What you doing Mama

January 19, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

Quinn go sleeeeeep?

Where ba-man shiiiiiirt?

Grumpy go sleeeeeep?

Hip hooray! Hap birthday mama

QRSUVWS now know my ABC

When I committed to this whole “blog everyday” thing I didn’t necessarily intend it to be at the end of every day. I thought I’d write a bit here and there as the day went by but it hasn’t really turned out that way so far.

I went out for an amazing dinner with my amazing cousin Emma tonight and when we got home, Darby was still awake. It is now 10pm and he is lying next to me in my bed, chatting to himself. Hence the first part of this post. I’m trying to be discreet and blog left-handed on my phone. Not an easy task. He has certainly got the “act cute and stay up late” routine down pat. Little bugger.

The only other noteworthy thing to report is that I decided not to leave until around midday Saturday. It’s going to be 40 degrees in Rocky tomorrow and Saturday, as it was today, and I do not need to be around for that. Bring on the cool change of 32 on Sunday! One more sleep-in down here for me won’t hurt either!

I think Darby has finally nodded off. This was us having a little snooze this arvo. What an angel, right?

Happy birthday to me!

January 18, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

This was Darby’s “ta-da!” These kids are just the best.

It’s been such a lovely day. I had a little sleep in but I wanted to hit the shops before meeting my friend at 11. I got to Chermside Westfield around 9.45 and already it was busy! That place is so crazy. It’s huge and it’s just getting bigger! Or maybe I’m just used to small towns now.

Anyway, it was nice to get an eyebrow wax and buy some clothes without being tugged on and whinged to. Had a lovely brunch and catch up with my friend before heading back to the kids. Then it was off to the Lagoon at Redcliffe for a nice dip in the tepid waters with another friend and her two kids.

I put the kids to bed, or so I thought, and headed out for dinner with the girls. I have known these lovely ladies for between 24 and 34 years. There’s a lot of history here, as can be seen in the photos I found last night!

So it turns out the kids heard me drive away and were none too impressed that I hadn’t said goodbye to them. I can never decide between telling them I’m leaving and trying to settle them or just sneaking out. Both work at different times. I’m heading out tomorrow night and have decided to tell them and say goodbye and hope for the best!!

So thank you everyone for the lovely messages and cards and prezzies. Apart from Hubs not being around, it’s been a top notch birthday and I have felt very loved and spoilt. Night-night from a very content 37-year-old.

Stuff it

January 17, 2017 / Renae / 2 Comments

I know I’ve written about stuff before – as in having too much of it and not knowing what to do with it, and here I am again. So. Much. Stuff. I took a trip to my mother-in-law’s garage today, to rid her of some of our boxes and bags. And here it is in the back of the car!

Today’s exercise has given me so much blogging material (phew!) but today I’ll just give you a quick run-down of what I found:

Letters – I had a few pen pals growing up, a few in particular I wrote to for years and years. And I have the letters to show for it!
Love letters! I even found a few from Hubs from our early days. *sigh*
Cards cards and more cards. I have cards from my 1st birthday all the way to my 31st. I have get well soon cards, I have every single one of our engagement and wedding cards. And more!

Photo albums from the dawn of time. Guys I can’t wait to share some of these photos with you. A line from the Sunscreen Song kept popping into my head, but that is a whole other blog post for another day.

Engagement presents that we’ve never even used. Seriously.
My entire collection of photo negatives from the 90s and early 00s. Hundreds of the buggers.
Hubs’ used phone card collection. Yes. You read that right. There are no words.

I need help. I’m trying to find the balance between sentiment and hoarding. And given my family history this is a hard line to toe! Any help and suggestions of where to start would be great! What do I do with all the negatives? Photos of ex-boyfriends?? Old love letters NOT from Hubs?!

So. Much. Stuff.

Gold Coast trip

January 16, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

As we always do when we are visiting south east Queensland, we headed down the coast for the day to visit Hubs’ Dad and Nanna.

Road trip with a full car!

Lots of happy campers in the car.

Nanna is now 98, turning 99 in April! What a trooper! I didn’t take as many photos as I would have liked but we did have a lovely day.

It was too hot to go to the beach when we arrived at 10.30 so instead we hung out for a bit, drank coffee and milkshakes and beer (not all at once) and then headed out for playground and fish and chips around midday.

If there is one thing I will never understand in Queensland, it’s unshaded playgrounds. I mean, I get that shade sales are expensive, but what the heck is the point of going to all the trouble and expense of building a playground, only to leave it in full sun from midday onwards?? Or worse, no shade from trees and full sun all day. Honestly it baffles me. So when we got to this playground, I just shook my head. But we were there and the kids were keen.

Brotherly love. They were discussing age in hexa decimal, and how this year it’s J’s f-teeth birthday and he’s looking forward to his 20th birthday next year. I know, right?

After a while it was time to head back to Nanna for an ice cream cone and a cheeky nap. Not that I got my nap, but the kids sure got their ice cream!

I told Quinny she looked like a pirate so she pulled this face.

We headed home via the airport and said goodbye to Hubs. He has to work tomorrow so he’s on his way back now. Boo. We will be road tripping home with Aunty Jess on Friday and we’re pretty much all booked up between now and then! With a sleep in for me on Wednesday of course! (It’s in the schedule!)

As is the way, I won’t be able to catch up with everyone I wanted to but it’s been great so far with lots more to come.

15 days in

January 15, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

And not much to say! Eep! It’s only been two weeks and I’ve already run out of things to say!?? Ha ha. To be honest I’m just knackered. I’ve had a sinus headache on and off since arriving in Brisbane, I’ve now got a scratchy throat and I haven’t had a decent night sleep for a week. It has honestly been hotter down here than in Rocky, and nights are very still and sweaty.

I was really looking forward to sleeping in air-con at the motel last night, but then I remembered that I don’t sleep well in air con, I kept waking up with a dry throat and runny nose, hence the scratchy throat today I’m guessing.

Wow this post is riveting. But you know, it’s my birthday week so I can do whatever I want. We are heading down the coast tomorrow to visit Nanna and Poppy which will be lovely. We’re taking our nieces and Hubs’ brother so I’ll try and actually get some photos!

I can now hear Quinny coughing. It could be quite a long night…

Wedding time

January 14, 2017 / Renae / 1 Comment

Not as many words today. We are at the wedding of a very close family friend (our fathers grew up together!) in Toowoomba while the kids are being spoilt by Hubs’ lovely family.

Any excuse to dress up!

On the love swing. Apparently this is us looking romantic…

Here with my Bro and his partner which is always fun. Lucky I’m not drinking this time!

The “right” exercise

January 13, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

I used to fall into the trap of talking myself out of exercising because I couldn’t fit the right thing in. I’d plan a 20 minute walk but then I’d think “what’s the point? I need to go for an hour long walk or go to an hour gym class to make it worthwhile.” Or “I probably won’t exercise the rest of the week so why bother going on a walk today?”

What I’ve finally learnt is that there is no “right” exercise and it’s all “worthwhile”.

The right exercise is the exercise that gets done and I enjoy and makes me feel good. I’ve been doing a bit of Tabata lately and can do a full workout in under 20 minutes. So that’s what I did today. I had been feeling less than stellar after a very rough night and early morning, and not being able to nap due to too much coffee at the wrong time (dammit) and even though I started talking myself out of it, I thought “in 20 minutes I could either be done or I could still be sitting here trying to talk myself into it.”

The other thing I’ve (finally) realised is that the more often I exercise, the more likely I am to back it up the next day with more moving and better food.

So it turns out in a slow learner but hey, I’m getting there! Now all I need is a good night sleep and my day will be compete.

(Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I do amuse myself sometimes.)

On the road again

January 12, 2017 / Renae / 2 Comments

When we moved to Rockhampton nearly two years ago to the day, it’s the closest we have lived to Brisbane since moving to Melbourne in 2008. And we have made the trip down the coast in the car quite a few times since then. It’s an easy drive and the kids know the drill now.

We had to do a mid arvo departure last time which I was initially annoyed about but it worked out really well. Instead of the usual two or three stops which would make it a 10 hour trip, we stopped once and punch through after that as the kids were fast asleep. Which is what we are doing this time as well. We left at 3:30 this arvo and we’re hoping to get in around 11. Very reasonable indeed.

I did the first leg from Rocky to Childers – very impressed that the two weakest bladders in Chance and I made it the full 3.5 hours – and now we’re in the second stretch with Hubs at the wheel.

Brizzie we’ll be seeing you soon!

The start of the birthday week

January 11, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

So I hadn’t officially planned to start my birthday week until this weekend, but my lovely neighbour kicked it off tonight with dinner at their house followed by a birthday cake! Winning all round! No dishes for me and chocolate cake to boot.

On my birthday last year, another one of our wonderful neighbours made me a birthday cake as well (“because you have to have cake on your birthday!”) I agreed whole heartedly.

I know I’ve said it before, and I know I bang on about it, but we really do have the best neighbours around.

I guess my birthday week might be lasting a bit longer this year!

10 things on the 10th

January 10, 2017 / Renae / Leave a comment

10 things I could learn from my kids

1. Let it go. Just like Elsa. Kids get upset, they move on quickly (most of the time) and they let it go. Which brings me to…

2. Don’t hold a grudge. Kids just don’t remember stuff and hold onto things like adults do. When they move on, they seriously move on. Life is too short and somehow they know it!

3. Laugh even when you’re cranky. I find this one particularly tricky. When I’m cranky I do not want to crack a smile, but when my kids are upset, I can still make them laugh without too much effort. And it really diffuses the situation.

4. Play play play! Ignore the mess and play. Don’t worry about the time and play!

5. Wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

6. Eat when you’re hungry and not when you’re bored.

7. Run around and play even when it’s stinking hot. You can always cool off later.

8. Ask questions. Even if it’s driving your Mama up the wall, always be curious.

9. Get excited about the little things, like your favourite bed time story, or popcorn and ice cream on a Friday night.

10. Dance. Just dance as much as possible and as silly as you like and as crazy as you can. Dance with the people you love and allow yourself to get caught up in the music, whatever it may be.