“Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends…” – Unknown
Joining Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday
Everyday Experiences, Lifelong Learnings
By: mamagrace7126 Comments
“Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends…” – Unknown
Joining Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday
By: mamagrace7145 Comments
When we first confirmed our holiday plans a few weeks ago, Mr Surfer told me that these days, robbers and house burglers read blogs as a means to find the next place to strike.
Well dudes, you’ll only find a half functional Thomas train set, a mountain pile of dirty nappies and pee-stained carpet over here. Go for your life.
In preparation for our first overseas trip comes the painstaking process of getting passports done.
The bureacreacy, the paper shuffling – all of it can drive any details adverse person nuts.
The greatest dilemma of all of course, were the actual photos.
Particularly for toddlers, the Australian Passport Office requirements are so unrealistic, they are laughable. Well, unless you’re the unlucky parent trying to fulfil them. No one’s finding it funny then.
No smiling is allowed. Keep mouth shout, infact. White background only. Nothing lower than the shoulders. Not too much space above the head.
Off we trotted to the photographer’s, oblivious to how much commotion it was going to cause.
At first, the twinlets were excited about being in a new little shop, full of interesting machinery and pictures.
Then, a big tall scary man with huge lobe earrings and a big black device wrapped around his neck came walking towards them.
No wonder they were petrified.
And there was no way in hell they were keeping still in front of a white background.
How confusing it must’ve been for them when after all these years of teaching them the association between a camera and a sweet smile, we suddenly commanded, “Don’t smile! No! No, keep still! Like this!!!”
Of course, trying to get them to pose like tin soliders was futile. What were we thinking?
I can count the number of times my husband has lost his cool. This failed photo shoot took up all the fingers on my right hand.
Infact, always the even keel Mr Surfer dropped the F-bomb. And for him to do that infront of a complete stranger carrying the camera added extra weight to the entire dire situation.
We decided to break the tension and walked out sans passport photos, completely defeated.
Thinking that perhaps the twinlets just needed some sustanance (and we needed to get our own shizz together), we went for a walk up the block. Plonking ourselves on the footpath, we fed the little stubborn munchkins some vegemite sambos.
Half an hour later, stomachs were full and moods were a little brighter, we headed back into the photo shop.
But nope. Another epic fail.
Screams, tears, scary photographers with massive ears.
Just wasn’t happening.
Mr Surfer dropped another F-Bomb.
Yikes!
Later that afternoon, as my camera adverse twinlets took their nap, I decided to go to my oracle Facebook for answers and asked if anyone knew the secret to perfect toddler passport photography.
Among the success (and not so successful) stories provided by Toddlers on Tour, Silly Mummy and iSophie, there was Rachel from The Kids Are All Right those who suggested that we “Find a friendly and patient Officeworks who will take the photos.” On the other hand, Renee´from Nee´Say had a quick and easy solution with “Phenergen and a white sheet.”
Then along came my friend, Jen who came up with the ingenious idea to do it the “baby way” – spread out a white sheet, lie the wriggly rug rats on the floor and take the photo from above.
And yes! It was a success…even if their hair did look like it was defying gravity.
Or we nearly blinded them with the flash…
Nevertheless folks, that’s how a passport photo of your tornado toddler is taken with the guarantee that all government documents and papers will be approved. I think…
Let’s just go on that bloody holiday already!
Joining in with the fabulous Jess for IBOT
By: mamagrace7129 Comments
For our impending holiday to Bali (Woot!), I’ve been trying to get the boys “culturally” and “linguistically” ready.
Last weekend, I thought it was time we tried on the batik shirts that my mum brought back from Indo.
Surprisingly, they wore them without protest!
Bali, or BUST!
Have you dressed your children in a national costume ? Or do you have enough trouble just getting them dressed?
Joining in Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.
By: mamagrace7112 Comments
Motherhood is all sorts of contradictions, isn’t it?
We crave for some freedom and time out. Wishing for just a few moments of solitude. Finally it falls on our lap and immediately we get the guilts.
Or just so desperately yearn to be reunited with our offspring, it feels like tomorrow will never come.
I’m sitting here in the comforts of my hotel room.
A whole weekend (and a bit) ahead of me completely dedicated my selfish self; to catch up with friends old and new; to have some intelligent conversations again; to simply have a bath without someone barging in.
This is my third trip away from the boys (and out of sheer coincidence, it’s always been to Melbourne). So, why the hell doesn’t it get easier?
Or have all other parents surrendered to this unsolvable question ?
Am I just so oblivious that I can’t comprehend that this is what motherhood is about?
The constant push, striving for some time alone but the inevitable pull, the desperate need to return to the nest.
Who knows.
Whatever it is, the twinlets have an awesome carer at their daycare centre.
She makes a habit of sending photos throughout the day to keep me updated of their activities. And this morning, they did yoga.
Namaste, my boys.
I miss you like crazy.
By: mamagrace7147 Comments
There are days when pockets of contentment swirl around my little domestic realm. Happily plonking themselves for a substantial sitting, they take me by surprise.
Not to say that the rest of the time life is unbearable and full of dissatisfaction.
But, I think you know what I mean. It’s those little capsules of time when life goes exceptionally well; when the kids have slept well, fed well and loved-up.
Hence, you are too.
For me though, it turns somewhat bittersweet. Difficult to describe the feeling, it can only be narrowed down to homesickness.
I start to wish that – along with all this domestic bliss – my little family and I could somehow immediately transport ourselves to my birth country.
How these precious moments would, not necessarily mean more, but definitely hold a different dynamic if we were in Indonesia.
I miss it.
And since being married, the longing to return has somewhat intensified, turning into a small ache.
The last time we went, was a trip to Bali 4 years ago. A memorable holiday that also marks our engagement.
And this very special country, that makes up the essence of who I am – my values, my strengths, my vulnerabilities, the comforts within my own identity – is missing out on the major chapters of my life.
It’s like I need to get back in touch with a long lost relative.
These first couple of years of raising twins has meant that travelling has been limiting. Even more so when one has egg and nut allergies.
So, while we’ve been able to enjoy domestic family holidays, the islands of Indonesia have been waiting patiently for us.
Full of natural lush green beauty, heart warming hospitable people, it’s also been crippled with natural disasters, civil unrest and terrorism.
But now we’ve developed our skills as confident parents. We realise that trying to predict the risks and dangers can’t stop them from actually happening; taking all possible precautions can only protect us in so many ways but in the end, life is what it is.
Full of unknowns and adventures.
Beyond a holiday, this is a homecoming.
The familiar, welcoming scents of sandalwood, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Roosters crowing at the crack of dawn.
The big, wide friendly smiles of my people.
I know as soon as the airplane doors open, and I embrace that sauna-like humidity, my heart will be racing, unable to contain the excitement. I will finally be home and introducing my new family to its surroundings.
It’s my first opportunity to show the twinlets a little of their heritage. To help them start understanding that it is possible to belong to two broadly different countries. To witness them make significant cultural discoveries in a land so new and foreign, yet strangely familiar.
We leave four years to the day we got engaged.
We will arrive exactly three to the day we got married.
It’s finally time to return home. Its timing is impeccable.
Joining Jess for IBOT
By: mamagrace7116 Comments
…is some dirt and rocks.
The twinlets played for hours while Mama G sat in the sun, relaxed and drank some wine.
The toy trucks were $8 from a recycled toy shop and have proven to be the best buy. Ever !
What cheap toys have saved your sanity ?
Joining Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday
By: mamagrace7140 Comments
There comes a time in a loving couple’s journey when birthdays become overrated and easily sink and forgotten into the dregs of mundane life…oh wait. That’s just me.
The past couple of years (i.e since the boys were born), I have become, to say the least, extremely slack when it comes to birthday preparations for my beloved.
This developing lax nature has crept up like a stray cat out of a garbage bin.
I just always assumed that he is indeed a man with everything because, well, he doesn’t want much to begin with.
Give him an ocean with some decent waves and a board to hang ten and he’s a happy dude.
So, here I am thinking that the DVD’s, books, pieces of clothing that I’ve bought for him were all adequate.
Although, now come to think of it, I never saw him finish any of those books. As for the DVD’s, they all held a predictable, consistent theme of either surfing or comedy, with shows like “Modern Family” or “How I Met Your Mother” (Dare I say, the sitcoms were intended for my viewing pleasure too…ahems).
If Mr Surfer’s fed up with crap, boring presents over the years, I’ve been completely oblivious to it.
After all, he’s never mentioned anything.
Until recently.
In the lead up to his impending birthday, a dinner table conversation took me by complete surprise.
Both preoccupied in our meal time battle with the twinlets to eat their broccoli, Mr Surfer, out of the blue, decided to no longer leave another birthday to fate or my dud presents.
“Wet suit…”
“What ???”
“If you’re stuck on what to get me this year, I need a new wet suit”
“Oh…”
Ooookay.
Was he telling me to get my act together, or what?
Suddenly, my vague, cute idea of getting him cufflinks engraved with the twinlets’ initials flew out of our kitchen window.
Vowing to be lazy, bad wifey no more, the next day I made a trip to the surf shop. I grabbed the most sun beaten surfer sales assistant I could find. No holds barred, within minutes I bought something from the top of the range section. I’m pretty sure my pony-tailed, prickly bearded friend thought I was the easiest sale he’s made this season.
I left the shop with a resounding skip in my step. Not only did I get the present of my Hubby’s choice, I got it 2 weeks waaay in advance of the big day.
Getting confident in the race to win Wife of the Year Award, I even went ahead and made dinner plans, reserving a table at a funky new restaurant that I knew he (and not just my culinary tastes) would like.
Throwing in a couple of extras in the birthday basket, I bought some “Grand Designs” DVD’s and a surfing one I knew he hadn’t seen before.
I was on a roll, baby.
For good measure, I also scrambled through many a jewellery shop to find the perfect (non-cheesy) cufflinks.
In the end though, it was the rubber synthetic steamer that won me awesome-wifey-brownie points aplenty.
Dare I say, it was close to being the most perfect birthday I had organised for my man since the downfall to neglectful, scatterbrain spouse.
Next year I’ll remember to buy the birthday card.
Oops.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s hopeless with birthday pressies for their partner…
Joining in Jess for IBOT
By: mamagrace7113 Comments
Joining in for the first time with the ever so lovely Tina Gray for her “My Week In Instagram” blog hop.
Thanks for popping my cherry, Tina!
I didn’t realise how many photos I took of my feet this week…hmmm…
A special happy birthday to my beloved Mr Surfer!
I got my act together this year and got him presents that he actually wanted. (More on that in another post…ahems).
How was your week?
P.S I am an Instagram addict. Follow me and my addiction here.
By: mamagrace7117 Comments
There’s something special about a day’s end, when the sun’s last rays tip over the horizon.
Concluding a working week is even more magical.
Strolling down the beach on a late Friday afternoon. The balmy weather teasing us that summer was just around the corner.
Yet soaking in the delight that the weekend was at our doorstep.
Joining in Trish at My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.
By: mamagrace7120 Comments
When you can have a bag of brown sugar…(Nunu on Monday)
Or a sack of rice…(K-Bear yesterday)
What random objects do your children take to bed ?
P.S Come join me on Instagram…Am I following you?
Linking up with Trish for Wordless Wednesday.