Making a list …

… of the things I am happy about today:

1. Ethan getting Player Of The Day at soccer, again.
I watched Tyler’s game today (and yelled, “Tyler, watch the BALL!” about a million times … dude was more interested in chatting with his team mates today. Oh and helping them up and cuddling them whenever one of them fell down). Anyway, because I watched Tyler’s game, I didn’t see Ethan play today. But Rob said he was awesome. Made heaps of tackles and defended the goal like a pro. That’s my boy!

2. School holidays.
Ethan loves school and Tyler loves Kindy, but I love having them home! Sure, it makes it a bit harder to get all my work done, but it’s worth a few late nights. I enjoy spending more time with them in the holidays, and doing plenty of fun stuff together.
And I REALLY enjoy not having to get up early, make packed lunches, and rush out the door. Especially when it’s this cold.
Besides, the kids and I have been sleeping in until 8am some days, which equals CHAOS (30 minutes is NOT enough time to get ready).

3. Tyler’s AWESOME behaviour at Cherie & Theo’s wedding yesterday.
I wasn’t too sure how he would cope, especially after a couple of hours of Kindy, and at the end of a long and busy week (not to mention the long drive to get to the church). But he was an absolute angel. I guess the promise of Burger King on the way home was enough incentive for him!
My sister Leah was one of Cherie’s bridesmaids, and Tyler was pretty excited about going and seeing his Aunty all dressed up with her flowers. When he told his teacher that he would be leaving Kindy early to go to a wedding, he said, “My Leah is going to be there”. I think he was trying to say “My Aunty” because he knew Marie wouldn’t know who “Leah” was, but it was just the cutest thing.

4. An afternoon of “ME” time.
Rob and the boys were at a Kids Church “Movies & Munchies” event this afternoon (Rob is our Kids Church leader and helped organise the event). Consequently, I had the entire house to myself for FOUR HOURS. Okay, so I actually get the entire house to myself for 4 hours every weekday. But the difference today? IT WAS NOT A WORK DAY.
I totally made the most of it. Watched a movie, read a magazine, played the piano, surfed the web, did some housework (I couldn’t help myself).

5. Social events on my calendar over the coming month.
Not so many that I feel overwhelmed, as is often the case, but a few really nice SPECIAL things.
- A couple of work social events (a kids’ clothes swap with some of the other Mums in the department, and a big departmental Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner).
- Another Mid-Winter Christmas celebration; this time a special church service and lunch.
- Catching up with friends tomorrow.
- Rob’s 36th birthday (okay, so that’s on 1 August). But I have an AWESOME present planned. He is going to LOVE it.

6. Planning our meals.
I do this sporadically, but when things get crazy-busy (which is pretty much all the time), I sometimes slip. But I’m back on track now, having planned the last 2 weeks of dinners. I’ve got next week’s menu planned out as well.
Not only do we spend WAY less money on groceries when I do this, but I am able to stick to my WW Points much more easily (Bonus? I actually lost 1.2kg last week).

Feeling pretty happy with my lot in life right now. Sure, there are things I could complain about, but I choose to focus on the Good Stuff. Makes me happier!

Time to Fly

“Time to Fly” is the name of Paper Pesto’s June kit.

This beautiful bird-themed kit marks the end of an era, really.
Kate says, “this will be the last monthly kit in the current format from Paper Pesto for now. I am changing things up a bit. Kits will no longer be available by subscription but will instead be offered on a more casual basis. They will be smaller project style kits that will include ideas for cards and layouts or mini albums. It’s a work in progress that may take some time to get together, but I promise to keep you informed!”

My 6-month Design Team stint with Paper Pesto is now over, but I have enjoyed every single minute of it. Thanks, Kate! It has been a privilege to design with your gorgeous kits.

Here are the layouts and cards I designed using the “Time to Fly” kit:

HAPPY TOGETHER

Journalling reads: We have our ups & downs just like any married couple, but through it all, we know our love is strong enough to carry us through. We are so happy together. Dec ‘08.

MY NIECES

CRAZY

Journalling reads: Tyler, I just love your cheekiness and your crazy sense of humour! You’re always pulling silly & funny faces; doing or saying things to make us laugh; acting crazy for attention and laughs. It just comes naturally to you – you’re a really crazy, funny kid! Don’t ever lose that neat ability to make other people happy!

I also whipped up a couple of cards …

Thanks for looking!

The Man

I am not a judgemental person, but sometimes when I see and hear the way some guys treat their partners (in public), I am disgusted.

Scenario #1. At Ethan’s soccer game on Saturday, I witnessed a conversation between a guy and his wife/girlfriend (the parents of one of the players on the opposing team). I didn’t want to hear the conversation, but since he was standing on one side of me, and she was on the other, I was quite literally stuck in the middle. I felt sad as the man angrily muttered a string of profanities about how unfair it was that HE had to take their toddler to the playground on the other side of the soccer fields, causing him to miss the first 10 minutes of his older son’s game. I was shocked to hear him complaining, as the woman was holding a newborn baby and obviously had her hands full.
But that wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part was the way he looked at her. UGLY. Almost evil. A few minutes after he had finished his angry tirade, I (inadvertently) glanced in his direction. I actually felt physically sick when I saw the way he was looking at her, still muttering under his breath.

Scenario #2. A few weeks ago, we visited a craft fair in Whangarei. We sat outside in the sunshine while we ate our sausages and waited for the boys to have a turn with the paintball guns. Just along from us, a couple with a baby were having an argument about whether they should buy a particular item from one of the stalls. That in itself was pretty odd (pick your battles, people!) but what upset me was the way they spoke to each other. Complete nastiness.

I already know I am blessed to have a husband like Rob. But seeing the way some people treat their partners and children reinforces that fact.

My husband would never speak nastily to me. Not in public. Not in private. Not ever!

He has never (NEVER!) looked at me in a hateful way. In fact, I don’t think he has ever looked at anyone that way. He doesn’t have a hateful bone in his body.

He would not complain about “having” to look after the kids. He would just do it. And who said it was the mother’s job to look after all the children, all the time? Is the Dad not equally responsible? For us, it was a no-brainer that BOTH parents would be equally involved in the whole child-raising gig. After all, we were equally involved in the whole baby-making gig!

I know I’m not perfect. I get grumpy. I sometimes use a less than desirable tone of voice when I’m speaking to my husband or children. But I TRY not to. I work on it all the time. And I’m not afraid to apologise afterwards if I fail to keep things in check.

My husband doesn’t seem to have that problem. He is an extremely calm person, with a very even temperament. He never uses a nasty tone of voice. Sometimes he gets in a bit of a “teasing” mood, but it’s all in jest. And he certainly knows when NOT to pull that one (like, at a certain time of the month).

I really do pinch myself sometimes, wondering HOW I managed to get so lucky. How did I score a guy like Rob? How did I end up with somebody so kind, generous, thoughtful and respectful? HOW?

But then I realise that the “how” doesn’t really matter. What matters is that I appreciate him. What matters is that I acknowledge all the things I love about him. What matters is that I am THANKFUL for him.

And I am SO thankful.

Heaven’s Halley’s Comet

I read this the other day, and it was just what I needed to read.

Heaven’s Halley’s Comet

God made you and broke the mold.
Every single baby is a brand-new idea.
No one can duplicate your life.
Scan history for your replica – you won’t find it.
God personally formed and made each one.
No box of “backup yous” sits in God’s workshop.
You aren’t one of many bricks in the mason’s pile or one of a dozen bolts in the mechanic’s drawer.
YOU ARE IT!
And if you aren’t you, we don’t get you.
The world misses out.
You are heaven’s Halley’s comet.
We have one shot at seeing you shine.
You offer a gift to society that no one else brings.
If you don’t bring it, it won’t be brought!

~ Max Lucado (Cure for the Common Life)

We Are Family

At the beginning of June, we spent the long weekend up in Whangarei.

We left after soccer on the Saturday, and arrived at lunchtime. That afternoon, Rob’s dad and his partner Jenni threw a little birthday party. You see, late May is a pretty busy month for family birthdays. Ethan turned 7 on the 27th, our niece Georgia turned 3 on the 28th, and our nephew Brock turned 3 on the 30th. Phew!

Here are the 3 guests of honour, each with their own cake:

Now, lest you all think I am a terrible mother who forgot to make her son a birthday cake and picked a cheap one up from Foodtown 20 minutes before the party … I must point out that I DID make Ethan a very cool truck cake for the birthday party he had with his school friends the previous weekend. And anyway, I didn’t buy the above cake from Foodtown 20 minutes before the party … Rob did.

On Sunday we went to the Wave Pool, and the boys had fun playing with their cousins Georgia, Brock and Amy. Everybody had at least one turn on the waterslide, even my pregnant SILs (Olivia is due in July and Jo is due in October). It was FUN. In fact, I was so busy having fun and taking various children down the waterslide, that I didn’t take ANY photos.

Later in the afternoon, we headed down to the Town Basin. They have ripped up the old playground and put a new one in. And it is WAY COOL. The boys loved all the interesting play equipment, particularly the big “spider web” (climbing ropes). Here, I DID take plenty of photos:

It was bitterly cold that day (I’m sure all you NZ’ers remember how cold Queen’s Birthday weekend was!) so after an hour or two of playing, we headed over to Gybe for hot chips and hot drinks, which we ate and drank next to the open fireplace. Mmmmm.

On Monday morning we visited family members (and checked out their recent home renovations). We also drove out to Parua Bay to check out their craft fair. It was a pretty small event, which was to be expected in such a small village. But the boys liked the sausage sizzle and really enjoyed having a turn with paintball guns! Again, I forgot to take photos. Bummed.

It was a really lovely & relaxing weekend, and the boys had such a good time seeing their grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. We hadn’t been up since Christmas, so it was great to see the family again (only Rob’s older brother and his family live near us; the rest of his family live in Whangarei).

We definitely won’t be waiting another 6 months to visit again. I, for one, am SO excited about meeting the new babies! Olivia knows she is having another girl, and we’ve all agreed it will be nice to even out the boy:girl ratio a little (it currently stands at 5 boys and 3 girls). Jo doesn’t know what she is having, but if she has a girl, it’ll be 5 for 5! Not having a girl of my own, my nieces are pretty special to me and I just love spending time with them.

I swear, Rob’s family are some of the nicest people in the world. His parents and step-parents are amazing. His brothers and sister (and their spouses) are wonderful. Their kids are fantastic (and totally cute). I feel so incredibly blessed to be part of this family!

Double shot

Today Tyler had his 4-year vaccinations. (Hopefully) the last immunisations our household will have to deal with until Ethan turns 11.

I’d told him beforehand what was going to happen, but he really didn’t seem nervous at all. He almost seemed excited about it!

The shots were part of his “B4 School Check” (eek, he starts school in 4 months!) so they also checked his teeth (perfect), height (112cm) and weight (20.6kg). He’s been in the 97th percentile for height since he was 6 months old, and “off the chart” since he turned 2. Today’s measurement was no different; he’s still off the chart. With a 6″2′ father and a 5″8′ mother, he never was going to be short. But I’m thinking he’ll be even taller than Rob when he stops growing.

I also had to fill in 3 different questionnaires relating to his behaviour and development. Guess what? He’s “normal”.

As for his shots, he was an absolute trooper. They got him to sit on my knee, facing me, and give me a big cuddle with his arms firmly tucked under mine. Then he got an injection in each arm (one nurse on each side). He didn’t cry at all, not even a whimper. Nor did he flinch or protest or try to get free (as apparently LOTS of 4-year-olds do … hence the 2-nurse approach). He just sat there, holding me tight, and showed how brave he was.

We celebrated that bravery with a trip to the $2 shop and a treat from the coffee shop (juice and lolly cake).

Then I splashed out on new wet weather gear for the boys. Oh, and new winter PJs for myself. Hey, it was “buy 3, get 30% off” so I HAD to get a 3rd item, didn’t I?

It was miserably wet here today, with promises of more rain to come. Ethan doesn’t have a raincoat that fits him, and Tyler’s fell apart today. So at least tomorrow when we venture out into this soggy mess, the boys will stay (relatively) dry. I’m officially over the rain, thank-you-very-much!

Getting serious

We are getting serious about soccer in our house. I have gone from being a soccer mum to being a SOCCER MUM.

This year, both boys are playing. That in itself was a pretty big change for our family. It requires both Rob & I to be on the sidelines every Saturday morning. At 8.20am, to be precise. We’ve been taking turns watching Ethan’s and Tyler’s games. Thankfully, their games are on at the same time (and grades 5-7 play all their games on their home turf).

Tyler is playing in grade 5. He’s slowing getting used to the concept of playing a team sport. He’s only 4, and at his age they are really only playing for fun. They all huddle around the ball in the middle of the field; it’s the cutest thing.
We are encouraging Tyler to try his best and have a good time. Watching his team play is certainly not boring! There is usually at least one child in tears at any given moment, purely because of their age, and the fact that they GET TIRED SO QUICKLY. But it’s all a learning process.

Ethan is playing in grade 7 this year. Like grades 5 and 6, they practice immediately before their game. So practice runs from 8.20-9.00, and then the game runs from 9.00-9.45.

However.

Ethan’s coach has offered an optional training session during the week. Last night was the first one, and it went well.

I was starting to think a mid-week practice and 2 games every Saturday was enough to qualify me for SOCCER MUM status.

Also? The fact that I have an orange tree in my backyard (although said oranges aren’t quite ripe enough to cut up and bring to the game for half-time).

But wait. There’s more.

This morning we received this email from Ethan’s coach:

I am wondering if Ethan would be interested in joining the 7th grade development squad that myself and a couple of the other coaches have started?

Training is every Sunday from 1:30-2:30.

From this squad players will be selected to attend the two 7th grade tournaments that are of interest to me this year. There is a group of 11, so each player will get at least 1 tournament.

Let me know what you think.

DUDE. This is BIG.

A DEVELOPMENT SQUAD?!

I’m very proud of my boy. He has so much enthusiasm for the game, and is a GREAT defensive player.
He won player of the day 2 weeks ago. In that game, he hadn’t scored a single goal, so he couldn’t believe that he’d been chosen. I had to remind him that it’s not only the goal-scorers who deserve credit and praise. It’s also their team mates who can see they have an open shot and pass them the ball, instead of trying to score one for themselves (and failing because they are heavily marked). It’s the players who work hard to turn the ball over, who use their speed to run from one end of the field to the other to block the opposition goal.
Ethan does all of these things well. And boy is he FAST.

I told him what a great opportunity this development squad would be for him, for his game. He will get expert coaching and the chance to play with and against some really good players. He’ll get to hone his soccer skills, and it will set him up well for grade 8 next year (where they play away from home regularly). And for being a future All White – if he wants.

Mid-week training, 2 games every Saturday … AND development squad training every Sunday.

I am now, officially, a SOCCER MUM.

Bring on those oranges.

Curried chicken rice

I tried this recipe last night, and it was a huge hit with hubby and BOTH kids! Oh, and I really enjoyed it too.

4 boneless & skinless chicken thigh fillets, each cut into 2 pieces
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 tsp crushed ginger
1 cup basmati rice
2 cups hot chicken stock
2T shredded mint leaves
lemon wedges

Heat oil in a frying pain. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on both sides until browned. Sprinkle with curry powder and garam masala. Cook for another minute, turning to coat chicken evenly in the spices. Remove chicken from fying pan.
Add onion to the pan and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the ginger and rice. Cook, stirring, for a further minute.
Spoon rice mixture into a casserole dish and pour the stock over. Place the chicken on top. Cover tightly with tinfoil and bake at 200C for 40 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
Sprinkle chicken with mint and drizzle with lemon juice. Serve with lemon wedges.

Serves 4
(7 Weight Watchers POINTS per serve)

Seven

Today, my firstborn turns 7. SEVEN.

I can’t believe how fast the last 7 years have gone!
It seems like only yesterday we were bringing our little baby home, wondering if we would really be able to do this parenting thing.
It seems like only yesterday our little guy was cutting his first teeth, trying solids for the first time, learning to crawl.

Now, my little boy is growing up.
He reads chapter books. In his head.
He plays soccer and does Athletics.
He is learning the drums.
He has fantastic friends.
He has an active social life.
He writes stories.
He draws endless pictures.
He is smart.
He is sensitive and kind.
He is loving.
He is MINE.

I thought I would do a quick recap of the last 7 years, in pictures. Enjoy!

Ethan Jakob … I love you more than words can express, and I am so infinitely proud of you.
Happy Birthday, little guy!

Creating …

Just a quick post to share some of the layouts I’ve done recently.
These first 3 are for Crafty Tart:

THE TWO OF YOU

Tyler and my sister, Leah.

Journalling: I love the bond you guys have. You are lucky to have such a wonderful auntie who loves you so much.

FRIENDSHIP

Some of my best girls!

Journalling: Yep, life is always pretty loud when we all get together! But it’s awesome, and I cherish the “Good Times” we shared … at 6 The Circle, on South Island holidays, etc.

EVERYDAY

My sweet Ethan. Everyday I love you more.

And this last one is for The Sketch Book.
I posted the weekly challenge today, which is to create a layout using at least two handmade embellishments. The deadline is Sunday 31st May, and all entries will go into the monthly prize draw.

UNCLE ROB

Rob with Georgia Rose (one of our nieces) at Tyler’s 2nd birthday in 2006.

Okay, back to work now!