Miss 7 did the MS Readathon this year. We have just tallied up her fundrasing efforts and she raised $53.45 and read 42 books ranging from easy to hard. She is so proud of her acheivements as are we and is already thinking of the books she can read for next years readathon.

I have a cousin who has lived with MS for the past 17 years. She is the reason i used to do the readathon and i raised thousands of dollars for her and all those other people out there liveing with this dibilitating diesease. If your child has a love for reading then maybe they might like to do the readathon next year. There are prizes for raising certain amounts but for alot of kids i know who have done the readathon its the satisfaction of knowing they have helped someone who really is in need of all our help and support.

I truely believe reading is a great way for kids to broaden their vocabulary and understanding of words. Even if they read a simple kids magazine or the jokes page from the paper, all reading is great :)

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

Not that many of you would have missed me lol. Ive been busy with the kids, the farm, wife duties  and life in general. Im still busy but i have promised myself 1/2 hour each day to catch up on the entertaining and helpful issues here at minti. I even made a few friends while i was away  *runs off to find more*

Keep Smiling

Sam :)

Awwww ive been ever so slack.

I havent blogged for quite awhile but i just cant seem to find the time. What with school being back (although its the Easter Holidays now), Hubby staring a new business venture,  a good friend being diagnosed with a rare muscle degenerative diesease (shes only 24 and is now confined to a wheelchair), our animals having babies left, right and centre and all the normal things that go with being a wife and mother.

When i do get on the internet im bombarded by friends wanting to chat, which is great because i dont get a great deal of social interaction out here on the farm, im doing book work or catching up on other forums. I really need a time schedule for when im on the internet and Minti is going to be close to the top of the list, lol.

Ok, it was a short blog but a blog all the same :)

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

eeewwwww........3 kids under 6 with gastro. Im leaving home!! lol.  They were all asleep for a few hours then 1 by 1 they woke up and the vomiting started, and master 19months continued with the icky, runny nappies.

Im sick of the vile smells, the feeling of helplessness as i dont know what more to do for the 3 darlings.

Im continually showering them, getting them to brush their teeth, washing hands constantly, keeping their fluids up, cuddling and loving them.

The disenfectent and air freshner is getting a good work out too.

To top it all off, while writing this blog, hubby, who is working but due home later tonight, rang and informed me he has the same bug the kids have!!!

Its a crazy house here and i just hope im immune to the horrid, nasty bug that is going around everywhere.

Keep Smilng (im trying to)

gingermuggins xx

My family and i went to my hubbys nieces wedding yesterday. It was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, the weather was fine, the food and drink were flowing, it was a fantastic party.

What really made my day was how many compliments my husband and i recieved on how well behaved our 3 children were throughout the ceremony and reception. The kids stood at the ceremony in their beatiful/handsome outfits (im biased) quietly taking in what the celebrant was saying, ohhing and ahhing in all the right places, lol. After the official photos were taken the kids ran around the gardens and played before we moved onto the reception. Once there, the kids found their seats and checked out the favour boxes (chocolates and bubbles) and sat patiently until the bride and groom came. Nibbles were served, the kids ate, speeches were said, the kids listened, music was playing , the kids danced around and played with a pile of ballons on the dance floor, the main meal was served, the kids ate again, then they wandered around the room talking to relatives. By the time dessert came the kids were getting a little bored/restless so out came the colouring books and pencils for the girls and the cars and trucks for our son ( i always have these in my bag wherever we go) and this kept them amused for the next hour and a half.  There were other kids at the wedding, some were running around getting under the waitresses feet, yelling, being told off, but there again some kids were just as well behaved as mine. During all this time we had people coming over to our table telling us what beautifully behaved children we had, how well mannered they are and what a delight they are to have around. It made me feel really god to hear this, although i already know but it goes to show how well i and my husband have brought our kids up. We didnt say to them, " you have to be quiet and dont run around like clowns" i never say that to them, they just know how to behave. I am a proud mummy!!! :)

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

I apologise in advance. I know there are people who have bigger problems and bigger stepping stones to concur, but for today i feel the need to vent and i want the world to know, eventhough i have trivial problems, they are still affecting me.

I have down days, where everything gets ontop of me and i just want to run away for awhile but i cant. Its been awhile since i had one, that long ago i cant remember. Today though is one of those down days.

Im suffering from lack of sleep, dont all parents though. My 18month old son is grizzly and clingy. He is teething but thats not the entire problem. Hubby is a truck driver and Liam is at an age where he wants his daddy around. Liam was great over the weekend when hubby was home, he helped do the farm work, played with daddy's tools, wrestled, went swimming, slept right through the night even. Now that hubby is on the road again, Liam isnt getting all that attention, he's not getting worn out during the day which results in not sleeping well.

My 2 daughters are normal sisters, lol. They play well together and they fight fairly well together too. They are good at amusing themselves when need be. I do alot with them and try to include Liam, sometimes without great success.

I live on a small farm which means i am the one who makes sure the animals are fed and watered, the cow milked, the vegie garden tended to, and whatever else needs to be done during the day.

I live in a mudbrick house with lots of character and the same amount of flaws. We are in the process of renovating but its a very slow process, what with finance and getting tradesmen to come out to the middle of the bush without charging an astronomical travelling fee (we are doing a majority of it ourselves, but we are not very good plumbers!!) There is a dirt floor in the living area covered with 'golfing greens' as i call it (green threadbare carpet). All the ceilings are rough sawn timber with gaps inbetween each panel and dust and dirt and creepy crawlies are forever falling through. Everytime i go to hammer a nail into the wall, little bits of mudbrick fall out because the walls havent had a proper finish (rendering, i think). The outside of the house is a little better then a bomb shelter. Multiple trips to the dump have resulted in a vast improvement. I do love living here though and when things get fixed up it will look and feel great. Its a matter of time and energy.

As i said before, i live in the middle of the bush. The nearest town is an hours drive away, my nearest girlfriend is 30 mins away.  What more can i say.

I really feel for single mothers. I couldnt, by choice or not, cope with being a single mum, while having 3 kids to look after.

Hubby is home roughly for 36 hours per week. We have quality time as a family and as a married couple, but i admit, im a youngish chick who needs more sex and intimacy, lol.

Im 27 years old and although i love my family more than words can express, i want to live life a little in my own way.

As i was writing this down i had tears, but i now feel better, not completely but i know things can and will get alot better. Im not usually a negative person, only on these kind of days, and if i can find fault with something i will, lol, and its not that time of the month either, hehehe.

Thank you to all you people who took time out to read my rant, and if you didnt, thats ok with me, im not sure if i would either, lol. Yes i have my sense of humour back!!!

Keep Smiling (im trying)

gingermuggins xx

The christmas tree and decorations are packed away, the kids have played with their new toys atleast once and only 1 gift needs to be returned. Hubby has taken a trailer load of empty boxes, wrapping paper and other empties  to the recycling depot and the house is back to normal.

*sigh* now its time to organise school clothes, bags, books, stationery, hair cuts..................a mums job is never ending.

keep smiling

gingermuggins xx

hehehehe......

tonight is the 1st night in 8 nights Liam has fallen asleep before 9.30, every other night we have been up until midnight if not later, and here i am playing on the computer. I should be sleeping!!!! I blame the creators of minti, lol. There is so much happening here and i dont want to miss out on anything.

Today was better for Liam. His teeth/gums arent as sore as yesterday although his cheeks are still rosy red.

I have never had so much fun blowing bubbles as i did today. I spent an hour outside with the 3 kids blowing bubbles with big and small bubble wands. The kids were giggling like crazy as they ran around chasing bubbles, catching and popping them. Even the dog was jumping around.

I luv moments like that, when i can forget about the farm and housework for awhile and enjoy the kids. The last 5 weeks have been soooo hectic i feel asthough i have been on auto pilot.

Keep Smiling

gingermuggins xx

My little man is teething. 4th tooth on both sides on the bottom jaw. Vast amounts of bonjella, panadol, icypoles and cuddles hasnt eased his pain . He has been grizzley for the last 3 days and for me sleep has been non existant. I finally cracked and gave him a dose of knockout drops and now he is laying in my arm half asleep. I detest giving him the drops but it does help both him and me and my sanity!!! Out of the 3 kids his teething has been the worst.

Well night everyone, im off for a good nights sleep to recharge the batteries