Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Mother of the year award?
I was in the back folding the washing when Masaru came home from school today.
This is what I heard.
(Masaru comes in)
"Maaaa saaa ruuuuu, I loooooove yoooooooooou"
"I love you too Yuki"
And I'm just gonna put in there that there was an exchange of hugs and maybe a kiss.
The other day when it was time for Yuki's nap she goes "Mum, mum I need to give Masaru a kiss"
I know, I know, she was stalling MAYBE, but Masaru came down and gave her a kiss and a hug and told her to have a good nap.
Now does that put me back in the running for mother of the year award?
LOL Jokes man jokes
It's all them, I think the more I live this 'stay at home mother' life the more I realize that your kids just are who they are, and we're just around to try and keep them on the straight and narrow the best way we know how.
Some days is better than others, but all our kids are good right, we know that, but to see it in action like this.........................doesn't that make you smile and wanna take just an INcY WINCY piece of credit?
Come on...........be honest.
This is what I heard.
(Masaru comes in)
"Maaaa saaa ruuuuu, I loooooove yoooooooooou"
"I love you too Yuki"
And I'm just gonna put in there that there was an exchange of hugs and maybe a kiss.
The other day when it was time for Yuki's nap she goes "Mum, mum I need to give Masaru a kiss"
I know, I know, she was stalling MAYBE, but Masaru came down and gave her a kiss and a hug and told her to have a good nap.
Now does that put me back in the running for mother of the year award?
LOL Jokes man jokes
It's all them, I think the more I live this 'stay at home mother' life the more I realize that your kids just are who they are, and we're just around to try and keep them on the straight and narrow the best way we know how.
Some days is better than others, but all our kids are good right, we know that, but to see it in action like this.........................doesn't that make you smile and wanna take just an INcY WINCY piece of credit?
Come on...........be honest.
Remember this?
Anyone know what it might be?
Masaru's so proud of himself. He's done a great job looking after this since his primary teachers gave him some 'mysterious' seeds around 7 weeks back.
No buds yet.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
You're rubbish mate
I'm only gonna give you one chance.
Guess who's part of the piggie family now, even though he's rubbish?
No discrimination, that's his policy.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Cute
What................can't a mother brag?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Memory #25
SCHOOLS I ATTENDED GROWING UP
*I attended 'kindygarten' which to peeps in the states is 'pre-school' at 'Waikiwi Kindy'
I remember playing on their tire swings outside and getting a playdough cake when I turned five. It was in a yogurt pottle and had candles in it and the top of the pottle was cut in strips and bend down so it looked like a flower. You got a special hat and a card moving you onto the next leve, primary school, which happened to be right next door. We used to talk to the 'older' kids over the fence. They were really 'cool'.
I also remember having cool Christmas parties and this cool puppet they used to have.
*So in NZ when you turn five you start school all day. So when I turned five I started at a school called 'Waikiwi Primary School'
My teachers name was Miss Dagg and I didn't like her much. I was living at the 'Hostel' at the time with Mum and Dad and would walk to school with neighbourhood kids.
She was grumpy and didn't smile much. I remember sitting in small group working on my reading.
I also remember learning the Maori language from a sister in the church and thought I was cool cause I knew her.
*Then we moved and I attended a school called 'Middle Primary School'
My teachers name was Mrs Bowie. She was old man and her hips swung all funny when she walked. That same kid who yelled at me for touching the church stuff walking home from school yelled at me for bringing a knife to school to chop up my apple or cheese or something. He's a dooshbag. I wonder what that dude is doing?
We made wheat men and mine grew huge.
We used to WALK to the swimming baths where we got taught to swim. No buses, we walked. I loved it man. We got into pairs and talked the whole way with the teacher infront of us leading and another class teacher at the back of us. I loved swimming days and sports days.
Our principals name was Mr. Hickey. He was alright.
Then I had Mrs. Mitchell. She was nice and I really liked her. She was good to me and I enjoyed being in her class.
Then I had Mrs. Gavin and she didn't like me much at all, so I didn't like her much and was scared of her. My BFF at the time was a 'goodie good' and we'd be BOTH talking and I'd be the one who'd get told off. HUGE favoritism going on.
This was the school that when I was lying on the grass with a mate looking at the clouds and making pictures, got told to get up and go play by the teacher on lunch duty.
Who doesn't let kids just lye on the grass and make pictures out of clouds?
My next teacher was Mrs. Chisom. She was alright.
I remember I had this green lunch box FOREVER. Man that thing lasted ages.
We also used to bring out skates to school and skate. That was fun.
We had jump rope competitions and I had fun there.
My two BFF's where girls called Kerry and Anna.
*Then I moved to a different city and attended a school called 'Caversham Primary School' for my last year of primary.
My BFF's Kerry and Anna wrote me a nasty letter about not wanting to be my friend and hating me and all this stuff. Crazy. Mum and Dad prepped me for it, which was nice of them, and I got over it pretty quick cause I was loving being at my new school and all my new mates. They were way cooler than Kerry and Anna, so I didn't feel sorry for myself for more than a day. I guess I should've felt sorry for them.
My teachers name was Mr. Crimp and he was old school man. He was as old as a dinosaur and wore a brown jacket with a shirt and brown shorts and pulled up socks and smoked a pipe.
I liked him though. His teeth used to fit just right around his pipe, which made me think he'd been smoking that pipe for years. My Dad's Dad used to smoke a pipe. Dad always said he would've if he hadn't joined the church.
We were sat in 'groups' now these groups were smartest to dumbest. So can you imagine the poor kids down in the 'dumb' group? So I started in the second highest group and then got bumped up to the highest group throughout the year.
I made TONS of friends who I still think about often and love to bits. We had fights and that's where I started noticing boys and playing 'kiss catch' man embarrassing even to admit that.
My first 'love' was a kid called Tasi. He was a stud and he liked me too.
We went on camp for a week and I got letters from mum. It was a while man and it was tons of fun. We did hikes and archery and a bunch of stuff. Loved it.
*After this primary school was over with and I moved up to Intermediate. This intermediate school was called 'McAndrew Intermediate'
First time wearing uniforms. I was so excited. It was a white shirt with a red cardigan or jersey and a kilt with the McAndrew tartan on it with white socks and black shoes.
I loved wearing the uniform and we all looked smart.
I never had brand new uniforms, of course, and that's the only way you could tell who were a little richer, was the kids with brand new stuff. You could totally tell as well cause my pleats weren't as crisp as the others.
My teachers name was Mr. Jackson and I dare say he was my one of my favourite teachers of all time.
He was brand new and full of spunk and life and had cool ideas and was AWESOME. I made good mates in that class too and we had tons of fun. This year we had sex education class. Interesting.
Then the next year I had a teacher called Mr. Mason and he was awesome too. But he was the Vice Principal and was often gone and we had a lot of relief/subs teachers. That sucked.
Mr. Mason used to read to us and I loved it man. He used to read us these Paul Jennings books and they were crazy. But it kept me listening day after day.
Then something happend to the Principal and we had a permanent sub called Mr. Stintsen but we called him Mr. Spitsen as he spat when he talked. I didn't like that dude at all and he didn't like me.
I used to get kicked out of class and wander the halls for an hour or so. Sometimes Mr. Mason would catch me and talk me into going back to class and apologizing, then being let back in. He asked me to do it for him and so I did FOR HIM, cause I liked him.
This is where my behaviour problems started. My bad attitude, I guess.
Then we moved cities and I started High School.
I'll do High School and University in my next post.
*I attended 'kindygarten' which to peeps in the states is 'pre-school' at 'Waikiwi Kindy'
I remember playing on their tire swings outside and getting a playdough cake when I turned five. It was in a yogurt pottle and had candles in it and the top of the pottle was cut in strips and bend down so it looked like a flower. You got a special hat and a card moving you onto the next leve, primary school, which happened to be right next door. We used to talk to the 'older' kids over the fence. They were really 'cool'.
I also remember having cool Christmas parties and this cool puppet they used to have.
*So in NZ when you turn five you start school all day. So when I turned five I started at a school called 'Waikiwi Primary School'
My teachers name was Miss Dagg and I didn't like her much. I was living at the 'Hostel' at the time with Mum and Dad and would walk to school with neighbourhood kids.
She was grumpy and didn't smile much. I remember sitting in small group working on my reading.
I also remember learning the Maori language from a sister in the church and thought I was cool cause I knew her.
*Then we moved and I attended a school called 'Middle Primary School'
My teachers name was Mrs Bowie. She was old man and her hips swung all funny when she walked. That same kid who yelled at me for touching the church stuff walking home from school yelled at me for bringing a knife to school to chop up my apple or cheese or something. He's a dooshbag. I wonder what that dude is doing?
We made wheat men and mine grew huge.
We used to WALK to the swimming baths where we got taught to swim. No buses, we walked. I loved it man. We got into pairs and talked the whole way with the teacher infront of us leading and another class teacher at the back of us. I loved swimming days and sports days.
Our principals name was Mr. Hickey. He was alright.
Then I had Mrs. Mitchell. She was nice and I really liked her. She was good to me and I enjoyed being in her class.
Then I had Mrs. Gavin and she didn't like me much at all, so I didn't like her much and was scared of her. My BFF at the time was a 'goodie good' and we'd be BOTH talking and I'd be the one who'd get told off. HUGE favoritism going on.
This was the school that when I was lying on the grass with a mate looking at the clouds and making pictures, got told to get up and go play by the teacher on lunch duty.
Who doesn't let kids just lye on the grass and make pictures out of clouds?
My next teacher was Mrs. Chisom. She was alright.
I remember I had this green lunch box FOREVER. Man that thing lasted ages.
We also used to bring out skates to school and skate. That was fun.
We had jump rope competitions and I had fun there.
My two BFF's where girls called Kerry and Anna.
*Then I moved to a different city and attended a school called 'Caversham Primary School' for my last year of primary.
My BFF's Kerry and Anna wrote me a nasty letter about not wanting to be my friend and hating me and all this stuff. Crazy. Mum and Dad prepped me for it, which was nice of them, and I got over it pretty quick cause I was loving being at my new school and all my new mates. They were way cooler than Kerry and Anna, so I didn't feel sorry for myself for more than a day. I guess I should've felt sorry for them.
My teachers name was Mr. Crimp and he was old school man. He was as old as a dinosaur and wore a brown jacket with a shirt and brown shorts and pulled up socks and smoked a pipe.
I liked him though. His teeth used to fit just right around his pipe, which made me think he'd been smoking that pipe for years. My Dad's Dad used to smoke a pipe. Dad always said he would've if he hadn't joined the church.
We were sat in 'groups' now these groups were smartest to dumbest. So can you imagine the poor kids down in the 'dumb' group? So I started in the second highest group and then got bumped up to the highest group throughout the year.
I made TONS of friends who I still think about often and love to bits. We had fights and that's where I started noticing boys and playing 'kiss catch' man embarrassing even to admit that.
My first 'love' was a kid called Tasi. He was a stud and he liked me too.
We went on camp for a week and I got letters from mum. It was a while man and it was tons of fun. We did hikes and archery and a bunch of stuff. Loved it.
*After this primary school was over with and I moved up to Intermediate. This intermediate school was called 'McAndrew Intermediate'
First time wearing uniforms. I was so excited. It was a white shirt with a red cardigan or jersey and a kilt with the McAndrew tartan on it with white socks and black shoes.
I loved wearing the uniform and we all looked smart.
I never had brand new uniforms, of course, and that's the only way you could tell who were a little richer, was the kids with brand new stuff. You could totally tell as well cause my pleats weren't as crisp as the others.
My teachers name was Mr. Jackson and I dare say he was my one of my favourite teachers of all time.
He was brand new and full of spunk and life and had cool ideas and was AWESOME. I made good mates in that class too and we had tons of fun. This year we had sex education class. Interesting.
Then the next year I had a teacher called Mr. Mason and he was awesome too. But he was the Vice Principal and was often gone and we had a lot of relief/subs teachers. That sucked.
Mr. Mason used to read to us and I loved it man. He used to read us these Paul Jennings books and they were crazy. But it kept me listening day after day.
Then something happend to the Principal and we had a permanent sub called Mr. Stintsen but we called him Mr. Spitsen as he spat when he talked. I didn't like that dude at all and he didn't like me.
I used to get kicked out of class and wander the halls for an hour or so. Sometimes Mr. Mason would catch me and talk me into going back to class and apologizing, then being let back in. He asked me to do it for him and so I did FOR HIM, cause I liked him.
This is where my behaviour problems started. My bad attitude, I guess.
Then we moved cities and I started High School.
I'll do High School and University in my next post.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Hanging out
So my mate Chels. came over with a couple ideas, yesterday to try out. The first was found HERE. So we tried it. We love the results and who doesn't want that teatowel to stay put on your oven. These are hers though. So I'm gonna have to make my own. She's got great taste and these'll look great in her place.Then her and my other mate Jen came over after the kiddo's went to bed and we made these cupcakes for some meeting Chels has or something. I just looked up Easter cupcakes on google images and got some ideas and we went with this one.
We ended up hanging out for hours just chatting about girl stuff.
Last night I asked Dru what boys talk about, and he didn't really have an answer. Maybe Dru needs to hang out with 'the guys' more. Or maybe he just doesn't listen.
Who knows.
It was fun though.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Little piece of perfect
Just in case you were wondering. He IS sitting up by himself, wonderfully. Next, crawling.
His hair doesn't stick up by itself anymore. So I did this.
Look at this perfect skin.
Dru has the same perfect cheeks when he smiles. So he got THAT from his Dad, amongst other things.
Still a bald patch at the back of the hair. I can't wait till it's gone. 
There's that cute button nose all my kids got and those wonderful cheeks.
Ok YOU tell me what colour his eyes are. Cause they're not brown and they're not green. So good luck with this challenge.
My little piece of perfect, right here folks.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
NFI's Top Ten: Busting Stress
What's NFI stand for? National Fatherhood Initiative of course. I get notices for Dru from Masaru's pre-school all the time, helping Dru to be a better father. I dunno if he's looked at any of them but I think it's a worthy cause and I liked this one.
So here goes
#1 WORK OUT P90X not required. A game of basketball with your kids will give you some quality time and a quality work out.
#2 EAT RIGHT Set yourself up for success by not keeping junk food in the house. Plus, your kids will really copy you on this one, so if you want them to eat healthy, you've got to set a good example.
#3 Zzzzzzzzz You know how your kids really aren't fun when they don't get enough sleep? Yeah, adults usually aren't either. Try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep a night and go to bed around the same time every night - this will train your body. Even "power naps" - 15 to 30 minutes of rest where you close your eyes -can help reduce stress.
#4 PRIORITIZE Think about all the "should,""woulds", "coulds," and "musts" in your life. Figure our which are worth keeping and which to get rid of and focus on what you feel is most important - don't try to do it all.
#5 LAUGH It is the best medicine, you know. Take a cue from your kids, who probably love to be goofy, and play a game with them, start a wrestling match, or just listen to some of the hilarious things that are sure to come out of their mouths.
#6 RELEASE Never sharing your feelings is a recipe for stress.............and disaster. Share your feelings when it's safe to do so and don't keep issues bottled up inside. Getting problems out in the open, talking about them, and working towards solving them will help you feel empowered and motivated.
#7 LEAVE WORK AT WORK Get away from work and leave it behind. Bringing your work home is a sure way to stress yourself and your family. Keep in mind that you can bring home work in your head as well as your hands. Leave your thoughts of work at the door and focus on your family.
#8 SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS Get the guys together to watch the game or head for ice cream wit other parents after your kid's activities. The stronger your relationships. the less stress you will probably have.
#9 VOLUNTEER/GIVE This will not only give you perspective on your own life, but it will also set a great example for your kids. It doesn't need to be complicated. Giving can be as simple as shoveling your neighbor's snow, volunteering in your child's classroom, or babysitting fro friends who need a night out.
#10 PURSUE YOUR INTERESTS Having a hobby will allow you to really dive into an interest that you love and that energizes you, and will help you deal with life's little (or big) challenges. Take classes, read up, join a group or league - keep your interests alive so you have something to energize you.
Stressing out about trying to do all ten? Pick one or two of these and focus on lowering your stress, on day at a time.
Man now is this group talking to me or what? I know I'm not part of the 'father' group but man, what great advice. Hope it helps someone out there in cyber space.
So here goes
#1 WORK OUT P90X not required. A game of basketball with your kids will give you some quality time and a quality work out.
#2 EAT RIGHT Set yourself up for success by not keeping junk food in the house. Plus, your kids will really copy you on this one, so if you want them to eat healthy, you've got to set a good example.
#3 Zzzzzzzzz You know how your kids really aren't fun when they don't get enough sleep? Yeah, adults usually aren't either. Try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep a night and go to bed around the same time every night - this will train your body. Even "power naps" - 15 to 30 minutes of rest where you close your eyes -can help reduce stress.
#4 PRIORITIZE Think about all the "should,""woulds", "coulds," and "musts" in your life. Figure our which are worth keeping and which to get rid of and focus on what you feel is most important - don't try to do it all.
#5 LAUGH It is the best medicine, you know. Take a cue from your kids, who probably love to be goofy, and play a game with them, start a wrestling match, or just listen to some of the hilarious things that are sure to come out of their mouths.
#6 RELEASE Never sharing your feelings is a recipe for stress.............and disaster. Share your feelings when it's safe to do so and don't keep issues bottled up inside. Getting problems out in the open, talking about them, and working towards solving them will help you feel empowered and motivated.
#7 LEAVE WORK AT WORK Get away from work and leave it behind. Bringing your work home is a sure way to stress yourself and your family. Keep in mind that you can bring home work in your head as well as your hands. Leave your thoughts of work at the door and focus on your family.
#8 SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS Get the guys together to watch the game or head for ice cream wit other parents after your kid's activities. The stronger your relationships. the less stress you will probably have.
#9 VOLUNTEER/GIVE This will not only give you perspective on your own life, but it will also set a great example for your kids. It doesn't need to be complicated. Giving can be as simple as shoveling your neighbor's snow, volunteering in your child's classroom, or babysitting fro friends who need a night out.
#10 PURSUE YOUR INTERESTS Having a hobby will allow you to really dive into an interest that you love and that energizes you, and will help you deal with life's little (or big) challenges. Take classes, read up, join a group or league - keep your interests alive so you have something to energize you.
Stressing out about trying to do all ten? Pick one or two of these and focus on lowering your stress, on day at a time.
Man now is this group talking to me or what? I know I'm not part of the 'father' group but man, what great advice. Hope it helps someone out there in cyber space.
Monday, March 22, 2010
NY and Washing D.C (HELP PEOPLE)
So thanks Laura, Dorothy, Chels, Angela and Kassy for your love and comments. You guys DID make me feel better, so much that now I'm onto a new thought and am leaving the morning behind.
New thought.........................New York and Washington D.C
WHO HAS ANY OPINIONS ON WHAT WE SHOULD SEE?
What should we make a priority?
What should be on the 'if we have time' list?
Who knows?
Cause Dru and I don't.
We've got mates to help us in Montreal and Chicago.
But to ALL THOSE READING THIS........................give me your thoughts.
WHAT MAKES THE A LIST?
What makes the B?
New thought.........................New York and Washington D.C
WHO HAS ANY OPINIONS ON WHAT WE SHOULD SEE?
What should we make a priority?
What should be on the 'if we have time' list?
Who knows?
Cause Dru and I don't.
We've got mates to help us in Montreal and Chicago.
But to ALL THOSE READING THIS........................give me your thoughts.
WHAT MAKES THE A LIST?
What makes the B?
My morning
Isn't going so well.
I'm trying to do the best I can and it blew up in my face. It's been a disaster.
Anyone wanna say something nice to me?
I'm trying to do the best I can and it blew up in my face. It's been a disaster.
Anyone wanna say something nice to me?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Way to go I DA HO
Dru's mum, kindly hooked us up with a place to stay in downtown Boise. It had a pool, gym, continental breakfast, and the room was wonderful. We had the best time as a family and I just loved this week with all of them.
It would've been an even better week if Dru and I could've dropped the kids off at someone's doorstep and spent the last part of the week away, by ourselves on some hot remote island........................alright well, it was a great week anyway.
We're moving towards the 'renting a house' side of things and found some nice places we're interested in. They're just not interested in us. They told us to come back in July. So I guess we'll be doing this exact same thing again in July to REALLY find us a place.
Boise was great. We got to see Dru's school and figure out the nicer neighbourhoods as well as how far the commute would be.
We had dinner with friends both nights and with the breakfast, only had to worry about lunch. It was wonderful.
We swam with the kids, looked at shops, went to the park, sat in the hot tub and then spent the last night with mates in McCall.
The week was AWESOME.
It was so nice just to be with Dru, no stress, no tidying, no cooking, just a little throw up, and it was worth it.
Now it's back to the grindstone tomorrow I guess. BUT I STILL HAVE TONIGHT.....................what am I doing blogging.
Alright peeps I'm outta here.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wake ups!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Perth Baby!!!
Here's Bevin with Yuki when she was Takeshi's age in NZ when we lived there.My youngest brother, Bevin, just got his mission call for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to PERTH Aussie. He leaves on the first week of June.
Bevin and I are 13 year apart, I'm the oldest, he's the youngest. We look the most alike. If you saw our 5 year old pictures we look like identical twins, except I have long hair. So I'd like to think that he's what I'd look like if I was a boy. And I reckon I'd be pretty handsome.
Bevin is the best of all seven of us, hands down.
I think he saw our mistakes, growing up, and learned from them.
He's been no hassles for my mum.
It's funny to think about cause he was only 7 years old when dad died, so didn't have a father growing up. You'd think he would've turned out different. But he's awesome.
He had my brother, Llewellyn and my sister, Sarah, to turn to for help with things as well as mum and he's done so well for himself.
He's awesome at rugby, but chose to go on a mission instead of go further in that.
I'm so proud of him.
I love him to bits, yet I think he's the brother I know the least because of our age gap and me living in the states.
It's one of the burdens of living so far away, I've never gotten to be close to him as much as my other siblings.
I get really sad about it sometimes.
He's such a good kid and I haven't been able to help him much at all. Haven't been around for the hard times, haven't been there for him when he needed someone. It was always my bro and sis.
It's hard.
I know he loves me though and we just talked on the phone for an hour. I dunno, it just saddens me that I haven't been a big part of his life, that's all.
Sometimes living far away sucks.
Anyway this is exciting and Perth is lucky to have him and I know he'll do well for the Lord. He's easy to get along with, slow to anger, respectful, fun, fit and a positive person.
You'd have to be to be the youngest of all of our lot.
So I'm doing the proud sister thing and blogging about it.
Love you Bevin. You're awesome. Thanks for being a wonderful example to me over the years!!
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