Scarlett is a clever clogs

Proud
Proud of Scarlett - she taught herself how to ride a bike with no stabilisers, all by herself! A bit sad, because I think the reason is that she doesn't trust me enough to hold on to the back or help her, but I'm also trying to tell myself that it must be - at least in part - down to her wanting to assert her independence and ability.
Anyway, she Loves it, and wont stop asking to go outside on her bike now. Over 2-3 days she's taught herself to get going, keep going, brake, turn corners and is now going pretty fast and doing mini 'tricks' like taking her feet off or standing up to pedal.

Giggling
Been having a chuckle at Rowan's expense - He was rather sleepy this evening, but in a good mood still. Liam did the old trick of 'pulling off his nose', using his thumb as a fake nose - Rowan seemed to believe it! After a while he got a bit upset, and told Liam not to do it anymore. He also kept holding on to his nose once it was 'put back' - bless! He guffawed like a good'un whenever Liam 'took off' his own nose though! I have both on videos on my camera, so sweet I'm glad I captured it.

Pleased
Frazer is at last going to be going up in to the proper kung fu class - yeay! He used to be in with the adults before this kids class was started, but he used to get too silly. He wont be able to stay in with the small children once he's 7 though, so we really need to get him used to it. This Sunday just past he was with us for the children's' bit (mind you, there were no black belts so we were all together) and then he stayed behind with Liam for the grown up bit after. Hopefully we can do that for a couple of weeks before making the transition to only the older group.

Worried
I have a tutorial tomorrow, so Ashleigh will be over to babysit again. I don't have the money to pay her and I don't have bus fare. I also don't have school dinner money for Scarlett and i owe Liam a tenner - aarrgh!!!
I'm also really behind on my work, and I *hate* being behind during a tutorial. It's so much less obvious to the rest of the world if I'm behind at home by myself! The OU are re-sending my books which is good, I just hope they arrive on Thursday when I'm in, as there's a teachers' strike then.

New Gadget
Did I tell you about it? It's a Rebok itrainer thingie. Basically a cross trainer. I was gagging for something to make me feel like I stood a chance in the Race for Life, and this turned out to be it. I've used the money that's been sitting in the catalogue account for ages, after my clothes and shoes were sent back at Christmas. Liam is paying the rest - he can never resist something like this.
I've used it a few times now; on Sunday after Kung Fu I did 5K on it in just over 16 minutes - the Race for Life is 5K, so that can't be too bad. Yet somehow when I am actually running, I just can't breath...

Glad
...and dare I say it, sometimes surprised, to see the parent that Liam has become. I always knew he would be fab, but I never knew the extent to how great, because, I suppose, I never really had a good idea of what fab parenting was.
Oh blimey, that's a revelation, writing that. I had been mulling it over recently but not 'getting' why it was in my head - and that's it entirely.
I never had a father figure beyond my granddad, and I had him around about once a week when I was small, and less as I grew older. I've had an ingrained fear for as long as I can remember, that Liam will one day decide that the responsibility of parenting is too much, and bugger off like my dad did. I know he wont, but it's hard to shake.
But Liam is a good dad and more.
today he sent me a link to a website he's making, to be linked to his main kung fu page. It's 'mini Dragons' and has children's activities as well as details about kung fu. He's going to make a 'mini tigers' one too, and test run them both on our children.
OK, I know the above paragraph isn't really to do with fab parenting. The point I'm making is that seeing how he has made this page, thought about what our children would like, and more than that, he just knows what is good for children now, because he is in tune with what our lot like. I Love how close he has become to them recently, and all the more because he obviously enjoys it so much.

ETA - a big GAHHHHH!!!!
WHY am I always the last one up?! WHY have I done no studies and no exercise at all tonight?! WHY do I still have stuff like packed lunches to do?! and WHY am I still here, feeling unable to move!?
BECAUSE I am the one that bloody has so much to do all the time, and not an awful lot of help in getting it done!
BECAUSE I actually did an hour and a half of reading while out today (ate so much to keep me awake though) and am shattered after a long day - the first day back at school always wears me out too!
BECAUSE I ran around like a blue arsed fly for most of the day and evening so flumped down after clearing the kitchen (which was the last of my chores before I collapsed) and forgot all about food for tomorrow.
BECAUSE I'm tired and lonely - it's not so hard to get on with stuff if someone else is around. Not only do I have company, but I feel safer going in to the dark kitchen. I'm so tired too, but I need to get it done, as I have to be up early to walk Tonks, get home in the afternoon (because of Frazer's percussion after school) to see to her again and stay awake enough for my tutorial - oh, and make dinner!

*sob*