Why hello bloggy friends! It has been far too long since my last post. I do appologise. I must admit this post is purely about introducing you all to a fabulous friend of mine. Meet Jess:

This is a picture of my good friend Jessica and I at her perfectly delightful birthday tea party. I am very excited for her as she has decided to go into business doing event styling and vintage prop hire. This is Jessie's Blog: Vintage Pie.

"Here you will find a treasury of cool packages and props that you can browse and hire for photo shoots, weddings, engagements, birthdays, bridal showers, dinner parties, Christmas parties, proposals and anniversaries." ~ Jess She has such pretty things and I am sure will all enjoy marvelling at her creations... Enjoy!! ps. I promise I will find something interesting about my life to write about soon!

Communication

As I was getting ready for work in the bathroom this morning, this is how I heard my children communicating togther:

C: Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
L: [high pitched] AAAAAAAHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
C: STOP IT!!!!
E Argghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
L: [high pitched] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
C: DON'T YOU DARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E: DOOOoooooooooooooooooooN'T
L: [high pitched] AAAAHHRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG

And on it went.

How tiresome is sibling rivalry? Very.

Toilet Training.

Is probably my least favourite part of parenting.
At some point however [preferably during the warmer months] one's toddler needs to learn how to use a toilet instead of soiling her pants. Especially when this particular toddler is a lot taller than the average 2 year old. So it is becoming quite awkward to manage.

I understand why it takes them a few weeks to "get it". After all they have been allowed to use their nappy their WHOLE life. It's going to take some convincing that there is a better alternative.

But toilet training requires a mother's entire level of patience. All of it. Then there is none left over for the other children who aren't making their beds in the morning,, and who forget to bring their homework home, and who leave their shoes lying around the house, and who don't put their toys away... etc etc...

Even Libby's family daycare Carer was frazzled yesterday after cleaning up lots of messes and having absolutely zero success on the toilet (or potty).
I too am yet to hand out a sticker and quite frankly, it's disheartening.

Please remind me that they do eventually learn.

In a mere 6 weeks...

I gained 5 kilos.

It is SO easy to put it on and yet SOOOOOO hard to get it off.

So. Not. Fair.

Smurf invasion...

It seems that blue has invaded our pre historic television....

First, the tennis players turned blue.


And the crowd!


So I flicked channels & Gordan Ramsey is blue.


So I flicked channels again. Yep, the Goodwife is also blue...


As is Sandra Sully.



My hope arose. Swift Jim squashed them by turning our set top box off and then back on again. The smurfs have left and my dinosaur tv still works. Looks like we are stuck with it for a bit longer.

Some thoughts

Trying to figure out what goes on in my kids' heads...
I said to them in the car. "If you behave at the grocery shop we will have morning tea at the coffee shop. But if I have to rouse at you we will go straight home".
We went straight home.

I figured out that the reason my ironing pile is so huge is because we own too many clothes. Time to declutter.

I have discovered reusable book covers. That is exciting because this year I have 42 books to cover for back to school next week!

And finally. I have made some updates on my side bar. I figured it was due since the photo of Miss L was of her as a newborn baby!! Enjoy xo

Trying to think of a reason...

To put on my tutu again.

One doesn't aquire such an awesome addition to the wardrobe to only wear it once.
I have come up with a few reasons. Not entirely sure how appropriate they are though.

1. My parents are having their induction into their pastoral position at their new church on the 5 Feb. Surely a hot pink tutu at a conservative Baptist church is absolutely appropriate... yes?
2. I'm singing at church next sunday morning.....yes?
3. My MIL's birthday is in a week or so. I'm sure she'd love me to wear it to dinner celebrations... yes?

Or maybe I could just do the housework in it for something a little bit special?
Or maybe I could just turn 30 again this year???

Do you have any ideas?

It's completely everywhere!

I was standing in the checkout line at Big W the other day and started reading the covers of all the magazines while I waited. I saw my hand reaching for one of them intrigued to read more after the headline caught my eye.
Then I stopped myself. I realised something. Almost every popular magazine in front of me had something in common with each other....

"I lost 8 kilos in 12 weeks - Find out how"

"Your best body ever"

"Sexy Summer Diet"

"Get sexy abs in only 14 days"

"The body issue"

"Bikini War"

"Flat Belly secrets"

"Best Bikini makeovers ever"

"Diets to your door- weight loss made easy"

"Which laser treatment will change your life"

"Bikini confidence - 16 tips that really work"

"Booty vs Bones"

I kid you not, these are truly the headlines on the covers of all the popular magazines this week. Maybe they are milking the coming of the new year for all it's worth? But the amount of reference to losing weight and improving ones appearance astounded me. Needless to say I resisted the urge to purchase that magazine.

I am trying to figure out what my reason's for losing weight are....?
Is it because I really want it, or is it because the rest of the world is telling me I should?

I am really very unsure. I mean, I remember how good I felt when I was [young] and slim. I was confident and felt pretty. But, I think that most of the time I still feel that way (when I make an effort).
What am I striving for? Do I want to "fit in" or feel good? And is the battle really worth it?

We live in such a superficial world.

When did that happen?

Today she turned six.



She likes Barbie's.
She loves monkey bars.
She loves craft.
She giggles a lot.
She loves music.
She enjoys gymnastics.
She hates pineapple.
She loves swimming.
She wears size 11 shoes.
She is growing her hair.
She wants to be a policeman when she grows up.

Unplugging.

As I stepped into the sewing/computer room and opened the laptop, my two year old stood at the gate [that stops her from wreaking havic with pins and fabric and the like] and cried "Noooo Mummy"!! I thought to myself, "oh gee that's not good", then I replied to her, "Mummy won't be long"... After a while she went away and became entranced watching ABC Kids... the clock ticked by and after a while she came back crying "Nooooo Mummy". An hour had passed. I closed the computer then hurried to slap something together for dinner before Swift Jim got home from work. A common crazy sequence of events in the afternoons at my place.

Then yesterday I recieved this months edition of Footprints Magazine. I read through a few articles before bed and was seriously challenged by Jo's article called Unplugging from Social Media, you can read her piece here on her blog . It really struck a chord with me and I could really relate to what she was talking about. I pondered it a little through out the day today and decided to thank Janet for this months edition of Footprints on her Facebook page. She kindly linked me to a couple of other blog posts in regards to unplugging including one of hers. You can read it here .

You know that lump in your throat when you just know what the right thing to do is? Well I have it now.
Facebook has become such a massive part of my life, all consuming! Why don't I hear from God more? Probably because I have silly status updates running through my head constantly. It's a big step. My biggest fear of unplugging is "being out of the loop". Ridiculous isn't it. I survived before FB, there is surely life after it.
And my real friends will still make an effort with me no matter what.

My children deserve a Mummy that is present- present, not present-absent, there but not really there.
I feel like I have wasted too much precious time. They are only little for such a small amount of time. God gave me three precious gifts. The least I can do is enjoy them and give them my best. Afterall, God gave me His best when he gave me Jesus.

I feel like I am about to jump out of plane. I'm Unplugging from Facebook.
{thank goodness I never started twitter}

A reward...

I am back on track with my weightloss journey! Infact I tried on several dresses last week for our family portrait photo session.. Each dress I tried on was a size 14!! YAY I am only 1 dress size off my goal now! So excited...

I said at the beginning of the year that our reward for such a big weightloss effort would be really nice family portraits, not cheap pixi photo ones....

We ventured out to a farm out in the sticks late on sunday afternoon for the best light....
It was such a fun adventure, we all had an absolute blast and I am THRILLED with our sneak peak picture! We get to view the full shoot next week, I can't wait!!



You can see more of Miss A's lovely work at her website Popeto Portrait Studio

Sabotage.

Last week was the week that Aunt Flo came for a visit. Now usually when that happens I tend to sabotage my weightloss efforts to some degree because let's face it, chocolate is really the only thing that will get me through those few dark days. But somehow that sabotage has continued on to this week. It seems I am failing dismally at all attempts to resist bad food. Lots of bad habits are slipping back in and I am feeling quite meh about it all.
Is it even possible to realistically EVER get to my goal weight? How is it that some people find it really easy to diet their way to a healthy size AND maintain it. They do it in a short(ish) time frame and are able to keep the new habits they have made. I have gained weight for the past 2 weigh ins and I fear that this week will be the same. Some what embarrasing when you are in a challenge with 7 other people.

For me, I think food is an addiction, especially that which contains lots of sugar.
I have kicked the coke habit, so that's something I guess. (And by coke, I am refering to coca cola).

The realisation that 30 is indeed past my youth...

Today I was trying on some shorts in Target. You know how Target has heaps of mirrors in the change rooms so you can see your outfit from every angle... Well apparently I have a massive vericose vein on the back of one of my calfs. I gasped!! Not only that, but I have had to pluck a few grey hairs out of my eyebrows lately...

Yep, it's official. I am no longer youthful anymore.

It's been a while, I know!!

Sorry. Sorry for not updating very often and sorry for not commenting on your blogs.
I just simply cannot think of many worthwhile bloggable things and so I appologise. Also in regards to the not commenting, it wont let me. I have tried many times, but it just keeps logging me out, so I have given up. I do still read your blogs however, so I hope you don't think I have deserted you all.

So let me give you an update on the Swift's....

Me: I now work 4 days a week at an Optometrist. I gave up hairdressing altogether and absolutely LOVE my new job. As a result though I am still learning to juggle working, housework, homework and just doing the mum thing in general. But for the most part I am enjoying it. I am also just over 1/3 of my way to my weightloss goal. I have lost 12kg since february! Yay me!!

Swift Jim: Is certainly very swift these days! He has taken up cycling since losing 22kg earlier in the year and on the weekend completed a 100km bike ride!! So proud of him!

Chestnut Cheeks: Well he is soccer mad. He plays every thursday afternoon in a club and is out in the back yard every spare minute he has kicking the ball around. He also goes to Boys Brigade every friday night, which he loves too. He, me & homework however... BLAH don't get me started!!

Almond Eyes: She is my climber. Always up the tree or on top of the swing set. I enrolled her into Gymnastics last term and again this term, turns out she is quite talented! She was moved up a level after 3 weeks!

Cheeky Monkey: Well cheeky should have been her middle name! She is so cute. Even when she throws firey tantrums, which she does well and often. She is learning all her colours at the moment and when passing an oval surrounded by Jacaranda trees yesterday she exclaimed with much delight "Upple Tee!!!" which translated means, Purple Tree. Now every time we pass a jacaranda tree, she gets very excited. She is also learning how to use a potty at the moment. Not my idea of fun, but one of life's nessesities I guess.

I shall leave you with a picture of Dan and the kids after his big ride on sunday :)

~ a VeRy MeRrY uNbIrThDaY tO mE ~

They were hereby summoned to a fancy affair, where tea was poured with their pinkies in the air! On the twentieth day of the eighth month of the year at the hour of two in the afternoon.....











"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"You can't help that" said the cat, "We're all mad here"!

Being a parent.

Do you ever think that if you knew how hard it would be that maybe you wouldn't do it?

Somedays I really feel like I am not cut out for this gig. Today is one of those days.

I love them. A lot.

I just feel like I am doing them a bad service by being their mother.

How many hands does a woman have???

I was saying to Swift Jim last night that with all that I have on my plate at the moment I feel like a kettle boiling. You know bubbling away, getting hot, almost ready to spill over the edge...

Here is a list of all the things that consume my energy and brain power on a regular basis.
* Connor
* Ella
* Libby
* Being a wife
* Keeping a house in order (or in my case not in order)
* Sewing
* working 4 days a week (and learning how to do the job)
* Womens ministry stuff at church
* Writing a program to do with the "tween" girls at church
* Mum's taxi service (to soccer etc)
* Being a friend
and I am sure I could add 100 more things to that list, but I wont bore you... You get the idea....

My life is jam packed! I am exhausted! Trying to find a happy balance between everything is a real struggle. I am really enjoying my new job and the hours are extremely family friendly. I was juggling everything else ok until I threw 4 days of work into the mix. We need the money so I can't not work. Something has to give!
So, if I take sewing and Womens ministry stuff out of the picture will that lighten the load? I sure hope so.
I still want to sew. Afterall I worked SO hard last year to build FF&F up. But I need to downsize massively!! No more markets. I think I will still take orders in small amounts and occasionally add things to my online shop. But I doubt it will be on regular basis.
It's been hard to make a decision. But I think I am happy(ish) with it.

How do other women manage all their commitments?

Here's an embarrasing story for you...

This morning I woke up all refreshed and excited because it is my day off from work. Just me and Libby today! I had lots of jobs and errands to run and I was looking forward to it. So after hanging out the washing (*which was an interesting experience in itself*)Libby and I hopped into the car and headed to the shops. First errand was to get a new nose pad for her specs as one had fallen off and it was bothering her. Understandably. So I dropped into work before hitting the grocery shop. The time was 10:15am. On a normal working day my shift starts at 10am.
I walked into work and J says "ahh you're here..." she then noticed that a) I wasn't in a uniform and b) I had a toddler with me. "Um aren't you, um supposed to be working today"? By this stage I had come to the embarrasing realisation that I infact was NOT supposed to be having my day off today. I was infact supposed to be having it TOMORROW! Needless to say, I am now having two days off.....
I was (and still am) mortified!!! I can't believe I got that mixed up!! It's as clear as anything on the roster too!! I reckon my cheeks must have turned bright red!
Thank goodness I work for a boss who can see the humour in things. GAH!

* I discovered 2 things whilst hanging out my washing this morning.
1. I have solved the mystery of the missing socks dilemma. It seems like for the last week Connor has been going through an awful lot of socks! I found out why! He is wearing 2 pairs to bed each night!!! That'll do it.
2. Ella has been decorating her sheets with an emuu stamp. You know the type of ink that doesn't wash out! HAH!

A hell of a week.

Last Tuesday the fevers started so I took little Libby to see the doctor. Tonsilitus was the verdict. So I had to take wednesay off work. Tuesday night neither of us got much sleep. Wednesday she slept for most of the day. Wednesday night she woke a lot, in pain. Thursday I took the day off work. She slept all day, still getting fevers. Thursday night. She woke often, in pain. Friday I took the day off work. So did Swift Jim (he was sick too). She slept for most of the day again and woke often during the night coughing and in pain. Saturday, I rang the doctor again. She is now covered in a rash and is no better. She has a viral infection ON TOP of the tonsiltus. Saturday afternoon, the car overheated on me. Sunday we all stayed home from church. Partly due to no car, but mostly due to illness. Sunday night, I only got up to her ONCE!!
That now brings us to today. Swift Jim stayed home to finish recovering from his illness and he stayed with Libby while I went to work. Her rash is pretty much gone and there is mischief in her eyes again. Excellent, she is reading to go back to her daycare mum's place tomorrow so I can work.

Except. Ella is now complaing of a sore throat.

Just so you know....

Blogger wont let me comment on my friend's blogs, it is making me sign in continuously and I give up! I am reading your blogs :)