It's got to be-e-e-e-e-e-e...

...perfect! These are my new culottes. Shhhh, stop sniggering, they are splendid! It is high time this particular style of pant made a return and I've started spotting them here and there which is good enough reason for me to get me a pair. These ones came from the Mill Market in Geelong and are genuine, early nineties originals and I can't wait to wear them. I have visions of myself in these with a round brimmed hat, round John Lennon style sunnies and some shoes...now what shoes can I see? Hang on, there they are, brogues with decorative hole punching. Super daggy=super cool.
There was a discussion on the radio a little while ago talking about epiphany moments. You know, the ones that make you stop and take notice. The ones that reaffirm something in your life or bring you sudden and unexpected clarity and understanding. Sometimes these moments happen amid very difficult or traumatic situations and quite often they change you. Lying in hospital suffering a secondary hemorrhage, looking at my three week old baby girl I was terrified of not being around for her. A major epiphany followed. Live now, suck it all up while you can and value every moment. My husband left his toxic job shortly after this and we've been better for it ever since. Powerful.
I've had a few of these golden moments in the past week. Thankfully they came about in nice times rather than nasty ones. They feel a bit like tick in the box moments. Little reminders or confirmations to make you feel justified in your choices and actions.
My son toddled in with me to have his three and a half year old check and completely blew me away. Being with him twenty four seven means it's really difficult to see him with reasonable perspective. In fact for a couple of weeks I've been abit concerned about his behaviour. There's only so much smashing, bashing and sibling conflict that's normal, surely! It had gotten to the point that I was struggling to see any good boy bits. Then our maternal child health nurse started with the tests. She quick fired lots of questions at him about pictures, letters, recognition of visual symbols, his name and his life. He quick fired the answers straight back with barely a thought. Having tried to extract blood from the same stone myself and been met with little more than typical three year old anti-cooperation, I was gobsmacked. Admittedly, she questioned his concentration span after having to remind him to sit still, but then his bum does have a mind of it's own! When asked to stand on one foot he said "I will but I have to do this special thing". At which point he took himself to the nearest chair, gripped it tightly with one hand and proudly did his very best foot up, seagull impression. Problem solver, my boy. I'm getting something right.
The next moment came upon me amid glorious sunshine as I casually dawdled along the main street of Queenscliff. House man and I embarked on our eagerly anticipated two night stay away from our beloved children for our wedding anniversay. Having never been away from them more than one night, the dawning realisation came upon me that I no longer operate on my own time. Ever. Every decision I make is dependant upon their needs. I'm always thinking of them and whether they may be hungry, tired, overstimulated, bored, over filled with junk food or under cuddled. Even as I type my daughter is ready to get up. It's always about them. The golden bit is that I wouldn't change it. In fact, it makes the time away even more special and absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
The third epiphany was tinged with a bit of trauma as my devastated little boy watched as his beloved trike went beneath the wheels of a car. His little face awash with shreds of tears as I approached the woman driving. After asking her to reverse her car so I could rescue the mangled three wheeler, this being (not sure if she was human) asked me how her car looked. Yes, really. After watching a small boy almost run out onto the road in front of her car to save his precious bike she felt it most necessary to enquire about the welfare of her vehicle. I was astounded and suggested that her car could easily have had a child beneath it's wheels. Here's the best bit. The bit that really displayed the colour and variety that is human nature. She accelerated away giving me and my two small children the royal salute from her window. I only hope she was never blessed with children of her own. The lesson? The world is full of ugly people and I'm not one of them. Oh, and my boy has the smarts to stop him running onto the road in front of a car. Phew.

New sign!! Isn't it lovely? I bet you want to see it in person, too. Come to the Sugar and Spice market in Woodend on Sunday. What a great way to wile away a sunny Sunday or to keep out of the rain on a soggy weekend. Either way, you've no excuse! Might I suggest a side excursion to the local playground? It is trully awesome. It has a completely fenced toddler area, lots of great equipment and I can personally recommend the flying fox, it rocks.
Having had a serious case of the buntyandsars go slows lately I'm getting a bit jittery about how much I'll have ready for Sunday but cross your fingers for two new books in the colouring range, all on my new stands for which I think I have finally come up with a solution. Now all I need is a few more hours in the week! See you Sunday!