let's play THE game

I am pretty sure 'the' game has been going for about 8 years.  It involves many hours of doll's house set up, and complex rules about which furniture and people go with which sister.  And it cannot be interrupted.

'But Mum we are in the middle of a game'

 
'Hey Annika you remember in the game when...'

'When we are in the game you be the sister and I will be the other sister, and we have two other sisters...'

'But Mum we definitely cannot tidy it up, it is all set up for the GAME'

We have certainly got out money's worth out of the Fisher Price Loving Family dollhouse stuff.  I like it because the people look a little bit real and there is a good cross section of genders and ages with the people - but not very multicultural.  We had to source different nationality dolls from elsewhere.

Things I have seen the dollhouse people do:
- have an excursion to the treehouse
- skype the other dollhouse - one was in America and the other one was in Brazil
- dolls having severe timeouts and left for weeks in one room
- pack the car up to go on holidays
- go to school and learn all about countries, including a powerpoint presentation on Tanzania
- have showers
- go shopping and wearily trudge around telling the child dollies they cannot have an icecream
- go to the movies at the loungeroom TV theatre
- go to choir practice with a giraffe as a conductor
- have babysitters
- get told to go to bed very loudly
- put on shows for the other dolls with props, music, ticketing and promotional material
- work on the computer

The giraffe conductor was concerned that the sopranos seemed to be losing attention

 I think playing with the doll's house has been wonderful for my girls, particularly Gabby.  It is great for their imagination, and to process some of their world.  When I look at the list above it makes me realise how much of my life is played out in the doll's house.

Hmmm.

Maybe I should model being kind, helpful, generous, loving and tidy so the dolls can re-enact it in the GAME.

toecicles

 My poor husband complains I have toecicles at night.  Frozen metatarsals. Icy tips.


Well what use is a warm husband if not to warm your toecicles?

take a step forward

No matter how grown up I think I am getting there are always little relationship stumbles.  One such little stumble happened today with mis-communications with a friend.

Initially I huffed and puffed, then through chance spoke to an older wiser woman who told me it is always better to take the step forward than to push with your arms back.

So I took the step forward.

And it was fine.

And I was glad I did.  All was smooth again and cleared up.  The path became clear, apologies were made and the little friendship speedbump is already receding in the rearview mirror.

Phew.

On another note...

Here is a lovely photo of Gabby a friend took.

And here is me the same age.

Just wanted to share that I once had long blonde hair.  And that I wasn't always wise enough to take the step forward.

a classic

Went to watch a wedding today of a friend from church.

We scrubbed up well.  And listened to the lovely strains of the classic Anglican marriage service. Those words are comforting and strong - for better for worse, for richer for poorer,  in sickness and in health, until death do us part.  It was a reminder of the promises I made nearly seventeen years, two kids, less wrinkles and two dogs ago.

They both cried during the vows.  Awwwww.

She looks so pretty and cool.  Sometimes I wonder how I know such pretty, cool people. 

I just hope my cover of inner dagginess is not blown soon. 

For example, I have been asked to give a quick talk tomorrow (let's say 2 minutes) at a church lunch and have over prepared as usual with a photo slideshow, video presentation, notes and amusing anecdotes. 

Nerd.

But a nerd very happy to see a friend get married.

crotchet rest

On my first commitment free day for a long time it feels like a crotchet rest.  A short break before the pace continues for the rest of the term.  I have taken the opportunity already this morning to clean out the chickens and guinea pigs, and let them free range it in the back yard.

Scooter kept a careful eye on the livestock in the yard.  Just in case it needed herding.

She feels compelled to keep the chooks under her complete control.  They mostly ignore her.

It's like a horror movie -LOOK BEHIND YOU CHICKENS!

These little guys are also have some free range time in a carefully constructed guinea pig run made from gutter guard and tent pegs.  I hope they don't realise they can jump it - because they are super quick and hard to catch in the undergrowth.

Why are all our animals brown?  And I dyed my hair brown yesterday (on a side note - this took two and a half hours!  I think the hairdresser was individually painting each strand of hair).

A short rest at home.  It is amazing what can happen.  And it is only morning tea time!

and the week just hit me in the back of the head

Last week I spent doing the kids holiday program at church.  For me this involves helping set up (making church look like a castle with the help of some minions), puppeting up front all week and looking after the year 6 boys group.  It involves early starts and long days. Remembering scripts, props and crafts supplies.  Having good relationships with people and trying not to be cranky with my children when we get home.  Being able to tell about Jesus to kids who have not heard it before, and to kids who are on a journey of their own.  It was such a good week.

But it has just hit me in the back of the head.

The after holiday program SLAP in the face with a wet fish of housework reality and school and work and grocery shopping.

But reflecting on the week...

These are the collages I encouraged my boys group to do - they turned out beautifully!
(Background note - I was expecting to have a girls group and had planned to do collage - ended up with a boys group and stubbornly continued with the collage task - you know, since I had bought all the stuff and everything - I think they really liked it...really)

One of my favourite things I was involved in during the week was a dance elective.  We got to dance on the stage at the end of the week.  In Knight costumes.  I'm not going to say that wasn't my idea.  I wore blue.  I have a secret desire to be a backing dancer now.

We are so gangsta knight.

Lovely Lisa.  Love her.

I also was so encouraged to hear these boys singing and playing a song I had lyric ed (is that a word?).  The music was from a pop song and I just popped some words in from 1 Corinthains 13 about love.  It turned out well.

Puppeting.  In a castle.  Talking to a red knight.

Fun fun fun.  I am so blessed to be in a place where I can use the creative gifts God has given me with kids.  Surely complete silliness is a gift?

in the middle

of two weeks of holidays.

Well not really holidays.  Last week I did five puppet shows in the council libraries.  I forgot to bring my camera (!) but took this terrible one with the ipad.

What I learned about doing shows in the libraries:
- make sure you put a masking line of DANGER to separate the stage area from the area where the kids are. Emphasize the DANGER of crossing this line.  One kid kept throwing his shoes onto the stage.  No I don't know why either.
- arrive really early.  It looks efficient, and then you can catch up on your reading in the library.
- giggle a lot with your performing partner.  This provides lots of energy and unexpected humour.  A high level of energy is important to keep the attention of the under five set.  And the bored parent set.
- reduce the number of props you decide to have in your show.  We had a lot of props.  And when faced with a three storey stair climb with a puppet box you can regret the amount of props there are.
- be thankful for all the people who come - from the small select group to the large crowd (we had about 150 at Chermside libary!).  It amazed me that families would turn up and take a risk on a performance they knew nothing about - thanks families!

I really enjoyed it - and went through moments of 'I would love to do this more' to 'why does that kids keep throwing shoes' to 'I'm tired, pass me a cup of tea' to 'this is really fun and energising'.

Maybe my career as a puppeteer is just beginning.

Also this week Annika went on a SMADD (song music art drama dance) camp.  She has returned tired and dramatic.  Re-entry into normal family world after camp world is always tricky.

She chose the drama elective on camp.  Unsurprisingly.

We stopped off on the way home at this aptly named cafe.

This coming week we have church kids holiday program.  I think I am ready.  I think.  Much more puppetting ahead.

I am very happy she is home.  I missed her terribly.

My dramatic girl.  I don't know where she gets it from.

:)