Hubby was away for a few days, so last Friday I had decided I was going to let the place get messy and have to have some fun with the kids. Baking. It was kind of funny, because I usually find baking with the boys stressful – very stressful.

The day arrived. My Facebook status update said it all “After very little sleep I’m attempting Christmas baking today with 3 kids, including a sick bubba & a toilet-training 2yo  #extremeChristmasbaking”. Yep. Sleep deprived, a sick bubba and toilet training. The day was shaping up to be so intense that it even got its own hashtag. #extremeChristmasbaking. So how did we go???

Whilst the boys got dressed, I started by grinding up arrowroot biscuits and sugar for the day’s recipes, and then whipped up some of my Chocolate Breakfast Biscuits (recipe to come soon!). So quick & easy. Whilst they were in the oven, I mixed up some of the simplest ever chocolate truffles. Soooooo ridiculously simple.

By the time the boys were ready (and I had stopped to feed Bubba Girl her rice cereal), I felt like I had already made some progress so could relax and let the boys ‘help’ (ie. make everything take three times as long, be twice as messy and half as good.).

We used the ground arrowroot biscuits to mix chocolate balls (rum balls minus the rum). I decided that it was time to let the boys get their hands dirty and have some fun, so it was their job to roll and coat the balls. I setup their small table and let them go for it. The floor underneath certainly needed a sweep and mop… And B2 had a little toilet-training accident (ok, it wasn’t so little. It required a bath), so the floor got that mop it needed.

Whilst the boys were finishing off rolling the balls, I made the gingerbread dough. My favourite recipe I found online when I was wanting to make a gingerbread house years ago with a friend. I loved it so much that the following year I made the recipe again, but that time I made it into biscuits. It makes a lot. I mean, a lot. Like about 100 biscuits. I’ve thought each time I make it that I should halve it, so this time I did so that I could make it in my Thermomix. Another status update pretty much summed it up. “Converting my favourite gingerbread recipe for the #thermomix. Falling in love with my thermomix all over again.  #lostcountofhowmuchgingeriputin #extremeChristmasbaking”. It was so quick and easy, and I didn’t get cramps in my hand trying to mix in the butter and knead the dough. I’ll try to get the recipe onto the blog so that I can share it around next Christmas 🙂

The boys had a turn at rolling out the dough, but their main job was with the cookie cutters. The boys then had the important job of icing and decorating the biscuits. Somewhere in there, Bubba Girl had another feed too. I let them do a few each, and one of my nephews joined in, but after that I lost my mojo. The kids were getting tired and hungry, mummy was getting tired and hungry… it was time for lunch and naps. And Bubba girl needed her solids.

When the kids went down for their early naps at midday (we’d been up since 5am!), my sis-in-law and I quickly made some rum balls. Then we rested. And rested some more. Then sat outside with a cuppa whilst the kids played in the sandpit.

It was nice to just remove the expectations for the day and just say “whatever I get done I get done, and whatever I don’t get done doesn’t”. No pressure on myself, so I put less pressure on the kids. I learnt a great lesson, and the kids had a bit of fun.

My eldest, “B1” is starting Prep next year. At his Kindy they’ve been getting the kids ready, and they’ve done such a great job. We’ve also been talking about it at home, getting uniforms organised, lunchboxes etc. so he’s going to know what to expect. We recently went to his Kindy Graduation in preparation to move up to “big kids school”. B1 was so excited about his graduation, as they’d been practising songs to perform and were getting dressed up in special gowns. The pictures are below – how ridiculously cute are they in the gowns?!

Currently he’s in his second week of his Prep Orientation. We call it “Prep Practice”, since he’s practising being in Prep. They go two hours every school day for TWO WEEKS! The school said that it helps the kids get used to the classroom, teacher and routine etc. and that last year on the first official day of school they didn’t have any tears from the kids who had come to the orientation program. They just had a few tears from the parents 😉

It’s been such a great experience for him. Half the kids go 9-11am and the other half 1-3pm, so there is a much smaller class for the teacher to know the kids and it’s less intense whilst they familiarise themselves with the room, routine etc. On the last day the whole class comes together for the morning.

What I’ve decided, though, is that it’s just as much for the parents benefit as for the kids (at least in our case!). It’s been really good practise trying to get the kids organised in the morning, get to the school in peak traffic, find a park and walk him into his room… and not being late.

I confess, we’ve been late. I prefer to think of it as stylishly late 🙂 We’ve also raced in on the bell. And that’s even with hubby home on holidays at the moment helping :/

There was a day we had to get there early to meet a lady to buy a second hand uniform at 8am and then meet the teacher at 8:30am to individually discuss our son. We rushed to get his toilet-training little brother organised and drop him off, breastfeed the baby and pack her solids. We got there on time, only to realise we’d forgotten B1’s lunchbag with his morning tea.

I know it will get easier as we both get into a routine, and when we can drop them off and don’t have to walk them into the classroom…. so for now, I’m making the most of this practice time!

So nearly 2 weeks down… only 16 years of school drop-off’s to go 😀

To B1, B2 and Bubba Girl,

My dear little munchkins, I love you all very much. It is because of this overwhelming love for you that I must inform you that your mummy is an Introvert. It’s not something to ashamed of or something to hide, it’s rather a type of superhero, just like my fellow superhero, the Extroverted Mummy.

You see, all mummies have special powers. A mummy can magically pull whatever is needed out of our ‘mum bag’, be it a toy, food, spare clothes, medical equipment or “that thing” you picked up from “that place”. A mummy has the strength to pull apart two tiny Lego pieces with just her bare fingers. A mummy can juggle cooking dinner, helping with homework, putting away folding, answering the phone, checking facebook and entertaining a toddler all at once whilst holding a screaming/crying/feeding baby.

But like Superman, this superhero has her kryptonite. Introverted Mummy loses her special powers after a long exposure to people (the opposite of Extroverted Mummy, who gains her superpowers by being around people).

Thankfully Introvert Mummy has a special forcefield, called “a mother’s love”, which surrounds me daily. This forcefield slows down the rate at which my superpowers are drained when I’m interacting with members of our special family (aka YOU). As the day progresses my forcefield can wear down and the banter of our household can deplete the superpowers of Introvert Mummy just like other social situations.

When Introvert Mummy’s superpowers are low, it is imperative they be replenished so that I can continue to battle for our family. Mummy can recharge her superpowers on her own by going for a walk, reading my Bible or escaping in a book, having a shower (without an audience), listening to a sermon/music or even simply doing work around the house on my own.

Because you are so important to Introvert Mummy, there are also special ways you can help to recharge my superpowers. You can sit and have quiet cuddles with mummy, play cooperatively with each other or each play quietly on your own, and this will help Introvert Mummy’s superpowers to recharge and her forcefield to replenish.

Please do not misunderstand me. I adore hearing about your Lego creations and the ‘spaceship’ we have made in the loungeroom. I love that you are curious and want to know how trucks are made, how solar panels work and what happens to solar panels if it snows. I’m thrilled that you enjoy singing praise songs to God, over and over and over again, and want to confirm with me the correct words and what they mean. However, when my forcefield is down and my superpowers are low, my brain gets so tired that I struggle to listen and so scattered that I cannot think straight. It is not because I don’t love you or you are not important to me, but because my special powers are low and need recharging.

I do my best to keep my forcefield intact and my superpowers full so that I can enjoy each day with you, however please understand when mummy needs to be put in “time out”.

Love from Mummy

aka Introvert Mummy

A member of Superheroes Anonymous

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 7am. The house was quiet. I got up and had a shower. I got dressed. I walked out to the living room. I sat down. In silence.

At 7:15, my 3yo (B1) appears and with a puzzled look on his face says, “Mummy, why were you up before me??”, as if it’s never happened before. In fact, I cannot remember the last time this happened in our house. What usually happens? I’m glad you asked. There are several scenarios:

The Slam-Door Scenario

B1 wakes up and as he leaves his room he closes the door. Really loudly. This wakes B2, whom he shares a room with. B1 goes to the toilet. B2 cries for his breastfeed. Mummy is now awake.

The Milk-Bar Scenario

B2 wakes up, he’s hungry and wants his breastfeed. He cries. His crying wakes B1. B1 goes to the toilet, then searches out mummy for his warm milk (‘milkshake’). Mummy is now awake to 2 boys wanting their respective milk beverages, which cannot easily be made simultaneously. *Sometimes hubby/ housemate are home/awake to get B1’s milkshake. These days I just feed B2.

The I’m-Drowning-In-My-Pee Scenario

B1 wets his bed. B1 screams from his bed, “Mum, Mum, Muuuuuummm, Mum, MMMUUUMMMMMM…” etc. Meanwhile B2 wakes up, and starts screaming for his breastfeed. Mummy is now awake. On days when hubby is home we divide-and-conquer. On days when he isn’t like happened 2 days ago mummy gets still-quite-distressed B1 to the toilet and then baths/dresses him whilst B2 screams down the house  (or B1 is put in the bath and B2 is fed in the bathroom). Fun, fun.

The Monster Scenario

B1 has a nightmare. He speaks loudly in his sleep. He wakes housemate. Housemate opens door to go in and comfort B1. Light from open door wakes B2. B2 screams. Mummy is now awake. B1 is fast asleep again, whilst B2 will not settle and keeps mummy and housemate and sometimes hubby awake. And B1 is still sleeping.   *Instead of getting up, sometimes the ‘elbow’ principle can be used here

The Freaky-Stalker Scenario

B1 wakes and quietly comes out of his room. He comes into master bedroom, and stands there and waits. His puts his head right up to mummy’s face. “Mummy, may I please have my milkshake? Mummy, mummy… Milkshake…” Mummy is now awake.  *Somedays the “daddy, daddy’ version happens to hubby too, and I’m we’re trying to encourage this 🙂

The Elbow Scenario

Hubby’s alarm clock goes off. Mummy is now awake. Hubby is still asleep. Mummy elbows still-sleeping-hubby, “Oi, wake up”. Elbows again. “Oi, turn it off”. Mummy is now very awake, but rolls over and attempts to go back to sleep. This scenario is then followed by another of the listed scenarios.

The Oops-I-Did-It-Again Scenario

Housemate wakes up in the night. Accidently wakes one of the kids. Kid screams. Other kid wakes. Other kid screams. Mummy is now awake. Mummy walks out to settle the kids. Mummy see’s housemate who smiles sheepishly and says, “Wasn’t me…”. Mummy smiles. *Instead of getting up, sometimes the ‘elbow’ principle can be used here

The Sleepy-Head scenario

Any of the above scenario’s play out and Mummy breastfeeds B2. After this B2 goes into the playpen, B1 is supervised by hubby,housemate or a dvd, and mummy crawls back into bed. And rolls over. And goes back to sleep. Kids scream. Mummy is now awake. Again.

If you’ve had a giggle, been encouraged or found this helpful, please consider sharing this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest 🙂

Linking up with Jess from Diary of a SAHM for iBOT – I Blog On Tuesdays!

When I think of the birthdays I have celebrated, there is so much variance. As a child, I have memories of going to Dreamworld one year and of having birthday pool-parties in our backyard. I think of the cakes shared in the classroom at school, and of family gatherings with my aunts and uncles.

As a teenager, I remember being very excited at 13 when my birthday fell on Mothers Day – I had been waiting for this for years. I’m not quite sure why, but I’m hoping it was because I wanted to share something special with my very special mummy. I also remember having a Monty-Python-a-thon and spending the morning of a party at the doctors hot/cold, nauseous and needing an injection to stop it. Another birthday was spent attending the funeral of a class-mate who had been killed in a car accident earlier in the week, and another having lunch and shopping with friends.

As an adult, I’ve celebrated with cake at work, been recovering at home from tummy bugs, had family dinners and had days at home.

There has been many memorable birthdays – both for fun, laughter, sadness and tears. As each birthday has always been simply a reminder of another year past, a milestone to measure the passing of time, it’s never really bothered me too much about what I actually do or get for my birthday. It’s has always been ‘just another day’.

However.

Since becoming a mum myself just over three years ago, the day has taken on a new meaning.

As I’ve celebrated each of my children’s birthdays, I’ve thought about and reflected on my journey with each child. The day of their birth, my labour, my pregnancy and my time with my gorgeous little boys. Each birthday of theirs has become so special to me.

And so it is with my birthday now. I think about my mum.

I think about… the pregnancy she endured, the labour she went through, the sleepless nights up with a screaming baby, the breastfeeding through the night, the toddler tantrums, the food all over the floor as I taught myself to eat…. the mud I’ve no doubt stomped through the house on her clean floors, the nights she stayed awake through my whooping cough and the many months she had sleepless nights when I was 11 and was waking with nightmares every night.

The music lessons she took me to, the dancing lessons and soccer games… the chocolate ripple cake or a baked cheesecake she made every year for my birthday, as they were my favourites. The lecture notes she shared with me when we took the same classes (yes, you read correctly!) and the listening to me rant, rave and cry when I needed to ‘talk’ about something.

So for me now, I tend to think of my birthday a lot more along the line of Mothers Day – a day where I stop to think and appreciate my mum for all that she did to raise me as who I am. It’s kind of fitting then that my birthday falls in the same week then as the actual Mothers Day in Australia!

Do you have any special Birthday or Mothers Day traditions or favourite things you do to celebrate???

Linking up with Kate Says Stuff for “Thankful Thursday”, this week in Haiku.

(A Japanese poem with varied forms, I’ve gone with the simple “five-seven-five” syllable pattern.)

A day to myself

No children to think about

Now what should I do?

Maybe a massage

Or I could go for a spa

Hmm… Maybe do both!

I’ve got a good book

Perhaps I’ll grab a coffee

Without kids screaming.

Ah, Complete silence.

No “Mummy, Mummy, Poo, Pee…”

Just me and my thoughts.

It will be peaceful

But at the end of the day

I’ll gladly go home

I’ll walk into noise

Mess, tantrums, kisses and hugs

Thankful for my boys!

Image Credit: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Sunday

8:30pm Got home from huge day. Went online to do final thinfew things #SadNews #Shocked #HeadedOverToFriendsPlace

Monday

12:02am Went to Google something on phone already!  #Doh

4:05am Home sweet home. Ready for head to hit the pillow #Yippeee

4:20am Head hits pillow. Baby wakes. Starts day. #GoingToBeLongDay

09:00am Dear Toddler. Today is not the day for this. Seriously. Love Mummy. #WorstBehaviourEver  #SoProudOfMySelfControl

11:05am Where is my white suit? Surely I deserve one today. And a nice white room with padded walls. #OhBoy

05:28pm Is 5:30pm too early to put my kids to bed? #HadEnough

7:10pm Wooohooo! Sleep time for me #Finally

8:15pm Dear baby. Now is not the time to be inconsolable. Vomit. #Doh #CallDoctors

11:10pm Let’s try that sleep thing… #Again

Tuesday

4:00am Dear baby, not again. #GoingToBeLongDay

9:30am I’m not sure who looks forward to playschool more. My toddler or me #PeaceAndQuiet #DishesTime

12:45pm Nap time for all! #Finally

3:15pm Finished my 2^nd nap for today. Thinking it’s time I got out of my PJs. Or I could just shower and get back into them ready for bedtime

4:30pm Pumpkin over the side fence. It will be pumpkin scones for tomorrow #NeighbourSavesTheDay

5:15pm Stabbed my same thumb twice in few minutes with same knife #DidNotLearn

6:45pm Trying to decide what movie I have recorded to watch. Really want to look them up on IMDB so I know what they’re about #Doh

Wednesday

11:30 So proud of B1. In his own words “Went to Mops. No tears!” #FirstTimeNoTantrum #FinallyGettingSomewhere

2:00pm So tired #SoTired

7:30pm Spur of the moment grocery shopping. Started sending sms “tweets” to friends & hubby. #InternetWithdrawals

7:55pm @Hubby Shouldn’t have looked at the catalogue! #PringlesOnSpecial

8:00pm @Hubby Did you still want milo? #WifeOfTheYear

Thursday

8:00am Trying to get ready for National Playgroup Week event. Tired Mummy. Grizzly Kids. Messy House. #NotSureIfItsWorthTheEffort

12:30pm Caught up with few friends. So proud of B1 for patting a snake & leaving my side for a bit. Coffee with my Parents #WorthTheEffort

8:30pm Bodybalance class at gym #ForcedToGo #WorthTheEffort #ThankyouHubby

Friday

12noon How do you describe a funeral? #Speechless

1:15pm Baby wouldn’t feed. Possibly starting to self-wean #FeelingRejected #BeingOptimisticAboutFreedom

2:30pm The clouds pee’d on my washing, but gave me a gorgeous rainbow #WorthIt

4:45pm Asking the same question as Monday. Is 5:30pm too early to put my kids to bed? #HadEnough

6:00pm Love my mum! #Hugs #SavesTheDay

Image Credit: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos