"We have a visual on the rat.....repeat....a visual on the rat"

Yes.............deep breaths joanne...........be brave...........we have a visual on the rat. I was outside today and i saw it scamper out from under the eves and over the roof. It was big and black and had 2 beady little eyes. It also had lots of feathers and a beak and said tweet tweet.

So.....to conclude the Rat Saga once and for all - the rat is actually a bird and i have been scared witless for 2 whole weeks and no doubt bored you all to tears (is anyone out there reading still?) with stories of a BIRD in my roof. Enough said - i can hear my father laughing at me!

Anyway, promise not to mention the ratbird ever again.

After writing what i did about not being able to invest as much time into second and third children yesterday, i decided that it didn't actually HAVE to be like that, so have been proactive today for the sake of my youngest two daughters, particularly Jenna :) We had to go see the Parish Priest today ( Fr Barry, he is very lovely) about Heidi's christening for when mum and dad come over - you're all invited by the way! We finished up there and as Leah was at kindy i took Jenna for morning tea at the garden centre down the road and it was really lovely and i had forgotten how much i enjoy spending time with her; she's so funny and very cute. And i was browsing through the local paper today and found an advert for gymnastics classes running for 8 weeks for toddlers, so we're going down to the leisure centre tomorrow to sign up for that; i know she'll love it for she's really into music and dancing, so i'm feeling good about doing something for her and her only.

When i went to pick Leah up from kindy yesterday, her teacher came up to me and said that she was really pleased with how Leah's confidence was progressing, and how she had stood up at mat time and told everyone that "Nanny and Grandad came up from Rotorua and Mummy and Daddy went out and drank lots of wine" !!!!! Honestly - the things they say!! The teacher was laughing but i felt obliged to say that actually we had been away from the house for about 2 hours for the first time in ages and had a single glass of wine each! And here's my daughter making us sound like reckless alcoholic parents - typical!

One of the funniest things Leah's ever said to embarrass me was whilst i was pregnant with Heidi - i know i've told some of you this story so i apologise if you've already heard it. We were in the library, and it's all quiet, people working away on the computers and people in the study booths, and Leah hands Jenna a book. Now in a bid to teach her little sister manners, she demands that Jenna says thank you. Unfortunately, Leah has a bit of trouble saying "th" sounds, so in a dead silent library a little voice rises up ...." Say wank you, Jenna.......SAY wank you........SAY waaaaank yoooooou........say WANK .........SAY WANK! Mummy, Jenna won't say wank you...." (and on, and on) Poor Jenna is just looking dumfounded as to why Leah is yelling and as to why mummy is having to wipe tears away from her eyes because she's laughing quite so much. I'll never forget that one; i don't think the library staff will either , a foul mouthed 4 year old shouting off in the library!!

Anyway, enough obscenities! I'm off for a shower as we made cornflour slime today and it went everywhere, and then off to bed - Adrian is at band rehearsal in preparation for a gig tomorrow night so i am home alone again :( Will love you and leave you with a photo of Jenna today in her beautiful brand new top from Emma . Kisses to all xxxxx