Today

Is the last day of November. So that means it is time to start advent calendars tomorrow.

Which would be fine if I had remembered to buy any!

So later today I will buy some, then tonight I will wrap them and in the morning I will put them outside the door and the will ge a surprise from Santa to start the Xmas season.

Meanwhile I am already feeling a bit crap in the mornings, but I can deal with it. I have an appt with a midwife consultant on Thursday and she will help me decide on the best course of care for my pregnancy. Sadly I can't find my old midwife, I was really hoping to have her again but she has left North Shore Hospital and google searches have come up a bit empty :(

Bun in the oven

I am cooking a new playmate for the boys.

To Do List

At the moment I feel I have a to do list a mile long and no time to do it in, Christmas is fast approaching and we seem to have at least one thing on each weekend for the next 2 months!

So i need to make the time I guess!

So in no particular order ....

Sort out the kids toys, sell excess!
Sort out the kids clothes.
Sort out my clothes.
Tidy (and finally) unpack the books and get them all put away.
Fix and clean up the castle (Xmas present)
Wrap other presents
Finish Xmas shopping!
Find boy's stockings or buy new ones (H needs a new one anyway as his other one has a teddy on it and he is a big boy now!)
Tidy kitchen cupboards

...

...

there is more but that should keep me busy for a while I think!
I depserately want the office/spare room/pile of crap room sorted out but it seems like an overwhelming job at the moment!

My baby

is about to turn 2.

He is soo cute and yet, so evil at the same time.
He is known as Mr J, The J, demon baby and monkey man.
He decided that the kitchen needed redecorating and painted the cupboard doors using a bottle brush and a tub of margarine.
He has started saying "thank you much".
He has very definate likes and dislikes.
He adores Blue's Clues and would watch it nonstop if possible.
He likes to play with cars.
He likes to roll and throw balls.
He plays with the little people and makes them talk to each other.
He sings to himself in bed, in the car and just randomly during the day.
He has recently given up his dummy and it wasn't even a fight.
He is funny and smart and a joy to live with (most of the time!)

I love my baby boy xxx

Wow I'm so bad at this

I keep forgetting to blog, and since we hot an iPad I have been particularly slack.

So we are extra busy in November with mr j's bday party on the 6th, with a very cool Mickey Mouse theme, then the next weekend I have my friend Claire's hen party, followed by her wedding the next weekend. So it is off to Napier for a weekend away for that.

And also Taste of Auckland on that Thursday night, which we are really looking forward to. Not only did dylan get some tickets through his work but I also managed to win some!

Day 2

This morning I took the boys to the mall - exciting, I know!
They had a play in the playground and we happened to be there at the same time as one of H's old kindy friends so they had some fun! Then we got some Dunkin' Donut Munchkins for the boys to share and had a little look around a couple of shops.

Then to get some petrol (running on the E!!!) and to the supermarket for some supplies!

Now the J is having a nap and later this afternoon H is going off to Grandma's for a play date.

Day 1

Obviously the day is not over yet but so far we have done a few things!

This morning we hopped in the car and headed over to Milford for a play - the boys had a run around on the beach and picked up and discarded a few shells/rocks/bits of gross seaweed. Joshua decided that lying down on the damp sand was fun.
We went over to the playground (through the long, wet grass) but it was a bit wet and slippery so we headed back to the car.
We went to the shopping centre and went to visit Aunty Jessamine at work where she helped Harrison pick a new book and we got one for Joshua too as he was quite vocal on that!
Then the boys and I headed back to the mall for some ice creams and then it was back home and nap time for Joshua.
Now I should really be doing some housework while J sleeps!

Activities

So basically we have 10 days of holiday when it is just me and the boys at home - so I need at least 10 activities
So far we have:
Butterfly Creek
Maybe some friends to visit
Making sushi
Collages
Bike riding (need to find H's helmet for that!)
Painting
Play Dough
Making and decorating cookies
Collecting shells at the beach

I want to make sure I spend as much time with the boys so I need to tidy the house up well this weekend and try to do a quick clean up every night

Now lets all cross our fingers for some nice weather!!!!

Holidays

So the school holidays are upon us once again and this time I vow to be more organised and do more activities with the kidlets.
I shall be attempting an activity a day with the boys.

I don't quite have all the ideas together yet but will try to update every night with photos and the "activity of the day"

stay tuned!

Dead Fish

(long time, no sea)

It has been many a day since I have been here - sorry!!!!!!

Life is moving along at it's usual pace - pretty soon Mr J will have his second birthday - which is to have a Mickey Mouse theme, should be fun. I have just come back from a 3 night trip to Wellington which was a lot of fun and should be repeated in the future. We are planning a trip to Melbourne with H next year so money should be being saved which reminds me I need to make a new budget.
This is Dylan's last week at TVNZ and now I have to go because it is hard to type whilst being sat on by a cat and a toddler!

Photos of Rashy

these were taken about 30 minutes ago - this morning his rash was basically gone and then this afternoon Dylan went out for about 3/4 hour. When he left H had a few spots - when he came back this is what he looked like.
you can almost see it spreading while you watch.

People

I am adding another resolution - it is to spend more time with people I like and no time with the people I don't actually like!
There isn't a lot of them (the dislikees) but I find it really draining on my time and energy.

Also I need to find more activities for me and the J to do - he has boundless energy (and enthusiasm) so I would like to get into some local groups to tire him out!

In other news Harrison has a delightful viral rash - which we thought was an allergic reaction but after 2 trips to the hospital yesterday we have the diagnosis. He is fine except for a cold and a giant rash all over him!

Mid-year Resolutions

New house, new resolutions!

1: Budget and then spend wisely, saving as much $$ as possible (while still enjoying life!)
2: Declutter the massive amount of stuff we have which has taken over our home.
3: Eat healthier (which also includes my being gluten free)

In the near future we are hoping to be able to buy our own place but first I would like to have little or no debt. So if we can pay stuff off and then get some savings I will be a very happy camper.

We desperately need to declutter and if that means taking massive amounts of stuff to Hospice then so be it. I would prefer to try and get some $ for some of the stuff but if not then I'd rather it made $ for a worthwhile cause and stopped taking up precious space in our home!

I am feeling a bit better about my food but still find it hard to not binge eat when I am stressed! I even know exactly when I am doing it so it seems silly that I can't do something else instead. Perhaps when I feel the urge then it should be time to get out the pushchair and take the J for a walk.

So lets see how these all go then!!!

Moved

I join you now from cold Birkenhead.

At the moment our house is in a state of utter chaos - it feels like the only space that isn't piled high with boxes and bags is the hallway. It is hard to get the motivation to do anything about it but obviously I have to.
The boys are sharing a rooms, which after a few initial hiccups, seems to be going well. Harrison used to use a nightlight, however the light was confusing Joshua who kept waking up so now there is no nightlight. And Harrison is fine about it! We keep the hall light on so there is enough light for night time toilet visits for little boys.
Today is Harrison's last day at his school then next term we start at his new school.
No uniform!
I thought I would hate school uniforms but it is so good being able to tell Harrison to get dressed in the morning and he knows EXACTLY what to put on. Now though I need to buy him some more clothes so he has enough for winter!

School holidays are about to begin so I am trying to think up ways to keep my boys busy - I find it is harder when the 2 of them are home together. When it is just Joshua we have our little routine and it all goes along nicely. Not so much when they are both home.

So far we are going to make sushi.
And I think (as long as the weather is good) there will be a fair few visits to parks and playgrounds!

Weight

I have once again been putting on weight so looks like it is back to counting points for me

starting weight = 85.7kg this morning

eaten today = 2 (small) pieces of toast with low fat marg = 2 1/2 pts, 1 fried egg (no added fat) = 1 1/2 pts, 1 cup of tea w/ milk and 2 sugars = 1 1/2 pts

= 5 1/2 pts

= 15 1/2 pts to go for the day

Crafty

I haven't been doing anything crafty lately as all my time and energy (including brain energy)has been devoted to getting ready for the move. I really hope to have the boys in the same room at the new house so we have a spare/sewing/office room.
I have so many things that I want to start/finish so I think it will be a matter of getting a list together and going from there in about a month (also the winter weather should make for good crafting times!

Gym

I was so good this morning and took myself off to the gym. I have J booked in for the creche tomorrow morning too so I will be going again (although I think the licorice and mini mars bar afterward are a bad idea - but it's gone now so no more!!!!)
I think I will make sure I have a snack ready to go for tomorrow!!!!

Bags

So I have been working my through bags and bags of clothing and sorting into keep/chuck/hospice and sell - so far chuck and sell are winning!!!!!!!

I really want to get it all done asap so i can then get rid of all the excess and start packing what I do want to take with me!

Packing

I know, I know! i should be packing but I'm not. The worst thing about moving is packing and unpacking all the stuff/junk/crap.
We have colds here now - poor H couldn't go to school today (cross country day) because his cough is so bad that if he walks more than about 20 metres in one go it sets him off - poor guy!!!

I was thinking that we may do some baking tomorrow because I get the feeling we will be home again.

Oh yeah and the bedroom thing - so for now we have decided that they will still have their own rooms then once J's sleep is a bit better sorted then we will look at them sharing. In the meantime I have absolutely no idea where my sewing machine will go - may have to clear a spot in the lounge for it - but it has to be Joshua proof at the same time.

hmmmmmmmm .... thoughts?

Beds

So the question is do we make the boys share a room in the new house? I am fairly sure they would LOVE it - little less sure that there would ever be any sleeping ever again!
The only time they spend in their rooms now is for sleep so I would hope that it could be a bit more of a play room for them too (imagine the chaos!) and that would mean that the other bedroom could be an office/sewing room and also maybe somewhere for the toys that J is a bit little for to live - such as lego and .... felts ...... don't ask!

so now we are investigating bed options. j is still in a cot but he is a pretty big boy now so maybe time for a big boy bed. Bunks is an option but J is a climber so I feel a little unsafe about that. So we are thinking that J gets H's bed (with a bed rail attached!!!) and we get a new bed for H with storage underneath. OR H keeps his old bed and we find a toddler sized bed for J.

So now i am busy TM'ing to try and find the perfect combo.

Stuff and Things

So we have a place to live - it's in Birkenhead - on the top level it has a 3 bedroom house, then underneath is a one bedroom unit - we move in 6 weeks so desperately have to DECLUTTER!!!!

I baked my first loaf of gluten free bread today. It is very dense so I will experiment a bit more with various options till i get it how I want it to be!

Houses

I hate house hunting. Trying to find a 3 bedroom house, with a bath, and off street parking, and no stairs, and a fully fenced back yard, in a good school zone and preferrably cats allowed.
And near easy city access (so a motorway) .... and under $400 if possible!

Argh! Driving me nuts - every time I find one that i think looks good it is already gone, or is too far from the motorway, or in a shit school area, or is "mostly" fenced.

Sigh.

Stormy

Today was a very wet and windy day! We had to drive to take H to school and to pick him up.
I had decided to go out after we dropped h off but drove for about 5 minutes before Mr j was asleep in the back (at 9am) so we came home and he stayed asleep (in his cot) for about 3 hours!
then we went to Glenfield Mall where he got some new shoes and walked with mummy like a big boy. And by "with" mummy I mean he walked kinda near mummy and ran away a fair bit (although was pretty good at coming back when I called him)
He was pulling out his ultra-cute powers today and charming all the ladies!
We went to the playground and then he went running off to plaster himself on the Dunkin Donuts display glass. I asked him if he wanted a donut and he nodded and said "yes" so of course he got one (I am a lady - he charmed me too!) Then we found that Kayla and her 2 boys were at the playground so we had a chat and a play before we headed off home again.
Grandma is back to her Wednesday Harrison time so she came with us to pick him up from school today. It was still very wet and windy and J decided that it was fun to play in the rain/puddles. then he decided it was fun to sit in the puddles.
Awesome!

And we walked past H's classroom and he pointed at it and said "Harrison" Awwwwwwwww!!!!

It is obvious that he understands so much now - like if you say we are going in the car or for a walk he gets ready to go - and you better be ready to go RIGHT THEN or there will be TROUBLE!!!

Cake

In other news I made this delicious cake a few weeks ago and it was quickly gobbled up by my dad, Dylan and myself!!!!

Ears

Poor Mr J has been off for a few days and we had no idea why until i took him to the dr yesterday afternoon and we discovered he has an ear infection. He is also teething like crazy - he opens his mouth and you can see at least 6 teeth making their way up.
He is a much happier guy with antibiotics in him! And he actually had a good sleep last night as opposed to Sunday night when he maybe had 4 hours sleep all up!

Projects

1: tidy and sort out office!!! So far I have tidied Dylan's stuff up on the shelves and cleaned off my craft table. I have also started putting my things onto the shelves. I have a fabric shelf, a shelf for books and a shelf for works in progress!
2: Joshua's bunny! It has a body, it has arms and legs, it has a face - they just aren't all joined together and stuffed yet!
3: little pictures for J's room - I have started doing some cute little pictures of jungle animals that are made up of scrapbooking paper - so far 1/4 is done!
4: t-shirts. Earlier this year I picked up 5 plain heavy cotton t's from T&T for only $3 each. there is a blue, black and white for H and a black and white for J. I have bought some iron on transfers to do 2 or 3 shirts but need to get some more to do the others - I haven't ironed any on yet though!!!!

Now I did get one thing done already! I took the tops off 2 formula tins (with a can opener) and then glued some gorgeous Trelise Cooper wrapping paper (that I got free from a magazine Xmas 2008!) on them. So now I have 2 very pretty storage tins - one is for sewing bits and bobs and one is for crafty type bits and bobs.

Another project is to declutter - i want to streamline my life and that means getting rid of excess crap! so tomorrow i am going to get Dylan to show me how to upload photos from the camera and then, not only can I pop some things on Trade Me but, I can show you that i have finished some things! (H's bunny, my apron, my bag, shoebag, H's drawstring bag and my pretty tins)

Oh yeah and long term project is to make a jungle themed quilt for J's room - when we move (as yet date and place unknown!) and J goes to a single bed I want to go from an underwater theme to a jungle theme. I already have some gorgeous jungle fabric - all I need is to find a matching plain fabric and then learn how to quilt. haha!!!!

Mothers day

Happy mother's day everyone!

I was given some slippers (that both boys constantly steal) some phone bling (don't even ask!) and a new hand mixer - with dough hooks!
that was yesterday because APPARENTLY boys can't wait an extra day after they buy them. Today I got to put lunch together for the in-laws and us, then make dinner AND set the table. Lucky me!!!!!!!!! :(
At least I got pancakes for breakfast I guess.
Oh yeah and the welcome addition of a caterpillar in my lettuce - but at least it wasn't half a caterpillar!

weigh in

woohoo 83.2kg this morning!

Now that I have cut down on bread my goal for next week (and every week after that) is to go to the gym 3x (with J at the creche)
then next Friday i will set a new weekly goal.

Bread

I eat too much of it so I am now allowing myself bread at lunch time and NO OTHER TIME!
Not with dinner, or breakfast, or as a snack.
Not on a train, not in the rain .....

I ahve, once again, been gaining the kgs so it's back to losing the kgs. Which means back to the gym at least 3 days a week (easier now that H is at school) and no snacking after dinner and 3 meals a day with the bare minimum of snacks if ABSOLUTELY necessary.

So this morning was my first weigh in - 84.3kg (see told you I was putting it back on!)

Wedding

So 3 years ago was the eve of our wedding and I was hanging out at Waipuna Hotel with my parents and sisters - actually we went out for dinner and got our nails done :)

3rd wedding anniversary is leather - which offers up all sorts of interesting ideas that nobody should buy their beloved unless they are into that sort of thing then go for it.

We have a very VERY busy next few weeks - this weekend is 48 hours so it will be manic and funny and annoying all at the same time from 7pm Friday till 7pm Sunday.
Then H is back at kindy on Monday, Thursday is his birthday (and last day at kindy), we are going out for dinner on Thursday night then off to Wellington (very) early Friday morning.

I am also trying to get a few projects finished (J's bunny, the pictures for his wall) and we want to get J's sleep sorted out - after a very long night for everyone last night.

Babysitting?

It really REALLY pisses me off when people say their partner (the father of their children) is "babysitting". As in - "well so-and-so is babysitting so I can go shopping". Or "i'll have to check if so-and-so can babysit" ....

WTF people???? It's their children too!!! Just because we were the ones to go through pregnancy/childbirth does not mean that we should have to take all the responsibility for the kids! Men make them too, you know. And maybe because we had them - YOU should have to look after them more often!

(And this is not about Dylan because he is fantastic at looking after the kids - he knows he has equal responsibility for that one)

I'm talking about all those dads who think it's ok to go and drink with their mates while their partners stay at home all day and evening with THEIR kids. But God forbid the mum could possible ever have a night out without checking first that the dad is going to be ok staying home.

Just, you know, if it's your children then looking after them is NOT babysitting - it is called parenting!

Rant over!!!

2

Second day and so far no nail biting.
Also eating things with my hands is a bit harder - it really does taste foul!

Trying

My worst habit is biting my nails so i am attempting to break the habit. Today i bought some of that horrible tasting nail polish and it really does taste gross!
Just put it on now so we'll see how it goes

finished

I finished my bag - not perfect but good and usable! (And pink and floral!)

I have started on Easter bunnies - I am making a practice bunny and then one each for the boys. I have also started on some little canvases for J's room - they have jungle animals made from scrapbooking (patterned) paper on them. So far we have a monkey - lion, elephant and giraffe to come!

busy

on the weekend I got my crafty going and finished my apron, made a shoe bag for me and a marble bag for Harrison. I also decorated a wooden J and a wooden H with paint and stickers AND I started on a nice bag for me (in floral pink). So far it has a lining, a base and a handle - I am a bit nervous about starting the actual bag!

Harrison had his first school visit today so we got his uniform and his stationery pack. Ohhhhhh my baby!!!! i think he'll be ok - he already made a new friend :)

Sick

I have a cold. it is a bad cold which involved spending all yesterday lying in the lounge, watching "How I Met Your Mother" and "Big Bang Theory" and feeling sorry for myself as I sniffled my way through 1 1/2 boxes of tissues.

Bonus - sold a massive heap of baby things - $30.

Sick - time for chocolate and sympathy I think :(

Hmmmm

So I seem to have a few posts about losing weight - as it slowly creeps back up again.
I know I need to - even just to have more energy!

So I am tracking my food in an online food diary and attempting to gym at least 2x if not 3x a week.
I went yesterday and will go Wednesday and Friday too.

My goal is to be 68kg (or around there) and I would really like to lose about 1kg a week for a while!
I have a freezer full of WW wraps so I really have no excuse!

Just need to be a bit more organised I think, make sure I have healthy snacks around me (and try to break the eating at night habit!)

Fairy Princesses

I want a girl!!!!

We spent the day celebrating Rhiannon's 5th birthday - first it was off to Lollipops where we played and chatted and mocked the worst cake in the world (supplied by Lollipops - looked like shit and tasted worse) and ate what was not the worst cake in the world (supplied by Bridget - gorgeous and yummo).
Then it was back to Bridget and Darren's place for merry making and eating and what not.
Kids played, adults chatted, adults played, kids fell over/off/on and cried.

Good times!

There was much pink, purple and drag queen Barbies (Fantastica Aquatica) - I LOVE that group of friends!!!!

It's official

I have the most boring life.
It's Friday night - tonight I have ........ gone to the supermarket to get something for dinner ........ made dinner for kids and put them to bed ........... made white chocolate fairy wings for my cupcakes .......... given J some more bottle and put him back to bed ........... put the wings onto the cupcakes ......... ate a mini pack of bagel bites and watched the start of "The Cutting Edge"......... did the dishes ......... mucked around on the computer ........ watched Idol with my mum ........ ate some cheese on crackers ......... and now I'm back to the computer!

It's a Friday night!?! What has happened to me?

It doesn't help that Dylan is working every Friday night from now until whenever The Apprentice is all done. So I am kiddie wrangling by myself for a while.
Still - something to do on a Friday night would be fantastical!

Cupcakes

I love to make cupcakes - it is a new found passion! And I am just getting into making things with fondant which is a lot of fun.
I have a fantastic chocolate cupcake recipe which is egg, milk and butter free - and then I also have my secret recipe for frosting - shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Tonight I made a batch (24) cupcakes for Rhiannon's 5th birthday on Saturday. She is like me and loves girly girl things so tomorrow i will ice them with gorgeous pink frosting (piped on of course) and then top with little fondant fairies with white chocolate wings.
I am quite excited as it is the first time I have tried anything as elaborate so fingers crossed for them turning out the way I plan!

Ohhhh

I prettied up my blog today!

This

I guess I get busy.

I am currently on a mission to become the healthy person I see myself being - so that means losing weight and getting fit.

Today i have eaten 2 pieces of toast with peanut butter and jam, 6 pieces of sushi (yum), 3 crackers, some licorice (which is now all gone so no more for me!) and pasta carbonara for dinner.

My main aims currently are to go to the gym at least 2x a week, to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, to not eat after 7:30pm and to stop eating after i am full.

So tomorrow morning i am off to the gym.