...Pales in comparison

I'm sure most of you NZ bloggers out there are feeling a lot like me. You know, where the stuff we write about seems to pale in comparison to what is happening in Christchurch. Trivial almost. Life has been turned upside down, completely unbelievable. Things like this don't happen in little old NZ.
I thought it was so cool how one of the UK search and rescue team stated that he had been to several crisis around the world including the Haiti Earthquake, and thought that the crisis management team in Christchurch were the best he has ever seen in his work. So big ups to the Mayor Parker and the civil defense for the calm, cool collected leadership.
The way our little country knows how to generously give to those in need in their hour of need is truly amazing. Seriously, is there anywhere else in the world as generous and as giving as New Zealanders?

Like you I have been glued to my TV all week. But today we got out and did something a bit normal. Well not really normal for us. Hubby Lesmond J went out and did his first sprint triathlon for a Whangarei tri club event. He started training about the same time as I announced I would like to do my Triwoman. But Mr competitive has completely blitzed me in the training front and today his hard work payed off as he came first in his group. He was so stoked! We cheered him on from the side lines.

High five for Dadda as he gets out of his swim first!

Watching him do this has however completely freaked me out. I'm pretty sure I am going to be dead by the end of mine...unless I up my training this month. I have been practicing my swim a bit more. When I first started I could barely do two lengths, and had a small fear of the deep end. A friend of mine has been coming down to the pools with me and swimming laps which makes me work a bit harder. She is also very good at keeping count. We go to a cold pool at 7pm. BBRRRHHH alright.

So that's a little bit of trivial stuff that's going on in our life at the mo.

In support...

Heres a link to a fellow blog sister Gail from Delightfully Diva-ish. She is organizing a fundraising walk in Auckland to help victims of the Christchurch Earth quake. Walk with her if you can...If you can't... help her fundraising efforts.

xx

In the still Quiet of the night

Little man you are so wriggly
Constantly on the move
Once so little and so fragile
now I can hardly keep up
Will you still need me soon
Or will I be just a distant memory
As you navigate this big wide world

Ah, but I have found your quiet time
The time when you are still
Deep in the land of dreams
I creep quietly into your room
carefully envelop you in my arms
And hold you
Just hold you
Smell your lovely milky breath
Stroke your soft blond hair
kiss you gently
Savouring this time of innocence
This time when I am your nourisher,
your provider,
your keeper

You may not remember
when you are all grown up
and in this big wide world
But I will remember
I will remember the time
When I held you in my arms
In the still quiet of the night.

*Jacksta*


This song plays in my head when I do this with my son.



"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." Psalms 62:4

Free Falling...

There's something about this time in my life that makes me want to start crossing things off the bucket list. I am fast approaching 30...I know...just a spring chicken compared to some of you out there, but this is half of a life span if you lived in places like Africa or Asia! I've started to think...what have I achieved so far in my almost 30 years on earth. What are my goals for the next decade in life or the one after that. Life is short really.
In my career as a nurse I have witnessed first hand people literally taking their last breath. Its in those times where your mortality as a human is really in your face.

A couple of years ago I decided I would really like to sky dive for my 30th birthday. This was still two years away. I had had a crappy few months after having our miscarriage in January...and thought, stuff it, I don't need to wait till I'm thirty, I'm going to do it this year. So April 2009, I did my first tandem skydive. It was awesome! I realized I don't need to keep putting things off, its time to start seizing the moment, jump of the plane and start free falling!

What's holding you back from jumping into your dreams and goals? Not ready for a big leap...try a small one first...but try something. Don't sit around waiting for life to pass you by...just do it!

This is my first big leap...and may there be many more to come!

What are my dreams and what are God's dreams for me?

What are your dreams and what are Gods dreams for you?
Its time to start living the dream people!

The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalms 37:23

Making new friends

I feel quite invigorated! After organising a group of mummy bloggers to get together for a coffee, who knew making a bunch of new friends could be so exciting. And all through the world wide web.
We chatted about how the web has changed the way we do life. Want to know if dogs have tonsils...google it. Want to see and have a conversation with someone on the other side of the world...skype them. Its possible to meet and fall in love with someone...all through the web! And its possible to make new friends through blogging. Its like having aan old fashioned pen-pal, except that you have many pen-pals at the same time.


You know a little about each other...and then meet up and fill in a lot of the gaps.
The conversation wasn't awkward. It flowed...crafts, cakes, family,life and of course being a mummy... with shrieks of laughter in between.
All in all we all had a great time....and we should totally do it again sometime!

A way to a mans heart....

...is through his stomach.
I sneaked a Valentines card and two protein bars for his morning tea in his bag to find at work. He was pleasantly surprised. For Valentines dinner this year we stayed home. I would usually find us a babysitter and book us a table somewhere for dinner, but it just didn't work out this year. The jump from two to three kids for a babysitter just seems too much to organise. So I made us a nice tea at home. I had envisioned a nice romantic candle lite dinner after the kids had gone to bed. But it just didn't work out that way...so dinner for two was the usual party of five. I made us "duck al' orange". I know! Fancy much! Well it was my take on it (It always is!). Along with some champagne and a some dessert later after the kids were in bed.

Duck al'orange (fancy name for orange glaze)..on a bed of red cabbage and broccoli with potato stacks. And delicious Kapiti Ice cream for dessertMaintaining the romance after almost 10 years of marriage, three kids, a mortgage and work, seems like so much effort but they say "familiarity breeds contempt." So what if Valentines Day is a big money making-commercial day? I still need reminding that I am loved and I have someone to love. A hallmark card helps me remember that for the rest of year I should let the one I love KNOW that he is loved.

Happy Valentines to my LOVE!P.S
Thankfully he understands the bloggers need to take a picture of the food BEFORE it can be eaten!

And the winner is.....

US!!! Thanks so much to Leonie from Kiwi At Heart For this lovely book giveaway!
Miss 7 and I are going to learn some new sewing skills. I suck at sewing and anything to do with fabric, so this going to be great book for both of us! We might even venture into my least favourite place on earth SPOTLIGHT sewing department and get some much needed supplies.

Pamper Me....

You've got to love a good pamper session. I'm only a once or twice a year pamper me type. In between these I'm pretty low maintenance therefore I really appreciate a nice hair cut or facial when it finally comes around. I bought myself a coupon for: a conditioning treatment, haircut and blow wave...but wait there's more...a bikini wax (my first *gasp!*) and a mini manicure, all for the price of $59. I know! Cheap huh?!
Grandma came over to babysit bubba while I went out and enjoyed some time to myself. I enjoyed the massage chair, the conversation, the products, the magazines, the coffee and complementary bickie.
After growing my hair out for a year I'm still in a bit of shock how short it is...but I'll get used to it...its just hair! I'll just "work" what Ive got...because that's a great mantra to live by.
So the last thing the beauty therapist says is..."your nails will take an hour to set so don't bump them"...and what do I do...I try and get my phone out of my pocket and promptly ruin a couple of them :(

Ah well...all in all a very relaxing morning...even my first bikini wax....
Are you due for a pamper? You should totally do it!

Things I'm loving...

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is"~ Paisley-Jade

Things I'm loving this week:

Friends who drop off a bucket of crabs. Lately there hasn't been much of these around in our habour. So when my friend brought these over we both squealed with delight. We LOVE crab curry. I could happily eat a pot of these...I didn't eat all of them though. I shared them with my family and then dropped some off to a couple of friends to enjoy.


Enjoying the joy of home made Cappuccino. My machine is not the greatest espresso machine in the world but it does the trick. I have owned it for years but have opted for the plunger to save time. But after having a visiting family member insist on dusting it off and using it...I'm kinda liking it. Its bringing out my inner barista.



I'm also loving my new phone. My old phone (pictured left) has served me well for 5(!) years. It been dropped, chewed on, faithfully given me countless messages and phone calls. But it was time for something new. My new phone has a calender...great for reminding this nappy brained mummy about coming appointments. I'm feeling like a real technophobe, the touch screen takes some getting used to.

And lastly I'm loving being inspired by all you bloggy friends out there. Who knew 20 years ago, you could one day sit in the comfort of your own home and read (and read) about peoples lives, their struggles, their loves, their creativity and my favourite... their recipes! So I'm loving reading about you...although it might be time to cut down!

Linking in with Paisley Jades Things I'm loving....

Yesereee, its back to school for thee

As much as the holidays have been great, I sure am thankful for school and kindy! I think I was more excited than the kids this year. I durasealed Miss 7's books with care a week ago, a cool bright pink design with "rock chick" on it. Yes I love duraseal...have done since I discovered it as an 8 year old. Master 4 has one more term at morning kindy before he starts school, so while the stationary was on special I bought his lot too. I'll save the durasealling fun for later in the term!
But the most exciting thing for us is our school has finished its major redevelopments and the classes are all newly refurbished with new technology and fittings. A long haul project that I'm so grateful for.

Since the kids are so eager to get to school and kindy this week mornings have been running fairly smooth. I introduced this chart last year because I was so frustrated about them mucking around. It lives on my fridge so when I can see them fighting or a bit lost I say "What do you need to do next?...have a look on the chart". It leaves me time to enjoy a bit of coffee watching the morning news in peace.
Miraculously this week the baby has slipped into a good routine, going straight to sleep when put down...amazing what a bit of peace and quiet can do for a little fella!


Master 4 was super stoked with his painting at Kindy today. He is more of an outside play on the jungle gyms kinda guy, so I was quite surprised at this little piece. There's only so much paint smeared paper and wood work projects you can keep around. This one is a keeper.

Hope you gals with school kids are enjoying a bit of time to your self
xx