Are we mad?

For those that haven't caught up on the news yet, Mark and I are expecting our third baby in June next year! Yes, Tom will be a big brother x2 and Biddy will finally get the opportunity to terrorise someone younger than her! Things have not been smooth sailing (already...I am 14+ weeks now), but hopefully everything will settle down into an uneventful pregnancy.

Things have been flat out here of late and I feel like I am not even keeping my head above water. I am struggling a little health-wise (pregnancy related), and with Mark still out of action due to back surgery, everything has fallen to me to do. I have had to cancel an event I was organising for Saturday afternoon, purely because I am not able to get everything done in time.

The kids are winding up various activities and now we are facing the run of Christmas parties. As a bit of a run down on what I have booked in:

10th: Back surgeon appointment and OBGYN appointment (both Melb)

11th: free-ish. Have hairdresser appointment!

12th: cancelled event, but now have 6yo party to take kids to

13th: Larpent CFA Christmas BBQ

14th: Kids have their daycare Christmas concert. Judging for HICO on-farm challenge sometime in next 3 days

15th: Swimming group breakup and then Mark and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary (in Melb)

16th: Spot of Xmas shopping in Melbourne then home

17th: Cockies picnic (day), dinner with female family members (night)

18th: to Geelong for remainder of Xmas shopping??????

19th: Craiglands staff Christmas party

20th: free

21st: OBGYN appointment in Melb

22nd: Food shopping

23rd: finish cleaning house

24th: to Lorne to pick up seafood

25th: yes I know that you think this is Christmas, but remember, for us, it is also Biddy's REAL birthday, so we have that as well!!!

Phew! December is just crazy isn't it?

Also, I have neglected to mention how we went in the various shows that we took cows to. Colac show was not a great success for us. We did get places (a 2nd and a 3rd), but I was hoping for something a little better, particularly for the Luckystrike cow that we took to the shows last year. My personal opinion was that she was a much better cow this time out and should be in with the mix. At Colac though, she wasn't. However, at Noorat, things were a little different. The cows settled into the different surrounds very quickly and that always helps things along. The Luckystrike (Craiglands Luckystrike 3111) performed exceptionally well taking out Reserve Champion Dairy cow and Supreme Udder in the interbreed sections! This was a terrific result.

Sam with Craiglands Luckystrike 3111 (wearing her ribbons) after just taking part in the Grand Parade

This time round, Carl Moon was unable to join us, so I thank Mike Huth (from BOS Trading) for coming along to both shows and helping me put the finishing touches on the cows, particularly with kids in tow! I also want to thank our farm staff who put up with me juggling cows around, preparing cows whilst they are trying to do their normal duties, helping me with various little jobs both before and after the shows (such as applying sunscreen to clipped udders), and generally supporting my 'hobby'. Thanks guys!