Christmas Craft

Schools out and home came the craft. I love it!!!

How cute is this paper plate Christmas pudding

What about the reindeer paper bag

This pottery self-image of Isaac is priceless

Merry Christmas All

Silly season

The silly season has taken over and is destroying my PhD focus. Hmm cooking, planning, shopping and organising etc is so much more important than statistics. The kids finished school yesterday and today the in-laws arrived. I've got no hope to refocus. Just take a look at the toy room which needs to be clean in two days for one of the many visitors to sleep in...Where’s the magic gene lamp when I need one?

School Shoe Quest

Is there any family on this earth that doesn't battle with school shoes? We have a place for the school shoes but they don't seem to make it there. The usual morning ritual includes a gentle request "have you got your shoes" . Of course lego or anything else is more important so once again in a louder irritated tone

"have you got your shoes".

Then magic Mum seems to know where they are (under the lounge chair, near their bed, under the trampoline, outside eaten by the dog, in the car etc). Well today I decided to try another version to beat the battle. It was hot/cold shoes. We played hotter and colder depending on if they were getting closer to the shoe location. Now they are sure to hide their shoes just to keep the game going. It beats yelling and maybe just maybe the brain might reprogram so they too know the mystery morning shoe whereabouts. Don't hold your breath ; )

Only one week to go then these are condemned

Mums Mayhem

I love Tuesday night walking group We meet at the pub, take a 5km hike around the local area incorporating the beaches then return to the pub for a drink. Its a Mums group where we share parenting tips and have a laugh. Keeps me sane.

Death via email and gingerbread

Do you get that overwhelming reality that your email box is overflowing? I spent last night watching telly and deleting emails. Over 200 were deleted or moved in just one night. Only 100 more to go. Is there an easy solution anyone out there? I get emails from two uni's due to being a remote student. I have a social email with Gmail and my various work email addresses. Last night was devoted just to the work email. I notice some people claim they only check their emails three times a day. What a luxury to actually let your brain think about when to check. I choose that one around when the kids allow me (nicely tucked away in bed, care or with toys). Maybe email, facebook and blogging have delayed the PhD finish date. Sitting at home alone writing this thesis is a rather solo adventure. I need the virtual world of social interaction. I just need to contain the time it takes.

On a more fun note today is 1 Dec. Its time to put the Christmas tree up. The kids are so excited. Isaac and I baked gingerbread today. We even iced them. Can't do that in email land. I love "Mum day" as Isaac calls it. Its when the juggle is devoted to a whole day with Isaac. Its the current secret to juggling kids with a PhD. Two days a week are kiddy days, three PhD, weekends are for the family and nights are for email, blogging, TV, romance and sleeping. Question is how long will the gingerbread last...