Snapshots of Us - Weeks 17 to 21

So it appears as if Snapshots of Us has now become a monthly instalment. I guess it has just been one of those months.

Since we last met life feels like it has been all kinds of crazy. 

I somehow managed to get my assignment handed in on time and even achieved a passable grade. And before all you kind souls start saying I am sure you got more than a pass you are just being modest I didn't. I got 68 out 100. Which honestly given the last minute that I left it to is all it really deserved. I am a little surprised to have scored that highly actually.

Sadly however it did not seem to give me any encouragement to tackle the next assignment any differently. I have less than a week to come up with a two thousand word research report that cites at least at eight sources. Insert a whole range of swear words here.

As you may recall I recently became the mother of a teenager. Oh the sighs.

In true teenager form she has had me at my wits ends on more occasions than I would like to admit. After a particularly awful morning, that had followed a particularly awful night I treated myself to a coffee after braving a morning food shopping expedition with Teapot. Who just happens to have the most amazing way of melting my heart and making me feel better about life as a whole.

 We finally got to take the van out for a test run. It was all kinds of awesome and then some. I, and I think everyone else, can not wait till this type of life becomes our norm.

 Zany had her first ever sleep over at a friend's house. It was a birthday party and she just wanted to go so badly that despite my inner being going this is a bad idea I let her go. Teapot and Mr Awesome picked her up the next morning. They have pet bearded dragons and let Teapot have a hold. Clearly she was over the moon about it.

On Mother's Day, along with thousands of women around the country, I went for a run. It was hard and relatively slow but at the end of it I was all kinds of pleased with myself.

After the run we went to a caravan expo. Being in the Territory means there were naturally wild animals for the kids there. Naturally the wild animals were crocodiles. I do so love that the girls have no qualms about holding and touching such creatures.

Or any kind of creatures for that matter.

This little fella was hiding out in mum's spare fridge on her verandah. Oh the giggles from Teapot as he clambered all over her.

She was more than disappointed when I made her put him in the shade house but it had to be done.

For some reason Zany seems to have missed being in photos for most of the month just gone. This is one of the few I managed to find of her. 

We went to the wave pool with my sister and her son. Oh such a precious time. The week that they were here just flew on by way to fast.

Gosh I love these munchkins oh so much.

One of our adventures with my sister involved breakfast at the museum cafe, it was one of the few times we were there before everyone else. It gave me a chance to snap a few photos.

 But first let me take a selfie.

The lovely necklace that I am sporting was kindly made by Zany at school as a Mother's Day present. She is not coping so well with the never ending nights at work that I have been faced with lately and requested that I wear it always. How could I refuse?

Day One

Ok so I am going to count how many days in a row I can post.  Fingers crossed I make it into the thousands though quite frankly I would be happy just to make it to ten.  Only time will tell I guess.

I am absolutely knackered.  Last night I stayed up way too late.  Especially given the early start for today.  Which I was only a little late for but still, late is late.  In an effort to return to my conscious effort to improve, I have decided that I need to be a little more critical of myself.  Life is all about a careful balance, which at times needs careful and constant consideration.  Tardiness is no longer acceptable and I must change my ways.

(slow deep breath)

Tomorrow will be the real test though.

Tomorrow I have to 

• leave the house just after 7am (this is approximately an hour earlier than normal)
• interact with unknown quantities of strangers all while ensuring DD3 is happy and quiet

deep long breath out. straighten back. big slow breath in... and go.

Oh and did I mention the half hour drive to search for a room in a building I have never been to before.  On the upside I do get to check out a rather new school and learn all about positive behaviour support.  Must always remember the upside.  I like to think that I do but sometimes I know it is easier said than done.

Anyway that is it about it for now.  In light of tomorrow I am off to sleep.  You see on top of the already mentioned I would also like to bake some muffins, wash the dishes, fold all the laundry, iron some clothes, dust the fans, fly to ... oh wait... where was I? 

That's right I still need to tell you about some of the exciting things I have planned.  Well to start with there is my Inspirational Women Interviews.  The first of which I hope to have out before the end of the week.  I already have two more wonderful women with whom I want to share with you.

The other big thing is photos.  I am going to be needing a photo for every single post.  Some of these I will take specifically for the post.  Others may come from my personal collection and others again will be sourced from various places around the net.  I will also be taking suggestions and requests.  If you have a photo you would like to see featured on A Parenting Life (APL) drop me a line in the comment box.  

On that note I need a photo for today.  

(scratches head and creases brow)

Ok photo sorted (which  you actually already know as it is at the top of the post).  It is a landscape shot taken nearly 12 months ago.  It is somewhere in Kakadu National Park.  Darling Hubs took it while we were playing tourist with some much loved English family. (longing sigh)