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!