January 13th, 2011

So I think my children are turning over a new leaf in the mornings. I haven't wanted to jinx myself but what the heck, for the past 3 or 4 mornings now, my little cherubs have gotten up, turned the TV on and played quietly. Dale usually comes in for a quick cuddle but then is off again. Caitlin has also started sleeping in which probably wont be a very good thing when school starts back. It is not uncommon for me to get up around 8-8:30 and put the jug on and sit down with my coffee before she stirs. She also has not had a bubbles for bed for the past 3 nights. This kinda makes me sad. She never took to a dummy thankfully so we didn't have that to give up so her bobble as she calls it is kinda like her last babyness. I realize she still sleeps in a cot and wears nappies but we have not been bottle free for 7 1/2 years. Sarah was 3 before she gave hers up although after her 2nd birthday it only contained water. Hayley, Dale and Jenna were around 2 1/2. Caity has from the beginning only wanted to be part of the gang. Even when she was a newborn she slept the most content when she was amongst all the mayhem of her brothers and sisters. She refuses to sit in her highchair now which is making meals..challenging to say the least. Hopefully one day she learns that tables are not for dancing on. I spend more time pulling her off the top of the table than I do sitting in my own chair.  We thought for awhile she was going to give herself brain damage as she would bang the back of her head on her highchair until we got her out. She now demands a chair. I want it is her new catch phrase. She wants everything. And the never tells you just exactly what it is. Occasionally she will say HANDS! and make you follow her. Sometimes with prompting she will show you, but for the most part its like playing charades with an  octopus.

In a blink of an eye the house goes from remotely tidy to hurricane. They as all children do get excited playing their games so mum has to step in and be the meanie. The TV goes off, radio goes on and for the next hour we do our best.  So Dale, Jenna and Hayley "tidied" the house while Sarah sorted some laundry. For all you mums out there, although you will not be envious of our wrinklies you will be envious in the fact that I gave up folding clothes 4 years ago. I was sinking pretty low, finding it hard to stay on top of things after the twins were born so something had to give and that was folding! Instead everyone had a drawer at our old house and as the clothes came out of the dryer (haven't hung out clothes for that long as well) they went into each child's drawer. We moved to a house unfortunately with a normal sized laundry and our clothes have to live in the bedrooms, so now each child has their own laundry basket. And I will tell you, my reasoning was justified last month when big brother Zak came to stay with us for a week. He thought he would do something nice and fold the mountain of clothes on the lounge that had yet to be sorted. Had them all in nice neat piles for each child. Then he turned around. Caitlin swooped in like a trooper and within 3 seconds they had all been pushed onto the floor LOL. Poor bloke. I gave him a cuddle and showed him how we do it.

The weather forecast is calling for rain again for the next 7 days. Thankfully temperatures are mild and I send them outside regardless. I had so many things I wanted to do with them this summer but it doesn't look like those things are going to happen. Instead I went outside to find them planting a tree branch in the dirt. They found Paul's shovel to dig the hole and everything and were taking turns. Of course they know they are not allowed to touch the tools and all scattered when they saw me come out the door. It was pretty evident what they were up to and Town Crier Dale had to let me know everything that was going on..,

Tomorrow is Daycare Day again!!! I think I might take the girls to get some of their school supplies/uniforms. Maybe go for a milkshake too :)

What greeted me when I stepped outside. Not a child to be seen at this point.

Dale had to show me how it was done.

In true sibling fashion, they actually fought over who got to hold the stick for the photo