Boys

Boys
Is four a set?

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Playground of My Sons

I'm always looking for a new way to tell you just how beautiful it is here in New Zealand.  There are only so many ways that I can say words like "amazing", "breathtaking" and "inspiring" before I feel as though I will no longer be believed or my readers will just become bored.  Today I would like to just show you.  I would like to show you the playground of my sons and their parents and let you see for yourself...










































Occasionally I even make an appearance ;)

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Lewis Stare

If we are FB friends you already know our current drama, illness, followed by illness followed by illness followed by an attempted break-in...dra-ma-tic! Seriously could have been traumatic so I'm thankful for just a little drama. Since this is all pretty much public record, I'm not going to rehash except to say that we love our family and friends for being there and supporting us and are so thankful to be as blessed as we are. We are all (almost) healthy and back to normal!



The house is clean, the laundry is done, the cupboards are stocked, meals are planned, calendar complete the check lists are (almost) finished. I'm always interested in how others manage all this, all the time, I struggle. Here's what our re-introduction to real life tomorrow looks like...



  • Run 5k (hope my lungs are healthy enough as the rest of me needs this).
  • Take JJ to work
  • PlayCentre
  • Work
  • Housewife stuff (the big goal tomorrow is to catch up on ironing - yuck!)
  • Mommy stuff (tomorrow we are starting to learn about the food pyramid or whatever it's called now. See mommy needs a refresher too).
  • If there is time, I'd like to add some succulents to my garden, we'll see.


My biggest accomplishment has been on Saturday when I managed to take all three AJs to Briscoes and Pak 'n Save without falling over to die. The boys had never been to either store . They were amazing in Briscoes (fooling me into thinking that Pak 'n Save would work too).



We look like a circus act when the four of are out together and Kiwi's are not afraid to stare. AJ1 walks, AJ2 in a cart or stroller, AJ3 in the pack on my back...that's how we roll.



AJ2 spotted potato crisps right off in the grocery and cried screamed the remaining two hours. I AM one of those mammas who decides (every time) to ignore it and persevere. If I were to take him out to the car it's not like I'm going to spank him so what does he learn? He learns that a fit wins, soooo here we are with the screaming kid in the cart...AJ1 decides to practice his physical, slapstick comedy routine and throws himself on the ground every aisle (more than once in some) -- people stop to ask if he needs help continuously and look at the bad mom who is getting annoyed at the poor little boy (awe!). Well, AJ3 could not be left out of the antics so he rotates between trying to grab one of everything I get close to and his gymnastic backbend.



By the time we made it to the wine aisle, I had fixed the 'Lewis Stare' to my face (Lewis is my mamma's maiden name, kind of, after generations ago being changed for security purposes but that's another post, and all the women know how to knock you down with this look, even little three year old E. It's in our genes). I was clearly saying with my face, "yes, I am taking these three into the wine aisle where they may break it all, but seriously, have you ever seen anyone in history that needs a glass of wine like I do, right, this, moment? Do you have a to-go cup?". While maybe throwing in some obscene words here and there too.



Two hours, 12 litres of milk, three bags of potato crisps, four bottles of wine, $385 and my nerves (let alone developing some new wrinkles and grey hair -- take that 22 year old girls, I'm earning my stripes) later, we had restocked our cupboards for at least four days (at which point we will be completely out of milk and almost everything else, I bet!).



You'd think I'd learned my lesson but instead I simply recruited JJ in today's antics in which the boys got much needed hair cuts -- thank God it will grow again!



Life with kids is grand ;)





AJ3 didn't get a haircut but I couldn't leave him out :)



Cheers!











Monday, October 1, 2012

Funny Stuff

I know, I know, I promised gorgeous images of Coromandel but instead, I offer you some funny, funny photos from a recent trip to Waiheke Island.  Just before Mamaw left JJ and I hopped the ferry (ALONE) and headed out to Waiheke.  It was a special day for us and I thought about not sharing it but when I found the photos, I thought everyone would get a kick out of us riding scooters!



Waiheke is a really pretty little island that has been filled with vineyards (well, darn!).  It makes a fun day of touring the various vineyards and partaking in tastings.  It was fun to look around too.  Some had "fine" art for sale and others had more rustic "crafts" in their shops.  The restaurants were nice and of course, the views were amazing (although it rained while we were there and I wasn't able to get many photos).  



According to Wikipedia, Waiheke was named by the Maori explorer, Kahumatamomoe, who landed there to urinate.  The name means "the descending waters".  True story.




The gentleman who we rented the scooters from was worried about me driving.  You could see it on his face.  He asked me if I had ever driven a scooter (on the wrong side of the road while out tasting wine) before and I answered with an unequivocal  of course (hell no!).  

Personally, I think I did an amazing job, I just didn't drive over 25 miles an hour (the entire island was a school zone, no?).  When the rain came we took the scooters back and were planning to get back on the ferry to come back to Auckland but he handed us the keys to a car instead and told us to keep it out as late as we wanted.  







All in all, another great day!