Today was better for Liam. His teeth/gums arent as sore as yesterday although his cheeks are still rosy red.

I have never had so much fun blowing bubbles as i did today. I spent an hour outside with the 3 kids blowing bubbles with big and small bubble wands. The kids were giggling like crazy as they ran around chasing bubbles, catching and popping them. Even the dog was jumping around.

I luv moments like that, when i can forget about the farm and housework for awhile and enjoy the kids. The last 5 weeks have been soooo hectic i feel asthough i have been on auto pilot.

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

My little man is teething. 4th tooth on both sides on the bottom jaw. Vast amounts of bonjella, panadol, icypoles and cuddles hasnt eased his pain . He has been grizzley for the last 3 days and for me sleep has been non existant. I finally cracked and gave him a dose of knockout drops and now he is laying in my arm half asleep. I detest giving him the drops but it does help both him and me and my sanity!!! Out of the 3 kids his teething has been the worst.

Well night everyone, im off for a good nights sleep to recharge the batteries

Christmas was great!! The kids all got groovy pressies and they are over the moon with each and every one of them. We did the usual lunch with my family, tea with hubbys family and santa made an appearence at inlaws house which was a fantastic surprise for all the kids.

Now today i am cleaning away empty boxes and screwed up wrapping paper and putting batteries in toys and reading instructions!! A very relaxing day with hubby and our 3 kiddlets.

That was until hubbys 15 year old son rang telling us his mother had kicked him out of home (with a petty excuse). So now im running around moving furniture and cleaning the self contained unit for stepson to move into as soon as hubby goes and gets him and all his belongings. It was bound to happen, i just didnt think it was going to be now but he is a good kid and we all get along great. I now need to write a list of what needs to be done before the new school year as he will be going to a different school as we live in a different state.

Just when i thought life was cruising along at an even pace.........lol

Wishing all minti families a fantastic christmas and an equally fantastic 2007

Luv gingermuggins and family xx

Miss 6 casually walked out and said "mum, there is a snake in the bedroom" and casually walked back in. Well, i flipped. I screamed at the kids to get out then armed with a curtain rod i tiptoed into the bedroom. To make things more difficult the kids had tipped every toy poosible onto the floor. I wasnt in the mood for snake hunting so i rang the neighbours and they came up with the dog, spade, gloves and refreshments!!! Half an hour later we found the slippery snake curled up in the corner under a bed. As soon as the neighbour raised the spade the snake uncurled and took off behind the bookcase but as he came out from there 'whack' the spade got him. He was a tiger snake, the length of my arm but thin. I am thanking my lucky stars no one was bitten. This is the 2nd time in 5 years we have had a snake in the house. I cant figure out how he got in or how many days he has been inside for, but i have taken every precaution possible to make sure another 1 doesnt slip in.

Now, before you start thinking 'arent snakes protected by law', any snake that comes near the house will be dealt with. if we see a snake out in the paddocks we leave it alone but with 3 kids im not taking the risk. There are qualified snake catchers out there but  living so far  from the nearest town its cheaper and quicker to for us to deal with them.

My 6 year old daughter has finished her 1st year of school (prep). Next year she should be going into grade 1 but her principle and teacher think she needs more challenging work so they have put her up to grade 2!! She is above average in her reading abilities (she reads the newspapers at home), and her writing and spelling are outstanding.

I just had to brag. It certainly made my day, although i am concerned about how much praise we should give her so i have posted this problem in the Q and A section of this wonderful site.

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

My 2nd daughter graduated from kinder today. horray!! I took 2 terms to get her to adjust to being away from mum and dad for 5 hours, twice a week. We went through lots of tissues with the constant crying on her behalf (sometimes mine) and then when she got into the grove of things, the holidays would start and we would be back at stage 1. But there was light at the end of the tunnel ( a long 1 at that ). After Imogene turned 5 in August she changed. She couldnt get me out of the classroom quick enough, she was "mum, please leave, i have work to do". It was literally an overnight change. She flourished. Paintings galore were coming home after every session, she would chat nonstop about her little friends and finally, today she was givien a graduation certificate and she accepted it with a big grin. My smile was broader then any of the other mums and dads there, because i knew how hard hubby and i persisted to get her to the end of the kinder year. It was definately a proud mummy moment.

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

Hi All

I've been on and off this site soooo may times in the last 2 days and am finding all your advice very helpful. Hopefully in the not so far future i can give some advice too.

I signed into this site under the name of gingermuggins, but in the time ive wandered around here i have found some extra nice people and i think i should reveal my real name and that of my family.

My name is Sam. My husband is Richard. Miss 6 is Siobhan. Miss 5 is Imogene and my sweet boy (all my kids are sweet :) is Liam.

There you have it, a proper introduction, although i still luv the name gingermuggins, its fresh, witty and humorous :)

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

Today was the first time my 18 month old darling boy went in the big, big pool. He was in a floaty set thingy, lol, and i pulled him around the water. He LOVED it. He was kicking, splashing, giggling and when the time came to hop onto dry land he whimpered and waved to the pool (awww, cute). Im sure though, with this hot weather he will be back in the pool before we know it (under my ever watchful eye of course).

If anybody around here knows of a floatation device for an 18 month old child, please let me know. The seat we have is not very safe (a cheapy) but there again i doubt anything would be overly safe, but you never know. Thanks in advance.

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins  xx