Day 15: Something I miss

My mom. I miss her every day of my life. I've written a post about her previously (on here), so I won't go into all of that again.

I guess there's other things I can list as well, but the challenge is "someTHING", not "some things" I miss. So yeah, there's nothing I miss more than my mother. Maybe that'll leave me time to write a post today about Boeboe and Monkeyman's issues, since I got quite a few enquiries about how it's going now.

Day 14: Last book I've read

I love reading. I really, really love reading. When I was a child, I read a book a day. It sounds impossible, I know, but I didn't read English books until I was 16. I only read Afrikaans (my home tongue). The books I read, always had 152 pages in those days. Always. They changed the font size and nr of lines per page to fit it in. So yeah, I went to the library at least once a week. It was 3 blocks away from home. And the best hour of my week. There was something magical about the library.  

I have a number of books that I read every year. The Harry Potter series, the Earth children series, and almost all of Anne McCaffrey's fantasy books. The last book I read though, was 50 Shades. Urgh, I struggled with it. I don't know why. Everyone went on and on about it, but I think when you've come to love the books like these above, 50 Shades just doesn't cut it. It felt flat. I came halfway through the 2nd before giving up again. Maybe one day, I'll finish it, I don't know. Doesn't really feel worth the time when I can just read Clan of the Cavebear again. Or the Pern series.

I've also started Midnight sun again from Stephanie Meyer. I really liked the twilight series. I'll finish that, and then I want to read a book my sister recommended. The Glass Castle. I have no idea what it's about.

So why don't I read as many books these days? Because I read on the internet. I read people's stories, blogs, Google books, medical reviews and research articles. I read everything I can "lay my hands on" so to speak, about the subject I'm interested in. During the past 3 months, it was Pulmonary Hypertension. So the last book I probably read, was a book on that (I don't keep track of the names, but it was something about lung diseases).

I can never NOT read. There's a few things I can't live without. Reading is one of them.

Day 13: Daily Routine

About 4 months ago, I made a post about my daily routine. On here: http://roadtosanmichele.blogspot.com/2013/04/life-as-sahm-with-four-children.html

I doubt if you'd want to read all of THAT again, LOL. So, maybe just a quick recap for today's challenge?

Wake up around 8am. Give Peanut her milk, take a bath, change Peanut's nappy and dress her, give Monkeyman breakfast and eat a bowl of corn flakes myself.
Take Monkeyman to school, sit in for a while, watching him and the other kids.

Go home around 10am and give Peanut cereal, feed her milk and put her to bed. Clean house up a bit, make coffee and browse the internet for a while. Or maybe watch a bit of tv. Play with Peanut when she wakes, feed her, change her and give her lunch.

Around 12:45, I fetch Monkeyman from school, then fetch Mr N and Boeboe from school (if they don't have something on after school). Give all of them lunch, drink coffee and give Peanut something to eat. Fetch any kid(s) still not home yet due to afterschool activities.

Around 3pm, feed Peanut milk and put her to bed.
Help with homework or projects. Start dinner.
Eat dinner, feed Peanut dinner, bath her, dress her.
Spend time with the kids, put them in bed around 8pm, feed Peanut milk, put her in bed.
Make coffee for me and husband. Watch tv and surf the net.
Feed Peanut milk when she wakes.
Go to bed around midnight.
Wakes multiple times for Peanut, and give her milk.

Day 12: If I win the lottery...

… I'd buy an island, build houses for family and friends that wants to come and visit (or live there), get a few tutors for the kids, and live in peace far far away from the ratrace. I'd have an orchard with all my favourite fruit trees. And maybe a few animals.

Realistically though, the lotto here won't be big enough to cover all of that, LOL. So if I really would win SA's lotto, I'd probably put alot away for our old age. I'd pay off our house. I'd give a portion to all of my and hubby's families. Probably also give some to the church or a charity or some place where we know it'll make a real, tangible difference. I'd take a few thousand to go on holiday, and I'd buy our children something really valuable that they'll never otherwise have. Like a mini iPad, a laptop or such. I'd buy everyone that really means/meant something to me and my family, a gift. Something really awesome, that would warm their hearts as they did or still do ours. And I'd buy my husband a Mazda 5, since I'm driving around with his dream car.

Day 11: 15 of my favourite things

This post is a day late. But I'm backdating it so that it still matches the date. I've had such a busy day yesterday, I really tried to complete the challenge, but only came halfway before I had to give up to sleep. Our visitors left today, so life would go back to semi normal I think. I hope!

About today's challenge: I really wanna be corny again, and say nr 1-5 is my husband, Mr N, Boeboe, Monkeyman and Peanut.

So let's see, 10 more favourite things.

6.   Coffee. Cuppacino specifically.
7.   Snacks. Love to eat.
8.   My laptop.
9.   Mini iPad.
10. Warm, comfortable clothes in winter, and a warm, soft bed.
11.  Some things from my mom that has sentimental value to me.
12.  Some of my most valued books, as well as the kindle, though Mr N mostly has it these days.
13.  Some of the thoughtful gifts I received over the years that means alot to me. One being a handmade necklace from my sister.
14.  Angelcare breathing monitor
15.  Pressure cooker

Day 10: My best physical feature

Oh my word, today's challenge is difficult! It's bad enough to talk about myself every day, my likes and dislikes, etc. But about my looks?! So difficult. So I'm just going to keep this short. I think I like the fact that I can eat whatever I want to, and not pick up weight. Not because I think it's so awesome to be underweight (quite the opposite), but because I've come to learn how difficult it is for those who feel they need to loose weight for whatever reason. I appreciate the fact that I do not have that struggle, and can enjoy treats.

Day 9: Favourite movies

...I'll never get sick of watching.

Tbh, I don't think there's even one movie that I'll never get sick of if I've watched it enough times. But, there are a few movies that I watch regularly, or don't mind watching again every couple of years.

First in line has got to be Harry Potter. All of them. We have the DVD set, and every year or 2, we work through them. Just like I read the books every year or so again.

I also love Dirty Dancing. Not so much the story anymore, or the characters, like when I was a teenager (giving my age away here, hahahaha). But the music and dancing. It just gets to me every time.

Notting Hill. What's not to like? Great actors, great characters, romance, comedy, princess-fairy-tale, everything a girl (usually) likes. I certainly do!

Men in Black. I'm not an action movie type of person. Not at all. Anything above a 13 is usually just too much for me. But I really do love a good scifi comedy action movie. Not the "Battleship" type - one long drawn out action scene with barely any story, and way too many impossible, unrealistic stunts. But Men in Black, gosh man, I love those.

Independance Day. Same as above. When he drags that alien behind him...hahahahaha. Love his monologue!

Top Gun. Tom Cruise, uniforms, motorcycle, good music, action, heart ache, romance, fighter jet planes. Great balls of fire!!

Pretty Woman. Aijaijai, Richard Gere saving the girl. Doesn't get better than that!

Junior. I know, I know. What can I say? I have a soft spot for old Arnie, and babies, and Emma Thompson.

Meet Joe Black. Brad Pitt. Enough said.

Much Ado About Nothing. Emma Thompson and Robert Sean Leonard. Best of the Shakespear bunch for me!!

The truman show. Don't know why. I love reality tv, maybe that's why?

Wall-E. One of the very few animated movies I won't mind watching again and again.

Love Actually. Colin Frith.

Bridget Jones. Again...Colin Frith.

Groundhog Day. No idea why. I just like it. :-)

I'm sure I'm missing loads more, but there you go. Enough for today. Happy Women's Day for all the female South African residents!

Day 8: My dream job

This is an easy one.

To be a SAHM (stay at home mom).

I'm living my dreamjob. :-) I never realised how much I would enjoy being at home full time. The plan was only to stay at home the first year of my baby's life, and then look for a job closer to home so that I wouldn't sit in traffic for a couple of hours every day. But when I had to start looking for a job when baby was about 10 months old, I found myself dragging my feet. In the end I realised it was because I was dreading it, not looking forward to it. So I spoke to my husband, who also hated the thought of his baby going to a creche full time, and voila, here I am 12 years later, still unemployed and loving it!

That's it for today. Since today is in any case over. I have guests in the house for the next week, so time is severely stricted.

Day 7: Pet Peeves

Today, I won't list all my pet peeves, since I still have a long update on Monkeyman to do.

So here's some small irritations of mine. I'm sure most people would relate!

• People standing too close to me in a queue. Don't breath in my neck!!! Especially if you haven't taken a shower in the past 72 hours or have the flu.
• Wet socks. I.Can't.Stand.Wet.Socks. Honestly, it's the worst!
• A sticky kitchen floor. Why would the kids ALWAYS spill sticky cooldrink on the day the floor was washed?!?!
• Open mouth chewing. And after 10 years, I STIL struggle to get this across to my children!! I shout/warn/threaten them at every meal. Literally every meal. For a decade. :-( Nothing puts a mother so much in her place than the feeling that she's talking to the empty walls!!
• Little popping noises. Like drops of water falling, children blowing bubbles with their spit or bubblegum, etc.
• When something doesn't work that should've work.
• Being late.
• Wobbly tables.
• Taxi's and their inconsiderate driving.
• Someone kicking/bumping my chair while I'm sitting in it.

OK, that's 10. Enough for today. I'm sure you're getting tired because of all my loooong lists. Hahahaha.

Day 6: What makes me happy?

Gosh, it's late in the day again for this post. It's a bit of a hectic time for me. I have a whole update to do on Monkeyman's visit to the ENT today, but I'll leave that for tomorrow when my mind isn't mush. :-)

So, back to today's challenge. What makes me happy? Can I be corny again, and say my children and husband? First and foremost. Without them, I'll be the saddest, loneliest person. Not even a shell of who I am or can be. They make me smile, they fill my heart and they're the cause of my laughter. Today, I mentioned something Mr N said in his sleep, and it brought forth peels of laughter from him and Boeboe, and it made me smile in happiness. Peanut took both her hands today, used them to turn my head to her face as she was standing on my lap, and planted a very soppy kiss on my lips. In front of the whole reception room full of people. That made me happy! And when Monkeyman greeted me at the gate of his school today, smiling happily because I was there. That made me happy. :-)

I can go on and on, but that's what makes my day. That's why I was able to stand strong the past 3 stressful months. Because the happiness they bring to my heart. And in the afternoon, when I had a hard day, I can just lean against my husband when he gets home, and I'll always feel safe and happy in his arms. As long as I have these 5 people in my life, I'll be happy and sound. :-)

But okay, that wasn't the question really. So what, apart from my family, makes me happy?

• The sea. Waenhuiskrans in specific.
• Seeing other small children and babies. They always makes me smile. 
• Good music.
• Seeing good friends.
• Getting gifts (shallow, I know!).
• Buying something I really wanted.
• Having a pamper from the kids (foot or head massage or something similar).
• Watching a good show on tv.
• Going to the movies.
• Playing board or card games with my little family.
• Getting my baby to sleep (yes, bad mother I know, but it makes me happy, or maybe more relieved, when she falls asleep).
• Having a relaxing weekend with my little family.
• Playing a good computer or iPad game.
• Reading a good book.
• My house. Even after living here for more than a decade, it still makes me happy.
• The sun. When I'm down, all I need to do is go and sit in the sun for a while.
• Food. Yes, I may not look like it, but I really do love food, and alot of it is the "wrong" kind of food. Oops.
• Coffee. Nothing beats a good cup of coffee after running around all morning.
• Technology. I just love all the new things on the market - iPad, smartphones, PVR's, etc.
• Christmas. Best time of the year for me!
• Spoiling my children or husband. Even if it's just with a nice pudding or good meal.

I'm pretty sure I can list another 20 things, but since it's almost midnight, I'll stop now. Clearly, I'm easy to please...hahahaha. Not that I'm the typical woman hey? Diamonds, shoes, shopping, new make up or weekends away isn't what makes me happy. Poor hubby, it must be confusing when your wife doesn't fit the mould. No wonder he struggles with birthday gifts!!