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!

A letter to my son

Dear Tyler,

In a few short months, you will be turning 5 and starting school. I am excited for you, because you can’t wait, but I am also a little sad. You see, I feel like your preschool years have gone by too quickly. Sure, there were times when I wished you would grow up a little faster (usually when you were going through a particularly trying stage), but oh how I miss my angelic chubby-faced baby, my curly-haired toddler, my inquisitive 3-year-old.

But you know what? I have to face the facts: you are growing up before my very eyes. And as much as I feel that time moves too quickly, I really love watching you change and learn and grow. I love seeing your personality emerge.

You are the complete opposite of your brother. Your looks and personalities couldn’t be more different. And yet, you want to be JUST like him. You are so blessed to have a wonderful big brother like Ethan. He is a good role model, in many ways. But he’s not YOU. I want to encourage you to be your own person, Tyler. Have your own interests and favourite things. Develop your natural personality, without trying to be like your brother. It’s great to emulate the things that you admire in Ethan, but don’t give up on your own dreams and desires in your self-imposed quest to imitate him.

At the moment, it’s like this: If Ethan asks for honey on his toast, you change your request to match his. When we eat out, you order whatever Ethan orders (and if he orders after you, you subsequently change your mind). Ethan does Athletics; you want to do it as well (next Summer). Ethan plays soccer; now you play too. Ethan is learning the drums; you want to learn also.
Tyler, if you really love Athletics, soccer and playing the drums, then I’m happy for you to do those things. But if your burning desire is to play rugby or learn the piano, I want you to have the courage to say so.

I want you to have the freedom to be yourself, whoever that may be. We’re still discovering that, together. And I don’t want that discovery to be clouded by your desire to be just like Ethan. I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to live in his shadow. He is not you; you are not him. I don’t expect (or want) you to be just like him.

Soon you will start school. You may not have the academic prowess that your brother possesses. But that’s fine with me. I will be proud of you for learning to read, whether it takes you 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years. I will be proud of you for trying your best and giving it your all. Your best may not be enough to propell you to the top of the class, but I don’t care. You can be at the bottom and I will still love you and encourage you and cheer for you. Who knows? Maybe you will be just as smart as your brother. Maybe you will be smarter. It doesn’t matter to me.

More than anything, I want you to know that I have made a conscious effort NOT to compare the two of you. I knew from the moment you were born that you had a very different personality. I knew you were going to be the fiesty one, the strong-willed one. I knew my parenting abilities would be put to the test, that I would have to change my thinking sometimes in order to fully understand you. But that’s not a bad thing at all. You have made me a better person.
When you arrived, I felt like Daddy and I were first-time parents again. But that just goes to prove that all children are totally unique. And that’s why we don’t get an instruction manual at birth. We have to figure you out on our own. Except we’re not really doing it on our own; God is helping us.

God made you, and you are special. To him. To us. To many people. I have so many dreams for your future, but it may surprise you to know that they’re not dependent on anything. They’re not dependent on your abilities or talents or skills. My dreams for you are pretty simple: I want you to know God. I want you to be a good person. I want you to be happy. I want you to be yourself. Whatever form those things take, whatever road you choose to walk to get there. But more than anything else, I want you to know that I love you, and I will always be here for you.

Dream big, aim high, believe in yourself. You have so much potential! Don’t give up when things get tough. Pick yourself up and carry on. When you do your best, do YOUR best. Don’t try to be somebody else; be yourself.

I love you, Tyler.

Mummy xx

Scrap-busy!

Just before I went on holiday, I did some Design Team work for Crafty Tart. Being May, the theme was “Celebrating Mothers”.

First, I made a little mini album to give my Mum for Mother’s Day.

MOTHER MINI ALBUM

To make the album, I used giant playing cards from the $2 shop. I covered the reverse side of each card with patterned paper, then added quotes and song lyrics about motherhood. I punched a hole in the corner of each card, and threaded them onto a binding ring.

Here’s the back:

Click here to see more photos of the individual pages.

I also did the following layouts, focusing on my Mum or on my own role as a mother:

MOTHER AND FRIEND

Journalling: The 3 of us have a very close & special bond. We are bonded by blood, as mother, daughters & sisters. But more than that, we are best friends. My mum is so much more than my mother, and I am so grateful.

OUR VACATION

Journalling: Lazy Days @ Hahei … My mum is not only a great Mum, she’s also a fantastic Nana to Ethan & Tyler. She loves them so much and has so much time for them.

YOU MAKE ME HAPPY

Journalling: Tyler, you fill my life with so much joy. Your smile can cheer me up on a bad day. Your sense of humour is something else! You crack me up sometimes. Love “doing life” with you, my sweet boy.

I’m currently working on some more layouts for Crafty Tart. Hopefully I will be able to share those next week.

Last week, Crafty Tart launched its very first competition, “NZ’s Top Trend Scrapper“.
I’m a bit late announcing it on my blog, but it has taken me some time to get caught up on everything.
Anyway, the second challenge goes up today. It’s a good one, so check it out!

Speaking of challenges, the latest Scrap The Boys challenge is called “Measuring Up”.

This month, think about your boys and how fast they grow. One of the following words needs to appear in your title:
Grow (eg. you have grown up so fast)
Time (eg. where has the time gone?)
Additional criteria:
Embellishments that measure (eg. clocks, measuring tapes, rulers, grids, calendars, date stamps).
Deadline: Sunday 31 May

Here’s my example layout:

GROWN

Journalling: Ethan, I can’t believe how fast you have grown! As I look back at these photos from 6 years ago, it seems like only yesterday we had a 10-month old.
Photos – April ‘03
Journalling – April ‘09

And finally, here are a couple of layouts I did for The Sketch Book a while ago:

CHILLY?

Journalling: It actually wasn’t cold at all when we visited the snow (Aug ‘08) … but you look the part!

MY SON

This one was for a recipe challenge I set (stripes, dots and a frame). And amazingly, it was done using ALL scraps!

Journalling: What can I say? Ethan, I love you more than words can ever express. You bring me so much joy, you are such a special little boy. Love you forever, Mumma xx

Thanks for looking.

Bula!

*WARNING* ~ lots of photos!

Well, we are back from a truly wonderful week in Fiji. What a fabulous experience!

Neither of us had ever been to Fiji before (or any other tropical island, for that matter) so it was all very new and exciting. We started saving for this trip in 2007, so the anticipation was high. But I have to say, it was totally worth doing all that overtime!

There was actually a bit of drama at the start of our trip. Our flight left Auckland at 3.30pm, as scheduled. After we had been in the air for about an hour, there was an announcement from the pilot. There was a problem with the plane. Something to do with the indicator flaps. It was “nothing to be concerned about”, but unfortunately the plane would have to return to Auckland. Gutted!
It took another hour to get back, and then we sat on the plane for an hour and a half, eating dinner while we waited for a replacement plane to arrive. From Brisbane, Australia. More waiting, then finally we boarded the new plane and were on our way to Fiji. Again.

By the time we arrived in Nadi and got a taxi to our hotel, it was 11.30pm. Five hours after our scheduled arrival time of 6.30pm.

But that was merely a blip. Because the rest of the trip was absolute perfection.

Our first night was spent at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.

The next morning, we took a courtesy coach to Port Denerau. There we boarded the South Sea Cruises ferry, bound for the beautiful Mamanuca Islands.

On the way, the ferry dropped passengers off at various other island resorts (South Sea, Beachcomber, Treasure and Bounty), giving us our first glimpse of palm tree covered islands with white sand and clear, sparkling water. Bliss!

As the boat arrived at our destination, Mana Island, we were greeted with joyful singing and guitar playing, and many a “Bula!” from the friendly Fijian resort staff who were at the wharf to meet & greet us.

Mana Island Resort and Spa. Our home for the next 6 nights.

This was our Island Bure. The stone wall you can see is an outdoor shower, with 8-foot high walls. It was FABULOUS! It’s quite a surreal experience to look up in the shower and see this:

The room itself was stunning and immaculate, with air conditioning, a King-sized bed and beautiful amenities.

We spent long, hot days snorkelling and swimming, reading by the pool, exploring the island, and relaxing.
The resort has 3 beaches, and all of them are perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

North Beach:

South Beach:

Sunset Beach:

The snorkelling was AMAZING.
We saw so many beautiful tropical fish, of every imaginable colour, as well as coral, anenomes, sea cucumber and starfish. Every time we swam out over the reef and got to the edge (the dropoff), it reminded me of “Finding Nemo”. It was just like the movie. The water was so clear, and the fish just swam around us, never afraid. One of the most amazing things was seeing huge schools of blue fish and yellow fish, literally hundreds of them, all swimming together in a group. Rob saw a stingray and a baby shark. I’m glad I didn’t see either!

There is a great lookout point above the resort, where we enjoyed these spectacular views:

The pools:

We decided that in order to really experience Fijian culture, we would make the most of the many activities and demonstrations the resort had to offer.

Making (and eating!) coconut ice cream:

Basket weaving:

Pool volleyball, with other guests and resort staff:

Bingo:

Bingo happens every evening during happy hour (5-6pm), next to the pool bar. We won 3 games on our last night, and made about $F11.

Each night after dinner, we enjoyed the live band and the various cultural performances, including a church choir, Polynesian dancing, fire dancing, Meke shows, and a beach bonfire party.

Over the hill from the resort was a secluded beach where a reality TV show was filmed. We were told it was Survivor, but I don’t think it was. Rob took these photos of the “set” that was built and still stands today:

On our last full day (which unfortunately turned out to be the only overcast day), we spent the day sailing on a beautiful 83-foot schooner called “Seaspray”.

The ship took us to Monriki Island in the Yasawa group, where Tom Hanks filmed the movie “Castaway”. We were able to go ashore and explore the island, and snorkel in the surrounding waters.

Back on the ship, we enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch (cooked by the crew).

We then sailed to another island, home to a traditional Fijian village. We were welcomed to the village with a traditional Kava ceremony.

I was quite sad to see the poverty that a lot of Fijian people live in, but they all seemed so happy.

The village children were out in the water, swimming, paddling their canoes and fishing from little boats. They were laughing and having the time of their lives, and were so friendly.

Apart from that one overcast day, which started with a bit of rain, we had amazing weather the whole time we were there. Clear blue skies, with temperatures of about 28-30C every day. It was certainly a shock to the system to come back to Auckland’s 14C and rain! My tan was looking pretty good, but is now hidden away under all my winter layers!

Saying goodbye was bittersweet. On the one hand, we didn’t want to leave, but on the other hand we couldn’t wait to see our boys again (who, incidentally, had a wonderful time with their grandparents).

Words really cannot explain how amazing this holiday was. It was the perfect way to celebrate our 10-year anniversary.
The wonderful memories I have will last me a lifetime. I am so glad that Rob and I were able to share this experience together.

Vinaka, Fiji!