I have been awarded the Liebster blog award by two lovely bloggy people:

Jay from learningtoplayandplayingtolearn 

and

Tracey from blissamongstchaos.blogspot.com.au

Thanks girls!! I didn't win a spot in the top 25 family blogs but this feels just as nice. I was just pipped at the post, coming in at number 28 but with 125 blogs up for the top spots I didn't do too bad!

What is a Liebster award you may ask ... 

"The award  is given to support and recognise up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers (on their blog) or likers (on their Facebook page). The word “Liebster” apparently has German origins and is reported to mean sweetest,  kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. By following some basic rules (answer 11 questions set by your nominee, write 11 questions of your own and pass the award onto 11other  bloggers to answer) it enables readers to get to know new bloggers and connect  with a wider audience."

Sweetest and cutest, orrrr Shucks guys - stop it I'm blushing!

I had two different lots of questions one from each nomination so I have combined the two lots to come up with one lot of 11 questions. Here they are.... (drumroll please)

1. How long have you been blogging?

6 Months! Wow, I had to go back and have a look and I am one day off my six month anniversary. It didn’t feel that long, I’m really surprised by that!
  
2. Inside or outside?

Definitely inside. I don’t mind going for a walk but I am an inside person. 

 3. If you could have as many children as you wanted, how many would you have?

The same as I have now, two. I would not want to have anymore! I think if I had more than two I’d have a mental breakdown. Unlike now... where I am totally sane......

4. What is your favourite TV show at the moment?

Once Upon a Time – but it seems I may be alone on that because every time I try to bring it up in conversation to talk about it, no one seems to be watching it!

5. What is your favourite colour?

It changes. I love green... but I also love orange. I can’t choose.... and sometimes it’s Van Gogh Yellow. I’m sorry .. I can’t commit. 
 
6. Best book you ever read?

There are too many good ones.. I can’t choose just one but I could not put down the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy or the Hunger Games Trilogy. But they were both great for different reasons. 
  
7. What is your 'houseworking' music of  choice?

Definitely dance music. I’m loving Britney and will.i.am’s new song Scream and Shout and  Pitbull’s and David Guetta’s new albums. 

8. What is one word your friends would use to describe you?
 
Honest
  
9. What is your favourite quote?

If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?
  
10. What is your favourite movie of all time?

The Wedding Singer... sad but true. 
  
11. Do you prefer wine or spirits?

Do I really have to choose??   

I would now like to pass the award onto 11 deserving and sweet blogs ..

Musings of the Misguided
Little Miss Marmalade
Organised Chaos
Declutterbug versus Captain Stingypants
MinsMash
The Divvy Spot
Mumabulous
Melbourne Mum
Family Survival Coach
10% Inspired
It's not Art it's dinner

And here are my questions

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. How often do you post on your blog?
3. Beach or Mountains?
4. Country or City?
5. Do you find blogging a chore or a joy?
6. Have you ever considered giving up blogging?
7. What do you really want for Christmas?
8. Boys or girls - which one is easier?
9. Are you more creative or analytical?
10. Planner or just see what happens?
11. The future of your blog?

Really looking forward to seeing your answers so make sure you post your blog link for your Liebster Award on Mother Loads facebook page so we don't miss out!!

Cheers,

Lee

I do love the focus and energy of coming up with something new to share with you all each week. It is always nice to be able to share the experience of Mother Hood and not feel like you are battling on alone - and I know that we all have days when it really does feel like that. I remember one particular incident when my then three year old head butted me in the eye whilst we were standing in a toilet cubicle together and it took all my strength not to start balling in eyes out (it wasn't just the head butt, I was already on the edge). 

My point to all this is that sometimes we need a break and being school holidays and all, I have decided to take a week off from posting and sharing on Mother Load. I will be taking some time to spend energy on the people hanging out with me at home and coming back with renewed vigour to Mother Load in a little over a week.

I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy your family whilst the routines are not so strict and and frantic and you have a little breathing space with your family (but I guess if your anything like me, you might already be counting down the days until school goes back...).

Cheers,

Lee

I really wanted to do a post today about the joys of Spring. It was a lovely Spring day when I first thought of it, the sun was shining, my littlest guy was frolicking in the sun, flowers were blooming and I managed to get outside in Melbourne with only a three quarter sleeved shirt and no jacket!! Oh, I was so excited by the prospect of it all and then it seemed like it was over as quickly as it had begun.

So, today I walked to do the bus stop drop off and had to wear my usual two jackets just to keep the chilly wind from cutting me in half! I thought that I might still show you some of the images I had already taken on that lovely warm day and had planned on posting with a title like, 'What I love about Spring'. In the hope that it will encourage Spring weather to come on in full!! Here's hoping anyway!

I also wanted to let you know that I have decided to do something a little special with my Friday posts. I am going to start a weekly series about the joys of becoming a mother from scratch. You may perhaps be scratching your head at this point thinking, "Isn't that what you were already doing?" - and in some ways the answer would be yes. I was thinking about Motherhood the other day and how I got to be here (at this stage in my life, I mean...not as in, why are we here - the meaning of life and all that because I am really not sure on that one). Anyhoo, I have a few friends who are thinking about, or are already on the journey to Motherhood and it made me think about how I felt when I was at that point in my life. Hopeful, happy, nauseous, anxious, full of mood swings, tired and wondering what the hell I was doing!

So on Fridays I will be taking a little stroll down mummy memory lane and sharing with you from scratch all the way up to the trials and tribulations of a now two and a bit year old, and an almost ten year old. Who taught me a really valuable lesson last night.... but I will save that thought for another day.

I hope that you will join me on this journey and even pass my posts on to friends who are about to become Mums and want the facts straight from the horse's mouth, it's not all fairy bread and cute little feet padding about the house (not even close!). 

I hope that you enjoy my images of Melbourne Spring (there are only a few .... I mean, I didn't get much time!). 

Just a reminder too, if you don't want to miss a dose of Mother Load you can always join up and subscribe and get Mother Load delivered straight to your inbox! The subscribe box is now located at the top right hand side of the page and don't forget to confirm your subscription when it gives you the chance to so I know it's alright to send you my daily musings!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,

Lee

Hi ho, I thought I might use today's post as an opportunity to tell you what I am up to and what happening with the blog.

Well, as you will know if you have been following Mother Load, I have been busily blogging along each day, which is both a good and bad thing. Bad, in that I have to think about what to bring up each day (and then get to actually writing it up) but good because it really gives me a focus each day. A surprising and unexpected benefit of writing a blog post each day is that it makes me pay a little more attention to what's happening in my life, conversations I am having with friends and things going on around me. So, in essence it has really allowed me to be really present in the moment, which is nice. Time seems to pass so quickly and it is really easy to miss the moments around you, both good and bad. Another positive side effect if you will, is that the posts have become a little bit cathartic and allow me to work throw stuff that's rattling around in my head - almost like having a chat with a good friend. Listening to what's going on with them and offering some ideas. So, that's nice. Well, for me anyway. You as well, I'm hoping. So I shall continue to blog away, I guess until I run out of stuff to talk about, that is.

Now, you may or may not have noticed but up in the top right hand side of the this page (go on have a look) you will see a little box for you to be able to subscribe to Mother-Load. All you need to do is pop your email address in the space provided and you will never miss another Mother-Load post, Yay! You will also get it hot off the press - so as soon as it goes live, it's in your inbox. Woo Hoo!

Now, I know that some people like to read blogs but aren't keen to participate through comments, so I am contemplating whether to set up a facebook page to make it easier for readers to connect and add their own comments or questions, in addtion to the blog. I would love your opinions on this.

Lastly if you enjoy reading Mother-Load please share links to posts with your friends and help spread the word.

Now I'm off to get ready for toddler swimming lessons with my two year old. In this very cold  Melbourne weather there is little else I feel less like doing right now. I can't wait until my little devil can get in and go for it on his own, whilst I sip a latte and watch on from the sidelines. But until then ... he does love getting in, so you do what you've gotta do.

Cheers,

Lee