Pictures as promised:

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And while you sit there at your computer know that I will be busting my backside getting the house ready for our guest who arrive in *shriek* 3 hours!!

From this point on, you are just to assume that life in Bamberboo Land is full and overflowing, and slightly crazy.  The wall papering is NOT finished because… because, I have not had time to finish it.  It is on the schedule for tomorrow, if the six kids in my charge will allow me to do it! 

Saturday was spent in a mad dash to Costco for general supplies and a birthday cake for Hannah’s party.... Sunday was the party - and can I just say The Farm is a brilliant place for party games like Sardines and Treasure Hunts.  Len’s neice, Karen, and my neice, Bethan, stayed over for a couple nights and with the weather still on The People’s side for a change this year I hardly saw the kids on Monday and Tuesday.  Rumour has it ‘the fort’ has wall to wall carpeting now (thanks to the carpet fitters off-cuts) and it has a small TV now too.  The power supply is questionable, but it is said that with the right kind of effort The Imagination is enough to make the TV and the imaginary remote work!

My sister, Annette, arrived from Ireland yesterday with her three kids and one of their friends so we spent the day with them at Mammy’s house… which turned into an overnighter for the kids.  I popped home for the kids hiking gear and then this morning, Mom, Annette and I took the kids (my 4, Annette’s 3 + friend) to Queen’s View for a little hike (pictures to follow… yes, with the wallpaper pictures!  Oh yeah, and the Edinburgh pictures from last month...)

This the first hike I ever did in Scotland when I was 14 years old - and I did it quite a few more times as a teen. It was wonderful taking my own kids there today and sharing it with them.  The children, even Rosie, were amazing for the whole walk (which I think was nearly 4 miles) (the first 2 being mostly up hill) and I only had to say once that if they complained about this exercise then they wouldn’t be watching any tv, playing the computer/xbox/gameboys etc for a month!!  I know, I sound mean very mean!!  This is a little map of the walk. 

We took the route that appears to be at the top of the map starting from the A809 and we ended at “The Whangie” The Whangie is a geological fault, 50 feet deep and 300 feet long, probably the result of glacial movement and is beautiful series of jutting rocks from the ground.  We rested there (well Annette and I rested while the kids climbed the rock and found little caves to crawl into - I miss unlimited energy like that) then we headed back down to the car park where Mammy had a BBQ waiting for us!

After lunch, HHD & R (Hannah, Heidi, Daniel & Rosie) begged me to take them to Loch Lomond (Which we could see from up the hill) to “cool off”.  I assumed they meant taking off their hiking boots and dipping their feet in the ‘baltic’ water - but no.  Oblivious to onlookers, my children stripped down to the bare bones of clothing and went swimming in Loch Lomond!!  A sure sign that they have 50% of their father’s blood running through their veins!  They had my permission to go in but they had to promise not to whine ("even once") when they got out and there were no towels to dry off with!  They were good to their word!

We got home at 7 this evening and they we’re excited find that Calder and Bethan were staying overnight tonight an tomorrow night! 

I came home excited to find that I have a bedroom (partially wallpapered.. but that’s another story) to sleep in tonight!!

Friday Annette and kids are here at The Farm with us… and then, did I tell you?  Our friends are coming from Belgium on Sunday… for a week!!  Oh yeah, and school starts on MONDAY!!

*contented sigh* This summer has been what summers should be!

Oh lordy!  I hope I can remember how to wallpaper a room!  Before and after pictures to follow…

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Happy Birthday Hannah!! 

Wow!  Eleven years old.  When I looked at you today, dressing in your new co-ordinated Gap outfit and blowing your hair dry, I found it hard to comprehend the fact that, what seems like only yesterday, this beautiful little creature standing in front of me was laying in my arms nursing at my breast.  Today, your feet are only half a size sorter than mine… but wasn’t it just yesterday that I was kissing the bottom of your little chubby baby toes making you giggle?  Your baby teeth have been falling out for 5 years now - but loosing a molar on your birthday?  I mean, I remember loosing my first molar!  I was sure when I lost mine it meant I was grown up!  Don’t worry - the tooth fairy has already been tonight.  I noticed you’re still young enough to play that game!

It was comforting to see you walking out of the cinema this afternoon with your “Build a Bear” bear perched on your hip like a baby doll, all dressed and pampered with a little teddy-bear -smile on its face because you have been playing with ‘her’ non stop for the last 3 days - see, you really are still my little girl… But those hips!!  They are starting to curve, and we won’t even talk about the other curves.  We have an agreement about them don’t we?  After the summer, when school starts, you can wait to start wearing that bra I’ve been trying to push on you until then, but not now.  Not this summer.  I promise not to “ruin your childhood!!!” like you accused me of doing the other night in an irrational, hormonal fit when I told you you weren’t allowed to drag things out of the bonfire and ‘play’ with them. 

I know what it’s like to go through all the internal and external changes you’re going through (in your body and in your world) and I just want you to know that I think you are handling it all admirably.  I am so proud of you.  You are confident, brave, honest, strong and dependable.  You have a strong sense of justice and your judgement is often more mature than your 11 years.  I am always amazed at how quickly you drop what you’re doing and run to your brother or sister when you hear them cry, your internal response to that noise is more often than not as quick as mine.  I am also proud of the way you have applied yourself to your lessons this summer.  Two months ago I know you were nervous about going to an English school, but now, because of your hard work (and Mammy’s lessons), I think you’re ready for it… and I can tell you feel like you are too!  And to think, you still have your French! 

Despite the fact that you’re my ‘guinea pig’ child, you are turning out remarkably well.  I’m sorry I don’t always get the mothering right the first time, but this is my first time around for an 11 year old. 

You are beautiful and bright - but for such a shining wee soul you are so tender and warm and sweet… and your sense of humour, well that’s just the icing on the cake!  I love you baby!  Happy happy birthday!

*Taps mic* Hello? Hello, Heeeeelloooo?

Oh gosh, where do I start?  I’m all about my fingers hovering over the keyboard with a ‘duh’ look on my face here; not really sure where to pick up again after such a long blogging break, mind flooding with all the fun things things we’ve done over the summer, wrestling with the notion of not starting the blog back up again, but determined to do so for the personal satisfaction this thing brings me, and for posterity… yeah, for posterity or something like that.

Because I’ve skipped two of the most important months (and a couple of the funnest months) of our lives, I will go back and share some of the stories, write about our new home and environment and introduce you to some of the new players in our little production, but after thinking it through, I think the best way to get back into the swing of things is to start off with where I am now. 

But first, can I just say a first a huge thank you to everyone who has written, called, sent gifts or pinged me on IM saying “WHERE ARE YOU”!!  I have had very sporadic access to the internet until now, but that contact meant a lot to me.  There’s nothing like knowing you have friends (virtual and real) all over the world concerned about you and your little family to give you a serious case of the warm fuzzies! Thanks guys, you rock!

I guess the most important information to give you today is.  I am happy!!!  And above all, my children are (lock caps) HAPPY!!  I have always thought my kids were happy, well adjusted little souls. But I have honestly never seen them happier than they have been since we’ve moved.  Don’t get me wrong, we really miss our friends in Belgium and some aspects of our life there, but the peace and calm in our household (even in the middle of still unpacking and waiting for the house to be completed) is amazing now.  Maybe it is a case of “If Momma ain’t happy, there ain’t nobody happy” or rather “If Momma’s happy, then everybody’s happy” but no matter how you look at it, all the questions, doubts and uncertainty about such a big move for the family are all gone now… and we are happy!  I have the sense of being in the right place at the right time… and you can’t really ask for more than that can you?

The kids and I are meeting Mammy (my mom) in Glasgow today exchange a few items of school uniform and to pick up the last few bits and pieces for Hannah’s birthday tomorrow, and then we are going to spend the night at my mom’s tonight.

This whole post feels very rusty and… non-fluid, and I can’t believe the amount of backspacing and sighing that is going on here, but I WILL get this thing going again!!  If you keep up with my flickr account, you will have known for about a week that we are still alive, but for those of you that don’t wander over to flickr, here are a few picures.

A quick update:

We are on the final countdown for the move.  We are close enough that Rosie is counting the sleeps, “Only six more sleeps to Mammy’s houses!!” I am flying the kids over (man my arms are gonna hurt!) to Scotland on Monday morning.  I will fly back here (if my arms will hold out!) Tuesday and the removal company will arrive one week from today… I hope.  I have never booked a move online before so I am a tad nervous about it all.  I am about 95% packed, which is more than good because I don’t even have to pack; the removal company is planning on doing it.  I have thrown out more stuff than I ever thought I could possibly get rid of and I am sure I will fill another few bags before all is said and done.

Tomorrow will be the last day of school (for my kids anyway) and as you can imagine, the excitement is at fever pitch!  I am bursting with excitement too and even the song “I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves… I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves… I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves… I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves...” isn’t getting on my nerves - I am actually singing along!

I was feeling a little guilty that I hadn’t planned any birthday/going away parties for the kids, so I threw together a couple at the last minute.  Daniel and Rosie had a joint birthday party last Wednesday at McDonald’s (which was amazing value for money) and they loved it!  To quote Daniel “Mom, that was a really cool party because it was really, really, really LOUD!!” - and yes, he was right.  McDonald’s provided a party hostess and this Moma got up at the end of the party, gathered up the parcels and children and walked out the door leaving the mess behind!!

Today it is Hannah and Heidi’s turn.  We are taking their friends swimming and then up to the cafe for cake after.  It promises to be another fairly stress-free event! 

Last Saturday was Daniel and Rosie’s school Fete, which is always fun and we have managed to squeeze in several nights out (even one without the kids!!) and if the weather holds we will be going to SixFlags on Sunday! 

My daily lists are very long… but I finally feel like I am organised(ish). Today’s to do list involves packing kids rooms (that are all sorted and organised), running errands, baking cakes, organizing party bags, and hopefully sitting in the sun for at least 5 minutes (we had a very long, cold, 3 week spell of rain which ended last Friday - spring seems to have arrived!)

All is well and my sanity is (almost) still in tact!

In honour of Dan’s birthday I went back and uploaded more old pictures of him and created a “Daniel” set on flickr.  There are a lot of holes in the time line here.  Some are from lost digital photo’s others are not lost, just not uploaded and some need scanned from film pictures.  In the mean time, this should give you a good flavour of my boy, my happy, smiling boy!

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Wow, what a weekend!!  I have just returned Nicholas, my friend’s little boy, to his house.  His mommy and daddy had a weekend away in Rome and he and his sisters were farmed out for sleepovers with friends.  He was an incredibly good little boy, all weekend, but one more child really DOES add that much more chaos to a home!  We also had another friend over Saturday night with her kids (8 little bodies tearing through the house)… and then she returned today (8 little bodies tearing through the house) to watch a movie with me.  For some reason, it looks like there were 8 little bodies tearing through the house all weekend, but you know, we’re all happy.

Three weeks from now I will hopefully have my children’s cases packed ready to fly to Mammy’s house.  Our tickets are booked for the 12th June.  I will stay overnight in Scotland then return to Belgium the next day.  I will have the afternoon and evening of the 13th June to make sure everthing is ready for the movers to arrive on the morning of Wednesday 14th.  Len and I will be staying with our friends (Nicholas’ parents) until the 22nd June and I will use those 10 day to finish clearing/cleaning the house and tying up loose ends here.

I am wired!!  My friend Susan keeps telling me “but you’ve done so much already, it will all come together"… but when I look around me I just can’t see it.  I have removed much of the structure of the house… beds, couches, shelves, wardrobes, tables… gone. Things I didn’t want to move with us… gone.  But so much of the paraphernalia that used to sit, lie and hide in these things is still here, cluttering… tripping me up. I feel like my life is like a pile of stones, stacked one by one on top of each other, somehow holding together with no mortar, amazingly creating a fortified wall… I am just waiting for, but hoping that “the big wind” doesn’t blow. 

I am at the place where none of this seems real - and I can’t really even fathom that my life is ever going to be different than it is right now.  I can’t see myself walking through a new front door or imagine what the water of a different shower will feel like.  Where will be my favourite grocery store be? Will I find another quiet corner in my new world to steal away to for 5 minutes?  What is the impact of this change and upheaval going to be?  Is this really happening? 

Big Wind blow, but please wait, I’m not quite ready…

Named by, and stolen (badge and all) from, Dear Al.

I AM: Very organised for our move (4 weeks from today).

I SAID: “I am very organised for our move”.  But I am still panicking about the whole thing.  I said panicking, but I have this underlying calm.  I have either packed or thrown away almost everthing I possibly can at this point, our schedule and tickets are organised, but the house is ALWAYS a mess, no matter how hard I work, it’s always untidy… Oh, and we still need to sell the cars. 

I WANT: The cars to magically sell themselves.

I WISH: They were already sold.

I HATE: Rats!!!  And I think there was one in the house last night.  I bought this packet of steaks (and I think there were 8 nice little steaks in it.  I set the grocery bags down in the kitchen and then went to put them away after I got the kids fed and into bed… the plastic bag… and the packaging that the steaks were in was torn open… I now have 6 steaks???  I thought it might be the cat - but the thought of a cat eating a cow is freaky.  Len suggested rats. 

I MISS: Being a sundress clad, barefoot, carefree child…

I FEAR: Rats!!!

I HEAR: Rats!!

I WONDER: If the rats are hiding in the sewer pipes and they will sneak up and bite my arse when I am on the toilet… This is my ultimate ‘unrealistic’ fear!!

I REGRET: Not putting the grocries away as soon as I got home!!

I AM NOT: Working on the mega mental list I have prepared for myself for today… This, I am sure, is your fault; not mine!

I DANCE: Like a pregnant cow with a hip transplant

I SING: Much better than I dance.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: Happy.

I MADE: The kid’s packed lunches this morning instead of last night because I was sure there was a rat close to me last night.

I WRITE: Many more blog post in my head than ever make it to my blog… I am just too Busy/Lazy/Stressed/Tired/Apathetic… you get the picture.

I CONFUSE: Truly organised people.  They look at me and scratch their heads and wonder ‘How does she, who appears to not have it together, manage to do it in the end?’

I NEED: To hurry up and get my car over the to valet place… I also need to rake the CRAP out of it first!!

I SHOULD: Wrap my kids in duct tape, and duct tape their mouths closed everytime they get in my car.

I START: (I’m changing this one to ‘I STARTED’):  Reading ‘We need to talk about Kevin’ yesterday.

I FINISH: (I’m Changing this one to ‘I FINISHED’):  Reading ‘The History of Love’ on Sunday (finally)… I cried at the end when he was tapping her and saying ‘Alma… Alma’.

I BELIEVE: In miracles.

I KNOW: In my ‘knower’ that everything is ok.

I CAN: Do laundry… Oh man, can I do laundry… I am the Queen of Laundry… Bow before me and I will teach you in the ways of laundry!!

I CAN’T: Spell.

I SEE: Not as well into the future as I would like.

I BLOG: Not nearly as much as I would like to - I just don’t have the time people!!

I READ: Much more than I used to but not nearly as much as I would like to.

I AM AROUSED BY: Knowledge that I am bringing/giving pleasure.... oh yeah… and sturdy thighs.

IT PISSES ME OFF: When the kids were fighting yesterday morning… it was calmer this morning.

I FIND: More and more I enjoy my own company.

I LIKE: Full fat smelly cheese, chocolate, chips (fries), chips (crisps), and all the stuff that’s bad for me… but I don’t eat them anymore.  I started my diet last week and have dropped over 2 kilos.  Go me!!  Now for the other 453,897,651 kilo!!

I LOVE: My husband’s sense of humour, Daniel’s smile, Rosie’s sweet little hands on my face, Hannah’s soft kisses and the fact that Heidi needs me so much!!