Mum and Dad, aka Gran and Grumpy arrive in the morning and it’s not a moment too soon let me tell you. It’s been hot up here this week and normally I can just accept it, ignore it, and power through it, but the school and kindy run, which features an excited two-year-old running away from me has just about undone me. Who decided that 2.30pm would be a good time for kindy to finish?? Seriously! It really does cut the afternoons short. You know what would be a better time? 3:30.

I know it’s not all about me but that would really make my life a hell of a lot easier. At 2.10pm it’s just so hot to put Darby in the pram and walk down for pick up.

And I need to get into some kind of morning routine when Quinn has kindy and Chance has school. The places are only about 500m apart and there is a 10minute start time difference but trying to get out of the door and get there on time has proven difficult so far. I even drove this morning and that’s just ridiculous.

After a late start and cupcake decorating for kindy, followed by insistence of spelling and reading practice that I could hardly argue against, followed by teeth brushing, sunscreen application, everyone getting down to the pram, a forgotten bag, a case of upturned cupcakes and subsequent tears (mine) I admitted defeat and grabbed the car keys.

Sometimes you just gotta take the easy option. And with my parents here all weekend, I’m looking forward to some hot coffees, uninterrupted showers, maybe even a nap or two. Oh yes. Bring it on.

I just had a rather animated, and rather one-sided discussion with Hubs about The Bronze Medallion, and other WWII books that I’ve read lately, and how I’m so intrigued by it all. Halfway through said discussion, I said to Hubs “I should be blogging about this!” And here I am.

It absolutely fascinates me that so many people died in this world war, and yet so many people survived as well. So many people, like my Nanny, were marched from their homeland with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs. No passports, no papers. Nothing. And then to have not only survived, but thrived post-war; marrying, having a family, owning a house; it truly astounds me how they have gone from having absolutely nothing to “having it all.”

I know that Nanny and Grandpa always felt very blessed and grateful and lucky that they had such an amazing and different life after the war.

I exclaimed to Frith how crazy it is that we have only ever known one way of life, and will most likely only ever know this way of life. A life of safety; a life of abundance; a life full of family and friends who are not in imminent danger. We will most likely never know of any real hardship the way that people of war have known, and currently know.

I’m not going to go into the fact that war atrocities are happening right now as well, as I just haven’t educated myself enough about it all. I’m sure in a lot of ways it’s different, but I also know that it’s all the same as well. Greed; power; arrogance etc etc. It will always be a part of our world. I am just choosing to see the abundance and good people who do good things.

(Side note: I had been telling Hubs that this is a WWII Historical Drama, which is exactly what I thought it was. I googled the book title to put the link in and Hubs walked in and saw “The Bronze Horseman is a deeply erotic romance novel…” And was like “No wonder you can’t put it down!” I have only just gotten to the first erotic part – I honestly had no idea! Not that I’m complaining 😉 )

Unfortunately for Payless Shoes, they are closing their Rockhampton Stockland store. Fortunately for me, this meant I picked up $640 worth of shoes for $202.

(Note the single Spiderman shoe – Darby took off with the other one. Should probably go and look for it…)

This haul includes three pairs of $80 school shoes that were all $20 each. I know it’s a bit crazy to buy school shoes for Quinn that won’t fit for years, but the savings were just too great!

The funny thing is, this happened 3 years ago as well. About a month after we moved to Mount Isa, the Mathers closed down and I bought $40 pairs of shoes for under $10 and stashed them away. Every 6 months the kids have a trying-on session to see if they had grown into any pairs. I think I bought about 7 pairs, a couple that the kids are wearing now, a couple that they have grown in to and then grown out of, and these three that are still too big!

The kids had a great time trying on heaps of shoes. Darby only ended up with one pair as he has quite a few pairs already. His were reduced from $40 to $10!! I really like buying good quality kids shoes but I don’t like the full price tag. Quinn really hit the jackpot and I couldn’t say no to the $12 Spiderman shoes.

I’m pretty happy with my haul. The trick is not to forget about them!

I’ve spoken about what I can achieve in five hours, but today it was three. I had a sizeable list to get through today – go to the gym, ring up about swimming lessons, call our builder about a few loose ends, do two loads of washing. When I woke up at 6.05am I was full of optimism. I wanted today to be productive so I could cruise through the weekend.

By 7.15am my body had other plans. I hit a wall. I was so tired after the breakfast rush and two school lunches made, as well as the huge day we had yesterday and you know, the whole gestating thing. I had a little lie down in bed and thankfully the kids played nicely for the next hour. I knew by 8am that going to the gym was off the table. I think I would have lasted through the warm up before collapsing in a heap. I got the kids off to kindy and school, then Darby and I headed home.

I thought if I had a little rest on the couch I might bounce back. I put a movie on for Darby and while he watched (and played cannonball with me) I dozed on and off. By 11am I was feeling very drowsy. After feeding Darbs an early lunch we both went to bed around 11.20.

I really should have set an alarm.

Ah 1.55pm I awoke in a sweat. Literally. It was so hot and I was so disoriented. Hubs was supposed to be home around midday, that’s why I didn’t set an alarm. I figured he’d wake me up. After a text, I was advised he was just finishing a few things off and that he could come home in time to pick Quinn up and then Chance.

So I accidentally had a three hour sleep. Seriously!? Three hours!? And got absolutely nothing on my list done. In some ways I’m a bit annoyed at myself, but I have also learnt to listen to my body and just go with what I need at the time.

There’s always tomorrow.

On an Aussie deck

When we had the idea for the deck, this is what we imagined. I love that it has come to life and that our friends can enjoy it with us. Totally worth it.

It’s been a big week here with Chance starting year one on Monday and Quinn starting “big girl kindy” today. Both were very excited about their respective new adventures, and drop off went very well for both of them. Chance had a little tear as I was getting ready to leave but he took some deep breaths and after some extra cuddles he was great. He ran up to me at pick up time and without being asked, said “I had a great day Mama.”

To be honest I wondered how Quinn would go this morning when it was time for me to leave but she was fine. She had decided that only one of the teachers at kindy was “her teacher” which I thought was cute. She just looked so small in there! Such a big girl now, turning 4 in a week. Yikes!

So it’s just me and the nugget today. Everyone kept asking what I’m going to do with my “day off” today. After I finish laughing, I have assured them I have a million things to do and after having a coffee and blogging, my “day” is about 4 hours long. So don’t worry about me. I’ll be able to fill that pretty easily.

I don’t eat KFC. I just can’t do it. It’s revolting and delicious all at the same time and it’s just not for me.

95% of the time.

You see, Hubs LOVES it. And with their 9 pieces for $9.90 Tuesday deal, he ends up grabbing it maybe once a month or so. And most of the time I don’t have a bar of it. But tonight we are watching the final two episodes of Westworld – have you seen this crazy show!??? – so we have decided to make a night if it and eat some dirty bird.

The anticipation is killing me!

Bring it on!