I feel like such a slacker when I look at other peoples blogs... I am not really all that consistent at this. I also write novquarteels most of the time and I am sure thats not all that appealing to most people, but never mind. It interests me and hopefully the odd other person out there gets value from it.
I have had a blah day.
It started late... I woke up at about quarter to seven to twins yelling in their cots and I thought "2 minutes please girls" and next thing I know its 8... they must have gone quiet cos I don't sleep through them. At least I hope I don't. Its kinda funny when people say "I don't sleep through things" Cos how would they know? They would have been asleep at the time - surely?
Although I am pretty sure I never sleep through the kids.
Anyway's so I get up, change them, feed them blah blah, just feeling really despondent... just blah, not in the mood for anything.
Feel like having a long cry.
The girls were grouchy. I dont know if thats cos I was or if they would have been anyways.
We went to the local library for rhyme time which is usually a highlight of the week but today they were little tantruming things and made me feel very embarrassed and I was rather glad when it was over.
Then we had to go to an appointment, and while we were there a couple of young guys had a rather loud and frightening fistfight outside the doors. During which a young woman got caught in the crossfire and knocked down, spilling everything from her bag all over the pavement.
And then we had to leave. I felt very small and frightened. I am not used to seeing fighting on the street. That is just not something that happens in the neighbourhood we live in. I was standing there with a toddler on each side thinking, I dont want to walk to my car. We are only small. If anything happens theres only me with these children.
As it happened, the fighting people had cleared off so we got to the car without incident.
Today is a thankful for good friends day. I got home to one of my closest friends waiting in my driveway and felt very blessed.
After a nice long gossip the afternoon was over, and it was time to get Rockchick from school.
I'm very grateful to my friend for taking my mind off my mood. And I will be grateful when my husband gets home. My husband is one of the few people on the planet that really understands these moods I get in and accepts me. And loves me anyway.
Mostly I will be grateful at bedtime. Goodnight world.
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
Play Styles in Pre-school Children.
Recently we had a child development team come to investigate Banky-Boos slow start to walking... while I was assured she was normal (which I already knew) in the letter I received about the visit it mentioned that BankyBoo and CheekyLala have completely different play styles, and therefore it would be unfair to compare.
That was it. No elaboration on that statement. I was left with a feeling of "What does that mean?" What are the different styles of play, does that mean that I need to support that in different ways? If so, HOW? This has gotten me into an observation mode, my analytical brain tick tick ticking.
Sure I already KNEW they had different styles of play, they are completely different children, with completely different interests. One of the ways I know this is actually THROUGH comparison.
Bankyboo is a thinker, she enjoys imaginative play more that any other type. She is less likely to need validation for this, and is more likely to remain contented in her corner. She loves movement style play like dancing and physical touch. She is more likely to relax into a cuddle. She enjoys baby dolls and playing near or with her sister. Shes quiet and rarely babbles, but is usually very clear when she does speak. While she has a sweet temperament and tantrums less often, but when she tantrums it can last a long time. She is quicker to anger than her sister. While she can solve problems she is more likely to get bored and move onto something else. She likes staying near her "people". She undresses herself.
Cheekylala is a doer, she wants to KNOW everything and she wants us to tell her so she can learn it. She is more dependant than her sister, not needing her own space as much and rarely straying far from me. She loves puzzles, problem solving type play like "posting" and building. She is a chatterbox and wanders about the house calling whoever is in her head at that moment. She is a babbler. She is more likely to tantrum when things don't go her way, but gets over it quickly. Shes a problem solver. But she does not undress herself. She is more likely to have "accidents", being physically adventurous.
They both misbehave to get attention, and they both love watching tv! They both like to "help" mummy or daddy.
Its kind of interesting setting it all out like that.... its almost like they (God, the powers that be, genetics, whatever you call it) took two people and separated the personality's and then kinda patch worked it back together into twins.
This morning we read a book about insects and Cheekylala was able to label almost all of them, and the two she didn't know, she wanted me to repeat the name several times then on a second read she was able to label them. Her sister, standing next to us reading the same book parroted the names and knew a few, but lost interest quickly and moved on.
Later this morning we played with the Duplo and spent a long time learning the colours. Bankyboo was immediately on my knee, while Cheekylala was content to sit near us to play. While Bankyboo would repeat the colours after I said them, she was not interested in engaging in a colour search with me, while Cheekylala happily piled all the red blocks together, then the blue etc. Bankyboo wanted to build. We had a great time making little buildings of blocks and then banging them down and it was really interesting for me to watch.
I have seen this in other areas too, while drawing together, Cheekylala wants me to draw objects and letters so she can study them, and gets very angry when I tell her to try, while Bankyboo will snatch the crayon off me to draw herself.
Bankyboo is more likely to use several colours during drawing and Cheeklylala rarely switches colours, making me think she is more interested in the shapes.
They are both keenly intelligent, Cheekylala is what I believe slightly more analytical and Bankyboo is a little more practical. Air vs. earth.
They are both definitely girls! We have shoes all over the house. They are very keen on having a say in what clothes they wear and quite decisive about it. Though they have yet to take on any particular style. Ending up with interesting mismatched outfits.
I struggle to find ways to play with Bankyboo as she is quite independent, and often not interested in engaging with me in play. But she will come and lean into me for cuddles. Her temperament is closer to her fathers and he understands her better. I feel like a dreadful mother admitting such a thing but it is true. I adore all my children equally, but differently. They are different children.
I am struggling to find any information for the everyday person about styles of play and what that means. A Google search took me to many psychology studies, most of which I need to belong to the website or pay for to read. I intend to have a good peruse through my old university textbooks later to see what I can find. Such a thing is impossible with two toddlers underfoot! I have trouble setting my mind to reading university textbooks in a quiet moment let alone with toddlers climbing all over me!!
In the meantime I do know that all my children feel loved and supported, and in no way do I try and make them into something they are not. But at the same time I wish to discover the different "Playstyles" and what that requires of me the parent.
xx The Rambling of Another Mother
That was it. No elaboration on that statement. I was left with a feeling of "What does that mean?" What are the different styles of play, does that mean that I need to support that in different ways? If so, HOW? This has gotten me into an observation mode, my analytical brain tick tick ticking.
Sure I already KNEW they had different styles of play, they are completely different children, with completely different interests. One of the ways I know this is actually THROUGH comparison.
Bankyboo is a thinker, she enjoys imaginative play more that any other type. She is less likely to need validation for this, and is more likely to remain contented in her corner. She loves movement style play like dancing and physical touch. She is more likely to relax into a cuddle. She enjoys baby dolls and playing near or with her sister. Shes quiet and rarely babbles, but is usually very clear when she does speak. While she has a sweet temperament and tantrums less often, but when she tantrums it can last a long time. She is quicker to anger than her sister. While she can solve problems she is more likely to get bored and move onto something else. She likes staying near her "people". She undresses herself.
Cheekylala is a doer, she wants to KNOW everything and she wants us to tell her so she can learn it. She is more dependant than her sister, not needing her own space as much and rarely straying far from me. She loves puzzles, problem solving type play like "posting" and building. She is a chatterbox and wanders about the house calling whoever is in her head at that moment. She is a babbler. She is more likely to tantrum when things don't go her way, but gets over it quickly. Shes a problem solver. But she does not undress herself. She is more likely to have "accidents", being physically adventurous.
They both misbehave to get attention, and they both love watching tv! They both like to "help" mummy or daddy.
Its kind of interesting setting it all out like that.... its almost like they (God, the powers that be, genetics, whatever you call it) took two people and separated the personality's and then kinda patch worked it back together into twins.
This morning we read a book about insects and Cheekylala was able to label almost all of them, and the two she didn't know, she wanted me to repeat the name several times then on a second read she was able to label them. Her sister, standing next to us reading the same book parroted the names and knew a few, but lost interest quickly and moved on.
Later this morning we played with the Duplo and spent a long time learning the colours. Bankyboo was immediately on my knee, while Cheekylala was content to sit near us to play. While Bankyboo would repeat the colours after I said them, she was not interested in engaging in a colour search with me, while Cheekylala happily piled all the red blocks together, then the blue etc. Bankyboo wanted to build. We had a great time making little buildings of blocks and then banging them down and it was really interesting for me to watch.
I have seen this in other areas too, while drawing together, Cheekylala wants me to draw objects and letters so she can study them, and gets very angry when I tell her to try, while Bankyboo will snatch the crayon off me to draw herself.
Bankyboo is more likely to use several colours during drawing and Cheeklylala rarely switches colours, making me think she is more interested in the shapes.
They are both keenly intelligent, Cheekylala is what I believe slightly more analytical and Bankyboo is a little more practical. Air vs. earth.
They are both definitely girls! We have shoes all over the house. They are very keen on having a say in what clothes they wear and quite decisive about it. Though they have yet to take on any particular style. Ending up with interesting mismatched outfits.
I struggle to find ways to play with Bankyboo as she is quite independent, and often not interested in engaging with me in play. But she will come and lean into me for cuddles. Her temperament is closer to her fathers and he understands her better. I feel like a dreadful mother admitting such a thing but it is true. I adore all my children equally, but differently. They are different children.
I am struggling to find any information for the everyday person about styles of play and what that means. A Google search took me to many psychology studies, most of which I need to belong to the website or pay for to read. I intend to have a good peruse through my old university textbooks later to see what I can find. Such a thing is impossible with two toddlers underfoot! I have trouble setting my mind to reading university textbooks in a quiet moment let alone with toddlers climbing all over me!!
In the meantime I do know that all my children feel loved and supported, and in no way do I try and make them into something they are not. But at the same time I wish to discover the different "Playstyles" and what that requires of me the parent.
xx The Rambling of Another Mother
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Middle of the night darkness.
I dont mind though, In fact I'm rather grateful, as I was already awake.
And thinking dark thoughts.
"You are useless, why cant you just do the housework as you go so you dont end up living in a pigsty?"
"Why can't you just keep on top of things."
"You're a lazy cow." (one of my favourite self-depreciating remarks)
"You aren't good enough. You have to work harder."
"Why can't you just give up the smoking? Do you want to be around for your kids or not?" And then the anxiety attacks start and I can barely keep them away. Beyond the darkness. Please stop thoughts, please stop brain! Just stop...
So yes, I am grateful to my girls for giving me a good excuse to get away from those thoughts. Breaking up fights and dealing with toddlers is a great distraction.
Its easier to shut it all up in the day.
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Crayon Disasters.
Bring on holidays!! Been having fun doing some of the stuff I planned. In my usual over-ambitious way I have planned more than I can possibly fit into two weeks, especially when I continued to work for one of them.
Previously I have soldiered on through the holidays but this time I thought to my self "why did I start this job?" Sure my main reason was that it was available, but I could have gone out and gotten any old job like any other person, but I took this opportunity because I could work it around my family.
But have I? No, not really. Apart from the many (many) medical appointments I have not really "worked around my kids" no more often my kids have fitted around my work.
And for the most part thats how it should be, I am in this to run a business, to make money and improve my family's financial situation. To do that I must put in the hours.
But at the same time we were coming up to these holidays and I thought, you know what? No one is going to die if I take the second week off. So I have, and am spending some quality time with my babies.
I am also taking the opportunity to dedicate a day to myself. Mental health and well being and all that jazz.
In the words of one of my favourite authors: Terry Goodkind If you are at all interested in the fantasy genre and have not read him, then do: Life is for living, so rise up and live it.
Yesterday me and the kids spent the morning browsing round the local shops and while that may not have been everyone's favourite way to spend time with their kids it was fun to just wander with them, be involved in what they are interested in and get some ideas for xmas. Looming up fast the fat man in a red suit and all his dollar requirements.
Then home and lunch and twins down for a nap. And I thought time to see what I can do, so I sorted out the crayons, long ones short ones, stubbs. This was all in the thought of "I will make these" :
Previously I have soldiered on through the holidays but this time I thought to my self "why did I start this job?" Sure my main reason was that it was available, but I could have gone out and gotten any old job like any other person, but I took this opportunity because I could work it around my family.
But have I? No, not really. Apart from the many (many) medical appointments I have not really "worked around my kids" no more often my kids have fitted around my work.
And for the most part thats how it should be, I am in this to run a business, to make money and improve my family's financial situation. To do that I must put in the hours.
But at the same time we were coming up to these holidays and I thought, you know what? No one is going to die if I take the second week off. So I have, and am spending some quality time with my babies.
I am also taking the opportunity to dedicate a day to myself. Mental health and well being and all that jazz.
In the words of one of my favourite authors: Terry Goodkind If you are at all interested in the fantasy genre and have not read him, then do: Life is for living, so rise up and live it.
Yesterday me and the kids spent the morning browsing round the local shops and while that may not have been everyone's favourite way to spend time with their kids it was fun to just wander with them, be involved in what they are interested in and get some ideas for xmas. Looming up fast the fat man in a red suit and all his dollar requirements.
Then home and lunch and twins down for a nap. And I thought time to see what I can do, so I sorted out the crayons, long ones short ones, stubbs. This was all in the thought of "I will make these" :
AND another thing to cross off my list of 101 things.
Mine did NOT work the same as these ones.... I am not entirely sure why... I have several theories including "baked too long" "baked too hot" "different brands" but really... they just didnt really work.
At thought at first I might have accidentally put one of the oil pastels in too, as there seemed to kind of pool at the top with some weird liquid that was just brown... and very intelligently I poured it down the sink.
Wasn't I clever? I mean, what an INTELLIGENT thing to do??!!
So I come back to the sink to find a pool of solidified wax there... Oh sh** I thought. I chipped it away, and then realised that the sink was bloody blocked.
I blocked the sink with crayons. I BLOCKED THE FRICKEN SINK???
Try explaining that one to the landlords think I... "Hi there, well my brain fell out on the way to the hospital to have twins and it never did get fully recovered... I think a truck may have run over it and damaged vital parts of reason and common sense...."
TRY explaining that one to my husband (by the way, he still doesn't know this story.... I am not hiding it or anything.... no no no I am uhhhm well.... rather mortified at myself!).
Ok so think think... what to do... Boil kettle, and pour boiling water down the sink.... wait. wait. A few small ribbons of wax appeared and I scalded my hand pulling them out as quickly as possible, melted wax mind you, that kind of attached itself to my hand like a leech and discolour it....
MORE hot water.... the sink is rapidly filling with hot water and I am squeezing major amounts of dish liquid in as well for good measure.
More ribbons of wax...
And suddenly WHOOSH the whole thing empties. Well thank eff for that.... One more kettle of hot water down the sink and a copious squeeze of dish liquid for good measure.. and then I remember that the crayons are still in the oven.
Pull em out. Very brown and rather odd looking things but after they re-hardened and I popped them out I saw that the bottoms looked like this.
Not too bad for a first effort. I intend to have a few more goes, perhaps melting the colours separately and then pouring them into the moulds... no not the sink. The moulds.
And yes, I can be incredibly ditzy at times....
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother
Friday, 7 October 2011
Dern it!
So my lovely daughter cleaned her room up, and I told her she could vacuum it too if she wanted. So she proceeded to vacuum EVERY LITTLE THING up off her floor, and every big thing. Consequently it got blocked, but being young, and untrained in the ways of vacuums she continued to vacuum and after awhile the thing gave up and stopped working.
Oh crap. The things broken we said. Damn. We will have to buy a new vacuum we said.
Then I started looking at vacuums online. So many vacuums! So many choices!! I love this one:
Oh crap. The things broken we said. Damn. We will have to buy a new vacuum we said.
Then I started looking at vacuums online. So many vacuums! So many choices!! I love this one:
Its ONLY a grands worth of fantastic machine.... OMG FANTASTIC MACHINE!!
Oh the cleanliness! Oh the beauty! Oh how I want it... Wet and dry greatness. Deep cleaning splendour.
Dear Hubby laughed his bum off though.... I don't blame him... I mean a thousand dollars on a vacuum cleaner??
When I win lotto godfreys will be my first stop...
In the meantime we decided to settle for something a little more sensibly priced such as this:
Then my husband walks past the dead vacuum and flicks the switch. And it whirs to life.
Crap! I was looking forward to my new vacuum cleaner.
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Looking through my window...
This is a second post in one day yes... but I had to share, vent, whatever, the reason why I almost always have a headache by this time of day when my kids are home.
Most mornings go like this:
7am: Drag myself out of warm bed, tell Rockchick to start getting ready. Go to the toilet, remind Rockchick shes supposed to be getting ready. Go into the twins rooms, attempt to remember which one I dressed first yesterday (no favouritism) Yell at Rockchick that shes not supposed to be standing in the hallway, but is meant to be getting dressed in uniform. Fail to remember which one I dressed first yesterday and grab the nearest twin, and start dressing her. The other twin will now start either yelling or laughing depending on her mood. Realise I have forgotten their shoes and go into the living room to find them, remind Rockchick on the way past that reading is not putting on her uniform, get back with the shoes retrieve the toddler from under the cot where she is searching for a dummy, fend off various limbs and close my ears to the objections and start to change and dress her. Ask Rockchick why she has come to stand in the hallway and is not getting dressed. Retrieve the toddler from across the room and get her clean nappy on, ask her which top she wants to wear and then remind her that she needs the tee-shirt before she can wear the sweater. Get the rest of her clothes on, then call out to Rockchick is she getting dressed as well as singing? Get the other twin: repeat.
7:20: Put the kettle on, ask Rockchick what she needs to do next to be ready on time for school. Make Rockchicks lunch, make the twins breakfast, make my coffee. Remind Rockchick that if she doesn't get ready on time she will be late for school. Ask her why she is wearing the dirty tights/t-shirt/skort she was wearing yesterday and send her back to change into clean ones and put the dirty ones in the laundry. Get fed up and make her breakfast (ask myself, is this possibly why she dawdles?) Decide I dont care and then brush and do everyones hair while they are eating at the table.
8 ish am: Sit down and drink my coffee and eat my toast, check in on facebook. Tell Rockchick that she is supposed to be eating not teaching the twins songs a syllable at a time. Get up and try and make the twins bring their plates to the bench. Sit back down. Remind Rockchick to EAT. Stand up and check the twins bag (which I always mean to do when I dress them but always forget). Go sit back down and remind Rockchick shes eating.
8:10: Almost time to go, head towards bedroom to get dressed, remind Rockchick on the way that we have to leave in fifteen minutes and she needs to be ready or she will be late. Get dressed, make bed, and remove dirty laundry from master bedroom to the laundry.
8:25: Go into toilet and take book off Rockchick, why on earth are you sitting on the toilet reading? Why is your bag not packed, your shoes and socks not on. Why did you pull your hair out, and why have you tried to plait it and created a dreadlock?
8:28: Yell at Rockchick to get off the toilet and get ready! Put the twins in the car, put their bag in the car, search house for sunglasses and wallet. Fail. Yell at Rockchick to get her socks and shoes on or she is going to be late.
8:30: Tell Rockchick we are going to go wait in the car, and that she is holding us up. Go wait in the car.
8:32: Toot the horn.
8:35: Toot again, Rockchick appears, cuddly toy in hand. Wind window down and remind her that she needs her bag for school.
8:37: Rockchick reappears with bag, call at her to shut the door. She comes and stands at the back door of the car and waves at the twins. I yell at her to get in the bloody car already.
8:40: Lecture Rockchick about getting ready in the mornings on time so shes not late. Stop at the school, redo her hair and kiss her goodbye, remind her to head straight to her classroom and ask where are we meeting after school today? (if I remember).
Now that is pretty much my typical morning every day, on my "work" days I then take the twins to kindy and then go home to work, but today it went like this:
8:42 arrive home, let twins out. Get another coffee and break up fight number one. Separate children. Get fed up and turn on tv for a little quiet. (at least kid noise quiet)
8:50 Sit down and answer my emails, drink coffee. Go break up fight number two.
9:20 sit on floor and play with twins. Remind them that mummys knee is big enough for two, read a story. read another story. Say no more stories and remove tantruming Cheeky Lala to her bedroom. Make another coffee.
9:40: Feel tired. Sit on chair for a minute.
9:42: attempt to tidy kitchen with two toddlers playing "run under the bridge" between my legs until I open the pantry to put something away, then listen to my daily rendition of "cookies? COOKIES!!!"
9:50: Give twins a cookie. Go put Dora on, finish kitchen.
10am Sit down, and feel tired. Go break up fight number three. Return stolen Blanket to Bankyboo, Tell Cheekylala that we do NOT take Bankyboos blanket, cos its her special blanky.
10:15: Turn off Dora and turn on Radio. Dance. Attempt to take turns picking up each twin, fail, try to get them to hold hands and dance all together, fail, break up fight number four.
10:30 Twins run off to bedroom. Feel grateful. Go put a load of laundry on. Listen to fight number five. Go into their room and yell that they do not pull all their clothes out of their dresser. Pull the sheets off their bed, put them in the laundry. Look at the pile of their clothes and decide not to put them back till later. Go write a blog post.
10:40: get climbed on by Bankyboo, Cheekylala comes in too and wants to join. Abandon Blog post and try to play on the floor with them, they run off. Go back to blog post.
11:00: Finish blog post, go to twins room and sigh at the larger pile of clothes on the floor. Yell at them that they do not do that. Feel tired. Go back to kitchen, unpack dishwasher. Hear twins fighting, ignore it. Fight number 6.
11:15 go into hallway, find twins have moved most of the pile of clothes to the hallway and have tucked themselves into bed on top. Feel tired.
11:18 Finish throwing last of pile back into their bedroom. Turn around and knock Bankyboo over. She screams, I feel guilty and sit down to cuddle her. Cheekylala snuggles in too and pats Bankyboo on the head. They start laughing and run off. I lean against the wall and feel tired.
11:20 Go break up fight number.... I have lost count.
11:35 Remember coffee I made at 9:20, start drinking it even though its cold. Start feeling headache come on with the next fight. Tell the twins that biting is definitely not ok and place them in time out. They then comfort each other. And run off to their bedroom. Feel tired.
11:40 Remember that attempting to tidy the living room is just stupid when the twins are up. Abandon the effort. Remember coffee. Go break up another fight.
11:55 Feel grateful that its almost lunch then naptime. Get a glass of water. Skull it. Hope that thats all the headache will turn out to be, skull another glass of water. Feel a bit sick. Go get Blanky back off Cheekylala and return it to Bankyboo. Remind Cheekylala that its not nice to take Bankyboos blanky.
12:00 attempt to make twins help clean up their mess. Feel tired. Give up and make their lunch. While they are eating I go make their beds for naptime. Make my lunch. Hide in my corner and check in on facebook while I eat. Get climbed on by various toddlers. Wish they would leave me to eat in peace. Return them to table to finish their lunch, attempt to return to mine. Break up another fight. Wolf down last part of my lunch then make bottles and put them into bed. Feel tired.
So thats typical life within my house. And I have a headache. I think this is more because I am tired today than anything else.
And now I am going to go tidy the living room, and hopefully vacuum.
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother.
Most mornings go like this:
7am: Drag myself out of warm bed, tell Rockchick to start getting ready. Go to the toilet, remind Rockchick shes supposed to be getting ready. Go into the twins rooms, attempt to remember which one I dressed first yesterday (no favouritism) Yell at Rockchick that shes not supposed to be standing in the hallway, but is meant to be getting dressed in uniform. Fail to remember which one I dressed first yesterday and grab the nearest twin, and start dressing her. The other twin will now start either yelling or laughing depending on her mood. Realise I have forgotten their shoes and go into the living room to find them, remind Rockchick on the way past that reading is not putting on her uniform, get back with the shoes retrieve the toddler from under the cot where she is searching for a dummy, fend off various limbs and close my ears to the objections and start to change and dress her. Ask Rockchick why she has come to stand in the hallway and is not getting dressed. Retrieve the toddler from across the room and get her clean nappy on, ask her which top she wants to wear and then remind her that she needs the tee-shirt before she can wear the sweater. Get the rest of her clothes on, then call out to Rockchick is she getting dressed as well as singing? Get the other twin: repeat.
7:20: Put the kettle on, ask Rockchick what she needs to do next to be ready on time for school. Make Rockchicks lunch, make the twins breakfast, make my coffee. Remind Rockchick that if she doesn't get ready on time she will be late for school. Ask her why she is wearing the dirty tights/t-shirt/skort she was wearing yesterday and send her back to change into clean ones and put the dirty ones in the laundry. Get fed up and make her breakfast (ask myself, is this possibly why she dawdles?) Decide I dont care and then brush and do everyones hair while they are eating at the table.
8 ish am: Sit down and drink my coffee and eat my toast, check in on facebook. Tell Rockchick that she is supposed to be eating not teaching the twins songs a syllable at a time. Get up and try and make the twins bring their plates to the bench. Sit back down. Remind Rockchick to EAT. Stand up and check the twins bag (which I always mean to do when I dress them but always forget). Go sit back down and remind Rockchick shes eating.
8:10: Almost time to go, head towards bedroom to get dressed, remind Rockchick on the way that we have to leave in fifteen minutes and she needs to be ready or she will be late. Get dressed, make bed, and remove dirty laundry from master bedroom to the laundry.
8:25: Go into toilet and take book off Rockchick, why on earth are you sitting on the toilet reading? Why is your bag not packed, your shoes and socks not on. Why did you pull your hair out, and why have you tried to plait it and created a dreadlock?
8:28: Yell at Rockchick to get off the toilet and get ready! Put the twins in the car, put their bag in the car, search house for sunglasses and wallet. Fail. Yell at Rockchick to get her socks and shoes on or she is going to be late.
8:30: Tell Rockchick we are going to go wait in the car, and that she is holding us up. Go wait in the car.
8:32: Toot the horn.
8:35: Toot again, Rockchick appears, cuddly toy in hand. Wind window down and remind her that she needs her bag for school.
8:37: Rockchick reappears with bag, call at her to shut the door. She comes and stands at the back door of the car and waves at the twins. I yell at her to get in the bloody car already.
8:40: Lecture Rockchick about getting ready in the mornings on time so shes not late. Stop at the school, redo her hair and kiss her goodbye, remind her to head straight to her classroom and ask where are we meeting after school today? (if I remember).
Now that is pretty much my typical morning every day, on my "work" days I then take the twins to kindy and then go home to work, but today it went like this:
8:42 arrive home, let twins out. Get another coffee and break up fight number one. Separate children. Get fed up and turn on tv for a little quiet. (at least kid noise quiet)
8:50 Sit down and answer my emails, drink coffee. Go break up fight number two.
9:20 sit on floor and play with twins. Remind them that mummys knee is big enough for two, read a story. read another story. Say no more stories and remove tantruming Cheeky Lala to her bedroom. Make another coffee.
9:40: Feel tired. Sit on chair for a minute.
9:42: attempt to tidy kitchen with two toddlers playing "run under the bridge" between my legs until I open the pantry to put something away, then listen to my daily rendition of "cookies? COOKIES!!!"
9:50: Give twins a cookie. Go put Dora on, finish kitchen.
10am Sit down, and feel tired. Go break up fight number three. Return stolen Blanket to Bankyboo, Tell Cheekylala that we do NOT take Bankyboos blanket, cos its her special blanky.
10:15: Turn off Dora and turn on Radio. Dance. Attempt to take turns picking up each twin, fail, try to get them to hold hands and dance all together, fail, break up fight number four.
10:30 Twins run off to bedroom. Feel grateful. Go put a load of laundry on. Listen to fight number five. Go into their room and yell that they do not pull all their clothes out of their dresser. Pull the sheets off their bed, put them in the laundry. Look at the pile of their clothes and decide not to put them back till later. Go write a blog post.
10:40: get climbed on by Bankyboo, Cheekylala comes in too and wants to join. Abandon Blog post and try to play on the floor with them, they run off. Go back to blog post.
11:00: Finish blog post, go to twins room and sigh at the larger pile of clothes on the floor. Yell at them that they do not do that. Feel tired. Go back to kitchen, unpack dishwasher. Hear twins fighting, ignore it. Fight number 6.
11:15 go into hallway, find twins have moved most of the pile of clothes to the hallway and have tucked themselves into bed on top. Feel tired.
11:18 Finish throwing last of pile back into their bedroom. Turn around and knock Bankyboo over. She screams, I feel guilty and sit down to cuddle her. Cheekylala snuggles in too and pats Bankyboo on the head. They start laughing and run off. I lean against the wall and feel tired.
11:20 Go break up fight number.... I have lost count.
11:35 Remember coffee I made at 9:20, start drinking it even though its cold. Start feeling headache come on with the next fight. Tell the twins that biting is definitely not ok and place them in time out. They then comfort each other. And run off to their bedroom. Feel tired.
11:40 Remember that attempting to tidy the living room is just stupid when the twins are up. Abandon the effort. Remember coffee. Go break up another fight.
11:55 Feel grateful that its almost lunch then naptime. Get a glass of water. Skull it. Hope that thats all the headache will turn out to be, skull another glass of water. Feel a bit sick. Go get Blanky back off Cheekylala and return it to Bankyboo. Remind Cheekylala that its not nice to take Bankyboos blanky.
12:00 attempt to make twins help clean up their mess. Feel tired. Give up and make their lunch. While they are eating I go make their beds for naptime. Make my lunch. Hide in my corner and check in on facebook while I eat. Get climbed on by various toddlers. Wish they would leave me to eat in peace. Return them to table to finish their lunch, attempt to return to mine. Break up another fight. Wolf down last part of my lunch then make bottles and put them into bed. Feel tired.
So thats typical life within my house. And I have a headache. I think this is more because I am tired today than anything else.
And now I am going to go tidy the living room, and hopefully vacuum.
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother.
I am the glue.
You know every family has one, the glue, that makes things happen, keeps things gelling, holds everyone together.
I have read in studies that this person is often the middle child, also known as the "peacekeepers" but I am the youngest. And kind of the "only" as I grew up as the only child in my home from the age of 7.
And I am the glue. I am the glue in the extended family, and in my immediate family. I keep everything going, everything gelling.
Well the glue is TIRED today. After a long day of glueing yesterday.
For me yesterday that was getting up at 3:30 am and driving both my folks to the airport to drop off my father for a flight over to Australia to visit his mother and brother, then home on time for hubby to go to work and then get all the children sorted for school/kindy. Which was amusing as we got home by ten to 6, and there was so much time to get everything done! My poor mother wanted to help me but when you are so used to getting it all done there is a rhythm to it and she was at a bit of a loose end.
It was all done by 7. Thats unheard of in my house (since thats usually when I am dragging my butt out of bed...) SO Rockchick and I decided to do some knitting... knitting at 7 am felt very decadent.... Mum had a little silver fern patch which she sewed onto her cabin bag as she wanted to strongly represent her country in England!
So anyway, kids off to school/kindy, back home and it felt like a weird limbo... a waiting game for time to return to the airport with mum.
I feel hugely responsible for my mum, she has been my rock on so many occasions and I have been hers. We have this meshed network of relationship in which we are best friends, mother and daughter, daughter and mother, and each others confidants. And she has diabetes and arthritis. And I had to hand her care (hohum) over to my older brother for the next few weeks. I had to give her up for the next few weeks.
It was very hard to let go.
When you have that much confusion inside of you its hard to not feel exhausted, let alone getting up at 3:30 in the morning and driving to the airport, an hour and a bits drive away. Twice.
So at 10 am we were back on the road to take my mum to the airport.
We were hoping to have lunch and a chance to say our goodbyes before she left but the traffic was bad, and we got there on time to check her in and put her through customs. So it felt very rushed.
And then she was gone. I raced up to the viewing platform and saw her go through - she didn't see me. But then I had to leave the airport, when my mum was flying off with part of my heart clutched in her hand. I am fairly certain she left a part of hers with me, so it was a fair trade.
I got home on time to have a quick shower and felt a bit fresher, answered my emails and send out a quote. But then it was into my afternoon. Wednesdays are my hardest afternoon at the best of times.
Pick up children, tap dancing, home dinner, bed, BLAH.....
And I still couldn't get to sleep before 11:30. Silly over-tiredness.
I am now waiting to hear from my brother that she has arrived safely in England. She is arriving at 7pm yesterday our time, after 23 hours on a plane. I do love how buzzy time differences are!!!
And now back to life. House semi tidy, work prep for a site visit this afternoon, with the kids in tow, that should be fun. And I am fairly certain that the twins have pulled all the clothes out of their dresser while I have sat here typing this.
I have read in studies that this person is often the middle child, also known as the "peacekeepers" but I am the youngest. And kind of the "only" as I grew up as the only child in my home from the age of 7.
And I am the glue. I am the glue in the extended family, and in my immediate family. I keep everything going, everything gelling.
Well the glue is TIRED today. After a long day of glueing yesterday.
For me yesterday that was getting up at 3:30 am and driving both my folks to the airport to drop off my father for a flight over to Australia to visit his mother and brother, then home on time for hubby to go to work and then get all the children sorted for school/kindy. Which was amusing as we got home by ten to 6, and there was so much time to get everything done! My poor mother wanted to help me but when you are so used to getting it all done there is a rhythm to it and she was at a bit of a loose end.
It was all done by 7. Thats unheard of in my house (since thats usually when I am dragging my butt out of bed...) SO Rockchick and I decided to do some knitting... knitting at 7 am felt very decadent.... Mum had a little silver fern patch which she sewed onto her cabin bag as she wanted to strongly represent her country in England!
So anyway, kids off to school/kindy, back home and it felt like a weird limbo... a waiting game for time to return to the airport with mum.
I feel hugely responsible for my mum, she has been my rock on so many occasions and I have been hers. We have this meshed network of relationship in which we are best friends, mother and daughter, daughter and mother, and each others confidants. And she has diabetes and arthritis. And I had to hand her care (hohum) over to my older brother for the next few weeks. I had to give her up for the next few weeks.
It was very hard to let go.
When you have that much confusion inside of you its hard to not feel exhausted, let alone getting up at 3:30 in the morning and driving to the airport, an hour and a bits drive away. Twice.
So at 10 am we were back on the road to take my mum to the airport.
We were hoping to have lunch and a chance to say our goodbyes before she left but the traffic was bad, and we got there on time to check her in and put her through customs. So it felt very rushed.
And then she was gone. I raced up to the viewing platform and saw her go through - she didn't see me. But then I had to leave the airport, when my mum was flying off with part of my heart clutched in her hand. I am fairly certain she left a part of hers with me, so it was a fair trade.
I got home on time to have a quick shower and felt a bit fresher, answered my emails and send out a quote. But then it was into my afternoon. Wednesdays are my hardest afternoon at the best of times.
Pick up children, tap dancing, home dinner, bed, BLAH.....
And I still couldn't get to sleep before 11:30. Silly over-tiredness.
I am now waiting to hear from my brother that she has arrived safely in England. She is arriving at 7pm yesterday our time, after 23 hours on a plane. I do love how buzzy time differences are!!!
And now back to life. House semi tidy, work prep for a site visit this afternoon, with the kids in tow, that should be fun. And I am fairly certain that the twins have pulled all the clothes out of their dresser while I have sat here typing this.
Oh the joys of being the glue!
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Crafty bliss.
So today I can cross off two items on my 101 Challange, at least somewhat....
My craft stuff is all in one place and reasonably neat and ordered now... stayed up until midnight getting it all done on Tuesday so that my office was clear for work day on Wednesday.... WHEW!!!
Now thats my craft stuff all piled up.... about a year or two ago I lost my crafty groove and got rid of about two thirds of it, but now that I have started up a craft circle with a group of friends I am starting to enjoy crafting again, and really enjoying teaching what I know to others, and opening my home to allow others to teach what they know and just generally feeling good about craft again. I posted this on facebook and a lot of people said WOW you have heaps of stuff, but to me, this is a small pile... I want to keep it that way though as for awhile there I had so much and so many projects on the go it was overwhelming. Now I am feeling I have it in a better perspective and a much more manageable load. I have also started "specialising" in just a few select crafts instead of trying to do everything. I dabble in this and that, but I mostly just stick to scrapbooking, knitting and embroidery and even knitting is really just a bit here and there...
Really looking forward to making these skirts for the girls for Christmas though :-)
If I can find some cool tops and short tights to go with they will all have a gorgeous Christmas outfit to wear for the day :-)
I mean HOW CUTE ARE THEY!!!! And sooo easy, take scraps of fabric in different colours and lengths, and a length of elastic, sew the elastic in a circle the right width and loop-tie the fabric pieces on! Viola!!
Loving it.
So anyway, back to the story...
After piling all my craft stuff on the floor I started thinking about what to do with it. We have a beautiful tv cabinet just shunted into a corner of the living room, behind my office nook, which has sat there for almost a year now, we have been listing it over and over on trade me and NO ONE WILL BUY IT which is odd because we think its one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture we have ever owned.
And I thought, well its just sitting there, doing nothing... I may as well use it. And all my craft stuff being stuffed in boxes in various locations around the house is really starting to drive me (and my husband) insane, so out came my graph paper and pencil and i measured, and thought, and measured and planned. Then I went browsing, and took my tape measure, and measured and planned, and priced. And got rather depressed, because to make it EXACTLY what I wanted to make it was going to cost a little bit more money than could justifiably spent. So I thought some more.
Finally, I thought well, I cannot (CANNOT) keep trying to work with a pile of craft stuff in my office, its so crowded and distracting that NOTHING is getting done. And so I went searching throught the house, turns out that there are bits and bobs from previous attempts at organising my craft clutter about, so I brought them all in (washed most of them) and looked, and thought. And came up with a plan. And got to work.
THEN my dearest mummy took me birthday shopping on Tuesday and let me choose some baskets to use for storage, which I so desperately wanted. and so I came home very inspired. And the next day (after my midnight doings) it was done!
Final results:
So I am rather pleased to at least have it all in one place, It will be (as many things often are) an ongoing project as I slowly get the rest of the wicker baskets to match and make the unit really look awesome. A work of art, that doubles as my craft space, which is functional, inviting, and ORGANISED I love feeling organised.
The other thing I can semi cross off my list is my notebook with Rockchick:
My craft stuff is all in one place and reasonably neat and ordered now... stayed up until midnight getting it all done on Tuesday so that my office was clear for work day on Wednesday.... WHEW!!!
Really looking forward to making these skirts for the girls for Christmas though :-)
I mean HOW CUTE ARE THEY!!!! And sooo easy, take scraps of fabric in different colours and lengths, and a length of elastic, sew the elastic in a circle the right width and loop-tie the fabric pieces on! Viola!!
Loving it.
So anyway, back to the story...
After piling all my craft stuff on the floor I started thinking about what to do with it. We have a beautiful tv cabinet just shunted into a corner of the living room, behind my office nook, which has sat there for almost a year now, we have been listing it over and over on trade me and NO ONE WILL BUY IT which is odd because we think its one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture we have ever owned.
Isn't it???
And I thought, well its just sitting there, doing nothing... I may as well use it. And all my craft stuff being stuffed in boxes in various locations around the house is really starting to drive me (and my husband) insane, so out came my graph paper and pencil and i measured, and thought, and measured and planned. Then I went browsing, and took my tape measure, and measured and planned, and priced. And got rather depressed, because to make it EXACTLY what I wanted to make it was going to cost a little bit more money than could justifiably spent. So I thought some more.
Finally, I thought well, I cannot (CANNOT) keep trying to work with a pile of craft stuff in my office, its so crowded and distracting that NOTHING is getting done. And so I went searching throught the house, turns out that there are bits and bobs from previous attempts at organising my craft clutter about, so I brought them all in (washed most of them) and looked, and thought. And came up with a plan. And got to work.
THEN my dearest mummy took me birthday shopping on Tuesday and let me choose some baskets to use for storage, which I so desperately wanted. and so I came home very inspired. And the next day (after my midnight doings) it was done!
Final results:
So I am rather pleased to at least have it all in one place, It will be (as many things often are) an ongoing project as I slowly get the rest of the wicker baskets to match and make the unit really look awesome. A work of art, that doubles as my craft space, which is functional, inviting, and ORGANISED I love feeling organised.
The other thing I can semi cross off my list is my notebook with Rockchick:
Happened to find the same one as Paisley Jade and it was the ONLY one I could pick as it was so right for the job!!! Was only $2.99 from The Warehouse!
Its meant to be secret but I couldn't help sharing her first letter: Dear Mum, How did the unicorns really die? So gorgeous!! And it gave me an idea for a childrens story I can write for number 26) Get a childrens book published.
Ohhhh yeah, got my creative groove on now!! See me pumping!!!
xx The Ramblings of Another Mother.
Monday, 26 September 2011
101 Challange
Thanks to Paisley Jade, I have fallen in love with (yet another) project stolen from: Catalina's 100 challange. A fellow linker, and then I spent half of last night creating my "list". Its fantabulously amasing and I have included a lot of stuff I want/wanted to do anyways.
I am doing it from birthday to birthday, but its starting a little early. I turn 27 next Tuesday, and then by the time I am 28 I intend to have achieved the following 101 Tasks. (yes true to form, I have altered the WHOLE challange... I do this with almost everything. thats why I can't sew....I don't do patterns)
So here goes:
1.Do this challenge first - Buy yourself a notebook. Use this as your journal to document your challenges. Take pictures of completed challenges where possible and add them to it. Use this notebook to collect all the things you need to write down. Use the notebook for all the lists you have to create during challenges. 26-09-2011
2. Buy a big canvas, and use some paint, with spoons, forks, in spritz bottles with the kids to create a masterpiece. Give them each a colour and myself. (and DH if he's home). Hang the masterpeice in a prominant location in the house. Sign and date it like "real" artists.
3. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger.
4. Do a body detox.
5. Write in my journal on a regular basis.
6. Have a picnic.
7. Make Tutu Skirts for the girls.
8. Buy our house.
9. Get my craft stuff organised and in ONE place.
10. Makeover the twins room.
11. Go to an opshop and buy something "ugly" with potential. Make it beautiful and wear it proudly.
12. Do the Dale Carnegie course.
13. Help someone do something they thought they couldn't.
14. Write down 7 separate places from my life that I hope to take your children to see.
15. Don't log into facebook for a week.
16. Listen to classical music while doing the housework.
17. Wake the kids up at 10.00 pm one night, just to say "I love you".
18. Look through my old recipe books, choose one book and try cooking every recipe in it!
19. Make exercise a part of my day.
20. Plant a vege garden.
21. Host a New Years Eve Dinner party.
22. Scrapbook the wedding.
23. Volunteer at Rockchicks school for a day.
24. Go for a family walk on the beach at sunset.
25. Create an eco-friendly home by making my own cleaners.
26. Get a children's book published.
27. Makeover Rockchicks room.
28. Plant spring bulbs.
29. Make homemade icecream.
30. Make a loaf of bread from scratch.
31. Stop taking my laptop to bed every night.
32. Send a personal letter, every week. Buy a letter writing set to do this with.
33. Create an occasion to wear my most impractical pair of shoes.
34. Go to a Sunday market and look at all the colours, people, stalls, food, gifts and smell and listen.
35. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger.
36. Write a letter to myself to read in ten years time.
37. Have a long, relaxing bath with bubble bath and bath oil. Read till my fingers wrinkle. Then go straight to bed. Do this as soon as the kids are down for the night.
38. Send a surprise I-think-you’re-fabulous handwritten note to someone.
39. Go fruit picking.
40. Write letters to 5 people who have influenced my life for the better and post them.
41. Make home-made jam or relish or preserve fruit and give the first one away.
42. Make a list of my 52 favourite quotes and make a deck of cards book with them.
43. Cut flowers, weeds, tree branches whatever is there and arrange them in a vase creatively. Thank the flowers etc as you cut them. Out loud.
44. Create the kids Journey Books.
45. Do the housework listening to classical music.
46. Make an "I'm Bored" jar. Make some Activities bags.
47. Answer the "50 questions that will free your mind".
48. Start a Notes Journal with Rockchick and keep it.
49. Pay for the next cup of coffee.
50. Don't complain about anything for a week.
51. Get a tattoo.
52. Write all my worst memories on paper. Burn it.
53. Make Gingerbread Houses.
54. Collect all my family and friends birthdays, put them into my calendar and send them all birthday cards by post.
55. Buy someone a bottle of bubble bath and a rubber ducky – this has got to be given to an adult!
56. Create my Dream House file.
57. Make friendship bracelets.
58. Blow up balloons for the kids birthdays and leave them on the floor for them to wake up to.
59. Donate Blood.
60. Lose 10 Kgs.
61. Make over the master bedroom.
62. Leave a card with a nice quote for someone under their window wiper.
63. Be a good friend and take over a batch of homemade cookies or a cake.
64. List 100 achievements I have managed in my life so far.
65. Collect all the crystals in the house, take them to a forest and roll them in the dirt, then to the beach and wash them in the sea. Bring them home and leave them in the moonlight. Replace them in the house the next day. Do this on a full moon.
66. Find out a friends fave cake flavour and bake it for them.
67. Jump in the bath with the kids.
68. Create an inspiration board.
69. Read 20 new books. And a few old and dear ones.
70. Build a sundial with the kids.
71. Put a love note in Rockchick's lunch box.
72. Make a list of 25 things I like about myself and put it on my mirror.
73. Create an Annual Scrapbook Template and use it!
74. If someone could describe you in 10 words what would you want those words to be? Write them down and read them every day this week. See if you really are living up to those words.
75. Wear a skirt or dress for an entire week.
76. Find a favourite piece of poetry – frame it, hang it.
77. Go on an op-shopping adventure with a friend.
78. Choose a photo of me and a friend. Write something on the back and send it to them telling them why I like the picture
79. Lay on a blanket with my kids and watch the clouds. Ask the kids what they see?
80. Finish my 365 days of photos challenge.
81. Make a gift for a friend, just because.
82. Make a reusable Advent Calendar.
83. Create my Crafts Book.
84. Go outside in the rain and get really wet. Take the kids. Look at the rain. Look at the colours.
85. Do a Marketing Course.
86. Create an "old magazine" creation.
87. Make a time capsule.
88. Create an area in your home that is just for my ‘creative space’ – maybe a corner with a chair in it or a whole room!
89. "Kidnap" Rockchick from school one day and go roller skating.
90. Buy a tabletop card holder and fill it with photos.
91. Create a craft box for the kids and pull it out at least once a month.
92. Have a romantic candle lit dinner for two.
93. Reuse the broken crayons to make new ones, and a couple of colourful candles too.
94. Write a letter to myself as if I was 70.
95. Have a family meal by candlelight.
96. Embroider a favourite quote. Hang it in my office.
97. Make Gloop
98. Plant a tree.
99. Let the kids decide the dinner menu one night, help them to make it, set the table and decorate it with whatever they want.
100. Read over my notebook and feel fantastic about everything I have achieved.
101. Buy my next notebook, and start my next list.
I am doing it from birthday to birthday, but its starting a little early. I turn 27 next Tuesday, and then by the time I am 28 I intend to have achieved the following 101 Tasks. (yes true to form, I have altered the WHOLE challange... I do this with almost everything. thats why I can't sew....I don't do patterns)
So here goes:
1.
2. Buy a big canvas, and use some paint, with spoons, forks, in spritz bottles with the kids to create a masterpiece. Give them each a colour and myself. (and DH if he's home). Hang the masterpeice in a prominant location in the house. Sign and date it like "real" artists.
3. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger.
4. Do a body detox.
5. Write in my journal on a regular basis.
6. Have a picnic.
7. Make Tutu Skirts for the girls.
8. Buy our house.
9. Get my craft stuff organised and in ONE place.
10. Makeover the twins room.
11. Go to an opshop and buy something "ugly" with potential. Make it beautiful and wear it proudly.
12. Do the Dale Carnegie course.
13. Help someone do something they thought they couldn't.
14. Write down 7 separate places from my life that I hope to take your children to see.
15. Don't log into facebook for a week.
16. Listen to classical music while doing the housework.
17. Wake the kids up at 10.00 pm one night, just to say "I love you".
18. Look through my old recipe books, choose one book and try cooking every recipe in it!
19. Make exercise a part of my day.
20. Plant a vege garden.
21. Host a New Years Eve Dinner party.
22. Scrapbook the wedding.
23. Volunteer at Rockchicks school for a day.
24. Go for a family walk on the beach at sunset.
25. Create an eco-friendly home by making my own cleaners.
26. Get a children's book published.
27. Makeover Rockchicks room.
28. Plant spring bulbs.
29. Make homemade icecream.
30. Make a loaf of bread from scratch.
31. Stop taking my laptop to bed every night.
32. Send a personal letter, every week. Buy a letter writing set to do this with.
33. Create an occasion to wear my most impractical pair of shoes.
34. Go to a Sunday market and look at all the colours, people, stalls, food, gifts and smell and listen.
35. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger.
36. Write a letter to myself to read in ten years time.
37. Have a long, relaxing bath with bubble bath and bath oil. Read till my fingers wrinkle. Then go straight to bed. Do this as soon as the kids are down for the night.
38. Send a surprise I-think-you’re-fabulous handwritten note to someone.
39. Go fruit picking.
40. Write letters to 5 people who have influenced my life for the better and post them.
41. Make home-made jam or relish or preserve fruit and give the first one away.
42. Make a list of my 52 favourite quotes and make a deck of cards book with them.
43. Cut flowers, weeds, tree branches whatever is there and arrange them in a vase creatively. Thank the flowers etc as you cut them. Out loud.
44. Create the kids Journey Books.
45. Do the housework listening to classical music.
46. Make an "I'm Bored" jar. Make some Activities bags.
47. Answer the "50 questions that will free your mind".
48. Start a Notes Journal with Rockchick and keep it.
49. Pay for the next cup of coffee.
50. Don't complain about anything for a week.
51. Get a tattoo.
52. Write all my worst memories on paper. Burn it.
53. Make Gingerbread Houses.
54. Collect all my family and friends birthdays, put them into my calendar and send them all birthday cards by post.
55. Buy someone a bottle of bubble bath and a rubber ducky – this has got to be given to an adult!
56. Create my Dream House file.
57. Make friendship bracelets.
58. Blow up balloons for the kids birthdays and leave them on the floor for them to wake up to.
59. Donate Blood.
60. Lose 10 Kgs.
61. Make over the master bedroom.
62. Leave a card with a nice quote for someone under their window wiper.
63. Be a good friend and take over a batch of homemade cookies or a cake.
64. List 100 achievements I have managed in my life so far.
65. Collect all the crystals in the house, take them to a forest and roll them in the dirt, then to the beach and wash them in the sea. Bring them home and leave them in the moonlight. Replace them in the house the next day. Do this on a full moon.
66. Find out a friends fave cake flavour and bake it for them.
67. Jump in the bath with the kids.
68. Create an inspiration board.
69. Read 20 new books. And a few old and dear ones.
70. Build a sundial with the kids.
71. Put a love note in Rockchick's lunch box.
72. Make a list of 25 things I like about myself and put it on my mirror.
73. Create an Annual Scrapbook Template and use it!
74. If someone could describe you in 10 words what would you want those words to be? Write them down and read them every day this week. See if you really are living up to those words.
75. Wear a skirt or dress for an entire week.
76. Find a favourite piece of poetry – frame it, hang it.
77. Go on an op-shopping adventure with a friend.
78. Choose a photo of me and a friend. Write something on the back and send it to them telling them why I like the picture
79. Lay on a blanket with my kids and watch the clouds. Ask the kids what they see?
80. Finish my 365 days of photos challenge.
81. Make a gift for a friend, just because.
82. Make a reusable Advent Calendar.
83. Create my Crafts Book.
84. Go outside in the rain and get really wet. Take the kids. Look at the rain. Look at the colours.
85. Do a Marketing Course.
86. Create an "old magazine" creation.
87. Make a time capsule.
88. Create an area in your home that is just for my ‘creative space’ – maybe a corner with a chair in it or a whole room!
89. "Kidnap" Rockchick from school one day and go roller skating.
90. Buy a tabletop card holder and fill it with photos.
91. Create a craft box for the kids and pull it out at least once a month.
92. Have a romantic candle lit dinner for two.
93. Reuse the broken crayons to make new ones, and a couple of colourful candles too.
94. Write a letter to myself as if I was 70.
95. Have a family meal by candlelight.
96. Embroider a favourite quote. Hang it in my office.
97. Make Gloop
98. Plant a tree.
99. Let the kids decide the dinner menu one night, help them to make it, set the table and decorate it with whatever they want.
100. Read over my notebook and feel fantastic about everything I have achieved.
101. Buy my next notebook, and start my next list.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Things I am Loving
Seen this all over the blog network and here I go, my first try! Linking up with Paisley Jade HERE
Having never "linked" before I am not sure exactly how it works so i hope it comes off alright.
So onto: Things I am loving RIGHT NOW
My kids playing dress ups, hearing them laugh their brains out over the dolly parton wigs, and DH joining in, throwing on the wig and shoving a pillow up his top to sing "Jolene"
http://pinterest.com/jazzem/ Yes yes I know, its OLD news, but for me its new and exciting and I am getting thousands of ideas of things to do and what I want to make.
Having never "linked" before I am not sure exactly how it works so i hope it comes off alright.
My kids playing dress ups, hearing them laugh their brains out over the dolly parton wigs, and DH joining in, throwing on the wig and shoving a pillow up his top to sing "Jolene"
http://pinterest.com/jazzem/ Yes yes I know, its OLD news, but for me its new and exciting and I am getting thousands of ideas of things to do and what I want to make.
That rockchick is turning out as creative as me with her lil scuptures. That she can come climb on my knee and have a nice cuddle, and do a little blutack sculpting at the same time.
Getting my creative groove on, Here we have a few of my latest projects. A wall hanging (there will be one each for the twins), a new grab-bag for me, and my ever growing heart quilt.
Again: Thanks Pinterest!!! This is the start of our family centre. There is an inbox for each family member, a meal planner and shopping list, and a monthly. I want to make a bigger monthly planner, and still have a few things to add, but its taking shape, and is already so useful!
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