Just sometimes a heart is all it takes

McKenzie thought that she would show how much she loved us but making this and holding it up to us with the sign language of I love you.

I am still smiling about it especially as it was coincidental as we don't really do Valentines Day in house....well not in any really big way.

Monday Menu 13 February

Here is this weeks menu.  A little late but I promise it was written down as I went to the supermarket today.

Monday  steak, baked potato and peas

Tuesday  steak n kidney stew on rice.

Wednesday  cold meat and salad with baked potato

Thursday  baked falafel with salad on rice.

Friday  noodly dinner

Saturday  Of to a dinner party

Sunday  left overs

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Propinquity

I know a tricky word was what I needed to work with on the part of my Art Journalling adventure and a new one to me.  So here is the meaning for Propinquity

After about a weeks sub conscious break I thought what this really meant to me.  I really wanted to show how I was trying to celebrate the here and now, the everyday moments.

This is the page I came up with

(the credits can be found here)

Sometimes they say things that really make me think

As you know my son Hayden goes to a school for children/ young people who are disabled.

Yesterday I got a txt from his wonderful teacher aide (Nat)

Nat txt    just got 2 tell u hayden was in trouble with K (teacher) for pushing 2 be 1st.  He knows he gets away with murder with me so he complains about these people and I ignored him.  Thn he says these women are studpid.

Me txt     Oh he won't learn but fancy women being stupid he didn't learn that from me ha ha

Nat txt     yes I know.  we thougth it to be a classic :-)

The funny thing about this is that Haydens brain opperates at about a 2 - 3 year old.  He has trouble learning things accademic but sometimes he drags things out of his memory that I have no idea where he got it from.  In fact I don't even know that any 3 year old would have been able to come up with such a statement.

I have to say I had a little chuckle about it knowing full well that I am a 'Girls can do anything' type of gal.

(Here is Hayden with his box, scissors and tape)

What we do for love

Just sometimes it is the little and unwritten things that we do show our children how much we love them.  Even if it means getting up really early so they can catch the bus to school. 

I took this photo about 10 minutes after I got up and then got McKenzie out of bed so she is not rushing too much to get ready to leave the house in the morning.

Wordless Wednesday 8 February

Nothing like a little cooling down on a hot summers day.  I love that this photo is so full of action right down to the fact that Hayden, who has cystinosis which makes him very thirsty all the time, is capturing the water on his tongue.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Art Journaling the Adventure

I decided this year that I would challenge my art skills somewhat and turn my hand to Art Journaling.  I thought that to help my endeavours to reflect on my life just a little more.  My journaling will be linked to my Little Word, Breathe, for this year.

I know that this technique of scrapbooking is stretching my skills a lot but I think that this something that I need to do for many reasons.

So without further ado here they are, my first Art pages.  Well I call them art.

Here is my mind in confusion and being challenged.

(Credits here)

This page is an affirmation letter to myself

(Credits here)

The next prompt was Clandestine.  I chose to share 6 things about myself.

(Credits here)

The interesting thing is that it took me absolutely ages to create these pages.  I sat at my computer looking at a blank PSE page.  It gave me a creative block.  I guess I was paralysed with fear that I could not find my ideas within this new technique I am trying.

Monday Menu 6 February

Here is the menu just in time for the full swing of the school year to hit my house.  Yes that means that I will feel like a full time taxi driver.

So here we go with DH away and me doing things solo at the moment

Monday  Cold meat and salad especially for a public holiday here in New Zealand

Tuesday  Beef Nacho

Wednesday  fried rice (easy the recipe says...I guess I will find out this week)

Thursday  falafel pita pockets

Friday  Noodly Dinner

Saturday  pesto and spaghetti

Sunday   leftovers.

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Beginning of the school Year.

With a rush back into reality the school year has begun.  There will be no looking back, new adventures to be had, new teachers to get used to and of course and a whole new world of knowledge to explore.  Each of my children were excited about starting school.  Even Hayden who is difficult to understand or even know what he remembers or even understands at times seemed excited.  Sadly we don't know what he is doing at school and he is unable to have that discussion with us.  McKenzie happily went off to College, Andre stayed at the same school but for the first time he is at school without McKenzie there.

So here they are with the obligatory first day photo.  It was fun.  We had to take it at the end of the day because McKenzie left for school just a little early for the boys.

January's Summary In Numbers

I have thought about how I summarise each month and how to keep it easy and quick to assemble.  So I have discovered Making Notes on Paper and decided to participate in My Month in Numbers.

Here is my inaugural version of this endeavour.  Watch out because I love numbers and how they work so I am sure I will get a more interesting array of numbers to share.

1  is the number of birthdays in our family this month

Andre celebrated his eight birthday and enjoyed every moment of it with his choice of food which included dinner out.



10 is the number of people who went camping. and 6 was the number of children present.

Our really good friends and us went camping at Ohiwa Beach.  We had such a good time with them and can't wait for next year to arrive so we can do this again.

8 is the number of trailer loads of dry wood we moved ready for winter and keeping us warm.

I know we are early but summer is the right time to collect the wood so it doesn't smoke us out when we really need it.





4 is the number of days fishing that were had while we were on holiday.  Apparently the locals favourite spot.  9 was the most successful day fishing.....catch, look, release.