Josef's Graduation

Its the end of primary school for Josef! How incredibly sad that my boy has grown up so fast. Next year he will go to a whole new school and be a Junior High School student.

Last night we went to St Teresa's for the school leavers mass. It was so awesome to see the kids going up to get their "Children of the Light" candles lit by Father Hamish.
As each child went up to receive their candle and graduation certificate the child's teacher had a little to say about each child. Mrs Diane McFaul, who was Josef's teacher this year said this "Josef has a wicked sense of humour and is constantly teasing me and others in the class. He is kind to others and is reliable and responsible. He accepts and takes on challenges. He loves to draw and really enjoys graphics on the computer. Well done and good luck Josef."

All of Josef's teachers he has had at St Patricks have taken a very shy, withdrawn little boy who had major social and learning problems and shaped him into the bright, funny young boy he is now. For sure there have been some rocky moments but the teachers have persevered and each of them have given Josef the most solid foundations of which Josef will build his life on.

Thank you St Patricks.
Thank you Diane McFaul
Thank you Julie McElhinney
Thank you Trevor Morton
Thank you Caroline Rout.

Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. (Haim G. Ginott)

Counting down

sure does make the time go faster - not long until the jolly fat man who has caused a serious dent in our wallets drops in. My children are sitting on the fence as to whether they still believe. Jessie put it best - she visited Santa and told me he wasn't real because she could see his black eyebrows under his white ones!! I asked her what did she believe then and after a moments thought "I believe in the magic Mummy because Christmas makes us all so happy and we get to see all of our big family."
Yeah Jessie I still believe in the magic, its wonderful isnt it?

Anyway believe it or not I managed to find the time to plot, plan and create this layout for the Jack Me Up team.
The photos are a year old, but sometimes it takes a challenge to motivate me to use photos that can stump me. It turned in to a double page spread - but it was a perfect way to use the many, many photos I took that day.

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside...
when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time
and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.
unknown

Rested and ready

A weekend at the crib was just what I needed. I've been feeling a little iffy around the edges. Whether its because Christmas is just around the corner, I'm working 5 days now, I've felt a little let down by some people and the kids have discovered sibling rivalry and that has become a constant in the home of late. I have lately been wishing we could escape the city and get back to nature. I always feel so much more alive and at peace with myself and the world when I'm sitting in the middle of nowhere. So we packed up the car and went to Nokomai. Okay its not the bush but its remote - no shops, no traffic (unless you count the farm vehicles or fishermen) no people close by. No pressure! No need to get up at a certain time, no need to have meals at specific times! No tv, no computer, no scrapbooking, no diy projects for Leo. Just us. My family and I. Just 2 beautiful sunny days of sitting outside, going for walks, playing soccer, paddling in the creek, playing cluedo and payday. Lunch at 2pm and tea at 7pm.
What a huge difference those 2 days have made to us, the kids are calmer, Leo and I are more mentally prepared for the christmas season - which is hectic and fun - but with a stressed out mind can be ruined.
So I haven't scrapped all week. I'm not worried because I have oodles of new photos I took at Nokomai just waiting to be printed and played with. ;o)
Oh and Thank you so much NZDares for the delightful parcel I found waiting for me - what a thrill it was to have my name pulled out for the digital/hybrid dare.