Day Spa Anyone... Anyone!?

Don't answer that question.

I know the answer is yes, cause if your anything like me, then you would have crawled over cut glass to visit a Day Spa today... Well thanks to the best Husband and the Best Father in Law, there was no crawling to the Day Spa for me. Just a leisurely drive in the car ALONE. That's alone, in the peaceful car, with no-one but Me. And peace. And quiet.

It started with a foot bath and scrub whilst dressed in nothin but my sexiest Bonds undies and Endotas ultra plush bath robe. I made a little bit of light conversation, obviously pointing out the fact that I have "5" kids. Yes, DO feel sorry for me. OK, I'll take the title of Super Mum. Uh-huh, OK.
Then up I clambered onto that massage table to commence the dribbling.

The full body massage was Ohhhhhh. Aaaaaaa. No that's OK. YES... Harder - Amazingly pleasurable yet painful thanks to those pesky knots found under my chicken wings. I s'pose you can't have the pleasure without a bit of pain.

Next up was a "body brush" which can only be described as, a human horse brushing... I have nothing further to say on that!

I didn't realise how much my dishpan man hands were pleading to be coated in clay and then wrapped up in little white mittens.

Role me up in that warming body Cocoon baby, and go ahead - find those pressure points.

There may have been a slightly awkward moment when I thought about Baby Lucy, which in turn provoked an involuntary leaking of the milk tankers!

Slight level of concern was mounting over how much hot oil was being poured into my hair for the scalp massage. I don't do the greasy/slicked back look very well! Hang on a minute, I'm headed to the hairdresser after this. Problem solved. Back to dribbling.

Doesn't 2.5 hours sure fly when your having fun. No sooner had I lied down then I found myself back in reception (a little greasier than normal) perusing the stands for my post treatment purchase!

Oooop there it is.

Heaven - pure, organic, relaxing, dreamy, and very much needed - Heaven.

OK, now off home to pick up a certain little six year old girl who has NEVER sat in a hairdressers chair before!
It's time to even up those wild, crazy, rambunctious, mind of their own locks.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Theres nothin like a new doo or two.

Happy weekend everybody.

Super Power, Super Mum!?

If a Gennie popped out of a bottle today and asked me for my wish - it would be; To be able to Stop Time whenever I choose. This has been my "superpower of choice" for as long as I can remember.

When I was a school kid, I used to wish I could stop time so I could catch up on my school work. I had the potential to be quite academic however time was never on my side. I was one of those kids who took a little longer than average to learn new things. New information needed a little more time to sink into the old grey matter! And so, often I got left behind in class. Most days at school I wished I could stop time. Have everyone around me frozen, whilst I figured the answer out, and that way when the teacher asked me for the answer I would know it straight away, instead of doing my best to look invisible whilst saying over and over in my head "don't pick me, don't pick me", only to hear my name called!

When I was a teenager, I used to wish I could stop time so I could stay up all night reading my plethora of self help books and then stop time again in the morning when all I wanted to do was sleep the day away but my parents had other ideas!

As a young adult I used to wish I could go out partying all night and then stop time the next morning so that I could sleep off my hangover without wasting an entire day.

When I first met Simon, I used to wish I could stop time so we could snuggle up in bed together all day long. (I still have that wish!).

And now I wish I could stop time for so so many reasons. In fact, I've never been so "time poor" in all my life. It just doesn't stop. EVER.
The Cleaning
Washing
Homework
Vegemite sandwiches
Breastfeeding
Dishes in the sink
Baths
Hockey training
Cook dinner
Mum can I have a hot chocolate?
Mum can I watch Toy Story?
She hurt me!
Changing pooey nappies
Well, SHE took my toy!
Mum have you paid for my excursion yet?
Eat your dinner
Get down from there,

ALL TO THE POWER OF "5", and the irony is, the more kids you have the more time you need right!? But they don't hand out any "extra hours" for every kid you have, so you just have to get really good at cramming A LOT of shit into 24 hours - and what you don't fit into that 24hrs is rolled over into the next 24hrs and so-on and so-forth until suddenly one day you find yourself  OUT. OF. CONTROL.

I would NEVER trade my big old family for anything, but boy oh boy it moves at a cracking pace. And sometimes you get so caught up in it, that it's hard to catch your next breath, and right before you explode with frustration at being pulled in a thousand different directions, you find it -there it is - that deep breath I need to - scream at you, and yell at you, and point my finger at you, and stamp my foot at you, and frighten you ALL into just leaving me the hell ALONE .........

And then you catch a glimpse of them, lips quivering whilst shyly wiping their own tears away and you find another breath, this time your whole body relaxes on the exhale, and with an overwhelming sense of love and guilt and reassurance you pull all four of them into your arms and onto the couch for a cry and a reassuring cuddle and you utter those words that all children need to hear from their parents from time to time. I'm so sorry, and I love you very much.

That was my day yesterday and I'm glad to say that today - was another day. Today was a good day.

Phoebes "Super Power" is clearly flying!
What's yours?

The Day for US Mums

I always love it when I see this little old green serving tray. 

I spied it at the famous and most awesome Mill Markets of Geelong and just had to have it.  I knew I wanted it to feature in our family memories. I knew I wanted our kids to remember this "little old green serving tray" when they were kids and Mum would bring them their dinner in bed because they were sick. Plus it makes me think of a butler, in a quaint old mansion.

Me, I usually see this beautiful old tray when it's either my Birthday or Mothers Day so it's a good day for me when she gets a run. Is there anything better than breakfast in bed!? I think not.

This Mothers Day morning, I was treated to fluffy pancakes with a side of fresh raspberries, blueberries, chantilly cream, Maple Syrup and my favorite Juice. I was supposed to be sleeping in... I knew that - It was Mothers Day for Gods sake, SLEEP IN WOMAN - But it was so hard to sleep, listening to the priceless hustle and bustle coming from the kitchen!... Simon trying to wrangle twin 3 year olds insisting on "mixing and flipping" whilst demanding to be fed themselves! And Isabella trying to contain her "surprise" excitement, coming in to Me ever 4 minutes informing me that there was "nothing happening in the kitchen Mum".

However it came - it was DE-lightful.

Daddy clutching that little old green tray, Matilda and Phoebe throwing themselves onto my bed and Isabella proudly holding her handmade card plus the pink cyclamen she chose from the school Mothers day stall. I was missing my Jackey Boy who was having a sleepover! (His first Mothers Day away from Mwah).

A quick shower, and we were out the door to swap the cuppa tea with A Speckled Hen beer, a crisp savvy, a jug of lemonade - and a bowl of hot chips from the local watering hole! Dropped in on the way home to welcome some old friends to the Highlands then home sweet home for hot baths and "easy dinner" - toasted ham & cheese sambos.


DONE. 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all my beautiful friends who also happen to be A-mazing Mothers.
xoxoxo

The latest going's on around here...

So, Here's what's been happening round these parts lately...

Our small country town of Burrawang, every year hosts the most amazing Market on Easter Saturday with over 100 market stalls lining the street selling all manner of groovy things. One of those stalls belongs to our little school and each year we (all the mums) bake our little hearts out - selling a truck load of cakes and slices etc plus the dads hit the BBQ - selling good ole Bacon n Egg rolls and Sausage Sambos. It's our only fundraiser for the entire year and each year we (the P&C) make about $10k for the school!! That's $10,000 to spend on resources for 36 VERY lucky kids.

There was a bit of baking done - including doggy biscuits (carrying the flag for my sister who made these last year). Lolly bags - made by "eager to help (all of a sudden) children". Chocky Brownies and Carrot Cakes too.

There was a visit from the Aunty's, Uncles, assorted Cousins and plenty of quad bike fun - mainly for the "big kids" though.

Of course the Bunny came Hip Hopping Along. And then all four kids came Crash Crashing Down after a smidge too much chocolate. I may as well have injected it straight into Phoebe's veins! Jack did his usual and slowly ate his eggs. There was no rush. Bella was right next to phoebe deciding which colour egg to woof down next. And Matilda was our dark horse. A quite achiever - slowly beavering away, painstakingly peeling teency weency bits of silver foil and leaving a trail behind her wherever she went. Whatever it took - she was willing to do it (after all - it would be rude not to!).

 He he he, what have we got here?

 Gimme a look at ya

Cham, cham, cham

AND The Bunny scattered eggs around our secret garden.

The annual Small Schools Cross Country was run and finished by both big kids - Jack coming 15th and Bella coming 4th in their age groups. Both red faced but still smiling by the time they reached the finish line. It's definitely one of my most favourite things to watch. All those Amped up, competitive little faces running off into the forest, full of energy and excitement.

Then - to see them all stagger out of the forest huffing, puffing (and if your Jack, holding your stitch). I JUST love it, and seeing how proud they are of themselves makes me tear up every year.

There was a cheeky little smile caught on camera by Miss Lucy Ann, thanks to Daddy for snapping that one in a nick of time.

Plus a cheeky dinner OUT (that's right people. ME out of the house. ALONE.) With an awesome bunch of chicks no less. Daddy was left in charge of all 5 kiddies and Lucy woofed down her first bottle of formula whilst I inhaled a crisp Savvy Blanc. Great Conversation, Awesome Women, Exquisite Food. PURE (overworked & underpaid) Suzie HEAVEN.

And finally today, both big kids made their hockey debut this morning. Only two kids were injured and both their names ended with Harris!! Bella a hockey stick to the thumb and Jack a hockey stick to the head. Jacks summation of the match "that was my worst game EVER". Simon, "Well technically Jack, that was your first game EVER so next weeks game can only get better".

This hockey gig is tough stuff though. Apparently a Wack to the thumb warrants play to stop - But a Wack to the head (temple region - no less) and play continues!

Happy Holidays My Friends and may the crafting genius within you.. flourish...

My Cooking Circle

When we moved to the country four years ago, we had no idea we would have twins and certainly no idea we would have a fifth child! We also had no idea we would meet and be surrounded by such wonderful people. I'm talking about the community of mums and dads that surround us here in the Southern Highlands.

When the twins were born I was introduced to a wonderous thing known round these parts as a "cooking circle". 

It's a bunch of individual mums who get together and cook a meal for a fellow Mothers entire family after the birth of a child. The idea is to take the stress of cooking dinner away for a few nights so the Mum and rest of the family can focus on what's important - each other. A wonderful friend of mine who deeply values children, the family unit and the birthing process, has been beautiful enough to organise this for us not once, but twice now. And it truly is a wonderful thing.

When you get home from the warm, safe and secure environment of the hospital, it's business as usual right!? The house still needs to run like clockwork. The kids still have to get all their homework done, there's reading to be done every night, a school assignment due!, supermarket shopping, meal planning, washing, folding, ironing (not that I do that), then there's the one acre of garden that needs a serious Harris Family working bee, and all while feeding Miss Lucy every 3 seconds... HEADACHE springs to left and right temples!

These friends of mine have just as many "balls in the air" as me and still they have somehow magic'd up some precious time to shop and cook for my brood.
It's amazing how less stressed I've been, knowing that I don't have to think about what to cook and then slave over the stove, only to have four out of the five kids pull faces when it reaches the table. And that's another thing; All the children especially the big ones, have a huge appreciation for what has been done for us and thus ate every meal with smiles on their faces.. Who would have guessed?!

Taking that one ball away from this juggling act called raising a family has given me more time to spend with the kids, helping them with their homework, reading, playing and just hanging out with them for that couple of hours after school and before dinner - priceless.
These are good, no GREAT people helping an entire family and I think - Country or City a cooking circle is one of the nicest things you can do for someone. I can tell you that I will never forget it and I often talk of these special woman in high regard. I consider it my privilege to be their friend.

THANK YOU, to the kind, thoughtful, generous and down right AMAZING women of my cooking circle. Simon, Jack, Isabella, Matilda, Phoebe, Lucy and I will always be forever grateful to each of you and I'm very much looking forward to paying it forward some day.
xoxox

Just so you know how lucky we are, here are some of the culinary delights we enjoyed here at Harris Central;

Chicken Schnitzel, Mash & Veg w Chocolate Brownie
These brownies were all gooeey and A-MA zing. We warmed them up & scoffed them down with far too much ice cream!

Shepherds Pie w Apple Crumble
I got some great vegi hiding ideas from this recipe. It's all about squeezing as many vegies into them as possible right?.
 

Lamb chops, Roasted Vegetable Salad w Choccy Pudding
This lamb was fresh from my friends farm & can I just say, It melted in your mouth. ALL the children woofed them down, and you know what kids are like, if they have to chew it for more than 2.3 seconds then they don't wanna bar of it!

 

Chicken & Bacon Pie w an Upside-down Choccy, Biscuity, Custardy, Decidant Cake thingy! WELL, this is the second time I have salivated over this Chicken Pie. OMG is all I can say. And that desert. Ohh lordy lordy.

 

Spaghetti Bolognaise w Ice-cream
An ole classic jam packed full of vegies. Does my friend know how to tiny dice a thousand veggies so my kids have no idea what they are actually eating. YES SHE DOES.

Hearty Bacon and Vegie Minestrone w Sourdough and Saucy Butterscotch Pudding

I was sick this day, so this soup went down a treat. A word of warning about the Pudding though. If left on the kitchen bench, your husband WILL woof the entire thing down, down down.!

 

Lamb Hot Pot, Mashed Sweet Potato w Nutmeg and Sour Cream
I'm not sure how long one must slow cook a lamb hot pot for to get THAT MUCH FLAVOR literally infused into the meat. And don't get me started on the sweet pot's mash - the sour cream, ohhhhh.

Hamburgers w Ice Cream
Heeellooo totes moist and flavorsome burger paddies. I plan to have this recipe shortly. 

Creamy Chicken pasta w Lemon Curd Tart
Alright alright, my kids have officially told me that my chicken past no longer "cuts the mustard"! Plus this Mumma also knows how to make the creamy"ist" Lemon Curd EVER.

Consider this family of seven (7, I still can't believe that), FED AND WATERED. 

Chipping away, with homegrown potatoes.

It seems it was a harvest weekend for the Harris Clan. With all this fabulous sunshine we spent a very long overdue weekend in the garden. When you've got this many kids, and one acre of lawn/garden, you just slowly chip away at it. And that is exactly what we did this weekend.

I took a break from breastfeeding Miss Muffit! Jumped on the ride on mower to give the lawns a manicure and was closely followed by Jack on his quad bike pointing out the "bits I missed".

We also dug up the Dutch Cream Potatsies.

Ready to be replanted now.

Then we climbed the apple tree to pick our bounty of yummy Granny Smith Apples AND THEN we peeled and chopped and stewed our homegrown apples into "The Best and Most Delicious Crumble EVER" (Isabella's words not mine).

God it feels good to spend a wholesome weekend with your kids doing good ole family stuff in the garden. I really feel like I'm living the dream this weekend. Four years into our country move and this weekend feels like this is what it's all about. Smiling kids, family time, fruit picking, harvesting, baking, laughing. It feels good.