Birthday Glimpses

This is my punishment for being stupid at Blogger!!!!! Sorry about the mess!

Happy Birthday To My (not so) Baby Girl!!!

Well Her Royal Highness is 3 today!!! What an amazing three years they have been. Our lives have definitely been changed forever by the arrival of one tiny baby girl in a house full of lots of boys and me, the token female! I was beginning to wonder if the only Barbie dolls I'd ever buy would have to be for myself!

Naturally Caeligh has been up since sparrow fart, not even daylight yet so we all got dragged out of bed for the present opening ceremony. She's done okay for herself too! She got a pink and purple Leap Pad for reading, two new Barbies, a huge Dora The Explorer playdough set and moulds, new clothes, lots of plastic shiny princessy jewellery, a dress up set complete with $2 plastic "hooker shoes" as I call them, a paint-your-own-suncatcher set, even more hair accessories, a set of bouncy balls, a box of seashell chocolates (thanks to Lachie for the idea because he figured if he bought her chocolates she'd have to share them with him - overly optimistic little soul he is!!!) and a few other bits and pieces. Her gran has bought her the pram and she'll be over later no doubt. Then we have to go and get her brothers from their dad's place and I believe the plan is to go to Crazy Critters for a play. Right now she's settled in front of the "tee wee" while clutching a pile of Dora playdough moulds to her chest.

Talk about surprising - Caeligh had opened everything and stood to survey her haul when she looked up at Doug and I and said "thank you for all my presents Mummy and Dad". I was completely gobsmacked for a second, and then I had an indulgent moment of thinking I obviously hadn't done such a sucky job of being a mum if the 3 year old gets the concept that we had to go out and buy all her presents and then thinks to thank us for them!!!

I don't know what breakfast will be yet. We usually let the birthday kid pick what they want (within reason of course - Froot Loops haven't featured on our birthday menu here in quite a few years now - the whole day of tears and hyperactivity just isn't worth it) but I think it might be pancakes or toast with a smiley face imprinted on it. Oh speaking of food now I've got to go and get myself organised to make her cake. Unfortunately pretty much all of the decorations you see in the shops and bakeries are loaded with artificial colours, flavours and preservatives which means that only Lachie could eat them (Blayd, James and Caeligh all have food intolerance issues) so I'll have to buy a cheap piping bag set while we're out and about today so I can make icing using the natural plant based food colourings I bought a little while back.

I'm off to take breakfast orders and to see what the birthday girl is up to!

Have a relaxing Sunday (if you can!).

Cya, Lu

Gratitude

Things I am grateful for right now today are:

(1) I still have a job and while I haven't made as much this week it's better than nothing
(2) I am grateful that our van keeps chugging along with very few problems even though she's getting old
(3) I'm grateful that I am able to buy Caeligh presents for her birthday tomorrow and that her brothers will be coming home a day early to celebrate with her
(4) I'm grateful for considerate companies like Heidi Swapp who replace rub-ons that stick to the backing paper instead of the layout
(5) I am grateful that while I don't have everything I want, I have everything I need and then some - my life is more blessed than I acknowledge
(6) I am grateful for my Dougie, a kind, strong, passionate, considerate man who does his best every day even though he wishes he could do more, who understands that a man's house is not his castle but a haven for his family, a man who believes that a real man's place is right next to his wife "in the trenches" doing laundry, picking up toys, chaning nappies, making kindy lunches, cooking and cleaning and sharing it all equally and then sometimes doing even more than his fair share because he wants to help. I'm grateful every single day of my life that God brought us together and while we don't have the perfect relationship I know it's as close as lots of people will ever get and I also know that if I died tomorrow my kids would not want for anything. I'm grateful for that security and that comfort.

So there you go. Thanks again to Lusi who's beautiful soul and passion for life and God inspires me to focus on what I have to be grateful for and to live a better life because of the blessings I already have. It's amazing to know there are people in this world who care so much about others.

Definition of love

I don't know about you guys but sometimes Doug and I find ourselves lying in bed and having THE chat, about why we're together and what we like about each other. It's a fun reminder of why we're here together rather than with anybody else. He gave me the usual reasons last night "I love you", "you're fun to be with", "you make me laugh" and then he came out with one that I've never EVER heard him say before. It brought a whole new meaning to how much our relationship means to both of us because it's definitely reciprocal but I've just never put it in the same words as him before.

He said "You get me".......I can't believe how powerful those three words were and it suddenly brought home to me how much I meant to him, far more than any of the usual reasons people give for being together. He considers me the one person in the whole world who knows him inside and out and understands and accepts him completely, why he is the person he is, why he lives, loves and laughs the way he does. I actually had a bit of a Kleenex moment!!!!

I just thought I'd share because it's going to make it's way onto a layout over the weekend because to me it's a significant moment in our relationship and I want our kids to one day be able to read and know exactly how much we love each other and why. Hopefully it will help them to make the right choices down the track when it comes to finding someone to share their lives with.

That's so cool when a layout virtually creates itself in your head in only a split second!!! Can't wait to get started on that but I also have to do my Cyberscraps Get Real Challenge for this month. I asked what did people want to be when they grew up. Not what their parents thought they should be or the "sensible" choice but as a child what was their real burning desire to be? I'll give you a free laugh and say I wanted to be a pop star - urm Kylie Minogue to be exact!!! lol Obvioulsy things haven't panned out for me in that department (DUH!!!!) but for a long time it was a very cherished and very realistic plausible career choice! So I'll be doing a layout about that. Cass wanted to be a movie star and I'm so proud of her that she is still pursuing her passion for acting, letting it run its parallel course along with the rest of her life. Maybe I should go and tick karaoke off the big list and I could say I've "touched the dream" just a little!!!

OOOHHHH OH OH OH OH!!!!! Very exciting news - we've got the keys to the new shop and we've started decorating and getting the shopfittings ready!!!! Even better is the large frame that will go in the front window today (hopefully) with three rows of three 12x12 frames in it that Cass and I are going to put some of our favourite layouts in to show people what the shop's all about before we open. If you're local or nosy or want to know where we are, the address is 32 Ainsworth Street, Salisbury (right opposite the Salisbury Bowls Club). We're right next to the second hand bookshop. Today also the carpet is going in and Cath, Cass and I are all going to go in and have a look around, get a touchy feel of the new painted walls, the new carpet and get a "feel" for our new place. It will also give us a chance to see exactly where everything is going to go. Up until now we've only been able to peek through the vertical blinds and look at a dark empty space but now we can have a pace around and see just how much room we have to work with. We want to be able to do everything in the space we've got so the shop will suit as many people as possible but until we see how successful (or not but I'd rather not think about that!!!) we are going to be we will have to work with the size of the shop that we have but it would be nice down the track to say we're doing so well that we'll need to move to one of the other shops further up that are bigger. Fingers crossed and we'll see how it all goes.........

Blayd will be at cricket and I hope he doesn't get rained out. Good luck baby!!!!

I hope you went and did something to make yourself feel special yesterday or maybe you can do something today. It's Saturday after all!!! Even if you have the drudgery of kids, housework or a job to go to take a moment to prettify your lovely self!!!!

Have a fab Saturday and thanks for stopping by. Remember to swing past and check out where we'll be opening if you're a local or you're in the area. We can't wait to fling open the door and meet everyone because I think having a scrapping shop is as much about making friendships as it is about creating layouts. Look forward to seeing you!!!

Hooray for Fridays!

So glad the week is over. The bigger boys are away at their dad's place, it's just Dougie, me and the little ones although Caeligh has enough noise and excitement to make up for ten other kids! She went to ballet today with no real argument but she was unsettled to start with so only lasted two thirds of the way through the class before she got to wandering about and not listening to instructions any more so she came outside where she proceeded to burn off more energy running about like a lunatic. I wish I had a fraction of that wacko power that keeps her going like the Energiser Bunny! lol

I've got to work tonight and I'm working until midday tomorrow which is okay. I've got to spend tomorrow afternoon getting the rest of Caeligh's bday presents for Sunday. She's already got a couple of Barbie dolls, a little make up set, a pink plastic vanity table and matching cheval mirror, she got a pretty shirt from the fam in Scotland and a bug catcher with a microscope built in from her aunt and uncle in Hervey Bay. It's so cool that they realise that she's not the average "princess" and will enjoy the bug catcher possibly more than the Barbie dolls I got her! I think her gran is getting her a mega fab doll pram with all the bells and whistles which she'll love because we walked to the shop yesterday with her pushing her cheap little plastic pram and it was about as fun for her to steer as the only trolley left in the supermarket with the wonky wheel that goes everywhere BUT where you want it to!

We've decided to take her up to Crazy Critters on Sunday for a play with James and Lily and Ronin. Blayd and Lachie are coming home early from their dad's place so they can spend the day with her and Lachie will have fun too but Blayd is technically too old to go into any parts of the indoor play centre and I can tell you now there will be major sookies and wobbles when he has to sit down with the adults and play gameboy instead of joining in with the others. How terrible to have to grow up........ I don't see why he can't go in to keep an eye on the littler ones. They let parents go in to play with their kids. Why can't her brother go in with her? Maybe I'll just tell him to go in but to keep himself under control with running about like an idiot kept to a minimum? Maybe that's why grown-ups aren't fun any more - we don't have playgrounds that cater for our size! Hello out there in blogland - somebody build an indoor play centre for grown ups!!!!!! If you have to you can call it a physical activity centre so people can feel better about going there.

I got ready for the school pick up and ballet today and even went to the trouble of make up! I decided this afternoon that I had a right to feel good about myself and considering I've been in a good mood all day I figured I'd let it show. So yes I went about my afternoon with silk roses in my hair, bright glittery pink toenails and my favourite green eyeshadow. I know that paints a really ghastly picture but honestly it isn't like that!!! lol Yes it may even sound drag queen but I promise it's not!!! I often wear green eyeshadow just because it makes my hazel eyes look even greener. And I figure if I have bright red hair then why can't I wear pink roses in it if I want!?!?!? And do you know what? I felt fab all afternoon! Just like I've grown really sick of the perfect life brigade, I've also gotten very impatient with the "you must act and dress your age otherwise you just look ridiculous and you must keep up appearances at all cost" brigade as well. You know them when you see them. They are perfectly groomed, probably took an hour to blow dry their sensible hairdos, wear leather mules (not that I dislike mules or anything - I have a pair but they are pink and fun, not beige and boring), have a sensible genuine leather handbag and minimal day makeup. I betcha lots of them honestly believe they couldn't wear anything more daring or outrageous, they would never ever consider a haircolour that didn't fit into the mahogany spectrum or the perfect ash blonde range. I'm holding up a small white flag and saying that yes, some of the sensible brigade are probably very proud of how well they keep themselves and are perfectly happy with their style but surely they all can't be? Surely some of them are just trying to be perfect wife/perfect mummy material?

I guess I'm just sick of nobody having any bloody fun lately!!!!!! If you have a favourite colour then why not wear it? Do something wild and different with your hair - it's just hair, at the very least you can always dye it "boring" again if you get freaked out and at the worst you can say you're shaving it all of for the Leukaemia Foundation and start again! Wear your favourite funky beads or sparkly bling to the supermarket. Try makeup in colours you've always wanted and get an honest friend to tell you if it works or not. Fabulous could be just a new eyeshadow palette away!!! Put flowers in your hair, find a pair of pretty thongs to see out the rest of the summer in, paint your toenails girly pink or vamp red or funky purple. Live in colour!!! Have a bit of fun for goodness sake!!!! If you are one of the fun and funky brigade then I completely applaud you! It comes down to loving yourself enough to let go of what other people might think and do the little things you can do each day to make yourself that little bit happier, feel that little bit freer in spirt and to be that little bit more accepting of yourself as a strong beautiful woman regardless of the package you are in right this minute! Oh holy cow I'm ranting now but I'm on a roll!!!!!! I'm a good 10-15kgs overweight, I've got some wrinkles, an age spot or two, a less then perfect smile and because I work from home there are days when I don't even have to get out of my jammies!!!! Some things I can change if I want to but other stuff I'm learning to accept. Along with all those things I do have an iron will, a loving heart, a kind soul and a fun spirit so as part of my journey to loving myself more I've decided to do all those little things that make me feel a bit happier each day. And I'll let you in on a little secret - Doug is more than a bit pleased that my idea of a treat is a new hair clip, a cheap and cheerful new eyeshadow or lip gloss or a pair of $10 hot pink thongs. See, easy to have fun and be low maintenance!!!!

I'm having one of those "I actually feel really great about myself " days so I'm not trying to yell at you girls - I guess I'm just trying to say that we all deserve to have those days and they shouldn't be so few and far between. Find the little things that make you feel pretty, sexy, carefree and happy because we deserve to feel this way EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Love you guys for coming and having a listen to my rants. Now go do something to prettify your gorgeous selves ladies!!!!

Kisses, Lu

Yup the day didn't get any better.....

Oh at least I can say I was forewarned!!! The day lived up to its promise and at 11am my internet connection went down due to supposed "maintenance" which is really when you should do maintenance isn't it? - in the middle of a business day with no guarantee of how long it will be down??? Excellent idea over there at Telstra! NOT!!!! My internet was out until the salubrious hour of 6pm so no work done except for a few hours this morning. It doesn't help that there has been very little work this week anyway and I can see it being one of those weeks where we will end up earning diddly squat. Try to imagine, if you're a working mum, that someone cuts your pay in half one week. What would that do to your bills, your peace of mind and your sanity? Honestly I felt like I'd gone backwards six months today with my border collie deciding to sit under the house and bark not contiuously but regularly enough to tick off the neighbours all day and the cockroach infestation I had been victorious in defeating a month ago made a heroic resurgance today as well, because today was buggered anyway so why not go for gold???? My MIL dropped my sons off and had a blast at me about how cheeky one of my sons were (not her biological grandchild, just one of my kids) while I was trying to talk to the ever unhelpful Telstra on the phone about why I had no internet connection. I still have the bite marks in my tongue where I restrained myself from telling her exactly what I thought of her at that moment when I was already frazzled enough thanks very much!!!!! I had to walk to the post office to pick up a registered post which turned out to be my "Share" layout that For Keeps were returning to me, even though I'd spoken to FK just this morning and was told that the layout wouldn't be returned until the next issue was out (you'd really think there would be some record of where my layout was considering she knew from my name what the layout was called!) so that concerns me somewhat that she didn't know it had already been sent back to me! What if it had gone missing? I would never have known as I'd been told hours before that they still had it!

So now I'm on my second glass of red, the children have had their favourite dinner - "free for all" - which means you can eat anything for dinner as long as its within the diet, isn't chocolate or junk and will fill you up until breakfast. The internet is back on and I could do some of the v.limited work that is available for me but truth be told I really couldn't give a flying (inserte expletive here!) so I'll have my wine, get my babies into bed and watch SVU and CSI methinks!

On a bright note (cos you always have to look for them even on the darkest of days) FK did return my layout in perfect condition and Scrapbooking Memories sent me my VERY FIRST PUBLICATION CHEQUE!!!!! I did have one layout published by FK a couple of years ago but I never got the cheque for it and was "green" enough at the time not to worry about it because I was just so incredibly honoured to have something published. So technically SM's cheque is the first one I have received and I will absolutely scan it before I cash it. I'm sorry to confess that I'm far too pov not to cash the cheque and to hang on to it for its sentimental value. Sentimental value DOES NOT pay for groceries, doctors' appointments or power bills!!!!! It sure ought to but does not......

Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. Oh it's ballet - let me find my helmet and hunt around the room for my stern mummy resolve - where on earth did I leave that?????

Thursday Meltdown......

Aren't there some days you wake up and you just know it's all gonna go to hell in a handbasket and there's nothing you can do about it????? Today is that day - in my house at least (although after quick chat to Cass maybe it's her day like that too).

I woke up cranky (not really sure why - not PMS as I can't be bothered with monthlies so just take my pill continuously for four months at a time) so it wasn't the best start on my part. It just went downhill from there with the two older boys not wanting to get up and get going. I walked through what can only be described as a complete pigsty - not my boys' rooms, just the whole house!!!!! I try to do quick pick ups and vacuums during the week to keep the mess down and then on the weekends I do a bit more. Doug usually handles all the laundry during the week but it's a matter of getting it down to the actual laundry. Today though the whole house was awful, clothes left in the hallway instead of in the laundry basket in the bathroom, the bathroom floor covered in clothes, wet towels (from last night - see what they do when mums go to bed early???), magazines, bath toys, old toilet rolls (because hell a bin would be too good for those), the lounge room had baskets of laundry, breakfast bowls from the littlies, cups from last night, piles of magazines shoved all over the coffee table instead of in a neat stack, toys, rubbish, old newspapers on the couch, the kitchen was covered in breakfast and lunch making stuff by the time every body left and the sink was full (the saving grace was that somebody had turned the dishwasher on so that's why the sink got used instead), there were dirty tea towels on the floor and a GOOD TOWEL used to mop up milk someone had spilled.

Honestly I just walked from room to room feeling the veins in my neck bulging ever more each second as I surveyed the mess. I often wonder how people are happy to live like that all the time. I can't handle it even for a day anymore. I used to be a complete slob and once upon a time I wouldn't have cared but I know myself well enough now that I have more patience, better mental clarity and I'm happier if the house is tidy. I guess it's because I know that in the pecking order, even though scrapping is my favourite activity, it comes way behind everything else so all that crap has to get done first.

As Cass says, anger is a powerful cleaner!!!! So far I've done a couple of loads of washing, brought some more in, picked up in the loungeroom, walked about with a garbage bag picking stuff up, taken all the washing downstairs to the laundry and I've purposely turned the shower onto the bathroom floor to flood it - I've come to the conclusion that it's the only way to really properly clean the floor. I'm sick of mops and brushes that just move the hair and dust around which grosses me out so badly. So I got my super duper toilet cleaner (the White King stuff that will salvage even the grossest toilet - as mine was not fantastic either but that was a couple of weeks ago before I found this stuff!) I used it to clean the bathroom sink, the bathtub and the floor around the toilet. You know if you've got boy creatures (irrelevant of age!!!) that for some unknown reason that big round hole to wee in is actually a teensy weensy target to shoot at so the floor gets revolting after a little while. So I covered the floor and got my broom and used that to scrub the floor while the shower was on. I don't ever think that bathroom has been so clean!!!! The sad part is that it will all end as soon as the kids walk in this afternoon........ :(

I just get jack of making only 5% of the mess and having to clean 95% of it myself. The menfolk and the kids leave the house each day and I have to wonder if they think the cleaning fairy comes while I'm sitting here supposed to be typing, working, doing DT stuff and does all the cleaning for me and cos she seems to come every day it's okay to make mess because it will all magically be done by 3pm anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Do you get what I mean? Honestly how hard is it to pick up that bit of rubbish/clothing/toy/plate/cup/shoe/pencil/towel/food scrap that you're hot-steppin right over the top of on your way to somewhere else in the house? Is it? Is it really that hard????

Maybe the White King fumes have brought on an attack of the crackpot rages but I'm getting sick of it because nothing really changes no matter how often I stand in the mess and go seven shades of nuclear at them all! They don't even like to do chores for pity's sake! I tell you I'm going to start keeping their allowance and call it "cleaning and maintenance charges" and for each thing they start doing themselves like picking up their own clothes, hanging up towels, putting stuff away they've used and putting their plates in the dishwasher when they're done, I'll start giving them back their pocket money - a buck at a time - until I don't feel like they need to pay for a maid anymore!!!!!

Yeah you have a good laugh - I know it's only wishful thinking on my part!!!!! lol