It is all about compromise ...

I constantly get the "I don't know how you do it" comments. Work, children, study etc and I am on my own, I guess it is not that surprising. The hard bit is knowing what to say. I don't want to whinge. I do happen to love my life even though it is insane, but to shrug and go it is easy is (a) not true; and (b) feels a little rude. Mostly I just laugh and say "not doing housework helps". Which is true(ish) and at least I can say it with a smile.

But it is about compromise. For example, I had an exam so minimal housework and no washing folded for two weeks. Partly because I fold clothes when I watch tv and I haven't watched any tv for what feels like ages. Partly because I have been too tired/stressed/busy to care. And admittedly partly because I don't really like housework, but this time I did have a legitimate excuse.


What can I say?! Life happens. Nothing in the laundry (that basket is from today).




The clothes are clean and I am sure foraging is good for the girls. Going back to basic instincts and all that. Compromises :) Now can everyone please keep their fingers crossed that I passed the exam!!! And I am off to watch tv and fold clothes :)

**NEWSFLASH**

I got my first real comment from a real person! Sorry Lela but you don't count :) I now feel like a proper blogger. Thank you Jeanette! You have made my day :)

*End of Newsflash*

NB. I still need to work on exclamation marks.

Coming out of the cupboard

This post is going to be very brief, because I am fully aware I am procrastinating (hello uni books! I can see you!) .... but ... I have (yet another) confession! I have been a secret blog watcher for ages now. It has only been the in the last few weeks I have been brave enough to publicly follow any of them. Tonight's achievement was I actually posted a comment on one! I am very proud of myself.

Part of the reason I haven't followed was I was scared someone would actually read my blog and realise how bad it is! I love to write. I really, really do. I get so much enjoyment out of updating my facebook status (just in case you haven't noticed in my previous posts), but I just haven't found the right writing style for my blog yet. I think I am almost there.

In fact, I dislike some of my earlier posts so much I almost deleted them but I decided not to. It didn't really seem to fit with the spirit of things. I also think I was trying to be a bit too deep and meaningful. Along with blog writing style I still need to really work out what I am writing about!

So if someone out there is reading this, please stick with me! I will get better I promise :) and to all those blogs out there I have been secretly following - thank you for sharing your stories!

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 :)

So much to say!

I haven't forgotten about this blog! I have so much to say. It has been Reanna's birthday. So I have to blog a post on her. I actually got halfway through this and then something went wrong. I don't know what, my computer skills are not that good. We have had some other fun stuff on too that I would like to share.

However a cold most of last week drained any spare energy and I have my exam next on Tuesday so I know doing a decent post is really just procrastinating and I am trying very, very hard not do to that. Only one exam this semester though! So, as of Tuesday evening I am on holidays from uni at least :)

Stay tuned for the promised posts. But here is a photo to keep you wondering .... (and to remind to what I was planning to write about).



Argh! My picture is sideways. I will fix this later when I work out how. For the minute it can stay as it is while I get back to the books.

PS Haha. I didn't look at the blog before I wrote this! I had forgotten I had done a whingy post about exams and being sick! Oops. I didn't mean to repeat myself! That said ... I am not going to change it ;)

*Whinge Alert*

I am sad and I am grumpy. I was all psyched up to post about something interesting. I hadn't exactly made up my mind about what that interesting thing was yet, but I am sure it was going to be great. However, now I have a cold. It is definitely not the flu, but it is making me miserable. I am pretty sure it is a man-cold. Partly because I am feeling yucky and I am very whingy, but mostly because I am pretty sure I caught it from a man. And he was defintely more whingy then anything else! I am even sadder, because I am studying for my exam next week and fuzzyheadness is not good for this. On the upside, work is quietish (so I can plod along), my exam isn't until next Tuesday (and after feeling awful for three days I think I am definitely on the mend) and Reanna is away (and I am missing her lots but it does mean there is less running around).

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.