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