It’s not really ‘home’, but it helps ward off the achy pangs that come when I realise that I am one displaced little citizen.

It's your choice, she's either unseasonal or just downright organised. I guess if I shop for them one month at a time starting now, I should be ready by December. oh...just in case you could't make it out:

Dear Santa I would like a watch or somethg I could use to spy on my friends when I'm not there Heidi

You can swing in a chair like a princess or you can swing from your arms like a monkey, just as long as you remember to have fun while you're doing it!

If I were a good girl, I wouldn’t have had to be digging around at the bottom of my purse…and ‘oh man!’ I need to clean it out!! You know, I actually rotate bags occasionally to avoid this chore! Well, during my dig, and I found this curious note which read: “Bank of Time”

86,400 seconds in every day = like money A new deposit of $86,400 every day! Treasure every moment…Spend it wisely…Time waits for no one...invest!!

...hmm, I guess after all my chores are finished for the evening & quality time is spent with the family, I may just have enough time left to de-lint my handbag! But never mind...there will be a spanking new deposit in the '1st Bank of Me' tomorrow morning, eh?

I am not complaining, and I know everybody probably has a similar list…but here’s what I did on my day off today – I just wanted to write it down. After sharing my bed with husband and 2 year old with her ‘Fly Time’ button stuck in the ‘On’ position for most of the night…I got up with the kids, chased the 2 eldest into the shower, and conditioned their hair for them, dressed the 2 little ones and oversaw clothes selection of the 2 eldest. Orchestrated breakfast table-setting, eating and clear up…combed 4 heads of hair (3 required pleating/bunchies one required gel). Hunted lost sandals, emptied potty several times, wiped faces, fingers and bottoms…headed out door for church. Remembered to pack potty, wipes and bottled water for rinsing potty. Took 4 kids up to Sunday school, but one came back with moma and daddy. Entertained toddler who wouldn’t stay in crèche during service by making ‘twin babies in tissue blankie’, going through handbag – item by item, slowly eking out daddy’s mints, and drawing pictures on the back of bulletin. Signed 2 eldest up for VBS, hustled 2 stray children to car. Insisted all children bring discarded shoes and sandals in to house. Prepared roast dinner, set table, cut several plates of lunch into bite-sized pieces… coordinated tidy-up time and (in true slave-driving style with metaphorical whip in hand) stood over children who didn’t want to do chores and I made them do them! I ran the vacuum when the floor was finally visible. By this point I had emptied the potty at least another 3 times, broke up countless scuffles, meted out warnings and disciplines and changed out the laundry. I went to unload the dishwasher, realised it hadn’t run properly last time, so I reran it and washed lunch dishes by hand. Bathed the little ones, tidied the bathroom, made and easy dinner, cleared up, made snack/lunch boxes for tomorrow, laid out clothes, did final tidy-up and stopped!!!…Daddy finished off the evening (please note..His presence was not absent in all the above items) and... I claimed some time for me!

...I found ...something for Heidi, my collector of snails. ...something for Hannah to monkey around in the kitchen with. ...something that made me LOL...and made me think I might post there myself someday. and ...something for those with excellent 'touch typing' skills, a clear and creative mind, who can be inspired by just one word and who can work well under pressure - these things appear *not* on my list of attributes.

Happy Birthday Steve!! Thanks for sharing your day with us...and your evening...and for your offer of breakfast!

Last night I was trying to remember some of those wonderful things my children have said… the things that make me smile and make me know the hard work is worth it. Regrettably I could only recall a few so I've decided to start writing them down. Here's a selection from today… “Robin Hood has a little bow like this one in his ‘pretend’ life…but in ‘real life’ he has a really big bow!” - Hannah discussing things with Conner in the backseat of the car. “StopitStupidhead!” - Rosie sassing Daniel. “Josh – I’ve just been dreaming that you would come and rescue me!!” - Heidi dressed as a princess, playing with Josh.

I should have been paying the bills, doing the dishes, folding laundry, preparing dinner, mowing the lawn or making important phone calls to make the household run more efficiently. Instead, I got stuck here… I managed to pull myself away, but then stumbled onto something much more dangerous! But hey, not all my pit stops today were quite so trivial…at least this one could have some sentimental value.

Who needs introspection with fine quizzes like these around?