A BIG and BRIGHT Day!

Tomorrow is a big and beautiful day. My awesome Dad retires after 48 years. That's a huge achievement I do believe. Congratulations Dad!

I've been thinking about how very few people nowadays will ever be able to say that they've worked 48 years in one place. I certainly can't.

And I've been thinking about how... odd retirement must be. But also like a fresh breath of air. A new and fresh adventure awaits you.

Tomorrow is also my birthday. As Nan so eloquently stitched on to this crown - Let the wild rumpus start!

What shall one wear on one's birthday? Besides a birthday suit. Inspiration, puh-lease.

I Just Got In Trouble From My Dad

He was like that middle guy up there, his jaw dropped and he was not impressed by his youngest daughter.


Like not just a little bit of trouble - but fo' realz trouble. My Dad is outraged! You want to know why? For April Fooling you. My Dad was not impressed. My parents rang me and asked what the heck I was doing tossing blogging to the curve. 


Did everyone forget - it's APRIL FOOL'S DAY! Oh crumbs. I totally thought you would have known that had Prank Patrol all over it. 


It's true friends. And even more honestly, I have been wracked with guilt for pranking you. I mean Ashton Kutcher could be proud of me. But I feel woefully naughty.

I now have one of those giant knots in my stomach feeling so, so guilty. I am sorry. Terribly sorry for being so naughty and mischievous. 


Will you forgive me for being so naughty?


On the flip side, I was completely heartened by your comments. And to be even more completely honest, I feel like I've been struggling a bit on my blog - so those buoyant words you shared with me, well they've boosted me. Because for a long time I've not felt I've been hitting it out of the ball park, I've just been playing T-Ball on my blog and it's been left wanting. But I have plenty to blog about. 


So perhaps we can say this was a mini-break?


After all, I need some votes to send me to NYC and score me a Ford for the year so I can stop borrowing my MIL's car during the week. A girl can dream, right??

Fathers. Dads. Papas. The Old Man.

Happy Father's Day to my huge fatherly audience (that's you Matt and my Dad!).

What did you do to celebrate?

I was woken early by the Doctor wanting to give Matt his Father's Day present (a money box - cute). I rebuffed, pleading for an extra half hour sleep on a Sunday morning. Wish granted.*

Half an hour later, proceedings commenced from the comfort of bed.

And then I got up, made bills corn fritters (Dad, when you're back, I'll make them for you too), wolfed it down.

Later in the afternoon I flaked and slept for 3 hours. Sorry Matt. I did feel marginally better though.

What a beautiful sunny Spring day. What did you get up to?


* Tiny gave Matt a toy helicopter. That's all she wanted to give him. Cute.

In The Grips Of The Gruffalo

If you have small children and you live in Australia, you might well be privy to the fact that The Gruffalo premiered on ABC1 on Monday.

This was most distressing for the Doctor because we were in the car driving home so he would miss it.

Thankfully my Dad volunteered (or did we volunteer him) to tape The Gruffalo for the Doctor's viewing pleasure.

The tape arrived today after much hoo-hah and fanfare. The Doctor tore into that package and has watched it twice already.

The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and actually a whole bunch of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's books are firm favourites in our house. They're fun to read, the illustrations are fantastic, and the stories are memorable.

The Doctor has put The Gruffalo Pop-Up Theatre Book on his birthday list. If you've not seen this it's a beautiful pop up theatre and the smalls (and bigs) can put on the Gruffalo play. It's complete with each of the animals and a book containing the script. Super cool.

Thanks Dad, I know that video will be well-worn by the time the Doctor is done with it.

And On The Weekend

We enjoyed a crazed choc-fuelled egg hunt.

My parents are embracing renovation madness (with awesome and inspiring results) and so it was that the Doctor was able to dig for dino bones. Here are his finds. Don't tell the museum because my parents house (and all their new renos) may be dug up for more dino bones.

The Doctor rode in the go-kart my grandfather made for me, yikes, must be about 20 years old!

My Dad called me Johnny Cash.

Tiny slept. Momentarily. And then woke revitalised and ready to rumble. Until she finally went to sleep in someone's arms.

And my Mum and Dad celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. GO L*O*V*E!

Favourite Past-times? Hanging Out With My Parents

My parents think that because I didn't put 'hanging out with my parents' in my profile, that I don't enjoy spending time with them. I totes do. See above. That's me and my sisters spending quality time with my folks. In matching dresses. That match my Mum's. That's how dedicated we are to hanging tough. Clearly my sister has just broken free from the roller derby to come and hang tough in our matching dresses because she's wearing skates. My other sister just looks plain angelic.

Hi Mum and Dad!

Ends

Yesterday was the Doctor's end of year Christmas concert/sing-a-long at pre-school. I signed up to bake cupcakes, foolishly so, why did I commit to making so many cupcakes so early in the morning. I know better next year (just jokes, I love making and baking cupcakes, a little patty pan of joy in each one).

In the lead up to the concert the Doctor had very animatedly demonstrated his moves. The lyrics. It was big stylie exciting in our house. I was excited, and also feeling a bit sad. I still can't quite pinpoint it, but I felt that stinging of tears whenever I thought of it.

Is it because my big boy was finishing his first year of pre-school?

I don't know, but yesterday was so exciting for him. Three of his grandparents came to watch him, along with Matt, Tiny and I. There was standing room only. It was a sell out.

On another front, my Mum was a little shocked to see Tiny wearing an outfit she had made for her. It's pictured above. My Mum said 'But it's pyjamas!' Trust me Mum, too pretty for PJs, all that work is too pretty to be hidden in the darkness. Plus, Tiny digs the whole ensemble, she doesn't want to take it off!

But We Didn't Find A Circus

So we ran away. We're up visiting my Mum and Dad and it feels so good. Country air. Freezing cold nights, chilly mornings, so many cups of tea. The smalls playing in the dirt. Op shops. Cups of tea! Cake! Lights! Camera! Lions.

I've hidden my camera at home so well I can't find it. I always seem to do that. I put things in 'special' places. So 'special' they're soon forgotten. Aye aye aye.

Thanks for all the kind comments. We're all good. I'm giving the first half of July the bird, but the rest is pretty darn good. I made an ace pear butter cake from here, and if you have it - do it, it's totally delightful.

So no photos today. But you'll be ok, won't you? Meditate on the cake. Trust me, it's worth it.

Have You Seen Teddy Boombastic?

As a continuation of ugly July we've now lost the Doctor's very favourite bear - Teddy Boombastic. He was given to the Doctor by my Dad. Four years ago. He's well loved and goes everywhere, Christopher Robin stylie, a boy and his beloved bear.

I've looked everywhere, turned the house upside down, the car inside out, questioned the Doctor (who keeps pointing the finger at Tiny and saying she's hidden it from him).

I've called all the shops, I can't even remember if Teddy came with us, but I'm just calling anyway. Blindly. No joy.

I've called the makers - Tomfoolery - nope, no cigar. They discontinued 'Albert' a while ago (why, why teddy bear makers? Is it to prematurely age weary parents?).

Would you believe - above is the only shot I can find of my little Christopher Robin with his bear? What a bad mummy.

If anyone has seen Tomfoolery 'Albert' in a shop - I've already been told I have Buckley's of finding one, please let me know. I am desperate.

In a bid to end ugly July.
Yours,
PMM x

Dad Jokes

the cringiest Dad of all. Danny Tanner. Even remembering his name makes me nauseous.

Almost as soon as the Doctor was born, Matt started cracking Dad jokes. It must be something programmed into the human psyche. I've been counting, and each time he cracks a Dad joke I tally up the score: Dad Joke Number 167.

These are excruciatingly painful jokes. Painful because, they're just plain silly, and painful because you have to force a couple of chuckles to verify that at least you've heard the joke. And that you don't want a repeat. Otherwise your ears may start bleeding.

I can't even remember one single example because I think out of kindness - my brain has deleted them.

However, I don't ever remember my own Dad cracking Dad Jokes. I still don't think he cracks Dad Jokes.

I do however know that my FIL has a whole cache of Dad Jokes. And these are even worse than Matt's Dad Jokes. I don't think I have any bias, I just think my FIL has more of a talent for bad Dad Jokes. That he likes to share over and over and over again. And then once more to make sure you've heard it. Uh huh.

Does your Dad, partner, husband, boyfriend or friend crack corny Dad Jokes? Is there a support group?

A Problem As Old As Time Itself

Would you believe, my camera batteries ran out in the middle of the party? Hmph. Big, fat, HMPH! It is dear friends, a problem older than time itself. No wonder there's no photos of dinosaurs, they always were running out of batteries themselves.

However, I have managed to snaffle just four frames from my camera before it decided it was outtie.

My Mum and Dad came as King of the Jungle (a funny little lion) and Queen of the Hive (a fab bumblebee). So cute. And it was a surprise, not even the bigs knew about it, so big and small were all surprised when they buzzed and roared in. This is what memories are made of. My Mum and Dad are super good!

The Doctor had an ace time. I searched high and low for a tiger costume for him, to no avail. We then downgraded to looking for a tiger, but only came up with adult versions (hello, hole in the market??), so I made him his very own tiger tail. Photo will come later as no photos available. Double hmph.

I think we're all still recovering from the party. I certainly am. But it was a wonderful, fun and memorable weekend for all the right reasons. And the smalls had super fun.

Oh and here's the cake we finally settled on. A dinosaur attacking a train. Super.

Blogger - please stop flipping my photos around. Tres annoying.