learning the ropes, an update..

my creative space is jam packed with learning the ropes..

our official start date is only 2 weeks away, so we've spent most waking hours training, practicing what we've learned over and over, making mistakes, following our wonderfully patient mentor around and trying to absorb as much as we can.

it's been great fun, and I have to say, I know it's early days and I'm nervous as anything as our start date approaches, but this is such a great job!

the tricky part is being organised with the house keeping and meal preparation.  I think this weekend will need to be spent in the kitchen cooking up a storm and loading up tasty dishes for the freezer to take the pressure off a bit.

As this little bundle grows, night time comes along and I'm exhausted.  It's getting a bit tricky to find a comfortable sleeping position.  It seems baby is seriously in training for the Olympic gymnastic team, and sleep is not as sound as I'd like, so it's nice to be able to work and train from home.

I've not picked up the hook in ages and I miss it.  I'll get back to that soon though, it's always quite therapeutic of an evening and I've gifts I need to make!


more creative spaces here...

learning...

I'm turning 40 in a week! Birthdays always make me reflective, another year down, what's been done, what's ahead...

I've been thinking a lot recently about this milestone, the big four-OH.  Mostly because of the party I'm planning, having loads of fun with that, but also what I've learned now that I'm 40...

So here's a few things I've come to know...

• firstly, and most surprisingly, those pretty silk eye masks to block out the light are not just for princesses & movie stars! I found one in my undies drawer recently & it has given me an extra hour of sleep most mornings these holidays!
• it's taken a long time but I am finally comfortable in my skin! Yep, that's huge! I have come to realise that I don't really care what other people think about how I look anymore.  Sure I'd like to change some things (these were hardworking, breastfeeding breasts after all) but this is it, it's what I've been given and really, it's not that bad! I feel pretty good for 40..
• while talking of body's, I have also learned that something happens to your knees when you get to 40, they are just not very flattering..
• when people are unkind, or passively try to put you down, it's not about you, it's all about them & their unhappiness
• the grass is rarely greener, enjoy what you have
• raising children really does get harder, challenges kick up a notch with every passing year! I'd always thought they were just saying that..
• it's always better late than never, always!
• random dancing around the house is necessary & should be done often (even if it means you're caught out by the delivery man..)
• board games are such a valuable way to spend family time
• when a door slammed in anger breaks it is best not to fix it
• I would often just wade or bob around in the waves, but going under the water at the beach has an extraordinary soul cleansing power
• precautionary worming & headlice treatments are a must at the end of every term
• when the cupboards are bare the best dinner for the troops is a banana smoothy with an egg in it & toast, everyone's happy!
• making time to love your man & be loved is not a chore, why did it often seem that way before..

...just a few, imagine what I'll know in another 40 years...

try and try again...

I've been trying to teach myself to crochet recently & so far I've managed a very simple neck warmer & a few roses, all of which I am really happy with, but why is it that I can't for the life of me get the simple granny square or circular motif to work?!  Everything I attempt turns into a flower....

...and so I continue on my very determined path to achieve the granny!

My Creative Space...

I'm slowly teaching myself to crochet & only attempting the most simple of things to make.  I made a start on this neck warmer while we were all hanging out in our jammies earlier in the week (loving school holidays), and to my own great surprise, I have just about finished!

To take a peak at other creative folk, pop on over to Kootoyoo.

Tantrums - aaagghhh!

His motto is 'fight to the death!'...

They happen in the morning, the afternoon, the middle of the night, there really are no limits as to when, where or how long they last - 3 year old tantrums are just part of our every day life!  Whether we're at home or out & about, they come pretty thick and fast.  In fact, it's kind of like living with this little walking, talking time bomb that could just explode at any moment without warning!  It doesn't matter where we are, my coping techniques are always the same, I don't give in, there are always consequences for him, I try with every ounce of my being not to get upset.  I stay calm (at least it appears this way on the outside, if the inside were visible I think I'd be committed) and I pretty much wait for it to be over.  At home he'll go on the 'naughty mat' until he's ready to stop screaming like some crazed feral cat, always telling him I'll be there when he is ready to be nice & have a cuddle.  When we're out, say in a cafe, I'll take him outside and tell him he won't be coming in until he's ready to be nice. 
All of this usually works well and fairly quickly, until today when we were out for a nice day in town, to have treats, spend Christmas vouchers, & basically hop from one toy shop to the next.  He wanted to go on the Wiggles ride, you know the ones, they are everywhere you look & make life a flipping nightmare at the best of times, so anyway, I explained that after we'd been into a shop where the other two were planning some very exciting purchases, we'd come back & have a ride.  Of course this was totally unacceptable in his 3yr old mind & so began the loudest, longest most disturbing & offensive tantrum every known!  It continued all through the store, through the checkout, through the shopping centre, down two escalators, through to the car park, in the car & home.

Needless to say we didn't get around to doing most of the things we'd planned, but I was determined not to let the other two miss out on making their purchases that had been long planned & looked forward to.  He, on the other hand got nothing, in fact lost a few of his favourite things which he can earn back with good behaviour.  What is most extraordinary & embarrassing is the way people look at you or feel they are entitled to make a comment or a judgement about your out of control child or parenting skills! While others look at you with that look that says 'You poor woman, I know just how you feel' or 'I am so glad to see this happen to someone else & not just me' - you know, a little solidarity! 
Fortunately, he is as adorable as he is horrid, and I take great comfort in that...

It's A Flower - Hooray!

I did it! I made my first flower! Last week I decided I would teach myself to crochet because I saw a gorgeous scarf that I just had to have, so I thought I'd try making it myself.  Well, I haven't quite started on the scarf yet, but I made my first flower! Hooray for me!  It's a little shabby, but I can only get better, surely...and it's such an enjoyable way to pass the hours - not that I have too many to spare, but a little 'me' time can't hurt, right!?

Baby's Growing Up

Amongst all the chaos that was our place last night, my baby decided he would get himself ready for bed.  This came out of nowhere, for the first time ever he dressed himself! I offered to help, and was told I wasn't needed.  Knowing his very short fuse I assured him I was here if he needed me & there was no need to get angry if he got a bit stuck.  Sure enough there was a whole lot of screaming & throwing of jammies across the room, but ever so determined he did it, on his own!  Now, if only we could convince him to toilet train...

Lots of yelling and stamping of feet went on about here...

and again here...

Proud as Punch!

My Creative Space

The old sewing machine always frightened me before.  I'm always looking at the amazing things people make & dreamily wish I could sew!  So I dragged the scary beast out of its box (where it's been since my parents bought it for me 4years ago) and set it up on our dining table where it sat for a few days, tempting me, willing me to sit in front of it. And eventually I did! Over the last week I've been 'playing' with it, and it turns out, it's not so scary!  I'm having heaps of fun!

A cuddly owl,

and some cushions...

Last weeks creations...cushions are a good introduction to sewing, I've found...hubby thinks we probably have enough now, he could be right, there's barely room on the spare room couch for us to sit. I'll need to get a little more adventurous...

See more creative lovelies here.