I just spoke to a very good old friend of mine who I have know since High school.    She told me that another friend of ours who had been trying so hard for 8 years to have a bubby has finally given birth to a beautiful baby girl so I just wanted to shout it to the world!!!!!   

I'm so very happy for the happy couple and a big Minti Family Welcome to little

Katie Jean

   Angels come from Heaven xxxxxxxxxxx

Well I've done it I booked a flight to the US to see my sister-in-law for her 40th birthday.    The furthest overseas I have been is Bali and I know that place like the back of my hand, but this is a whole different kettle of fish!!!!!!!

I'm really looking forward to going I absolutely love my s-i-l but I'm nervous about flying in the US.  If it was just me going It wouldn't be so bad but i'm taking my little man so I'm a little more concerned.  It's going to be a very long flight with three changes and a stop over in LA for the night.  God only knows where I'm going to stay.  It would be nice to be able to stay somewhere between the airport and some of the tourist attractions.   Since I get in very early in the morning so I would like to be able to have a little wander around and take some photos.

Hey I'll just ask my US minti friends  

Like you all I'm very protective of my kids and though I can be a little one sided where they are concerned,  I will always tell them off if they are in the wrong and especially around other peoples children.

However this morning the lioness in me just wanted to scratch this childs eyes out!!!!!  

My eldests little friend has been coming over to play the last couple of days.   Now I'm of the opinion that if the friends come over to play you must always include the others that live in that house.  I don't expect my eldest to play with the little ones all the time but there are certain times that I do expect it and this is one of them!!!!.

They wanted to play out the front (I have a very big driveway) I said that they could as long as they let the middle child play outside with them (my daughter knows the boundaries of my driveway especially when little miss 3 is out there too).    Now this is where I saw red!!!!!!   The little friend looked at me and said quite matter of factly said "I don't like that one!!!" and pointed to little miss 3.   (Taking a deep breath and keeping myself in check!!!)    "Well" I said "If you want to come over here and play then your going to have to like her!!!!"   "Oh!" was all the answer I got.   I then turned around and walked away seething.  

Now as an adult I know kids can be cruel and don't think before they speak but this is still my child he was referring to and therefore my role as a mother is to protect.

Anyway they played for a little while and then apparently according to the eldest he asked her to go riding with him.  Now instead of her saying no because I have strict rules about where she goes especially when little miss 3 is out there, she got on her bike and took off with this kid with little miss 3 in hot persuit out onto the road.   

Sufficed to say that she is currently not allowed to play with the little friend since she doesn't seem to be able to respect the boundaries that I have set.  I feel horrible and I like that she is making friends in the neighbourhood but I still have rules that I expect she and anyone else that comes to my house to follow.

It's sad that our kids don't get it until they have their own and then turn to their parents and say "Now I understand why!!!!!!"

I had to laugh yesterday when master 1 decided to try and feed himself for the first time.  

It was absolutely hillarious!!!!!      I'm pretty sure that the high chair wore most of the food but when all was said and done he looked pretty chuffed with himself.    He wasn't sure whether to use the right or left hand so he spent the time alternating between the two.

I wonder how he will go today!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ever had one of those days where nothing seems to be going your way, the kids are driving you nuts and all you want to do is jump back into bed and start the day off again???????  I"M HAVING ONE OF THEM NOW!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhh to be able to fall into a big bath with some nice lavender in the water and lie there for an hour wouldn't that be bliss.     Unfortunately for me if I tried to do that Miss 3 and Master 1 would want to join me and then that would be the end of my relaxing moment.  So until I can go away for a weekend without my wee little charges I guess I'll just have to find some other outlet. 

Mmmmmmmmmmm of course a glass of wine!!!!!!!!

 Yipee!!!!!!

Right now we are in the process of teaching little miss 3 to use the toilet.  It works really well when she has no pullups on and only a pair of knickers, she doesn't always ask for her reward which is a Jelly baby but we still haven't managed to get her to poo on the toilet even with the bribe of 2 jelly babies to entice her. 

Oh well it will happen.  Patience young grasshopper!!!!!!

You know it's always amazed me how a person could take the life of a child.     Yesterday here in my own little community just around the corner from my house someone took the lives of two children by shooting them.     Now i'm not going to pass judgement as no one knows the full facts behind what happened, but it chills me to the bone when I look at my babies and think about it. 

The poor little things haven't even had a life, they are too small to defend themselves against the evil before them.    It really makes me sad, I love my kids and no matter how mad they make me I don't think I could ever bring myself to harm a hair on their heads.

Well my new years resolution is slowing taking shape.   Have been to the gym everyday this week except for today (you need a break every now and then).   Every inch of me is aching right now and the thought of having to pick up the babies is just as painful as the act.   Ahhhh no pain no gain!!!!!!

I haven't had any coke and no ice cream but the chocolate is the killer.   They say if your stressed you crave certain things so I must be stressed because I'm craving chocolate!!!!!   LOL     anyway it is very early in the morning and only one of my little treasures is awake.  Come to think of it she just doesn't want to sleep and is making sure that master 1 doesn't either.   No wonder I need chocolate!!!!!!!

So off I go to start the day with a cuppa.

    Little miss 3 got another birthday present today.  I think she thinks that christmas lasts all year long because she has gotten a present every week since.  First it was the christmas presents from the people that we hadn't seen and then it was her birthday and a plethora of presents thereafter.   It's gotten to the point that when she sees someone now she asks if they have a present for her!!!!!!!!

Todays was yet another large battery operated device (we are keeping duracell open!!!)  Her Aunt and Uncle gave her an Ariel Talking Salon which of course also needed to be assembled god what ever happened to being able to buy a toy that you didn't need to put together and that was easy to get out of the box!!!!!!!  Anyway I finally got it together and off went little miss 3 and master 1 to the bedroom to play hairdressers.  

  Master 1 getting a makeover!!!!!!!!

My new years resolution was to get back to the gym (that's a 5.30 start blah!), not to drink soft drink or eat chocolate or ice cream.

Ahhh well 1 outta 4 aint bad!!!!   I managed to make it to the gym after only 4 hours sleep at 5.50am.  I started the day out really well until my girlfriend dropped over to pick up my eldest (her god daughter) for a sleep over.  She presented me with a christmas stocking full of chocolate that was going out for only .98c at the shops (yeah great thanks there goes my butt and thighs again!!!!!).  So of course I had to have one.    Followed by lunch which was a very healthy salad I might add.  

Later that afternoon my other girlfriend and my god son popped over for a swim she didn't want a cuppa she'd much rather indulge in a diet coke, so of course I couldn't be rude so I joined here with a coke.   (Damn willpower where is it when you need it)

Followed by my husband arriving home early to a very healthy and hearty soup (it's the only way I can get a grown man to eat vegetables, come to think of it this works well with my babies too!!!!).  I thought  I was going to make it until he pulled out Alexandra's left over ice cream birthday cake!!!!  That was it he produced 2 spoons I just couldn't have him eat all of it ....... it wasn't good for his waist line!!!!!!!!   LOL

Anyway tomorrow is another day, I'll start again fresh with my 5.30 start at the gym.!!!!!!!!!!!

I wrote a little article / story today about my pregnancy experience.  I don't know if I put it in the right place but if you have experienced it or know someone who has or just want to know what it is then have a read it's in the advice and forum sections under pregnancies. 

Little miss middle child Alex celebrated her 3rd birthday on Wednesday 3rd.  This year we decided that we wouldn't do anything as christmas had been a wee bit more expensive than anticipated so we took her to Macdonalds and then came home and had Freddo Frog Icecream cake.  Rather boring really but she didn't care.   I think as far as she can tell it's been christmas for her for the last 3 weeks.

  Alexandra with her little brother Joshua getting ready to blow out her candles.