MY MOTHER’S Day weekend couldn’t have been more perfect. There were moments of laughter (yes, OK, so you expect that from the O’Briens) and plenty of happy tears.
Ella wearing the matching tiara and earrings she bought me
Here’s how it played out:
HAPPY TEARS: I was given the best Mother’s Day present ever the night before when Baby Holly, whose five-hour stretches of sleep in the past seven months could be counted on one hand, delivered an incredible seven-hour stretch of sleep. Yes, I got up once, Just once. Bliss. Sure, it was followed by then being awake for 1.5 hours from 3am, but I am so not complaining. A full report of how this was achieved is coming in the Sleep Challenge on Thursday.
LAUGHTER: Saturday night was spent trying to get out of three-year-old Ella what she had bought me for Mother’s Day. Here’s the script:
Mum: “So, what did you buy me?’’
Ella (in a hushed voice): “Shh, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.’’
Mum: “How many presents did you buy me?’’
Ella: “Lots. But shhh, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.’’
Mum: “What was your favourite present?’’
Ella: “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.’’
Mum: “Hmm, which one did you wrap first?’’
Ella: “No Mum. I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.’’
Mum: “Did you get me a book?’’
Ella: “Yes! Ah, no, it’s a secret.’’
Busted!
LAUGHTER: As a follow on from that conversation, that night Baby Holly and I went into Ella’s room to give her a kiss goodnight. At the same time, her Dad was trying to decide with her what books, picked up at the library that day, to read. Ella caught sight of one of the books and yelled out: “NO DAD! It’s meant to be a surprise. Remember?’’ Apparently, one of the books they’d bought for Mother’s Day looked remarkably similar to one of her library books. Busted, again!
LAUGHTER: Mother’s Day morning, Julian and Ella donned their Masterchef aprons and made me a bowl of cereal, a cup of tea and a platter of fruit with “drizzled’’ chocolate. Unfortunately, it just looked like poo on a plate. Even more unfortunate was that a chocolate Easter bunny died to make my breakfast.
HAPPY TEARS: Last night I gave Ella a big hug and kiss and thanked her for a wonderful Mother’s Day. She stroked my face, smiled at me and said: “You’re welcome.’’
What was the highlight of your Mother’s Day?
Linking to FlogYoBlog Friday (ah, Saturday) with Where’s My Glow?
Marrying the right man. Not only is he attached to royalty (he’s Prince William’s 13th cousin – thankfully on the Spencer side. I shudder to think what our children would have looked like with those ears!), but he made me cry this week with a post called For the love of a mother. All together now…. awwwwwww!
Air kisses. Three-year-old Ella HAD to have a bit of lippy on for childcare. As I went to kiss her goodbye before she walked out the door with her Dad, she said: “I can’t kiss you, Mum. I’ve got lipstick on’’, then proceeded to blow me a kiss, smile and turned on her heels to leave.
Baby Holly mastering her next skill: sitting. Then falling down. And sitting up. And falling down again. Another milestone passes us by. (Oh, why does it all go so quickly?).
Multi Golden Guitar winner Sara StorerTODAY I’m handing the blog over to multi Golden Guitar winner and mum Sara Storer. The aim is simply to show mums out there that, no matter what cards you’re dealt in life, we all share similar experiences. Even celebrity mums.
This down-to-earth country music star, who’s renown for her unique Aussie sound, is mum to little Harry and has her second bub due at the end of the month. Her latest single, Children of the Gurindji with Kevin Carmody, will speak to many mums this Mother’s Day. You can see the video clip at the end of this post. Some of you will already be familiar with Tears, a song which touched so many with its direct message about domestic violence towards children.
Kellie O’Brien: You’re one of country music’s newest mums. How did mums like Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers and Gina Jeffries support you on your new path?
Sara Storer: The girls were a big help and a wonderful support during my first pregnancy and after Harry was born. I was on the road touring with the Songbirds… Beccy & Gina. Being mums they had heaps of advice especially about my future concerns of being a mum on the road with a baby. The girls also took it in turns of babysitting Harry whilst I was on stage or having a number of wonderful tips for those moments of chaos just before I was to go on! They (Bec, Gina & Kasey) were very inspirational and encouraged the idea that I can be a mum and a singer at the same time.
KO: What is the story behind naming your son Harry? Is this a nod to the retired buffalo shooter who inspired your first song, Buffalo Bill?
SS: It was just a nice coincidence that we named our boy Harry. Not directly linked to Harry the Buffalo shooter who inspired my first song but the love of the name and the lovely song it sings when I say…’ Harry O’Hare get out of the fridge!’
KO: You took time off from your music career to play mum to Harry? How important was that time for you?
SS: Well initially it was extremely important to bond with our baby and take some time to rest and recover from the big day! It definitely has been a challenge between balancing motherhood and career. Motherhood has been and still is the most wonderful thing I’ve experienced but I still love performing and being Sara Storer the artist and all that that brings.
KO: How has that period inspired you musically?
SS: Motherhood is so much more than I expected. It’s huge and has and will inspire many songs about my family. I have been introduced to so many new emotions and every day brings something new. I hate it if I miss anything and would prefer to see it all for myself… that’s why balancing motherhood and career is such a challenge.
KO: Your singles Tears and now Children of the Gurindji (with Kev Carmody) are very much centred on our Australian children; the latter from your experiences as a teacher in the Northern Territory. Has having Harry made you look at life – and children – differently?
SS: I guess having Harry has reinforced my beliefs and values about the upbringing of our children. We can change a child’s personality by exposing them to things that should never be seen, heard or felt. It’s up to us to protect them from abuse of any sort, so let us start in our own backyard… our neighbours and our students and our families and give a child a fair start.
KO: What one moment shared with Harry stands out most for you?
SS: One true special moment would be watching my fiancé become a big softy. When Harry and I have been on the road for weeks and we come home to Darwin and Dave meets us at the airport, it’s very special. The relationship between a father and son is such a lovely thing to watch at any age. And I see a big toughie reduced to a big softy in seconds!
KO: What do you love best about being a mum?
SS: I love not missing anything. I love the fact that my job allows me to take Harry on the road with me. I love that I haven’t missed funny things he has said and his first steps and triumphs. Of all the advice I’ve been given the one that I take seriously is that it all goes so quick and before you know it they have grown up. So I try to slow down and never wish to rush the day away. (Even though there have been days that I could definitely put into fast forward… and nights!)
KO: What’s in store for Mother’s Day?
SS: I have just turned around and asked the two males on the couch ‘what is installed for Mothers Day?” and the reply was…”When is Mothers Day?”I will be working on that one! Look, I don’t get too precious about those days… as in I don’t turn into a psycho and demand presents, but I do appreciate mums and what’s involved in the day and life for a mum. For example, today I have done 18 phone interviews as well as squeeze in four loads of washing, a quick whip around, this questionnaire and the days not finished yet! I think I will demand some chocolates!!
What aspects of Sara’s life can you relate to?
This post is joining in with FlogYoBlog Friday over at Where’s My Glow?
First, let’s talk about Mother’s Day, shall we? Sorry, but you know how much I love suspense!
For Father’s Day last year I bought Julian, or should I say Ella bought Julian, a book called I Love My Daddy. In the spirit of that book, I asked Ella this week why she loved her mummy. These are the words straight from her mouth.
I love my mummy because…
You’re funny (hilarious, I tell you. Especially that knock knock joke I taught you. Knock Knock. Who’s there? Syd. Syd who? Syd down you’re rocking the boat. Really tired of hearing that joke now).
You play Snap with me. (Little do you realise I taught you Fish, called it Snap and now you refuse to let me call it Fish. So we play a rather confused game now).
You sing me songs. (Below is the song I’m currently singing to her EVERY night as her bedtime song. It’s wearing rather thin. Please note, I am a Carlton supporter)
The fact I sing this song every night proves one thing: I love you too, darling. Both of you!
What do your children love most about you?
Oh, and the winner of the $250 worth of Mother’s Day gifts is:
Judith Perez Bejar. Congratulations Judith!
In her entry, Judirth said:
“My wishes for my mother day if have the money to pay a ticket to bring my mother here to Australia but now with all the expenses for the new baby that today is overdue,its impossible to afford it, but really i miss her she is the best mum in the world, always there for me, always willing ti listen and guide me throgh my whole life, trough ups and downs.”
If you’re still searching for that perfect gift for Mum, then please consider supporting one of these online mummy businesses. I can honestly say their products are divine. Read more about them here.
THE long weekend for the O’Briens was mainly spent a-huntin’. It began by hunting for choccie throughout the house, which resulted in numerous high pitched squeals. And that was just from me.
The night before Easter Bunny’s arrival, the Bloke in The Shed and I placed eggs around the house, each with a clue to the whereabouts of the next egg in the hunt. Because Ella can’t yet read, I drew pictures of the locations – the bath, her kitchen, the drawers.
Julian had this to say on Facebook afterwards: “Just set up the Easter egg hunt under Kel’s instruction. Poor Ella, think she’s gonna need a bloody GPS in the morning’’.
He can’t deny though, that it helped make the excitement of Easter morning last that much longer. The highlight was later that day witnessing Ella view the video of the morning’s hunt. She continually kept telling the video version of herself where the eggs were. “No Ella, look in the other drawer. Yes, that one. Quick, open it. Yay! Well done, Ella.’’
That afternoon, we headed off to visit her Nan who was camping at Wing’s Wildlife Park in Tassie’s North-West community, Gunns Plains. As the name suggests, the park has wildlife, with everything from buffalo to wombats and monkeys.
Oh, and devils, of course.
And a goat.
Here we went a-huntin’ once more, which resulted in numerous high pitched squeals – again. The first squeal was from Ella when a roaming rooster started chasing her after she decided to “feed the birds’’.
The experience didn’t quite live up to the Mary Poppins moment.
Then there was the turkey, which could obviously smell that we’d just devoured one of its mates for lunch. Not a happy camper.
The next squeal was courtesy of the Bloke in The Shed, and Collingwood supporter, who found a plaque dedicated to him.
The highlight, apart from some rather hungry looking Tassie Devils, was a kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. Ella, quite loudly, informed everyone how: “it’s got a baby hanging out of its bum, hasn’t it Mum?’’. Ah, not quite, darling.
So, how did you spend the long weekend? Did you go camping, visit a local attraction, spend it with friends and family or relax at home (if you can call staying at home with kids relaxing!)?
THE countdown to the fella with the fluffy ears and tail is well and truly underway here. So much so, we spent yesterday getting in the spirit of Easter. For morning tea, we indulged in chocolate hot cross buns. Later that afternoon I looked in the mirror, only to notice I had it all around my mouth. No wonder the mailman wouldn’t look me in the eye.
We then scoured the pantry with the intention of making some Easter Candy Bark but, alas, there was no chocolate. Some gremlin ate it all while blogging late at night. Hmmm, who could that be?
Instead, we went and got out this little creation made by her dad back in January.
White Rabbit-come-Easter Bunny
A couple of weeks ago this very hat became rather famous after making an appearance on Mrs Woogs’ blog Woogs World. She sent a call out for Easter hat creations, so I submitted the above photo (yes, they are pink undies) and this description:
Princess Ella, wearing her bunny hat, painstakingly made by her dad, (painstaking, because it’s held together with a pink ribbon and 1000 staples). He originally made it as part of a one-year-old’s Alice In Wonderland birthday party in December (yes, that’s one serious birthday party). Ella, obviously being the white rabbit. Not really the crafty type, hubby was so impressed by his own efforts he put it away ready to reuse at Easter
But this all wasn’t quite enough. We needed to make something “Eastery’’ and so we headed to the doodle drawers – I mean, craft drawers – and discovered some red felt. The idea was to make a basket to put eggs in during her Easter egg hunt to come Sunday morning.
Ella got into the spirit of things by donning the hat while we did our craft. But be warned, she ain’t no Easter Bunny. She told her dad this week she can’t use a proper toilet seat. Why? “Because I don’t have a big fat bum’’ You see? How on earth could she be an Easter Bunny? (And, by the way, she takes after her Mum in that department).
Anyway, here’s our step by step guide to making an Easter basket:
Get a square piece of feltCut slits from the corners midway to the centre of the squareInterlink the sides and glue together. We had no craft glue, so used sticky tape. Yeah, doesn’t quite have the same appeal!Cut a strip of felt and glue to make a handleDecorate. This is Ella’s version of a cat face. Why a cat? I have no idea. Then add eggs.
Oh, and reveal the full effect of the hat (which makes her look decidedly like Johnny Depp in Alice in Wonderland).Although, I was lucky to even capture these photos, considering how fast the egg was devoured.
Then, patiently wait for Easter Bunny….
So, what Easter craft activities have you been up to this week?
