Day #4 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Linen Closet)

Oh dear..... the before photos



I know, I know, terrible. But what I do is buy presents months in advance, and stick them in the linen closet until I organise them.

And after 15 minutes, the after photos





So much better :)

Day #3 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Messy Tupperware Cabinets)

Today, my tupperware drawer. It is a constant problem to keep tidy.



And after:



I use this drawer daily, so I am trying to make sure it stays tidy.

Day #2 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Computer Desk)

Okay, today is my computer desk, which is actually the desk at the front door, with my laptop on it.



Yeah, not too bad.
I did clean it off, and wiped it all off and now....



All clean and shiny!

Day #1 Challenge (Organizing the "junk" drawer)

So, I forgot to take a "before" picture, but I did do my junk drawer, 4 of them, in fact.

They were my catch-all drawers, and so it felt really good to get them organised.

And here is the "after" picture

A Bowl Full of Lemons - 21 day challenge

I am taking the 21 day challenge by A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Okay, so I am months late from when it actually happened, but I am going to join in anyway.

I will be doing it, but it depends on Rona, whether I will get a challenge done each day or every couple of days.

So, wish me luck!

Decorating Rona's room

A while ago I bought a vinyl Wall sticker from Etsy. I have been meaning to put it up for AGES.

So, I finally bit the bullet, and put it up. And here it is




What do you think?

The Way to Slumbertown

The Way to Slumbertown by L M Montgomery is a fantastic book. It is actually a poem that Rachel Bedard has illustrated. It is a beautiful, lyrical work, full of fanciful imagery.

The art work is beautiful, with lovely muted colours and fits the imaginary world of the poem perfectly. There are lots of little details that will captivate young ones.

I read this book to Rona every night, it is the perfect book to finish the day with.

Seven days a week

Husband at the moment is working seven days a week.

He is feeling really tired, but work is crazy at the moment, and it wont let up until June.

I am getting tired of being a de facto single parent.

Husband and I are trying really hard to make sure he gets time with Rona and I, but when he is this tired, it is really hard.

I pray that we will be able to get through this time, and am looking forward to  Husband having 5 weeks off once this project is over.

Hospitality

Hospitality, a wonderful spiritual gift.

One, unfortunately, I do not have. I must admit I covet this gift, because most of the time, I resent guests, they take time away from things I would rather do, in my head they spend the time judging me and my house.... it just isn't good.

But I have learnt hospitality (to a degree).

I learnt this from my mother, who also doesn't have the gift.
She taught me:
*even if the house isn't perfect, that is okay, because the guests are here to see you, not your house
*provide food/drinks that will make your guest feel welcome (i.e. making perculator coffee)
*do it all out of love

So, I am practicing, slowly, to be hospitable, and praying that one day, I will have the gift.

Rona's reading skills

Okay, so, no Rona cannot read. But she does love books. And while at her Granny's house (my Mum who is a teacher) she found these folders, which are filled with magnets.



She loves to pull the magnets off, and hand them to me. I read the words to her as she handed me the magnets.

I think it is a wonderful thing to enjoy reading. I know I do. One of the best memories of my Dad when I was little is when he read "Blinky Bill" to me.
It is a powerful thing to try to instill the love of reading in a child. I am trying to do this with Rona.

No, I wasn't really trying to teach her anything while playing with magnets, but you never know when/how you are going to teach a child something.

Rona and I read everyday, not always as much as I would like, but we read. I hope that my baby will grow up to love reading, as I do.

Joan

Lately, we had my best friend Sarah and her daughter Joan over.
Sarah loves Joan, who is 3 months younger.



Rona is comparitively a lot larger than Joan. She also did a lot of things earlier than Joan. Rather than make me brag (like some mothers), part of me mourns, my baby is growing so fast, and changes everyday.

I wish there was some way to be able to freeze time, to be able to enjoy this time more.
But there is no way to stop time, I can only try to remember what is important. I can leave the washing for a day, and play.

Swimming lessons

I know I am doing a lot of Rona posts at the moment... but when you are a stay-at-home mum, there is a limited amount of new experiences without your baby.

Once a week, Rona and I go to mother and baby swimming lessons. Rona loves them, not only because she loves the water, but also because there are up to 8 other kids in the class, and she is a social butterfly.


My Mum was kind enough to come and take photos at one of her classes.

I don't know if Rona is actually learning much in the way of swimming, but I am learning how to teach her, which is good. The classes will finish soon (before it gets too cold to swim outside).

On the way home from swimming lessons last week, Rona got into my bag and ate some sunscreen. I rang the poisons hotline and was assured that she will be fine.

But she did look cute with the sunscreen running down her chin


She looks so very pleased with herself.

A walk to the park

Lately,Rona and I went to my sister's house. And Rebecca and I decided to take the kids for a walk to the park.

It was a hot day, and Rebecca took us on a long walk.
The kids had a great time, Rona loved the swing.


So cute, with only one shoe!

After we finished playing at the park, we walked to the closest shop, a service station for drinks and iceblocks. So Rona got her first taste of an iceblock



We are looking forward to when Rona can walk, and be able to play with parts of the playground equipment other than the swings

Rona's first craft fair

I love craft fairs, looking at all the things you can make and buy. I rarely buy things, but go as often as I can.

There was one lately and Mum and I decided to go. So, of course, Rona came too.
She was cranky too, she is working on her pre-molar teeth (4 months early, at least) and so was not very happy that day.
Rona loved all the beads, but cried when I wouldn't let her touch them.
However, we did end up having a happy time (mostly).

Mum got some beads for something she is making and I bought a cross stitch to make for Louise, and a cot panel to do later.

And there was a photo cut-out thing, so we had a go of getting Rona to look through it.


The trick was trying to get her to look ahead


Isn't she cute?

Links for April

Here are some fabulous blog posts I have encountered recently

A valentines post from 4tunate

A Thin Gold Band from A deeper story

And a really in depth and loving post about Aspergers by Pea Pilly Bean