This morning, a little after 11am I went into the garden to bring in the washing (I’d hung out yesterday – whoops). I noticed our cat, Rumple lying in the garden bed which I normally wouldn’t think twice about except that I noticed his head didn’t look quite right. We think he was in a fight or attacked by another animal. Will never know, but seeing him lying in the garden like that just broke my heart.

I’m not a person who feels like our pets are another child but that cat was amazing. We brought him home in our second month of marriage; he was born at the start of September 05, we were married at the start of October 05 and he came to live with us at the start of November 05. When I visited the vet surgery to choose a pet to “adopt”, there were two kittens available – I wanted to bring them both home(!) but that wasn’t possible. Having badgered The Archtiect into agreeing to this plan I thought he should really have a say in which one we chose, though I suspected I already knew.

There was one very placid little kitten and one total nutcase who kept leaping out of my arms, tearing all around the surgery – under chairs and feet, crashing into things and generally having a great time. I rang The Architect, “get the crazy one” he said.

We did and it was the best decision ever. He was a total nut-job for the first few years continuing to tear around the house and just race up and down the hallway . Hilarious really.

I don’t expect anyone else to really be interested in the story of our cat, but this is something I need to write for myself – as a tribute to a really wonderful part of our family.

Rumple came to live with us in a house attached to the church I was working for at the time. It hadn’t occurred to us that this cat would be sharing a backyard with many children who came to the church for playgroups, creche and Sunday school. Thankfully Rumple was more dog than cat and put up with the kids “love” as they chased him, dragged him, “cuddled” him and generally adored him. He was entirely trustworthy around children, something we really valued as I don’t think we would have been able to keep him if he’d posed any threat to the kids.

When we moved, he quickly fell in love with all the space. He could, and did, roam everywhere always coming home around the kids dinner time to get some food himself before settling in for the night on our bed, or sometimes Bliss’ bed. He was often in the kids room and had taken quite a shine to Bear over the last little while, seeking him out for a cuddle and pat – this is despite Bear’s enthusiam for him…

You may be familiar with the book Hairy MacLary and Zachary Quack – it’s about a day when Hairy MacLary really just wants to lie in the sun and sleep but the little duck Zacahary wants to play and keeps coming and interrupting Hairy MacLary’s rest. I renamed the story when Bliss was little to be “Rumple MacLary and Blissy McQuack” – it was apt and she found it hilarious.

Tonight The Architect and I just feel really sad. We were so lucky to have a pet who was as gentle, trustworthy and patient with the kids and such a lovely companion for us over the past 6.5 years. We’re just really going to miss him.

If you liked this post, please share it...

• 

i have my iphone back! Oh the joy…I’ve been in instagram overload!

Here’s a peek at the last week in our family.

Incoming search terms:

• Lomo Effects by www LOMOAPP com Photos
• toddler ballet photography

If you liked this post, please share it...

• 

Incoming search terms:

• uninvolved parenting style
• ra ra the noisy little lion
• advanced backyard carnivals
• ra ra the noisy lion birthday
• kitchenaid hand mixer price malaysia

If you liked this post, please share it...

• 

Yesterday I woke up to a perfectly clean and tidy house. This is not something that happens a whole lot for us, so it was exciting. I’d gone to bed with a perfectly clean and tidy house two whole days in a row. Having a film crew in your house will do that to you.

Yesterday I woke up at 6am. I had some time to myself and then got stuck into the breakfast routine – making sure to have done the dishes, wiped down the bench, put on a load of washing and made the beds. Actually I think hubs made our bed…but that’s beside the point. Just before walking out the door I thought smugly to myself “This isn’t so hard! This must be how all the super organised Mum’s do it… I can do so this!” I even took a moment to pop on some fabulous, celebratory pink lippy!

Then I jumped in the car and half way to Bear’s first bi-lingual Mandarin class realised that I’d been so on top of the house I’d gotten us out the door to late for class.

{insert glorious bubble popping moment}

It seems that even my illusion of perfection was short lived.

Explaining to Bliss that we were in fact, no longer going to Mandarin class, we…ahem…re-diverted to a local cafe where I spent the time reading a book to Bliss, while pushing cars with Bear and trying to eat a rather delicious breakfast.

I’ll take my imperfect any day.

But next week? We’ll try to get to class.

Are you a perfect mother or, like me, something of a domestic disaster?

Incoming search terms:

• domestic disasters cars
• how to go from disaster to superorganised mum
• illusions of perfection
• jade superorganise mum marraige

If you liked this post, please share it...

• 

Incoming search terms:

• beautiful pictures of happiness
• pictures of happiness
• Beautiful pics of happiness
• gorgious pictures of happines
• pictures of happiness family

If you liked this post, please share it...

•