threelilprincesses.com

Author: Kellie O’Brien

  • Alphabet Photography Challenge – O

    Alphabet Photography Challenge – O

    Lisa Wood’s fourth boy enjoys the ocean. He used to be so scared of the water, but this year learnt to swim. Can you see where he’s hidden the O?

    boy on the beach with beach toys

    By Lisa of New life on the Road

    As a mum to five boys, I love taking the time to capture our boys – sometimes smiling, sometimes thinking, and sometimes not so happy! We love exploring the big wide world of Australia and getting out and about. Our boys are so full of energy and love adventure.

    You can learn more about Lisa, her family and travel adventures at New Life on the Road or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

    If you would like to contribute a photo to the Alphabet Photography Challenge, a series of posts aimed at being a “look and find” activity for children learning the alphabet, please email. There are now only a few letters remaining.

    Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys’ Wordless Wednesday. Click on the link to check out more photo posts

  • The writing of a Pick-A-Path post

    The writing of a Pick-A-Path post

    Girl eating sandwich
    Back when a sandwich was tempting

    EVER read those Pick-A-Path books (also known as Choose Your Own Adventures) when you were a kid? I was so obsessed with them, I even wrote a couple myself. I was about 10 at the time, so they were stellar reads. One was about a birthday and never actually went anywhere. No wonder a publisher didn’t pick it up.

    Anyway, last night I felt like escaping my world for someone else’s. My day had consisted of taking Princess Ella to the doctors after her condition saw her not eating for nearly 24 hours. Finally throwing nutrition out the window to concentrate on sloppy, but highly desired food by a pre-schooler, I opted for Snack Packs. Remember those from your school lunchboxes? Yes, we’re stuck in the ‘80s today.

    Well, it seems, when a snack attack hits you, you know you’ve got the facts, ‘cause nothing does it to you like a. Snack. Pack. True story, because Ella ate the lot.

    Anyway, back to wanting to escape my world. I’ve stumbled across a version of those Pick-A-Path books, but in blog form. It’s not exactly genius, but this is how it works. You pick your path via whichever comment on a post most appeals to you. Who knows where you’ll end up.

    Laney from Crash Test Mummy

    Laney stops at a roadside cafe, sitting in one of those big vibrating massage chairs just as bub needs a boobie juice. So she whips one of her girls out. Can you guess what happens next? Click to find out. Then, either pick your favourite comment from her comment section or come back and follow my choice. Which path will you choose?

    Di from Mummy Di-alogue

    Laney’s friend Di feels she’s losing her cooking mojo after overdosing on too much Junior Masterchef. Aren’t we all! She recalls those days when someone’s cooking ineptitude was equated to not being able to boil an egg. Or water in some cases. One morning she tried to cook a boiled egg and failed. Twice. Do you know what she ended up having instead? Go read her story, then decide if you’ll continue with one of her commenters or come back. Choose your path.

    Anne from Domesblissity

    Di has a friend, Anne, who likes to kick up our heels – with kids TV/movie songs. You’ve Got A Friend In Me from Toy Story 3 is on her happy feet list. Just excuse me for a while I have a little listen…. OK, back with you. Can you guess what else might be on there? Go see if your fave’s on there, then pick your path.

    Jennifer from A Sampler

    Anne leads us to Jennifer, who continues in the arts sphere. Jennifer steps inside her own neighbourhood to share a piece of street art. Not hers, by the way.  One of the messages written on the wall is “Rest in Piece’’. Like Jennifer, I’ve got no idea if ‘Piece” is a spelling mistake or some new term going down with the youth today. I’m still stuck in the era when things were “rad’’ and “sick’’. Can you tell what “Rest in Pieces’’ means by looking at the art work? Feel free to keep picking commenting paths and make your own journey. For me, this is the end of the road tonight.

    It seems “narly” art and muddled spelling were all I needed to brighten my night. I chose just the right path for me. Till tomorrow night’s journey…

    Did you read Pick-A-Path books? Where has your blog comment hopping taken you lately?

  • Pink or blue for you?

    Pink or blue for you?

    My pink baby, Holly

    THIS is a post from the archives. However, it’s a question Princess Ella still asks now, so I thought it might give you all a giggle.

    ‘’MUM, can we take Holly back and get a boy one?’’

    When Princess Ella uttered these words last week, my body went stiff, like someone had jabbed me with the oxytocin needle again to expel the placenta.

    My answer? No way.

    It’s not because of all the months of chasing my husband around the bedroom like a cheetah chases a limping gazelle (yes, remember that scene from the Mum’s The Word column?).

    Nor because of the spewing in those early months of being up the duff, that reminds me of how I used to spend New Year’s Eve.

    It also has nothing to do with feeling like an ant pushing out an elephant at the final hurdle. OK, so maybe it has just a little something to do with that last bit.

    No, the real reason is I’m quite partial to pink. Or, more correctly, I’ve got no idea how you go about dealing with boy bits. Yeah, yeah, I know, I’ve been preggers twice, so I must have some idea.

    Princess Ella, on the other hand, seems to have a real fascination with ‘’scoody doodies’’ – her term, not ours. Apparently her friend Harry at child care has a scoody doodie.

    ‘’But he’s only got a little scoody doodie,’’ she says. Note: Harry is not his real name in fear of bruising the pride of his father.

    For the record, girls, it’s been determined, have ‘’front bottoms’’. Oh, how boring. We’ve already got one bottom. No wonder she wants a brother.

    So, what about you? Are you more partial to pink or blue? And what names have your children given their (usually not so) private bits?

  • WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #19

    WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #19

    baby girl in pink bike
    Baby Holly on a recent bike ride

    FOR all those wonderful people who have been asking about Baby Holly, she’s getting much better. Thank you. She even walked with the wooden trolley today totally unassisted. I know, you don’t really care.

    However, in other news, Princess Ella is now battling Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. The ulcers at the back of her throat are so big they look like stalagmites. Or is that stalactites? They’re so painful they’re preventing her from eating all her favourite “sometimes’’ foods. Although, apparently cake would make it feel better. Yeah, right, just like the Cadbury Fruit and Nut chocolate block I’m devouring will make me skinny.

    Anyway, now I’ve turned you all off your Sunday Eggs Benedict, you may as well get clicking on some of the links below.

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
    3. Grab the NEW button to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways!

    While we’re on the subject, what are you having for breakfast this morning? Do you have a Sunday breakfast tradition?

     



    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Grateful for birthday wishes… even if it’s for a unicorn

    Grateful for birthday wishes… even if it’s for a unicorn

    ALTHOUGH I posted about having a faeces of a week, I actually do have a few things to be grateful for:

    • Unicorn birthday wishes: Yet another inspiring conversation with Princess Ella this week: Ella: “Mum, can I have a unicorn for my birthday?’’ Me: “And where would we buy one of those?’’ Ella: “From a unicorn shop, silly. They have lots of different sorts of unicorns there.’’ Me: “ Thanks. That’s good to know.’’ I am now on the hunt for the unicorn shop. If you have directions, please pass them on.
    • 111 people are talking about my Facebook page: I’ll admit, I had no idea what “111 people are talking about this’’ meant when I saw it tucked under my Facebook profile banner. Exactly what is the “this’’ they’re talking about? I thought I should ask someone. That “someone’’ was Facebook people. And they had an answer. Apparently they’re not ALL talking about me, some are just clicking the “share’’ or “like’’ button – lazy, I say, darn lazy – but none-the-less, I’m in 111 people’s minds this week. Scary.
    • Birthday presents: Holly doesn’t fully understand that while it was her first birthday on Monday, it was Ella who opened all her presents. I’m sure this will be a different scenario in 12 months time. But let’s not go there just yet. For now, let her bask in the glory of her li’l mountain of wrapping paper. Which was actually Christmas paper, but let’s not go there either.

    I’m joining with  Maxabella Loves to share what I’m grateful for.

  • The not so Happy Birthday

    The not so Happy Birthday

     

    Birthday presents
    Yes, that's Christmas paper. Like she's going to notice!

    I KNOW I’ve had a right faeces of a week. Monday was meant to be all about celebrating Baby Holly’s first birthday. That point where I softly kiss goodbye to our dependent li’l bub and embrace a fully fledged toddler who’s ready to begin along a new path in life.

    Sweet music was meant to play, princesses were meant to dance around the room and there was supposed to be lots of cake. Cake with pink icing. And I planned to talk about this gorgeous pop-up version of Guess How Much I Love You?

    Guess How Much I Love You Pop-Up Edition

    Guess How Much I Love You Pop-Up Edition

    *INSERT screeching noise from old record player… or car breaks (whatever takes your fancy)*

    Instead, enter skin that looks like it’s baked in the sun for four hours, chins dribblier than a cow chewing its cud for the fourth time and 4am starts to the day. Yes, welcome to Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. And before you do the “shock-horror’’ face, it has nothing to do with cows (I don’t know how many times I’ve repeated those words this week). And don’t fret, I won’t gross you out with photos of the blisters. But here’s her hands holding her birthday bracelet instead.

    baby bracelet

    Here’s what I know about Hand Foot and Mouth Disease:

    • It’s a mild viral illness, which includes slight fever, loss of appetite (never in this house!) and blisters on the hands, feet and mouth.
    • There’s a 3-5 day incubation period.
    • It’s spread through contact with the fluid in the blisters (ewww) or their faeces (double ewww).
    • The blisters are infectious for as long as there is fluid in them and the faeces remain infectious for several weeks.
    • No treatment is required. You basically have to allow the blisters to dry naturally (easier said than done when fingers are in mouths to help ease teething pain).
    • Princess Ella and I have become slightly obsessive about hand washing.
    • Bonjela (or as we call it, Bon Jovi minus the big hair) goes a long way in easing the pain of the blisters and ulcers in their mouth. They can also get a sore mouth a few days before the ulcers appear.
    • The blisters on their hands and feet don’t appear to bother them.
    • Someone suggested icy poles are also a good remedy for little ones who refuse to eat or drink.

    Top this all off with the fact the groceries I’d ordered from Woollies online arrived yesterday – full of use-by-as-soon-as-you-can items for Holly’s birthday party. The party which has been postponed a week. I know we’ll be eating well this week.

    NB: This information was gained from a leaflet provided by childcare and tweets and Facebook messages from fellow mums. Please, consult a health professional for expert advice.

    Linking up Shae from Yay for Home’s Things I Know.