As I was lying in bed this morning, I was feeling really grateful to be able to linger a little bit longer in bed today (I love a good sleep-in). I was especially grateful, because sleep-ins on Saturday mornings, have only been a recent occurence. I wonder if you can relate to my thoughts on the evolution of a Saturday morning. I wonder which stage you are in at the moment?

Unpredictable: Your baby can either wake up wide awake at 3am OR 10am!

Full on: Your toddler wakes up early and rearing to go (no matter what time you put them to bed!) They are hungry, and they want a playmate.

Risky: Your young child can occupy themselves, they can even pour their own milk BUT they may occupy themselves by making it snow over their lego….using flour! They can pour their own milk, but only half of it actually makes it into the bowl, the other half ends up on the bench. Therefore, you need to think long and hard whether having a sleep-in, is worth it.

Easier: Your child wakes up and gets so involved in playing, reading or watching TV, that they completely forget about eating breakfast. When they do remember, they quickly fix themselves some cereal and return to playing.

You get somewhat of a sleep-in (between all the visits for cuddles, questions, and requests for arbitration). You happily take what you can get, even if do get greeted by cereal boxes, milk cartons and dirty bowls on the kitchen bench when you get up.

Busy: Forget about a sleep-in, there are water bottles to be filled, snacks to be packed, sports uniforms to be found and birthday presents to wrap. Even if there was a slight chance of a sleep-in that morning, you know that you were lying there, wide awake, trying to figure out how to get everyone to their destinations on time!

Not the same: You have an opportunity to go away with your husband….overnight!! You joke with your husband that it will be great to sleep-in, and not have to worry about anything!! In reality, you spend your “sleep-in” missing the kids, and wondering what they are up to…awwwww

Oh, and I thought I would share this: (click on it to read the words! too cute!!)

Yup, today, I felt like I received a much needed virtual kick in the bum (in a loving and kind way *grin*), when I read the post “If you’ve lost your blogging mojo” by Simone at Greatfun4kids.

I have not blogged much, I have used the excuses mentioned in the post, about not having enough time, lost inspiration, and basically getting busy with “real” life.

I also have kept this blog a place where I primarily share things that are uplifting, and hopefully useful.

Does anyone really want to read about how busy life has been?

Life has started slowing down a bit now. I am on Day Two of life without a preschooler at home.

That’s right, my youngest started school yesterday.

When I picked her up from school, she said she had a “great day”!! Which is music to a mother’s ears. She is sad about being dropped off, but I know that it will work itself out, just like it did with her siblings who didn’t know a soul in their new entrants class.

Speaking of siblings, my oldest daughter left primary school last year, and is now a uniform-wearing intermediate student. She has blossomed into a beautiful and capable young girl. This was the same girl who hated me leaving, when she first started school. Now she gives everything a go and is just amazing.

I think that one of the greatest gifts that the past years of motherhood has given me, is the understanding that there are many seasons in motherhood and life. That you rarely stay in one season forever, and that it is always changing. And as you pass through a particularly hard season, you then become better equipped to help others pass through theirs. It’s beautiful…

As a blogger, I respect the readers time, and I try to write in a way that does not waste your time…..but perhaps that expectation that I have put on myself, has meant that I have left out, or neglected the other voices that want to be written. So I know that as I write, I will be having a little tug of war within myself as I fight against my expectations. So, here it goes…I am purposely posting a post WITHOUT a photo, just to stick it to my old expectation and to prove to myself, that I can do things differently, and the world won’t fall apart!

**hugs & kisses to you all**

Guess what? My friend, Leilani Rorani has taken part in the “I’m A Mormon” video series. She’s done such a great job! She shares her highs and lows, and what helped her get through them.

Leilani is one of the most down to earth people I know, and such a lovely person. I’m so proud of her!

(Fellow blogger, Shawni from 71 Toes has a video as well. You can see it here)

Hello my poor wee neglected blog…

Gosh, it’s been a while, but then again, time seems to be whizzing by lately.

Life has been really full with things that ‘need’ to be done (house stuff, Playcentre stuff, etc etc) as well as lots of fun things like meeting up with friends and family (two words: chocolate buffet! yum!) and trips to the beach.

I have a new calling/position at church. I am part of the Relief Society Presidency in our ward/congregation. (The Relief Society is the women’s organisation of our church.) I feel really good about this calling, and really excited about it!

I’m looking forward to the next 2 weeks. A break from school/drops offs/pick ups and hurried pace of life.

Has anyone else started thinking about Christmas?? 2 of my kids are born in November, so I have birthdays on my brain. (PS if you have already finished ALL your Christmas shopping, please lie to me and tell me you haven’t started! hehehe)

My sister-in-law sent me a text the other day:

Woohooo!

For us Kiwis…who remembers this ad? (and who actually tried to memorise the words?!?!)

Ok…I’m off to Maccas, to buy a KiwiBurger **happy dance**

Do you have a unique burger where you live? Here are some other McDonald Burgers that I found:

source: www.tikifish.com/titlepage.html

McDonald’s Canada

Cheese, vegetable, pepperoni and deluxe pizza

Poutine (available only in Quebec)

McDonald’s Thailand

Samurai Pork Burger – A sandwich marinated with teriyaki sauce.

Sweet Corn Pie

McDonald’s New Zealand

Kiwiburger – A hamburger with a fried egg and slice of beet

McDonald’s India

Maharaja Mac
“two all lamb patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.”

Veggie nuggets (with masala and chili dipping sauces)

McDonald’s Netherlands

McKroket
100% beef ragout with a crispy layer around it. It’s topped with a fresh mustard/mayonnaise sauce.

McDonald’s Philippines

McSpaghetti – Pasta in a sauce with frankfurter bits

McDonald’s Uruguay

McHuevo – A hamburger with a poached egg on top

McDonald’s Paraguay

McMacos

McFilet

McFiesta

McDonald’s Italy

Vegetariana Salad
with lettuce, corn, olives, carrots, cherry tomatoes and more.

Marinara Salad
with shrimps and salmon in fresh lettuce.

Mediterranea Salad
with cheese and olives

Fiordiriso Salad
with rice, tuna, ham and mushrooms.

McDonald’s Hong Kong

Curry Potato Pie

Red Bean Sundae

Shake Shake Fries

McDonald’s Ireland

Shamrock Shake
(although these have been available in the past in Canada around St. Paddy’s Day, I include them because they are served in Ireland year round, and no one’s seen them here for a few years.)

McDonald’s Chile

McPalta
tomatoes, avocado,mayonnaise, onions and mustard

McDonald’s Bahrain

Veggie Burger

McDonald’s Sabah & Malaysia

McEgg

(not a mcmuffin, a BURGER)
Fried Chicken

Pineapple Pie

McDonalds Mexico

McBurrito a la Mexicana

McNifica

McDonald’s Japan

Teriyaki McBurger

Green Tea Shake

French Fries With Seaweed Flavouring (nori)
(also in curry, mexican, and barbecue)

Chicken Tatsuta Burger
(this I actually ate – It is a grilled breast of chicken with a sort of ginger-soy-mayo sauce. Very good!)

Macaroni and Cheese Burger
(I dont know what this is called but I saw it in a limited time promotion in Tokyo. By the time I got around to eating at a McDonalds, the promotion was over!)

McDonald’s Portugal

Bica
(a type of espresso)

Pasteis de Nata
(Portuguese style cakes)

McDonald’s Siwitzerland

Vegi Mac
(vegetarian burger)

McDonald’s Singapore

The Love Burger
prime cut chicken grilled to tender perfection. Smothered with the tangy taste of honey mustard sauce and topped with a delicious combination of juicy tomatoes and fresh lettuce

Kampung Burger
farm fresh lettuce, cheese, a patty of chicken sausage and a tangy slice of chicken, topped by a slice of pineapple – all packed between two old-fashioned toasted muffins,

McPepper Burger
Two beef patties smothered in a thick, spicy black pepper sauce and topped with diced onions

McTowkay Burger
an egg and a beef patty marinated in a special “towkay” sauce, crispy lettuce and mayonnaise, all sandwiched between a sesame bun.

Kiasu Burger
extra large lean chicken patty seasoned with extra spices, marinated with extra sauce, topped with fresh lettuce, all sandwiched on an extra large sesame seed bun.

McDonald’s Sweden

“The world’s first “McSki” opened in Sweden with Ski-Thru service. Skiers can ski up to the counter and order their favorite McDonald’s sandwich without missing a beat on the slopes.”

Fisk, Kyckling och Vegetariskt
Dryck
Dips�s och Dressing
Plusmeny
Presentcheckar
McFeast & Co
Stora Menyn
McFish & Co
ViktV�ktarmenyn med McChicken
ViktV�ktarmenyn med McGarden
McGarden & Co
McAroni inkl. mellanstor l�sk

McDonald’s Argentina

The McNifica
a hamburger sandwich with cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce.

Two thoughts crossed my mind when I found these photocopied $20 notes on the floor:

What are my kids up to???

and

Where in the world is the original $20 note?!?!

Sydney was great! Thank you for your supportive comments before I left. I really appreciated them

Sydney is…well…huge!! The underground subways, reminded me a lot of Tokyo’s subways. LOADS of people and everyone seemed to be in a rush!

One thing that I noticed in Sydney’s city centre, was the proportion of young adults compared to older people. You know that scene in chitty chitty bang bang where they arrive in the small town and they realise there are no children? Well, it felt like that, but the older adults seemed to be missing. Maybe I was near the University? In Wellington, there are a lot of office buildings, so I am used to seeing a mixture of ages.

There were many opportunities to eat good food. Shelly’s dad took us to some amazing places to eat!! Thai, Japanese, Malaysian and a super yummy chocolate place where I had a chocolate pizza. Yum!

The Time Out for Women conference was amazing!

Time Out for Women is a day (or weekend in the States) where women gather to hear inspiration messages and music. Time Out for Women Tour travels all around America, and for the first time, it came to Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. (Shawni Eyre Pothier from 71 Toes spoke at TOFW in Oklahoma.)

This year’s theme was “Choose to Become” – All Things are possible to him that believeth Mark 9:23. So all the messages and the music that was presented was absolutely empowering, and left you wanting to “become” a better version of yourself. We laughed (A LOT! – Hilary Weeks is such a hoot!), we cried, and we felt the spirit. Sheri Dew, Brad Wilcox, Virginia Pearce, Hilary Weeks and Laurel Christensen were all outstanding presenters. There were so many things that were said that made an impression on me.

• Who influences me? (Not just people – but how do I spend my time. Eg TV, internet, books etc). Who do I influence? Where am I looking to get my influence from? Where should I be looking?

• “Don’t be the one thing standing in your way” was a fantastic message that went along with the theme. It is our choice to move forward and become what we want to be – sometimes we just need to get past our biggest obstacle – us!

• On Sundays I feel totally inspired and so good at church. As well as I get clarity on my purpose and what my priorities should be. There is no reason why I can not have those feelings during my scripture study and personal time. I want to aim to have those feelings I have at church on a daily basis.

I can tell you that since arriving home, I have been a better mother. I was floundering a bit before I left. I even felt that in some conflict situations, I wasn’t handling it well. I didn’t feel empowered at all. Although, I still do some parenting boo-boos, I find that I am parenting purposefully. Instead of being overwhelmed by the conflict, I think things through and come up with a fair outcome (instead of saying the first thing that would come to my mind to make it stop.) Now the trick is to keep all this good stuff up!

Maybe I need to schedule regular getaways throughout the year to recharge my batteries! Hahaha, who’s with me?!?!

Enjoy this footage from YouTube of Hilary Weeks (then check out her “Favourite Things” song and “To Do List” Song…you will be glad that you did!!)

Do you remember making pompoms as a child? I do.

I remember using really rustic looking wool, like cream, black and speckled brown, and wrapping the wool around and around on a cold winters day.

Our 6 year old son came back from school and showed me the pompom he made. Memories of making them at school made me smile. He approached me later on that afternoon, keen to show me how to make them. I was in the middle of something, so I said he could show me later.

My later, and his later were two different things! I laughed as he approached me again after 2 minutes. We compromised on setting a timer for 5 minutes, while I finished up.

I joined him at the kitchen table where he had collected all the material. He had already started on his, so he could show me what to do.

He instructed me to trace around the bowl to make a circle on the cardboard, and to cut it out.

He then told me I needed to cut out a circle in the middle of the cardboard, he showed me how.

He gave me some wool to choose from…hot pink or vibrant orange (this pompom was going to look a lot different from the one of my childhood!)

I sat contented, watching my son wrap his wool around his cardboard, while I wrapped wool around mine. I thought about how he must have paid close attention to the instructions at school that day. I thought about how enthusiastic he was to show me this cool thing that he learnt. I was really glad I didn’t put him off until another day.

My thoughts were interrupted by my son talking to me. He started talking about all sorts of things. He talked about how some children cut the hole too big in the middle of the cardboard, and the teacher had to help them out. He talked about his friend made a big pom pom by making his circle bigger.

Then he said, “Do you know there are desk fairies?”.

“Desk fairies?” I asked.

“Yeah, desk fairies. They come and leave a lolly in your desk if it is tidy”

“Did it come to your desk today?”

“No, not today.” he replied. Then he proudly told me all the wonderful things the desk fairy said about him and his desk in the note that was left behind a few days ago.

We continued talking as we wrapped the remainder of the wool around the cardboard.

I was so grateful, and pleased that we had shared this special moment, in a busy day.

He finished off his pompom, cut around the wool, and tied a bit of string securely to the middle of the pompom.

He then took off the cardboard ring and showed me his brand new hot pink/vibrant orange pompom, with a nice long bit of wool to swing it around with.

He showed me what he could do with his pompom, spinning it around and around, changing from one hand to the other, then asked, “Are pois made like pompoms as well?”

Before I could answer him, he was off to get all his materials together to make his very own poi with filler from my sewing stash and a plastic bag.

When did they become so independent? When did the teacher become the student, and the student become the teacher?

If this is the journey that is ahead of me, I think I’m going to like it.