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Today is the day when most Australian children return to school and resume their studies. It also happens to be Hoovers very first day of school. To say that our little girl has been dreaming about this day for a very l-o-n-g time is a complete and utter understatement.

The little darling has had to sit back and watch her older brother skip through the school gate and amble off towards his schoolmates for years. She has also had to sit through countless school assemblies, watch her big brother receive umpteen awards and sit through numerous school concerts and swimming carnivals.

This day couldn't have come any sooner for the poor love!

A little part of me hoped that she would be tearful and clingy and that she may even protest or show some sign of distress. But no, not my girl! She confidently hung her backpack onto its designated hook, greeted her teacher with the cheesiest of grins and waved me off without even a backward glance.

 

Yesterday was just like any other day. We slept in, had a late breakfast and then set about attending to a couple errands. One of the things on our 'to do' list was to get Hoover some school shoes. Not any old school shoes I might add, but her very first pair of school shoes!


How did this happen so soon?

Where did the time go?

Day's fly ...

I can remember her first pair of shoes, I still have them in fact. We often take them out of their box and marvel at how tiny they are.

 'Were they really my shoes mama'?

'Yes hanini girl they really were your shoes' I reply.

'Did I like wearing them mama'? she inquires

'You did enjoy wearing them sweetheart, but you much preferred to walk around barefoot'.

In fact she still does. My barefooted, free spirited, fairy girl could walk around ħafja for days on end.



I often wonder how she is going to manage wearing those black Mary Jane's all day long? I suspect she is going to take off like the wind, with grace and ease and a skip in her step.

On Boxing Day we head down the coast for a week. Both Stephen and I are going to leave our MacBooks and mobile phones at home. Hence, I won't be blogging while we are away as we'll be spending our days on the beach and lazing in the sun. I hope to resume life as we know it by the second week of January, or there about.

So have yourself a very Merry Christmas and may the year ahead be filled with abundant joy, hope and new adventure.

I clearly expressed to Huxley that I did not want a birthday party this year as I have just had three weeks of childfree, party time in Mediterranean. I should have known that he would ignore my wishes and do the complete opposite, but I thought that after sixteen years of marriage he would have realised that I loathe surprises and that I can't bear being the centre of attention.

So what did he do last night?  He organised a surprise birthday party at our house of course! What was even more frustrating was that I was clueless to the fact that both he and the children were up to something and consequently I was utterly duped!

I waved Hoover and Fussy off at the front door last night as they stood there bathed and clean and ready for bed in their flannelette pyjama's. Hence, the last thing I suspected upon my return home after a quiet dinner with my colluding girlfriends, was to be greeted at the door by my glamorous, frocked up four year old daughter who then led me by the hand into a house full of people ready to party!



So thanks Corrie, Jacqueline, Yolanda and Ava for conspiring with Huxley against me and for managing to pull the wool over the eyes of the most controlling of control freaks. I love each and all of you despite your power, corruption and lies. And I love all your gorgeous gifts - you really shouldn't have.

May the road ahead be paved with good Martinis!

Over breakfast this morning we were all chatting about how exciting it was that spring is finally here. I love spring and would much prefer if we could have six months of glorious spring and do away with summer altogether, as summer in Melbourne is insanely hot.

Ah, well no harm in trying!

Hoover then appeared in the kitchen after breakfast fully dressed for kindergarten wearing gumboots and fairy wings. I suggested that maybe she would like to lose the wings and change into shoes as it was not going to rain. She replied - 'but mama I need to help Tinkerbell with the blush of spring today'.

'Of course, the blush of spring!'  I repeated. What a complete nincompoop I can be at times.  'Sure bella, keep the wings as I'm sure Tinkerbell can use all the help she can get today'.

When I dropped her off at kindergarten I told her teacher to remind Hoover to hang up her fairy wings once the novelty wore off. When I collected her at 12.30pm this afternoon this is how I found her - bless her!

I have lied about my age since my early 30's as I am the Queen of Denial when it comes to the 'ageing processes'. For years I have been telling Fussy that I am thirty-two. Hence, one of the obvious downsides to obtaining a formal education is the acquisition of skills - math's included. Alas it didn't take Fussy long to figure out that something was amiss when I declared that I was 32 yet again last year! Once he figured out my real age he then kindly told his little sister. It was all downhill after that, as Hoover being the extrovert that she is would greet people in the street by saying 'hello my name is Hoover and I'm four and I live at such and such address and my mum us 38'!

Although I love that my children are growing and are gaining independence I still find it difficult. Deep in your heart you know that once the sun goes down you can never get that day back again. When I pack away that special dress or gorgeous pair of shoes that they have out grown - it is gone for good. The milestone has been reached and conquered and that particular stage of development is now over. The season no matter how turbulent and joyous has now come to an end.

I'm feeling it all the more with Hoover because not only is she fiercely independent, but she is also my last child. Most days I vacillate between feeling quite central to her life and then with one determined word or action I am left feeling utterly redundant. Thankfully Fussy is still rather moochy and occasionally still asks for my help and opinion.

We are fortunate in that we live a stones throw away from Melbourne's CBD. So if we want to traipse into the city for lunch it's just a five minute drive by car or a ten minute train ride. We're also blessed in that the beach is just a fifteen minute car ride from home.

It's school holidays in Melbourne, so that means the kids have two weeks off for term break. These school holidays are usually difficult because it's cold, wet and gloomy. Consequently we tend to hang at home and do a whole lot of nothing (preferably in our pyjamas). Hence, by the end of the first week we are all starting to show signs of cabin fever and are seriously beginning to grate each other the wrong way.

On Saturday we celebrated mum's birthday by having a family lunch at Hellenic Republic. We chose George Calombaris East Brunswick taverna because we all love Greek food and because this particular restaurant is extremely child friendly. We have eaten there several times before and love it, but my parents and brother and sister in-law haven't. Dad who prefers home cooked meals as opposed to 'fancy restaurants' with small portions was concerned from the outset that there wouldn't be enough food. And my sister in-law is a vegetarian and often finds Greek restaurants a bit of a challenge.

We kicked of the Queens birthday long weekend by having a Middle Eastern soiree at our house on Saturday night with some lovely friends. Thankfully, both Hoover and Fussy were staying overnight at the farm which meant that we were able to sleep in on Sunday - bless!

Sunday was spent lolling around in pajamas, watching a couple of movies and grazing on leftovers.  After tossing around several suggestions as to what to do and where to go we finally decided to head over to the Kent Hotel today for a celebratory lunch in honour of dear Lizzie.