Team Spumpky

Please check out my new blog

2008-07-27T21:38:00.001-07:00

http://offmybum.blogspot.com

A blog about me and my battle with my weight :)

So, how'd it go?

2008-07-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

It actually went really well.

It was super busy, we sold out EVERY session in the earlier sessions, had a few complaints etc, but is going to be a good site.

Of course, my old cinema shits all over it in terms of organization, controls and procedures but that is something we can work on.

And Archer did fine considering I was not in bed until 1:30am. For some reason Dad gave him formula (I think defrosting milk was too hard a concept for him with a screaming baby) But my smart boy only drank 40mls. And it was almost 3am when he wanted some boobie and had a lovely long feed. I managed to express easily (Takes so long though) and there is now 200mls in the fridge for them tonight.

Oh well, should be fun to see how things go tonight, I just hope when I get home I can switch off and go to sleep, unlike last night where I hardly got any :(

So nervous

2008-07-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

So for once in my life (Since having kids at least) I am ready early.

As I sit here in my skirt and purple shirt, all ready for my first night back at work I am soooo soooo soooo nervous. I hope that the staff will get along with me, that I can keep up and that it is what I want to do. I am also so scared that Archer will wean, but I have made the promise that if that is the case, I will quit work, I am not giving up breastfeeding.

Well wish us luck and I will let you know how the 1st night went.

Funny Faces

2008-07-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

Sitting here freezing my .........

2008-07-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Well I think today may be the first real day of winter up here. We had snow falling in our backyard at lunchtime bit it melted before it hit the ground.

The kids are still sitting in their pj's (As I figure they are warmer) and we are freezing while watching TV in the loungeroom. I hate the heating in this place, a stupid gas wall furnace which is up a split level in the kitchen/dining and never heats here. We *eventually* get heat upstairs.

Well my life feels like a mess. Of course the main parts of my life are not, I have a wonderful sexy hubby and 2 beautiful kids. (One who can write her name and can pick most letters of the alphabet and another who moves quickly and is waiting on his 4th tooth) but I am so unsure of what it is I am meant to do in this world. I know I am meant to be a wife and partner, but I want to know what I should be doing as a career.
I spent 2 days working at one cinema in Canberra and after deciding it was a crap hole I resigned. I am now starting work tomorrow and Canberra's ONLY new cinema and I am looking forward to it. But I also am not as I thought I would do something more.
I have toyed with the idea of further study. I thought I would like to do nursing, but there are some things I just don't think I would dig. Then of course the police thing came up again, but I am old enough now to see past the glamour of the uniform and not sure I want to deal with all those crims. I am thinking a psychologist as I loved psych at school, but I am not sure. Then of course I live on the hope that someone nice will give me $100k so I can get my pilots licence and go and fly big metal birds (Only of course to probaby loose my job in the current global instibility)
Anyone else been on this crossroads and managed to find something???

Oooops, haven't posted in a while

2008-06-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to update my blog. I will have great ideas what to write and by the time the kids are in bed I am stuffed and forget.
We think we have decided on a kitchen. Wood benchtops, red polished doors and stainless steel splashbacks. We also want a big cooktop and oven and want it to look like a "real" kitchen. We still have no builder. We are getting a bit sick and tired of the "no you can't do that" so they can bastardise thier own plan and having to chase THEM up.
On the work front, I think I will be working at a cinema. It will be easy as I can work nights and I really do miss it. I just have to make sure it is not a permanent thing.
Amelie is doing really well. She is turning into a little lady now. She wrote her own name for the first time today! She is also eating so well. She is trying everything now and will eat most of it. Such a huge relief.
Archer is getting better at standing up and hold on with one hand. He is turning into such a cute little man. He is in his developmental separation anxiety stage, but being an attachment parent really makes this stage more a breeze then a problem.
I am also trying to get out there and meed more people. I have decided I am not going to justify my attachment parenting ways and myself. I was burned by a mothers group in Melbourne (Practically voted off, apparently no-one liked me.) and that has made me very nervous about meeting people. I am scared that I will do something to offend them, or I just won't be liked. But I also have to realize I am not everyone's cup of tea and I really am a nice person. People just need to get to know me.

Well I have attached recent photos from the park. Hope everyone is well

~Pam

Tagged

2008-05-23T04:31:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Rach!

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
Each player answers the questions about themselves.
At the end of the post, the player tags six people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leave them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

a) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was working at Village cinemas Cranbourne. I had a very hot fiance who was trying to get into the police force. I think I would have also been working full time around now at Nomad, selling mobile phones, what fun that was. We were living in Frankston and times were tough. Not much money coming in, but we survived.

b) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

These are for tomorrow
1. Go shopping for Amelie's friend for her birthday party
2. Go to the tile place and get some ideas for our new house
3. Take Amelie to the McDonald's (grrrr) birthday party
4. See Joe, our potential house builder and see if our first choice actually has the plan ready
5. Have a relaxed, lovely dinner with the family and loads and loads of cuddles

c) Snacks I enjoy?

Well, I wouldn't be telling the truth if I did not say chocolate. I love milo too. Fruit is nice in the good weather too.

d) Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

Buy a learjet, get a learjet endorsement. Fly all over the world with the kids and see everywhere. Buy hubby a custom BMW from the factory. Buy some horses. Buy my sister a house and prolly pay out a few friends morgages. I would probably blow it all and we would need to work again, ha ha. Money does not buy happiness.

e) Places I have lived?

Williamstown, Vic. Newport, Vic. Phillip Island Vic, Frankston Vic, Carrum Downs Vic and now Ngunnawal ACT. I hope to add a few international places to that. ie Kent or France, or Germany. Not fussy eh?

WE FOUND A HOUSE!!!!

2008-05-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, we found a house.

It is being made by a lovely builder called Sophie (OK, so it is Amelie and her beautiful imagination.)

I have included the house designs. It will cost us $20 to build and will be built 20 mins after settlement. Of course if we do not pay, she has her hired muscle, Gaga to take care of us.

I love their imagination. She is so gorgeous. She sat down with Daddy and did a design while he was doing one. Even using her eraser as Dad did. She was striking up conversation, asking how old our kids are and if we have been to Japan. She is really amazing, a beautiful imagination.

I have also included pics of Archer eating choccie cake this morning and a pic of him after he ate too much, ha ha. He is so cute.

Confusion and a yummy yummy chocolate cake

2008-05-17T04:11:00.000-07:00

I am so confused at the moment. We got a block of land, and now we need to save. We can do this without me working, but of course, with me working, it will be much easier. I looked at one job, packing inline orders of organic produce for a lovely lady only 20 mins from home. It was thurs/fri, which is perfect as Amelie is in preschool those days, but, there is no childcare available.
The thing is, I don't want to shove Archer in childcare He is only 8 months old and I am his Mumma. I also don't want to work nights as if he gets a bottle of expressed milk I am afraid he will wean (As Amelie did) Part of me really wants to work to take the pressure off and also to be myself for a while. Sometimes I feel like I am not cut out to be a parent, that I totally suck at it, growling at them, not keeping the house clean and not being able to cook. Then the most of me wants to be at home to be Mum, I love them so much and I enjoy just being Mum.

Then of course we are still confused about which house to choose. I like Vemira the most. I think we will end up paying a bit more then the others for it, but they are really nice, well finished houses and I trust the company. There are 2 others, one run by a very salesman type of guy and another one who works out of home. All with nice designs.

What to do? What to do?

On another less stressed note, my beautiful sister came to visit us from Sydney last night. It was so lovely to see her and enjoy her company. She is so busy with work and she is out closest family member. I love her so much.

We got Amelie a computer the other day from freecycle. Is a really old mac, but great for her to learn computer skills and no issue if she breaks it. She has been doing jigsaw puzzles on it and loves playing with it.

I also made a chocolate cake tonight and finally feel like I am slowly learning to cook. The link for the fantastic recipe can be found on Sister Suffragette's blog, in which there is a link on this page. It was lovely and Sister Suffragette has some lovely lovely recipes.

Till next time...

Food for the family

2008-05-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

I just made a lovely dinner. To be honest, I feel I suck in the kitchen. I was never taught how to cook and tend to get flustered and stuff up things. I decided to make a new recipe with thanks to my Mothers day present.

I have included the pic from the recipe book as ahhh der, I forgot to take one, but this is now a favourite recipe, pleasing to the eye, with vivid colours, very fragrant and yummy. I used organic udon noodles, shallots instead of green onion and forgot to buy bean sprouts, but still came up awesome. With the chillies de-seeded it did not have a lot of heat and would be OK for the kiddies.

400g lean beef mince
2 x 10cm sticks of finely chopped fresh lemon grass
2 x green onions chopped finely
1 clove garlic crushed
1 egg white
1.5 litres beef stock
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
185g dried rice stick noodles
1 cup bean sprouts
1 cup losely packed fresh coriander leaves
2 fresh long red chillies, thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced

1. Using hand, combine meat, lemon grass, garlic and egg and roll into level tablespoon size balls
2. Place stock, star anise and cinnamon in large saucepan. Bring to boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Add meatballs and simmer for 5 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through, Remove star anise and cinnamon.
3. Cook noodles as per packet instructions until just tender, drain.
4. Divide noodles, meatballs and stock among serving bowls. Top with remaining ingredients and serve with fresh lime wedges if you like.
5. Eat and enjoy!!

On a good note, Amelie has been trying more new food. (This is the little girl who would refuse to touch something if it had green on it) Yesterday she ate an apple with the peel still on and today she tried tinned salmon. YAY. Have added a few pics of my adorable kids :)

Block ownership and Mothers Day

2008-05-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Well our weekend I knew would be lovely. At 4:30pm, my besty Sharon flew in from Melbourne for the weekend. After preschool Amelie, Archer and I went straight to Canberra Airport and met her from the plane.

Of course, we did a few boring things, a drive by hubby's work and a stop at Canberra Centre to pick up a happy lightly beer filled hubby. Went home for my traditional Sharon dinner of Lasagne and then up to Mt. Ainslie to look at the beautiful Canberra lights.

Saturday brought us to the ballot for Franklin. We had been drawn 64th of 288 with a suitable 55 blocks in our price range. Wwe were very nervous. I was hoping we would get one of our first picks, a small rear entry block. Big enough for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home and a small backyard, but not so big that it would be so expensive that we would have to eat nothing but rice for the next 20 years. I like the idea of a smaller house, then we are all together and close.

We went in at 11am and were called to pick a block after 3 people. And our first pick was still there!! 3/88 was ours. A big relief to have our own place and a piece of Canberra. I have been feeling like water and having a piece of land to call our own makes us so much happier.

The today, Mothers Day. I was greeted by a boobie chomping baby boy, and shortly after Amelie came in with my presents. A lovely cook book, box of choccies and a iTunes card. YAY. Amelie then made my breakfast and we headed off to the HIA home idea centre in Fyshwick.

After a good look around there and seeing a very very groovy bath (And also some solar panels, a must for our new house) we went to Mt Majura Vineyard. I would highly recommend a visit there. Lovely, reasonable priced wines and a free sit down tasting with a great hostess. We ended up coming home with 2 reds and 2 whites and I am very glad I have found a lovely vineyard only 10 mins from home. (Of course, poor Archer didn't make it after all of the excitement of the breadsticks)

Lunch at my Fav 'The Cook and Grocer' in Gungahlin and then home to a lovely afteroon and one of hubby's special pasta dinners (And a nice bottle of wine I imagine.)

I would love to say a huge thankyou to Sharon for coming up and making mothers day special (Man I miss you!) and to Richard, Amelie and Archer for a lovely weekend. Also a big happy Mothers day to all of the Mum's!!

Food Porn Meme

2008-05-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, time to play tag catch-up!

This started at Smokey Mountain Breakdown and the rules are as follows. Answer each of the five questions. Tag five bloggers you would like to pass the meme to. Have them link back to you and to this post as the source meme.

1. What food do you consider the best “date” food? In other words, what meal or food item do you think is sexiest to eat in the company of someone you would like to look sexy around?

Hmmm, best date food eh. I think champagne is very sexy, and strawberries. I never really though what I would eat on a date, but I would say oysters. They are a very aquired taste as am I and well, we all know the effects of oysters, ha ha.

2. What well-known person would you like to share a meal with — with or without clothing (saying whether or not clothes are involved is optional)?

George Clooney would be my pick. I would be clothed, something sophisticated and sexy. And there is Bono, but I would love to have a pint of Irish beer with him. Probably not clothed, ha ha.

3. What does your perfect breakfast-in-bed look like? (Food AND the details, please. Candles? Music? Flowers? Hot tub? Dancing girls?)

Just a simple breakfast, made with love and brought to me by hubby and the kids. Maybe some flowers too.

4. What do you consider the best application of whipped cream to be?

In between chocolate ripple cake. Yum.

5. Oh-God-No, Biff, the yacht is sinking! You are sent to the galley to retrieve the food. What luxury food items do you snatch first? The champagne? The caviar? Smoked Salmon? Truffles? Chocolate? Or something else?

The champagne, the premium still and sparkling water, the salmon and of course the richest and darkest chocolate.

Introduction

2008-05-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

So, yes, I had a blog. We moved, I never used it and I forgot which email I signed up with (And of course the password) I decided to start a new one, being the logic of a sick Mumma, with a sick hubby and 2 sick kids.

Well, about us.
We have just moved to Canberra from Melbourne. We have been here since December and are loving some facets and hating others (Like no family or close friends) Luckily I think we are a close family unit and we manage to get by on each others love, most of the time.
Hubby works in the aviation industry behind the desk. He is the smart, calm, fun loving rationale one. We have been married 9 years in December and I still think he is a bit of alright.
I am a stay at home Mum for the time being. Before having our Archer I worked at the cinema and hung up my torch after 10 long years and the move to Canberra. I miss my job terribly, but see no point in trying to work at a local cinema. I need a career and want to study nursing next year. I am the irrational one, who flies off the handle and come from a pretty messed up bunch of women. Maybe why I am so nuts sometimes.
Amelie is our eldest. She turned 4 in January and it the most beautiful little girl. She drives me nuts too, but I think because of her lovely old soul I place higher expectations on her then I should for her age. She is the most amazing child. Loving, caring, warm, well behaved and a fantastic part of our team. She loves everything princess and cheese.
Archer is our newest edition, born last September. He is a gorgeous little boy, strong and willful. Very much like his sister. He has just started to crawl and get teeth, how gorgeous.

Well that is our intro, I hope you enjoy reading our future blogs, even though I have no idea what I am doing, ha ha.