Mum In The Madhouse- Parenting without stabilisers

An Apple for the Teacher, well a necklace

MaxiMad gets a weekend homework project each week, nothing hard, just a little something. It has been to learn his address, draw his favorite hobby, write to 20 and last week it was to draw some number and colour patterns.

He gets his project on a Thursday and it is returned on a Tuesday, so this evening we got back from the park and checked out his book. The comment from last weeks work was that his teacher liked his colour pattern and would love a necklace like that. Well MaxiMad decided a necklace she should have (she wont make that mistake twice!!).

I have lots of beads for the boys, which I have bought when they are on offer or in the pound store, as I believe that threading is a great way to improve hand and eye co-ordination and it is a fun things to do.

So off he set with the beads and made an blue, red and orange necklace for his teacher.

There was lots of concentration, as he studied all the beads and picked which design and colours he wanted.

Here is the finished article. He is very proud of his necklace and can not wait to give it to his teacher in the morning.

We use plastic cord to thread on to as it is easier and you dont need a needle. This would make a great present for a grandma or aunt for Christmas or any Dad's out in blog-land, you could get the children to do this for their mummy for Christmas she would love it.

The last time I was in hospital MaxiMad made me this wonderful wooden bead bracelet on elastic to wear and remind me of them. I used it like worry beads and it means an awful lot to me and it made him feel like he had given Mummy something very special. I will treasure it forever.

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Picture Perfect Meme

Linda at 'You've got your hands full' tagged me with the Picture Perfect Meme, which Tara at Sticky Fingers started.

You have to show a picture that your children have drawn about you.

You may remember that a little while ago MaxiMad made a trip to the local sorting office where he saw the life cycle of a postcard he had previously posted. Well on that postcard was a picture of his family.

A while back MadDad ordered me the the wonderful Handmade home by Amanda Blake Soule, who is Soulemamma. In it she makes Portrait Bookmarks (she has a free PDF with the instructions on here).

I thought these were a great idea for the Grandparents at Christmas, but thought I would give it a try with the above drawing first. Now I haven't embroidered since school, although I have been know to do a couple of cross stitches, so it is by no means perfect, but I love the finished product.

I have backed it with some denim from an old worn through pair of jeans and used ribbon from my stash. I already had the tea towel I have embroidered on to and the thread from an old cross stitch, so this has cost nothing.

I was so proud of MaxiMads drawing and this is a fitting way of recording it and one I will get to look at all the time. I have already started on the rest of the family and everyone should get one for Christmas.

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A Very Proud Mummy

If any one would like to ask me what I want for my children it would be for them to be happy and balance individuals.

Well MadDad and I spent the evening at the minimads school talking to the boys teachers and I have come away a very happy bunny.

We were told we should be proud of our children as they are balanced, happy and well mannered children.

MiniMad is in the Preschool and you will remember that it was terrible getting him settled, but it seems all in the distant past. His key worker, who is the head of nursery informed us he was a real joy. A very social child, who has good interpersonal skills and has integrated well with all the children in his group. He is happy to share, but also enjoys playing on his own too. He loves the musical instruments and the kitchen area. He is also very clever, but we can cross that bridge later!!

MaxiMads teacher has sorted out his individual education plan for the gifted and talented programme, so we discussed that and signed off on it. She said he is a very well rounded individual who is a joy to have in the classroom. Well you couldn't have wiped the smile of our faces. Even though he knows all the answers first, he lets others answer, he shows the other children how to do things. He says please and thank you. It was wonderful to here that you are doing a good job.

We know that MaxiMad loves school, it is lovey to here how well he was doing and to see the things he is doing. We saw a shopping list he had written independently and it was great, most of the words were spelled correctly. We saw the wizards shop and spells he had written. we heard how much responsibility he takes and how well he is doing and I swelled with pride. I love my little men. I want them to be happy and will make the necessary sacrifices.

It was lovely to hear his teacher say that we are doing a great job.

Over the last few days I have been trying to ensure that we live in the present. Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, That's why it's called the Present, as the saying goes. We never know what will happen in the future, so we all agreed that it is best for the boys to play and enjoy today. They are only baby's and they should be happy and just because they can do something doesn't mean that they have to.

We used to live down south, but came back to the North East as I wanted to spend time with my children, to watch them grow and influence their lives. When again will I have the chance to spend this much time with my children, to make them the people that they are and also to enjoy the happiness and joy they bring.

I am so happy that when the boys ask if they can go to the park after school, that I can say "of course", that I can go with the flow and come down to their level. I can giggle like a child and kick up the fallen leaves. I can have fun on the swings and sing happy and you know it at the top of my voice.

Being a mum is a wondrous experiance that I am grabbing with both hands, we have made many sacrifices along the way to get where we are, but ultimately being a mum can not be measured in a material way. I am giving this job 100%. I know that is is not conventional or follows the feminine line, but I believe that you can not "have everything". I could not work, be the best mum I can and also be a wife and good friend. It isn't easy, nor is it the populist view, but it suits us

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Writing Workshop on a Wednesday

Josie at Sleep is for the weak holds a weekly writing workshop with several prompts posted on a Monday, this week I chose:

You will eat what I put in front of you with out a word of complaint and then thank me for cooking you a nutritious, low salt, healthy and tasty meal - not a peep out of you.

You will allow mummy to sleep till 6.30am.

You will not shout "please come and wipe my bum" continually a the top of your voices until I turn up. I do acknowledge you first time and set off.

You will not bring friends ie worms and other creatures to the dinning table.

You will not insist on reading the same book 100 times over, we have lots of books and visit the library regularly, so it is not as though we have a shortage.

You will allow me to visit the smallest room in peace.

You will refrain from pulling my fingers off whatever I am doing and trying to drag me to where you want me.

I do not allow any little hair visitors in to this house - ever.

You will flush the toilet and put the seat down after each and every use.

I aim to please, so please try to aim.

Inside only voices please, I am not hard of hearing, just sick of listening sometimes!

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Making a start on the Christmas Presents

Look, my new to me sewing machine and my first project on it. A new swimming bag for MaxiMad. He picked out the fabric when we were in York a few weeks back from the Cath Kidston store (he has taste that young man)!

Thing is once I had done one and mini mad saw it, I had to make another one this afternoon. I also made these key rings as Christmas Presents and one for myself, as I always end up popping my car keys in my mouth to hold it I dont have any pockets on (so I can strap the children in their car seats).

Do you like the cork board top I have given my sewing table. I also glued a couple of tape measures on.

A picture of our pumpkin and squash harvest from the garden. Liz at Violet Posy was commenting on trend in America to use pumpkins as a Fall/Autumn decoration. We have had these on the shelf in the kitchen for the last month or so, I am feeling very hip and with it.

The truth is rather more bland, I have no where else to store them and thee minimads are so proud of their garden, so I thought we would keep them out until we eat them.

The boys and MadDad spend a few hours up at the farm with his dad yesterday (potato picking and playing with Nana) and it turns out his mum is sorting through the attic and came across MadDads old school reports and thie yellow plastic teddy money box in the photograph above.

This was his first present off his Gran (she was his first grandchild) and it is so 1966. MiniMad has claimed it as his own and called it Danny. I am not sure if it was because it was a bear or down to the fact that it is half full of money!

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A shelf makeover

We had this white shelf in the garage, since we moved in 3 years ago, we bought it with the intention of using it in the hall area, but it was damaged and the company refunded us. We found a better solution for the hall and we were not sure where to put it, or all that enamoured with the white finish.

Finally we decided on a place above my chalkboard painted wall in the kitchen, but I just didn't like the white.

My solution, paint it hot pink

2 coats of primer and 3 coats of pink spray paint later (which we had in the garage, but for the life of me can not remember what we bought it for) it was ready for MadDad to install.

What can I say, after reading the MiniMads what seemed like endless bedtime stories, he installed it for me.

We both love it. Isn't it amazing how a can of spray paint can make something perfectly ordinary into something that you love.

Whilst we are on the topic of Hot pink, look at this curtain that I am going to turn into bags for my nieces for Christmas. It cost all of £2.00, real bargain. I hope I have enough left for me a book bag too!

I got my new to me sewing machine back from the church shop on Saturday from its service and am so excited to have my own sewing machine. MadDad dropped the one I had borrowed from his mum back and my mum still has the one I managed to break too. When we are a little more flush I will get it serviced and repaired.

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UP

The Family Mad raided the boys piggy banks and went to see Up yesterday at the local independent cinema. Both boys have been looking forward to this, Disney have been showing "up"isodes on Playhouse Disney, so they both knew about it.

MaxiMad really enjoyed all of Up, he especially liked when they were exploring and the balloons on the house. It held his attention throughout the film and he really liked Kevin the bird. MiniMad started off well, but soon got fidgety. We knew if was a risk taking both, but he really wanted to go. He managed most of the film, but I think that it will be DVD for us in the future. I am glad that we only saw it in 2D, as I am not sure either of the children would have managed the specs.

I thought it was a lovely film, with great animation as I have come to expect from Disney Pixar. It is basically the story of 78 year old Carl Fredricksen who after his wife dies decides to follow the dream they had as children.

I found this very moving, but what it said to me is that although you have to have aims and dreams, you have to live your life as though it is one big adventure. I guess I am just in a reflective mood at the moment and this seemed to emphasise this.

Both me and MadDad enjoyed the film and have decided it will be on our christmas list!!

Now about the cinema......

I do love going to The Regent, it reminds me of when I was young and I used to go to the Saturday club at 10am. The cinema is very much the same now as it was then, which is wonderful. It is by the Sea and is just a great cinema. It is large, open and airy inside, with big seats that dont spring back up on the children easily.

We go here as it is half the price of the big multiplex, it is closer and if we dont support it then it might close.

For anyone interested Redcar is where the beach scenes for Atonement were filmed and The Regent held the premiere of the film.

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Spiritual Sunday

The Past is Over

This is a new day
one that I have never lived before
I stay in the now and enjoy each and every moment

Now that Autumn is here it is far too easy to get wrapped up in all the upcoming events, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas and sometimes I am guilty of focusing on them, rather than just enjoying being where I am.

I am measuring time by the number of sleeps before I go into hospital, rather than enjoying each day as it come, so this week we I am going to try and forget about hospital and live in the now, rather than worry about the future.

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Home Made Pasta Sauce

Cooking, baking, making, gardening, cleaning, well everything in TheMadHouse is a real family affair. We tend to really enjoy doing things together. Some may find that strange, but I love spending time with all the men in my life, including that very strange cat too. Anyway I digress. Remember all those green tomatoes from the garden, well some had ripened and we decided to make a sauce for pasta.

So we set too, kind of in a production line way. MadDad and I deskinned and deseed the tomatoes. Maxi and MiniMad strained the seeds and juice.

DadDad prepared the peppers and onions and MaxiMad chopped them. I then cooked all the ingredients for a couple of hours and gave them a good old wiz with the hand blender. If you are interested we used:

Fresh Tomatoes (home grown)

3 peppers

3 onions (home grown)

8 garlic cloves

handfull of basil

tomato puree

Salt and pepper to taste

I then jarred up the sauce. Same way as I did the pear butter.

We still have a box full of tomatoes ripening, so I will need to locate some more inexpensive jars, but it is wonderful to have home made sauce, that I know what is in and that we made as a family and will eat as a family too.

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More Halloween Crafts

Seen as I have the colour changing pens out already for the Autumn tree collage I did with MiniMad this morning, I decided to do some secret Halloween pictures for when the boys came home from school and preschool.

Again you can not get much more simple than this. I used the white (colour changing pen to draw Halloween shapes and words on white paper and let them lose with the others, so they could find their messages and pictures.

Not elegant, but fun none the less. You dont need to have colour changing pens to do this though, you can use a candle or a white crayon and water paints as we did over the summer, wax relief painting.

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Mum In The Madhouse - Parenting without stabilisers

An Apple for the Teacher, well a necklace

Picture Perfect Meme

A Very Proud Mummy

Writing Workshop on a Wednesday

Making a start on the Christmas Presents

A shelf makeover

UP

Spiritual Sunday

Home Made Pasta Sauce

More Halloween Crafts

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