Indian call centres

I received a call late last night from what i thought to be a call centre. I thought this because it took a long time to connect and then the caller with an Indian accents said, good morning......and tried to sell me a new mobile phone. I sort of politely said no thank you and hung up the phone. Two seconds later the phone rang again. This time the caller started off on how rude i was in his Indian accent. So I hung up again. I started to tell Nath what was happening when the phone rang again. So i picked up and hang up instantly. This happened a few times until I got pissed off and answered ready to tell the operator where to go. But this time the Indian accent quickly descended into the giggles of my younger, juvenile brother! He thought it was absolutely hysterical. The best fun he had had in ages! Yes, very funny Noddy! Next time you're looking for a job I will recommend you for a call centre!

When I grow up

The discussion over dinner tonight was about our son's future careers. It started like this........ Matthew: Are all doctors girls, Mummy? (He had a lady Dr stitch his forehead a few years ago)
Mummy: No Matthew there are boys doctors. Would you like to be a Dr when you grow up?
Matthew: No mummy. I want to be a workman!!!!!!!!!
More general discussion about Dr salary versus workman salary versus getting to drive a dump truck versus working with nurses and Ryan pipes up with.....
Ryan: I want to be a doctor, mummy!
Mummy: really! What kind of doctor?
Ryan: A teddy bear doctor!
Now we know he is only in it for the nurses!

Arhhhh! Ben!

Today at playgroup Margie organised an "Australia's greatest morning tea" to raise money for the Cancer Council. Everybody had to bring something to eat. The ladies of the playgroup requested my two toned chocolate cheesecake. So early this morning I was in the kitchen wishing and sifting! By 8.30 I was piping the cream onto the cake. By 8.40 I was garnishing with mixed berries, by 8.45 i was grating chocolate over the top. At 8.50 i was putting it into a container for transport, By 8.55 it was a massive mess of chocolate on the floor!!!! When i left the room to get the bag to put it all in Ben had tried to help himself to his watermelon in the container on top of the cheesecake. The end result was a mess of cheesecake, a crying baby and a crying mummy! But thankfully the ladies at playgroup had great imaginations and said even though it looked a mess it still tasted great. Thank you ladies and thank you Ben!

The fallout!

So how has Ryan recovered from his ordeal yesterday? Well, reasonable well. We think he may have been in shock (but then again so was i!) for a while afterwards but he is fine now. How did his brothers handle this terrifying situation. Well Matthew wanted to know if Ryan saw any fishes while he was underwater! Ben really didn't rate the incident at all! Nathan and I are still bursting out with laughter when we recall seeing him ride over the edge E.T style!
Yesterday after the drama Ryan had a little sleep. He tends to talk himself to sleep (don't know where he got that trait from!) And as he went to sleep yesterday he was retelling the story. So when he woke up we talked about it and i asked him if he was frightened and he said No I'm not frightened but I am upset because Lightning McQueen is gone. Nathan and I thought he was talking about his bike so we told him that no when mummy was in the water she got his bike out. He was very insistent that Lightning McQueen was gone so I got Nath to take him out to his bike to reassure him. Anyway turns out that the lightning McQueen handle bar thingy HAS gone! He was upset because he thought he couldn't ride his bike anymore because it was missing! So anyway Nathan went down very early this morning fishing for the lightning McQueen plate but to no avail! Hopefully we can get him over the pain of losing Lightning McQueen anyway! I think there has been no permanent damage to our darling Ryan! And today Nathan and I are just spewing we weren't video taping it!

It could only happen to Ryan!

This morning we were having a lovely stroll/ride (the boys rode, Nath and I strolled!) around the lake when a disaster occurred! Matthew headed down a slight incline beside the lake, he got some speed wobbles so pulled over to the side. Ryan headed down after him but then realised Matthew was in his way so he steered past him. He then saw there were people walking towards him. So he took the course of action that he thought was best and took his feet off the peddles and turned towards the lake. He knew he was in trouble but couldn't figure out a better course of action. So as he tumbled off the 1 metre rock wall into the lake I took flight, running the rest of the way down the hill. I hit the water approximately 2 seconds after he did and burst into tears approximately 2 seconds after he did! My tears were intermingled with laughter because seeing him plummet off the edge really was hilarious just not if it is your own child! And where was his National swimming champion father when all of this was happening???!!!! Standing at the top of the hill frozen solid! Although he tells it that he was holding on to Ben to ensure we didn't end up with more kids in the drink! And unfortunately we didn't have the camera, so we wont be winning funniest home videos this year!

Flash Forward....

All of my boys are currently super glued in front of the PlayStation. This is my worst nightmare! The funny thing is.......the PlayStation that they are currently playing, I gave to Nathan as a present probably 7 years ago. About 4 years ago, just after Matthew was born Brenton borrowed the PlayStation for an overseas trip. Afterward I told him he could borrow it permanently. (Noooo! I'm not an Indian giver!) I didn't want my children to ever have a PlayStation. First of all at times during Nathan's and my 10 years relationship the PlayStation has come first and there is no way in the world my babies are EVER going to do that to me! I have formulated this terrific plan. They can go to their friends house who all do have PlayStation, X boxes , Wii etc. Then not only do i not have super glued boys I also have plenty of boy free time! Well that's the plan and up until now I had thought that Nathan was supporting me in OUR decision! However, the second Brenty left the country Nathan is around his house taking back the PlayStation!!! Brenty you need to reclaim the key to your house! And the PlayStation!

Now I know my ABC's

We are teaching Matthew the letters of the alphabet. We started with the letters in his name and then family members names and then just random letters. Well..... now we can't pass a sign without hearing what letters Matthew AND Ryan can see. It's funny how Ryan is learning through us teaching Matthew. He is every bit as good as Matthew at recognising letters probably just not as quick. It is interesting to see that Matthew even recognises a written number. And he can now see 3 trucks and say "there is 3 trucks" rather than count them first then saying 3 trucks. Even little Benny gets in on the act. Whenever he see letters you hear a big "M! M! M!" This is the only letter he knows and he uses it for every letter. The closing credits of a show comes on and "M!M!M!" i read the newspaper and i hear "M!M!M!" And whilst he doesn't always get the letter right (only about 1:26 times!) He does however recognise a written letter. And i think that is clever!

Mr Nathan Craig Rickard BE, ME

Our trip to Sydney was for Nathan's graduation from his masters degree. Finally! 5 years and 1 week to the day after his undergraduate graduation to be exact! Or you could say 3 children, 4 houses, 2 states and several trips away! It was kind of anti climatic actually! But we finally have the piece of paper to hang on the wall.

Oh! And Nathan does insist that you refer to him as Nathan Rickard BE, ME!

Toronga Park Zoo

We had a trip to Toronga while we were in Sydney. The grandparents joined us as well as Barbara, a family friend of the Rickards). The Grandparents have decided a zoo trip is best done with children as they got to see all the animals through young eyes. (Which means a quick glance then on to the next one!) This trip Matthew thought the best animal was Giraffe and the elephants. Ryan loved the lions the best. And Ben loved the sky gondola ride! But if he had to pick an animal it was the horsie (giraffe!).

I've also included a contrasting photo from our last visit to Toronga. Can you pick what is different?

The view from the bird show. We only caught the last bit of it.

Matthew's favourite animal he DIDN'T get to see! We only saw them from above and not from the under water viewing area. Which he was not happy about.Snakes!!!! Afterwards the boys received a 5 minute lecture from Mummy about never, never, never, never touching snakes that they might see about!

Riding the sky car!

Ben's favourite thing to see at the zoo!

A pygmy hippo! He was so cute and he was really active while we were there. He got up had a drink then went for a swim. Gee they can hold their breath for a long time!

Tigers just for Aaron and Jackie.

The Lions were also really active. I think this one thought i was the best thing at the zoo!

And my favourite thing to see at the Zoo!

There is a motorbike in here

Poor Ryan is sick. We were woken this morning with a massive explosion. That explosion was Ryan with a big case of diarrhea! Anyway, later this morning he was rushing to the toilet, finally made it on and he discovered he was quite "windy" as well. So then the commentary started on the noise of his farts. Apparently a really long dawn out fart sound like a motorbike driving down the toilet, there were also little "pops" then we got into the good stuff like the consistence of his poo!!!!!!?????? Oh I love boys!

Real trucks.

We were driving past a building site today when Matthew asked me why the trucks he has got on his work site at home didn't have to come and work here? I then asked what trucks and he replied with my dumpers truck and Ryan's crane and Ben's front end loader. It then clicked to me that as far as Matthew is concerned his tonka trucks are the real deal. He even refers to our back yard as "the building site". I even found Ryan and Matthew one afternoon laying drainage. They found a few off cuts of curtain rods and they were using them as pipes! Isn't it great that my boys have such a great imagination. But...is it imagination if they believe it to be the truth. And how long is it until I get the bill for all of the ongoing construction in my backyard? Oh well if it comes to that I will sue for them taking too long to complete the unrequested works!

Funny!

This is the funniest video I have seen in a long time. I have decided to play this every morning before school for my boys! Click on the link and be prepared to laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Footy Fever

Matthew and Daddy started Auskick today. And they both had a ball. I think Nathan may have had more fun than Matthew because since they have been home I've been shown how you catch a watermelon, how you hold an ice cream and swing your arm like an elephant. Apparently if you do all these things together you can catch a football and then handball it on! So we have had a very successful morning of male bonding. However, the poo hit the fan when i asked Matthew which team jersey he would like me to order and he chose Carlton. I did no coaching or bribing or emotional blackmailing. That is the team that Matthew thinks is the best. And daddy is still sulking! Go the Blues!

My most precious possession

Today i received the most precious gift (other than my 4 boys) Here is a photo! (I've just looked at the photos and to help you out it is a card that Matthew made at preschool. The picture on the front is apparently me and he wrote what is on the inside!)

So the second word Matthew has learnt to write is Mummy! (Well apparently Dorothy, the TA helped, but still!) I really think Matthew was exceptionally talented to capture the way I never brush my hair! Oooh! And my big eyes! And really who needs more than 3 toes! I think it is so beautiful and it is one of the things that i will never throw out. Different story with the toast I received as breakfast in bed this morning!

By the way Happy mothers day to my mother and mother in law. And to all my friend who are mums! Have a great day!

There goes the water!

The Rickard's tell a funny story about when Colette and her sisters were young their dad had troubles reversing out of the driveway. So it became Auntie Bron's job to be on letterbox watch. This one time she was on her watch and there was a bang and she comments "there goes the letterbox!" We had a moment like that recently. Ryan was running down the hall when Nath heard him utter "there goes the water!" (you have to picture Ryan running a bit like a uncoordinated giraffe, arms and legs flapping!) Anyway Nath thought that was a bit strange so he went to have a look. The bathroom was FLOODED! The boys had washed their hands earlier with the plug in the sink but had left the tap dripping. A few hours latter we had a sparkling clean bathroom! Thanks Ryan!

Matthew's Mummy

I am now referred to as "Matthew's Mummy". Today in the car park after i dropped Matthew off a little girl walked past and said to her Mummy "That's Matthew's Mummy there". A few weeks ago I was at the local shops and the same phrase was uttered by a different little girl. Even the kids at playgroup call me Matthew's mummy or sometimes Ryan's mummy (not Ben's mummy yet as his friends cant talk but soon!) This is a really interesting phase for me as I'm not used to being recognised anywhere. As a child growing up we moved so often that by the time you had settled in enough to be recognised you moved away. As a young adult in Sydney you certainly didn't look anyone in the eye so you could get to recognise them. So this is all new to me! And a little freaky but I'm enjoying it.
What I am also enjoying is the fact the all the kids know Matthew or at least his name! He does appear to be popular which was one of my concerns before he started school. Last year in playschool he didnt make any friends until the very end. He didn't even learn the other kids names. So he must have matured that little bit extra and is ready to make friendships. Also, before school Matthew was so attached to Ryan and Ryan was so open and friendly that Ryan was the one people spoke to first or played with first. I could see Ryan with a massive group of friends (mostly girls!) during school with Matthew only choosing one or two really close ones. When that theory has been blown out of the water. And I'm glad. I think in years to come I'm going to have three very popular, social boys. And i just think my house with be the place where the "In crowd" hangs!

I love you, Noddy!

Nathan took me out for dinner for our anniversary. It was great. A lovely meal and the best bit.....cocktails. I haven't had a drink in a VERY long time so by the time i got to my second sip i was well an truly tipsy. By the time I got to the end of my third cocktail i was drunk. So after a lovely night my husband drives me home. I stumble up the pathway to the door then decide i NEED to call my brother. Noddy always calls me when he has had a few to tell me that he loves me and generally dribble rubbish. I am usually very short with him and the call usually ends up with me hanging up on him and turning my phone off. So i don't know why i thought it was a good idea (something to do with all the alcohol in my system maybe?!) Anyway, so Noddy answers my late night (9.30! But we are married with kids who don't get out often!) drunk dial. I tell him I love him and we chatted. Have no idea what we talked about mostly rubbish I'm sure. But he didn't hang up on me! He in fact called back the next night to see how i was and if i had a good night. And that it was the funnest phone call he had had in a long time! So I think next time he drunk dials me I might just have to talk to him!

5 Years ago.

This time five years ago I was standing in my wedding dress waiting for all the fuss around me to die down so we could leave, to get me married!

My wedding day was a lovely, lovely day but it has nothing on the last five years. I would take spending time with my boys, talking to my husband or looking after my family any time over the hoopla of a wedding. For me the wedding was just a thing I had to do to get to the marriage. Being a bride was nice, being a wife was what I wanted more than anything. Now with the benefit of hindsight I am amazed that I love my husband MORE, by a bucket load, than I did on my wedding day. That has been one of the many surprises of married life!

There are many achievements I am proud of, the first being our three children but the biggest is how Nathan and I have grown together. We can work anything out. It might take a while (I'm still working on getting him to put his clothes in the clothes basket.) but we will get there in the end.

Thank you Nathan. For being my best friend, my support, my partner, my inspiration, my lover. The list is very long but Thank you! (Especially for the bling!) I love you.

Snuggles

Benny got woken up this afternoon by a delivery guy and because of this he didn't wake up a happy camper. So that led to the next 30 minutes in my chair with him on my knee snuggled in. He assumed his comfort position, thumb in and curling his hair around his finger at the back of his head. And there we sat. Me, breathing him in and him doing the same. The other boys were playing in the back yard so we had complete peace. It was beautiful. Just me and my baby.

I want to be a ...... Brumby!

Nathan took Matthew to the Rugby Union recently. And what an experience. Matthew has always loved sport. I don't think he has ever been giving an opportunity to dislike it, after all he was only 3 months old when he went to watch Steve Waugh's last test! So anyway... Nathan and Matthew went off for some father son bonding. It was a huge success. Matthew now knows phrases such as "Go Brumbies, Smash 'em" and "Aww, that was soft" and the cruncher "The lions are losers". How do you think they will go down at Auskick on Sunday?!

I've been meaning to tell you all....

About our Anzac day. We had a massive build up in this house to Anzac day. As my father is a return serviceman I feel strongly about educating my children about the meaning of this special day. We have been reading My Grandad marches on Anzac Day (we changed it to Grumpy by the way) for weeks. So much so that Matthew was able to read it to his Grandad. So this Anzac day we rose early to catch the dawn service which is always memorable at the war memorial. They boys loved it (except Ben, he apparently liked the buses in the minutes silence, the whole town now knows there were buses at the dawn service!) They were well behaved and respectful. (Except for when they were given a candle and they thought they were at carols by candlelight!) Then we came home for a cooked breaky and to defrost then it was off to the march. I find the march really emotional but again the boys thought it was great, after all there were horses and jeeps and everything. So again another success. So i am so glad i am giving my children an education in heroism and an appreciation for what these men and women have done for us and our country.

Playschool

Ryan is a playschool student. He had his first session this morning. He wasn't overly excited, I think he felt it was about time! He was so ready for this. He waved me off with a "See ya, I'm going to play playdough!" So that's two down, one to go! They are just growing up way too fast. There really isn't anything i can do to stop them!

(Ha! I was just looking at these photos and noticed the scribble on the wall and then i have looked over at the wall and yes there is definitely scribble on there! Grrrr!)