Day Off...

Was reflecting this morning as I was going through my usual routine about how my life has changed, at 21 I used to get up as late as possible, jump in the shower, scrap my hair back into a ponytail and leave the house. I could do it no matter how much sleep I had and regardless of whether I was hung over or not!!

At 31, I am woken by my son; this morning it was 5.50am, but it varies, anywhere between 5.30-630am. As Tuesday is my "day off" I brought him in with me, in the vein hope we might go back to sleep. No chance so up we got, I now have a shower or bath on a night as getting one on a morning with a toddler about is impossible. So hair goes back in a ponytail (that's the same), but these days my face needs attending too with various potions and lotions, and the bags under my eyes need concealing.

When we come downstairs, small one goes on the potty, whilst I make breakfast for him, he then sits and eats his cereals whilst I get some jobs done. On a weekend we all sit together and eat breakfast but during the week I have found if I sit down and eat breakfast it means I don't get any of the practical jobs done and so it is a sacrifice I have made. When we move (more about that another time) it will be better as we will have a kitchen/diner so mornings will feel more together again but I will still be able to get on with the jobs.

So as he eats and catches up with the dog on the nights events (they definitely speak the same language), I have emptied and re-stacked the dishwasher, I love doing this as it instantly makes the kitchen tidier and with a quick wipe round its done for the day. Next I put the load of nappies which I put onto wash last night out onto the line to dry in the sunshine now we have some (long may it last), another load of washing which didn't get dried yesterday on the airer in the utility room and another load in the machine. We have had my step kids for the weekend and so it takes a few days to get the washing sorted, in fact usually by the time i'm all caught up and the basket is empty they are back again!!

This year as we have the garden space (the new house has an even bigger garden than this one), we are going to grow our own veggies. A couple of weeks ago we planted a load of seeds, thankfully most of them in trays (we didn't know then that we were going to move). At the weekend we repotted the ones that were big enough so now we have quite a collection of seedlings out on the patio. They all need watering so next job was to do them. Whilst I was outside I also fed our two greedy guinea pigs, they seem to be permanently squeaking for food, the weather looks like its going to hold today so when I get back this afternoon I'll probably put them out in their garden run for a bit so they can have some grass which they love, but this morning is was dry food, cucumber and orange...they didn't complain!!

By the time I'd done all that smallest had finished his breakfast so I got him dressed and he came to help me pull some rhubarb from the garden, and then he "helped" me chop it and put it in the slow cooker to stew, with some sugar and vanilla. When I say he helped me (before you all ring social services), he sits in his "helping chair in the kitchen, with a plastic knife and a piece of rhubarb which he "chops" whilst I do the rest with the real knife. It is really important to me that the children's interest in cooking is fostered, small (age 9) is a dab hand with scrambled eggs, porridge and yorkshire puddings. Smaller (age 4) is really starting to show an interest recently and smallest(21 mths) is fascinated by all things kitchen and food related. We will let the fruit stew on low until lunch time and then I'll let it cool, depending on time today we might make a crumble but given that I need to go into work this afternoon for a meeting and then pick a trampoline up on the way back which is a present for smaller's 5th birthday next Friday...it probably won't get done, should have time after work tomorrow afternoon though as smallest's swimming lessons aren't on for the holidays.

So now as it is my "day off", I have had time to sit, drink my coffee and write this post whilst watching smallest playing with his toys in the play room. Plans for the rest of the day are; we are going into our local town to meet up with one of my old clients from my last job, she asked that I stay in contact her via her direct payment when I left which I agreed to do and was all cleared by the powers that be as being ok. She wants a guinea pig so we'll probably be going to the pet shop. This afternoon I am dropping smallest off with my mother in law for a couple of hours as I said earlier I need to go into work for an important meeting. I will try and get my time back in the next couple of weeks.

So that's my rambling over for this morning, coffee cup is empty so I guess I should probably get on with doing something more productive!! I am struck by the irony of this post title but I guess that's what this blog is all about really :)