- Why are there 30/31 days in the month?
- Why are they building that building just there?
Monday, August 30, 2010
All In a Mornings Work
By 8am this morning, I had already been confronted with the following questions to answer!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Nearly Time
Nearly time for what you may ask?
Nearly time for my first born's birthday.
How do I know.....?
Now you can't miss magnolia trees when they are out as they are a burst of colourful flowers with no leaves on the trees.
Today when walking to the car at the end of the working day, I noticed all the trees in the street and it reminded me that of course it is Ben's birthday all too soon.
I will take the camera to work tomorrow and get a picture of the trees on the way home, because I have just checked google images and there were not many good pictures to show you of the trees.
Have a great Friday
Nearly time for my first born's birthday.
How do I know.....?
- He is now at the age where he knows it is coming up and so keeps reminding us.
- The date of course
- The magnolia trees are in bloom.
Now you can't miss magnolia trees when they are out as they are a burst of colourful flowers with no leaves on the trees.
Today when walking to the car at the end of the working day, I noticed all the trees in the street and it reminded me that of course it is Ben's birthday all too soon.
I will take the camera to work tomorrow and get a picture of the trees on the way home, because I have just checked google images and there were not many good pictures to show you of the trees.
Have a great Friday
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
New Challenge
Like I need anymore challenges in my life at present!
Over here she has taken part in a challenge to post 31 pictures over 31 days, in other words a picture a day for all of August.
Now on investigating further I have totally missed the ball with doing this during August but thought I might set myself the challenge for September or October (before you mention it I know there are only 30 days in September!)
Anyway, will think about this and see what I come up with, either of the months will be fine and I hope you might join me......
Over here she has taken part in a challenge to post 31 pictures over 31 days, in other words a picture a day for all of August.
Now on investigating further I have totally missed the ball with doing this during August but thought I might set myself the challenge for September or October (before you mention it I know there are only 30 days in September!)
Anyway, will think about this and see what I come up with, either of the months will be fine and I hope you might join me......
School Update
Alex started school at the beginning of June, so is now comfortably into the 2nd half of this complete term at school.
It is going well, he seems happy enough, although he mentions often that no one will play with him. Not too worried about this as I know this will all change soon as he gets more confident in his surroundings.
I also know that he has gone into a class where half the kids have been in this class since January when school started, so he will find his feet soon and then there will be no worries, I hope.
Today we had his 5yr old assessment feedback with the teachers (he has 2 teachers as his class is bigger than normal size, 25 kids I think, so 2 to control them all) anyway, he has been tested in his numbers, writing, reading, understanding of speaking and basic skills.
Things like can he write his name? He passed this
Does he know his full name, address and telephone number? He passed this although he missed a name out of his name as he has so many (1st name 2 middle names and surname! I know a lot, just don't ask although Ben is the same, what were we thinking!?)
He was ok with his writing and good with his remembering sentences that were read to him. He knows most of his alphabet and can do basic number work. Struggles after about number 20 but having only been at school for 8 weeks has done very well already.
Overall he is doing great. Having a little trouble conforming in the class but things are getting better.
Are we worried about him at school?
Not at all, he is a bright child and just has to learn to control things and do as he is being asked.
Funny, he actually reminds me of my brother. My brother is only 2 yrs younger than me, but I remember a lot about how Iain was when he was younger and Alex reminds me of him all the time. His whole attitude is just like Iain's, I know he knows how to do things he just can't be bothered! He is smart but can't be bothered to apply himself.
Oh help, if I am saying this now when he is only 5 what will it be like when he is 13?
Ok now I think I need to go and lie down before I shock myself too much and start hyperventilating!
It is going well, he seems happy enough, although he mentions often that no one will play with him. Not too worried about this as I know this will all change soon as he gets more confident in his surroundings.
I also know that he has gone into a class where half the kids have been in this class since January when school started, so he will find his feet soon and then there will be no worries, I hope.
Today we had his 5yr old assessment feedback with the teachers (he has 2 teachers as his class is bigger than normal size, 25 kids I think, so 2 to control them all) anyway, he has been tested in his numbers, writing, reading, understanding of speaking and basic skills.
Things like can he write his name? He passed this
Does he know his full name, address and telephone number? He passed this although he missed a name out of his name as he has so many (1st name 2 middle names and surname! I know a lot, just don't ask although Ben is the same, what were we thinking!?)
He was ok with his writing and good with his remembering sentences that were read to him. He knows most of his alphabet and can do basic number work. Struggles after about number 20 but having only been at school for 8 weeks has done very well already.
Overall he is doing great. Having a little trouble conforming in the class but things are getting better.
Are we worried about him at school?
Not at all, he is a bright child and just has to learn to control things and do as he is being asked.
Funny, he actually reminds me of my brother. My brother is only 2 yrs younger than me, but I remember a lot about how Iain was when he was younger and Alex reminds me of him all the time. His whole attitude is just like Iain's, I know he knows how to do things he just can't be bothered! He is smart but can't be bothered to apply himself.
Oh help, if I am saying this now when he is only 5 what will it be like when he is 13?
Ok now I think I need to go and lie down before I shock myself too much and start hyperventilating!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Mother's
A reminder that all mum's are human and going through exactly the same things as everyone else!
MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up...
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother.....
The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn’t know everything!
14 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She wouldn’t have a clue.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mum.
I forget all this when things get out of hand, but then when I read it again I remember that we are all only human and that everyone goes through this, we are not alone.
MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up...
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother.....
The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn’t know everything!
14 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She wouldn’t have a clue.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mum.
I forget all this when things get out of hand, but then when I read it again I remember that we are all only human and that everyone goes through this, we are not alone.
Not All Lost
Thankfully all is not lost.
I have actually put pen to paper/ fingers to keyboard, even if it is only 200 words out of 2000.
The block is clearing and there is some light available.
I can't say this won't happen again with the next essay or paper, because with it being distant learning I know there is a huge chance it will.
I am still the first to admit that distant learning and myself just do not play nicely together, we fight and bicker and happily throw our toys at each other!
Yesterday was the past
Today is the present
And as for tomorrow? ........We will just have to wait and see!
Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts.
Nice to get encouragement from some unexpected places.
I have actually put pen to paper/ fingers to keyboard, even if it is only 200 words out of 2000.
The block is clearing and there is some light available.
I can't say this won't happen again with the next essay or paper, because with it being distant learning I know there is a huge chance it will.
I am still the first to admit that distant learning and myself just do not play nicely together, we fight and bicker and happily throw our toys at each other!
Yesterday was the past
Today is the present
And as for tomorrow? ........We will just have to wait and see!
Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts.
Nice to get encouragement from some unexpected places.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I Quit
All I have accomplished today is the desire to QUIT.
Quit study that is, not life or work!
Last week I managed until 2pm before I have a major breakdown, unfortunately this week it only got to 10.30am.
I kicked, screamed, swore, yelled, cried and generally lost it. My notes flew across the study and Iwalked stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me.
I am in a very low dark place at present and know that this is not rational thinking, but my emotions are on the edge and everytime I think about what is involved and how the hell am I going to achieve it more tears well up and threaten to flow.
I don't know if I am making this harder on myself or whether it really is this hard? But it is just not coming together. I have spent the last 4 Wednesdays going round and round in circles. I don't know whether I am missing the point or whether this is the whole point!
I am in week either 6 or 7 now and my first essay of 2000 words is due next week. Sadly I do not even have 3 words let alone any evidence to back up anything I want to write. The subjects are just not sinking in, I don't seem to be grasping an understanding of the whole thing and if I have to look for one more resource I think the computer will get it!
The course tutor has said to stopping looking for resources and to just write something down, but when you are struggling to understand the subject it is difficult to write anything. The 1st essay is in 4 parts and I am still only just trying to digest part 1, so I can't even move forward onto part 2 because otherwise it seems like a whole waste of the time I have just spent.
I don't seem to have taken any steps forward in the weeks since I started the study, I just seem to have gone backwards the whole way, way back actually.
I knew from the start of this adventure that me and distance learning just did not meet in the middle, I knew this was going to happen but had to start the ball rolling to see if it was achieveable because this was the only option available!
To say I am struggling is an understatement, I am lost, I don't know where to turn, what to look for, even how to find it. I seem to be wasting a lot of time trying to find a resource to only find that that one was of no use what so ever and have to start all over again.
I have the ability to access online databases, but am hitting brick walls there. I have the library at the hospital but limited time to get there but it takes time to go there and I am finding I realise I need something from there and then end up taking an hour out of my study time to manage to get the one resource which again then in turn turns out to be something that really has no relevance at all.
It has got to be easier than this, it has got to be a little simpler than this, it can't be this hard?
I know why I am attempting this study, I know what the end goal is, so please I don't need to be preached to about 'just think what you are working towards, just think about how you will feel when you achieve the end goal?' I know all that, don't think for a second it doesn't run through my head all the time. That is part of what makes this so frustrating, knowing that to a point this is my only option to achieve the goal I want, that is what makes it so hard, I know there is no other way.
I don't want to quit, I know that one of the papers I have coming up next year will be fun, I even think I may do it in the first semester next year instead of the 2nd because I know I will get through it and love it. But at the moment I have a very large black cloud hanging above me and I can't see my way out of it to even get to the end of this paper let alone move on to something else!
Quit study that is, not life or work!
Last week I managed until 2pm before I have a major breakdown, unfortunately this week it only got to 10.30am.
I kicked, screamed, swore, yelled, cried and generally lost it. My notes flew across the study and I
I am in a very low dark place at present and know that this is not rational thinking, but my emotions are on the edge and everytime I think about what is involved and how the hell am I going to achieve it more tears well up and threaten to flow.
I don't know if I am making this harder on myself or whether it really is this hard? But it is just not coming together. I have spent the last 4 Wednesdays going round and round in circles. I don't know whether I am missing the point or whether this is the whole point!
I am in week either 6 or 7 now and my first essay of 2000 words is due next week. Sadly I do not even have 3 words let alone any evidence to back up anything I want to write. The subjects are just not sinking in, I don't seem to be grasping an understanding of the whole thing and if I have to look for one more resource I think the computer will get it!
The course tutor has said to stopping looking for resources and to just write something down, but when you are struggling to understand the subject it is difficult to write anything. The 1st essay is in 4 parts and I am still only just trying to digest part 1, so I can't even move forward onto part 2 because otherwise it seems like a whole waste of the time I have just spent.
I don't seem to have taken any steps forward in the weeks since I started the study, I just seem to have gone backwards the whole way, way back actually.
I knew from the start of this adventure that me and distance learning just did not meet in the middle, I knew this was going to happen but had to start the ball rolling to see if it was achieveable because this was the only option available!
To say I am struggling is an understatement, I am lost, I don't know where to turn, what to look for, even how to find it. I seem to be wasting a lot of time trying to find a resource to only find that that one was of no use what so ever and have to start all over again.
I have the ability to access online databases, but am hitting brick walls there. I have the library at the hospital but limited time to get there but it takes time to go there and I am finding I realise I need something from there and then end up taking an hour out of my study time to manage to get the one resource which again then in turn turns out to be something that really has no relevance at all.
It has got to be easier than this, it has got to be a little simpler than this, it can't be this hard?
I know why I am attempting this study, I know what the end goal is, so please I don't need to be preached to about 'just think what you are working towards, just think about how you will feel when you achieve the end goal?' I know all that, don't think for a second it doesn't run through my head all the time. That is part of what makes this so frustrating, knowing that to a point this is my only option to achieve the goal I want, that is what makes it so hard, I know there is no other way.
I don't want to quit, I know that one of the papers I have coming up next year will be fun, I even think I may do it in the first semester next year instead of the 2nd because I know I will get through it and love it. But at the moment I have a very large black cloud hanging above me and I can't see my way out of it to even get to the end of this paper let alone move on to something else!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Further Tooth Update
A week later and we have still not been visited by the Tooth Fairy.
Not sure if he has forgotten or if this is all part of his plan, although he was sick Sunday and Monday, so probably has forgotten about it!
The last I heard, Alex had suggested to him about writing a letter and asking the Tooth Fairy if he could keep his tooth!
I will enquire tonight about what is happening.
Although the $2 is still sat in my purse patiently waiting to be issued.
Will keep you posted.
Not sure if he has forgotten or if this is all part of his plan, although he was sick Sunday and Monday, so probably has forgotten about it!
The last I heard, Alex had suggested to him about writing a letter and asking the Tooth Fairy if he could keep his tooth!
I will enquire tonight about what is happening.
Although the $2 is still sat in my purse patiently waiting to be issued.
Will keep you posted.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tooth Update
Unfortunately Ben is a very caring old soul who doesn't like change and gets attached to things very easily. (He cried the other evening because I had to throw out a toothbrush! he has had many so far, so not sure why he got attached to this one?)
He got all upset at the thought of putting his tooth under his pillow and letting the Tooth Fairy take it away.
Seems he isn't quite ready to let it go yet!
We explained that the Tooth Fairy only takes teeth that are placed under the pillow so if he leaves it on his bedside cabinet until he is ready for her to have it, then that is fine by us.
We will see how this goes, if by the weekend it is still there, then I may suggest to him that if he wants to keep it then we could look at writing a letter to the Tooth Fairy explaining that because it is his first tooth he would like to keep it.
This morning he got up and his tooth was still where he left it. He explained to me that he wasn't ready for her to have it yet, he wants it. I told him, no problem, when he is ready she will hopefully visit.
He got all upset at the thought of putting his tooth under his pillow and letting the Tooth Fairy take it away.
Seems he isn't quite ready to let it go yet!
We explained that the Tooth Fairy only takes teeth that are placed under the pillow so if he leaves it on his bedside cabinet until he is ready for her to have it, then that is fine by us.
We will see how this goes, if by the weekend it is still there, then I may suggest to him that if he wants to keep it then we could look at writing a letter to the Tooth Fairy explaining that because it is his first tooth he would like to keep it.
This morning he got up and his tooth was still where he left it. He explained to me that he wasn't ready for her to have it yet, he wants it. I told him, no problem, when he is ready she will hopefully visit.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Wibble Wobble
Push pull
Jiggle joggle
Poke flick
Wibble wobble
Ben has had his first tooth come out today whilst at school
It has been wobbling for a few weeks now but suddenly had that final wibble and out it popped, although like always, I think an apple was involved!
So tonight he has gone to bed with it under his pillow anxiously waiting to see what the Tooth Fairy may leave for him.
As for the Tooth Fairy, I am not in touch with todays market price of teeth?
Seems $2 is the going rate according to all my friends on Facebook.
So I may up the anty for the first tooth and make it $3 as a special thing seeing as it is the 1st, but then stick to either $1-2 for all others after that. (Just have to remember what I did so I do the same for Alex when his turn comes round!)
According to Alex, the Tooth Fairy lives in the sky, she knows when you have a wobbly tooth and she comes to collect it at night. They keep them apparently but he couldn't tell us what they actually do with them!
I love the innocence of children, makes my day
Jiggle joggle
Poke flick
Wibble wobble
Ben has had his first tooth come out today whilst at school
It has been wobbling for a few weeks now but suddenly had that final wibble and out it popped, although like always, I think an apple was involved!
So tonight he has gone to bed with it under his pillow anxiously waiting to see what the Tooth Fairy may leave for him.
As for the Tooth Fairy, I am not in touch with todays market price of teeth?
Seems $2 is the going rate according to all my friends on Facebook.
So I may up the anty for the first tooth and make it $3 as a special thing seeing as it is the 1st, but then stick to either $1-2 for all others after that. (Just have to remember what I did so I do the same for Alex when his turn comes round!)
According to Alex, the Tooth Fairy lives in the sky, she knows when you have a wobbly tooth and she comes to collect it at night. They keep them apparently but he couldn't tell us what they actually do with them!
I love the innocence of children, makes my day
e-Books & My Wishes
A little behind the time, New Zealand has just recently launched the Kobo, an e-book device.
Steve mentioned the other day, as we were packing to go to Auckland, that I could do with a Kobo, as I packedthe library 3 large books into the bag.
So whilst in Auckland I sought one out and had a play.
It was nice, the concept was good and the size and weight was reasonable for what it is, although there were one or two features I didn't like.
You can only buy it in one store in NZ and it is through their website that you can down load the books. You do still have the ability to download to your PC as well.
Steve mentioned the other day, as we were packing to go to Auckland, that I could do with a Kobo, as I packed
So whilst in Auckland I sought one out and had a play.
It was nice, the concept was good and the size and weight was reasonable for what it is, although there were one or two features I didn't like.
The other evening Steve was on the computer and happened to come across the Kindle, the more world wide version of the Kobo.
Unfortunately to begin with it is not available in NZ as a hand held device, although you can download to your PC.
Upon further reading I decided I actually liked this device, it is actually going to hit NZ shores at the end of August. But unlike the NZ Kobo, this has a better selection of material available for it online.
I have also seen the ipad.
Now this gives me the ability to have Kindle on it, which I think is a good thing as then the device is actually used for other things and not just reading a book.
However I do also wish to have something else and that is a laptop computer.
As I am currently undertaking some new study I wish to have something a little more portable and user friendly than my PC at home in the study. I will also find it useful for my work when all is completed.
The boys are starting to take more of an interest in the computer too, even if it is just to play games on, I believe it is not long before we are going to have to consider another PC at home, I feel a laptop would be a suitable solution.
The boys are starting to take more of an interest in the computer too, even if it is just to play games on, I believe it is not long before we are going to have to consider another PC at home, I feel a laptop would be a suitable solution.
It would fit with the family in that we could have it to take with us when going places and I do like the ability to be able to do computer work in someother place than the study.
I would be able to have Kindle or Kobo on there and although it is bigger and bulkier than either the Kobo or Kindle, I like the fact it has multi functions that would make the device more financially viable.
We would get more use out of the laptop for the $1200 we would be spending than we would from the $299 for the Kobo or the $300 odd for the Kindle or even $800 for the ipad.
We would get more use out of the laptop for the $1200 we would be spending than we would from the $299 for the Kobo or the $300 odd for the Kindle or even $800 for the ipad.
If I was suddenly given the ability to obtain any of the above then I would choose the laptop, I am a reader but not enough that I feel I need a device especially for it, when I can have a laptop and still use the programme but get some much more use from it.
Although if money was no object then I would go for the ipad and the laptop, but then who wouldn't?
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Sleeping
Sleeping is something special in this house, if it is not the snoring that keeps me awake then it is one of the boys wandering into our room in the night.
Alex has been doing this for a while and has also been going to bed in the evenings in his brother's bed, with him!
When questioned further about why, he came up with this answer "I don't like sleeping on my own, I get lonely"
Wouldn't be so bad, but he shares a room with Ben already and their beds are all of 2m apart, if that.
Grandma in her ultimate wisdom came up with a solution for this problem, which I have mentioned before.
Her solution was to suggest pushing their beds next to each other. That way he would be more or less sleeping next to his brother but in his own bed.
So we tried it and would you believe it has worked.
People are not walking around in the middle of the night as much now.
However their room does look very weird when you first walk in, with these 2 single beds pushed together in the middle of the room!
But if it keeps everyone sleeping in the correct places at night, then I am happy to try anything!
Alex has been doing this for a while and has also been going to bed in the evenings in his brother's bed, with him!
Wouldn't be so bad, but he shares a room with Ben already and their beds are all of 2m apart, if that.
Grandma in her ultimate wisdom came up with a solution for this problem, which I have mentioned before.
Her solution was to suggest pushing their beds next to each other. That way he would be more or less sleeping next to his brother but in his own bed.
So we tried it and would you believe it has worked.
People are not walking around in the middle of the night as much now.
However their room does look very weird when you first walk in, with these 2 single beds pushed together in the middle of the room!
But if it keeps everyone sleeping in the correct places at night, then I am happy to try anything!
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Time Out
This is a type of punishment that we happily use in this house, although this time it was me getting "Time Out"
Steve had a conference to attend up in Auckalnd and I managed to go with him.
Grandma came and looked after the boys for us for 3 days, which was great.
He did ask me why I wanted to go, as he mentioned that he would be out at the conference for all the days, but that was exactly the reason, time all to myself.
Steve left me in Auckalnd at 8am on Monday and I saw him again at 5.30pm that evening. I managed to have lunch at my old hospital and catch up with old friends.
I enjoyed a pleasant walk back to the hospital and got to read a magazine for an hour before I met him at the evening drinks.
Tuesday was pretty much the same. He left at 8.30am and this time I didn't see him until 9.30pm.
I had lunch with a friend, did some shopping for Steve and then had dinner with my best friend.
By the time we got home on Wednesday evening I had had a great time. No one asking me for juice or food, no one wanting anything from me at all.
Seeing as Ben's habit at present is to sit in the lounge watching tv with Steve, and then to climb over Steve to come and find me to ask me to get him something. He will even come outside to the garage or upstairs to find me just to ask for a drink!
Go figure!!
So life is back to normal now, work and school, school and work, it goes on and on and one day ticks on into the next.
Steve had a conference to attend up in Auckalnd and I managed to go with him.
Grandma came and looked after the boys for us for 3 days, which was great.
He did ask me why I wanted to go, as he mentioned that he would be out at the conference for all the days, but that was exactly the reason, time all to myself.
Steve left me in Auckalnd at 8am on Monday and I saw him again at 5.30pm that evening. I managed to have lunch at my old hospital and catch up with old friends.
I enjoyed a pleasant walk back to the hospital and got to read a magazine for an hour before I met him at the evening drinks.
Tuesday was pretty much the same. He left at 8.30am and this time I didn't see him until 9.30pm.
I had lunch with a friend, did some shopping for Steve and then had dinner with my best friend.
By the time we got home on Wednesday evening I had had a great time. No one asking me for juice or food, no one wanting anything from me at all.
Seeing as Ben's habit at present is to sit in the lounge watching tv with Steve, and then to climb over Steve to come and find me to ask me to get him something. He will even come outside to the garage or upstairs to find me just to ask for a drink!
Go figure!!
So life is back to normal now, work and school, school and work, it goes on and on and one day ticks on into the next.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Challenge
Back in 2008 I set myself a little blog challenge.
It was to post 366 times in the year. It was a leap year so thus why 366.
I also did not set myself to post daily as I knew there was going to be times when I would not be near the computer for a few days, so made it that it had to be 366 posts.
Several people have wondered how I managed it.
Well 2008 turned out to be a very busy year for me, and here is why
Did I know the year was going to be so busy when I set the challenge?
No, I knew most of these things were going to happen, but not that life would get that busy for 2008
Was it easy?
Yes it actually was.
Why and how?
Because I only worked 2 days a week so getting to the computer at different times of the day was easy. The boys were little and life was a little simpler.
Could I manage it now?
Probably not at the moment because I only get to the computer in the evenings, sometimes with only enough time to check emails. I am now working 4 days a week so when I come up with ideas for things to post I usually have to write them down to remember them for later, but later on I loose focus on what I wanted to say and therefore do not blog about the subject!
I enjoyed doing the challenge. It was fun and I had a great time blogging about just about everything.
It didn't bother me that hardly anyone was reading my blog, I mean I only have 4 followers so not exactly widely popular with the world, but as many of you have mentioned before, this is my sort of journal of our life now and it is awesome fun to sometimes look back on what we were doing at the time, because if I didn't have this blog, I probably wouldn't have had a record of half the things we have done in the last several years.
Would I do it again? Yes
It was to post 366 times in the year. It was a leap year so thus why 366.
I also did not set myself to post daily as I knew there was going to be times when I would not be near the computer for a few days, so made it that it had to be 366 posts.
Several people have wondered how I managed it.
Well 2008 turned out to be a very busy year for me, and here is why
- We had just moved to Hamilton
- We found a new house
- We brought a caravan and set up our holiday site
- We got engaged in the March
- We moved into our new house in the April
- I started my first job in Hamilton
- I had a wedding to plan in 6 months
- Ben turned 5 in the September
- So started school
- We got married in the September
- We went on Honeymoon
Did I know the year was going to be so busy when I set the challenge?
No, I knew most of these things were going to happen, but not that life would get that busy for 2008
Was it easy?
Yes it actually was.
Why and how?
Because I only worked 2 days a week so getting to the computer at different times of the day was easy. The boys were little and life was a little simpler.
Could I manage it now?
Probably not at the moment because I only get to the computer in the evenings, sometimes with only enough time to check emails. I am now working 4 days a week so when I come up with ideas for things to post I usually have to write them down to remember them for later, but later on I loose focus on what I wanted to say and therefore do not blog about the subject!
I enjoyed doing the challenge. It was fun and I had a great time blogging about just about everything.
It didn't bother me that hardly anyone was reading my blog, I mean I only have 4 followers so not exactly widely popular with the world, but as many of you have mentioned before, this is my sort of journal of our life now and it is awesome fun to sometimes look back on what we were doing at the time, because if I didn't have this blog, I probably wouldn't have had a record of half the things we have done in the last several years.
Would I do it again? Yes
Sleeping
We regularly find Alex a sleep with Ben in Ben's bed at night.
We know that Alex will sometimes complain about not wanting to go to sleep on his own, not sure why as he shares a room with Ben and their beds are no more than 2 metres apart! but we were never sure as to who invited who into the bed?
Did Ben suggest Alex come and sleep with him?
Or did Alex keep moving over and snuggling next to Ben?
The other night was no exception, this is what I found when I went up to bed......
Now Alex will even take his pillow, wheat bag and bears with him sometimes.
So we asked them how this all goes down. The answer.....
Ben apparently invites Alex to snuggle with him until we go to bed because he knows that he doesn't like sleeping on his own. He would in fact like Alex to stay there all night.
Although this is not such a good idea, as Ben fell out of bed the other night and it was because Alex was with him at the time and managed to move him over so he lost balance, a little like the picture above, Alex has a great habit of taking over the bed and pushing the original owner out!
We know that Alex will sometimes complain about not wanting to go to sleep on his own, not sure why as he shares a room with Ben and their beds are no more than 2 metres apart! but we were never sure as to who invited who into the bed?
Did Ben suggest Alex come and sleep with him?
Or did Alex keep moving over and snuggling next to Ben?
The other night was no exception, this is what I found when I went up to bed......
Now Alex will even take his pillow, wheat bag and bears with him sometimes.
So we asked them how this all goes down. The answer.....
Ben apparently invites Alex to snuggle with him until we go to bed because he knows that he doesn't like sleeping on his own. He would in fact like Alex to stay there all night.
Although this is not such a good idea, as Ben fell out of bed the other night and it was because Alex was with him at the time and managed to move him over so he lost balance, a little like the picture above, Alex has a great habit of taking over the bed and pushing the original owner out!
Monday, July 19, 2010
No School
Over the years of parenting, which when we really look at it is not that much for me at present (7yrs)! People have always given me advice on different stages of growing wonderful children.
For some reason, which I am not going to complain about, Ben seems to have managed to quietly slide through most ages at present with no real problems.
He is quiet, placid and just goes with the flow.
Yes we have had our fair share of problems with him, but nothing to really panic over.
BUT then we had Alex, and boy is he making up for everything we didn't have with Ben!
He is moody, loud, can hold a stubborn grudge and generally tests the waters with every move of every breath of everyday!
Last night at dinner he announce 'I don't want to go to school tomorrow'
I just played it off as something to say on the night before school holidays ended, knowing he had had a full on holiday and I must admit I wasn't too thrilled with going back to work after a week off.
Unfortunately this morning it wasn't quite so easy to shrug off.
At 7am he announced again that he didn't want to go to school
At 7.10am I was trying to get him to come out from under Ben's bed
At 7.25 Steve managed to get him out from under the bed and sitting on the bottom of the stairs
I got his uniform into a bag, along with some breakfast and made sure everyone else was ready to go.
We then informed Alex that we all had to go to work and school and he had to come with us.
So he did, in his pyjamas and still wearing his nighttime nappy.
They dropped me off at work, where I immediately went and found my manager and informed her that I had to leave again and that I would be back before 9.30am as Alex did not want to go to school. She was really good and just smiled and waved me away.
When I arrived at school, I found Alex in his uniform eating breakfast at before school care. He seemed quite happy although he wasn't too interested in playing with others.
He had earlier mentioned that he was scared of school, so I wanted to stick around and see him into his classroom in case there was a problem there.
Everything flowed nice and he was settled into class fine, way before the bell rang and with no problems we could see.
The teacher informed us later on in the day that she could not find out the reason for him being scared either and that maybe we were just unlucky today. He apparently had a great day and was very caring and sharing all day.
Unfortuanetly a friend was not so lucky with her 7yr old. She got him to the school but spent 15 minutes getting him out of the car!
She then spent another 15 minutes trying to get him off the pavement and into the school.
It ended when one of the teachers came out and assisted another teacher by actually holding him, whilst he screamed the street down, whilst mum quickly jumped in the car and drove away!
Apparently the rest of his day was super, he just had holiday itus like Alex!
Don't you just love kids??
For some reason, which I am not going to complain about, Ben seems to have managed to quietly slide through most ages at present with no real problems.
He is quiet, placid and just goes with the flow.
Yes we have had our fair share of problems with him, but nothing to really panic over.
BUT then we had Alex, and boy is he making up for everything we didn't have with Ben!
He is moody, loud, can hold a stubborn grudge and generally tests the waters with every move of every breath of everyday!
Last night at dinner he announce 'I don't want to go to school tomorrow'
I just played it off as something to say on the night before school holidays ended, knowing he had had a full on holiday and I must admit I wasn't too thrilled with going back to work after a week off.
Unfortunately this morning it wasn't quite so easy to shrug off.
At 7am he announced again that he didn't want to go to school
At 7.10am I was trying to get him to come out from under Ben's bed
At 7.25 Steve managed to get him out from under the bed and sitting on the bottom of the stairs
I got his uniform into a bag, along with some breakfast and made sure everyone else was ready to go.
We then informed Alex that we all had to go to work and school and he had to come with us.
So he did, in his pyjamas and still wearing his nighttime nappy.
They dropped me off at work, where I immediately went and found my manager and informed her that I had to leave again and that I would be back before 9.30am as Alex did not want to go to school. She was really good and just smiled and waved me away.
When I arrived at school, I found Alex in his uniform eating breakfast at before school care. He seemed quite happy although he wasn't too interested in playing with others.
He had earlier mentioned that he was scared of school, so I wanted to stick around and see him into his classroom in case there was a problem there.
Everything flowed nice and he was settled into class fine, way before the bell rang and with no problems we could see.
The teacher informed us later on in the day that she could not find out the reason for him being scared either and that maybe we were just unlucky today. He apparently had a great day and was very caring and sharing all day.
Unfortuanetly a friend was not so lucky with her 7yr old. She got him to the school but spent 15 minutes getting him out of the car!
She then spent another 15 minutes trying to get him off the pavement and into the school.
It ended when one of the teachers came out and assisted another teacher by actually holding him, whilst he screamed the street down, whilst mum quickly jumped in the car and drove away!
Apparently the rest of his day was super, he just had holiday itus like Alex!
Don't you just love kids??
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Proud Parents
As mentioned here, the boys have decided that their sport of choice if Judo.
We have joined a wonderful caring club who are very proud of all their members. They support them at all times and take pride in doing so.
The boys have only been doing Judo for just over 11 weeks now, all of the last school term.
3 weeks ago they had a Fun Day at our Judo Club.
This involved having registrations from over 100 children from all over the Waikato region.
Ben and Alex insisted that they take part, so Steve took them along. They weighed in at 19kg & 21kg and were deemed as the youngest and lightest in the competition, but that didn't matter, they still got classed as 'PeeWees' and got to fight 2 others in their class.
Sadly with the lack on numbers in this class Ben and Alex had to fight each other and with only 4 in the class only 3 could get a placing.
Ben walked away with a Bronze Medal and Alex got a Certificate of Participation.
They both thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and learnt a lot.
We soon found out that Tauranga Judo Club was also going to hold a Fun Day and the boys decided that they wanted to be part of this as well.
What we didn't work out at the time was that this was going to involve a 6am start to get to the venue!
With a nice long earlier morning drive we arrived at the venue, where there were 60 other kids all ready to commence fighting.
After weigh in, it was established that the boys both came in the U24kg Class, so sadly, again they had to fight each other!
There were 6 in the class and Ben & Alex started the whole day off by being the first fight of the day. Ben won, but not before his little brother gave him a good fight for his money.
They both went on to have some great fights.
Alex sadly did not win any of his fights but he did score some points in some of his fights, so all was not in vain, he fought very well and give him a little more weight and maybe some height and he will whip them next time.
As for Ben, well he managed to walk in and just win all 4 of his fights, only one of the 6 to do that, so he walked away with 1st Place, yes that is right, he got Gold Medal in this tournament.
WE are so proud, he did an awesome job on the mats scoring some good points in his fights and working hard for his wins.
Mum managed to drive up from Rotorua to watch the boys fight, first time she has ever seen them fight, although it is also the first time I have seen them in a Tournament as I was away for their last one.
She was not disappointed either, and she was cheering moves to them during the fight just like a awesome Grandmother should do along with 2 very proud parents.
The other parents there kept laughing at me cause I was yelling so much during their fights! But everyone was cheering for them during their fights, they were the youngest and smallest from our club and it was obvious that everyone was very proud to sit and watch them fight.
Well done boys, you are awesome and we are very proud of you.
Do you think you can take on Tokoroa in September?
We have joined a wonderful caring club who are very proud of all their members. They support them at all times and take pride in doing so.
The boys have only been doing Judo for just over 11 weeks now, all of the last school term.
3 weeks ago they had a Fun Day at our Judo Club.
This involved having registrations from over 100 children from all over the Waikato region.
Ben and Alex insisted that they take part, so Steve took them along. They weighed in at 19kg & 21kg and were deemed as the youngest and lightest in the competition, but that didn't matter, they still got classed as 'PeeWees' and got to fight 2 others in their class.
Quick pep talk from Sensei
Got to do my warm ups
Man these people are all so big!
Anyone notice how much smaller I am to everyone else?
Sadly with the lack on numbers in this class Ben and Alex had to fight each other and with only 4 in the class only 3 could get a placing.
Ben walked away with a Bronze Medal and Alex got a Certificate of Participation.
They both thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and learnt a lot.
We soon found out that Tauranga Judo Club was also going to hold a Fun Day and the boys decided that they wanted to be part of this as well.
What we didn't work out at the time was that this was going to involve a 6am start to get to the venue!
With a nice long earlier morning drive we arrived at the venue, where there were 60 other kids all ready to commence fighting.
After weigh in, it was established that the boys both came in the U24kg Class, so sadly, again they had to fight each other!
They both went on to have some great fights.
Alex sadly did not win any of his fights but he did score some points in some of his fights, so all was not in vain, he fought very well and give him a little more weight and maybe some height and he will whip them next time.
She was not disappointed either, and she was cheering moves to them during the fight just like a awesome Grandmother should do along with 2 very proud parents.
The other parents there kept laughing at me cause I was yelling so much during their fights! But everyone was cheering for them during their fights, they were the youngest and smallest from our club and it was obvious that everyone was very proud to sit and watch them fight.
Well done boys, you are awesome and we are very proud of you.
Do you think you can take on Tokoroa in September?
Monday, July 05, 2010
What's Been Happening
School holiday time again!
The boys have 2 weeks off, actually really happy about it because they are very tired.
Alex is loosing it very easily at present and unfortunately dinner tonight was one of the occassions. Steve however stuck to his guns when dealing with him and Alex suddenly left the table with a strong word from Steve and was in his pyjamas and up in bed before I had really understood what was going on!
15 minutes later when I checked on him, he was sound a sleep! Plain and simple....he was tired.
Think he might have grasped that sometimes when you upset Mum and Dad, you don't always get your way!
Ben on the other hand needs the holidays because he keeps coming down stairs crying saying he is having a bad dream about a movie. Usually it turns out he is remembering a movie he has watched at school, at sometime, because Ben has the wonderful ability of remembering things from weeks ago.
So even though I am now feeling that when school goes back I need to go and discuss with the Teacher exactly what movies the kids have been watching in class? I can't be sure as to exactly when these movies were watched, we could be looking at more than 6 weeks ago!
We just have to keep reminding him about more happier movies, like the up coming Toy Story 3, that we are hoping to have a family trip to see next week during the holidays.
Me, well I have been working. Although today I had the pleasure of attending a 10 hour study day on Level 5 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
By the time I got home at 6pm I was tired and believe me if anyone had collapsed on the bus or in the street I would have happily kicked them under the nearest bush and just kept on walking by!
I was sick and tired of chest compressions, heart rates and whether the person had a pulse or not!
By the end of the day I had had enough of trying to work out if there was anything else we could do to keep the patient alive or whether they needed to be shocked once, twice or even 3 times!
Work will be fun tomorrow, all those people needing treatments because they have maybe had a heart attack, I just hope no one goes off in my Lab tomorrow!
Steve has luckily got tomorrow off work to look after the boys for the day, not sure what they will be getting up to, but I have left them laundry to do.
I may come home in the evening to find they have spent the whole day playing on the Wii, although seeing as we all did that yesterday it wouldn't be too bad. I certainly won't be playing with them this week, seeing as I have a very sore arm and shoulder from playing too much Wii Baseball yesterday. I actually can't place my right arm behind my back at present, think I might have over done it a little!
Have been happily blog surfing tonight and found this wonderful blog to follow. I actually found out about it over at a friend Needledmom, she has had the pleasure of entertaining Flat Girl for the last 2 weeks. Seems this princess, from Australia, came to stay for a vacation and Needledmom showed her a great time. She is now winging her way to Canada, so I look forward to catching up on her next adventures. I also happened to notice that a lot of people offered her accomodation, people in Holland, NZ and others in the US. Looks like Flat Girl is going to have a wonderful summer vacation.
Hope those that celebrate it had a wonderful July 4. Bet the fireworks were beautiful?
Catch you all soon
The boys have 2 weeks off, actually really happy about it because they are very tired.
Alex is loosing it very easily at present and unfortunately dinner tonight was one of the occassions. Steve however stuck to his guns when dealing with him and Alex suddenly left the table with a strong word from Steve and was in his pyjamas and up in bed before I had really understood what was going on!
15 minutes later when I checked on him, he was sound a sleep! Plain and simple....he was tired.
Think he might have grasped that sometimes when you upset Mum and Dad, you don't always get your way!
Ben on the other hand needs the holidays because he keeps coming down stairs crying saying he is having a bad dream about a movie. Usually it turns out he is remembering a movie he has watched at school, at sometime, because Ben has the wonderful ability of remembering things from weeks ago.
So even though I am now feeling that when school goes back I need to go and discuss with the Teacher exactly what movies the kids have been watching in class? I can't be sure as to exactly when these movies were watched, we could be looking at more than 6 weeks ago!
We just have to keep reminding him about more happier movies, like the up coming Toy Story 3, that we are hoping to have a family trip to see next week during the holidays.
Me, well I have been working. Although today I had the pleasure of attending a 10 hour study day on Level 5 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
By the time I got home at 6pm I was tired and believe me if anyone had collapsed on the bus or in the street I would have happily kicked them under the nearest bush and just kept on walking by!
I was sick and tired of chest compressions, heart rates and whether the person had a pulse or not!
By the end of the day I had had enough of trying to work out if there was anything else we could do to keep the patient alive or whether they needed to be shocked once, twice or even 3 times!
Work will be fun tomorrow, all those people needing treatments because they have maybe had a heart attack, I just hope no one goes off in my Lab tomorrow!
Steve has luckily got tomorrow off work to look after the boys for the day, not sure what they will be getting up to, but I have left them laundry to do.
I may come home in the evening to find they have spent the whole day playing on the Wii, although seeing as we all did that yesterday it wouldn't be too bad. I certainly won't be playing with them this week, seeing as I have a very sore arm and shoulder from playing too much Wii Baseball yesterday. I actually can't place my right arm behind my back at present, think I might have over done it a little!
Have been happily blog surfing tonight and found this wonderful blog to follow. I actually found out about it over at a friend Needledmom, she has had the pleasure of entertaining Flat Girl for the last 2 weeks. Seems this princess, from Australia, came to stay for a vacation and Needledmom showed her a great time. She is now winging her way to Canada, so I look forward to catching up on her next adventures. I also happened to notice that a lot of people offered her accomodation, people in Holland, NZ and others in the US. Looks like Flat Girl is going to have a wonderful summer vacation.
Hope those that celebrate it had a wonderful July 4. Bet the fireworks were beautiful?
Catch you all soon
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Doctor's
We are very luck in the fact that we have a wonderful Doctor's surgery not too far from us.
Although sadly we are leaving them and moving somewhere else!
As you know Steve has Diabetes, and with this comes the need to have a good family Doctor.
Steve had a great one in Auckland, had been with him for 18 years. Several times the Doc felt he had failed Steve and would tell him so, informing him that he needed to find a new Doc because he was unable to maintain Steve's Diabetes, really this was just his way of telling Steve that "hey I am doing my part here, now you have to get on board as well to maintain your diabetes at a good level!"
When Ben arrived, I too joined this Doctor's practice and it became our family practice. It was lovely. We all loved the Doc and he was a wonderful person to have in our family, I think he even treated mum on occassion.
Him and his wife came to our wedding here in Hamilton 2 yrs ago, that is how well we knew him.
When we moved to Hamilton we chose the local practice, little larger than our old 2 Doc practice, this one had about 12 Docs, but still we were happy with them.
We got assigned a Doc and all was great until last year, when sadly the Doc had to leave for personal reasons and dissappeared overseas.
Since then we have not had the same Doc twice.
Now for most people this would be ok but for Steve this is no good.
He needs consistency, he needs someone who knows him, knows what he is like and knows when to kick him up the backside when he is being so so about his diabetes.
The Doc we got assigned dropped her hours and suddenly she was only working 2 mornings a week, the other Doc sharing with her has since left and now there is someone new. We feel like we are always repeating ourselves to the latest Doc when ever we visit.
The other day I mentioned to Steve that there was another Family Practice in the other direction, ok this new one is 2ks away instead of 600m, but hey we are not fussy.
He liked the idea, so today I checked them out.
They have 6-7 Docs, several of them working fulltime. They have all the other necessary facilities that go with the practice and low and behold they also have our old Doc (the one who left last year)
Turns out he only went overseas for 6 months and hoped to come back to the old practice when he returned, but they sadly were unable to accomodate him on his return.
So he is now working permanently fulltime at the new practice and that suits us just fine.
4 lots of enrolment forms completed and hey presto we now have a new Family Doctor.
Looks like it is one we all like and now know is going to be around for a while. Ok it is a little further to go when needing to collect a perscription but still just round the corner, so not too much hassle.
Although sadly we are leaving them and moving somewhere else!
As you know Steve has Diabetes, and with this comes the need to have a good family Doctor.
Steve had a great one in Auckland, had been with him for 18 years. Several times the Doc felt he had failed Steve and would tell him so, informing him that he needed to find a new Doc because he was unable to maintain Steve's Diabetes, really this was just his way of telling Steve that "hey I am doing my part here, now you have to get on board as well to maintain your diabetes at a good level!"
When Ben arrived, I too joined this Doctor's practice and it became our family practice. It was lovely. We all loved the Doc and he was a wonderful person to have in our family, I think he even treated mum on occassion.
Him and his wife came to our wedding here in Hamilton 2 yrs ago, that is how well we knew him.
When we moved to Hamilton we chose the local practice, little larger than our old 2 Doc practice, this one had about 12 Docs, but still we were happy with them.
We got assigned a Doc and all was great until last year, when sadly the Doc had to leave for personal reasons and dissappeared overseas.
Since then we have not had the same Doc twice.
Now for most people this would be ok but for Steve this is no good.
He needs consistency, he needs someone who knows him, knows what he is like and knows when to kick him up the backside when he is being so so about his diabetes.
The Doc we got assigned dropped her hours and suddenly she was only working 2 mornings a week, the other Doc sharing with her has since left and now there is someone new. We feel like we are always repeating ourselves to the latest Doc when ever we visit.
The other day I mentioned to Steve that there was another Family Practice in the other direction, ok this new one is 2ks away instead of 600m, but hey we are not fussy.
He liked the idea, so today I checked them out.
They have 6-7 Docs, several of them working fulltime. They have all the other necessary facilities that go with the practice and low and behold they also have our old Doc (the one who left last year)
Turns out he only went overseas for 6 months and hoped to come back to the old practice when he returned, but they sadly were unable to accomodate him on his return.
So he is now working permanently fulltime at the new practice and that suits us just fine.
4 lots of enrolment forms completed and hey presto we now have a new Family Doctor.
Looks like it is one we all like and now know is going to be around for a while. Ok it is a little further to go when needing to collect a perscription but still just round the corner, so not too much hassle.
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