Home of Slightly Cracked Dreams

I’ve been increadibly slack about reporting in on many aspects of life at the moment. A couple of weeks ago I got my uni results for the first semester of this year.

I passed both subjects, not fantastically well, but when I consider the three kids at home, the IL’s away for a couple of months and the new baby, and the fact I had only intended to do one subject, but was talked into two by a lecturer - at least this way I’m still on track with my degree.

Unfortunately that won’t help me much with my study goal for 2008 of maintaining a credit average. In face my average now is somewhat less than a credit. I do have the rest of the year to make amends, but that will take a LOT of work and to be honest I’m not sure I can pull it off with everything else we’ve got going on for the rest of the year. Yes, there will be more to come

The other reason I’m dragging my feet getting back to swimming is what happened on Monday.

See, we’ve rearranged our modem/router location, and now I’m mobile again. But Hubby has decided we should turn the modem off at night. So what happened on Monday?  Well…

When I went to bed Sunday night Monday morning I switched everything off and thus, when I crawled out of bed got up later on Monday morning, I couldn’t be bothered turning everything on. So I had my breakfast, did several loads of washing, ironed, cleaned the kitchen, did a science experiment with the kids, all before lunch time. After lunch we lazed around on the computer, visited a furniture shop, went to the park for a play, Macca’s for an ice-cream, then to the bank before making it home at 5pm. All in all, the day was calm, quiet and, most importantly, fun.

Swimming three times a week takes up a lot of time. Even if all I do is go, swim and come home, I’m gone for at least two and a half hours. If I stay for a coffee it’s 3 hours minimum. Adding in study next week (eeek!) will make things more chaotic. I do love swimming, but doing it with 3 kids is tiring. But at the same time I really need to keep doing it for my back. Added to the fact Miss Moo is getting beyond the age she can happily remain in her pram for an hour with little to no input from me and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it up. Or what to do about it.

My Dr is at me to lose weight (for a number of reasons - I don’t really consider myself overweight, but I could lose 5 - 7kg and be healthier for it) and it’s just so hard with three kids at home. I have contemplated Wii Fit, but someone is looking out for my bank balance at the moment cause when I went into Target today to put it on layby there were none left.

Any suggestions? Or just suck it up until they’re at school and I can swim/exercise in peace?

I was going to title this “Where’s my swimsuit?” But it sounded a bit pretentious.

I haven’t been swimming for 3 weeks now. For over a week I was away, and then I came down with another damn cold/flu. This one has hung around like a bad smell. I have never been sick so often before in my life. I am over it!

Before I went away, I had only been twice since going back after the last cold. I am totally struggling to get over all these colds and back into the pool. And I miss it. Going back is going to be hard. Uni goes back in a week, and my six week “holiday” will be over. I have enjoyed the time off. But back to the swimming. I had planned to go yesterday, but on Sunday night I was just. not. feeling it. And I couldn’t find my swimmers. And I sat up til after 1am playing on the internet. Heh.

Several things have to happen here to get me back to the pool.

1. I need to find my swimmers. Hmmm, could be tricky. I’m sure I’ve seen them recently somewhere.
2. I need to pack a bag for me (and the kids) so I don’t need to think about it or run around like a headless chook in the morning
3. I need to get some money and put it aside for a new 10 pass card. I should have done it before I went away.
4. I need someone to make me acocuntable.

And number four is where you come in. Now I’ve posted this (well, when I hit the publish button in a few minutes) I will have you to prompt me to go tomorrow and “dip my toe” back in the water. Even harder will be doing it all again on Friday.

So who will volunteer to be my friendly kick in the bee-hind? If I don’t get up and go soon, I’ll probably never go back.

There will be more next week on how the walking is or is not going, as the case may be.

Before I get started a word about last week’s menu. The meat loaf from this months Super Food Ideas is amazing. So simple, delicious (both the girls LOVED it, which is highly unusual) and versatile. As I was mixing it up I though the mix would make great rissoles or meatballs. You can also chuck more veggies in for fussy eaters (which I’ll do next time too). And the recipe is online at Taste.com.au. Healthy Meatloaf  Highly recommended and definitely a keeper! But now on to this week. Some old favourites appearing along with a new recipe.

Monday - Lamb Chops, mash & veggies

Tuesday - Chicken Caccitore

Wednesday - Spaghetti Bolognaise

Thursday - Apricot Chicken

Friday - Mexican Chilli Bean & Avocado Wrap

Saturday - Sausage Sizzle

Sunday - Roast chicken in the slow-cooker

So what’s on your menu this week? Head on over to I’m an Organizing Junkie  to see what everyone else is eating.

Before anyone asks, I’m 28 today. That’s going to take some getting used to. If you don’t mind I’d like to be 26 for a few more years? 26 seems like such a respectable age.

It’s cold, windy and raining here today. Now, before those of you who live far south or far north of here complain, yes, it’s cold when it’s only 15 degrees. I cannot shut up my house, I do not have any heating, and while it’s 15 degrees outside, it’s pretty muchly 15 degrees inside too.

So rugging up is in order, and snuggling under blankets with my kids watching crap on tv.  Or, you know, whatever else we can think of to do.

It’s an interesting exercise to sit and look back at the last year. 12 months ago I was pregnant and still suffering morning sickness. Just finished my first semester of my law degree. Trying to get our house on the market.

So much has happened even in the last two weeks, I find it hard to keep track of.  And it doesn’t stop. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life is too short to be bored, or to sit around and waiting for things to happen.

So here’s to the next 12 months. I just hope it’s as good as the last 12

I have 5 pimples. On my bum. Right on my undie line. Oh yeah, that’s fun.

They came up on my drive home last week, have since got infected, and are driving me up the wall.

But, the best part about the 5 pimples? They’re in the shape of the southern cross

Yup, the exact shape. Even when in pain I’m patriotic to my country. Brilliant.

I thought about taking a photo for you, but you probably don’t want to see my bum.  I don’t blame you. Three kids later it’s not pretty. Well, not that it ever was.

I suppose I should be grateful we don’t have the coat of arms on our flag.

Here we are again. I’m on a empty the freezer kick - and I already have 3 weeks worth of menu’s planned. But for this week

Monday - Meatloaf from this months SFI
Tuesday - Apricot Pork hotpot (also from this months SFI)
Wednesday - Lions meeting (DH is joining this week, so the whole
family will be there)
Thursday - Cottage Pie (ready made in the freezer - needs to be
defrosted & cooked)
Friday - DH taking me out for my birthday dinner.
Saturday - Nasi Goreng from this months SFI
Sunday - Roast Chicken with all the trimmings

Yes, that’s right, it’s my birthday this week. I have pointed out two pairs of gold earrings I would like one of (both under $50) and requested a birthday dinner at my favourite (and most expensive restaraunt) for Friday night. Hubby has smartly agreed to these requests, so I am looking forward to this week.

Head over to Laura’s site to see what everyone else is eating this week.

So much has been happening around here lately. I have to go back almost two weeks to tell you about Hubby’s birthday.

After getting soundly told off after last years event I scaled things back significantly. Firstly I got him something fun for a present

Oh yeah, go the Tonka Truck. Of course, with two girls I couldn’t just get one, so I got a truck and an excavator thingy. They have both been well played with.

I told him in advance, and I invited a few friends around to play our new Cranium game on the Saturday night. The girls stayed up for it and it was very entertaining. Even if the boys had to cheat to win, it was great fun. Then the Sunday night his parents came around for dinner and cake.

So a much quieter birthday than last years, and I didn’t get into as much trouble, which is always nice.

As always, a trip involving me could go no other way than involving drama galore. Fortunately for you I’m too tired to recount it all today, especially as I’m over at Aussie Bloggers today. Just to give you an idea of what I got up to while I was away

I might manage to get caught up a bit tonight, but the kids haven’t seen me for a week, so there’s lots of cuddles and madness in the house today. What the heck, the housework will still be there tomorrow right?

Yeah, I’m from the country. In fact, one of the reasons I’m down here in Bris-Vegas has to do with another small town, but more on that later, when I have more official news.

But I’m essentially a small town girl. Sure, I love shopping in the city. The convenience of having everything at my fingertips. Or at least a car/train trip. But I also love knowing the people serving me at the donut shop. Or supermarket. Or bottle shop. Seeing them each day week, catching up, getting the latest gossip news.

As if it wasn’t bad enough I have to pack my own groceries in the green bags half the time, now they have self-service checkouts. Don’t get me wrong, I actually see the benefit of these, and I have used them in the past. What I don’t like is being forced to use them.

I went to the supermarket last night to get some nappies. As I approached the only register open (as opposed to the eight self-service registers, I was directed to a self service machine by a staff memeber. Now, I don’t know about you, but travelling for two days, with a 5 month old baby, at 8pm at night, the last thing I want to do is negotiate new technology that I’ve neither used before, or have any idea about. So after a brief argument with the machine, a young fellow took pity on me and did it all for me.

Am I alone in this? I certainly want the option of self-service for the days when no human should be allowed within ten feet of me (trust me, they do happen!), but for the most part, especially as a stay-at-home-mum with a young baby, I just want to communicate with someone over the age of 5, who can discuss things like the weather without asking “Is it windy today Mum?”. Sometimes the only person over the age of 5 I talk to during the day is the girl/guy on the register at the supermarket when I dash out at 8pm after the kids are asleep to stock up on chocolate bread and wine milk.

Of course, self-service checkouts are a long way off in my town. After tonight all I can say is thank heavens for that!