I have been amazed and encouraged time and again this weekend with people who have shared stories of family life and escapades of their children. 

E painted her toe nails midnight blue this weekend - and her whole legs too.  Then it got itchy, so it was a couple of hours in and out of the bath using a variety of ways to work it all off again.  What fun!"  Amazingly she made no mess with it.  It made me laugh from the moment I saw her, though I tried to be serious because she was distraught.

I also had a fair few emails and phone calls from very special people around the world that made my day - along with the concert and contest we had in doing pirouettes.
Hope you all had a fantastic day also and were thoroughly spoilt with new memories to treasure.
Peace
EF.x 

Here's a Mother's Day story that could have happened to any of us!!
Hope you all make heaps of wonderful memories of your own this Mothers Day weekend.
Peace
EF.x 



So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently
died. Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit
on him, and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap
all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well, we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years
old, 3 years old, and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really
loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and
then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom
I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to, but
he
needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and
try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My
two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to
nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.

Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a
wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.
We finally have the older one and and the baby loaded in the car, and I
am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the
corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my
chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end. Eli looked right
into my eyes and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that
he is right--their little bottoms do look pretty chapped. And,
frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it
was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind, or the
hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever, because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little
creatures, there will always be that day when you realize.... they've
been using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

I was just reading this piece of advice here and thinking about what we do here at home.  Then I realised that right now E is being a fashion designer and making dresses and tee-shirts for her 'children' (dolls).  Using pink sugar paper, felt pens, scissors and glue.  I dont know where she gets the ideas from, but she is inventive.  I just supervise the gluing and cutting to varying degrees.  I really wonder what she will be one day...
Peace
EF.x 

Wow, two days in a row, I have done well!  I have been going through some of the older advice written in the archives - it is incredibly good, and I have really enjoyed the writing of those who were around in the early days....
Thank you guys for your wisdom and for sharing your thoughts way back when way back then.  Some people it seems dont come on here any more, i have been impressed enough to check their profiles and want to add them as friends or email them, but they aint been here in nearly a year or more. 
Amazing to think that what we share here lasts longer than the time we write it, it impacts on someones life at a time appropriate to them, even though written at a time appropriate to us.  OK.  I am off to bed, my head is going dizzy
Peace
EF.x 

Dear Blog'n'co,

I have neglected you for far too long and I am real sorry, esp for those who have been following it and not had amusing anecdotes to brighten their day. 

I am a lot better now.  The arm pain I mentioned in my previous blog lasted only that particular night, there is no rhyme nor reason to it and it looks set to remain one of life's mysteries.  Having said that I have started cleaning our home a little bit again, just one thing at a time.  I have started walking more again and am doing well with that. 

E is doing great at pre-school and loves doing her school time at home again.  She is doing well with writing letters and numbers as well as recognising them in larger forms and telling the time.  Often I find her teaching her toys and dolls and teddies and who/whatever else she can gather around her how to sing certain songs or do certain things that she has been learning.  She still spends time each day working on the computer and she often chats to family on MSN. 

The church we started attending at the beginning of the year is good and seems to be what we were looking for in many ways.  Still not moved house yet though and it is getting a bit desperate - but all in good time right? 

Thank you to everyone who has kept in touch over the past few months while things been so bad.  It has been great to know you are all around, and thank you especially for patience when I have been slow to respond or asleep instead of online!!!

I have skimmed through my lounge messages and emails, but shall take time soon to go through them properly and reply. 
Peace
EF.x