Too much...and a little bit of sanity returns

I was going to dwell on what has happened this year but enough is enough...so, in the spirit of the Season......MERRY CHRISTMAS! Santa is due in just over 20 sleeps and my little people couldn't care less! Well, its only because we will be flying down to visit my Mum and Other Dad on Christmas day. Typical kids. It has made it a little easier though, they aren't so focused on the Big Red dude. Here are the kiddos dressed up for their Carols night.

A few things to report. One that, looking back, is kinda funny depending on where you were sitting at the time. I mentioned earlier about Caitie's horrendous temper tantrums and how destructive physically, mentally and emotionally they are. Well, she got her comeuppance last week. Caitie had been horrid all week, tons of attitude, slyly being mean to her brothers, backchatting, tantrums, the works so I told her quite calmly she couldn't go to a friends house for a swim. That led to a complete meltdown with warnings from both of us for her to settle down. Eventually, her screaming tantrum got to Husband, who gave her a crack with a wooden spoon around the butt.

She then proceeded to stand in her bedroom and scream, at the top of her lungs, "Stop bashing me, I hate it when you bash me, you're always bashing me...." It took her a good half hour to settle down. I finally got her to settle and, as we were discussin her behaviour, I heard a car pull up...then a torch came through our front yard...then the knock on the door...

"Excuse me M'am, but we have had a report of a domestic disturbance, anything happening around here?" Nice young policeman he was. All I could do was be honest and tell him that my ten year old daughter had thrown a wobbly and was screaming at the top of her lungs. And do you know what the Nice Policeman did? He stuck his head around the corner and told Caitlin, "You're ten, do what your told!" I could have fainted. I then went on to explain that she had a meltdown as she had been horrid all week and I wouldn't let her go to a friends place. He was very kind and wished me a good evening...then said, quite loudly, "You're ten, you don't get to go anywhere!" I could have married him!

After they left, I burst into tears and hid in the bedroom as it was so overwhelming that one of the neighbours thought we were beating our child. After I came out, Caitie was standing there, dead white, eyes as big as saucers and whispered, "I'm so sorry Mummy." Finally she understood that screaming that out, which she does, will get her taken away from us. Eventually she asked me to stop crying cause I was scaring her. I think the lesson sunk in.

This week, she has been quite good. No complete meltdowns. A few minor squabbles, but nothing huge.

As I mentioned, we had the kids christmas carols last night. A great family night, which I thoroughly enjoy. Ok I had to drag Husband by the short and curlies but he enjoyed himself as we got to watch the latest summer storm roll in.

The storm hit soon after we got home. Caitie didn't get to sing as the storm was moving too fast and we all had to bolt. After we got home, we had the best light show. At one point, we heard the lightning sizzle through the air and then *CRACK* it hit only a few streets away.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=QFp_EYo4uL0 This is a link to some lightning footage I took last night. Some excellent strikes, especially at the 24 second mark and the 36 second mark, where a double strike is.

I hope everyone continues to be safe as we have yet another storm predicted for this afternoon. I don't mind the storms so much as the high humidity that proceeds them!!!

Love hurts.....

Today, we lost another friend. This year alone, as a family we have said goodbye to three of our much loved fur friends. Too much for one year, too much pain and far too many tears.

In February, our Granma Besa, head of the dogpack, suffered a stroke which left her dazed, confused and unable to either get up or go down our very high back steps. She had been diagnosed with massive tumours the previous December and we knew we were running on borrowed time. Unfortunately, time stops for no man and her time ran out. I'd like to say she went peacefully but Besa fought me the whole way. That was just the kind of dog she was.

On the 20th of August we lost Arthur Bean, the one-eyed Pirate Cat. This little fellow filled our house with love, laughter and naughtiness. He left a huge hole, a huge, deep, dark, scary hole that we didn't think could be filled.

Now it is November and our hearts are shredded again. Our darling Kai, the blonde of the household, my Chickendog has gone. Kai suffered horrendously from skin allergies her whole life and by the end she was mostly blind, deaf as a post and I believe had numerous outbreaks of cancer throughout her tired body. We chose to do the right think, knowing that with a heart as big as hers, she would not succumb but would continue to fight in her quiet, stoical way.

Rest easy, Princess. At Rainbow Bridge you will be whole and healed, you will be young and strong and Besa is waiting for you. Go bravely.

I can't make the pain go away, I can't stop the hurt but I can be there for when the night gets too quiet and a furrever friend is missing.

Please stay safe....

This past weekend has been huge. Nell and I competed in Obedience CCD on the weekend with Nell receiving a qualifying score, her CCD title and a 2nd place trophy! Well done to my Mighty Midget.

Sunday dawned bright and hot. It was so hot in the catshow hall that the kittens were overheating a blushing a deep hot pink. Devons only do this when they are seriously hot. The day went really well with the new kid Analise winning four devon kitten of breed placings and never being unplaced in the groups.

So, after a fantastic show, we headed home, only to be greeted outside by the most threatening sky we have ever seen. By the time we got to my fathers house to pick up the kids, the storm had dropped onto us with the sky being a deep aqua green. We barely had time to secure the house and the cars before the storm hit. We had vertical rain, wind gusts of up to 150km an hour. It lasted for a good half an hour and by the time it was done, it had almost wiped one of Brisbanes suburbs off the map. The Gap is in a hell of a state with trees and houses ripped apart. One photograph showed what looked to be a miniature tornado descending.

We thought we were in the clear until last night when another storm dropped onto us. It hit around 2am with all the subtlety of a freight train. Vertical rain, vertical trees.

Above is a screenshot of the storm as it came through Brisbane. The hotpink dot is where my family lives. And at last look, there are more storms building this afternoon...

Saturday Snuggles are the BEST

We actually had a rare lie in this morning and after T got out of bed, I called everyone in for a mass smash on the bed. At one point I had Caitie beside me on the right, Aiden on the left and Little Bear Conor on my front. That kid is like a limpet, permanently stuck to some part of me. We had hugs and tickles and slappies and kicking off the bed. Only a few quibbles but they were soon nipped in the bud.





As I went to go to work this morning, Conor raced to the door and gave me a few kisses on the cheek. He is such a sweetie!

This is a typical Conor photo, those big blue eyes and that even bigger cheeky grin. He is so funny. Today he took me by the hand and we went into the boys bedroom. After leading me into their room he said, "Ta daaaa," with a flourish with his hand. "I made my bed!" Yes you did little man. Just don't do it again cause you are growing up tooooo fast.

He starts Prep next year, Aussie version of preschool, the year before grade 1. He still looks at me and says, "but sewiously Mummy," and I melt. He rarely chucks a tantie and when he does they blow over relatively quickly. Denying him my "friendship" works to clear the blues away and I usually get a "sowwy Mummy." Damn I am going to miss those w's when he gets his speech right.

The End of the Season

This year has flown past with the speed of chickens in line for a free meal. This weekend we will be having our very last cat show for the season. And the most exciting thing is that the newest bunch of babies will be entered in their first show! The adorable baby below is Tony's new stud boy, Leetamy Just Jameson. He is a sweetheart with a deep love for nose bumping.

We are also entering his equally edible sister, Allabout Analise, the very pretty Pearl, head of the fun Police Titch and Super Muu. A very exciting show is planned thats for sure.

This weekend Noodle and I will attempt, once more, to gain her CCD title. Last trial she entered the ring with the enthusiasm of a toddler for the dentist, dragging her toes. Sod of a dog!

On a plus side, she has managed to teach herself how to enter the weave poles on the off side using an "Around" command followed by a weave command. Very impressive. Fingers crossed!

Froggles are HERE!

We have a gorgeous pond out the front of our home. Australia has a huge problem with vanishing frog species so we put in a pond to help the little critters along. The frogs have been laying many frothy egg nests and we brought one upstairs to show the kids the frog process.

After two days our eggs have hatched and we now have lots of tadpoles swimming in a beautiful big glass jar.

Those little upright splots on the glass are the teeny taddies. I'll post some more piccies when they get bigger.

PMT and Growing Up Sane.

I'm pretty much convinced that my ten year old daughter Caitie has started PMT. As yet there is no obvious sign of the M but batten down the hatches folks cause the T is in full effect. And frankly, the screaming sessions, the abuse, the throwing of objects and slamming of doors is wearing me down. And wearing her father down. And traumatising the boys. And she just...doesn't...care!

There has to be a better way than this ever growing cycle of anger? We had a doozy of a fight the other day which ended in my totally losing it. I found myself screaming right back at her, angry spittle being flung from my lips. And in that one moment of crystal clear insanity, I knew that I hated her.

Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter with all my heart and soul. I can't wait to see her grow into the person I know she is capable of. Her empathy toward other children is deeper than the ocean. She is a calming influence on the smaller children at Vacation care. She cares deeply for her littlest brother Conor. But, in those moments when she has lost all ability to listen to reason, has switched off and has gotten on the "Its-not-fair" carousel, I can't deal with her.

The whole episode left me exhausted, her emotionally shattered and my husband and I completely overwhelmed. As parents, it is our job to bring our kids up safely. Bit hard to do that when you just want them to stop screaming abuse at you. She actually ran through the house screaming, "You hate me, you've always hated me!" (sigh) So, together, T and I sat down and decided how we are going to handle these meltdowns. It came down to one simple fact. We are the parents and she is the child. At ten she is on the cusp of young womanhood but she is still a child and needs structure and direction. The rule is simple but it is ever so hard to enforce. What we say, goes and no arguments will change that.

We had the perfect opportunity to try it the next day when the arguments started from the topic of the previous day. She had to wear her brothers formal shoes as hers were too small. With six weeks left of school, I flatly refused to purchase a new pair when her brothers were the perfect size and almost brand new. "I want my SNEAKERS", began the familiar whine. I faced her and said in my calmest voice,"No, Caitlin." And the arguments began to heat up. She sat outside my door whining in her most annoying pitch. T went to argue with her and I stopped him. "No means No and you don't need to say anything else." It took half an hour but this time there was no throwing and no screaming. Just an acceptance. She gave up because we remained a united front. In that moment I was proud of myself, my husband and, strangely enough, my little spitfire. It may be a small victory but its a start.

Peace reigned for a small period of time...Hallelujah.