Is it Christmas Already!?

• Well we are well on the way to Christmas now. The kids finished up school for the year on Tuesday, and we are in holiday mode. Me included! Every afternoon this week I have spent a little time in the back yard on my swing seat and read a book. Not just any book! The freakin HOBBIT! This book is such a challenge for me...because a) I usually only read biographies and b) Im not a fantasy fiction fan. Honestly the only reason I sat through the Lord of the Rings trilogy was because it was NZ made. And you know how I love NZ made. But I am determined... and so far I am pleasantly surprised! I am really 'getting' why people love this stuff so much...hubster included!

• Our advent calendar is up and running and we are counting down the sleeps to Jesus Birthday and special times with family. We started the advent calendar last year, which I had put together from a kit set I bought at the lovely Tracy's Shop. The boxes are quite small, and can only fit about three lollies and a teeny piece of paper. And on that little piece of paper I have Advent Activities that we complete that day. Here are a few of the highlights so far...

bought a keepsake ornament

bought food for the food bank

• So far we have also been to a Christmas Parade, put up the tree, read a Christmas story, made paper chains, written out Xmas cards and done Christmas coloring in pages. I think having a little Christmas activity each day gives the kids the best gift ...and that is TIME...and they like a little sugar too! But we have so much more to come...Christmas baking...attempt to make marshmallows...go see the lights...make ginger bread men... so much fun to be had at this time of year! 

• As mentioned on this blog post...I took my annual Christmas card pic. I went for a beached theme once again... I cant help it!...we just love our Northland beaches and they provide a lovely back drop for my little sprogs. And as you can see by their faces, the sprogs love the beach...which means they smile more because they are just happy. I picked the beautiful Langs beach this year. Its not a beach we go to very often, but after this photo shoot Hubster and I agreed...if we won a million dollars we would retire here! Yes it really is that stunning.  

• Again Master Zak Zak proved to be an unwilling muse. You really have to have patience for children's photography...something I have very little of. This year I took literally hundreds of photos so there were lots to sift through. I did the stupidest thing, I left the boys nice shirts at home on the couch, so unfortunately they are in their beach clothes. Oh well! Miss Joy looked beautiful in her new dress and was photogenic as always. Hubster was in charge of project managing the "Snowman". I think he did a good job without a bucket or spade. Once he finished his project he spent the next hour in the surf, while I wrangled the kids into my shots. 

The Final Product

To all of you who read this silly little blog, Thank you! 

Your comments and well wishes really warm my heart and make it all worth while. 

I so enjoy sharing snippets of my life with you to inspire, encourage or give you a laugh. 

And So with that...May I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, filled with fun, joy, family and great food.

I'm off to spend the next wee while wrangling my kids and enjoying the sun and holidays and possibly a little less blogging. 

Stay safe and may the Lord Bless you and yours. 

♥♥♥ Jacksta B ♥♥♥

The Perfect day.

Today was the perfect day.

• It started rather bright and early. We woke at 0630 hours, which we NEVER do on a Sunday. But NZ  played England in the Rugby League World cup semi-final. It was a nail biter of a game...England were 4 up in the last two minutes of the game ...and then in the final play we snatched the victory and won the game. We play Australia next weekend in the final. Cant wait. And we will HAVE to watch it live! We are the current world cup holders so it would be great to take it from the likely Auzzie winners.

source

• We made it our church on time even! I love hanging with my fellow God loving Peeps. This morning we were on Creche duty which is always fun. 

• Arriving home just before midday...I decided today was the perfect day to head to the beach for my Christmas shot. We decided to go to a beach we never go to...Langs beach. It is a 30-40 minute drive away from Whangarei. 

• Just before we hit Langs beach we came up over the hill and we were faced with the most most amazing view of the horizon ever. Literally breath taking. The blues were amazing, so many beautiful colours. When we saw this sight, we knew we had made the best decision to drive the extra miles to this beach.

• We drove on trying to find the best part of the beach and parked up. And this sight was right by the car on the side of the road. 

{ Langs Beach...post card perfect}

•  We got to work on our project with Dadda in charge...but more on that another time... Then it was play time. 
• I kept on snapping away with my camera trying to capture some great shots of the family and beautiful scenery. The kids were mighty sick of me and the camera...especially Zak Zak. 

• On the way home we decided to stop off at Waipu Cove for an ice cream. The cove was a lot busier than Langs Beach with the waves being a bit better for the surfers. 

{waipu cove}

{waipu cove}

{Waipu cove} 

Family Pic. Ice creams at Waipu Cove

• We topped off our perfect day with a pizza and a cold one at the Waipu Pizza Barn. So much fun all one day. Now Im pooped! 

Christmas photos

Its coming up that time of year again...Time to take my family Christmas photo. I started making my own photo Christmas card way back in 2008 when miss Joy was 4 and Joe was 2. Even back then it was a mission to get the "money shot"so to speak. If there is one thing I have learnt is that my children don't really want to sit for anything more than one shot!
" Just one more...and smile this time...not like that like this...hey stop elbowing your sister...hey don't throw the baubles!!! " Argh the frustration!!
Generally I try and get as many shots as I can...and pick the best of a bad bunch!

I was looking back on what I had done over the years...and I'm so glad I took the time and did each one. It takes time to set up and process..but it gives you a treasured memory of Christmas that year.

Down memory lane....

{2008}

The first one is probably my favourite. And the one that got the most oohs and aahs from the recipients that year. I had set it on a handmade black card so the colours really "popped" from the photo.

 {2009}

That years was shot at Takapuna Beach with Rangitoto in the background. I was so mad at my self this particular year..because it wasn't until I got home and put the photos on the computer that I realized all that photos had a little blurry spot in the middle. I couldn't figure it out..until I realized I hadn't cleaned the lens after hubster had taken the camera on a wake boarding trip! The pohutakawa tree looked amazing that year. The sky was blue and the ocean looked amazing...Just a pity the camera and lame photographer (me) couldn't capture the beauty on film.

{2010}

This year we added a cranky baby into the mix by the name of Zak zak. He was 5 months old and in no mood for photos that day...this shot was the only photo he wasn't upset in. Taken at Whangarei heads somewhere.

{2011}

This year I made letters to spell JOY. I bought them from Spotlight and painted them red. I tried sitting them all together, but Mr Zak zak again wasn't very compliant..he started stealing all the letter off his siblings. In the end I did each shot individually  and collaged them together. Joe had taken some skin off his nose days before so, he was looking a bit worse for wear. 

{2012}

I was keen for another beach shot this year and had some ideas for props. Again Mr Zak Zak wasn't having a bar of it this year. Luckily the other two are quite photogenic, so I could instruct them to hold their pose while we got the naughty toddler back in the shot. 

Next time I do a beach shot I will check the tide chart too...the sea would have looked better at full tide. This is the beautiful Matapouri Beach...make sure you check it out if you are a visitor to Northland, New Zealand. 

I have been having a look through Pintrest for this years Christmas card idea...Cant wait! Hopefully Mr Zak zak will sit still this year!

Have you got any ideas for getting the ants in your pants type kid to sit still for a shot?

Spontaneous trip to Russell

These days being spontaneous and towing along a small brood for the ride is a rarity. An oxymoron even. Usually trips out of town need to be planned...at least a day in advance. And don't even talk to me about holidays with kids...that takes months...or in our case years worth of saving and planning.

So last Saturday I had the day off, and decided to see what my mum and dad were up to for the day. They were going to Russell (Bay of Islands)  for an art and craft show that was a Fundraiser for the old church. It was already 10am, we gave ourselves 15 minutes to get our A into G in the car and on our 1 hour trip out of town. 

I told her we would meet her there. Blow me down we caught them on the car ferry from Opua to Russell  just in time. Lucky...since we were having difficulty with her phone.  

{Car Ferry Opua to Russell}

{Art and Crafts fair}

{A clever man carving.} 

{Russell Waterfront}

{Teaching the kids to Skim stones.} 

{Fish and Chips....
with vinegar for the pommy fella}

{So hard to get a good selfie with the SLR...my arms aren't long enough with the lens.} 

{New Zealands oldest church}

{Flagstaff Hill}

 Ah the kids must be growing up if we can make it out the door with the bare essentials for the day (a nappy bag, wallet and keys, and few snacks)....Roll on future spontaneous trips on rare days off together. 

A pretty Tree

I loved this photo that my hubby took a few years ago of the kids in front of a very cool tree.

 Instantly the greenness of it reminded me of this scripture in the bible.  

This tree is right next to a pretty secluded river...at the bottom of our city mountain.

And the words ring true. 

May you be blessed too. 

See you soon.

Sushi buddy.

aaahhhhh. *sigh of relief* 
Yep that's how I feel right now. I'm having a little alone time. It's only four hours, but I'll take it. Zak-zak is finally okay enough to go back to play school after his surgery. I'm not going to lie, its been hard week for the little lad, but he has coped well.

So far this morning I have taken myself out for coffee and a breakfast bagel- cream cheese and lemon curd to be precise. And then I have perused the wool isle at Spotlight. Paisley-Jade knows how much I get into a panic when ever I hit the fabric isle of Spotlight...but I'm pleased to announce today this did not happen!
Without my impatient little 3ft side kick I was able to pick a nice ball of wool to knit myself a scarf. I know, I know...that's pretty much the first thing EVERYONE knits...but not me. So far I have made a hot water bottle cover...which was pretty much a rectangle piece of knitting...where I ran out of wool...and decided that really it was the only useful thing it could become. I started it last year when Zakzak had his first surgery...but for the last year it had stayed on the knitting needles because I hadn't read my "Dummy's guide to Knitting" in order to figure out how to cast off.
But now I have.

My current project is also a hot water bottle cover, but for Miss Joy. And I have used it to practice new stiches I have read in the book. I spent a nice few hours on Saturday at my MILs house bonding over knitting. She is great knitter and gave me some pointers.
I know Crochet is the rage..but quite frankly...I'm just going to stick to what I know...and knit.

My new wool to make a nice warm scarf for myself. 

Scary running story
I took up running. And by "take up"...I mean I went for run yesterday and today I can still walk. I am ashamed to admit I haven't exercised in over a year. So it was supposed to be just a walk around my hilly neighborhood to start off with..you know just to ease me in. I had made the family dinner and by the time I set off it was 5:20pm. At first I was thinking how lovely getting out at sunset...and then I thought yikes I better hurry up...before it gets dark. So I started running up the hill. The reason I stopped running last year was because after doing the same circuit and running down the hill...my knees got really jarred and hurt. It hurt a lot. So I stopped. I didn't go to the doctors...because it only hurt sometimes out of the blue.
Any hoo so last night...it was getting dark really fast, and this dude passes me in the opposite direction. And I keep walking down the hill...around a corner...I then he passes me coming down my way. I ignore him...and he stops under a tree to do some "stretches". So ignore him again...and speed up and then start to run down the hill. I'm getting a little spooked, I look behind my shoulder a lot and just keep running. He doesn't look like he's following anymore so I stop and walk for a while. The road forks into two separate lanes. I decide to go down the right lane..still periodically looking over my shoulder. By now its proper dark. But I know the only way to get to the safety of my place is to keep moving as fast as I can. "I don't do night time running...what was I thinking...and I haven't bought my cell phone.. please don't rape me wierdo". My mind is going paranoia nuts.
I see the same guy running again...except he has decided to go down the left lane. I hope like mad he is not waiting for me at the bottom of the hill. I feel like Sherlock Holmes...trying to get all my senses awake to see through every bush and tree, listening for any rustling. I get to the flat part...and the streets lights are so dim on this stretch...but I still have 2km to go. And so I run as fast as my fat little legs can carry me...and stop for a breather and run again...look over my shoulder...all the way home. Maybe it was just my silly little brain paying tricks on me, but I'm thinking I won't be doing that again! I might just go and run on a treadmill at the work gym.

I bought myself a turkish rug. Rocking it super old school. But I love it. It  says it is stain resistant...but have the makers met my kids...they can ruin anything.

Social media break
So as I mentioned last time, I'm having social media break. I did this last year because
a) Facebook status's and blog posts start to consume my mind.
b) It makes me procrastinate and stops me from doing a myriad of other jobs that need to get done.
c) It prevents me from getting out of my house and seeing people in real life.
d) It is an unhealthy way for me to fill my boredom.

Other people go away and have holidays or are able to switch off from Facebook and blogging but I can't. It's like an addiction. It's the first thing I check on my Ipod in the morning and the last. Not good. I'm not saying FB or blogging is bad or anything...I just know that I need a break. Sorry Meghan but Words with friends will be on hiatus too.
The biggest thing I will miss about it is, it is now the main way I communicate with people. So I will have to go back to good old fashioned phones, Txt messaging and Email....or even snail mail. So don't do anything fun or interesting while I'm gone please. But if you do, email me. And if you are visiting the area...and want to catch up..email me.

So I have compiled a few things I need to do in the month of June... 30 days!!! (last time I only lasted 28!)

Stuff to do instead of wasting time on the internet.

1. Do work portfolio.
2. Print off a years worth of photos and put them in an album
3. Get rid of baby stuff. Take stuff to Hospice.
4. Go for walks.
5. Read/listen to the bible.
6. Read the "Purpose Driven Life" book
7. Draw pictures with my kids.
8. Write a love song
9. Write thank you notes to people who have made an impact in my life thus far.
10. Put together the boys scrap books.
11. Finish knitting projects
12. Finish quilt project.
13. Have an empty washing basket all month.
14. Have coffee/lunch dates dates
15. Have baking in the cupboard everyday.
16. Read magazines I have bought but haven't read. 
17. Do something for Wedding anniversary
18. Take photos with my camera...and not put them online. 
19. Not think about how desperately I want to be online and reading other peoples Facebook statuses and blog posts. 
20. Do some volunteer work. 
21. Back up my hard drive. 
22. Have people over for dinner. 
23. Hang out with these munchkins

I bought these guys some winter knits and they reminded me of Rocky training for a big fight. 

 I will see you in JULY.