she CRACKS me up

well week 5 of the school term is now over which means another 5 to go before the Easter break. it is about now that illnesses start and tiredness sets in which is why i decided to keep the girls home from school on Thursday. Lili seems to have come down with a mild chest infection and Mia is just so damn tired and cranky that a day off was certainly in order. God seem to agree and made it rain all day, just a nice drizzly day good for staying in doors close to your comfy bed...

now Thursdays are typically quiet days for me and the diva, we walk the girls to school and then home to do some jobs and enjoy a relaxing day after 3 days of kindy...she usually has a nice little rest on her bed and some days if i am lucky a sleep. well this was the reality on Thursday....

little miss sick fast asleep in her bed

little miss overtired fast asleep in my bed

and old bugalugs WIDE awake after 2 hours of rest time on her bed! look at that smile..butter wouldn't melt...

Claudia really does keep us on our toes but she also seems to be our families source of entertainment. she came out of the lounge room after bath time looking like this...

and yes that stocking tail is held in by her...

BUM CHEEKS!!! this little monkey CRACKS us up

i had to look twice when she came towards me. she actually had the eye mask down and was roaring at me. i had to quickly grab the camera before the moment was lost. we have a feeling that one day she will win us lots of money of funniest home videos , if only we had the video camera out!!

anyhow back to show you some of my buys at the doll and bear show.

xxrosey

special soul

i began this blog a while ago now with the intention of having an online journal that i could look back over (and i do) to remind myself of how much my girls and life have changed. i have kept diaries for each of my girls as they grew in my womb and the months after. as you an well imagine lili has a staggering 3 diaries which sadly dies off to 1 for poor old Claudia (actually i don't even think she made 1)

i guess as technology changes so do we and i see this as better than those diaries in that it is more about our family as a whole rather than 1 particular child and their journey.

what i didn't expect when i started this blog was to make a true connection with other bloggers...i seem to have found a reliable 10 or so ladies that comment on a regular basis and in some ways i rely on them to make me feel good. it is like the old days of pen pals except on a grander scale :)

one such lady is Kylie 'cupcakes' who has a great down to earth blog called a bite of country cupcakes . if you aren't a follower you should do yourself a favour and become one. not only does she make the most amazing faux cupcakes and other sweet treats, she is a kind and generous soul. i have no doubt that if we lived closer our children would have many play dates while we chatted over cups of coffee. after our recent news about paddy and my decision to take a step back from teaching, Kylie sent me a lovely care package. very kind and generous indeed.

something for each of the girls, some you can eat and others you cant :)

a cuppie for me with a tag that says 'follow your heart' how thoughtful! and the violet, which holds such sentimental feelings for me, was painted by her mother. that is one talented family (you should see her sisters home!)

here's a closer look..it even smells good enough to eat!

but the words meant the most to me.... this is not the first time i have received a parcel from Kylie, i told you she was kind.

Kylie has recently gone through a rough patch herself. her mother in law had a fall and had to have surgery, after a long ordeal she is recovering but still needs our prayers for her strength. thanks again Kylie you are a doll!

another reason to smile was this

that's my Mia, grade 1, receiving her first award for the year on assembly in front of the whole school!

here she is with the other students.

the award is for neatness and handwriting skills! makes a mothers chest swell with pride.

here she is with lili. now if i had been working i would have missed this proud moment. yay for being a stay at home mum.

on that subject...it is funny how guilty i feel about staying at home. i know that when the money runs out and things get tight i will have to either do relief days or find some other job but at the moment it just doesnt feel right staying at home while the kids are at school. us women put too much pressure on ourselves to 'do it all'. i am seeing someone about my anxiety and it feels nice to have someone acknowledge my feelings and try to help me get through this tough time.

i almost feel like this blog and the comments i get are all the therapy i need!

ok enough from me. enjoy your week and thanks for your continued prayers for paddy. he is trying many different alternative potions and is having chemo, his spirits seem better this week and i believe our prayers are giving him strength.

%*_*% rosey

all words...

christy over here at sweet tidings led me to this conversation heart maker. go ahead make your own and make your special valentine happy. big sloppy smooches to all of you taken or single peeps who make me oh so happy xx %*_*% rosey

love is all around

there is no mistaking that valentines day is just around the corner, everywhere i look i can see the signs...

need to make some more of this gorgeous guy

my first ever sewing project

sweet faux chocolates by the amazing Kylie cupcakes almost a heart shaped leaf ;)

and saving the best till last...Mia opened a packet of cheese and dip and look at what she found.... can you see that little heart?? special or what!?!

3 MORE SLEEPS...xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

very belated birthday (lots of photos)

i cant believe that over a week ago my eldest child turned 8 and i am only now just posting about it...slap my wrists, i feel like a very bad mother. i guess that it is only fair to remind myself that on the 29th of January, which is lilis birthday, we found out about the return of Paddy's cancer and the weekend and week that followed have been rather emotional to say the least. in the week following the news of Paddy's illness, i decided to start the process of resigning from my teaching position. i am finding the stress of teaching and being a mother to 3 young children just too much and i don't want my marriage to suffer. teaching is just such an emotionally draining job and is NOT a 8:30-3:00 job. and even though i am part time it is still like doing a full load. i will have to work again at some stage but for now i am happy to do something that requires no accountability!

now onto the post about my lili turning 8...can you believe it??

it feels like only yesterday when she was born only to be whisked away to special care unit for 2 nights of antibiotics and observation. i had told the nurses the choices of names we were tossing up and they brought back a photo of her with the words lily or lucy? at that moment mick walked in with a big bunch of lillies and the name was decided. so on her birthday (and i think from now on) i presented her with...

her very own bunch of lillies

as is tradition we all gather on our bed to open the presents, each family member presenting her with something.

opening her first present...a game for the Wii

a thrifted collection of miniatures to add to her growing collection

miniature German candle holders...very sweet and oh so collectible.

gorgeous Tasmanian pottery thrifted for $1

a lovely drawing created by little miss Mia moo.

lili's main present was to have her ears pierced. she chose pretty purple studs and she looks so very very sweet with them in.

another tradition in our house, as i am sure it is in many households, is that the birthday girl/boy gets to choose dinner for the night...no MacDonald's for this 8 year old oh no lili chose hogs breath cafe! mick and i didn't mind too much as it really is value for money and we quite like the meals (only our second time but it is worth going again). the girls ate all of their food and mick and i enjoyed a succulent steak.

mister moo and his girls on one side...

you can just see the earrings in this picture

enjoying the famous 'curly fries'

and clauds and me on the other side, enjoying a spot of colouring while waiting for dessert.

a very generous serve of ice cream...

we decided to share cake the next day with those who could make it...

i made a mud cake and just happened to have some fishy edibles in the cupboard so it became a muddy dam instead of the ocean :)

here she is with her cousins Kate and Emma

and the back view of my father and my brother in law Michael (father of the 3 girls in this picture)

i love birthdays and will always do everything in my power to make them special no matter what.

here are a few things to remind me of lili at 8 years of age...

*in her own room

*ears pierced

*friendly and kind hearted

*neat and tidy

*funny

*likes to help cook

*has a huge amount of friends but still like to have just a few close ones

*sensitive

*will open her own collectibles shop one day

*likes kisses and cuddles and told that she is special

*my very first baby that i will cherish forever and ever

I LOVE YOU LILI JANE (lilipop designs INC)

thanks for sticking through such a long post...

smooches and thank you for your prayers and support

xxrosey