Neighbours rock!

We officially have the best neighbours! We have had piles and piles of vegetation that I have cleared from the garden sitting around for a very long time. Unfortunately our council is not like our old council (North Sydney) and they don't collect vegetation. Instead you have to take it to the tip and pay per trailer load, as well as all the petrol used getting to and from the tip.

Unless you have neighbours like ours! They know this farmer a few blocks from our house who likes the vegetation for his cows, lambs and goats to eat ....... and they have a trailer. So yesterday morning they just rocked up to our place and took a trailer load of our vegetation off to this guy ....... in the rain! Naturally half an hour later the sun came out. That is dedication for you!

Now that we have been introduced to this farmer, we can now go and "dump" at his house as well. Sweet! Now if you saw this guys house, "dump" is a pretty good description of it!

Amazing story!

What an amazing story today about the 29 year old who was kidnapped 18 years ago outside her house in the US and has just been found. Not good that she was caged and raped, with two children to her kidnapper. But so great that she can now hopefully lead a much better life.

My gorgeous girl!

I took a photo of my gorgeous little girl yesterday and I am absolutely in love with it. So of course I had to share! She is 5 months old tomorrow.

The second child syndrome

It is so true what everyone says about having more than one child. You capture every moment of your first child's waking moment on camera, spend money on professional pics as a wee bairn and of course they need everything you come across while out shopping.

Come the next child, the poor thing misses out on everything!

I am determined not to be like that with Madeline, but can already see it happening. I don't want her in years to come to say to me "why are there so many photos of Jackson around but not me?", "why did you never do this with me?", etc. Unfortunately it just happens without you even thinking about it!!

Losing streak

First the pain of losing the Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday night by one point in the last dying minutes, now the Ashes to the Poms ........ not a good weekend in sport for the Aussies!

To add insult to injury, I am married to a Pom who has nothing better to do than rub it in!!

The mind of Master 2

Every day Jackson's imagination just gets more creative and I love watching it!

He's moved on from using whatever he can as a mobile phone (door chocks, magnets, paint brushes, etc) and is now onto food.

Today he was pretending to eat his wooden shapes and offered me some "watermelon". It was the tastiest watermelon I have ever eaten!! ;0)

Yesterday his yellow play dough was turned into bananas!

Oh the innocence of it all .......... and I love it!

Tax time!!

I'm off to the tax man shortly - SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!

Bargains galore!

Since I have lived in the Southern Highlands, I have now been converted into an online shopper. While we have a lot of things down here, there are just some things you cant get ......... like my brand of shampoo.

But I have turned into a bargain online shopper and have been impressed with some of my recent purchases. I just bought Madeline's summer wardrobe on the Pumpkin Patch esale, with some gorgeous dresses and tops at a fraction of the retail price, with dresses reduced from $32 to $12 ............. bargain!

Next stop was the Britt sale on the Ozsale website. Britt stuff is gorgeous, but I certainly wouldn't pay retail for it! So I stocked up on gorgeous Britt bears for new babies on the way and jackets for Madeline for next winter. I paid $15 for the jacket, which I saw in a shop the other day for $80! Now I call that a bargain!

Yes I may be a bit slow of the mark as I have always liked going to the shops and seeing what I buy, but where there is a bargain to be had, I am there!

Man flu - the tragic, debilitating disease

When it comes to being sick, there is nothing more debilitating than man flu ........ or so I've been told many times!! Apparently it is even worse than child birth - i'll let you make your own decision on that one!!

But what we can't ignore when it comes to this terrible disease is its global plight. So many sufferers around the world it's scary!

Whether a man flu sufferer, someone who has to put up with an infected one, or just simply who likes a good chuckle, you must read the Manflu UK website. You won't be disappointed!

Winter has forgotten its winter!

My dream winter is happening at the moment - warm and sunny! If winter was like this all the time I might actually start liking winter!

Not a wooly jumper, glove or beenie in sight! Of course that hasn't been the case all winter, but I am not complaining at all. A trip to the park has never been so enjoyable!

Bring it on I say!

Back on board!

Yes that's right! Here I am again after fighting the swines ....... well so we had convinced ourselves! The Keenos were all struck down this past week with a really horrible case of the flu, and the battle ain't over just yet unfortunately.

But I am pleased to report my brain is functioning again and ready to release more crap from the depths of the core!

Since I shut down for duties so much has happened. A dog rocking up at home with a human leg, lots of plane crashes, more Kyle Sandilands trashing, Woodstock 40th anniversary and summer weather taking over winter!!

One of the biggest disappointments of the week is news that Judith Lucy has replaced Hughesy on Rove. If there is one comedian (if you can call her that!) who I can't stand, it is Judith Lucy. The loathing goes back to The Late Show days ........ 16 years of hatred. What was Rove thinking?! The woman doesn't have a funny bone in her body. Sigh!

Anyway, that's a wrap from me. Catch you next time.

No inspiration!

I have broken my promise of a daily post, but I have a terrible bug that has taken over my head and body and it has left very little room in my brain for inspiration. Will be back soon I promise!

Getting bugged by the bugs

When your kid starts day care all you hear about is the amount of bugs they pick up ......... followed by how great it is for building their immune systems.

The first part couldn't be more true with any and every bug finding their way home! Can you tell that I got struck down with another bug this morning ........ so needed an opportunity to whinge!!

17 months on I'm still waiting for the last part to happen. Just as one bug goes another lands and spreads around the family! It wasn't so bad until we added another little Keen to the family, who picks up these bugs. Her first was at four weeks, which turned into bronchitus. It isn't nice having one so young sick!

Whinging aside, what is interesting though is that there were reports that came out just a few weeks after Jackson started daycare, which suggested that kids attending day care or playgroups are at a lower risk of developing leukaemia.

Good or bad I just wish these damn bugs would go away!!

New freedom - yippee!!

You probably won't share my excitement with me unless you are a mum with two children and a single pram, but I found a new freedom this week - the buggy board!!

When we had Jackson, we faced the dilemma on what pram to get but opted for the Mountain Buggy (no toddler seat) over the Phil & Ted's (toddler seat option) as we liked the Mountain Buggy so much more. We thought when the time came for number 2, we would assess the situation and sell the MB if needs be.

So when Madeline arrived, we decided to see how we went without getting a double pram and we have survived over four months now without needing as Jackson likes to walk everywhere! But there are just times when I would like to get places a little faster! So out I went this week and bought a Buggy Board - a toddler skateboard that connects to the back of the pram! It also doubles as a little seat if Jackson wants to sit for a minute.

Jackson loves it.......and mummy loves it even more!! I can now go for walks with the two kids, get around shopping centres much quicker and I didn't have to spent lots of money on getting another pram! Very happy indeed - well worth every cent I paid for it!

Strange happenings

There is a bizarre mystery that is really bugging me at the moment. Madeline's activity mat (which was of course Jackson's activity mat) has always played three tunes - each by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin. The mat is now over two years old and has always played the same three songs, over and over and over and over again! There is a separate button to push for each composer. Lights have also moved around the mat in time with the music.

That is until recently. The battery is running very low on the mat and for some reason no longer plays those same three songs that it has so tirelessly played. Instead it now plays three new entirely different classical songs.......songs that have never, ever, ever blasted out of the mat before. The old songs have just disappeared!

Added to the music, the lights now decide to come on when the music is turned off and don't work when the music is turned on.

Now I hear you saying, "are you sure it isn't the same songs just playing really, really slow." Oh no, no, no - completely new songs!!

It is actually refreshing to have new songs after hearing the other ones so many times.

Either someone thought they would play a lovely practical joke on me when they manufactured the mat, or maybe the mat is supposed to play different songs and just hasn't until now, or the devil is out to get me! Who knows?? I could just change the batteries as well and see what happens!

Either way, this is a mystery that is perplexing me at the moment!

Master 2 the monster

Not long after Madeline was born the Early Childhood nurse asked me how Master 2 had reacted to his new sister. We had been so blessed with the best reaction possible - complete adoration! She warned me to look out around the three month mark as toddlers realise that number two is there go stay and they can muck up.

So three months passes by with adoration growing everyday, putting that theory to bed. Until four months heralds itself. Master 2 suddenly turns into a roaring monster!

He goes around making tiger sounds, which scares Madeline. He waits for her reaction and then makes the noises even louder! Cheeky tiger!

Poor Madeline's head has also been subjected to thumps by various objects, including a wooden helicopter and a hard cover book. A few whacks by hand come her way every now, disguised by a tickle! Hmmmmm.

Despite all of this, she still looks at Master 2 with starry eyes! She loves her big brother.

Don't get me wrong, the kisses and cuddles from Master 2 far outweigh the taunts and thumps, but the monster within needs to toddle off until she can stand up for herself!

Pearl Jam and Ben Harper to rock it together!

I am so excited to find out today that Pearl Jam and Ben Harper are touring together in November. I was ...... and still am a 90s grunge chick at heart, just minus the Doc boots, band t-shirts and waist length hair! It has been 14 years since I last saw Pearl Jam at the Entertainment Centre - now I feel really old just saying that! Eddie Vedder.....sigh!

Ben Harper ........ sigh! Oh and another ....... sigh! Anyone that knows me knows my love for Ben Harper. I have seen him many times in concert and he never disappoints. If only Jack Johnson was touring as well and then I'd be a very happy woman!

It is an interesting combination of acts, with the rocking sound of Pearl Jam and the soulful voice of Ben Harper. Such a shame it is at the Sydney Football Stadium though - not sure it will work for Ben Harper as he's not a big venue kinda guy. Either way I am sure it will still be fab and would love to be there.

Entertainment Value of Master 2

As Master 2's ability to converse and understand increases significantly everyday, the entertainment value also increases!

I have caught him breastfeeding his teddy twice - but added to that he actually lifted his shirt and also burped him afterwards. Far too funny!

He also tried changing the nappy on Madeline's doll (not that one exists!), as she had apparently done a poopy! (see the video below)

I also caught him out of bed one night, but found it very hard to get angry at him as he was talking into his door chalk, which he was using as a phone.

Oh the imagination of a two year old! I am sure this won't be the last of these funny moments either.

Daily posts delivered!

I did promise blog posts every day, whether interesting or not, and I have delivered with a post every day for the past month! So there Michelle - twice as long as you put your bet on ......... now time to pay up!! I am determined to keep it going, unless of course I run out of things to say (never!!)