Gardening Granny - 146/366

My Mum got her new allotment. I'm quite excited about the free veg!

Park Life - 37/366

It was JC's first day being looked after by my Mum (on a work day anyway). My Mum has just been able to reduce her hours at work so she can help with Childcare. It's really nice because my Mum and Mother in law both have him a day each then one day with a childminder so it's a nice balance.

They had a ball at the park. Even though it was cold, he enjoyed the equipment and chasing the ducks!

Listography - Lessons from my parents

Kate over at Kate Takes 5 has set us the challenge of coming up with our 5 lessons that we learnt from our parents. Here's my attempt . . .

1. Treat other people the way you would like to be treated - or better

I was brought up to treat other people with kindness and respect. I think that I manage to get this right most of the time but I am bound to slip up from time to time. I don't think you can go far wrong in your treatment of other people by using yourself as a benchmark. I sometimes look at people's behaviour and wonder how they can be so cruel and unkind to others without giving it a second thought. I am proud of the fact that my parents brought me up to be tolerant and accepting of others, regardless of who they are, what they look like, what beliefs they hold and even how they treat me. To my detriment at times, I continue to look for the good in people who shit all over me!

2. There's no pockets in a shroud.

This is really from my Dad and at times it has not always served me well as I tend to spend money thoughtlessly at times but I feel the sentiment is worth looking at in depth. He taught me that it is important to live for today. Don't plan your life instead of living it as you never know when your time may run out. You can save your money for a rainy day but that rainy day might never come. So if there is something you are passionate about, spend the money, spend the time and live your life to the full.

3. Everything happens for a reason, just believe.

Over the years life has thrown us some major obstacles. At times it has felt like fate/God/whatever/whoever you believe is writing the script of our lives is really messing with our family. Sending heartache and disappointment at the worst times. However my Mum always stood by her belief that all the horrible things in life have a knock on effect at some later point in our lives which shapes who we being as people, making us stronger or guiding us in directions we may not have chosen to go. I have to admit that the rubbish moments in my life so far have all healed with time and led me down more positive paths.

4. Karma, Baby, Yeah!

Give out ugliness and you'll get ugliness in return. When I was bullied at school I remember my Mum telling me that 'You'll see your own of them' which basically means that the hurt they have caused you will come back to them and in years to come you will be in a much better place and be able to look back at this and laugh. They also taught me that the people you meet on your way up will be the ones you see again on the way down so treat them nicely. There is nothing more annoying that people who think they are a class above everyone else, someone who looks down on others because they are, in their opinion, more fortunate.

5. Don't tell black lies and keep an eye on the white ones

From a very young age I was told never to lie. Even if the truth was hurtful or if I would get into trouble should the truth come to light. I was always encourage to come clean with the truth. I was taught by my Mum  that I would get into so much more trouble if I lie and I am then found out because not only will I be in trouble for the actual deed I am lying about but also for lying. I hate the feeling of being lied to and I like to think I have a bullshit detector installed within me. I actually tell the kids in my class that I was upgraded at 'teacher school' with an internal lie detector and eyes in the back of my head. This is what I call a white lie. One that doesn't really harm anyone not like those awful big black lies that cause so much pain to others. I like to keep an eye on the white lies though so that lying doesn't become a habit.

Check out the other entries ...

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Fill in the Blanks Friday (except it's now Sunday but I'm always late)

I'm always late for everything. Even my wedding. I wasn't late in giving birth but then I didn't have much say in that. I have seen this meme popping up all over my favourite reading blogs since Friday and I am just catching up tonight. So I have joining in this friday fill in the blanks meme which started over at the little things we do ...

I am a first time mum, a wife, a friend, a dog lover, a wedding singer, a bookworm and extremely tardy.

The bravest thing I ever done was get married. Not because I don't love my husband to bits because I do! But because I had lost all faith in marriage after the break up of my parents marriage and many of our friends and family who had relationship breakdowns in the run up to our engagement and wedding. I didn't think I'd ever get married because I was so scared that it would end badly but I've taken a leap of faith.

I feel prettiest when I have that 'head over heels in love with my son' look on my face, like in the photo above. (I've seen this one come up a lot on other people's Fill in the Blanks blog, it must be a common occurance!)

Something that keeps me awake at night is worry and anxiety that I am not getting this motherhood thing right. Blogging is what is keeping me up tonight but that's OK because it's my therapy!

My favourite meal in the entire world is haggis balls in a whisky cream sauce to start, chicken stuffed with a garlic and cream sauce wrapped in pancetta with maple roasted parsnips for main, sticky toffee pudding and toffee ice cream for dessert and of course a nice cup of tea and some tablet to end the meal calorifically!

The way to my heart is by being honest, open, kind and making me laugh until I snort and my belly hurts.

I would like to be a better friend and spend quality time with the people in my life who make me feel good. I would also like to be the best mum I can be but then that goes without saying!

Cheerful and Grateful

This week has been a bit slow my Blog world and I feel like I am losing my mojo. Nevermind, I still have plenty to be cheery and grateful for. I am linking up my cheerfulness to Mummy from the Heart and my Gratefulness to Maxabella loves . . .

1.

My Auntie Beth turned 50 this week and my Mum turns 50 in July. A friend of theirs, that they went to school with, died this week, she too would have been 50 this year. I am grateful that my Mum and my Auntie Beth are both healthy and well. Nobody knows what is around the corner and it's a scary thought. My Gran, who is in the picture above with my Mum (the bride) and my Auntie Beth, is also still alive and kicking even though she has had periods of ill health for the last 20 years. I am so lucky to still have so much family around me. 

2. 

Continuing the theme of family this week, I am also grateful and cheerful for my newly acquired siblings. I was an only child up until my parents divorced when I was 18 (nearly 10 years ago!). My Mum remarried to Kev who already had two kids of his own (Kate and Shaun). Shaun was just a kid and Kate starting her teenage years when they got together. It hasn't been easy, I suppose family never is but I love having the two of them in my life and I treat them as if they were my own flesh and blood. My Dad also remarried and has gone on to have another son of his own (Danny) who is obviously my half brother. He is only 3 weeks older than JC and has a lovely wee smile. I am looking forward to watching him grow up and even though they live in Czech Republic, I hope to play a role in his life. Here he is . . .

3. 

It is Scuba Steve's half term holiday this week and we are planning on taking JC to the zoo. I love it when we can spend proper time together as a family. The weekends seem to rush by in a blink of an eye. We went our for lunch today to our favourite 'family' restaurant. It was the first time that JC has eaten out of the house in a highchair and I was so proud of him. It definitely made me extremely cheerful!

Check out more cheerfulness here: 

Or hop on over to Aussieland for some Gratefulness here: 

3 Reasons to be Cheerful

I thought this was a lovely idea so I decided to join in this bloghop. I have so many reasons to be cheerful but I will be posting this every Friday so I guess I can get round to them all eventually. Here are my 3 Reasons to be Cheerful this week:

1. My friend Pamela gave birth to a beautiful baby girl today, Erica Catherine Stewart. Born on her due date, quick labour and 6lbs 9oz. So happy for the whole family.

2. My little one has started to grab both his feet and roll over onto his side. I am so proud of every little milestone. I never understood why parents got so excited over things like this, until I had my own and now I totally get it. There is no better feeling in the world than watching them discover their own bodies.

3.

I am thankful for mum. It doesn't matter what the question is, she always has an answer. It's not always the answer I'm looking for but I have learned that she is usually right. She has been a huge support to me since giving birth to John. She is always at the other end of the phone whether it's a question about food, babies or dogs. Her hubby calls me 'Third Lung' because I often talk to her for so long on the phone that her cordless phone runs out of battery.

That's what I am thankful for this week :)

Check out Michelle's blog to see other reasons to be cheerful: