Open Home

I have been trying to see our house privately for a little while now.  It is somewhat of a burden because the house needs to be as spotless as I can make it each weekend.  That is cleaner than I might have done had it not been an open home.  It takes heaps of effort now that winter is nearly here.  The leaves and things come inside on feet and with the wind when the door opens.  The lawns now need mowing weekly and the leaf blower needs to be used weekly too.  Of course now we have the fire on the dusting is more intense and the vacuum cleaning is needing attention daily (well it needed that anyway but did not always get it).

I am still cooking outside althought in the dark it is getting quite hard.  I might just have to take up this challenge and use my crockpot everyday. 

The only part of the house that needs more attention than the rest is my computer space.  My gosh it gets out of control so easily and I have trouble prioritising it to remain contained as an organised space.

As for help.  Usually DH is away when the weekends are around.  So I have had time to train my little helpers.  They don't do too bad a job either.  I can say their bedrooms definitely look much tidier in general and they the under beds are looking much improved too.  Oh how I wish my lovely amah, Rose, (from Brunei) was here to help me.

Any way back to the mess.  It is all filing stuff.  You know, the mail that somes in, the acounts that need paying, childrens newsletters etc etc.

Here it is

The credits for this page can be found here at Nuts4Digi

Notice the alarm clock on the corner of the table.  This is because this space is a nook in the master bedroom.  I need this alarm to get up at 0130hrs each night.  It has to be placed far away from my bed so I have to get up to turn it off.  8 meters to be exact.

Wordless Wednesday 26 May

Autumn is over.  This is the last of the colour in our garden.

The big 45

I thought that with my 45th birthday looming closer, in August, it was time to take control, embrace life a little more and decide on some goals that I might just be able to have and go and have fun along the way.

So here goes
* take a photography course even if it is on line
* try and trek more in the Hunuia Rangers
* Get to the snow and have fun
* read a book a month
* listen to more music and enjoy it
* get out and exercise more
* got out for dinner with DH once a month at a minimum
* do a 10km walk in the summer (start planning now)

* find a funny movie to watch a share with the family

* make a photo book for this year

* get together with an old friend I have just caught up with on facebook

* take the children to the museum

* start a vege garden

* entertain at home

* have a picnic at Wenderholm in the summer

* have a date night with DH at home in the fire light
* sort out all the photos we have
* create a wall display of our photos

So a created a permanent reminder of what I am going to try and embrace

The credits for this page can be found here at Polkadotplum

Now I sit here with a new novel to read I can start on one of the goal before my birthday even arrives.  Nothing like a few new challenges in life.

Monday Menu 24 May

Winter is finally here sadly.  So my menu is beginning to reflect this.

Monday  Creamy Red Chicken Curry

Tuesday  Creamy Tuna Pasta Bakes

Wednesday  Frozen meal waiting to be eaten

Thursday  Devilled Sausages in the crockpot

Friday  Hamburgers homemade with meat paddies and salad veges

Saturday  Steak, potatoes and vege

Sunday    Left overs

All Tied Up

Learning to tie shoe laces is an difficult challenge children face. It takes persistence and patience to get past the firt step, the knot.

This day Andre took a look at his laces and to his surprise, he saw two tied shoes. Tight enough to keep his shoes on while he walked. Well for a little while anyway. It has taken about three weeks to get to this stage. He has to have a go first and then I tighten the laces good enough for a day at school.

Andre   Look Mum I have done it

Me    Done what?

Andre   Mum look. I have done my shoe laces

 Me   (A squeal of excitement) Fantastic Andre. Let me look.

Andre   Will you take a photo?

I guess that is the sign of a child in a scrapbooking home.

 

 

And so when in a scrabooking home you also get the page.

The credits for this page can be found here at Nuts4Digi

8 Small Grattitudes

I came across the Maggie Girl web site and she had this wonderful journalling prompt that I could not help but take up as it was just perfect for my thoughts this week.

I know that life sends us many big challenges and plenty of things that are smaller in nature.  Since I was so blessed with my Angel this week it is timely that I note the wonderfully small things to be grateful for.

I am grateful for....

1.  the smell of fresh cut grass on a summers morning
2.  the lovely large trees that grace my front lawn
3.  the little unexpected hugs my children give me
4.  the large handbag I have to carry the important things I have around in
5.  the lovely fresh air I breathe in every morning
6.  the laughter that echoes from my house when harmony reigns
7.  the magical morning moments that I get with each child as they get up in the morning
8.  help when my husband is home so I am not a solo taxi driver

Wordless Wednesday 19 May

Happy Wordless Wednesday

I have an Angel

We have had such bad luck in our house.  What with one thing and another but in the last two weeks we have been burgled, the washing machine broke down, the water in the kitchen (with DH help) broke required the mains water to be turned off and a plumber.  What more could really go wrong? 

After sharing of frustration to my seriously great friends on fb who naturally live all around the world.  My lovely friend in Perth, Australia went and bought me a little something to replace what had be taken and couriered it to me.  A courier turned up to my house Monday at 7am with the surprise package.

I have say to my Angel.  You have reminded me what it is like to smile all day and what a wonderful feeeling it is to be grateful.  Grateful not only to have such wonderful friends but for the fact that I am reminded that a small deed of kindness can bring many smiles.

I am seriously going to pass this great deed on.  I don't know where or when but it is going to happen.  I will pay is forward to the right person at the right time.

So if my Angel is reading.  I love you and I hope that someone sometime does something really wonderful for you.

Monday Menu 17 May

I had success last week.  I found a new meal that my children loved and I can do on the bbq not involving meat.  Onwards and up wards this week to repeat the same.

Monday   spaghetti bolognaise

Tuesday  meatloaf, baked potato and green vege

Wednesday  Chicken fajita

Thurday   Crockpot meal

Friday  Homemade pizza with leftover veges on it.

Saturday  Pumpkin soup with homemade bread

Sunday  Left overs

Bonding

In our house because of the Hayden and the time he demands from everyone, it is so important that we find time as a family and individuals to bond outside the stress of our everyday life.

I know that Andre needs this time and that he shows the need to be seen and heard without having to compete all the time.

I have been thinking about this and what we can do about this.

1.  Find time each morning to talk just a little to start the day off in a positive way.  This (as I all ready do this) is the first thing I do each morning before anyone else is up.

2.  Make sure I find something each day to celebrate with him about.  It might be something at school or achieved at home.  Include Dad in this discussion.

3.  I have been encourging father and son time.  At the moment it has come to playing golf together but it also includes lego, outside jobs around the house, making dinner together etc.

4.  Tell him how much I love him.  Sadly I feel I need to do this more but I am on a mission.

The credits for this page using Donna Duncombes fabulous Sun Kissed kit at PokadotPlum are here.

I am on a mission.  Hopefully we will find some success.