the busiest time of morning and absolutely everyone was around and staring.  I exited the premises in a hurry..  Little shit.

Where hubby is they have no signal, so last night was the first night in about 11 years that we didn’t say good night to each other in some way or another (bar the nights that he gets silent treatment, but those don’t really count).  Weird hey?

Minki mentioned she hasn’t seen pics in a while, here is one of the girls in the 30 seconds that they weren’t moving last night.  Mignon is the barefooted one..

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Nights that is.  I was trying to explain to Daniel that tomorrow morning it will be 3 sleeps before Daddy comes home, not 5.  After much heated debate I eventually conceded that he was right.  So, as of tomorrow hubby will be back in 5 Daniel days.

The evening went great, picked the kids up and went straight to my Mom’s house like the fabulous Mom I am.  They only managed to trash 3 rooms in her house and break 2 toys before we left with much fanfare. (after supper)

As we get into the car Isabel starts asking for a ‘bersie’ (blanket) which turned into full blown wailing about 100m down the road.  I then tried to distract her by counting sleeps before Daddy comes home and she starts wailing ‘Pappa, Pappa, Pappa!!’ and just as we turn into our road Daniel asks for juice and she launched into ‘juicey juicey juicey’. 

And OF COURSE our hapless Labby was lying in their path from the garage to the back door and both my girls were screaming like banshees whilst I was dashing up the stairs with 56 bags in my hands and trying to unlock the door.  Feck, why they hate him is so totally beyond me.

Must dash to pack lunchboxes and feed the cat and take out their clothes for tomorrow.

Wish me luck for the morning!