Pot Luck Birthday Tea

After church a few friends gathered at the Jenkins house to help celebrate Kate's 30th birthday. As usual plenty of yummy food and great company. It reminded me of the times when we first joined the church we use to have many a gathering however years have past and well now instead of many adults there are many many children. Thus conversations can be interrupted or faded from screaming, psycho children with nowhere else to play but the lounge and the hallway.

Craig had compiled a beautiful book for Kate where her friends wrote stories/poems on how Kate has touched our lives 72 pages amazing.

Happy Birthday Kate

Sunday

Being the 5th Sunday I get to do music in primary for the whole 40 min AWESOME!!! Today I divided them into teams Nephites, Laminites and the Jaradites and awarded points for great singing, harmony, reverence, remembering all the words etc. Then I gave each team a set of music pictures and they had to put them in order, this meant knowing the song word for word because the picture displays only some of the song. It was awesome to watch and listen too. Its amazing and great to see that competitiveness is still alive. I'm a firm believer in winners and loser's. These junior primary children where the most reverent well behaved and best singing ever. The all boy team, the Laminites were the winners lead by Captain Ben (who was glowing with pride) and he had much pleasure telling me that he was in his school choir AWESOME Ben!!!

Next it was the Valiant's turn to step up and again the competitive streak was even more so impressive as two of our lads tend to find primary a little boring hence at times can be somewhat disruptive. However making them team captain was a whole different story they were perfect awesome young men.

I am so proud of the children they work really hard all year to learn the songs and 90% of them know all the songs "off by heart" Being the last song they need to learn for the presentation means free range next month. I can guarantee that they all will still choose to sing the primary presentation songs except maybe the odd one who likes Called to Serve and Book of Mormon Stories.

The other interesting thing I did today in Primary clapped a rhythm to get the children's attention instead of my usual bellowing. To my amazement all the children responded with the same rhythm and stopped and were quiet. I learnt this technique at Nicholas school, so I wondered if it worked in Primary and YES!! it did. Captain Ben informed me that his teacher plays a little tune on a xylophone. I was so impressed I hope it works next Sunday???

I love 5th Sunday's, there should be more!!!!!

New Garden

I must be honest I am not the best gardener although I love looking at gardens. My garden at home is what you would call a MESS!!!! So I decided to get the professionals in to help me out.

Mr Nichol man arrived and looked and had heaps to say and I was really excited gave me ideas and made me feel better as my garden was designed for a person who doesn't have a life or a job and spends all day everyday in the garden. (NOT ME). I asked him when could he start and how much? He said I'll price it and send you a quote. The job included pulling out plants I wanted to keep, chopping down 3 shrubs, moving a Camellia brush, spraying, laying weed mate, mulching and replacing some plants. My own quote was maximum $1500-$2000 I received the quote and WOW total price $6500 no way I couldn't believe it. When I think of those make overs on TV the landscaping never ever came to that much someone is exaggerating!!!!!! What a RIP OFF!!!

Alas my perfect garden dreams are shattered!!! I showed Dave and he laughed and said he would do some of the suggestions himself. So, so far the 3 shrubs are gone Camellia moved and lots of weeding done awesome. Maybe my garden may happen I'll keep you posted and show pictures

New Moon

Yes I am still reading it and my darling husband decided to read it as well and as usual he has passed me. I am so frustrated he's only taken 4 days to pass me. I even got angry and told him to leave my book only. I suppose the challenge for me now is to prove to myself that I can do it.

Breakfast

Most mornings its the same routine and most mornings Nicholas and I have the same conversation about breakfast: Mum: "Nicholas what do you want for breakfast" Nicholas: "You tell me" Mum: "Weetbixs with hot milk" Nicholas: "No thanks" Mum: "Coco Pops and yoghurt" Nicholas: "No thanks" Mum: "Toast with honey" Nicholas: "No thanks" Mum: "Then what" Nicholas: "Porridge" Mum: "Why didn't you say" Nicholas: "Cause I want you to tell me" I just know that if I had just made the porridge he would have change his mind guarantee.. Oh Nicholas so frustrating but still so funny.

Twilight

For ages I've been trying to get Dave to watch the Twilight movie, but he wasn't interested. However, on Thursday (our date night) there was nothing on at the movies and so we decided to stay home. Yes!!!!! an opportunity to convince Dave to watch Twilight (as I had hired on the off chance he might say yes) I even went to the supermarket and got him his fav treats.

Conversation went like this: Paula: How bout we watch Twilight? Dave: We don't have it??? Paula: Yes we do (I whip it out) and I have treats. Dave: Mmmmmmmmmmm Paula: Treats and date night Dave: Oh ok Paula: Yes!!!!!! I spent most of the time watching Dave looking for signs of like or dislike. At one part where Edward picks the apple up with his foot Dave smurks (yes). Then when Edward takes Bella up to the top of the tree and see the scenery Dave says that amazing view (yes). Fighting scene Dave says wicked (yes). That's 3 yes's but did Dave like the movie????? Answer YES!!!!!! What a relief as it means we get to go and see the next movie together and when I'm finished the book New Moon he might read it tooo a win win situation for mwah.

Kate starts daycare

Well finally I have given into sleep deprivation and Kate has started at the hospital daycare. Getting 1-2 hours sleep was taking its toll. (more grumpy than usual). I have had Kate name on the list since she was born and actually it has taken 17 month to finally get a placement for her. The hospital day care is very popular and has a wonderful reputation. I had a meeting with the manager and there are 70 children enrolled at the centre and all of them have parents that work in the hospital. They employ 35 staff that included 2 chefs and the builder and cleaners. The ratio for under 2's is 1/3 and 1/7 for over 2's which is really good. Government protocols are 1/5 for unders and 1/10 for overs. Its big and spacious, warm, very clean, and bright and just well organised.

Our visits were great Kate just went off to play and didn't look back. Deep down I thought she knows I'm still here. The proof will be when she is left by herself. When Nicholas started daycare it was a nightmare he cried and cried and for at least 6 months it was a disaster. It was more hard for Dave as he was the drop off person. However thanks to The Wiggles and Akon he finally settled.

Monday morning arrives and I get home from work Kate already to go. Dave and Kate in the car and I look at her with some sadness and a certain amount of hesistation. Many question of will she be ok etc. A kiss and she was off with her dad. I waited until 8am and rang Dave at work to my relief he said she took off to play with the dolls and Dave said goodbye Kate she turned and waved and said shee sha (which means see ya), bye. Dave was amazed and somewhere in the conversation said ïts like she doesn't need us anymore she is so independant"I think daddy was a little sad that she didn't cry etc.

I rang the centre just before I went off for 5 hours sleep amazing, to check all was good. Katie (her primary carer) informed she was great and its like she has been here many times.

When I picked her up she didn't even come running over to me she just looked and smiled and carried on sliding down the slide. I am so glad she feels safe and happy at daycare.

New Moon

So I have started to read this book because I loved the Twilight movie and this movie is out in November. This book has 563 pages YIPES this would have to be the longest book I have ever read (that's if I finish it). My friend Bex and I started at the same time and she has finished it already. I am on page 189 and so far the reading has been OK. I'm enjoying it more so because I can visualise the characters. I have also come across three words that I have never heard of before they are:

1. rhetorical
2. nonchalance
3. masochistic

Well I hope I can finish it before November watch the space...............................

Sunday Moments

Like most Sundays I'm always the first to get up and I'm always the person who is yelling "we leave in 5 minutes" I always wonder to myself what would happen if I didn't get up and just waited?................... No I won't try it cause I know we would not get to church.

I love fasting Sundays because I get to hear peoples testimonies and they always make me feel happy and warm inside and it always helps to strengthen my own.

Today Ben handed out the sacrament and his face was glowing with excitement he had the biggest smile on his face. As I watched from the stand I was so proud of him and a few tears escaped my eyes. Awesome Ben!!!

This of course filled my heart with the spirit that I needed to bear my testimony. I have a testimony of prayer. Seven years ago when Dave and I joined the church my main prayer was to have Stacey and Ben join the church and live with me again. After joining the church I had this notion my prayer would be answered immediately of course it didn't happen and for awhile I did have some doubts. However I continued to pray and have faith that Heavenly Father would answer me when the time was right. What a wonderful blessing that seven years on not only is Stacey and Ben living with/near me and in the church but I have Nicholas and Kate also growing up in the gospel. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and for our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Primary is always challenging/fun place to be. 4 years as the music leader and still these children amaze me. This years presentation will be awesome I have soloists and this month I'm teaching them the harmony for Families can be together forever. The Valiant's have already mastered the parts and the juniors, I am very confident that by week three they'll have it mastered as well.

I went visiting after church to Mosgiel, to take Baby Eden some of Kate clothes that she no longer needs. Nicholas and Kate accompanied me and both children loved playing with Eden and I got to have cuddles til at such time Eden needed a change (number 2's). Bye to them hello Jenkins family but alas not home. So lets visit the Amende family yeah they're home, quick visit and home to Dave who was baking yummy cookies.

I do love Sundays its the best day ever.

PS Farm town is doing well now that I can plant pumpkins which take 4 days to harvest so hopefully more blogging