One on one time

November 6, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

It’s tricky to have individual time with four kids, and at this stage Jules doesn’t count which means I get heaps of one on one time with Darby. But not much with Chance or Quinn. It’s definitely something I will be working on in the coming months. I have this thing about everything having to be fair and equal with the kids, but I’m learning that a) it’s not realistic and b) it’s not how the world works. I also feel like it’s been preventing me from doing special stuff with just one kid so I’m slowly letting that go.

With that in mind, I took Quinn out yesterday and we had coffee and cake. Well I had coffee and apart from the three bits she gave me, (forced portion control!) Quinn had cake. And juice. We left the four (stinky) boys at home and it was really lovely and relaxing hanging out with my baby girl. Who goes to school next year. Huh. How did that happen?

What a view

November 5, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

When we started talking about how to renovate this house two years ago, this is EXACTLY what I had in mind. Beautiful deck with our beautiful view that I can enjoy while preparing food for family and friends.

This is potato salad prepared in “Nanny’s potato salad bowl” and Nanny’s serving spoon with Quinn Maria pretending not to notice I was taking a photo.

I’m going to miss our beautiful house and neighbours more than you know. Pancakes on the deck with my world.

One liners

November 4, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

You know you’re blessed when your friend not only babysits your two youngest while you go out for a friend’s birthday drinks, but you come home and see that she has unpacked and re-packed your dishwasher and cleaned your kitchen.

Sweet as.

A real Melbourne day out

October 28, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

Now this is what I’m talking about. It’s been a bit of a pain getting around with the stroller to be honest. I was planning on hitting up a couple of op shops today but the thought of getting on and off trains and trams just didn’t get me excited at all. So after an awesome morning with Hubs at PAX I decided to head on over to the Stomping Ground where my brother works, to sit back and chill out for a bit.

The best thing? It was ONE 14 minute train ride away with no changes. Winner winner! I got there, ordered my beer from my Bro and just enjoyed this beautiful brew pub.

It is suuuuuch a great place. So Melbourne. So I texted our good friends Nathan and Cal who live nearby to see if they wanted to come on down. And they did! And Hubs dragged himself away from PAX and came too! Brilliant!

Soooo much history with these beautiful people. They were the first couple I ever married once I became a celebrant!

(Yes, I did just dig that photo up!)

And Chance and April are only a year apart! (April and Chance May 2012)

And this happened today. Just too cute. (April and Julius Oct 2017)

I really just needed a relaxing afternoon with good friends to re-energise for the weekend. So good for the soul. ❤❤❤

PAX Aus 2017

October 27, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

Today got off to a great start with Jules sleeping all night until 6am! Then we co-slept until 8.30 and had a cruisey morning. I then bought my coffee off an Eastern European lady who reminded me of Nanny and said I couldn’t possibly have four children because I don’t look a day over 25. Lies, all lies but I’ll take it! Ha ha. The drugs for my sore back kicked in and now we are in the main arena of PAX checking out the latest and greatest in video games.

It doesn’t overly interest me but Hubs loves having me here and Hubs interests me so it’s worth it.

There are SO many kids here this year and I’ve never noticed that before. Maybe next year will be the year we bring Chance! In the mean time, so far Jules is unimpressed ?

A rough start

October 26, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

But it will get better!

Hubs and Jules and I arrived in Melbourne last night after two non-eventful and easy flights. But we’re not feeling great. I went to bed at 9 last night (8pm Qld time) feeling completely exhausted and a bit unwell. I was absolutely freezing and had the shakes and just couldn’t get warm. And Jules was unsettled so after getting up three times in two hours to feed and settle him I brought him in to bed with us. Then I woke up hot so I’m guessing I had a fever for some reason.

And today I somehow put my neck out and I have a nerve that feels like it’s pinching. Ouch! Hubs isn’t fairing much better with a headache and sore throat. We have been looking forward to this trip for weeks and here we are in a bit of bother. Hubs is currently having a nap before we go out to meet our friend for dinner.

It’s been cold and windy today which has made Julius a bit snuffly, and the high pollen count in the air has kept us sneezing all day! Sheesh! We’ve just dosed up on anti-histamine and nurofen to pep us up a bit.

So yeah we haven’t had a great start but with warmer weather coming our way tomorrow, surely it can only get better!

Jules meets uncle Kristian!

Nearly there

October 19, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

The last 2 weeks have been haaaaaard woooorrrrk. Since last Monday, Hubs has been working all day and all evenings every day except the weekend which he only worked all day. The reason for this? Our new kitchen. The real reason? We didn’t budget this year. I’m so cranky at us for not planning better for this renovation work. I really thought that solo parenting for 2 full weeks wouldn’t be much harder than what I already do, but I wad so wrong. It is SO much harder.

It’s relentless. There is no promise of Hubs being home soon to help with dinner/bath/bedtime. And as if that’s not enough, I’m currently living without a kitchen. It’s kind of shit and even though I’m trying to just keep my head down and get on with it, when I come up for air I’m just exhausted. And cranky. The poor kids. I’m so tired of myself yelling at them. It sucks big time.

I know it’s temporary. The kitchen will be in in 2 weeks time and we go to Melbourne next week so there is something to look forward to. Until then, here it is!