Smiley Saturday

...It's 12.41am ...as in 41 minutes after midnight, a time when I should be sleeping.
I can't .

Insomnia has struck again. It's not the first time this last week since our world was turned upside down.

A visit by a short person woke me from my slumber.After I settle him on the cot mattress on the floor next to my bed, I lie awake . Waiting for sleep to come again.

I've left the mattress there since the Brothers were both sick 1-2 weeks ago. They took turns.

I know he obviously wants to be close to us, but I cannot sleep all night with him tossing, turning and stealing my pillow, wedging his cuddly body as close to me or his father as he can get. His twin will surely follow at some other unearthly hour.

Plus I'm too lazy to get the mattress protector , he is out of night nappies ( did I mention woo hoo no more nappies for either of them for over 2 months) but he has had a wet bed on a few occasions.Not tonight .

Too many thoughts are pulsing through my head.
I have a hundred blog posts in my head draft. Some I can't even write yet.
So I sneak out of bed and here I am.

I know my husband is not sleeping well either and at least my not tossing & turning won't disturb him. I'd normally read a book.

We are expecting visitors for an early morning tea , right after breakfast. A surprise visit from a dear friend, just arranged today. So I have to be up early. I decided I will write a blog post now.I have small fast moving bugs for company and a mug of decaf tea.

It was a busy day with the short people sneaking in the back door stealing water from bathroom, to mix with sand (it was everywhere) & stealing bandaids. They created a trail of mess and mayhem but they were happy. They mixed tomato sauce into their drinks when I was on the phone to the accountant , they chased the poor kitty all day and they made me laugh so many times over. I needed it. I love them more than life itself.

OMG kitty,

She was missing and I found her asleep in the front loader.

She is so sweet and lies in their arms like a rag doll. I've never seen a kitten like her . She doesn't scratch, lucky she can hide under the lounge (sometimes she gets to stay there). Her name is Ziggy (by Mr 16), The Brothers & I, call her Sweetypie (well I started it).

Sweetypie isn't much bigger than the soup packet

Now ~ where was I -

This week I received a surprise in the post. It really made me smile. Not truly a surprise as I was expecting it.I won a Dandi & Masterchef DVD Giveaway from Not Quite Nigella.I only entered once. I can't wait to watch the Masterchef DVDs. Not Quite Nigella is one of my favourite food bloggers.

Her blog is an eclectic & exotic mix of recipes , divine cakes , food tours, restaurant reviews with gorgeous photography. Nom nom !

1. It's Saturday
2. My dear friend & her gorgeous girls are visiting tomorrow today.
3. I 'll have time to watch a Masterchef DVD because Dh is home.
4. I found the missing book so I don't have to pay the library $24.95 for it.
5. This verse ...

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Talk like a pirate

Smiley Saturday

I really wasn't going to ... but this was so funny.

Yesterday, I discovered Pirate 'english' on Facebook. 

A friend, CB, I met at a real life pregnancy loss support group told the 'crew' about pirate english.It had me staggering off the plank laughing. 

This wasn't the funniest bit !

A different friend of mine F (who doesn't know CB) who I also met through a pregnancy loss support group chats to me regularly on Facebook and MSN. Late, last night I told her how to make FB 'talk' pirate english as she needs a good laugh.

Tonight, I quickly log on my computer to actually turn it off and I see F had tried to chat with me. I read the following ...

F says:

hehehehe

F says:

Dh is going off at me about facebook

F says:

I logged into his and put it on 'pigeon'

F says:

he went to use it and was like omg wtf have they done to facebook!!!!

F says:

hehehehe

...I reply 

Trish says:

pigeon or pirate ?

5 mins later chat window peeps

F says:

nfi

F says:

pirate?

Trish says:

it's pirate you goose 

F says:

are they the same?

F says:

what did i write

Trish says:

pigeon

F says : I need some sleep LOL

Trish says:

so did you enlighten DH

F says:

nup

F says:

he is going mental

F says:

and i am lovin it

Pirate says things like...

Th' saucy wench Trish be usin' Ye olde Facebook with the tongue o' English (Pirate)

'Trish be eyein' this with pleasure".

  "Trish flapped her gums " 

If you want to know how to do it too - ok I know you might think I some people have too much time on their hands but really I don't. I just really needed a laugh.

STEP 1: SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE. 

STEP 2: CLICK ON ''ENGLISH US'' 

STEP 3: WHEN ALL THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES APPEAR, CLICK ON ENGLISH (PIRATE) ...

STEP 4: HAVE FUN 

Go see more Smiley Saturdays at Lightenings

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Smiley Saturday

1.My biggest reason to smile ... I got my Canon DSLR 1000D camera BACK AFTER 6 LONG WEEKS ! Indeed I am so happy...insert sounds of joyous clapping, high fives and jumping ! YES !

2. A few months ago I won a competition from Tina@Mummifiedx5 - for a personalised made to order kids t- shirt.
It took me forever a while to chose. Since they are all made to order - oh the choices !
Karousel Kids has so many wonderful choices - a gallery of beautiful embroidered designs (boys & girls) and even your child's name or a saying (a choice of 24 fonts) , choice of over 20 fabric colours , then your choice of t shirt /long sleeves as well as plain t shirt or raglan , ( different coloured sleeves if you want). They are all made to order in 1-2 weeks.
Kris was so helpful and patient. She even searched for a embroidered drum design especially for S & J. As Karousel Kids says the only limit is your imagination...
My t shirts arrived this week not long after I made my final decisions.
I am thrilled with them. They are bright, soft and well made, and we love the design. Everyone is smiling. They are unique and very affordable.

They would make very unique gifts.
Kris also has a Karousel Kids Etsy store and has some very cute one of kind bibs, onesies/bodysuits/hats/overalls & dresses. Remember retail therapy is the best way to make anyone smile.
Karousel Kids has a blog too.

we made them contrasting ...
go see more Smiley Saturdays over @ Lightenings

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Have you heard this ?

She said she wanted to be Elaine Page and they laughed ...
The audience were cheering, on their feet by the time 47 year-old Susan Boyle had finished singing on Britain's Got Talent. The unassuming, lady from West Lothian near Edinburgh looked shy but showed her true spunk despite the eye rolling and cynical looks the judges gave her.
There is no embeddable version available so please go here and watch ... you'll be surprised as they were by her extraordinary performance. She is incredible.
Win Susan Win !
She is singing I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables.
Go see more Smiley Saturday posts here ... and Do you think America's Got Talent with the Laughing Yogi ? He'll make you smile though.
What made you smile this week ?
Ps Please make me smile and read the post below that I planned to be my Smiley Saturday post
I got inpatient and posted it last night instead.
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Nothing of any real interest

Lately I feel like I have nothing I can blog about ... nothing worth reading ...and as such I have nothing of any real interest to talk about today. Maybe you'd like to put the kettle on.

Though it is Smiley Saturday ... and I have one thing to smile about.Lots to grumble about but I won't bore you too much with them.

Q. Do you save your small appliance dockets(receipts) and file them away religiously and methodically ... I don't or rather didn't think much about it. I am just not that organised but I got lucky.

Last week when I was composing my Weekly winners post the power went out (and grr I lost my post). The safety switch tripped but the lights were still on. We didn't know why at the time. It happened again the next day .Later, I remembered I'd stopped to make a cuppa prior to losing power.

The kettle !

I knew it wasn't that long since we had replaced it.I didn't even think about warranty.

I had to go the day with barely a mug of tea ...made with microwaved water ....ewww ... till my DH brought a kettle home from work. I planned to buy a new cordless kettle as it is safer with the twins and easier to refill.

Three days ago on 2nd April I was de-cluttering our spare room/office. I was also looking for some other tax receipts and throwing out junk. Miraculously, I came across the receipt.

If I had been looking I would never have found it. It was bundled with 30 or so other grocery receipts that were stuffed inside a plastic bag, stuffed inside an envelop, stuffed inside a box with a hundred other bits of flotsam.

The date of purchase was 5/4/08 ...and I remembered the kettle had a 12 month replacement warranty...I rang and as long as I returned it to the store before 5th ... it was valid.

We now have our new kettle ! A small victory and saved us $39.95. I would much rather a shiny red metro one but so be it ...next time.

Still my tale of woes is longer ,

• I am very disappointed my new camera is broken ! (and yes I did have that receipt in an easy to find spot [relatively speaking]). I had to return it for repair /warranty but it might be 5-6 weeks before they fix it and return it *sob* .I hope it is covered under warranty.

• Our dishwasher is on the blink ...probably cockroach excrement or the mouse (mice).The electronic control panel cost us over $350 last time we had it repaired.

• Our washing machine has been malfunctioning and leaking water at the end of cycle unless we turn the tap off (going on for 6 weeks). We have had a good run with it though over 14 yrs - it is a Miele and they have their own service/repair teams. We did organise someone else before we knew this but at last minuter they realised it was a Miele and said NO !

• Friends borrowed a spare car we had on Monday after their car had mechanical problems . Thirty mins later they rang to say that another car had reversed into them at the petrol(gas) station ...car was still drivable and the hubby was okay thankfully. They felt so bad.
  

Here ends my nothing much to say ...I hope it was worth reading and you file away your receipts. Saving money by using warranty guarantees saves the budget !

P.s ... I hope I still have some readers Feedburner now shows me with 130 less readers *sigh* is it just a glitch ? are you affected too ?
P.p.s. Lucky I was able to copy my photos from last weekend to a CD ...come back tomorrow for my Weekly winners.
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Smiley Saturday

I've had a great week, most certainly topped by visiting our friends Tiff, Noah & Ivy - Mary & her children joined us too.Spending a wonderful day hanging out in the Hunter Valley...sans wine and with very little whine ;).The food was delicious and so was the company.The kids played so well together.

I had the best laugh yesterday on Lilly's life blog. I was going to post about my first trip with my Moi moov navigation GPS (when I visited Tiff) but Lilly's is so much funnier ...imagine voice skins for your Tom Tom (mine is a moi moov, also there are Navmans etc...the electronic voice & map to tell you where to go politely)

warning : Ozzy says the F' word

The GPS wanted me to go a much longer way than required.I knew where to go but I was expriementing.I also wanted to be forewarned of my up coming turns.

"Karen" was not impressed I turned where I did and kept telling me to do a U turn when I could ...I ignored her. She remained calm and repeated her instructions ...over and over. Who wants a nag in the car, we left the horse and buggy behind years ago.LOL

It would have taken me about 15kms out of my way I estimate ...you would think the GPS would learn from their mistakes on the way home Karen started again.

I don't think my DH will be taking Karen for any drives with him.

Lastly ...well you know me I love freaky coincidences!

I have been using my pedometer while walking every day for almost 5 months. Last Sunday when I was uploading my steps onto the 10,000 steps sites I noticed this. I honestly did not make this up.

(Click to enlarge)

Two weeks in a row I counted 100,027 steps on my pedometer ... I am at over 2,000,000 counted steps. I haven't lost any weight but I haven't gained any for the naughty things I eat ;0.

I joined the 5 mins for Mom Ultimate Blog Party and I am enjoying meeting new bloggers (and comments). There are so many wonderful bloggers but unfortunately not enough time in the day to visit them all.

Welcome to ICLW visitors today. Got to run, things to do, places to go, real friends to see.
Don't forget to visit other Smiley Saturdayers at Lightening's
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Smiley Saturday

Smiley Saturday & Days of Grace

1. The biggest smiles in our house this week were on Thursday day we said goodbye to the plaster cast after 6 weeks and 2 days.It had to be sawn off with the "tickle machine".
   
2. Then when they finished my little guy sat up and said "thank you" unprompted , flashed a smile at the two physios , they were charmed by him. We were so proud of him.
3. So was the smile when he got run about with his brother in the Kid's hospital playground.
4. The bath time smile was the best of all.It's the simple things in life we miss the most.
   
5. Life is so much easier again.I am so thankful I don't have to carry him everywhere and he is walking more every day.

See more Smiley Saturdays at Lightenings ...what made you smile last week ?
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Karma Kermit Saturday Surprise

Another Saturday and lots of reasons to smile ... or not !

I choose to smile and see the glass half full. It's been a hard few weeks and there has been plenty of disappointments. I will blog about them later.

Thursday 26th February we headed 4.5 hrs to Western NSW and the farm. The Brothers were so excited to see the tractors, cows and motorbikes.

The weather was hot but no were near as humid as Sydney so it doesn't feel so bad.

Alas, I had limited opportunity to connect ...to you my internet community. I briefly enjoyed using Mc Donald's free wifi ...yay but my battery died ...boo !!.I wrote this last Saturday actually but re edited it.

Anyway on to something to make you smile because it is Smiley Saturday.

Early last Saturday morning I was woken by the Brothers sleeping in our room at the farm.It was pitch black. They nursed and went back to sleep (thank Godness)

I went to the loo to do what you normally do.

It was very dark but I didn't turn the light so as not to assult my senses.

I sat, quickly, I had to go :)

Suddenly, I felt 'something' moist brush my 'hoo haa' ... I screamed, albeit a muffled scream, and jumped up ( I didn't want to have anyone else come rushing to my aid, LOL, as I ripped my undies and PJ's bottoms off) I knew it was a Karma (aka Kermit) toilet frog sent to pay me back.

I turned the light on , turned my glazed eyes on my crumpled pants in the corner ...I picked them up and shook them . I shut the loo lid . The big 'jolly' green giant Kermit jumped at me.



I was pre-warned about about frogs in the other laundry toilet. They are very naughty frogs who unravel the toilet roll so they have to put an elastic band on it LOL to stop them.At night they also put a large piece of cardboard on the toilet pan to stop them coming out. cue ...twilight zone music

Of course I ran to find my camera .
He was headed back to his hideout ...

After I snapped a few photos I weighted the loo lid down to stop him giving me another surprise later. He was searching for a way back in ... I went back to bed.


I couldn't find him at 8am. I then saw a gap between the seat and the toilet bowl.I shrugged and thought to myself 'tomorrow I am turning the light on'.

I had a shower about 9am ...as I reached for the hair conditioner ... Kermit jumped . It was too close in the shower , I screamed .I went to the door , yelled for my DH to come get Kermit . Kermit was relocated to the water trough ...though I doubt he'll stay.


Ps ...Soon after I took this picture one of the other boys J (7 ) found another frog, 'Freddo' in the toilet. He joined Kermit in the water trough. Later that night 6 kids (aged 2, 2, 3,6, 7 & 10) kids had fun lifting the frogs out out the stick ... against our instructions. But the frogs didn't jump even when given a chance.Sadly the next morning one of them had 'croaked' and the other was missing ? Don't know if it was Kermit or Freddo.

Pss -It's been a busy week and I am back working two days plus had lots of things keeping from visiting your blogs, commenting and returning comments.I've been feeling a little low and flat ! Iwas in a slump .No joke but I'm feeling a bit more 'rounded' again.

I'm so sorry had to clear my google reader too,largely unread , -so if anything important or significant happened to you last week ...drop me a link line so I can go catch up on your news.

Before I go ...a favour to ask I did see another of my twin blogs friends Amy @ Double Delight is resurrecting her blog after almost a year so please go encourage her - She has something very special, humbling and exciting to share. Go cheer her on.

Hi there! I rewound this post at the Fibro on 29.1.2011

Quite ironic & appropriately since we had different frogs but still in the loo at the farm on the other side of the creek -  So the last 3 days we had many brown frogs to extract from the cool toilet LoL - of course by WE I don't mean ME.

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Smiley Saturday

It has been a very sad and strange week though I 'm not personally affected . I could only watch in horror from the comfort of my home, thousands of miles away from the Victorian bush fires and wished there was something I could do.

It felt wrong to be celebrating. None the less , my everyday life is full of so many mundane fundane, life happens moments.

What made me smile this week ...well it's the small things.

Days of Grace in small things 10/365

1. Ivy being approved for another 6 months of IVIG
2. 1 week down of the full cast 4 to go ;). S is getting about as well as he can and still climbing.
   
3. Mysterious good news about the kittens from ? ...sneak peek tomorrow
4. A night out for our 19th Wedding anniversary
   
5. Reading books to my boys

11/365

1. The much needed rain ...though I hope Victoria is getting some and northern Queensland isn't
2. An award from Relish my relish. I still have another from the Bumbles -the lovely "Lemonade Award" ( I'll award them next week)
   
3. DVD's for my little fella sent by Le@third on the right
4. A special , specially chosen (and delivered to my keyboard) card from my husband
5. Discovering Dark chocolate Malteesers

12/365

1. Blossom joined in Days of Grace in small things too
   
2. Roast Lamb with garlic and mint jelly {except in changing my menu plan I didn't realise I was out of potatoes ;) so we had oven fries which thrilled the small 'fries' to bits }
3. Remembering I won a contest held by Tina @ Mummified x 5 ...for a beautiful tshirt ...just haven't been able to pick one (two) yet
4. A cheery email from my other bridesmaid (who I saw 3 weeks ago)
5. The amazing amount of money and donations raised through the telethon.
   

13/365

1. Spending 5 hrs catching up with my bridesmaid M , after over 10 years
   
2. Facebook because it helped me find my bridesmaid M.
   
3. Feeling happy by thinking about all the things that make me happy!
4. Doing a monster shop at Coles along with thousands of other Aussies knowing that all the profits on Friday were going to Bush fire Appeal.Louise has aroundup of some great links.
   
5. I found my Silhouette family on Savvy Little Women's blog - she has 5 girls (4 , 2 sets of twins 2 yrs old and 3 months old ... I am stunned I thought I was busy ...)
   

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Visit Lightening for more Smiley Saturday posts.

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Sat Day - did you ?

Is it really Saturday ? I see you nodding !

Then it is Smiley Saturday in fact.

The last week -the first full week of 2009 has flown.

So Sat (u r) day ...I didn't. Sit much I mean.

I weeded , I cleaned , I washed, I wiped out the bath, scrubbed doors, I wiped wee off floors and I picked up 1001 toys and toddler paraphernalia ...including their clothes. My boys love undressing and re dressing in my socks or shoes - ONLY I mean - my socks and their own hats.
I didn't get the camera out quick enough and I can't take or rather post pictures of them nekkid. They are so funny, when I'm not pulling my hair out at the mess they leave in their wake.

They had a long sleep today so I achieved a lot. I feel very satisfied...except I haven't had much online time at all today .

What else made me smile this week ?

• A day out on Tuesday with friends to the Powerhouse Museum...though we did a lot of chasing with 5 x 2 yr old boys on the loose.
• Seeing the delight of 5 little boys on the train and in the museum and special toddler/youngster areas.
• Having a lot of laughs in the train with the mums and some friendly guys ( married though in good humour after a day at the cricket - who we hope went home with a new appreciation for their wives). We were so squished in a tiny compartment coming home - no one could move much in or out.

• I hit 100,000 steps in a week mark (thanks to Tuesday 18,917) and my first million -well counted in 82 days. I just realised 1 min ago when I updated my last two days - hooray !
  
• My wee boys are finally getting the hang of potty/toilet training ... still a long way to go. It is a huge cause for celebration when a loud little voice cry rings out 'Mummy I did a wee' (and it isn't on the floor).
  
• I feel a lot of happier and calmer about lots of things.
• My new camera - how could I forget .Except this week has been so busy I haven't had much chance to use it or learn the features ...incredible and sad *sigh* but I have great plans.
• Every day I find reasons to smile and when I start to feel disappointed about the tough stuff I look for the positives or they come running to me ;) and /or they say kiss & 'ug 'ug ! .
• I still have Lindt chocolate balls ...though the heat wave melted one lot.I could still suck and lick them off the wrapper.
• Facebook makes me smile - the quick one liners, a brief glimpse into the daily lives of real life and cyber friends and the return comments ...so do you facebook ?

What made you smile this week ?

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