Herding Cats

My biggest day to day challenge with the two rug rats is getting them out the door on time for playgroup dates , classes and get together s. Some times it feels next to impossible,  I think it's like "herding cats"  Very frustrating as I used to always be a punctual person prior to kids!

The first time I heard the expression "herding cats" was back in 2009 when a group of my extended family took our Grandparents along with us to Bali. At that point in time they were quite fit and mobile and very switched on. 

We were on our way back to Perth after a successful family holiday when my parents asked Grandma and Grande to sit down and take a rest while we do a bit of final shopping to empty our purses of any remaining Indonesian Rupiahs. It was only 10 minutes later when Mum asked  "Where did Grandma and Grande go?"  the rest of the morning was a blur of family splitting up into pairs scouring every section of the Jakarta Airport for the two Octogenarians. Eventually my cousin Annie and I started lining up in the big que to the pokey departure lounge while Mum and Dad carried on their frantic search. 

"There they are!" exclaimed Annie and Grandma and Grande had made their own way through the hustle and bustle of  raucous Aussie tourists , past the intimidating armed Customs Officials on the other side of the metal detectors in the departure lounge. When asked what had happened they both indicated they were concerned of the time and forgot they were asked to stay in one spot and made their own way to the lounge. Once we were all reunited someone exclaimed ( i can't remember who, probably a good thing too) "It's like bloody herding cats!!"

Family and awesome staff at the Amori Village in Ubud Bali 

Well my kids are similar to those seniors on that occasion. They don't always register what is asked of them and make their own way when they're ready, otherwise you often have to carry them out to the car kicking and screaming. Well Joanie is the kicker and screamer and Koby is the Poo Shooter who always waits to the last minute to have a "poonami" and make us even later!

I really admire parents who get to outings on time and would like to know their secret! I've tried everything, from preparing the night before, laying the kids clothes out and prepping the nappy bag even on the odd occasion down to the tupper ware containers of snacks ( this is something I'm not as good at often resorting to throwing bananas and sultanas in the bag at the last minute). 

I'm hoping to get to a stage when Joanie doesn't protest at the idea of going out, its nice that she is attached to her bedroom and toys but its as if she has separation anxiety about going out without at least a bag of some of her motley crew. 

She loves all her toys but she has had a few special favorites for some time including her collection of small bouncing balls, duplo blocks, turtle puzzle pieces, wooden peg people and her latest favorite are these plastic frog bath toys. Now can you imagine a pretty curly red haired girl , in a floral dress and love heart sandles with a Blue Back Pack with a Shark on it  ( she picked it out at Best n Less) full of this random selection of toys? It is in my defense, an improvement from a larger Styrofoam box that we had converted into a car full of her toys .Shaun had once compromised with her to take this in the car rather than a huge tub of blocks ! Now the  backpack is only half the size again.  I'm dreaming of the day she could pick just the ONE toy!

Jb and her cousin Chloe playing with her DUPLO in Perth

Koby ( hair style by Jb) playing with his mobile

You never know , Maybe Koby will go against the grain and be a minimalist not a bower bird collecting lots of sparkling toys  otherwise I may have to upgrade from Eddie the Mazda to an ugly mini van!?? 

Big Smoke little Smoke

I grew up in the big smoke, well some may argue Perth isn't a big smoke/ city compared to others in oz but it certainly is compared to little ol' Broome Town.

Joanie and Koby will have the best of both worlds and be based under the beautiful skies of the Kimberley with frequent trips to the Perth, city of lights , their second home.

 

Koby and Mumma Eri outside chillaxin' under a Broome Boab tree ...

There mightn't be as many shops/ cinemas/ arcades for the older teenage kids ( which I admit is a problem and can lead to crime through boredom) but there is certainly a lot to do for babies, toddlers and kids in Broome,

 

Joanie has inherited her mum and dads love of fishing, she jumps at any chance she can get to hop in her dads boats ( even if just in the driveway) and she is the proud owner of her own pink fishing rod.  Shaun had the tip of her fishing rod wrapped in tissue and tape for some time to avoid it scratching the home walls, it looked similar to a white tampon which certainly had peoples eyes wobbling when they came to visit! Once she learnt how to play safely with the rod inside ( yes I know it sounds ridiculous) her dad replaced the interesting wadding with a plastic fish on the end and now they often pretend they are bringing the fish in with a tremendous fight onshore. On a recent visit to spend some time with my Graunty (great aunt) and her gal friends at a local hotel Joanie even brought her fishing rod to dunk in the hotel pool! Not what this stylish, feminine lot may of expected a young two year old girl to have as her favourite play toy.

Jb playing in her daddies dinghy,,,

 

Here's hoping Koby shares her love of fishing , but , we will be just as proud if he would prefer reading or acting , dancing or art? You just never know how your little one will develop...

 

A recent development for Joanie is her love of planes! Jb has become an avid 'Plane Spotter!" My mum claims this would've made her late Pop very proud as he was a amateur pilot and if he were still alive would've loved to share her love of planes.

I have since learnt that if I'm having trouble getting Joanie to leave the playground or Town Beach Water Park all I have to do is say..."Lets go see the Big Planes!"  in a flash she stops what she's doing  and helps mum push little Koby to the car. We then go and wait for the planes to arrive and depart in the car park at the small aircraft section of the airport. Joanie cheers the planes in and out and gets beyond excited!

 

This school holidays one of the Camel Companies has been kind enough to do some camel feeding sessions with the local kids a few mornings a week. I thought Joanie may like this! After much talk about feeding the baby camels over the days leading up to the event we got there and she was mortified! As you will see in the photo it was me who ended up feeding the gentle camels some carrots as she looked very un impressed.

Looks like Mum is more of a fan of Zamal the Camel than Miss Jb....

 

You know you're living in regional Australia when in the school holidays not only do they have camel feeding sessions they have petting zoos in the local supermarket with snakes, blue tongue lizards and baby crocodiles! Again I took Joanie but again she was only marginally more impressed. I refuse to believe she'd prefer boring guinea pigs and ducklings!

 

For the Junior Stanleys , in this moment in time, the little smoke suits us to a T.