Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Say whaaaaat?.... Wednesday



Harlan was having a million temper tantrums the other day... so by the time we got to bedtime I was all too eager to get the boys straight to sleep and forget about any story time! 

Me - there is no time for books tonight.

Harlan - just one book mommy...

Me - (giving Harlan a sideways glance, secretly happy that he loves reading so much)

Harlan - Mom, just take a deep breath!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Freakin' Fantastic Folks!.... Friday

I love it when people come up with super creative ideas, and I love it even more now that these super cool people can share their ideas with the world as easily as clicking a little 'share' button.

Better yet is when the super cool creative people are parents who refuse to let their brains turn to mush after days and weeks and months of sleepless nights and toddler tantrums. Somehow their minds are saved, and they come up with such brilliant stuff!!!

I give you DINOVEMBER!

Ok, ok, I know it's February... But just look at what these parents do every November for their kids. It is fantastic and amazing and freakin' fantastic folks!

Follow this link:

https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/6f4cb1886d41

They also have a Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/dinovember

Now that just puts a smile on my face :)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Say whaaaaat?.... Wednesdays



While out the other day at our local country park, the boys were simply fascinated by a golden retriever that was running full speed into the freezing water to fetch a stick...

Harlan - I want to swim too mommy!

Me - Harlan, it's far too cold to swim my boy!

Harlan - (after some thought) One day when I'm a Dalmatian can I swim in the pond?

Me - Sure Harlan, when you grow up to be a Dalmatian you are welcome to swim in the pond!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Freakin' Fantastic Folks... Friday

Ok, so this week is a cheat. These are not quite parents (scary, I know...), but this is such an incredible script that I think every newly born baby should hear, on a daily basis, until they turn at least 16 years old!

I am a huge fan of Soul Pancake and Kid President!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Say whaaaaat?.... Wednesdays



At Burger King the other day (yes... we are those kinds of parents, stop judging!) the kids are wearing their paper crowns:

Harlan - Mommy I'm a king!

Me - Yes Harley, you are.

Malakai - Me king!

Me - Yes, you and Harley are both kings.

Harley - Mommy, let me tell you something (pulling me closer...) you are a girl king!

Me - Thanks my angel!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Five day forecast




Monday – rainy

Tuesday – wet and rainy

Wednesday – windy and wet and rainy

Thursday – freezing and windy and wet and rainy

Friday – horrible and freezing and windy and wet and rainy

 

I now understand why British people are obsessed with the weather. It’s on the news (and I don’t mean only the weather bit of the news mind you), it’s on social media, it is on everyone’s minds and in most conversations. “How terrible is the weather? Yes… I know… ghastly! Is it still raining? Can you believe the rain? Floods everywhere…”

 

They have a real point though, because the weather is really awful enough in the UK for it be the topic of conversation, because there comes a moment when you look out your conservatory (built to harness the heat from the non-existent sun) and think to yourself “I simply cannot believe just how crappy the weather can be. Really. It seems almost surreal that weather can be THIS bad… but it is. There you have it. More rain. More wind. More freezing temperatures. More misery pouring from the sky onto us poor folk down here.”

 

The weather in this place is news worthy, of that there is no doubt.

 

Personally, I must say I like the rain. Nothing beats this weather for a cuddle on the couch with a good book and an even better cup of coffee. But that’s not my reality! I have two young boys and who want to play play play, and who until four months ago, lived outdoors. They’re now stuck inside with nowhere to go. Bored and listless. Peering out the window at the slightest hint of sunshine, only to be disappointed when the dastardly clouds steal it away from them the next moment.

 

This weather sucks. It really does. What I would give for a day free from wind or rain – I’ll settle for dry even if it’s cold, thank you.

 

Friday, February 7, 2014

Freakin' Fantastic Folks... Friday

Lately I have been coming across some incredible stories of parents - just plain and simple parents like you me - doing freakin' fantastic things! Just totally cool, or completely insane, or heartwarmingly selfless, or forehead slappingly clever things that leave me saying firstly, "Wow, that is freakin' fantastic!' and secondly, "Why the hell did I not think of that?"

So I think I need to share what these incredible parents are doing - because it warms the heart, because their actions are full of ideas for other parents who are less creative perhaps (LOL!), and finally because maybe we can all take something from these stories and see the magic behind the sometimes mind numbingly mundane moments that make up a lot of the parenting experience...

First up!

An awesome father who takes disability and turns it on his head. What a cool, good looking, infectiously happy son, and with a father like his, it's no wonder!

The original link to the article on the Huffington Post is here

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Say whaaaaaat?.... Wednesdays

So, starting this lovely New Year (yes!!!!) is a new  regular post I'd like to call 'Say whaaaaat?.... Wednesdays'

While Harlan may be my second-born, I've experienced a lot of Firsts with him, not to mention the cutest, funniest and sometimes just plain scary stuff that comes out his mouth almost daily... The kid cracks me up!

I didn't experience this with Malakai, and of course a global speech delay will do that to a kid... I often wonder what Malakai would be saying if he could? What sorts of quirky ideas is he having but just not able to express?

But then, I spend a lot of my time talking about Malakai, so this is pure Harlan, because I love this crazy kid and think he deserves a medal for his awesomeness!!!




In the bath the other day Harlan drops a bombshell:

Harlan - Mom, I have a pain in my brain.

Me - Really? Harley where is your brain?

Harlan - I don't know mommy, where is my brain?

Me - (I point to my head)

Harlan - No mommy! You forgot! Its here! (laughing loudly and pointing to his heart...)

*I didn't know whether to laugh because he thinks his brain is in his chest, or whether to worry because my child is having chest pains!?

Saturday, February 1, 2014

A whole lot of newness

 

Happy New Year!!!

Ok. So I have never been the best at hitting at the nail on the head when it comes to New Year, I have always been a bit slower on the uptake and this year is no exception to that rule.

So, it's already February and I'm wondering where the time has gone? Wasn't it just Christmas? Good grief!

But I forgive myself (for once) because life has certainly been a crazy mish-mash of newness at every turn; immigrating to a new country, on a new continent, in a new hemisphere will do that to you!

Getting used to life in beautiful Surrey has been interesting, gut-wrenching, uplifting, terrifying and totally satisfying all at once. The tough bits are all about missing home, about looking out the window to face yet another day of drizzle, about craving an Ouma rusk with every fibre of my being, about wanting to reach out and realising the person I want to reach out to is not just down the road anymore. Yes, there have been tears.

But then I am faced with the glorious bits; driving through the countryside past farms and tiny villages to drop my children at their respective schools, really being dumbfounded at the prettiness that reveals itself around every corner, being pleasantly startled at how well the bureaucratic machine turns in this first world country, and of course... the children.

I am so stinking proud of my boys. Harlan has been a champion of a boy, walking into his new school and settling in with such bravery despite the fact that I know it was difficult for him. I know he was scared, I know he was nervous, I know he wished he didn't have to do it, but he did and he's happy now and I am one proud mama.

Malakai's school has been incredible, gently guiding and supporting him through the process of settling in. He has made incredible strides in understanding a whole new system and has gone from being allowed to run amok to sitting in his class alongside his classmates. This may sound small, but in Special Needs Parenting Land, this tiny step takes on Epic Proportions, trust me... I am so stupendously happy with this school that I actually find it difficult to put into words what they are doing for him... and in turn, for me.

So yes, I am a bit late for the New Year. But trust me, the New Year has been the last thing on my mind. Now that I'm all caught up and officially residing in 2014 in both body AND mind I am looking forward to everything it has to bring.

Photo credit: www.surreyhills.org