No evidence of Mummy.

How is it that as parents we have hundreds of photographs of our children and hardly any that include us mums? I take photographs daily,on my phone, so you can imagine how many photographs I have in total. Even if i took only one photo day, thats 365 pictures in the year. Thats without days out and special occasions where we all get snap happy! Of course these snaps are our precious memories caught on paper. There forever for us to look back on, and how amazing is it that we have the technology to take these photos and share with the world at the click of a button! What I dont have is pictures of me, as a mother, plenty of selfies, but not in my natural role. Why is it that us Mums are always in the background? We are like the foundations of a building, holding it all together but not seen. I'm making it my challenge to have more photos taken with me in. Of course I am usually always the one taking them, but I dont want my children to grow up and not have their childhood captured with me in it! So what my hair needs a wash, so what I'm carrying all that extra weight, so what I'm not wearing any make up. The next time we have a family day out I will ask that person behind me to take a family photo, and the next time someone takes a natural shot of me I wont ask for it to be deleted because of my make up free face. From here on I am going to embrace the camera and capture even more memories of my children AND their mummy.

Lets get organised!

Since I became a mum of 3, 16 months ago, my life has become chaotic and unorganised. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change my little family for all the neat filing systems and empty washing baskets in the world but I do always wish my life was a bit more organised. Purely for the fact that if everything was planned in advance and in order, then I would have more time to spend doing the things that my children and I love to do. Somehow though, every time I try to get order in my life I always end up back where I started. I have enlisted the help of some fellow bloggers to make myself ( and you!) a list of tips to keep on top!

• So, firstly, from Jen over at Just Average Jen "Write coffee at the top of your to do list and then it is easy to do at least one thing."
• Rebecca, over at The everyday mummy says "get things prepped the night before"
• Mummy Gummie Blog's Lisa says "write a list with only three things a day, that way it isn't daunting and you get the satisfaction from having a completed list"
• Birthdays and parties are always sorted last minute in my house. When I say last minute, I usually mean a mad dash to the supermarket half hour before the party starts! Hannah from The Amphletts buys cards in bulk, including a variety of aged and plain ones so that she never gets caught at last minute like I always do!
• When working or getting important stuff done, Louise over at A strong coffee to go says " don't have Facebook or twitter on! So easy to get distracted!"
• Lastly, Hollie from thrifty mum says "Before bed, visualise the next day and write a list, get out anything you can prepare in advance and then get a good nights sleep. You'll feel mentally and physically rested that way and therefore more able to take on the day."

With all of this in mind I have made packed lunches and laid out uniforms and bags and coats for tomorrow morning. Here's to an organised week!

Mrs Hx

Coffee Shop Mums

What is it about coffee shops and mums with babies and young children? You know the type, a new mum with her hair pinned back, jeans and converse on and a teeny tiny newborn sleeping in the pram next to her. Or the mums that meet up there and have toddlers or multiples in tow sharing croissants, ellas kitchen snacks and babychinos. Any coffee shop you go to you will find these Mums. I know, because I am one! A "coffee shop mum". Costa is my local haunt, but I'm not afraid to stray. From the moment I had my first son I became one of these women. I remember (8 years ago now) I would time his second feed with the time I would get to the local Starbucks. For one, I had found a new love for coffee, and lets be honest, every mum needs her caffeine fix, but for two, it made me feel slightly normal again. In the whirlwind that is early motherhood, a trip to the coffee shop in the morning really helps when you are on your own with no adult conversation for long periods of time! Its nice to get out of the house for a start, and honestly baby groups once or twice a week is more than enough! I could have shares in almond croissants and Costa coffee now and 3 kids down the line I am as much of a coffee shop mum as I was then!

Whos with me? Lets cheers our Lattes, and clink our mochas to the "coffee shop mums!" HAng in there ladies.

Mrs Hx

Making your own destiny

There comes a point in life when you realise that living life day by day gets you nowhere. It doesn't take you any place different than where you are at that very moment. I have lived my life day to day for a very long time, just seeing where life takes me. Guess what? I'm still here, in the same situation as I was then. Yes I have 3 beautiful children, and I am in no way talking about them, as I would never change them for all the riches in the world. But there comes a point in life when you want more. More for them, more for me, more for us. It is time for us to move on to the next chapter in our lives and I need to work out which route I am going to take. I want bigger for my children, biggest that I can possibly give them. I want to know how to drive and live in a bigger house and earn money and take them places and learn new things. Its time. I don't want to keep living my life day to day just seeing what happens anymore. I have plans and dreams and I'm going to make them happen.
Some people may read this post as negative but in actual fact it is nothing but positive. I have inspired myself, and it is a great feeling. No one is in charge of your life but you. You make your own destiny.

Mrs H

Living Arrows 6/52

This weeks Living Arrows sees Half Term. I am working a week behind. We had such a lovely chilled half term and I am sad that my bigeez are now back at school. We didn't get up to anything major, seeing as we had stayed at the Chessington Safari Hotel for the weekend last week. What we did have though was some real quality family time. I took the kids swimming and to the local parks. Tyler and Sophie also went to an adventure golf place with their Grandparents (my mum and dad) which they loved, and their other Grandparents took them bowling and for Mcdonalds! Lucky Kids.

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth" Kahlil Gibran

Living Arrows

So as you may or may not know, I'm new to blogging. I saw this on a favourite blog of mine by Kerry Conway and thought I would join in.

Living Arrows is from Donna's blog and she says that it "is about celebrating childhood. The project originally took it’s name from a poem by Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” and every week we share a moment and invite others to do the same as part of this linky".

I think it is a fab idea and will be something nice to look back on at the end of the year. Each  week I will post a picture that I think "celebrates childhood". It may be just one of my children or it may be all 3 of them. Some weeks might be more than one picture. It all depends what we get up to and what I capture. I look forward to sharing our moments with you all and invite you all to play along too.

As I am the second week in I will post 2 pictures here.....

Jaxons first try of his reigns. 

Childhood is exploring! Look at that frost!

Enjoy your week.

Mrs H x

What weekends were made for

This weekend we have no set plans. Just pure family time. Priceless. So far the kids have been swimming with their dad whilst I caught up with college work and some chores and other then that we have just chilled out! Tonight has been an old school Saturday night with a yummy dinner and Saturday night telly. We love ITVs Ninja Warrior in our house so we all sat down to watch that together and then the new series of The voice started!
Tomorrow I think I'll take the kids to the local park and take a power walk with them around the fields to get some exercise in and hopefully boost my weightloss this week. My goal is to be able to run around that park one day! I'm gonna cook  a yummy Sunday dinner and play with the kids Christmas toys all afternoon.

Weekends were made for family! How have you spent yours?

Mrs H x

A Letter to my Children

Tyler, Sophie and Jaxon,

Words can never express the way that Mama loves you. Both individually and as a whole. All 3. You make me the lady that I am today. Through laughter and crazyness to upset and stress. Every single part of you all, and every single moment of the day I Love you.

Tyler, my first born, my introduction to another world that is Motherhood. You sweet sensitive loving soul. One day you will make a wonderful husband (if I approve that is) and a wonderful Father, please god. You have all the gifts that a boy should have, from jumping up and down being a ninja to calmly drawing and reading in the incredibly artistic way that you do.

Sophie, my angel, my only princess. You amaze me. You're enthusiastic about every thing that you do and I love that you are such a "busy little woman". The way you copy your big brother and kickbox with daddy or spend hours bouncing a football in the hallway. To the way you dress up, do my hair and make up and play princesses. What a beautiful mix you are.

Jaxon, my baby boy. Littlest man of the lot. You complete us. Only 5 months old and already see some of your older siblings fabulous characteristics in you. Such a happy boy. Everytime you smile you melt Mama's heart even more so than before. I cannot wait to watch you grow and see you learn.

You are my inspiration, my babies, and nothing will ever come close. I love you all with all that I am and all I will ever be.

To the moon and the stars.

Your Mama.