No Rules Sundays

Like most mothers, I have implemented a set of rules for the house. Rules that (in theory) make life a little easier, and ensure a cleaner and organised house. 'No eating in the rooms', 'Eating only on the table' to name a few.

But for some reason, the rules tend to go out the window on Sundays, and today was no different. We arrived home from Church around 2pm, and we all had a three hour nap! Bliss! Rick put a roast on, we watched a movie while it cooked, then ALL ate in bed, getting grease marks on the sheets and crumbs everywhere. No doubt I will regret this tomorrow when faced with the aftermath, but I do love 'No Rules Sundays', and I'm pretty sure my boys do too!  

Three Other Couples

It's 1.40am on a Sunday morning. My house is clean, the boys clothes ready for church, and I really should be sleeping. But alas I have decided to blog instead!

We went out to dinner tonight with some friends from church - three other couples to be exact. We went after watching another victory by the mighty All Blacks, so it was bound to be a good night!

 

It was Emma's birthday, and Ian (her hubby) had asked us all to come as a suprise. The effort Ian had gone to was a testament to his love for his wife, and I must say he done well! The food was in abundance, the conversations plentiful, and it was a great night.

 

As I was sitting there, I thought about how nice it is to be sitting with three other couples - all of the same Faith, with the same spiritual goals; all trying to live better and achieve what their Heavenly Father would want for them. I thought about how nice it is to have a companion, someone to share this life with and the next. I thought about how nice it is to be loved.

 

Yes, it was indeed a good night, with three other couples. 

 

McCaw's Blessing

This post is about three weeks overdue, but being late is kinda the theme of the month! I was going to try and edit these pics, but for now I am feeling lazy and just want to put these up before I forget!

McCaw was given a baby blessing on August 5th, which in our Church means he was given a special blessing and his name recorded in Church Records. It also very much means a big family gathering and feed! But given Rick is Tongan and my family Samoan, would you expect anything different??!?

 

As I got the boys ready that morning, I couldn't help but get the camera out and take a few pictures. It still amuses me at times that people look at the fact that I have four boys with pity. Just by looking at these pictures I am reminded again that I am very very lucky.

 

 

Fabian wanted to join in the pictures - look at how Kingston is trying to mimic his brothers and hold him!

 

We eventually got to Church a little late, well maybe it was more then a little! So the boys and I hung out in the hallways.

 

 

And look at my handsome blessing boy! A few people have commented that he has a 'perfectly shaped head'. He looks a little chubby in these pictures. He's actually quite skinny, especially next to his cousin Max, but I'll write more about that in another post!

After the blessing I missed taking pictures of the extended family (everyone rushed home to cook), but I did manage to 'try' and take some photos of my little family.

 

This was our attempt at a family photo ...

We eventually gave up and decided to have a picture with our two 'good' children (well on that day anyway)!

All in all, it was another lovely day. A little stressful at times, but made extra special by the fact that Aunty Nola, Uncle Quincey, Aunty Bubs and family were all down. I am reminded every time we all get together as a family why I want a big family - good times all around that's for sure!

I'll leave you with a picture of some of the food ...

The Play Park

My boys love going to the park, louding exclaiming 'let's go the play park, let's go to the play park!' I use to wonder why they called it that and then while watching an episode of Dora heard the term - thanks Dora!!   

On Saturday we went to the Western Sydney Regional Park for my friend Alisi's baby shower. The boys had a great time playing in the sandpits and various parks - and I had a great time eating, chatting to old mates and taking photos!



The Dinosaur's Birthday ...

Yesterday I was too busy watching the Olympics (how awesome have they been!) to notice Phoenix organizing his table and chairs. I soon realised he was actually setting the table up for something with Cassius as his assistant. Bowls and utensils were set up, his dinosaurs were ever present and they were handing out raisins to each of the plates. I asked him what in the world he was doing. He replied joyfully 'It's the dinosaurs birthday Mum!!' 

Where is the Noise?

I woke up this morning and something wasn't right ... I had room in the bed, it was quiet, I actually think I got the recommended hours of sleep for a change!

What was different? Cassius, Phoenix and Kingston are staying at their nannas. Yesterday Rick's mum had come over and one by one my three older boys had asked to go over. My instant thought as I closed the door behind them - freedom!! I quickly got McCaw ready and we went shopping with mum, aunty Nola and Ena (who are visiting from Hawaii). It was an afternoon of bliss as I remembered fondly the days of only having one child and how much easier it was to get things done.

But now as I wake up without them all huddled in my bed, it just doesn't feel right! I miss my boys!!! No doubt within minutes of them being home they will most likely be driving me insane, but that insanity is the norm for me now, and this quietness just doesn't feel right anymore! 

Another Sunday ...

These pictures were taken about a month ago and I just realised I hadn't put them up!

To filter, or not to filter ...

When I take a picture with my iphone, I will always edit it using one of many photography apps. Sometimes more then once!

When I use my DSLR camera though, sometimes I wonder if the filter is really neccessary? Am I filtering out of habit and changing what is already a good photo? Wasn't the whole point in buying a DSLR because the colors and images are that much better? What do you think?

Here's the original ...

And here is the same picture with a filter applied ...

I use to criticize pictures that I thought were too 'edited' ... am I guilty of the same?? Clearly I sit and ponder on the important issues of life!!

Small Moments ...

As I go throughout my day, little moments occur and I quickly grab my phone and make a note of it to remember when I blog. 

Well, given my lack of blogging last month, the list is getting pretty long! So here are a few little small moments from the last month or so ...

One day Cassius came and sat next to me and started stroking my hair. He looked at me and said 'your hair is beautiful mum?' ... defintely a random comment but made me smile at how kind my eldest is! 

Phoenix stayed at mums one night, and Mum called me the next morning telling me he had been busy watching dinosaurs on the phone and would turn to his side and talk to Cassius as if he was there, and would grab his toy dinosaurs and get them to talk to the dinosaurs on tv. Mother thought it was lovely that even his imaginary friend was his brother!

Cassius has a lisp, tends to talk with an american accent at times, and often has an interesting way of putting things. His latest saying, 'last morning' (as opposed to 'yesterday').

I have started exercising! Well not exactly, but I have gotten on the treadmill twice and that's better then nothing right? I also did the 21 day no junk food challenge - and boy do I eat alot of rubbish! The first day it felt like everything I went to eat I couldn't have! Definitely a good start to things ... Skinny me here I come!!!

I can't remember now what I was referring to, but I had commented to Rick how different we are (I was sooking about something and implying how I would have done it already if it has been left to me lol). As usual, Rick replied ever so eloquently with 'Yes we are different wife, and that is why we are great for each other. I would never have liked being with a person exactly like me and you wouldn't like being with someone exactly like you. We are perfect for each other' ...

One of the recent 'trends' (although it's not so recent anymore), is the dance move the 'dougie'. Cassius has been spending abit of time at his cousins and has now learnt the song 'teach me how to dougie, teach me how to dougie'. He came back last week singing the song and as usual Phoenix tried to copy him. The next day I heard Phoenix singing the song but as I got closer I realised he had the words a little wrong. His version went 'Kingston has a doggie, Kingston has a doggie'!

Never a dull day in our house! More memories to come ...

Life lately, according to my iphone ...

Here's some of my favourite pictures from over the last month ... seriously what did I do before I had an iphone?! Best. invention. ever!!