Woods, water and fun!

Today we have had fun!! Yay! I am begining to feel a bit more on top if things, and having OverFlowing Dad at home for the Easter holidays is such a wonderful help!

So we made the most of the last bit of sunshine (it's raining now LOL)and went out for the afternoon. We didn't go far...we didn't even leave the village, but it was great to make the most of some of the wonderful places we have right on our doorstep! We started off walking up to the playground , then walked along the footpath through the fields down through the woods and to the Dyke. Nothing special, just fresh air, water ,mud and fun!!!

Sometimes I get overwhelmed!

Oh...I have been away from blogging for so long. In fact I have been away from everything for quite a while. Life has overtaken me...again. I must admit I have been struggling. Struggling to meet the demands of 6 little people day after day, hour after hour, with no let up, ever.

I have 2 almost teenagers that are complex and demaning in ever more intricate and puzzling ways. I have a 5 year old, recently diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome that can -and does- reduce me to tears almost daily. I have a just turned 2 year old that is everything that is wonderful and terrible about toddlers all at once.And then I have a drama queen 4 year old,and a very quiet and sensetive 7 year old that can so easily get pushed to the background.

Money is a struggle and a worry. I hurt so much that I can't give them everything I would like. We can't afford days out, or holidays. I have to stagger buying them new shoes.I am trying to sort out returning to work, but it is slow progress....and even then we wont be that much better off once we have paid childcare.In truth things have been getting to me.

I have so much to be thankful for....and I am...but somedays, when I am so exhausted I can barely function, I loose sight of all the good and get bogged down in all the demands I seem to be failing to meet at the moment.

So from today onwards I am going to renew my efforts to be positive.I am going to remind myself of all the good and wonderful things in my life. I am going to take time to look after myself more, so that I can take better care of everyone else. And I am going to remind myself that my New Years Resolution was to ENJOY life more!!

A few happy moments from recently!

Easter Fun!

Getting out and about in the sun!!!

And Birthday smiles from my little April Fool!

This week seems a hard slog....

Today I am not feeling great. My throat is sooo sore....my tonsils feel about the size of cannon balls. I haven't slept in 2 nights, as I keep waking up feeling awful.

I am quite stressed because our 5 yr old little lady has her appointment for her developmental assessment tomorrow and Thursday(more of that in a minute!)the house seems to be a never ending tip at the moment, I am permenantly rushing and almost late for everything and to top it all off the dog has developed a phantom pregnancy. She is walking around carrying a plastic toy hamburger and crying,whilst licking it and trying to get it to feed. AAARRRGGGHHH

Our lovely little 5 year old lady is a bit of a challenge. She struggles with life. She struggles to get on with people, she struggles at school,she struggles at home. Sometimes she doesn't connect with the world at all. Sometimes it can feel as if she is a million miles away even when she sat right next to you. It took as long time to decide to ask for an assessment, then we had to wait 6 months for an appointment.But here it is. So we spend the next 2 days at the assessment centre,and see what comes of it all! It doesn't help that I will have to drag littlest man and little O with us as well of course, and I have just discovered I wont be back in time to collect the older children from school on the Thursday-so the logistics of the whole process are adding to the stress as well.....but we will muddle through, and we will cope with whatever the outcome. That's what parent do after all isn't it!

Anyway...I have managed to fit in just a tiny bit of sewing to cheer myslef up...

More little gardening bags

And I just love these little zoo animals in this cute zoo fabric bag.....I have it in my shop...but think littlest man might quite like it actually!

So for now I am just hanging in there, holding on till Half Term next week when at least the pace slows a little and I stand a chance of catching up!

So what do you do when you are poorly??? That's one of the troubles with motherhood isn't it- no sick leave (or anual leave or any other kind of leave come tothat!)

So yesterday I was really poorly with a stomach bug. I was sooo bad that I had to ask Overflowing Dad to take a day off as I was just physically unable to look after all the littlies,do school runs etc...

I have to say he did admirably! He was admittedly looking a little bit jaded by about 5pm, but he survived!

I spent the whole day in bed, feeling very sorry for myself and ignoring any screams drfiting up from downstairs!!

Thankfully today I am feeling much better and it was back to business as usual!And to cheer myself up I made something really pretty! A lovely bag with round cane handles, in this most lovely pink roses fabric. It is in my Folksy shop, but if it doesn't sell really soon I am going to be keeping it for myself!

Addicted to sewing??

oh gosh....I think I have become addicted to making things!!! I can't believe how muchfunI have been having with my new sewing machine! I recieved somenew fabric yesterday andIwasso excited I practiacally snatched it out of the post ladies hand! Is this a normal reaction I wonder....or is it time to seek therapy?! Then, as soon as I had dropped little O at nursery, and pursuaded little C to have a nap, I rushed to my sewing machine to start creating, ignoring the hundreds of household tasks I was supposed to be doing!

I am quite pleased with the end results,I have made little bags filled with gardening goodies for children, whichI think would be lovely little gifts! Trouble is Iwasmaking them tosell, (so that I can afford more fabric, to make more stuff, to sell, to afford more fabric....etc LOL)but my daughters have all fallen in love with them and now theyall want one! So...lots more sewing for me...goody. Anyway...a couple of shots of the finished creations!

I just love this fabric.....so cute!

and my 7 year old has put in her order for one of these!

And I am already fantasising about what to make next.....

Gosh...time has flown past again and I haven'tbeen blogging....that's the trouble with a mad chaotic life with 6 children and a dog....real life can get in the wayof important things like the internet LOL

Anyway...I have been doing a lot of soul searching and reflecting recently. I had to make a decision about goingback to work in my previous career. There was a job that I was considering aplpying for, that I most likely would have got. Initially it was a really exciting opportunity. But after more discusions and a lot of thinking it seemed not the right choice for our family just now. The hours were more than I really wanted, there would have been a lot of childcare needed - with all the associated stresses and cost. And in the end, when it came down to it, Overflowing Dad and I decided that trying to hold down 2 demanding professional careers and raise 6 children (and a dog!) was just a step too far for us at the moment.

For now, I am a homemaker, a cook, a teacher, a cleaner, an accountant, a comforter, a role model, a listening ear, a taxi service, a playmate, a great big hug and a lot,lot more. I love what I am. It is what I NEED to be just now.Yes, money is tight, sometimes VERY tight, but we will manage - we always do. And really there is so much more to life than money.

That said...a little bit of extra money would always be welcome! So I have finally got myself sorted and opened a Folksy shop.....only a few items made so far,but lots more to follow!Do you know, I just love making things....now just need a few more hours a day!!A couple of my latest creations...

So for today, and I am going to focus on being happy with what I have and who I am...I will fill my home with love, and give my tasks my best and gaze with much,much love and happiness on my wonderful,overflowing family!!

Spring is in the air.....(almost!)

Finally the snow has gone..yay! We had lots of rain, and the snow has left, leaving behind a very soggy ground, but at least it's not white! And do you know what I spotted today in the garden...a shoot! A tiny little shoot from my daffodil bulbs. I was possibly slightly unreasonably excited, and just had to rush to get my camera!

And to go with this new Spring feeling I have given our bedroom a bit of a makeover! I have painted the walls- one dusky pale pink, the others alpple white.

Then today I spied this little plaque in a super cheap shop, it was a bit plain to begin with, so I added the butterflies and flowers and now it fits the room perfectly!

Then as I was owed some child free time by Overflowing Dad, he took over monster minding and I did some sewing -and made myself this lovely little wall decoration. Must say, sewing round curves is tricky business, and there were a few discarded first attempts, but eventually it turned out OK, and I think it looks lovely on the wall!

Now think I need to get cracking on some Easter crafts....LOL

Silver White Winters That Melt Into Springs......

Well not much melting going on here! Yet another day with all the children off school - this time due to extreme ice !! Initially slightly apprehensive of what yet another day of everyone at home may bring - it actually turned out to be another nice chilled out day!

We started off with a spot of baking ...well actually our eldest daughter did! I stepped back, and let go of my need for control and let her bake some chocoalte chunk scones on her own (well OK , with a little bit of supervision!) She actually did a great job, and they turned out lovely. What was even better was that she loved being able to do it on her own, and was even heard to exclaim "this is better than watching TV anyway" (TV is currently banned due to a bit of TV overload in recent weeks and VERY untidy bedrooms!)

I must admit that I did then waver on the TV ban, we all watched The Sound of Music, with sing-along lyrics and popcorn!(well a DVD isn't really TV is it?!) I do love that film, and there's nothing like good sing song for raising your spirits!

And I even managed to get a bit of sewing done! I have introduced some PINK into our room! I made a new seat cushion cover for the rocking chair in our room and two little cushions! It is the start of my plans to redecorate our room!

Also on the creative front I have managed to finish knitting a hat for our eldest daughter,and have also finished her bed pocket tidy.

And my serioulsy lovely Tilda Home Sewing and Spring Time crafts books arrived, not too mention my Jean Greenhowe JiffyKnits pattern booklet and there is soooo much in there I want to make! So now all I need is a few more hours in the day and all will be good!

Favourite Photo Meme....

Oh gosh! I have been tagged my The Mad House for the Favourite photo Meme.


Great! was my original thought. Then Oh Dear! I love photos. I love taking photos. I have a camera I love and I take photos whenever I can! As a result I have a LOT of photos.


I also have a lot of children! And I have favourite photos of each of them, and favourite photos of various groups of them. So how on earth do I choose just one?? So many of my photos remind me of something special. Some of them were a special occassion, others just an ordinary day but a happy moment captured forever.


After a lot of pondering I managed to pick out one. Whilst I have ones I love of each of the children I have chosen one of my 7 year old daughter. It was taken out on an ordinary walk on the hill behind our house. The children were all messing around, skipping, dancing and jumping as we walked along. It was a lovely summers day. Everyone was relaxed ,and happy just being together. I love this photo because I feel it captures the wonderful carefree spirit of childhood. It aslo captures the "dreamer" side of my daughters personality.


For me it sums up a little bit of the world through a child eyes, where anything is possible, and no obstacle insurmountable. A world lived and enjoyed to the full in the moment. A world which I should try to live in a little bit more each day!

Reach for the Stars....

Moving forwards....

So today the children were back at school. Christmas holidays and snow days all over. And not before time I set to trying to restore the ouse to rights! A house full of 6 children for several weeks takes a fair battering!! I made some progress, and it was kind of refreshing to clear away some of the clutter, re-establish old routines and feel as if we were moving forward.

I love Christmas,but I must admit that I love Spring more. Ican't wait for the Spring, and always delight in those extra few minutes of daylight that start to creep in after Christmas. I also have a little tradition of always buying a bunch of daffodils after all the Christmas decorations are down, to cheer the place upand remind me that Spring is around the corner. I was slightly shocked to see 2 shelves of Easter Eggs already filled at the supermarket today though!! Much as I love to look forward that did strike me as slightly over the top!

I have also been discussing with an old work colleague today about returning to work.It is a very scarey idea for me. Before children I had a professional career, but for 4 years I have been a stay at home Mum. I absolutely love that I have been able to do this, but raising 6 children on one salary is a challenge! So it seems that it may be time for me to step tentativelyback into the world of work - part time! I am going to try to embrace this new stage of my life positively and calmly. I am becoming much better at realising that life is an ever changing journey, and being prepared to shift path every now and then is a good thing!

But for now I am just going to enjoy the weekend and have lots more fun in the snow!

This year I will....ENJOY !!!

ENJOY....... yep that is going to be my word for 2010.

I stumbled on this idea from the wonderful Country House and Home's blog. It was linked back to the original idea which I think is brilliant.

And so, after some pondering, it hit me what my word should be....

ENJOY

A simple word. But a much needed one for me just now. Life with 6 children is hard work. It is often hectic, always demanding, often a little overwhelming. Sometimes amidst the chaos it is easy to get bogged down in the drudgery of everyday life, and then it becomes too easy to forget to have fun and to enjoy life.

This year I want to enjoy life more. I am going to make more of an effort to do things I enjoy - new and old. I am also going to make an effort to enjoy the things I do - no matter how mundane - in some small way. I am going to grasp enjoyment from any situation, and make the most of it. We will enjoy more things together as a family, and I will also allow myself to enjoy more things quietly on my own.

Enjoying things makes me happy,and when I am happy I am a nicer person and a better Mother.

This year I am going to enjoy something each and every day!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Today we got snow! Not the almost snowy powdering that we have had on and off for a couple of weeks,but proper,build a snowman snow. And so the schools were closed, and we all got to have fun at home building snowmen , throwing snowballs and baking yummy biscuits to eat with hot chocolate. It was like an unexpected extension to the Christmas holidays, and all the more fun as it was an added bonus, with nothing to do but make the most of it!

Hard work - building snowmen!

Snowflakes - yummy!!

Frosty the snowman!

And then some home baked biscuits to warm us up!

And it looks like tomorrow will be more of the same! A snowy and snuggling kind of day! We love the snow!

Return to school...and getting to know my sewing machine!

Today was the return to school... a sort of "back to normal"day. In some ways I am gald to get back to a bit of steady routine, but none the less it felt quite sad and strangely quiet once 4 of the kids were at school this morning! I have done some catching up...the house always suffers during school holidays!

Then I went to buy some (cheap!) fabric for an idea I had.....The girls room is badly in need of more storage solutions for the many milions of little bits and pieces they seem to have. And so I made storage pockets to hang over the rails on their cabin beds. The whole sewing machine thing is turning out to be alot more tricky than anticipated! My finished product is far from perfect - I think I may add a couple more straps to help with sagging...their are areas of seriously dodgey sewing....but none the less it looks pretty anddoes the job. I am trying to be patient with mylearning this skill. I do tend to expect myself to be able to everything perfectly straight away...but need to take it slowly! On the positive side I can now wind the bobbin and thread the needle without having to refer to the manual, and there were areas of almost straight sewing in eveidence! I am going to make a couple more for the other girls beds, and hopefully each one will be a bit better than the one before!

Yesterday I went to a wedding. It was the wedding of a friend that was actually a bridesmaid at my own wedding 12 years ago. It was beautiful. It brought together a lot of my oldest and dearest friends, whom I must admit I have been very bad at keeping in touch with. None the less we all took up from where we left off as true friends always seem to. It was a wonderful day, and brought back memories of bygone eras of my life! It also made me determined to make sure I am better at staying in touch with them all from now on. They are wonderful friends and my life is made richer for having them as part of it.

I did unfortunately drink what was possibly slightly more than was advisable, but even spending today with a headache, it was still worth it!