Catching Up

Whoa, has it been over a week since I was last here? Where did that chunk of time go?? Life here is a little hectic at the moment - with the work we're doing around the house taking up pretty much every spare minute and leaving me worn out at the end of each day, combined with work, running around after the kids and all the other things that being a wife, a mum and running a house entail I just haven't had a whole lot of free time. And the next couple of weeks look set to be even crazier as I'll be working pretty much every day. A totally insane decision that is already making me a little stressed but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Besides, after that I'll have two weeks holiday (at home, working on the house and yard!) to relax and catch up.

So what's been going on?

Offspring #1's thumb has pretty much recovered so at football today be managed to land on his shoulder. Yes, his shoulder. Luckily it doesn't seem to be more than a pulled muscle. His birthday is later this week and he's on a pretty big warning that if his behaviour at home doesn't improve there won't be a birthday at all. That said, I'm actually getting worried that his birthday present isn't going to arrive in time.

Offspring #2 has had a little leap in learning and wants to write every word ever spoken, written or thought. She has me making lists - parts of the body, things in a house, things we can see, etc, and then copies them all out, colours them in and generally has fun playing with letters and language. It's amazing to watch and so much fun seeing her little face light up when she works something out.

The reno work is progressing nicely. We've started the wall at the back of the house and I've been busy pulling out plants, ripping out the old coffee-rock retaining wall (it's hell on the hands and nails), pulling up brick paths (also hell on the hands and nails) and over the weekend I've put new plants into the tiered garden beds at the front of the house. As a result of all that I've not been doing quite as much baking and cooking as normal but I have tried a few new recipes. I'll try and get them up during the week.

And finally... I roasted a leg of lamb in the slow cooker for dinner tonight and decided to go the extra bit and do roasted vegies and cauliflower and broccoli gratin. I had plans to make a delish new dessert that a friend had shared with me but the kids vetoed that suggestion - they wanted marshmallows cooked on the fire that Hubby had going in the front yard. I said no, #2's asthma has been playing up and there was no way I wanted her out in the cold smoky air. Hubby to the rescue...

They simply toasted their marshmallows on the inside fire. And loved every single sticky mouthful. Thinking outside the square? Who knew it could be so much fun?

Making Myself Laugh

Hubby left a bowl of choccies in front of me on the kitchen bench. Then he went and sat on the couch. Then he realised all the choccies were in front of me. You know, on the kitchen bench.

He said, "I bet you can't throw one of those choccies over to me here on the couch."

And I, the ever loving and supportive wife, decided that I should show him he was absolutely right. So I threw them everywhere but at him. Completely and utterly on purpose. And then laughed myself silly at the look on his face.

I crack myself up!

Never Trust A Man With A Chainsaw...

Hubby headed into the backyard with the chainsaw last weekend. There were a few big wattle trees that had become somewhat overgrown and needed some trimming and thinning out.

"Don't worry," he told me. "You'll hardly be able to tell the difference and you still won't be able to see the back fence. I'll just thin them out a bit to make room for the new apple tree and see if we can get some sun on the passionfruit."

My reply was something along the lines of a grunt and a nod and away he went.

Upon completing the job he wandered in with a slightly concerned look on his handsome face. It seems the trees covered quite a bit more of the back fence than he had thought and, "ummm.... well, it looks a bit different now."

Yeah, you can totally see the back fence, the back neighbour's water tanks, sheds and privacy screen (which he really put up for our benefit so we didn't have to look at his collection of junk outside his shed - he's a very nice man).

The positives in this? Hubby is pretty terrific to have done all that work so he could plant MY apple tree. The passionfruit actually get some sunshine now instead of being in the shade 24/7. Yes, we do see the back fence but it has really opened up the yard and it's not that bad. Hubby's concern that I would hate what he'd done. Gotta love him just for that one alone.

A Birthday Of Epic Proportions

Well, not really. Though we did all end up completely exhausted! Hubby's birthday was yesterday and a birthday dinner wasn't really on the cards. We would be at the zoo all day on his actual birthday then had family coming for birthday cake when we arrived home so dinner was more likely to be tasted sandwiches (in reality it turned out to be tinned soup and toast!). So I thought I'd do something a bit nice the night before.

On Saturday we had the following conversation:
Me: (with freezer door open) Hubby, what do you want for dinner tonight?
Him: Marinara.
Me: (pulling a face of extreme distaste, and with a pack of frozen chicken thighs in my hand) So... chicken then?
Him: (pulling a face back at me) Chilli Mussels .
Me: Right. So chicken then.
Him: Why do you even ask me? You never make what I want anyway... rant... rant... rant. (I kinda tuned out at then point)
Me: Well, honey you know I don't like marinara and the kids probably wouldn't so I'm sorry but it doesn't tend to end up on the weekly menu. Also it smells bad and I don't like cooking stuff that smells bad (yeah, the orignal seafood hater is married to the man who likes to catch and eat fish. Wrong on so many levels. But we make it work LOL).

Anyway, then I felt all guilty about never making food that he likes (because apparently all the lovely things I cook? He doesn't like?? I don't think so!) and decided to up the brave and make his damn chilli mussels. Especially since I actually do like chilli mussels. I think because the chilli bit disguises the mussel bit.

And so I did. They worked out okay - I cobbled together a few different recipes I found and despite them not being quite 'chilli' enough he was very happy and we called that his birthday dinner. I am going to make them again and play around with the recipe a bit until I get the end result we're after. Then I'll share it with you. But for now... this is what they looked like when I remembered to grab the camera (after we'd eaten about half of them!).

Offspring #1 lived up to his reputation and happily tried them, declared them to be fabulous and tried to eat the rest of them while Offspring #2 lived up to her reputation and declared them to be "ewwww" just from looking at them. Although I messed up the timing somewhat we treated the mussels as the entree and I made Crunchy Parmesan Crumbed Chicken with steamed vegies for main so everyone was kept happy.

Hubby chose his own birthday present, collected it, assembled it, used it and approved it. Then we wrapped it. I wonder if you can guess what it is?

And then we spent his actual birthday at the zoo. Normally we hire a buggy to cart the kids and all our stuff but we decided that #1 probably wouldn't fit in the buggy anymore and #2 was big enough to walk it. Great decision as there were no buggies left when we arrived. We didn't cover the whole zoo but we saw all our favourites - from the giraffes for #2, to the crocodile for Hubby and we found the new-since-we-were-there-last penguin area where the penguins were busy racing up and down their tank which had the kids enthralled and in fits of laughter. We took a few pics of our fave's but didn't go overboard.

And then, on the walk back to the car at about the point both kids were too tired to take one more step we found a playground. The rejuvenating powers of a playground should never be underestimated!

For a low-key kind of birthday I think he did okay!

Wishful Thinking

My whole house looks like the living room threw up across it at the moment. Whoever tells you that Ikea furniture is easy to put together is lying. And probably doesn't have a husband who is sick as a dog but making a Herculean effort to get the damn thing looking like what it's supposed to. I had high hopes that by now we'd be snuggled up on the couch watching Friday night tv and sneaking admiring glances at the cabinets during the ad-breaks. Instead I'm following orders, listening to him swear under his breath and wincing in sympathy each time he tries to cough up a lung. Hubby has an appointment with the doctor tomorrow morning and then we're heading out for the day to catch up with some old friends so that pretty much wipes out Saturday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that by Sunday afternoon things will be a little more settled both living room-wise and Hubby being a wee bit more healthy-wise.

It's A Good Thing I Think He's Funny!

Yesterday morning I was flipping through the newspaper while I was sorting school-bags and lunches at the kitchen bench. I came across an article about a survey of Britons who had declared that Jane Eyre's Mr Rochester was the most romantic character in literature. I scoffed to Hubby that he was nowhere near the lead for that title, indeed Mr Darcy was my ultimate winner. Hubby astonished me by remarking that Darcy was "arrogant, aloof and up himself" - oh I wasn't astonished by the sentiment, Darcy is after all each and every one of those things, rather I was astounded that Hubby, Mr I-Don't-Read-If-I-Can-Possibly-Help-It-And-I-Definitely-Don't-Read-Fancy-Literature-Type-Stuff, knew that about him.

After closing my gaping jaw, I agreed with him but said that Darcy was still a million times better than Rochester. As I told Hubby, Rochester kept his deranged wife in the attic. Hubby's reply? "He was lucky to have an attic. I have to keep mine in the kitchen." With that he gave me the cheekiest wink you can imagine and then dear reader, we fell about the place laughing. Seriously, belly-aching, child-scaring, laughter. That's love.

Date Night

It's date night in our house and I'm so excited. The kids are having a sleepover at Nan and Pop's while Hubby and I head out to a movie and dinner. I've been looking forward to it all week. Several hours of uninterrupted time with Hubby, a movie I can watch from beginning to end without having to take anyone out to the toilet (like, say, Offspring #2 who needed to go three times during Ice Age 3 a couple of weeks ago!), not having to cut-up, cool-down or otherwise fiddle with anyone's dinner, lingering at the restaurant over a last glass of wine without anyone whining, and dining at a restaurant that doesn't start with Mc or Hungry! You can see why I've been looking forward to it all week.

We're dropping the kids off later this afternoon and then heading down the hill to catch an early session of the new Harry Potter film. Then off to dinner, where I will order neither chicken or pasta - because I pretty much always order chicken or pasta and I'm really going to try hard to choose something else - with a nice bottle of wine and some conversation that has nothing to do with our children. Lovely.

Okay, we probably will talk about the kids but they won't be the sole topic of conversation.

Like I said. Lovely.

He Loves Me!

Hubby got back late-afternoon on Saturday and, although the trip he was on had been on the cards for a while the actual 'when' of it happened quite quickly so he wasn't quite as organised for Mother's Day as he might usually be. He did manage to buy my M-Day cards from him and the kids but asked if I would very much mind picking out my own pressie. That's not quite as bad as it sounds - I wanted a new apron and pot-mitts and knew exactly what I was after so probably would have had to point him towards them anyway and I did pick up some very pretty tulips that I decided could be from him and the kids. I was happy - I was getting new stuff that I wanted and he'd be home in time to cook my special M-Day brekkie.

All went according to plan and, after accepting all offers of help with unwrapping presents, at Mr Six's insistence I ate breakfast in bed. Alone. They all ate breakfast at the breakfast bar, like we do every day. It was very funny, even through Mr Six didn't see what his Dad and I were laughing about.

Monday rolled around and Hubby wasn't particularly well. He has some tummy troubles and these trips seem to exacerbate them. He took himself off to the doctor for some help and then to do some chores that couldn't be put off. He arrived home some time later with a surprise. A pretty surprise. A surprise I'd had on my wish list since before Christmas. He gave me a big hug, told me how much he loved me and gave me a beautiful Pandora bracelet. It only has one charm at the moment; L for Little Miss. The B for Boy Child is on back order and I'll have that very soon. Then he's going to add charms for birthdays and Christmas, anniversaries and special occasions and just because he loves me. Yep, he loves me. Which is pretty lucky really. Because I love him too. A lot.

Bedtime Reading

Hubby and the offspring, reading before bed. For a man who says he doesn't like to read he does a pretty good job most nights!

And The Beast Is Gone!

Hubby sold his car this week. You remember? The car that died a death that surprised no-one but him. Don't worry, he didn't do anything dodgy. His ad clearly stated that it had a blown head gasket and he also made sure he he told everyone who rang about the car.

The guy who bought it seems happy enough. He didn't want the engine anyway, he's rebuilding another car and plans to strip this one for parts. There was the obligatory haggling and everyone ended up happy - Hubby had some cash in his pocket and the buyer had a car that he can't drive.

I can't say I'm sad to see the back of that particular vehicle. And I'm pretty sure the neighbours are glad they don't have to hear it anymore!

A Quick Trip Away

Hubby had plans to play golf with his buddies from Red Dirt Central for last Friday. And when I found out that the game was being played in a town two hours from here, where a good friend of mine from Red Dirt Central hails from and had recently returned to live, I quickly decided that the kids and I should tag along and spend the day visiting. Upon checking that they would indeed be home we were promptly invited to arrive the day before and stay the night with R, J and their kids. We had a lovely night - the kids played, jumped on the trampoline, ran around under the sprinkler and eventually fell into their beds absolutely exhausted - while we caught up on all the news, partook of a few drinks together (or in the case of Hubby and J, a few more than a few drinks!) and enjoyed a very delicious bbq with all the trimmings.

Hubby headed off to golf the next morning while the kids and I visited a little longer before we too headed off to catch up with other friends. Our afternoon visit was to an old teaching friend of mine who Hubby and I worked with many, many years ago in Red Dirt Tiny Town. We hadn't seen each other since Offspring #2 was just a few months old, though we catch up here as well as through emails and Facebook, so it was really nice to sit and enjoy a cup of tea with her while all the kids played. Her kids are cute as buttons and went out of their way to make my kids feel welcome - so sweet just like their mum! It's kind of funny to think back on what we all got up to so many years ago and compare that to where we are today with kids and mortgages and the responsibilities that go along with each.

By late afternoon it was time to collect a rather 'tired'* Hubby (I'd already agreed to drive home so he was allowed to be a little 'weary' but he was rather more 'tired' than I'd anticipated!) from the golf course and start the journey home. He and Offspring #2 slept a good part of the trip and we arrived home a mere 28 hours after we'd left.

I managed to cart my camera along for the whole trip and didn't take a single photo (d'oh!) so no pics of beaches, or rivers or kids or anything at all!

tired* - code word for one who has a few beers while playing 18 holes of golf in 40C-odd temps and doesn't stop to eat lunch!

Happy Anniversary Hubby

Dearest Hubby,

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary. Who would have thought that falling in love, pretty much at first sight, just over 12 years ago would have us where we are today? We have built a wonderful life together and I'm even more in love with you today than I was when we got married.

You're a terrific dad to our kids and I love watching you with them. You get such joy from playing with them and remind me to slow down and enjoy them while they're little.

You work so hard to provide for our family and always want the best for us. You make our house so lovely and put up with all my wacky, not-particularly-well-explained plans for it then produce something even better than I could have imagined.

Although it's cliched, it's true to say that you are my very best friend in the world. I tell you everything and never worry that you'll judge me. I love spending time with you, whether we're on the go and doing stuff or just hanging out together. I love that you love me because, not despite, all the things I do that make you laugh or shake your head or groan with sheer bloody frustration.

I even love all the things you do that drive me crazy - that you make up your own lyrics for songs, that you have a crazier sense of humour than me, that you like music I hate, that you find it impossible to just sit still and relax and that you go out of your way to annoy me then make me laugh when I'm trying to be angry

I love that you tell me you love me every single day and I love that you chose to share your life with me. Most of all, sweet Hubby, I love you.

Your ever-loving wife,

Red Dirt Mummy xxx

A Day On The River

The house is in dire need of some attention and cleaning so when Hubby asked if I wanted to spend the day in the boat on the river I was easily persuaded to join him. Some of you might remember that I'm not too keen on boats but spending time on our (really rather small) boat on the ocean and in the river is completely different and I, along with Hubby and the kids, had a wonderful time.

We were going to head up the river, let the kids have a go at fishing and then have a picnic lunch but once we were on the boat we decided to head down the river and towards the city instead.

We ended up going all the way into the city and it was great fun to see the city up close from the river.

Along the way we wandered up the canals in East Perth and exclaimed over the gorgeous (and very expensive) houses.

Heading back up the river we came across a deserted park that had a fabulous playground and decided that it was the perfect place to stop for lunch. The kids ran off some energy while Hubby and I read the paper before we tucked into sandwiches and fruit.

Once back on the boat we pulled off to the side of the river and and the kids did a spot of fishing. #1 caught a couple of Blowies, #2 caught nothing but did so very enthusiastically!

By then we were all starting to feel the effects of a sunny day on the river and decided it was time to head back to the car. Poor Offspring #2 couldn't quite make it that far and fell asleep bouncing around in the boat.

We had such a lovely day and I promise that I'll be heading out on the boat again sooner rather than later.

Hubby's Home!

Hubby arrived back in the hills yesterday afternoon and I'm so glad to have him home!

I hadn't told the kids that he'd probably be home earlier than planned (I wasn't quite prepared to believe it myself!) and had just kept to the original story that he was due home on Sunday. Earlier this week he told me he'd probably be home Friday but they got a couple of jobs done even quicker than they'd hoped and got in an extra day early.

I thought I'd give the kids a surprise and told them that their Aunty K had invited us for a coffee. They were pleased to be able to play with their cousins so fell in with the plans happily. When we arrived they commented on the man cleaning the car in Aunty K's driveway but it wasn't until Offspring #1 hopped out of the car and got a closer look at 'that man' that something clicked.

First off he squinted at 'that man', then he edged a little closer, then he muttered "Dad??????". At that point he was joined by Offspring #2 who, upon hearing her older brother's mutterings, stared at 'that man' before shrieking , "my Dadddddeeeeeeee!" and pelting down the driveway to him. This of course spurred her big brother into action and poor Hubby was just about knocked off his feet as two small bodies ran straight at him. After lots of hugs and kisses and dobbing on each other (where would we be without the tattling?) they checked that he'd be coming home with us and then declared that I was a 'very good tricker'.

Aaahhhh, these are the moment I love.

Then #1 and #2 started fighting again and I was forced to bang my head repeatedly against a wall.

Back In The Land Of The Living

... almost.

I've spent the last few days feeling less than stellar. A visit to the doctor, a dose of antibiotics, some rest, decongestants, asthma meds and lots of fluids and I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Still coughing, and a voice that comes and goes at will, but getting there. I have to be at work tomorrow but I'm planning to do as little talking as possible (yes, I can hear you all laughing from here!) and get as much cleared off my desk as I can after two days at home.

Hubby has started his new job and, of course, this is his first week away. He's about as far away as you can get and still be WA. Not a great time for me to be getting sick but that's the way it goes :)

The Tale Of A Chainsaw Lovin' Hubby

We had an order from Western Power (the electricity supplier for metro West Aust for those not here) to lop some trees along the front fence-line. They were getting a little too close to the power lines and needed to be cut back/down/off altogether! We do think that the powers-that-be have gone a little over the top in reaction to the big fire that went through this area during the summer but better to be safe than sorry. While Hubby was tending to those trees he decided to trim a few others that were overhanging the drive-way and the fire-break around the edge of the yard - you have to have a fire-break in these parts if your block is bigger than a half-acre.

The yard now looks a heap neater but we have a massive pile of branches down the front.

How big you ask? Well, here's a close-up...

And here's one from a little distance away...

Yeah, Hubby's gotta do everything BIG!

Changes Part 2

Hubby quit his job today! He's been offered a new job in an entirely different field - he's got lots to learn although large parts of it are stuff he already knows or can already do. It's scary, risky, exciting, a huge decision and a fabulous opportunity. I'm so pleased for him.

Riddle Me This?

What do Dorothy's red shoes, a certain John Denver song and a Hothouse Flowers album from the early 90's have in common?

Give up yet?

Dorothy's shoes took her there, John Denver asked the country roads to take him there and the album title is where it is... HOME.

We're going home! Yep, for good. Hubby was offered a job back where he used to work, they want him so bad they are working to find me a job there too. So, in six weeks time I will no longer be a Red Dirt Mummy! Wooohooooooooo!

Hmmm... I guess the last bit kind of gave away the fact that I'm pretty darn pleased and pretty darn excited.

More details to follow later.

The Best Hubby!

As I said in the last post this has been a rotten week at work. It has been quite stressful and not terribly pleasant and, quite frankly, I fully intended to resign more than once. But... some sound advice, the promise of some useful assistance this week, and lots of support from Hubby have got me through. I came in from work on Tuesday exhausted, quite upset and not really able to see a way to the surface. My stomach was churning, I felt quite ill and the last thing I wanted to do was have to come in and cook dinner, deal with the kids and do the bedtime routine. To say that Hubby stepped up to the plate would be a massive understatement. Before I even had my shoes off he had a glass of wine poured for me, he dealt with the kids the whole night AND cooked a wonderful dinner! He used the mince I'd grabbed out of the freezer and searched through my recipe books for something that we had the ingredients for. He ended up using a book that was published while we were both still in primary school and it could only be described as "retro" but it proves that some of the less fashionable (and less pretty) cookbooks really hold up over time.

So, here's the fabulous meal that Hubby made. He said it was easy, I say it was delicious!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wonderful Ways To Prepare Italian Dishes by Marion Mansfield

Serves 4

250g minced (ground) beef

250g salami, minced (he used the sliced salami and chopped it up quite small)

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 egg

dry breadcrumbs (didn't have any int he cupboard so he made fresh ones- after ringing me to find out how LOL)

1/3 cup oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped

2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped

2 teaspoons basil

2 cups hot beef stock

375g spaghetti

boiling salted water

Combine meat, salami, grated cheese, parsley and egg to a soft mixture, form into small balls and roll in breadcrumbs. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan, add meat balls and cook, turning until browned on all sides, lift out, drain and keep warm.

Heat remaining oil and the butter in a flameproof casserole (he just used a frypan) . Add onion and saute until transparent. Add tomatoes and basil, over and cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add meat balls and hot stock to the casserole (frypan), baste well, cover and cook for 25-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling salted water for 15 minutes or until tender, drain well, add to the casserole, gently stir through and serve.

So, We're A Little Odd..

I know, I know! As if you didn't know that already LOL.

Anyway, we have a few Christmas traditions. Some are fun, some are sweet, some are silly and one is just plain ewwwww. You know how most everyone leaves a snack for Santa? And lots of people leave a snack for the reindeer? And usually Santa's snack has been eaten and there is a plate of crumbs for the kids to discover in the morning? And sometimes the carrots will have been "chewed" up and some of it will have dropped in the yard? Well, ours goes just a step further than that. The reindeer leave evidence that they have been. That they stopped right outside our house, or in the case of this Christmas they stopped outside Nan and Pop's house. Yep. You guessed it. Our Christmas tradition is reindeer poo!

That was at 6.30 on Christmas morning. Offspring #1 is pointing to the skid marks that Santa's sleigh made as it stopped on the road while Offspring #2 is just amazed at all the poo!

Hmmm... can you tell this is a totally staged shot? LOL.

And finally, checking the skies to see if Santa is still around.

Aahhhh, you gotta love it (or just be really revolted - whatever works for you).