Honey begins at 40........

Honey has hit 40!!  It was his birthday yesterday and he said farewell to the thirties and headed into the next decade.....I'll follow him in January but for now, he sounds a lot older than me, lol.

He's not keen on birthday fanfare so declined my option of having a potluck dinner with friends (we're not big on parties) and settled for a more intimate dinner of us and the kids.  It was really nice to be all together again and to go out as a family of four......since Ez has moved out (sob, sob) it's usually just dinner for three.  But we had a lovely day and night.  I was happy to spend the day with Honey as we drove to Palmerston North to deliver a job, we had a quick shop and quick bite to eat before heading home.  Of course, he went to the gym - there's no way he'd miss that birthday or not!!!  Then it was out to dinner - Indian - yummo.

Ah, a peaceful family dinner.  Macy strangles Ez........

....so Ez hits Macy on the head with a spoon. 

Macy and I decorated a chocolate cake for him and it's proved pretty popular on my facebook page, attracting a heap of likes.  The possibilities are endless for decorating a cake with lollies and chocolate biscuits so I'm keen to give it another go for my birthday cake.  And Honey loved it...which is the main thing :)

The mint slice malteser chocolate cake.

Birthday's are funny things.....I find they make you reflect on the past year, what you've achieved or what you haven't.  Honey's birthday made me think about what I loved about him so I thought I'd share those with you.........

40 things I love about Honey for his 40th birthday.....

#1      How he calls me Babe or Trude...never Trudy

#2      When he laughs so hard he cries

#3      How he puts on my electric blanket so when I get home from work so my bed is warm

#4      That he takes Mace to McD's for breakfast for their daddy/daughter dates

#5      Love that we've been together since we were 17

#6      That he works his butt off for us

#7      He makes the bed every morning

#8      He usually lets me have the tv remote

#9      He likes my long hair

#10    He mows the lawns

#11    He always asks if I'm ok or need anything

#12    That he loves his hobbies 

#13    He is awesome at giving service to others

#14    That he talks about his kids as his 'babies" even at 11 and 19

#15    That he cracks me up

#16    That he is gorgeous - still makes my heart flutter

#17    When he sings the wrong song lyrics

#18    That he lets me sit closest to the fire

#19    He always tells me to have the first shower even if he wanted it first

#20    How he has 'old school' manners

#21    That he works hard on our home and yard

#22    That he's proud of our kids

#23    That he doesn't mind me tagging along with him

#24    That I never embarrass him

#25    Love that he calls me his wife and not his missus!

#26    That he took us all to see the Temple lights

#27    That he doesn't mind me not cooking and is happy with eggs on toast

#28    Love it that so many songs remind me of us

#29    That he holds my hand in public - even after all these years

#30    He doesn't complain that I need the tv on to fall asleep

#31    That we have so many personal jokes

#32    That we talk about everything

#33    That he doesn't mind my crazy obsessions and even supports them (perfume buyer!)

#34    That we go to church together

#35    Love that he knows me so well

#36    That he will go out and do a munchie run even if it's cold

#37    That he tells me that I'm a good mum xx

#38    That we've been together for over 20 years

#39    That he puts up with me and my issues - he's got my back!

#40    I just love him to bits for these and a million other reasons - we are meant to be together xxx

Nawww, he's a honey!  Which brings me to why I call him Honey in my posts.....he's a bit of a private dude so he doesn't want his name used or any photos of him on my blog so he's a little mysterious!  But he's not called Honey because I call him that, he's called Honey because......when Macy was a baby, he would come home from work and go up to her, give her a kiss and say 'hello Honey'...she associated Honey with her dad and when she started to talk, she called him honey, not Dad or Daddy.  That's what she called him, right up until she went to kindy.  She would talk about Honey doing this and that and I forgot to tell the kindy teachers that that was the name for her dad...the relief on their face was visible when I explained this to them about two weeks later.....they thought that Honey was our cat and that it was a very clever cat and that Macy had a huge imagination!!!  Hahahaha, so as she realised other kids had dads and not Honeys, she slowly started changing to calling him dad.  However, the name has stuck and that's what he is known as at home.  Cute, huh.

Macy and her 'Honey"

So Happy Birthday Honey!!!  I love you to pieces for eternity, plus one ;)

Love the one you're with......

trudy_n xoxx

The countdown is on.....

Get your engines ready.....the Christmas countdown is officially on!!!  The Christmas tree is up at work (and decorated to my standards!) so I can feel that holiday buzz in the air.  Confession time....I'm a Christmas freak.  Some of you may know this already, some of you won't care but it's still a true fact. I heart Christmas.  I love everything about it - the decorations, finding the perfect presents for people, the music, the food, the wrapping paper, the excitement, the family get togethers, the kids laughing, Nativity scenes, the childhood memories, Christmas crafts......I could on and on but you get my drift.  I just love Christmas.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money.  Mum was a single parent until I was about 12 and my dad wasn't around but we still had amazing Christmas times.  My memories of Christmas with Mum, my brother, Grandma, cousins and family are so strong....I can feel the love we all had for each other and I'm trying to recreate that for my children.  We may not have gotten a lot of presents but man, we had fun.  A few Christmases stick out in my mind so I rang Mum and asked her to dig out some old photos so I could share them with you.

Christmas 1977.

This year, Santa gave me Ballet Cindy (Barbie's cousin!), Baby Alive and a denim look pram for her.  I had that pram for years.  I was so excited with both dolls, both had blonde hair like me :)  Cindy could bend her legs and arms and Baby Alive actually ate and pooped bright pink baby food and after I fed her, I could put her to sleep in the pram.  I was four years old and can still remember wearing my Holly Hobbie dress and eating cold peas and beetroot on the roasting hot Queensland day.  My brother got the Shogun Warrior which moved and had lights in it's eyes and freaked me out at night lol.  We spent that Christmas at my Grandma's with some of my cousins. 

The only girl!  me, my bro Todd and cousins (yes, that's you Brendan!!)

Christmas 1979.

This Christmas, we spent in Bluff in Queensland with my aunt, uncle and two cousins.  It was a brilliant holiday filled with many happy memories.  This year I got some awesome bubble bath, a Baby Alive and the Baby Alive baby centre, which could turn from a change table into a cot!  Flash.  Now, you're probably wondering why I got another Baby Alive......well, sadly, the first baby fell asleep on the back seat of the car and due to the harsh Toowoomba heat......her head melted off!  I remember being devastated and crying and crying.  We buried her in the back yard.  Then kindly, Santa found it in his heart to give me another one.......and I still have her!!!!!  Kim Kelly (don't laugh, that's her name!!!) is lovingly stored in a box with some of my childhood toys.  Anyway, Todd (my brother) got heaps of awesome Matchbox cars and a cool carry case and some more Star Wars action figures for his collection and a rockin carry case for those too.  We all look so happy.  Life was great.

Still the only girl!  Me, Todd and cousins Paul and Luke.  Man, we had fun with these two!

Christmas 1980.

The year of the shiny red bikes.  Our first bikes ever!  Mum must have saved for ages to get these for us and man, did we appreciate and use those bikes!!  Staying outside until dark, cruising round our neighbourhood.  I know, you're impressed by the basket and the banana seat on mine and if you look closely, you'll see the seat has red and green daisies on it......wicked.  I can remember the thrill of getting my bike.....something I never thought I'd get.  My neighbour used to sit on the back of the seat, I'd sit at the front and we'd both put our feet on the pedals and hoon around at double speed!  There's nothing like the freedom of a bike when you're a kid!!!

New bikes!!!  And cool outfits :)

Christmas 1983.

Pretty in Pink Barbie!  Her skirt was also a shawl, she had disco pink pants, a boa and a scandalous halter neck top....and she was cool! Six items of clothing that you could mix and match, all pink.  And a new dress - drop waisted (so 80's) and spotty.  Todd got more Star Wars action figures....he couldn't get enough of those things.  This Christmas sticks out not only because of Barbie but because shortly after Christmas, we moved from my home town in Queensland down to Melbourne in Victoria.  It was to be my last Christmas with my big family in Australia.  Christmas's in Melbourne were lonely.  But, Mum made rum balls (artificial rum, of course), white Christmas, cherry ripe and apricot balls....all things that still mean Christmas to me.  Oh, and I'd probably still have that Barbie doll too if my little sister (yes, you Drewe) didn't cut off all her hair and turn her into a pretend Ken doll....I still haven't gotten over it!!!! Thanks Bub :)

Me and my Barbie...that's my new dress.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.....I can feel it in the air.  I've written my shopping list, my menu plan, have decided on my interior theme so it's all go for me......I'll just keep counting down and you'll be hearing more about it and my Christmas antics as they happen!!!

Jingle bells, jingle bells......

trudy_n xoxx

A busy Saturday......

I have the whole weekend off work....that's right, the WHOLE weekend!!  It's the first time in while, though I'm not complaining because I love my job, but I'm happy to be able to do whatever I like, whenever I like.  So, to make my Saturday worthwhile, I wrote a list!  I know, totally typical but I wanted to make sure I got everything done.  Macy had a bye for softball and Honey was spending the morning diving at the coast so we had the morning to ourselves :)

The list!

First, a little sleep in.....NOT! Honey was up at 5am, clanging around before he left.  Mace slept through it but not me.  I dozed back off but was awoken by Mace reminding me that we were meant to go to some garage sales.  Alas, no sleep in.  Off we went.......we were lucky enough to get what we wanted this morning at the Epiphany Church Mart and the Hospice garage sale and all for bargain prices.  Honey would call it junk but we call it treasure!  And they will be put to good use but you're just going to have to wait to see what I do with them :)

Doilies, crystal bowls and a decanter.

After the garage sales, we went to the video (funny how we still call it the video shop even thought there are no videos there!) shop and got a few oldies but goodies and found out Ezra owes $16 in fines for a game he hired on my account.  Good one, Ez!  Next stop, the supermarket for some chicken so we can make sushi balls tomorrow and some grapes....I've been eating a lot of grapes lately, yummy. Then on to the Warehouse, where Macy bought the new One Direction (screammmmm) CD and we chose some Christmas decorations that will suit our 'theme' this year....once again, I'm going to keep you in suspense as to what the theme is, mwah ah ha. Oh and I bought a nice cushion :)

One Direction.....OMG!!

Gold glittery stars.

Right, supermarket, Warehouse done.  Car needs petrol, $20 in.  That won't last long but it will do today.  Home time...singing to the 1D CD, windows down, wind in my hair (lol).  Such a gorgeous day.

Beautiful sunny day :)

Once Mace and I got home, it was speed job time before we had lunch and before we could watch Eclipse (I've been promising her for ages) so washing hung out, dishes done, windows open, general tidy, clothes away in drawers and.....done.  Eclipse time :)

So far the list is going pretty well!  Honey came home from the beach with some crays, cooked them up (yuk) and then mowed the lawns.  I love the smell of cut grass in the summer - it brings back awesome childhood memories. And the yard always looks heaps better with trimmed grass.  Time for the next job, I had been putting it off for ages...loading books to sell on Trade Me.....in the end, it took 2 and a half hours!!!!!  I'm never doing that again...I will either give things away or throw them out!

Freshly cut grass.

A cold drink while I'm on the computer - sadly, it's not coke!

So by now it's almost 6 o'clock pm.....Honey has gone out so Mace and I decide we'll have Dominoes for tea!!!!  Yeah, Mr Wedge pizza, yummo.

Hello Mr Wedge, mmmmm.

A quick check of the list reveals I still have a few things to do.....clean the water filter, fix some tights and...shave my legs!!!!  I'd better go and do the legs....and no, you will not see a picture of those, lol.

It really has been a busy day, teamed with sunshine, shopping, music and gooood pizza.  Now we're all ready for Sunday....that reminds me...I need to write Macy's talk for Primary tomorrow :)

Have a great weekend

trudy_n xoxx

Post number 14!!!! Go me :)

It's only 12 more sleeps until I get to see the final movie installment of the Twilight Saga!!! (Mrs L, only 12!!) I can hear some of you groan but wait, this is not all about Twilight....only a little bit so bear with me, please :)

I'm looking forward to watching the last movie and seeing how they bring the book to life again....so far, they've done an okay job of portraying the books but I still don't think you can beat the books!  

The series sits on my bookshelf and I'm looking forward to when Macy can read them but I've heard some arguments about why 

Twilight is 'bad'......

• Vampires are not real, are evil and they kill people.
• Bella is a love sick sook and is a bad role model for girls.
• It shows young people how to react during a break up - eg Bella stayed in her room and was disinterested in the world.
• Bella relies on Edward for her own happiness.
• Lying - all the kids lie to everyone about vampires, werewolves and other secrets.

To me...there's a couple of valid points, if you want to be picky, but I look to the positive in this saga and this is what I think....... 

• There is no alcohol, smoking, drugs, foul language or sex before marriage. (all a BIG plus for parents!)
• The Cullens are good vampires, they don't eat people and only kill when absolutely necessary.
• Good triumphs over evil.
• It shows us we can all get along, vampires, humans, werewolves, lol.
• Bella chooses love over lust, long term commitment over quick thrills, life over death.
• It's a love story people!!!!  That's why Bella is all mushy, duh.

For me, it's just that, a love story and I'm sure with the conversations that we have about the books, I'll steer Macy in the right direction.......

to the werewolves!!!

There's another set of book on our book shelf and it's the Harry Potter series.  

Number 6 missing because Mace has it with her at school.

 We bought them for Ezra as each new one was released and I can remember him devouring each new installment.....sitting on the couch for days on end until it was finished, and then I was 'allowed' to read it.  He has a great memory and now that Macy is reading them, she asks him questions when she gets stuck and he can answer her as quick as a flash.  What a good big brother!  Me, I get all the spells jumbled up and confuse what happens in each book, I'm not much help!  She's up to number 6 now... The Half Blood Prince and before I know it, she'll be onto the last one.  The books are looking pretty beaten up and well read....just how we like books to look.  And once she's read all the books, we can have a Harry Potter movie-athon!!!  Coolness.

So, I've read all the Potters and the Twilight's and I'm proud to say that my new Smart library card is getting a thrashing.  I've been reading a lot this year, mainly biographies - with happy endings, some sad, like the Madeleine McCann story but I've learned heaps about people, attitudes and the world.  At the moment I have two books on the go - one about the Amish and how they forgave, after the fatal shooting of 5 girls in one of their schools and the other, the story of Schapelle Corby and her arrest.  They are totally different from each other but both so interesting.  I love to read....it's like going to a different place, uses my imagination and increases my knowledge. (brain box, haha) My 6th form English teacher would be proud, don't you think Leah? ;)

Therefore, (oooh fancy word) my challenge to you this week is to read!!!  Go to the library, finish that book you started ages ago or turn on that kindle but give it a go.  Hit the biography section or the crime section in the library - there's plenty to get you interested there :) And I'll keep counting down to seeing Breaking Dawn Part 2 at the cinema (love that word), finish my books and find some new ones :)

Happy reading

trudy_n xoxx

The mess.....

Each morning when I come home from work, I walk up my hall into my room, deposit my bag and look into Macy's room.  And I usually see ......... a mess! Help!! Many people might not think her room is very messy at all but for me and my clean/tidy freak obsession, 

it's a total mess!

Let's break it down....

Unmade bed. PJ's and headphones (that belong to Honey) on the end of her bed. Curtains - unopened, clothes not put away, clothes falling off heart stool, junk all over dresser, towel slung over door.  Hair accessories, socks, wet wipes (put there so maybe, just maybe, Macy would use them to wipe her drawers down, lol) and other assorted crap on her drawers. 

I am grateful, however, that while Mace may be a tad messy in the room department, it's not 'dirty' and people, there is a difference!  No old plates or food and no tissues, ear cleaners or other nasties laying about, lol. So, Mum to the rescue.  With my trusty vacuum cleaner, spray and wipe, wet wipes, window cleaner and my selection of magic cleaning cloths, we soon had that room sparkling.

 Before.....

 After.

Before.....

After.

Before.....

 After.

Can you tell that Macy has a 'thing' for the Eiffel Tower and Paris? :)

Macy's room may get a bit messy and unorganised every now and then, but she's meticulous in her personal appearance, taking ages to shower, do her hair and choose her clothes so I'm guessing one day, it will transfer into tidying her room.  And really, I can't complain.  When I was a teenager, my room looked worse than that! (ssshhh, don't tell Mace) You couldn't see the carpet for the clothes.  I used the "try something on, take it off and leave it on the floor' method of choosing an outfit.....until the day my mum came in with my washing all folded up and instead of giving it to me, she threw it into the air so the clean clothes landed on the floor, the bed and the drawers!!!  When I asked why she did that, she simply replied that she was sorry, she thought this was how I put away my clothes!!!!  Ummmm, I kind of tidied up a bit more after that incident :)

So I may have to exercise patience and continue to encourage Macy to tidy her room, which she always does when asked, and I'm sure one day, I'll come home from work and she'll surprise me with a spotless room....yeah right!!!!  Love you Macy ;)

And just in case you missed me and my netball buddies in our super star TV appearance...here we are!!!!

Have a good Monday

trudy_n xoxx