So, it's been a busy couple of months. Blogging felt like a chore, so I didn't blog. Or vacuum. Or put away clean laundry.
I have 50 pairs of clean underpants, but I don't know where they are.
The first present of the day was the biggest hit - the pink Tutu from Ellie, Tyler & Soph. The pink party dress was immediately discarded in it's favour.
Well, obviously they're somewhere in 'Clothes Mountain' (or as Mr M calls it - the Floordrobe), but technically speaking, their exact location eludes me.
Mr M has started a new job. He starts and finishes a bit earlier each day, but this means that I have to take the kids to their Family Day Care lady's house on my own way to work, and pick them up again at the day's end - by myself. Otherwise they'd be there from 7.00am, and I have enough trouble getting us all ready to leave the house by 8 as it is, what with having to make sure we're ALL wearing clean underpants. AND other stuff on top.
Me at the party - I really love this photo! by Janet
This job also comes with a fully-maintained car. On the surface, this sounds great, and would be great, if we didn't already have two cars, one of which is being paid off. This would still be fine, if his new salary wasn't lower because he gets the car. So, we get a useless extra car, less money, and still have to pay for the other car. This would still be bearable except that he doesn't get that day at home with the kids any more, so we have to pay for an extra day of care for them. I only hope that he loves his new job.
Peanut and I, opening her present from Grace, by my father-in-law Fred
Xmas was busy as usual, and we did the usual with it; Xmas Eve at my Dad's house, celebrating Polish style, with sauerkraut, fish is various guises, and the usual present blitz. The adults all participate in Kris Kringle, including the partners, which is brilliant -it means only thinking of one decent present instead of several, and spending heaps less money. I cleaned up this year, with Season 1 of True Blood, and 3 seasons of The Tudors (I actually haven't blogged because Jonathan Rhys-Myers is my new thang - there, I confessed). Unfortunately, I drew Mr M as my KK, so the gift couldn't be a surprise. Still, he was happy with his new Call Of Duty and renewed subscription to The Old Machinery Magazine. Yes, it's as exciting as it sounds.
The kids brought home so many toys that we virtually had to remove all their old ones, otherwise we'd have to open a shop. And that's just from Xmas Eve.

Grace at the party, by Janet
After this, we had Boxing Day with Mr M's lovely parents in the country (I love going there. I love my other parents, they're just good people) where my two year old daughter learned how to emulate fart sounds by blowing raspberries on her own arm (and laughing maniacally). It seems having 6 boy cousins under the age of 10 can be useful after all. This happy event was followed by Mr M's birthday, he thought he was turning 43, and was pleasantly surprised to be corrected down to 41 (and so was I, hating the idea of being married to a decrepit old man). We then had a quiet New Year, celebrated by playing Mafia Wars on Facebook against each other, sharing a nice cuppa, reading in bed together (Marching Powder for him, Ancient Evenings for me), and sleeping in to a leisurely 6.30am the following morning. Aaaaah, life is good.
The most important event of note in the last two months though, was our daughter's 2nd Birthday. She's an astounding creature, all rosy and fair curls on the outside, cheeky independent little monster on the inside. She's quite capable of turning on a performance if necessary to get her way. She's quite spooky sometimes, in her understanding of the world, and constantly surprises us with what she's able to comprehend and use. We've always thought she was clever, but honestly, I think that a few years down the track, she's going to completely kick our arses. She's an extremely fast learner, and off the scale in intelligence. She's also quite simply the most adorable baby girl ever. E V E R.
Birthday Peanut, held by her Babcia, by Janet
So, her Birthday was great fun, there was face painting and balloon animals, chips, lemonade and chocolate cake. There are lost of photos to prove it, courtesy of thoughtful people like Janet, who knew I wouldn't be thinking of my camera on the day. Thanks fer helping commit the day to memory and sharing your photos with us. I hope that you don't mind me showing my favourites here.
And now, it's time to saddle up for dinnertime. The kids are Wiggled up this afternoon, and are running up and down the house, calling each other 'Monkey Man'. The Ratbag has one of my belts hanging out the back of his shorts, and his pumpkin-head Halloween mask on. Peanut is clearly overdressed in her nappy and pink fairy wings, curls plastered to her cheeks with smears of yogurt. Dinner? More like cheese & crackers.