Big Trucks, Oz day and the posessed potty boy!

Trucks- big, noisy and you can put things in them...all that a little boy could want and Declan does exactly that!

We were very excited when Uncle Darren (my big bro) rang on Monday and let us know he was at Yatla Truck stop with Josh (my nephew) for a few hrs and could was keen for a catch up.

Mummy got all excited - quickly packed the lunches, nappies, drinks, dressed the munchkins and got all sorted to get in the car and see all the big trucks!! Declan was so excited all the way in the car repeating "Uncle Darren BIIIIGGGG TRUCK!!" all the way there.

It was all excitement until the car stopped and Darren himself opened Declan's car door to say hi..."Ahhhhhhh" (with added tears and trying to pull away)...to say the least Declan was not impressed while Thalia starts waving and yabbering away.

We calmed down a bit and went off to see the Big truck...Declan was so shy,tired,hungry, hot that the last thing he wanted to do was sit in a truck let alone Uncle Darren's truck..:( so he just cried and made mummy feel sorry for poor Uncle Darren who was looking forward to a "happy little boy"....Thalia was quick to fill in and jump up in the Big truck with Uncle Darren and pose for a few pics.

Josh ,Darren and Thalia chillin in the Big Truck :)
I don't think was too impressed when Darren demoted her to the passenger seat! lol

After some lunch, a play on the playground and a lot of crying and fussing Declan finally had some smiles and laughs and had a second look at the truck, although he didn't want to hop in he was happy to watch the lights,look at the red engine and receive a awesome Mustang matchbox car from Uncle Darren.

Well that was the bee's knees then...on the way home it didn't leave his little hand, he showed it the passing cars on the road, the shy, the hot sun and finally our house. He was not going down for his nap without his Mustang!! even to the point of saying "Mummy Mustang tired, needs bed" (then in a little voice made the Mustang snore as it swayed up and down in his hand...so cute!!)

Of course by this time Declan himself was so overtired and flopped into bed (car in hand) and slept soundly side by side.

You see Declan is one of those children who scream his lungs out when he sees Santa, but after it's all over and Santa is out of sight he becomes the highlight of the week...very odd but that's children for you....that afternoon he proudly told Daddy how he saw Uncle Darren's truck as if it was the best experience ever while mummy sighed quietly thinking if only!

Declan giving his new mustang a massive cuddle after arriving home :)

We had a fun filled Oz day at the Newcombe's (Wayne and Louise's) with friends...bush bashing, drinking, good food, children playing, swimming in the pool and all that was promised...the heat wasn't so good but alot of fun was had.
I was just a little shocked when my husband came up from the car track (a big paddock with alot of trees!!) looking like he had just come out of an explosion zone....he was unharmed but covered and I mean covered in black and brown dust...how delightful!! :s but like any man all he could talk about was how he managed to get the car to do a 180/ big skid/lots of smoke ...you know the lingo :P
Of course I forgot my camera so don't have any photo's to show for a good Australia day but thanks to all those you made it a memorable one.....great to see all the munchkins playing

Warning : the following content may speak of bodily fluids and/or waste of the toddler kind :P
Read on if you can take it.

Today after a talk to Daddy it was decided that we are going to knuckle down with the toilet training...Declan has been potty sitting since roughly September/October now and although he is good at telling us before a #2 and usually getting it in the potty or big toilet he is not so good when it comes to wees!!
He is in Big boy undies during the day unless we go out shopping, friends houses etc and nappies for naps and through the night. He know exactly what is expected of him and understands that it is wrong to wee on the floor but still has alot of accidents and wet undies, telling us after the fact what has happened instead of letting us know he needs the potty.
We are exhausted emotionally, sick of cleaning up the mess and annoyed that everything we try isn't helping....stuck in a rut. Mummy today with the help of lots of cuppa's and a calmed mind started to focus on helping Declan "get it"...I am proud to say that we had two wees in the potty today, no wet undies, no accidents. He did wake up with a poo in his nappy but that's okay.
I think he was holding in wees a bit but it's a start hey.
I just know I'm going to be insane before long if this goes on for too much longer....at times I think Thalia might be tt before him!! lol well I will see what tomorrow brings.
Stay calm, stay positive and have fun...it's harder than it sounds.
Any tips from the parents out there would be welcomed !!!!

wish us luck!!

Our fun packed weekend

A busy one but a fun one!!!

weekends...so odd how you look forward to them every week, organise what to do, then by the time Friday comes you barely blink twice and it's Sunday night.
Well this was one of those weekends but we have done alot this weekend and can treasure lots of memories with friends.

Friday was an rdo for Andy so we made the most of it and got out to the shops (by passed the pet shop for the usual tour) and got some odds and ends at various shops while Declan ooooed and aaahhhhhed at all the lights and Thalia chowed down on the must have finger foods while chillin in the pram.

Friday afternoon/night we had the privilege of having some fab friends over ..namely "the Hanlon crew" (we used to live in Hanlon st) so it was a good catch up.
Bestie Austin enjoyed a good play with Declan and Thalia, before sitting down for a dinner, sharing a bath and down for bed.
The kids went to bed and the night began...had a lovely BBQ with Jim, Kim, Ryan and Kirsten while Lucky (baby burrow # 2) had a roller coaster ride in mummies tummy. I laughed so much that my belly hurt and I think just about every one cryed tears of laughter as Ryan continued on his way of joke/story telling...it was later agreed that if Kim was having any troubles in late pregnancy in regards to labour starting that Ryan would assist by telling her a few yarns to get it all happening :D
...I really thought Kim was going to pop out a baby then and there with all the excitement!!! :O
Sadly don't have any pics of the night as my camera batteries were needing to be charged :(

Saturday was even more busy...with a visit from Matt, Stu, Rach and their gorgeous girls Jasmine and Emily in the morning- the kids enjoyed playing with play dough and dinosaurs while picking at lunch while the big people had a much needed catch up.
All the kiddies went down for a nap and Matt was fare welled, lunch was eaten and the parents had a bit of chat time while we packed to go to Phoebe's 3rd Birthday party in the afternoon.
Stu, Rach and the girls said there goodbyes and got on the road and we got organised for the party.

Finally the camera batteries where charged!! hooray for the pathological picture taker :P

Declan was so excited to be going to a party, but even more so because Phoebe was having a dinosaur party (the latest Declan craze). I might add that Phoebe is a little girl from church that Andy's Grandma (93yrs) has decided will in future be Declan wife!! lol
All the way in the car we listened to the little singing voice of Declan singing dinosaur tunes as Thalia made her best attempt to join in.

The party was awesome, great cake, jumping castle, water play, drawing, land before time dvd, the all important toy's, a cubby and the best of all lots of little friends.

Cake time :D

Thalia had her very first turn on a jumping castle..(very fitting we thought for the princess to be in a castle at last) and Declan loved the water play and becam e very quickly obsessed with the cubby door ..open,shut,open ,shut..
It was quite funny when a boy perhaps a little older than Declan became attached to Thalia and wanting dearly to "put baby in cot" ,when he saw that Phoebes cubby contained a little cot for a doll...after much explaining that Thalia didn't want to sleep and she was a bit big for the cot he went up to Thalia's daddy and asked "you in the cot!!" bahahaha gotta love it.

After much fun, food and shrieks and squeals we parted ways and journeyed home for a quick dinner and bed.
Mummy and Daddy enjoyed a quiet night in with a few drinks..ahhh

Sunday Morning arrived and the usual everyone in Mummy and Daddy's bed for cuddles -well that's the idea but it soon changes to Thalia crawling over everyone giving the raspberry's, Declan attempting to read a story, lots of tickle and excitement, not the nice rest time that was intended by Mummy and Daddy :P

Declan decided that the dinosaurs wanted to play play dough again so off he went and the rush began to get ready for church. We trialed staying in the big hall today while at church and not the "cry room" that we usually attire to simply because of the volume of Noise coming from the Madame.
It actually went well..Phoebe and Declan played dinosaurs under the chairs while the meeting was on, Thalia ate and ate and it was only at the end that Daddy had to take Thalia outside when she got a bit loud.
We caught up with Great Grandma who was delighted to hear Declan had been to Phoebes party...ha ha her plans for their future are all coming into place :)

Our arrival home welcomed putting the kids to bed while we enjoyed lunch before having a Nana nap of our own....then after everyone's nap,watching Thalia's fave dvd (wiggles) we decided to have a paint...such fun!!!
Thalia found out that paint wasn't all that tasty and Declan carefully made his many creations- with "more paper" sounding every couple of minutes.

Thalia painting, tasting and practicing putting on makeup :D


Declan (the master) hard at work


Home made spag Bol for dinner and a bath for the munchkins and dinosaurs of course :P and at last bed. A much relieved Mummy and Daddy are now having some chill out time with beer in hand :D
Bath time: Declan washing one of the dinosaurs and Thalia playing peek-a-boo with daddy

What a weekend!! so thankful that we can have times like these with friends, looking forward to Australia day public holiday and fun at Wayne and Louise's
- bush bashing, chatting, drinking, good food, good company, watching the kids play, catching up with Duke (our old pet Labrador) and simply lapping it up!

Gentle Dragon Boy and the Fiery Fairy Girl

....I may be drinking a glass of red and it may seem as though I'm a tad muddled but I assure you that I have just described my children in a nut shell.
In this circumstance I had to switch the common qualities of Dragons and Fairy's to fit the picture.

Since Thalia was born there have been moments of "ahhh just like Declan used to do :)" but this has been a rare comment. In the last week I have really noticed how much they are such different little personalities with almost opposite qualities.
Now that the Madame has started to crawl around, it had become evident how big the gap of difference is and yet at the same time how grand there love for each other is.

As the title suggests Declan being the older of the two is obsessed with dragons along side death knights (and all things WOW thanks to Daddy), lizards, dinosaurs, trucks, cars and all things manly even to the point of having a imaginary friend that is a Dragon.
Mr Dragon as he is called comes everywhere with us, has his own voice, lives down the bottom of the stairs in our backyard (actually moved houses with us, Declan did the honour of giving him the tour of the new house!), he changes colour every day ....the point is that he is as boyish as it comes yet underneath not fiery as a dragon but ohh so gentle (which is such a blessing when having a second child so close!).
Ever since I can remember he does most things in a delicate manner- eating his first finger foods by carefully pinching between thumb and finger (the same class that is shown in a high tea), a neat freak to the enth degree, running on tip toes, dancing and showing rhythmic qualities at such an early age, oh and the funniest being his reaction when seeing other babies/toddlers eating their food in a manner by which a Cave man might sit and feast on a carcass...his pure shock is priceless (memories of sharing meals with his bestie Austin come to mind..lol).
He is just ohh so gentle (don't get me wrong, he has his moments of strife, brutality and mess) and loves his sister always flooding her with kisses and cuddles.
His latest thing to say .."just Thalia mummy!!!" input sad face and shattered voice here is said when he is playing or just woken up and has realised that Thalia is in bed and he can't play with her- Mummy can try to sway this thought with any activity, food, drink, dvd but all attempts are usually fronted with "just Thalia Mummy!!!"
if you have ever had the privilege of meeting my gentle prince then you will know that at the first meeting he will cry, cling to a parent, run away, lye on the floor face down and be shy as shy until about the half hr mark (or sooner if your a good playmate :D)- once he considers you one of the accepted ones you will be rewarded with a friendly greeting on the next meeting...and perhaps become as obsession for a short time as Uncle Wayne seems to be at the moment.

Then on a very different level of madness is our Princess Thalia- The Fiery Fairy
She came to this world very quickly and mummy didn't even have much time to even think about pushing- stubborn little thing from the start and we were not met with a cuddly baby but a screaming bundle (even so it was love at first sight).
After she had been dressed to the nines and promptly breastfeed and comforted she still didn't see it fit to sleep till a good 6 or so hrs later....don't they tell you newborns are sleepy little things!!!
Thalia from the start does things in her own time and continues too.
As she grew and grew and grew (much bigger baby than the long stick of her brother) she became her own little being and continues to show her true personality.
She is the Cutest of Cute, big blue eyes and white blonde hair like her brother, loves her dolls and fairy's (although she is very fond of all things boyish) and to any outsider would look the picture of a gentle Fairy/angel from a magical place far away- well she does look the part but I think once you have heard the shreaks of displeasure, screams, the repeated sounds of that N.O. word, her demands made clear through speech and sign language, the cry that could break a thousand windows if she put her mind to it ...you might just realise the reality that your former thought is a big fat mistake.
She is The Drama Queen, Madame of all things food, Mistress of all toys and Stubborn is her official 3rd name -according to Thalia anyway.
We love her to bits and she also loves her brother- although he does get the serve with her verbal storms and sometimes gets crawled on and prodded, torchered and poked similar to that that a bird of prey would dish out.
At this point of time it looks as though she will always be the messy one, the leader of mischief, one to push the boundaries (not looking forward to teen yrs!!!), the bubbly extrovert ready for anything and forever a Princess in her morphed world of Madness.
She loves the boobie- has even named them and as Declan speaks to Mr Dragon, Thalia has long conversations with the boobies...laughs at them, pokes them so the milk will flow so she can watch it trickle and when she is ready (and only when she is ready) will she latch on and enjoy the bliss that is Mummy Milk.
Thalia's form of Time has extended to how she physically matures.....at just shy of 1 yr she has No teeth (that's right a big 0 in the teeth department), started the teething saga at 3-4months and no signs to tell of the long and painful tale. Only a couple of weeks ago she decided it was the right time to crawl, before that it was just fun to sit back while Declan fetched the toys for her, sat back while mummy prepared the feasts,listened to daddy melt over her with joy (his little darling) and enjoy the ride whether it be by arm, pram, highchair, trolley,lap she soaked it up.
Now that she can crawl Declan cannot escape her and she is loving it....all in good time mummy!
Just a few days ago she decided she might try to start tugging on nappies and see how they undo :o...mummy now makes sure she has shorts, all in ones or a sleeping bag at bed to prevent the pooing cot blog from appearing...ewwwhhhhh
At a first meeting with Thalia you might expect a cheeky laugh, a poke in the eye or mouth (whichever she sees fit), a kiss, an evil chuckle, a big "NO!!!", a snatch at your food or a sly grin- all of which are never shy but in your face in a package of pure prettiness, she has charm but she's a fiery one....watch out boys, here she comes!!

My children- they are worlds apart and I could type about them for hrs but alas I fear I have lost most of my readers quite a few minutes ago, if you got this far you deserve a medal :D
I love them both dearly, each of them with exquisite features and wants...how very blessed am I!!!

An Introduction to the shananagins that is the life of Shell

To start I need to bring you up to speed...Shell, married my fab Husband Andy in the Chilly Winter of 2004, became Mummy in to Declan in July of 2007 and Thalia in Feb of 2009.

I have joined the blogging world in order to keep a record for myself and my children to look back on as well as any welcome readers who want to have a peek :) I want to attempt to capture those special moments of my family life, the funny tales and things my little ones say as well as the hard times, the learning curves ......it may be a roller coaster of a ride but it's sure to be a interesting one!

If you were to ask me my occupation, I would answer..
"I'm a research Associate in the field of Child development and Human Relations"
-to explain a little I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in a laboratory and in the field (indoors and out).
I'm working with Masters, and already have 2 credits (a son and daughter).
Of course the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,(any Mother care to disagree?).
I often work 14 hr days (sometimes more),the job is more challenging than most run of the mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.
My lab assistants- ages 2 1/2 yrs and 11 months are both in the child development program and very unpredictable at times but I love them to bits.
Motherhood!!! - What a glorious career.

I think it is only fair that I give you a word of warning: My family and children are my world and life,I'm sure they will take the lime light in my blog...if you don't like it, don't read it.Simple really

My day to day life include imaginary dragons, screaming, laughter, toilet training, the wiggles, baking, smelly little parcels, feeding frenzy's, washing, Thomas the tank engine, finger painting, Bobbie feeds, gardening, kiddy art, tantrums, gentle cuddles, fun filled baths, lullaby's, in the night garden, mountains of books, cloth nappies, play dates, demands, teaching, Bear in the big blue house, having conversations with random toys... the list goes on one of my faves being naps!! The good comes with the bad, but the good always outweighs the bad in the end.
If your reading this and thinking 'kids, not for me!'- do it, do it, do it, I promise you won't regret it- your whole perspective on everything changes, you learn so much and the experiences you will have are so incredible that words can't describe.

My plan so far for 2010 are as follows:
start my cert 3 in child services course through Tafe (distance education), volunteer at a child care centre (or paid work if they want me), swimming lessons for the two munchkins, start a blog (check :P), plant a veggie garden and keep my current garden alive (lol...still learning my role in the dirt), become more active with the QCSN (Queensland Christadelphian Support Network), plan a small child free holiday for hubby and I, keep attending mothers groups, mmm it's too late to think...how about I just fill you in as it happens :D it's a start though and I guess that's what counts.

So that's the plan!!! I will endeavour to find time in my crazy world to keep this blog somewhat updated on a regular basis and I look forward to sharing my experiences.
love to you all and hope you all have a happy and fruitful 2010

-shell