A long time coming

So this weekend just gone, we finally had the weekend I have been intending on having for the last few weeks! The first weekend went awry when my back got hurt. The second weekend went off target by an all morning shopping trip (so not my idea) on the Saturday and a very-day-after-the-night-before-ish day on the Sunday (totatally self-inflicted, but oh so worth it!).

So this weekend, what did we do?! You have two choices here. You can read through the waffle or you can skip to the last paragraph. I really don't mind which option you pick! I am nice like that.

We slept in on the Saturday. We spent both nights at home.

We went and watched Erin's first scratch match on the Sunday morning. She did so well! She is little and scary, in my opinion anyway! I was a little concerned that she tripped someone over in the first five minutes of play, but Reanna assures me this is how it works (Note to self: learn some of the rules. Also learn how long each half goes for. It is a little embarrassing to be asked to be time-keeper and then to have to ask how long it goes for! I was very enthusiastic about helping though. I feel I deserve points for that).

I went to bookclub on Sunday afternoon and freaked themt all out with the fact I read two books that weekend. In all fairness, I do read fast and both books were so awesome and unputdownable (I am keeping this word, I have decided I don't care if it exists). And while it isn't exactly uncommon for me to read more then one book in a weekend anymore, these days I am mostly too busy for it to happen. Totally different books too! 'The Help' which was our bookclub book and I really should have read earlier. Luckily I loved it and it was no effort to read in a few hours. The first couple of months of bookclub I read the book straight away and then had troubles remembering because I'd read so many other books in the middle. This is my excuse and I am sticking to it. I should really pay more attention when I read though. The second book was 'The Hunger Games' which I was reading under protest to decide whether or not Erin could read it. I have touched on this briefly in my review, and I will probably blog about the whole issue separately. But for now, let's just say as an adult I loved it and I am looking forward to reading the next two (probably some time this week if I am lucky!).

Highlight of the weekend was babysitting my friends 19-month-old. It took Aimee exactly 15 minutes of having her and about 2 minutes of being in the car with a crying toddler to declare she was glad she was the youngest! We had so much fun! I barely saw her though. The girls took it in turns in playing with her very nicely but I admit there was a lot of "She is not a toy! She is a person. A little person, but still a person!" Mama phrase for the weekend! It was very, very good for my spoilt youngest diva daughter though. It is the first time she has really shown any interest in a baby (usually she just wants lots of my attention) and the first time she has really helped with babysitting! My heart melted watching her carry the baby around! The plop on the lounge was followed by a very serious "I am not very good at the landings yet". Aw. So cute!

But as thrilling as my weekend sounds, you might be wondering whtat it was I actually had planned. The answer is actually nothing. Just a weekend at home to potter around and get stuff done. In addition to the fun stuff, I also have finally finished sorting out the playroom! One more tiny wall to paint and I will post pictures!! Yay!!! You have no idea how long I have been dying for a day at home to get this done. All the sorting and organising and it looks soooooo good! And it feels even better. (All the explanation marks in this paragraph were necessary to convey exactly how over the moon I am about this.)

So in summary: we played, read, cleaned, purged and talked (did I mention a couple of marathon phone chats with friends? I had to talk to someone! The girls were otherwise occupied). And really, that was it!

Loving *Lots* of Stuff

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is" .... linking in with the lovely Paisley Jade with things I am loving this week. Actually because I missed last week's link I am loving lots of stuff this week because I have been adding to this post for a fortnight now!



Tacos: We are living on them at the moment! Seriously, minimum of once a week and now I have worked out there are chicken kits as well often twice a week! They are easy, the girls eat a tonne of salad with them, I can make a lot of it in advance so they only take five minutes to get ready and with the Vegetarian One (aka Aimee) it is easy to do an option for her too!
2 minute  noodles: I haven't had these in forever and suddenly I have rediscovered them. Yummy and easy (are you sensing a theme). Although I would like to know if anyone actually adds in the vegetable sachets?
Mobility: After spending so much time lying with my sore back I am massively appreciating being able to move.

Walking barefoot through the grass: Because this is just awesome. And it is perfect weather for it now the ground is not so hot after you walk off the path. I do love Autumn.

My nieces and nephews: Did I tell you I am getting another one? My sister has fostered a second little boy. He arrives today :) They live too far away for me to see him, but this is not the point! I am so excited about this!

Rainbows and leprechauns and other green stuff for St Patrick's Day: Enough said!

Any random celebration: Pi Day! St Patrick's Day! Harmony Day! Celebrations are awesome! Not only are they fun, they are great ways to discuss different things with the girls. And eat and drink nice stuff. ie lemon meringue pie for Pi day, Irish cider for St Patrick's Day (obviously not the girls!) and the girls had all sorts of international stuff at school for Harmony Day!

Googling random things that I could study if I won lotto and could spend the rest of my life learning things instead of working: So I might have issues, but this is what I would do!

What are you loving this week? Click here to join in!

Did you miss me?

I was sort of wondering how I managed to go for almost a week without posting. Then I thought about it! It has been a little busy. Nothing bad. Nothing amazingly exciting. Just life. And nothing seemed to jump out at me at as a post. So if you are interested in reading about our adventures in the past week, please keep reading. If not, please pop back soon!

Work has been busy. Nice busy, not horrible busy. The girls have had their usual dance/Guides/soccer/school life. One slight change was Reanna swapping from contemporary ballet to classical ballet. This has meant she has gone back to Guides and Aimee and have a dedicated 'study' night at Hungry Jacks (aka Burger King). She is very excited about this. It is super cute. It saves me about an forty minutes of driving so definitely is working well so far.

Awful, awful photo of me. You can see how tired I am, but you can also see how excited Aimee is about our 'study group'.

I took Erin and Aimee to the beach and we saw the 'Sculptures by the Sea' exhibition. It was great! The girls absolutely loved it! Massive sculptures (I think there were between 60 and 70) all down one of Perth's beautiful beaches. Erin took so many photos. 

I even squeezed a night out in there. I think the last time I went out for St Patrick's day was when Aimee was about two and I definitely made the most of this night. I would like to complain about being asked for ID though. Seriously, I am 32. And it wasn't like they were asking everyone! Maybe I just looked a little too excited? Hmm ... maybe I should work on this?

Check out the proof of my big night out! This is your warning about halter necks ladies. Well least those of you who are well endowed. Was it worth it though? Yes! The top looked awesome!  And don't worry, the girls wore green and had their own celebrations during the day and had a fabulous night with my parents and various sisters.

Massive excitement of the week has been one of my closest friends graduating uni! Exciting on so many levels. I am excited for her. I am excited because it means the end is in sight for me. I am also very excited because it has meant she has been visiting Perth for her graduation ceremony!

Um ... what else? It has been study week at uni so no classes (yay! Please do not ask how much study I have done. I have caught up on some housework though. This counts right?). My back is finally better I think. 

I missed you all despite my slackness and I am very much looking forward to catching up on a week's worth of other peoples' lives! Happy Hump day everyone and enjoy the rest of your week :)

I cannot believe I just did that

I had the strangest experience today. I was sitting quietly at my kitchen table typing away, minding my own business when a mouse ran across the floor (in broad daylight! Stupid mouse). I squawked. Not squealed or screamed or yelled, squawked. I feel this may be the only thing that gives me some dignity here. Keep reading!

At the same time as squawking I jumped onto a chair. Seriously. Who does that? Other then me and people on tv??? (If anyone else has done it, this would be the time to share! At least then I will know I am in good company). I am not even sure why! It gave me a bit of a shock, but I had suspected there was one in the house and I have been putting traps out, but as much as I dislike having them in the house I am not afraid of them alive. My phobia of dead things is a whole other post. So is Aimee's freaking out about killing stuff. Very not  happy at the moment.

If you have any suggestions for scaring them away or keeping them away once this one has gone to mouse-heaven please let me know! Stupid mice.

What's on your shelf?

Chalk & Talk recently asked the following questions to find out what is on your bookshelf at the moment:

1. What have you just read?


2. What are you reading right now?

3. What are you dying to read next?

As I am unable to restrict myself to a three line answer, because I have serious issues about (a) talking too much (even via blog posts); and (b) only reading on thing thing at a time I thought I would just do a post of my own. It also saves me from thinking of anything else to write about today, plus books really are my favourite things! (After the children).

So the books I have just finishend are:

1.1 'Does my head look big in this?' - Really was a great read. Reanna is enjoying it too.
1.2 'I've Got Your Number' - It felt like I was waiting for this book forever and it was definitely worth the wait!
1.3 'Enemy of God'  - A different look at the King Arthur saga.


At the moment I am reading:

2.1  'The Universe Parallel' (Traci Harding). The second in her Triad of Being Trilogy. I think Traci Harding is the only author I really read that is science fiction (and only because I love her historical fantasy stuff so very much I am just hooked. I don't even read Marion Zimmer Bradley's science fiction books. Admittedly she has written a lot more).
2.2 'Vampire Academy' (Richelle Mead). This is part of number 16 on the 100ish books in 1001 days that I am doing.
2.3 'Eclipse' (Stephenie Meyer). I started re-reading the series when I was sick, but haven't got around to finishing it yet. But this one is on my bedside table with a bookmark in it so I think it makes this list!


What I am planning on reading next:

3.1 'The Light-Field' (Traci Harding). After waiting for years to start reading this trilogy I am greedy and want it all now.
3.2 'The Help'. It is our book club book for this month. Co-incidentially, someone gave it to me to read just after Christmas but I have done the right thing and waited for it to be the same month as everyone else.
3.3 'Mercy Falls' (Marian Keyes). Ok this one isn't actually going to on my "next to read" list as it isn't due out until September, but I am so very excited about this that I just had to include it!

What is on your shelf at the moment?

Science v Art

Today's post is dedicated to International Pi Day. The one day of the year I embrace my Mathsy genes (and my love of pie).

Yes I am pretty sure I have Maths genes and I am pretty sure in my case they are very well hidden. My Mum's official title is "Post Graduate Research Fellow". In actual terms she does statistics for some medical research. It is what she did her PhD thesis on, but that is all I can tell you about it. I do actually own a copy of her thesis and it sits very proudly on my bookshelf, but in all honestly the only bit I understand is the dedication (which I helped write) and the acknowledgments which from memory I proofed. Dad lectures in Maths at uni and has a partially written PhD  floating around (I really have no idea what his is on). Sister #2 (who is three years younger then me) just finished her Maths degree. Mum and Dad were mature aged students so I feel there is some excuse for them, but I am not so sure about my sister! It is bit odd being in a family where being half way through a law degree is a bit of a let down ;)**

Law, I feel, is one of those subject areas which clearly divides those who are science students at heart compared to those who are arts students at heart. You can pretty much tell this, but which subjects they like. Hard and fast statue based classes = science. Lots of discretion = arts. Just in my humble opinion, but it really seems to be the way it works. This is backed up by (a) what they are doing in their other degree; or (b) what they did in their first degree; or (c) what their favourite subjects were at high school; or (d) all of the above.

In high school my TEE (tertiary entry subjects) were a fifty-fifty split. But the subjects I aced were History and English Literature. The double Maths was mostly because my parents assured me they would be easy marks (see how naive I was?!). It wasn't, just for the record.

To this day I still don't know what fish breathe out and why (in my head it should be Hydrogen and I can't work out why not? This has been confusing me for seventeen years now). And don't ever get me started on imaginary numbers (I know they are the square root of negative one but I am sorry you just can't make up something to make things work I don't care often Mum assures me you can). Admittedly this is probably more proof that I need to get a life then anything else!!!

But in my home we like to celebrate all sorts of things! And I do like to prove to my parents I am expanding my children to all sorts of things not just artsy stuff***.  So Happy International Pi Day everyone!!!

Our International Pi Day dinner. Homemade (aka heated) with love! We did also discuss 'Pi' as opposed to 'Pie'.



** Just in case anyone is worried about my self-esteem, this is a joke! They are all very proud of me.
*** Not that they are against artsy stuff. They are the ones who taught me to love reading and history!

Why I don't understand my children (and vice versa).

People always stop me to tell me the girls look just like me. And I mean all the time, not just people I know or people standing next to me in the check-out queue, but random people will actually stop to tell me this. I mean they do look like me, but they are mine! But more to the point, I do find the concept of walking up to a stranger and stopping to tell them this is strange. I have decided to take it as a compliment though, because in my humble and highly biased opinion they are all very pretty. The girls I mean, not the strangers.
It is also funny, because despite their similarities, different people who actually know us will each have which one they insist looks the most like me. These opinions are pretty much equally divided up between the three girls. The consensus is agreed that they all look like me not their father though (with the exception of his step-mother which is understandable!). Funnily enough, the one strangers pick as looking the most like their dad is Erin, because they are both darker. However, she is not actually biologically his!

For all their similarities they are all quite different. I have always said the difference in their personalities showed most clearly in how they would react if they were upset or got into trouble as toddlers. Reanna used to just be devastated and would cry. Erin would sulk (and just for the record it is really hard to study with a two year old sitting behind you with her arms crossed and glaring at you). Aimee would have a massive tantrum. Her first through herself down and cry tantrum was the day she sat up.
Not that I ever expected them to be the same as each other or like me. However, I thought I had a few years left of understanding them (until we hit the teenage years). But they still continue to surprise me and the following are just a few reasons I don't think I will ever understand my children, and why I think they will never understand me:-

- Reanna refuses to write properly on facebook or in text messages. This drives me insane. And yet, she insists on writing "sad face" or "smiley face" rather then using symbols.

- That they all love sport and play voluntarily at school (and not just to get out of class) and they are all talented (not to mention co-ordinated) dancers.

-They can do cool things with their hair. My talents pretty much stopped at pony-tails and plaits. Yes, three girls were wasted on me!

-They don't love Enid Blyton - wasn't this what we all grew up reading? And Enid Blyton stuff was old when I was little. Admittedly they like her stuff, and they have more options these days, but still!

- Aimee doesn't eat meat. Enough said. Although I understand the ethical reasons.

- Erin has an amazing networking ability already. She can talk to anyone whether or not she has been introduced.

-Reanna wants to do a fun run. Really wants to do one. I have agreed but only under sufferance. When mu personal trainer was suggesting I start the C25K program he asked hadn't I always wanted to run a marathon. My answer was most definitely no. No urge whatsoever!

The big question is, if I don't understand them ... how is anyone else supposed to?

(This post is intended to balance out all my pround mama posts. I am a proud mama, but doesn't mean it is smooth sailing all the time! Admittedly this list isn't really life ruining, but it does make for fun conversations with lots of eyerolling).

Why blog?

People have been keeping diaries for years. Centuries even. Hmm ... 'centuries' might be a slight exaggeration. I can't really think of the earliest diary I have read or heard about. Although clearly this became more likely once literacy levels were improved and the means to physically write became more easily accessible. Regardless, can you imagine how different history would be to study if more ordinary people had kept diaries in years gone by?

I don't know about anyone else, but I think of keeping a diary and my automatic mental image goes to a young girl. Similarly, I think of someone writing their memoirs and I think of an old man and probably one who was in the military. I also have a vague picture of a sick mother writing her story for her baby who she may not see grow up. I  have to admit when I think of someone who blogs, I think of a woman automatically and probably one with children. Clearly these are all stereotypes! And I am in no way suggesting most people fit these moulds. I would be very disappointed if they did. But it is just funny the way you get embedded with stereotypes even if you don't mean to be!

I did a fascinating assignment on the diary of a Victorian working-class woman years ago. (Embarrassingly, I can't remember her name. I was very pregnant with Erin at the time. This is my excuse and I am sticking to it). I also remember being inspired to keep a journal of my all activities when I was about 9 after reading someone Lady Baden-Powell had always kept one. I kept this up until I was about 14 I think. (I am sure this will be very useful for writing my autobiography one day!). I've read 'The Diary of Anne Frank', perhaps the most famous diary of all, and a number of biographies and autobiographies. Some of which I am sure were written with the help of people's personal diaries.

But regardless of this publication of diaries and journals and letters, did any of them really ever think what they were writing was going to become public property?

So this all brings me back to the question of why blog? I have to admit I feel a little egocentric thinking that anyone will actually care about the waffle I write on here. And of course, I had to start not one but three blogs.

The flip side of this is, I love reading other people's blogs. Just about the random stuff they say and do. However at times this feels incredibly voyeuristic. Especially when I was in the 'lurking stage'. By the lurking stage I mean when I was reading blogs and reading the regularly, but didn't follow them. In all fairness, at that stage I wasn't following any blogs but this is not the point. (Hello to any lurkers I may have, please feel free to say hi). This information is obviously in the public realm and I assume people like to have their blogs read, so I am not feeling bad about this!

So why do I blog? For me I think it is about getting back into the feel of writing for fun. For enjoyment, after years of writing for study. It is a way of feeling validated. That I have something worth saying (and I don't know why my lovely followers keep reading and keep commenting, but it really makes my day when you do! Thank you). And now I am at the point where I think I am ready to start writing down some of the stories that have been haunting me for years, blogging has been a way for me to begin to write regularly. There is instant gratification with a blog post!!

Damn.  Now I have finished this, while I was re-reading (yes I do re-read even though it might not seem like it) I have a horrible feeling I may have written something like this before? I am going to hit 'publish' anyway though because I am sure it is so fabulous you all want to read it again! (Humour me on this one).

So blogland friends. Why do you blog? And how on earth to you keep track of what you have written about before and what was just something you were thinking, but never actually blogged about?

Love! Love! Love!

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

Joining in with Paisley Jade and reflecting on all the things I am loving this week.

And I do love this post. It makes me smile all week.

I am loving my tap dancing classes. It is something I have always thought would be fun. I love the clip-clopping-tapping noises (especially when I get it right). I even loved this noise when the girls were doing tap!

I love my purple handbag. One of my friends sent it to me last year from Melbourne when I was going to a mutual friends wedding. Not only did it match my outfit perfectly, it is purple! And it was sent to me with love.

I love facebook Scrabble! I love boardgames and I love that I can play this one virtually with people all over the place. I also love that you can learn new words and that you can't cheat. I also love that 'Quidditch' is an acceptable word and 'Muggle' isn't. Or it might be the other way around, but it makes me laugh.

I love chick lit. I just finished the new Sophie Kinsella book (stay tuned for a review).**

I love crossing things off my to do list no matter how small. The list is never ending so I really feel you have to make the most of the little things!

I love going out for breakfast. Even though I think this has made an appearance on  another list recently. Perhaps even last weeks? Regardless I still love it. It is one of my most favourite ever things to do.

I love time with my sisters and one-on-one time with my daughters. My youngest sister said our day out on Monday was the best shopping trip she has ever had. She is almost 12. I love her, but we fight a lot. So I value even more the time we get to spend together and have fun.

What are you loving this week?!

(I know, no pictures again. I really do need to remember to work on this).

**update** for anyone who cares, my review of 'I've Got Your Number' can be read here.

Battle of the sexes

Today is International Women's Day. I am halfway through super long mummy-type post that I was hoping to publish today, but it is just not ready yet. So today I am taking a break from the normal, mindless waffle that I write in order to show I really do have some depth.

When one of my friends found out I have been doing poledancing for fitness on and off for a few years she told me the following quote "We won the battle of the sexes when women began poledancing for exercises". I took this to mean women had won. We took something that was found in seedy strip joints and made it our own (please excuse the stereotypes). It wasn't until I googled the quote so I could say which movie it came from (Crazy, Stupid Love which I still haven't seen by the way) that I realised that in the context of the movie they meant men won the battle. Really? I suppose you could see it like that, but I like my version better. Or perhaps a better outlook would be seeing both sides finding a happy middle ground.

It took me a long time to be comfortable with the word "feminist". It brings to mind bra-burning, man-haters who became lesbians for political reasons. (I know. Sterotypes again. Sorry). As I have gotten older I am so incredibly grateful to these women who came before me. The ones who had to be extreme so I got to make the choices. I don't have to do it all. But I am lucky. I am educated. I choose to balance my work and my family life in a way I am mostly ok with. I deal with the fact there are certain parts of my career that are on hold, because I would rather be home to play chauffeur and tuck my children into bed at night. I have a brain and F-cup boobs. I have two and a half degrees and three gorgeous children. For legal stuff and for work I use my surname. Socially I often used my ex-husband's a long time before we were married and still continue to do for family stuff. I supported my big two girls in their choice to use their surname (their biological father's) alongside their dad's. I shave my legs. I would never contemplate not shaving my arm pits. I happen to quite like men, but I don't need to have a partner. My daughters do dancing and play sport with the boys.

I want other women to be able to make these life choices. Whatever choices are right for them. Whether that is to smash the glass ceiling or to spend every single day of their adult lives at home looking after their families. This is why I am ok now with being labelled a feminist. Although personally I quite like the term post-feminist feminism. I have spent so much time studying history so I know how far we have come. Maybe this is why sometimes I forget how far we still have to go. But thanks to the women who have come before me, and thanks to the men who have supported them, I can do this on my own terms.

And while we are on the topic of history and women. Embrace the colour purple ladies. When I was at school they used to say it purple meant you are sexually frustrated. It was the colour of the suffragettes. You know if they had been at home properly wedded and bedded they would have had better things to do then think (please don't miss the sarcasm).

So wear purple proudly. Celebrate with your girlfriends. Dance, drink champagne, scrapbook or build a shed. Thank your mothers and your grandmothers. Thank the now conservative teachers you had who would have been out there burning bras when they were at uni. Thank the wonderful men in your life who don't get why feminism is needed because they really do treat women equally (re-educate them later). Remember how far we have come and don't ever think it is far enough. All people need to be equal and those of us who are lucky enough to be in the position where we do not feel discriminated against, can't ever forget we are the lucky ones. And I still maintain we won with the poledancing.

(Please tune back in tomorrow when normal programming will recommence. Not that I am convinced I have a normal blog style yet, but it might start tomorrow)

Virtual Confessional

I'm feeling really, really, really guilty at the moment and  I need somewhere to confess and people to confess too, so blogging-world friends, you are it.

Today, I had an early morning breakfast "meeting" this morning. (By meeting, I mean going out to breakfast with my colleagues, but as I never get to go to Friday night drinks I really was making an effort to get to a social thing that I could make it to). I bribed Aimee to get out of bed early and made it to drop her at childcare at 6:30am.

I made it to the train station just in time and as I was getting my smartrider (ticket pass thing) out of my bag I accidentally dropped the V can I was drinking from (let's leave my caffeine addiction alone at this point. Although this is karma maybe?). The problem is, when I dropped it it rolled off the ramp and I couldn't reach it from where I was. To pick it up I would have had to walk back down and around. Normally I wouldn't think twice about doing it, but today it would have meant missing my train. So I left it.

Now all I can see is this can lying there, that I deliberately left. Argh.

I would like to put it on the public record that if it is still there tomorrow, and I imagine it will be, I will go and pick it up.

On the upside, breakfast was great and it was really nice to do something social with my colleagues. The mama-work-student thing means that really isn't something I get to do very often. And I love going out for breakfast. It really is one of my most favourite things to do.

Learning, learning, learning

Things I have learnt this weekend. And before anyone is confused, WA had a long weekend this weekend (for Labour Day) so it really is the last day of the weekend for me. That said, it isn't a university holiday so despite not having to go to work I am sitting in a uni lecture theatre as I type. I felt it was appropriate considering the subject of this post! I should also clarify that the lecture hasn't started yet. Please feel free to imagine my halo.

So anyway. Things I have learnt this weekend:

1. The instructions on the 'shake and make' pancakes are not just for show Have I mentioned I don't cook? This may be why! I was shaking the pancake mix and it goes flying everywhere. I am still getting pancake out of my hair. The trick to avoiding this is to follow the instructions and make sure the lid is on properly. Or if you insist on not reading them properly try to avoid an audience. Mine consisted of my big two, my youngest sister and a friend of Erin's.

2. Shorts are shorter then they used to be In proportion to my increasing age and increasing exponentially with the age of my daughters. Perhaps a matter of perception?

3. A mother's work does not stop because her children move out of home  Even when they have children of their own. A shout out of thanks to my mum for printing out my lecture notes for me for this week. I forgot I wasn't at work today and that my printer at home isn't working.

4. Lecturers get a say in when the exam is Every other university lecturer may be going to hunt down and torture my current lecturer for announcing this to the class. Really. I have never heard this announced before! (Although it doesn't actually surprise me, I am pretty sure the "rule" is that it is never said).

5. The three ancient learned professions are theology, medicine and law This is a paraphrased quote and I haven't been able to work out exactly who said it first. A google search shows it heaps though so I am guessing someone said it at some point though. This is a classical definition though before anyone gets upset with me. I am a historian remember. I would like to know when it was first said though because I think it is an interesting snapshot of the attitude of that time.

6. Everything tastes better when you eat it off a stick We had the most amazingly yummy swirly potato on a stick things this weekend at the Fremantle Markets. So yummy that after we had them on Sunday with the girls' dad, Reanna and I took my little sister there again today. To back this up fruit kebabs and sausages also taste better when things are on a stick. It is just the way it is.

By the way. I am a sucky student! Lecture may not have started when I began to write this post. But it had by the time I finished. I could pretend I am good at multi-tasking, but this may be slightly exaggerated. In case you couldn't tell, number 5 above was what I learnt during class today so I really was listening!

A Rose By Any Other Name

It is funny how sometimes what you are saying really means something else. "I love you" is said so many ways other then using those exact words. Ask any man what "fine" means in an argument with his wife. No scratch that, ask any woman what "fine" means when she says it to her husband! There seem to be a few men who still don't seem to get it. Any parent knows "You sleep in. I'll get up and look after the kids" means "I love you more then anything. Thanks for everything you do for our family".
My family is not the sort of family that celebrates anniversaries. I don't know why not. (Although I am sure you have worked out by my love of celebrations I am not one of these people!). We are also the sort of people who believe in "moving" birthdays to the most convenient weekend rather then doing anything on the actual day. Well, except for saying Happy Birthday and presents and cake. But "house family" stuff, not proper family stuff. My Dad forgot it was his birthday one year! Sometimes I wonder if I really am related to these people.

Despite this, for the last twelve years I have not ever forgotten to text my mum and wish her a happy anniversary. Not really because it is her wedding anniversary (Although clearly I mean the sentiment!) But it is the message to her that I haven't forgotten another anniversary.

Thirteen years ago today my little brother died. Unexpectedly. The day after my parents' 20th wedding anniversary. Ironically, it was the first time they were planning on celebrating it. "Happy Anniversary" really means "I haven't forgotten" it means "I am still hurting too" it means "I am thinking of you and I am thinking of all of us and we won't forget". Thirteen years later it is still too hard to find the words to start that conversation. Not that we don't talk about him. We talk about him all the time. We celebrate his life. He has four sisters who remember him and two sisters and hoards of nieces and a nephew or two who don't, but know lots of the stories. It doesn't change the fact it is still hard. The pain may soften, but it is still there.

Today Mum asked if the flowers are the cemetery were from me. They were. I went yesterday. Aimee is now fairly certain we should leave Hawaiian leis after seeing some on some of the other graves. I admit I always pick the flowers carefully because I don't want to get something too girly. Mum thought the leis were a nice idea. I think because it was Aimee's! She may have thought it was a little odd if it was from me. But we might do it for his birthday in a few weeks. It will save me the flower issue.

Loving it ...... and my 100th post!

Just to clarify, this not my 100th 'Loving It' post, but rather my 100th published blog post! Wow. This definitely feels like some sort of milestone and what better way to celebrate then by joining in with this week's 'Loving It'

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.


Joining in with Paisley Jade and reflecting on all the things I am loving particularly this week


... blogging (this has to get a mention in honour of the big 1-0-0).

... 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight'. Not just because I enjoy them myself, but I love that it is something I share with the girls. And particularly loving them at the moment as we marathoned away our being sick time.

....caramel fudge - especially when it is bought for me by someone who loves me.

... Autumn! It is my absolute favourite season.

... countdowns. I love the anticipation that something big is happening!

... spiders! The kind that are soft drink and icecream. Not the kind with eight legs. And have I mentioned before how much fun it is to add 100s & 1000s to the mix?



What are you loving this week?

Bookworms

I got a letter today from Reanna's high school. (As a side note, I love how the school posts the letters. It is just sort of ironic that primary school kids can be trusted to hand them to their parents but high school students can't!). The letter was from the librarian, deputy principal and year 8 co-ordinator letting parents know about a program being run in English to encourage kids to read and making suggestions as to how parents can help their children to not only enjoy reading, but for them to read more then one genre/sub-genre (perhaps a subtle suggestion that they should be reading about things other then vampires?).

Being a good mother, I sat Reanna down and asked her if there was anything she thought I could do to help encourage her to read more. I also gave her the letter to read. She gave me a look like I was an idiot and very kindly told me that she thought I was doing a good job. How nice of her! I think I can tick that box. Yay!**

Ironically, I had a book order arrive yesterday full of all (teen appropriate - I hope) vampire books for Reanna for her birthday. I am thinking I will read them before I give them too her just to make sure they are ok. This really is the reason ;).I also picked up a copy of 'Dracula' earlier in the week. I haven't read it before but I am thinking if she is going to be into all books vampirish she really should have read the classic. This makes sense. Right? Reanna said I should read it first and tell her if it is any good.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, I am also encouraging her to move across genres. There are also some Meg Cabot books in her present pile and some biographies (admittedly of Daniel Radcliffe and Taylor Lautner, but this is not the point).

Final thought for the day, while we are on the topic of all things bookish "you can't buy happiness, but you can buy books and that's kind of the same thing". (Stolen from  a facebook post. I am sorry I don't know who to credit it too).

Have a great day, and happy reading!



** On a serious note, I think it is awesome the school is not only running this program, but that they are encouraging parents to back it up and giving parents tips on how to do it. I did also tell Reanna that I hoped she would participate in the extension activities that are on offer. And I will certainly do anything I can that I am not already doing. Just happens that reading is clearly my thing and the girls' are all avid readers already.

Soccer Mum

Yes, I know it has been almost a week since I have posted. Mostly because for a good part of that we were at home watching dvds and reading books being isolated in our (what may have been but I really don't think it was) poxy-ness. It would have been very boring reading.

Then this week has been insane! For many reasons, not the least of being which have started my new 'career' as a soccer mum. Literally. Erin decided to play soccer this year and only do once dance class. And I know I have mentioned it before, but my daughter rocks (well clearly all three of them do, but this instance particularly Erin).

So it is her Erin's day of training and it is her first time playing soccer this year. Found out there turns out she is the only girl and the only new person today although they did say they are expecting some new boys next week. She was a bit nervous to start with, but there was an older sister watching who saw Erin was new and took her and introduced her to the boys. This girl totally made my day by the way.

Erin holds her own all session and they were worked hard. Sit-ups, running, squats, push ups (Erin asked if she could do push ups girl style. This was refused but you can't blame a girl for trying!).  Her hair is quite long and she had it in a pony-tail turned into a bun. It must have been a bit loose, because she fixed her hair back into a bun twice mid practice game (including pausing to take a kick and to call out).You just have to love it! I could hear the boys already call her name for passes and stuff. At the end I asked her if she was ok being the only girl she just shrugged and said it doesn't matter as long as she isn't ever on 'skins'. I wish I had even a fraction of her confidence and poise!

Just for the record. Erin is still all girl. Her happy moment of the day was when we found a mouth guard that matched her team colours!

 

On a random side note, Aimee has taken offence to the fact I call Erin 'Erin-my-Erin'. I have always called her that and it is her name just for her! Aimee's request to be called 'Aimee-my-Aimee' was firmly denied. She is 'Aimee-fuzz' or 'Aimee-baby' and that is that. Erin needs some stuff that is just for her and Aimee most definitely does not need anymore encouragement to make everything about her!

Loving it .....

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

Joining into with Paisley Jade and reflecting on all the things I am loving particularly this week

I love this link! All week it randomly pops into my head when I am particularly liking something. And it is just lovely. Much nicer then other random thoughts. Like jobs that need doing or bills that need paying.

So this week I am loving .....

*Cold pizza. As much as I love it hot, left overs the next day for breakfast is awesome.

*My bug mug. I have one here ... and one lives with a friend in Melbourne. I love that we can have coffee even though there is a continent between us!

*Mini-holidays. It was so good to get away. Writing in the sand, collecting treasures from the beach, reading, relaxing, time with family.

And some extra stuff I am loving while we are sick ....

*My couch aka the day bed. Filled with cushions and pillows and cuddles.

*Old T.V. shows. 'I Dream of Jeannie', 'The Smurfs' and '7th Heaven'. I love '7th Heaven'. When Reanna was a baby I used to make sure I was home every day at 1pm to watch it!

What are you loving this week?

Isn't It Ironic?

... that I am pretty sure one of the things I listed as an accomplishment recently was having a pay slip with no leave of any sort on it? (I am pretty sure it was on this blog).

... that I was thinking the other day how much I love polka dots? (Not so much at the moment. Give me a week or two).

... that I almost wish Aimee was just a little bit sicker? (Possibly because I am the world's worst mother. But she has soooooo much energy. She is driving her sisters nuts. Ok. And me a little bit. She is not cut out for dvd marathoning).

... that it took me longer to do an online shopping trip then it ever does in real life?


Ah, the things we think about when we are home sick.

Two days, two traditions

Yesterday, as I am sure everyone is aware was Shrove Tuesday. Our own family tradition of hotcakes at McDonald's was enthusiastically exchanged this year for pancakes at home. Monday night was the girls night to spend with their dad but he very kindly brought them home for breakfast and he cooked the pancakes! He isn't too keen on McDonald's hotcakes.

(I just managed to sneak a quick picture in before he started eating)

The chocolate icecream is particularly significant as I give up chocolate for Lent. I did enjoy finishing off all the chocolate in the house though. We all spent some time discussing the reason for abstaining from something for the lead up to Easter and what things the girls might like to give up if they wanted to join me this year. I don't think there were any firm conclusions.

I love traditions and I love celebrations. I love that the girls love them as much as me!

Today is Thinking Day. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world remember their sisters and take the time to reflect on what Guiding has done for them. I take the time to remember how lucky I am that hundreds of volunteers have made it possible for me  to have experienced 24 years of fun, friendship, adventure and challenges ... and how lucky I am to have been able to help offer those same experience to hundreds of other girls. Some years the girls have worn their Guide uniform to school. Or just their Promise the years that hasn't been allowed. I wear either my Promise badge or my World badge to work. It is also a time to reflect on the status of women and children not only in Australia, but around the world and to think about the part we can play in improving it.

Today however we didn't participate in any of our normal Thinking Day traditions. Today we have been at home being spotty. Well, three out of the four of us. That is right, I am spotty too. This is making me a little suspicious about the chicken pox diagnosis as all four of us have had it before and had it badly. But regardless, there is spots and there is itching. Luckily not much of either. So today we are celebrating Thinking Day with a Guiding spirit and trying to make the best out of it! DVD marathons, board games and some extra housework and study time for me! We will be at home for another few days at least.

Oh and we got sundaes from McDonald's to help cheer us up and I did remember to get caramel in place of my usual chocolate ;)

Poxy

Literally. Yes that is right, chicken pox. Well so far it is only Reanna, but Aimee is desperately searching for spots. I think she may have found one. Erin is petrified that she will have to miss more school.

They have all had chicken pox before. Badly. Reanna was absolutely covered (she was only about six months old and I was still breastfeeding) and had it so badly her spots got infected. The other two got it at the same time a few years later. They got it quite badly too. I know they say you can only get it once, but every second person seems to have had it twice or at least had a close family member who has!

Fingers crossed please everyone that it will be mild! And that the others either won't get it at all or if they have to catch it keep your fingers crossed they all get it at once.

In other news. Uni has started. It is my last "big" semester (two core units). I have been a bit worried, but I think I am going to like both classes. My attitude needs improvement though. The thing I am most excited about is the excuse for chicken twisties once a week and hot chocolate! Sad, but true. You think I would be more mature at my age. Mmmm ... I do love chicken twisties though! Not actually with the hot chocolate, but my Monday night class goes for four hours so there is plenty of time for both! (I also think I am in denial about being so close to finishing but that is a random muse for another day).

Just to finish a post about not very much at all ... an Aimee quote for the day:

Aimee: Daddy, Daddy look at my horse shoe! Can you put it on the gate for good luck?
Daddy: Ok. Don't turn it upside down though. All the luck will run out.
Aimee: I already turned it upside down to see if all the luck would run out.
Daddy: Do you really think you can see luck?
Aimee: Oh. I don't spose so.

The horse shoe is now on the gate! This is all this morning pre-chicken pox. I wonder if this means I can blame Aimee for the infection? As she let all the luck go ..... hehe.

Randomness of randoms

So, we had an amazing weekend. We wrote in the sand and took some arty style pictures (well in my very unartistic opinion, but they look great when other people do them so I am hoping for the best). We collected shells. The girls got to spend some time with their great-grandparents and I know one day they will look back and realise how precious this time was and how lucky they were to have had it. I got to reflect on how lucky I am to have ex-in-laws who still make me feel so much of the family despite the stupidity of their grand-son for losing me! (hehe ... I am allowed to have a dig sometimes! I am sure this is ok). But this is not the post I am writing today. Hopefully tomorrow when I get the photos off my phone and onto the computer.

Today is a random post. And possibly one with a little too much information. Consider yourself warned!!! You can stop reading now if you want!

Ok ... we drove down late on Friday night. Left home just before 8pm and arrived at 11:30pm. I knew it was going to be a late one so had caffeine loaded all day. Needless to say there were several bathroom breaks on the way down.

At some awful hour(s) of the morning I wake up busting for the toilet. Of course I lay snuggled in bed half asleep hoping the feeling would just go away and I could go back to sleep without having to move. Then a thought hit me. I kid you not, my half asleep brain which is concentrating on willing the full-bladder to just disappear, has the following thought:

"I wonder how many hours of sleep I have wasted lying being half awake not getting up to go to the toilet when if I had have gotten up straight away I would have been back to sleep in no time".

Naturally that is slightly paraphrased. I don't remember the exact words, but that is pretty much it! Seriously?! WHY?! Then the next thought is:

"Oh. That would make a good blog post".

So, I just had to share. Firstly, because I do think it is a legitimate thought, but secondly because you all were my next thought and now you can think about it too. I am nice like that. Although I am a little skeptical in the light of day about how good a blog post it actually is, but I just can't not write it now.

Now I just need to learn balance my desire to not get out of bed with the desire for that extra few hours sleep. And perhaps not drink that much caffeine again.

Erin the practical

I know! Two posts in a day. There is a reason for this though. Please keep reading ...

We are going to Augusta (a town about 3.5 hours South of Perth) tonight to spend the weekend with the girls' great-grandparents. When we were talking about going Aimee asked if Daddy was coming too. I told her I didn't think so, but that I hadn't asked him so she could invite him if she wanted to (they are his grandparents after all!). I did also say she shouldn't be too disappointed if he couldn't make it.

Erin's contribution to the conversation was that inviting Daddy was a great idea, but that when we asked him it should include on the condition that he take his own car. She didn't feel they should be any more squished up then they normally are!

I love Erin. She was really born to have a super organised, ultra neat mother. I feel a little bad that she has to make do with me. However she does cope. Most of the time.

From an earlier trip to Augusta.

PS Reason for the double post is that I am not going to post for another few days at least now, so I don't feel like I am inundating you too much. Have a great weekend!

Loving It ......

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

 
Joining into with Paisley Jade and reflecting on all the things I am loving particularly this week ....
 

• Cooler weather! Snuggles under the doona for me. I am so not a summer person and the weather at the moment is just making me happy.
• My babies. They are just funny.  End of story*.

• Celebrations and taking the time out to make people feel special.
• Cooked breakfast/brunch (especially when it is made for me and served to me in bed by my gorgeous girls - have I mentioned them? and celebrations?).

• My nieces and nephews. I have got to see (or at least talk to) all of them this week!
• Old photos.
• Muffins (especially this week because I need to give them up!).

Click here if you want to join in! It is a lovely link to join in with. What can be nicer then the things you are loving? The button above might take you there too, but I am not so convinced my technological skills are that good!

* for those of you who read my post earlier this week, here is the '32 on Tuesday' balloon! It is still making me laugh!

It is my great honour .....

 .... to humbly accept this Liebster award with massive amounts of thanks and astonishment! Yes, really the lovely Dizzy Lizzie from Whims & Fancies listed me as one of the five blogs she was giving this award too.

Liebster in German means...

favourite, dearest, beloved

and it's for bloggers with under 200 followers.

I am so very excited! I feel like a proper blogger now! Especially as I am still most definitely getting the hang of the whole blogging world and my presentation of the blog is disgraceful (must do something about that).

So upon receiving this award I would like to thank the following:-

• Dizzy Lizzy from Whims & Fancies for giving me this award and for commenting on my posts so I know someone out there is reading. Her blog is also funny and cute and filled with random stuff which I love.
• My followers for making me feel special just for reading despite the poor presentation, lack of photos and waffle.
• Anyone who has ever commented. The comments makes this blog feel real!
• The anonymous readers who must stumble on this blog occasionally who I see in the stats.
• Lela from It's All Good because without her I would never have thought of blogging and I wouldn't have had anyone handy to answer my blogging questions.
• My darling children, because my blog name wouldn't be as funny if I wasn't a mother, plus they are sort of cute and a big part of what I write about.

Oh, have I mentioned I am excited?!


So the rules are as follows:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.  
2. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.  
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.  
4. Reveal your 5 blog picks.  
5. Let them know you choose them by leaving a comment.

The five blogs I would like to give the Liebster Award to are as follows.

1. Chalk & Talk
2. Between the Worlds 
3. Blessed are the Meek
4. Mrs Clark
5. Did you say six?

Picking the blogs was the hard bit! There are so many awesome ones out there.

Thank you again to all of you  for reading :)

V Day

All the posts have made me laugh today. It has just been one of those times that I am reminded I am a historian. Every time I read 'V day' my first thought is 'VE day' and worse, every time I read 'VD' my first thought is venereal disease. Now I sound like I am totally insane, you need to read my next paragraph (or two if you want the extended version).

Short version: I did my Honours thesis on the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in England in the late nineteenth century. A lot of the readings used VD as an abbreviation for venereal disease.

Extended version: Why was that my Honours topic? I wanted my History thesis to sound sort of legalish (because my other major was Legal Studies). I  also wanted a particular supervisor who specialised in women's history in Europe. With the benefit of hindsight I should have scratched the legal component! Although I finished (despite Aimee arriving in the middle) and the BA (Hons) does look pretty after my name on the odd occasion I get to use it so I won't regret not thinking of an awesome topic too much.

In other news, I had a truly lovely birthday. The girls made me breakfast in bed. Work got cake for morning tea. One of my friends came around for dinner. And my boss is taking our team out to lunch tomorrow! I have also got non-stop messages all day. Having your birthday on Valentine's Day when you are in a relationship may not have major benefits, but when you are single you are still bombarded with love :)

Hope you have all had a lovely day and have reflected on all the important relationships in life. 'Love' just doesn't mean romance :)

Bittersweet

It is my birthday tomorrow, but this is not the reason for the slightly melancholy title!

Friday night our budgie died. For those of you who regularly read my waffle, you may remember earlier posts I have done about how the pets are not mine. They belong to the girls (and in the budgie's case, the ex, but that is a whole other story). But I am sad. Actually very sad. Sad for the girls who are truly devastated. Sad for their dad who was away at work and the girls were crying so much it took them an hour to be able to talk to him. Sad for me, because I am really going to miss his chattering. I already do. Grief and mourning for the loss of a loved one is an important part of life and I think losing a pet is an important part of growing and learning, but it does not make it a fun lesson. It also scares me about life events that this lesson might be preparing us for.

Saturday night was a celebration for my birthday. This was the fun part of the weekend! I insist on calling it a gathering. I am always too scared to call it a party in case no-one shows up or if people do and it is boring it will make it a bad party. I just feel that calling it a gathering puts a lot less pressure on me! (Paranoid much?!). And just in case you are concerned, people did show up and I had a fabulous night. I feel very loved and very looked after.

I do have a funny Aimee story to share from the weekend to end on a happy note. I had a Board meeting Saturday morning so one of my friends came to babysit. The girls decided to decorate the house while I was out and just as I was leaving Aimee asked could she decorate the balloons. This bit was no problem. However, she was entirely disgruntled with me because my birthday was not for another few days. Apparently this meant she couldn't write "32" or "32nd Birthday" instead she decorated the balloons with the words "32 on Tuesday". Accurate I suppose!

So this is officially my last post at aged 31. Next time I write I will be older and I am keeping my fingers crossed for wiser. Please note, just my fingers crossed, not holding my breath. I am not that optimistic!

Loving life

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is".

I have done several of these types of posts recently, but this is a lovely linky that is too nice to not participate in (and I haven't for a while).

So this week I am loving:
1. Puggles! (aka baby echidnas) Because the name is beyond cute and because I have had friends remember this and tag me into facebook posts about them.

2. Toadstool stools. They make me smile every time I see them.

3. Audio books. They have made our travelling so much nicer.

4. My beautiful girls and how gracefully they are embracing all the changes that this year is giving them.

5. Making positive changes to my life (in case you have missed all my dancing posts!) and the wonderful people who are supporting me.

6. Drowning in so many new books that I don't know which one to read first.

7. Blogging. I missed it and I am so glad I am back.

What are you loving this week? You should check out the link and join in!

PS Argh! I still can't get the button to work, but you can join in here
PPS I really need to get better at the photo thing. It is on my list of things to do!
PPPS I have just realised that the new blogger has changed how I thought things were being formatted! Apologies for my last few posts being paragraphless. I will go back and fix this!

Happy :)

Just to share some random events that have made me smile this week:

- Erin was appointed an assistant student councillor (this is an unashamed mummy brag moment).
- Misty is now housed in what we like to call "Rabbit Castle". Her old hutch just made me sad. I am so, so happy to see her in a three-story home. It was also made for her out of old shelves we had so a great example of recycling too.
- Reanna commenting on her facebook page that she doesn't like spiders, but she likes flies even less so "go spiders". That is my baby-girl with the glass-half-full attitude!
- Reanna taking responsibility for sewing on her own ribbons etc on her pointe shoes and understanding why it is important for her to do it instead of just complaining.
- Weather that has been cool enough for doonas and cuddles and night.
- The girls' Grandad not only picked them up from school today he also cooked us all dinner! So lucky to have amazing in-laws who still help me out.
- Breakfast out with the ex and after 10 years he still sulks because the waitstaff always assumes our meals are the other way round (ie I got a big breakfast and a cappicino and he got a eggs hollandaise and peppermint tea. I would also like to point out he ate half my breakfast). He used to always make me order the latte because it is "girly" (even though I don't really like them) and sulks because they always put a straw in his bourban because they assume it is for me and the beer is his! It just makes me laugh. Mostly at him.
- We have new goldfish.
- It is not only the National Year of Reading (in Australis), the official launch is also on my birthady!

What has made you happy this week?!

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Be impressed, be very impressed. I went to my first tap dancing class tonight! Short version of a longs story goes as follows: trying to lose weight - need to be able to take at least Aimee with me if I need to - psyched myself up to do adult beginners class at the girls' dance school - girls super excited - got uni timetable - clash - tap available - sign up. I would like to point out, I am not a dancer. The girls are, and are quite talented (I have no idea where they get it from). I did belly dancing for a year or two about 7 years ago, but that is different. Pole dancing doesn't count. That is just an exercise class. So are you all impressed? You should be! It was hard. I am just a little bit proud of myself! The class will be straight after my lecture on a Monday night though, so it will be very interesting to see how I cope after that!

Treasure Hunting

Today has felt a bit like one long treasure hunt. Not on purpose! Just the way it turned out. Firstly, we went to a Tupperware party. At this party I picked up the stuff I ordered from my party, including a mystery pack! Now I knew I was getting a mystery pack (I had ordered it after all) but it doesn't detract from the excitement from getting to open it and find out what I actually got. Treasure! Then we went to the shops. While I was in Big W looking for dishwashing liquid, I found Three Wise Monkey garden ornaments. I have been trying to find some for ages. I want to put them by the girls' banana trees. Treasure! After that we went to the museum. Particularly to see a collection that is on show in Perth from the British museum. Lots of amazing things that aren't normally on display here including actual pirate spoils. We also checked out some of the other parts of the museum and in the butterfly section realised that they have different insects painted on the wall. I don't know how many times we have seen this display and this is the first time we have seen them. Lots of treasure for us to find at the museum! The State Library is conveniently located next to the musuem. It has an awesome discard library bookshop with super cheap books. We all found some treasures here ;) And, as a follow up to yesterday, outside the library were banners declaring 2012 is the National Year of Reading (in Australia at least). So not only is this another thing proving that 2012 is going to be amazing, I am pretty sure such a discovery also counts in my treasure total for the day. A wonderful day with the three most important treasures I have. And filled with so many random exciting finds. I always knew I wanted to be a pirate when I grew up.

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

This post probably would have made more sense in early January, but I am claiming it as being one of the first few days of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, or reflection as I approach my birthday and enter a new year for me. Really you may justify it anyway you like! Or I guess, as this is my blog, it pretty much means I can waffle as much as I like (and that I am the only person to blame if you all stop following to me as clearly I just talk too much about nothing. I am like this in real life too).

But back to the point. After much consideration I have decided this year is going to be awesome. Why you may ask? Three simple reasons. First 'Twenty Twelve' is just simply much easier to say then 'Twenty Eleven'. I feel this bodes well.

Secondly, I just knew it was going to be a fabulous year once I found out it was the Chinese Year of the Dragon. (See? My opening paragraph did have some relevance) and I just love dragons. I don't know when or why this started but I actually have quite a nice little collection of them. It also makes it easy for people to get me presents when they have no other ideas!

The final, and most important, reason is I simply believe in self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe things are going to work out, in most cases they will. A lot of the time it is all about your perspective. Clearly not always, but a lot of the time it is.

If anyone is still reading, wishing you a very happy year of the Dragon (even if I am a few days too late!) and I hope 2012 is a year where you get to make some of your dreams come true!

PS Apologies to anyone who also follows the Two Mummy Duck blog. Halfway through writing this I couldn't out which blog this belonged on so decided to post it on both!

Survivors!

Just a note to say ....

We survived:-

1. The first day of school (high school for Reanna); and

2. The first couple days of dance; and

3. Erin's first night at "big" Guides; and

4. Reanna and Erin's first time catching the bus to school; and


That:-

5. I think I have all our timetables sorted for first semester; and

6. I haven't messed up when I am supposed to be at work (not that I ever have before, well only once, but I was really sick); and


Next comes:-

7. Aimee's first night of Guides without either of her sisters; and

8. Registering Erin for soccer; and

9. Erin's first music lesson; and

10. First week back for uni.


Until then I am making the most of the "spare" time.

And in case anyone is wondering why so heavy on the Erin activities, she picked soccer instead of a second dance class and got accepted into a music program at school!

Hope you have all had a fabulous start to February!

Lazy Daisy

My most favourite thing I have read this week:

"I am not lazy. I am just incredibly motivated to do nothing".

I have no idea who I should be crediting for this amazing quote, but I saw it on facebook (surprise, surprise).

This would look great on a magnet. Or a sign. Or on a door mat. I have another few doors that needs a cool mat. My front door has one that says 'The house was clean yesterday. Sorry you missed it'. I think the others might be getting a little jealous.

I may be feeling a little guilty that I didn't get everything done I wanted to around the house over the school holidays. But it was hot. And worse, humid. I personally do not cope well with the humidity.

Time to focus on the positives though! We did so much fun stuff, caught up with lots of people and we did get some projects completed around the house.

First day back at school tomorrow (and dance and Guides) - wish us luck! Oh, and in case you were wondering what daisy was referring to, I just liked that it rhymed. However for the sake of completeness bouquets to all of us ... just because ... everyone needs flowers every now and again.

School Days!

Two more sleeps until the girls go back to school! I am very sad that it is the end of school holidays and very, very sad about how big the girls are getting! It is a big year for us this year. Reanna is starting high school (Year 8 here), Erin is going into 'senior school' (at their primary school years 6 & 7 are senior school and get to wear a different shirt) and Aimee is in the upper half of the school (Year 4).

Funnily enough I am not that freaked out over Reanna starting high school. I think I spent all last year and part of the year before having to think about it, because that is just how the process works so now we are finally here I have coped. That said, I was labelling their school stuff tonight and Reanna and I had lots of trouble trying to work out what she should take to school on her first day, because she can't take everything and won't know what she will need each day until she gets her timetable. I am assuring her though that everyone else will be in the same boat.

Aimee starting year 4 on the other hand has hit me hard! Not just because she is my baby, but because she is such an infant!! At my primary school, year 4 was a big deal because it meant you were old enough to go on a 12 day camp once a year that was offered to all five Schools of the Air in WA (I will blog more about my station childhood later as I have mentioned it a few times now!) I look at Aimee and just can't picture her being old enough for that! Even though I could imagine it for the other two at that age.

It is also a big year for Erin. She has decided to branch out this year. She is starting to play soccer this year rather then doing an extra dance class and is beginning to learn a musical instrument. The one dance class she is doing is musical theatre which is a new class for this year and one neither of the other two are doing. Creating her own pathway which is different to her sisters'. Very important!

Reanna and Erin are also going to catch the bus to school three mornings a week instead of going to childcare. So big changes in our house at the moment! I would like to say I am coping beautifully ... at the moment ... but we will see how I am on Wednesday.

Five seconds

Literally all that this post is going to be! But just wanted to say, I have read another book of the 100ish and therefore it is another tiny bit off my 101 challenge! If you are interested click here to read the review of 'Ice Station'.

I also forgot to say last time that I have Skype! So another thing crossed off the list. Well almost, I am still learning how to use it.

But today I have to run. I have a poledancing class to go to and I am running late. Thanks to blogging and the fact I spent the early hours of this morning painting. Are you impressed?! It is only 9am here :)

Have a fabulous day everyone!

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

Oi! Oi! Oi!!

For all of you who live overseas, today is Australia Day!! And we have had a fabulous day :)

We stayed at my father-in-law's last night (after a late night dessert of pavlova) so we could get up and go to the Big Aussie Breakfast put on by his local shire. Lots of the shires/councils do them, but he has been a councillor for the last few years so going to support him being a part of the community has turned into a bit of a tradition for us.

Lazy day at home. With it being over 40 degrees Celsius , this seemed like a sensible plan. Then we cooked up hamburgers with patties in the shape of Australia and went to the fireworks. Complete with Australian t-shirts, tattoos and glow sticks of course. It is one of my favourite days of the year. It isn't always the same, but is always filled with catching up with friends and family and is a chance to remember how lucky we are.

So why the mixed feelings?

A very short legal/social history: 26 January is the date that Australia was first claimed as terra nullis, an empty land. A claim which totally ignored the Aboriginal people and which was later found to be invalid by the High Court of Australia (which has impacted on land rights, but that is a whole other story I am not going into here!!)

A lot of Aboriginal people feel Australia Day is really invasion day. I can't say I blame them. There is a lot of bad history about how Aboriginal people were treated once Australia was colonised. Some of which occurred during living people's memories.

This year there has also been media stories about correlations between people who fly the flag on their car and people who are racist. Sensationalist journalism, but of course it has sparked a whole heap of racist and offensive posting on facebook about migrants (and really at the end of the day we were all migrants or convicts originally) and refugees.

So mixed feelings. I have to admit I would celebrate with cleaner conscious if it was on a different day. That said, I use today as a time to talk to my girls about our past. And a day to talk with them about some of the less pleasant aspects. Also of course some of the nicer parts! Why my family came to Australia. Well my mum's side anyway. We don't actually know when or why my dad's side came to Australia. Last year we watched a Citizenship ceremony which I think was a good experience for them.

All this Australiana brings funny moments too. We were singing Australian songs today. One of them, which they all do know, was 'Waltzing Matilda'. The song has some very old Australian words in it which do not come up in everyday conversation. Ok really most of them don't come up in conversation ever and we mustn't have sung it in a while so they asked for a translation of what it all meant. Basically it is about a sheep stealer who jumps into a lake and drowns rather then be arrested. There was a long pause at the end of this. Followed by the next song request!

Training

Sushi training that is! Friday night Aimee went on a much anticipated sleepover with her grandparents. Reanna, Erin and I took advantage of the fact Aimee was not with us and went on a long promised trip to the sushi train.

This was not done to exclude Aimee in a horrible way. Aimee just doesn't like sushi and I am not sure how her vegetarian sensibilities could cope with some of the more exotic (and possibly authentic) types of sushi eg the ones with baby octopus. I barely cope with them!

So proud of my big girls. They each tried something new. Neither of them freaked out when they realised that some of the things going around in front of them were things like fish eggs. They both used chopsticks very nicely to start with then, when they gave up, ate neatly using their fingers (after checking it was ok first).

A lovely evening just the three of us. It was only marred by our extreme exhaustion after the sleepless night for Erin's EEG (which I have already whinged about. This is not a complaint, just an observation) and the fact I stupidly forgot to take photos. Damn. We will have to go back now ;)

1001 days .... an update

Of course this is one of those things I started all super optimistically and then promptly hit a life slump. That said I have started on the list and so far it has been fun. The idea of course was to blog about each thing, but as I haven't, you will have to make do with a longish post and shortish descriptions. So ... here goes!

10. So far we have been on one designated TMD adventure! To read about that you will have to check out the post in the TMD blog though ;) Click here to read about our trip with some of our ducklings to see 'Little Women' as a musical!

18. I am proud to say I am down 5kg. I have joined with a few friends for support and encouragement and have also signed up for myfitnesspal.com. Best thing I could have done! I am losing weight slowly and steadily and healthily and I feel great :)

22. I have actually read more then one of Angus and Robertson top 100 since I started this, but as I have only blogged about one of them, only one counts. You can read my review of 'Seven Ancient Wonders' here.

37. I have knitted four trauma teddies so far. It might actually be more then that, but I am only 100% that it has been four so lets just go with that!

43 & 44. Painting the house and organising all the books are not done, but they are definitely works in progress! I am anticipating a post soon on my soon-to-be-beautiful playroom/children's library. Did I say my? Of course I meant the girls' beautiful playroom/library ;)

72. Take the girls to the sushi train! Done :) And now I will do a separate blog post about this! Check it out here.

Some of the others I am definitely off to a good start, even if I haven't recorded it properly. Stay tuned for the next updates!

Running on empty (or caffeine)

Argh! I am beyond tired! So I thought I would have a little whinge. There are some good reasons and some not-so-good reasons for this.

Good reasons:
1. Erin had an EEG today (hopefully the last test she will need! She really is ok now) and she had to be kept up until 11pm last night and woken up at 5am.
2. It is really hot.
3. We are just all over the place with school holidays.
4. There was a lightening storm last night.

Not-so-good reasons:
1. I drank way too much caffeine yesterday knowing I had to stay up late then couldn't sleep.
2. I had the brainwave that if I was keeping her up until 11pm her dad should come round and do the wake up at 5am. He decided to come round in the middle of the night instead and kept me up. He is a light sleeper and while I normally sleep really well having him up and down wandering around all night with the storm didn't help my sleeping. (Jury is out as to whether it was worth the usefulness of him being here in the morning! But he tried so I figure he deserves points for that).

Just for the record, but "good" I meant reasonable reasons. Most scary of all is that this was my last day of leave from work, school goes back in 1.5 weeks, dance/guides the week after and uni a couple of weeks after that. A few short weeks ago I could run on minimal sleep. After today I am not so sure I can do this anymore!

The purpose of this post? Nothing really. I am just trying to keep up with regular blogging and at the moment all I can think about is sleep. Bed (oh and a book) here I come!

PS And of course the second I finished this, I thought of much more interesting topics! Now you will just have to come back tomorrow to find out what they are ;)