A Day in my Life

Another 14th of the month has rolled on and this one I have really been looking to. My gorgeous baby girl Ellie is one today. And although this post is an account of the day in my life that was today, I couldn't help but think about the day that was last year.

My incredibly long labour and the hours Tools spent rubbing my aching back. The rain dripping down the window of my labour room (much like it was today) and the sweet relief when it was finally over and I nuzzled and feed my sweet little girl. Watching the Rooster's face the first time he clapped eyes on this new creature that was to inhabit his world and call his sister. The changes have occurred in all of us since this photo was taken are enormous. So many tiny memories wrapped up in one very big event. I fear that the smaller details will get lost over time leaving my with just a feeling about the day.

Our Missy shares a birthday with another special girl. Her name is Sofia and is the daughter of one of my oldest friends. Sofia is two today and we spent the morning eating cake and watching our littlies play and dance.

Tonight was just the night for a huge pot of soup and Tools outdoes himself when it comes to Minestrone. Soup in February....almost unheard of, but with a fridge full of vegetables from our fruit and vege co-op, the temperature around 13 degrees (was it really 45 last Saturday?) and a house full of people coming tomorrow it was just what we needed to fill ourselves.

I did lots of baking for tomorrow, cookies, friands and some relish to use up a bag of tomatoes. Oh yeah...and the birthday cake. We love the time late at night creating a special cake for our children.

Ellie loves our cat. She and Timmy play a lovely game of hide and seek in the tent. She is going to love this cake tomorrow at her party.

Late evening and a nostalgic DVD. Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I remember dancing to twist and shout in the cinemas when I was 14. We put this movie on last week at school and not one of the kids had seen it. Am hoping this cult movie will seep its way into the hearts of the kids I teach so that when I say "Anyone? Anyone?" It not just me that gets the joke.

Am tired tonight after a week of disruptive nights with our girl. Maybe now she is one she will magically be a better sleeper. I can hope can't I?

A day in my life

At 7 o'clock this morning when we came downstairs, it felt like it was going to be hot. Really hot. We had a quick breakfast and headed off for an early walk to the shops in attempt to beat the heat. Within 10 minutes we knew that it was not to be the case. It was stifling at 9 and the air felt very thick. After walking all the way to our local shops, we decided that the few things that we needed to buy for dinner with friends that night, could wait as were not going to cart them all the way back up the hill home. We got some shoes for the kids ready for child care tomorrow and headed back.

We reminisced about the heat in Greece when we spent a lovely summer there and the dips we took in the rock pools to cool off; the frappes and the card games and how the only decision we had to make was whether to eat dolades or yerros for dinner. Life felt really simple then. Now we think out dinner along the lines of the path of least resistance. Oh, how the times have changed!

Had a quick shower and headed to a friend's for lunch to catch up the girls. We hadn't caught up since before christmas so there was lots to share over our quiche and salad. The rooster and I got back home and had a game of snakes and ladders ( his current favourite) before Missy woke and the power struggle for the toys would begin in earnst again.

Icecream cones on the deck, feet paddling in the pool. Close my eyes and imagine I was in in Greece. Crash back to reality with the shrek of little ones in the pool.

Finally got provisions for dinner with two, now very irritable children. Left the shops in disgrace with a trantruming 3 and a half year old. Oh the joys. Managed to get them off to bed by quarter to seven. Some early guests. They don't have kids (yet!).

Dinner going well. Around 9 can just hear Missy screaming over music and chatter of dinner guests. Arghhh!! The upstairs is very hot, it is no wonder she has waken from her slumber. I hope we didin't scare two of our guests with the reality of parenthood. Tools and I were up and down the stairs for a good half hour before we gave up and brought her down. She obviously didn't want to miss the party going on downstairs and sat up eating an icecream cone, our retro dessert, with a very cheeky grin on her face.

Was it any wonder we didn't get her to sleep till 12.30. But now, that's the next day and I will save that for another post.

A Day in My Life

For the last few months Little Jenny Wren has been hosting A Day in My Life. Very simply, its a log of the small, mundane but often interesting things that can happen in an "ordinary" day in our lives. It happens on the 14th of the month, so over time, it should occur on a different day giving picture of the week. So ,without further ado, I give you A day in My Life for 14th of November.

5.20 A wake up call from Missy. A little unfair as she had only gone back to bed at 3. A quick feed and with the insistence from my husband, back to her bed in the hope that she would go back to sleep. Hooray she did (a minor miracle as she has NEVER done that before)!

5.40 Eyes closed and almost asleep when little footsteps sound at the door. Its the Rooster up far too early. After almost an hour of fidgeting we finally give in and Tools takes him downstairs.

6.30 Ahhh. Close eyes. A quick nap before I have to get up for work.

6.45. Phone rings. Its Missy's carer informing us that she cannot look after her today as her little boy is sick. A minor hiccup. One of us has to take the day off to look after her. We didn't realise when we decided on family daycare that, not only do we need to consider times when we are sick and our children are sick, but also when the carer and her children are sick too. I have 5 periods on today. Too much to sort out at such late notice. So Tools decides to stay with Missy.

8.20. Get into the car after getting everyone sorted for the day. Lunches made for the Rooster and I and food sorted for Missy who is staying with Tools for the first time. I know he will go marvellously well today, as well as have some precious bonding time with his daughter. Am exhausted and have barely started the day! Can I go back to bed now?

8.50 Homeroom done and a free period to have a coffee and sit and get sorted for the day. I check some emails and read through the postings in my pigeon hole.

9.50. Year 9. Frequency distribution tables. Mundane stuff. Today is the last day of a long service block I am doing for one of the teachers in my faculty. Will be glad that it is over as some of his classes are not very pleasant. It is also the last day of formal lessons for Year 10. A double after recess with 4 kids. We play some board games to while away the time.

1.30. I walk outside towards one of the demountable buildings. The heat is stifling hitting the thirties but with a great slog of humidity (a storm is brewing somewhere...). It's going to be a long afternoon with year 7 and 8!

3.10. Yeah. I made it through the day. Am most excited about getting home and seeing my kids.

3.30 Missy has had a great day with her Dad and the Rooster is hot and exhausted after his day at pre-school. I manage to convince everyone that a cool bath is in order before Nanny and Poppy arrive for babysitting duties.

7.20 Children are asleep and we leave for a rare night out together. Music in the Quad is on at my school. As we drive towards the venue the skies open up. A massive storm hits the Quad drenching everything. One of the bands leaves as their equipment is ruined. Everything very quickly gets moved into the hall but it is just not the same as being outside.

10.00 Sad but true, we come home early. Not at all surprised to see Missy up and on Poppy's lap. Give her a quick feed to settle her and crash in the hope that she will do the same thing. Not sure that she does as I can hear her as I'm dozing off. Tools assures me he will take care of it for me. He is a treasure.

Day is done. Typical? I would say fairly. Now there is just the weekend to tackle. some friends for lunch and some much needed pottering around the house.