A little dark hole....

It had been two weeks since my last workout and I was chomping at the bit!!  Sunday we went for a 2km jog, the girls on bikes and Mr Spaghetti in the pusher it was a beautiful day and so nice to be getting some vitamin D...finally.  Afterwards a play at the park  and quick catch-up with friends while I drooled over those able to jog freely for as long as they desired.
Monday was finally the day!!  The children were healthy and the car running smoothly and so of to kinder and then time to run....I was so keen and ready to improve on my time...bring it on!
6km later and a slight feeling of nausea  mixed with elation and I was on cloud nine, best time ever and proud as punch.
This run however symbolized a lot more than just running better, faster.  My weekend consisted of an overdrive in hormones resulting in feelings of blue and grey, that mixed with the realization that my dog is missing and that my son needed to be put to bed roughly twenty-eight times.  I NEEDED this run and I new that I could climb out of that hole at the bottom of the hill and get back to the top!!!  And there I was QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN!!! (I allow myself an enlarged ego directly after a run!)
 Challenge yourself, push yourself, If your unhappy with a a part of yourself  or your life CHANGE IT,  It may take a couple of weeks, a year or seven attempts to get to the first step of your goal, but if you continue to remind yourself of your goals and why you want to reach them,  keep inspiring yourself let others inspire you, have gentle reminders and be okay with failing, I believe its trying again that's the real test....Dont give up, GET TO THE TOP OF YOUR MOUNTAIN!!.x

Melting moments

My darlings are in bed,  they've been asleep now for nearly two hours I've just been down to check on them and they've not moved.  Last night Mum and Dad came for dinner which was lovely and relaxed although Mr S did not want to go to bed he's so stubborn and yet so gorgeous.  When he's fighting the idea of sleep we have a little routine,  if that fails  I put him to bed once again and then after closing the door  (he sleeps with it closed) I wait in the room with him until he gives in and snuggles into bed.  I usually sit in the rocking chair trying not to count the minutes although I've had to stand lately as  he's been getting on my lap, I don't want to get into the habit of rocking him to sleep no matter how lovely it is.  So Mr S is snuggling into my legs as little ones do, chatting away and eventually asking "why aren't you speaking to me mummy?" followed by  "mummy I love you, I love you, why aren't you answering me" so once again I repeat that it's time to sleep and once he's in bed I'll tuck him in.  Three times he walked towards his bed and then turned away at the last minute "stubborn!"  Eventually he snuggled down and we had our kisses and our "how much I love you's"  and then half asleep my three year old said to me "mummy I'm sorry I hit you before" tears welled up in my eyes as they are now.  My beautiful boy did throw a tantrum earlier and did whack me gently though surprisingly in the face as a result.  Now just before sleep he's thinking of what he'd done and is saying sorry to me, oh melt my heart I would go through it all again for that moment with my handsome boy.
 It had been a funny few days before this highlight, I've mentioned before at times I feel as though the children are getting a little cheeky, not listening or doing what is asked of them, and Mr S seemed to be crying in protest more regularly, I was lacking patience and tolerance at times.  I wish I was always my calm, happy self  that's how I would describe myself although some days its as though I've run out.  I'm now recording these days to see if it's hormonal.  If so can anything be done? Damn those hormones honestly don't we women have enough to deal with!

Anyhow my point is that today compared to the previous three was easy and flowing, a normal good day.  And this is how it began....I was awake lying in bed wishing I could make the children breakfast and myself a coffee and crawl back under the covers with my book, although I had my group training session that I do love.  Right at that moment "bang crash!!!!! Time to get up.  As I got to the kitchen the girls almost started crying worried looks on their faces "mummy it just..."   Oh those angels, they'd decided to put away  the groceries that had not yet been put away and after a few to many heavy items on the top shelf of the fridge the shelf slipped out, ooops....  I hugged my darlings what a sweet sweet gesture,  I was so proud of them and as I looked up from our cuddle I noticed the large box of fruit that they'd unpacked high into the fruit basket a beautiful colourful prism. Bless them...

I am often upset with my efforts as a mum I find some parts come easily and other parts or times are such a struggle, sometimes I'm so riddled with guilt and other times I'm cruising along dreaming of another! Looking back on moments like these though I'm thinking at this moment that its okay and that they are beautiful, caring children and Its not so bad the job that I'm doing, at this moment.....x

Shake things up a bit

Morning all!  The days are getting slightly warmer and we've even seen the sun for a moment or two recently.  One cannot help but think of sunny happy days ahead where lifestyle turns to outdoors, bare feet and sun kissed cheeks. Oh I cannot wait, have recently begun feeling a bit of cabin fever, I feel as though we are watching to much t.v, we need to get outside for an entire day and play and play and play.  I'm also over colds and such bugs....yuck!!! so over it although I have noticed this month that bugs are short lived, our immune systems are finally gaining some strength.
Earlier this week I was reading Planning with Kids  Nicole gave an overview of her routine during the week, I love getting insight into other women's days how do they manage? What do they let slip from time to time? Which are the main priorities within that household and most importantly I always come out with a handy tip or two.  The thing that stood out for me in this blog was that playtime with the children was included, it's obviously an important part of the day and one that I sometimes find tricky to include each day.  So after reading this blog I felt inspired and changed things around in my routine, we usually have play time in the arvo and usually its after the cleaning or a busy day out of the house and before cooking dinner and bathtime, looking back now I'm thinking "der Jodes!!!, tired, busy, hungry time of day!!!" what was I thinking???  So last week we changed things, after breaky and clean up we played (it worked out well as Little Bear was recovering from a bug and we weren't planning on being anywhere all day) It happened naturally actually the children were asking for me to join in and so we built towers and Mr Spaghetti the dinosaur knocked them over, we built leggo houses and castles and after an hour or so I set up a little doctors bag with bandages and syringes etc and the children went on to play nurses while I began on the house work.  I couldn't believe the calm through out the house everyone happy and satisfied, and in giving the children the full attention for that hour they were content on letting me do my thing for an hour before lunch.  After lunch we made muffins together as a yummy treat.  The girls made rasberry and chocolate (cocoa) and Mr Spaghetti and I made Date and Sultana, all without sugar and packed with oats, almond meal and chia seeds, a drizzle of Maple Syrup before putting them in the oven and fingers crossed.  Wow, these were great!!! I am still getting use to this old oven and create more disasters than wholesome goodness in the cake department, but these worked a treat I forgot to mention we used Jalna Vanilla yogurt (no sugar) also and it gave them a lovely moist texture. MMmm mmmm, we were very proud.
So what is on for today, well you wouldn't believe it Little Bear and I came down with sore throats last night and Little Bear a temp also, so today another day at home no ballet or kinder.  A light  lunch lots of fruit and I think a bush walk afterwards.  We fed the kookaburras on Sunday it looks as if they're building a nest in a tree at the front of our house we shall take the binoculars out with us for a closer look.  And a bit of house cleaning ....of course.
I went for a 4km run with Mr Spaghetti in the pusher yesterday, my leg felt great and I noticed myself smiling half way through.  It felt so wonderful,  a beautiful day at the lake, still and misty and not as cold as previous mornings and Mr Spaghetti and I were just happy.....Such a lovely way to be and jogging 4kms I had time to enjoy it,  a lovely distraction for the hard work of my legs and lungs!!
I hope you all out there are enjoying your happy days and if your missing out on them lately hang in there and  perhaps shake things up a bit.  x

Happy thoughts before bed

I'm on my way to bed, I feel drained and sleepy and am going to bed earlier than usual which is another of my little challenges this week.  It has been a long day, very emotional and I've thought way to much, am sure that I shall sleep well tonight and a new day should be there waiting in the morning.  I did go for a run today which of course helped but I later realised that my phone is not working at all and so have missed my husbands little message's throughout the day which always give me strength.
 So happy thoughts before bed, I have a beautiful little life that I'm very in love with, I am still challenging myself and growing as a person, meeting wonderful people, my beautiful husband is home in 3 or 4 sleeps, I found words of encouragement and although written by a stranger I'm sure they were aimed at me, my 3 little angels are safe and well tucked up in their beds dreaming of their special places and I remembered to lock-up the chickens  tonight (Jack frost has been out of late). Nighty night. x 

Simple and sweet

 Siting here in our backroom looking out into the surrounding bush watching the heavy clouds rambling through with each gust of wind, I've a moment to stop and enjoy one of the most rewarding yet simple things in life....A peaceful cuppa.
 Little Bear and Miss S (who now prefers to be called Little Rabbit) have had an exciting dress-up day at kinder and Mr Spaghetti has had an unexpected nap  and so now after healthy snacks in the car and warm milk at home they're content on being content...yay!!!
So in this moment of calm I'm looking out at the view and thinking back over the last few days and looking forward to the weekend ahead. We are now on holidays, we've a relaxing weekend approaching, I'm feeling happy and not drained as is often the case (new work-out routine to thank for this),  and my big accomplishment this week running the local lake 6km non-stop!  The thought however that is lingering in my mind at this time is when my darlings came to my bedroom recently requesting that I hop back into bed while presenting me with a bowl of  Weetbix and cold milk a glass of water and three beautiful smiles....Breakfast in bed! Melt my heart and how I cannot wait until they're old enough to use the stove and make me a coffee.
Simple little things that when taken note of  can be delightful and add difference to your day.  Letting a smile from a stranger reach your heart and uplift your mood, chatting with a neighbour as people generations before us did, complimenting someone knowing you may have helped turn their day around, catching up with good friends who make you feel great, three empty plates at the dinner table veggies and all, seeing the dining room cleared of ironing, a beautiful bird call that can be heard over everything else, a party invitation, listening in on a sweet imaginative conversation between children, romantic text or compliment from a loved one, chivalry and beautiful manners, and of course the smell of fresh washing that has dried on the line. Ahhhh.....Take note and let the simple things delight.x

Serenading the sitter

 35th birthday it read on the card, I quickly messaged the sitter are you free, are you free?   A glass of wine, some lippy and heels on my feet?  Please be free, oh be free, oh wonderful one,  I've people to meet and glances to steal,  faces to see that I've not seen for years.
 It's an old school friends birthday, we've laughing to do and stories to hear, Oh please say you'll do it my babysitting dear. Waiting and waiting for the sitters reply, who to ask next if the answer is "nigh"?
Oh what shall I wear? Should I drink or drive?  And who will be there?  If I know no-one I'll die.
Then I think to myself if it's no I won't mind, I've so much to do and so little time. It will be freezing out there and there's grey in my hair.  I can just stay at home, yeah I don't mind a no.  At home there's a fire and children to cuddle and wine in the cupboard if the days full of trouble.  I'll get a good sleep and pick up that book and defrost that chicken and have a good cook.  Well the moments arrived my phone says with a beep Oh what will it say as I jump to my feet! x

One month to go

My three year old is on the couch.  He'd been put to bed 10 minutes earlier, tucked in tight, warm milk and a kiss.   This had lasted long enough for me to sit down with a cuppa and blanket also tucked in tightly.  He is now looking at me from the couch while crunching on lolly-pop left overs, I should be over there quick as a flash removing the sticky mess and straight back to bed for him.  I'm not, obviously, I'm here writing.  
My husband works away, I usually do not bring it up  however he's supposed to be there now on that couch looking at me.  We were supposed to have one more night together before he's three am departure for four weeks.  We've been robbed of twelve precious hours together and it's a shock to my system. I miss him.  So it's time to keep busy, the first few hours are the hardest.  My girls had tears in their eyes today saying goodbye to daddy and tomorrow my son will call out excitedly to dad before realizing  that he's not here and that he misses him.  I will feel lonely and hope that he's okay without his family.  One week of keeping busy  and time will heal, daily life will take over and before we know it one week to go! xx