Babies Born ~ September 2007 #74

[Artechim]

There are always houses on the move around here - the military camp down the road is downsizing and selling off heaps of their houses for removal.

[AnyDream]

Skiiing via school is so awesome! I guess it's a pretty appropriate skill to have where you are.

Cally I know exactly what you mean about having "issues" with the house. We thought we were pretty clever buying this house when we did - for the amount of money we paid (ie, not much) it ticked pretty much every box on a fairly exhaustive list. But a decade down the track (and after the household has grown considerably including the amount of stuff we own) plus having seen a lot more (newer) houses, I realise how some of the things that irritate me are actual design flaws, that could only be fixed by major renovation work (eg moving walls, building on). Like, I don't understand how in 1974 a 4-bedroom house would have a single bathroom & toilet when all the houses built in this area from 1980 onwards have multiple bathrooms & ensuites, not to mention extra built-in closets, family rooms etc. Plus we have this idiotic looooooong hallway that runs all the way through the house that chews up a massive amount of floor area but is too narrow to function as anything other than a walking-strip. Plus, my fridge is in the laundy. How that hasn't made me insane in 14 years is probably only because we spent 5 of those years in a different house in Canberra. LOL.

Arte that's great that W is so happy and relaxed! We are having the opposite at the moment. I don't know if miss E is having some sort of hormonal growth spurt right now but she's been cranky, non-cooperative, frequently riles straight up to squealing/shouting/accusing people of not listening to her, and is (it seems) terminally bored. Today I gave her a list of three suggestions of things to do after which point she forfeited the right to complain. Seemed to work... for all of 15 minutes or so . She doesn't realise it yet but her tv-viewing is about to be severely curtailed since I am of the opinion she is developing signs of a lazy play-brain.

[Artechim]

LOL, I remember my mother giving me several choices of boredom busters - cleaning room, doing dishes etc. I recall I found some way to entertain myself pretty quickly lol.
Bummer about the grumpy phase. I hope it passes quickly xx
There was something I was going to ask you…mind blank.
And OMG, is H 15!!! Far out!

The houses in NZ didn't really pick up on the ensuite/multibathroom trend until around the late 90's. This house was built mid 80's and despite being huge it still only has the one bathroom.

Seems like all our babies are losing their teeth now!! W still looks to have them all firmly in place I don't think I am ready for the gap-teeth stage. He is still my baby.

[Artechim]

I am just about to head up the mountain to see how W is going up there. He must have been quite keen since he put on multiple layers of clothes with no fuss. It is the first time I have been up the mountain in years - brilliant day for it!

[Cally]

Skiing for school - awesome!!

A few issues here - FIL had emergency surgery on Friday to remove a large tumour from his bowel. Takes about a week to get the test results back so we're not sure if it's cancer or not. I thought DH was going OK, but he had a crap week at work last week and ended up with a mental health day yesterday as he just couldn't face work on top of the stuff going on with his Dad. Seems to be going OK now though.

Not much else happening. Started thinking about DD's birthday party. I'm thinking rainbow theme.

[Artechim]

Cally, I hope your DH is feeling better. Good that he took the day off - no point being there if your mind is elsewhere and it is very understandable that he would be thinking of his dad. I hope your FIL is alright and if it is cancer that it is treatable.

Not sure what we are doing about birthday parties. A really wants one, but it is hard to have one for one kid and not the others. In hindsight, it might have been better to spread the birthdays throughout the year lol. I don't usually do a theme - just party food and a couple of games. And my pass the parcel doesn't have a treat in every layer and not every kid gets a turn *evil laugh*. Life isn't fair sometimes kids, get used to it lol.

I spent about an hour up the mountain watching W. He was going really well for a first timer. I bet he is going to be very grumpy and tired when he gets home - he left at 7.30 this morning and won't get back until 4.30ish - that is a really long and physically exhausting day for a 5 year old.

[Cally]

And my pass the parcel doesn't have a treat in every layer and not every kid gets a turn *evil laugh*. Life isn't fair sometimes kids, get used to it lol.

That sounds good to me Arte!

Wow, he will be tired - that's a very long day. And it's like that every Tuesday?