Each and every moment

Since February I have been jotting down every expense that I have made whether be 10c or $100. I have been placing every expense to categories. For example food, clothing, basic supplies, petrol, car costs etc.

I believe that you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. We have a lot of expenses. So, I have been trying to minimise where I can and one of the areas I can cut down on is food.

The other week we took the 3 kids to kids club up the street from 4-7. So we though great!…. let’s go out for dinner as we only had the baby … ok … the toddler. (By the way he went to the toilet on his own this morning)

We ordered Pad Thai and Squid with cashew nut. We decided to skimp on the white rice. The bill was $29.

The other week we all went out for the day to the city to go on the monorail and light rail pass I had bought on a deal online for $10. We ended up at the fish market. They were closing down as it was around 3pm. So they were saying “special only $12 each, last few boxes”. The containers had around 3 pcs of fried fish and a handful of calamari. Huh??? We were hungry and there was nowhere else to buy food so we bought 2 boxes of food which was $24.

It’s not about the money itself, but it’s just that I don’t feel like I get “value for money” eating out. So I much prefer to eat at home lately, even with the dishes that have to be done.

BTW … thank you Marty for doing the dishes this week, it means alot to me.

On Sunday, I told Marty “I have spent ALL of my food budget money for the month and we have to make what we have last for the next 10 days”. I explained how much I have spent in the last few months on food and how I wanted to try for “one month” to stick to a budget.

So he went into the pantry and tried to see what kind of a cook up we can do for the following weeks coming.

Long story short … look what happened. Look at my pantry!

I wish I had a before and after

Old Moconna jars filled with raw ingredients

All labelled

The kids even got involved … now we all know what each of the ingredients are, because that is what started the whole organising and labelling in the first place. Marty wanted to do a big cook up for the week but he had no idea what things were. He knows now :-)

3 Saturdays ago we had a such a busy day, the 2 boys had their soccer game early in the day. We then went to the kids primary school to do our annual working bee. Spent 3 hours of racking leaves, sweeping and putting them into a barbage bin. Then off to a whole netball game.

My legs were aching that night. I managed to massage my foot as best as I could and it seemed ok.

Until, the next netball game the following Saturday and the pain came back. But I thought it was just from the strenuous activity of netball.

Yesterday, I walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes leisurly and by the end of it by ankles were in pain. Marty tried to massage my leg to see if it just a tight leg muscle. I have tried to massage it too. But the pain is still there.

Today, my ankle is red and swollen. I think I'll have to go to the physiotherapy if the swelling does not go down.


This week summed up.... washing, cooking, cleaning. I reckon I have done at least 15 loads of washing, maybe more.

So far, the holidays are going quite well. The older 2 have been going to Kids Club from 9.30 - 1.00 which has been a blessing (for my sanity). The younger 2 still go to pre-school 2 days a week.

Today, I was able to go grocery shopping without any kids. I am hopeless when it comes to "impulse" shopping. Even though I did not have a shopping list today, I think I only bought items for main meals and not so much snacks.

Fruit and Vegetables are so expensive at the moment. Tomatoes at the fruit shop were $9.99 a kg. Here I am thinking cheese and tomatoe toasties would be a great cheap tempting nutritious lunch idea for the holidays.


I have to admit I have enjoyed a little more sleep than usual. No rushing to get to the bus stop by 7.30 and not having to prepare lunches. It feels like a holiday for mum as well.

There has been lots going on lately …..

Family   

My niece Shannae has been diagnosed with MPS1 this past week. It has been a difficult week for the family when the diagnosis was made. They have had to make various visits to specialist and fill out forms and so on. Please pray for her and the family. Sandi, Shannae’s mums blog can be found here.

My mum and sister has gone on holidays overseas for a whole month. Ever since I was little travelling was always on the agenda for my mum. I hope they have a relaxing time.

Marty   

Is working hard and is putting many hours into his business with various projects.

He has been busy with the financial year approaching. Having your own business has it’s pros and cons.

Isabelle

 

We received a call last night from one of her literacy support teachers. Marty spoke to her, the reason she was calling us on a weeknight is she wanted to call before we got her report(which we got today). She mentioned several things, things that we have confronted in the last 4 years (so nothing new to me). Things such as getting assessments done, getting extra help, therapy etc. This is something Marty and I will need to talk about and discuss. For now, I am not thinking about it.

 

Dylan

Just the same, nothing really new. He has been a little sick lately but nothing Nurofen and Dimetapp did not fix.

Still playing soccer on Saturdays, they have lost every single game this season. The whole team are new players and they are still trying to get used to it all. The coach is just a volunteer parent, hopefully they will improve enough to win a game.

 

Lachlan

We have put his application in for kingergarten. He had his assessment yesterday alone for 1 hour in the IRC (library). I don’t know the result of the assessment yet. When the teacher handed him back to me she said that he did well. Afterwards in the car he was able to tell me in detail what he did in the assessment. So, I am positive.

Lachlan has made pleasing progress, we were so concerned earlier in the year as he was not speaking and when he spoke we could not understand everything. His speech has improved which in turn has improved his confidence. He will be doing around 3 more speech therapy lessons for the year (that is because that is all that is covered by HCF and medicare). I am thankful he has progressed enough so we can stop. Therapy is a huge expense at $58.00 per half hour. We are prayerful he can have some therapy next year.

Ethan

Growing up very fast and is certainly losing alot of his baby … ness *sigh*.

We are trying to get him into a routine like the others. Mainly at sleep time, so trying to ensure he goes to sleep with the other kids in his bed.

He is starting to say things out of the blue, tonight he said Buuuuwa  Vannnaaaka….. which is definately Bula and Vanaka in Fijian. Which is hello and goodbye.

He loves to dance, he does tumble rolls and everything. We are loving his joyfullness.

Me

Still trying to complete a component of my Occupational health and safety assignment which is so boring and bulky, but I am almost finished. BTW it’s only subject 2 with 10 to go lol

Still paying netball on Saturdays and loving the time to myself :-). Have not done exercise for a few weeks, so would like to get back to that.

The kids are now on holidays. Something we all need, I am definately making sure they all have day sleeps.