OMG MD - if that was my kid she would have a shiny new cropped hair do after 20 minutes of detangling! You are a star! Tube op went really well. I didn't even hurt enough to bother with a panadol. DH gave me a whole day to spend in bed watching telly, which I didn't really need but it probably won't be offered again in my lifetime so I made the most of it lol.
Cally, that is a long time to wait! That was half of my decision - if DH ever actually got the snip, he wouldn't go back for testing to check it had actually worked. I have a friend that had to send her DH back for a second go.
Cass, bummer about your DH going somewhere fun and you staying at home That really sucks.
I am having an occupational crisis of sorts. I have always known, but it has just sort of hit me that next year E will be in kindy and what the heck will I do with myself all day if she is gone from 8.45 to 2.45pm several days a week? It just struck me that if I want to enrol in any study that I need to decide and do it now. Psychology won't be finished until the end of next year, so I can't do post grad in that area. Not sure what else I could do. I can't believe how quickly it all turns around - all those years where it was hard to find even a few minutes to myself and now my problem is the exact opposite lol.
Cally - yay for the ballet concert! I bet K was adorable. I totally get what you mean about wanting the social diversion of catching up with other mums, especially when you work long hours. And yay for planned infertility too. You'll be making the most of your anniversary getaway then, won't you .
Cass - sorry but PMSL here at you running to the BOTTLE-O??! Need plonk, STAT!! How long is DH away for? Have you moved/when are you moving?
Arte - glad your op went well & you've recovered nicely. Wow I can't believe that E is nearly in the kindy ...?!! Are you looking at starting some post-grad study after the end of next year, so the problem is what to do with yourself for the year until that starts? Is there anywhere you could volunteer that is somehow associated with the general direction you'd like to pursue? OR are there some other skills (eg some kind of computer software, conflict management, OHAS, train the trainer, project management, cultural awareness) that you could learn in a short-course form that would fill in some gaps on your future resume. OR do you really just not know at all what direction to point yourself in? You're pretty smart, you've done smart-person work in the past which means you have all sorts of research, conceptual and analytical skills that are 100% transferable so I'm sure there are plenty of options, esp if you're looking at moving to the little big-smoke at some point down the track.
Re the dreads - about half that time was the very last mega-dread - the others were easier to get out - but once we'd already sat there it seemed wrong to abandon it half way. Plus the mega-dread was pretty close to her scalp so if I'd cut it she would have gone straight back to the too short to put up, too long to have down at school zone. Anyway she's on notice, last time she had her hair cut I told her she needed to get some of the length taken off (poor condition at the ends) and she pretty much ignored me so this time she doesn't get a say.
Yeah, time keeps rolling on. E will be 2.5 at the start of the year and will probably go to kindy for at least some half days and by term 3 she will be there probably 3-4 days a week - I often stay there with her for an hour or two in the mornings and she is keen as to stay longer.
I think the issue is a bit of everything. I have two papers to do next year but they are a double and a semester 2 and won't take up all my free time. I keep gravitating to post grad in educational psychology, which is dealing with the learning disorders, gifted, adhd. But that can't be done until 2015 because I have to finish current course first. I don't know. I keep coming up with a thousand ideas but really, we are so far away from everything here it makes it hard - that is why I did psych in the first place because it was the only thing I could do entirely from home with zero on campus component.
Arte, the educational psych stuff would be FASCINATING. I'm 100% interested in all things psych/neuropsych/learning/memory/cognition at the moment. And add to that anything about positive psychology & motivation. The more I read, the more fascinating it gets - lucky for me there have been a whole bunch of really interesting and engaging non-fic books published on this stuff over the last few years so I've got plenty to go on with LOL. But I dunno, maybe you don't need to pack your schedule full the second E is out of the door for a couple of hours - you know it can do a girl a lot of good to have some plain, unstructured down time.
MD, looks like we are covering the same ground atm! I think the ed psych work would be very interesting and it is the sort of job like midwifery where it helps if the person has lived it itms. I have also been strongly considering doing a hypnotherapy course next year, just for interests sake. I know I shouldn't overfill my schedule but now is the time to enrol in any courses and I really really don't do well when I am bored. Luckily this time of year is pretty busy and my days seem to be filling up easily.
We should compare notes - I am pretty sure we are both looking into inattention dominant ADHD. Let me know if you have found anything interesting that you think might be worth a shot. Atm we are trying exercise (homolateral and contralateral, progressing to crossover when able) and Omega 3.
Oz!! Didn't see your post - didn't mean to leave you hanging! Many congrats on the new bubba coming to join your family I bet s/he will be totally gorgeous like L and Z.
MD, good luck with the accountant. I hope he/she has good news for you
I just found out yesterday that there are only another 12 school days for the year!! Far out that came around fast! W is having a kid over for his first sleepover tomorrow. Am I supposed to plan some sort of activities? The boy doesn't come from a game console home and he usually gravitates towards that so I think that I might be set? Can you do that? lol, I don't know what I am doing.
Sure, if he doesn't usually play with something like that, why not. Whatever keeps them busy I reckon - the best part of going to someone's house is playing with different toys.
Christmas tree up tomorrow. K and I wrapped some presents this morning. Still need to get some more things, mainly just little ones though and a watch for DH (but I think he should come and help pick it out).
Got an email from the school late yesterday that there is a 2 hour strike on Tuesday - when I mentioned to DH it was short notice, he said 'oh, they've been talking about it all week'. Grr, didn't think to warn me that it might be happening! I swear he still is in too much 'teacher mode' and forgets he is actually a 'school parent' now.
I have been without any real internet for far too long...but finally have connection!
We are in the new house....wahoo!
Oz: eeepppp! so excited for you! and no, i can not believe that this year is drawing to a close. it is crazy town.
Cally: your DH and my DH must come from the same factory: mine is terrible at passing on critical school information like the need to have money ready for the 100th pot head sprouting kit...seriously, i think it must be a revenue winner for the school as we have had 3 this year hahaha.
Arte: have been thinking of you heaps lately as we are in the situation of choosing schools: the local one sorta down the road or the small school in the next town with 30 kids. my heart is set on the smaller school but at 8kms distance it turns out to be around 7000kms a year of driving. not sure that i am up that haha.
MD: hope the tax man will be fruitful!
AFM: well, the big move is out of the way. we are in the casa and the tree is up and the garden is ginormous (that's a real word 'kay?). thankfully we have a ride on lawnmower and i have nominated DH as driver
it was a hellish 2 weeks. DH was away in LA and i had to pack the whole house by myself. then, on our trip up to visit mum i got gastro...on the way to the airport. it was insane! 3 kids, carseats, luggage and gastro...woohoo!
i look forward to the coming weeks of just settling in and trying to take it easy for a bit. pity that the gardens are a bit of a mess as the house was empty for 6 months (there was a gardener but they must of only been on basic tidying and mowing duty). i have more roses than you can poke a stick at and well over 50 plum trees. i also have spotted cherry trees and apple trees.
Cally, we got the tree up on the 1st this year for probably the first time ever You are doing better than me - I have yet to tackle the wrapping and there is no way anything will sit under the tree lol. Usually I leave it until Xmas eve and then I am up past midnight wrapping but this year I will have be organised since we will be away for xmas day.
Cass, your new house sounds lovely! I bet the serenity is amazing after being inner city.
As for schools, I am a huge fan of the small rural school. Don't think of the yearly tally of driving - 8kms is about 10 minutes drive? That really isn't far. I drive 10 minutes each way to the bus. It can be a pain at times, but it is worth it to us. I can only suggest that you take L to visit both the schools, stay for a decent amount of time - a half day or even ask if she can have a trial for a whole day and see which school she prefers and which one gives you the best feel. 30 kids is a fantastic amount. Is that split over two classes?
Not much happening here. I didn't realise how much work a pound dog would be. He has all sorts of bad habits. He was terrible for chewing hands but I have mostly stopped that but he is still prone to wandering off (not as bad as the start when he was down the road at every opportunity), he sometimes craps inside, and if I growl at him he slinks along the ground and wets himself. He has obviously been beaten previously. He has improved a lot though. He has a nice nature and potential to be a good family dog. It is worth it for the look on A's face, she just loves him to bits.
Cass - 8kms of driving really isn't that much. Is there a bus or you might find someone willing to carpool. You need to go with your gut for schooling, if L is happy, that is the most important. Would have been much more convenient for K to go to the school up the road from work, but I love the fact that she sees her friends out and about when we go for bike rides, down to the beach etc. Fruit trees sound awesome!!
I had words with DH - he's now got a mental note in his head for major school disruption issues 'tell principal, tell front office, tell wife'. We'll see if it sticks!
My family is doing a Secret Santa this year - much easier only having to worry about 2 people instead of 8. There's still 3 December birthdays and the kids, but everyone has a wishlist on Amazon to give us ideas. That's why I'm feeling so organised.
i think i need to get Miss L to the smaller school! we were walking in town today and the grandmother of one of the kids (who also runs the library at the school) bumped into us and was just so warm and loving...argh! so confused! i also loved that the admin lady had her baby boy in at work with her bouncing away on his bouncer...so family, so awesome.
Cally, love the secret santa thing! IL's suggested last night no presents between adults, which I am totally down with! In my family we only do presents for the kids anyway. It feels dumb swapping gift cards.
Cass, you will find an awesome community at the little school. At W's school the principal release teacher who teaches for two days brings her wee boy in - he wriggles and rolls around the floor and sleeps in his pram.
ohh secret santa is a fabulous idea! but then again...in our case, considering that it will just be DH and I secret santa-ing eachother...won't really work
Went to the optometrist today fully expecting to leave as a fully fledged member of the bifocal club but instead there was an unsettling amount of "that's interesting" and "I'm surprised at that" and "it's quite unusual"...apparently one of my eyes has randomly improved and the lens is now too strong making everything blurry. Glad I don't need the bifocals just yet
That is probably the most exciting thing happening around here lol. When is school finishing up for everyone? W finishes on Tuesday. There is a prize giving on Monday - in a school of 5 kids I am not sure how that works!
Miss K finishes next Wednesday, DH on the Friday (a couple of pupil free days for training - and paintball!!)
Arte - I am so glad we have fortnight pay - my first job was monthly and it was really hard.
Cass - which school did you decide on? Our SS is set up so you can't get your partner. Obviously not the same set up for my sister's in-laws as she has managed to get her husband and he has her!
My sleeping has turned to crap (did so at this time last year) - but this morning I managed to sleep through DH getting up AND DD didn't wake me up (she sat on the couch waiting for DH to get out of the shower then was playing schools when I woke up. I feel so much better today. And it wasn't even really late - 6:41am!! Just the difference in my body waking me up rather than being woken up.
That really sucks. 
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I bet s/he will be totally gorgeous like L and Z.
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