My Heart. Part two.

One week ago , I wrote about how I found this quote  to be very appropriate for this time in my life.

Yesterday was another huge leap for us.

On a cool and rainy day, my Baby started Nursery. For all non UK readers, I believe this is the equivelent to Kindergarten. Just one tiny step from "Big School"

We chose special Nursery shoes

And tucked them into her special Nursery bag.

My excited girl.

She seemed so grown up and ready!

One last pic before going in.

K's peg where her special bag and kitty shoes will live.

She did so well. She skipped in all happy and got straight down to some busy playing. When I went to collect her she told me how she had had a great first day, ate some snack and listened to a story about a Princess. It couldn't have been better.

A very Happy, grown up but super tired Kirsten.

All ready to go home.

I feel so much happier now that I know she is happy and settled. She IS ready.

And it seems that I am too.

Just what I needed.

I was looking back through some old parenting forum posts of mine, to get some routine/feeding help for my sis. While I was delving back into my girly's baby days I came across this. And I am glad I did.

Today it was just what I was needing to read. So I htought I would share it, in case you needed to read it today too.

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the 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 infamous "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. Your family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite 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. Your job, your house, and your 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.

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. Play another 18.

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."

Stashbustin'

I am always ALWAYS starting/planning crafty projects but never finishing them. I came across a great idea on another blog (Atelier Caroline)

It is time for a little Stashbustin' in Septmenber!







I will not be allowed to buy any fabric or crafty accessories. I must use only things I have on hand and finally, FINALLY finish off all of those projects that I have started, or have just bought fabric for!

I am super excited, I like a challenge! Although it is a little daunting! Because I am so bad at not finishing anything, the number of projects on my to - do list have already run into the teens! !

Am I allowed to buy time during September??

This will also leave me guilt free and with an empty cupboard to concentrate on all of my fun Christmas crafting ! And seeing as I wont have much stash left, maybe a little shopping wll be in order......................

Bring it on!

My heart - part one.

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

-Elizabeth Stone-

On Wednesday one half of my heart began it's journey through high school. At the other end of this journey, will be an adult.

Fraser has been incredibly mature this week.

And I couldn't be more proud.

Ugh!

Think I am gonna buy myself a huge roll of this

to wrap myself up in!!

Ugh!

The story began on Sunday. I had the best day ever! I started a post about it but ended up with around 150 photos, so it will need to be re-thought haha. We spent the whole day out at a fun park and it was awesome.

I came home and was worn out after spending the whole day in the sun and racing my whole family on  one of these

So I was tired! LOL

I had just slipped on my favourite, super comfy, gingerbread man PJs , ready to finish off my great day on the couch watching TV. I stepped on the top step and slipped. I flew up in the air and managed to land, somewhere near the bottom, on my foot. Ugh. I don't think anything is broken but it is bruised and pretty sore! I am grateful as it could be worse. The last time someone fell down our stairs He put his head through the wall at the bottom! They are steep. The steps are too narrow. I hate them.

This morning after hoovering (vacuuming) I was returning the hoover to the cupboard and it came apart. Unfortuately I was lifting it quite high and it fell right on my big toe! On the same foot.

Ugh.

After much swearing and yelling, my dear boy came running down to make sure I was ok. He administered some excellent first aid! Ice and a plaster (bandaid) on the toe and a nice iced drink for Mum.

(it was too early for wine ;-) even by my standards!)

Ugh! Again I don't think anything is broken but my whole foot hurts even more and now there is not one part of it that is not bruised, twisted, sprained or bleeding, so it is making walking pretty difficult.

So I have decided I am a liability and should just wrap myself up in a huge bit of bubble wrap, lay on the couch and be served!

While I'm at it I should probably bubble wrap my heart a little.

Tomorrow is the day.

Fraser starts High School.

Ugh.

A wee before and after

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was starting to "decorate" my house. All of the painting etc was done a  year ago when we bought it. I have spent a whole year and (more) looking at , mostly, bare walls. Just not sure what direction I wanted everything to go in.

Just recently I seem to have been quite inspired by certain little bits that I have bought or been given. One thing has led to another and I am getting a feel for the space and the things I want to put in it.Like my hall, I havent been sure what I wanted in the Hall, I saw a little wooden heart one day and knew I wanted to incorporate the blue colour. .  Lots of these things I am making myself so it is so enjoyable for me.

Today I thought  would share my Hall. It is not finished as it still needs a curtain or something at the window. But I hope you will agree that it is certainly better than when we bought the house!!

Before

  my beautiful Barbie pink walls with red carpet with lots of mismatched wood

 (these pics do not do the colour justice! it was awful!)

After

The wallpaper had to stay as we just didn't have the time to change it with so much else going on, but I don't even notice it now that it is no longer  that beautiful shade of pink!

Please ignore all of the squint pictures, um ...................... it's the walls..........nothing at all to do with the fact that I can't ever wait on Murray hanging things properly with spirit levels................... I eyeball it, hammer bang crash , done!

I couldnt work out what I wanted in these frames. For now they have some "prints" made from a wallpaper sample!

My Peat family sign is about to have a facelift so it fits with the new blue/white/brown theme

This shelf was here when we bought the house, it was in the bathroom I think. we added the little bit of wood to put the hooks on , the hooks obviously and then painted it white. I haven't finished my project for what is going on this shelf yet. I take babysteps with everything lol

my new sign that arrived from ebay yesterday, which I can now see needs to go up just a little.

On hindsight, this is a really rubbish post LOL the lighting is terrible and the angles - ugh. But it will have to do - my blogging time is up! LOL

Ever closer to showing off my kitchen! Woo hoo! Just need a sunny day for some pics!

It's a wonderful life.

Sorry everyone, I didn't mean to leave that sad post up for so long! I was going to do another post on Sunday but we have just been having way too much fun for me to take some time out to blog.

This arrived in the post today

and I love it.

Life IS wonderful and I have such a lovely time with my family.

These peeps are just awesome

On Saturday we had "Tinkerbell day". The Tinkerbell movie was on TV and K had never seen the movie before.She loves Tinkerbell.

 Fellow Tinkerbell fan Beebs, was invited  to come round and watch too

 Beebs was under strict instructions to bring her Tinkerbell cushion, purse , stickers and cup.

K wore her new Tink T shirt from Granny

Then we made pasta together with my brand new pasta maker

Yum!

We have loved on our meatball,

Enjoyed story time with the delicious Baby Joe

(look at him listening intently to my big girl telling him a story. Melt . My . Heart. )

And had plenty of giggles along the way!

"The best thing to hold on to in life is each other."

Crying in the nighttime

Tonight I am laying in bed. Thinking.
Summer must be coming to an end. I can no longer stop my mind from turning to the school year beginning and the changes that this will bring. I can't seem to stop the huge tears that are rolling down my cheeks. 

Letting go is so very hard. In the next few weeks i have a lot of this to do. Gearing my babies up to take the big steps into the next chapters of their lives.

Filling them up with my love and assurance. Hoping they can tap into these reserves when they are feeling alone and unsure.

Hoping to bank up every hug , every I love you, every word of encouragement. Will they feel it when they need to? Will they know I am right here waiting for them to come home, to me?

Buying school supplies to tuck into their bags. Smart new clothes for the first day at school. Taking kirsten to choose special nursery shoes to keep in her new peppa pig bag that will hang on her very own peg. Wishing I could weave a little of myself into these things that will be with them when I can't be there.

My children are individuals. They are creative and funny and smart.

I want them to remember who they are, always. I can only hope that they can hold on to themselves when others try to chip away at it. To have the confidence to be exactly who they want to be, even when they are under pressure to change.

From the moment Fraser was born he shone. He was everyone's baby, ready with a smile and a cuddle for anyone he came into contact with.

From the time that he could walk and talk, he performed. Many a day / evening was spent with us applauding his many and very extravagant entrances and performances.

Always ready with a song, a joke or a dance. Fraser has always craved a stage and lives for an audience.

His love for costumes and characters is legendary. When he was 3 he was asked to be Santa in his playgroup Christmas show. He absorbed himself so completely in his "role" , he wore that Santa suit for 3 months straight!

My sister and I have always joked that we were destined to spend our nights and weekends, sitting in the wings , sewing sequins.

Kirsten was different. From the moment she was born she was my baby. A mummies girl through and through. Which is , if I am honest, the relationship I have dreamed of having, with the daughter I have dreamed of having my whole life.

She is about to step out into her own branch of creativity, she is breathlessly counting down the days to her very first ballet class. Her confidence is different to her brother. She has a quiet strength and determination. But the confidence us there along with a slight shyness. 

Fraser is about to take a huge defining step. The friends he will make in the next few weeks could mould and define his future, at least for the next 6 years.

Never before have I  felt so torn. I want him to fit in so badly , yet I want him to stand out. I want him to shine in the special and fabulous way that only he can.

I get stopped in the street to be told how wonderful my son is. How talented , funny , generous, helpful and polite he is. I am so proud I could just burst.

Please let him understand that this is what it's all about. It is better to be known for these qualities , than to be an undistinguishable face amongst any "in crowd"

How can I protect them ?  How can I keep them safe? How can I do this but at the same time do what I must do and let them go???

I don't know,

What I do know ,is that I will always be right here, in the wings, quietly but proudly sewing on those sequins and whispering love and encouragement along the way. No matter what.

Taking notes

My crafty to- do list is out of control! I literally have had to write out my list to try and spur myself into action! Some of these things are really over due, but I just can't seem to stop starting new projects!

I have managed to tick a couple of things off my list.

First up was my Christmas in July gift for the exchange hosted by Craftaholics anonymous. I am sure my giftee will have received hers by now, as I mailed it over a month ago, so it would be safe enough to share what I made.

I was really stuck for a long time, it is difficult to make a gift for a perfect stranger. In the end I decided on a notebook cover. Everyone could use a notebook, right?

I looked at a few tutorials online but couldn't find one that was easy enough  exactly to my liking. So I just made one up. I was happy enough with it, but it did have a few things I would change next time. Unfortunately I didn't work out how to do it until after I had mailed it.

Please excuse the pics, it was really difficult to get it bright enough, but not too bright.

And of course as soon as my girly girl saw something pretty being made, she wanted one too.

I think I might "need" one of these too

Fragmented for the first time!

A few of the blogs I follow link up every Friday with Mrs 4444 who is very sweet. I found her blog through taking part in Sundays in my city. Anyway Mrs 4444 hosts




where you can post about all of the little snippets floating around in your head, but maybe aren't big enough to warrant a whole blog post. Which is really me all over! A little bit scatter brained.

* * * * * * * *

This week we took Fraser shopping for school supplies! Where did our summer go? How different it was for us this year, Fraser will start secondry school in just less than two weeks! So out goes the character pencil case and a plain backpack has replaced his Doctor Who bag.  He is allowed to write with pens instead of pencils. All very grown up!

I think I am apprehensive as he is about these changes, but I know he will be awesome. He is a great kid.

* * * * * * * *

Greenfly! They are everywhere! I have never see anything like it, they are literally swarming here. It makes me feel all gross. They are just landing on me and crawling in my hair! Makes me want to live in the shower!

We are considering breeding a little ladybird army to swoop in and take them out! Yuck!

* * * * * * * *

I spend so much of my day dreaming of a day off where I spend some good quality time baking with my girly and some one on one time with my sewing machine. This week I was not working. And I slept. Yep I know I am rubbish! Long lies and afternoon/evening naps! I am wondering how on earth I will cope next week when I am back to working full days!?

Part of me feels like I have wasted my time but the other part is telling me that I needed it more than anything and I did enjoy being served breakfast in bed every day ..............

* * * * * * * *

I bought a pasta maker today! It is so dreamy! All shiny and full of pasta possibilities! I think we will have a go at making our own fresh lasagna sheets tomorrow. I have never done it before, does anyone know if it is easy?? It would need to be or I might just need to take a nap first .......

* * * * * * * *

I think I may have to consider some sort of therapy. I have this problem where I keep buying and / or looking at red fabric! Gingham , polka dots , anything. It is becoming clear that this is more than just a crush!

* * * * * * * *

I am not looking forward to Monday. I attend a slimming class and I really think they will be giving me some bad news this week. I am sure it has everything to do with the way the planets are aligning this week and nothing at all to do with the chocolate bar, that is sitting in the kitchen , waiting for me to munch it while sitting on the couch watching tv tonight.

* * * * * * * *

It was cold here today, not quite cold but certainly chilly. I was wearing flip flops but was thinking some sort of socks and shoes combo would have been better. I also noticed how dark it was when I went to bed last night, our street lights have started coming on again and we are beginning to need them.

This all makes me so happy! I love the cold weather, dark nights and warm houses, I love the changing of seasons and it seems like it might be imminent here. Hopefully we will get a freakishly early frost that will take out all of the greenfly!

* * * * * * * *

It is only 140 sleeps until Christmas!

* * * * * * * *

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I think I will spend it with my 3 favourite people, maybe have a pyjama day tomorrow , spend some time in the kitchen  x x

And because every post needs a photo