spring...

I am really loving this little spot in our front yard and very proud of my little gardeners.

Its looking so pretty a month later.

Flowers for me....from me.

“Truly loving another means letting go of all expectations. It means full acceptance, even celebration of another's personhood.” unknown author

When ever I go to the Saturday market, I always look longingly at the gerbera stand. Gerberas are one of my favourite flowers, I had them in my wedding bouquet.
Last Saturday I bought myself this bouquet. For no other reason than I wanted to. I just felt like making my day a little brighter with some flowers. I would never buy myself a bouquet of flowers. Instead I would expect that my husband should because that's what loving husbands do. Right?

There was a young couple in our church and it seemed like the husband was forever giving his wife flowers. And I used to be a little miffed. It seemed like their marriage was so lovely, and she was treated like a princess. That was until we had them over for dinner and we talked about how he was always giving his wife flowers and he admitted it was because he was always making up for being in the doghouse for something he had done wrong!

After nine years of marriage, I no longer expect my husband to get me flowers, because unmet expectations breeds dissatisfaction. If you want or need something you are better off just communicating and asking...or just getting it yourself. And if you are blessed enough to be surprised with a bouquet of flowers, then its so much more enjoyable.

I've gone and done it now....

What have I done!!!
As mentioned here I said I was keen to do a Triwoman Triathlon...sometime. I've been contemplating it for a couple of years, and while I was reading the latest Next magazine (At my favourite cafe, drinking a mocha and eating cake!) I decided it was time. I was hoping to do the one in Bream Bay...the one closest to where I live, but they are not running it there this season. My first thoughts were "ah well there goes that idea...never mind...more cake?" But I read on. The next closest location is in Pt Chevalier, Auckland. This is two hours away from where I live. After a week of "umming and ahhing" I've decided...I'M GONNA DO IT! So who's with me???

This is such a huge undertaking for me: I'm so unfit, its not funny. I can barely swim to save myself. I'm still breast feeding so I'll have to figure out how to work that in there. I don't have a bike. And trying to fit in around family and soon-to-be paid work, its going to be tricky. But plenty of other women have had the same stresses and done it anyway? So can I? huh?

Ive already paid for the registration ($62- ouch!) to keep me motivated. And this will also keep my lovely frugal ("but you've paid the money...get out there and train!") husband on my back to also keep me motivated.

So its 6 months away. April 9th 2011. 2 days before my 30th birthday...A great motivation in itself!

Six months to learn to swim 300 meters, cycle 12kms and run 5km....piece of cake really? AAAAHHHH!!!!

WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!See here for more info http://www.tri.co.nz/

5 minus 2

The two older kids are lucky enough to spend the night at Grandma and Poppas house today. So its time for mumma and dadda to have some fun...with bubba in tow. So we hit the driving range to hit some balls. So much fun with my love. Of course I can never quite hit the ball as far as him, but it was fun trying. Looking forward to a real game of nine holes some time in the future...its been awhile.

A short glimpse of my hilarious hubsta and me.

birth story. Bubba.

Born on a showery winter day

We were expecting our latest addition baby number three on the 29th of June. This was the one pregnancy I was happy to let go overtime. I had had a busy semester studying and was looking forward to some lying on the couch and relaxing time. However at around 6am on the 24th June I woke up to leaking waters. At first I thought Oh no...its going to be the same as last time, leaking waters for 48 hours and no contractions. Not cool! But the contractions started soon after that. Yes today is the day!
We hadn't really decided on exactly where we were going to do this birth, home or hospital but I was leaning toward the home..hubby was more keen on the hospital. We decided to go with the flow. I called the midwife to let her know what was going on but she was already at the hospital delivering twins, but assured me she should be able to make over soon.
We called grandma to come and pick up the older kids.
Another call to the midwife at around 830am. Another one of her patients was in labour and she couldn't make it so she called her back up partner. That's fine, I thought. I've met her, shes just as good. A call back from my midwife, sorry...but Marys stuck in theater doing a cesarean, I'm going to have to send over someone else. Someone else?? Not long after a new midwife (who I hadn't met before) arrived ready to help with our birth. Okay this is a bit weird my hubby and I thought. We decided we were quite happy where we were and all going to plan we would go for a home birth...our first one. It seemed so weird and so comfortable at the same time. Here I am making my midwife a coffee and stopping for a couple of contractions to breath through it. So bizarre! I loved having the kitchen counter top to hold on to during the contraction.
The baby's nursery was set up for the delivery. I had a spare Single bed in there and plastic sheets were laid everywhere. When I saw the changing table had the oxygen mask ready to go it it hit me...I hope bubba won't be needing that!
I continued to walk around the house during the contractions until it felt time to push. The back up midwife was called...Another one we didn't know! I felt so embarrassed, I was in no mood to be meeting someone new. No hand shake or hi whats your name...more like how long has she been going and how much is she dilated. I kept thinking...this is not how I imagined my home birth to be... but what the heck...lets just get this baby outta here safe and sound. The pushing commenced and after a few good pushes our little bubba was born at 1045am. He was placed on to my chest and cried straight away. Yes a great sound!
After the placenta was delivered, the midwives examined it. "Oh my!" and "wow" They kept saying..."take a picture!!" "Look at the cord, it has three knots". Apparently that was super rare. And as one of them put it "this baby was meant to be" We took a picture of it, not thinking too much more about it.
After goggling it later on, I found that one true knot happens in 1-3% of births..I couldn't find anything on more than one knot though. This scared me. The knots could have gotten tight during labour...the what ifs flooded me. Was he getting enough nutrition? Should we have even done a home birth?
In the end we got our lovely baby safe and sound. And I can only thank God that everything worked out perfectly fine. This little fella was meant to be and maybe he needed to come earlier than planned to make it out before something could have gone wrong.

After debriefing with my midwife days later she said she was really sorry she couldn't be there for us and that she has never had three of her patients ready to deliver in one day before..ever.

In hindsight,would I do a home birth again? Possibly not. The question I asked myself is do I need to be comfortable during labour to the detriment of the baby's safety?
Another lesson learned was always go with the flow...you never know what time labour may start or who might be there to deliver it!

day one

First Foods friday: Home made Naan bread

Chicken and potatoe Korma and naan bread

I have always wanted to give this ago. We make roti (Indian flat bread) quite regularly, but when ever we buy indian takeaways naan bread is a must, so I thought I would give it ago since I had some greek yogurt in the fridge.
This recipe has three ingredients. Self raising flour, unsweetened yogurt and water. Knead together and leave in a warm place for a while. It is like pizza dough consistency, take small palm sized balls and roll on a floured surface. Make into flat rounds using a rolling pin. Lightly oil a heavy pan and and put the rounds in flipping over a couple of times. And Viola.

What did the food critics think?
Lesmonj: 2 thumbs up
Miss 6: 2 thumbs up
Master 4: 1 thumb up
bubba: 2 thumbs up
And me: 2 thumbs up

Thats 9 out of 10 thumbs up.
Next time I might try it with a bit of garlic butter to make it into a garlic naan
Give it a try!

Ahhhh...a new happy place.

I am usually a creature of habit. I like the same coffee shop, and usually do groceries at the same place, but for some strange reason since I've moved to Whangarei I have never found that one hairdressers that I would go back to again and again. I recently bought a special voucher for "Addiction hair" from Daily Do. It was a half price conditioning treatment, cut and dry all for $45 dollars (That's a bargain these days!). I haven't had a hair cut since before bubba was born (4 months!), so I was in deep need of of one. Bubba was fed and left in the capable hands of a grandma (bubba slept the whole time...yes!) and off I went for my appointment. I was greeted warmly and discussed my hairstyle plans with my stylist. Then I was lead to the hair washing station. I sat down on what was more like a "lazy-boy" rather than those crusty seats I was used to. It was so comfortable! Then she asks "shall I turn on the massage?"..."What the?....Heck yeah!. I then experienced the most relaxing conditioning treatment EVER. I appreciated that she didn't talk to me the whole way through and especially appreciated that she didn't gossip with the other stylist at the next station. Just a peaceful, relaxing wash with ME as the focus. Just bliss for a mother of three!
She then cut and styled, with pleasant conversation throughout.

All in all a great experience. I might have, finally after 11 years in this city found a new happy place.

happy with result!

kitchen gadgets

I saw Jo Seager using one of these a few months ago...and thought I want one! So last weekend on my trip to Auckland, I had a leisurely peruse around Botany Downs shopping centre while Lesmondj and the kids went and saw a movie. It was like heaven. No hearing... "Im hungry", "My legs are sore from walking", "can we go and see the toys"...Or my least favourite "I need to use the toilet"...but I digress...

I found this lemon juicer while perusing.

I think its so funny how it turns the lemon inside out. I put the juice in a ice cube tray to freeze and pop when I'll need some out of season.

White chocolate and macadamia nut browine....well...sort of.. DOH!

I have been wanting to make White chocolate and macadamia nut brownies ever since I saw it featured on Sophie Grays site (Destitute Gourmet).
So master 4 and I get started, butter melted, sugar added, white chocolate in...time for the eggs....eggs...*scours pantry*. "We had eggs for breakfast this morning mumma" Master 4 pipes in. Oh NO! I did the "no-nos" of all baking "no-nos" I didn't have all the ingredients laid out ready to go...silly me! I managed to find one egg in the fridge. "Well, time to experiment" I boldly stated to master 4..its the best way to cook anyway. So I tried to make it into a white chocolate slice. Added some coconut, and a weet-bix...hmmm what else can we chuck in?? I added the chopped nuts flour and a bit of baking powder. Gave it a mix, pressed it into a baking tin, bunged it into the oven and hoped for the best. And this is what turned out.

I left half "nude" dusted with a bit of icing sugar. And the other half had a bit of lemon icing just to see how that would taste.
It tasted sooo good. I think I like it better than a chocolate brownie. It has a lovely chewy texture.The nuts add a nice bit of crunch.
I love experimental cooking.

going going gone.

Where have the last two weeks of school holidays gone? I've tried to sneak a couple of activities intertwined with periods of rest so that Miss 6 and Master 4 are ready for another school term. Heres a couple of things we did...

Climbing cool giant rocks and back yard trees.

A road trip to the big smoke (Auckland) to see relatives.

A cool ferry trip.

fun on the beach.And Bubba...Well he just comes along for the ride..

Now I'm exhausted and I am super glad its time for the kids to go back to school and time for me to get my house back in order then some R&R.
Hope you've had a fun holiday too :)

Roped in...

I can't help but wonder what bubba is going to get roped into by the older kids as he grows.
So far he has had his first tea party...
Hung out in the hut...
and been introduced to every single one of miss 6's littlest pet shop animals.
Of course I have been secretly using this love of teaching bubba to my advantage. Things like..."The baby would really love it if you read him a story" (Great way to get them to practice reading....*mmwwhaaaa- sneaky laugh*