A Blog About a Bloke-Living with WHS

Source: Uploaded by user via Scott N Deborah on Pinterest I have lost the ole' Christmas spirit a little this week. Let me make some dot points as to why: Going out to shops and all ( yes all) the disabled parking spots are taken by people without a permit. People in shops who have no respect for others. People in shops who walk into you, literally shove you with their trolleys, and who think it is ok to scream at their kids for daring to touch a toy. People who are working in shops-seriously your rudeness does not make me feel sorry for you. People in general. Have I ever mentioned I am not a people person? My first dot point is the thing that gets to me the most. I simply cannot understand why able-bodied people can't walk an extra 10-20 metres or so.  Sigh sigh sigh. I have actually now pretty much finished my christmas shopping now though which is good. I have 1 and 1/2 days left of work for the year. Ryley has no glasses. Braeden ha...

Sorry it is hard to see. But Ryley got this from one of his friends at school. I cried. I did. Tears of joy.

My boys got a pony for Christmas. For real. My sister gave it to them. Talk about spoilt!!! So now we have a new addition to the farm. His name is Scotchy and is he one cool horse. Although he seems to think it is ok for horses to be inside houses. Hmmmm. I have news for him! We also went yabbying this weekend. It was great fun! This is a picture of Braeden and his new friend Spike. Spike travelled around in a cup for most of the day. He did make it back to the dam safe and sound though! My brother Jacob is over in Australia from Latvia at the moment and the kids have been loving having him around. Ryley hasn't seen him in 6 years and this is Braeden's first time meeting him! It has been great having him here! My blogging is taking a massive backseat at the moment due to so much happening. My littlest brother Bede is getting married next weekend, so we are so very busy. I am still going to attempt a least 12 days of posting...!! PS. Comments have ...

I was all set to write a woe-is-me post this morning (seeing as I don't have to be thankful anymore), but now I really just can't seem to write it. I think the month of being thankful has stuck in my mindset, and I can't help but counter every negative thought with a positive one. That is pretty awesome actually. The woe-is-me post was mainly going to be about how I have a cold, and the weather is cold, and I have a zillion things to do today and I feel like doing none of them. Anyway, so instead, I have made a list, already crossed some things off (the ones that don't involve me going anywhere), have decided to make some shortbreads (because they taste good), and decided that having a cold (and being cold) gives me an excuse to have a nice warm cup of tea. Aaah. That feels better. This weekend will have to go down as one of the weirdest. For those not privy to the latest news from Sebastopol, you will have missed the fact that we experienced one of the strange...

Well I have finally got through the month. I was dreading November to be honest. It has been so busy. But here we are at the last day. I am thankful for that! I am thankful for those who have taken the time to read, comment or message me during the month of posting. I am thankful to be able to reflect on the things each day that I am grateful for. I think that I will try and consciously be grateful for something every day, no matter how hard my day might have been. And now I am thankful that I am able to go to bed early. My body is aching and my throat is sore and I feel like I am getting a cold. I have so much to do this weekend...like...christmas shopping for example, that I just can't get sick. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Holy McCrackens I have actually nearly made it through a whole month of posting every day (almost!). I have to admit that I have lost my passion for blogging a bit this year. And I was kind of hoping that posting every day for a month might inspire me to star writing again. It has and it hasn't. I am not really sure whether or not this blog will continue next year. Today I am thankful our house has air conditioning. It has been an extremely hot day here (broken some records even), so thankfully we have lovely air-con and fans. I am thankful that my application for 6 weeks holidays was APPROVED today!!! I have never taken that long off in one go, so am extremely excited (and perhaps a little daunted). I am thankful that it is Thursday. I love Thursdays (mainly because I usually get takeaway, therefore don't have to think about cooking anything).

I skipped yesterday sorry. I wasn't feeling well, and went to bed early to try and shake off this virus thing I seem to have. I feel like I am running out of things to be thankful for. Luckily the month is nearly over. Ha! Today I am thankful for the fact that no bills arrived in the mail. I am thankful that I am going to get a pay rise (even if it is to be rolled out over the next 9 years-yes 9 years). I am thankful that we are coming to the end of a terrible year financially speaking (hence the gratefulness of no bills arriving in the mail). Yesterday I was thankful that Braeden had such a wonderful time at his final school transition day. He was there for most of the day (as was I). I bought his school uniform yesterday and oh my goodness, he really is going to school.

See this bag here? Today this was delivered to my house. I have loved this bag for a very long time, but just haven't had enough money to buy one. One of my beautiful friends decided to send me one. How do I ever put into works how thankful I am for such a wonderful gift? So today, I am thankful for my gorgeous friend Liv. Not just because she bought me my favourite bag in the world, but because she is one of those rare people you meet in life that you feel like you have known forever, and just know will always be a part of your life. And while you are at it, check out  Her Royal Flyness . Absolutely beautiful bags.

I am thankful that this weekend has been a wonderful relaxing weekend, which is exactly what we needed as we head into the 'silly' season. I am thankful for the fact that the drought here in Australia is over and we can have fun under the sprinkler again. I am thankful for having a 'Mum and Ryley Day' today. He was a great help as we moved Princess from one paddock to another. At one stage he was the one leading her, I was just there in case he needed help. He walked a long way without any complaint either, which is very unlike him! It is so nice to just hang out with him. I am thankful for David. He is an amazing husband, partner and father. I am very lucky.

Today I am thankful for the fact that it is only 4 weeks until holidays!! I am thankful for our awesome neighbour Lorraine who saved the day with an umbrella (long story). I am thankful for frozen yoghurt. Happy Thanksgiving to all my US friends! Sorry this is short and sweet, but I am tired after another long week, have just been on a 20km bike ride and am about to head to bed to watch a movie. Have a great weekend everyone!

Today I am thankful that we have our car back!!! FINALLY! I am thankful that I got Braeden the chicken pox vaccine this year, because someone in his kinder group has it, so at least there is a fairly small chance he will get it. I am thankful that it is Thursday. I think Thursday is my current favourite day of the week actually. Weird. I am thankful that I have finally made a start on my Christmas shopping. I am thankful that after next week, I am starting the wind down at work (hopefully!), which means I can focus on Christmas baking, my littlest brothers wedding, and my other little brother coming back to Australia for a few weeks!! Oh and I am thankful that Ryley has decided to 'help' me with dressing him in the mornings. I am basically using the 'backwards chaining' strategy and getting him to do the last bit of the each task. He loves it, and I am not having to wrestle him to dress him as much.

I haven't done a Just 'Cos post for ages. So today, I am doing just that. I am just thankful for these boys of mine. They thought it would be fun to clean the car this afternoon. I am not sure who got more wet, the car-or the kids! It was fun though!

Well now. What am I thankful for today? Perhaps I am thankful that it has been a run-of-the-mill type day, where nothing out of the ordinary happened. Perhaps I am thankful for being able to squeeze in my fruit and veg shopping in my lunch break. Perhaps I am thankful for having access to fresh food. Perhaps I am thankful that I am nearly through November, which has been the busiest month of the year. Not long to go and I will be all about Christmas. And maybe, just maybe, I am thankful for normal, boring routines that create a sense of calm (blue ocean calm). Source: Uploaded by user via Cheryl on Pinterest

Today I am thankful for my usual day off work. Mondays are usually taken up with appointments and stuff like grocery shopping. But every now and then me and Braeden get the day to do as we please. So I am thankful that today we could go and browse the shops for a new lunch box for him. I am thankful that we could go for a bike ride together in the beautiful sunshine. I am also thankful that Ryley has been expressing himself so well lately (and that includes the good and the...let's just say bad ). Ryley is incredibly patient with us, despite the frustration he feels on a daily basis. I can't imagine how trapped he must feel sometimes not being able to tell us his thoughts. One of my goals for next year is to really follow his lead more and let him be the director of his life, instead of me controlling everything. This will not be an easy thing to do. I am thankful for daylight savings, because I am going to now head out on the bike and ride a casual 20km. ...

Today, I am thankful for that small portion of time that occurs when the kids are both in bed asleep, and when I go to bed. Usually both are sounds asleep at 7:30pm and then I tend to hit the sack at 9:30pm. I get two whole hours to myself. Sometimes I watch tv, or go for a bike ride/run/walk. Other times I read, or try and catch up on the jobs I haven't been able to do during the day. I am also thankful today for the recommendation to read the book I am currently reading. Sometimes things just come into your life at the time you need them. I will probably write something about this book when I have finished it, but it giving me a whole new perspective on raising kids. Love it! I am thankful for the couple of hours we got to spend fishing today. We caught 6 fish all up (carp though). It is a relaxing way to pass the time, although Ryley gets bored fairly quicky, and today, Braeden wouldn't sit still. How was your weekend? Hopefully filled with fun and laughter, with a b...

Today I am thankful that our wool got sold during the week for way more than I was expecting. Which means I can pay for half of the car costs (whenever we get it back that is). I am thankful that I got to see our a baby foal moving inside her mother's stomach. There is something quite magical about it actually. I am thankful for the sunshine which meant I could get out in my garden. I am thankful that there are actually some things still growing in my poor neglected garden. I found a feast of potatoes which was a great surprise! Princess, our beautiful girl, looking very tired and fed up today.

Source: facebook.com via Iexpress2explore on Pinterest I am thankful that it is FRIDAY! Woohoo, I made it through the week. I am thankful for the little things. I am thankful that the book I ordered online arrived just in time for the weekend, so now I can spend time reading! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, filled with things to be thankful for.

Today, I am thankful for takeaway Pizza. It has been a long week this week and I got home late with the kids and the thought of trying to create something nutritious for dinner was beyond me. So thankfully we have two Pizza shops close by. The pizza really didn't taste that great, but hey, it was better than nothing! I am also thankful that it is Thursday. Which means only one more day left in the week. Source: sometimesblogged.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

I actually had to stop and think for a minute what day it was when I wrote the heading. Oh dear. Today I am thankful that Ryley's eyesight when he wears his glasses is pretty good! I am thankful for the lovely young non-english speaking couple in the waiting room who saw that Ryley was highly anxious and panicky (and very vocal!) and brought over a toy for him. I swear I nearly cried. It did calm him briefly, but he was really worried today. I think he was expecting to be poked and prodded like usual. I am thankful that we don't have to go back for an eye review for a whole year. Woohoo! I am thankful for good mates. And I will be thankful for the early night I am hoping to get!

Well, it has been one of those days where it is hard to find something to be thankful about (a $1000 bill for my car to be fixed is NOT what we need at this time of the year). Sigh Sigh. BUT. I am thankful that at the moment we are all healthy (touch wood!). I am thankful that we have food on our plate and a roof over our heads. I am thankful that we both have jobs so that we can at least eventually pay all our bills. I am thankful that we have each other. And I will leave you with this thought: Source: loversinvain.blogspot.com via Good for on Pinterest

Some days it is hard to find things to be thankful about. And having to write something every day for a month...well..that isn't that easy. But I am enjoying being able to reflect on the good things in my days, and not focus on the challenges that I face (which, by the way, are still there, despite me not writing about them). Today I have had a headache all day. So I am thankful to make it through the day without a full blown migraine attack! I am thankful that David can be there to support Braeden and his school transition. I am thankful that Ryley is sound asleep as he is exhausted and he seems to battle sleep even more when he gets to that point. I am thankful that despite the fact I spent so much time cleaning my house the other day, it looks like I haven't done a thing. And that is because Braeden and I spent some time this arvo painting and creating some art pieces. I would rather spend the time with my kids than have a spotless house (as those who walk into my...

The girls waiting patiently for their haircut Braeden learning to shear Rybrae Farm, first bale of wool. Today I am thankful for shearers. I am thankful for our first bale of wool. I am thankful that my kids love shearing time and learning about it.  I am thankful that Braeden wanted to learn about shearing. I am thankful that Ryley likes to help with the sweeping. Yesterday was a very very busy hectic day. We are all exhausted.  But excited about our first lot of wool. Our ram is now in with the ewes and hopefully we will have some lambs next year!!

Today I am thankful for the sunshine. I am thankful that we have the farm to wander around and enjoy. I am thankful that my kids are happy and healthy. I am thankful that we are going to save a lot on money on fruit in summer as we have a healthy orchard with all kinds of fruits growing up at the farm. I am thankful for wide open spaces, where I can walk and breathe and just be.