All About Me

I updated my "about me" page... in case you missed it here's All About Me...

Hi and Welcome to my little corner of the World. I'm so very glad you dropped by.
I thought I should introduce myself properly...


My Name: Simone
It's pronounced Simonne  as in "on", not Simoane as in "moan". You can call me Simoney (like they do in Scotland, which is my blog name), or Monnie (as some of my friends do). My husband calls me Babe.

Where I'm From: Auckland, New Zealand

For those of you geographically challenged types, that's down near Australia in the South Pacific. My home town is Auckland, a city of a million people - quarter of New Zealand's entire population!

We live in the leafy suburb of Mt Albert in a 1920's bungalow which I love. You can read more about my lovely slice of paradise here...

Being from Downunder, I might use some different words for things. If you're confused about some of my Kiwi-isms, then click my Guide to Kiwi Speak for a Kiwi-ese dictionary. (Kiwi's are how we New Zealanders refer to ourselves; just in case you thought I was meaning the fuzzy brown Fruit. Or the flightless Bird.)

My Family: Mr G (hubby), Dash (7), Miss Fab (5) and Scrag (2)

This crazy bunch of party-mad lunatics are quite often the focus of my writing. They are a bunch of energetic extroverts, never short on an opinion or two, all with minds of their own, which makes for plenty of fun'n'games, if you know what I mean?? There are no nerd-librarian-types in our family (apart from me). I am alone in my nerdy-ness. Although I am working on cultivating a love of books and art into at least a couple of my outgoing offspring. To read more about that lot click Meet the Family.

Note: "Dash", "Miss Fab" and "Scrag" are not their real names. But they are called those nicknames from time to time. Real Names have been changed to protect the guilty!


My Interests:

READING: I can chew through a thick novel in two days... or if it's a really good one I'll sometimes pull an all-nighter (but not very often these days).

WRITING: A re-discovered child-hood passion. I'm working on co-writing a book with a friend of mine.

BLOGGING: I think I may be a blog addict. I'm thinking of starting up a 12-Step Programme online called Bloggers Anonymous. (Nah, not really).

PLANNING KIDS PARTIES: My husband thinks I'm out of control. I think I'm creating great memories and using my creativity...

PHOTO-SHOPPING: I love messing around in Photoshop. I have no qualifications, I'm totally self-taught. I designed a bunch of kids birthday party invitations and stuck them on this website so people can print them off and use them for free. I'm nice like that.

PHOTO-TAKING: Different from Photography, in that I lack skill and a fancy camera... but I photograph anything and everything. My family call me a snap-happy tourist (actually they call me a Japanese tourist but I thought that was a bit un-PC).

COFFEE: One of my favourite things is going to a cafe with a good friend or two. Always gives me a boost. Especially if it also involves Cake.

TRAVEL: Nothing better than getting stamps in your passport, even with kids in tow. Places visited so far: Australia, Canada, USA (California), England, Scotland, France, Italy, Malaysia, Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga & Mauritius...

THE GYM (not!): I joined the gym recently and I am attempting to go regularly in the faint hope of holding back the tides of time. I turned 40 in November 2009 (gasp) and as a naturally lazy couch-potato I figured if I didn't do something pretty soon they might eventually need a crane to hoist me out of the house. But seriously, with my energetic bunch, if I don't get fit I'll be left behind!
I can't say I enjoy exercise (yet). Or that I do enough. Or that I am seeing any amazing results. I think I like food too much. Sigh.

Pet Peeves:

Housework... oh the pointlessness of it all.
Housework... I am not a housewife! I am a full-time mother. There's a difference! Really!
Housework... seriously, the sooner they invent robot cleaners the better!

What I blog about:
Honest to goodness real-life.
The joys and pitfalls of mothering. Things that make me laugh, or that make me cry. I share creative ideas I think will help make others' lives easier or more fun. I share my thoughts on soul stuff. I sometimes share about Living with Depression. If you really want to understand me, read My Journey.

What I don't blog about:

This is not a product review blog. I do not receive payment for recommending stuff. If I recommend something to you, it's because I like it and think you might too. I also don't do very many giveaways. If I do, it's because I want to bless you. I blog because I love to write, and share ideas, and connect with others. That's it. :)


My Beliefs:

I'm a Christian. An often-struggling one, but very definitely a committed one. Basically I am thankful to God for never giving up on me through my long and winding road; thankful for the blessings he has brought into my life, and aware that were it not for him, I would not be here.
 
I don't use my blog as a soap box or pulpit. I won't hard-core preach to you. But if things move me, or I have an insight or thought that I think would encourage you, I will share it here. My relationship to God is what you might call, "defining". It's the most important thing in my life.
 
Contact: greatfun4kids@live.com

I love to "meet" my readers and get feedback from you. Like every other blogger, comments make my day. And I always try to reply or visit you back. So leave me a comment OK? It's not hard. You don't even have to have a blog, just leave your name (and email if you want a reply!)
 
Or you can email me. Especially if something I've shared here touches you, or relates to your situation.
I've made many dear friends that way. Some I've even got to meet in real life. But I won't know you've been if you don't say hi... so drop me a line.
 
I look forward to meeting you!

Scrag's Guide to Getting Attention

!!TOP SECRET!! EYES ONLY!! SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED!!

By Agent Scrag

Babies, we have a problem. Our parents are busy people. Our cuteness is no longer enough to guarantee large chunks of focused attention from them. We must up-the-ante. We must use all our skills to secure for ourselves maximum attention!

 

Attention Obstacle #1: The Computer

The computer is stealing our mothers' attention away from us. We must fight back.

Strategy 1: Power Off

If your mother is spending too much time blogging, a stealth attack could be the answer. Her full attention will be fixed on the screen so all you need to do is sneak under her chair and hit the power button. Warning! This will only work the first few times. After that she will become attuned to your presence under her chair if it threatens her power source.

Strategy 2: Up Close & Personal

Shouting in her ear alone is no good. She has had years of practise tuning out noisy demands. You must climb up behind her on her chair and then pull her hair. That's right, people. I said pull. And I mean pull it hard. No wimpy tickling or she will just think you are giving her a head massage. Yank it till she squeals. This is a very effective way to get her attention.

Strategy 3:  Sabotage

Once she has grown wise to these initial tactics, you will have to become more aggressive. As I said, she will have her attention firmly on the screen and as long as you are not climbing under her chair or pulling her hair, she will ignore you.

I recommend going for the jugular: the makeup purse. If your mother is like mine, she always forgets to put her things away because she's in a rush in the morning. So get in there, pull the stuff out and go to town with the eyeshadow.

When you've had enough, appear at her shoulder smeared in makeup. I guarantee you this will get her attention. She will have to spend quite some time cleaning up the mess you've made. Even better if you've just eaten banana and/or have a snotty nose. She won't know whether the globs on her purse are edible or... not.

Other Attention Obstacles:
Any of the above strategies can be employed to take attention away from these obstacles and put it back firmly where it belongs: on us!

~television
~telephone
~adult conversation
~siblings
~chores

You may wish to try some of my other attention-getting tricks...

Clean the toilet yourself...

Strip naked and smear toothpaste all over the bath (and yourself)...

Help with the laundry...

Throw everything out of your cot. And I mean EVERYTHING.

Do a woopsy in your nappy. Make it a really whiffy one that she can't ignore. Stay close by for maximum effect.

Climb on her knee and give her gooby kisses... then shout "lah-you-mummeee!"

These methods are all guaranteed winners. Goodnight and Good Luck!

PS: Mummy found this coded message and decided to post it to cheer herself up after she found what I did to her makeup. She said if she didn't laugh, she'd cry. Mothers!!!

Automotive Joy

My little Scrag loves all things automotive. Trains, cars, anything with wheels. This photo that I've chosen as my RAW(e) entry this week sums up his joy at being behind the wheel.

He made his brother and sister go on this (very slow) ride in the kiddy part of Rainbows End about ten times. Very patiently they went along with him, waving to us each time they went past. Round and round they went, their baby brother never tiring of being behind the wheel. I think he thought he was really driving.

His face says it all.

RAW(e) is a fun Photo Competition over at Sailor and Co. Here's the Rules if you want to play along (click here):

Only post one photo
Only link up AFTER you post it (link directly to the photo post)
DO NOT TOUCH it. It must be straight out of the camera.
You have until 5pm Friday
Have fun!

Undefeated

Mr G likes me to post up photos of Saturdays football matches, so Grandma and everyone in England can see how well the team is doing under his leadership ("Hi Grandma" *waves*)

Here are father and son walking back from their third undefeated game.

Here are the awesome defence and mid-field players in action. The guy in the green and white stripe shirt? He didn't have that ball for long.

We have played three games, and won all three. We haven't been scored against once. The stats speak for themselves: 3-0, 2-0, 3-0, all to us.

(Note how I am saying "we" like I have something to do with it??)

And the praise that is being heaped upon my husband, the "firm but fair" coach!
The dads say, "Oh the kids just love their coach!"
The mothers can't believe how exciting Saturday morning football is when you're winning. I'm guessing this is a new experience for them?? They must be used to being on teams that lose a lot?
They are jumping up and down, losing their voices as they cheer on the kids.
"Ooooh! It's too exciting! I'm almost peeing my pants!" said one of them. Sorry - too much information?

The players get subbed on and off, resting and watering, then getting back out there again. They jump up and down on the sidelines... "Me next? Can I go back on??"
Coach Dad tries to make sure everyone gets a fair run. He is working out his players' strengths and getting them to play in positions. The kids are learning to play a strategic game.

The girls are really giving it their all. Look at this little thing. Did she cry when she got tackled? Nope. Up she got and carried on.

See, look at them go. Nobody's standing still. They are all giving it 100%. And that's all Coach Dad asks for. The Ref has to run to keep up.

This is the magnetic game board. Coach Dad uses it at half-time to show the kids where he wants them. Hardcore, eh?

"Right, son, get out there and score some more goals!"
"OK dad, sure, why not??"

Coach Dad is unavoidably detained this coming Saturday (a work thing he just can't get out of). He is tossing and turning trying to think of a way to be there, but it looks like he'll have to get someone to stand in for him. I am hoping that whichever dad steps up can pull out of the kids what Coach Dad manages to.
Focus. Commitment. Teamwork. 100%.

PS: Dash still sleeps with his little gold trophy daddy gave him. Bless!

Happy Mothers Day to Me

I became aware of murmurings and whisperings early this morning. The whispers went, "Ssshhhh! Let mummy sleep. It's Mothers Day, remember..."

Bless the hubby. I was woken up later at 8.30am with coffee and crumpets on a tray. Thanks babe.

Then came the cards. Written out by the children themselves. How sweet that daddy doesn't have to write them with his left hand anymore, now that I have two big kids at school.

Mind you, if you try to decipher this:

...you may have some difficulty. And no, that's not his left hand.
It was a collaboration, written with the rhyming styles of Miss Fab and Daddy. What it says is:

Mummy your brill
We think your cool
We tell everyone
even when @ school
We know your the best
and that much is true
There's no-one as great
quite like you :)

And it came together with a Voucher. A beauty Voucher for a "Rescue Me" package.

"Because you've been looking a little run down lately..." Er, thanks??!!!

No but seriously. He's right. I need rescuing. My hair hasn't been cut since 2009. I can't even remember which month. I don't even like long hair! It's so bushy and thick that my GHDs make no impression. Yes, it's that bad.

My skin, don't get me started. Shouldn't I have left spots behind with my teenage years?? Yeah, right.
Then there's the streak of wisdom which has pleasantly appeared at each temple. Goes to show it's a while since I've gotten around to colouring (note to self: add Nice'n'Easy to shopping list)

And the gym... well, lets just say that I must not be working hard enough. Or else I'm not going enough. Or I'm giving into my sugar cravings too often. There is no discernable change in my body. The scales remain steady. The jelly belly still resembles a 4-month pregnancy, the butt cheeks resemble cottage cheese. Sorry - too much information?

I won't even mention the fact  that I am out of razor blades. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

So, yes, I've been looking a little run down. And a Rescue Me package sounds nice.
Mostly because it comes with an afternoon of me-time. Just me and whoever the beauty therapist is. I hope she's not chatty.

I do so love my family. I mean look at them.
They interrupted their activities to smile at the camera for me...

Watching Sky TV...

Playing Playstation soccer...

Raiding my makeup...
Raiding my makeup!! No wonder I'm having to scrape out the dregs to plaster over my spotty face! Doesn't help with the whole "looking run down" thing.

So anyway, the day is nearly at an end and it'll be back to getting my own cup of tea again tomorrow.

I shouldn't be feeling so blah, because I have a lot to be thankful for. I mean, I just watched NieNie's YouTube clip again. She looks like such a beautiful person. I'm wondering if I would come through something like that with such grace?? Would I have enough inner beauty shining through that even my scars would look dazzling? She puts me to shame.

Oh man, now I'm feeling like a need an inner Rescue-Me package as well. An attitude overhaul. Shame on me. I'm kinda hoping that my blues are hormonal (could explain the spots?) otherwise I have no excuse.


Happy Mothers Day to Me. And to you. I hope you had a good one.