Day 1..... Recovered from the weekend, Miss T & Miss B slept until 10ish but not Master L, he was up before the birds were..... kept himself happy in his room until it started to get light outside then woke his sister up, who in turn woke me up and then went back to bed. Master L and I snuggled up on the couch to watch abc2 kids programs. All kids just hung out and enjoyed their  freedom from school and caught up with electronic devices they hadn't seen for weeks due to being so busy.....first day of holidays down!

Day 2.... All kids slept in but only until 9ish or so...... The weather was nice but very windy, the rain will settle in later in the day. Got a few loads of washing out, kids found washing for me to do.... my kids were such helpful littlies but as they have gotten older , they want to have a say with what jobs they do and which ones they don't. I swear, one of my girls was royalty in her last lifetime and had heaps of 'help'.  She still wants the same treatment in this life...... good luck to her, I know that quality will serve her well in the working world, just needs to learn tact and the sky will be the limit. Had a friend drop in, her poor little one had been at the local hospital having blood tests, etc with an asthma specialist. Only 2 years of age but she has spent many nights in hospital with breathing problems... I live only 5 mins from the hospital so I visit as much as I can when shes admitted, taking clothes or whatever mum needs, even if it's just someone to watch the little one for a few minutes so mum can go for a walk (hates being stuck in hospital) It's so hard when little ones are sick, you just want to take it from them, make them better with just a touch, not watch them suffer. After a few balloons to play with and a drink, little one was a bit happier. I wish I lived closer to my friend as we have known each other for around 15 years and it's hard to get time to sit and talk, these days. We chat online but it's never the same as having a good chat. Well the weather is against me for the remainder of the week but we need the rain. It'll just mean I will have to think up things to do on the days we are home. Hope eveyone on holidays has a nice relaxing time and a safe trip home.

WARNING...... This may contain VENTING!!!!

History... I have a 3yo son to Prince Charming, he has an 8yo daughter from a previous relationship (I have always accepted her, have even had the child in my care at DHS request for a little while, been a patient step-parent) I am always civil with PC's ex, despite the nasty things she has said and done. About 5 months ago, they moved to within 5kms of me previously they were 1.5 hours drive away, which i had always done the driving for visitation, back and forth. 

Anyway, yesterday I hosted a birthday party for Step-child. I invited a few school friends, FIL/MIL from PC's family and any relatives from ex's side that wanted to come. About 20 people came. It was the first time the families had met (so I discovered the next morning). We had a bbq for the adults and party food for the kids(two tables full of food), it was a pink princess theme (adhered too as much as possible without blowing my bank account) we had a few party games(which I sourced on the internet and made props myself) and the kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. I had a surprise activity planned for them... icing plain biscuits (a few different shapes, oval, square etc) and then decorating them with lollies, coloured sugar and the writing icing in various colours. It was a hit and was quite cheap to set up, the most expensive part was the writing icing. All the adults were amazed that it went dead quiet at a kids party as the budding artists got into creating their masterpieces.....All in all the day was enjoyed by all....... when all the guests had left, the birthday girl and mum were left, the birthday girl was furiously stuffing all her presents into a bag (her father and i gently suggested that she leave some so she had something to play with next visit but she wouldn't) next, the child runs off to her mum's car parked out the front and doesn't come back in, the mother just lets this all happen all the while waffling on about something totally off the subject, then tried to off load the child but child said she wanted to go home, mother then followed her daughter and left..... NOT a word of thanks, from either the mother or the child to me. I was shocked to say the least, not at first cause it didn't click to me but not happy now....... PC didn't even say anything and to top it off, he said he woud call the mother to have a word seeing I had put soo much work into the day, but alas he didn't.

That's my complaint over, I really don't know how to proceed in this situation, i think i'll just retreat and contimplate............

Wow what a busy last few days.... we've had two birthdays to celebrate..... my little bro had his 14th and my daughter, Miss T has finally turned 13..... she was such a beautiful baby (all mum's say that but it is true) and now she is growing into a beautiful young lady (well when you get past those damn mood swings she is) It's so hard letting go of them each day little by little but as parents we must.... it is our responsibility  to prepare them for life as best we can, teach them to be productive, moral, well rounded people..... that and a million other life lessons big and small along the way....... 

It's a busy time of year with kids going back to school very soon, just one more week to prepare, find all that is needed, make sure uniforms are clean and mended.....etc, etc..... Miss B turned to me the other night while watching a school shoe ad on tv where the parents jumped up and down excitedly after the kids went back to school and she looked shocked, she asked if I would be that excited when she went back to school..... i didn't want to hurt her feelings so I carefully chose my words 'no sweetie I will miss you being home all day but I know you would be sad if you couldn't see your friends and teachers'..... satisfied she went back to her programme.... whew, i got out of that one.... while what I said is true in every word what I failed to reveal was that i would be happy NOT to hear Miss T & Miss B's constant fighting and talking well into the night (they share a room) and the bad habits that Master L has picked up off them over the holidays, I would be happy for them to leave the house for a number of hours during the day without me and I will be happy to keep shopping in fridge/cupboard for more than 10mins before being sniffed out by that monster called 'the hungry feral'...... and I will be over the moon NOT to here the word mum 1000 times a day and so many varied ways (i thought mum was only 1 syllable not dragged out over 4 or 5) but I will miss the laughter and fun games the kids created to keep themselves amused, proud that they balanced it out there fun with imagination and eletronic games..... but alas my kids weren't designed to sit still for very long!!!!

Well, this minti mummy is extremely tired and bids you all out there a happy and SAFE last week to holidays -x-

What a few days... We've been busy with an extra child staying over......Now it's the countdown to Miss T's 13th Birthday. I am taking her and a few friends to the movies.... Kids have been good and keeping themselves busy so I won't jinx myself by saying too much    Hmm wonder when the next full moon is???

We will see how hot the weather gets today (still waiting on the air con unit to be replaced at home) and we may go check out the brand new pool that's just opened up in the area.......only down side is you can't take homemade food or drink in with you and it gets expensive to feed 3-4 kids when swimming makes them soo hungry!  I will have to work something out..... 

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and nice weather....... be safe -x-