A Life Less Ordinary

Our nights has once again become a bit of a drag. Olives dreams are more then real to her and she wakes up in some sort of daze of what's real ad what's not. Each night has it's own dream problem that needs to be sorted. This week so far has consisted of following conundrum;

1)  'It hasn't clicked mamma, it hasn't clicked' 'The seatbelt mamma, it hasn't clicked' This is screamed out whilst still sleeping and you just can't settle her. Seeing it's 2am, the only thing on our mind is - don't wake Otis!! First we're trying settling her the soft way - come her little sweet pea, it will be ok, shhhh... That does not work. Ok, moving on - Olive if you're not quiet we'll have to put you in your room and close the door!! That doesn't work. Ok, moving on - Jon's getting deperate so he says 'ok Olive we'll have to strap you in properly' Takes a pretend seatbelt and pulls it over her tummy and makes clicking noise. Olive keeps crying 'It's not right pappa, it's not right' Jon is getting frustrating and ups his game. 'CLICK' 'CLICK' Olive, you are safe now. Olive keeps crying and I'm pretty much ready to sell them both on E-bay.

2) 'I wanted to win mamma' I'm going first up the stairs' 'I didn't win mamma' Same crying voice as above. 'I really wanted to win' After again trying the soft way and then the hard way without any luck in calming her down, we spend the next half hour explaining to a half sleeping, half hysterical three year old about the importance of taking part and that it's not all about winning. After 30 minutes she just lies back down as it never happened and goes back to sleep. By then we're both wide awake and totally over having children.

Mmmm... waking up around 7 with thoughts of where and when my morning coffee is going to take place. To get the best effect you have to save yourself until 10am. No breakfast. It always taste better if I've got to do something or be somewhere and 'just grabbing one on the way' then if the actually coffee is my destination. The coffee, mine's a latte, has to be of perfect temperature, creamy and smooth with a silky feel on top of a well prepared shot of a decent blend. On a good day, all these components come together and create a moment of pure happiness. The endorfins released when sipping on this perfection, sometimes with a small something sweet on the side, gets me in to a state of thankfulness. Two minutes in to my coffee I ALWAYS feel like texting John. I just have to tell him that life is good and that I love him. I spend the next three minutes looking for a song on the radio to go with my coffee high. I look back at my smiling children who has learnt that this is our happy moment and Olive normally asks me to turn the music up. They both put their hands in the air and we all sing. 5 minutes later it's all over and we are ready to start the day. $4.50 for all that - bargain! The downside - If the coffee is crap or it turns out I actually didn't fancy a coffee but had one anyway, it sort of has the opposite effect. I feel robbed of my magic moment and all I can do is wait until tomorrow and try again.

                                                       

"The magical atmosphere of the Kapiti Coast landscape that we know so well today, was created by gigantic earthquakes 200 million years ago.

The upheavals exposed a 10 km long block of rock that now sits as an island 5.6km from the mainland and protects a series of small settlements from the westerly gales.

Behind, the coast is sheltered from the south by the massive Tararua Ranges.

The result is a spectacular landscape and microclimate that has made the Kapiti Coast one of the most desirable places in the world to live. It explains why the major growth industry of the 1990s has been retirement villages, which attract residents from many parts of the world.

There are two main reasons for the urban settlements being where they are along the Kapiti Coast: firstly, this is where the original Maori tribes had their villages, close to fresh running water; secondly, they are on the route of the main trunk railway line."

2011 is no more... and to be honest, I didn't even notice this year. I'm not saying it was a bad year. Just a very fast one. One could say that it has been an in between year. Waiting patiently for my new house. Feeling settled at the in-laws but not settled enough to unpack all our boxes. Two years and counting. I think we've done well. I miss everyone back home and another year has gone by without seeing them.

Olive has started kindy and is fast approaching school age... scary. Otis has grown in to this lovely and happy little boy and we've enjoyed all his tricks and cheekiness. Me and Jon have just celebrated our third wedding anniversary and to really put a mark on this special day - I lost my ring.

2011 ment chickenpox for Otis, Olive and Jonathan. Together with a few tummybugs, burst eardrum and flu's - we had quite a few days snuggled up on the sofa feeling sorry for our selfs. I can feel a healthy year coming on. Here's to more kiwi fruit and vitamins!

I have continued my speed dating and single nights hosting and has also started working for espresso rescue making coffee once a week. Great to be working again and I'm hoping to keep this balance of work/children for next year. Jonathan has had a great year with his company, just finishing a big job in town and moving on to a newly won contract over in Porirura. A short commute and a new challenge for him. We're really hoping that 2012 will be the year we finish our house... So close but yet so far. Jonathan is doing great and I can't wait to move in.

We have been lucky enough to come across this amazing childminder who takes the kids when I'm working, she really is THE Mary Poppins! Olive and Otis both loves it there and it gives me a nice break without having to worry. She now takes Otis for 3 hours on wednesdays whilst Olive goes to kindy - 3 whole hours to my self!!

All in all 2011 has been a good year - nothing too dramatic has happened. Oh actually - I guess our TV debut can pass as a reasonable dramatic... You can still find it on TVNZ, Close up, Tv on demand! Maybe interesting is a better word to sum this year up. Our neighbours has done their best to wind us up, thats for sure! 

2012 - What will you bring?

I'm thinking quality not quantity as one of my resolutions. Not that I have ever bothered with any promises or changes before... so the chanses of actually follow through with anything are slim. But maybe by eating nicer food - but less of it, will make me healthier? Maybe by giving more quality time to the little ones they will be happier to play on their own for some time too? What if the clothes I buy this year actually fits nicely and the colour stays, maybe I would wear them more often and not have to buy new next week? How about only plan ONE activity a day and do that one properly?
I have already taken on this thinking when it comes to my daily coffee, I no longer drink 4 or 5 coffees a day but the one I do drink has to be great. Not second best.

I always feel good at the beginning of a new year. Or a new season or a new job. Or a new anything. I like beginnings but I hate endings. I'm not a good leaver or finisher. I'm a starter. I work best when I'm in company of a do'er.
I start every new year with a dream of a new me. That I'm going to Ikea my self and my life. Everything will be folded nicely and put a way on named shelves and in neat boxes. I start by cleaning christmas away. A nice fresh start with no clutter. I write neatly on my new boxes and I put all our clothes on the floor to be nicely folded away. Then there's something I need to watch on TV and facebook needs an update. Come monday morning and our clothes are still in a pile on the floor. Order is restored and my dream of a tidy me has been nicely folded away in one of my new boxes.

Happy New Year lovely people!