Sick Day... Movie Day... Friday

It's Friday, a day for many plans. Such a sparkling bright Friday, too. Only the plans have had to be modified as I have two under-the-weather kids lurking in PJs on couches.

Cough-cough. Went the first one. Oh dear, that sounds nasty.
"Everything hurts" she whimpered.
Better call the school.

Then the next one did the same. Oh dear, two down. What about the third?
Thankfully the Littlest Schoolboy was full of beans, not coughs, so off he went with a friend to school, leaving me to wonder what to do with the other two sickies.

[Go away mum!]

See, today was meant to be my Planning Day; my Prep Day for our Family Theme Night tonight.

Things have been a little... sad around here lately. Too much glum and not enough fun.

So I remembered PaisleyJade's trick for injecting fun when things feel dour, and I sketched up some invitations to a "Brave Night":

Brave Theme Dinner and a Movie. The Lounge. 6pm. Wear Scottish attire and an accent.

On the menu, Bear Stew with Roast Tatties and Magic (chocolate) Pie.

The invitations were posted on each person's bedroom door, along with their Scottish name for the evening, to help build anticipation. (Angus, Agnes, Fergus and Duncan. Just call me Fiona).

I had plans to hit Geoffs and score some tartan, pick up some candles from 2Cheap; grab a "Bearskin" throw bargain from the Warehouse...
But having two sick kids at home on the couch has put the kybosh on my shopping plans.

The best I'll be able to do is dash to the supermarket while the cleaner is here; pick up the ingredients for Magic Pie and the Brave DVD with my Countdown voucher.

Lucky I managed to find some tartan-ish blankets and tablecloths...

The "bear stew" is simmering in my slow cooker and my two invalids are languishing in the lounge watching Fatso DVDs. Phew. Thank goodness I had ordered a whole bunch of new ones. Otherwise you just know how the day would have gone...

"Mum I'm Boooored!"
"If you're bored you mustn't be sick. Shall I take you to school?"
"Mum can I go on the Tablet???"
"Hmmmm.... If you can play on the Tablet your headache must be better. Shall I take you to school?"
"Mum I'm hungry. Can I have a Pie? A biscuit? Some chips?"
"Gosh if you're able to eat all that you must be feeling better. Shall I take you to school?"

But thanks to my stash of unwatched Fatso DVDs, I can have a relatively peaceful day cooking up Magic Pie and draping things in Tartan.

What they're watching:

The Last Mimzy: (PG)

"It’s a sci-fi/fantasy adventure that combines Tibetan history, psychokinesis, telepathy and time travel into one unusually trippy package. Chris O’Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn are endearing siblings who stumble onto some strange crystals and a tatty rabbit doll named Mimzy during a holiday at their parents’ beach house, and find themselves holding the key to the future’s survival. The Last Mimzy has a great ‘80s feel about it - Spielberg certainly comes to mind - the film is constantly propelled by the fabulously imaginative premise and a sophisticated approach to family material that doesn’t resort to the usual toilet jokes." (Available on Get Now GN)

Fat Albert: (G)

"Fat Albert and the rest of the Cosby Kids are living happily in their animated world of Philadelphia when one day, a young teen cries on her remote control because she doesn't have any friends. Fat Albert and his gang then magically come out of her TV and enter the real Philadelphia! They decide-being such good kids-to help the teen make friends. Albert then falls in love with the girl's beautiful foster sister-but oh, no! If Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids stray from their TV world, they begin to fade away! Will Albert be able to return home after enlisting the help of Bill Cosby himself, or will he and his gang vanish forever?" (Available on Get Now GN)

Cool Runnings: (PG) One Dream. Four Jamaicans. Twenty Below Zero.

"You'll love Cool Runnings - the outrageously funny comedy hit inspired by the true story of Jamaica's first Olympic bobsled team. They were four unlikely athletes with one impossible dream. Now, with the help of an ex-champion as their coach (John Candy - Uncle Buck), four Jamaicans leave their sunny island home and enter the chilly winter Olympics to compete for the gold in a sport they know nothing about - bobsled racing! Finding the courage in each other to give it their all, they meet the challenge, and soon become heroes - taking the whole world along for the ride! You'll be cheering long and loud for this unlikely team in this feel-good comedy hit!"

The verdict so far:

• The Last Mimzy:It was good, mum. Really good.
• Fat Albert: This is so funny. Let's watch it again.
• Cool Runnings: This one should be landing in my mailbox after lunch. Maybe just in time to put the finishing touches on the Magic Pie and put my feet up. Might just watch a movie with my kids.

As you can see I am saving myself a job and combining my Fatso Weekend Movie Post with my Things I'm Loving Post. Aren't I Efficient?

No matter what, I love Friday. And Fatso. Sunshine. And Theme nights.

What have you got planned this weekend?

Carnival Photo Booth to Brighten the Day

I woke up and it was one of "those days". The kind where, right from the start I'm not doing too well. The kind where every sound "triggers" an anxious response, where my hands don't work and my brain is on a go-slow.

Schoolday mornings are not the best time to be a mess, so thankfully I have a husband who is caring and helpful (as well as flexible with his work hours). He did drop-offs for me while I gathered my wits.

So here I sit, still dressing-gowned, having a day where I "take it easy".

With not much work on, wintry wind and cold outside, and a feeble sun only now trying to break through the clouds, I thought I'd take the time to upload the snaps taken at Scrag's Carnival Party Photo Booth, by our lovely 11-year-old neighbour, Oscar.

The bright colours and funny faces have cheered me up no end. And I now feel ready to get dressed and tackle my dirty dishes and laundry pile. 

I hope they brighten your day like they did, mine...

[ABOVE: Our photographer's little sisters]

[ABOVE: The Vossen-Chongs]

[ABOVE: Lyns and family]

[ABOVE: Granny Winnie and Mr G]

[ABOVE & BELOW: My friend Justine and her pet tiger/leopard]

[ABOVE: The Burges, the Lequeta's]

[ABOVE & BELOW: The photographer's mummy - my friend Linda - and little sis]

[BELOW: Dash the Tiger, and his buddy Lou]

I still can't quite believe we pulled off that party. It was a mammoth undertaking, especially with that last-minute change of venue. Every time Mr G looks at the photos he shivers and says, We were so lucky, getting that Kindy.

PHOTO BOOTH DETAILS: 

Photo Booth Backdrop: An Ikea "flag" duvet pegged up on a wire. Was meant to be an awesome backdrop of colourful streamers like the one I pinned (left). Just ran out of time on the day. Accessories: A collection of funny hats, wigs and glasses were in a trolley for people to grab and use

Carnival Photo Scene: I painted this myself on a large flattened furniture box, and cut out holes for people to poke their faces through, just like at a real carnival. My pictures aren't perfect, but they are fun. All you need is a big enough box, lots of colourful paint and a box cutter.

More Carnival Party Posts:

• The Carnival Party to End All Parties
• Carnival Party Prep and Free printables
• Carnival Party, Here we Come (Planning)
• How to Build a Rustic Lemonade Stand
• Popcorn Cupcakes (dairy and gluten free)
• Personalised Carnival Invitation

On Falling...

It's the day of the big race. Junior School Cross Country dawns clear and sunny.
A five year old schoolboy wakes up singing: "It's my first cross country! it's my first cross country!"

He has dreamed of this day. Practised for it for years.

This lad couldn't be more amped.
Everyone knows how Scrag loves to race. He's known for it. It's his THING.
At kindy he spent almost every day organising running races; now at school he's spent lunchtimes running practise races with other competitors.
He thinks he knows the field and he fancies his chances.

And this is it. The Big Day. A Real Race.

Enthusiastic Big Sister talks him up big: "Scrag you're gonna win! You're awesome!"

But cautious mama and dadda have seen this all before.
We know enough to prepare him for the "not win".

So we encourage him differently: "The main thing is get out there and enjoy yourself. Just do your best. The most important thing is your attitude, bud. Have a good attitude, do your best and don't cry if you don't win... that's what will make us proud of you, OK?"



He nods. He's heard us. He gets it. We drum it into him: Do your best but chin up if you don't win; we're proud of you anyway.
What more could we have said? Well...
we could have told him what to do if he fell.

It's race time. What seems like a gazillion five-year old boys line up on the far side of the field.
The gun goes off, the race begins.
Loudly we cheer... and here comes Scrag. He's listened to dadda's advice about not sprinting too hard at the start. He's sitting comfortably in fourth place as they come down the stretch.
"Go Scrag! Go Scrag! You're doing GREAT!" we shout.

Then they are around the corner, out of sight. I cross the muddy field and position myself near the finish line, ready to snap a picture of my boy completing his first-ever proper race.

"Here they come!" the loudspeaker announces. Up the final stretch they come, a trickle of boys running hard. My eyes scan the runners, my camera snaps away, just in case.
Where is my boy?

The race is over. My little runner has not finished. Something must have happened. My mother's heart is already crying for him; I just know he will be devastated and disappointed beyond belief.

I find him, being led by his Big Sister, face crumpled, knees bruised, eyes leaking, dreams dashed.
"I fell ooooover!" he sobs, tears streaming (those heartwrenching sobbing tears where you know a little heart is breaking).

So close to the end of the race. He was in third place; as he crossed the tiger turf, a mere 200 metres from the finish line he stumbled, tripped, fell.
His knees hurt. He stayed down.
He stayed down and he sat there crying, as runner after runner passed him by.
Until one stopped to help him up. This guy...

This kind friend put him back on his feet, then continued his race.
Dadda realised something was amiss when racing-boy did not appear; he sent Big Sister to go find him.
There he was, crying his heart out. Did he want her to run with him to the end?
No. He had lost his place. He didn't want to continue...

We forgot to tell him what to do if he fell down.

See, if you fall down, the race isn't over.
Sure you might not win or even place. You might have to suffer the pain of watching others pass you by...
But the most important thing is to finish the race.

We forgot to tell our son this very important thing.
You get knocked down, but you get back up again.
You finish the race.

Like this little guy...

This is Turbo (remember him?) He face-planted right near the start of the race. See that mud on his shirt?
Turbo got back up and kept on running. He finished the race, mud and all.

Poor Scrag.
He was heartbroken. Devastated.
But we helped him through it (the kindness of his buddies helped too). We told him we're proud of him anyway. That we understand how much he wanted it and how upset he must have felt, falling down.

Then later, long after the tears had dried, we talked about NEXT TIME.
If you get knocked down, even if it hurts, even if you have lost your chance to win, even if you have to limp across the finish line... finish.
So now he knows.

I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere for all of us too, aye?

[some of our school's values - giant pencils in gardens around the grounds]