Hug A Ginga Day

Today, May 25, is “Hug A Ginga Day”.

I remember when this whole thing started about 5 years ago. Some people thought it was great, some thought it was stupid, some thought it was highly offensive. Some parents with red-haired children keep their kids home from school every year on May 25 so they don’t get “hassled”. Some schools have even banned it completely!

There are two gingas in my family.

Tyler has never complained about people hugging him more than usual. But then again, he loves getting hugs and he and his friends hug each other all the time. Maybe the kids his age don’t really know or care about “Hug A Ginga Day”. Maybe it IS a big deal for teenagers. I guess I’ll find out in a few years’ time.

All I know is that Tyler has NEVER been teased or bullied because of his hair colour. I know Rob used to get teased about his when he was at school, but it seems that times have changed.

Personally, I think it’s all just a bit of fun!!

I’m happy that I can hug my gingas whenever I want, and don’t have to wait for a particular day to do it!

I love my gingas!

BEST Meatloaf

I’ve posted my favourite meatloaf recipe here before, but I have a NEW favourite! Sorry, old favourite. You’re O-U-T, out! Just kidding. I’ll probably still make both, but I think I’ll make this one more often, because it is SO good. Meatloaf is one of Tyler’s favourite meals, and he liked the new recipe very much.

I adapted a Rachael Ray recipe. I’m sure her original is really good, but I like how my version turned out.

1T olive oil
3-4 small stalks celery, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt & pepper
3/4 cup white wine or beer (I used wine)
4 slices bread, lightly toasted and torn up
1 cup milk
500g beef mince
1 cup grated cheese
1T dry mustard powder
1/4 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp paprika
3T Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs, lightly beaten
200g rashers streaky bacon

Saute celery, onion, carrot and garlic in olive oil for 10 minutes. Add the wine and let it reduce by half. Turn off the heat and let cool.
Soak the bread in milk. Place the beef mince in a bowl and add the cheese. Wring out the bread, crumble it up, and add it to the meat. Season with salt, pepper, mustard powder, chilli powder, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Add the cooled vegetable mixture and the eggs, then mix to combine.
Shape the mixture into a loaf shape about 4″ high and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Wrap the bacon rashers across the top and around sides of the loaf. Bake at 190C for 1 hour.

Serves 4-6 (or in my case, 1 normal person + 3 very hungry boys with bottomless pits for stomachs)

Getaway

I mentioned in my anniversary post that Rob was planning a weekend away for the two of us. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going, and I’m not really a fan of surprises! However, I let myself be surprised, and he did a great job of organising a wonderfully relaxing weekend.

He had asked me to take last Friday off work. As it turns out, I took Thursday off as well so I could watch Ethan’s rugby tournament.
Four days off in a row = bliss!

After dropping the kids off at school on Friday morning, and then taking all the kids’ gear (and Buddy) to my parents’ place, we headed into the city.

Rob had planned a picnic at Bastion Point, which holds significance for us because we used to have picnics there when we were dating. Although the sun was out, it was quite windy, so he opted for Mission Bay beachfront instead. He’d packed a yummy lunch with a bottle of bubbles, and we ate in the sun by the fountain. We followed that up with coffee/hot chocolate at Mecca Stonehouse, and then drove to our hotel.

We stayed 2 nights at the Copthorne Harbourcity, right on the waterfront. We’d never stayed there before, as our favourite inner city hotels are the Hertiage and the Stamford Plaza. Although the Copthorne is older and not quite as flash, it is in the most amazing location.

After checking in and admiring the AWESOME harbour views from our room on the 11th floor …

… we decided to go for a run together along Auckland’s waterfront. Then we hit the hotel gym and sauna. The weather turned a little as we were running (think icy cold rain!) so the sauna was a welcome reward.

Dinner was “All You Can Eat Tapas” at Limon on Princes Wharf. Literally just across the road from our hotel. The food was incredible. We both love Spanish cuisine, and there was live guitar music which is always nice. After dinner, we strolled around the Viaduct and down to North Wharf at Wynyard Quarter, where we bumped into some old friends and ending up having dessert with them at Jack Tar.

On Saturday, we enjoyed a complimentary buffet breakfast at the hotel, before making our way up Queen Street to the Auckland Art Gallery. Rob had never been there, and I hadn’t been for years. It was totally redone a few years ago, and we were really looking forward to seeing the current exhibition, Degas to Dali.

We loved this red tree outside the entrance (sorry about quality, it was taken on Rob’s phone):

The gallery was fantastic, and we spent several hours there. Degas to Dali was AMAZING. Works by Degas and Dali, obviously, as well as Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, Bacon, Monet, Van Gogh, Kirchner, Popova and Warhol (just to name a few). I absolutely LOVED it.

We spent the rest of the day shopping for LPs at Real Groovy, buying birthday presents, spending gift vouchers, walking, eating, drinking and chillaxing.

That night, we went to see The Avengers (in 2D, because watching every new movie in 3D is LAME). Great movie. A late dinner at Pita Pit (Rob’s first time! I’m a Pita Pit veteran, since I go there for lunch every Monday with Annelie and my sister), a quick stop at Daiso, my all-time favourite shop selling “All of the things that I didn’t know I needed until I saw them and then I HAD to have them“, then a late-night dessert at Movenpick Quay St.

After breakfast on Sunday, we walked across the road and had a look through the Auckland Maritime Museum. Neither of us had been there before, despite both our kids having visited with friends! It was great, but we could have done with another hour to look at everything properly. Our check-out was 12, and then we wanted to hit the factory/outlet shops to grab the boys’ a few new threads.

We finally got back to my parents’ place around 2pm. Ethan & Tyler loved their new clothes. Mum & Dad had done a great job of ferrying the boys to their soccer games, keeping them entertained, and looking after a sick child (Tyler, who has a sinus infection, and is now on antibiotics).

I may not like surprises, but I admit that my man organised a perfect getaway.
I had a wonderful weekend with my best friend.
It was fun, relaxing, and exactly what I/we needed.

Worth it

I think last Sunday was the best Mothers Day yet.

I’ve had some really lovely ones over the years, but to be perfectly honest, a lot of them had wee moments of unloveliness thrown in. Nothing that would spoil the whole day, but you certainly couldn’t call them ‘perfect’. You know, because real life isn’t all roses (and butterflies and rainbows and fairies and happy, frolicking bunny rabbits). In the past, “real life” Mothers Days have included …

- Kids who fight over who gets to ‘hand’ me my present.
- Five-year-olds who want to make me scrambled eggs and husbands who don’t know how to make them.
- Our first ever outbreak of nits. Both kids.
- Having to spend the day in a moonboot.
- Children who don’t want to pose for photos with their mother.

But this Mothers Day was as close to perfect as I’m probably ever going to get.

My day started with presents and cards from my gorgeous boys. They gave me my favourite chocolates and some blue “shatter” nail polish, which I was instructed to apply immediately! But first I had to put on a base coat to make the shatter thing work. I used green, but I think it would look better with black or white.

Tyler had made me a journal, with lots of blank, lined pages inside, all headed up like this:

He made me a card, which said:
Dear Mum, You have been a fantastic mum! You make my bed and do the dishes. But today will change.
You are the best … MUM!
To Mum, Love TY!!!! xxooxxooxooxxoo
I love you, you love me! We stay together and drink some TEA!!!

Ethan made me this bookmark:

And this booklet of coupons (I’m really looking forward to redeeming them) …

Ethan gave me 2 cards. In one, he wished me “the very best Mothers Day in your life” (prophetic, much?), and told me I was the “best Mum ever” and that I was “AWESOME!!”
He had made the other card at school, and had written a poem to go inside:

Dear Mum,
You are as clear and as bright as a firework in my mind,
You are as colourful and as cheerful as a rainbow,
You can find my long lost toys as easily as a giraffe looking for its leaves,
You are as warm and as comforting as a nice, cosy fireplace,
You are as busy as a Beaver (but with a vacuum cleaner),
Even if you are treated like a dark, gloomy shadow at night, you will always be loved by me.
I love you Mum
From Ethan

Sniff.

Next, I was treated to breakfast in bed. Fresh waffles with raspberries and whipped cream. Yum! My husband has certainly improved in the “cooked breakfast” department, and of course he had 2 very willing helpers.

We had our special cafe-style Mothers Day service at church. I helped organise and run it, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. This year, our theme was “Women of Worth”, and we decorated the stage like a fancy dressing room. We had a delicious morning tea, followed by skits, items, readings, tributes, songs and an encouraging message. My boys read beautiful tributes that made me cry. And they helped to hand out long-stemmed roses to every woman.

After church, we headed into town with Mum, Dad and Leah to spend the afternoon exploring Wynyard Quarter. It’s a new area that has been developed on Auckland’s waterfront, and it’s fantastic! Our Secret Angel had given us a family pass for the Dockline Tram. As it turns out, our “secret angels” were Mum & Dad, and they had purchased a voucher for themselves as well!

We had a delicious lunch at Rushworth on North Wharf, followed by the yummiest gelato from Gelatiamo.

There was so much to see and do down there, and I took hundreds of photos!

The tram ride was fun for the kids, and the old lady who was driving was rather entertaining.

We also took an impromptu bus ride around the CBD, which took longer than we expected but was still lots of fun. Tyler recognised the Art Gallery and Aotea Centre from his recent school trip, Mum pointed out the Housing Corporation building she used to work in, and Leah showed the boys where she slept on the street outside Real Groovy Records to get U2 tickets. Tyler also found a street named after him:

We stayed in town as long as we could, but had to leave to get home in time for Ethan’s Flippaball (junior Water Polo) game, which his team won. Then it was home for Indian takeaways and some evening TV (The Food Truck, which is the boys’ favourite show at the moment).

It was a truly wonderful Mothers Day. A relaxing and enjoyable day, with delicious food and fantastic company.

Beautiful memories made.

Menu planning

A certain somebody in our house is hitting double digits in a couple of weeks.
He’s rather excited, to put it mildly.

- We’ve been subjected to a daily countdown since March (there are 17 days to go).
- His present request was submitted last YEAR (he’s getting an iPod touch; my parents and sister are chipping in with us).
- He chose his cake about 3 months ago (I’m making a drum cake).
- Plans for his party were finalised weeks ago (we’re taking him and 4 friends to Parakai Hot Pools).
- On Tuesday, he designed his own invitations in Word (because my response of “I’m planning to do them on Saturday” wasn’t satisfactory).
- The other day, he wrote the following menu for his party (I have copied it verbatim):

Things I NEED At My Party

Cheese and salami bagels
Chips (Uppercut Chilli and Ready Salted)
Chocolate (Aero)
Cheerios [he means these, not these]
Donuts (little, brown, sugar sprinkled on top)
Cookies
Liquorice, LOLLIES, etc.
Sausage rolls

DRINKS
Blackcurrant (FANTA)
SPRITE!!! (Not Sprite Zero)!

Happy birthday to … ME!!

Down the side of the page is a cartoon face with a speech bubble that says:

I’m crying in JOY!!

I can only hope that my efforts will live up to his expectations!

Time

My firstborn is almost TEN. I have been a mother for A DECADE. My husband is turning FORTY next year. My youngest sister-in-law just turned THIRTY. My parents are getting close to SIXTY. I have been married for THIRTEEN YEARS. One of my flowergirls is getting married in TWO MONTHS. My baby is off to college NEXT YEAR.

Time just goes by so quickly.

I am loving my thirties, and feel they are the best years of my life (so far). But I have to admit, I feel a lot older these days. Kids that Rob & I taught at Sunday School are getting married; in fact, some of them have been married for a few years now, and will probably have kids soon. My own children are getting older, and it won’t be long before we are firmly entrenched in the ‘pre-teen’ stage.

Whenever these thoughts come to mind, I am always so grateful to have this blog. I do wish I’d started it a few years earlier, when Ethan was a baby, but I’m glad I have almost 7 years of regular blog posts to look back on. There are so many memories that have faded over time, and even photos don’t necessarily bring all the details back to me. But the stories I have captured here – and on my scrapbook pages – remind me of those moments. They make those memories fresh again.

During the baby stage, I remember wishing time would hurry up. Of course I loved my babies, but I found the ‘newborn to 12 months’ stage really hard. Even when Ethan was a toddler, I would sometimes wish the time away, thinking, “it will be so much easier in a few years”. I was right. And I was wrong. Some things were easier, but others were harder. I soon learned not to long for the future, but to enjoy the NOW. I’ve been endeavouring to live that way ever since. To make the most of each stage, to create memories, and to try my best to record them.

This guy …

… is tall and lanky and handsome, and a true sporting dynamo. He’s curious, affectionate, thoughtful, determined, and rather stubborn at times!

This guy …

… is also tall and lanky and handsome, and is one of the funniest people I know. He’s creative, smart, charming, caring, and just a little bit fiesty!

When I look at them, I see glimpses of what they might be like as young men. I know they’ll both be taller than me, but I hope they’ll never be too big or too old for hugs. I’ve always thought the mother/son relationship was a unique and special thing, and I love the bond I have with my boys. There’s no doubt that our relationship will change over the coming years, but my hope is that we will become closer than ever. Even if there are some bumps along the way.

Time is precious. It’s a gift, and we have to make the most of every minute.

CMH #22 – Colour Challenge

A new month, and a new challenge at Challenge Me Happy. This one is a colour challenge, using this palette:

I had so much fun creating my example layout:

I’ve always wanted to play around with alphabet stickers like this, but it never seemed to fit my theme or photo. But I think this just works. Because my boy, he is so loveable. It really isn’t hard to love him – yes, even when he is being extremely aggravating! I love him to bits.

If you want to join in this challenge, upload the link to your blog post/gallery before midnight 15 May NZ time (GMT + 12 hours). And remember, you can ONLY use black, white and red. Have fun!

13 (lucky for some)

On this day, 13 years ago, I married my best friend.

Thirteen years! As they say, “lucky for some”.

I guess you could call me lucky. But I don’t think luck has anything to do with it. I believe Rob was – and is – a blessing from God. I look back on where it all began, and I can see how God brought us together. I feel so blessed.

Not long after we got married, we decided that we would stick with traditional wedding anniversary gifts. A very good decision on my part, because it means I WILL get pearls, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds … one day! So far, I’ve found it pretty easy to buy for Rob each year:

1 – Paper
2 – Cotton
3 – Leather
4 – Fruit/Flowers
5 – Wood
6 – Iron
7 – Copper
8 – Bronze
9 – Pottery
10 – Tin
11 – Steel
12 – Silk

So, what’s the gift for this year?

LACE.

Not a particularly masculine gift! I had to think completely outside the box on this one. I couldn’t imagine giving him anything made from actual lace, so I decided to do a bit of a play on the word “lace”.

I made him this card …

Inside the little blue card are a bunch of vouchers for Snowplanet, an indoor snow resort. It’s just 10 minutes from our place, which is convenient since real snow hasn’t started falling in NZ yet, and the closest ski slope is a good 4.5-hour drive away …

He loves snowboarding, and doesn’t get to go very often, so I have a feeling he’ll like my gift (we’re exchanging gifts tonight).

We also take turns organising our anniversary celebrations, and this year it’s Rob’s turn. Tonight he is cooking a special dinner for the two of us, and in a couple of weeks’ time, we are going away for a long weekend. I don’t know where, because he won’t tell me! He told me I needed to take a day off work, and he organised for the boys to go to my parents’ place for the weekend. We were originally supposed to go this coming weekend, but he changed it so we could go to his sister’s 30th birthday party on Saturday night. I don’t mind waiting for another couple of weeks, because it gives me something to look forward to.

See my little redhead flowergirl in that photo? She’s getting married in 2 months!! Wow!

I’m so thankful that I have been able to spend the last 13 years of my life married to the most wonderful man. He is the love of my life, my very best friend, and I adore him. I simply can’t imagine my life without him in it.

Rob, I love you more than ever, and can’t wait to spend the next 13+ years with you.

Happy Anniversary, baby! x

Trampoline antics

For the past few weeks, Ethan and Tyler have spent many hours playing together on the trampoline. It helps that the weather has been SENSATIONAL. Hardly seems like autumn; perhaps it is the mysterious summer we missed out on?

Anyway, the boys tend to go through stages where they never go on the trampoline at all, and then all of a sudden they can’t get enough of it. We’ve been in the “can’t get enough” phase for quite a while now, which was great during the school holidays!

Inspired by my friend Angella, I decided to take some photos of my guys doing their stuff on the trampoline. She recently posted photos of her kids playing 3-2-1 Ninja on their trampoline, where they count to 3 and then all strike a ‘ninja’ pose for her. I commented that I should do the same with my boys. They often pretend to be ninjas, whether on the trampoline or elsewhere, but I never take any photos of them doing it. And I have NO decent trampoline photos, even though we’ve owned it for almost 5 years! :-0

Cue the camera.

Cue lots of laughing and goofing around.

The boys were more than happy for me to take dozens of pictures of them. In fact, they begged me not to stop.

This one is my absolute favourite:

But I love these ones too …

And this one just cracks me up. This is what gravity does to long hair!!

* Don’t ask why Ethan wears goalie gloves while he’s jumping on the trampoline. I’m sure he’d shower and sleep with those gloves on if we let him!

ANZAC prayer

God of love and liberty,
we bring our thanks this day for the peace and security we enjoy,
which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war.
We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain,
but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come.
That the liberty, truth and justice which they sought to preserve
may be seen and known in all the nations upon earth.
This we pray in the name of the one who gave his life for the sake of the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.