These guys

These guys are my sunshine on a cloudy day. Seriously, I love them so much my heart feels like it could burst.

I’m not sugar-coating anything here. My kids are not perfect. They have their moments, like any other kids. But still, I love them.

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I love my very own resident superheroes. This week, protection has been offered by these guys. Batman and Captain Underpants.

I love being “the girl” who needs rescuing. Do they understand me better than I understand myself? Because you know, sometimes I really do need to be rescued. From circumstances. From anxiety. From myself.

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I love the little “huts” these guys make around the house.

Safe, warm places where they sit and play with their toys and read books together.
Yes, I love the hut-building. Even when they accidentally pull out the computer phone line in the process, and I lose half an hour’s (unsaved) work.

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I love the flowers these guys pick for me.

After a night out on Wednesday, I arrived home to find a dead daisy on the hall table. Later, when I tiptoed into Tyler’s room to kiss him goodnight, I heard him whisper, “Did you find your flower, Mummy?”

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My Dad got made redundant yesterday. I love that these guys (literally) wiped away my tears. They made me (and Dad) smile with their words:

Ethan: “We will give Grandad all the money from our moneyboxes.”

Tyler (he who is FOUR): “I want to pray for Grandad now. Can I pray for him now? Okay. Dear Jesus, help Grandad get more money and find a new job. And help him get new jobs when he loses his job again. Watch our blessings on him and make him get more money from us and God. Amen.”

Um, AMEN.

These guys have so much to teach me. I want to always keep my heart tender and open, so I can learn from them. Yet many times I fail to do this.
Life is hard. It is not a game. But I don’t want to be so consumed and overwhelmed with grown-up life and grown-up reponsibilities that I forget how to …

~ let somebody else rescue me when I don’t have the strength …
~ take time out to find comfort in a warm and safe place …
~ stop and smell the roses (or the daisies) …
~ have a childlike faith, one that focuses on God and not on my fears.

“It is such comfort to drop the tangles of life into God’s hands, and leave them there.”

A glimpse …

… of what I have been doing over the past couple of weeks.

I’ve been working on Creative Team stuff for Scrap The Boys, and Design Team stuff for both Crafty Tart and Paper Pesto. Oh, and challenge examples for The Sketch Book.

Give me a B! Give me a U! An S! And a Y!

My Paper Pesto work will be going up on the blog this week, so I’ll be able to share those layouts in a few days’ time.

But until then, here are a few sneak peeks of what I’ve been designing for Crafty Tart:

Questionable

About 2 years ago, my friend Angella interviewed me. You can read her questions and my answers here.

Well, Angella has interviewed me again. Here’s what she wanted to know about yours truly:

1. Why do you blog and what got you started? (I always love to hear people’s stories on this).

My first introduction to the concept of blogging was through my friend Jenn, who lives in Canada (she really does! She IS real! I visited her in 2006 and even stayed at her house!).
Jenn & I first met online as members of a Parenting Forum when we were pregnant with our now almost-7-year-olds (her second son, my first). One day I noticed that her forum signature contained a new link, to something called her “blog”. Naturally, I checked it out. I thought it was great! But I also thought it would be too time consuming to have a blog of my own.
Fast-forward a couple of years, and I stumbled across an article in a Parenting magazine about the benefits of blogging. How friends and family members who lived far away could keep in touch and stay up-to-date with family life, without the need for “group emails” (no offence to anyone who still writes those).
It was the final push I needed to get going. The next day, Blairs Boys was born.
That was 3 1/2 years ago, and I’ve never looked back.

2. I think that you like what you do career-wise, but is there another career that intrigues you?

You’re right, I do like my career (I’m a medical writer/editor, for those who don’t already know). For me, it’s a great way to combine my first love, writing, and my (expensive) tertiary education (I have a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Pharmacology).
But … I have always wanted to be a Medical Textbook Illustrator. You know those amazing diagrams of the human body that you see in textbooks? I’d like to be the person who draws them.
I don’t know if the people who do those drawings are simply artists who get paid to illustrate all kinds of books, or if they are artistic people with a medical background who get to dissect bodily organs and then draw what they see. I’d only want the job if it were the latter. You see, when I was at high school, I wanted to be a Forensic Pathologist. To do so, I would have had to go to Medical School for 7 years to become a doctor, and then complete ANOTHER 7 years or so of “extra training”. When I started University at the tender age of 17, the thought of being there for 14 years was soooo not a happening thing. Which is why I am NOT a Forensic Pathologist.

3. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’ve already been to Australia, the States and Canada. And as much as I would love to return to those countries and see parts that I haven’t yet visited, I would have to say Europe and Scandinavia.
For some reason, Italy has always appealed to me as a holiday destination. Besides, I love pasta, so it was clearly meant to be.
Because I have both Swedish and Danish ancestry, I would love to visit those countries and learn more about my heritage (and possibly meet some of my relatives).

4. You, like me, seem to be both logical and creative. Which side do you find invigorates you more?

I would say the creative side. I do enjoy Science (obviously, or else why would I study it for 3 years at University?) but it doesn’t really excite me. It’s not my passion. I am no Gill Grissom.
Being creative is what brings me joy. I love to write, paint, sing, play the piano, scrapbook and take photographs. Those are the things I am really passionate about.

5. You are an amazing scrapbooker. How long have you been doing it? Did you have a hard time getting started, or did it just come naturally to you?

I started scrapbooking about 4 years ago. Tyler was just a baby, and we were living in my parents’ garage while we renovated our house. We lived there for 4 months, and I think I scrapbooked Every. Single. Day. I was recovering from postnatal depression at the time, and I think scrapbooking really helped me to come through that.
I taught myself “how to”, and it did come pretty naturally to me. I had a couple of books that I used at the start (I scraplifted a few layouts to get myself going). But I never took any classes to “learn” how to scrapbook.
Of course, there are those times when the mojo goes on holiday. When that happens, I look online for inspiration. I might scraplift a layout, work from a sketch, join in a challenge, or peruse some online galleries and blogs.

Now, if you would like ME to interview YOU, here’s what to do:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will email you 5 questions.
3. You answer the questions on your blog.

Gratitude list

Every now and then, it hits me like a ton of bricks: I have so much to be grateful for.

I’m one of those people who likes to go back and read my old blog posts. When I’m going through a bit of a rough patch, I look through my archives for posts like this one. I search on words like “grateful”, “thankful”, “blessed” and “positive”. Doing this on a regular basis reminds me of all the good things in my life; it reminds me to be thankful.

Today, I am grateful for …

1. My new car.
A few weeks ago, Rob’s car blew a head gasket, and we decided it wasn’t worth fixing. My (20-year-old) car will become our “second car” (a.k.a. Rob’s car, lol) and our new one will be our primary (family) vehicle.

2. Surprises.
Something amazing happened that we were NOT expecting.
It was both an answer to prayer, and a dream come true. All I can say is that it is going to make a really big difference in our lives, and we are truly grateful.
**No, I am NOT pregnant!!**

3. Progress.
Tyler is starting to settle into Kindy. Slowly. He had 3 good days and 2 bad days last week. More good than bad. It may not be perfect, but it’s progress.

4. Friendship.
My friends ROCK. They “get me”, 100%. They make me laugh, they cry with me, they support me and encourage me in everything I do. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

5. Love.
Rob and I celebrated Valentine’s Day by going to Hola! for dinner last night. It’s at times like this (ie. a night out together, without the kids), I am reminded just how much I love my husband. He is my best friend, my rock, my constant. My life would not be complete without him.

6. Faith.
My God strengthens me when I am weak. He meets my every need. He brings me hope. Joy. Peace. Comfort. Unfailing love.

What are you thankful for today?

School’s back!

Okay, so school actually went back last week, but I am only just finding time to blog about it.

Shiny sunscreened faces:

ETHAN

Ethan started Year 3 on Wednesday. He loves his teacher, loves his classroom, and loves his classmates. Settling in was not an issue. Ethan had a really fun summer holiday, but he was beyond excited about going back to school. He just loves it. But I was pretty much the same when I was young. He is so much like me it’s scary.

I was pretty organised this year, and bought Ethan’s stationary about 3-4 weeks ago. But on Tuesday afternoon (yes, the day before school started), I realised that I had forgotten to cover his exercise books! I thought I didn’t have any Duraseal, but I found a roll of clear stuff from the $2 shop. I also found a huge pack of calendar covers (front & back) that a friend had given me. So I decided to use the back covers which show all 12 pictures for the year. They were a perfect size for his books, so I stuck them on the front and back, and then covered the books with the clear Duraseal.

I think they turned out pretty awesome!

Front:

Back:

Ethan loves them, and now his books will be unique. Last year, he had Spongebob Squarepants Duraseal – and so did 3 other kids in his class. The books are all named, of course, but this year it will be easier for him to quickly locate his ones from amongst the pile.

Ethan is just as happy as a clam. He’s back at school. Athletics started up again last week. His drum lessons start again tomorrow. His class also starts swimming tomorrow, which he is really looking forward to. He is SO confident in the water now, and I know he will want to practice his underwater somersaults.

TYLER

Tyler started morning Kindy last Monday. Instead of going 3 afternoons/week (plus 2 mornings at Preschool), he now goes 5 mornings/week (plus 2 afternoons at Preschool).

Sadly, he is finding it hard to settle in to Kindy again, which is not like him at all. He’s always been so confident and happy there. Apart from a brief phase of not wanting to be left, he has never cried or gotten upset when we have dropped him off. But last week, he cried every time. He is always really excited about going, and when we arrive he is perfectly happy about being there … until I leave.

By Thursday, I felt emotionally drained. I know he’s fine after I leave (because I have phoned when I get home to ask), and when I pick him up he always says he has had lots of fun. But the goodbyes have been awful. I hate having to walk away and leave him standing at the gate, crying.

I know he is probably just getting used to being back in a routine after 6-7 weeks of no Kindy, as well as dealing with the transition from afternoons to mornings (different kids, etc). Tyler really misses his little Asian friends from afternoon Kindy, and unfortunately they won’t be moving to mornings for another few months. I’m encouraging him to make some new friends, but it’s hard when most of the others already have buddies that they play with.

Over the weekend, I came up with a few ideas to help him settle in. I made him a special Reward Chart. He gets a sticker each time he doesn’t cry or make a fuss when I drop him off. For each sticker, he gets a Jelly Baby (his favourite lollies). Once he gets 20 stickers, he gets a present from me.

I’ve also ordered a book for Tyler & I to read together. Called “The Kissing Hand”, it’s about a raccoon who is nervous about starting school. His mother kisses his hand so he will always have it with him, no matter where he goes. If he gets scared or sad, he can put his hand on his cheek and feel her love.

I’d love to hear any advice from others who have been through this, or from my wise Kindergarten teacher friends. Trace? Mandy?
We have actually been through this before with Ethan (who took a LONG time to settle into Kindy), but Tyler is nothing like his brother. We’ve learned that what works for one doesn’t always work for the other.

Hopefully the Reward Chart will help. I think it will; he was VERY excited when I showed it to him! He didn’t cry when Rob dropped him off this morning, so he got a sticker and a lolly. Here’s hoping that trend continues!!

Nut Farm

As I mentioned in my Hahei 2009 post, we went to a Macadamia Orchard whilst on holiday. We’ve been holidaying in Hahei for 7 years now, but hadn’t been to the orchard before.

One of the days dawned a little overcast and slightly cooler than normal, so we decided to check out the orchard in the morning (hoping that the sun would be shining in the afternoon so we could swim … and it was).

The orchard was really interesting. The German guy working there was kind enough to give us an impromptu tour and explain how the nuts are grown and harvested.

We also did a little sampling. Yum.

We bought a bag of dark chocolate macadamias, which didn’t even last the 10 minute car trip back to the holiday house. We also got a packet of lemon & macadamia rub to put on fish or chicken before cooking. We tried it later in the week on some BBQ’d prawns – delish!

Here are a few photos from our trip to the Nut Farm (as Tyler liked to call it):

This is what the nuts look like on the tree:

And here’s what they look like once they’ve fallen off:

Aunty Leah, Tyler, Ethan & Rob searching for macadamias (Ethan was a bit cold, so he borrowed Rob’s shirt):

Checking out the chickens (this is the ONLY photo of me from our holiday … I was always behind the camera):

And I can’t help but share this one of Tyler, looking totally adorable:

Calling all Crafty Tarts …

As you know, I am a designer for Crafty Tart. They are looking for 3 new Design Team members for 2009.

If you are interested, check out the brand new Crafty Tart blog for all the details!

To apply, submit the following to designteam@craftytart.com before midnight, 28 February 2009:

Applications must include the following 4 items:

* 1 recent layout with a minimum of 2 photos.
* 1 recent layout using a number of embellishments enhancing the layout with lots of texture and dimension.
* 1 recent layout which has a minimalistic (not so busy) style.
* 1 layout or creation featuring ‘yourself’ and something about you.

Please also include the following in your application:

1. Details of yourself including name, email address, and full contact information.
2. Details of any other design teams you are currently on.
3. Details of all current communities, blogs, message boards that you are active on.
4. Why you think you would make a great DT member?
5. What you feel your best attribute/skill as a scrapbooker is?
6. Any other interesting information you feel you want us to know!

The CraftyTart DT role will be varied, requiring participation in a number of areas – creating layouts, chatting and moderating on the CraftyTart Forum, setting challenges, reviewing products and potentially lots more!

Hahei 2009

Yesterday we arrived home after a week in beautiful Hahei. It was absolutely perfect (but not long enough).

We spent the long hot days swimming, making sandcastles, kayaking, snorkelling, skimboarding, listening to good music, going for walks, playing beach cricket, reading, eating ice cream, climbing trees, playing cards & board games, and just spending time together.

It was great spending the week with Mum, Dad & Leah. And it was awesome having our friends come and stay too. The boys especially loved having so many people to play with!

So, what did we get up to? We visited the Macadamia Orchard (more on that in a later post). We drove to Cooks Beach and swam in the estuary. We caught the ferry over to Whitianga and got fish & chips for dinner (we do this every year, it has become one of our holiday traditions). We went to Hot Water Beach and dug our own hot pool. We walked to Cathedral Cove (it’s about a 30-minute walk, and it gets HOT … but the boys were absolute troopers). We walked to the ice cream shop – more than once.
And one evening all the “young adults” went out for dessert while the “oldies” stayed home and watched the kids.

Ethan tried snorkelling for the first time and did really well.

Tyler discovered how much fun boogie boarding can be. He especially enjoyed it at Cooks Beach estuary, where the waves were smaller (read: nonexistent).

Here are a few more photos from our week:

At the playground on the only overcast (and cooler) day:

Ethan & Blair playing Connect Four, in a bid to be “The Champion Of The World”.

Hahei Beach

Grandad & Tyler just chilling out:

Playing beach cricket:

Cathedral Cove

Hot Water Beach

Ethan, Glenys & Shelley (with Grandad, our very own hole-digger, in the background):

Tyler & Aunty Leah:

The week just flew by, and none of us wanted to come home!
I returned to find 130 emails in my inbox, and 189 blog posts on Bloglines (yikes). I’ve read most of them but will NOT be commenting. Sorry!

As difficult as it is when a vacation comes to an end and reality sets back in, I am grateful for the chance we had to really relax and rejuvenate before getting stuck into another very busy year.
But I can’t wait to visit Hahei next year and do it all over again.