My name is Catherine and I am a facebook addict

I admit it! I am a facebook addict. I update my status at least two or three times a day. Sometimes more. Even more scarily, I don't access the internet on my phone so all my updates are actually from a computer. I do have an office job though and I am studying at night at home so a lot of my time is legitimately spent sitting at a computer. The computer does sit on the table on in case I have sudden inspiration when I am at home though in what I like to call the "Mummy hours" (i.e. the time after I leave the office to pick the girls up from school to when they are in bed asleep. The time I spend driving them around, chatting about the day, watching dance classes, cooking dinner, helping with homework ... you know the sort of thing I mean).

But going back to facebook. I genuinely enjoy trying to think of status updates that are interesting, update and amusing yet still reflect me and my life. So I thought it would be fun to record and them on here as well in a weekly post .... so here goes ..... My week in status updates - 1 May 2011 to 8 May 2011 (this week has an 'extra day' the Saturday was 1 May so it seemed silly not to include it).

* Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! * Brunch with Rob and Tania (but no Chad!) .... now off to Brookton for the afternoon! * Baby lambs feeding are the cutest things ever! Their tails spin round in circles!!! And before anyone says anything I don't ever remember seeing a lamb feed when they still had a tail * Pot-luck dinner finished off a day which involved a lot of eating! * I can't believe there is only three days of school holidays left :( .... I could do with another week at least!! * Today was definitely a constructive day! So many little bits and pieces done! And finally sent the bags and bags of stuff off to the second-hand shop!! * *sings* Roller-skating, hide-and-seek, craft stuff and board games.These are a few of the girls' favourite things! (Well these have been the favourite activities when we have been at home these holidays anyway!) * I *love* lecturers who give good information about what to expect in exams!!!! * Today I am Thankful for flexible friends and for an increased sense of security thanks to the new lock on my fridge and being able to actually park my car in the carport! * Waking up in the middle of the night and being wide awake, but when the alarm goes off always still being super sleep. One of life's great mysteries. * Today I have lost one (at least for part of the day) .... but gained two .... baby-sitting my cousins :) Thanks to all my super understanding friends (and Reanna's)for changing our plans. Allegedly last minute baby-sitting duties earns me Platinum legend status and this can only be a good thing! * "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr.* After serious consideration on the matter, I have come to the conclusion 'A' names may be a jinx. Final reason for this conclusion? Little Miss Naughty A1 and Little Miss Naughty A2. * The girls might be giving Joel the 'Hair-Puller of the Day' award, but from me he is getting 'Cuddler of the Day'. * Off to training .... five kids in tow .... wish everyone luck!! :) * I never thought I would be so excited about a door!!! But I am :) * Last day of school holidays today :( .... back to reality tomorrow! * I would love a delayed send for text messages. For those times you think of something you just *have* to tell someone at a time when it is really not a good idea to text! * I am adding super cool stationary that aids procrastination to my list-of-things-that-just-makes-me-happy! * Lovely day to finish great holidays .... back to real life tomorrow!!! * I want minions!!! * Today I am Thankful for being able to spend school holidays at home with the girls, pain-killers* and friends who know me so well! * I just participated in an automated telephone survey that had the fastest talking voice imaginable! It made me sound like I speak slowly. * I ♥ Autumn, holidays, chick lit, sleeping children, surprises, purple toe-nails, fairy magic, crossing things off my to-do list, making pictures in the clouds and fun stationary * Back to real life and work .... and a wonderfully organised desk thanks to the lovely Tanya. And to my colleagues who are placing bets on how long this will last, the insder tip is Tuesday :oP * Dear Chaos,We meet again! Did you miss me? Apparently I missed you. Looking forward to a long and prosperous association. Let's treat each other nicely! Thanks heaps, Cath xxx * Today I am Thankful for the wonderful members of the school community who facilitate the Mothers' Day stall. The girls all came home super excited about the presents they had bought. Adding to the excitement is that they earned from Daddy so it makes it a Mummy-free process! Lots of smiles all round and I am anticipating lots more on Sunday!!!! * Parenting moment of the day: Trying to explain to Aimee why it is not a good idea for her to correct her teacher's punctuation (or spelling or grammar for that matter) on her assignment sheet. Even if the teacher was wrong. And even if she is right. The comments "no-one is perfect" and "everyone makes mistakes" earned me blank looks from the little one! * Having school, work and uni all start again on the same day feels a little mean! Or badly organised ......... Note to self: Think of this next semester! * Coffee machine is back! Hot chocolate is making me very happy :) * Today is Friday :) .... I feel this says it all! * The list of things to do this afternoon is getting longer by the second! I am determined not to forget anything this time. * I did not think the hairdressers would take so long! I have three very gorgeous (and much neater) girls now :) * I ♥ Autumn, rain, slushies, choc orange stuff, board games, champagne, surprises, wearing jeans to work, my beautiful babies, cushions, wishing on stars and crossing things off my to-do list * "If you think my hands are full then you should see my heart". * Find of the morning: "Land and Sea Tales for Scouts and Guides" by Rudyard Kipling, Commissioner, Boy Scouts. 1923 edition means Scouts were still using the (left-facing) swastika as a symbol. Massively excited about this (even if no-one else gets it) and the book makes the trip a success even if we didn't get what we actually wanted!!! * Enterprising daughters + Mothers' Day + craft stuff = surprises + (relatively) peaceful coffee catch-up time * When did Doritos get so yummy?! * I really want donkey-dragon baby pets! Dronkies? So cute! The minions could look after them. * Bacon and scrambled eggs by Chef Reanna, French toast by Chef Erin and beautiful serving by Miss Aimee. Showered in presents and set to bed to read for the morning. Perfect day so far! Happy Mothers' Day to all the mums out there. Hope you are having a lovely day! * I know it is really predictable but this doesn't stop it from being true so I am going to say it anyway! .... Today I am Thankful for my mother, my daughters, Terri-Anne, Jeanne and Nanna Jan. Also, for all my friends who are sharing the parenting journey with me! * The rest of Perth may be still in the grip of Beiber fever (well a certain demographic anyway), but this household* is concentrating on Miley Cyrus!


Wow! I didn't think that would be so long. I have also come to the conclusion I need to tone down on the exclamation marks.

Pretending

This is where I pretend that all the amazing posts I wrote in the last 10ish months have been deleted. Clearly this is a lie, although in my defence I have written some fabulous ones in my head. Stay tuned though for some amazing new developments in (my) blog-land!

Toothpick v Needle

It is 9:48 am according to my computer clock on a Saturday morning and I have nothing on until tonight except normal housework type stuff. However I have already had to explain to Aimee why she cannot sew a badge onto her Guide uniform. Simple version is I wanted to finish reading my book before I got up. She was ok with this. The complicated version is that I then had to explain why she could not use a toothpick instead of a needle. I don't know why she thought of it. Mummy needs more chocolate and yes I was in bed.

I'm ba-ack!!!

And this time I am pretty sure I am back for good. While I can hear the skeptics out there not believing me, this time I have a plan.

I have started a 100 words challenge at http://www.100words.com/about.php and so far it is up to day 12 and I have posted everyday. My theory is by the end of the day I will be used to writing every day I will want to keep it up! For this month, because it is my first month I have been treating it pretty much like a blog. Next month (can you hear the optimism?) I think I will use it for a specific purpose. As yet I am not sure what that purpose will be but I have at least another two weeks to decided!

Writing aside, it is the middle of the school holidays (and my holiays from work). We have been visiting people like crazy, cleaning/organising the house like crazy and it is raining LOTS!

I am also adding Quiz Nights (my table came third last night!) and Christmas-In-July* dinners to the list of things that just make me happy.

(*disclaimer: I love Christmas-in-July as a fun thing to do with family and friends or as a fundraiser. I do not like the shops decorating like it is Christmas).

Note to self ....

... must remember to post! But on the upside one of the reasons I have not posted is because life has been fairly drama free.

School holidays were awesome, I am loving work, children are fabulous, I have amazing friends .... What else can a girl ask for???

Oh, and I am most definitely making the most of not studying!

Hmmm ... what happened to March?!

Ok ... so I may have missed March! And in all honesty I am not quite sure what happened to it. How did we get to April the FOURTH month of the year so quickly??

March for me was full of emotional ups and downs. The end of February was our wedding anniversary and strangely my ex took me out for it. I do realise this is very odd but it was a nice night and I am happy we are at the point we can do this. Then at beginning of March was year since he moved out and the 11 year anniversary of my brother's death. This still makes me sad, but I am ok with this. I never want to be at the point where it doesn't. March was also full of stuff with the girls, work (and I love my new position by the way), uni, friends, family and all the other things that fill up my world.

Now we are in April! Easter was great (admittedly it is my favourite time of year) and I had an amazing time with my cousins who came to visit me from South Australia.

I have also made a big decision. To withdraw from the unit I was enrolled in this semester. Stopping uni, even for a few months is a big thing for me. I am scared I will never go back, I am scared of being a "failure" and I am scared it will have long term consequences. It will show on my transcript as being "withdrawn" and this will be there forever. All this aside I think it was a good decision though. I was behind in everything and nowhere near finishing my assignment the day after it was due. So a lesson in humility, a lesson in time-management and a lesson in learning to say it is ok that I can not do everything all of the time! I am now excited about a week and a half at home with my babies (and various extras) with no uni to worry about and about having four months to concentrate on my house before going back next semester. Hopefully with an organised house and a rested mind. I will also mention here I have friends who mean the world to me! And validated my decision without a thought, without a hesitation and really helped me feel happy that I made it.

Finally, just to add to my list of things that just make me happy: Easter; hot cross buns; finding a car park right where you need one; chocolate; friends who know what you need even when you won't admit it.

PS I have no idea why these last two paragraphs aren't being shown seperately. It is going to annoy me forever but I will just have to live with it!

Phew ... Just made it!!

And by it, I mean I have just managed to write a post for February. I know! I am slack. This is what happens when I bragged about how good I was at posting last time.

I have a couple of things to add to my "List Of Things That Just Make Me Happy". Gel pens - they are just fun and pretty and they are nice and smooth to write with (actually having some where they are supposed to be rather then being stolen by my daughters would also make me happy but let's not go there!). Fireworks - we went on Australia Day. I have no real reason for this one. I just think they are fun! Birthdays - I have no problems getting older and I had the most perfect birthday weekend for my 30th!!

I am also happy to report I have made two new salads. I was given a salad cookbook, servers and a salad bowl for my birthday. They were a present from friends I had shared my NY resolution with. The bonus is because they were a present, I made sure I used them (and twice in less then two weeks too). So far I have made a waldorf salad (by request of the ex - who was a little impressed when I actually did it. It is it too childish to laugh at him?!) and a watermelon, watercress and fetta salad (I am also proud of myself for thinking to do this when I realised I had a watermelon I needed to use).

PS I am super proud of myself for working out how to add photos to this! Oh have I mentioned I am technologically challenged as well as domestically challenged??? The Honey Joys in the pic are from my birthday. The girls and I added them in honour of a friend who was interstate on the day! I did manage to burn myself while making them but they were yummy!