Dont get mad - get even

Well we have survived week 1 without Nikki. No major disasters to report. I started the week with 3 kids and I have ended the week with 3 kids - so I would call that success. Now sure none of the kids respond when I call their name or ask them to do anything but then again that's pretty much normal with my kids although in saying that the Asian kid sitting on the couch keeps looking at me funny.

Its been a fairly low key with no real drama's, a few tears here and there but the kids gave me a cuddle and told me Id be OK. But pretty much everything has been fairly routine although the kids have been a little slack with doing their normal job routines before school. Have heard some great excuses this week and why they couldn't do their jobs. A couple of my favourites have come from Jaimee where one morning she was playing cards - I said to her "stop playing and do you jobs then you can go back to playing" she replied "I"M NOT PLAYING - I'M THINKING".  And then she was caught sitting in front of the TV watching away. "Jaimee stop watching TV and do your jobs"  Her response - "Its not my fault - the TV is distracting me" "Jaimee none of your jobs even take you close to this room - how can it be distracting ?" "grrrrrrrr" she replies.
And I did enjoy her response when we were watching the America's cup together and when I left the room Oracle was winning but when I walked back in a few moments later Jaimee said Team NZ was winning - I said no Oracle was - she said look at the TV dad - And sure enough NZ was miles ahead - I said "what happened" She said "Great team work". I thought that was fantastic.


Now on the job front Jaimee had another interesting moment. I had just shifted the rabbit cage for her and I had even sweeped up the poo and done the water so all she had to do was feed them. I called through the window to her to come and feed the rabbits well she just collapsed like she had been gunned down in a drive by shooting. Oh the drama of it all so I caved in and fed the rabbits myself now as I was doing this Jaimee is dancing around with a big grin on her face. So instead of getting mad I decided to get even. So I walked inside and said to both girls - I said its no problem if you don't want to do your jobs - that's fine. I'm not going to yell you at you to do them - but it does mean you get no pudding on the weekend and I also get all your chocolate that's in the cupboard. That wiped the grin off just like that. We have seen a slight improvement to job attitude but not much.


I have also learnt this week - no point trying to do fancy meals for my kids, the 1st few nights were just re-heating frozen meals mainly due to the fact we had no oven. Tuesday night I did a stir fry which Luke and Jaimee indulged in - not so much Kate but I'm going with the fact that she wasn't feeling to good. Anyway Wednesday I did a lamb casserole in the slow cooker. Now I knew the girls were tired I had even given Kate the night off going to gymnastics as she did look rather terrible when I had picked her up from school so I only gave them a tiny amount of dinner knowing they wouldn't each much. I think all 3 of them had a mouthful and that was it. Ungrateful kids I had slaved for 8 hours making that dinner. So we got a whole lamb casserole in the freezer now. As a result Thursday night was back to simple Dip Eggs (eggs and soldiers). Kids loved that - all gone just like that.


Speaking of food - I hadn't had a chance to use the breadmaker to make some bread because the blade that goes in the breadmaker was missing. So Wednesday night I spent the evening cleaning out every drawer and cupboard in the kitchen. Couldn't believe how much stuff we had or even what most of it was for - so with the clean up I created the mans drawer cause pretty much thats all you need for the kitchen. So in my drawer I have a knife, potato masher, ice cream scoop, a peeler and a pair of tongs (so hope that doesnt auto correct to thong). Pretty sure thats all one needs - salad serving spoons etc are out.


The week wound down with the girls cross country on friday. It turned out to be a stunning day. Now leading up to the event the girls talk themselves up at dinner time about how fast they are and that they always win the training runs. Now either there is a lot of exaggeration or they just crumble under pressure on race day. Its also interesting hearing their versions of events on race day. Now I just want to say as a dad who is sporty and a little competitive on that front - the only thing I want from the girls is 1. Try their best and that it doesnt matter if you win or not. 2 have fun either way and no crying.  But I do have to admit that secretly I thought Kate was going to do well and that Jaimee may have a chance of winning if she keeps running the whole way.

Kate was 1st up. Now the start of race was chaos to be fair - as the kids werent lined up in a line more of a crowded circle looking at Mr Anderson - who said Go at the point Kate was at the back of the group and got off to a slow start and was fair bit behind from the off. However things did look encourgaing when with a burst of speed she shot from the back of the bunch to the middle of the pack and gaining on the leaders. However by the 1st turn she was walking and had gone back to near the end of the pack. She did get running abit later on and did finish well and did have a big grin on her face which was great. She finished 9th (last) of the girls but she she did beat some boys.
Now her version of events was that she passed 10 girls impressive with only 9 in the race and that she it was my fault she was walking because I was talking to her. So bless her - at least she had fun.


Jaimee was awesome - she came 3rd last year. And this year she got off to a slow start as well but by the 1st corner she was 3rd and going well - but at the 1/2 way stage she stopped for a walk which allowed the 2 girls ahead of her to get further ahead and 2 girls behind her to catch up and so when those girls slowed up a little bit further on they had gotten to far ahead for jaimee to catch up again but she did finish strongly and closed the gap she ended up 5th and there was a huge gap to the kids behind her. So it was a great effort and she had a great attitude the whole way around so was very proud of her.


So thats pretty much been our week this week. If anything fun or dramatic happens in the next few days then it will appear on here in due course.