An American Housewife Down Under

Following the leaders....

2007-02-11T21:28:00.000+13:00

Hannah and Christi that is anway! I've decided to move my blog over to

http://americankiwi.wordpress.com/

At least give it a try for the moment because I'm finding blogger a bit of a pain when it comes to loading pics and stuff. So I might be back but for now come and see me over at the link above.

Musca domestica

2007-02-01T12:23:00.000+13:00

or in other terms $%(&*&@)# house flies! Yuck! One thing I totally hate about New Zealand is the lack of screens upon windows to keep out the flies and other insects.

Sure, you can find a screen door here and there, in fact our house has 2. You won't find screens on the windows however and that is just bloody annoying.

Instead, most Kiwis buy fly spray (ie: Raid) and run around spraying them. How is this more effective? You spend more money, you pollute the air with chemicals and you also breathe them in. Then you have to run around and clean up after all the dead flies. Ugh!

Yesterday we had the worst batch at our house. I had most of the windows closed and the doors open with the screen doors shut. Of course with Aidan and Madelynn (and Brendon) it's always a mission to get them to close the door once they open it. Brendon came home and when I went to open the back door, the door and the back deck were just swarming. There must have been at least 300 flies. We started spraying the fly spray though the screen and then Brendon took it and started to spray outside. All this just to get him in the house.

After he had done that he went to wash his hands and in the bathroom I hear him yell "bloody hell!" He had to fetch the spray and kill about 200 more flies. And I had just spend the morning cleaning that room too!

After they all all died off he took the vacuum and cleaned them all up. He said he lost count of the flies there were so many. He then re-cleaned the bathroom before bathing the kids.

What a total waste of time all New Zealand needs are screens on the windows. Obviously too much to ask.

Fisher-Price, we have a problem!

2007-01-26T09:43:00.000+13:00

Neither one of my children are really "attached" to a lovey item. I've tried to get them so it was easier for bedtime but no real luck.

Aidan likes his blankie but only in bed. He does not drag it around, which is fine by me, because I remember my brother dragging 3 or 4 around at a time. Then of course he lost them and we found them the next spring buried in the garden. LOL

Enter Sammy, a Fisher-Price Puppy Pal that mom sent 2 years ago for Madelynn's 2nd birthday. Madelynn liked him, played with him from time to time. Each night she chooses something from the toys to sleep with. Most nights usually a different toy. Then about 6 months ago she started to pick him consistantly to sleep with at night.

Now Aidan has decided that he wants Sammy at bedtime and the fighting is pretty intense! We are trying the take turns each night but neither is having any part of that. Talk about a power trip if the other one wins Sammy for the night.

I sent Mom on a hunting expedition to Wal-mart to see if she could find another one. No such luck. She did find something similar in color. I showed Madelynn the picture and asked her if she wanted it. She of course said "yes, and then I will have that dog and Sammy Too!"

Also, if Sammy ventures out in the day the fights start then too. It's like "He who has Sammy rules the world".

I've searched ebay and found another puppy pal named Ari. Trying to decide if I should get that or not and try to end the fighting.

I know that kids fight over toys, but you should really see this at bedtime. It's making it a real hassle to get them settled. Who would have thought a stuffed dog? It's kind of funny but my sanity is at the brink since I'm not the most patient person at the moment right now.

Bull-headed children....another trait they inherited from Brendon of course. I'm not bull-headed at ALL!

Kiwi Garage Sales

2007-01-23T13:17:00.000+13:00

I LOVE garage sales! I love to find a bargin at garage sales, I've even got Brendon to where he likes them too. I'm addicted to them but there is a difference in garage sales in New Zealand and the USA.

One difference to me is they never price anything! You have to ask how much they want for each item. What a waste of my time! Then, when they tell you the price and you put it back they are just dumbfounded that you won't pay that price for it! Kiwi's think that at garage sales it's the time to ask near new prices for things.

Once I went to a sale and I found heaps of baby undershirts for Madelynn. Of course they were were not priced and they were in really good condition. I can buy a pack of about 3 for $10.00 NZ new. I asked the owner how much and she says "$3 each. They weren't worn very much and they are in still good condition". I just looked at her and put them back. The look on her face was priceless, she couldn't believe it. I'm sure no one ever questioned her prices before.

It really is mind boggling to see items still in the original box, perhaps a few years old the original price sticker still on it and they are only asking $5 less than that.

I've seen some real doozies over the past couple of years but last Saturday I ventured out to one that just took the cake. When I got there the 1st thing I noticed was the sign...it had a totally different street and address on it as if to tell you where the "real" sale was. That should have been my first clue.

When I got up to the garage. There was a few people looking around with the same look on their faces "As if to say, this is it?" There was a man about 35-40ish sitting in a DIRTY garage 1/2 full of firewood and on the other side an old couch which he was sitting on surrounded by more firewood and 3 boxes of old jars from jam, mayo etc... He was telling one person how he just really needed to get rid of all this stuff, it had to go, and he was willing to let it go for bargin because he wanted some money.

I just about wet myself! All the stuff he should have just put into the weekly recycle bins that they collect on Thursday. Only in New Zealand!

April 3rd, April 13th, April 23rd?

2007-01-11T12:42:00.000+13:00

Go on pick a date and any of the above dates could be correct for my due date. Yep, had a visit with my midwife today and got all the above. Why? According to the scan we had they placed the baby's age younger by a week so the due date by scan is April 13th. Of course they will let you go 10 days over due before they start to induce so then it goes to April 23rd.

Of course the baby will come when it comes but ALL I can think about is Aidan and this baby sharing a birthday on the 11th. I just really don't want that to happen. Who wants to share a birthday with your sibling? I share one with my dad and that fine. I think it's cool, but if it's a sibling who gets all the attention? It's supposed to be "your" day.

Well my original due date is the 3rd and I'm sticking to that one. If I have to go and bounce on a trampoline this baby will be born by then.

As usual...this is all BRENDON'S fault.

(P.S. scan picture is not of my baby)

(P.P.S Thanks for all the name suggestions in the previous post, I just need to get Brendon to read them and see if anything stands out for him besides "Rufus")

28 weeks and still no name

2007-01-09T13:35:00.000+13:00

Maybe this baby shouldn't be born. It will have to go though life with the moniker of "baby" it's whole life. Poor wee mite. Neither Brendon or I can come up with a name we like. In fact, there seems to be no motivation or inspiration to even find one. It's like we ran out of names after Aidan.

He hates what I like and vice versa (nothing new in that department) He came up with the name Corrine and I thought I was going to hurl. He then pops up with Cameron and Lauren. How funny is that? They are lovely names but he didn't realize they were my friend Christi's sweet, adorable little girls names. LOL I informed him also that Lauren was too close to his mother's name and also the name of my cousins new baby.

He nixed my idea of Sophia/Sophie, Isabella and Olivia. His reasons...Sophia is the name of the old lady on the tv show the "Golden Girls", Isabella is "dumb" and Olivia is the name of the obnoxious child from the "Cosby Show". What kind of reasons are those? I think he watched way too much tv as a kid.

For a boy...we got squat there too!

So, I guess this post will help me decide if anyone other than Hannah and Christi actually read this blog as we are asking for any and all suggestions.

Cravings

2007-01-02T19:35:00.000+13:00

Now, I don't like fruitcake, never have. When I found this cartoon last year it pretty much summed up my feelings on this cake. LOL

Seriously, though it must be pregnant cravings because I really don't like fruitcake but I want some more of the cake I had at my mother in laws on Sunday. It wasn't great but I just want to eat it!

I'm sure it's pregnancy now that I think about it. When I was pregnant with Madelynn I hated lamb. I thought the smell was revolting and now I love it! While I was pregnant with Aidan I despised Christmas mince pies, now I like them and now fruitcake? Holy crap, I am not having anymore kids or I'll end up liking liver and onions!

Here come the words...

2006-12-26T19:40:00.000+13:00

Aidan is 20-months-old: Week 3 and according to Baby Center "Much of the groundwork for language acquisition has been laid, and now my toddler will focus on boosting his vocabulary. The average 20-month-old can learn 10 or more words a day (some learn a new word every 90 minutes)."

It is true at the moment around here, I swear I'm hearing a new word everytime I turn around. It's really and eye-opener and refreshing too. Madelynn didn't talk until last year at this time when she was nearly 3 year old. When she did it just came spilling out and that was that, but with Aidan it's fun because it's such a treat to hear him learning from us and Madelynn a new word.

In the last few days he is just amazing me...he popped up with "hungry" as we sat down for Christmas lunch.

Here is the list of other words he can say (I know I won't remember all at the moment)

water
pool
eat
cat
Dada
Mama
tree
out
car
beep-beep
animals sounds: moo, meow, woof, baa, horse
yes
No
blue
toot-toot
hi
bye-bye
bath
bike
bed
door
teeth
foot
nose
toes
pee
poo
butt
Baby
Wow
bum
me too
I do!
ball
my
uh-oh

What I do like to hear is when you ask him a question he says "no" but means yes and also he practices saying "no". He draws it out "nnnnoooo" over and over again just walking around. He's such a funny little man.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T20:24:00.000+13:00

To you all! I managed to survive, but feel like I've been hit by a bus I'm so tired.

Some of the things that were highlights for me this year were:

On Christmas Eve Madelynn and I made reindeer food. We sprinkle it around the tree before bedtime and Aidan thought it was great stuff and threw it everywhere and then danced on it.

Madelynn has also been playing "baby Jesus" for the last 2 weeks. They had a manger in school and she would come home and play it here. She told us her name was Mary and Aidan was Joseph. She "borrowed" Aidan's blanky and asked Brendon to tie it around her head so she could be Mary. He did and it didn't last but a few minutes so she came back and told him to do it properly. What a kid!

Just so you know, Jesus was a modern version and wore a pink dress and rode around in the pink stroller. I told Brendon he was lucky that she didn't demand he be the donkey. LOL

On Christmas Eve afternoon we made a birthday cake for baby Jesus and I told her that Santa could have a piece. She was quite happy with that and wanted to know if we would sing happy birthday to him. I told he we would before we open presents in the morning. She then asked me. "What present did we get Baby Jesus?" I didn't know what to tell her. She's a clever little monkey.

Brendon told her today, you're a smart girl aren't you Madelynn, and she says "yes, and Beautiful too!" No modesty for my girl!

Christmas morning was fun. I'm still not used to opening gifts then as I was raised to do it on Christmas Eve, it just seems so strange. Anyway, Madelynn came into us at 3am sometime. I don't know if she wanted to open gifts or what but she doesn't usually get up and come to us. Took her back to bed and then Aidan was up at 4am. We didn't get up for gifts until 8am.

Maddie was pretty shocked that the reindeer food was actually gone and that Santa had eaten a piece of cake. She says, "LOOK he took some of baby Jesus' cake!" LOL

She didn't notice her scooter at first, each child went for the other's gift. She wanted Aidan's tent and he wanted the scooter.

Funny, the only present Aidan didn't want to open was the one with summer clothes from Nana, I think he realized it wasn't a toy. LOL He said "No!" and went to his tent.

I can't wait until tomorrow, the tree is going down as I've had enough fighting the kids to keep their hands off it and maybe I can find my living room floor again (for a short while anyway)

Hope you all had a lovely day as well.

Bah Humbug!

2006-12-21T20:08:00.000+13:00

I'm so ready for Christmas to be over! I know it sounds terrible but it's true. I don't think this has been the most pleasant of holidays this year.

1. Bad news from home in the family. Happily it seems to be working itself out but still puts a damper on the "holiday spirit"

2. Buying for the kids proved harder than ever this year. I spend 2 hours last night just wrapping the gifts and thought to myself what the heck did I buy? There didn't seem to be much there.

3. Sheer exhaustion has set in with the pregnancy and it's not been easy. My back is hurting so bad and I can hardly move. Making it heaps harder to enjoy the fun with the kids

4. The weather is blowing major chunks! All week we've been stuck inside because it's too wet to go out. Aidan and Madelynn are climbing the walls with cabin fever and Aidan came down with a cold. Luckily, at the moment it's a minor one but he has passed it on to Madelynn. She is strong as a horse though and it's only been a few sniffles for her.

5. The Christmas tree...will it survive to Christmas Day? I'm not sure, I've tossed out 4 ornaments already thanks to Gretel (our cat) destroying them. Aidan eating a few styrofoam ones and Madelynn deciding that they are super cool like a slinky. So far it's still standing but if Aidan pulls hard enough on the garland it's going to come crashing down.

6. Our visit to Santa was ok, but the pictures of Aidan screaming where great. The look on his face wasn't fear for the fat guy in the red suit, it was for mommy being such a bitch and making him sit on his lap.

7. I wanted this year to have Madelynn call Santa Claus on the phone. They email you the audio of her call and I was excited to do this but...well 2 weeks ago my sister in law decided it would be fun to have her do it when I wasn't there. So I missed it. I waited until yesterday thinking she would do it again but she wanted no part of it. She kicked me and screamed when I handed her the phone "saying she didn't need to talk to him on the phone again" I got my heartbroken, (hormones kicking in here) and started crying as I feel like I missed out on some special moment. This is the 1st Christmas that Madelynn actually talks so I wanted to enjoy it.

8. Brendon begged me to make some sort of cake so he can give it to his co-worker for Christmas. Does he not realize I am pregnant and can barely cook dinner at the moment for the family? LOL I did make something today but it took 3 hours to make brownies. All because I had the help of 2 little people.

I usually can't wait for Christmas to get here so I can enjoy the kids but this year I just want Boxing Day to get here so the tree can go down and the kids have some new toys to play with. I'm 1/2 tempted to just give them the toys early so I can have a break.

Anyway, vent over...Merry Christmas. (seriously!)

Living with the Grinch

2006-12-09T15:21:00.000+13:00

Every year Brendon does this to me, he ruins the gift that I bought him for Christmas. This year he's been wanting to get all the dvds of the British tv-series The Black Adder. Since I've known him he raves about this program. I sat and watched it once with him and just about died from lack of comedy. I just don't get British humor. That will be the American in me I know.

Anyway, he has the 1st 3 series and when he bought the last one I said no more, Christmas is coming. 2 weeks ago I found the 4th so I got it and hid it away. Today we go to the Warehouse and he heads straight to the damn dvds. By the time I got caught up to him he had it in his hand. "You're not getting that!" I said. "Why not?" he says. "Because we don't have the money and it's too close to Christmas". He tosses it in the shopping cart anyway. I pulled it back out and said "NO!" He then figures out..."Oh, you bought it for me already for Christmas!" Men sure know how to screw up Christmas!

Exhaustion, frustration and the blahs...

2006-12-08T15:04:00.000+13:00

Exhaustion:

I'm so constantly tired! I wake up after a night of uninterupted sleep and I feel like I need a nap. I know it's being pregnant but it's really starting to bug me. It doesn't help that I don't get a nap to rest in the afternoon either like my midwife suggests. Aidan isn't big on napping and if I can get him to sleep I have Madelynn to try to keep quiet. Then on days like today and yesterday when I have Madelynn being quiet watching a DVD she's never seen or at afternoon preschool. Aidan will take a small hour nap and then he's up just as I start to fall into a nap myself. Ugh! I just want some time to myself before this baby comes.

Frustration:

The weather! It's just been so crappy lately it's driving me nuts. We are supposed to have cooler temps and lots of wind thoughout the summer until Febrary all due to El Nino. If I didn't know better I swear I'm living in Wyoming it's so darn windy and miserable.

Also, I've just had it with Christmas shopping. I don't usually have a problem with this. I have it done by now and just avoid town as I hate the traffic etc. This year, I have everyone done except Caitlin. It's really getting to be a total stuggle to find anything for that child. The sad thing is, it shouldn't be. She is nearly 13 and she should be a breeze to buy for. Makeup, music and other crap. But NOOOOOOOOOO she's already got EVERYTHING thanks to her maternal side of the family. It's so bad, that last year even they were buying her things like smoothie makers and bed linen (so she had stuff to take with her when she moved out they said) WHAT? She's only 13!! So my battle continues.

Blahs:

Maybe it's that time of year I just don't know. I've never been one to really get depressed or anything at Christmas time. I've been away from my family for so many years now that it's not really an issue, I miss them and all but I don't feel depressed about it. So why does everything just make me feel "blah"? Hurry up Christmas holidays as I really could use Brendon home for a couple of weeks so I can have a break.

Happy Holidays

2006-12-05T13:59:00.000+13:00

I visited Hannah's blog the other day and enjoyed her photos that Christi took. It motivated me to finally get our yearly family Christmas shot up. As usual I had to rush around to find something for everyone to wear and then quickly get the reprints so could post out with the Christmas cards but I did it and managed to get them all mailed by December 1st.

Once again Nikki took the photo and it just turned out so nice. It wasn't as near stressful as last years shoot when Madelynn wouldn't stay still, Aidan was the one who didn't want his picture taken. What I thought was so funny was that he once again had his finger in his mouth like last years. LOL

We also managed to finally get the kids picture taken together this year too. I relented and went to Pixiefoto as I wanted the big 11 x 13 to frame. (Man, I hate that company) But it didn't cost me anything as I still had a free voucher for the picture so I took it and ran.

I think it turned out rather nice considering Aidan had plans of his own that day and it was not to get his picture taken on either occasion. Little monster man!

I just shake my head...

2006-12-01T08:54:00.000+13:00

And laugh! This post is for all my old radio buddies and you all know who you are. Joy Lynn White, Stacy Dean Campbell, George Ducas, Larry Stewart, Pirates of the Mississippi. Remember these 90's artists? Pretty much one hit wonders. Well what makes me laugh so hard is country music is hard to find in these here parts. So if I want a new cd I either ask mom to ship it to me (god, I miss the days of free music from the record company!) or I find one on our local auction site Trademe.

This morning I was sifting through the new daily listings for the country music and found these artists. All the cd's on offer were their debut albums and the person selling them stated they were all second hand and only Joy Lynn White was a new cd. Can you guess how much Joy Lynn was selling for? $29.95 plus postage! All these cd's would be in the bulk bargin bin at Hastings! LOL

But that's New Zealand for you, people want brand new prices for 2nd hand stuff. You'd all love the pawn shops here! (NOT)

It's Christmas time...Kiwi Style

2006-11-20T13:18:00.000+13:00

Christmas in New Zealand, the first few times I experienced it I wasn't too sure about it. I'm used to it now, sun and BBQ instead of the USA type Christmas and it doesn't bother me too much. In fact I kind of like it. I hated snow except on Christmas Eve and morning. Cold and nasty and who the heck likes to shovel the sidewalk?

What really gets me though is how hard it is to find New Zealand Christmas stuff. I mean one would expect to find it rather easy to find Christmas cards in a summery style. WRONG! If you hit the local "Walmart" style chain the Warehouse you will not find anything. Oh wait, I take that back last year I did find some but not so far this year. You can find New Zealand Christmas cards in the bookshops and that is usually where I go but even there most things are in the northern hemisphere winter and snow motif.

I just don't get it. You won't find a lick of snow in December and everyone is running around in shorts, swimsuits and thongs. So why does New Zealand continue to support the wintery Christmas theme?

Christmas Kiwi style tends to be filled with lots of paradoxes. One moment we are running around in shorts and Tee shirts, trying to do our Christmas shopping and the next we run into Santa, in a thick red suit sweating his ass off in an air conditioned mall. Go figure!

and the baby is......

2006-11-17T12:51:00.000+13:00

A BABY!! What you thought I would really post it? Seriously, couldn't tell baby had it's legs crossed and was not giving any information away. In fact we need to go back in 2 weeks for another scan as baby just didn't want to cooperate in any shape or form and it was hard for them to do the heart measurements and stuff they really wanted to do. Guess this means that Baby Gill #3 is just as bull-headed as the others. Lucky me!

Scan day tomorrow

2006-11-16T10:15:00.000+13:00

Tomorrow morning 9:40am we will have the baby's ultrasound scan. I don't know what the deal is with this baby but everyone seems to just be dying to know the sex. We didn't find out with Madelynn or Aidan and for some reason everyone "NEEDS" to know for this one. You would think they are all going to die if they don't find out before the birth. Why is that?

All Brendon's family and our friends just can't seem to contain themselves. Brendon's mom most of all. They are all pretty much demanding we find out so "they" can be prepared. What do they have to be prepared for? Are they going to be buying diapers and getting up with the baby in the middle of the night?

By the way they are acting it's as if we owe it to them to tell. Geez, Some people's children!

No wire hangers, ever! Just Call me Mommy Dearest?

2006-11-10T16:03:00.000+13:00

I was reading Christi's blog this morning and I cannot get it out of my head. I do think it's so special that her girl is happy with the return of the long, lost Bonita. I began to think back to when Nikki's son lost his beloved "dog dog" in Auckland.

They lost him in the mall and even went back the next day to find it. (A 2 hour trip via car each way) They spent I don't know how much money on replacement dogs hoping that would make him happy. In the end they finally found a replacement on the net that they had shipped from the USA. Plus the original did manage to get back to them, a miracle if you ask me because someone found it in K-mart and mailed it to her. How nice is that?

I remember thinking to myself after the adventures of dog dog, that I must be terrible because I wouldn't have drove back to Auckland just for a stuffed animal. Maybe it's because my little guys aren't attached to anything. Madelynn chooses what she wants to sleep with each night and it changes depending on her mood. Aidan has taken to a blanket but he only wants it in his crib and I don't take it out of there.

I read about Bonita and I wonder to myself again "Am I a mean mom?" I just wouldn't search high and low for one to replace. It just would never cross my mind. I guess I'm wondering to myself too, are we not teaching our kids about "loss"?

Christi, when you read this and I know you will :-) I'm just mostly wondering if I'm lacking as a parent because I wouldn't have done what you and Nikki have done. I'm not trying to offend, just sort out what's in my head.

Bloody cell phones!

2006-11-08T19:34:00.000+13:00

Don't get me wrong I do like them, they are a fantastic invention and I cannot believe how far technology has come in the past years since I was first introduced to them when I was working in radio. Remember those brick phones? Today's phones fit in the palm of your hand amazing!

Why do they piss me off? Because people think they are more important than actually focusing on driving a car. I'm more peeved off at the drivers than the phones but if we didn't have them maybe we'd have less accidents on the roads.

Today on my way into Hamilton to visit the doctor (FYI, I'm sick again this time a sinus infection oh my stars does it hurt!) I was just trying to go the speed limit and I came upon 3 cars that I had to pass. What were they all doing? They were ALL talking on their bloody cell phone! That just really gets up my nose. This was just along the main highway to get to Hamilton. When I did get into Hamilton at about 3:10 it was the beginning of rush hour traffic so streets were getting really busy and I passed 2 more idiots doing the same thing.

On the way back to Morrinsville I passed a fellow who had pulled over on the side of the road and I glanced to notice he was talking on his cell phone. He must be the only person in the Waikato region to have a brain.

She's a BIG girl now

2006-11-06T10:01:00.000+13:00

We got a copy of her 1st class photo today. She looks so darn cute, just so pleased with herself. She loves going to preschool. They call it kindergarten here "kindy" for short and that just seems so strange. I just can't wrap my laughing gear around that one. Kindergarten is for 5 year olds in my mind and then primary school at age 6. Guess it's also too many years of mom working at the preschool and kindgergarten back home. I worry about the kids education here. It's not free to send them and I've been lucky enough to watch Caitlin go though all the levels from age 5 so I can't say I'm that impressed. She starts high school in February, damn Brendon's getting old! LOL

I'm happy to say that Brendon does feel the same way about the education system. He feels the school system here is severely lacking. So the sooner we can get back to the USA the better as we want a much better education for them.

18 weeks and counting

2006-11-01T21:31:00.000+13:00

Not long to go and we will have the ultrasound. Do we find out what he baby's sex is this time? Hmm...I think we might. I got rid of most of Madelynn's baby clothes only keeping the few favorites as I was pretty sure we weren't having anymore after Aidan came along. So I think we need to know whether to hit Trademe and the yard sales for girls clothes or just be happy with Aidan's lot.

The morning sickness has mostly gone away but if it appears it comes with a vengence! Yesterday was horrible. I could hardly stand up and I was puking my guts out. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get Madelynn to preschool. I'm much better today it's almost like I wasn't sick at all.

Other than that not much happening around here. Just trying to keep up with day to day things. Chasing Aidan and trying to keep Madelynn from being to bored...that is a challenge in itself!

Tag, I think I'm it?

2006-10-25T10:48:00.000+13:00

I'm a bit slow on this tagging thing. I had to figure out that Christi meant for me to do it, heck with this baby brain at the moment I could still be wrong and she didn't mean for me to do it at all. If that's the case, oops! LOL

1.Things that scare me:
- my kids getting lost, hurt or abducted
- spiders
- missing an episode of The West Wing

2. People who make me laugh:
- my kids
- Brendon
- Dad

3. Things I hate the most:
- liars
- self-absorbed people
- back stabbers

4. Things I don't understand:
- Governments--NZ & US
- my in-laws
- why I just can't get my house cleaned

5. Things I'm doing right now:
- this survey thing
- watching Madelynn try to write her name
- listening to "Wiggle Bay" on tv

6. Things I want to do before I die:
- watch my babies grow up & get married
- travel with Brendon with NO KIDS
- be a paid photographer

7. Things I can do:
- Cook and I do it well!
- take pretty good photos
- used to be an awesome radio dj, I'm sure I could still be one.

8. Ways to describe my personality:
- determined
- adventurous
- kind

9. Things I can't do:
- eat food from the deli at the moment
- ski/snowboard/ice skate/rollerskate I'm a klutz!
- can't fly a plane

10. Things I think you should listen to:
- Me of course! LOL
- silence
- music

11. Things you should never listen to:
- commercials
- only one opinion
- rude people

12. Things I'd like to learn:
- To be more patient with the kids
- To speak Spanish more fluently
- how to be a professional family photographer

13. Favorite foods:
- Mexican
- Mom's Chicken & Dumplings
- Asian

14. Beverages I drink regularly:
- water
- diet pepsi
- milk

15. Shows I watched as a kid:
- The Dukes of Hazzard
- Dallas
- Night Tracks

I've no one to tag at the moment but I will find someone, someday.

Nightmare at Wiggle Bay!

2006-10-19T10:36:00.000+13:00

Madelynn talks in her sleep, something she inherited from me. Brendon just snores he's boring. Madelynn must be a pretty vivid dreamer because she's come up with some doozies lately!

Waking up calling "Mommy, Mommy!" I get there only to find out she wants her school bag or a piece of birthday cake.

The kids are starting to sleep better (knock on wood) and it's me that isn't as the frequent trips to the toilet have started. Last night I was just falling asleep again and Madelynn cried out. This time it was a pretty distressing cry too.

When I got there she was still asleep but tears were running down her face. I asked her what was wrong and she said "Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus and Magdalena are gone! They are missing!" I had to wake her up and explain it was only a dream and that they were safe at Wiggle Bay with the Wiggles. She didn't buy it so it took a bit more "waking" up until she realized that she was in her bed and she wasn't on Wiggle Bay. I asked her if she remembered her dream this morning and she says "No Mommy, I was asleep! I got a good chuckle though.

Calling Dr. Gill, Calling Dr. Gill

2006-10-15T19:51:00.000+13:00

It's finally going to happen...Brendon's work is going to pay him to get his Ph.D.

After 2 years of waiting his patience (and mine) were starting to wear thin. Fonterra still hadn't approved the proposal etc. We had made the decision to wait until Christmas for them to make a decision and then if we had not heard we were going to start the paperwork for getting Brendon his green card and go to the USA.

I for one admit I was hoping it wouldn't go though because I've had enough of New Zealand and want to go home but I'm happy they are going to do this as it is a huge thing for Brendon's career. It means about $20,000 more a year when we do get to the USA. He says he can get it done in about 4 years so we'll see how he does.

The good thing is of course the career, but it's kind of awesome too that Fonterra will actually pay his fees for this at the university, give him 2 days a week to work on it, he works the other 3 days for Fonterra and they still pay him his normal full salary. So we don't lose out anywhere.

Brendon says that the kids have to call him Dr. Dad once he has earned his title. Caitlin didn't look too impressed, but then again that's a 12 year old for you. He's so excited that today he went out and bought us 2 new mobile phones. Since he's going to be at the university alot etc...we need to know where he is with the new baby on the way. ALSO! Get this...he's buying us another CAR! So I won't be stuck at home with all 3 kids.

So we have another 4 years in paradise and then I'm blowing this popsicle stand!

Stressed out baby brain, not my finest hour

2006-10-09T15:17:00.000+13:00

It sucks! I've usually be a pretty organized person. I know when things are supposed to be and I'm on time etc...But today was pretty stupid.

I had a midwife appointment scheduled for 10 am, October 10th. For weeks I've known this and for weeks I've been convinced it was the Monday that school holidays were over. So today we dropped off Madelynn and Brendon, Aidan and I head to Hamilton. Brendon had to have his stitched removed from his scalp and we got that done. We then went to the midwives place.

Brendon has not met our new midwife yet so it was a good opportunity and it was easier since we only had to deal with Aidan with us.

We arrived at 9:50am and waited, and waited, and waited. Only to find out we had been there 45 mins. No sign of our midwife anywhere. I just kept thinking that perhaps she was delivering another baby and her stand in would show at any minute.

No, then Brendon informed me that it today was the 9th of October and not the 10th. Talk about feeling like a complete idiot. Didn't help that "Mr. No-Patience" arrived and proceeded to chew me out and make me feel even lower than I already felt. So the tears were flowing for the entire 30 minutes it took us to get home. I just want to hide under a rock!

Conspiracy Theory

2006-10-03T09:07:00.000+13:00

Actually I think it's more than just a theory, they have a pact between them to torment Mommy as much as possible.

Those cute little faces are their only saving grace some days.

By the time I get these guys in bed at 7:00 p.m. I'm just exhausted and I do a few odd chores like load the dishwasher then head for the shower and bed myself.

Only do I just barely get maybe an hour or two before one of them is up. For the past couple of weeks it's been Aidan. Now the boy hasn't been well with the ear infection, stomach flu and the teething, not enjoyable but all understandable.
He gets up for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night and it's not fun. Screaming and carrying on like we've tried to kill him. Meanwhile, Madelynn sleeps though all this.

Last night, Aidan woke once which I expected so I gave him something for the teething pain and he went back to bed and slept until 7:30 a.m. Very pleasant! Meanwhile since her brother is sleeping, Madelynn is up not 1, 2, 3, but 4 TIMES!! UGH!!!

First she was cold because she kicked off her blankets. Second time, she wanted her gloves on. Why? I don't know but I just put them on her and told her to go back to sleep. Third time was for a drink of water. She goes to bed with a cup that won't spill but she couldn't find it. Finally she woke up and wanted get this...Her school bag!

Now this is why I think they have some sort of pact between them to torment me as much as possible. If one sleeps the other doesn't. I hate to see what sort of deal they strike up with the new baby, heaven help me!

The Road To Wellville

2006-09-25T09:34:00.000+12:00

So here we are coming up on 8 weeks this Wednesday since we first got sick as a family. The Gill's are on the Road to Wellville. (hopefully)

I swear in the last week that the two Dr's that we have taken Aidan too have been Dr. John Harvey Kellogg reincarnated. They act like I'm over-reacting because my baby has been vomiting. I'm sorry, I'm not. The 24 hour flu should be pretty close to that in my book, 24-48 hrs tops. Aidan however, has had this for 6 days now. He's still not eating right, throwing up and just basically unbearable to be around. I finally convinced the Dr yesterday to give him an another antibiotic for his right ear. I know they have years of medical training, but I know my baby!

8 weeks of miserable kids, adults and one fat cat. If this doesn't drive me to start drinking I don't know what will!

Quick update

2006-09-22T13:27:00.000+12:00

We are all sick as dogs! Except Madelynn and I do hope it stays that way. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Ok, maybe my worst enemy but I'd have to find her first.

Aidan, Brendon and I all have this nasty stomach flu. Oh my stars, I am so TIRED of this. It's so bad that we called for help from Brendon's mom to come over and help. She came last night just to get Madelynn ready for bed and she cleaned up the kitchen and did laundry. She's back this morning to help too. I am starting to feel better but still just want to sleep. However my body is sore from lying down so that is why I am upright typing.

So the battle continues for a house full of sick people in Morrinsville.

Why? Why? Why?

2006-09-20T13:32:00.000+12:00

Can't I just have a house that isn't sick!?!?! UGH!! Yesterday about 4:00pm Aidan decided to throw up all over the kitchen floor. Thankfully he did do it on the lino so it was easy to clean up. Then about 10 mins later he did it again and my queasy stomach couldn't handle it so I threw up right along with him. Now if that wasn't fun to clean up!

Poor little guy was not well. He was hungry but just couldn't keep it down. He ate 2 bowls of dinner and a red popsicle and that all didn't stay down either.

He was miserable all night with the dry heaves and a runny bottom to boot. He is a little better today but you can just see how miserable he is in his face.

If summer doesn't get her quick so these kids can go out and play and get some fresh air I'm going to scream!

April 3rd, 2007

2006-09-19T09:00:00.000+12:00

Mark it on your calandars! It's the date we are expecting our newest family member.

After all the winter bugs subsided, I realized I wasn't getting any better. The constant flu-like symptons actually were for another reason.

Thankfully they seem to be getting better but it has been and is still a real struggle to cope. My morning sickness is all day. It lasted until month 7 with Madelynn and month 5 with Aidan. So hopefully it will end in the next week or so with this baby. As it's not easy to explain to a 3 1/2 and 17 month old why Mommy is constantly carrying around a bucket or in the toilet praying to the porcelain god.

We still haven't told Brendon's family but they don't even know I have a blog so it's pretty safe to post here. Not that I really care anyway! It's my news! LOL

Now it's off to try to keep my breakfast down.

No more cakes until February!

2006-09-17T18:51:00.000+12:00

It's hard to say no sometimes. My niece, Rebecca, asked me if I would make her birthday cake. So I said yes. How do you say no to a 5 year old? She tells me that she doesn't want Granny to make her cake. Which is understandable, Granny can't bake to save her life. The uneasy part is that for her birthday it's always a combined family party for her 2 cousins as well who have birthdays the following week. Granny made their 2 cakes. I felt a bit bad for Connor and Leticia because they come bouncing in like kids do to admire the cakes and they both were "oohing and awing" over Rebecca's butterfly compared to the lumps of chocolate and lemon that Granny had concocted for them. I don't mean to be cruel but I do mean "LUMPS" They were total messes when they were finally set before the kids with candles. I don't know what happens to them but they just were the most unappealing looking cakes I have seen yet.

I know Granny tries hard but it's hard to say, "Wow! Those look great, give me a bite" After all the singing was done and the cakes were cut and 19 people had a choice of what to eat. I'm happy to say there was no butterfly cake left. But I did feel a bit sad for the 2 other cakes and Granny. Most importantly, I was relieved as I don't have to make another birthday cake until February!!

Back to Blogging

2006-09-15T09:03:00.000+12:00

Finally got a chance to get back to the blog. We are all starting to feel better. However Aidan's right ear still hasn't cleared up. He is on one more course of antibiotics and heads back to the Dr. on Monday to check it again.

So just when we are finally all starting to whip the bugs that have been plaguing us I find out my baby brother is dealing with other health problems. Things that can be a bit more serious than our little ones.

That's not supposed to happen! He's the rough and tough, bad-ass of Montezuma County. Super-hero crime fighter and legend in his own mind. (oops, got him confused with Dad's alter-ego there!) LOL

Get better little brother, I'd hate it if finally I could come and kick your butt after all these years.

On the mend

2006-09-08T13:32:00.000+12:00

Well we are still fighting the latest nasty bug around here. Nine days ago we (Aidan, Madelynn and I) we hit head on by this crap. We went to the doctor on Monday and discovered that both kids had ear infections. Doctor said it was some sort of bacterial infections so she put all 3 of us on anti-biotics.

It's been a long haul this past few weeks as for about the last 6 we have all been sick. With us all being so sick it really makes you wonder how the hell would we ever survive if Bird Flu ever hit. Thank goodness we have been stock piling the food and stuff.

Sick and tired....

2006-09-02T10:25:00.000+12:00

Of being SICK and TIRED! Yes, that's what's going on here, AGAIN! It's why I've not had a blog updated for awhile. We are once again sick and have all the goodies that come with it. Oh, and Aidan has decided to cut 3 teeth at this time as well. He's just like most men has shitty timing.

I feel like a bus has hit me. I want my Mommy!! When we are all sick like this I cannot help but think of the time when we were young and our whole family was sick with bronchitis or something. Grandma came to the rescue to take care of us. Unfortunately, I live too far away for Nana to come and play nurse to us. Damn, New Zealand for being so far away, I really hate this place sometimes.

Well I'm off to wipe some more noses, give some more dimetap and baby aspirin, and hopefully catch a nap on the couch between watching the Wiggles and other childrens videos I'm sick of.

Double Trouble

2006-08-23T09:02:00.000+12:00

Since the family has been sick Madelynn is really missing her friends. She's not had playmates over for about a month. Yesterday I babysat Madelynn's 3 year old twin playmates, Tineke (pronounced Tee-nee-ka) & Oliver.

Not only are they good fun for Madelynn and Aidan, but because I do it, we get free video rentals because their parents own the local video store.

Now these two are pretty good, good as any 3 year old can be. The dynamics of twins is very fascinating. I love watching these guys. Sometimes Madelynn gets left out as they don't quite understand that they can do something without their twin. But yesterday was really good, I only had to take a couple of toys away because they were fighting over them. And they have finally reached an age where they can do something without adult interaction. They asked for the table and chairs and next thing I know they had all sat down, including Aidan and were having a tea party in the toy room. Talk about cute!

By the time they left at 12:30 pm...as much as I like having them around I'm even more happy that I didn't have twins or triplets!

Back from the living dead

2006-08-23T08:37:00.000+12:00

We are alive! After being sick for weeks I've just had enough. Bring me summer NOW!

If you remember from one of my previous posts my brother in law came over nearly 4 weeks ago and brought his infected children. We really got it bad. 1st Aidan got it, nasty cold and thinking back I think he might have had an ear infection but he never showed any signs so I didn't worry about it.

Then I got it. I think I had a version of bronchitis. I never had the runny nose but it hurt to breathe and cough etc...It was just the same as when I had bronchitis just before I got pregnant with Aidan.

Brendon, the biggest baby of them all got it next. He got the same as Aidan and I combined and he went days without sleep. He also had a business trip in the middle that couldn't be cancelled so that didn't help. All the stress on his body of being sick brought out a cold sore for him too. Try explaining that to Madelynn, she just couldn't understand why Daddy couldn't give her kisses.

And finally Madelynn....The strongest horse of us all. My girl who has only had 1 course of anti-biotics her whole life. She got it and she was bad. Ear infections in both ears, cold, cough. High fevers of 103 degrees. She was so bad that the snot was coming out her eyes. Talk about gross, I thought I was gonna puke when that doctor told me that was what it was. I'd never heard of it. She said that there was so much snot that it didn't have anywhere to go.

Dr. Mom once again nursed everyone to health. Why is it everyone can get a sick day around here but me?

Roughing It

2006-08-09T22:37:00.000+12:00

We got a notice in the mailbox over the weekend that our power would be out today for about 3 hours. I of course forgot all about it in the chaos of dealing with a sick household. I was brought back to reality real quick this morning at 9:00am when everything went dead.

I instantly had two upset children who got cut off from Blue's Clues. So what was I going to do?
EEK! I would really have to be creative for these guys.

I've never been without power in the middle of winter with 2 babies before. This was going to be fun. No tv, playstation, computer and no phone to call for reinforcements.

After 90 minutes of playing blocks, dress ups, doll house, pretend with the teddy bears, making up games with Madelynn and a episode of chase. I was spent. They only toys Aidan and Madelynn really don't care too much about are the battery operated ones. But not today it's the ones they wanted. Maybe they were craving anything that was operated by some sort of "juice"? Sadly, most of them didn't have enough battery power to run. Since they don't normally play with them I don't replace the batteries and they don't seem to mind.

Around 10:30, I decided to bundle them up and go outside. I thought, they can go and play with the swingset, the slides, trike etc...maybe even go for a walk. I hauled out my load of laundry to go on the clothes line and out we went. Sadly my enthusiasm was short-lived.

The garage door is electric. No way to get toys. Then I remembered the left side garage door was a key and I raced inside to get them. No luck, I could get the one lock undone but I just couldn't reach the top lock and nothing could help me reach it.

Off to the swing set I said and they raced to the slide. I thought well these guys like to help me hang the laundry so I grabbed my basket and then realized all my pegs were in the garage.

Oh, we can go for a walk I thought, I'll just grab the pram...strike three, I'm out. Pram in the garage and the other in the van which Brendon had taken. These kids were looking at me like I was the Grinch who stole Christmas.

I got brave and took them for a stroll just up the street to stretch their legs a bit. Can't go too far as Aidan is just too little without a pram.

We came about 11:30 for lunch. It's amazing how quickly one can forget the electricity is gone and how we take it for granted. I had no way to heat up the left overs or canned food in microwave or the stove. I managed to persuade Madelynn that it was fun to make our own sandwiches out of left over cold corned beef and cheese. I even let her make me one so it looked more appealing. She really had her heart set on chicken nuggets. After scrounging for a lunch for them. I realized after lunch there would be no way to heat up Aidan's milk.

So I put his bottle in the window sill while we ate. It still wasn't warm enough for him and I managed to get enough luke warm water out of the tap to take the edge off it and sent him to bed. Where the highlight of my day was he took a 4 hour nap! He must be trying to catch up on all the sleep he's missed out on since being sick for a week.

No toys, no electricity, how the hell did our ancestors do it? We are one spoiled society. I think I could handle not having the dvd player, vcr, tv, computer, phone etc....I wouldn't WANT to live without them but I could do it. Just please don't ever take away my stove and microwave!

Sharing Bugs

2006-08-07T08:46:00.000+12:00

My baby is sick, I'm sick, Brendon's sick, so far Madelynn is NOT sick.

Aidan gets them the hardest and the poor lad is just miserable. I've not had a cold since I was pregnant with Aidan I think. So I'm probably overdue one. Brendon isn't too bad but you know men, they are dying if they stub their toe!

I know we get colds etc...What bugs me is how we get them. We ALWAYS get them from my brother in law and his kids. No matter how many times we ask them "If you or your children are sick, please don't visit us" they just don't listen or care. They are good people but I swear they are thicker than pig shit in this category. ugh!

I must admit my kids are pretty strong and avoid quite a few colds etc...But I also believe that it has heaps to do with the fact they were breastfed for so long and that Brendon and I tend to shield them from all the bugs going around the best we can.

My two best mates in town are also immigrants in New Zealand too. Nikki, from PA and Coralie from Zimbabwe. If our kids have a play date scheduled we will let the others know that they are sick or have symptoms etc...giving the other parent a choice whether to expose the kids or not. It's just common courtesy I think.

For the last 7 years I've heard it over and over again from various New Zealand parents, regarding illness. "Oh, no matter just bring them over, let them catch it" "It will help them get immune" "So-and-so has the chicken pox, flu, cold...etc..Why don't you just stop by and expose your kids so they can just get it over with?"

What?!?! Kind of mentality is that? Maybe I'm and idiot but I cannot see the rationale in exposing someone to an illness if they don't need to be. Both of my immigrant friends feel the same about New Zealand in this department.

These are our children. We know how they are when they are sick, we know how they keep us awake at night. We know how they cry, wimper and whine because they are achy and have fever and chills. They depend on us to take care of them and keep them healthy and happy. So why would anyone in their right mind knowing expose them for the hell of it?

With this mentality if and or when Bird Flu hits I'm sure there is no way we can avoid it because Brendon's brother will bring it over to "share" with us.

Ok, maybe I've gone off on a tangent but I'm just so #$%*& pissed off about this share a cold thing in Brendon's family that I've just had enough.

Thank you for reading my venting, I'm off to get some cough syrup and some pain killers.

ACHOO!!!!

It's off my Christmas wish list.....

2006-08-06T14:05:00.000+12:00

Dear Santa Claus,

Please send Cheerios!

Every year I add it to my Christmas wish list. Last year I must have been very good because last year Santa brought me 2 big boxes! (Thanks Jenean)

Usually with every box of items I request from home I ask for them, especially now that I've got kids. How can they grow up without them? Every baby needs them on their high-chair tray to snack on while Mommy gets dinner. They need to be in the diaper bag for emergency snacks. And a spare bowl in the van for long trips home when mommy has forgot to pack stuff.

Well no more shipping it from home now. Look what has arrived in New Zealand grocery stores! I'm gonna save tons of money on postage. Madelynn had 2 bowls for breakfast and I had one for breakfast and lunch!

It seems funny to not see them in a yellow box with the company General Mills. I found the press release for them online. I know I'm giving them free advertising but I don't care. I just want them to stay around.

Tuesday, 1 August 2006, 10:35 am
Press Release: NESTLE

Give Your Family Smiles All Round With Cheerios

- World famous breakfast cereal launches in New Zealand -

If you want to give your family a great start to their morning, you'll be pleased to hear CHEERIOS has now reached New Zealand. CHEERIOS is one of the worlds most popular breakfast cereals, with more than 13 million bowls eaten daily.*

With the goodness of four whole grains corn, oats, rice and wheat, plus the added goodness of barley, CHEERIOS is a breakfast cereal that the whole family will enjoy. CHEERIOS also contain a number of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals and are not high in sugar containing just one teaspoon per 30g serve.

Courtnay Brien, the New Zealand Business Manager for CHEERIOS says the company is pleased to offer New Zealand consumers a nutritious and great tasting breakfast cereal that already has worldwide appeal.

?We are excited about the launch of CHEERIOS into New Zealand providing consumers with a healthy all family cereal that provides the goodness of four whole grains, plus a great taste. New Zealanders love cereal, shown by our second highest per capita consumption of ready to eat cereal in the world. Combining the popularity of cereals, and their great taste, CHEERIOS are sure to be a hit!

So often breakfast time can be very stressful for busy families now CHEERIOS provide an alternative that caters to everyone's needs with the additional nutritional benefits, says Courtenay.

Look out for CHEERIOS in store now 375g box at $4.49 RRP** and 600g box at $6.99 RRP.

Have a tasty and yummy family breakfast with CHEERIOS and give your family morning smiles all round!

Madelynn Doodles

2006-08-03T13:10:00.000+12:00

I know every mother is proud of their offspring and so they should be! All kids are pretty cool in my book. I love it when mine amaze me. Last Sunday Madelynn was coloring with her cousins and my sister-in- law told me I should come over and see. To my surprise I sat and watched her draw faces.

Top left to right: Daddy, Mommy, Uncle Fester. Bottom left to right, Papa, Aidan and Nana.

Nothing exciting I know she's 3 1/2 years old. What I found the most intriguing is she's only been to preschool 5 times and they only do paint and pasting. Nothing she has brought home has any people like qualities. Also neither Brendon or I have taught her how to draw faces. In fact she always asks for us to draw a cat or a dog.

I also thought it was neat to see her interpretation of the family around her. Why is Daddy the only one smiling? Mommy looks like she's been up all night and needs a nap. (which was true, I was up all night with Aidan that night) Uncle Fester, hmm..well that's pretty accurate looks just like him. No hair! LOL As for Nana and Papa, she only really knows them from their picture. Last time she saw them she was 7 months old so I wonder why Nana has a big eye?

Picasso or Michaelangelo in training? I highly doubt it but it's kind fun wondering.

The Good News & The Bad News

2006-07-31T09:04:00.000+12:00

The good news...We found the perfect house! 4 bedrooms, 1 huge family room and a small office to get the computer out of our bedroom. It needs a bit of work but not major reconstruction. It is habitable from the start just needs some TLC as it was run down. We loved it.

Yeah that's right loved it. We put 2 offers in and I think you can pretty much know what the bad news is now...we lost it. By only a few thousand dollars too. We just couldn't find the rest of the cash anywhere.

It's no mansion by any means and it's not in "THE" nicest part of town but we still cannot afford it. Brendon is really starting to get depressed. He makes a very nice salary and in New Zealand he still cannot buy a house. He's getting to the point of not wanting to look for anything anymore. I'm finding it harder and harder to keep the positive momentum going for him too. The glass is starting to trickle to the 1/2 empty bit for me too, this sucks!

12:39pm

This just seemed appropriate to add with this post as I just found it as a top news story on our homepage.

Research by AC Nielsen for Wizard Home Loans shows a 12 percent drop in home ownership in the year to March

31 July 2006 Owning a home is becoming the impossible dream for an increasing number of New Zealanders.Research by AC Nielsen for Wizard Home Loans shows a 12 percent drop in home ownership in the year to March. It is even more difficult in Auckland where home ownership has fallen by 26 percent.Wizard's national director John Grant says his company be looking at introducing new initiatives such as shared equity and investment properties to make home ownership more affordable. He says soaring house prices and low incomes are putting home ownership out of the reach of many people. © 2006 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Missing the desert heat....

2006-07-27T13:50:00.000+12:00

Oh how I miss the desert! Yes, I do mean desert and not dessert!

Right now back home, it's sunny and hotter than hell. Mom said it was in the high 90's over the weekend. (That is in Fahrenheit not Celsius) and the humidity is about 20%. Which means no mold and mildew!!

Coming from an area that never had to worry about cleaning the mold and mildew off things this is one of my least favorite things of New Zealand.

This is what I found behind my stove yesterday. It had started to creep around the walls so I noticed it. Of course to make things even harder is the fact that it is on wallpaper. I'm convinced Kiwi's have some sick fascination about wallpaper. They have it everywhere, I don't understand why! It's so damp and humid it just comes off the walls so it looks terrible.

After scrubbing this mess for about an hour I only got most of it off. That was using a 50/50 bleach and water mix. I'd use higher but I get pretty sick from it. It's a pretty miserable thing when you have this in every room of the house and in every window sill.
YUCKO!!

Mr. Busy Boy

2006-07-24T22:56:00.000+12:00

I'd always heard that boys were into everything. I have two adorable nephews with a very colorful childhood, but I didn't really think it was just the fact they were boys. I just figured it had more to do with who they were a by-product of.

I had my first child who I thought was quite "busy" and you could never take your eyes off her. I was wondering how could anyone one little person be so busy...then Aidan came along. Holy cow this boy is just so full of it!! Yesterday I kept tabs on what he did

7:45 am--Wake up

8:00 am--Told to get down from the computer and get out of Mommy's room for about the 3rd time.

8:05 am--Rummage though the kitchen pantry and chatter away while Mommy makes breakfast

8:08 am--Bang on the bathroom door with something heavy and noise while Daddy is taking a shower. Daddy opens the door says "Thank you Little Man"

8:09 am--Rummaging in pantry once again and toddles off to Daddy.

8:11 am--back again and I notice what he's actually been up to. He's taking cans of beer to Daddy while in the shower.

8:15 am-- Breakfast

8:30 am-- Breakfast over and plays with a few toys

8:45 am--watches Blue's Clues

8:49 am--comes to Mommy to whine as wants to play with phone or the computer

8:55 am--figures out how climb up on Mommy's bed and gets stuck in the small side table on the bed. It's put there to stop him from using it to climb the bed.

9:15 am--Has figured out how to climb on the edge of the couch while hugging the wall to reach the light switch. Turns it on and off until I catch him and have to move the couch

9:20 am--finds play hammer and bangs on the glass windows. Hammer is confiscated

9:30 am--Manages to tear packing tape off the refriderator and climb in. He hangs on to door and swings back. Mommy gets new tape and closes door again.

9:35 am-- Gets busted trying to remove the tape from the oven door.

10:00 am--climbs into toy box to have a play and gives Mommy a break from chasing him.

10:20 am--climbs out of toybox and manages to get head stuck in the cat door

11:00 am--gets into the tv/vcr/dvd cabinet and starts unplugging stuff so Madelynn cannot watch Pocoyo

11:15 am--gets told off for turning tv on and off to annoy Madelynn

11:30 am--lunch

12:00 pm--lunch is over watch The Wiggles to calm down before nap time

12:25 pm--nap time!

2:45 pm--up from nap

3:00 pm--cat wakes up from nap and decides to chase cat and pull her tail. Luckily escapes another scratch as cat bolts out the cat door.

3:10 pm--helps himself to an apple in the cupboard and walks around biting it and spitting it out. Leaves trail of where he has been like breadcrumbs!

3:20 pm--gets caught after climbing the edge of the couch and trying to pull Mommy & Daddy's wedding portrait off the wall.

3:25 pm--finds way to bathroom and tastes the soap that Madelynn left out after washing hands.

3:45 pm--decides to vacumm so turns it on and is happy for about 10 mins.

4:15 pm-- getting grumpy

4:20 pm--gets caught playing with the heater (again)

4:30 pm-- put in they toy box by Mommy so she can get dinner ready.

4:45 pm--dinner time

5:20 pm--Daddy is home

5:30 pm-- play time with Daddy

6:00 pm-- bath time.

7:00 pm-- BED TIME!

If it weren't for good tv last night. Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Mommy would have gone to bed too. He is just exhausting trying to keep up with him. Ugh!

Boobs

2006-07-23T19:44:00.000+12:00

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Madelynn is like her father, she lives a lot of her life inside her head.

Snapping these couple of photos were pretty rare as I was able to capture a moment
on film that most people don't see. Madelynn is a thinker. If she has half the genius IQ of her father she'll do alright in this world!

She is just so funny and her little personality is just blossoming. That is so fun to watch. At the moment she has a fascination with "boobs" Don't ask me where or why though! Tonight at dinner she lifts her shirt and says "Look Mommy, no boobs! NO BOOBS!" I just about died laughing.

Don't you worry my dear Madelynn Rose, soon enough, soon enough! Don't be in such a hurry to grow up.

No Time to Blog

2006-07-19T10:19:00.000+12:00

It has been so busy around here! So I thought I'd just give a recap.

(8th July) Last Saturday we had a wonderful get together with some of our friends from the American-Kiwi message board. We had a Mexican pot luck lunch. It was just the best Mexican food I've had in such a long time. I was lucky to get to catch up with some old and new friends including the wild and crazy Christi where we had this camera show down. ha!

Brendon and I had a good time too. Madelynn on the other hand didn't. She was having a good one right up to the point where she got bit on the finger by a horse. The horse only grazed it but you would have thought he took her whole hand off.

All week long, several times a day, Madelynn reminds me "A horse bite me!" She then demands a new band-aid to aid in the healing.

(9th July) We got shot down on the house we put an offer in for. Someone else put in a bid 32 thousand more than we did. So we continue to search. Neither one of us hopeful that we will get anything soon. Sure we can afford a house but it's nothing that we would consider "habitable" It's just disheartening to know that on Brendon's decent salary and our sizeable deposit of about 25% we still cannot afford a house.

(10th July) 4pm one of the space heaters blew up. It was the one for Madelynn's room. Thank goodness I had moved it to the living room and decided at the last minute to move it to the end by the kitchen while I was doing the dishes so Aidan didn't mess with it. When I turned around it started shooting flames out of the bottom and caught the carpet on fire. Aidan was in the toy room out of the way and Madelynn was next to me. I shoved her back against the cupboard to keep her out of the way while I put out the fire. I wasn't scared until afterward. All I kept thinking about was "what if this had happened in the middle of the night in Madelynn's room?" We were so lucky that it if it were to happen it did it when it did. So now we have a nice scorch mark on the carpet.

(11th July) Migraine! Oh my stars! I started to get a headache around noon. I usually try to take something right away as if I don't I regret it. Today I did take something but it didn't work. I managed to get someone to take Madelynn for a couple of hours but by the time she came home I was starting to feel really awful. I could hardly keep my head up and I had my head on Aidan's tray trying to feed the poor boy dinner. Thank goodness I still had a can of baby food to feed him in a pinch. After getting that down him he was still fussy. So I took him to Madelynn's room. I must of blacked out a couple of times as the next thing I remember is Madelynn calling out from the living room asking for dinner. I fumbled to the kitchen and I threw up in the kitchen sink 4 times. The pain was so intense. I chucked something on a plate for Maddie and headed to the couch. I know I blacked out as I didn't hear anything until Madelynn piped up "Daddy's home". As soon as he walked in I headed to bed and only got up an hour later to tuck in the baby and then back to bed. It finally eased about 9:30pm so I could sleep though the night.

(12th July) I still felt like something in my skull was aching, kind of like a hangover I'd imagine. Wasn't the easiest of days to be mommy but life goes on. Brendon left at 5:30am to catch a plane to Palmerston North. Another night way from us in the life of busy Research Scientist. At least one of us got a good night sleep...it sure wasn't me or the kids!

(13th July) Brendon arrived back today, just in time to see the kids before bath and bedtime. Madelynn really missed him and had a hard time going to sleep. She didn't get to bed until about 10pm. Then of course she was over-tired and up several times a night. Ugh...I just can't win! If Aidan sleep all night she doesn't.

(14th July) Brendon came home sick after lunch. Although how sick I just don't know. He calls ahead of time to request 2 hot water bottles to warm up the bed before he gets there. What does he think this is a hospital service? Good news is he's home so I can take the van and get some much needed groceries. Jedda asked me to make a birthday cake for Matthew and I couldn't do it earlier in the week since the van was in Hamilton, since Brendon was away.

(15th July) Cake making day! What a friggin' nightmare! I lost my beloved grandmother's cake recipe. So I'm hunting tearing up the house looking for it. Thanks to mom I got it again via email. I just can't make a cake without that. It is the best recipe in the world (and before you ask, no I won't share it with anyone)had to head back to the store because the day before they didn't have cocoa. I get home and start making the batter and when I go to pour into the pan, realize I only have 1 round cake pan instead of the needed 2. I cannot find the 2nd one anywhere. I need 4 round cakes for this to work. So I relent and bake one at a time. I finally get my 4th baked and as I am taking it out of the oven at about 5pm....I drop the damn thing! Chocolate cake everywhere! Ugh!! I gave up fixed the family some quick dinner and finally finished the cake about 10:30pm. All for a cake that should have only taken me a couple hours to make.

(16th July) Matthew's party today and I managed to finish decorating the cake just as we walked out the door. I thought it turned out pretty darn cute for all the time and energy I put into it. I liked making it, just didn't like the hassle that I had. All the nieces and nephews liked it, why do I have this feeling I'm gonna get asked to make more cakes? Sometimes it sucks when you're the best cook in the family!

And that is just a QUICK recap of the busy week we've had. Hopefully things have settled down now and I can get back to blogging or sleeping, whichever comes 1st

Rude & Smelly Bookworms

2006-07-10T10:07:00.000+12:00

Brendon is an AVID reader. He can be reading 3 or more books at any given time and they don't last long. I love the fact that he reads. I hope my kids read just like him. His weakness is book fairs! Oh my stars, if he knows of one we have to go and he would spend hours (if i would let him) sifting though the boxes and tables looking for books.

Friday there was a book fair in Hamilton and he was so excited he took the morning off work. We dropped the kids off at my sister in laws and picked up my brother in law. He's another bookworm as well. We get there about 10 minutes before it opens and we wait in line. Brendon's complaining because we didn't get there in time to be first.

I don't mind them but I must admit this time I was totally disgusted by the whole event. This was held in a church hall...a SMALL church hall. These people ran like it was a race when they let the doors open. They were vultures, pushing and shoving like it was some super sale at a top notch store. If you put a book down it was quickly grabbed up.

I made my way to the children's books looking for some new books for Madelynn and I just about punched 2 people. I reached down for a book and I had my hand on the corner of it just starting to pick up when someone snatched it out of my hands! I looked at them and they just smirked. I was so dumbfounded I was at a loss for words and that is a rare occasion when I have nothing to say.

Next, I was standing sideways to get to the books and I shifted so that I could reach another book some Asian lady literally pushed me out of the way with her whole body. Not even looking back.

I muttered, "pardon me" and "excuse me" to several people just trying to move though the crowd and the crusty looks I got from the people I said it to were unreal. What happened to a smile on the face? Do book fairs make people lose all manners?

Brendon in the meantime, is happy as a clam. He has found a banana box and is filling it up. It's like Christmas to him. He doesn't even see me as I walk past to the cookbooks. Where I find some more rude bookworms. Only these are old ladies and they have decided to read each book to compare recipes before they add the books to their box. Not only will they not move and share the table but they open up the books on top of the other books so you cannot even see what is on the table. I was getting frustrated and kindly asked if I could have a look at what was under the book they had laid out. One old lady sneered "just wait deary!" I'm sorry, but I've been waiting for about 3 minutes now!!

I have found that the older the people the more rude they were! And the smell on the old men, OH MY GOD! Derek, Brendon and I both commented about one guy, who must have been in his early 50's. He must not have taken a bath in a month.

I can accept that there are smelly and rude people in the world. I however do not understand why older people complain about the lack of manners in today's youth. They complain how they cannot say please, thank you, your welcome, or excuse me. How in good conscience can they complain when I didn't hear it once in that book fair from our so called "elders"

In the end though Brendon is happy he spent $24.00 and walked away with his banana box full of used books. At least he's a cheap date!

Who's The Boss?

2006-07-05T19:52:00.000+12:00

When you have a sibling you have to determine who is the boss. I remember bossing my baby brother, Michael around all the time. It lasted for about 5 minutes. He still doesn't listen to me either.

This morning Madelynn learned that little brothers don't always do as they are told....

I had asked Madelynn to get dressed. She went and picked out her pants, shirt and panties. She put it on the floor as she took off her pj top. Aidan (being the ever so helpful guy that he is) picked up her shirt and handed it to her. Trying to reinforce Madelynn's manners I said "Thank you Aidan" He turns to go on his merry little way. Madelynn quickly stomps her foot and yells "PANTS TOO!" Aidan stopped dead in his tracks and came back and picked up her pants and gave them to her. Once again he turned to go off and she screams "NO! Panties too Aidan!"

If looks could kill she would have been a gonner. He gave her the dirtiest look ever as if to say "Listen here girl, you can only push me so far and then I'm gonna snap!" He growled at her and (one of his new tricks) and went to watch tv.

I just about wet myself laughing during the whole scenario. I found it was interesting to watch because they were learning from this little situation. I think that is what I enjoyed most of all. This little development in their social skills etc... These two are both bull-headed a trait I'm afraid they picked up from the Marston side of the family. Oh no...history repeats itself yet again.

The Boy's 1st Shiner

2006-06-30T13:00:00.000+12:00

There it is! My son is an over-achiever, it only took 14 months for him to get that nice black eye. How did it get it?

My son the neighborhood bully? No

The klutz? No (do not rule this out for future accidents he is mine after all)

He decided to try once again to eat the cats tail and he lost.
Aidan learns things the hard way.

As I watch Aidan-Boy (as Madelynn calls him) bumble through his 2nd year of life I wonder how he's made it this far.

At 8 months old---His 1st concussion when his stupid parents each thought the other was watching him and he tumbled down the stairs in his walker.

At 11 months---His 2nd concussion when his klutzy mom drops him hard on the concrete when she trips over the sidewalk.

At 12 months---Walks into the door frame and has the bump on his right temple the size of a large egg

At 13 months---Learns walking isn't all it's cracked up to be and falls on the same sidewalk I tripped on holding him and cut open his lip

At 14 months---He mastered climbing EVERYTHING although doesn't master how not to fall.

At 14 1/2 months---The battles with Gretel the cat begin.

This little guy is just covered in bruises! The other day I laid him down to change his diaper and I could see under his chin he had several faint ones. How the heck did he get any there? Yesterday I took Madelynn to preschool and I was worried someone was going to report me for child abuse.

My biggest fear for the boy at the moment is the oven. I cannot keep him away from it. I walked around the corner the other and he had the door open and was crawling into it. He already was on all 4 on the door. Thank heavens it was not in use and we were eating microwave reheated leftovers for dinner.

He has no fear and I thought Madelynn was a busy baby! Aidan has her beat hands down. Hope Papa has a nice comfy lawn chair and lots of popcorn because watching this boy is going to be entertaining for a long time to come.

My Own little George O'Malley

2006-06-27T12:57:00.000+12:00

McDreamy! Oh my yes he is! He can put his stethoscope under my bed anytime!

I just love Monday night television. I can't wait to put the rugrats in bed and have 2 hours of quality tv time with Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Brendon enjoys both shows too so we sit and watch together.

Now Brendon knows that I have a "thing" for Patrick Dempsey. He doesn't mind, he knows it's harmless fun. I mean he can't complain with all the sexy girl pictures that my dad sends him via email in their father-in-law/son-in-law bonding sessions.

But that doesn't stop him from asking every episode "Am I McDreamy too Babe?" I hate to say it but no.

I love Brendon and I think he's very sexy. I mean I married him after all and I'm glad I did.

But he is not McDreamy....he is George O'Malley. Yep, the bumbling boy next door, Handsome in a boyish kind of way, shy with girls, genius IQ science geek! I found the New Zealand version of George O'Malley. Just look at the hair it's almost a dead ringer for the style of Dr. O'Malley sports. hehehe

He may not be the neurosurgeon like Derek Shepard, but in a couple of years he'll be a Dr. too (Ph.D) and then you can address all those envelopes to Dr. & Mrs Gill. Yeah, I think I'll keep my own George O'Malley.

A feeling I can't find

2006-06-25T20:10:00.000+12:00

You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you hear a song that just feel good to the soul? A song that just makes you feel like "home" and when you hear it on the radio you just can't help but stay in the car and listen until it's gone. I cannot find that in New Zealand. It doesn't help that there isn't a country music station either!

Man I really miss country music! I get the auction listings everyday for the country music section from Trademe. I am able to find a top name CD sometimes for a bargin. My recent finds, Martina McBride and Brooks and Dunn. Sometimes you can find the odd artist at The Warehouse (NZ's version of Wal-mart) But sadly, I don't know who is who in country music anymore. Who the heck is Dierks Bentley, Phil Vassar, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church? I just checked the latest American Country Countdown top 40 chart and didn't know who 24 of the top 40 are. And what the heck happened to Bob Kingsley? Talk about feeling like I'm out of the loop. But...I digress

Today I had a rare moment to go to the grocery store without the kids and when I was driving back I put Brooks and Dunn in the cd player. It was their "Red Dirt Road" cd and that feeling I used to get back in my radio days when I heard a song that I knew was going to be a hit just washed all over me. A meloncholy feeling for good music and days gone by. I can't help but think of my old radio days and kind of miss them.

I don't miss working the 6 days a week, I don't know if even really miss being on the air. I think I miss most is the music and the fun times. Sitting in the van tonight all those fun times came rushing back. Hanging out with a young Bryan White, interviewing Tim McGraw, secrectly getting my picture taken with George Strait so I could give to mom for Christmas. Hitting the streets looking for Kenny Chesney when his bus broke down, just hoping he'd call me "Darlin" again. Ty Herndon wrapping his arms around me in the photo above and whispering something that just made me laugh. Not to mention hanging out with one of the greatest radio minds I've ever met. (Yes Glenn, it's you!)

It's all about the music man! I miss the music, that's a feeling I just can't find.

My New Secret Weapon

2006-06-23T21:21:00.000+12:00

Our Sanyo 1800 watt vacuum cleaner. It is by no means a secret weapon against household dirt, although it is helpful.

It is my secret weapon because Madelynn has figured out it sucks up stuff! And she's terrified it's going to be her stuff!

I'm not sure where this new fear developed from. I've never threatened her by telling her I'm going to suck up her toys. It wouldn't have worked anyway, Madelynn's no dummy. In the last week however something must have clicked.

I need to vacuum at least once a day around here with Aidan and Madelynn leaving crumbs around the house as if they were Hansel and Gretel. Aidan loves the vacuum, since he was mobile it is the thing he goes to. He now tries to ride it like a horse as I use it and Maddie fights him for it sometimes.

Yesterday and today I turned it on and she just freaked out! She started picking up anything that was on the floor and crying. I tried to reassure her that I wasn't going to suck up anything other than the popcorn crumbs but that didn't really sink in for her. The whole time my mind wasn't racing with "How can I help her overcome her fear?" it was "YES! I can now use this to make her pick up her toys!"

Does this make me a mean mommy? Part of me says yes, the other part sees a clean house in the near future. Well if nothing else the old Sanyo can go back to it's other secret weapon job..."guard dog" strategically staying in the path by the door so anyone breaking in the middle of the night will trip on it and wake us up.

Customer Service

2006-06-22T15:54:00.000+12:00

That is something that just isn't heard of in New Zealand I'm convinced of it! Not only are we overcharged for just about everything, the service that comes along with the product is shocking!

New Zealanders I think want better customer service, they complain about how poor it is, yet they do nothing about it. And when you do complain they are just gobsmacked that you actually did!

Yesterday is a prime example:

A bit of background on Pixie Photo first: They are photographers that are similar to the photo studios in Wal-Mart. They also have a mobile unit that travels to the rural towns like mine. I HATE THEM!! But I have no other choice in getting a portrait of the kids. Their prices are just outrageous too! They charge $240.00 or more a similar package that costs $1.99 at Wal-Mart, and they think they are affordable!

Well yesterday I made arrangements for my darling friend Nikki to help me get Aidan's 1 year old photo taken. So she came and picked up me and the kids. They were supposed to be there from 9-12 am and 1-4 pm. This is how they always do it you don't need to make a booking you just go. I always aim to be there at 9 am to get this over quickly while the kids are still clean and reasonably happy.

We arrived at 9:10 and the photographer was not there! Her set up was there, covered from the previous day but she was no where to be found. She finally showed up at 9:20, using the same story "oh, sorry my car!" What a crock of shit! She's been late before at another time I was getting the kids pictures taken and used the same line. This time her appearance pretty much told the story. Her underwear were hanging out her pants and they were on BACKWARDS! Hello, newsflash! Your car is fine, it's your alarm clock that needs fixing or you need to quit going to bed with guys you meet at the pub the night before and getting dressed in the dark as you sneak out of their bed on the way to work!

I was so pissed off when I got home I called the head office to complain. In typical Kiwi-style they were just dumbfounded that I had some sort of complaint. They didn't know what to do about it. Didn't offer me anything for having to wait etc....so I told them when my photos arrived, I won't be buying any extra, just taking my free one and walking away. I just don't think that kind of service needs to be rewarded with purchasing their products.

The list of places I've dealt or that Nikki has had a bad experience with would just make your blood curdle.

Ok, maybe I have some anger management issues with the customer service in NZ, but I really don't care. After 7 years of this I've just had enough!

What ever happened to the "customer is always right?"

Vent over.

The Spoon

2006-06-21T22:31:00.000+12:00

What is approximately 3 inches long, blue, plastic and caused Madelynn to go into hysterics? A lost spoon! Madelynn has never been afraid of the bath drain. Almost since the day she could sit up in the bath she was playing with the drain, sticking her fingers in it when the water goes down it and giggling. Well yesterday you would have though the sky was falling! Aidan and Madelynn were having their bath and I told her it was time to get out, pick up the toys as I was pulling the plug.

As usual she didn't listen, I picked up most of the toys and only a few were left in the water as I got Aidan out. The water made that "ssssggggggggggg" sound as it does when something is blocking the drain and Madelynn just lost the plot! Tears from nowhere yelling for her spoon. She thought it had gone down the drain. Now this is a little spoon that matches her tea set she got for her birthday that I thought wouldn't have gone down. "Oh well, I told her we can't get it back" Stupid thing to say, I found out. Madelynn just cried harder. I have never seen her this way, and over a spoon no less.

She was inconsolable, she even didn't want her game before bedtime etc....So I thought, I would try to trick her. I found another of the spoons from the set and went to the bath and then called her in and I "magically" pulled the spoon out of the drain. She was much happier but she still looked rather upset.

After managing to calm her down I tucked her in bed after her story and she wanted to sleep with the spoon! I refused knowing she'd lose every 5 minutes and I'd have to go and find it in her blankets. I left it on the dresser and she knew where it was.

5 minutes later she calls me "Mommy! Mommy!" almost crying again, "Poon pees!" (spoon, please) I said no and I told her it was going out in the hallway on the bookshelf until morning. She was happy with that and I was relieved as it meant I could get 2 hrs of peaceful TV time.

3:30 am this morning she's crying for me and what the heck does she want? Yep, that spoon! I told her she could have it when the sun came up. Now, I'm really starting to hate that stupid little spoon because it was the 1st night in weeks that I was having a sleep without crying babies!!!!!

6:45 am I hear here "Mommy, I poon!, Mommy...Mommy!...Mommy poon pees!" I go I get up and hand her the spoon and tell her to be quiet so she doesn't wake up Aidan. Too late he's up now.

She took that spoon everywhere today and I mean everywhere! It made her happy, she was pretty well behaved I could finally deal with the spoon.

The icing on the cake? We got into the bath tonight and she started to cry for the spoon again. I handed her some other toys to play with and she just got more and more upset. I finally emptied out a plastic bucket that was in the bath and what do you think was in that? Yep, you guessed it...the spoon that "supposedly" went down the drain last night and She DIDN'T want it!! What??

3 year olds! UGH!!

A good day for Madelynn

2006-06-13T22:56:00.000+12:00

After the last blog entry I just was dreading today. It's been nothing but day after day of battling with Madelynn over everything but....Today was a good day!! We introduced the toilet training chart with stars for her. Told her every time she goes to the toilet she get star, every time she wets her pants she loses one. When she gets five she gets a prize/treat. She says "o-white" (alright) and runs to the toilet! LOL

It only took her about 10 minutes to catch on and she had her 1st star. She earned three through the day and lost only one. She was a bit upset with losing one so I thought that was good. She's learned that she needs to work harder.

Then she had her appointment at the audiology department at the hospital. Everything is GREAT! She can hear!!!!! No hearing loss at all. She finally passed all her test with flying colors. That was a huge relief for Brendon and I. Madelynn seems to enjoy it too, she got into wearing those headphones for the tone tests.

And the icing on the cake...the preschool called and she starts this Thursday! I just feel so darn happy as we've just had bad day after bad day with her and today it was a nice change.

The Divine Miss M

2006-06-12T23:18:00.000+12:00

Madelynn is such a smart little girl but she does have a rough time. I think she just hasn't figured out her place in life yet.

The oldest & the middle child at the same time. She's having lots of little rough patches at the moment and I just don't know what to do with her. Her speech problem is getting better but she is still hard to understand. She bites her nails and toenails until they bleed sometimes. She chews her hair and her toilet training seems to have hit the skids. She's so ready to go to preschool but we are still waiting for them to call and say she can come. She needs more than I can give her at home. Aidan takes up so much of my time and energy that sometimes there is nothing left for her. I'm sure her little rough patches have to do with that. She just wants my time and attention and I try to give her all I can but I just can't help if wonder how I can do better.

Today, I had been dealing with Aidan and when I was finished I walked around the corner to find her sleeping on the edge of the couch. I knew Sponge Bob could put someone to sleep, ha!

Only once before has she ever fallen asleep in her tracks like this doesn't she look divine? The Divine Miss M....captured on film once again.

My favorite song that reminds me of my little Madelynn.

In My Daughter's Eyes
by Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

Spiderman in training

2006-06-09T23:44:00.000+12:00

Some days I just want to scream...Do they want to see me locked up in a rubber room with no key? Do they really want to be raised by a single parent? Shipped off in a box to their grandparents? I don't know what my children's motives are but I just know one day they are going to take me away.

Aidan and his climbing is driving me nuts! He's such an active baby! (14 months old in 2 days) Is it because he's a boy? Or are my children just more physical? Madelynn was very good at climbing and had the running and climbing down early but Aidan he takes the cake!!!!

Today he fell off the couch twice because he tried to jump! He's got a nice little raised mark on his forehead where he landed. He got it because he landed on one of those magnetic alphabet/numbers you put on the fridge for the kids to play with. I'm convinced he got my coordination (or lack thereof) and if he had been a girl I should have named him Grace.

After his nap today he figured out how to climb up on the dining room chair. I turned around and there he was! Sitting in the chair like a big boy. The look on his face was so cute...grinning from ear to ear "Look at me Mommy!" So being the proud mom what do I do? I run for the camera of course, only to come back and see him standing on the table doing his version of a native American Indian dance.

So all day long it was chase Aidan off the table top. I honestly wouldn't care if he climbed up there as I've found that as long as you usually don't make a big deal out of things he loses interest quickly and then it's not a problem. But this guy would fall off because he's just that much of a busy boy. He'd probably try to jump and see if he could fly. He's only 14 months old for heaven sake, where did this incredible desire to spend all his time in the emergency room come from?

When Brendon came home from work he was quick to show Daddy his new skills. I could tell Brendon was impressed deep down and was trying to hide it. His "That's my boy!" chest started to swell before he told the boy to get down. So after a long, hard and exhausting day of chasing Aidan here I am ready to head to bed and the boy cries. So I went to check on him and he wanted a cuddle. I picked him up and he smiled and stopped crying. He snuggled into my chest and said "ducka ducka ducka" I don't know what it means but I think it was "Thanks for catching me again Mommy".

Nikki

2006-06-08T12:55:00.000+12:00

I think it's very rare to find a "best" friend. Friends come and go but it's those true friends who stay for the duration. I've been lucky, not only do I have one best friend but I have TWO!

Adjusting in an foreign country isn't easy any of my friends from the American-Kiwi group will tell you. It's hard to make friends and the culture shock is just....well...shocking!

I arrived in NZ in June 1999, I had a made few friends, mostly co-workers who were super nice and we got along quite well, and a few that were Brendon's friends that took me under their wing and they are all wonderful people; but it wasn't until 2003 that I found "Best" friend number two.

Nikki came into my life in a pretty funny way. My step-daughter's grandmother met her while working and made mention that she knew of another American living here. She managed to give us phone numbers for the other one and we finally got to talk on the phone. What I thought is the funniest twist was that Brendon knew her husband and talked to him frequently at work!! Neither knowing the other was married to an American woman they had met on the internet. It wasn't long after we met that Brendon and I moved to Morrinsville. So we now only live about 2 minutes from each other.

Nikki has been such a wonderful friend. We complain about the trials and tribulations of living in New Zealand, being married to stupid men, and the joys of motherhood. We talk on the phone nearly everyday, much to the bewilderment of our spouses. They just don't understand what we could possibly talk about all the time. If we aren't on the phone, it's emails or chatting on the American-Kiwi group message board.

Nikki is very talented:
She's a poet, she can pull a poem out of thin air.
She's a terrific mom, loving and caring and you can see that come across in her children.
She's brave! Don't dare her to do anything you just might regret it.
She's fun to be around, and has a wicked sense of humor.

I could go on and on but then it might go to her head (I know she's going read this) :-P

So if I haven't told you already Nikki, thank you for coming into my life and being my Best friend.

Freezing your ass off

2006-06-06T18:05:00.000+12:00

It's nearly 10:00pm and I'm finally starting to get warm. I've been freezing all day it was about 55 degrees F. I woke up at 7:00am today to a house that was an ice box and it's just never recovered. Why am I freezing my ass off?

"Because in New Zealand we heat a room not the house mate!"

That is a true quote I heard from someone along the way in my nearly 7 years down under. I can accept that things are different in this country but this one still baffles me. Why should I and my children have to walk around like Eskimos to stay warm?

Believe it or not I'm one of the lucky ones. We have a heat pump in our house, most have just portable electric or propane space heaters. Some homes have fire places or wood burning stoves and believe it or not many homes don't have insulation. Hello McFly?

I have 2 words for New Zealand....Central heating! WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY...Yet the concept of central heating eludes this country.

I keep 2 portable oil heaters going though the winter in the kids rooms and run the heat pump most of the day but it's still cold. To give you and idea how cold it is:

This morning there was ice on the van and it had to defrost. Not unusual for me growing up in Colorado. One just starts the car and gets out the ice scraper for the windows. We don't own an ice scraper. In fact I don't think I've seen one in 8 years! LOL So Brendon gets warm water from the kitchen (which took 2 minutes to come though the pipe) and pours on the windshield.

There are 2 winter duvets on my bed, a blanket and flannel sheets and that big hot water bottle I call Brendon. (hehehe)

This morning the Pepsi and the beer in my kitchen pantry needed no refridgeration to keep cold, it was perfectly chilled.

It takes 3 days to dry the clothes on the line

I've got me and the kids dressed in 2-3 layers of clothing.

Winter just started 6 days ago...it's gonna be a long winter. Anyone got an extra set of long-johns I can borrow?

What can we afford??

2006-06-05T12:57:00.000+12:00

"First time home owner" a phrase I find hard to imagine us using in this country! I know the price of owning homes has gone up in the United States but at least you can still afford to buy your own home if you have a decent job and Brendon does. In fact his salary puts him in the top 17% of income earners. If we were in the US that would make us rich. In New Zealand, we are just above the poverty level.

New Zealand is a beautiful country with a lot of good things but it really is bizarre. They are a nation who value owning a home above any other sort of investment. Therefore the prices of homes are over inflated. Just this morning I found out the price of a piece of land just around the block from were we live being divided into 2 sections. Front section - 376 sqm, Back section - 442 sqm and the cost? Only $150,000 EACH!! That's fine and dandy if you want to live on the "P" of a postage stamp. That's not including the house you'd have to build on it either.

It's so frustrating to see a house that is not brand new, not a mansion and costs 1/2 a million NZ dollars. So we continue to search for the perfect house we can afford, one that can fit our family and we can call HOME.

Oh and this house in the picture....is the ONE we can afford!!! It is located on the ass-end of NZ between Invercargill and Bluff.

Compassion

2006-06-02T21:40:00.000+12:00

Madelynn

Aidan

They didn't come with instructions or a manual!

I asked my midwife, Julie, several times after they arrived. I look at these two gorgeous little people and I wonder how the heck am I supposed to teach them everything? It's just mind boggling sometimes and I wonder if I'm going to screw them up with all my insanity.

Then they both surprised me today~~~It was kind of magical :-)

I was changing the sheets on Madelynn's bed. I bumped my head while tucking the end in on the top bunk and I hit it hard. I felt almost immediately like I was going to throw up it was that bad. I just slipped down to the floor and leaned against the wall. Tears filled my eyes it hurt so bad! (still does 6 hours later) Aidan and Madelynn were both in the room and watched me. I didn't say anything except "ouch".

Madelynn pipes up "Sorry, Mommy!" Then Aidan toddles over and cuddles me and gives me a kiss, he doesn't give them very often (he's a bit stingy with them). Madelynn follows him and does the same hugs and kisses my head. Aidan backed up looking at me and then kissed & snuggled into my chest again and again. It was then I realized, my kids know compassion.

com·pas·sion ( P ) (km-pshn)n. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

I have somehow managed to teach them compassion in their small time on earth. Something that many adults lack. I felt like a good parent for the first time in a long time. (I did have good teachers) Parenting, maybe I'm doing ok after all.

RELIEF!!!!

2006-06-02T13:58:00.000+12:00

Brendon still has a job!!! The last 6-8 weeks have been most likely the most stressful time we've ever had to deal with. Through our 8 years together we have dealt with me moving across the globe, NZ immigration, death of family members....all hard things to cope with. Nothing quite prepared us for the fear of Brendon being laid off from Fonterra.

I don't think we coped very well. We picked at each other and let little things get to us. Yesterday was finally the day that we would know if they still wanted to keep him. Thankfully, Fonterra, in its infinite wisdom, have seen fit to retain him in his position of Research Scientist.

It felt like the world fell off our shoulders when we got the good news. I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone. You just can't think straight and you walk on pins and needles for weeks.

Thanks for all that praying from our friends and family. I'm sure you all had something to do with it.

Ah....memories

2006-06-01T13:06:00.000+12:00

It's June and it's winter! It is still an odd thing to get used to. June should be summer in my mind, always will be.

It's funny how watching something can trigger a memory. Growing up my brother and I used to fight over 2 melamine dinner plates that we got from McDonald's. I can remember the round plate very well. It had a picture of Ronald raking up leaves and then Grimace running into the pile to mess it up. It also was worded: "Ronald McDonald likes to have great fall fun, but wait until poor Grimace sees what he's done!"

Yesterday I decided to take the kids outside for some fresh air and got to raking the leaves. Madelynn without any prompting from me...started running and jumping into the freshly raked pile.

Do kids have instincts for this stuff?

The minute she did it all I could think about was that plate that Michael and I used to fight over at dinner time. Ah...memories!

Blog...Blog....Blog!!!!

2006-06-01T12:42:00.000+12:00

It's all the rage isn't it? Everyone's got a blog...so I guess I had better join the newest craze. I love reading my friends Christi and Glenn's blogs so thought why the heck not join in. Of course I'll never be as eloquent as Christi but I'll be more productive than Evil Glenn! Ha!