Merry Christmas

If you were asleep in our house this morning you wouldn't have missed the cries of Leah shouting "It's Christmas Eve, it's Christmas Eve" before she ran into our room to ask if she could open a present. Oh Leah.... one more day to go my darling!
The girls are so excited. They have also enjoyed doing their 25 days of Christmas. We've missed a few of them due to the kids going for sleepovers or me just not being prepared, but it gives me a better idea of what to do next year. I think the most successful day was when we got to paint Christmas things on the lounge windows. It looks very festive. Ammon just loves opening his chocolate advent calendar each morning, and is now very good at saying the word 'chocolate'. He has my sweet tooth for sure.
The pregnancy is going well thank goodness and the tummy is no longer hide-able. Although I'm not sure if it is the stress of the Christmas season or being hormonal or both, but I find myself very mentally tired and a little overwhelmed recently. Of course December is always a busy time with end of year productions, work events, church activities, Christmas preparations, Emerson's birthday and preparing for camping. I tried my best to have all the present shopping done before the end of November, but that didn't quite work out. It has been a struggle to buy particularly for Emerson this year, so to have to think of Christmas AND her birthday gifts has been hard. Especially when you ask her what she wants and she doesn't know. I guess I could buy her some toys but they'll just end up under her bed not being used, so that's a waste of money. Last year she got alot of clothes, but she seemed somewhat disappointed by that. Even now I'm not sure we've sussed her birthday but today is the last chance to do so as we're off camping on boxing day till after her birthday. There are no shops in the middle of the bush! Thank goodness I can go up the road to Grandma's to bake her a cake! In some respects I think I'd rather skip the rest of December and all of January and just go straight into February. There's the Christmas spirit!
Work has been going very well, and I've even had the chance to escape the office for a few days of training in Auckland. My last day was yesterday and I go back on the 5th for a week on my own then I get a week off before being back to normal. Nathan has been hanging out for his holidays, his work is quite stressful and he is keen to go to the farm and do as little as possible (besides ride his bike of course!).
Emerson is going to have her proper birthday on the 19th with her cousins and friends, we have a bridal shower, bucks night, wedding and a couple baby showers to attend all in January. Then we get into getting Leah ready to start school in February. It's such a busy time.
To my brothers and their sweetheart's especially I wish you a very Merry Christmas. We miss you. I hope you get to have SOME decent time together without work getting in the way too much. Big kisses to Rose and Jean.
To Petria, Brent and Grace - Merry Christmas. We have a birthday present for Grace but I'm waiting for it to arrive to me so not sure it will arrive to her in time but nevertheless... it is a favourite of Leah's so wanted Grace to have one too.
Mum and Dad thank you for who you are. You are a great support to us and we feel very lucky to live close to you. Our children love you immensely but hey, what's not to love? Congratulations again on 40 years of marriage. Perhaps our gift has been a selfish one as it means we and our children will always be able to see you and talk to you wherever we are.
Merry Christmas everybody, may you have a little of Christ with you this season and have the happiness that I enjoy with my husband and children. Love you.

scriptures and prayers

Ammon can say scriptures and prayers now, copying after us one ward at a time. SO cute!! Some words are clearer than others but he seems so proud of himself when he's done, he doesn't want to finish. Go my boy!

The past week

Tue 24th ended up being a great day. The tree went up (with all the decorations on one side and at child height) and a yummy dinner. The girls - Emerson especially - were ultra excited with the news. It brought a tear to my eye.
Wed 25th I told my workmates. They were not surprised although they hadn't guessed. We have a chair at work that is at my desk, that has been dubbed 'the chair' (obviously) because whomever seems to sit in it ends up getting pregnant. This is number 10 child. Although no one else seems to want it now!?! Go figure.
Thu 26th Emerson had another basketball game. She had so many shots on goal, but finally managed to sink two. I think this makes seven for her this season. Nathan took me out for my birthday dinner at The Crazy Farmer with a few of my friends. I enjoyed the evening. He gave me a present before we left - a whole box of chocolate and tim tams. Not the smallest box either. It's going to take me a while to get through it.
Fri 27th we went with our ward on an overnight camp at Waihi. It was a lot of fun and we had a good turnout. There was no set plan, you could do what you wanted and that was great. Here's hoping it turns into an annual event.
Sat 28th the girls decided it would be fun to swim in the freezing sea! My kids are crazy. I'm surprised they didn't get hypothermia from it, it was SO cold. After lunch we came home. The children were knackered and it was an early night for all of us.
Sun 29th I battled with Ammon through another round of church. It is hard with Nathan sitting on the stand, as Ammon wants to go to him but gets distracted along the way. Whether it's the steps, a chair, another child or a plug... I'm mindful of how distracting that might be to the rest of the congregation. If he makes it to Nate then he sits there really good for a while. He did enjoy singing on Sunday though, so much so that he wanted to sing all through the closing prayer aswell! He has decided he hates nursery, won't even go near the door. I mentioned to his teacher he doesn't like nursery, she says that's probably because it's the room where Daddy disappears. (Nate usually takes him). So I wasn't going to fight him and took him with me to deliver newsletters and update noticeboards and then go to class. We finish church at 4pm, he falls asleep at 3.30pm. Handy. Next year will be better when we have church at 9am. He'll be more awake and less fussy and then home in time for his usual nap. Looking forward to it. Sometimes you wonder what you get out of attending church some weeks, but I know it is where I am meant to be and that the Lord will bless me and my children for the efforts I make.
Mon 30th I had a midwife visit. I could hear baby's heartbeat and that was VERY reassuring. I have also felt some movements which seems a little early but I know what they feel like and my midwife Megan says it's possible, so.... all is good there.
Tue 1st - we have started our 25 days of christmas courtesy of Jacinda's blog idea. The kids are excited. Today was that they could start their chocolate advent calendars. Ammon's favourite things these days are lollies. And he can say it too. You know exactly what he wants. Monkey. We were supposed to go to Leah's gymnastics end of year show tonight but Nate is at cricket and I think this is a two person job when one of you has to perform with Leah, the other gets to look after Em and Ammon, so that is tomorrow.

Not a bad week.

It's my Birthday today

I am having such a good day. Was woken by the beautiful sounds of Happy Birthday being seranaded to me by my girls, then after a long cuddle with my baby boy, it was time for my pancake breakfast and bubbly. Leah told me she would be my slave for today, so that was a bonus birthday pressie.

Leah also gave me chocolates, homemade placemats and a framed dye picture she had made. Ammon and Emerson gave me a book titled Nga Tama Toa that I had been looking at at the Cambridge Armistice Day. It is about the Maori Battalion and has a photo of my Grandmother's Uncle (Ngaopehoia Crawford), it's a fat book but should make interesting reading. I am yet to get my presents from Nate, however I have received one already....

Yay. Tomorrow I will be 13 weeks and so far so good. Whew.

We have decided to tell y'all earlier this time round than we did with Ammon. Why? Because I'm showing more this time and it's getting hard to hide already. Renee already asked the question after seeing our holiday pic but I just wasn't ready to say anything yet. We have been let down at the 12 week mark before, so I wanted to wait and have the scan (which we did yesterday) and make sure all was well. And it is.

We are due June 2nd and once again do not plan to find out if it's a boy or girl. We never have, so why start now? It's a wonderful surprise when they finally make their appearance to have that little discovery too.

The plan for tonight is bbq dinner and then to put up our Christmas tree. Probably not something you usually do on your birthday, but we are keen and it is what I want to do.

It has been such a good day.

p.s. Thanks to Sandra for her flowers and chocolate. I hadn't tried Cadbury Berry Panacotta before - YUM! Don't know why I haven't, I think it is my new favourite now.

Catch Up

I've finally taken a picture of the family proclamation that we bought from stratas art at the college market day. We love it. We haven't quite decided where to hang it yet though.

We took the kids to see the Michael Jackson movie on Wednesday. Their favourite song is "Beat it" but they enjoyed the movie, even though Leah and Ammon were quite tired by the end of it. Thursday night I saw New Moon with some girlfriends. I enjoyed it. Friday night I went to New Moon (again), this time with a friend who couldn't make it the night before and didn't want to go by herself.

I take the movie for what it is - entertainment, and bringing to life a few pages of a book that I enjoyed. I don't analyze it too much, unlike a lot of other people that just can't keep their negative opinions to themselves about the book and movie. They have to voice it instead of just letting others like it or not. When others are negative it can certainly take the bright spark away for you. I find that annoying.

This morning we had an activity at church about All Things Christmas. Ideas for this season that costs little money but shares lots of love. It started with Gifts from the Kitchen, yummy things to make and give. My kids love to do this, so we will try some of the receipes this year on their teachers and our neighbours. Then we moved into Family Traditions and I got a great idea I think I will try out on Em on her birthday. Then we had two workshops - making a nativity and making a waterfall photo card. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I am in the Christmas spirit. Especially now with all my Christmas decorations and tree out that I used to decorate the room at church this morning. I think it's time to put it up at home. It can be my birthday present to myself.

Nate and I had a great holiday at Coolangatta earlier this month. We arrived Sunday and walked the beach and window shopped and then caught a bus to a mall to browse some more. Monday we spent at wet'n'wild and that was fun. We hired a car to go there and went to another mall along the way. We definitely want to take the kids there. Maybe we'll go same time next year, and stay at the same hotel. It was close to the airport, had a great pool for the kids and the room was a family one with a kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom/laundry. Perfect. We came home Tuesday. One more day would have been excellent but it was really nice to have some time to ourselves.

We're off to Waihi next weekend for a ward camp. It'll be fun. The girls got their invitation to Elisa's birthday but unfortunately it is the same day we are away. They want to come, but you can't be in two places at one time. Happy Birthday Elisa, hope you have a great day!

Thanks Papa

Thank you Papa for the shirts and lollies. They've been great!

Oh No!

Ammon has learnt how to open the shower door! This is a day we have dreaded. :-) Ammon loves to have a shower and now there will be no stopping him if he wants to get in. Great.
He's also into socks lately. Insists on wearing them all the time and especially to bed. Wasn't happy when I took them off him this morning to be washed, so promptly went to his drawer and got some more, brought them back and got me to put them on him. Once on, he sits there rubbing his socks saying "Nice"!
He also came to me this morning saying "Poo wee" with his hand on his bum. He wanted his nappy changed. He's learning so quick.
Ammon is really into airplanes and just loves the photo Dad gave him of the plane they flew on to Auckland. Will carry it all over the house while he pretends he's a plane. It's very cute. Nate plans to get him an airplane to put on his bedroom ceiling for Christmas, so if you see one, let us know!
Well it's time to go swimming, then we can swim back to the car afterwards in the rainstorm that is supposed to come today. Woohoo.

T-ball? No thanks.

Well Em decided not to play t-ball after all. There just weren't enough girls in the team for her liking. So it's just basketball. Their first game was great, her team won 10-4 and Em scored the last goal. Next week the team is going to burger king after basketball as a get-to-know-you for the parents.
On Saturday I went to the Church College of New Zealand market day, this weekend hosts the final reunion before it closes at the end of the year. I enjoyed a yummy coconut bun and caramel cinnamon scroll then purchased an awesome family proclamation on canvas with a picture of the first presidency, temple and Christ on it aswell. We get it later this week as they had all sold out and were only taking orders on the day. I'll post a pic when I get one. There were lots of little stalls with tempting things to buy but I restrained myself. Of course I may be kicking myself later for not getting some kind of CCNZ momento but ah well....
Nate's Mum had the kids for the day and it was nice to be able to browse and wander all by myself. I was also able to pop out to Dad's and put a few things in the fridge for his arrival home today. Oh and then I bought some new curtains for our lounge and a crockpot to replace the one that got melted. Sorry Mum, but now you have a brand new one! I got about an hour or so after all that to myself at home before my family arrived. We were all going to go to the rugby together but decided Ammon wouldn't last, so Nate just took the girls. Although he was home about an hour later, the girls had driven him up the wall. Once the hot dogs and chips ran out they were done. Leah kept asking him why he wanted to watch the rugby. Thank goodness the tickets were from work and we hadn't had to pay. So home they came and Nate watched the rest of the game on TV. His words? "Never ever ever again!". Ohhhhh.....
Church today then our friend Ru is coming for dinner with his boys. Tomorrow is a holiday. No plans yet, but the girls might be having a sleepover tonight and a movie tomorrow but we'll see if their behaviour improves from this morning! Good luck I think!

Kindy

...is going well. Ammon went off like a charm yesterday, too interested in blowing bubbles and looking at the hot air balloon to worry about Mummy leaving. Sounded like he had a good day too. His only tantrum I think was that he couldn't ride all the bikes. Leah's area had bike day and he wanted to ride too.
Nate's ride yesterday didn't go so well. He got a flat tyre and two broken spokes after the warm up round. He got to ride on his friend's bike for the third race but by then it was getting dark and he couldn't see the track very well. Bummer.
Em starts basketball tonight. She's also looking at playing t-ball on saturday's but only if her girl friends are playing too. She has to decide by tomorrow morning. Costs $5.
We've got the elders coming for dinner tonight, I'm so not motivated in the kitchen lately. We'll have butter chicken and rice, but not sure that dessert will happen. Mmmm... crack open a couple cans of fruit and all might be ok.... lazy huh? I am just not into cooking dinner anymore. Of course I still do, 'cause the kids get hungry but for me it is one of those dreaded tasks where I wish I could afford to pay someone to cook our dinners every night. Anyone want to work for free??

Sunday

Ammon had a visit to nursery today. His Daddy took him while I taught the relief society lesson on the restoration (#44 Joseph Smith book). My lesson went really well and the ladies really seemed to get something out of it. I realized that the appearances in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110) of the Saviour and Moses, Elias and Elijah all tie into the 3 fold mission of the church. The Saviour appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery first as he is the head of the church. Moses then restored the keys of the gathering of Israel, which is missionary work or PROCLAIMING the gospel, after which Elias restored the keys of the Abrahamic Covenant, which gives us the opportunity to receive the blessings and covenants of the holy temple or PERFECTING the saints. Lastly Elijah restored the keys to the sealing power so that we can be eternal families and REDEEM the dead. They appeared in that order, and that is also the order of the 3 fold mission. Doesn't everything tie in and go together!

Oh - back to Ammon. He wasn't too keen on the lesson that was being given, but he did like it when the blocks and toys came out for playtime. There were only 3 of them today and none of them are his usual little playmates, so I imagine he'd do even better when they are there. It's a good start.
His rash is all gone and he's doing good.

I'm planning to bring Nana home for the afternoon tomorrow so that she can see Rose and Jean on skype, and to catch up on everyone's websites. She'll be here from around 1pm-3 or 4pm so Mum let me know when's a good time to call you when the girls are awake.

Back to School

Yay - school holidays are over! I like having some structure to our routine and set activities for the kids to do.
Emerson has been waiting for over a week for school to start again, her classroom has had some work done to it, and she was excited to see what it looks like this morning. She is hoping to do basketball and cricket this term.
Leah and Ammon start swimming and gymnastics this week, and they both love them so it will be fun for them. I was going to take Ammon for a kindy visit today but he had a temperature last night and I don't think he'll like going there today, so we'll just stay home instead. He slept with us from about midnight but had woken up twice before that, I knew it wasn't going to be a good night!
Nate went motorbike racing on Saturday - a cross country one. He came 7th in his class and loved it. He's going to be doing that series this summer aswell as another race series which is made up of three sprint races in a day. He's really into his bike riding right now.
The days are longer, the weather a bit better. Bring on summer!

Ammon's starting daycare

Next wednesday is Ammon's big day. He's starting daycare. He'll be going to the same place that Leah goes to, which will be great because if he's ever having an off day or quite upset, they will go and get her and she can comfort him.

We've had a few visits already and each time he does better and better. It's not ideal, because he's one of the older babies so won't have anyone to really play with, but after the Christmas holidays he will be old enough to move up to toddlers and it will be much better for him.

At the end of this month, he is also old enough to start nursery at church. Yay! But we'll see how he goes with just starting daycare too. Might be too much change for him, but he'll have his buddies in there - Taj, Frank and Ben so he might be ok.

Unfortunately our youth are fundraising at the moment, and of course we should support them, so darn it, we have to go for a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning. What a shame. The girls are going to love it, it's their favourite breakfast. I also get my car washed, so it's going to be a good morning. They are also doing a hangi at the end of the month, so we'll be keen on that too. I haven't had one for ages!

Work is busy as ever. I usually manage to get on top of what I have to do by about 4.45pm, write a quick email to my job-share buddy and then it's off home. It's good to be busy, I don't like twiddling my thumbs at work, it seems pointless. Emerson wants to come to work with me on Friday, don't know what she's going to do there, but she's excited. Work won't mind. Hmm... maybe I should tell them she's coming?? ............. Nah.

I reached a milestone recently - September marked 10 years with my current employer. Of course I have come and gone and raised a family in that time, but I like it there. I'm celebrating with morning tea next week - what to make?? Feijoa and apple cake? Donuts! Or maybe Bex's caramel shortcake... mmmm..... yum.....

Leah's Kindy Photo 2009

Update

The Vanilla soy milk with a banana worked - yay. Even Nate has it. Em is doing so good. We started on 20ml of medicine and have worked our way slowly down to 10ml as of today, dropping by two ml's per week to wean her body off the medicine. I think we go back for a hospital check-up in October.
I'm busy busy trying to get organised for our trip to OZ this week. For some reason my brain has been quite fried lately and I can't seem to put my thoughts in order. Thank goodness for lists! I'm definitely a list person. Mind you it probably doesn't help that I spend hours in the evening doing genealogy instead of getting a long nights sleep. Oh well. You reap what you sow.
What have we been up to? Doctors with Em, immunizations for Ammon, a stardome kindy trip for Leah, Nate's birthday, dentists, washing, washing, oh - did I mention washing??, hairdressers, Nanny's birthday, Fathers day, Granny's birthday (tonight) and then the usual... work, school, church, kindy etc..
Nate and I booked our gold coast trip from Nov 1st-3rd. No kids. And yes we're off to wet'n'wild. Probably a place where we should take the kids, but hey - ya gotta have some fun as a couple where you don't have to worry someone's drowning. Speaking of which, Ammon is just loving water. He comes to us each morning pulling his clothes off for his shower, and gets ultra excited if we pull into the parking lot at the pools. He's learnt to swim by himself in the baby pool without wings even. He loves it.
Alright better go - more washing to do. Oh yay.

Family pic

First shot, and even taken using a timer. Yay! This week is starting out great. Ammon slept all night last night for the first time in about 2 weeks. Man it felt good! Today he is happy happy and keen to go out in the car, to get out of the house. Not that what we have to do today is exciting stuff - take the lawnmower for a service, fill the gas bottle, refill some medicine and go to gymnastics with Em but it's just so nice not to have him grizzly and clingy.

Em is trying some changes to her diet including soy milk. Have you tried that stuff? Yuck. There is no way I would drink it given the choice, so if she doesn't want to I won't make her. We'll just find something else that might help instead, if we can. She has to have more fibre, less processed food.

Leah is very curious. In the middle of sacrament last week (at it's most quietest time) she asks Aunty Stancy "Why do we have bum cheeks?" How random is that?

Nate's work is looking up and we are planning a holiday for the start of November. He won it through work so we just have to book it. We're thinking Gold Coast.... any suggestions people? We just want some sun! Maybe wet'n'wild....bring it on!

Genealogy

Mum and I have been preparing for our stake temple week next week, looking at our family history to see whose temple work we could do.
I have enjoyed family history ever since I took it as one of my liberal classes at Church College in 1991. Over the years I have collected letters and certificates, communicated with distant family members, been to a reunion and a conference, and sat for hours on the computer finding shipping lists and census records and parish registers. I love it.
I probably have few hobbies/interests that are for me alone. Usually I'm busy taking the kids to the things they like to do, or looking after them while Nate is doing his things. Although he encourages me to find something to do, I haven't yet found that something that kindles any fire. I'm certainly not a physical person, I don't enjoy exercise at all although I have tried to go swimming this past year (but only cause the physio told me I had to). I played hockey for a number of years but now it is enough for me to run around after the children. I know I know... if I exercised I'd have more energy to do more things, but really - why commit to something you just KNOW you will not stick at? To something you don't enjoy? Flag that.
Instead I love to read, I love to do family history, I like both the productive and social side of going to work and I like to be in the background.
Anyway - back to genealogy...
My ancestors are mainly from Scotland but also from Denmark on my Nana's side. It is the Danish line I have been working on this week. My great-great-great-great grandmother is Helene Margrethe Larsdatter born in 1812. She had a daughter and a son to Lars Christensen but did not marry him. He was a soldier born in 1816. It is through the daughter that I descend (she was raised by Ane Marie Christensdatter who I'm thinking is her Dad's sister, maybe). She also had another son to another man but did not marry him either. Rebel. :-) For years I did not know who her parents were, but this week I found them as I scrolled through the Parish records which the Danish government puts on the internet for free. Love that!
Lars Hansen and Johanne Marie Jensdatter were married in 1799 and they had five children - all girls. I haven't found the parents births yet as it is getting close to the limit of when the parish records began but I found a census for a couple with the same name and if it is them then they were born in 1751 and 1770. Exciting huh?
The new FamilySearch program the church has is also a wealth of information. The old one just had info but the new one you can link your family members together. Through that I've found some descendants of Lars and Johanne's daughter Ane. So you can find all these people in your family tree you didn't know were there!
Mum and I have also been a little stumped on Alexander McLeod, my great-great-great grandfather. His son Donald's birth certificate says he was born in Boston USA in 1857 but I was going through some papers I've had for over 10 years and there was a letter sent to Mum's Mum in 1968 from his other son Thomas and it says he was born in 1848 in Scotland! Mum got his death certificate and it at least gave us his parents names - Donald McLeod and Euphemia McKinnon. It's a start and more than we had a few weeks ago, so that's the next line to find more on.
Okay gotta run - it's time for Leah's gymnastics. She LOVES gym! So does Ammon.

Papa's Birthday

Just thought I'd show you a pic of the birthday cake the girls and I made for Papa for his birthday last weekend. Yum!
Was by far the easiest birthday cake I've made, and a huge hit with the littlie's.

Finally a photo

I achieved my mission today! I got the long awaited photo for Ammon's passport application. Finally! No bumps, no bruises, no black eye's this week - but you can see his scar and he does have a few red spots on his chin from his dribbling (he's teething his molars this week) but ah well it's good enough! And your passport photo is supposed to be a TRUE-LIKENESS after all. So here it is...

The kids have not been fantastic recently, cold after flu after virus after teething after restless nights..... even today Leah didn't even want to finish her last day at gymnastics, her absolutely favourite thing to do ever, she just wanted to go home to her blankie. So we did, and both her and Ammon have gone straight to sleep. Here's hoping they have enough of a rest considering we have to pick up Em from school soon.

Speaking of blankie...Leah burnt her blanket on the gas heater and is most upset. Now part of it is not all beautiful like the rest of her blanket. She thought she could put it on top of the fire like she can at Papa's house to get nice and toasty warm, lucky Daddy was nearby and could smell it and remove it before it got any worse!

Reading

I have been going to book club with a group of friends from church for a few months now. We decided not to all read the same book, just share what we were reading, what we had at home that we liked or recommended and to be introduced to and try new authors and genre's we wouldn't try otherwise.
I chose to read THE BRONZE HORSEMAN by Paullina Simons. You can check it out here but the gist of it is a young girl meets a soldier the day war starts in Russia, and what they endure before and after they get together.
I enjoyed alot of the historical/factual side of it, what it was like to endure the weather, food rations, blockades, living conditions and the way of life. I liked the romance that develops despite it all and the challenges they overcome.
I think I learned alot from the character Tatiana, about the kind of person she was (in particular towards Alexander) and the strength she had and how she got through her trials. Of course it IS a love story and there was a fair bit of love in the story but as a whole it was really really good. It's the kind I just wanted to read and read - my poor neglected family! Didn't help that I read book 2 (The Bridge to Holy Cross) and book 3 (The Summer Garden) straight after that! Lucky them I don't have my hands on book 4 yet huh?

Another black eye

Well since Ammon's black eye (see a previous post) he's split his head on Aunty Jacinda's stairs and given himself another black eye in the same place as the first one by pulling our little telephone table over on himself. Crikey. What a boy! We think he'll have a bit of a scar from the stair incident but Nate has one just like it on his head too. If you faced them together it's like a mirror where their scars are. He really is just like his Daddy.
He's getting better. Not 100% but much much better. Thursday was his worst day. He just laid down the whole day, whimpering through much of the day and the night. We kicked Daddy out to the lounge and he slept with me, although I wouldn't say there was a whole lot of sleeping going on - especially at 3.30am when he seemed to perk up and get all wide awake and chatty. He'd gulp down water like a man in the desert and then puke it all back up again straight away. Friday he tried to walk a bit but was so shaky he would just collapse and cry, but he has more strength today to get around but not much more of an appetite. Tomorrow should see him back to his old self.
I tell ya, I've gone through the pamol this week! First Em, then Ammon. I need to go get a top up now. I remembered yesterday (!!) that I had a sheet that told me how much pamol to give at certain weights, well..... if only I had remembered that about 6 months ago! All this time I haven't been giving Ammon the full amount that he was entitled to, doh! Let's put it down to baby brain shall we?
After 13 months I gave up breastfeeding last wednesday. It was a good run and longer then I did with the girls (11 months each) but I'm real happy that I could go as long as that. It is SO convenient. I probably could have gone longer but nah, it's time. Of course I would decide to do that the week before he gets sick as I would have liked to have been able to comfort him with a feed when he was feeling completely crappy but I stayed strong, and even though the milk is still there you can't really go back can you? It's a bit of freedom now... I can wear any clothes (not just breastfeeding friendly ones) and go to a girls night out if I want and he can sleep over at Nan's if she wants... it's great.
Oh by the way I have a mission - to get a decent photo of Ammon for his passport application. Wonder if he'll stop getting black eye's long enough for me to do that??

Sick sick sick

Don't come visiting us at the moment. We're a house full of sickies. Emerson started on Sunday with stomach bug - coming out both ends but was fine by Wednesday, however Ammon got it that morning and I had it by that night. It's been a miserable day today. Poor Ammon! Nanny came over to give him cuddles so that I could have a bit of a rest, not that I had much of one. Why is it that even when your body is most tired, or most drained that you feel like you need to tidy up your house?? I've never learnt to just stop and go to bed and let it all wait. Nate can do it but I don't. Silly woman.

I've thought lots of times lately that I would update this when one of the kids have done something worth telling, but as you can see I haven't. Ah well... maybe it's a MacDonald thing (aye boys?).

Leah-in-a-box

Who needs Jack-in-a-box when you can have Leah instead?

We bought a new computer monitor but hadn't put the box out for recycling yet, and so found Leah watching tv like this....

NB: I added a photo of Ammon to the last post.

Taking after Daddy

Usually when Nate plays rugby he'll come home with a black eye or two each season. Well this is his year off, but the tradition continues.... Ammon has his first black eye. How'd he manage that? A face-plant onto his ball popper toy. It would probably help if he was a bit more steady with his walking. He didn't much fuss, he didn't much cry but over the past week it's really developed into a good one.
Like Father, Like Son!

What we've been up to

Rock Climbing. The girls loved it! I think we need to try the one in Auckland though, that sounds fun.School.... Kindy.... Work.... real fun stuff.

The Elders joined us for Family Home Evening on Monday. For the lesson they had us draw something we enjoy doing as a family. Leah's was going rock climbing, Nate's was camping and jumping on the trampoline. Mine was sitting together for dinner and Emerson's was what everyone else had drawn.

It's Mothers Day tomorrow - so Mum - Happy Mothers Day. I appreciate all that you do for me and I'm really glad that you look after Ammon and that he has such a great time with you. I hope you have a great day.
As for me, I'm having a day without children. That doesn't seem quite right somehow but the girls are far more excited about going to Ryan's birthday then spending the day with me, so I'll just enjoy some me time (and it will be just ME time 'cause Nate will be at meetings probably). Mmmm... lonely....

Birthday Boy

April 27th was Ammon's 1st birthday.
He and I spent it visiting Nana and doing grocery shopping, exciting stuff! Our only plans for his birthday was dinner with his grandparents and a little cake to follow. He demolished the cake quite well after putting his finger in the candle flame(!)...

and seemed quite taken with his Thomas the tank engine from Aunty Yvette.I can't believe he is one now, that we've had him for a whole year. The time has gone fast and except for the lack of sleep I've loved it all.

Ammon now weighs 11.0kg and is 78cm tall. At the same age Emerson was 9.9kg & 81.5cm and Leah was 9.4kg & 77.4cm. Here is the three of them at age 1 (Em on bike, Leah eating cake).

Cousins

The girls got to spend a night each with Brooke/Elisa and Ryan/Logan and they had a fab time. I asked them what their favourite part of the holiday was and their response:
Leah - the beach and Lollipops Playland
Emerson - the spa, mini putt and McDonalds (with Papa on the way home)
You can see pics here.

It was a good way to do it not sending them to the same house at the same time, then they didn't fight over who got to play with that cousin or get left out from the play altogether.
Ammon even got to have a holiday with a night at Nanny's. He is teething again, his third tooth finally arrived during the week and number four is on it's way too.

Nate took the girls to the ANZAC dawn service this morning followed by a pancake breakfast with the youth at the chapel. Now they are settling down to play with Ryan's train set we have borrowed. Leah is very keen on trains. Must get that from her Papa.

Home again

Well we made it home last night after picking up Ammon from Mum's (thank you so much for dinner Mum!) and all went to bed early. The girls were fast asleep at 7pm, Ammon at 8pm, myself around 8.30pm and Nate sometime after that.

We arrived at Hospital at 9am Sunday, but she didn't get her medicine till 12pm. Each dose is 6 hours apart so she couldn't have another one that day hence not alot happened. She amused herself with colouring, reading, watching movies, playing games, admiring her viewand watching the older girls in her room and wishing she could "hang" with them but they weren't too interested in a younger girl hanging around. She was not allowed to eat before her medicine and after that could only have sugar-free juice, diabetic jelly and strained soup. She was so hungry! Of course there was no way I was going to eat in front of her so I fasted most of Sunday and had something to eat when she was asleep or visiting with family. Her visitors were Nanny, Papa, Daddy, Jennie, Ammon and Leah.

We shared her bed (so much better than the lazyboy!) and dealt with her throwing up at 2am.

Monday medicine arrived at 8am and the playroom opened at 9am so she spent the entire morning in there doing art and craft. She loved it. She couldn't handle anymore soup or jelly so decided not to eat anything on Monday and was thrilled when Papa brought her some sprite-zero that she could drink - a new flavour. The playroom closed at lunchtime but they gave her a tray of things to do in her room for the afternoon. Next medicine was at 1pm and things finally started happening. The doc came in at 4pm and said we could go home and to continue at home as we have been doing all along. You should have seen her face when the doc said she could eat now!! My goodness, such delight!! She has been eating since.

So we are sticking close to home today in case her medicine still affects her, but tomorrow Emerson and Leah are off on holiday to their cousins. They are so excited.

Eggs, Penguins, Doctors and Smiles

We've had a great Easter weekend!
It started Thursday night when we helped the Easter Bunny set up the Easter Egg Hunt, and it's lucky we did because the girls were ready at 7am to go egg hunting. There was great excitement and delight when the girls discovered that EB had left them money in their eggs instead of chocolates or toys (about 20-30c per egg). It meant they could go visit DADDY'S EASTER SHOP and buy the chocolates they wanted. It also meant Mummy gets to eat what wasn't purchased - yay for me! It showed us that Emerson goes for the biggest prize while Leah's is based on colour. They were very happy with what they were able to buy. The rest of the day was a very lazy one at home while Daddy went to ride his motorbike in Tokoroa.

Saturday was family day with a trip to Kelly Tarlton's. The girls LOVED it!! Immensely.

Leah is just fascinated by sharks and it was the only thing she really wanted to see. Emerson really enjoyed the penguin ride and both girls shrieked when the killer whale popped out of the ocean. Very funny. Ammon's favourite part was probably the games room where he could hang out with his little penguin friends and explore as he wished. Fortunately he didn't get squashed as he crawled under the turtle research submarine while Mum and Dad weren't watching!! The stingrays were a hit and I really liked the coral reef tank. It was a great time.

Sunday was church. The girls wanted to share the Easter Nests we had made on Friday with their teachers and a few friends so that was enjoyed by many. I guess the momentous event of the day came at the end when Nan offered to have the kids for the night so we could have a full nights sleep. Well... so I could have a full nights sleep (my husband has fantastic sleeping abilities, he can sleep through anything - even a small boy screaming his head off a few times a night). It was Ammon's first night away from me and apparently was a great success for him but really, he may as well have stayed home for all the sleep I got that night. I guess I'm just too used to waking that my body didn't know it was allowed to stay in dreamland. Ah well... it made me decide to wean Ammon off the night time feed so that's a good thing - for me. Freedom....!!!

Monday we could have slept in, but when you can you don't, and when you can't you want to. We did a few jobs before the kids came home and Mum and I went off to a wedding. The first one I have been to where you take your own picnic and blanket. All they supplied was the cake and drink. It was great. Very relaxed. The bride went from blanket to blanket and got to try everyone's food while she visited. Mind you she didn't get much from us, we took Subway (too lazy to cook). The evening rounded off with Nate's family coming over for an impromptu dinner. The cousins really don't spend enough time together.

Today is Tuesday. The kids had photos done at Pixifoto - very quick and easy with plenty of smiles at the ready. Of course they turned a little downcast with one big girl after I told her she has to go to the hospital on Sunday. She really does not want to go but she will. We've also had a nit-combing session today. I really don't know where the girls bring them home from! Takes ages and the girls hate having to sit so still. I still need to think about dinner and tonight we have our tithing settlement interview.

What a busy weekend but it's been good and I survived. Lets see how the rest of the school holidays go....

Will you cross your fingers too?

Emerson had her check up today at the childrens clinic at the hospital. It's been two years since she had her surgery, she came home easter weekend 2007 and hobbled around making an easter egg hunt for her family.

The memory brings anguish to my heart and tears to my eyes. My poor girl - all that she has had to go through. I just want it finished for her! It has been a really hard road for her, for me, for her Daddy. So much frustration, so many times when we should have been easier on her... it just feels endless. I wish I could take it away from her, she's had to endure it for too long now.

Her visit today may result in a hospital stay during the holidays. That may not be a bad thing. She will hate it, but this time it won't be invasive or painful, she won't be poked and prodded or drugged out of her mind. I won't have to watch my baby in pain or cry at her bedside and maybe, just maybe this might fix it all.

Gosh I wish I had more fingers to cross.

Back to Work

I've had two days back at work now and it's almost like being at a new job all together rather than returning to one. Although I do know how to do everything and I've remembered most things pretty well, there is still the uncertainty that I am actually doing it all correctly.
Fortunately it is fairly quiet there right now so it's been a good way to ease into being back there. At the same time, it is a bit too quiet and I sit there twiddling my thumbs at times. I spent yesterday just cleaning out my area and doing alot of filing and making room and throwing away the unnecessary. It has been asked that we volunteer to help others in the office if we have the time, but I'm just getting used to my job again so I'm not going to offer to help someone else just yet.
Of course I'll probably be back into the swing of things completely in a week or two but for now I plan to cruise along and find my feet again.

I miss Ammon. I don't think he misses me though. He's been having a fabulous time with his Nan playing outside and inside and going for walks. When I came home yesterday he was happy to see me but wanted to go straight back to Nanny. Mmm... nice to see you too son.

So it's taking some organizing now on the mornings that I work and can get a little frantic if we're running late. It's not going to get much easier coming into winter, I mean really - who wants to get out of bed on a foggy and cold Waikato morning?? Oh it's gonna be fun...

Balloon Festival

Even though Nate was away, I managed to get the kids up early and off to watch the Balloons over Waikato. We had breakfast at the lake while we waited for the balloons to inflate, then oohed and aahed as they flew overhead. It was a bit chilly but we had a great time.

Here's Ammon with "Mr Bup" behind him.

Prayers update

My sister made this scrapbook page of the previous post for me. She's doing him a book of his first year, how lucky am I?

Prayers

Daddy called for prayers this morning, so Ammon folded his arms. Gee, you can never underestimate what they are learning even at this early age! (10.5 months)

Change Around

Just wanted to show the girls bedroom, they asked for their beds to be put back together into a bunk. So much room now!

Ammon & Work

My baby is so much fun. I just LOVE watching him learn new things. In the last week or so he has:
~Learned to clap (so cute!)
~Bounce himself on the trampoline on his knees
~He's letting go of things more and standing on his own or walking holding on to one of your hands not two...
~He knows if he hears a *beep* outside that his Daddy has come home then he'll look at me and say "Da"
~He'll shake his head when I say "No" and
~He'll turn his head from side to side when I'm changing a dirty nappy and I say "Pooh Wee!" (as in whoa that's smelly let me get my head away from the fumes!)
I'm just really enjoying my baby and for some reason it seems this time round is a little different. Is it because he's a boy? Is it because he's number 3? Because... I have to go back to work in exactly 16 days and I have to say, I'm really not looking forward to it. After the girls I was quite keen to go to work and have adult conversation and a break from the house, but this time.... I just wanna stay home.
I'm supposed to be weaning Ammon but I don't want to, so I'm not, kinda. I took him off one feed so now I only feed him around 6.30am and 8pm, but I'm not ready to let those two go. I feel like it's too early, he's not even one. I'm really happy with the fact that my body has been able to feed my babies for so long, some Mum's aren't so lucky. Don't get me wrong I don't want to keep Ammon a baby, I love watching him grow, and no I am not going to be one of those Mum's still breastfeeding their 5 year old child (uh uh no way!)... I'm not sure how to say what I'm thinking here... I think I had it but I've lost it... I've still got baby brain!... ahhhh... but, I guess I'm just really enjoying this time instead of looking ahead waiting for it to be over and moving on to the next step.
I am loving now and wishing it didn't have to change, not just yet.

p.s. Leah had her 4 year immunizations today. I've finally learnt and so sent Daddy along this time. I asked her when she got home if she was brave and she just looked at me (you know with that look that asks Hello are you for real? duh Mum!) and said "No, I cried". Straight up is my Leah, no beating around the bush with her... Love that.

Death

We attended a memorial service on Tuesday night for a friend who passed away from cancer. We had no intention of taking the kids with us and so made plans for them to stay at Nanny and Papa's, however the girls insisted they wanted to come with us so we only left Ammon behind.
The girls have only been to one funeral before but they seem so at ease with death and being around a body who's spirit has flown home. This time Leah even asked if she could touch him. She was shown how and where but I don't think she did in the end, but for her to even ask was a brave moment. It really showed me how little fear she has regarding death.
We have tried to help them understand that although the body is buried in the ground, the Spirit returns to Heavenly Father and we will see them again. I think they are getting it.
Our friend was ready to meet Heavenly Father and even looked forward to it, I don't think I could say that right now. I'm not sure how much of that is a) I don't want to leave my children and husband yet or b) I'm not ready to be judged by my maker. Hmmm... improvements to make yet I think.... I really should work on that...

(For those of you not familiar with Kiwi culture, when a loved one passes, they lie in state in their home for usually three days where family and friends can farewell them before they are taken to the cemetery for burial.)

Pencil sketch

Why is it that you start on the net looking at one thing, and end up somewhere else completely? I wanted a new heart brush for photoshop, I now have three droplets (courtesy of pencilpixels.com) that turn my photo's to pencil sketch, toon or stained glass. How did that happen??

Anyway, I had a play with the pencil one and this is what it's like before and after:

How fun is that?

It's our Anniversary

Nine years ago today I married my sweetheart.

The time has gone by so fast but it's been the best time ever.
An O.E., nine moves, three babies, two mortgages and plenty of love and laughter ~ I wouldn't have it any other way.

Impatience

Emerson asked me a couple days in a row if I would meet the Mum of a friend of hers so that they could have a playdate. Of course I kept saying "Not today..." so Emerson took it into her own hands to organise our meeting. Yesterday A's Mum comes up to me in the car and tells me about a wonderful note she got from Emerson asking if she would meet me and asking if she could come and play! She'd given up waiting for me.

I think that's great. Sometimes impatience in children is not a good thing but I'm glad Emerson isn't going to be one of those kids who sit around waiting, but will get on with it. Who will make new friends and make things happen. That's a great quality to have - impatience. Who would've thought?

First Steps??

Ammon took his first steps tonight, how exciting is that?! I was sitting at our computer and he was standing at our chest about a metre away, when he let go... half turned to look at me... then took 2 or 3 steps to me. It was so cool! Yay, I can't wait for my baby to be walking. I love it when they can have some independance.
I love it when they can talk too. I've been trying to get him to say some words, you know... like "ta" and "bye bye" and "cat" and "Dad" and "Mum". Although he says Mum I'm not sure that he's really saying it in terms of me or just that happens to be the sound coming out of his mouth at that time. Ah well, it will come.....

Silky smooth....

My brother and his sweetheart are expecting twins, so my sisters and I have been giving LOTS of advice. Every other day I think of something else to tell them. I know what works for one person doesn't always work for another, but there are things I wish I had known when I had my first daughter that no one told me. Simple things that sometimes seem so obvious but as a new Mum you really have no idea!

So.... I'm going to put in a plug for my favourite pregnancy cream:
Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula - Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks.

I used this every morning once I got a bit of a tummy and it works! I would even use it for a while after I had my babies as my body changed again. Fantastic stuff I think.

(Just don't forget to put it on your breasts too!)

Moving

Emerson has asked if we can move to Australia. She just HAS to be closer to her new cousins and to get ready for the wedding in September. It's all so exciting for her but just too far away!

The Yummiest Muesli Bar

I just felt like sharing the recipe for a muesli bar that my family just loves.

MUESLI BAR

Melt and simmer for 5 minutes: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup honey, 125g butter

Then combine it with: 1 cup rolled oats, 4 crushed weet-bix, 1 cup rice bubbles, 1 cup coconut, 1/2 cup dried fruit.

Press into greased swiss roll tin and cut while warm. Set and store in fridge.

So easy.... so yummy!

Mum

The first thing I want to say is "Thanks Mum".

You just do so much for me and my family, from giving the kids their own timeout at your place, to helping with swimming and dancing and whatever other activities they want to do, to doing my dishes or watching my son so I can have my own timeout for an hour.

You buy things for us, you help with my garden and my storage, you come when I need you and you come just because you want to. You are patient while the kids talk to you on the telephone about their day (or just want to play with skype) and you spoil them with the things I won't buy. You always have time to watch them outside, or play a game with them on the lounge room floor.

You babysit so my sweetheart and I can go on a date, sometimes you even go on a date with my husband (rugby season is starting again)!

Yes you do alot of physical things for us, but you also do alot emotionally - you love us and I thank you for that. You are a great Mum, an even better Nan... and I love you... lots!

My First Blog

I'm not sure what I'm going to put on here, but I just wanted a place to say something if I wanted to.