Jul 18 2012

my 30s have finished!

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Tomorrow I am turning 40.

I’m not really that concerned, and in all honesty have already been thinking I’m 40 for awhile now..since Justin’s party back in January.

Maybe I’m being a bit nostalgic but with my birthday tomorrow it got me thinking about the things that I did in my 30s and how much I have grown up.

My 30s were awesome because……

….It’s when I had 3 of my four delightful girls.
……..Its when we had to move house and thus found this amazing home
…It’s when Holly went through primary school, and when all of them were there at the one time.
……It’s when I learnt to run
…It’s when I returned to the workforce and landed my current job that I love
……It’s when I realised that my husband is the best person ever
…It’s when I took up scrapbooking and recorded with craft the special moments in my life.
……It’s when I had this blog to remember the day to day things that make life special.
…It’s when I got a passport and travelled to Paris and London, and then later Hong Kong
……It’s when I lost some friends but grew up by understanding that things change and people change but the experience of having them in my life was worth it even though I was hurting.
…It’s when we travelled to Perth to meet the best in-laws a girl could ever have.
……It’s when we lost grandparents but gained neices and nephews.
….It’s when I ran a half marathon.
…It’s when I was a stay at home mum for some time, being with my little babies and teaching them to crawl, walk and talk. So special
……….It’s when I was involved in running the Charny Carny (9 times) and meeting some amazing people.
And probably a thousand other things too!

It was a decade of change that is for sure. One that I am proud of. It has been challenging at times of course, but I now feel more empowered as a woman, mother, friend and audiologist because of the life experience I have gleened in the last ten years.

I feel in control of my life now – my fitness, my weight, my job, motherhood. I’ve spent a long time making sure all the scaffolding is in place and now I can rest a little and let things happen. It is very liberating!

My daughters are so great. A mother could not be more proud of the graceful, well behaved, delightful children that I am so lucky to have. I was truly blessed when they came into my life.

On that note I am going to get up……oh yeah, the technology has improved in the last decade too. I am in bed, my android tablet resting on a pillow and listening the the early morning serenade of the winter birds. We are going away for a few days to catch up with friends in Sydney, celebrate my birthday and have a little holiday. Next week is the 40th birthday party. I’m excited.

Here’s to our 30s, may the next decade be just as amazing, exciting and liberating.

this is me when I was 30
little holly and 30yr old fran

me with meg

2004 with Holly

2005 with cleavage

2006 - very pregnant again

2007 fran

2008 Fran

img_3370

2010 Fran

half mara finish 2012
Xx

Apr 13 2012

Biggest endurance test to date

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A few months ago I optimistically signed up to do the half marathon in the Canberra Running Festival. Sunday is the date. I am so nervous! My training was going really well and then I had to take 2 weeks off after some day surgery. Then a few weeks ago I hurt my back and was out for another 2 weeks. I could see my dream of completing this 21km run slipping away. However, I am back on track and after a few good runs over the past 10 days, 13km and then a 10km plus my usual daily 5kms, I am ready for race day. I wanted to have actually done 21kms before this time to know that I could really do it, but time has gotten away from me. Anyhoo, I am going to give it my best shot on Sunday and give it all I have to get it done in 2 hours (or as close to as possible).

Today is important for 2 reasons. Firstly it is Mum’s last day of work. Ever. After 22 years as the face of the front Office at St Vincents Primary School, she is retiring. I went along yesterday to a beautiful liturgy by the children and teachers. They were speaking of their memories of Mum and talked of bandaids, ice-packs, cakes and Easter eggs and the newsletter. It was so touching that they all think so much of Mum. I mean, I know she is amazing, but it is grea to think that other people think that as well. She will be greatly missed down there, but I am looking forward to her being more available for coffee and movies and lunches etc. The best is yet to come!

The second reason for today being special is that 2 of my four school girls are getting special awards at school. I guess this award is the most prestigious, for want of a better word. It is the Quiet Achiever and is awarded for exemplary behavior, and recognises the contribution those children make to the peaceful and caring nature of the school. So Meg and Amy are getting it this term and I am the proudest mother around!

Easter was last weekend and a really special gathering for all of us. Kate and Rohan came up from Melbourne, James and Sascha came down from Sydney (as well as Kaye and Brian) and we had 30 over from Sunday lunch. Raucous and festive, it was great fun. Egg hunts (even the chickens laid some chocolate eggs) and the Easter bunny visited. Meg made her Alter Serving debut and with Holly’s guidance did a marvellous job.

School holidays for the next 2 weeks. Things can be a little more casual and laid back for a while. We will enjoy it while it lasts.

BAS time, gotta get into it.

xx

Mar 9 2012

Oh well

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That challenge didn’t go very well did it? What did we do…. about 3 days!!! Just a bit too much happening in my life. It just always seems busy!

I’ve really not kept up to date with many things that have happened lately…

I guess the biggest things was Justin’s 40th Birthday Party. We celebrated it a month early so that visiting family and friends could come in the school holidays. We had about 60 people here for a pool party/spit roast evening and it was great. Justin even rigged up a projector so that the kids could watch movies while swimming. Such a fun night and lovely chance to see old friends and new, and celebrate a milestone with great company. I’m really looking forward to my party in July!

I’m busy training for my half marathon run on April 15th. I’ve been quite focused and really getting the most of my workouts and a few weekends ago I did my furthest run ever which was twice around Lake Ginninderra, about 14kms. The best part of that was that I really felt I could have kept going if I had too, so that makes me quite confident that I’ll be able to finish the 21kms and do it well. I’ve given up chocolate for Lent and drinking alcohol till the race, so am feeling very well and fit.

Had a little day surgery last week, that has put my training schedule out a bit, but I was prepared for that, so back into it next week when I get the all clear.

Meg and Jess have started playing basketball this term. So far so good. I think t will be good for both of them…Meg the little snippet that runs around and Jess the tallest girl on the team to get the shots in! Amy and Holly are continuing with Physie, but Holly has had a really sore knee so she is seeing the orthopedic specialist (hopefully it is not hip related) and also the Chiropractor. Having more success with the chiro right now, so we’ll see how she progresses.

I’m seeing the chiro too, as my shoulder has not really gotten better after it was sore from the mosaic in the laundry all those months ago. She is convinced that I have overuse injury, tennis elbow and golfers arm!! I’m not to do any housework (tearing up at that!) and to ice, heat pack and stretch. She also said I have runners hips, which is not as good as having good birthing hips! Some instability in the pelvis and a lot of tight muscles. I knew that already!! So on the road to recovery there.

Long weekend this weekend. Canberra Day holiday on Monday. Next weekend we’ll do the Big Canberra Bike ride if the weather is clear. Might see some balloons if the rain keeps away.

Then it is Charny Carny Time.

Ok that is it for now. Time to dash and do all the things I need to do before school pick up and the rat race starts again. Have a great weekend xx

Feb 26 2012

March photo a day.

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Holly and I are undertaking a challenge to upload a photo every day for the month of march. I have become just slightly in love with Pinterest and the is this challenge that my friend Measa bought to my attention. So we are going to give it a whirl. There re inspiration prompts for each day, and then Holly is going to upload them here to show what we have come up with. Sounds fun!

Www.fatmumslim.com.au/ is where you’ll find the original idea and list of daily topics. Can’t wait to get started.