Things I Know I Am Thankful For

I know that I have already stopped for one lot of thanks over at APL this week but you know what? I also know you can never be too thankful.

So here I am with a two for one whammy and sharing some of the things I know I am thankful for this week.

I know I am thankful to live under such a beautiful sky

This week I am thankful for

• A child who went to sleep last night without a major drama and at a fairly reasonable hour. This same child has been refusing to sleep for what feels like forever so last night was more than a welcome change.
• A child who slipped straight into her new class without fuss or fan fare. As much as I felt a little lost and redundant my heart was swelling with pride at her comfort and adaptability fit into her new class.
• A child that has been happy to entertain herself while her sisters are at school.
• A child who knows when I need a cuddle most and gives me one.
• A child that tells me she thinks I am the best mum ever. Even if I do yell sometimes.
• The forgiveness from children whom were subjected to my yelling (even if they did deserve a slight growl for wasting precious paint supplies on more than one occasion recently).
• Knowing when to walk away and knowing when to run.
• Actually being able to run. Albeit slow and not as long as I would like but these are but minor details. The other day I did two laps of the block in nearly the same time as it once took me to one so I am by no means really complaining about my speed, I just know I can go further.
• A blog that gives me the chance to try things I wouldn't otherwise.
• Wonderful bloggers and readers that offer me kind words and support.
• Days of endless rain. The perfect excuse to stay at home snuggled in bed, all day long. Though at no point have I actually spent the day snuggled in bed I just love that the excuse is there if I wanted it.
• A dryer so that despite days of endless rains we are still able to have clean dry clothes.
• A covered veranda so that the dogs have somewhere dry to lay that is not inside my house.
• Wonderful friends, both old and new.

Have you got some thanks that you want to share? 

Join in over at A Parenting Life

Or perhaps some stuff you know?
Join in with The Miss Cinders

I must confess that I am a little late with things I know about being thankful.

It has been so long since I stopped to think about being thankful, on a Thursday or otherwise, that I am almost not sure how exactly to get started. The fact that the grumps from Tuesday are still hanging in the air doesn't exactly help.

Nothing makes me smile more than yellow
Well, almost nothing.

Or at least they were when I sat down on Thursday to write this post. Now that it is Sunday, the grumps as such may have dissipated but my writing time has not increased. Well at least not until now it hasn't. And naturally now that I have the time do you think I can actually think of something coherent to write? Of course not.

*avoids writing more by foraging through fridge, finds left over dip and some dry crackers. Score! Then wonders why she is avoiding writing when it is all she has wanted to do for DAYS now*

When Thursday had passed without me making the time to be thankful I was adamant that I would make up for it on Friday with a double whammy and know about being thankful. Perfect right?

Well if it weren't for it being the most busiest school holiday break I have ever encountered. I can not believe all the people and things we have managed to cram into one short week.

I know that the highlight of said week involves seven children, five buses and an adventure filled day all over town.

There was a time when I dreamed of seven children. It seemed like the perfect number. With seven children and two parents you had a family of nine. Which meant back yard games (think cricket, footy, soccer etc) could have four on each side and a ref to keep all teams playing fair. What better reason for a large family do you need?

I know that I am super thankful we have been able to have such a wonderful time in this short week. There has been special chocolate shop visits, a trip to the movies and a little shopping spree as well. All little things we don't normally do which naturally makes doing them all that much extra special.

I know that am blessed to know the people that I do. For far to many reasons than what I can share here. The love and support displayed below made me smile the whole day through.

Post by A Parenting Life.

I must confess that when I thought about this super brilliant idea of knowing what I was thankful for there was such more more that I wanted to say.

On the upside though, despite being days behind with my knowing and thanking I am a day early with my confessing!

If you know something you want to confess to or give thanks for join in, the buttons below will take you straight there!

Things I know about washing

As a regular reader you would know that the whole idea of this blog is to make parts of my life matter more. Or rather making the time to get on with the things that matter most.  I thought if I blogged about it then somehow it would matter and I would get it done. 

You see I realised that there were lots of little things that I would tend to let slide. On their own, it didn't matter so much but when they were all added together mattered quite a lot.

Image from here

Case in point. I thought that it didn't matter so much if I didn't wash every single day. Which to a certain extent it doesn't. However if I go two days without washing, or heaven forbid three, well all kinds of hell is going to break loose because by now chances are that the clothes everyone loves to wear the most are anything but clean and dry and ready to wear.

Now I know that on some levels it is all rather lame, saying that by blogging about I am more inclined to do it, but, when the same load of washing has gone through the machine for what seems like nearly a week without ever actually making it to the line something needs to be done. Lame or otherwise.

I know that the washing and folding of clothes is my most despised task as a housewife and mother.

I know that many of you will be suggesting I out source it to the eldest child.

I know that in theory it sounds lovely.

I know that in reality it probably wouldn't pan out so well. For a whole range of reasons. None of which need to be discussed here though.

I know that if I can just do a little bit every day it doesn't become overwhelming.

I know that since starting this post I have actually managed to get most of that elusive load actually on the line.

I know that the reason behind that was so that I could take a photo of some washing on the line.

I know that I quickly discovered this particular load of washing was not actually photo worthy. (Read as it was full of knickers)

I know I have three loads of folding patiently waiting on the couch. As it has done so all week long. By the end of the day it will probably have doubled.

I know that I have very little washing liquid left, which strangely excites me. 

I know I can't be expected to wash the clothes if I don't have liquid.

I know that last week when Tricia asked if we were washing our clothes too much? My heart was a resounding hell yes we do. 

I know that living in the tropics doesn't really allow for multiple wears of clothes due to the sweat factor.

I know that multiple washes of the same load is a terrible waste of resources.

I know that it will be the thought of that waste that will be my inspiration to stay on top of the blasted washing.

I know that you should come and share what you know too

Things I Know About Not Going to #PBEvent and Other Random Stuff

As some four hundred bloggers descended upon the Gold Coast this week for Friday's start of the highly anticipated ProBlogger Conference, I was at home quietly tapping on my keyboard, or washing dishes or hanging out the clothes. Or perhaps even sitting in the corner of the room rocking while having a little sob. It all just depends on the time of day.

I should point out though that I think the rocking and crying is more to do with being incredibly pre menstrual more than not actually attending the conference. Though I am pretty gutted about that as well. Of course I will now spend the next three to five days hoping that the tears were premenstrual rather than pregnancy hormones kicking in because that is the joy of not wanting to use contraception and not wanting ever have another baby.

I know that was probably definitely far too much information. Sorry. I'll blame the hormones.
I know that if you are trying to conceive those comments may have been the last thing you wanted to read about. For that I am also sorry.

After moving mountains to attend the Digital Parents Conference in March I knew that attending the Pro Blogger event was never going to happen. A few weeks ago though I thought that the universe had other ideas and for nearly a week I held onto the slimmest of slim chances thinking I might make it.

Sadly by the end of the week there was a rather large part of me that just seemed to know that I wasn't going to make it. Stupidly there was a tiny part that wouldn't let go of the hope though.

When we got word of Mr A's Grandma passing, all parts of me knew  and accepted that the conference was never going to be a part of the reality I lived in. Strangely I seemed quite ok with that.

Now with the conference done and dusted and Grandma's celebration of life service tomorrow I can comfortable say that I know not going was the best idea ever. Particularly since Mr ProBlogger had the amazing insight to include recordings of all the sessions in the form of virtual tickets.

I know that is THE best idea EVER!
I know that I came close to actually purchasing a virtual ticket but wondered if my tight ass could really justify the cost.
I know thaw I am really looking forward to sitting down and listening to a heap of sessions and learning how to make my blogging better.
I know that the thought of learning anything really excites me.
I know I wish I could encourage such learning excitement in Lovely.
I know twelve year old girls are a creature all of their own.
I know I try to remember what it was like to be a twelve year old girl.
I know that is not easy. The remembering or the being a twelve year old girl.
I know that so much time has elapsed since the start and end of this post that I know actually have my period. Again possibly probably too much information, but I didn't want to leave anyone hanging


If there is something you know you should come and share it here

On being a know all #BlogEveryDayInMay

Today's challenge is

Source

Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

As I mentioned yesterday I have two half degrees that apparently will never equate to one full degree. Which in some ways makes me wonder if I know a lot about anything or perhaps just a little on a lot.

Having thought about what I could share I decided that perhaps some of my infant massage tips would be the best bet. There was a time, which feels like many moons ago now, I set about to become an Infant Massage Instructor. Which essentially is just someone who showed new parents how they could massage and subsequently connect with their new little bundle of joy.

It was an opportunity that needed someone who was comfortable around strangers. I wasn't really. I'm still not. What gets me most is just how uncomfortable I get. Or sometimes even just think I may get. Because when it is compared to some of the things I have done, it just doesn't seem to match.

Somewhere along the way, something known as life seems to changed the once rambunctious, full of confidence, give anything a go girl, into what appears at times to be a mere shell of what was once. Now the mere thought of having to leave the house and interact with more than two people at once takes days of preparation. Both logistical and mental.

But I digress, the topic I was going to educate you on, was not my ridiculous internal thoughts that quite possibly prevent me from living life to the fullest. More than likely you have plenty of your own to worry about anyway.

Mind you I decided that infant massage wasn't what I was going share my knowledge on either. Even though it was a while ago I have written about how infant massage can help dads bond with their newborn previously. In fact it was not that long after writing that article I realised that I would never really make it as an Infant Massage Instructor.

Don't get me wrong I am still to this day passionate about the benefits of massage, not just for infants as well, it's just the whole getting out there and selling myself to the world at large. It is not really one of my strongest points.

And as awesome as it might have been having strangers give me money so I could share my awesomeness (knowledge in infant massage techniques) with them I just didn't feel comfortable about it all. Read as I was too scared to really try for fear of failing but that is a post for another day as well

Now where was I in regards to knowing something to share...

I know that I am really enjoying the challenges for the #BlogEveryDayInMay challenge over at Stories Of My Life

I know that I was amazed to see 668 linkers on the first day. That just blows my little mind away. I guess this is one linky party where I won't be getting around to every blog that joins in.

I know that when I realised if I thought about it the right way I would be able to give this post a double whamy with the linky love and join in with Things I Know with the ever lovely Miss Cinders

I know that it is one of my favourite linky's as we all know stuff.

I know that I have actually shared so many things that I know through that linky you should just go and check them out for yourself  here

Things I (don't) Know About People and Life

Blogging this week has taken a bit of a back seat. To what I am not exactly sure I just know that I have not been able to get much (anything) out. I even failed to get something up for IBOT which regular A Parenting Life readers will know does not happen very often.

A week that sees me also forgo Thankful Thursday is also a bit of a rarity. It was not because I am lacking in thanks either. More so a case of motivation I think. I am on the verge of being a little overwhelmed by how much I actually have to do. This is always a sure fire sign that motivation is about to walk our the door.

Next Friday we are meant to be on the road to Cairns. However it now appears that Miss Eleven may have a hockey grand final to play on the Saturday so we could be slightly delayed. The following Friday my baby sister is getting married. No wonder my head is spinning circles.

I can still remember the day she was born. It was on my seventh birthday and even now I can recall how amazed and incredibly blessed I felt. Sitting on the swing in the front garden after my party, waiting to go and meet her. All so surreal I was sure that I must have been dreaming. She was a dream come true and to this day the best present I have ever been given.

But alas I digress. I am meant to be sharing some things I know.

I know that judging people is not always advisable. Nor is thinking ill of them.

The grumpy sales assistant at Spotlight, the one I will wait to be served by someone else rather than him, turns out to be not so grumpy when not at work. The other week at the Kenny Rogers concert, when we had squashed into a tiny empty space next to his rather large, yet empty blanket, he actually offered us some of his spare blanket. I now know I was wrong to judge.

Way back at the start of June I wrote a letter. It was a release of rage that had built up over the frustrations I let another parent build in me. I thought ill of them and wondered why they were out to get me if you will. Recent weeks however have seen this same person go out of their way to be more than nice to me. Compliments and smiles whenever she can. I now know I shouldn't have assumed the worst.

I know that when I started writing this post I had much more to say than this. 

Or at least I thought I did. Though perhaps the fact that it is now way passed stupid o'clock and I should be tucked up in bed fast asleep has something to do with my inability to think straight.

So there you have it, turns out I am not overly knowledgeable today, but I do know that all the cool bloggers are sharing what they know here

And I also know that a Friday Flog is always a good idea