But Wait! There’s more!!!!!

Last night was the Club prize-giving. There was a complete mob of boys and parents for the Junior sections of the club. Lots of running around and wrestling and general hi-jinks that seems to come with boys. There was a slight delay in proceedings as some wee fingers had turned off the lights and we had to wait for them to warm up before they came on again.

Inside the practice gym, there was again some semblance of organisation, but mainly lots of noisey boys, waiting for the start of the proceedings. Being the first time we’d come to one of these, we weren’t too sure of what was going to happen. The boys were finally asked to go and group into their teams in a semi-organised fasshion.

Now, this being prize-giving, we knew trophies for Most Valued and Most Improved players were going to be handed out to those members of each team in each grade. Knowing full well how a certain Mr’s sense of justice and right and wrong can easily go pear-shaped, I’d put in a fair amount of ground work. we covered most bases I thought: how it is more important to be a team member, how any winner of a trophy can only be a winner thanks to team mates, how even if you really wanted to be the winner yourself you should still be happy for the team mate that was recognised. I was holding my breath.

Now, here I can tell you that secretly we were hoping everyone else would recognise the talent that me and Hubby felt was there for all to see – you know, in that completely biased pride way you have for your own child’s success! We believed we had seen improvement through the season. Plus the sheer enthusiasm for the game shone through. But despite all the hopes we might have secretly held, we didn’t have any expectations.

Well, we could have:

That’s my Mr!! He’s collecting “Most Improved Player for Randwick Meats Under 7 team” – voted in unanimously! I was so thrilled to hear his name get called – and so proud to see him walking up to collect the trophy from the Caption of the club’s Premier team.

He was super proud when he got to bring the trophy home and show Hubby. I was even prouder because as we were walking back to the car, there was plenty of excitement and a few “I Rock!!” being said. And then he looked up and said “But my team is good too isn’t it, mum?”

And thankfully there was the club’s photographer there taking official photos. Because I was way too far away to take anything decent!

His class mate that encouraged him to join this club but who played in the next grade was also given his team’s MIP. That thrilled both boys as much as their individual achievements did. And there will be some celebrating going on in the class room this morning during News time.

And the season draws to an end

That could be officially the winter as today is the first day of spring and all. However, in our house – or at least in Mr 7′s world – we are talking junior rugby season. It’s done. All over. First pair of boots still quite wearable. I have a funny feeling that is to do with the amount of games they did not see.

The last game of the season however was great. The day was sunny and warming up to be a great day. We all trotted down to the park (all wearing gumboots except for the actual player!) and cheered. The fun thing was that that the two Under 7 teams were officially playing each other. How do you tell which team is which? By the colour of their rippers of course! They must have better sight than I do at that speed, because it looked like a sea of blue and white to me!

Originally it was mooted that the end of season event would be followed up with a BBQ and a swim at one of the local pools. Then an eagle-eyed mum (not me!) spotted that there was a home game for the Lions – and what was more, it was an afternoon game. So the coaches overbooked the number of kids going and the two teams along with siblings and mostly dads piled on down to the caketin.

For Mr 4 it was his first taste of attending a “big” game. He was a bit non-plussed at first, but soon got into the swing of things. Although, the way he tells it the best thing wasn’t that he got to go, the rugby, the tries or even train ride in and out. Nope, it was the bottle of Lemonade that he got to drink!

Life is good when you’re little

Some snippets from life

It’s been a while hasn’t it?! I feel like I’ve been neglecting my little blog while I get on with things in real life. Yet when I think about what it is that is being got on with, it’s just the usual everyday bits and bobs. There just seems to be more of that than usual. Or something. Something works for me! So rather than trying to come up with a seriously intelligent and enlightening post, I’m going to go with snippets from my head. And that could be really scary or possibly slightly entertaining. Or something! LOL

I had a wee shopping spree last week. I first saw the slippers over Mothers Day and couldn’t get them because they didn’t have them in my size and the colour that I wanted so that was that. Then last week I spotted them again and they had my size in the red. They had to come home with me. And I’m loving the bag you get to take them home in. They keep my toes warm and toasty and that is a great thing – cos they are THE most expensive pair of slippers I’ve ever owned.

And the boots. Well, you know I needed to have some for the muddy rugby spectator sports. And I was dreading just going with the purely practical and functional. Mainly because I have never had any reason whatsoever to don a pair of those. And if there are pretty gumboots out there, I’d much rather have them than a pair of black ones. Frivolous I know. But you just have to have some fun in life sometimes.

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Queens Birthday Scrapping. I didn’t do any. None. I thought about it. I have some mental pictures of how I want a couple of pages to look. I even set foot into one of the local stores down here and enjoyed the soup that was on offer. But I didn’t even take a scrap of paper with me. Really!!! Saturday was a busy day with birthday parties, family events and rugby to spread ourselves in between. So I found myself with an hour in which to pop in and catch up with Beverley and Janine and Mandy (who really needs to have her own blog!). I was surprised to see they were the only ones there – David’s soup was actually very tasty!! They were being all creative and it was good to see how they were putting some of the challenges together for various things. I spent a bit of time trying to persuade Beverley that she should run a class so we could learn to be her. I was thinking in terms of style but you know, she’s so cool that it could be fun to be her as well!

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There was a family event on the Saturday night that I wasn’t looking forward to attending. I went. And I survived…. even having a chuckle at one particular thing that happened. Thank goodness for the rugby – it was a welcome distraction. Particularly as it meant I was in a separate room from those that I was dreading encountering. Oh, and despite the hassel from the BILs that the Crusaders were not going to win (ohhhh a wee bit of ribbing about their ‘canes team not being up to the task might have occured first….. ) even they were pleased with the result. The other result I was quite pleased with was persuading the birthday boy that he should share the yummy Irish chocolates that we had bought for him.

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I’m off to scrapcamp on Thursday. Three nights away with a bunch of mad scrappers in Pohangina. Lots to organise so I can actually make the most of it. Isn’t it funny how you can have a bunch of photos and yet still nothing to scrap?? I know I have some in mind that I am wanting to get done, so I need to make sure that they are in amongst the stack of pics I’m taking. Woooohooooo! Oh, and some baking to be done.

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My SIL and nephew are here from the States visiting her mother. Bonus is that we enjoy each other’s company and at her suggestion, myself and the boys are off with them next week for a road trip. Wooohoooo! We’ll be meandering our way up to Taupo and Rotorua and doing all sorts of touristy things. Just hope it warms up a tad….. it’s 9 degrees here today and that is way to cold to not be hibernating!

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Now, to try and catch up on some other blogs and the forum posts…..

The photos

Tuesday is here – we have bread thankfully today! Lots of swimming lessons and friends around the place today. So while I remember, here are some of the photos from the cross country and the rugby.

Future All Black’s first game

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. no chance of cancellations today. Which was a good thing because having had 2 cancellations in a season that started 2 weeks ago, it was getting hard to explain why we still needed to go to training but not play a game. Mr 6′s team was playing an Upper Hutt team out at Trentham Park. Definitely a picturesque setting – very autumnal.

We all enjoyed watching the game – even Mr4 didn’t mind standing on the sidelines cheering his big borhter on.

At this age level it is rippa rugby that is played. Each player wears a band with velcro tags on either side that get ripped off, equalling a tackle. Five rips and the ball gets turned over to the other team. Unless of course the ball is turned over by the opposite team getting their hands on the ball first.

For most of us parents, it was the first season so we have lots to learn. Including the appropriate behaviour for supporters. We all got issued with a pamphlet with specific instructions on how to be a good supporter. Most of us laughed because it is the sort of advice that should be just common sense. But we have all heard of the parent or parents that just get plain nasty and take their “support” to levels that just are not right.

Petone seemed to play very well – we scored some good tries: there are a few boys in the team that seem to know what they are doing. Our team also appeared to have good technique in ripping. There was a sense that both teams were even (no official score is kept at this level) but we did score a few more tries so the boys definitely felt good.

Mr 6 ran out of puff three quarters of the way through – and you could tell because he would be trailing behind his team at that point. He didn’t score any tries himself but got some really good rips. So he was feeling very good about that.

After the game we all got a sausage from a fundraising BBQ, and wandered off to find coffee for me and hubby, and fluffies for the Mr’s. Lesson learned for me: bring thermos full of hot beverage!! When we asked what Mr 6 enjoyed most about his game, he replied “It was all good. I liked being able to rip really well. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t score the try because it was fun.” And a little bit later: “I think I will be playing this game when I’m an adult because it’s a good game. Tana played for my club so I will be an All Black too.”

Life is good when you have big dreams.

Day 15 of 29

I’m so excited. I hosted a Stampin’ Up demonstration the other night for my girlfriend, Keryn. Having got around 7 others to come, when Keryn called at 4.30 to let me know that she’d had a wee setback during the day and it might mean she couldn’t make it, my heart sank. Her hubby had said she could but he would drive her here and back. Well, that could have worked – except we’re not exactly around the corner from each other. Hmmmm… I was thinking: I didn’t relish trying to ring around and cancel at that time of day.

So, I put it to her that I’d been to enough SU demos, and liked the product enough, perhaps her hubby could bring the stuff and I do the demo for her. Scary stuff – I don’t like speaking “in public” generally. But these were mostly friends and it was doing something I quite enjoy. But it was her “business” – what if I stuffed up? Pros and cons. Cons and Pros.

Well, Keryn thought this might be a good solution and so we did it. Boy, is it ever hard work talking and demo-ing and just presenting. Especially on the fly. I was exhausted at the end, but still buzzing. And the next day – still tired… I was in bed just after 9.30! I knew I wasn’t going to get great sales, but I’d hoped I might just squeak in to the first level of the rewards. I didn’t on the night, but I did get two more bookings for her. I must have done OK. Keryn was really lovely and gave me a pleasant surprise on the night by way of thanking me, so I was pretty happy all round.

Then this morning, she calls to say I get to choose a hostess gift after all! Another customer has placed an order and it can be put through my workshop. Taking me to the first level! Now that is a nice surprise!

So, I’m going through the catelogue and making my decisions.

Day 15:

Choices

On a completely separate note: Super 14 season is upon us again.

Surely it’s not that time of year again?! I pity the lads playing in the heat that we have at the moment. It seems a little unfair considering Rugby is – or at least used to be – a winter sport! Still, I am looking forward to a good season for my lads. If you can tell me which team it is that I SUPPORT, well I reckon it would be fun to do a random draw of the correct guesses and pop a little something in the mail. Now, for regular readers, that so isn’t going to be that hard to guess – and I reckon the not so subtle clue in the post will also help! So leave your guess in the comments below and I’ll do a little random draw on Sunday

A welcome return of normal-ness

OK – I don’t really think “Normal-ness” is a word – but it does pretty well at describing the state of things around here. I love the routine of school and kindy and pre-school. Until I realise how much I actually try and cram into the spaces in and around those big ticket times. Still, it’s good to be back.

I’ve been good-ish at keeping my nose in by texts and my notes so very little exciting stuff has been happening. To tell the truth, that really is the normal state of affairs around here anyway! Same-old same-old. For the moment that is all good.

But considering I do want to keep my blog operating I thought I might just pop a few things on here that I’ve been itching to voice. For a start – that game. Hands up all of us who put some kind of voo-doo curse on that ref? *waving my hand sheepishly* I do honestly believe the scoreline would have been different – and we may have won had that blimmin’ ref actually had his eyes in that morning. However, that other scoreline may still not have gone in our favour…. Somehow I think it would have been better to have known we were definitely beaten by a better team than to suspect it could have all been different if we weren’t also playing the ref.

I hate the fact that people get really upset after a shock loss like this. Yes, we love our teams to win all the time – but hey – there is usually a 2nd team playing too and they aren’t playing to lose are they? It is a game – that is the whole point of it all. Oh and add into the mix that EVERY team on the planet wants to play and maybe beat the ABs: we are the team to aspire to beat. That motivation surely lifts any team playing us? So where do we get our continued motivation from? Look at the criticism that came when we beat Scotland 40-0. Ummmm – in my book that’s a darn good win in any shape way or form!!

So last night it made me really really pleased to see the crowd in Christurch greeting the team that returned. It seemed like maybe this time we’re a bit more grown up – accepting that the guys did their best and on the day that it just wasn’t good enough. I thought it was a great example for Mr 6 to pick up on – it’s just a game and we tried but didn’t get there. I think they’ve been discussing it at school – there’s a refrain going around the house at the moment: “It’s ok, it is more important to have fun and enjoy playing the game” Maybe our kids will understand that better than some of us in years to come.

And wasn’t it the French team back in the 70′s that beat us too? I vaguely remember getting up to watch a game when I was young with my dad, uncles and grandad. Lots of cheers and yells – and then very, very quiet as the French beat us for the first time. Yup – so that was an early memory for me and now Mr 6 has one of his own! History repeats.

So endeth my fair-play sermon of the day.

In other truly mundane matters:

• Mr 3 is so very cool – in 2 weeks he knows what he’s about in the bathroom department. Yep, taking himself off to do what he needs to do now. I seriously cannot believe how quickly he has managed to move to this point.
• Those ATCs were my Black & White cards done for the September swap at SBO. I’m really loving taking part in these swaps – and the amazing pieces of work everyone puts into these is inspiring. Even Hubby remarks on the lovliness of the received pieces.
• I’m off for a weekend break to Waikanae with the girls this weekend. I am sooo looking forward to it. Card making and scrapping supplies plus some good company and a bottle or two of vino. Definitely a good break! ANDI’m going to be a good girl and take some revision work up… yes, down time will be used wisely.

And another week bites the dust!

Wow – does your time go as quickly as mine? Or am I in some sped up universe?! I can hardly believe it is Friday today. Except as I look back through the week and we seem to have done all the stuff we do throughout the week – which confirms that yes, indeed, today is Friday!

Ok – so birthday. Seriously low-key. Hubby came home sick from work at lunch time and I was so not going to organise my own cake. Despite Mr 5′s howls of protest. Methinks the protesting on his part was more due to missing out on Birthday cake than being upset for his dear Mother. Hmmmmm. Empathy is something still in progress in that boy…..

Then Wednesday came – and I was laid low with a tummy bug. Thankfully nowhere near as bad as some people seem to have been struck, but icky nonetheless. Managed to struggle through a bit of study yesterday, catch up on Heroes and Prison Break and basically feel quite a lot better.

And that brings me to today. I haven’t been in the mood for doing more than flicking through mags. Borrowed one from a girlfriend that has an awesome decorated lunchbox to serve as a birthday card file. Guess what I’m going to be working on at some point! Am hoping to pop into a cyber crop running at Scrapbook Outlet tonight – first one I’ve done so we’ll see how that pans out. I have a few projects I need to get completed over the weekend, plus a couple of course assignments to work on. And let’s not mention the housework. No, seriously, we’re not talking about that OK?! I guess I’ll be a tad on the busy side.

Hubby is in a district solo competition this weekend. First time in a looooong time he has done something like that. He used to win medals and stuff – when he was younger – so it’s good to see him getting back into that. Will let you know how he gets on.

In the meantime, seeing as I have done not a lot over the week, and Karen asked so nicely, I’m going to link back to her blog regarding her challenge of scrapping yourself. Click here to go to a wonderfully eclectic place – you’ll learn a bit about all sorts of things! And if you want to see my efforts, the last one is in the last post: “Tea or Coffee” or go click on my BOM category in the right hand column to see the last few I’ve done.

And just to finish, as this weekend sees the final of the Super 14 being played out in Sth Africa, and my crusaders are out….. my pick to win is the Sharks. They did all the decent scoring last week – lets hope it doesn’t turn into a kicking game.

I’m Baaaaaack!

Whew!  Anyone miss me??  nah, didn’t think so

Well, I’m back – tired, relaxed, on a high, knackered….. all of the above!  Scrapcamp was great.  In this outdoorsy place in the middle of nowhere called Pohangina. Met some AMAZING scrappers whose work was just fantastic.  Super Fantastic.  It was crazy inspiration!

I got a few pages done, some that I was very pleased with – others that annoyed the * out of me for not working the way I wanted them to  Still, they got done and I came away with a bunch of neat pages. Mr 5 loves the Spidey page I did…. wants to put it in his own album.  Do your own work, son!

Thank you for all the comments and messages left in my absence – I may not get around to replying to them all individually – but I have read them all.  I now need to go spend some time with Mr 3 – and maybe get some other *normal* work done.  Plus some study (there was no bedtime reading done…… collapsing in my bunk around 1am each night is not so conducive to bedtime reading!! )

Got home yesterday to two gorgeous handmade cards the boys had made at school / pre-school for Mothers Day.  We don’t do mothers day so much here – my birthday is in and around the date and I would so rather have that acknowledged I’ve heard whispers about cake for dessert tonight…. I’m curious as to whether I supply my own cake for the occasion….. will have to wait and see won’t I?!

Will share a few pics as time allows….

The other truly amazing thing I discovered while I was away…… I’m a rugby genius!!  hahaha!!! I forgot to make my Super 14 semi picks before I left.  Just as well as the picks I would have made would have got me NOWHERE! Instead the random picks were put in for me – and I got maximum points!!!!! See….. Genius!!!

Right…. normal transmission resuming…..

You know when RL interupts when….

You get too busy to come play on the things you wanna be playing with.

Yup, that’s what has been happening around these parts the last few days.  Real Life has managed to supercede all the fun things I had planned for the weekend.  I think the coin should have dropped come Friday night whilst watching the Crusaders get beaten by the Chiefs.  I know.  How DID that happen?? Oh well- a bit of a scare going into the semis I’m sure will be enough to wake the lads up.

We had an enjoyable visit from the elderly aunt.  The boys were treated to a toy each and  I don’t think either has been out of reach since Saturday morning.  There was a bit of a scare when Spiderman’s head was temporarily removed from the body at the airport.  Thank goodness for mummy eyes though – the head was soon spotted among the self check-in counters.  We waited and watched the airplanes coming and going from the big windows.  Such a fun view for little guys!

Sunday I seemed to be coming down with something – all chilly and sleepy like.  Thankfully the weather was such that it seemed to coincide with all of us hunkering down for a bit and Sunday passed in that dull-Sunday kind of way.  Very low-key but nice nonetheless.

Come Monday – and Yikes!!  The washing, the dishes, the organisation for me going away!  yes, Hubby kindly agreed to me going away to a scrap camp for 3 days!!  Yippppeeeeee!!!!  Was that loud enough??  I am so excited.  Then I realised – OK – I better get prepared for this!  Ok – so most people going to this sort of thing were probably prepared ages ago.  I’m not those people.  K? I semi prepared earlier…. I have actually thought of the layouts that I could do.

Just need to organise the pics – now done.  The papers.  The embellishments. The baking. The tools.  The baking. My sleeping bag and gear. The baking. The remainder of the scrap stuff. The baking.  Oh yeah – and the stuff that needs to be organised so it gets done in my absence.  You know – the real life stuff that goes along whether I’m here or not.

So add to the above list – laundry, lists (of who needs to be where, when)  contact numbers, thoughts for food….. yeah – that stuff.  If I can get this done to a good enough degree – it means we ALL enjoy my break. { Must remember to let the boys know where there is a spare set of keys…… we don’t want the locksmiths called again..} 

One thing I might need to do is take my “Life Temperature”.  It’s probably about time!