We had a lovely weekend away at the in-laws - though the trip home did put a damper on it!  What should be a 2 1/2 hr trip became 5 hrs thanks to traffic (long weekend traffic & road works).  It took 2 hrs to drive what my sil tells me is normally a 10 min drive.  We had to laugh when we finally got to the roadworks (closed) and passed the 40kmh sign - going 18kmh, the fastest we had gone in a couple of hours.   grrrr.....  However the kids did really well - B slept for half the trip and only cried when we were about 15mins from home.  R chatted the whole way and finally fell asleep just as B started to whinge!

Now it is back to it - unpacking and putting away, catching up on washing, and getting ready for our big playgroup open day tomorrow (must bake something for that too!).  Oh, and catching up on 100s of items in my Minti watchlist!

Well, R went to grandma's on Sunday night, after bugging me all weekend (should have let him go sooner).  He has a ball as Grandma, Grandpa, his aunty and cousin all live together - and his cousin is only a few months older than him.  They have been to gymnastics (though he wouldn't take part yesterday as he had to leave his socks on and he didn't want to!), made masks, played etc...  He has had a great time and even though he tells me he loves me and misses me, I'm sure he's having too much fun to think of mum!  He told me last night "I love you so much mum" so I replied "I love you more than you will ever know" and he replies "why won't i know mum?  Anyway, I love you more".  Cute!

Anyway, I am ashamed to admit that we have been quite enjoying a little holiday at home.  It has been quiet - I have not had to yell at all, I have been able to concentrate on getting things done and we have spent some time just being girls together.  B has showed me how much she can play quietly and concentrate on things without big brother around.  It has been lovely!

Tonight we are on our own even more as Dh is away for the night, then we hope to travel to the inlaws and pick up R (and stay for a few days ourselves) - providing DH gets back reasonably!

Solve this riddle:

A man wanted to get into his work building, but he had forgotten his code. However, he did remember five clues. These are what those clues were:

The fifth number plus the third number equals fourteen.
The fourth number is one more than the second number.
The first number is one less than twice the second number.
The second number plus the third number equals ten.
The sum of all five numbers is 30.
What were the five numbers and in what order?

I will send the first person to comment with the right answer a Minti gift!

Had a lovely morning - went to church and it was brilliant - R went to kids church and B was quiet so I really enjoyed it.  I felt far more cheerful when we came home!  I even toyed with the idea of stopping at some markets on the way - but decided two kids was maybe not a good combination and we kept driving!

Then we got home - the lovely dog had pooed all over the kids bedroom (!) - not only is she not allowed in there, but it is one of only two rooms with carpet!  grrrr...  then R was bursting to go to the toilet (literally), so another mess to clean up - followed by teh most revolting nappy from my daughter!

So, for instant calm I went outside and did some pruning - funny how I enjoy it and find it calming!  It's kind of brutal and yet caring at the same time.

Then the phone rang - it was mum to tell me dad is in hospital!  Can this day get any better?  Yet, I'm feeling more positive and on top of it - another day, and an outing has helped.   So, while I have been Minti-ing  my 2 cherubs have discovered body paint - can I share some photos!  (maybe it is a late Foto Friday):

I was looking forward to spending some time at home with the kids this week as there has been no preschool this week, but now I am really over it!  I have had all week at home with the kids - save two outings and a friend popping in for coffee.  DH has been working all week and then just coming home to bed - so no adult conversation there.  Today he has been out from 7.30 to 6.30.  I am tired, frustrated and depressed.  The rain we longed for is here so we have been inside mostly ( a few outdoor plays in between rain) and the house is a disaster.  On top of that I am losing it with these two gorgeous kids - B has whinged all day and it is so draining.  She has had several feeds and I am getting a bit frustrated as she is hurting me.  Then my little man who can been so lovely at times has just been a horror - and taking it out on his sister.  So, this evening I lost it - I yelled and I cried and I felt like the worst mum in the whole world.  Hopefully today is just a bad day and things will improve tomorrow.

Well last night I had B in bed on time (miracle!) and DH went to bed early so R&I decided to have a movie night.  It was hard to stop thinking of all the things I should be doing and just sit and cuddle up to R, but it was well worth it.  We don't often spend time with just the two of us, so he really enjoyed it and so did I.  It is school holidays so I thought we could sleep in (fat chance!) and it finished pretty late, but he went straight to bed afterwards.  The hardest thing was picking a movie we both wanted to watch - we settled on Peter Pan.  It was really good, really well made, quite magical and quite moving.  He doesn't make an easy viewing companion - "who is that?" "what does that mean" and reiterating the plot for me and he lost interest about 2/3 through.  But we still managed to enjoy it - together!

Well, as my title suggests B is feeling a lot better.  She woke up the next day with a green nose, but aside from that has been fine.  Back on her booby juice and no chucking!  She was a bit clingy and grizzly and we have had a few rough nights, so something is going on - but her tummy is fine.  However DH and my sil obviously caught it - so have been ill. So far noone else thankfully.

I am also feeling a lot better - for the first time in months I have energy to get going and do things - been doing lots of gardening and staying on top of the house mess too.  Autumn is lovely for gardening - lots of pruning, moving some plants, putting in bulbs and winter vege seeds.  Now we just need some rain - it keeps threatening but nothing much comes of it and our tanks are getting quite low.  May have to order in a truckload of water - something else to pay for!  Oh well, before I depress myself too much I may go and tidy the kids room (eeuuww!)

Last night just after the in-laws had arrived for dinner, B started throwing up.  She had just woken up from a sleep and had breastfed to sleep as usual - otherwise there was nothing she had eaten that the rest of us hadn't.  SO we cleaned up and tried to put her back to bed.  She asked for "boobie" again so I gave it to her.  Needless to say she threw up again. 

Cleaned her up again and didn't offer her dinner.   She did pick a bit off other people's plates and seemed fine.  Then she asked for "boobie" again. So I fed her again - and guess what!  Can my breastmilk really be making her sick?  SO last night I told her no when it was bed time and eventually she went to sleep snuggled in my arms.  I distracted her this morning when she asked, so we haven't tried since dinner time, as I am scared to.

I know she is almost 2 and its probably time and I worry about her feeding forever, but I kind of don't want this to be the end of feeding either.  I hate to give up as it is making her sick - is that even possible?  So confused......

A friend sent me a photo today, which is actually nice - normally I hate pictures of me! So, here goes...

BTW went to check out B's day care lady today and she seems really lovely - just need to decide if we can really afford it!

R "reading" to B:

That's a caterpillar.  It eats too much and then it goes into a crysell and it becomes a butterfly!

Well, I've been feeling off for a while - just tired, lacking energy, not dealing with things, shaky, dizzy, emotional etc.....  At first I thought depression as I have suffered from it before - but I am having good days too and am enjoying moments in between. So, I had some tests done a few weeks back and only just got teh results - everything is clear, no diabetes, thyroid problems etc...  but my iron levels are very low.  I feel like I'm coming down with something but it never eventuates, so I am taking low grade antibiotics and high dosage iron and hoping to see an improvement soon. 

That's if the kids allow me to get some sleep - daylight savings seems to have knocked out our cycles far more than I expected.  We are all getting up way too early! (7am Sunday was bad enough, but 5am today!)  If they went to bed ok that would be fine - but I was up until 11 with B last night (she's gone back to having day sleeps).  So, I feel wiped.  Off to have a coffee (even if the dr says no coffee - grrr....)

Today was Brigadoon - the annual Scottish festival in our neck of the woods.  Here are some quick pics taken today (the hairy fellow is my fil):

I must go to bed as we have a big day tomorrow - but for once I wanted to post a photo friday on a friday!  Here are some pics of this week.  I love this one as it is so typical of my 2:

R pulling faces and B clutching her "bubby" and "dawing" (drawing) - these keep her happy wherever we go.  The next one is similar but you can just see R's new posession.  We went to the tip on Wednesday and they have a recycling centre that sells second hand stuff.  I was looking for something in particular that had obviously sold, but we picked up a bouncy ball, a pile of books and R's choice - a "surfboard" (boogie board).  He is very keen to surf and wants me to take him to the beach - in this weather!   BBBRRRRRR....

Once you got over the pervading smell the Reviva Centre was a great place to go and the kids loved it!  Anyway, signing off now....  Good night!

OK, I've just spent what feels like hours setting up a new Auctiva store.  We have been selling online for a while and this is the next step, but it has been very frustrating.  It is done now, and I hope it is done right cause I don't think I can do that again.......  I need to do this, but it is so hard finding the time without it encroaching onto everything else.   Guess that's life!

R asked me this morning what season it is now - I said "Autumn", though it didn't feel like it.  Then we walked outside.  Boy, it is autumn all of a sudden - very windy and the wind is COLD!  We have had the fire going the last week or so in the evening, but we have had lovely warm days.  Today we got out the jumpers and beanies and I wondered if it would be enough.  Winter will be here soon!

It is also the end of the BushFire season here, so we can burn outdoors again - and I think we'll need to have a big bonfire after this wind - so many branches and leaves everywhere!

I just heard today (after lamenting to a friend that I couldn't get Bella in) that B has been offered one day a week at family day care - starting next term.  So we go to meet her carer next week and have a play.  It is the not the same lady that had my son - so that is a shame, but she has looked after plenty of friends who say she is lovely.  So, although I worry about another expense, it does mean a day to myself (that's right it is on the same day as R is at preschool) and that means if I am looking for extra income I have a day to offer!  Great!