I remember mum & dad locking the doors from the outside, so my brother & I wouldnt leave the house during the 8 hours they were working during the school holidays. We were given a ‘to do ‘ list of activities, chores, & food to eat with strict instructions to finish all cleaning  before mum came home at 3pm.

I think this is the main reason I chose to be a SAHM, so my kids werent home alone during the holidays -now that I have 2 in school, im feeling twice the pressure in ensuring the kids are enjoying their school holidays.

We sat with the kids making a list of activities they’d like to do including – bowling, movies & Mcdonalds, but today I woke up dead tired with a sore body. It got me thinking, are school holidays really about entertaining the kids or have we been sucked into ‘playground politics’ – ” I did this & that in my holidays & what did you do???”…

Remember our first day back at school, all the comparing, criticizing & teasing that went on when one didnt like what you did or vice versa.

I sometimes feel as if im trying way too hard to stop my kids from being bullied & trying to hard to make them the “it” kids at school or maybe its just me trying to relive my primary years again the way it should have been.

Living in the technology era doesnt help us parents either, with a new WII, PS or DSI game each term holiday, kids wanting to watch movies only when they cant be bothered using their imagination or playing IPOD in bed instead of reading.

This morning when I woke up in aches & pains I thought to myself, maybe its a great day to just sit at home but then guilt came over me, not to mention a messy house image in my head AAAGGHHHHH…..my mum never told me parenting was so much work & energy in all levels..!!!

Are you a mum who takes the holidays each day as it comes or is it a must to have them out & about each day? Either way how do you keep your stress levels down & energy high???? 

Theres only 9 days to go til everyone is back at school and theres sort of routine back in our lives. Im looking forward to having 2 in school this year, I know its going to be busy & crazy at times but you know I love a good old challenge (not!!!) no I just love being busy.

I left our Back to School shopping to the last minute this year, I think with hubby sick & me not having enough energy or motivation to go out, but finally found the courage to face the BTS shopping crowd today, surprising the shopping centre was empty!

We decided not to purchase any Smiggles stationary this year – we werent too impressed by their sharpeners or lead pencils, and the pencil case we bought last year looked great but wasnt practical!

After 2.5 hours later we had finally finished our BTS shopping, spent $220 on socks, stationary, bags, SOME books and had time left over to enjoy  Oportos!

Of course  having 2 in school also means double the lunch, school fees & books to cover – something Ive hated since I was old enough to cover my own books.

This year I have exactly 32 books to cover – including books & textbooks. The first 3 books I covered were a little shocking, with bubbles, crease marks and even found a long strand of hair on one book.

Im now taking a little break from all the contact, snipping & sticking to see how other mums (and dads) cover their kids school books.

I found  Teaching Kids is Fun - had to agree we really do need to be in the “right frame of mind” or else the books do start looking like road bumps & skid marks.

It seems like a big trend now adays to glue book covers with wrapping paper, drawings then cover them with clear adhesive contact, Home Life even recommend covering books with fabric - don’t know how my girls will feel about it but I’m tempted to cover my journal with it.

I found an Aussie online store Ez Cover who supply precut contact covers according to the books size and all designs are $1 (postage is $2.50) which isnt too bad for very busy mums who cant be bothered with all the measuring & cutting side of it. Found their designs limited and more aimed for boys, with dinosaurs & balls.

We purchased Monster High labels for my 5 year old’s books but my 7 year old is ” too cool” for Barbie or Princesses so we decided to as Mr. Google & glue different BTS labels instead- Heres a few gorgeous animal stickers for ages 5-7 or this one more for Kindy aged kids, and lets not forget adorable baby labels or book marks.

Finally found where I was going wrong with my books – I remove the paper backing, attach the contact on top of the book & then push out bubbles with my credit card (oops) !

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYOVVuO3vRs

Can you believe the Christmas & New Years chaos is over and now its back-to school. I must admit I actually enjoy back-to school preparations  it reminds me of my childhood. With the only difference of my kids receiving brand new things (including pencils) and I use to have ‘hand-me downs ‘ from my two sisters (including short pencils) lol.

Hip will be in year 2 and Chic will be starting Kindy!!!!!! We are so excited and teary…yes yes Ive already started crying – I dont want to let my baby go. I know I have to but if I could put the kids into a ‘safe keeping’ jar I think i’d probably have done it last year…

This is another reason why I have to be more organised throughout the year, we’ll be having 2 kids in school, 2 seperate lunches, homework, ironing, & 1 big routine.

Chic has been so excited about starting school & having her own lunchbox- we’ve been talking about it for the past few months and I must say she has been rather patient waiting for the big day – but I think her patience has run out and now im getting the good old “mum, how many more days left” asked twice aday.

To help her have a more ‘solid’ hold on counting down and to calm my nerves, I made a “Days left for school countdown” chart.

Its a simple last minute chart I made this morning – I was planning to either make it as a magnet for the fridge but that would require more time to make it, cut & decorate the magnets. I did think of framing it using it like a whiteboard and have her mark off the days with a whiteboard pen but then that wouldnt be as fun & I also have to keep it high up away from Mr. Tot who loves destroying her things.

You only need:

• The countdown chart printed & laminated – you can download mine here or use your own.
• Silver metallic acrylic paint – I didnt have silver or metallic so mixed the black & white …
• Dishwashing liquid

Once you have laminated your chart, prepare the paint – you wont be needing much, even the blob I mixed up was too much. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to your paint . Keep in mind you dont have to use silver or grey, its your chart so use what ever acrylic paint you have available.

The kids are bored and want me off the PC so im pressured ”requested” to rush the painting bit as well, but if you’d like you could paint individual boxes leaving the white spacing available.

Allow the chart to completely dry, attach it to any wall (away from little boys hands lol) with blutack and have your school ready kid scratch each box off in the morning.

To make it more exciting, have different images in the boxes making it a surprise when they scratch it off.

I’m always complaining about my fussy eater daughter, who never eats what I pack nor does she know what she wants except the evil Nutella.

Here is what I packed in her lunchbox today, she only hate 1/2 the egg, chocolate biscuits and juice. The bag contains crackers, savoury, homemade bikkies & dried apricots.

Mind you she also had a small tub of homemade yogurt that she simply IGNORED!.

Image Credits..

Lets be realistic, her lunchbox goes through hell , shaken , upside down, dropped so by the time its 1pm her lunch doesnt look anything like this photo – then we come back to square one “mum it looked squishy and disgusting”… AAGGH

Ive tried using cookie cutters – “mum, I dont like slice bread”.

I made brightly coloured salad & meat wraps – ” mum, it was yuck”

I used rolls – ” mum, my wobbly tooth hurts – I cant bite it”.

I made pikelets – “mum, it would be better with Nutella”..

BTW – she doesnt eat cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, chicken, jam, honey, peanut butter, margarine, mayonnaise – she loves salami (which I give only once a week), Nutella (banned at school and home), carrots & cucumbers only.

Im desperate, this girl is going to drive me bonkers – please tell me im not the only one with a picky eater? or better yet is there hope, have you won the battle of picky eating…??

This is what I woke up to this morning!

It was Hip’s last day of school yesterday and last night hubby helped the girls bake cupcakes so I could go to bed early.

Note to self – never get sick, never go to bed before the kids and finally never leave the husband alone with the kids in the kitchen-.