DVD finished

Yeah... it took me awhile... (like a week, working loads of hours each day) but I'm finished...

I've made a 29 minute video slideshow with music of my time with Bella and Oscar here in Tairua (mostly just pics of them)... but I'm pretty stoked about it.

It turned out really cute.

It even has a menu page and scene selection, and everything, like a normal DVD!

Hooray!

After the Scallop Festival on Sunday we're going to watch it (well, the kids and Bindy have already seen it) but Desi and the grandparents will be here. Hehe.. they are even in it a lil bit!

Ahhh.. I've got LOADS to do in the next few days... starting to get a lil stressed! I'm going to breathe and just enjoy my time with the kids.

a look back

So... watching these Olympics and talking with my mom has made me think loads about my swimming and sports past. (i couldn't remember lots so I decided to write it out to figure it out...)

When I was 10 I was soo into sports and training.... literally. What happened?

It was doing the Iron kids triatholon in TN where I pulled my Achilles tendon that I think I first started losing my interest. I almost completely tore it. I still believe that injury is what has made my ankle so weak and easily sprained, to this day (doctors said then, sometimes its better to snap it and have it surgically repaired) That was in 5th grade.

After that my mom had her heart attack. Then my dad got sick and had only a few months to live. So by the time my ankle was better... I had gotten injured in a stupid accident in school PE and in another cast (thanks josh Burris for missing the soccer ball that I kicked and pounding my foot!) and then... I had another stupid accident at school and ended up in arm cast up to right below my shoulder (they weren't sure if I'd broken my elbow or not) and missed part of the rest of basketball season. 5th grade was the worlds most accident prone year for me.. but goodness, one that seams pretty typical looking back now (I seem to get really hurt doing sports).

So I didn't swim that summer, i don't think because of my dad. We went on a "last vacation" and spend lots of family time together. Ended up he got his transplant and I did some sports in 6th grade... hello baton (where I cracked my front tooth) and basketball. Didn't start swimming again cuz he was sick and these were events I did at school (my mom taught there so I had a ride). Dad was pretty sick that summer and I'm sure that was why I didn't swim. The next year was 7th grade. I did volleyball and basketball. He got his transplant and was better and able to help out with driving a little in summer, so I swam. Turns out I got mono.. and had a HORRIBLE summer. Literally would be asleep til right before the events. My coach... good ol greg had lost hope. I didn't turn out to bad though. I still won my age group on my team. I just couldn't give it everything or train much being so sick with mono. 8th grade, volleyball, and then sprained my ankle playing basketball. Not sure why I didn't swim that year? Maybe cuz I made cheer leading and that was loads of practice all year? So freshman year I cheered and swam. Swim team was small but we still kicked but individually. Sophomore year made cheer (quit cheer when my coach told me I couldn't do half time at homecoming if I didn't go to practice...because I was going to the hospital to visit my dying dad) and swam. My migraines also started that year. I wasn't dedicated at all to swimming. Still did a little better than the year before.. but realized i was having to breathe every stroke (which had happened the year before as well, when I knew I was in shape) and couldn't understand why! Jr year swam as well... again, that was the year I got the helio bacter thing and that affected me. And my migraines affected me.. and then I never got fully into it. Sr year I don't think I swam... just went to meets. I think I was too into Jobs/Demolay that year and traveling after school? I don't remember.

Anyways. the point of this is... I lost my dedication to sports way, way back when. I want to get back into swimming. I miss being athletic. I know I hated the last few years of swimming when I could never catch my breathe... turns out.. I have asthma... that would make sense. Duh! I literally used to die after 50 meters.. which was crazy (i remember thinking, i know i'm in shape, and my cheer coach used to yell at me to breathe, and I'm like I AM..haha!) So once I move to Welly I'm going to find a gym with a lap pool. If it costs me the price of a couple drinks/coffees a week, I think I can manage that. (as long as I find a job/or two, right!) They also have a masters program there. Not sure if I'll get into that or not... maybe after I see if I can even still go back and forth across the pool! Haha, I'd like to join a team of a sport though... that'd be more fun since I can swim on my own at the gym. Hopefully all goes according to plan with that.

I'm going to get my body back into shape! I'm going to see if it'll help my ankle (which is still sore from when I sprained it last month and then kicked the cup) and knees... oh, i didn't mention that. They grew half way out of socket when I hit puberty! (literally, ball and socket joints aren't supposed to be part of the way out! haah!)
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Its great to watch the Olympics. Its funny to think that these people are my age. I had the same dream as them as a kid. I gave up on my dream...its so great to see that they didn't! I know loads of them had challenges (come on, the open water south African amputee! and didn't give up) why did I? Oh well, I love the life I'm leading and am proud of what I'd done. I can't change the past and wouldn't because I've enjoyed the things I've done in DeMolay and Jobs that I wouldn't have done otherwise most likely. All the swimmers did so wonderful, I'm so proud of USA swimming!!!

Here's to swimming being popular (so I'm not the only one watching it on ESPN....when I'm in the states) or on whatever channel where ever I am!

Oh, and can I just say.. the swimmers are soooo cute. Lochte, Aussies' Sullivan, seriously!!!

Never ending

(sorry, don't know why the pics are so big.. i must've not been paying attention and am too tired to reload them smaller!)

Today was a VERY long, LONG day. It was one of those endless days where it seemed that one of the two kiddos was screaming, crying, or doing something else equally annoying and getting sent to time out (that was just bella)... and a great day to want to hand them back at 4...but of course (this always happens!) I worked late tonight!

Ugh. But... I got to have burritos for dinner... with loads of avocados!

We did make Bella's cupcakes for school tomorrow. I'm going to spend the whole day with them at Country kids tomorrow... so... that should be fun. I'm super tired...literally exhausted, so hopefully I wake up in the morning!

Here are a couple pics (of the million I took today) of the highlights (making cupcakes, being in baskets, playing Thomas snakes and ladders, Oscar screaming at the gate for almost 30 mins for Belinda, bathtime, and Bells with her one cupcake she got to eat today.

Here's to hoping tomorrow is easier (there are teachers there...so i just get to play..hopefully)












UGH. I'm in bed and hoping to be asleep before 9!

what to do...

Just when I started getting excited about moving to Welly... I get an email about someone interested in me nannying in the 'burbs outside of Sydney.

Who would've thunk?

Ok....so now its time to weigh the pros and cons...

Do I move to Welly...and see if the weather is horrible on my migraines? If it is, I'm ok with that. I tried, and then I can go.

Or do I jump at a chance and just go to OZ?

Ugh.... in Welly there are soo many variables...having to find a job (or two), a place to live. Either one I'll have to make friends. I do know a few people in Welly already though.

They do seem like a great family. Totally the type of family I'd LOVE to nanny for and stay with. Too bad this wasn't a few months down the line when my visa is up in New Zealand and I have to go to Australia!

On the run

Funny story!!

Oh, so the other day.. it was pouring.. and i said "oh, i'm gonna run to the store" and Bella looks at me and says "why don't you take the car so you don't get wet."

...and then yesterday on the way to playcentre... Belinda mentioned she forgot something, so I asked "if she wanted me to run back and get it"and she was like, "run, oh that good ol American expression again" cuz that time she thought i was serious.

Its funny how such a simple expression that we use is literally taken to a 4 year old when they don't hear it all the time. Well, for that matter. Do American kids take the expression literally too? I dunno, we run errands, run to the store, we are always on the run..

...Gotta LOVE the English language... no wonder no one wants to learn it... its so confusing sometimes living in another Country (where we speak the same language, yet its so different- England and New Zealand from us)... did I ever tell you about the icing sugar/POWDERED sugar incident?... oh, and Porridge (uh know...that the three little bears eat) is really oatmeal? I was disappointed when I found that out!

Ok, there is my random thought for the afternoon. And Oscar is having a GREAT sleep... which is good since he's being grizzly as heck lately!!! UGh, did I curse myself typing that, I just heard him. Later gator...

I love watching the Olympics.

Literally, I become obsessed with it!

And I am going to miss watching Diedre's coverage on channel 3...and I guess Bob Costas and US coverage in general.

However, I did find her blog online... I remember reading it during Athens and it made me laugh. http://www.kcra.com/deirdre-diary/index.html

Eh, hopefully NBC will hav e fixed their online coverage so people on macs can watch it. Otherwise, I'll be sad!

Yes, they will cover the olympics here...
but of course, they are going to focus on NZ athletes..so I'm going to miss that aspect of the 'bios, little pieces, etc' So... i'll probably be obessed, even more so than normal, with the internet during the olympics!!! I never thought I'd miss that 'dun dun dun' of the olympic music on nbc.. or that colorful bird! hehe!


Go team USA... I can't wait for 08-08-08 8pm (hehe, I get to that day a whole day
ahead of you guys... but the olympics will start in between our night and day...)

I'm pretty bummed that I'm not going to be AT the olypics. I really wanted to go to these olympics.. even with them being in China and all the controversy, I think they will be amazing. Bummer. I would payed $500 to go to an afternoon or morning of swimming! And I would've been happy with just one event.. yes, I know thats sad. but I'm an olympic nut.. since I didn't apply myself to actually go to the olympics myself.. I have to make it there someday as a 'tourist' to cheer for the good ol USofA!

powerful

* I don't normally post these things... but thought this was good. It was a good litle thing I got off of myspace.. the beginning of it is pretty powerful.*


The parodox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but we have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We've conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway mortality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can chooses either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.