I’m a bit sad …

Tonight I lost something very special to me. Not a person, or even a pet, but something that always reminded me of the day Rob asked me to marry him.

After Rob proposed to me (on Ruakaka beach), he surprised me with 2 crystal wine glasses with gold rims that had been engraved with the date – 24 April 1998 – and a heart. We drank sparkling grape juice from them and toasted our first few minutes as an engaged couple. After that, they were used on special occasions, romantic dinners, picnics at the beach, etc.

During 2005, we had extensive renovations done on our house and we had to move out for 4 months. We decided to keep our crockery and glassware in the kitchen cupboards, and secure them with the safety catches. However, the builders had to strengthen the wall behind the kitchen cabinets, and while they were working on it, a lot of our crockery, platters and wine glasses were broken. One of the engagement wine glasses broke that day, and I was really upset about it. Lots of other special things including wedding presents and engagement presents were broken as well, but nothing upset me more than the wine glass. I kept the stem and base, which had the engraving on it. Ever since then, we’ve used the other one from time to time, but I always felt a bit sad that we didn’t have both of them.

Tonight Rob had a glass of wine with his dinner, as he sometimes does. I prefer Coke Zero in this humid weather! He used the engagement glass. After dinner I was cleaning up, and I accidentally knocked it over, onto the floor. It broke. I cried. My 2 darling little boys stood and cried heartfelt tears with me, and they didn’t even know why I was so sad! They thought I was just crying because I broke something.

I am keeping the stem & base of that wine glass too. I couldn’t bear to part with them. I feel a bit silly for posting this and for being sad about it. But those glasses were such a special gift from Rob to me, and a reminder of a really wonderful and romantic day. In fact, yesterday I finished doing a layout of that very day in Debbie’s CJ, and I used a photo of Rob and I holding those wine glasses. At least I still have another photo of them, and I have the memory of that day which will last forever. 

The mullet is gone!

Well, it has been gone for 5 days now, but I hadn’t gotten around to taking an “after” photo Here is my big boy with and without his “westie” hairstyle:

The other day he said: “I want to cut my mullet off” and ”I want my hair cut like William’s”. So I gave Rob the task of finding out what William’s hair looks like. Turns out the kid has a No. 4, so Rob came home from Kindy on Monday and practically shaved Ethan’s head!!

And Ethan has kept “the mullet” which is in a little plastic bag on his table!

Popular?

Could this word be used to describe Ethan?

First, a bit of history. Ethan has a best friend called Devon. They both go to the same Kindy and Preschool, and we share picking up and dropping off duties with Devon’s mum and dad. E & D are practically joined at the hip. Most of the time. Lately they have had a few little “fights”, but like most 4-year-olds, they are best friends again 10 minutes later.

We’re glad that E & D are such good friends, and we encourage the boys to nuture their friendship. But we are also trying to encourage Ethan to play with other kids too. He has 2 other really good friends at Kindy – Teva and Cian. Up until this week, they hadn’t made the move from Afternoon to Morning Kindy. So it was exciting for Ethan on Monday when he saw they had been moved up! Today he and Cian are going to Teva’s house to play after Kindy. Deciding to go was a pretty big deal for Ethan last night. Initially he wanted to go, then he said he didn’t. Then he changed his mind again! So he IS going, but obviously there is a little bit of anxiety in his mind about it. Apart from going to Devon’s house, Ethan hasn’t really been to other kids’ houses without one of us before. It’s a big step.

Okay, so what does this have to do with being popular? Well, despite Ethan’s shyness and reluctance to branch out and play with other kids, it appears that he is a really popular kid! The Kindy teachers have all told us that lots of the other boys want Ethan to play with them. And I’ve seen other boys ask him to join in their games, but Ethan always says he is “too shy”. The teachers have noticed that he is well-liked and yet he lacks the confidence to leave his comfort zone. I think part of the reason is that he doesn’t want Devon to be mad at him for playing with other kids. He’s very sensitive and doesn’t like it when Devon gets upset with him. It has happened a few times recently, when Ethan has wanted to take part in an activity (like playing under the sprinkler) and Devon hasn’t.

But I have to say, I’m really pleased that the teachers are taking such an interest in Ethan and helping him to step out into something new. They could easily have just left him to play happily with the friends he already has. But they’ve identified that he is a likeable little boy who has the potential to have lots of friends. If he does this, it will really help him when he starts school. I’m pretty sure Devon is going to be in a different New Entrant class, so if Ethan gets to know other kids who might be in his own class, it will be a great boost for his confidence and ability to settle into school.

It just really warms my heart to see how much other kids want to play with my son. There is nothing I want more than for him to be happy in life. I can’t wait to hear about his playdate this afternoon, I’m sure he’s going to have a great time!

**Edited to add** Apparently he had a great time playing at Teva’s house!

Feel like sharing …

So some of my fellow bloggers are doing a “photo a day” challenge for a month. I didn’t join up, but after seeing some lovely pics on their blogs, I felt like sharing some of my all-time favourites for you all to enjoy.

Time with Tyler

Now that Ethan is at morning Kindy 5 days/week, I get to spend half of every Friday (the day I’m home — I work 1/2 day) with Tyler. On his own. He has been so much fun to have around!

The boys do get along well a lot of the time, and they love each other to bits, but they fight. A lot. Consequently, when I’m trying to work from home with both kids here … well, let’s just say it’s a tad difficult — and I end up having to do most of it at night or at the weekend. But on their own, they are both so easy! Tyler especially. He just plays happily in the playroom while I work next to him on the computer. Of course I don’t work the entire time, since it is my half day. So we have fun doing things together as well. He loves getting undivided attention for a change!

This morning we went up the shops to pick up a few things. He was so well behaved, but that wasn’t why I enjoyed it so much. I just enjoyed talking with him. That probably sounds odd, but normally it is impossible to do because Ethan kind of, oh, Never Shuts Up. Which makes it difficult for Tyler to get a word in edgeways! But when it is just the two of us, he chats away about everything he sees. To top it all off, he has now starting asking tons of questions! Like today, when I parked the car, he said “why are we leaving the car here?”… I got such a fright! Is it starting now?? I had pretty much forgotten that Ethan started The Questions when he was about this age. (Oh, and he still does it, only the questions are harder to answer).

But I’m honestly really enjoying having these little chats with Tyler, and spending more one-on-one time with him. I’m learning more about him every day. His personality is just shining through these days, and I love it!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Today is the 10th Valentine’s Day that Rob and I have shared together. In some ways, it is actually the 11th. We starting going out together on 2 March 1997, so technically we “missed” Valentine’s Day that first year. However, the day after we started going out together, I gave Rob a card and a poem that I had written and intended to give him on Valentine’s Day (yes, I did indeed chicken out). So in a way we *did* celebrate Valentine’s Day that first year, it was just a couple of weeks late!

Anyway … 10 years! It feels incredible to think we’ve been together that long – more than 1/3 of my life! But the last 10 years have been wonderful. I’m very blessed to be married to the *perfect* man … and by that I mean the man who is perfect for ME. The one thing that I love about our relationship is that we really are best friends; we were even before we started going out together. And I truely believe that we were made for each other.
Happy Valentine’s Day, honey. I love you!

We had this song playing while we signed the register at our wedding:

Godsend by DC Talk

Hoping, praying, I’ve been waiting
Everybody needs somebody to love
There’s no question, straight from heaven
You’re my angel, I’m so crazy for you

(chorus)
You’re a Godsend
A blessing from above
You’ve been God-sent to me
You’re the Godsend I’ve been dreaming of
You’re a Godsend

Holding your hand, touching your face
I will love you now and always I swear
I will never forget that first moment we met
When two worlds collided and I found my best friend

(repeat chorus)

(bridge)
I was made for you, you were made for me
In this lonely world, we were meant to be in love

I will never forget that first moment we met
When two worlds, they crashed in
And I found my best friend

Male attention …

No, I’m not getting more of it. This post is most definitely not about me!

Lately Ethan has been acting a little strange. I was sure most of it could be chalked up to being on holiday, being away from Kindy and his little buddies, and spending lots more time with us, our family & close friends. But the other day we realised that it could be described as follows: basically, Ethan is craving male attention.

Not so much from his Daddy – probably because he gives him TONS of attention already (he’s a very hands-on father who spends heaps of time with both boys. More than most Dads, I imagine). No, the attention he has wanted has been from other men in his life. Mostly his Grandad, his Godfather Phil, and our family friend Ben (who is 20). Grandad and Ben were both on holiday in Hahei with us, so Ethan got to spend a lot of time with them. Everything Ben did, Ethan wanted to do. He even made comments like “I want a ring like Ben’s” and “I want to be like Ben”. Which is cool, but it got almost obsessive. The situation is similar with Phil, who was round here with Jo & Noah for dinner last night. Ethan just wouldn’t leave him alone. He constantly wanted Phil to play with him. More than usual.

I’m not sure if this is related to the big testosterone surge that he is apparently experiencing right now. The one our Plunket nurse told us about. The one we’ve been blaming for an increase in his aggressiveness, “gun talk” and newfound enjoyment of extra-rough play. I guess it could be linked. Steve Biddulph, author of Raising Boys says that the testosterone surge drops by age 5 and they will calm down. Which is extremely reassuring, I must say!

But it might not have anything to do with testosterone. I’m a bit stumped, really. I would expect a boy his age to start acting like this if he didn’t have a strong male role model in his life. Ethan couldn’t have a better male role model than Rob. He’s there for him all the time, he spends quality time with him, he is so active in every part of his life. I guess he might just be craving that kind of attention. It could just as easily be from other females in his life, but they are obviously much less likely to engage in play fighting, rough-housing and sports … which are the things Ethan usually wants to do right now. Which is why he is looking to the guys, I suppose.

He still loves to sit down and read, or practice his drawing and writing skills. He’ll usually choose to do that with me, or Nana, or another female. Like last night, he sat and played a drawing game with Jo for ages. He loved it. But I think if we had allowed him to, he would have bypassed the drawing game for some more “chase me, sand monster” games with Phil.

Anyway, it just goes to prove that this parenting thing is pretty hard work. I’m the first to admit I don’t know everything, and the second to admit that I need to know everything. I find it hard to just accept that something is happening without knowing WHY. So as you can imagine, I’m struggling with this one!

Enrolling at school

I’ve just finished the process of enrolling Ethan at school. The school prefers it to be done early. I actually think I’m a bit later than they would like, but since we’re in the zone they can’t turn us away. He turns 5 at the end of May, and he’ll be starting school on June 5th. Only 4 months away!

I decided that since the 2007 Stationary Lists were included in the enrollment pack, I would buy his now while the stuff is cheap and readily available.  

Year 0-1

1x Large Book Bag

1x 1U4 12mm ruled exercise book

1x Warwick Project Book

2x 1F4 12mm ruled exercise books

2x Clearfile 20 leaf (1 blue plus 1 other colour)

3x Large Amos glue sticks (35g)

4x Black whiteboard markers

2x Coloured whiteboard markers

5x Bruynzeel Triple grip pencils (not Faber-Casteel as they are too dark)

1x Packet Jovi crayons

Okay, so most of the stuff on the list seemed pretty ordinary. I found the books and clearfiles easily enough. I was a little surprised that they specified Brand names though. It makes it a little hard to get the really good prices (ie. from the Warehouse) since only Whitcoulls and Paper Plus have the brands they listed. And I’m not really sure why they had to have those particular pencils. I couldn’t find them so I got a different brand anyway! The only thing I haven’t got yet is the crayons, because Whitcoulls had sold out of them. But they are getting more in, so I’ll be able to get them later on.

But what is up with the whiteboard markers? I know that schools include items on the stationary lists that are for the teacher/classroom, and not for the individual child … but seriously, 6 whiteboard markers each??? In a class of 30 kids, that is 180 markers! Who needs that?? Tell me, oh mothers-of-school-aged-children, is this normal?? The suckers aren’t cheap, either! $3.99 or $4.20 each for the “good” brands, though I managed to find some cheapies for $2.90 at another shop.

It made me think about the article I read in the Herald a few days ago. Schools are starting to ask for all sorts of things on their stationary lists. Like boxes of tissues! I know many schools in the States already ask for wet wipes, band aids, paper plates, paper towels, ziplock bags and goodness knows what else.

I wonder … whatever happened to the good ole days of a tote-tray with a 1B5, a mighty pad and a couple of pencils??

What’s in my handbag?

Michelle aka Mrs Frizz dared me to do this, so how could I refuse?

I’m guessing that this *may* be the most boring post I’ve ever written! But here goes …

wallet (I’m not going to list what’s in there!)
book of stamps
keys
gym barcode tag
electronic key card for work
small pack of tissues
2 pens
pencil
small Nivea moisturiser
Weight Watchers Point Calculator
Weight Watchers Eating Out Guide
small Kakuro puzzle book
diary
Cancer Society roll-on sunblock
Cool Charm “Icy Shimmer” body spray
2 tampons
iPod and earbuds
Tommy Girl roll-on perfume oil
cellphone
Eclipse Flash fresh breath strips
1/2 packet Extra chewing gum
Lindaur Fraise lip gloss
Botanica hayfever gel
Georgie on Ice “Pink” perfume stick
Nutrimetics “Green Apple” juicy lip balm
Eclipse mints
Starburst Sucks pineapple lollipop
Panadol
Nurofen
Voltaren
(hmm, I sense a bit of a theme here …)
plastic bracelet Ethan made me
2 hair ties

The really scary thing is that I was laughing about how much some of the other girls had in their handbags … then I wrote my list and saw I had almost as much! Oh, the shame!

My Lasagne Recipe

Some of the SE forum girls have requested this recipe.
I use a Maggi packet mix as the base of this dish (*blush*) but I adapt it according to my own tastes. This recipe is a great way to sneak extra veggies into your kids, mine LOVE eating this and have no idea that there are so many veggies in it

1 Maggi “Beef Lasagne” packet mix
Lasagne sheets (uncooked)
425g can tomato puree (I often use the one with extra herbs)
500g minced beef
1T olive oil
2 carrots, grated
1 zucchini, grated
4 large mushrooms, grated
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
¼ cup water
1 ½ cups grated cheese
1 Cheese Sauce packet mix (sometimes I make my own)

Preheat oven to 180C.
Heat olive oil in a frying pan and brown mince. Add garlic and onion and saute until cooked. Add other grated veggies and cook for a few minutes. Combine Maggi packet mix, water and tomato puree and add to the pan. Mix well and simmer over a low heat for about 15 min, stirring often.
In a lasagne dish coated with cooking spray, make layers of mince mixture and lasagne sheets and repeat 3 times, finishing with lasagne sheets. Pour over the cheese sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Cook for approximately 40 min. Allow to stand for 5-10 min before serving.
Serves 4-6.