.: A Dysfunctional Week!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

A Dysfunctional Week!

Apparently it’s really hot in the States right now and I’ve heard a few comments about how everyone is dying of heat exhaustion. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, I am dying from the cold and feel like an icicle!
A lot of homes in NZ don’t have central heating, so many Kiwis jokes about NZ’s traditional home heating system - piling on the layers of clothes. As I sit at the computer I have on tights, track pants, wolly socks, sheepskin slippers, thermal underwear, a skivvy (turtle neck) and a fleece jacket, and sometimes I’m wearing my scarf too!

Boy, we have had a horrible week. Miserable in fact. As they say, "when it rains, it pours." Tony and I had a big fight and couldn't bring ourselves to talk to each other for a couple of days, Tony lost his temper and made things 10 times worse, I got trapped into spending money I shouldn’t have (hence the reason for the fight), things went wrong at school, the boys were a challenge, our car gave us problems nearly everyday of the week causing us to be towed, have numerous flat batteries, alarm and locking problems, etc., etc. Did I already say this past week was miserable? This week can ONLY get better.

On a more positive note...
This morning we went to church, and sacrament is finally becoming enjoyable for us. For the most part we have now reached a point where Tony and I actually get to hear all of the talks instead of disciplining our boys out in the hallways (or simply taking Ashton out because he can't stay quiet). Noah is always fairly quiet and occupied with Thomas the train items, Hayden has got into the habit of doodling on paper and sometimes listening to the talks/testimonies (yeah!) and Ashton has become very content at drawing pictures and colouring in - and now tends to be the most well-behaved/reverent of all 3. What a nice relief to have finally reached that stage. I hope I haven’t spoken too soon!

Our Nursery has about 14 children now. I love being the Nursery leader, but it is really, really hard work! I will always have a new appreciation and understanding of Nursery Leaders from this year forth!! Every Sunday, me, Anna and Eun Ju are constantly 'moving' in those two hours at church and usually come home exhausted. And I mean exhausted! (we like to joke we've been to the gym for the week). I've decided that the sisters who sit in RS for an hour don't know how easy they have it! But regardless of the exhaustion, I/we still love our calling and the relationships we have with the little children.

A funny little church story:
This Sunday we took a man to church named Nick. He’s a recent convert, lives on his own and sometimes takes care of his very quiet 3 yr old little girl Ella. We also gave Nick a ride home and I'm pretty sure the inside of our vehicle was the noisiest one on the road - our boys were laughing, talking, yelling, screaming, fighting (you name it) in the back of the car and on top of that Tony and I were calling out for them to be quiet, to share, not to do that, etc. When Nick finally got out of the car he looked very bewildered and was almost speechless. He finally said thanks for the ride home, and then added that he enjoyed all the "drama," with the comment that at least our kids had no problem expressing themselves! Our family would make a very entertaining reality show sometimes!

Today is very very wet outside. It is a perfect Sunday afternoon for blogging and baking (my banana bread is making the house smell so nice). The boys are playing a Play Station game together (a real treat they look forward to in the holidays since I hide it away when school is on) and Noah is enjoying a nap.

Before I finish, a few photos over the past month:

Ashton and Noah playing together in the corner cupboard of the dining room. It makes for a great hiding place and they love it when they sit in there together with a torch (flashlight) and the doors are closed:

One evening last week I walked into Hayden's bedroom and he was organizing his drawers and neatly folding all his pyjamas and undies. I'm not sure what made him do this, but he did a great job and was proud of his effort afterwards:

I came downstairs one morning and Ashton and Noah were having a little picnic for breakfast. They had laid out a blanket and made themselves a little home in the corner of the living room. Ashton had thought of everything: a box of tissues, a pair of scissors in case they needed to cut anything, hand sanitizer for their hands, a plant, a school photo, video's, trains for Noah....

Nizetich 'boy' pile up...the boys always love this!

Ashton got some new shoes for school. He liked them so much that he insisted on wearing them with his pyjamas:

Lately, Noah has become attached to a new soft toy, his kiwi bird. He cuddles it every night to go to sleep now. When I check on him before going to bed it looks so cute to see a big beak sticking out from the blankets:

2 comments:

Jen said...: Sorry about your lousy week! I feel for you and have had many weeks like that! Your VT companion inspires me. I want to go with her too! :); July 8, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Anonymous said...: all very cute ;)

The church story and Nick is funny!

Julia; July 13, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Funny Comments

Ashton walking into the supermarket quietly whispers to himself: "Please can I have macaroni and cheese, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Ashton: "I want to live with Jesus." Mummy: "Why?" Ashton: "Because he be nice to me and he gives me bread and water!"

Mummy, examining Ashton's legs, and thinking: My goodness, what hairy legs. Ashton, unimpressed with Mummy's examination, pulls away: "Don't touch them. I'm growing Daddy legs!"

Hayden gets upset at Ashton: "Right Ashton, that's it! I'm telling Jesus on you!"

Ashton with a cold: "I'm snotty as a piggy."

Hayden: "The sun is burning my eyeballs."

Hayden: "Mummy, how come your penis is missing?"

Hayden: "I get the bigger piece of cake because my skeleton is bigger."

Hayden (3yrs old) sees me get dressed in the morning and stares at my breasts with a confused look..."What thooooose be for???"

Hayden: "I don't want to finish my pizza, it's got blood all over it."

Hayden: "Ashton hit me in the heart."

Hayden learns the planets at Preschool: Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Penus!

Hayden (shopping with me and whining): "My brain hurts forever because you haven't buyed me anything."

QUOTES

Like the changing leaves of fall...My little boy is now a man.
--Author Unknown

Boys are God's way of telling you that your house is too neat!
--Author Unknown

There never has been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son.
--Author Unknown

Boys are found everywhere - on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
--Alan Marshall Beck

Something For A Giggle....

I Owe My Mother ....

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!