I kept Skip and Flip home yesterday and today on the account of Flip having developed “le nasale snotay” and I didn’t want it to develop further than it already is. Skip I kept home, just to keep Flip company so that I could try and work a bit.
It’s been a bit crazy actually. A situation for which I naturally blame my hubby. (of course, if we can’t blame our husbands for these things, then who can we blame?).
Follow my thinking for a second here… If he hadn’t insisted on having his laptop in MY office, this would never have happened. It’s like he doesn’t accept that my business has to take over a whole (albeit tiny) bedroom in our home.
NO. It has to be OUR office. He has to have space on MY desk for HIS laptop.
Now, since he’s not here during the day, that shouldn’t be a problem, since I usually link up his laptop to the scanner and then use it as part of my routine when I’m working, so that I can have the printer attached to my computer. It’s not an ideal situation, but it works. At least my desk is a door that I’ve put on trestles (and painted white) so it’s larger than normal.
However, hubby’s laptop also has the big external hard drive attached which has all the kids movies, and our favorites backed up on it, so the kids have become accustomed to “daddy’s putah” being the home entertainment station. Because yeah, dstv pretty much doesn’t have enough stuff on it (insert your preferred level of sarcasm here).
So now, I get interrupted 100x more than normal, by the kids trying to watch something on daddy’s laptop, Skip wanting to use MS Paint on the laptop, begging me to print out various pictures that he makes, one of them needing help getting onto daddy’s office chair (which is in the way anyway) then having the other one hanging off me, trying to get onto my lap to watch whatever the other one is doing, or begging me to do farmville or cafe world or frontierville or in fact anything vaguely entertaining for them. This would normally only be an issue if they were off school, because naturally when they’re normally home on weekends we’re either out doing stuff, or they’re being cute and cuddly with daddy.
BUT since the Soccer World Cup is on, and Daddy has made it his mission to watch every single game on TV aside from the two that he is getting to watch live (England vs Algeria tonight, and one of the quarterfinals as well), the kids are now bugging me during the time I would normally go into my sanctuary, close the door and work like blazers as well.
So what happens is Dad is out in the lounge hogging the television or generally just suffering from uncommunicative male with remote syndrome, and I’m STILL not able to be as productive as I’d like to be.
In fact the only reason I’m getting this blog post out right now is because the kids are fighting over the little airport that has this arm that lifts up the little propeller plane flies it at varying heights around the control tower and then lowers it again.
Yesterday I decided it had been far to long since I picked up my camera, and took some photos of Skip and Flip, who were being a bit moody with me and not their usual smiley, posey selves.
As you will see from these pics that I took.
Skips mood is quite obvious, and it led me to process the photos in black and white, and add noise to increase the sense of drama!
Flip was sitting in his little leather armchair that we bought for them both (they each have their own) and the way he was lounging in it reminded me that one day too, he will probably suffer from uncommunicative male with remote syndrome, but for now he is still unbearably cute, even if we’d reached the scary part in “Nemo” as you will see from his slightly concerned expression.
Skip on the other hand is looking livid that I’m *forcing* him to watch something he’s seen more than 100x rather than letting him watch Ben X, which is of course, on ‘daddy’s putah’.
I’m writing this to you, with the sounds of that squirrel in Ice Age 3 struggling to hold onto his beloved acorn…
Yes, my kids are watching too much TV.
It’s the school holidays.
SUE ME.
Okay, now I feel bad.
Just so that you know I’m not totally ditching them to that great babysitter in a box, here’s some proof that we actually take them out regardless of the weather, for some great exercise. (though I suspect this was the start of Flips “le nasale snotay”)
One more thing!
I did a post over at my other blog, about why the brand new released Apple Mac Mini is perfect for my mom! Head over there if you’re interested!
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So I like moving. But the packing and unpacking, not so much. Particularly not when I’ve spent absolute ages, sorting and purging things.
So there I was thinking that since we’re selling most of our furniture aside from a few essential pieces that this move would be a breeze.
I reckoned about 4 hours of downtime in terms of taking down my computer (and lovingly packing it back into the original safe packaging), transporting it and setting it up on the other side.
Bahahahaha.
Factor in, two little peeps who needed to-ing and fro-ing from school, had no interest in helping me pack, and did everything in their power to prevent me from successfully packing a single box and getting into the car to transport (unpacking nearly everything the moment my back was turned), and who decided to take it upon themselves to pack their own toys and promptly monopolizing all the boxes, thwarting all my attempts at thinning out their toys.
Then factor in a hubby who decided that he had too much work to do, and left EVERYTHING up to me, and only took a scant Friday afternoon off.
Cue, me nearly calling a divorce lawyer.
Also, cue me, jolly nearly needing traction after my sciatica flared up and I woke up thinking that I wouldn’t be able to walk for a few days.
Anyway, the worst is behind me now, because the kids room is all set up, our room is all set up, except for a few boxes that I stuffed out of site here and there, and my office is at least functional, if not completely set up.
I’m expanding my office set up somewhat, with the addition of a work bench that I appropriated from the garage, which I’m going to sand down (just the top – I haven’t totally lost my mind) and paint. This will then become my sketching area directly opposite my desk (behind me).
Since it’s slightly higher than a normal desk, I’m going to actually get up and do my sketching (for logos/frameworks for websites etc) standing up. As much as I love my computer, I spend way too much time on my backside, so the more I can get off it, the more I’m going to.
I will take a picture when it looks all pretty and painted, (and tidy) and will post it here for you guys to see. I also need to use up all my old scrapbooking supplies, so I’m going to haul them all out, set them up in matching baskets on the shelves of the workbench. This will then be a strictly KID FREE ZONE.
I’m definitely more of a digital scrapbooker now, putting together photobooks instead of albums, but I realised that I enjoyed scrapbooking, have a freakishly huge amount of supplies, and all my own childhood stuff to scrapbook, so I would rather do that, than toss the supplies and then try to scan all those photos. So I’m going retro with the old photos, and all my new photos will be photo booked. Best of both worlds.
As for the rest of the house, the lounge is extremely minimalist right now, we bought our new couch after deciding we wanted predominantly modern furniture, and the kids got black leather kids chairs, but as yet, I am still going to buy a new TV stand (and TV later), and then I have my eye on some white leather and chrome single seaters. Why yes, I *am* trying to make my lounge look like an apple store, thank you for asking!
The dining room table is also conspicuously missing, and again, I have found a white, hi-gloss table that I want to buy, but am still looking for the appropriate seating to go with this. Seating that can handle spaghetti fingers, without mommy having a heart attack racing for the cleaning materials. The last item that I found that I can hardly wait to get is a charcoal and silver rug for the TV area, which is going to tie-in the black couch, the matte silver curtains, and the other items that I mentioned that I still have to get. I can’t wait for us to piece things together.
Anyhoo, for the time being we’re living a bit sparsely, but that’s okay, at least we have time to shop for what we really want.
Lastly, it’s been forever since I posted some photos of my peeps so here is one of Flipper enjoying being in the car, on a sunny Sunday lunchtime, on our way out to our favourite wine farm with the windows down.
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see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Oh boy do I love me some lolcats!
Srsly. Once you start spelling like them, there’s no turning back. A friend of mine and I have entire conversations in lolspeak. Yes, we are dorks.
Anyhoo, speaking of saving the day…my youngest decided to spend most of last night throwing up most of what he ate and drank yesterday, and so yet again, I’m operating on maybe 4 hours of interrupted sleep?
Yet again, I’m having to push back a deadline on a project, thank god the client involved is also a mommy and is understanding.
Hubby gets to go to work and be a freaking executive rockstar and I’m cleaning up vomit. Off of me, the floor and any other surface within spattering distance.
In my pjamas.
At nearly 11am.
With a nice pile of work to get done.
Here I come to save the day!
Boo-ya.
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What a glorious day today. I’m not talking about the weather either.
My oldest child started school today. I was so excited for him, getting his uniform all ready, and labeled with his name etc.
I know it’s early days and for now we are all starry eyed and in a honeymoon phase, but sheesh. I can really stand with my hand on my heart and say that where we have chosen to send him, is the most unbelievable child-centred school, with philosophies and rules completely in line with our own views.
What I noticed particularly, is that each of the parents there was acutely conscious of the fact that this was a school that we each chose, wanting the best for our kids. Government schooling here, is zoned by area (as it is in many parts of the world), but when it comes to independent schools you can choose where you want to send your child. The prices range from ‘okay’ to ‘ludicrous’ and this school is one of the ones somewhere in the middle. Competition to get into the good government schools is very high, and this leads to class sizes of 35-40 in some cases. Skip’s class at his new school has 15 kids. There are 30 in his year in total (two classes of 15 each) and they have a teachers aide between them. This brings the teacher:child ratio to 1:10. Which is absolutely brilliant. This is simply not the case at our local govt alternative. As long as we are in this country, I will be ecstatic to have him at this school.
At this stage, I can honestly say that I feel it is worth every penny. The facilities are bright, airy, modern and well just downright classy. He will be doing music, swimming and sport as part of his curriculum. His teacher is young, but friendly, and firm. As parents we are to call her by her first name. Absolutely on the same team. I *really* like that.
There I was stressing that maybe I’m not good enough to send my kid there, too overweight and needing to read about the top 10 fat burners, and have some important earth shattering career to feel good enough, but it simply isn’t the case. The parents are all normal, non-stuck-up folk who want the best for their kids.
We are going to have the most awesome year. I can just feel it.
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Giving Your Children Wings…Do Other Moms Feel Like This?
My eldest child starts school tomorrow.
Tomorrow is ‘Orientation Day’. He gets to put on a uniform and go and meet his teacher tomorrow, while we get the introductory meeting/meet the head teacher/this is how this place works so toe the line speech in the hall at the same time.
I am freaking with excitement for him. I was a huge fan of school at his age. Put my school uniform on everyday for a week before I was due to start, making my mom roll her eyes in exasperation at me and making me go and change so that she could iron my school dress *again* and hang it up in anticipation.
I am glad that times have changed and that I don’t have to send him in obnoxious teflon coated charcoal shorts and a tie, nope. Chino’s and golf shirts for this boy.
I am proud of hubby and I for having made the enormous budgetary sacrifices that we have already made, in order to send him there.
I am SO über proud of Skip getting *in* in the first place.
He must have knocked their socks off at the interview. (We got to wait in the staffroom while *they* interviewed *him*! I already love a school that cares more about the child itself, than what they think the parents can do for them). Nice.
I promised myself that I would be fit and svelte again in time for his first sports day, (have to win that mothers race) and so if any of you know of any diets for quick weight loss then please pass them along!
I was SO excited, so pleased that my graphic design/photography/blogging pursuits have made a decent contribution to the household income, which enabled ME to take him to buy his uniform, his stationery and new lunchbox etc. ME. Not the hubby. No need to whip that card out. ME. (Pats self on back). People don’t realise what a total esteem meltdown motherhood can give you, when your income takes a dive the way mine did while I was a SAHM, before I became a WAHM.
There you are doing the hardest job in the world, and because it’s a totally unpaid position, you feel useless.
Anyway, back to my super dude.
Yes, he is young to be starting school.
4 and half to be precise.
His school is a private school that starts earlier than the local govt schools around here, and given the size of his intellect and the way that he hubby and I (neither of whom are short on intellect ourselves – if I may say so) look at each other repeatedly throughout the day and say, “Ok. Wow. Either global leader or evil genius, but either way, he’s going to make us look like the intellectual equivalent of fly larvae when he gets going.” it’s for the best.
But here’s the thing.
I want to keep him wrapped up in his little monogrammed baby blanket forever.
For-ever.
I am not content with merely the memories of being able to hold him tight, in a tiny little bundle. I am so conscious of the fact that when I hug him now, that as tall as *I* am, I can no longer squeeze him into a tiny little ball.
He is all arms and legs and BOY.
Five seconds from now he will be a MAN, and I will be an old fart.
Life is cruel that way.
We *just* figure out who we are, and what we want, and where we’re going, when we have kids, only to show us how fast time is flying and that we really do NOT have forever.
So, as I must, I let them fly free.
Letting go a little each day.
Like a mother duck, from BBC’s Planet Earth, I let my ducklings go tumbling out of the nest.
First the one, then the other, eventually.
It’s time for them to learn to fly.
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