A Juggling Mum

New Years Eve is a pretty low key event here. No loud parties, just a nice dinner, some snacks, some board games, possibly a movie, watching the 9pm fireworks and then I’ll send the kids off to bed, if they even last that long

I went and had a facial today, using a voucher I got for Christmas (Thanks Leanne and Brett!!! It was lovely to get away from the kids and have 45 minutes of pampering just for me. I think I might have to make this a monthly event… hmm I wonder how I can work that into the budget

I wish you all a Very Happy

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and Very Prosporous New Year!!!

• The flu, stomach bugs and birthdays
• Tackling the laundry
• My weight lose goals
• Clothing Chaos
• Raising a reader
• Large Family resources

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Having trouble getting A Juggling Mum Podcast in iTunes?

I have had trouble getting the podcast relisted in the iTunes directory but I have found a way to get it into your podcast library.
Go to Podcast Pickle
Under my logo there is a little iTunes button
Click it and A Juggling Mum Podcast will be added to your iTunes library

I got this idea from a friend in the Frugal Aussies Yahoo Group and have adapted it to better suit me.

Basically it’s using a binder and plastic sleeves to organise a years worth of birthday cards and paper.

Click here to go to a link to the kind of thing I’m talking about.

But instead of using a folder I am going to use an expanding file.

I was in Go Lo the other day and found an A4 expanding file which has 13 pockets in it. It was $5 and came with tabs with the months of the year. Because it has 13 pockets I can have one for each month of the the year as well as a pocket for spare cards and paper for all the kids birthday parties that pop up during the year.

I will print up a list of birthdays and special occasions to put in the front pocket as well.

I saw this being made on a cooking show and thought it looked simple and tasty and probably something my kids would like to eat.

Easy Potato Bake

4 large potatoes
4 bacon rashers
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
1 cup grated cheese

Dice the bacon, onion and garlic. Mix together in a bowl with ½ of the grated cheese.
Peel and slice the potatoes.
Lay half the sliced potatoes in a baking dish lined with foil (make sure you use enough foil so that you can cover the top to bake)
Place half the bacon, onion and cheese mixture over the potatoes then layer the remaining potatoes and then bacon mixture on top.
Cover with foil and bake in a moderate oven for 35 minutes.
Take it out of the oven, remove the foil lid and add the remaining grated cheese.
Leave the foil off and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.

I edited this after making the dish, I changed the cooking time from 20 minutes to 35 minutes as 20 minutes wasn’t long enough.

It’s that time of year again, time for our Christmas letter where I get to brag about my children and tell you of all the very interesting things we have done during the year

Unfortunately I have left it to the last minute, which is why I am sitting here at 10pm on Christmas night writing it.

Our greatest achievement this year has been the conception of our 5th baby. After deciding that we weren’t going to have any more kids and getting rid of all our baby things, we then changed our minds and here I am 23 weeks pregnant with what we are 90% sure is another girl.

Riley turned 2 in June and is our very cute bundle of energy. He has grown very independent during the year, preferring to walk to school rather than be pushed in the pram. He has a stubborn streak to him which I think he gets from Mummy.

Caitie turned 4 in April and will be starting big school in 2007. She is very excited and loved her orientation day and buying her school uniforms. She has had a great year at preschool this year, made lots of friends and learnt lots of new things.

Clare turned 6 in June and was in Year 1 at school. She had a lovely teacher whom she adored and had a great year. She has done really well at school, she got a good report and is now a great reader.

Chloe turned 8 in July and was in Year 3 at school. She also had a great year. She got a High Distinction in a Computer Competition and a distinction in a Science Competition. She did really well in her basic skills test, scoring in the highest bands for all areas and received the Class Achievement Award and Medal in her class at her Presentation Day.

The girls all did dancing again this year. Caitie did Jazz, Clare did Tap and Chloe did Ballet and Tap. They all did great during their end of year concert and had lots of fun.

I have had lots of fun this year making podcasts, creating my www.ajugglingmum.com website and establishing a vegetable garden. All of which I hope to be able to maintain in 2007.

Rob is still with the bank and works very hard to provide for us so that I can stay home with our kids.

Well that’s us for another year, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!

It’s Chloe and Clare’s first day of school holidays today and Caities last day of Preschool.

I’m not sure that I am ready to have them all at home every day for the next 6 weeks…lol!. I am, however, looking forward to getting to sleep in a little in the mornings as well as getting to stay in my pj’s for as long as I want.

I was hoping to get a few things done around the house today, but I have woken up with no energy again. I think I might need to start taking some vitamins again, because I need some energy

I have decided to make a list of the things that I have achieved this year as well as a list of goals for next year. So here goes:

1. Got a hose to use the grey water from my washing machine to water my lawn.
2. Established my vegetable garden
3. Got a compost bin
4. Made a bigger effort to recycle our rubbish
5. Starting meal planning
6. Started researching living simpler and cheaper
7. Started A Juggling Mums Podcast
8. Started A Juggling Mums Website
9. Continued to sponsor Laura through Worldvision
10. Conceived baby #5

Goals for 2007

1. Look at drip irrigation for my vegetable garden
2. Keep my vegetable garden going
3. Compost as much as possible
4. Continue to recycle
5. Continue to Meal plan
6. Pack healthier lunches for the family
7. Eat healthier in general
8. More quality time for the kids
9. More help with homework etc.
10. Better routines for the family
11. Live cheaper - save more money
12. Learn more about Wicca
13. Schedule Mummy time for me
14. Schedule more time for Rob and I
15. Continue my website
16. Find a new way to podcast
17. Make a bigger effort regarding kids chores and pocket money
18. Less brought snacks and more baking
19. Get fit and stay fit
20. Master Flyladys routines
21. Get Riley to sleep in his own bed before the new baby arrives
22. Continue to sponsor Laura
23. Sell on eBay again
24. Give more to charity
25. Start and end the year lice free (ewwwwww)
26. Start a store cupboard
27. Buy a chest freezer and freeze more stuff
28. Do one frugal thing each week
29. Eat dinner at the dining table each night
30. Look into buying in bulk
31. Look for cheaper fruit and vege
32. Get the cat desexed before the new baby arrives.
33. Pick a name for this baby before she arrives

Happy Birthday

Leanne!!!

28 years old you say!!! Yeah right….LMAO!!!!

Have a great day!!!