My body feels old

You may (or more probably may not) have noticed that I haven't blogged for quite some time.

That's because I've had nothing to say. Nothing exciting has happened - just run-of-the-mill ordinary daily procedures performed repeatedly, over and over.

It's called responsibility.

I just had a light bulb moment reading a status update on facebook.

I feel like my husband and I are ships in the night at the moment. He goes to uni. Then he goes to work. I make the dinner, bath the kids (sometimes) he arrives home and we eat. We each put a kid to bed then he hits the computer and I well..... usually hit the couch or hit the other computer or fold some washing, or clean a room. Then I go to bed while Elliot continues studying and I mumble goodnight as he stumbles into bed at some ridiculous hour.

Other nights, he walks in the door and I walk out. I come home say goodnight and we say hello the next morning.

Sometimes I feel neglected. Sometimes I feel hard-done by. But it's the same in households all around us. I'm not particularly special.

It's called responsibility.

Apparently I'm not 18yrs old anymore with no thoughts except for what I shall wear tomorrow and what date I shall have this weekend. Apparently I am nearly 29years old and that means checking the bank balance frequently, worrying about super, and making sure the car has petrol before someone drives to Cleveland. Apparently I have to provide for a family and my husband has to do so financially. Apparently 2 young people depend on me for their physical and emotional needs.

And let me tell you ........ it is REWARDING and INSPIRING and FULL of JOY and I LOVE IT . But its CONSTANT and a little DAUNTING and I WANT TO GO OUT ON A DATE WITH MY HUSBAND!!!!!

Bring on exams. I have 3 more weeks and then hopefully I can schedule a couple of hours: a) on our own and b) as a family.

Because Responsibility can still be FUN. Can't it??!??!?!

* I am not in the depths of self-despair or depression. Just making a few observations that perhaps you can all relate to. I have plans to live a little this week!!*

If you haven't already seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E

floating around facebook or lds.org then watch it NOW

Want to make your cooking life easier?

Do you have a slow cooker? If your answer if 'no', then you need one.

And I just noted that as of 8am (hmmm better check that time, not sure if that is right) you can purchase a whopping 6.5L slow cooker from ALDI for $39.95. It has a one-year warranty with it. But I can highly recommend aldi products - we love them and haven't had any problems with them.

I love using a slow cooker - they are brilliant. Here's my favourite reasons and why you should go and buy one if you don't already own one.

* It cooks the meat to perfection - so tender and melt-in-your-mouthness.

* You can use cheaper cuts of meat in it and they taste absolutely spectacular because it becomes so tender.

* If you know you are going to be late coming home or have a hectic afternoon, you can bung everything in earlier in the day and it's all done! Come home and serve straight to the table.

* They are my favourite possession on Sunday as we have afternoon church and are always starving when we get home at 4.45pm. We walk in to the delicious scents wafting down the stairs and eat dinner 20mins later. bliss.

* It means no more slaving over the stove for hours in the evening to get the perfect stew.

* If you have a young baby it will be your best friend. Witching hour is solved because you can just hold that baby all it wants because dinner is already bubbling away and you've had a nap in the afternoon because you'd already prepared dinner so could relax.

* Nothing beats a hot stew served on creamy mashed potato on a cold winter's night. Oh and lamb shanks done in the slow cooker....... to die for!!!

If those aren't enough reasons for you to either go and buy one for a measly $40 or dig yours out of the cupboard, then I don't think you deserve the wonderful enjoyment that a slow cooker brings.

(by the way, remember that 6.5L is huge, so if you're a small family, then maybe a smaller one would be better. Of just make a double and freeze half ready for a quick 'I don't feel like cooking tonight' meal.)