We looked at buying a Kia Carnival before Stellan arrived but we ended up with a 5seat Kluger. Which we love and DH would be devestated if we got rid of. So Im guessing the Falcon would have to go but its an 03 model and has a few scratches on it. So thats his biggest issue, we'd have to extend on the current car loan to buy something and he thinks a 7 seater something would be exxy. But I did some research and we could get a 02/03 Carnival, Pajero, Oddessy or something for around $15-$18000. Which isnt much more than what we paid for the Kluger. Doable at the least. Wouldnt be a step down either, same year car as the Falcon, just bigger.
We have a 100 series Landcruiser.. (my baby lol) love my car.. has 8 seats and can hold 3 car seats with ease. We currently only have one car seat in the middle row (maxirider) and the 3 boys go in the boot seats with my 4yr old in a booster.
With the new car seats laws coming into QLd I am thinking about putting Jacob back in the maxirider if Olivia still fits her other car seat in March when they come into effect. Isaac who is 6 is meant to go into a booster but his eyes are already above the back of the booster so I think he will be right to stay in the normal seat..
We are currently tossing up the sleepng arrangments for the girls. One option is to have 2 girls share a room and create a toy room. So my questions are: Do your kids like sharing a room? Would you prefer each child had their own rooms? Which 2 should I put together - DD1 (4yo who likes her own space) and DD2 ( 2yo, light sleeper)/or DD2 and baby? We are also considering bunks, but I am not overally confident with putting my 4 yo up so high.
I won't even get started on cars We currently have a commodore that fits all 3 seats across the back, but we'll be looking for a people mover in the next 12months.
Anna, if you can afford a Kluger, then you can afford a 7 seater in another brand. We were down to either a Kluger or a Captiva and went with the Captiva as it was $10k cheaper to buy new than the toyota. Bonus with a toyota though is they have excellent resale value so you would get a great trade in price for it.
I know I dont belong here yet but I will have all 4 sleeping in the 1 room. DS goes down now without any fussing and sleeps through the night and nothing (and I mean nothing!) wakes him up. I only have 2 bedrooms so am I mad doing it this way?
Rhyb, one of mine often end up sleeping on the lounge.
We have a hyundai trajet, it's a 7 seater & I love it to bits, cos it still has all the power, but room wise, ergh there is nothing. When #7 arrives we're looking at getting a nissan patrol.
We did have a starwagon before the trajet, but I didn't like that one at all.
Car we have is a Nissan Patrol 02, heaps of room for the boys and us and we 4wd as well so does the job for us.
Rooms - I can't have my older 2 share as they fight like cats and dogs, their personalities just clash too much, so I have our 9 yr old and 3 yr old share and our 7 yr old and 5 yr old share and little Julian has a room all to himself. They each have a single bed in their rooms, because they have ceiling fans and I don't want any accidents.
I would definately look at your childrens personalities before putting them in the same room.
We are looking at getting a Ford Territory, at the moment we only have a falcon but when DH gets his licence he'll have the falcon and I'll have the Territory .
We have the boys together but they clash because DS11 is a neat freak and DS14 just throws his things where ever so we are thinking of dividing up the rumpus room and making a bedroom for DS14. When Bella is out of the cot we will put the girls together, they will love sharing, I hope.
Trillian - I am involved with playgroup and atm I love the little bit of responsibility and interaction I have. I guess I should enjoy this time more before my eldest goes to school. From what I can gather from other mums with older kids that school puts another dimension onto family life.
Nic - My best advice for decluttering is to write a list of areas/cupboards that you want to attack, then make a time (could be a week) to work on that particular area. Allow yourself a set amount of time to work on the area without disruption (that means turning off the computer and phone for me). If you find it hard to throw things out, I suggest getting a box and placing items that you are not sure about throwing away, then make a deal with yourself to throw out the items if not used within 6 months. Good luck
DianneS - I think matching personalities is a good idea for bedroom sharing. My eldest loves her own space and I don't think sharing would be ideal for her.
Amanda - Good point about celing fans..bunks are out then for us.
Oh bek EVERYTHING needs decluttering I just find it overwhelming and don't know where to start, I start one thing then something else distracts me.. Whether it be the kids or something else then I lose my motivation..
Agh better go.. Kids are having custard as a treat tonight but alas they are still finding something to whine about
Tell you what's really fun having a larger family, BIRTHDAYS, today is Bella's birthday and from the moment she got up the kids were all over her. She just thrives from their attention. Off course they buy each other something also with their pocket money and the added bonus is that they really love giving their siblings presents. Just hearing their happy excited voices makes you forget about the bad days when they continue to nag and fight with each other . Have a great day all.
I also love birthdays and christmas and easter, I was out shopping this morning and looking at all the chrissy decorations and I could just feel the excitment building in me, because I know it's going to be an awesome day as well as tiring, lol.
I also keep saying to DH, just think about how great christmas is going to be when the boys are grown up and have there own families, it's going to be great .
I love Christmas too. Ours should be exciting this year because DD2 will have a better understanding of the fesivities. Her big sister has recently taught her Jingle Bells and it is cute when they sing it together.
I order chrisco and it gets delivered before christmas, I usually get food/drinks and sometimes bigger items as they now do those as well and pay it off fortnightly when my centrelink payment goes in.
I also layby in the big chrismas layby specials in June-ish and then you nearly have 6mths to pay them off so it is good because you don't have pressies laying around for little snoopy noses, lol. Pick them up on chrismas eve day and then wrap, wrap, wrap after they have gone to bed.
I love xmas too.. Its so much more fun as the kids get older
I go to an online santa letter thing and get letters for the kids ( print out myself)
also Santaclauslive is awesome. My Dh's family is finnish and its live from finland. We hope one day to actually go there.
for pressies. birthday the kids get 3 presents each. 1 fun, 1 practical and 1 educational
for Xmas we usually buy one big ticket item and then a few small things each. this year all the boys are getting a green machine each but different types. Ethan is getting the big star wars one and Isaac the actual green machine and Jacob is getting another type. Livi is getting a bike.. It might seem extravagent to buy 3 of those bike things but we are eliminating fights plus my mum and sister have gone 3rds in it with us.. I can't wait for Xmas day..
Nic - I love the idea of the live Santa. This year we are getting the girls a wooden kitchen from the Aussies Santa and DH is making a cubby house to put it in. They'll also get some accessories for the kitchen. My DH is Polish and their Santa comes on Christmas Eve so the girls will get one gift from him. Last year my SIL and I went totally overboard and each child ended up with a whole sack full of toys each. Thankfully my SIL has agreed to the one present per child idea.
Oh btw my Stepmother thought she'd tell me that because I now have 3 kids, that their budget allowance per family for gifts would be stretched over the 3 children. This means that her 2 grandchildren will be getting a more expensive gift each because there is only 2 of them
Reply With Quote
We currently have a commodore that fits all 3 seats across the back, but we'll be looking for a people mover in the next 12months.
.
I just find it overwhelming and don't know where to start, I start one thing then something else distracts me.. Whether it be the kids or something else then I lose my motivation..
. Have a great day all.
Bella, I hope you have a wonderful day.
Bookmarks