Reflect and Renew

So here we are again. New Year's Eve and we look back and look forward.
So looking back, 2011 was a big year in my family. We sold our house and bought a boat, The Roobear started school, I left a job I had been in for over 8 years (and then promptly ditched my new job of 3 months for an awesome but temporary part time one) and then we left Sydney.
New school for the kids, new job for me, new job for The Husband and a new, huge home that we could actually spread out in. Recently a new car and another awesome family holiday on the Gold Coast. Along with all those changes we made some new friends but importantly kept some great old friends.
It really doesn't get much better than 2011.
During December in the dying moments of the year The Husband and I have had some discussions about the future for our family and ourselves as individuals.
The Husband is planning on finally getting his shit together and writing something. He is also going to do the little jobs I ask him to do in a timely fashion rather than in his own time (I made that one up but I can always hope;).
I am going to join the preschool committee as my youngest daughter, The Evil One/Small Fry heads to Preschool in anticipation of big school. This year is likely to be my final year in the part time work force so I am hoping to make the most of it. I am also going to get in shape. I don't know if that means losing weight but I want to at least be fit again by this time next year. I will be paying particular notice to my nicely developed tuckshop arms and my starting point is to run up and down our staircase for 10 minutes x3 each day.
Catch me out - go on! I dares ya!
We are planning to make the trek to Uluru in winter. That will be Da Shiz!
My children? Well that's where the spanner was thrown in. The Husband asks me if I want another baby. This is the last opportunity so I need to think carefully he tells me. At first I was excited and could see us having 4 babies. My girls are all 2 years apart and 2 years ago I had really wanted another baby and The Husband had said no. We would need a bigger house, a bigger car and we couldn't afford those therefore no more babies. I was really disappointed and fortunately for my own sanity I got sucked into retraining and a new position at work so not only did I have to forget about another baby but by the end of the year I was almost in divorce court - it was a stressful year for everyone and I would never take on that much again. A baby as it turned out would not have been a great idea.
2011 was not nearly as stressful despite the upheaval but in thinking about a new addition I have had to reflect on our family life. In the last 2 years things have been pretty great. The girls are starting to really play well together, in 2011 the eldest 2 have been at school together bringing a new dynamic to their relationship, Small Fry is so keen for school and is only 12 months away reminding me of why I had them so close together in the first place. I wanted my children to experience life stages together. Unlike my own relationship with my much younger sibling that is literally non existant.
The girls are all fairly independent now and we all get a reasonable amount of sleep. We can all swim without floaties, wipe our bums and get a drink of water - life is bloody awesome!
Not only would I be turning back the clock with another baby but I would be leaving it out in the cold in terms of the 'sister connection'. Then there's the possibility that we have a little boy -what the fuck do I do with one of them?! There's also the future that I look forward to with The Husband. In 5-6 years the girls will be old enough for us to go and play a round of golf together, have a dinner date without having to go to the Gold Coast to do it! We, as a couple and a family, will be able to do some wonderful holidays that I am really looking forward to.
So after much backing and forthing I have decided not to change my family now. We are just right the way we are. I never hesitated once about having the other girls, this is the biggest indicator to me that I am done -though I will always cuddle your baby if you have one, they is soooo cute and wonderful to smell!
So looking forward- Uluru & hopefully some good work to bring good money to keep the fun rolling! I have come to some work conclusions that will make my life much easier. I was always pushing for the next thing never really appreciating what I have or what I do. This has been my mistake. I love my job and I love my family. Rather than always pushing myself to be better for someone else I am going to push myself to do my best (not hard) and enjoy my family. Therefore, bugger the promotion ladder - who cares?! My family and I love my holidays and an extra few bucks ain't worth losing them! I'm going to spend 2012 making awesome memories with my kids and The Husband because I am so lucky to have them and have taken them for granted one too many times in my opinion!


In review - 2011 bloody fantastic!
To the future - Bring it!


So Happy New Year to you all.

Now, where are those fireworks?

PS. If I've lost it a little and rambled -I've been drinking...it's NYE for fuck's sake!

The best time of the year!

This is my favourite time of year and Christmas is literally the best of the 365/6 days we get every year. I love it and so does The Husband but the lead up to the day is all part of the enjoyment.
So since we last met I have taken Long Service Leave to extend my Christmas season! 7 weeks of summer, such as it is.
Primarily I took leave to get ready for Christmas because we were making what has become our annual pilgrimage to the Gold Coast for the week before Dec 25.
7 days in Paradise (Resort) which happens to be conveniently located on Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise.
7 days spent in the pool, by the pool, napping, dropping the kids of at Zone4Kids before a dinner date every night followed by cocktails before picking the kids up and wrapping up a generally awesome day. If you haven't been there, do yourself a favour.
It may not sound like much to some but when you have 3 small children to raise and work and keep house a week where you do nothing but play with your kids and then offload them to someone else is simply a greater feeling than words can describe. The total lack of work to be done alone is phenomenal!
The Husband may not have but I even enjoyed the drive there and back despite the 8-10 hours stuck in a car with said 3 children.
So back to the big day...or 2.
I have bought and wrapped presents. I have prepared lunch menus with The Husband ('cos he does the cooking) for Christmas Eve & Day. I have shopped, attended presentation assemblies, Christmas Concerts, graduations and parties. I have farewelled colleagues going to far flung townships and farewelled my own job with both trepidation and relief. I have discussed the future of my family for 2012 with The Husband and now I have thoroughly enjoyed the 2 days of Christmas with Boxing Day (the laziest day of the year) still to come.
Christmas Eve included a house filled with friends and a large number of children. There was food, booze, chat and laughter and the constant background noise of the kids which to me are the sounds of summer. Christmas Day has obviously included the Great Unwrapping, the playing of all new games and toys, turkey, duck, ham, vegies, pudding, sparkling wine, white wine, beer...with a late seafood/salad/bread dinner to come though there may be a few vodkas first and a giggle at something funny on telly (The Griswald's Christmas Vacation is on -everyone SHUT UP!).

What did I get?
So I got 2 books, a dress and necklace/earrings set which I am very grateful for. It's always nice to have something to open Christmas morning but the best present I have received this year is hearing my daughters playing nicely together. They are always going to argue, and apparently scratch, but for the most part they have played well together for 2 days and most of our QLD holiday. I have my fingers crossed that we are turning a corner although I did just her Miss 6 tell Miss 4 that she is "slobbering on her pillow like a mad dog!"  as they prepare for a camp out in the rumpus room so I may have spoken too soon but I am holding out hope - tis the season!

So anyway, I do hope that everyone found something to be positive about this Christmas. I don't think you have to be religious to enjoy this time of year. I think you have to simply have love in your heart, a smile on your face and generosity of spirit. Enjoy the people you spend your time with or arrange to spend time with people you enjoy. Ignore the things that piss you off if you need to or better still be understanding of how someone may have arrived at their particular point of frustration - can you help them?
My mission is to continue this understanding for the other 50.5 weeks of the year (I've done a pretty good job this over the last 10 days I reckon) though I may need a little help and understanding at times myself.

More about the plans for 2012 next week, eh?

Merry Christmas!