talk the talk

Over the weekend I noticed alot of water under and around our hot water system and despite not knowing anything about hot water systems, I knew it couldn't be good. In fact all I could see were $$ signs. Hubby knows less than I do so between us, we're completely bloody clueless and with no plumbers in the family, it was time to call in the professionals.

A couple of really nice guys came out this morning, on time too - can you believe it? - and delivered the news that our 9 year old hot water system was knackered. For a grand sum of $1400 we would be out of trouble and have a brand spanking new system, with ten year warranty. Gah! Just the news you want at 7.15am. I asked for temporary measures (none!), I got quotes (we ended up going mid range), I did some digging and yep they were right, it was buggered, they weren't ripping us off so I gave them the go ahead to get the system and install it, today.

I'm starting to notice that the people before us really didn't do much maintenance here and truth be told, I think they moved when they started to notice it was time for maintenance. Smart bastards!

While the two guys were here installing the system my three children dragged seats over to the end of the deck, took up position and proceeded to talk to them through the deck, non stop. They told them everything and anything, all of it irrelevant but to their credit the guys stayed interested and patient with them. I'm not sure I could have done the same thing, but an hour into it they were still saying yes and asking questions. God love em! They were enthralled with tales like 'I did a wee in the toilet' (Missy Moo), 'my mums name is mummy' (Monkey Man) and 'maaaaan, maaan!!!' (Little Miss). The only time they stopped was to get a snack and they ended up taking their food back out to their perches and continuing to chat incessantly. I bet they were glad they drew my house on their job list.

I was telling my Mum about this mornings events and she laughed alot, apparently they sound just like me. When I was a kid I used to follow our next door neighbour up and down the fence line. He would be gardening on the other side while I walked with him and talked his ear off. Every few minutes he would say 'yes Eliza' and pretend I hadn't just told him all the family secrets. I often made him blush telling all sorts.

Given how much all three of my kids love to talk, I suppose its only a matter of time before they start repeating things they shouldn't. Well, actually they already do that . . .

Shoes shoes and more shoes

For those of you that really know me, you know how much I love shoes. For many years of my twenties I bought shoes rather than ate. It was a no brainer.

So far it seems I have passed this genetic trait to both my daughters. Missy Moo will often change shoes a few times until she's happy in what she's wearing - despite my OCD inner self screaming at the colour combinations!! Little Miss will scream and fight until you put on a pair she wants to wear, regardless of colour co-ordination or practicality - hello furry slippers in the backyard!?!? Note: she also does this with clothes and for the first time out of three kids I'm experiencing a fussy dresser, but that's another story.

This morning I was taking the tribe out to run errands; return this, pick up that, buy this, grab that. There was a plan and not a huge amount of time to complete it in - as per usual. We all managed to get dressed with minimal fuss or tears, from me anyway. Missy Moo kept telling me her boot hurt her foot. This was the first time she'd worn them so I was concerned. Don't tell me they're too small before she's even worn them?? I felt for her toes, I got her to wiggle them, I took the boot off her and checked inside for stray plastic or loose zippers, I held the boot to her foot and by all accounts it should fit fine??? After much swearing (in my head) I told her we'd go and get her a new pair. They must be too small? PISSED OFF! So off to the shops we went with yet another task tacked onto an already busy to-do list. We got boots eventually. The kids ran all over the shop, around the fitting room, up and down on the shoe fitting seat thingy. I could feel judgement from other parents but given how long it was taking to get served, well I figured as long as they're occupied they're happy. We got boots, in the same size as the ones at home and I still wondered what had happened to make them 'hurting!'

She loved the new boots! She'd strutted in front of the mirror, she showed them to everyone she saw, she ran and played in them, scuffed them before we came home because of course she had to wear them straight away. Of course.

Shopping was stressful. It's school holidays here so the shops were heaving. The couple we sat next to in the food court were not happy about my kids and I sitting so close to them ie. the table next to them. Weirdos!! The noise was epic. We took too long at the shops so the kids were over it by the time we left and I struggled back to the car with screaming toddlers in the overloaded pram and a run away toddler who kept disappearing every two bloody minutes in his attempts to walk everywhere! Stress was highhhhhh!!!

It's taken me all day to get over it.

I've just gone to bed and looked at the boots from this morning again.... And found tissue paper stuffed in the toes of the one boot that was hurting. No wonder they hurt. Turns out we didn't need to go buy another pair. Now the child with a growing shoe obsession has two pairs of boots for winter. All thanks to a wad of tissue paper.

And speaking of shoes, did I mention I start a new job next week? Oh yes, Manager of the ladies shoe department at Myer. I'm in heaven already just thinking of all those shoes!! Here's to building my girls shoe obsessions!! Hahaha