Sisterly love.......

My little sister had her birthday last week.......and because I couldn't be with her this year, she's been in my thoughts a lot.  My sister is so special to me - more than a sister, she is one of my closest friends. So, I thought I'd share my love of her with you and why I loved her right from the start.......

When my mum remarried, I wasn't too impressed.  I mean, after all, my brother and I had had Mum to ourselves for most of our lives and along came this dude!!  It didn't take long for me to get over that {I was 12 after all} so I was over the moon and soooo excited, a year later, when Mum told me that she was having a baby.  I was going to be a big sister and I was going to be a damn good one!

Mum went in to have a caesar {c-section}, Dad went too {I was totally over it and called him Dad :)} and my big brother and I played on the elevators at the hospital {as you do!} I was brave and took the elevator down to the theatre floor.....I got a huge fright when a nurse came into the elevator pushing a cradle with a new baby in it.  I told her {because I'm a chatter box} that my mum was down here having a baby, she asked Mum's name, I told her and she said....."Well, say hello to your little sister!"  She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and I fell in love with her straight away.  It's a sisterly love affair that continues today.

Drewe and I.  1985.  She was about 4 weeks old and beautiful. 

Mum and Dad named her Drewe {pronounced droo ;)} and she filled our lives.  She was cute, she was good, she was happy, she was entertaining, she was fun.  Nothing bothered Drewe and I'm sure she knew she was totally loved by us all.  She was Mum's miracle baby, a baby she was told she would never have.  We were so blessed.  And she holds a very special place in Mum's heart.  She was just so much fun.....I mean, as she grew older, with her blonde ringlets and blue eyes people were putty in her hands, lol.  So my bro and I would send her off to do our dirty work!!!  Mum probably would have said yes if we had asked for things ourselves but we knew that Drewe was irresistible....she helped us get extra ice cream, Mum to bake cakes and yoghurts on shopping day!  But being a big sister sometimes had it's down side too......I had to share a room with her when I was 15 and she was 3!!!  Hahaha, and I had to babysit her on my 16th birthday!!!  Talk about rough. And she could always "smell sumfing" when I was having a sneaky feed of chocolate - then I had to share it.  And she emptied a my whole brand new can of "smoof" {hair mousse} into her hair!  Her hair was solid and crunchy.....but I'm grateful for the time I got to spend with her when she was little.......

Our big brother having "fun" with Drewe, practicing wrestling moves hahaha.

I married early when Drewe was still young and I moved out of home to start my own life.  We made Drewe an aunty when she was 8!  She has a special bond with Ezra, they are great friends and he often listens to Drewe more than me.  And then again when she was 16.  She was the one who made Macy laugh.  So I was around but not around as Drewe went through intermediate and college, got a part-time job, a boy friend, learned to drive, moved to Wellington, moved back and then moved into our flat above our workshop.  It was during this time that my kids, Honey and I became really close with Drewe.  We shared dinners, movies, laughs and the bathroom!!!  And then my life took a turn that I wasn't really prepared for and it was Drewe {amongst others} that helped me through.  We lived together, Drewe, Macy and I for 6 months.  I have to say - they were the funniest 6 months of my life!!!  It was great to have so much time to share and spend with her.  We really got to know each other and I grew to love her more than she will ever know.  Then life changed again and Drewe took it all in her stride.  But she is now more ingrained in my little foursome family than ever.  My kids adore her, look up to her and aspire to be like her.  My Honey loves her like sister and a friend and they are constantly cracking jokes with each other and Honey would do anything for her, as would I.

My little flower girl xxxx

Drewe and Ezra.....

Ezra all grown up with his Aunty Drewe.

Macy and her Aunty Drewe

The girls....taken January of this year.

So Drewe {Drewebie, Ewerd, Mop, Bub, Mary-Lee, Deps) I don't know if you'll read this but I want you to know that you are an important part of my life, always have been and always will.  Thank you for all the fun, the jokes, laughs, cuddles, texts, photos, visits, sleepovers, presents, funny looks {pirate in particular}, Brev spotting, tears, support, encouragement, fashion tips, hand me downs, baby sitting, road trips, dinners, pizzas, ice cream sodas....the list is endless.  You are a brilliant sister, aunty and friend.  Happy birthday.  I love you xxxxx

Sisters forever xxxxxx

Love 

trudy_n xoxx 
 {Lou-Anne}

Friday Fuzzy....

         LOVE!!! xxx

Whatever you are......

 

I've had a few jobs in my lifetime {remember I'm 40 now} but they all seem to revolve around the same thing......children.  I've worked in daycare, primary schools, an intermediate and now a college and all my life, I had either wanted to be a teacher or was constantly told I would make a great teacher {nice ego boost} so in 2011, I bit the bullet and enrolled and was accepted to train as a teacher, extramurally {hold the applause...} so for a year and a half, I studied away at my desk.  I was a dedicated student, completed all assignments {with good grades} helped my fellow students and achieved well on my practicums but.....other areas of my life started to unravel.  I felt I hardly saw my kids, dinners were quick, not very nutritious and often late, washing piled up and my once pristine home had a layer of dust.  Add to that working part time in a job I loved, being tired all the time and missing out on seeing my friends and family, having a health battle and well, trudy_n crash landed. And with a big impact!!!

So after many tears {and I mean a lot} sleepless nights, discussions with my Honey, kids, my Mum and good friends, I decided to pack it in.  That's right....I quit!!!!!  I packed away my text books and sat on the couch for about a week before I was ready to bump into people who would ask how my studies were going {usually in the supermarket, lol}....I was embarrassed to have given up and felt I'd let plenty of people down and failed...but the more people I told the better I felt and although people said it was a shame, most people said, well, if you weren't happy, what's the point!!!

Light bulb moment, ahhhh {thanks Oprah!} I wasn't happy doing what I had been doing.  So I made a decision to do what makes me happy.  I concentrated on my part time job {which I absolutely love} and cranked up my enthusiasm for work, home and play.  I connected back with my friends and went out on lunch dates.  I cleaned my house.  I visited my family in Christchurch.  I read novels and biographies instead of set texts.  I cooked interesting dinners and helped Macy bake.  I went to the movies.  I slept on the couch.  I spent time with my husband and children. And recharged my batteries :)

So, it doesn't matter that I'm not a rocket scientist, brain surgeon or a teacher.  I'm me.  I'm a mum, a wife, a friend.  I'm a chef, a home executive, a matron at a girl's school, a daughter, a sister, an interior designer, a taxi driver, a cheerleader, a dog walker, a book reviewer, an assistant sign writer, a canvas printer and a lover of life.  And I try to do a good job at them all. I am happy.

  Friday Fuzzy....

 

Believe in yourself....let your light so shine :)

Have a great weekend!

trudy_n xoxx

Three in a row.......

March....see you next year!  Another month bites the dust.  Gee, the year is going by too fast.  It's the 3rd of April already.  I love April...my wallet does not.  Let me tell you why.  Birthdays!  My mum, sister, grandmother, niece and my two adorable children all have their birthdays in April.  Add to that the school holidays and that makes trudy_n a very poor lady!  And as everyone gets older {my kids will be 12 and 20 this year} they get harder to buy for.....the presents get smaller but they also get more expensive. But I love birthdays so my thinking hat is on for what to get these special people....you'll have to wait to find out too, just in case they are reading this. {they'd better be!}

Anyway, the end of March also ends my third month of the photo a day challenge.  I've not missed a day yet, although I will admit, that Macy has taken the photo for me once or twice {thanks sweetie} especially when I had a stomach bug and could not even lift my head, let alone take a creative photo! So, I think I'm doing great......I'm a quarter of the way to achieving my new year's goal of taking a photo a day and as usual, I'll share them with you.......

March Photo a Day

Day 1.  L is for......Lanterns.  Macy's room

Day 2.  I made this.  Noticeboard in our kitchen

Day 3.  Key

Day 4.  Lucky.....ice creams after school.  Renall St Dairy

Day 5.  Under.....Girls underwater.  At work.

Day 6.  Chair...Macy's piano stool.

Day 7.  Fear.  Tadpoles....ewwwww.  At work

Day 8.  Favourite.  My fav day of the week.  Also my big brother's birthday today xxx

Day 9.  Faceless self portrait.  Classic Trudy....pj's and spotty socks.

Day 10.  I want.....to take Macy to Paris.  Macy's room.

Day 11.  Important.....milkshake date.  Strada

Day 12.  In the distance....the pergola.  At work.

Day 13.  Sound.  Honey's guitar

Day 14.  Tasty.  Fizzy lollipops!!!  Mmmmmm

Day 15.  Explore......our strawberry patch

Day 16.  9 o'clock......watching Hills repeats

Day 17.  Green. Happy St Patrick's Day

Day 18.  Shoes......my Louboutins.  Thanks Danielle xxxx

Day 19.  A sign......it's not working!!  At work. {that's my car lol}

Day 20.  Clean.  Don't forget to clean your teeth!

Day 21.  Working.....finishing my shift at 10pm

Day 22.  About me......I'm a fluffy pink dressing gown wearer!

Day 23.  What I do for fun.....read.  What a nerd!!!

Day 24.  Up.  Macy practicing for netball trials.  At home.

Day 25.  In my drawer.  My room.

Day 26.  Something I did.....talked to the year 10's at work.

Day 27.  Pair.....my pearl earrings.

Day 28.  In the mirror. Yes, that's me.

Day 29.  Goodnight.....camping in the lounge on Good Friday.

Day 30.  Relax.  Enjoying an afternoon at the rugby.  Wellington

Day 31.  Stuff......on my fridge.

So, another month gone.  I seem to be saying that quite often but it was another good one.  And another step closer to Christmas lol.  It's only 9 months away!

I'll be back on Friday with a Friday Fuzzy....I've been a bit slack in the blogging department.  But I'll try harder this month, I promise.  Don't forget when you leave a comment to leave your name at the bottom of the message so I know who it's from :)

See you on Friday

trudy_n xoxx