"What's on your mind?"

Here we go again ;)

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. * I came home expecting to surprise the girls with ice-cream for dessert and instead got a massive surprise! Reanna and Tineka had totally reorganised Reanna's room. It looks great :) * So .... last night didn't exactly go as planned! All good, but I am surprised my hair didn't turn grey!!! * After considerable research I have decided ice-cream tastes even better when you eat it straight from the container. * Package of books + helpful Centrelink person* + "good" Tuesday + cupcakes = one very happy me * Hump Day!!!! (Sounds so much better then Wednesday :oP) * When all those things that people assure you will never happen do happen ....... :oP * According to my beautiful, intelligent, eldest niece I make the best French toast. And I wasn't the person she was telling so it must be true! * I ♥ lunch dates, BLT burgers (minus tomato), surprise presents, fabulous shoes, girls' nights out, afternoons in bed, crossing things off my to-do list and my gorgeous nieces and nephews. * Possible fire in the building is always a good start to the working day. And a good excuse to buy coffee! * I would like to apologise to you all. Kate has pointed out that after much deliberation I decided to go with hot chocolate rather then coffee. It was yummy. Other then that, previous status is valid :oP * I ♥ winter, morning snuggles, hot chocolate, new books, crossing things off my to-do list, birthdays, making plans, blogs, rainbows and cushions. * Lesson of the day: Be nice to IT people. They are awesome and they can fix all sorts of stuff. * T.G.I.F. * Late night shopping tonight with the fabulous Miss Reanna :) * Wishing my beautiful Aimee-fuzz a wonderful 8th birthday!!! * For those of you who missed me .... Friday night's shopping trip was wetter then anticipated. Borders is almost all sold out and is closing 8 July. After shopping was baking. Saturday - cleaning and cooking ready for Reanna's party Saturday night. Girls all seemed to have fun AND I got to do one of the girls' cakes for the first time in nine years! It looked awesome. Saturday night's wine and dvds were well deserved. * Aimee was awake at the crack of dawn for her presents this morning! Although it was worth it to get to go back to sleep uninterrupted until 10:30. Fabulous birthday lunch at the Bentley (I love nice places that are so kid friendly!) and then family bbqing and games and stuff. Awesome weekend but very, very, very glad to be home!!!



Picture of the week. Reanna's birthday cake! And the first one I have been "allowed" to make in 9 years!!! (It is snakes and ladders just in case you can't tell).

My week according to facebook

Today I am Thankful for fabulous friends, long weekends, my sisters and that my children have learned to sleep in! * Reanna and Erin are cooking. R & E: "Ooooh .... ummm". Me (calls from other room): "Are you ok?" R & E (in perfect unison): "Yes!!" Not very convinced. * It is the little things that make all the difference. Sometimes this is all you need to focus on! :) * Apparently thinking of random passwords is my thing for the day. * Avoid Monday-itis. Don't start your working week until Tuesday :) * I now have possession of a super cool purple clutch! And I am very excited about it! Shoes next :) * Today I am Thankful that I get home early enough most days to take the washing off the line before it gets damp. * Sick and tantrumy baby + early start + school photos = not the best start to the day * All day breakfast for lunch + coke in a glass bottle + shoe shopping with a connoisseur = a much improved day! Plus as an added extra it is hump day :) * Aimee quote of the day: "I have created a new [vegetarian] burger. It should be called 'The Awesome Aimee'. You know, like Aimee Jones". * Crazy hair day is so much more fun to get ready for then school photo day. I now have multi-coloured hands (which I need to get rid of by lunch) and a splattered dressing gown (which I am glad I thought of). Everyone keep your fingers crossed that Boris copes ok with the fumes! * Today I am Thankful for things working out ok, radio stations that make me laugh out loud, ballet flats and sales. * I ♥ muffins with white chocolate, late night shopping, new shoes, things that sparkle, cushions, my pyjamas, champagne, Fridays, my girls and cuddles. * I am proud of Reanna for not being distracted by the boys during the football match. Tactic foiled boys! * Just in case we haven't done enough shopping in the last thirty-six hours ......

Crazy hair day at the girls' school.



I am pleased to say they take dressing up 'seriously'!

Apparently I wasn't very chatty on facebook this week! This could be due to my new found love of blogging ;)

A glimpse into the week that was.

Today I am Thankful for rain, for not having any storm damage and for the rain considerately pausing at appropriate times so I got to work dry. * Work mode complete. Now for Mummy mode for a few hours until it is time for student mode again. * I love getting packages in the mail!!! * That awkward moment when you tell someone you are studying law ...... * The household is excited that the Big W ladies on 'The Amazing Race' are from Riverton :) * Argh!!!!!! It's E-day!!!!!! * Study tip of the day: Don't get locked out of the house the morning of an exam. It just doesn't add to overall confidence! * A few of the right words at the right time from the right person can really make your day! Give it a go .... you never know when this person is you! * Two packages in two days! I need to shop online more often :) * Today I am Thankful for two months of uni holidays, open book exams, getting good luck messages from wonderful friends, not getting hit by a truck and modern technology. * I have a feeling Aimee is going to grow up to be a spelling and grammar nazi. Who ever would have thought! * The clouds looked funny this morning. More like volcanic cloud or smoke or something then rain clouds. (Not that I know what volcanic cloud looks like, but it looked like how I would imagine volcanic cloud looking). * I have a new phone which is making me very happy. I will be even happier when I can work out how to use it! If you get a strange or v abrupt text message from me you now know why :) * Apparently changing my name to "Cat McKitten" is a bad idea :oP * I ♥ uni holidays, rainbows, humpday, lazy afternoons in bed, my stripey purple witch socks, quotes, blogs, cuddles, cupcakes, dress-ups and books. I don't ♥ exams, crickets or dodgy mobile reception. * The "snooze" button and the "off" button are not the same thing. Getting them confused has consequences. * I wonder if it is a bad thing that Aimee identifies twisties as study food? * Forgetting a password is never a good idea. So many lessons today :oP * My observation at dancing: Reanna is getting really tall. Aimee's observation (with no irony): Erin is really loud. * Major trauma this week with the footy tipping. Opinion was divided over whether to listen to Pop for the Hawthorn v Fremantle game. * So much randomness. * Today I am Thankful for technology. Which isn't new! But today it is especially because it meant I could go shopping with the fabulous Vanessa while she is on the other side of the country :) * And it is the looooooooooong weekend! * Off to spend the evening with three fifths of my sisters and a full compliment of daughters. * Aimee waking up in the morning and realising she can't talk she can only squeak is VERY funny. * I just need to say ... Hen's night!!!!!!! And if I get to check a cloak into a cloak room I am going to be so beyond excited!!! * Most fabulous 24 hours!!! Thanks for a wonderful day/night ladies!!!!!! And thank you to my wonderful peoples who babysat for me :) I am pretty sure I can hear the couch calling my name now though.


My "I got through the semester" present to myself! It felt appropriate ;)

And that is the week that was! These posts might not be the most exciting to read, but they make me smile. I guess I remember why I posted each of them. I am now laughing at the difference in my pre-and-post-exam status updates. How was your week?

And the week is over! Pretty much exactly as I am writing.

As I was still up studying (aka cramming. Yes I know I should have done more earlier and got a few good night's sleep before the exam, but you know how it is ....)

Note to self: Crying at the girls' school is on the list of things I have been banned from doing as a parent. * I am much, much better at tipping when I listen to the girls! Although it does concern me a little how good Reanna and Erin are. We will not be doing a family footy tipping competition any time soon! * Judging from the number of text messages I have received this morning, I think Reanna is worried I am going to miss her - or forget about her. * Today I am thankful for cold and flu tablets, a quiet day at work, back-up plans and text messages. * I am still Thankful for cold and flu tablets, a quiet day at work, back-up plans and text messages ... but now I am also thankful for Penny for starting a new Thankful group and for realising there was a bug in my drink before I started drinking it! * I ♥ rainbows, cushions, on-line shopping, super patient friends, my bed, creating happy childhood memories, my stripy purple witch socks, boots, wishing on stars, my bug mug and M&Ms. * This morning's wake-up greeting: "Mummy, will Reanna be on her morning walk now?". * The not-being-able-to-string-a-sentence-together effect may have an impact on numerous parts of my life. * Today I am Thankful for a job I love, the ability to be happy, microwaves, mobile phones, Daddy-dinners, friends who cook for me and long over due visits. * Argh! Enrolled for next semester. Still not exactly sure how I am going to work this one. * Curiouser and curiouser. * I am a little annoyed at Justin Beiber for tainting the phrase "never say never". * I am pretty sure if you catch a cold from a man that it makes it a man-cold. The whinging seems to be catching too. * Some things are nice ways to wake up, no matter what time of day or night. Some things are not nice ways to wake up, no matter what time of day or night. Some things it depends on the time. * I am hoping Reanna is having a fantabulous birthday even though she is spending it so, so far away from me! It is hard to believe this time 12 years ago I spent the day in labour ... today I am spending the day curled up in bed being sick and feeling sorry for myself. For some reason it just all feels a little ironic. * Aimee quote of the week: "It's Reanna's birthday today. This means we can get icecream without her!!!". * Today I am Thankful for cold and flu tablets, wonderful teachers, my beautiful daughters, clean drinking water, my couch and mobile phones. * There is nothing like long, drawn-out methods of torture. * I either just made a very, very good decision or a very, very bad one. * Reanna home from camp. Exhausted, but very happy!! She had a wonderful time and says thank you to everyone who sent her birthday messages. Currently she on the phone to someone she just spent a whole week with! It doesn't take long for things to return to normal :) * Apparently early mornings on weekends are all Aimee's fault. * ‎*sings* Freo, way to go (then mumbles the rest) * The girls' highlights of the day: icecream, a phone call from Daddy and the train ride home. Erin did also point out going to the football is fun regardless. My highlight: Erin in the second saying "I am not tipping Fremantle next week" in a "I am not angry, I am just very disappointed in you tone". Lesson of the day: How to be a gracious loser. And supporting your team regardless of the performance! * Fabulous 24 hours or so! So much fun, but now so very much tiredness. * Just to prove me wrong .... we all slept for 10.5 hours last night and Aimee was the last one awake this morning. * I think that I am going to spend all day (between studying obviously) facebook stalking Lela and liking all the pages she likes. Just a feeling I am getting based on the last hour ....... * Exam time (definition) when you realise you have somehow managed to not learn anything in the last three months. Although,in my case, I did learn that spies in the UK have their own union, the Ombudsman is a person and that the back of the chairs in the lecture theatre are really, really hard. * Today I am Thankful for getting a good night's sleep, a (comparatively) free and accessible education, Chef Reanna, post it notes, computers, cold and flu tablets, open book exams, children who can entertain themselves and the ability to multitask. * I am excited my next pyjama day will be for dvd watching and lounging on the couch purposes not for study purposes. * Changing my profile picture because Aimee was a little insulted that I had a picture of me and Reanna up rather then a picture of me and her. Diva baby much? * I probably should be Thankful that Boris is keeping me company while I am up studying, but funnily enough I am not! :oP

I am very much loving my picture of the week this week!



That is my darling baby asleep in a costume (made out of a box) at the end of a party. One of the things I will blog more about later!

I am sure I have said this before, but I update my status a lot! And sadly I am deliberately doing it less now I know I am uploading them here. It makes me smile though, and allegedly other people enjoy reading them. I can't see myself stopping any time soon ;)

PS So excited! Despite the time it says on the blog, I pushed the publish button at exactly midnight according to my computer clock. This wasn't actually deliberate but it made me happy. You know what they say .... small things amuse small minds :)

The week that was.

I like Nova a lot less after this morning's topic! * Tired panda eyes. * I fixed the car! I might just be a little proud of myself!!! * I have four girls who are sounding way too excited over 'MasterChef'. Is it really mean that I don't want a running commentary? * Teaching the girls pig-latin. I am sure this is a bad idea. Although Erin is very impressed about how good I am at it! * I wonder if "fluent in pig-latin" is something that should be on my cv? :oP * "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." — Marilyn Monroe * I ♥ rain, napping, "new" books, cuddles, boots, having purple toe nails, Chinese food, blogs, musicals, camping and evenings just doing nothing. * Inside, outside, upside down! * Hump day over. * Thinking happy thoughts :) * "Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway." -- Mary Kay Ash * Muffin with white chocolate + cappuccino = one happy me who is now slightly awake * Massively excited! Croissant Express is doing soup again :) * Argh!!! Last class ........ * It never really occurred to me the Ombudsman was a person. * And that cuddle and the "I love you Mummy" and the "I missed you" and the excitement to tell me everything about the last five hours makes it all worthwhile. * I could easily snooze the day away in five minute intervals.
* After Autumn's delayed start, Winter seems to have arrived early (just in case you missed the memo). * Contemplating who to go as to a hen's night with a movie theme :) * Sleeping in would be easier if it wasn't a subject of family debate. The debate being held in my bed, while I was trying to sleep. * I should be studying. I want to be in bed. I am going ice-skating. (I have a cold and I am pretty sure it is a man-cold and I am snuffly and whingey. Consider yourself warned!!!) * Girls are all getting super good at ice-skating! Only one major stack .... but you expect that. And my head seems a lot clearer. Yay!! * Lesson of the day: Do not deal with boiling water when topless. * Dear Head, The whole point of driving is that you *don't* wake up feeling horrible in the morning. As you seem to have forgotten this, kindly rectify the situation immediately. Thanks heaps,Cath * Reanna is packing, Erin is off visiting, Aimee is jigsawing, Misty is doing rabbit stuff, Boris is making a lot of noise and admiring himself in the mirror and I am studying and procrastinating. All is pretty normal really. * I am beginning to get a collection of microwave plates.

And this week's 'Picture of the Week' is ....




Ok it isn't a photo of mine, but I do love the quote and it was the inspiration for at least one status update!

Things I have learned about myself from looking at my status updates this week: If in doubt of something interesting to say, throw in a quote! Having a cold makes me whingy. I still need to cut down on the exclamation marks even though I am pretty sure I talk in exclamation marks in real life.

Another week, another bunch of status updates

I am adding waking up to a nice text message to the list-of-things-that-just-make-me-happy. * I think everyone should Google something today. The Google logo them is the "Mr Men" and "Little Miss" but there are lots of different pictures :) * Today appears to be "Put Catherines On Hold and Leave Them There Day" or alternatively "Don't Pick Up the Phone, Just Let It Ring Out Day". This is giving me *lots* of time to Google and check out all the Mr Men and Little Miss pictures. * "Smile. It makes people wonder what you are thinking about." * I ♥ baby cuddles, choc orange stuff, random text messages, happy facebook updates, double episodes of favourite shows, real life stories, my girls, bubble bath, red wine, crossing things off my to-do list and my bed. I do not ♥ picture messages not working or headaches. * Aimee is so excited we have *five* family members doing NAPLAN this year. Very funny. * Must ... stop .... craving .... bacon ........ mmmmmmm * Reanna is very excited. Erin is very excited. Aimee is heartbroken. So sad that I can't even make jokes about 'two out of three ain't bad' without feeling mean! * Today I am Thankful for Google and for being able to find out the things I should already know by my age.* Having someone tell you they don't exist is always a little disconcerting. * Sleeping v Everything I *have* to do this afternoon/evening. Sleeping is not going to win this time. * Today I have bought a pineapple with the top still on (the girls are *so* excited) and the 'Women's Weekly' Royal Wedding edition (I am excited, sad but true). I now also have a box of Guide biscuits I am selling (we are all excited and I am expecting some of you will be excited about this one too!). * I have a bruise on my leg. It is about the size of a 20c coin and I have no idea how I did it. * Happy Friday Eve everyone!!! (I was searching for inspiration and/or motivation ... and this is what I found!). * "Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in at the end, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other, yelling ... 'WOW! What a ride!'" * Chicken and grape sandwiches are surprisingly good! * I think I have just developed an allergic reaction to minutes. This is not going to work well. * I have a horrible feeling that by this time of the semester I should actually know something about the subject. * Left the house. Radio announces It is Friday the 13th - Beware!" I giggle about the superstition. Get stuck in traffic because of car accident. Finally get to train station and hear announcement there are delays. Drive to work. Three lots of roadworks. Moral of the story: Just because you don't agree with other people's beliefs (and I am still not thinking Friday the 13th is an unlucky day), don't laugh at them!!! * I think the fact it is Friday has gone to my head! Or it could be the caffeine? * Dear House Phone, I have enjoyed our relationship over the last 19 years. In lots of ways I don't know what I would have done without you. I look forward to seeing you again in the next 10-15 years. Love Cath PS Reanna is currently enamored by you. Just so you know. * I am giving Sneezey some serious competition here. * I ♥ new coloured post-it notes, high heels, sleeping children, baby cuddles, fun text messages, blogs, Fridays, long phone conversations, new books and making plans. I do not ♥ sneezing, picture messages not working or mosquitoes. * This morning's adventures were varied and full of good ideas. * After a morning being out-and-about, we had an "At Home" afternoon entertaining people dropping in. Awesome catching up time, but admit I am very glad for a quiet night at home tonight. * Lesson of the day: When you have been sneezing lots for three days (and you don't actually have a cold), don't decide to clean out dusty cupboards. It doesn't help. * "Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". * Aimee has spent the morning trying to copy a picture of the 'Mona Lisa' and being frustrated by her attempts. No idea why. It is definitely an Aimee-thing! * My name is Catherine, and I am a bookaholic. * I think Reanna and Erin are a little pleased we didn't pick this match to have a derby party. * I ♥ "new" books, blogs, rain, weekends, winter pyjamas, cushions, random stuff, creating happy childhood memories, picture messages, hot chocolate and my bed.

And my picture of the week is ........... "Grumpy and Nonna Gnomes"



The girls call one of their grandfathers 'Grumps' and accordingly every time we buy him a present we seem to get him an item of clothing with Grumpy dwarf on it or Mr Grumpy or some sort of garden gnome. The initial one was actually Grumpy dwarf. The girls decided they absolutely had to get this one for his birthday because it could be Nonna on his back! Neither of them physically bear any resemblance to the garden gnomes.