Three Ring Circus

In the spirit of the upcoming season…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

two smiling toddlers

a crazy pill and hot cup of tea

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the forth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

four books that were NOT Hairy Maclary…

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to  me,

eight previously unwatched eps of House,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

$900 to pay the paediatrician’s fee

eight previously unwatched eps of House,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

ten minutes for an uninterrupted shower

$900 to pay the paediatrician’s fee

eight previously unwatched eps of House,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

eleven finished loads of washing,

ten minutes for an uninterrupted shower

$900 to pay the paediatrician’s fee

eight previously unwatched eps of House,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

twelve unsolicited back rubs,

eleven finished loads of washing,

ten minutes for an uninterrupted shower

$900 to pay the paediatrician’s fee

eight previously unwatched eps of House,

seven healthy children,

six poo - free nappies,

five Hi - 5 DVDs!

four books, NOT hairy maclary,

three days of silence,

two smiling toddlers,

a crazy pill and a hot cup of tea.

Ta Da!

Ivy is a bit better today and so, I am too.

Noah hasn’t deleted any email, tried to post his disgust at the lack of attention he felt he was not getting on my blog or in anyone elses comments section, therefore, I have come to the conclusion that he is feeling better about the events of today as well.

We read books. ("No - No, read it Clarey? Yes? Yes?"). Translation: Please read me Hairy Maclary 500 times or until I get bored with it.

We snuggled while Ivy slept from 9 until 12:30.

We watched some Wiggles ("I like it, Mar - mee, the big red car!"). Translation; I do enjoy watching those men driving the big red car.

We danced to the Fisher Price Piggy Bank music.

 

"O - oh, I’m a piggy bank with some coins big and small,

with lots of colours you can learn them all.

We’ve got red and orange, we’ve got yellow and blue!

What’s your favourite colour? We’ve got green one’s too"…

 

I know, I know, I seriously need some adult conversation!

Ivy only grizzled and wanted to be a velcro baby for half the day today (the other half she slept) so I’d have to say a little bit better for the Ivy girl means a whole lot better for everyone else.

Here’s to more ‘a whole lot better’ days.

Where are you going,  my little one, little one?

Where are you going, my baby, my dear.

Turn around and you’re two,

turn around and you’re four.

Turn around and you’re a young girl walking out of my door…

(Lullaby)

 

When Imogen and Madeline were little, way back in the Summer of ‘97, there was hardly a dress to be found. Unless you were in one of the higher income earning brackets and could afford boutique label frocks (don’t you just love that word, frock? It kind of just rolls off the tongue). I was not one of those people, so it was Best and Less and Target when we really wanted to dress up.

I’ll just pause here to say it still is mostly those shops that we frequent. Not because of income brackets but because they are affordable and nice and wear well.

Anyway, the best you could get were these sort of wash and wear sack like things. They were…functional but not pretty, girly dresses.

The majority of clothes available for little girls included shorts and t - shirts. Bike shorts were all the rage. (Sorry for anyone out there who still owns bike shorts and likes them). I think there were some denim overall type dresses but the girls claimed them too hot for our Summer and  would peel them off at the first turn of my back.

It was the same deal two years later when Lily was a toddler.

When I was a little girl, it was the 70’s. A time of gender equality. I did own some dresses but I was mostly in brown cords and skivvys in Winter and shorts and tops for the hotter months. I remember having a beautiful lime green number, which I wore with white knee high socks (are you getting a visual here? I looked luscious!). I thought I looked nice. I felt pretty but my peers didn’t think so. They thought I looked like a booger… in cork high heels and told me so, often.

So, when Ivy started to get past that growsuit stage and I cautiously looked out into the brave new world of clothing  for baby girls, imagine my glee (ok, I have been reminiscing my 70’s childhood, people, so I think I can use some of the  language of that era, just for tonight) when I found dresses, lots and lots of pretty, flowery, twirly, pastel shaded, gorgeous dresses! Since then, Ivy has been mostly clothed in them. With the exception of the middle of Winter days, frocks are her norm.

I love them! I have so many for her, I think her wardrobe is about to explode but I just can’t seem to get enough. David has tried to curb my buying them but it is no use. If I see a dress in the shop I like I have to have it. I don’t know what it is. Or maybe I do. Maybe I just explained my need for all things frock in the above paragraphs.

Ooooh, self analysis.

Scary stuff.

At first, I found Gymboree, through the internet. Their little dresses had me drooling onto my keyboard. Then the Spring and Summer range started to come out here. I discovered Cotton on Kids and a few other internet stores and went crazy.

Today, after waiting six weeks for a parcel, I was sure was not going to arrive, it landed on my doorstep containing the most gorgeous skirts and dresses I have ever clapped eyes on (I’m a freak, I know).

Today my mind is already ticking over with the different combinations that I might dress Ivy in tomorrow. Ahhh frock therapy… thank heaven for little girls, especially little girls who are toddlers in 2007. (Photos to follow. Ivy is not a willing muse most days).

***************************************************************

My friend Trish has given me this:

 

 

Nice matters. Oh yes, it does. In these times when everyone is rushing and some can’t stop to help others or offer a kind word, to me, nice is important.

Thank you Trish. She said that I was one of the nicest people she had met over the internet and I could say the same for her. So, right back at you, friend!

I’m going to share this with some people.

Triplets plus one mum, Michele S: for sticking up for another multiples mum. (See post above).

Meg from Dipping into the Australian blogpond because when you comment on her blog she always comments back. it’s like a conversation between friends. Something I need to work on, my commenting skills.

Finally to JohBlogs from Because I can…well, because I can really and because she wrote a very nice comment about my post on communities, that boosted me up, made my day and made me feel as though I had made a contribution out there in blogworld.

Thank you all for your niceness. Please pass it on.

Why would you take one husband, five children and two toddlers to Toys R Us when you are severly sleep deprived? Honestly. Did you really think that you would have time to look for birthday presents for the soon to be two year olds? Follow the kids around, making mental notes on what they are interested in, for Christmas gifts? You were dreamin’ love!

For a start, didn’t you realise that releasing children into a toy store is like letting mice run free in the pantry? They scurry every which way looking for their favourite tidbits. You should know by now that taking them to a place like that is going to bring about the "can I’s"

Can I have this $60 doll? Can I have this $80 game boy game? You will make yourself hoarse saying no, by the time the husband calls it a day.(Which is about half an hour into the excursion).

Another thing, expecting toddlers to stay strapped into a stroller when there are toys, from floor to ceiling, is unrealistic… very unrealistic. Especially if you want to leave unscathed by the high pitched squeal, that your son has aquired, along with his almost two year old tantys.

Taking a money stressed husband to a place where you hope to spend money is not a good idea either. It just makes him fidgety, with crazy eyes darting from one end of the isle to the other, looking for the closest exit and you will be bitterly disappointed by the outcome of the outing. Remember that word. Bit - ter - ly.

When you do unbuckle the toddlers, be prepared to run…FAST. That, or be prepared to buy all the things they can break in the minute it takes you to hunt them down. Please know that the latter is not the best option unless you are flush with cash because two toddlers, working together, can break alot in a small space of time.

When you find your toddler son in a hot pink, battery operated, car, do not

a) laugh at him,

b) show him where the reverse button is or

c) chase him

because he will

a) think it’s a game and push the accelerator pedal down as far as it will go, thus allowing him to ‘drive’ full force down a crowded isle

b) hit the reverse button and drive over the cranky husband’s toes. Making him more cranky and

c) create a riot of other shoppers, laughing, at the spectacle of two parents chasing after their runaway child.

Also, it will get you in trouble with the sixteen year old, assistant manager, who has no idea what it is like raising children, doesn’t really want to know because it is Sunday and he would rather be out surfing with his mates but his Mum made him get this stupid job so that he could learn about responsibilities and good work ethic. He is already in a bad mood and you and your ragbag children just made his day!

When the money stressed husband says it’s time to go, just go. Don’t try to talk him around to spending money on Baby Einstein bowl and cup learning sets because they are on special this week. It won’t work.

When you have your own thirty -  five year old tanty and get your way it’s not a smart move to then ask him for something else, like a coffee because you are dead on your feet from chasing seven kids. He will laugh in your general direction and continue to make a fast exit to the car park.

Finally, when you go to the toy store with seven children, remember to take some ear plugs for when you are exiting the shopping centre. These will save you from having to listen to all the whinging about how unfair it was to take them to the toy store in the first place and then not get them anything. (Even though they got almost half a day playing in said store and a nice lunch, instead of having to clean up the yard).

Note to self: better just to stay at home and blog!

P.S. When walking to the carpark and cranky husband spies a model helicopter in a hobby store, encourage him to go in and make a selection. His curiosity will spark faster than a grass fire and his demeanor will rapidly change. Remember this the next time you want to spend money and take him to the hobby store first!