Fancy dress

We have declined the invitation to the fancy dress party. Partly because it was too hard but mostly because of the cost.

To hire 2 costumes and a babysitter, to pay for parking, tolls, drinks and a present, the whole evening would have ended up costing us upwards of $400. We had to decide if we wanted to go so badly that it was worth that cost. Unfortunately the answer was - no.

That money could buy us 2 or 3 evenings out closer to home, so the decision was made not to go.

Photographs

When we are on a weight loss/figure changing journey we are told to take photographs because they are a good indication of our changing shape, especially if the scale is not moving as we would like.

However, what happens when, the scale is moving in quite a steep downwards slope, your confidence is sky high, you even stop disliking what you see in the mirror? You are feeling fitter and stronger, your skin is clearer, your clothes are looser and you are getting compliments, but then you see a photograph of yourself and realize that you are nowhere near as far along in the journey as you would like to be or think that you are.

You ignore it and concentrate on the feelings. As with the scale it is only one tool in the box.

Force feeding

Thankfully my first early get up after a weeks holiday wasn’t too rude an awakening for me. I managed to get up and out on time with no problems, I even remembered to reload the car with equipment last night.

We had a visit to playgroup this morning, I don’t normally go on the first day back as CJ is well and truly over playgroup and schools don’t go back until tomorrow, but as Miss T has only been away from playgroup for 2 terms, I thought it would be nice for her to go back and see some of her old friends. The girls had a great time, and why…..because two of the children were celebrating birthdays this week so the lollies and cakes were more than plentiful.

I was aware of this so I had my little snack of a hard boiled egg before I went. I still find it extremely annoying when other mums try and force feed you sweet stuff (me not the kids) even though I have told them many times that I don’t want that food. I had to decline the stuff more than half a dozen times today. If I wasn’t feeling so motivated I would definitely have caved in. All that caved in this time was her head as I hit it with a blunt instrument – oh no that was all in my mind.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

We had such a good day yesterday. Jon had the day off work, the intention was that just the two of us would have a day together, he hadn’t realized that it was the school holidays. Never mind, we had a nice family day out.

First Jon dropped his car at the garage for a service and then we packed a lunch and set off to Bondi. I wanted to do the Bondi to Coogee walk.

When we set off it was so cold, a beautiful day but oh so cold. We soon warmed up as we walked.

We wrote messages in the sand, we watched the surfers, some doing better than others, we ate lunch, watched the Iceberg swimmers, dodged the runners.

Miss C spectacularly fell over in the mud and ended up very cold and covered in mud – she looked so cute when we set off.

The kids rock climbed, I was a nervous mother watching, Miss C climbed very well and then freaked when she turned around and saw how high she was.

We kept on walking and got to the Waverley Cemetery. Some of the graves are amazing, great big massive things, it was sad to see some of them though cracked and broken. I chose to believe it was the sea elements that caused this but I think probably not.

By this stage of the walk the kids were starting to whinge about tired legs so we decided to turn around and walk back.

Jon decided he wanted to head to Bondi Junction to get a donut, obviously the kids loved this idea so off we went.

We couldn’t immediately find a donut shop so the kids had a Golden Arches ice cream instead.

Back in the car, stressful journey home, but made it to the shop to get CJ the new Harry Potter game for the PS2, picked up Jon’s car. Cost less than $500 – bonus and home for dinner.

I even abstained from the takeaway Indian (not that the scales reflected that with a 300g gain this morning, but never mind).

The evening ended perfectly with me falling asleep in front of a movie – not like me at all.

Work ethic

I overheard Miss T in the back of the car discussing possible careers with her brother this morning. (It's obviously weighing very heavily on her 5 year old mind at the moment.)

She concluded that being a firefighter would be a good job because you get lots of days off because you hardly ever see any fires.

I like her logic - not too sure about her work ethic.

Career

Miss T today informed me that she would like to be a police lady when she get older. I found this interesting and asked her why, and what she thought a police lady did. Obviously bored with the conversation at this stage said (one of her favourite lines at the moment) "I don't know!"

Her other favourite is, "so?" - I am desperately trying not to rise to this, she has 10 days to get over it before I start challenging her. I find if I ignore phrases or comments they tend to disappear, if I tell her not to speak to me like that, they stick around for a bit longer. Hmmm - strange that!

Movies

We've had a good day today. I had a long chat with a friend this morning and then I took the kids to the movies to see Ice Age 3. The girls enjoyed it a lot, especially the lollies that I very rarely buy them. CJ thought he was a bit too old (or cool) for it but I'm sure he enjoyed it really.

He didn't enjoy being teased my a school friend?? for carrying a pink bag. He really should have packed the drinks in one of his bags, but maybe he has learnt this lesson now!

Thankfully the queue at McDonald's afterwards was too long so we had to have sushi instead. The girls had a milkshake and a hot dog but didn't eat much of that at all (too many lollies).

I've done the laundry, folded and put it all away. Now I have to think about what to make for everyone for dinner.

Recently I started a food menu for the week for us all, it helped a lot but the last 2 weeks I have been trying to use up what we already have in the freezer or cupboards. We were getting overrun with food. So I have to go digging and make a meal that isn't too mismatched.

Hannah Montanna is on at the drive in $25 a car. I may take the kids to that later in the week.

Fancy dress

We have been invited to a fancy dress birthday party on 1 August. I am not keen on going into the city, Circular Quay, in fancy dress at all. I know it will be fun after I have consumed a few alcoholic beverages (please Jon don't make me be the safe driver, I know it is your friend really but.....) but it is the planning, the trying on, the hiring and returning of the costumes. Trying to find a costume with 3 kids attached to us will not be fun.

Okay so I'm a spoil sport, but I guess not being comfortable with your size and shape for so many years strikes fear into a girls heart, let alone her fairly conservative brain.

We have no idea what to go as - actually, I think Jon might, but he may have to think again.

Tell me your experiences. On second thoughts only tell me if they are good experiences. I am freaking about it enough as it is.

Catching up

Today has been a quiet day for us. The kids had a busy week last week and for this week of the school holidays, I have planned for it to be quiet, for me as much as for them.

I so need a break from running around to and from school, work various after school activities. Although this term has been less busy than the first term, due to me cancelling or moving kids activites, with 3 children it is still pretty busy. Not to mention getting up before 5am 6 days a week to train clients or myself.

Having said that, we are all going to the movies tomorrow to see Ice Age 3. My youngest is so looking forward to it. The girls have only been to the movies once before.

My back is feeling so much better. I actually took a backwards step with it over the weekend but it appears to be on the mend now.

Food is going well and the scales are moving downwards, always a plus. My mind is also in a very good spot right now.

I have spent most of the day at the computer catching up on emails to friends and even family that I have neglected for too long, there are still many I need to catch up with including my mam. I will call her soon, by that I mean in the next couple of hours when she gets up. It is early Monday morning for her right now.

My house is still a mess, much work to be done here, but that can wait. We have clean clothes to wear so all is good.

Enjoy your evening.

Walking

This morning was a rush, I had to get my kids to Holiday Club early this morning as I had a 9am appointment in the opposite direction to get all my moles checked. Thankfully all good. Next appointment in a couple of years.

Last night though was spent rather restlessly wincing in pain as I tried to turn over, forgetting that my back was sore and then listening to the girls coughing. My back is much better today though. I am still not game enough to bend down to tie shoe laces but my youngest and I did have a nice morning walking to the park to play on the playgrounds. I didn't do much playing, I have to admit.

We saw, cars, bikes, dogs, dogs in prams, birds, trees, trees with holes in, trees chopped down, people BBQing and people eating sandwich picnics. We saw kids on skateboards, kids doing tennis lessons, kids screaming, and kids laughing.

Now I need to start dinner and then take CJ to AFL training.

My back hurts

OMG - my back hurts so bad. I felt it 'go' this morning during training, thankfully I was doing my own training and not with a client. I managed to carry on with a slightly adapted workout and a full day of being a mum, Jon is away, just my luck. Now I am sat on the massage chair hoping for a miracle. Next move is an ice pack.

I like to think positive and focus on it being gone in the morning but in reality, I know it will be about a week of tentative movement and then about 5 days of it easing then, it should be good. Walking, maybe cycling, and slightly lighter upper body training is still on the agenda for the next couple of weeks.

Out though is running and AFL training with CJ, lifting kids and dancing on tables! At least for a little while. Thankfully I don't have too many clients for the next couple of weeks, and I will just have to make those cardio workouts so I don't have to lift and spot heavy weights.

Put our children first

We had some dramas yesterday with my youngest daughter (4 years old).

I dropped her at her preschool, yesterday was her last day as for the last few weeks I hadn't been happy with the way the preschool was running, they had made staff changes and when I raised my concerns, I was ignored. A place came up from next term at another preschool so she is going to start there.

When we got there yesterday there was a note on the sign in register to say that the usual staff were sick and instead, the owner had brought in her son!!!

I had an appointment and I didn’t know what to do, I left her there but was not comfortable with it. When I got back to the car, I burst into tears. I had left my little girl with 2 people that I had absolutely no confidence in. Why because I had an appointment? I felt like the worst mother.

I called Jon and talked to him, we agreed that I would go right back in and pull her out. So I did. I don't like confrontation so I was going to make up some story about a family emergency and needed to go. But no, firstly I didn't want to tempt fate, secondly, I was so furious that someone had such a lack of respect for our children and that she was more interested in money than safety and thirdly she had made me feel like a bad mother.

I have no idea if her son was a qualified child care worker (but I am pretty sure he wouldn’t be). Had he been cleared to work with children, probably not. How could I leave my precious daughter with those 2?

When I told the owner I was pulling my daughter out, she just said well it’s ok it’s her last day. – What does that mean?

The mayonnaise jar

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'