Bibliography

A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. Martin Tupper

We do so love books in our household. We have an ever increasing library...from Dr Seuss to Dickens; Beatrix Potter to Bill Bryson; L.M. Montgomery to Jane Austen and all manner of authors in between.

We REALLY love our children's book the most. We read a A LOT of books each day. it is lovely to snuggle on the couch together and read, listening to your 2 year old jump in with all of the dialogue to Where the Wild things Are, watching as the 5 year old reads Each Peach Pear Plum to his siblings, despeartely trying to keep bubba from chewing on the corners of all of the books left lying around while we grab more off the shelf!

I love this quote from The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame:

..."But the Boy, when he wasn't helping his father, and often when he was as well, spent most of his time buried in books that he borrowed from the local gentry. His parents were very fond of him, and proud of him too. They knew that book learning came in useful at a pinch, so they let him read as much as he liked. Natural history and fairytales were what he liked mostly. And he would read them in a mixed-together sandwichy sort of way - which is really a rather sensible way of reading."

While I'm at it, here are a few more favourite quotes from children's books....I have many but I'll just give you a taste:

"But that was not all. Some of the cars were filled with all sorts of good things for boys ad girls to eat - big golden oranges, red-cheeked apples, bottles of creamy milk for thier breakfasts, fresh spinach for their dinners, peppermint drops and lollypops for after meal treats."

The Little Engine That Could -Watty Piper

"Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement and implored him to exert himself."

The Tale of Peter rabbit - Beatrix Potter\

"Franklin's mother gave him a cold supper and a warm hug. Then she sent him off to bed."

Franklin in the Dark - Pauyline Bourgeois

""Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It is a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really LOVES you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt.""

The Velvetten Rabbit - Margery Williams

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

"Pooh!" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

Winnie the Pooh - A. A. Milne

A Special Bond

It was one of the best days of my life when I found out I was carrying twins. Even though J and I had jokingly been calling oour pregnancy "the twins"...it was all in jest...we thought...

At our twenty week scan it took less than a couple of minutes for the sonographer to ask,

"Is this your first scan?"

"So, how many babies are you having?"

I thought he was making small talk and enquiring as to the family size we were after ...but no...
there were too little bodies in my tummy...perfect in everyway.

We decided to find out what flavour the babies were and were very excited to find out we had one of each...a pink and a blue one if you will.
O, aged 2 at that time was oblivious to it all, and just kept playing with the small box of toys in the corner of the room.

Fast forward two and a third years to these two amazing kids. They truly are a blessing to us. They have a special bond which fluctuates between fierce protectiveness and love towards one another and frustration coupled with a good dose of jealousy.

I have come to realise what an amazing opportunity these two children have to work out how to build and negotiate relationships at a very young age. They very seldom have the luxury of uninterrupted time with a parent. They are developing their personalities in tandem with another child who is going through the same devlopmental stages. Each of them has the challenge of finding their own uniqueness in the middle of "twinnishness".

Chucklemuckles

I just want to tell you about my little chucky boy, C2...I have four kiddos and he is the least mine in lots of ways...he is all boy and LOVES his Daddy and Big Brother...but every now and then he favours Mummy..and is so snuggly and scrummy.

C is the spitting image of J when he was a boy...he has olive skin, beautiful big brown eyes and fantastic white blond hair. He is usually fearless and lives life to the full...I am thankful he is part of our family...he is exuberant...he is joyous...he is wow!

We are a quiet family in many ways...C was given to us to bring a spark of mischievousness and passion to out lives, to challenge our ideas about what is "acceptable behaviour"...I mean how can I reprimand a little 2 year old who lovingly covers up the baby with toys cos "bubba sad"? How can I refuse to cuddle a little guy who is distraught because he ripped his favourite book in a desperate attempt to show me the fire engine picture? How can I fault a boy who snatches a toy off his sister, but willingly returns it with a kiss and a cuddle and a "Sorry A"?

Yes, he has his moments...he screams, he has a tendency to hit and throw things in anger...he is a little guy who needs his family to encourage him and help him to develop in strength of charcter, loving him along the way.

What's For Lunch Mummy?

We are endeavouring to use as little processed food as possible...why???

*Cost...contrary to popular belief it is cheaper to eat fresh fruit, veges, breads, meat and the occasional baking or dessert treat than to buy readymade, prepackaged or processed foods.

*Health...it is nearly impossible to avoid nasties in processed foods...check out this site for info on trans fats...ugh!!!!

http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/PartiallyHydrogenatedOils.html

*Satisfaction...there is something deeply satisfying about serving up freshly homebaked bread with peach jam made the month before; or mango chutney on a lentil burger...now don't laugh, they are scrummy...really, truly...come visit and we'll make you some.

So what was on the lunch menu today?

Our one and only, lonely, mutant cucumber

Itty, bitty cherry tomatoes...the kids eat them like candy...okay these never got to the plates...cos y'know it is candy..."Must have candy"

A plateful of goodies...and a beautiful Princess

Provita crackers, cheese, tomato, cucumber, raisins, dates, mesclun salad and sunflower seeds.....mmmmm.

Internet Addiction

Okay...I need an intervention...We just got Broadband...and I just HAVE to check my blogs and boards about 10 times a day...just in case somebody posts something new. So I am making a public announcement...I will not turn on the computer til after the kiddos go down for an afternoon sleep...starting tomorrow!!!

Gotta smile

Look what I spied as I wandered into the lounge this morning...

Princess A reading Corduroy to her baby brother. Well TBH I had to restage the pic because as soon as I got near with the camera A dropped the book and gave me a cheesy smile and Bubba got interested in Master C on the other side of the room...but just imagine if you will.

It totally makes my day when I catch the kids loving each other...and others too.

Yesterday O-boy 5 literally bumped into a friend...

R 2 "Sorry O"

O-boy 5 "No, it is my problem, I'm sorry"

So gorgeous!

Getting Thru the Day

Feeling as if I am merely existing, when I really want to LIVE...Today started out as one of those days...a sleepless night looking after a sad baby, burning the porridge and throwing toast at the kiddos instead, not getting the washing on until 10am...pj's on til lunchtime...feeling like a failure yet again.

Picking myself up and making a choice...a choice to cuddle my daughter who just wanted some mama love...to sit on the couch and read Corduroy, the Magic School Bus and Where the Wild Things Are with a child on each knee and one draped around my neck...to feed the two year olds raisins while they sat on the bench watching the 5 year old and me making pikelets for lunch...and then eating said pikelets with icecream and maple syrup (and I didn't even remember it was Shrove Tuesday til a friend reminded me!)...saying yes to a dear friend who invited the five year old for a sleepover and picked him up and helped me hang the washing at 4pm...tickling bubba and snuggling him for a bit longer than I needed to...just cos I could...

This is LIVING...why can't I see it often enough? My first inclination is to measure my success by what I do...Is the house tidy enough? Are the kids faces and t'shirts clean? Have we achieved everything on mama's to-do list?

My dear friend reminded me again that I want to create rich memories in my children's hearts...they won't remember that the house was spotless but they will remember that mama was too busy to have a waterfight in the backyard. I am still trying to get my head around it...balance, being responsible and diligent and letting go and just being now and then.