Life Lately

Do you know what, life has flown by this year.

I can't even remember the last time I came on here simply to write a post of my own instead of reviews. In all honesty I think the last time I put any sort of life update on here was right at the beginning of the year when I started my new job.

Everything has been quite honestly, chaotic.

So where to begin?

Well my husband and I have just reached the milestone of fifteen years together as well as eleven years married to one another. It's hard to believe that I've been with Mr Hazelden for almost half of my life now!

Some Days I Don't Want to Adult

I don't want to adult. I'm sure you've heard this phrase mentioned at least a couple of times in your life. I'm betting some of you will instead hear 'I don't want to be a grown up' when that saying is mentioned but that isn't what it means, well at least not for me.

When I was younger (enjoying my teenage rebellion years) I couldn't wait to make it to adulthood. The thought of more freedom, the chance to choose more things for myself was definitely an appealing one. 

The trouble with what I was thinking back then, it wasn't all very realistic. 

I have been putting a lot of thought into it and I just don't think being an adult is going to work for me.

It missed out all the things like having to pay bills, for fixing anything broken, having to make hard decisions and being put in unwanted situations.

Time to Juggle

A couple of years ago I wrote a post about the idea that you have to juggle all the things in your life and the struggle to keep that act going. Since then I think I've managed to develop that skill quite well. 

During the past two years I have passed a course to become a teaching assistant, be a midday supervisor every lunch time and continue to volunteer daily at my children's primary school too. But I'll admit it's felt like I haven't had a moment to myself.

Fast forward to now and what can I say ... I'm quite simply tired.

I was lucky enough to gain a full time teaching assistant position in another school, something which I previously spoke about, asking could this be the year for me? However I'll admit that there's been a day or two where I've had a feeling of trying to stay afloat.

Don't get me wrong, I am truly enjoying my job but it's an adjustment going from being a volunteer able to pick and choose my hours to being in full time work, having to be places at certain times and jigging about previous commitments.

I always felt that I was an organised person but now even more so.

My day starts at 5.45am. Strong black coffee is in order as I begin my day. I make prepare the pack lunches, put a load of washing on and on certain days I also make sure I fit in a type of workout too. That may be weights, resistance or HIIT based.

Now this is also where I'm glad that I already meal plan as I can also get dinner started so that's one less job I have to contend with when I get home from work. Hooray for the slow cooker, this is an appliance that gets used a lot!

Something I'm missing is the school run.

Banning School Bake Sales is NOT the Solution

When I was sat watching the news yesterday morning when I happened to see the latest food related news, Jamie Oliver thinks that school bakes sales should be banned because it sends out a mixed message about healthy eating.

Now I like Jamie Oliver, I eat at his restaurants and watch many of his TV programmes but seriously, when did he become the head of the food police. To me this claim is absolutely ridiculous, eating a cake isn't suddenly going to make a child fat. 

It goes alongside teachers telling kids what they can and can't have in their packed lunch. This has always annoyed me because they tell kids no chocolate in a packed lunch but then offer chocolate cake and custard as dessert to accompany a school dinner.

To the People on the Tube Who Laughed With My Children.

Children and public transport don't always go together, especially younger kids who can find it hard to sit still and be quiet. There are adults who can get annoyed by a child's antics, wishing for the them to be quiet, to stop moving around, many of those don't have their own so won't have the same patience as us parents do (although I certainly lack it some days too). However last week on a trip to London I was pleasantly surprised by a select few people on the tube who laughed along with my children.

You Only Get One Life, Don't Let Others Tell You How To Live It

Whether you are an adult or child, you should be entitled to make certain decisions for ourselves. These could be the food you eat, the clothes you wear or the toys, games etc that you want to play with. The underlining idea is that those choices should ultimately be yours to make. 

I'm honestly sick to death of all of the arguments and debates that I see plastered all over the news and social media on the constant, the government telling us what we can and can't do, people trolling the internet quick to tell us we are wrong in how we do certain things.

A House Made Into A Home

On this day last year Justin and I finally became homeowners, really grown up stuff right there. The thing is at the time of moving in it was just a house, bricks and mortar.

Having lived in our previous home for 9 years I think I almost felt guilty at the thought of liking living somewhere else.

However the months have sped by, seriously where did 2015 go? And with each improvement the husband we've made, every mark the kids have already added to the walls and floors (thanks kids), this house has gradually transformed into our home, not just the place where we go to wash, eat and sleep in.

Sickness Bugs, Bickering Children and the Tooth Fairy

So the colder weather has well and truely arrived. Hello Autumn, waves. Now I love this time of year, Halloween, Fireworks and definitely Christmas but the past couple of weeks have been how shall I say it, trying, yep that's the word I'm going to use.

With the cold has come the rain and this seems to go hand in hand with germs and don't the kids just love to share those, I always say that they share the best things.

We've already been subjected to snotty noses galore and the dreaded sickness bug, bleugh. Don't my children know by now I don't do sick!

Gracie was the first to be struck down with it, she got off lightly, 4 hours of sickness and she was back to her normal self asking for food, lucky her!

Things I Want My Kids To Know

As an adult and as a parent there are so many things that I want my kids to know. When I was younger I was one of those kids that said they didn't want to end up like their parents. Young and nieve, I thought I knew best and it was my way or the highway. It's sad that it took to having my own kids to make me realise that atleast part of what my parents were trying to tell me was actually good advice.

But I'm sure we all know that we all need to make our own mistakes and try to learn from them, we as the adults can only offer words of advice and hope that they are atleast in part listened to. So this post is an open letter to my kids, one I will let them read and keep my fingers crossed that it instills in them, even if they don't take it all on board now, they can look back on it as they get older and know that good old mum was just trying to help.

Taking Care of The Bullies

I think one of my biggest worries when my kids started school was the thought of bullies. Both my older and younger brothers were bullied at primary school, I was the one to stand up to them and resolve the problems, but really it shouldn't have been me stepping in.

But my confidence and attitude ended up being a good thing in these situations at the time. Trouble is in this day and age the bullies seem to be worse than ever, not only doing things in person but online too, with the schools unable to step in like you'd want them too.

Up until now I've had minimal issues with my kids and their friends, yes they've had fall outs/arguments but really they have been petty and quickly resolved.

My 5 year old is child liked by all and so laid back that nothing phases her, a quality I admire in her.

Then there's my 7 year old, she has inherited my overall attitude and confidence, something which I am sure will bite me in the bum when she hits teenage years but for now she'll be the first to let you know what she's thinking and feeling so I always know what is going on.

Hey Mr DJ

Way back when the husband used to be a DJ. Not a radio DJ where all they do is insert a cd and press play, no a proper one that took the time to mix his own music. I'm happy to blow his trumpet, he was good. Completely self taught he played in local clubs, got a slot on a radio show and even ran his own event. He's always had an ear for music, even now he'll spot a tune long before it gets played on mainstream radio.

Just A Mum?

Since having children I have been what is known as a stay at home mum. Some people believe that this means I have an easy life because I'm just a mum aren't I, it isn't a "job", it's not something I get paid to do so can't really be considered work. This however doesn't make it any less of a hard thing to do.

What To Do With Myself Now The Kids Are Getting Older?

Next week the girls go back to school and Layla will start doing more hours at playschool now that she receives 15 free hours each week. This is a huge help to us not having to pay for playschool right now as the husbands wages have gone down yet the bills have predictably gone up. It was also a huge reminder of just how fast my children are growing up!

Proud Mummy Moments

My kids make me proud on a daily basis just for being themselves but there are certain times that really stick out as "proud mummy moments", you know the ones where you want to tell everyone all about them.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a key stage one assembly because Gracie was going to receive a certificate from her teacher, at the time I didn't know what for and Gracie was unaware that she would be getting one.

Well on the day it turned into a two for one deal because Freya by accident ended up with a certificate too but I'll get to that in a minute.

First Tooth

I'm kind of sad to say that another one of those firsts has been and gone. On April the 9th Layla got her first tooth, then yesterday she quickly got her 2nd tooth and by the way she is behaving today I think the 3rd one is already on it's way!!

Now to start attempting to brush her teeth. Although she is my 4th child, I have never learnt the trick to getting little ones to let you brush their teeth. Does anyone have any tried and tested methods?? What about toothbrushes, can anyone recommend any good ones??

xxxx

Spring Has Sprung

I finally feel like Spring has arrived. Kids are playing happily in the garden and I have finally managed to put my washing on the line, is it sad that I was excited about doing this?

Anyone else got a spring in their step?? 

xxxx

The Toadstool are looking for Toy Reviewers

As you can see from the title The Toadstool are looking for toy reviewers, you could be a mum, dad or maybe even a grandparent.

The Toadstool are a site that provide high quality pre school toys that will stimulate your child's creativity and learining. The toys range from soft to wooden to traditional, all being educational.

I would love to be picked to be one of their toy reviewers along with my four mini testers. As a mum to four girls, we have plenty of opportunitites to play with all sorts of different toys which are aimed at all different ages. A big favourite in our house at the moment is role play, we have been princesses, chefs, nurses and even builders like daddy.

If any of my lovely readers think that I would make a good toy reviewer, I would really appreciate you leaving a comment to show your support.

Rain rain go away

So we get rid of the snow and in it's place is the rain. I don't know about you but I always struggle to think of things to do with the kids when the weather is bad.

Today we have spent the morning dancing around the living room like loons, listening to music videos on the television. It turned into a battle of old versus new, the kids were picking One Direction and Justin Bieber and I was picking out the old faithfuls like Backstreet Boys and nSync, turns out they quite like mummy's music.

What do you do on rain days??

xxxx

Does the sunshine mean spring is coming??

Well I woke up this morning to see lovely blue skies and the sun shining brightly and straight away it put me in a good mood!!!

That was until I stepped outside. It is still ssssooooo cold. I instantly regretted not putting gloves on my hands, the kids were not impressed either. I'm not sure I could have put any more layers on them though, even with gloves on they were complaining.

Does anyone have any good tips on keeping warm??

xxxx

Germs

I have found the only problem with having 4 children is that the germs spread like wildfire. I have them bringing germs home from school and playschool and the sickness just seems never ending.

Poor Layla has been fighting a cold and cough on and off since the Christmas holidays and this week the dreaded D&V entered the household :(

Not even a good spring clean has managed to banish the bugs!!! Roll on Summer I say.

How do all of you deal with illness in your households??

xxxx