Tag: washing

Categories
Family

Appliance Failures – Why All At Once?

Today we are staying home. I do like staying home, especially in school holidays. However when you need to stay home to wait for a delivery it can get quite frustrating. Frustrating due to not knowing when your delivery will arrive.

The delivery driver called earlier to say they will be here in the afternoon, so I have an idea. I just hope that they get here before 4pm so I can go to an appointment. Yes I had to make an appointment this afternoon as I could not get in any other time. Annoying really.

Why is it that due to having to be home all day you can think of a million and one things you would rather be doing, and they are of course not at home or waiting for my delivery!

I hear you ask, “What am I waiting for?”  Well it is a much needed clothes dryer.

No more waiting for sunshine. A dryer will mean I can dry my clothes when it is wet and stormy! Cannot wait.
No more waiting for sunshine. A dryer will mean I can dry my clothes when it is wet and stormy! Cannot wait.

Mine decided to die and I have been making do with hanging clothes everywhere inside the house and on the line. However this falls down when you have days and days of non-stop rain! As you can imagine living in the Blue Mountains having a dryer is a necessity not a want or item that you can say no to. Without one most of the clothes generally don’t dry due to wet and very cold days.

I am very excited to be getting a new dryer and happy that I can finally have items dried when I want them to be.   I am getting sick of living in a house that looks more like a laundry or a very messy clothes shop!

My new dryer is smart. It can sense how long to dry clothes for, and will not run for hours and hours if it is just a pair of jeans, or some towels that need to be dry. How clever is this! Keen to try out this fab feature.

So I am very happy that my dryer is on its way, but I hate waiting nearly all day to get it. Do you have days like this? Waiting for a delivery. I must say it is not all bad. I am doing some housework, responding to emails, and kids are happy playing outside as it is finally sunny again.

Now that I finally get a replacement dryer I bet that the weather will be super sunny and no more rain. What do you think?

Today might not be the only day waiting to get a replacement item. Our television has also died and we are using a computer screen monitor in place of a large screen TV. The twins were rather shocked as it is very small compared to the BIG Plasma screen we previously had. Hubby and I explained that this is not bad and it was the same size that we had before the big screens. This was met with dismay and annoyance from the kids (I see you are shocked at this – it did make us laugh). The twins have never known a small T.V. and have only had the large flat screens. It was interesting seeing their reaction to this change.

Oh and I forgot to mention that our toaster also decided it did not want to work anymore and the kettle fell to bits! I think the white-goods and electrical items at our house are giving up! Maybe they are on strike! Should I hold a meeting and see if I can negotiate a better deal so they keep working and we don’t have to spend money on replacements? I wonder?

It has been four items in quick succession that have stopped working or had a failure:

  • Television
  • Dryer
  • Toaster
  • Kettle (this just fell to bits. The handle and the wiring just perished) We noticed this one last, but the first 3 were right after each other.

While we ponder what television to purchase next we will use our computer monitor as it is serving the purpose for now.

Are you going through a stage where your white goods are on their way out? Have you had a string of things die and need to be replaced? Let us know.

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Categories
3 years and beyond

Sun = Laundry and Playtime

A sunny day with no clouds in the sky, just brilliant! What a great thing to wake up to. If I was not a mother and had a tidy organised house, then it would be off to go walking by myself, oh the joys. Although I can still go out walking which I think I will do, although it will be with kids in the pram. The girls are bigger and probably don’t need to be in the pram, however over a long distance they would get tired. I am not a pack horse and cannot carry bags, shopping, and then two kids to boot. So the pram is the best alternative for walking with kids.

While my focus has been on the nice day, my other focus is getting my washing done. I see sun and say, “I must do some washing”, I have done 3 loads already, the first 2 are on the line and other is still in the machine. The weather report shows that today and tomorrow will be sunny, so I have a good chance to finish the washing. Then sorting and putting it away is the other big job.

You might say, that is the last thing you would do on a nice day, what a waste, WASHING. Well as a mother and one that lives in an area that has had rain nonstop rain, sunny days are rare, and you need to pounce on these to get it all done. I know it is boring, and mundane, however I don’t have a housework fairy to help me.

Wouldn’t that be nice, a housework fairy. You could tell the fairy what you need done, No the fairy would just know, housework fairies just understand your needs (they are good like that). You could then go out and enjoy the sun filled day and relax. If only this was possible. Maybe in the future we will have housework robots that you could programme; you would come home to a nice clean, organised house. I can only dream.

It is not just me that is excited to get their laundry done on a fine day like today, I have spoken to at least four people and they have all rushed off to get it all done. It must be the change in me since having children that fine days are not only play days, they are laundry days as well. What do you do on a sunny day? Do you race off to do your laundry if it has piled up? Or do you forget about it and enjoy the day? Send in your comments.

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Categories
3 years and beyond

Headache go away

Today was the day kids were at school and I wanted to get heaps done. I wish my body would have been up to speed with my plan, have had a nasty headache all day. Have taken pills but to no avail. While at home, I managed to tidy up the lounge room, kids room and our room. Did a couple of loads of laundry and changed our sheets. Girls sheets were done yesterday or Saturday, feels so far away now, but they were done on the weekend at some point.

I thought about going for a sleep, however I am that tired that I thought I would sleep through pick up for the girls, so did not do that. I watched some of my shows and then finished some things off and had to pick the girls up. Since getting the girls from school it has made my head ten times worse. The girls are little trouble makers. Running out to get in the paddle pool, taking off and not coming when called, not eating all their food, playing and not having dinner, ignoring me, being violent to each other, hitting, biting, and just plain terrible. Both girls are finally in their bedroom playing waiting for daddy to come home to say hello before we have dinner.

I did plan to have more done so that I can maximise my time tomorrow. I think I will hope that I feel better tomorrow and get stuck into something I want to do. Even as I speak the girls are screaming, crying and yelling at each other. I fear that they are over tired and they are just going to be terrible before they finally pass out. I did go in and see who was hurt due to high pitched screaming before, Lillian was bitten by Julia due to Julia not getting her way at the tea party. OHHhhhhhhh gosh, I am so over this. I just want to have dinner and go to bed.

Thinking about dinner, I feel that I should go and get dinner made, eat it, and go off to bed. Maybe an early night will help things.  I will put James’ dinner in the microwave.

Hope your day was better than mine.

 

Categories
3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather Potty Training Pre-School

Too Easy

The girls successfully have completed their first week at pre-school. They both had a great time, however Julia took a bit of work to get organised in the mornings to get out the door. Julia decided that she did not like her shirt, shoes, did not want her hair brushed and dealt with this by falling down in the hallway screaming and crying. Once out the door and at school she was fine. I am thinking it is due to the new schedule and the change from childcare to pre-school. I could be wrong, she was doing this before, and so it could just be a stage.

Today was the first day not at school this week so we all went to playgroup. It was a wonderful change in the weather to have blue skies and sunshine and currently still do. Crossing fingers it lasts more than a day. Due to the good weather, I have done about 3 loads of washing, clothes are on the line and we all walked to playgroup. Well, mummy walked the girls were in the pram. Although the girls are big enough to walk, it is easier to take the pram. The girls end up getting tired and I cannot carry everything with me. When we go, I bring their potties as there is only one toilet, what to do if someone is in it and one of the girls or both need to go? So I take our own. Better to be organised.

The other mums were asking me, and the girls how they went at pre-school this week. Anna asked Julia and Lillian, and then Lillian said, “It is too easy”.  I thought that was very funny coming from them as this is the first week at the new school, however on Wednesday the teachers were giving them tasks to learn about the colours or at least see if they know them. Both girls know all their colours so it was no big thing for them. They were also asked to put a pink block tower back together once the teacher took it apart.  They had water play, painting and collage. So at this stage it is possibly easy. Not sure what else is in store for them this term, but I am sure there will be other things that they have never done, that won’t be “too easy”. Or maybe it is for them, who knows, we will see.

Yesterday Julia wanted to put her seat belt on in the car all by herself, and gets annoyed when it does not happen. She ends up twisting the straps so it makes it impossible to get it clicked in place no matter who long she struggles with it. She gets in such a mood that I cannot show her how to sort the straps out. She does not want me to touch it as that is considered mummy fixing it and she wants to do it. She yells, screams and cries, “I want to do it, me, let me!!!”, however you cannot just stand there for hours waiting for a seat belt to be done up. Lillian the other day has figured it out.  It does not help that she says proudly “I did it”.

The new pre-school fosters independence which is good, but as Julia had this breakdown with the seat belt 3 times yesterday I was so over independence. Just let me do it, so that we can get going. It is a pity that the mood she gets in she will not listen to what I am saying, I am happy that she tries to do it, however I need to show her how and then I am happy to watch her do it, but not when it is all wrong and never going to work.

Both girls are now able to get in and out of the pram themselves. They can put their seat belts on and Lillian can take her’s off as well. Julia can put it on but has some trouble getting it off, this will change in time. It is nice that you can tell the girls to go into the pram and get their seat belts on and they do. Very relaxing indeed.

Let’s hope that school is “too easy” for the girls, and they do well. This might change when they move to big school in 2014, or at least to harder concepts at the pre-school.

Does your child want to do things by themselves? Is it easy for them or do they struggle? Are they doing some things better than others? How do you manage with the child/children trying to do things themselves when you need to be out the door for an appointment? I usually take over if I need to be somewhere and deal with the tantrums and screams.

Categories
3 years and beyond Family

More sunny adventures

Yes another sunny wonderful day today, I am very proud of myself that I managed to do 2 loads of laundry before we left the house and nearly all was dry when we got home.

As it was sunny, we thought that we would take off to Australia Walkabout Park, we had a Cudo voucher that was going to expire. I bought it thinking that it would be great for the girls to see all different animals in their habitat. I am so glad that the weather was good and we were able to use the voucher before it expired. We raced around, got ready and packed our bag.

Julia was out of sorts all day, and we think it was due to the heat, she was moody, wanting cuddles and everything was an issue. Lillian seemed fine.  My car has no air conditioning and we think it needs to be re gassed, it has to wait currently so we aired the car with the windows down. Not great, but it works, the only annoying part is when you have to stop it gets very hot.

We finally arrived to the wildlife park at about 1pm and all had some lunch. The girls saw an emu or two walking around the eating area, and they were amazed at them. Behind the cafe is the koala enclosure and the girls could not see them moving, as they were fast asleep. After lunch we all went to the talk about the diamond python, who is called Neil, (Neil Diamond, someone at this park has a sense of humour). The girls were not interested in touching the snake, petting it, or have it pretend you were a tree and lounge on you. I was not into it and was happy to look also. There were some brave kids and adults that allowed their body to be a tree for Neil the snake. I just could not do it. This idea got met with “NO, YUCK!” by both the girls. So I take it they feel the way I do and so does daddy about this. Happy to watch.

After this we all went off for a bit of a bush walk and ended up at the Tasmanian Devil talk. These creatures definitely should not be messed with, they have heaps of teeth that seriously could do you some damage. Since the weather was very hot, they were not that keen in coming out from their cool log. There was a brief moment when one came out with the coaxing from the ranger with meat and holding the devil in a position that was not cruel but would not allow the animal to eat the ranger either.

We saw koalas being fed, emus, the girls saw kangaroo’s eating and they patted them and were very taken with them. We made sure that they were safe and was around just in case. All in all it was a good day; it was long and a tiring day, the girls saw and animals and had a great experience. So glad it was hot, a taste of what summer should have been. I wonder if we will get more weather like this.

I have only now checked the weather for the week ahead. What a sad state of affairs, the follow is the predication for the week ahead (weather taken from Sydney Morning Herald Weather):

Monday
Late shower
Min: 15°C Max: 24°C
UV: Extreme

Tuesday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 18°C
UV: Extreme

Wednesday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 17°C
UV: Extreme

Thursday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 16°C
UV: Extreme

Friday
Showers
Min: 10°C Max: 16°C
UV: Extreme

Saturday
Showers
Min: 10°C Max: 16°C
UV:

Sunday
Possible shower
Min: 10°C Max: 17°C
UV: –

How disappointing that the weekend is probably the only sunny warm weather that we might have in a while. Let’s hope that the weather people have got it wrong.

When we came home from the wildlife park, I changed the sheets on our bed and the girls beds. Now the only washing I have to do is the sheets and some clothes from today. So that is good news. Aside from sorting, ironing and putting away.

There are 3 more days until the girls go to pre-school orientation; I am so excited that you would think it is me going to school. I hope it is a fun time at the school, not sure what will be discussed and shown for future students, but keen to find out. Now need to get my finger out and start the sewing project for their pants.

I hope you all had good adventures this weekend and that the weather was good. I hope that the weather is going to be sunny and warm tomorrow, I will hope for it. What did you all get up to this weekend? We managed to find some A3 paper from Officeworks this weekend for the kid’s art, so maybe tomorrow we will paint or draw. What have you got organised?

Categories
3 years and beyond Family

Sunshine, play and an attempt to rest

Today was a miracle it was sunny and hot. What a change from nonstop rain, although the idea of rain was still around with dark clouds forming and threatening that it will stop this joyful moment of some summer sun.

Today we all went off to see and experience the Rydal Show, which of course is located in Rydal. It is a nice town near Lithgow, NSW. The girls got to moo with cows, pat a goat, snort with pigs (very influenced by Peppa Pig, a television show that the girls watch), touched wool, saw sheep, Lillian had her face painted as a purple pussy cat as per usual and the surprise was that Julia had no interest in getting her face painted. Julia is normally a fair doctor (for those that don’t know, a fairy doctor is a doctor to fairies and others in need as well) when she has her face painted. Lately I have been told that she is going to be a fairy doctor when she grows up, so she does not want her face painted as one now. I said maybe she wanted to be something different, for example, a cat, a butterfly or a puppy dog. The answer I received was “Yuck, NO!”  Oh well, just one child had their face painted.

Daddy, Mummy, Julia and Lillian all went on the tea cup ride. Lillian was not sure about it but really liked it. Julia liked it a lot and really did not want to get out. Then we were off to the bouncing castle, which for some strange reason the girls referred to as the “bounce a seum” , it was like they were saying bounce with museum on the end, which was a cute way to describe it. I am trying to think where the kids got this from, maybe it was from one of the shows they watched or they are just creative.

Lately the girls are saying “No, Yuck, or Yuck, NO!!!” to a lot of things. It could either be an activity, something I have asked them to do, or today a very nice lady from Rydal show was trying to see if the girls wanted something and the response was, “No, Yuck!!”. The lady was very nice and polite. I used this example to show that this was not appropriate behaviour but not sure if that has sunk in. I keep on trying and making sure that they realise that they cannot speak to people that way.  I suppose that I just have to solider on and keep on with this issue. If I give up, they will think that they can get away with it. I do think it is a phase and the girls trying to test them and me.

It does get rather exhausting, especially when I thought I would take the opportunity to take a nap while they supposedly rested. Rest time now consists of the girls going to their bedroom and playing, creating a mess, hurting each other or just yelling and giggling. This time they were just terrible to each other. I had to go in twice to see who was hurt and make sure they realised that if it happened again that I would separate one of them. They did not want that, and then it died down to a whisper of giggles and games.

The girls and daddy came in to wake me up and Lillian especially was very naughty, jumping on me, poking and that type of thing. She thought it was very funny. We are trying very hard to make her see that when people yell no, or stop that she needs to stop and it is not funny.

Today Julia is calling herself Fiona, Princess Fiona from Shrek to be precise. Lillian talks to Julia and addresses her as Fiona and sometimes as Tinkerbell. All very odd, especially to daddy when he came home Friday night and in their room he was told he was talking with Fiona and Lillian. He told me it was a directive that came from the cheeky monkeys. In the car today and at the show, Lillian kept on asking Fiona what she wanted and did she want to go and see the cows, or the horses. The girls definitely have a vivid imagination.

I don’t know what happened today, maybe it was the change in the weather, but both girls were hyper, they had no sugar, sweets or anything that I can pinpoint.  They were all over the place. Glad that they are in bed and I will be there soon.  Crossing fingers that the girls are a bit more relaxed tomorrow.

Do your kids get obsessed with shows that they change their names at home? What have you done as soon as you get a sunny day, aside from washing?  I managed to get one load done and hopefully more tomorrow.