Wordless Wednesday - Why I am Mother of the year - Gretsch Drums

Uh Mum, I accidentally bought these Gretsch drums - the phone was in my pocket I don't know how it happened? We get the old drums ...my little drummer boys will be happy about that ! I nicked the image from his FB.

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Zookeeper ~ at not your average Zoo { Giveaway }

We were recently invited to a preview of the January 12th release of Zookeeper , a very cute and hilarious family comedy movie. It was #1 at Australian box office too.

Romance and animals in a comedy together , animals showing us how we are doing it wrong - hilarious , though of course crazy ! Yes, it's very funny and the lack of swearing appealed to me .



They manage to pull it altogether very nicely. It isn't Toy Story 3 or Cars 2 but a harmless comedy with less violence than either of them.The musical scenes at the end are brilliant.

All the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo love their kindhearted caretaker, Griffin Keyes (Kevin James). Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get the girl of his dreams is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job to win her over. The animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored code of silence and reveal their biggest secret: they can talk! To keep Griffin from leaving, they decide to teach him the rules of courtship -- animal style!

My five year olds really enjoyed the talking animals ...the jokes probably went right over their heads.

They are big fans of talking animal movies (Babe ; Nemo; Charlotte's web, Racing Stripes). The very cute furry co-stars are voiced by Cher (Lioness), Nick Nolte, Sly Stallone (Lion) and Adam Sandler (Monkey) to name a few. You've got to hear their impressions to believe it.

I think my boys hardly noticed the only bit I found mildly disturbing, Bernie the Gorilla describing how he had been abused by another zookeeper . He gets his just desserts in the end , the other zookeeper, not Bernie.

It certainly isn't your average zoo and isn't just a kid's movie - there are laughs a plenty for adults. Laughing is contagious. I also loved the special effects and trying to see if the animals were real . The romance at the end was sweet !

The PG rating relates to mild crude humour but if there was, it was very mild in my opinion.

Kevin James (Griffin , the zookeeper) was , well , a right idiot in love - going all out to win the dream girl who ditched him a few years back , again. The end results were somewhat predictable - watch out for the dynamic Rosario Dawson, the other NOT so romantic interest in the movie.

Bernie, the Gorilla and his obsession with TGI Friday's is very funny and well played out. Harmless ; still I wondered why he didn't need pants o_O

I laughed most of the way through ; I did miss a bit due to a toilet stop and lollie refuel !
 
To celebrate the release - I have two copies of Zookeeper to giveaway : one Blu-ray disc and one DVD version to be won.

To enter - answer this question -

If you could have a chat with an animal, which animal would it be and what would you talk about ?

The two most original or creative answers win one copy each ! ( Tell me which version you would like or if it doesn't matter)

Closes February 3rd 11.59pm , 2011.
Australian residents only.

Like them on Facebook and check out the Free game app too.
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Wordless Wednesday - When the kids grab the camera

take note of the little man near teddy's foot

Trying to get in close

 

 

PS : I only discovered these on the little point & shoot yesterday.

There were 100 more including doors, knobs, vents,TV, fluffy kitty tails & bottoms, each other , me and blurry fingers.Some others with surprisingly good focus. 

I spared you LOL. Do your kids use your camera when you are not looking ?

 


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CATastrophe

 Just out of curiosity if the past tense of sit is sat
Then is 'shat' the past tense of ...s#*+ ?

So why did the cat shat on the mat ?

Yesterday I finally pulled my finger off twitter out and booked the Teen's 'Ziggy' the cat into be de-sexed so we didn't have any more

 

Cute as they may be there are still so many unwanted kittens born, who grow into even less wanted cats.
I wasn't quick enough last time. It is my responsibility.


One of the animal welfare organisations was less than helpful and brushed my questions off too quickly. So he might be busy...What the ? I want to book them in sunshine ... I had important questions to ask.

I wanted to get the kitten , Mia, done at the same time.
Instead I google the Cat Protection society.They were extremely helpful. They give me the name of an experienced vet who would do kittens as young as 8-12weeks and a reference number for a discount.

The downside was it some distance away but the 'price' was more than enough for me to book them in for surgery next week.The next available time on my child free day.

I call a friend, D, to ask to borrow her cat carrier.

D suggests her acquaintance that was a vet , closer , who might match the price.
D calls and the vet agrees. Since D, had been so helpful I decide to accept her vet friends' offer instead.
I called the vet , made the arrangements ...for tomorrow which was today !


We hadn't time to get the cat carrier but I assumed it wouldn't be a problem with the Teen coming to help wrangle the cats.
The cats are locked up in garage overnight with a litter tray and  no food.
We get the cats in the car , too easy !

Ziggy and Mia curl up together, happily, on one child car seat. Half way to our destination Ziggy starts meowing and moving about on the floor.
We think she is hungry ...wrong !
I feel her brush beside my leg. I'm driving ...at next set of lights I pass her to the Teen.
He goes "Ewww !!! she's wet".

I notice the carpet floor mat beside is also shiny - wet.
He puts Ziggy on the floor in backseat.
He searches for the antiseptic hand wash and something to wipe his hand.

I SMELL an overpowering stench, my eyes are watering and I feel sick.
OMG the smell.
I know it's under my seat or behind.
Teen says Ziggy is now coated in said "Sh*t" ....

Mia, kitten, is all the while quiet and on the front floor.

There is no where to pull over, inside lane, on busy two-three lane road with a traffic island.
I put the windows down ...for fresh air. Smell is overwhelming.
I am both laughing and choking, trying to hold my nose while driving.
Eyes are watering.
Teen is grumbling.
Suddenly I think - 'UH oh - no' the cats might jump out window ...up it goes EEEEEWWWWWWW ...leaving it a little down.

We have to put Ziggy in a large postage box that was in backseat because she still is moving about.
She is NOT happy...clearly she can't be held.

We are nearly there and a little lost, traffic lights , a  NO RIGHT turn (it was the wrong way anyway...I just couldn't think straight with that smell) and no left hand streets.
Round and down the street, further away and then back.

HURRY
Teen spots the Vet surgery.

HURRAH
We park right outside, it is on a busy street so I make sure Teen has a hold on both cats.
Thankfully I find a soft canvas shopping bag in the boot , into which I place Ziggy , her head out, so I can hold her without the poop getting on me (I chucked it out later).
We get inside...the vet is busy, the lovely trainee nurse (3 days on the job) sorts a cage to put them in.

PHEW !
Paperwork complete we head back to car to see what we can do, armed with wet and dry paper towel.
Teen - gets the job done ...thankfully quick, easily extracts 'all the bits' under my seat .There is a malodorous smell that accompanies us home, with the windows down it isn't as bad.

Home ...I swap cars to take boys to playgroup. Hub takes the ute to work ; Teen is left to finish my car cleanup.
It is his cat after all !

When I am almost to playgroup turnoff - I feel dampness near my right ankle argh ...either the cat pee on the mat wicked up my jean cuff or she peed on me...

Revenge ! 

PS Thank goodness D, has dropped the cat carrier at playgroup so there will be no repeat CATastrophe when we pick them up later.  
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Ups and Down

Somedays when we feel we could all use a little more
♥

Leunig

1. Guided Imagery like this
2. Journaling ... blogging
3. Sex (I didn't write this)
   
4. Laughter( Lol Cats and dogs are a good start)
   
5. Music Therapy & Listen To Music
6. Take a Walk I have been every day
   
7. Plant a Garden - I love my rose garden
8. Eat a Balanced Diet
9. Enjoy Aromatherapy ..stop and smell the roses or a dab of Lavender
10. Reduce Caffeine Intake
11. Drink in Moderation
12. Don’t Procrastinate
13. Learn Assertive Communication Skills
14. Share a funny joke about Extra Sauce or watch some Youtube funny & cute baby videos
    thanks Lily
    This has to be the cutest little boy rocking to Florence and the Machine's 'The Dog Days are Over' or
    

Just don't try it all in one day !


A few of my other favourites are

1. Pray ... talk to God it works for me !
   
2. Dance to your favourite music when doing the housework or to drown out the kids' noise.
   
3. Take to the waves for real ... sea air, salt water the sound of waves and the wind in your hair all contribute to a growing sense of calm...this is on my very soon to do list !
   

See more Thursday 13 here or here
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Wordless Wednesday -Charmed & dangerous

WARNING ... on the loose are the marker monsters .

The evidence of the villains partners in crime...

Caught in the act

Making a quick getaway

Do not approach they are charmed & dangerous.

Sheriff Woody didn't stand a chance.

They may be coaxed out of hiding with candy ;) or a camera !

PS A Question ...are they showing off their talents or rebelling against house rules ?

When asked why ..one piped up we didn't have no paper !

Thanks to the ZIG memory marker for being completely removable ...and the brown Crayola washable marker - you guys rock !

Disclaimer - I didn't get angry as it was my fault for lack of supervision ...even if in my defence I thought they were napping. Since I got my camera out I couldn't get cross ... it was funny . I was wordless ...well speechless because I was laughing so much !

Links to stop children writing on the walls #1 #2 #3
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101 Uses for Duct tape - minus 90

"Duct tape is like the force: It has a dark side and
a light side and it holds the universe together."
- Carl Zwanzig

1. Tuck ...Tape Make sheets for children, it keeps them feeling all snug and in tight all night. Did I mention SAFE !
   
2. Make a door ...an entire roll can be used in place of a bedroom door to keep 'someone' in for hours.
3. Mute function for noisy humans ... apply horizonally to mouth.Make sure that the surface you are sticking to is clean and dry... and leave an air hole.
   
4. Seat belts that will really keep the kids still and their arms in.
5. Use in the dining room to keep them in their chairs, stop them getting up and down during the meal and to miminise swinging feet from contacting each other.
6. Teach squabbling children to get along ... it should take them hours to get apart - since most of us don't own handcuffs.
7. Plumbing save ... Tape toilet paper roll onto the holder.
   
8. Remote Control holder ... tape it up high so kids can't reach and tape the batteries in too.
9. Grocery saver ...use it on the pantry door & the fridge. In vast quantities and you'll lose weight too.
10. Stop them doing a bolt in the supermarket and annoying others ...since you can't leave them in the car tape them to your trolley.
11. Time out ...tape yourself in the bathroom and sit on the toilet for 5 mins , or maybe take an extra hour in deep foamy bubble bath .Remember a frosty glass of the grape. Caution ...make sure children are secured safe first see #2!
    

Oh sunday morning, once I loved you , now you mock me ...
I hope my humanity will return after my 2nd cup of tea and breakfast (since it is too early for wine).
P.S. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
P.P.S No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

Just kidding ...now where did I hide the duct tape ?

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Today is the day

This inspires me

Uh oh I screwed up ...does anyone still play screwup Tuesday ?
I should have checked more carefully - having too many windows open at once
Multitasking #FAIL!

(seriously this is the email reply I got back today)

only 29mins to go but who is counting ...though 'POOH' has kept you quiet for last 20 mins ! ...
what you fell asleep at 4.30pm !

...What I learned on twitter this week in

(read about Sunday here)

I ♥ Post it Tuesday's.

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