Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Friday, 1 January 2016

My Top 5 Achievements of 2015

Firstly,  Happy New Year! Secondly, today marks my 5th blog birthday so Happy Blogoversary to me. For the last 2 years I've marked the new year with my top 5 achievements. This year has passed in a bit of a blur. I've found it difficult to think of it in terms of achievements but I dug deep and this is what I came up with...

1. 365 Happy Days - my picture a day that captures some sort of happiness and joy is still going strong. I started it almost 2 years ago and although it can be tough to keep it going it's really worthwhile. What I've noticed as I have reviewed my photos this year is how much more varied they are. Last year, pretty much every photo was of the boys. Don't get me wrong most of them still are but there are a lot of other things making me happy and fulfilling my life too which I think is a sign on a balanced life. If you fancy checking out my year in pictures you can see it below or you can check me out on Instagram. 



2. Surviving Christmas - speaking in terms of mental health, every year around Christmas I actually lose the plot. It is a tough time of year for everyone and although I enjoy it, it seems to send me to a place where I am anxious all the time and feel pretty down.  Not this year though!! For the first year in a long time I got through it smiling. No meltdowns, no tears and no wishing it would just be over. I dialled my festivities back this year, focused on the kids and stopped rushing. It has worked.











3. Ukulele Orchestra - I was never good at attending clubs when I was a kid. I would be enthusiastic until I got the uniform/equipment then I'd get fed up. I joined the Fife Ukulele Orchestra in January last year and I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it. I've met some lovely people and it's great being part of a community group. My uke playing has definitely improved but I am hoping to focus on this much more in 2016.


4. School Boys - I managed to secure Jamie a place at nursery. He's not supposed to start until next December but he got early entry due to his sight issues. I'm pleased to say he is thriving. John started school in August and I am amazed at how much he has grown up in few short months. He is reading, counting and giving me school boy attitude. Also an achievement for me is only being late to pick him up once!! Anyone who knows me will appreciate this has been a challenge for me.










5. Unsuccessful Dieting - it's been another year of trying to eat well and not really managing it. I tried various things none of which worked or was sustainable but I'm encouraged that I've kept trying. I recently joined a slimming world group run by a high school friend of mine. I lost, I gained then lost again but I kept going. I was honest about my shortcomings and cut myself some slack.  I'm not one for resolutions but last year I focussed on my mental health which I'm pleased to say is in a very good place so this year I will be focusing on my physical health. I don't just mean food and exercise, I'm going to be exploring health supplements for my various ailments, trying to get more rest, making more of an effort with myself and of course an adequate intake of Gin! 





So that's it. It's been a pretty chilled year. Next year my focus is physical health, financial stability and free family days out. My blog posts will reflect this. Over the last year I have chosen not to write much as I was lacking inspiration. This year I am going to write about how we spend our family time, not the sugar coated version with smiling photos but with a focus on real parenting and the truth behind the smiling snaps. We are in the process of selling our old house so we are concentrating on tightening our belts to pay for 2 houses while it is on the market. We are going to try and do more free days out and I will be blogging about the places we go and what we get up to in 2016. Watch this space. 


Thank you to my readers, family and friends for giving me an audience for the last 5 years.
Happy New Year!
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Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Grateful for the Mess

I looked around myself on Dec 27th and I was surrounded by mess. Total chaos. Toys everywhere, sweetie wrappers lying abandoned in the corners of the room, several kids cups half filled with water on each available surface. My windows and patio door were covered in what only can be described as jammy handprint approximately age 2 sized. In my kitchen there were muddy paw prints all over the floor and a steadily growing freshly washed pile of clothes on the kitchen surface ready to be ironed or folded and put away. There were plates left in the sink from the hubby's dinner the night before that he neglected to put in the dishwasher. You wouldn't believe that on Christmas Eve, a mere 3 days ago, the house was spotlessly clean, tidy and clutter free.

Surprisingly though, as I looked around my house I didn't feel annoyed or resentful as I often do about the state of the place so quickly after I've worked hard to clean it. I realised that I am very lucky and I am very grateful for this mess, this chaos. I am so grateful that I have a house to make a mess in, a husband and children to make the mess, running water to fill our cups with, food to eat, money to buy toys for the kids to play with and clutter up my living room with. I am thankful that we have clothes to wear, that my dog is still with us and healthy enough to go outside and run around in the mud and that we are all healthy and together this Christmas. I know a lot of people who are struggling this Christmas due to losses in one way or another. I also know that these sticky handprints and muddy paws don't last forever so I must treasure them while I have them. I am grateful that I have what I have, even if it is a little messy.

I hope you all had a lovely, messy and chaotic Christmas!




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Sunday, 22 February 2015

365 Happy Days 6,7,8/52

I think the exhaustion of being ill just took over me the past fortnight when I went back to work. I didn't post my 365 photos or link up. So apologies but you are getting a 3 week run down! 3 more days will see an end to my first year in photos. I started my 100 happy days project a year ago and then extended it after the first 100 days to 365. I didn't think I would ever see it through. Possibly the fact that I didn't put any rules and regulations on myself has helped. I post to Instagram as it is easier and I settle for phone photos most of the time. As long as I take photos every day I am doing fine and when I get time to post I play catch up.

Here are my past 3 weeks...

Week 6

February 2nd
A photo posted by @grumpinator on


February 3rd


February 4th


February 5th


February 6th


February 7th 


February 8th



Week 7

February 9th


February 10th
A photo posted by @grumpinator on


February 11th


February 12th


February 13th


February 14th


February 15th
Week 8 

February 16th
A photo posted by @grumpinator on


February 17th


February 18th
A photo posted by @grumpinator on


February 19th


February 20th


February 21st
A video posted by @grumpinator on


February 22nd 
A photo posted by @grumpinator on




I'm linking up with The Boy and Me
TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky

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Sunday, 25 May 2014

100 Happy Days



To be honest, I didn't blog about doing this because I really didn't think I would do it. Like pretty much everything else in my life, I thought I would start it and be passionate about it for a few weeks only for my enthusiasm to wane and eventually give it up a few weeks in. But hey! I surprised myself. Tomorrow is my Day 100 and guess what? I am pretty happy.

The point of 100 happy days was not as some Facebook trolls suggest, a means of bragging or attention seeking but a way to point out the little things in life that make me happy everyday. What I have learned in the last 100 days is pretty profound. I have realised who makes me happy, where my joy lies. I have learned about my priorities in life. Looking back on my phone photos each night was an interesting process. Weeding out the dross in my mind and replacing it with an image that encapsulates a moment of happiness has provided me with a more positive outlook on life.

When my friend Angela posted on Facebook about the project I was a bit sceptical about whether this would a) last and b) make any difference to my mood. The space of time between giving birth to Jamie and starting the project was a difficult time. Not because of any mental health issue this time (thankfully) but just because I was feeling bogged down in that new mum territory where all I do is lose sleep, change nappies, feed children, clean up mess, discipline my 3 year old, shout, swear, shout some more, feel guilty, beat myself up a bit about being useless, feed them again, clean again, feel undervalued by my husband who comes in from work to the chaotic mess that I have tried so hard to prevent all day.

I had lost sight of the light. One of the most prominent lessons I have learned is that even on the darkest days there is always light. You might need to try a bit harder and look a bit closer to see it but it's there on the horizon. I look into the eyes of my children, the warmth of touch from my husband, the sunset or rise, the ways the clouds move, the unconditional love of a pet, the acceptance of family, the closeness of friends, the escapism of music, the taste of a favourite food and the wonder of life as a child would see it.

That is where my joy lies.

I am happy. I love and I am loved.

Here's to the next 100 days . . .

Check out my Instagram feed for my 100 Days of Happy 

Some of my Favourites




















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Sunday, 30 March 2014

Year of Giving - Mummy March

It's Mummy March!

I am really enjoying my Year of Giving so far. I love planning who to surprise and this month I have decided to make it around the theme of Motherhood. I have a lot of friends who are either pregnant or who have recently had babies. It's a really tough time whether you are carrying your child on the inside, in your arms as a baby or on your hip as a toddler. Unhelpfully, children do not arrive with a manual or a how to guide and it's not always rosy, especially in the early days. I thought of a few mums in my life that I felt needed an extra boost and set about my scheming.

Feeding New Mums
My first gift was to my friend Paula who has just recently had a beautiful baby boy. One of my happiest memories as a new mum was when my friend Christine visited me after the birth of JC and brought with her a delicious home cooked meal. I had been living on tea, cold toast and biscuits so this gesture really meant a lot to me. I decided to do the same for Paula and when I went over for a cuddle with Joshua I brought with me some of my homemade stew, mashed potatoes and veg. I also arranged for COOK Morningside to deliver 8 meals to their house the following week to keep their freezer well stocked. This means that she can have a night off from cooking each week for the next 8 weeks.












Pampering Pregnant Ladies
My other charge this month was my cousin Leanne. She is due a baby in June and is getting to that fed up third trimester stage. She has been really tired and run down lately. She is doing so well though as she has a 3 year old and looks after her 2 year old nephew a few days through the week too. I decided to give her a wee pamper kit. I drew together a few bits and bobs such as shortbread (her favourite), a magazine, bump cream, peppermint cooling spray for tired legs, some nice shower gel and a calming reed diffuser. I popped it all in a gift bag and surprised her after nursery. Leanne is a salt of the earth kind of person. She would really do anything for you and always goes the extra mile for others, expecting very little in return.


Babysitting Service
Sometimes it's the gesture that means more than the gift. My friend Laura has 2 beautiful twin girls but getting out for the night without them can prove difficult. Laura's mum did a lot of childcare for her but she lost her fight to cancer just prior to Christmas. Laura was telling me how she had taken the girls and her hubby out for dinner but had to leave after the starters as the girls were a bit unsettled. I remember this stage well. In fact, on Christmas Eve the same thing happened to me. We went for dinner in a lovely Mexican restaurant. It wasn't lovely. Jamie cried from the moment we got there and John wouldn't stay in his seat. We rushed down our food as quickly as we could and left with me in tears. I think that Laura deserves a bit of chill time so I have gifted her my babysitting services for the evening to let them go for dinner together without the girls.

Preloved Rehomed
The last instalment of giving is something I think most mums are good at. Rehoming the old baby stuff you no longer need. I know that Jamie is my last baby so there is no need to hold on to things like clothes that were never or barely worn. I have bagged up my newborn clothes to give to my sister's friend Holly who is due her baby in the next month. I am also planning to give away my baby books to Homestart Lochgelly (a local branch of the charity that supports mums with kids under 5) as my boys outgrow them. I used my commission from selling Usborne books to buy £200 worth of new books for Homestart this month and the rest of my commission has funded the gifting this month.


Being a mother is one of the most demanding jobs and like most vocations it doesn't come well paid. You end up working your holidays and you are emotionally invested and on call 24/7. You can't take a sick day without feeling guilty and sometimes your efforts are not appreciated to the degree they should be. Motherhood doesn't come with a manual. Even on your best day you can still feel like you are failing. It's not without its benefits though. The smile of recognition when they see you enter the the room. The way they stretch their arms up to you to be lifted. The way they cling to you when feel hurt or upset. The way they curl their finger round your thumb when they are feeding. They way their little heads always smell so delicious. The way the look so peaceful and innocent when they sleep. The way they look at you with love in their eyes when you see them performing in their nursery show. The way the run to you and wrap themselves around you after 2 hours of separation like it has been forever. Its not always the easiest job but it is definitely the most inexplicably rewarding.

Happy Mother's Day
xoxo
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Wednesday, 26 December 2012

Tragedy


Tragic  

Adjective
  1. Causing or characterized by extreme distress or sorrow.
  2. Suffering extreme distress or sorrow.


It's been a hell of a year. So many people who should be here that are sadly no longer with us.

You here people saying 'it was so sudden' or 'we knew it was coming, but it's still a shock'. I don't think it matters whether you saw it coming or not, it's still tragic. One thing that has struck me this year is the tragic circumstances surrounding the passing of people in our lives. Within our family and friends there have been 10 deaths this year and 2 losses of grandparents to Alzheimer's. Some haven't left the womb, some have been babies/toddlers, some elderly leaving behind great grandchildren, some parents who have left behind young children, some with their whole lives ahead of them. What they all have in common is the feeling of extreme distress and sorrow their passing has brought.

I know for me personally, all the people who have passed have left behind a living legacy in way of a life lesson. I take these lessons from the way these people have lived their lives as well as the immediacy and harshness of their passing.

Live for the moment,
Cherish the time you have,
Hold your loved ones closer,
Forgive others and yourself for mistakes that are unimportant in the the grand scheme of life,
Take responsibility for your own happiness,
Don't become bogged down in the daily grind,
Take stock of all the riches you have in your life,
Tell and show your loved ones how loved they are,
Don't put things off for next week/month/year - achieve your dreams,
Be the change you want to see in the world,
Treat others the way you would want to be treated,
Give others compassion and don't be judgemental,
Be so very grateful,
Start living now because the reality is that you might be not here next new year to make the same resolutions again.

This post was inspired by Kerry (Multiple Mummy), Kelly and her babies, Mary,babies taken by angels x3, Baby Scott, Darren, Davie,Caden, Dy and Gran Thea,
xox 

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Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Healing Thoughts for Kerry

I checked my emails on the 1st of August and as usual there was a smattering of junk mail and a few updates from the blogs that I subscribe to by email. I don't have a huge amount of blogging friends but the ones I do have are simply lovely, wonderful people.

I opened an update from one of my friends. Here it is here. It's one of those moments when you can't actually comprehend what you are reading, shock and disbelief take over. 



Kerry's Blog 'Multiple Mummy' was one of the first blogs I started reading when I started my blog 2 years ago. I love her carefree attitude to life and she always struck me as genuinely kind person. I had the privilege of meeting Kerry in person when I went to the CyberMummy conference last year. We hit it off straight away as we had lots in common. It's strange with online friends when you meet them in person as you already know them so well. We spent the evening drinking wine and sharing photos of our kids. 

The email update I opened on the 1st of August told me that Kerry had suffered a brain haemorrhage following a ruptured aneurysm. I've since followed Kerry's progress through her husbands posts on her blog. He is doing a great job keeping the blog going through this difficult time. I know this will mean a lot to Kerry as she worked so hard to make her blog so successful. 

This was the last update from Multiple Daddy where Kerry had taken a turn for the worst due to an infection which put her recovery back a bit. I am wishing for the day that I check my emails and there is an update from Kerry's blog and it's her, on her way home to her loving family. I can't wait until the old MumEnTum gang can meet up again. 

My good friend Liska over at NewMumOnline is holding a #Healing4Kerry event on Saturday at 10pm. I will certainly be thinking about her at this time as I often do daily. Hoping and praying for her health and her safe return to her family. 

If you are a religious person maybe you could put a prayer up for her, if you are not religious maybe you could send some healing vibes her way. 
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Sunday, 9 September 2012

What I've Learned in 50 Days

For those of you just joining me, I started a challenge 50 days ago. The challenge is to walk/run/cycle 5km a day for 100 days. It started off as 50 but in a moment of madness I decided to increase it! Today is Day 50. I'm halfway there. I felt this was a good day for a pause to evaluate and reset goals. The initial purpose was to lose weight and to make activity a part of my daily life. I decided to raise money for charity at the same time which you can read about here.I originally joined up with the 5x50 team but as I started early I have been doing the last 50 days on my own. Today I join the other 4423 challengers for the last chapter of my challenge, the final 50!

What I've Learned About Myself


  • I like planning what I am going to do but I'm not that enthusiastic about actually doing it. 
  • I have an 'inside' voice that tries to sabotage me by telling me things like; "Nobody would know if walked to a café and sat there for hour, just run for the last 5 mins to get home and arrive sweaty". Resisting this inner voice is really difficult. 
  • Finding an hour in the day for myself is nearly impossible. 
  • The biggest obstacle to my weight loss and fitness is my utter lack of endurance and consistency. 
Just back from a walk together

What I've Learned About Walking

  • I like it. It's my favourite activity! I find that for an overweight person I am actually quite good at it and I'm reasonably fast paced. 
  • My favourite time of day for walking is either sunrise or sunset. I like to take photos on my walk and this is the best time of day for it. 
  • Blisters are awful and the type of socks you wear really make the difference. My feet eventually adjust to the trainers and the pain of blisters reduces. 
  • It's easier to do the hilly part of the walk first and get it over with. It's a great warm up then the rest seems like a breeze. 

I just love walking/running when the sun is setting
What I've Learned About Running

  • I'm not awful at it but I am most definitely a beginner. I am amazed how quickly my body adapts though. I went from not being able to run for more than a minute to running for 15 mins by the end of the week. 
  • My pelvic floor muscles are not what the used to be. Running is like the equivalent of sneezing for me.
  • Carrying the amount of weight that I do is not great on the joints when I'm running. I think running will be something that will be easier for me when I'm lighter. 
  • Blisters are worse when I run compared to walking. They appear in different places so my running feet technique must differ from my walking feet. 
  • Running downhill is easy, running on the straight is manageable, running up a hill is stupidity. 














What I've Learned About Cycling

  • Bum Sores - need I say more?
  • Any women who have had a baby really need a bigger bike seat or it simply disappears. 
  • Cycling is much harder than walking or running but you can complete the challenge in much less time.
  • Despite it being quicker, the pain last twice as long. 
  • If you find it too hard you can get off and walk but you look like a loser and you should really come up with an excuse like "My bike has lost it's pedals, that's why a walking, I'm not a lazy git". 
  • There is nothing quite like the exhilarating feeling of zooming down a hill on a bike. It releases the inner child. 
What I've Learned About Weight Loss

  • It's 70% diet and 30% exercise. On the weeks I only exercise I lose less or stay the same. It really takes both. Exercise is brilliant for tone, fitness and wellbeing but alone it won't shift the pounds. 
  • It shouldn't be a diet, it should be something that fits well with your life. If I exercise regularly and show some self restraint around food I'd be thinner. 
  • I don't feel better after I go on a food bender.
  • My stomach is flatter when I eat more protein than carbs. 
  • I've lost a stone in the last 50 days but it's been really slow. I jump from one diet to another which totally confuses my body. I find it really difficult to be consistent with a food program. 

Where Do I Go From Here?

  • I am really excited about the next 50 days. I am going to focus more on walking faster and increasing the periods of running. 
  • As I like the mornings and the evenings for walking, I aim to walk at these times. I think if I walk before work I will have more energy but this means committing to going to bed earlier at night.
  • I'm going to eat well and make positive choices towards food. I am going to think less about dieting and more about fuelling my body effectively. I am going to eat things I know make me feel good, cutting back but not eliminating carbs and increasing but not overdoing the protein. 
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Sunday, 15 April 2012

Danny Boy -106/366

This is my little brother (quite an age gap, 28 years!) It has been lovely to spend time with him this weekend and it's great to see JC and Danny develop a friendship.








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Saturday, 14 April 2012

A Coo's Lick - 105/366

We all went Almond Valley for my birthday. It was a lovely day out for JC and my little brother Danny who is over visiting from Czech Republic. Even though JC was quite poorly he still enjoyed seeing the calves and lambs.



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Friday, 13 April 2012

Birthday Bunny - 104/366

It's my 29th Birthday today and it's been a lovely day. We spent the morning at the farm (post to follow) and in the afternoon I spent my birthday money on a new addition to the household. He doesn't have a name yet, suggestions are welcome! I like Mr Bojangles, Hubby likes Blue.

In the evening I cooked a dinner for my boys, my Dad, his wife, my little brother and my Gran.

My little Grumpinator is still really poorly and is getting worse everyday. Its horrible flu like symptoms with fever. I'm hoping he improves by tomorrow.




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Friday, 10 February 2012

It's Not All About The Blood

As part of raising awareness of CLIC Sargent's Do Something Yummy campaign, I am taking part in a writing link up with prompts from Nickie at Typecast.

The prompt this week is: What does family mean to me?

Up until my twenties I was an only child. I lived with my mum and dad who had had their share of marital disputes but were still together. When they divorced when I was 21 I think it's safe to say that it was a shock to everyone, including them. I had lived a sheltered, close knit family life. I think that divorce is difficult at any age but at 21 I was set in my ways. I had never imagined that my family dynamics would change.

My Dad moved abroad to Czech Republic and he has since remarried and had another child. My little brother Daniel is 3 weeks older than JC.
Danny


My Mum remarried and I gained 2 step sibings, Kate (21 yrs) and Shaun (18 yrs).
Kate 

Shaun

These weren't the only changes. The ripple in the pond of divorce touches everyone in a family so there was disruption among the grandparents, extended family and close friends.

I went on to make my own family too. I got married and gained in-laws and then went on to have JC.


So in a nutshell, family means more than blood to me.

I have learned that the value of family lies in being there for each other regardless of blood ties. It's about being patient and recognising that we are all different and that nobody is perfect. It's about celebrating the good and accepting the bad bits. It's a living organism that is dynamic and ever changing.

It really wasn't until I had my own child that I understood a mother's love - which I wrote about here.

I love my family, warts and all. It's not always easy but I am blessed to have each and everyone of them enriching my life.
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