Thankful Thursday

As I sit down to write this post the thing that I am most thankful for is the ever so yummy slice that I found hiding away in the fridge.  It teams particularly well with the glass of red and lightly whipped chocolate that I also discovered in my refrigerator raid.  It is a lovely way to end the day.  Not that there was anything particularly deserving of such treats but hey what's a girl supposed to do?

The next thing I think I am going to be thankful for is the fact that it is nearly bedtime.  Actually now that I see it is 9:59 I am thinking that it could very well be bedtime (once I finish my wine that is).  I had hoped to have this post all finished and ready to schedule post at 7am Thursday (it is currently Wednesday night) but now that doesn't seem so important.  Now sleep seems like all I can think of.

fast forward to Thursday morning (early, very early)


Now the first thing I am thankful for is my awesome cup of coffee and my super early night last night.  I would like to say I am thankful for the peace and quiet that comes from an early morning rise only with two out of three children up with me it is not exactly a peaceful quiet time.  Instead I give thanks to hub's colleague who kindly started sending through text messages at a little after 5.30am.  Which may I just point out is around half hour before hubs and I usually elect to start our day and a good hour earlier than when children normally wake.

So how can I be thankful for this I hear you ask?

Easy!  Because of our extra early rise I will be able fit in an extra load of washing before the school run as well as getting a few extra little chores out the way.  The super early start for DD3 will mean her morning nap will also be nice and early which should make way for an afternoon nap right when I need to go to school.  Which is perfect as she can sleep in the pram while I get done what I need to.  So really I could not have planned it better if I tried.

More things to be thankful for include the fact that my beautiful sister is coming for a visit tomorrow.  She will only be here a few days but it will be wonderful just to have her near.  To see her swelling belly and smiling face.  I am thankful also to my sister in law taking me out on Monday night, without children.  I can't remember the last time I got dressed and didn't have to think about whether or not I would be able to expose a breast to feed a hungry child should the need arise.  We listened to Jack Thompson read classic Australian poetry under the stars.  Totally awesome.  Makes me thankful to live in a place where even in 'winter' you can sit out under the stars.

Finally I want to give thanks for our health.  Not only are we free from any serious illness, for which I am constantly thankful, but in a week that has seen many go down with bugs of all sorts I feel blessed by the fact that this household has somehow managed to escape.  Touch wood it stays that way and I am sending out healing fairy wishes and butterfly kisses to all who need them.

So what are you thankful for?

Head over to Kate Says Stuff to play along and read more thankful posts

Wordless Wednesday - Bubbles

Aussie Wordless Wednesday
Playing along with My Little Drummer Boys

Taste of Tuesday - Makes Me Smile

Yay!! I found a blog hop for Tuesday.  Hosted over at If these Wall these week she is asking for what makes us smile.  Which is lovely, as we should all take the time to think about what makes us smile.

So some of the things that make me smile

• When great minds think alike (The blog I selected to mention yesterday happened to be the same blog that someone else also mentioned.  Just goes to show what a great blog it is)
• DD3 successfully using the potty
• Johnny Cash music
• Getting comments on my posts.  Seeing new followers and increases in traffic will also bring a smile to my face.
• The thought of looking at my clean and tidy house (I say thought because the reality is far from clean and tidy because all I want to do is blog or read blogs or do anything to do with blogging as I am convinced once I crack blogging I will get on to some real writing)

For now though I really should go and be productive somewhere else.   You however have all the time in the world :) so please have a good poke around here and then head over to here and share what makes you smile.

Oh and this makes me smile more than anything

the eye closing is on purpose, so use to the flash being bright she closes her eyes the moment I pick the camera up.  How could that not make you smile :)

I Too Yell

Recently amongst the circles that I follow there has been some discussion on the topic of yelling.  I think for the most part it stemmed from this openly honest post from Daisy with her Confession of a Foghorn

Now apparently this is surprising to many but I am a yeller.  I don't like yelling and it always hurts my throat and I always instantly wish I hadn't just yelled, but there are times when I still go and yell.  And I shouldn't.  For the most part I yell at the one person.  It is generally only one person who manages to find the right sequence of buttons that can create enough force to decimate my self control and allow anger, rage and frustration let loose.  Thankfully for the most part though I can keep it all in check.

Actually for the most part this person is beautiful and caring.  Giving, funny and talented in many different ways this person generally fills me with an abundance of pride, love and happiness.  Perhaps that is why?  You know equal and opposite reactions and all that.  Sometimes it is weeks without yelling.  Well maybe only two but still...  The yelling time is always outweighed greatly by non yelling.  Not that that really makes it all ok.  No one should be yelled at.  Especially when love is involved.  It just doesn't seem right does it? Yelling at those we love but more often than not that is the way it works out.

Only I also yell at my dog.  I know.  Shoot me now.  But he just doesn't listen to me.  He thinks that the rules don't matter to me.  And sometimes they don't.  But sometimes they do and he needs to listen when I want him to.  Surely that is not too much to ask?

Anyway I just discovered something amazing.  My dear old dog responds better to gestures than yelling.  With a stern look and a few hand signals (pointing) I was able to send him outside much easier than when I use my voice.  

Hold on.  Turns out I spoke (wrote) too soon.  

He may have followed my signals to start with but it was all short lived.  He returned and has now closed his eyes so as to not be able to see me.

(deep sigh)

He knows me so well.  With a sleeping baby on my lap there is no way I am able to make him move.  I can not yell or even move myself to drag him out the back and shut the door.  

Back to my yelling though.  So now that I have fessed up what next?  Try not to I guess.  Learn to walk away, find a different way through.  Let it all go and not sweat the small stuff.

image credit

Monday Mention - Daisy, Roo & Two

Yesterday as I trudged my way through the battlefields of housework that is my home I pondered on what earth shaking event I could blog about.  Unfortunately for me I did not exactly come up with much.  You see for as much as I long to be a famous writer, making the time to actually write is still much easier said than done.  Depending on the time of day I can come up with an array of reasons as to why  my screen remains blank.  Surely this is not the path way to becoming a writer.

What I have found works though is regular themed posts.  For some reason, weekly link ups like Thankful Thursday, Wordless Wednesday, and Things I Know seem to get at least a few of my juices going.  Actually if I were to guess the reason for my interest in these things it is because for the most part they have a way of increasing my readers.

One of the crazy ideas I came up with yesterday was to host a link up of my own.  Possibly Sunday Shout Outs.  The idea being to share a favourite link/blog/product/whatever.  Of course my lack of self confidence automatically had me question whether I would get any one to join in which in turn convinced me it was a bad idea.

Thankfully for me the wonderful Tammy over at Ramblings Of A Brokenhearted Mummy had the perfect solution for me with her Monday Mentions.

So before this Monday runs out I would like to mention Daisy, Roo & Two One of the blogs that I have recently stumbled across and just fallen in love with.  Daisy feels like a kindred spirit that I have known forever.  Her grounding honesty coupled with a warm humour gives new light to life and all that it brings.

Making Goals Monday - Wk 2

So last week I finally took the plunge and linked up with Sarah over at Accepting and Embracing Autism and dived head first into making some goals.  Not wanting to overwhelm myself I kept it all pretty simple.

Write at least 5 more posts

Exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times (will try and bump it to every day but don't want to set myself up for failure straight away)

Not waste hours and hours and hours on stupid mindless games that have no bearing whatsoever on real life

Sounded pretty easy really.  Only reality was not as easy.

I did manage to get my five posts done.  Actually I managed 6 so that is not a bad effort at all.  One of them was even a non link up post!  Yep that's right somehow I managed to write a post totally unrelated to anything at all.  (It is here if you are interested)  So far so good but here is about where it ends.

I did not even come close to exercising for 30 minutes three times last week.  I took the kids for a swim yesterday afternoon and that is it.  I don't think I even stopped to think about fobbing off exercising.  Pure and simple exercising was not even close to my radar last week.

That just leaves the not waste hours and hours and hours on stupid mindless games that have no bearing whatsoever on real life.  Which I guess I could maybe, sorta, say I kind of cut back a little.  I know there was one day were I didn't even go near the computer all day long.  Instead I devoted myself to cleaning, tidying and decluttering (which by the way is a never ending battle)

So where does that leave me now?

The way I see it I have a couple of options.  I could easily just give up and forget about making goals.  Only we all know how important goal setting can be.  I have been harping on about goals since almost time began.  Well at least since this blog began.

After much thought I have decided that this week I will take a new approach.  No more of this taking it easy and giving myself a somewhat free ride.  This week I am going to give myself a lovely long list of goals in the hope that the levels of achievement might also increase.

1. Make significant progress with the school birthday celebrations
2. Maintain some form of order within the house
3. Sleep (regularly and at night like most normal people do)
4. Write (something awesome)
5. Be active

What are your goals for the week?  Come and join in here

Still Trying to Improve

Last week I posted about there always being room for improvement.  It was the first in a weekly link up with the wonderful Karlee over at The Mother Experiment called Me and YOU Monday.  

The idea is that we all take one area of our life that we would like to improve.  For the entire week we focus on improving said area.  For me it was the housework, for Karlee it was stressing, Daisy elected to focus on reducing her yelling, Kristy was hoping for the return of predictability to life and Courtney wanted to work on cutting herself some slack.

Now before I go on to tell you how I went I must say that I feel a bit out of place.  These other courageous women really put themselves on the line with what they wanted to change.  They put themselves down for some serious internal change and personal growth.  They committed to actively creating positive change within their lives.  Sort of makes my housework goal rather pale by comparison.  Mind you if you have ever stepped foot in my house, you would understand the actual importance of the need for change.

Housework is not one of my priorities.  In fact I don't think it even comes close to scraping by as a priority.  SomeMost days I doubt if housework even makes it on to the to do list let alone an actioned priority list.  So saying I was going to commit to daily washing, folding and putting away of a load of washing (excluding nappies) as well as maintain a sink free from dirty dishes was a pretty big step.  One that if I managed to pull off would have been nothing short of a minor miracle.

So... ... ...

           ... ... ... Just how did I go?  Here is a bit of a run down for you.

Tuesday - Brilliant day!  Managed to get two loads of washing done and put away.  Not only that but cleared the sink of dirty dishes and even made some progress on the decluttering that hubs kindly forced me into a few weeks ago.

Wednesday - Not quite so brilliant but not all bad either.  Didn't get quite as much done but did manage to get some washing out and possibly put some dishes away.  Photographed washing for rather cool Wordless Wednesday post

Thursday - A right off.  Nothing achieved or accomplished.  Nothing at all.  Not even close.  Washing still hanging on the line and dirty dishes tower growing nicely.  Could use the death of the dog as and excuse but excuses are for the weak aren't they?

Friday - Washing still on line.  Possibly washed a few dishes.  Had an awesome time at the wave pool with the girls and really enjoyed the time on the computer in the morning.

Saturday - Washing finally off line.  Basket still sitting in lounge room waiting to be folded.  Extra child the night before creates more dishes than expected and dirty dishes tower nearly at a new all time high.  Manage to downsize a little.

Sunday - Day of rest? Not likely! Complete opposite.  Washing is folded and waiting to be put away however, two new loads washed, dried and put away all in the one day!  (Hard to believe I know but true none the less)  Dirty dishes tower finally completely deconstructed and cleaned and even put away.  Most of the dinner dishes are even washed (though not put away and nor will they till morning)

So it looks as if I will be holding on to the housework for this week as well.  Clearly there is still room for improvement!  Make sure you check back next Monday to see how this week went.  Head to The Mother Experiment to link up and find out more

Televison - The Greatest Invention of All Time

Or is it?

I mean if we really stopped and took the time to think about there is possibly some other invention that has saved a life or at least greatly improved the quality of life for someone which could possibly be seen as slightly greater than the old box but Televison - The Nearly Greatest Invention of All Time doesn't really seem to have the same ring to it.

The greatness of television debate has raged since the screens were first invented (which according to Wikipedia people first started to investigate the possibility way back in the late 1800's who knew. On the whole though it was not until the 1930's that the first actual sets entered the scene with some countries not actually getting televisions until as late as the 1990's)

Personally I am not a huge television fan.  I can sort of see the attraction but I by no means plonk myself down on the couch to watch endless hours of drivel (mainly because that would interrupt my precious computer time)  I also don't generally let the kids watch a great deal, though they do watch more than what I am comfortable with but sometimes a gal just needs a bit of piece and quite and let's face it that is one of the great things about TV.

Now when I sat down to write this post I had something pretty impressive that I wanted to share.  Rather than just cutting straight to the chase I thought that I would take you on a bit of a journey.  Share some information that you might not have already known and possibly learnt something myself (hence the stop over at Wiki).  Only somewhere along the line I seem to have gotten a little lost and no longer remember my original idea.

In between writing these four little paragraphs I have; cleaned up a toilet mishap, resolved three minor opinion differences, had five conversations regarding numerous subjects, smiled 4 times at the cuteness in the actions between the girls and won 7 rounds of tetris battle (my new favourite way to waste time on facebook)  No wonder I have lost my train of thought here.

More distractions (should read went to Helium site to look for old article on TV, got distracted by possibility of actually getting paid to write, lost touch with reality and for a fleeting moment actually contemplated writing 1500 words on the importance of being part of a community in under twenty minutes with three kidlets hanging around who are currently being amused but none other than...)

Clearly I should just go and do my TIK post

image credits here

Things I Know

The first thing I know today is that Fridays are fast becoming one of my favourite blogging days as it means I get to share all the things I know with you in one great post.

I also know that I love reading about all the other things that people know so make sure you check them all out (list is found at the bottom of the post here

I know that I am glad I gave the girls the day off school today.  After the loss of Such (my mum's dog) on Wednesday we have all been a little drained.  I desperately wanted to cancel yesterday but there were some commitments that I just couldn't (and didn't want to) not meet.  Plus how wonderful is a long weekend?  Today is also the last day we can spend with our beautiful visitors before they return home tomorrow.  I know we will all miss them muchly.

I know that even though muchly is not really a word I still like to use it sometimes.  I know that other people can make up way cooler words than muchly but that is the best I can do (at least for now anyway).

I know I love the sound of my children laughing (even if it is because DD3 has just tipped a rather large cup of water over herself which I will now have to clean up)  I know also that I have probably mentioned the love laughter thing before but every time I hear it I think how much I love it.  I love it muchly.

I know I am feeling really positive about the way this lovely little blog is growing.  I know I still religiously check stats and get way to excited about even the slightest spike in hits but hey what is it they say about small things and small minds...

I know that I have spent way too much time in front of the computer this morning when I have so many things to do, but hey you can't win them all.

What do you know?  Click here to join in

Thankful Thursday: Trying not to be repetitive

Now as much as Thankful Thursday is a great idea and I just love love love being a part of it, I am a little worried.  You see when I sit down to share what I am thankful for I seem to always have the same things that come to mind.  I worry that you will soon tire of reading how awesome I think my family is but I just can't help it.

My mother has gone overseas for six weeks leaving me to care for her house and two dogs.  Thankfully her house is pretty close to the girls school so it is no trouble stopping in there every day and doing what needs to be done.  In some ways it is very therapeutic, watering her shade house, playing with the dogs.  In some ways it is not, ensuring the girls don't make too much of a mess, walking in and finding a dead dog.  

Yep you read right.  I got there yesterday to find one of the dogs had passed away.  How does this fit into a thankful post I hear you ask? She was old and possibly had cancer and really I think the outcome is for the best.  But here is where I get really thankful.  When I rang my husband and told him what had happened, he came straight round to deal with it all, which gave me the chance to sit down and talk about it with the girls.  

They have both known this dog all their lives so to a five and ten year old it was a pretty big loss.  Apart from the death of my dad and few goldfish this is the only other death they have experienced.  All in all they handled it very well, though DD2 did get a bit hysterical with the tears but she is what some would call a little sensitive at times.

So here is what I am thankful for.  My super super awesome husband, the fixer of all my problems, my tower of strength and sensibility, my bestest friend in the whole wide world.  My everything.  Oh I am also a bit thankful I don't live in England.  (Please if you happen to be a rioter or thinking of becoming one don't.  Go and blog about it instead)

What are you thankful for? Head over to Kate Says Stuff and join in

Trying, always trying

That is what my life feels like.  In both senses of the word as well.  

The past few days have seen my trying to get ahead of the housework.  Yesterday I made a concerted effort to be super productive.  I managed to resist all temptation that the computer world brings me and concentrated purely on getting washing washed, folded and put away.  I did what seemed like a never ending tower of dishes (one that has seemingly returned today)  I even spent some time in the girl's room trying to restore some order there.  Oh and naturally I tried to restore some form of order to the general living area.  

Despite these efforts though I feel as if little was achieved.   Full credit to hubs though, he assured me he could notice a difference.  I am also rather disheartened by the fact that by the time kidlets were in bed and I had filled out our census form I was so exhausted that I toddled myself off to bed.  The downside to getting up at 5.30am I guess.

On the upside though I did try something new for dinner last night.  I made a green Thai chicken curry.  Which was a bit yummy.  DD1 & 2 weren't exactly over the moon about it but they did for the most part eat without complaint.  DD3 is so interested in food that she pretty much eats what ever you put in front of her, especially if it is something new.  It was dead easy as well so that was even better.  I could tell you how now but I could also just put it in a post of it's own and give you the link (which is what I will do so stay tuned)

So far today has been fairly productive though I have spent some time on the computer.  I just had to get my Wordless Wednesday post up.  I thought that I was so good getting it done before 11am only to find that some thirty odd people beat me to it.  Grrrrrr (not really glad to see so many others are joining in the fun if you want to check them all out head here there are some great photos in there this week)  I also managed to get some emails replied to.  

What I haven't done though is the most important stuff, which I should get to now but I just really wanted to write.

The urge to write has been growing a lot lately and I hate it when I can't find the time to listen to it.  How will I ever become a famous writer if I don't actually write?  And when I say write I don't necessarily mean some of the drivel I put up here and try to fob off as words of wisdom.

(short sharp sigh - you know the fed up with is all kind)

Moving along though.  No point beating myself up about it all, best just to keep going and try to make changes.

Wordless Wednesday

Playing along with the ever so lovely Trish over at My Little Drummer Boys

The washing which I have been diligently working through as per here

Because the washing is boring and yucky here is some beauty to balance it out :)

Making Goals Monday - Wk 1

Now I have been meaning to join in this blog hop since I saw it start a few weeks ago but naturally as with so many things I want to do it got put on the back burner.

Well that was until now!

Despite having around a thousand other things I should be doing I am doing this first.  Actually I am doing this second as I have just finished this post here which kinda blends in with making goals.

Moving right along though.

My goals for this week are

1. Write at least 5 more posts
2. Exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times (will try and bump it to every day but don't want to set myself up for failure straight away)
3. Not waste hours and hours and hours on stupid mindless games that have no bearing whatsoever on real life

(deep exhale)

That will be all for this week as I also have the housework improvements that I set up with the Karlee so I don't want to overload myself all at once.

To see what other goals are being made head over to Accepting and Embracing Autism

 

Always Room For Improvement

Sometimes there is just more room than others.

I am forever preaching to the kidlets about being the best you that you can be and all that.  You know the 'it doesn't matter what the result is as long as you genuinely try your best'.  Only I guess at times this preaching could go in the do as I say not as I do basket.  Because let's face it there are many times during the day when I am far from my best or even come close to trying to be my best.

Take right now for instance.  I am supposed to be typing up a quick data base of contacts for the school.  I am meant to be meeting the principal in around twenty minutes to discuss said contact list and a whole range of other things that I am yet to actually do. Stuff that I should have done weeks if not months ago.  I am far from my best or even trying to reach my best right now.

Well sort of.

You see when I sat down at the computer (which was justified as where else could I type up a contact list) Facebook was already open and my eye couldn't help but notice one of my fav blogs had a new post up (click here to read it)  Naturally I like to read things hot off the press (so to speak) so I headed on over.  From there I just had to check out this which eventually brought me to here.  And now that I am here I am going to work on being a better me so that makes it all ok hey?

I was so inspired by these wonderful mothers, women and bloggers, putting themselves on the line that I just had to join in.

So this week I am going to concentrate on changing ... ... ... 

... ... ... no I am not waiting for a drum roll just trying to decide as there are so many to choose from.

Ok got it.

This week I am going to make a concerted effort to stay on top of the housework.  Nothing to major just a load of washing (excluding nappies) washed, folded and put away every day and no dirty dishes left in the sink.  Sounds easy enough doesn't it? 

To find out what others are working on this week check out The Mother Experiment, the wonderful host for this brilliant idea.  Play along, improve yourself and support others.

Have we really come to this?

I am sitting here in absolute disbelief.  Astounded at what I am listening to.

But first let me set the scene a little

As a rule we don't really watch a lot of television.  It is still more than I would really like them to watch but the convenience and time it provides me with is very hard to give up.  Though I am seriously reassessing that as we speak.

Despite the disaster zone that is our house hubs and I have elected for a slow lazy start to the morning with a designated joint start time to tackle the monstrosity of work that needs to be done.  Since I hustled the kidlets downstairs yesterday morning with little disturbance to him, enabling him to have an extra hour and bit of sleep, this morning was his turn to get up first.

DD3 woke up just before 7 (which I know I shouldn't complain about but 8 would have been nicer)  I knew there was no point feeding her as the reason for her waking was to do a wee. I lifted her up and over to hubs who was doing his very best to pretend he was still sleeping, and returned my head to my pillow to do the same.  DD2 was in the middle of all this just waiting for the signal to jump out of bed and start the day (don't you just love the enthusiasm of a five year old?)

Before I knew it DD2 was crawling back to me and snuggling up.  All was silent as I lay there wondering what would happen next.  Hubs was gently poking my back saying that the baby had gone back to sleep.  I could feel her limp body against my head but I just couldn't buy her actually being asleep.  At 16 months old she generally wakes dry but she can only hold it in for so long.  I was not going to risk moving to look at her face myself to see whether she really was sleeping or just snoozing so I trusted hubs is judgement and began to will myself back to sleep, still somewhat doubtful about the child next to me but hey if it looks like a stick...

The position that DD3 had selected to jam herself up against me in was far from comfortable but I was just going to have to deal with it.  After about five minutes my worst fears were realised and my sleep in destroyed.  DD3 was sitting up and chatting away.  Reluctantly I dragged myself out from underneath the covers and took DD3 to the toilet.  Which actually involves walking all the way down stairs.  At which point I realise that I am probably not going back to bed so I may as well say good morning to Sunday.

Once the toileting needs of both DD3 and myself are seen to I wander into the lounge room to investigate what everyone else is up to.  Not only is DD2 snuggled up on the bean bag watching the dreaded box but hubs is stretched out on the couch, eyes closed and looking more asleep than what I had even come close to.

Letting out a bit of a sigh I headed to the kitchen and popped the kettle on.

In a bid to put a bit of a positive spin to it all I decided that for many mother's 7.45 on a Sunday morning could very well be considered as a late sleep in. So with the washing machine filling up and fresh coffee in hand I sat down in front of the computer reading for some quality blogging time while I waited for it to be time to clean.

I was trying hard not to pay attention to the noise coming from the TV.  Recent weeks have seen my tolerance for the dreaded box decrease greatly.  I tried to console myself with the fact that at least it is the ABC channel, you know the one considered 'educational'.  The time honoured Sesame Street was playing.  Surely it can't be all that bad? Can it?

Oh yes.  Much worse than I have ever suspected actually.

As I sat there trying to think of something readable to write a little furry creature was dancing around telling me the importance of washing my hair.  Seriously.