Five Kids Counting has a new home!

!

A blogger splits herself in two!

I love writing Five Kids and Counting but there are definitely some aspects of me that are missing from this blog - I love to get on my soapbox and sound off about current affairs and politics. I don't want to muddy the waters here so I have started a whole new News, Current Affairs and political blog at www.mammpolitico.wordpress.com. You can follow @mammapolitico if this is your cup of tea. I've begin by looking at the way debtors are treated in this country in the light of the Eurozone crisis and today a review of John Humphrey's look at the future of the Welfare State. I'll be keeping Five kids for all things a parenting and family. I have just one more project up my sleeve - always was a multi tasker... so watch this space!

Music as Therapy

I was so excited to be tagged for Music as Therapy by mum2four the brilliant meme started by misslexywoo.
I don't get much time to listen to music these days but my DH has earphones permanently fixed to his head and he has assigned me organisor and curator of his ipod. We always have music on in the car although it's a fight as to who gets their cd in first !

To take part in the Meme you have to choose

3 beautiful songs.

3 different bands.

3 sets of lyrics that touch you in any way you want to show.

So here are my songs:

This song sums up my philosophy for life really....

Let It Be - The Beatles

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, ..


Copyright:Paul McCartney,John Lennon




This next choice is one of my all time favourite songs - love the Alexandra Burke version too:

Hallelujah- Leonard Cohen Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you She tied you To a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Baby I have been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you. I've seen your flag on the marble arch This is love not some kind of a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah There was a time you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Maybe there's a God above And all I ever learned from love Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you It's not a cry you can hear at night It's not somebody who's seen the light it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light In every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah I did my best, it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you And even though It all went wrong I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Yeah but it's not a complaint that you hear tonight, It's not the laughter of someone who claims to have seen the light No it's a cold and it's a very lonely Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah… Leonard Cohen 1984 & 1994 and finally I want this one playing at my funeral !!

Halloween Love it or Hate it?

Blog fever is taking my house - my daughters'  helped me with the making of this vlog so bear with the wobbly camera work ...

In all truth after making this video we decided we would dress the little ones up and take them trick or treating and we did throw a pumpkin into the trolley at the supermarket this morning - so I guess we love Halloween after all!

For every parent of a teenager

My eldest daughter is 13 years old and don't we know it at times -  like any thirteen year old girl she can be moody and aggravating but also funny, loving and amazingly talented. She decided she wanted to learn to play the piano so armed with a book and a keyboard  from ebay she taught herself to play. She can now play like this. Her grandparents were so amazed they bought her a piano. I don't know how she does it!

P.S That is not a tattoo on her arm but another 13 year old annoying habit - doodling on hands and arms
Her latest project is teaching herself to write in Japanese

She can also draw like this:

So to every parent of a teenager:

When they are annoying you, frustating you, being rude to you, insisting they are right and you are wrong - take a deep breath - smile and focus on all the amazing things they can do - you helped them become the person they are and one day you will be truly proud.

Take one chocolate labrador and put her in the bath ....

Our one year old was wide eyed with intrigue as he watched our 3 year old chocolate labrador Lola being lifted in to the bath -  he couldn't work out why she was in there and looked a little bit concerned for his bath toys! Luckily labradors love water and Lola didn't mind at all as we lathered her coat with the gorgeous smelling Pet shampoo from Natural & Clean (I'd been sent this by the company after chatting to them on Twitter - they make a range of green products for cleaning home and pets)  Lola had been getting a bit smelly and we had run out of our usual dog shampoo so this  arrived just in time for her much needed bath. We don't bath Lola often as too much bathing can strip the natural oils from her coat but when we do we are very careful to use a quality product. The shampoo smelt gorgeous and the packaging was so posh it put our budget human shampoos on the bathroom shelf to shame!

               We soon had a very soapy dog but the shampoo was really easy to wash out.

 Lola was a very good dog loving the attention, then with her customary shake soaking everything and everyone Lola ran downstairs and found herself a spot near the patio doors to dry out. In the meantime I headed off to her dog basket which was also becoming a bit whiffy and gave her blanket a quick squirt with Natural & Clean Pet Spot and Odour eliminator - this too smelt fab and soon put a  stop to that little whiff of essence of dog.

The end result was a very happy dog smelling fresh as a daisy and with  a lovely shiny coat - who knew dog washing could be such fun ?!

 

To find out more about Natural&Clean's lovely products :

Follow @naturalandclean on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/Naturalandclean

and http://www.facebook.com/Naturalandclean

Silent Sunday