Brookes Big Day

Please God...

Grant this little child Your love
As each new day appears,
Grant the parents guidance
And wisdom though out the years -
Smile down upon this christening
And in Your loving way
Let Your presence gently bless
This little one today.
unknown

Brooke was baptized today. Another milestone! She was such a little angel. She spent the entire time staring at Father Hamish with the hugest eyes, then a wee gummy grin for those watching her - then back to the serious stare... During the lighting of the candle she started to chatter, which was so sweet. It was a very small affair, just family and 3 of Ashleigh's friends who have bothered to keep in touch with her - 1 of which was so delighted to be asked to be a godmother - she went out and bought Brooke 2 gorgeous wee Pumpkin Patch outfits - LOL - I can see a bit of spoiling going to happen here!

We also had a big family lunch today for a combined Leo and Josef birthdays. I just love this photo of Josef!!
What a full on weekend...I'm so not looking forward to this full time course - I just don't know how working mums do it - keep the house, work and still look fab! I keep telling myself its just for a week...

Going to the Velodrome

Yesterday was Kit Day - Keeping In Touch Day for all the Hearing Impaired primary school kids in Southland. What an absolute fabulous day it was! We met at the offices of 2 very wonderful ladies Gretchen and Karen for a whole lot of fun with Michelle from Dunedin who played games with the kids and then gave the kids a pile of neat bits and pieces to make bookmarks and cards.
Michelle came to our house on Wednesday night and taught us some very basic sign language. We are very keen to learn but there are no teachers in Invercargill!! We now know the alphabet and how to count to 20 and a few very easy signs like 'name', 'who', 'what', 'nice meet you', 'go'. We need to learn more - it will take forever to have a conversation if we have to spell every word out!!
I got side tracked didn't I? LOL ;o)
Anyway after the fun with Michelle we went to an Indoor mini golf. This mini golf place is just a tad different than the rest - its played in the dark. All the holes glow! The balls glow! Its actually quite disorientating walking in there! Because we had a group of hearing impaired children we had to turn the lights on. But they all had a crack at the last hole darkness. Its quite cool watching this wee ball rolling along apparently in thin air!
After lunch we visited the Velodrome. Now this place rocks! Its is so cool. The kids had such a blast racing each other and some of the dads had a go at racing quite fast! I even had a go - LOL - bummer about this track is if you decide half way round its not your cuppa tea - there is no exit, except right back where you went on!! So Ashleigh and I had a wee race back to the bike stand. I won - for the record - LOL!And for other news today - I have a job - I am registered with Workbridge - they help people with disabilities get jobs. I have to be honest - I have always felt my biggest disabilities are not my hearing loss, but more my lack of confidence and lack of marketable skills. I went for the interview on Wednesday morning and got the email today to say I start the training course on Monday. I will be working for Access Home Health as a personal caregiver. I have a long week ahead of me next week with some pretty full on training. But the beauty is I can take that training further if I want! I'd like to get the full certificate in Elderly Care and then think about the Dementia papers. Both of my big sisters are in health care, Donna is nursing in Perth and Gaye is a midwife in Christchurch. I don't want to be a nurse - both my sisters tell me its twice as hard for them because they have to be twice as alert but they love their jobs. I think I would love to work with the elderly.
For now I'm impressed with the whole deal because I can chose my own hours and work as much or as little as I want. and while I want to work, I want to be there for my kids as well. So keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Guy, 17 years old, lives for cycling competitions.
He trained hard in his cycling club, and the day came when he was to take part in his first real race.
His parents went with him to the starting line, giving last-minute advice.
Suddenly, the starting signal was given.
His mother shouted, "Guy, be careful! Don't go too fast!"

Way to Go Jess

I just got an email from kiwiscraps - I bought Jessica a kids pizza box full of craft goodies before the last school holidays and she completed the colouring comp and sent it off herself! If you scroll down the page here you will see her pages - she signs off with her full first name - Jessica-Johanna.
What a wee rush for her!

Put Something In

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a looney-gooney dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

by Shel Silverstein

And I thought I would share this picture of Mr 10 - he was quite chuffed to read all the comments you all put on here for him yesterday ;o)
His request for tea was homemade chicken and corn soup with hot rolls. So easy to please this child of mine. But to make it a bit more special the girls got all the 'good' crockery and cutlery AND crystal glasses. I thought the wine cover on the fizz bottle was a nice touch...

Five Ways to say "Happy Birthday"

English - Happy Birthday
French - Joyeux Anniversaire
German - Alles Gute zum Geburtstag
Italian - Buon Compleanno
Spanish - Feliz Cumpleaños

A Decade of Josef...

Josef is 10 today!

He is in double digits now :o(
Officially a 'tween'
Apparently he woke his dad up at 5am to ask him if it was okay to get up.
I missed that one - LOL.

The poem I found to use on his card is just perfect

Today You Are Ten

I can hardly believe,
That today you are ten.
I wish you were still little,
But I cannot pretend.
You have grown to be strong,
Sensitive and kind.
When I see you out playing
I can't believe you are mine.
Talented, athletic, funny and sweet,
You drink a gallon of milk every week!
I can hardly keep up.

You are growing so fast.
Ten years as your mother
Is now a thing of the past.
My prayer? My hope?
My dream for your life?
Love God. Seek His word.
Do what is right.
My heart? My ambition?
My desire everyday?
To love you and train you
To walk in His ways.

- Delora Burrow-Bradish

Josef arrived at 2.40am weighing in at 8lbs and 10 ozs. He arrived sucking his thumb! He was a dream baby. And apart from the nasty medical hiccup as a toddler he has sailed through life. Even when he was at his sickest he had a ready grin and a playful personality. The older he got the more droll his sense of humour got and now he has the same wit as his father and can drive a saint insane!

I really wonder what the next 10 years will bring. I'm in no hurry for Josef to grow up. I hope he follows through on his dream to be a scientist or a cartoonist (what career extremes - LOL). Maybe he will be a game programmer - he does so love his games! Or the next Bill gates. Or as a scientist he will discover the genetic flaw that causes our hearing loss. Or maybe he will write screen plays. This is the kind of kid Josef is - diverse in his interests and very intense in what he does. He never does anything with half a heart - it is all or nothing.

I am so enjoying watching Josef growing and becoming himself. He fits his shoes just perfectly!

Happy Birthday Dude!

Heres to the girls

I got a gorgeous email from a friend this weekend - thank you Gretchen - I just wanted to share it with all you ladies I consider my friends....

What's so poignant about this picture? Well, it shows a line of little girls holding hands facing the immensity of ocean waves.

Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong.
Thank you each for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own.
I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.

All of us girls..
Old and young...
Near and far...
Hold special memories of good times we've shared.
We've had our share of hard times when our friends were there to make us feel better.
We've shared...
our hearts
our time
our secrets
our fears
our hopes
and our dreams.
Let us never break the chain of friends!

I am only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair spray I use and the girlfriends I have.
Here's to you!
Why do we only have parties for each other when one of us gets married,
pregnant, has a birthday, or retires?
What would most of us do without our sisters, confidants, and shopping, lunching and traveling girlfriends?
Let's celebrate each other for each other's sake!

Love who you are.
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say

"I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!"
I like that!
"Winners make things happen.
Losers let things happen"
Be Blessed ladies and pass this on to encourage another woman.
"To the world you might be one person,
But to one person you just might be the world". HERE IS TO YOU MY FRIENDS!

Pretty cool huh? I really liked it and it made my day - I hope it makes yours.

On the home front it was a busy weekend, Josef had soccer on Saturday - what a kid - he just loves it, he tries so hard and really gives it his whole heart. I took some more photos but this one kind of high lights how small Josef is - and he is the same age as most of his team members...I had a "Friends Day" I guess you could call it on Saturday - LOL - Michelle txt and said come out and have a cuppa, gladly accepted - she makes a good cuppa - LOL. We had a poke around on the computer and a really great chat. Thanks Michelle ;o)
Then that evening I went to a Stamping Up party with Rachel and Sue, now this was fun - lots of laughter. We made cards and sat around chatting. I really love how I can apply my scrapbooking talents to card making - its a naturally progression I think. I have never had much luck with stamping but the hostess Bronwyn has been teaching me how to stamp. Stamps are so expensive I think I need to learn how to use them and then buy - LOL. After the party we three ladies decided to visit town and popped into Zookeepers for dessert. I had the most decadent chocolate cake - it had a moro melted inside it - oh my!
Nothing lifts the mood higher than spending quality time with good friends and having a chat and a laugh.
Yesterday was a "Welcome Home Day" to Danny and Nicky - 8 weeks touring the US of A, and they had a grand time. I loved looking at their photos and have added Hawaii to my list of places I would love to visit. They collected mugs from everywhere they went - what a great idea. The girls got spoilt with gorgeous necklaces and Josef got the most awesome Pirates of the Caribbean bath towel - its has pride of the place on his bedroom wall - he loves it!
I got this teddy, I just love it so much.I'm glad they are home safe and sound and it is so cool that they thought of us while they were away and bought us souvenirs. Now I cant wait to go over and have a proper look at all the magazines, brochures and bits and pieces they accumulated - I love that stuff - LOL!!!

People

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance.
They awaken us to understanding with the passing whisper of
their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for a while,
leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never, ever the same.

Hello...

Nobody trips over mountains.
It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble.
Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.

Its been a while since my last post, I haven't been doing to well with my depression lately and it has a flow on effect with the rest of my life - lousy, rotten cycle.
I thank God daily for my family, my husband it quite literally my ROCK! I haven't been very much here mentally.
Anyway, I'm feeling soooo much better now. Except my hand - I burnt 3 fingers and my thumb last night pouring soup - then I cut 2 fingers on the same hand - I have given my hand permission to have the night off - Leo has done the dishes! (well he loaded the dishwasher!)

I had to take a short break right now I just could not stop laughing - Josef was playing silly with Leo in the kitchen and he went to kick a ping pong ball but his shoe flew off and smashed the cover of the florescent light (on the ceiling) - Jos looked at me and said "I'm going to bed now!" I went into the kitchen and Leo is standing there with a gobsmacked expression - then we both just laughed! Poor Jos was so upset he had broken something! I can handle accidents, I loath purposely done destruction - and Josef's reaction was pure grief - how can you growl? I did - but only because he had his shoes on inside and we have a shoes off policy!

So to update whats been happening in our lives lately - hmmmmm......

We finally got our new garage roof put on!! Yay!! Only 6 months after accepting the quote - then it takes a day to do the job - go figure! We needed this new roof because the old one leaked - and if my scrapbook room is going in there - it is forbidden to leak!! If you pardon the windows - they need cleaned on the outside - LOL - this is before...and this is after! This garage roof is the view I have from my kitchen sink so I'm pleased its looking nice and clean and I love that green!We bought a new car - okay its old (1990) but its sooo economical to run around in. My other car is an Honda Odyssey - 7 seater and a dream to drive - but it chews through petrol like it was lolly water. The only down side the new/old car - its a Honda Accord, is that its a manual - I have been driving an automatic for the last 10 years. So it was to Jess and Josef's complete and utter delight the first time I got behind the wheel. Leo kept a straight face - good man - but the kids were in the back seat laughing their little troll heads off! Then Ashleigh and Steven followed me when I went to pick up the kids from school - I am so pleased to report I didn't bunnyhop once!

Brooke has started solids - bit sad because it only highlights how quickly babies grow and change! She wasn't terribly impressed with her introduction to the high chair - LOLand putting that 'goo' in her mouth was just so funny - she was so startled by the whole episode! She is just a wee poser now and loves to smile this totally yummy gummy grin.Ashleigh is doing such a fabulous job being Brookes mum! I'm quite proud of how she copes. Mind it helps that Brooke is such a delightfully, easy baby.I have had a couple of stabs at scrapbooking, I love these 4 pages but a couple of other need redone as its a case of 'what was she thinking?!?"
Josef started playing soccer last week! he plays for Thistle and he just loves it. He had his first game on Saturday and he was such a little dynamo - darting around the field. He got Player of the day -much to his utter delight. He was thrown in the deep end - he has never played before, but he quickly picked it up and made such a wonderful save by the goal! I had to laugh though when he was by 2 boys, 1 boys headed the ball and up it went, the next boy headed it and over it went to Josef. Josef looked at the ball and ducked! Leo used to play soccer, but he hasn't played since he had his leg broken when Josef was 2 years old. I cringe when I think of the power in a mans kick that it can snap a leg bone. Leo is thinking of playing again!!! He just loved watching Josef play.I'm off to go do Hannahs circle journal - "Advice to my younger self" I had a bit of giggle looking for photos for this one - and had to share this - I was a sucker for the big hair and perms and I loved big glasses!! At least my old albums are entertaining !Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
When you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When cares are pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must,
but don't you quit!

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he stuck it out

Don't you give up though the pace seems slow,
You might succeed with another blow,
Often the goal is nearer than
It ever seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And, he learned too late, with a groan and frown,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
You never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse that you must not quit.

- unknown

Well how are you all...

1st things 1st
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNA!!!!
Have a fabulous day bliss.

I cant believe the issues computers can throw at you!!! Grrrr. I couldn't create my slide show on my usual place - it would not load my photos properly!! So I googled (gotta love Google) and found a new place. It doesn't have the fancy slide frames etc - but at least it WORKS!!!
I also found RockYou.com - so cool - I now have my name on a star! I shall bookmark them so I can play around at my leisure later.

Anyway - I do have a tendency to waffle just a tad huh? Those pictures are just a fraction of the photos I took while we were doing a driving tour of the West Coast of the South Island. I took over 400 - god bless my digital camera and my 1GB memory card! Most I plan to scrap, but most will probably just go in a "normal" album.
I absolutely loved getting away with my family. We spent hours and hours in the car but the kids were fabulous. Only a few sibling issues got dealt with - the occasional "Mum, she keeps making funny noises" or "Mum, he has his foot on my side" More often than not it was giggles and chatter we heard. Plus we let them time waste with the portable DVD player - understanding parents we are - we appreciate that for a kid - see one tree - see them all - LOL. Josef is now hooked on the Eragon series.
Our trip in a nutshell:
Thursday - drive up to Wanaka. We visited the Toy and Transport Museum - that is awesome - huge hangers full of cars, planes, fire engines, trucks, and of course thousands and thousands of TOYS!! Then we checked into the holiday camp, very nice cabin. At night we went to look at the Earth from Above photo exhibition that is along the waterfront. This is so very thought provoking, the photos are stunning but its the social commentary under them that makes you feel so lucky to live here and so guilty of a thousand little wasteful behaviours.
Friday - We went to Puzzling World. The entire place is just mind boggling. I loved the room where everything is on a lean - its so disorientating!
Then we hoped in the car for the drive up to Franz Josef. We stopped at places like Haast for the whole tourist bit. Lunch was with the natives (sandflies) at Ship Creek. What a gorgeous little bay. If it wasn't for the sandflies - I'd live there!! Then onwards to Fox Glacier where we were able to walk in quite close to the glacier. We heard a huge chunk fall off - it was quite a scary sound, it was a bummer we weren't close enough to see it happen - but the sound was cool! Leo and Josef had so much fun climbing over a huge ice chunk that was in the 'safe' part of the track. Leo broke of a big piece of the ice and we put it in the chilly bin - it lasted till Westport!
The cabin we stayed in at Franz Josef was cool - the kids liked it because we had a TV!
Saturday - We took a quick walk up to the Franz Josef Glacier. Unfortunately we couldnt get to close to it. But Josef loved the name of it - lol - its not often he finds anything with his name!
We stopped at Ross for lunch after a toilet stop revealed a gorgeously restored heritage area!
Then it was a straight shot through to Westport, stopping at Hokitika for a looksie. The camping ground at Westport had the neatest mini-golf - so we just had to play. Jess and I cant play for peanuts - but we sure had fun. Leo and Josef were quite competitive.
Sunday - Cape Foulwind walk - it was such a lovely day we didn't get to see why it got its name, but it was still spectacular to look at the waves crashing on those rocks!
Seal Colony - aww - all those baby seals were just to cute, they put on a wee show playing and falling off the rocks.
Punakaiki - or Pancake Rocks, these were the initial reason for the trip - I seen photos of them years ago - and Leo was always promising to take me up to see them - one day!
They were so totally worth the trip. It gives you a tremendous appreciation of the earths power when you see the rock formations like that.
Little Earth - its a cool wee place where they have made a model town the exact replica of the 1930's town Waiutu. Waiutu was a booming goldfields town that was deserted after the mine collapsed. Its so fabulous though to see the labour of love that has gone into recreating it.
Then into Greymouth to check into the camping ground. We had a wee wander up the beach - which was right across a lane from our cabin - the waves were so loud! Then we had a yummy spa - Leo is now convinced a spa pool would be just perfect in the conservatory!
Monday - 5 hours spent wandering around Shantytown, doing the walks and having lunch. They have a neat activity for the kids - a goldminer has lost 10 bags of gold through the town and the kids had to find each one and list which building it was found in - when they found all 10 they got a free ice cream! I loved this place, its so neat.
Back to Greymouth for a few short walks and a looksie through the town.
Tuesday - Over Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs for lunch then on to Rangiora to my sister for the night. We are planning to book a holiday home at Hanmer for Christmas.
Wednesday- Out to the beach past Amberley for a walk and a bit of beachcombing with my sister and her family. Then into Christchurch to stay with Miriam.
Thursday - Shop till you drop - well not quite but after such a laid back week the city seemed overwhelming! Had a fleeting hug with Hannah - Miriam's little sister who is doing so well for herself - she is currently touring. I have her CD and its definitely worth a listen.
This evening I got to meet Tanya, Louise and Michele from the Scrapbook Essentials forums. This was a buzz - its so great to have the opportunity to meet people who you chat to online or you send things to - LOL! Louise your bags are ready to be mailed - I haven't forgotten!
Friday - The long, long , long drive home! And it was good to come home.

At thats the whole trip in a very condensed version - LOL - I can make it shorter - 2 words - EXCELLENT HOLIDAY!
Thank you Gaye and Richard and Miriam and Jeff for letting us invade your space - it was to short but at least we got to see you and that was fabulous.

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Woody Guthrie

Important Computer Lesson #1089

Always, always update your anti-virus BEFORE you start downloading emails. Especially if you have been away for over a week!
I opened a virus (shame) its been dropping my internet connection all week - so very frustrating.
All seems to be fixed now - but geez I hate going into the registry on my computer! Not for the faint hearted!
I'm off to make a slide slow for my wee holiday... watch this space - or the space above it - LOL!