Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Winter sport is here

Here we are in the middle of a very warm Autumn and winter sport teams have been selected with first practice for Andres hockey team tonight.  With the balmy evening temperature of 23 Celsius it is reasonable to say that things could be worse, especially the weather in the middle of the season.

For me though, as for all hockey, rugby, soccer, netball mums and dads it is just the beginning of a schedule that includes both mornings and evening practises.  On the road by 5.45 am twice a week and not home until 8pm once a week. Games on the evenings of school days twice and Saturday morning.  That does not include anything else in the schedule such as music, speech and drama, or the logistics of organising baby sitters for when my husband is away. 

Needless to say I think I officially classify as a taxi driver whose car knows its way around the Auckland without my help, whose car is sometimes a place to catch a few moments of sleep.  Then there are the moments where the car is the place where breakfast is eaten occasionally and dinner on other occasions.

It is exhausting for us all but ultimately I love that my children love playing their hockey.  I love that they get a sense of achievement from the game, they learn life skills from both being in the winning team and loosing team.

So well done all you mum (and dads).  I hope your children love their sport as much as mine do.

Roll on winter I say.


Monday, 31 March 2014

Monday Menu 31 March

So here I am after another really hectic week.  This week sees us settled down to a routine of winter sport even though it is still a very warm autumn for us here in New Zealand.  In fact we are experiencing drought like weather and have had to order more water for our water tanks.

So without any more words here is my menu for this week.

Monday  Spaghetti Bolognaise

Tuesday  Crockpot beef, Tamara's reciepe

Wednesday  Open chicken burger

Thursday  Teriyaki beef stir fry

Friday   baked falafel sandwich

Saturday  marinade steak and garden salad

Sunday  leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Monday Menu 24 March

The week has started out as hectic as it has any other week.  It is with that in mind I write my menu trying to be quick and easy.

Today I am posting this from my husbands laptop which I am not adept at using so there are no links but I will be back to link up what I can when my other computer issues are sorted.

Monday  bbq sausage, potato and carrot in tin foil with green salad.

Tuesday  burger patties (homemade)  with salad and baked potato

Wednesday  curried chicken pasta

Thursday  quiche with salad

Friday  zucchini fritters with freezer vege and potato

Saturday stir fry beef on rice

Sunday  stirfry rice

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Sunday, 23 March 2014

From where I sit

Gosh in my house we have come to the end of the two weeks beginning the winter sport programme.  Its schedule is irregular and rather full.  From my view I could take up the job of a taxi driver. So without even looking at anything else outside the hockey here is what our two weeks looked like.  Of course there was still speech and drama, violin lessons and the morning school sport twice a week to add.

So now we are popping out the other side of these few weeks, and the winter practice schedule is starting to emerge, I can organised baby sitters and mentally brace myself for the business of the two terms ahead.  I even marked on the calender when my DH was away for work as it impacts on what I need to do and have organised.


Friday, 21 March 2014

Fridays Fabulous Five # 51


It is actually a friday and here I am posting this.  Miracles never cease to amaze me.

So here are my finds.

Have a great week ahead.

I am promising myself

I am an eater of bad habits when I am stressed. For the last 12 months I really have felt understress for one reason or another.  Consequently my eating habits have been terrible.

So from tomorrow onwards I am promising myself to do something about it.  No more excuses.  I am going to look after myself so much better than now.  I am going to pay attention to myself and my needs.   I am going to try and keep my stress levels in check.  Time to reflect and chill out are in the plan too...I am going to love me.

(details for this page can be found here)

Monday, 17 March 2014

Mondays Menu 17 March

Here we are in the Middle of March, past halfway in the first school term.  I can't believe just how fast time is flying this year.

So to help my hectic life here is my menu for this week.

Monday  Crockpot -  Orange Beef Stew

Tuesday   Smoked chicken and nectarine salad

Wednesday chicken and cheddar quiche with green salad

Thursday  Teriyaki beef stir fry

Friday  vegetable and chickpea filo parcels and salad

Saturday   Spanish meatballs

Sunday  leftovers.....there is always plenty to choose from.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Saturday, 15 March 2014

Fridays Fabulous Five #50


  • First up a little bit of fun.  Turn your favourite quote into a piece of art here at recite 
  • Jackson Pollacks art is spotty to say the least.  So have a go and make your own Jackson look a like.
  • If you enjoyed hunger games then this list of books you might like too.
  • Then these incredible wood carvings.
  • Finally since winter is not too far away these crock pot recipes might come in handy.
Have a great weekend.

Lifes learning moments

Life is full of learning moments.  Children as much as anybody have so much to learn, not only accademically but about life in general.

So now that my lovely daughter has been selected to play in her schools first XI hockey team there will be some important lessons.  She will need to be tolerant of those who are less skilled than her.  She will need to get used to playing in many different positions and adapt quickly.  Then there are the big girls, more aggressive girls and more so not being in the best team on the day (maybe a lot of the time).

On the postive side of things she, unlike her hockey club team mates, will get lots of playing time.  It will make her really hockey fit.  She will have to read the games for others and learn how to impart her knowledge of the game without offending others.  Finally she will have to earn their respect which will be vital in making a postive team culture.

I hope that she is up for the challenge.


(McKenzie stretching her legs out after a two day 4 game tournament)


Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Wordless Wednesday 12 March

Just one more photo from when Hayden was in hospital.

Just another check which Hayden does not like.


I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.