Monday 23 April 2007

toilet training

So last night was the first night we put Max in undies to sleep ... I was sure I would get woken up in the night to change the sheets.

I've been meaning to start TT him at night for ages, but wanted to buy another waterproof mattress protector before we tried. Finally got one on the weekend, so we could start.

He was so excited and proud of himself. No accidents, no wet sheets. So one night down, who knows how many to go ...

I'm very proud of him.

I ran my first 10k race on the weekend - you can read a riveting blow by blow account on the other blog if you're so inclined.

We're trying to decide what to do with the house renovation wise. It's very confusing and I wish we had a crystal ball to know what the right decision would be.

Uni is really dragging me down at the moment. I'm not enjoying it at all, I'm hating the subjects and wish it was all over. It's completely stuffing up my work/exercise/life balance - very inconsiderate really! ah well ... grit your teeth and get on with it.

Gotta go, the kids are climbing all over the dining room table ...

Tuesday 3 April 2007

Tuesday twitters

I took the kids to one of the Kiddies Cushion concerts put on by the QLD orchestra today.

I must remember not to bother to go again. We've been before (not last Christmas but the one before) and I came away with exactly the same feelings. It's just too long and too over their heads, even though it's marketed at ages 2 - 6.

Maeve was scared, it was too noidy, and the conductor was dressed as Buzz Lightyear and she was terrified of him. Max was attentive for most of it, but by about 10 min to the end he's had enough and wanted to go.

Don't get me wrong, I think they do a fantastic job, I just don't think my kids appreciate it as much as I would like them to!!! I may take Max again, but won't take Maeve.

Other news - I registered myself for the 10k race at the Brisbane Marathon on April 22nd. Come along and see me come last!!!! Cheer me on - I'll be happy to cross the line regardless of my place or pace. I'm excited about it and am looking forward to it. It's a bit of a last minute decision, but the right one I think.

The lovely Trudi got booted out of the RS team at SBC. I am shocked. She knows what I think and how I feel, so I won't go into that any further, I am just really surprised she's out. Good luck with the pregnancy issues at the moment too Trudi.

I'm not missing scrapping at all. I even got my mag in the mail the other day and was even unphased by that.

Uni is stressing me out - and I'm avoiding what I know I should be doing!

A is in Melbourne for work until Wednesday night - he's been gone since Sunday. The kids are behaving themselves mostly. Stupidly I stayed up until midnight last night catching up on West Wing episodes (I just LOVE that show) and then Maeve decided to wake at 5am this morning ... argggghhhhh!!!!! I managed to stay in bed until 7am, but it wasn't a very pleasant nor un-interrupted sleep in.

Did I mention we have Guinea Pigs?? Max got one from my mum for his birthday - we have 2 of them as she brought another one 'round on monday "for maeve"!!! They're very cute actually, but I've nearly lost one of them, twice, when it escaped Max's lap and made a mad rush for under the fence to the neighbours yard. So we're a pet owning family now - it's nice. The kids are really enjoying it, I hoe the novelty lasts.

Ergh, I can smell a very stinky nappy. I'ts bath time, then bedtime ... for the kids, not me unfortunately - I won't be far behind them tonight that's for sure.

Saturday 31 March 2007

Happy Birthday to you

well, my little boy is now offically 4.

I'm a bit sad really. Where did those 4 years go, and where did my cute little baby go? Who is this young boy in his place?

Max was sooooo good at his party. I had had my concerns and thought we might see a few rude comments over presents, tantrums, fights etc. He was perfectly behaved. A little overwhelmed at the flow of presents at the start, but aside from that was really a good little boy.

I must say, Max has managed to find himself some really lovely little friends. Every child that was there had lovely manners and played wonderfully the entire day. Anyone with a 4 year old knows that this doesn't always happen, especially with the excitement and sugar rush of a party thrown in the mix.

The kids loved the Pinata and the treasure hunt. My wonderful sisters and mum helped me so much with the party. Bekah did all the games and even arranged little lucky dip presents for each and every child (and they were great presents, it must have cost her a heap - I offered to pay her but she refused), Beth brought a heap of face painting stuff with her and did beautiful face painting for any child who wanted it, Mum brought 'grown up food'. Beth and Bekah both flew here especially for the party, and Beth's help this morning while I was icing the cake and doing other preparations was invaluable. I'm lucky to have them, and I hope Max will one day appreciae how lucky he is to have a family who loves him so much.

Max was given some wonderful, and very generous presents.

It was great to have Grandma, John, and all the vdb's there.

My fears of a home party being declared 'boring' or not fun enough were far from being realised. Every parent there gushed over the home made cake, pinata, lucky dip prizes, DIY face painting, food etc etc ... I think there's such a tendancy these days to pay someone else to do everything else for you, to see someone doing it themselves is a novelty!

Anyway, I'm declaring the day a great success. I'm exhausted.

Aside from the success of the party, Max has croup. He's coughing like a seal, and has barely any voice. Poor little fella. The dr wrote a script for Prednisone (sp?) which is quite concerning - such a strong steroid. This is supposed to be if his breathing becomes laboured - whatever that means. Dr said Maeve will probably get it ... He was ok at the party, but what could we do, couldn't exactly cancel it could we?

I'm off to bed because I plan to run 6.6k tomorrow.

Saturday 24 March 2007

catch up

OK, so I haven't done a real post here for a while - there's more to life than scrapbooking ... yeah, like running!!!

Ahhh, ummmm, what have we been up to?

Last night took the kids for dinner at Decks (southbank) - Maeve absolutely loved the huge albino fish they have in a tank at the front, of course, this meant she didn't want to stay in her seat at all and wanted to keep getting down to look at the fish!

As far as seafood goes, it's a pretty crappy resturant - we won't be going there again. But it was quick and easy and the kids were tired, so it was ok I suppose.

Uni is gearing up with major assignment topics released this week ... arghhh, who am I kidding?! I have so much on my plate right now ... I really have to get better at managing my time and not wasting it fluffing around on the computer. I'm managing to keep up with most of the readings and required on line comments ... just, feels like I'm treading water a bit and any minute now it's all going to go under! I so prefer to study on campus though. But that's not going to happen, so I guess I just stop whinging about it and get on with it.

I've decided to take a break from scrapping for a while. Perhaps a few months. I just feel like I'm not keeping up with everything at the moment ... study, housework, spending time with the kids ... I just feel so disorganised and my life feels a bit out of control. I need a bit more order and organisation. So I'm packing all my stuff away - which means we'll have a dining room table again!!

Feeling a bit unmotivated with the gym lately. Most days I'd rather go out for a run than work on the cardio equipment at the gym - this means good things for my running, but I just paid for a 9 mth membership at the gym, so that kinda sucks, not that I want to stop going, I;m there 4 days a week and I'm a bit bored of it at times I suppose.

I'm going to do a 5k fun run at sanctuary cove on the 15th of April - mum's going to do it with me - my first ever - and a lead up for my first ever 10k race at the GCM in July - I didn't want to go into that without having ever lined up on a starting line before. So that's in 3 weeks - it shouldn't be hard as I'm running 5k at least once a week now anyway.

Max is 4 this week - thursday - can I believe it? Nope. I look at him sometimes and wonder what happened to that little baby boy ... He's having his first ever real party next saturday - a million kids, face painting, junky food, pinata, games, the works. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. SHould be fun though. I hope he behaves himself and is gracious in receiving gifts, remebers to say thank you and I hope there are no tears and no fights - am I asking too much?! I've got my brother lined up to take lots of pictures on the day - so will come back with a party report and post some pics!

So in line with getting more organised and cutting out a few things to make room for others, I'm not sure how much I'll blog here. I'm going to keep the other blog going, so if anyone wants to be submitted to my ramblings about running, trying to lose weight and get fit, feel free to head on over to : http://fattyboombaladah.blogspot.com/ which is on the sidebar here too. Your comments there will be as welcomed as they are here. I'm sure I'll update this page occasionally, just not as often as the other one...

Monday 19 March 2007

I'm out

Not surprisingly my otp item didn't get me through to week 7 of the comp.

In a way I'm relieved. Uni has slipped behind and we're only a coupld of weeks into the semester, my housework is piling up and my kids are being neglected. So at least now I don't *have* to worry about scrapping, although I'd like to keep playing for minor prizes etc... but it won't be a priority.

I never expected to make it to the end anyway. I wish everyone who is still in the game all the best and I truely hope the best, most deserving person wins, despite the twists and turns (which, although I wish no one ill will or anything of the sort, has been a source of annoyance to me - but that's the game I suppose)

Now, off to catch up on some housework! yay ...

Saturday 17 March 2007

Week 6 - FNG and challenge

So FNG was to make a thank you card for our team mate, had to be a 2 fold card, had to have sewing, 3 buttons and couldn't use the phrase "thank you"


here's what I came up with - It didn't really come out the way I wanted it too ...



The challenge this week was an OTP thing - had to be something to go on or on top of the fridge - which kinda put me off to begin with - our fridge isn't magnetic and is surrounded by cupboards ... in addition to that I'm just not a fan of OTP. Don't get me wrong - I love what some people do with altered stuff etc, but for me, scrapbooking is about preserving memories on the page. My house is cluttered enough without adding OTP stuff to the chaos!! My house is very simple, clean lines, neutral colours, and I just don't see a place for OTP stuff in it - IYKWIM????


Plus I had that essay due, and just couldn't even think about scrapping until that was done.

So, enough excuses - here's my effort - very simple, and I don't think it'll get me through this week ...



This week I bought a pot of Gesso and a pot of texture past from Bunnings - I used the Gesso to paint the bills container white and will hopefully get brave enough to useteh texture paste on a LO sometime soon!!

Had a bit of a cruisy Saturday today - went out early for a run at new farm park as I was meeting some girls from church there for a picnic breakfast. Came home did a bit of tidying up outside in preparation for the big birthday party for Max in 2 weeks (arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!) and that was about it really!!

A's at his brother's watching the football and the kids are in bed ... I'm all on my lonesome tonight!

Friday 16 March 2007

quick entry

I have to drop max at kindy on about 10 minutes ...

I've started my OTP project for the comp ... but I'm not sure it's going to get me through this week anyway ... I'm sure of them will be fabulous. Anyway, whatever, I've done what I can in the time I had and the other committments which unfortunately took a higher priority.

Some idiot nearly rear ended me in the car yesterday. He was following me so closely and I had to stop rather suddenly for a car which entered a round a bout and didn't indicate. Well, the guy behind me had to slam on his brakes and pull up to the side - then he had the nerve to toot his horn at me!!! Needless to say I had a few words with him via my rear vision mirror. grrr.

Submitted my first assignment for uni yesterday. Major essay questions are released today. Must start some research in the next week or there will be nothing left in the library. The plan for uni this year is just to pass. Distinctions and high distinctions would be a bonus, but I just want to get it done and finished, then I'm not sure what. I don't really want to work right now, but at least it will be done.

Today I have to tidy my house. My housework has suffered significantly during this week ... and seeing as though I'm not exactly a domestic godess, that's saying something. The place is a mess and I'm feeling very disorganised.

Off to the gym this morning for Box. I love that class! The running is going well - but that's all on the other blog.

Well, I don't really have anything much else to say. Max's lip is better and the dentist gave him the all clear (after a bill of $200, thank you very much - barely got anything back from extras either - what a con).

Gotta go or we'll be late for kindy. Oh, I've decided to do cupcakes for Max's birthday - I spoke to one of his teachers and she said they'll have one cake & song at morning tea and the other at lunchtime, so 2 seperate celebrations. So now I have to find a cupcake recipe that is good. Anyone got a failsafe tried and tested one??