New Years Resolutions

Wow - where did 2009 go!?!! It seemed like just yesterday (gee that sounds pathetic!) that I was writing out my Resolutions for this year, now we're on the last day!!! Crazy!!!

So I should probably try and make some new ones for this year. Nothing too fancy, just some goals that I'd like to achieve before the end of the year:-

1. Lower my intake of kiojoules each day (research and find out how many I need, and then eat less than that to stay healthy and lose my spare tire I've gained this year!)
2 Do a cardio work out 3 times a week - keep it different and keep it fun - even if I have to make some work out music on my ipod and keep changing it, this is what I have to do!
3. Take proactive steps to get the life I want - that is, take some courses on small business, and also creative writing, etc. so that I can do the things I love (make stuff,) and finally get paid for it!!!!
4. Keep on top of the house stuff - and make it a family effort - it's not all up to me, and I don't have to be in control of it all!!
5. Go out on a date with my hubby once a month - and I only have to organise each second one - even if I have to nag him, I'm going to do it to keep our marriage strong!!
6. Keep on seeing the good in things and people............stay happy, and be good.
7. Update my blog once a week, will see how we go!!!!!

Have a fantastic New Year and a wonderful 2010 - I know I will!!!!! xxx

Look what else we made!!! I saw a picture in a magazine of a daybed that had used an old door for the seat. The moment I read about it, I loved it, and then automatically thought "I can make that myself" - doesn't everyone do that when they see things they like at the shops!?!! LOL

Anyway, we sourced some old doors from a renovation down the road for nothing, then we mentioned to our friend about our 'project,' and he was telling me that he was turning the wood for the legs, and didn't want to hear any arguing!!!

So our wonderful friend Ed came over with the beautiful legs turned, and the bases all set and ready to assemble - enter my knight in shining armour - hubby!!!!!

Before you know it, we had our daybeds created, and have been enjoying them every since!!! It's these things that finally get completed that give me that tingle in my tummy, and keep me energised, and confident to know that I can do anything I want - infinate possibilities!!!! xxx

Look at what I made!!!

Yes it's true, I made my very own handbag!!! FINALLY i HAVE FINISHED SOMETHING!!!!

I was very proud of the effort I made with this - from sourcing the fabric, colour choice, and design, all the way through to the manufacture and finishing embellishments, I am quite a proud young lady!!! (Can I get away with young lady anymore - me thinks not!!!)

But I must confess, I can't take all the credit for this wonderful creation. My beautiful mother was wholly responsible for ensuring that the handbag looked like a handbag in the end, and not a ball in a sock!!! I went to her with my ideas, and sat down with me and guided me, step by step through the sewing process - and voila - This is what it's all about!!!!

So now all I have to do is get lots and lots of people interested in buying a bag like this, and eventually, I'll do the designs, mum will do the sewing and I'll finish off with the embellishments. It's going to be a wonderful journey - but I think I'm finally raring to go!!!!!

Christmas is just around the corner, so I have to prepare myself for the festive season. Big plans this year for some home made stuff - presents & tree decorations made out of pottery, hand made lip balm for the teachers, even potato stamped & family photo embellished Christmas cards to get out before the fat man visits!!

We have a 5 year old turning 6 next week - it's always very exciting when the birthdays get closer - we have a few parties planned - I think there's going to be 4 cakes in total!!! But that was one thing that I was always going to do when I became a mum - make whatever kind of cake my babies wanted!!!! xxx

Catch up in two minutes

Like I wrote last time, I'm pretty slack once I lose interest in something - so I'll give a roundup of what's been happening, and then try to get back into the habit of putting in an entry once a week:-

* GWA (Girls Weekend Away) at Minchilbill Hill - lots of laughs, food and taffeta, catching up with the girls from Jimboomba. If you have a facebook account you can be my friend and look at the photos - they're pretty hideous, but we know we all looked gorgeous!!! LOL

* Swimming lessons have started at school - Hayden has his cap and goggles, and can concentrate long enough to only get told off by the instructor once a minute as opposed to three or four times!

* Hayden is off of his trainer wheels - he and Thomas spent some time with their Nan & Pop in beautiful Hervey Bay, and when he came back he was sans wheels!!!!

* Thomas is still as cute as a button, and as stubborn as a mule!!! Hopefully when he turns four in another 6 months I'll feel less like choking him and more like hugging him!!!! (Please don't call DOCS!!!!)

* Mark has been and returned from Japan - was a great introductory trip for him, and we got very spoilt upon his return with costumes, calligraphy kits and sweets. He's in Tonga now and we are looking forward to holidays

* Holidays in Darwin - one whole week out of the house. No plans apart from watching the jumping crocodiles!!! The rest of the time will be sipping cocktails by the pool!!!! Can't wait, we haven't had a whole week's holidays in over 3 years!!! BLISS!!!!

That's all I can think of for now - I PROMISE my blogs will be much more exciting and worth a read soon!!!!!

xxx

Lazy days

Thomas among the cushions, so of these I have made myself!!!

Sorry I haven't been updating as much - that's just the kind of girl I am...................I look at a new project with much gusto, and I put all of my energy into it for a long time.................then, for some reason or another (and it's not through lack of wanting,) I just start to lose interest. There are so many projects around our house that are half done, and I get very dismayed when I look around sometimes. I find that I take so much on, but I don't usually get much finished.

Well that just means that I have to stop taking on new tasks. I have my 'scanner planner' book to document my hopes, dreams and ideas, so maybe I should pull that out of the dusty drawer and start writing in there again.

When I have an idea I attack it and am obsessed with this new thought and possibility, but then - when I'm half way to completion - I either tell myself that it'll never turn out like I expected, or maybe I tell myself that it's not worth putting in so much effort, and it lays around, half done.

Maybe I need to read that book again by Barbara Sher - she talks of people who are more in love with the idea of things, then actually doing the tasks - and try and look deeper for the meaning.

You should see the pile of half read books on my bedside table - there are 9 - and I am not kidding when I say that!!! My craft nook has boxes of 'projects on the go', that I never quite get around to finishing. I seem to get dissilusioned or something, like I don't deserve the praise if it's done, or something crazy like that.

This is obviously something that I need to go and research..................I hear there's a great book at the library that I could read and look into!!!!!

hopeless, aren't I!?!!!

Dusty dusty day

Just in case you've been under a rock, or if you live on the other side of the planet - we've had a massive dust storm come over the Eastern Sea board over the last few days - and it would appear that most of the population has been affected in some way.

I was enjoying a quiet Wednesday with both boys home (school holidays,) when I spoke to a friend from Jimboomba, and they mentioned that they are also experiencing the orange dust glow that was in Sydney. Not long after I got off the phone, I thought it be a good idea to take the washing off the line and close up the doors. Lucky I did, soon enough we were in the middle of a dust storm, the likes of have never been seen here in my lifetime.

It lasted for most of the day - and the feeling of dust in every nook and cranny was horrible. We were sheltered from the severity because we were indoors, but the taste in my mouth still lingers, our breathing was definately affected, and the smell will hang around for a little while to come. It will be an interesting few weeks after the storm, just to see how we will all be affected. Thomas & Mark with their Asthma, and me with my hayfever.

It was a freaky event - and was absolutely amazing, but it definately shows us just how small and insignificant we are when Mother Nature wants to show you just how in control she is!!

The eyes have it!

From the day that he was born, Hayden has been blessed with these big, beautiful blue eyes. Not sure where he got them from - his father's eyes are more grey than blue. But his father's family most certainly has alot of blue eyed babies - and Hayden was lucky enough to win that gene too!!!!!!

Sometimes, on a lazy Sunday afternoon - I'll be chilling with Hayds somewhere......I'll grab (grav as the boys would say!) him up, and just stare into those gorgeous deep pools - and no matter what has come before me on that day, it all comes down to these little moments, when we marvel at these perfect, and compicated creatures that we have brought into the world. They certainly win me over, and I'll cherish the innocence that shines through my gorgeous boys eyes!!!

Photos from the past

This i my favourite photo of Thomas - I have scrapped pages with it on, I have sketched it onto canvas with charcoal, and now I have uploaded it to my blog!! It's all about the eyes, these big brownies have got him out of a world of trouble, and I'm sure they will get him into a whole lot more trouble when he's older!!! I once scrapped a page of him and those eyes, and wrote the phrase, I just know you're going to break hearts when you're older........................and even nearly 3 years after that photo was taken, I still think the future girls in his life are going to have a lot of trouble!!!!

Love you bubba!! XXX

Fudge Night

No, it's not what you think, although that's a great theme for a night anyway!!

Fudge stands for Fathers, Uncles, Dads, Grandpa's, etc. - and tonight was the night that the "fudgies" went to a Prep night in honour of the men in the Preppies lives!! Unfortunately Mark is away this week, so Nan & Pop were more than happy to pop down and be the stand in daddy for the show!!! There was songs, carpentry, and a sausage sizzle - and Hayden had such a good time, he was buggered and snoring in bed 10 minutes after getting home!!

It was great to have mum & dad spend the day and night with us - we were very busy today, and it's always good to have an extra set of hands to help out, specially on the weeks that Mark isn't at home. It certainly goes to show how no matter how far they are, you can always rely on your folks when you need them!!! xxx

Love that thumb!!

My first son had a dummy from day 3 - and we had to give it to Santa when he was 3 years old. Then my second son comes around - so different from the first!!! He was born big, red, and angry!!!!

We tried to give him a dummy too - but apparently his genetic make up had other plans!!! Young Thomas just LOVES THAT THUMB!!! It's been his temper gauge from a very early age - we have been able to work out if he's scared, if he's in a new place, or even if he's tired - it's his own little security blanket minus the silky felt edge!!

I have had people ask if I'm worried about his teeth because of it - I simply say that no matter what happens I think our boys will have to have braces - both their parents had them!!! And so I keep letting him suck his thumb until he doesn't need it anymore.

I have failed to mention that I was a thumb sucker too - my mum tried all sorts of chemicals to rid me of the habit - pepper, chilli, no bite - none of them worked!!! It was only once I hit age 9 (yes, you see that number correctly!) that she got a cure - outright bribery!!!!!! If I stopped sucking my thumb for 2 weeks, I would get a netball all of my own - and it worked a treat!!! I wonder if Thomas will want a cricket, footy or soccer ball!?!!!

Whatever happens, I still think it's cute!!!!!

Movie World

What a great day we had yesterday!! We decided to give into temptation, and buy an unlimited fun pass for the whole family, so that we have a year pass to three theme parks on the gold coast - and we've already got our value out of them just in smiles alone!!

Highlights for the day were:-

* The boys faces when they saw us turning into Movie World (we had told them we were driving to get the car services - how exciting!!!!)

* WB Kids area, all kid friendly for little ones Thomas' age, all through to the big kids (us!) and we were more scared on some of the rides than the boys!

* Batman!!! He was EVERYWHERE!!!! Hayden was so entranced with him, and it was great to see so much of him!!!!

* Stunt driver - replaced police academy, and was GREAT SHOW!!!

* All the effort that goes into the whole place, so clean, so much detail, so well run, great work!!

So many things to write about, but seeing as this was our first visit, I'll have to leave some details for next time.......

Bad taste Christmas party

We had a Christmas Party a few weekends ago, kind of like a do-over for last year's party, seeing as ours was cut in half with a newly discovered cashew allergy that sobered everyone up in the family!!!!

We had the family over from up North, and Marks' cousins' family too, as we had promised all of them a steamboat party, and thought we should make it interesting, by adding a 'bad taste' theme. What a hit!!!!

I had a lovely brown glittered one shoulder top, and found a bargain at lifeline of a faux fur jumper. Mark had some beautiful purple tweed pants, Thomas had mismatching overalls, and Hayden was business up top, bed on the bottom!! We were the gracious hosts, and the weather was a little chilly, but was perfect for our Christmas in July setting out on our back deck!!!

The families all dressed up (special mention to Uncle Dale for a flourescent yellow suit, complete with blonde mullet wig)

We had a great time using the steamboat, complete with lovely fondue style dipping chocolate at the end of the night.

Trudy and I stayed up until the wee small hours of the morning, drinking rose and solving all the problems of the world, while everyone else snuck to bed at a reasonable hour!!!!

It was a wonderful gathering - heaps of laughs, great food, good wine, and lots of smiles!!!!

Ekka holiday family fun day!

We decided to spend yesterday having a family fun day - just the four of us.

Highlights include............

1. Simon says - were Thomas bossed all of us around for half an hour, and loved it!

2. Fishing at Lake Samsonvale - the boys enjoyed getting their rods wet, but got bored pretty quickly when there were no bites!!

3. So many sports games - soccer, cricket, football, playground, walking, spot the wildlife

4. Thebeautiful weather - Winter in Queensland is amazing - shirts & shorts for sure!! And the lake was so smooth and serene, it was lovely!!!

Contemplation............

I found my other storage card with some old photos - last summer at Wet N Wild - Thomas still sucks his thumb, Hayden is still gorgeous and cheeky, I'm still wearing bathers with padded bra inserts, and Mark still wears that top - and it's all good!!!

I've been reading some self help books of late - a girlfriend recently recommended 'The buddha, Geoff & Me' about a guy who is introduced to buddhism. It's very complicated, but told in a very straightforward way - I'm going to have to read through it again and take notes the second time - but I get the main aspects - Other people don't upset us - it's how we react that makes us upset...........and I'm a big believer of you reap what you sow - plus the fact that when you point at people, trying to blame others for things that you're not happy about...........that when you look at your hand, you have 3 fingers pointing back at yourself............which is where you should be looking to fix the problems in the first place - hmmmmmmmmm!!!! Very deep!!!!!!!! When I find 10 minutes here and there I get insights into life and the meaning, and I enjoy just being able to sit back, breathe, and just be there in the moment!!!

My moment is nearly up - I have to wake up one son asleep on the couch to pick the other one up from Prep - we shall go to the park for a play, then come home and get into the night routine - and we'll make sure we dance at some point before the night is through!!!!! xxx

Playdough

2 cups of flour, cream of tartar, salt & water - a cute 3 year old, and VOILA - playdough!!!!!

I don't do this kind of thing often enough with Thomas - so I was very happy to get him to help make some new playdough - we mixed until the goo got too hard for him, then we rolled out four balls and added some food colouring - and then we had hours and hours of fun!!! I bought some kitchen utensils for the boys to use outside, and they are now using the playdough to make some amazing Masterchef meals!!! LOL I just love the fact that the boys loved that show as much as me - I miss it now and we feel a little lost at 7pm on weeknights - but it means that we now have more time to plan more fun stuff to do the next day!!!!

I'm grateful for...............

I have a little book that I try to write in on a regular basis. I open it up at the end of the day, and I write three things that I'm grateful for........................I don't write in it often enough, because every time I open it and read something from the past - I have wonderful memories of the big and little things that have made me smile that day!!

They include:-

* Fresh crisp clean sheets on the bed

* Making lamingtons with my boys

* The joy a painted face can bring!!

* The job I have, while many others I work with lost theirs

* For the amazing talent of Pink who I saw in concert

* To be able to have weekends away, instead of having an MCP of a husband!!!!

* For the simple beauty of nature

starstruck

Recently, our local Council put on a show that was held just behind our house - it was a 'Backyard Bonanza,' and it had two stages, 10 food stalls, 20 market stalls, rides for the kids (including the Lions club with their miniature steam trains,) and entertainment all day long. We went for a few hours and were lucky enough to see a world famous clown - Ronald McDonald!!! Hayden was up the front in the 'mosh pit' when Ronald asked for volunteers to help him with the actions for "head, shoulders, knees & toes" - and wouldn't you know it, those gorgeous blue eyes paid off yet again - he was up there, completely unshy, and showed everyone how you do it!!! Mark, Thomas and I were standing up in the background, proud as punch!!! He got a showbag for his efforts, with water bottle, hat and snap cards, and a great big smile that we loved to see!! He was in his element up on that stage - I wonder if he's going to follow in his mother's footsteps in that regard!?!!

My little busy nook

This is a picture of what my brain would look like if you could document it!! This is where I have all of my scrapping, craft, beading, painting & sewing projects, ready to go!!! I have everything documented, tagged & ready to be used when I find a few spare minutes.............problem is that I spend most of my organising myself, so in the end I run out of time!!! I think my secret fetish is the organisin, rather than the doing!!! I love seeing my end product, but I also love the feeling I get in my tummy when I think of a grand new idea!!! i have some beads ready to make a gorgeous one-off chadelier style light decoration, and I've just been to spotlight and collected some samples of gorgeous fabrics for making my own handbags - not that I have a clue where to start!! Mum has all of the sewing finesse in our family - I've already sent her my plans of us going into business together to make beautiful handbags and selling them for a mint in our own little shops!!! Now I just have to MAKE those bags and we'll be set for life!!!

I am already set for life - great balance of grown up time at work, kids time with my babies, and the odd kiss from my Snag hubby - I have been doing my affirmations, meditations and sun salutes - so am feeling very connected with the Universe at the moment - it's all good!!!!

Auskick - one of the certainty's in our life!!

Before Mark and I had even had kids, we knew that they would be joining Auskick - one of the perks of being married to Mr AFL!!!

Hayden really loves getting amongst the game - his skills get better every day, and he really enjoys going (he was upset when we had two weeks off during school holidays!!)

In two weeks time he will be making his national debut - he'll hopefully be running out for the Brisbane Lions & Kangaroos game during half time................you never know, you might be sitting down watching some half time entertainment, and then - whoa - who's that cute little guy there - he's the spitting image of a mate of mine!!!! That can't be Hayden can it!?!! LOL I'll be maing sure to tape the game that night - saving the video for prosterity!!!

Decorating 101

Last day of school holiday minding kids today - I go back to work tomorrow, and then Monday Hayds is going to vacation care - then back to school - yee har (of sorts!) to be back into a routine!!

Today we had the crazy cousins over - Emma, Bethany & Max - three gorgeous kids who get along like brothers and sisters for our lot - and we decided to decorate a cake for morning tea - mmm mmm!!! The concensus was for chocolate frosting - and each child took responsibility for a particular part of making the frosting (1 on icing, 1 on cocoa, 1 on milk, etc.) Well the final result was wonderful - and it was made even more succesful by the kids deciding to decorate the tops themselves. For five kids I thought this task would make a hell of a lot of noise - but I think it was the quietest I've heard so far!!! They were all meticulously adding choc bits, sprinkles, coconut & licorice allsorts to their masterpiece slices, and then devoured them with a lovely banana milkshake - compliments were flying around and smiles were infectious - it was one of those 'warm fuzzy' moments where theyall felt like they had free reign to do what they wanted, and I got to eat yummy cake!!!

All in all it was a great day - a bit windy and chilly outside, but the sun came out enough to keep us happy and not crying for a day in the park - good times had by all!!!!

My favourite waste of time

This is what happens at my house when I ask my youngest son to get dressed for the day!!! Obviously he plans on having a big day, with lots of adventures!!! I spose I'm lucky he had enough foresight to at least put undies on!!! LOL This little guy is surely going to break some hearts when he gets older - he already carries mine around and crushes it like a bug numerous times each day!!! Lucky he's cute I say!!!

So it's the last week of school holidays - and these are the days that I enjoy but also endure. I don't really get a chance to have time alone with Hayden on school holidays - mostly because I have other kids to looke after, because their parents have kindly offered to watch my kids, thus saving us a little bit of money by not taking them to vacation care....................I do love it when the others kids are here - they keep the kids busy and out of my hair so that I can do all the housely duties that seem to multiply on the days that I'm at work - but there is still that little piece inside of me that yearns to be able to have Hayden all to myself one day, much like the other days that I have with Thomas. I know all too soon that he'll be wanting me to drop him 10 houses down the street to go to parties, that he won't even acknowledge my presence if I see him with his friends at the shops, and of course there will be the day that he won't run up to me with glee when I collect him from whereever his adventurous day has taken him...............he'll never be this little agan, and I don't want to miss the fun parts cause I'm too busy being all grown up!!!
So I'm going to do what I can (instead of whining,) and put it out in the Universe - I would like to be able to have the best of both worlds - which I don't think is too much to ask!!! LOL

My new thing-to-do

So - I'm not sure if I have enough things to try and do with my life......................maybe I need something else to keep my mind racing!!!! That's why we bought an exercise bike!!! Safer than a treadmill for the kids (no it's not for them, we just lowered the seat so Hayds could sit on there!!) and I can be distracted with TV and get some exercise at the same time!!! I have GRAND plans to get on the bike at least 3 times a week (and I have a stepper which had the cobwebs dusted off a few weeks ago!!) because it's too cold to go outside at the moment, and it's a dangerous world on my bike!!! I'll save my bike for when the family go on outings on designated bike paths!! LOL

Things that are still on the go that I hope to be finished in the next few months:-

* Convert some old doors into day beds for our deck

* Knock out a wall in the kitchen and add a breakfast bar

* Have a Christmas in July with our family (our Christmas this year was filled with allergic reaction issues, so i'd love a do-over,)

* Update Haydens room, transfer it into a solar system

* Paint our bedroom to reflect the new colours I am having a crush on (browns and burgundys,)

* Update our bathroom downstairs, bringing it into the 21st century, without it costing the world

* Set up my pottery spot in the corner of the garage, and create wonderful masterpieces for an exhibition in September

* Create an unusually beautiful and individual lighting feature with these gorgeous beads that I got really cheap at Crazy Clarks!!!

That's just a few things off the top of my head - I could check my list (i have about 10 of them on the go at any one time,) but I don't want to look at all the other stuff that I haven't got to yet!!!

Flashback photo

This photo would have to be about 2 years old, at least!!! It was a night that we went out to the Norman Hotel for a steak with the family (can't remember what family, we've been there a few times!!!) but just seeing the photo gives me goose bumps...................how tiny and cute was Thomas!?!! He's still just as cute, t's different now because he can now talk back, and sometimes he uses his power for mischeivous evil rather than good!!!

And what can I say about my gorgeous husband!!! He is posing in the way that epitemises him all over - protective and so loving of his boys, but with that cheeky grin that gives nothing away!!!!!

Mark is away this week - he's in Fiji.............hard life for the high flyers of the world!!! I miss him a bit this week, as he's not well with a cold, all on his own and I haven't really seen him for a while. He was back for four days before he went on a boys trip, then off to Fiji. We have no big plans this weekend, but I'm hoping we'll be able to find a few hours for 'grown up time' - no I don't mean what you're thinking, I'm talking about dinner & a movie!!!!! We sometimes feel like ships in the night when he's away, almost like we're on different planets.............and then sometimes we have 'words' within an hour of being near each other again - it's definately true that absence makes the heart grow fonder - I just wish that I could let things go a little when he gets back, instead of stewing for a week on why he didn't put his socks in the washing basket!!!

Oh hang on............I remember now..............I'm a control freak!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well - bit of counselling might help - or maybe just some chocolate!!!!!

A grandparent's job

I think I understand the old saying, 'If I knew how much fun it would be to have grandkids, I would have had them first!!!"

We went camping with my mum & dad for the June long weekend, and we spent a great few days with them in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. There was a great caravan park that we stayed at - with putt putt golf, heated pools, and this wonderful huge big jumping pillow!! The kids had a great time at the park, and also at the Ginger factory when we spent a few hours visiting. Just before we were due to jump in the car for the drive home, lovely Nan pulls out these two wonderfully delicious looking lollipops!!! And boy did the boys eyes light up!!! They still have them and when they remember we pull them out for a few more licks, won't be long to go now as they are starting to chew into them!!! If I didn't have to act all grown up so much, I would grab a lollipop just for me and enjoy the sugar high with my boys too!!! Damn you common sense!!!!

So here are the 'before' photos for Hayden's bedroom makeover extravaganza!!! Please don't mind the mess - it was spotless 2 minutes before - but this is pretty much what his room looks like most of the time!!! I'm allowed to call this 'an eclectic mix' because I have a tendency to buy lots of little things that don't match at all, and I think this is genetically hard to fight if it's been handed down to others, so poor Hayds is going to be the same!!!

Soon though (don't hold your breath!) we will have a room full of wonderful solar systems, moons, rockets & general space themed items - WON'T THAT BE EXCITING!?!!!

We have chosen colours and some accessories so far, but will have to do all the preparation before hand, which will take the most time!!!
I hope to update very soon with some progress, but first I have to pick up hubby from the airport - this time he's been in Melbourne on a boys weekend, not for work for a change. He'll be very tired and terribly hungover I would suspect, so I'll be taking the boys across the road to a big festival 'backyard bonanza' for a few hours so he can sleep it off - before I head to a workmates place for high tea - how fancy!!!!!

Mark is away again tomorrow to Fiji for another week..............I know he feels guilty about being away from the family for such long amounts of time..........but he shouldn't feel like that - the boys are very understanding and Hayds knows that he's the man of the house while Mark's away - and now that I'm getting to know more people in my neighbourhood, I don't feel alone at all - to be honest I mostly enjoy my own company over others, but then at other times it always nice to have someone else to chat to!!!

And when he comes home I know that I can name my time and go out for a few hours, even if it's grocery shopping or just wandering around a street on my own (or visiting!) he is happy to oblige. It's a pretty good balance that we have - and if anything it makes our relationship stronger - gotta love that boy!!!!! xxx

PS - Yes that is me in the corner of the first photo - I thought I was being clever taking a photo above my head to get the most of the bedroom in the shot - couldn't be bothered doing any photo shop - and I don't have photo shop anyway!!! LOL

The gorgeous devil spawn

So young Master Thomas is asleep at the moment in bed - he's 3 in every sense of the word, and it's only something other mother's understand fully. I remember my sister telling me about the terrible two's that don't stop on their 3rd birthday, they actually go forever!! And the other mum's at playgroup that all sit and nod their heads and tell you the horror stories of their ones when they were playing up at that age.......and I suppose it's never something that you want to admit to - but there are days when I just want to stop what I'm doing, and walk out the door with nothing but the shirt on my back, never to return. I don't care that they are too small to fend for themselves, or that they may be damaged for life from that moment on, I just run out of patience and I don't feel like there is any answer.

Lucky for me (and them!) I've never got to that point - I've always been able to compose myself - or close the door and lock them in (or lock myself in my room if the situation has been unbearable!) and then two minutes later that good old Mother-guilt has crept back in, and I end up just hugging my baby, no talking, no words, no sounds..............just cuddles and a feeling of undying and unlimited love for my beautiful son. Usually that's all that they wanted in the first place, but I haven't been able to provide that, as I've been too sidetracked with other aspects of my life.

I know that when children are this small that we as mother's are THEIR WHOLE UNIVERSE, and nothing that we do will change that. We are there (so they think,) to do whatever it is that they want us to do - which half the time is just be there with them..................but like John Lennon once said - 'life is what happens while you're busy making other plans'..............

Sometimes I need to stop the rest of my life and embrace that need, rather than feeling like a victim of the situation that is completely out of my control.

And at other times, like right now, when he is tiny, and asleep, and defenceless, and the most amzingly complex creature I have ever laid eyes on, it all makes sense!!!! I want to say sorry for all the times I've yelled at him, lost my patience and (heaven forbid) smacked his tiny little bum and sent him to bed with no tea. I want to make it up to him and be there for him for every moment that he needs me........................................but I can't be there all the time, I have to let him go and be himself without me. And I know that soon will come a day when he doesn't even want to know me (far into the future I hope!) so for now, I'll play tigers with him, and dance when he wants to, and play chasy, and make 18 playdough snakes for as long as he asks me, and hopefully he may remember these little moments that we shared..........just the two of us!!!!

Enjoy the circus that is young children......................it's not in town for very long!!!!! xxx

Sunday Mornings

Ahhh the bliss of it all!!!! Hubby has left for an early golf game, so he'll be happy...........I've had a sleep in until 7.00, so I'm feeling well rested.............Hayds has met me downstairs and is now happily writing up his memoirs on the computer.............and young Master Thomas has just woken up with a dry bum and a big cheeky grin - what a great start!!!!!!

We have a coffee machine that Mark's dad gave us (he won it at a golf day and very graciously gave it to us, we love it!) Now I'm not a coffee drinker at all (I had to drink two cups out of politeness for an old Aunty when I was about 10 and I still get shivers!) but I love to try and make the perfect cuppa for my darlin' - We have sourced some wonderful beans from a friend, (http://www.roastandpost.com.au/) I grind them freshly just before brewing the cup, and then I froth the milk to perfection. Once it's all poured into the mug, we sprinkle on some hot chocolate and dig in for a lovely, creamy start to the day - mmm mmm!!!!

Now I wanted to get in on the fun of the frothy milk, but was sick of hot chocolates. Luckily hubby suggested chai latte's - OH MAN THEY ARE GOOD!!! They are like tea, but with cinnamon and spices, they smell just as good as they taste!!! So now whenever I make a cuppa for Mark, I make a chai for myself - and of course, the boys love having their 'babychino's' too!!!! I'm not a girl who gets too excited about fancy schmancy stuff like espresso machines, but now that I can enjoy a delightful cafe style taste without leaving home, I'm a big fan!!!!

I think I'm sounding too much like an ad for Breville, so I'd best get started on this day. Where else in the world do you wear a jumper - and sunscreen - in Winter!?!!! I'm not a cold weather fan, but I sure am loving these Queensland Winters!!!!!

The scarf is finished!!!

So I put my hand up at playgroup, and said that I would be happy to make some scarves to sell at the local markets to raise money for our group to have a few funds...................WHY DO I DO THIS!?!!! Is it a need to feel thanks from others, have I suppressed feelings from childhood that has left me damaged and continually wanting people's approval!?!!!

ANYWAY!! I have FINALLY finished ONE scarf - it has taken me close on a month and the markets are about 5 weeks away, SO i'd better make the next ones a little thinner and a little less fancy!!

I think the model showing this scarf is certainly loving the job - just bring out a camera and he'll be happy to give off that cheeky grin, so long as he can see his picture straight away - (I think he gets that from his father!!!) LOL

Hubby went to Samoa & American Samoa this week - he got back this morning and had to have about 4 hours sleep in the middle of the day to try to catch up with the time difference. He'll still be a bit 'doughy' tonight but should be right for a day of golf tomorrow - lucky bugger!!! Hopefully he'll get home early enough for me to get out of the house for an hour or two of 'me time'

Oh - almost forgot - I finished a watercolour picture that I did.................I wasn't happy with some of the colours so I started to add some acrylic and am pretty happy with the result. Not sure how it will look as a photo, but I'm pretty happy that I've finally finished two things on my long, long list. 2 down, 28,000 to go!!! (give or take two or three!!)

Switching modes

Tuesday night is 'dance like a goose in your lounge room' at our place!!!!

So tonight is Tuesday night - I have finished working two full days, and am pretty well spent!!!

Darling Snag hubby is away in Samoa this week (high flyer I know, he has promised to take me with him one day!!!) and so I have to look after the cherubs on my own. As I've said to people beore, it's not a hard job looking after kids, I think the hardest thing is to be at their beck and call all the time, and not getting things done (as you know I have a fairly long list!) when I want to get them done. But that's ok, I can now dedicate the next two days and nights to doing things with and for them.

Wednesdays are usually spent around the house with Thomas, catching up on washing and cleaning, and Thursdays we go out and about - play group in the morning, shops or wherever we need to go in the afternoon. Of course there's never enough hours in the day on these 'days off' - I try to make a bit of an effort with tea, instead of the packet quick mixes that we have on the days we both work, and that usually takes time.

I ALWAYS make lists so that I know what as to be done (or maybe I just like feeling that little bit of accomplishment from the small things!?!!) and I try to make a bit of time for me to do something purely for me - whether it's scrapping, or reading a magazine, or painting, or even chilling out in the hammock with a cup of tea (or delicious chai latte!) I find that having even 10 minutes of me time can keep me going with the boys for another day!!!

When hubby gets home from this week away he'll be jetlagged on Saturday, then playing golf on Sunday, and then he'll be heading off again the next weekend............so I've arranged a girls movie night on Tuesday - gotta schedule me time when I can!!!!!

Anyway, thought I should just add some proper pickies of the boys - Thomas is 3 and Hayden is 5, and I know I'm biased, but I personally think that they are the most gorgeous boys I have ever see!!!!! I'll have to make sure that I write a few notes about each of them - it's quite funny how different two boys can be!!

Anyways - Home made is on, and I'm ADDICTED!!!! Chow for now!!!