20 Random Facts About Me.

Just to inspire me back into writing I thought I would do a post filled with random things about me, myself and I.  Maybe you already know some of them, maybe you don't.  By the end of it you can be sure you know more than you do already.

1.  I was born 3 weeks premature and taken to a whole other hospital to be put in a New-born Unit.  My mother didn't get to see me for 5 days AND she was brought the wrong baby.  She wondered why I was a little darker than she imagined I would be. A very apologetic and flustered nurse came tearing in and took that baby off her a short while later.

2.  I walked down the aisle to the song Adiemus by Enya.  You can listen to it here Adiemus

3.  I once was a volunteer ambulance officer.  Scary they let me behind the wheel.  After sitting and passing the driving test I ran over and squashed an orange witches hat going through some road works.

4.  If I was born a boy, my mother was going to call me Justin. Yes really!

5.  I had braces only on my top teeth. I signed an I.O.U to my parents stating that I would pay them back. I am now citing that an I.O.U signed by a minor isn't legally valid. 

6.  I am house-keeping challenged. In other words I suck at house keeping! I do try really hard but I find there are many many things that I would rather be doing.

7.  My childhood best friend was a girl called Jillian and she born on the same day as me. We would call ourselves 'birthday twins'.   Funnily enough our mothers used to buy us more or less the same presents for birthdays and Christmas.

8.  My nickname as a kid was 'Cyril' which seems bizarre now that I know a man named Cyril.

9.  I quite frequently get words mixed up.  For example today I asked Jamie if he wanted me to vacuum a part of the lawns for him.

10.  When I was a kid I wanted to change my name to 'Jamie'!  Now isn't that hilarious since I married a Jamie.

11. I wanted to be New Zealands first policewoman dog handler.  Even though I don't really like dogs and find the dark a little scary.  Stupid goal really!

12. I am a Great Aunt nine times over!

13. I am afraid of Crickets, Wetas and Cockroaches.  They will induce a panic attack if they catch me unaware.

14. I once forgot my baby in the meat section of the supermarket.  Yes just left him there, all by himself asleep in his pram while I carried on pushing the trolley.  It wasn't until Jayden asked me where Jesse was, a whole two aisles later.  The scary thing is that I couldn't remember where I had left him. I had to run through the supermarket looking for him.  And there he was asleep completely oblivious to the fact that his mother left him with the steaks and sausages!  I am not sure if it was a good thing but no one had noticed either!

15.  I am quite partial to a bit of Country and Western Music from time to time. I quite like Randy Travis and once did a puppet show at school to the song 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton - listen to that HERE

16.  I came third in a heat in a lip syncing competition.  Performing  'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor and I won a heat in another competition with my partner in crime (Brigitte) performing 'The Phantom of the Opera' by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. We so ROCKED!!

17.  I am writing a book.  Goodness knows when it will be finished but at least its in progress

18.  I frequently get the words to songs wrong and I mean way wrong.  But I am sure half the population does too.  You know like ' I've got shoes they're made of plywood" instead of "I've got chills they're multiplying" or "Just brush your teeth before you leave me baby" instead of "Just touch my check before you leave me baby"  and "There's a bathroom on the right" instead of "There's a bad moon on the rise".  There, my embarrassing secret is out!

19. I can spot a pregnant women from a freakishly long way off!  I amaze even myself at times!

20. I have not grown in height since I was 12 years old. I am a massive 160cm. (5ft 3inch)

So there you have it. 20 Random facts about me!  Did you learn anything?  I certainly gave myself a laugh while thinking about all the quirky things I do or have done.  I am not weird because I KNOW that everyone of us has their own strange and wonderful things that they do, are and say. 

 I am actually quite normal!

 

 

 

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14

What is some of your weirdness? 

 

 

Capturing the Spirit of Advent

So Christmas is nearly upon us. (does anyone else think the word 'upon' even sounds Christmassy?)  And ALL of us can testify that it is a busy time.  End of year celebrations here, break-ups there and not to mention the shopping!  I can easily get quite stressed around this time of year especially when I look to far ahead on the calendar.  I have now learnt that my brain can only cope with looking two or three days ahead.  Something that I have learnt this year is the need to quieten down my head (as if that is even possible) and quieten down my family (again as if that is even possible).  Its far too easy to get caught up in the busy-ness and celebration of it all and forget that in amongst all that craziness is a family. A family that needs to be fed, a family that needs to rest and a family that needs to be just that - a family.  

I am a bit late on the up-take of this idea as I just discovered it reading other Christmassy blogs to help get me in the festive mood.  Its a great way to gain some new ideas and be inspired in all things Christmas!  And this is how (what I hope to be our new tradition) of our Advent Countdown came to be.  Traditions are good and I am especially big on traditions, enough to go a little loopy if we break one from time to time.  Traditions are some of what holds us together and connects us to our family and its story.

So a new one is born!

 

Advent traditionally starts  4 Sundays back from the 25th of December - somewhere between the 27 November and the 3rd December (inclusive) - which is why I suppose they start those choc advent calendars on the 1st of Dec.  Also Advent traditionally came with a bunch or do's and don'ts, fasting and special music too - I just learnt that.

But I really want our time of Advent to be a time of reflectiveness  (we all know how I love to do that) and a time for our family to be and do things together, during this crazy time of year.

 

 So I was a little late ( ok a lot late) at discovering it and getting myself and the kids organised to make one. So for this year I made it in time to start on the 11th making it two weeks long instead of four.  In each pocket as we countdown until Christmas Day, I wrote down paper and rolled up, activities that we can do as a family at some point during the day.  Everyone has a turn at picking it out each morning and discovering what it might be. Due to limited funds I had to be creative here as some of the ideas I read about involved spending money.

  Here is what I had/have:-

 

11th - Family Sock wrestling tournament.

12th - Ice Cream Sundaes at McDonaldsd

13th - A dance party in the living room with hot chocolates

14th - The Budd family Christmas celebration day at the lake (extended family)

15th - Red and Green Dinner with good friends

16th - xBOX Kinect sports tournament

17th - Roasting marshmallows on the brazier

18th - Baking treats to give to the mailman

19th - Sleeping in the lounge and watching a Christmas movie

20th - Baking to be a blessing to others

21st - Candy Cane hunt

22nd - The Johnston Family Christmas Day (extended family)

23rd - Driving around into town to see the Christmas lights on display

24th - Listening to the Christmas story (Luke 2) and having sparkling grape juice and nibbly things!

 

Day at the lake!

 

 

 

Red and Green Dinner

 

In all honesty some of the above hasn't panned out how I expected it to but hey its the first year expect bumps along the way.  The dance party consisted of Mum and Dad dancing and the kids drinking hot chocolates and roasting marshmallow hasn't happened yet because its been too windy to safely do that.

Tonight we are sleeping in the lounge and watching a Christmas movie which I think maybe 'The Grinch'.  Past experiences of doing this particular activity tells me that I need to expect the following to happen.

1. ALL 6 kids will bounce on ALL the mattresses. That is a given - even they are told not to.

2. They will NOT go to sleep quietly and straight after the movie - that too is a given!

3. Someone will get angry at someone making a stupid noise too loud, farting or just breathing when they are trying to get to sleep.

4.  Jesse will not go to sleep anytime before the others.

5. Someone will cry because someone will put their foot, hand, body or little finger on their bed - accidentally on purpose.

and

6. We will ALL have a great sleep because we always do when we all sleep in the lounge.

 

So in order to enjoy this evening with the kids I will expect ALL of the above to happen and I won't be disappointed when it does and be most pleasantly surprise if it doesn't.

I am definitely not holding my breath though.

 

Previous lounge sleeping evenings

 

What are some of your family traditions - new or old?

Lessons from my 4 year old

I am not sure I like the title that I have given this post.  So bare with me if it doesn't make any sense at all.  Sometimes things happen in your life that show you just how far you have come (or sometimes but hopefully not just how far you have fallen) I like to think you and I have more of the former. This one is about how far I have come - Yhuss! 

My journey over the past few years to a more peaceful and intentional way of parenting has had many surprises and challenges.  It has provided me with challenges opportunities for reflection, learning and growth.  Oooo don't we all love those.  For too many years my parenting was more or the kind of "just deal with whatever crap comes your way - no direction - no theory - just do what you know - control your kids" kind of parenting.  But that was then and this is now. As with the rest of my life I am discovery and embracing a new way thinking and acting. And wouldn't you know I am becoming a better person in the process.  I said better - not perfect. I still stumble at times but now I am in a place where I learn from those stumbles.  We all like to learn don't we?

Yesterday my son Jayden (10) came into the kitchen and said in a very serious voice, "Mum you better come and take a look at this".  Uh oh.  Words of that sort is never a good thing.  A myriad of scenarios went through my mind from poo on the walls to feathers from a duvet all over the room and everything in between.  You know likely scenarios when you have kids.  He lead me into his room and pointed to his sister, Sophie (4) colouring in her dolls face with bright coloured pastels (aka face paint). 

Superhero dolls!

If you look closely you can see they even have masks around their eyes!!

Past Parent-Me: "What the hang do you think you are doing?  You should know that we draw on paper and not on dolls!  Now look at them, totally ruined.  That is just plain naughty.  I can't believe you would do something so stupid!  What the hang am I going to do now?  Ahhhhhh! 

.......and so on and so on!  Reads pretty awful and it sounds even worse but that is how I would of reacted and how a lot of parents still react to situations. I say this because I have heard it many times in loads of different situations.  But this isn't about them its about me.  For many many years I was guilty of reacting like the above and that makes me sad.  I would see the little girl and her eyes tearing up, yet I still wouldn't be able to stop. I would of totally missed what was actually going on or happening. Totally missed the moment in my anger.  Not to mention I more than likely would of felt bad and guilty for reacting like that, felt a failure as a parent/mother/person AND I just know I would of had to apologise to her. And who likes to do that! But fast forward to few years to yesterday and the scene played out like this!

Present Day Parent - Me: "Oh. pause BIG breath in. Sophie, what are you doing?
Sophie: looking at me with her big smiling eyes Um colouring in her face.
Me: Yes I see that.  Why are you doing that?
Sophie:  We are playing dolls and they are super-heroes and I am making her a mask on her face. See?
Me: on closer inspection Oh I see. I actually thought it looked pretty cool.  She looks like a Ninja Turtle now.
Sophie:  Kaitlyn did hers too!
Me:  Right, so even though we have super-hero dolls, what are we going to do about the drawing on the dolls because drawing on dolls isn't ideal
Sophie: It might wash off?? Yes you can wash it later.
Me:  Well you might have to help me wash it.
Sophie: Yeah but later we are playing now

I think you get the general idea.  I know that if I had taken one look at what she was doing and flew off the handle like I had done for all those years, I would of missed out on her explanation, the display of her imagination, totally shut down her creativity and how proud she sounded and made her feel ashamed.  Yes yes I know many of you will think that drawing on dolls will be seen as naughty and not looking after toys/disrespectful.  But I now know that she didn't set out to do something naughty, but to create something she needed and I actually thought it was pretty darn neat.  And the problem was easy fixed too. Soap and water!

So the problem (drawing on dolls) was still there and still had to be dealt with regardless of how I was going to react.  Now I (try) choose to leave my dignity intact, to come up another level as a parent and as a person. I am not perfect, still have moments where I react just like a big baby but moments like that are getting further apart - fortunately. Phew!!

I know that this will REALLY stretch some people boundaries in their thinking. Maybe you are thinking I am completely bonkers! That's OK - a lot of people do.  But stretching our boundaries is good, especially when it challenges you. Isn't that how we learn?  I know that we all want to have deep and loving relationships with our children. 

Let me ask you, if you were Sophie, how would you have liked me to react? 

On wearing 'The Dress'

Just over ten months ago I embarked on a personal journey.  A personal journey fuelled by the internal need to 1) Not look like I have had 6 six children,
                          2) To be able to jump with both feet off the ground at the same time
                          and
                          3) To be able to walk up our driveway without losing my breath. 
The last two I figure should be a given when you are only 36 years old.  I amazingly accomplished all three goals in three months with hard work and determination.  I did not diet but changed how much I ate and reduced the amount of sugar where I could.  My love affair with food is far too great to ever go on a diet again.  For three solid months I exercised and followed an exercise programme laid out for me by the lovely Joy over at MassiveMotivation. I have to admit my commitment to exercise did wane a bit over winter months, but have since picked it up again but not to the same degree. I now exercise when I can and when I want to.  Which if you know anything about me, is bizarre because exercise and I have never really been friends.  But now it feels so G-O-O-D!  I still hate running.  I mean I like the thought of going for a run and the feeling I have after it but while I am doing it, I HATE IT!  Losing weight is not an easy thing for me and weight that I put on during pregnancy tends to linger around until if given a chance becomes a permanent thing.

I am happy with where I am now. 16kgs lost and 23cm gone off my waist and its good, very good. Size 16 or (still in maternity clothes) to Size 10. But its more than weight its about health and now I feel healthy and I feel strong, I feel good!

9 February 2013

I got the chance to wear the dress that was a goal I set for myself (an unrealistic one I thought).

 A couple of weeks ago we held an 'Oscars' celebration at church and I was able to wear the dress.  When I put it on my girls just thought it was the most "beautiful dress in the world" and I could imagine what Cinderella may have felt like. Not that I dress in rags in a normal day or have mice and birds for friends for that matter.

 23 November 2013

 

 Jamie and I

(the best husband in the world)

 

My Rocking Family!

Maybe some will say I am being prideful and perhaps I am.  Because I am proud of myself.  It was hard work.  It was at times painful.  And even though I had the help and guidance of Joy, the encouragement and motivation of my husband and Sister-in-law/bestie, but I did it!!
I just want to say that if there is ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL that you desperately want, you CAN achieve it with hard work, sacrifice and a little guidance.

Please don't email me to tell me that I am not being a good advertisement for Mums and their post baby bodies and that I am making a issue out of weight/size.  This was my issue and I did this for me, no one else!  Its not my intention to make anyone feel bad or guilty.

Spring in Pictures (mostly)

Spring is always a busy time for us, for you, and probably for every living thing actually.

And busy we have been.  Trying to find time to write has proved very difficult for me and I made it worse for myself when I severely reduced the amount of screen time for the kids.  I feel a little hypocritical sitting looking at a screen when the kids are around.  So that left me evenings but by the time all the kids are in bed and I have settled Jesse (if he could ever be settled) it was nearly 9pm.  Too tired to write and spend the all important time with my husband.  I don't know how people find time to watch copious amounts of TV!

 

But today is FRIDAY and in our house we make Friday part of our weekend, as Sunday can be a pretty busy day. Jamie is home, we don't do any formal school work. Its a day to catch up on any neglected housework, garden projects and just to be together without any pressure of having to do anything or be anywhere.

 

I love spring. I love the promise it holds of  the summer to come, the holidays to come, the space to enjoy the outdoors and being able to breath deeply in the midst of family and friends.  Bliss!

 

I just love photos of kids on fences especially when you have backdrops like this!!

 

Lots has been happening around here.  From new arrivals to preparing and planting the gardens, from building to cleaning.

 

 

Finally we have been able to keep the egg laying contained in one area. 

 

 For a good while our eggs were hidden in secret places. Gives new meaning to the term 'going on an egg hunt'. 

 

One of Jamie's building projects.  A pallet potting bench.

I think it is pretty fantastic if you ask me.

 

We have had power outages. 

 These are always an experience when you have got children around.  The just love to find EVERY SINGLE candle in the entire house and light them all and usually by that time the power has come back on.

 

This handsome wee man has started walking! 4 weeks shy of his first birthday he has been toddling around for a few weeks now.  To me he seems too little to be walking.  None of the others have ever walked that early.  Where has my baby gone?

 

 

 I always love watching babies and small people play. I love seeing the fascination of discovery on their faces.

                               

 

Planting of produce is always an exciting thing.  It is many many weeks before the novelty of checking on seedlings  and their progress will wear off.

 

This year we have 13 Tomato plants in.  Is that too many?  I'll tell you come autumn I may have had enough of chutney making by then>

 

Looking forward to this years passion fruit crop. I am hoping it will be better than last years where I think we only got 14.  What should I plant along the bottom here?  Its a south facing wall.  I am thinking a crop of lettuces. Any other suggestions?

 

Super duper excited about seeing the amount of raspberries that are beginning to bud.  Hopefully we will get to them before the birds do (and I am hoping I'll get to them before the kids do)

 I am in love with my six climbing beans.  They all have names (don't pretend you don't name your plants too)

We have George, William, Harry, Charles, Edward and Andrew.

 Royal names for royal looking beans, all standing there like upper class gentlemen.

 

Seven cute and fluffy ducklings.  Mama ducks is fiercely protective of them.  we have since taken her away from them in hope that we can make them a bit less scared of us.  But look out if she catches you going any where near them.  Even if she is no where to be seen and you go near them she will come flying (running) at you flapping and hissing and quacking.  It is just a little scary.  I am pretty sure she thinks she is a chicken though as she sometimes takes to perching on top of the A-frame house (who knew ducks could perch) as she stands guard.

 

Even though summer is just around the corner our wood supply for next year is already slowly accumulating. Piles of wood is always reassuring to me and a makes me want a hot chocolate!

 

The promise of this years grapes.  We can't remember if they are green or purple ones though.  But our vines is heavy with them.  I love how the green leaves just glow making the grapes into something celestial. *sigh

 

Another one of my 'loves'. Unfortunately this climbing rose is climbing up the side of the garage where no one can really appreciates its beauty or its heavenly perfume.  I don't know what its called but I am pretty sure it must have a grand name like 'Jonathan Thomas the 3rd' or 'Sir Graham' or maybe even 'Lady Marguerite Rothchild' if it is a female.

 

Our front porch, just perfect on those summer evenings for sitting and supping on something delicious.

 Stella, the poor orphan cat from last year, gave birth to four cute wee kittens. I know all kittens are cute but these ones are extremely cute. So cute I don't know how we are going to get rid of them.

 

Outdoor play is just great after months of winter weather. Shorts and T-shirts are the uniform these days.

 

Our wee Sophie (4) just loves to dress up. The downfall being she must change her clothes about ten times a day which leads to a very messy room.

 

The ducks let us know when its time for morning tea by coming up on to the deck and looking in the window.

 

This NAUGHTY chicken is extremely bad.  She thinks far too highly of herself and believes that she should be allowed to reside inside!  On numerous occasions I have entered a room only to find her hanging out in the sun or exploring her seemingly new abode. 

 I have threaten the crockpot.

 

The sunsets here are just exquisite, nearly as good as the sunrises.  The leaves just glow as the sun drops low in the sky. 

Sights like that make everyday a good day. 

 

I will endeavour to get more writing down, not only here but on my book.  My battles lie internally about what to share and how much.  SO much of my writing never makes it this far as I am always a little dubious of sharing my life, thoughts and views.  I love to write. I want to write. And I am hugely envious of people that can write and hold nothing back, not caring about what people will think, how people might interpret what is being written or who might be offended.  Maybe I should just consider those that might be entertained, inspired, encouraged, informed, enlightened and just plain old interested.

Yes, I think I'll write for them.

 

Blessings to you all

xxx 



Dabbling in Watercolours

Today being a wet, windy and wild day, I thought I would try my hand at painting.  All morning my girls were cranking out picture after picture of colour.   Mostly flowers and rainbows and a few abstract ones too.

 

I have decided that I am quite in love with watercolours, I just love them. They are very romantic don't you think? I find it quite intriguing that you can change the depth and intensity of the colour just by how much water you have on the brush.  Listen to me! I sound like I have a clue to what I am talking about. Truth is I have NO artistic talent what so ever and have never taken an art class beyond the compulsory ones at intermediate (middle) school level.  Miss Hawkins was just the coolest teacher ever but I doubt she would remember me and my talent (or lack of).  I think I got an 'A' for effort. Even though I didn't have a choice (yes Mum I did say "didn't have a choice") as to whether or not I took art in High School, I don't think I would of chosen that path. I think I would of chosen along the lines of Home Economics/Fabric and Design and maybe even Journalism.  But no, I was hmmmm strongly urged to pursue the areas of Accounting, Economics and Science.  Oh and I can't forget the Japanese can I. It was suggested that I take this language because it would take me a long way in the Mega-Million-Dollar-Deals I was going to be making with my accounting and economics skills. It can't go without saying that I hated Japanese class and was terrible at it.  I can't even remember the poor teachers name and all I do remember of her class was learning to say 'Hello' -  Konichi Wa and the lesson where she tried to teach us how to use chopsticks by picking up jelly beans. Both lessons that I am pretty sure I could of learnt off Sesame Street. Accounting and Economics didn't fare much better either. So I guess I was never destined to be a high flying Japanese speaking business women. Hmmm I strayed a bit far off that course didn't I? Sorry.

Anyway back to the water colours - inspired by my girls who just seem to be able to pick up a brush and always just know what to paint, I thought that I would have a go. And so I stared, and I stared at the white blank paper.  My eyes perused the room for clues on what to paint and then they found something - The NZ Gardener Magazine. After a quick flick through the glossy pages I found a page of flowers in yellow and white and a touch of purple. They didn't look too hard.  Kaitlyn joined me at my side and with our brushes in our hands the first stroke of paint were being applied.   I am glad Jamie wasn't at home while I was doing that because I am pretty darn sure I had the whole tongue hanging out the side of my mouth thing going on. I discovered that there is a bit of an art (pun intended) to water colours and getting the right water-to-paint ratio. I don't think that is something that I will be mastering in a hurry.  The other thing I discover is how hard it is to paint white flowers. I mean they are white without being white.  Maybe I should of been kind to myself and just stuck to painting the yellow ones.  All in all I quite enjoy my wee soiree into the world of water colours.  I am not sure it will become a hobby of mine - I have enough of those that I don't get enough time do to.  But I can certainly appreciate the talent and love that other people have.

Just in case you can't tell what my flowers are, here is my attempt at Lewisia brachycalyx, Ranunculus insignis, Primula denticulata and Eranthis hyemalis (from left to right) PS I have no clue what so ever if they have normal English names.

 

These two are my favourite.

  I think Miss Hawkins might of like these.

Is there anything you wish you could have a go at?