Wordless Wednesday 24 March

Wordless Wednesday again.  This photo just taken today.

Isn't it odd

I had the oddest phone call today.  Odd in a good way I mean.  Next year a branch of my family, which immigrated to New Zealand from Lebanon over 120years ago, is planning a reunion.  For the first time some keen sole is endeavouring to put together a complete family tree of the two New Zealand branches of the family.  The rest of it is very difficult to find as a lot of the part of the world the information is found in seems to have been in a state of conflict for many decades.

Anyway, I respond dutifully to the email requesting information and the next thing I am talking to an unknown cousin for an hour on the phone.  It was like we had known each other for years. 

Now I have been left with a long list of dates to gather together.  That will teach me for talking way too much.

I wonder if they all have the big noses, curly hair (I cut my curls all off), and olive skin.

Monday Menu 22 March

Finally here is my Menu

Monday  Freezer meal thanks to Mum

Tuesday  easy meal 

Wednesday  Middle Eastern Pizza

Thursday  Salmon and rice patties with salad

Friday   Vegetable Nachos

Saturday  bbq with baked potatos and salad

Sunday leftovers

Nothing especially special.  These are all Weight watchers recipes.  Unfortunately I can not locate them all on line.
Wednesday and Thursday are new meals to us so I hope they go down okay with the children.

Just One of Those Days.

I had a day like none other yesterday.  I dont think that it could have got any worse if it tried.  Without boring you with the detail I put together a little something to help everything seem in context.

The credits for this can be found at Nuts4Digi here.

Fingers crossed tomorrow will be greatly improved.

Wordless Wednesday 17 March

Just growing wild

I'm Hurt

It is great to see that when one of my children hurt themselves I have two other nurses ready at hand to help.  They prepare the recovery space, gather the necessary teddy, give the necessary hugs and head forthe box of plasters.

I just the the compassion and empathy they show even for the small things

Monday Menu 15 March

Another Monday and another menu to keep me on track.  The challenges are when I am working and DH is away, which is the case this week.

Monday   steak, baked potato and salad

Tuesday    easy night with food from the freeze

Wednesday   Fresh tomato auce with pasta

Thursday   best beef burgers homemade with salad veges

Friday   cheese quesadillas with salsa cruda  the link is not exactly what I am making but very similar

Saturday    salmon pot pie

Sunday   vegetarian nachos

Fridays Fabulous 6 12 March

Welcome to fridays and my fabulous finds

Here is something I love.  I am constantly reminded that Hayden just will never learn things that we, the rest of us, take for granted.  What I love most of all is shown in this photo.  The sheer pleasure he is getting from the fact that he thinks that he is skipping successfully.  We have to put ourselves in his shoes to see the success.

The marvellous Lindsay Jane has a new kit out and it is just fabulous.  Take a look

I just love finding inspirational quotes.  So here is a link to my favourite one Lessons from Geese

I have been trying to be inventive with the food I cook but keep the calories under control and make life easy all at the same time.  So I am always on the look out for smart ideas put succinctly.  So here is a link for cooking and freezing with some ideas.

Finally a favouite page of mine from this week.

The credits and journalling can be found here at Nuts4Digi.

Starting the Day

Our day starts like many with the hustle and bustle of prepartion for the school and working day.  We, of course, have uniques challenges and routines, that help Hayden get started for the day which add an extra dimension, but really breakfast, music, speech/drama practice, tidy bedrooms and chores are all there.

I have tried to be really organised which in turn creates for a happier and smoother funtioning start to the day.  This is especially important when my DH is away.

1.  I have a list on the fridge of the chores for the children to do and roughly in what order they need to be done in.   This means very little thinking needs to be undertaken and the expectations are already set in place.  But I really love this idea in the esty shop.  Perhaps I need to invest in some magnetic paint.

2.  Breakfast is always the same during the school term. It is predictable.

3.  The little moments I spend with each child as I get them out of bed at 0600hrs.  This is when I make sure they feel happy about starting their day.  Our little moment before the whirlwind Hayden is up.

4.Lunches are prepared the night before and finished in the morning. 

5.  Bags are put by the front door when packed then everyone knows that they are ready to go when everything else is completed.

So we try and welcome the day with smiles on our faces and happy endorphins floating around and if I am lucky the washing on the line before we all step foot out the door.

Wordless Wednesday 10 March

Nothing like an honest birds eye view.