the fifo wife

You know when you’re googling the rules and regulations of what the airlines age restrictions are on unaccompanied children you know that you’re not handling the school holidays very well and you need to do some planning.

Yes I know I should love school holidays and generally I do but this time around I have just looked at the calendar and for the first time in a long time I have gone what the fruit loops that’s a long time. I am developing the same love hate I have for the weekend when husband is at work.

Why its happening now I don’t know but I am blaming the incessant heat we had just recently. It knocked the stuffing out of me and them.

Knowing that there are that many days of nothing left ahead of me has left me in despair and I haven’t felt this amount of despair since realising my hips where never going to go back to their original size after having children…the same despair cant be said for my breasts however you get the picture because as I write this there is currently 16 days, 16 hours and 45 minutes until 830am of their  first school day.

I don’t care what you say that is a long time between breathers.

For 16 days 16 hours and 45 minutes I will have someone with me when I sleep, shop, work, go to the toilet and shower ( you know its true) and that is not to mention the time already past. Talking, yelling, asking and its at me all at once. Three of them. Talking to me all at once; only getting louder to be heard by me. They never seem to be quiet.  I cant move with out one of my beautiful children in my way. I can’t work the computer to write or even be stationary as it seems to be a signal that its okay to latch on and question me about the weather, when is Easter, what’s water made of and does Shaggy really like Thelma like that. The only time I am getting real peace is when I say lets clean up and not to my surprise they are out the door. And yes I have used ‘lets clean’ but there is only so much cleaning that can be done and only so much fibbing I can do before they catch on. It would also seem that going to Woolworths is not an adequate activity in their eyes they don’t see it as the same exhaustive adventure I do.

Am I complaining? Yes.

Why? Because I am allowed to.

Will I do something about it?

Of course.

So here is what can be done to fill those 16 days and 16 hours and now 32 minutes. It’s what I have planned for my boys and you can do to in order to keep your sanity all awhile it won’t break the bank and will most certainly improve yours and mine status as the most awesome entertainment officer, short order referring cook in town.

• Picnic at our favourite park, lake or in the back yard.
• Swimming at a local lake.
• Swimming at the public pool. Check for activity times or days.
• Bush walk the local track.
• Short road trip to the country.
• Trip to the city just to look at the shops.
• The library..they often run free activities.
• The beach to collect shells, rock pool or swim.
• Going to an art gallery.
•  Treasure hunting through op shops.
• Gardening.
• A park crawl.
• Skate park.
• Bike rides.
• A trip to the museum.
• Camping even if it’s just in the back yard.
• Board games.
• Card games we have just discovered UNO but there is snap, go fish and memory.
• Hide and seek (this my friends is the perfect opportunity if you have little ones to get stuff done…they hide you seek…all awhile tiding as you go…of course looking for them in the cupboard, draws, under the sink…etc)
• Make play dough.
• Write letters to daddy or a relation.
• Walk to the post office to post said letters.
• Go out for ice cream.
• Bake.
• Rearrange their rooms.
• Decorate their rooms with home made bunting, lanterns and their own pictures.
• Craft (yes craft I said it).
• Make a cubby house inside or out.
• Setting up a movie theatre, make pop corn and watch dvd’s.
• Arrange play dates and kid swaps for a couple of hours.

So as I sit here I have only screamed leave me for a minute four times with no said twice when asked the same question about afternoon tea but there is now just 16 days, 15 hours and 55 minutes left and so with this in hand there is nothing else to say but god good luck and god speed to you. May the holidays be full but restful.

So do you have any ideas? Add them in the comments please..

xx Deb

I don’t do new years resolutions so this isn’t a post about resolutions. Never have created them more than likely because I know myself well enough that I don’t keep them and so then know the whole circle of disappointment starts along with a big bag a Smiths Chips that will follow. So I don’t do them so I then I can’t get disappointed. I do however do stuff otherwise I wouldn’t be here.

So whilst I’m not one to preach resolutions I do know how to get the odd bit of change done so this year I am serious about making some personal changes (and well I spoke about them here) because I am ready and sometimes that’s what it takes but like getting anything done whether it be a goal or a change in yourself we all need a little preparation, research and planning; after all you can’t build something be it a house or create change without some ground work.

So here are five tips I learnt along the way mainly from my husband the ultimate planner, thinker and go getter into making, setting and getting your goals and making them possible a little easier.

1. Write your goals or changes down and create a plan how you are going to get them. Makes your goals seem possible. It gives you direction and they become less overwhelming. Write your goal down/ the change you want in detail. Write down who,what, when, where and why for getting your goal done. Write down the colour of the underwear you will need if it’s part of the plan. Me I need a pair of big girl panties worn along with a piece of fierce on my sleeve.
2. Having researched and planned create a check list and keep a journal to track your progress. It’s nice to see what you have done especially for something that isn’t tangible like being fierce. It also looks impressive to your friends.
3. Tell someone what your doing sometimes (not all) when you make it public knowledge is gives you more motivation and incentive to do it but be aware if you tell someone and you don’t do it you make look like a gonna. I’m gonna gonna but never do. So do it. be picky who you tell; tell someone that will support you not offer you a trip to the Cadbury factory when your trying to create a healthier you unless of coarse they are trying to in still a sense of self restraint, even then that’s just mean.
4. So on that note surround yourself with like minded people. People that will lift you higher and all that ‘jazz’.  People with a similar good attitude and goal will spur you on.
5. Be realistic about what you want to achieve. Not to dash your hope or dreams but if you want to fly to the moon and you set a time frame of December 2014 that may not be an incredibly realistic time line especially if you don’t have a aircraft, drivers licence or even an idea of where the moon is. After all if Richard Branson is having trouble reaching his gaols of reaching the moon chances are you might find yourself terribly disheartened come December 2014 and reaching for a bad of Smiths.

However if you falter never fear…start again…right now… this minute…or if you must finish off those Smiths Chips tomorrow is a new day…but better still put the packet in the bin now half full you don’t need another 250gms of saturated fat.

Xx Deb

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It was so hot over the weekend that I completely lost my cool Sunday evening and so I have vowed today not to go outside for the fear I may have to make eye contact with my neighbour and have to explain myself and behaviour and I just don’t want to do that.

Embarrassed is the word of the day. Sigh. I have however apologised meekly like a naughty child to my children. The was a better way to handle it I’m sure.

However I literally screamed myself hoarse at the boys because I had to keep asking them to pick up their ‘stuff’, refill the water bottles and to stop using the fridge as an air conditioner…although I see the temptation it’s not what the fridge is there for. So after the 50th request I lost my cool and may or may not have swore at them but that’s not the embarrassing part…I’m sure they hear worse in their grade two play ground the worst part was it was the ugly scream.

There is the ugly cry and the ugly scream…I reverted to the ugly scream to get my message across and well when used sparingly its rather effective…however just like its sister the ugly cry it does come with a certain amount of dignity lost to which the neighbours may or may not have witnessed.

Oh well.

So here we are the second week of January…Woolworths already has hot cross buns out but I’m sure it’s because they like to be organised compared to trying to squeeze every last dollar out of another holiday.

So having said that here are the few things running through head this second week of January.

1. I woke up on Friday night thinking holy cow I am going to Paris.
2. My husband tells me this trip to Paris is the honey moon we never had…talk about pressure…I was a size 10 when we should have honeymooned and a honey moon means lots of honey mooning and well after Christmas there is a bit more to honey moon with..Thank goodness I’m back to the gym today.
3. Does that mean I get to buy some honey mooning attire?
4. Finalised my will and funeral directions up last week because that the first thing everyone does when they are told they are going to Paris.
5. I’m hoping that the skin cancer on my nose may have healed by the time I am ready to go… I look like a character from The Wizard of Oz?
6. A pill that can prevent breast cancer how damn awesome is that news on a Monday morning?
7. If I do these three moves I will look like her…an Olympian who is yet to have children…let alone three children all weighing in at more than 10 pounds each..Just these three Abs moves…will make all this better…
8. A wedding reception held at the airport…
9. Love this interview with Kate Hudson…
10. This was I guess was worth a try.

Have a great day sweets…

xxDeb

I am making this my last post for the year and it’s just a quick one of thanks. Thank you for being so awesome. Thank you for being part of my life. Thank you for helping build a great little on-line community here and on face book. A special thank you those that take part in helping make Support Sunday what it is.

Thank you.

2013 has been amazing. I cant describe it any other way; lame I know. I have learnt so much this year some the hard way, some with a ping and something with a really well what do you know? I also learnt that something’s in life will never be understood and should just be left as is- actually when confronted with these I just said its too hard and I don’t care enough. Neh its true.

Having said that; next year like this year is going to be awesome. I know it I can feel it.

So having said that I will be away from the blog for a week perhaps may be not the family is coming in and we are spending it here in the big house and then by the water eating, skiing and more eating but will be over at face book and instagram if you care to stop by and say hello.

So thank you again for helping make my year what it was..wishing you a restful Christmas week..

Big love,

xx Deb.

We love a good family gathering here at our house..love it. I’m in my element taking care of the family who come from far and wide. The last one saw 26 of us humans as my B3 calls all under one roof. With one toilet and shower some may call that stupid but that many people in the house is crazy fun. This time around we only have a few coming and in total there will be 17 of us staying but that doesn’t include the guest for Christmas brunch.

17 extra people to take care of – I love it.

Most people panic about food me I worry about if my guest will sleep alright on the floor and whether there will be enough loo paper and originally we had all five of us crammed into our bed (along with the four dogs) but I have learnt that is crazy and now have it down to a pretty fine art to making sure we all have a nice stay so here is my how to on hosting some few extra humans and their dogs.

1. We are talking accommodating 12+ extra bodies not just a couple here and there so avoid putting people in the lounge room..keep one space clutter and bed clothes free if you can..it keeps things a little stress free having one area clean.

2. Mattresses on the floor is perfectly okay..the kids love it any way…its like indoor camping…or have the kids if they are old enough sleep in the safety of the back yard..not front yard the back yard. Don’t attempt to sleep more humans in one bed than is comfortably possible unless you don’t want those guest and their dogs to come back then by all means do so.

3. Toilet paper is your friend..you can never have to much..currently we have a back load supply of 92 rolls of double ply and that’s not getting ready for a family arriving; its my husbands fetish along with soap we have bars and bars of soap. Keep a half dozen rolls in a basket in the toilet also have a small rubbish bin in the toilet and don’t forget the ‘air’ freshener.

4. Ask your guest to bring milk and their favourite cereal; its the one meal you don’t have to think about. They also need to provide for their dogs or at least put their hand in their pocket if they don’t ask nicely.

5. Have plenty of fruit on hand its cheaper and healthier of kids want a snack and they can get it themselves.

6. Everyone wash wipes puts away their own dishes- even if you have a dish washer. If your guest are with you a number of days allocate jobs as they need doing. Just minimal house work they aren’t their to help spring clean your home. A little bit of dirt is okay..to much dirt is chaos. Don’t ask tell in the nicest possible way ie Lucy take out the rubbish out please. Putting out the rubbish, doing their own laundry and vacuuming makes their stay more enjoyable for them and you in the end you. If they wont help with the minimal housework then ask them to stay else where. If they have dogs give them a hint by handing them a plastic bag and a spade.

7. Cook a couple of meals ahead of their arrival if you can wet dishes that can be frozen and reheated simply are the best..think bolognese, chilli mince or a stew. Don’t forget about the slow cooker amazing for occasions like this.

8. Getting along. Pick and chose your battles however if you have ‘rules’ for your home that you can’t bend or forget tell your guest before they arrive and make sure they understand. Then they have the option to get a hotel. This year I had to stress the one rule we have at Christmas..there is no sleeping in Christmas morning..there is no waiting for the parents to wake up..we will leave you behind other wise.

9. Don’t be afraid to be a shower and laundry natzi and I mean getting them into the shower or washing their clothes. There is no excuse not to shower or launder. Smells and dirty travels through your bedding, soft furnishings and unless you have a pool something has to give. My mother (and may be me) believes a swim in the pool suffices as a shower..ahem which is why my kids never shower at her place..they swim 10 out 12 hours a day they have to be clean right? At the end of a long day who is going to argue with that. A water fight under the garden hose also suffices just give them a bar of soap (I wont lie I aint fighting with no one) Give one bar of soap per family and a towel for each person- they are responsible for getting that towel dry or they have a wet one for the entire stay.

10. Put away any special toys,ornaments and books. It saves arguments. Simple. If you don’t want to loose a friendship or have a family feud because your three year old niece broke your $700 antique vase by accident then put it away.  I know many will  say its my house they should be extra careful and I am with you its true to a point but accidents happen simple as that.

Last one but a no brainer..have a good time..enjoy your friends and family…it is what this whole thing called life is all about if you are wanting some tips on staying friends have a look at this post.

xx D