The things I'd really like to say to you, 'friend'.

It's always a little bit funny when you wake up and things go wrong, and you just KNOW that it's going to be one of 'those' days. Yesterday was one of them.

I'm a bit of a clutz. I bang my knees, stub my toes and drop things. And when you're sleep deprived and working copious hours a day it's just a recipe for disaster. Yesterday morning as I was getting the kids ready and whilst in a mad rush to be out of the door by 7:10am, I dropped my breakfast. I managed to fumble and keep the bowl in my hands, but the contents splashed all over my black kitchen floor.

It was going to be one of those days.

The rest of my day continued as normal. I got stuck in traffic, forgot to put my iphone on charge so I was madly trying to charge it on the drive into work. I forgot to pack my own lunch so fed myself on several coffees and a packet of grain waves.

And just as I got home, got the kids home and settled down out of my work clothes, I got an SMS from a 'friend'. The type of SMS that leaves you completely dumbfounded, shocked and angry. I was attacked, in 50 words or less.

Attacked because an SMS conversation we were having over the weekend wasn't continued. Because intentions for us to catch up weren't followed through. And because I apparently only make contact to 'show off' or invite her to 'some over the top party'.

As I sat there with my jaw hanging to the floor, I was stumped. I instantly hurt, and I found myself reading it over and over again and taking notice of the incredibly harsh words that were evident to have been brewing for some time. And all I could do was say that I don't tolerate being treated that way. And I walked away. And it's only now that I've had time to think about things, I've realised there was SO much more I wanted to say and just couldn't.

So here, 'friend'. From one mama to another, here's what I would have liked to have said...

I AM a shittier friend than usual, I am STRUGGLING to juggle everything. I am organised, I manage my time well, but lately there have been occasions where no matter how organised, there's just not enough time in the day - and any time that I have is spent with my kids, or my husband. And yes, I receive your messages, I receive everyone's messages. But like most people if I am not able to reply at that very moment, it is occasionally forgotten. And it's not because I don't like you, or think less of you, but it's because I am struggling and I am finding it hard to work out where things are up to. If things are urgent or important, pick up the phone and call me. Otherwise I will treat SMS'ing as a means of conversation where you can reply at one's convenience.

I have friends and cherish those friendships that respect we each have separate lives. And that no matter how long between 'catch-ups', nothing changes - it's as if no time has passed and we are able to pick up where things were left previously.

I don't want to reply to you while I am changing a nappy. I don't want to reply to you when I am sitting on the toilet. I want to reply to you when I have a moment long enough to concentrate and give you the time and attention you deserve. And I wasn't given that opportunity. You're a mum, and a wife. And I am disappointed that you don't know any better.

So thank you. Thank you for making me feel like the worst person in the world because you had such high expectations of a friendship - which you did little to maintain. But thank you most of all, for showing me that this particular friendship has run it's course.

The thing is the more people I speak with or the more people I open up to, the more I hear about these same situations that take place within our friendships. It's not the first time this has happened to me, and I am sure it won't be the last... but it still boggles me as to why someone you would consider a 'friend' would turn on you, just because you're a little bit busier than you were before.

Do they expect us to sit at home and twiddle our thumbs between SMS'es and/or the times we catch up? Are they even happy for us that we're out doing something for ourselves? Are they even happy that we're happy?

Do they even care?

All I know is that today, I am a friend shorter than I was yesterday. And whilst I am sad and a little bit resentful, I feel better knowing that I am definitely not alone, and that the time I do have is not wasted on this 'friend'. And those friendships I have with those that appreciate me, realistically, deserve my time too...

WIN! Family Pass to Monster Truck Rumble!

Thanks to our friend at Gilbert Racing,
we have a FAMILY PASS up for grabs to THIS SATURDAY'S SHOW! (Value: $145)

Saturday 16th February 2013 @ 6:00pm (Gates open at 4:00pm)
Expected Finish: 9:30pm
ADELAIDE SHOWGROUND
"Gilbert Racing are proud to bring the Extreme Monster Truck tour back to the Adelaide Showground February 16, 2013. Gotta Getta Group present the Monster Truck Rumble. An all new action packed show guaranteed to once again to fill the grounds. The line up will include: All new Cranky Yankee MT, All new Wicked, Extreme, Crowd favourite Scooby Doo MT, Raptors, Adelaides own Monster Patrol plus more.............. Huge Fireworks Show , Awesome stunts , Special appearance from Crusty Demon Bubba. An action packed family show which will keep you on the edge of your seats! This is an alcohol free event with designated smoking areas."

Enter by Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Riding in Cars with Boys: The time we DROVE to QLD, and survived!

Kids are so cute when they're sleeping... especially on a super long car trip
{and yes, Logan occasionally sleeps with his eyes open}

We decided early into 2012 that we were going to take the kids up to QLD. Logan loves it up there as he has a realm of fun things to see and do, I have family that live there that hadn't met Ryder (I was 8-weeks pregnant with him on our last visit)... and it was just a way to escape from Adelaide in the only real opportunity that we have in the year when Cameron's work closes down over Christmas.

I can't remember how it came about, it must have been either after a few wines, or in a total 'brain fart' moment, but we decided to drive there. From Adelaide.

My husband, Cameron, hogging the wheel for the bulk of our drive...

Being the pretty relaxed (most of the time) couple that we are, we brushed it off as an adventure, and locked it in with the family we were visiting. 'We'll be fine' I remember us saying... at least until the weeks leading up to our 'adventure' when the reality hit that our VERY mobile 16-month old doesn't like sitting in his high chair/pram/rocker for any longer than 5mins. We were in trouble.

Can you imagine driving 12-hours a day with a screaming hyena in the back seat?

I could and it wasn't pretty. I joked to my friends of ear plugs, loud music, even alcohol... none of which I would have used (at least not on the kids), but I was living these thoughts in my head over and over and becoming increasingly anxious about this hell-ish drive consuming that much of our time together, that we'd arrive in QLD with just enough time to turn around and come home again. (Or better yet, turning around and not even making it to QLD)

I armed myself with as much information as I could. And I went shopping - Bought the kids portable DVD players, bought Logan a new 3DS for Christmas, bought a HEAP of yummy 'in the car' snacks, and scheduled our drive over 3-days each way. That left us with an 11-day trip; 5 of those days were in QLD enjoying the Theme Parks, sunshine, family and shopping. The other 6-days were driving.

We left Adelaide at 4am on Boxing Day morning. 4am.
Yes, there's a 4am... and me at 4am isn't pretty. Especially 4am following the biggest day of the year.

This is our beautiful country at 4am. I'm not pretty at 4am, but this is!

We loaded up the car the night before so all we needed to do was get dressed and grab the kids (whilst still asleep) and load them into the car. We planned to hit Mildura by 9:30am, but had a back-up plan to stop at Renmark should things go bad.

You can only imagine my fear when the kids didn't sleep. We put them in the car straight from bed but they woke up. Ryder started singing - and continued to sing until we hit Gawler (that's about an hour, maybe more), before he got bored and fell asleep. And we had nothing but sleeping children until Monash where we quickly stopped, got the boys out of their pyjamas and gave them a very quick snack to tie them over until our official breakfast at Mildura.

And you know what? We got to Mildura, at 9:30am. On time. *fistpumps*

This was pretty much what happened on each leg of our journey. And lucky for us, we planned a stop every 3-hours at a location that had a good play area and access to toilets, food, etc. So we stopped for a meal/snack, let the kids have a play and 'tire themselves out' to get through the next 3 or so hours. And it worked. (Thank you Google maps!)

Coffs Harbour

Golden Guitar, Tamworth {on the trip home}


Logan happily played his new 3DS, watched a DVD or played with trading cards/new toys from Christmas - And it was great as he was also on hand to help us out with Ryder if he needed anything we couldn't reach.

And Ryder? Well the incredibly mobile 'cyclone child' slept. He slept pretty much inbetween each leg of our drive, except perhaps the last half hour. Those half hours were 'hellish' as he was over it, hungry or just wanted to run amock, but for us we were so close to where we needed to stop that we just did what we needed to do to keep him occupied for those 30-mins. We had that light at the end of the tunnel that didn't make us lose our minds.

We arrived in QLD, enjoyed our 5 days of running around to Theme Parks, spending time with family and shopping, and drove home. And we got home, on time. We survived!

Although THIS SPIDER almost made me jump out of a moving car...
Can you imagine THIS greeting you?!


I still get chills!