To say things have been crazy busy is an understatement. My poor little Graham's 11th birthday was April 19 and here it is July and we've yet to have his party. His birthday fell on Easter weekend and the school holidays so most of his mates were away. My sweet boy gave no groans about putting his birthday off a bit but then I was away for nearly a month and here it is, another school holiday! I promise, Graham, we will have a great birthday party, even if it is 6 months late. At least it may be warm and sunny!!!
My trip to the states was whirlwind, as it always is! I flew into LA, spent one night then hopped a plane to Orlando where Kaigan collected me. It was a sultry 98degrees which I absolutely LOVED coming from NZ winter, rain, wind, etc. Our NZ summers don't get very warm so I soaked up the heat. Kaigan was eager to get to the outlets with a parental wallet so the roughly 10lbs. of chocolate and gum I'd brought from NZ could not be left in the car and had to be carried in my backpack (on Kaigan's back since 5lbs of it was his gum!) as we shopped. He picked some clothes for his new job (more on job later…) and then we had a nice dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.
Next day we had a long, lovely lunch with Kaigan's campus job boss and his wife. It was so nice to meet such a nice couple who Kaigan thinks the world of and I gathered the feelings were mutual. We then collected a moving van and proceeded to load Kaigan's belongings from his 3rd floor apartment and CLEAN said apartment. Lesson #1: NEVER be the last roommate to move out of a shared apartment! There were food items in the fridge and pantry that were from the guy who moved out before Kaigan moved in! We grabbed a night's sleep then finished up the loading/cleaning before beginning the 9-ish hour drive to my Mom's house in Mississippi. But first we had to collect the car trailer to pull Kaigan's car. The first rental truck company failed to have the trailer Kaigan had reserved so we had to stop in St. Augustine to get one from another franchise. After we pulled into the parking lot, the owner asked, "What's that sound?". He snooped around under the hood and decided the truck was not safe or reliable to take us all the way to Dallas so, to make a long, looong story short, after about 3 1/2 hours (2 1/2 of which was after he was technically closed) he organized us in another truck to which Kaigan and I had to transfer all the contents, and sent us on our way. On the road now, 4 hours behind schedule, we head to Mom's. With about an hour to go jet lag and exhaustion set in with nausea and a desperation to sleep. We finally made it to Mom's (Kaigan insisted on driving the whole way!) and after a quick chat and hug, I fell into bed only to be awoken by Mom's dog barking incessantly outside the bedroom windows. I dosed off and on but eventually I was going mad and knocked on Mom's door. She opened her door at which point I dissolved into tears, rambling about her barking dog and apologizing for both waking her and crying. Naturally the dog wasn't barking at that particular moment so Mom asked if I heard the dog barking at that point. I stopped crying and cocked my head to the side to listen and responded, "No." She was relieved to know I was hallucinating! I resorted to putting my wax, swimming earplugs in my ears and finally got some much needed sleep! It's all rather funny after the fact but at the time, I was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.
Kai and I had a relaxing day of rest and yummy southern seafood and then a day of visiting friends and family before heading out at 5am on Wednesday to drive to Dallas. Again he insisted on driving the whole way, though I have to say, I was quite happy not being in the driver's seat in Dallas! We arrived at the rental truck place at 4:30 to leave the trailer and Kaigan's car then headed to his new apartment to unload, again, 3rd floor! We managed, barely and with the help of a very kind neighbor, to get the truck unloaded and returned, get a few things unpacked, grab a yummy TexMex dinner in our state of grunge, purchase a shower curtain, shower, fall onto be for a quick sleep before catching a 6am taxi for our flight to Kentucky. Less than 14 hours in Dallas!
We had a lovely, though rushed, lunch with my bestie and her daughter before finally reuniting with my Mikayliebug. Graduation!!! Mom and even Grammy made it and my beautiful girl graduated high school! The only high school graduation I'll go to of my 6 children! Sounds like I have loser kids but in reality it's because Kaigan graduated 6 months early to move to NZ with us therefore not attending his graduation and the younger four will finish school in NZ where they don't have graduation ceremonies.
My nephew, Sam, also graduated that Saturday, 3 hours away in Shelbyville. Grammy made it to his too but not before taking a spill in her bathroom. She suffered in silence through Sam's graduation then went to the ER til 3am with lots of pain and high blood pressure. We later learned that despite a clean x-ray report in Kentucky, she had in fact broken her sternum!!! Grammy is such a trooper! Only four days later, she and Mom drove back to Mississippi where Gram now lives with Mom.
Kaigan flew back to Dallas on the Sunday to start his new job, an internship with American Airlines, on Monday morning. We are so very proud of Kaigan and his achievement! He loves his job and hopes to be invited back for another internship and perhaps even permanent employment when he graduates. He has 3 semesters left at Embry-Riddle before earning a degree in Aerospace Engineering. His job with AA grants him fantastic flight perks and as his parents, so do we!!! Finally that tuition is paying off! Kaigan had travelled on occasional 3-4 day weekends to Denver, Mississippi to see Mom and Grammy and most recently, Washington DC for 4th of July weekend. He also has plans to go to London on Labor Day weekend and has invited me to join him as I will be stateside then. Soooo excited to experience London for the first time with my boy!!!
Mikaylie and I spent the week visiting friends in Somerset before we headed to Dallas via Cabot where we spent a night with my dear friend Kelly and her family. In Dallas we hung out with Kaigan and cousins, did some (ok, lots) shopping and soaked up some sunshine at Kaigan's apartment pool. Then Mikaylie and I headed out, again staying with Kelly & co in Cabot, then on to Nashville for her orientation at Trevecca Nazarene University where she'll be attending school in the fall. We LOVED Trevecca! The small, christian school atmosphere felt like family and any reluctance I had about her college experience disappeared. I still hate being so far from my kids but of all the universities she could have chosen, this one gives me peace. She is so excited. She's met her roommate and suite mates and is eager to begin the next chapter in her life story. After the orientation activities we has some time to chill poolside, have a nice dinner and even catch a movie. The next day she brought me to the Nashville airport and after hugs and tears, I headed back to New Zealand where Billy had been single-parenting it for 3 1/2 weeks!
So back in New Zealand we've been busy with soccer (Brylie, Graham and Nani) and basketball (Will). Nani was asked to trial for a rep team and just learn that she's made it as a goal keeper!!! This will take us to game days in 4 cities across the North Island, one being here in New Plymouth, once a month, September through December.
Slowly but surely, Billy and I have been working on various projects around the farm as we continue to make our own. Billy has completed changing the wire fence around our yard to four-board. We've planted more plants and shrubs, built a huge rabbit hutch and organized having our driveway upgraded…FINALLY!!! The area just in front of the house and garage is prepped and ready for concrete to be poured. We've been waiting now for nearly 3 weeks for the weather to cooperate. The land around the drive is a mess from the excavating and the sand where the concrete will go is constantly being tracked into the house. It's an absolute pain in the butt but will be so worth it when its all done. I can't wait to start the landscaping when the workers are finished! They've made us a levee like mound with the excess dirt which we will plant and will hopefully help in some wind block. I have a design all ready to go and now just need the thumbs up to begin. Sooo eager for spring!
We've had two new additions in the form of kids goats that the kids and I are bottle-feeding. They are so cute! I've so missed my goat babies that we'd always had on our Kentucky farm.
Finally, the kids, now on school break, and I took a little hike down the beach to where a huge (20meter), dead blue whale washed ashore. A few friends had gone to see it and Nani was particularly keen so I figured how often do you have the chance to see a blue whale, albeit dead. So off we went. Heaps of people were out to see it and several warned us of the odor but we carried on. We rounded a bend in the beach and there it was! Smell and all! OH MY GOSH WHAT A SMELL!!!! Never in my life have I experienced such a horrific odor! And I am particularly olfactoraly sensitive. I gagged and dry wretched but, by golly, I got my photos! It WAS a sight to behold but the whole event reminded me of that SNL skit where the whole family smelled and tasted the sour milk one after another after being told it was sour!
So enjoy the pics!!! And hopefully my next post will include Graham's birthday party!
06 April 2014
A Late Summer
Well it's technically autumn here in NZ but it's feeling like the summer we'd been waiting for. The days have been absolutely beautiful and though the locals think "it's so bloody hot!" I find it fantastic! The only downside of this lovely warm, sunny weather is that there has been virtually no rain. Even Cyclone Lusi brought only a wee misting and we've found ourselves in another drought. This year we had to break down and buy water as our household water supply is from rainwater collected in our gutters. Last year it rained the night before we were to have water delivered and were able to cancel just before it arrived. This year, however, with no rain forecasted, at all, in the foreseeable future, we bit the bullet and bought 15000liters for $355NZ. Hopefully this will hold us until rain does finally come. We are more fortunate than many lifestylers here as our stock is watered by the creek below our farm and we have a water hose from the creek as well which allows us to water our trees, veggies, etc. I feel rather guilty watering plants when so many are running out for human use but it's there and it's not like we're taking from others. So, while our fields are parched and dry, the trees and plants around our yard our thriving.
A couple of weeks ago, Billy and I redeemed a voucher for a helicopter tour we'd received from friends who's baby Billy delivered. It was a clear, beautiful day and the views were spectacular! Looking down on Mt. Taranaki, a mountain we've climbed, and into the crater was really awesome. I was even able to shoot a couple of photos of our farm, though from a distance, as we did not fly over it.
My ankle is healing slowly but surely. I have full range of motion and can bare weight, even run with no pain whatsoever. The remaining pain is only bruising on the bone and muscle tissue which is still limiting the types of shoes I can wear. I can only just wear a tennis shoe because of the pressure it had put on my ankle bone when it was still swollen. I have been able to wear my riding boots however as they are rather loose. This means I've been back on Joe and, even having done nothing with him for the three weeks I could only wear Toms or sandals, he was absolutely wonderful. I've ridden him up our road, visiting with the lovely neighbors who I was riding with the day of the accident, who got him home for me as I went to hospital, and I've cantered around our field which I hadn't even done before the accident. He really is a lovely horse and hasn't a mean bone in his body.
Charlie is the one I really need to focus on now. He has grown rather fat in his convalescence and, judging by his bucks and kicks when put into a new paddock, I think he's feeling quite fine. While I do miss my Bella and Soochie I left in Kentucky, I hit the horse jackpot here with Charlie and Joe and even Lofty who, while not sound enough for hard riding, is a quiet, sensible horse that nearly anyone can ride.
Today after church we spent the afternoon with a wonderful new friend who has become like a surrogate grandfather to the kids, particularly Nani. He has a small motor boat and we rode up and down the river, watching ducks and enjoying the scenery on a splendid day. Billy had brought his kayak as well and he and Nani both enjoyed time pedaling around. Nani is such a go-getter. She loves to try anything and everything and is pretty fearless. The boys tend to be more lazy and disinterested in trying much unless STRONGLY encouraged (Yes, occasionally forced!) They too, finally got in the boat and once they did, they really enjoyed it! Brylie missed the fun as she had made plans to hang with a schoolmate. I posted a pic of some kids enjoying the day swimming at the boat launch next to the no diving and no swimming signs. I thought that was amusing.
The time changed this weekend and though we thoroughly enjoyed the extra hour, darkness at 5 is no fun! I'll have to be more mindful of the shortening days and plan accordingly to get the horses ridden and the farm chores done during daylight.
I'm anxiously counting down the days til I return to Miakylie and Kaigan in the States. I'm excited to be able to help Kaigan move to Dallas where he'll be doing a six month internship with American Airlines. We'll then fly to Kentucky for the graduations of both Mikaylie and Sam, my nephew. The last week of my three week trip, the three of us will spend back in Dallas. Can't wait to hug my babies, both now adults at 18 and 21. I may never let them go.
A couple of weeks ago, Billy and I redeemed a voucher for a helicopter tour we'd received from friends who's baby Billy delivered. It was a clear, beautiful day and the views were spectacular! Looking down on Mt. Taranaki, a mountain we've climbed, and into the crater was really awesome. I was even able to shoot a couple of photos of our farm, though from a distance, as we did not fly over it.
My ankle is healing slowly but surely. I have full range of motion and can bare weight, even run with no pain whatsoever. The remaining pain is only bruising on the bone and muscle tissue which is still limiting the types of shoes I can wear. I can only just wear a tennis shoe because of the pressure it had put on my ankle bone when it was still swollen. I have been able to wear my riding boots however as they are rather loose. This means I've been back on Joe and, even having done nothing with him for the three weeks I could only wear Toms or sandals, he was absolutely wonderful. I've ridden him up our road, visiting with the lovely neighbors who I was riding with the day of the accident, who got him home for me as I went to hospital, and I've cantered around our field which I hadn't even done before the accident. He really is a lovely horse and hasn't a mean bone in his body.
Charlie is the one I really need to focus on now. He has grown rather fat in his convalescence and, judging by his bucks and kicks when put into a new paddock, I think he's feeling quite fine. While I do miss my Bella and Soochie I left in Kentucky, I hit the horse jackpot here with Charlie and Joe and even Lofty who, while not sound enough for hard riding, is a quiet, sensible horse that nearly anyone can ride.
Today after church we spent the afternoon with a wonderful new friend who has become like a surrogate grandfather to the kids, particularly Nani. He has a small motor boat and we rode up and down the river, watching ducks and enjoying the scenery on a splendid day. Billy had brought his kayak as well and he and Nani both enjoyed time pedaling around. Nani is such a go-getter. She loves to try anything and everything and is pretty fearless. The boys tend to be more lazy and disinterested in trying much unless STRONGLY encouraged (Yes, occasionally forced!) They too, finally got in the boat and once they did, they really enjoyed it! Brylie missed the fun as she had made plans to hang with a schoolmate. I posted a pic of some kids enjoying the day swimming at the boat launch next to the no diving and no swimming signs. I thought that was amusing.
The time changed this weekend and though we thoroughly enjoyed the extra hour, darkness at 5 is no fun! I'll have to be more mindful of the shortening days and plan accordingly to get the horses ridden and the farm chores done during daylight.
I'm anxiously counting down the days til I return to Miakylie and Kaigan in the States. I'm excited to be able to help Kaigan move to Dallas where he'll be doing a six month internship with American Airlines. We'll then fly to Kentucky for the graduations of both Mikaylie and Sam, my nephew. The last week of my three week trip, the three of us will spend back in Dallas. Can't wait to hug my babies, both now adults at 18 and 21. I may never let them go.
22 March 2014
Hello from Down Under!
It's been a very busy several weeks! Kids are back in school and all seemed to have settled in well. And with the kids back in school I picked up a third day a week at work and often do an additional half day. I'm currently working in Medical Records and like it quite a lot. I especially like getting a paycheck! With two kids needing money in the States and my horse addiction, my wee little check comes in very handy. My boss is super and my job hours are so flexible, I can still put family first. And Wednesdays Billy and I have lunch together. Sushi!!!
I'd sent my thoroughbred, Joe, to a trainer just before Charlie's fall from the cliff. Remember this is the horse that I'd clashed with (broke my nose on) and consequently my confidence on him, or any horse for that matter, plummeted. My other two horses, Lofty and Charlie, have helped me tremendously with regaining my comfort riding again but sadly, I just couldn't get my head straight with riding Joe. The trainer, Dave, restarted him and I began lessoning on him. Slowly, I was getting more comfortable on him but couldn't really see myself just going off on a ride on him. Dave helped me alot and I realized that my biggest problem with Joe was the problem in my own head. It was time to take him home and keep getting more confident with him or sell him, which would still require me to ride him until he sold so that he could be shown to anyone who wanted to look at him. I brought him home and started on him the next day. He was so quiet and lovely that I rode him down our driveway. The next day I headed down the road! I'd had him home for a few weeks and had been riding him 2-3 times a week. I had ridden him more in the last few weeks than I'd ridden him in the previous two years I've had him! I've ridden him on the farm and up the road alone and with my neighbors. I never thought I'd be riding him confidently, let alone confidently on the road! So nearly two weeks ago I was thrilled to be taking him to ride on the beach with my neighbors, Shona and Stewart. We got to the beach, tacked up and headed off. Joe was great! He looked at things but was great. I got more and more comfortable as we went along. We were even met by some dirt bikes which had me a nervous wreck but Joe was okay. I was relaxed and enjoying an amazing beach ride on an absolutely beautiful, sunny day. Until… Well I don't really know what happened. I guess something scared Joe and he suddenly spun so fast that I was immediately put off balance and knew I'd not recover. I knew I was going so I just let myself drop into the soft sand. That would have been just fine but Joe skittered around landing a rear hoof right on the inside of my left ankle. OUUUUCCCHHHH! Stew set off to collect Joe who was now tangled in his reigns and spazzing out. Shona hopped down from her horse to check on me as I was groaning, "He stepped on my ankle." My boot seam was ripped and I quickly eased it off my foot in case swelling made it difficult to get off. The bruising set in right away, it hurt like crazy and my pants were full of sand! Once Stewart got Joe settled he carried me to the adjacent cow pasture where Billy could drive right up to get me, then he and Shona rode back to the horse floats (trailers) leading Joe. They took our truck, trailer and Joe home for me. Meanwhile, I sat in the cow pasture waiting for Billy to collect me. I made him stop at home before taking me to the hospital because as I was getting dressed to go ride that morning I'd told Nani who was in my room at the time, "I'm going to throw these undies away after today because they are all stretched out and have a hole in them." My grandmother would have a fit if I went to the hospital with old underpants on!!! After he got me checked in at the ED, he left with Nani and her two friends not wanting to sit there with 3 bored little girls. After a couple of hours and a few x-rays, I was told nothing was broken (much to the surprise of the doctor), was wrapped, given crutches, a prescription and instructed to stay off of it. So it's been nearly two weeks and I can't wait to get back on Joe! He hadn't been naughty or dirty. He just got a fright and I was caught off guard. I should have never come off and am furious with myself for it. I need to get back in the saddle!!!
Today we had Nani's 10th birthday party. Fourteen 9-12 year olds, a treasure hunt, a craft project and a Minion cake. Great fun!!! Check out the pics...
It's been a very busy several weeks! Kids are back in school and all seemed to have settled in well. And with the kids back in school I picked up a third day a week at work and often do an additional half day. I'm currently working in Medical Records and like it quite a lot. I especially like getting a paycheck! With two kids needing money in the States and my horse addiction, my wee little check comes in very handy. My boss is super and my job hours are so flexible, I can still put family first. And Wednesdays Billy and I have lunch together. Sushi!!!
I'd sent my thoroughbred, Joe, to a trainer just before Charlie's fall from the cliff. Remember this is the horse that I'd clashed with (broke my nose on) and consequently my confidence on him, or any horse for that matter, plummeted. My other two horses, Lofty and Charlie, have helped me tremendously with regaining my comfort riding again but sadly, I just couldn't get my head straight with riding Joe. The trainer, Dave, restarted him and I began lessoning on him. Slowly, I was getting more comfortable on him but couldn't really see myself just going off on a ride on him. Dave helped me alot and I realized that my biggest problem with Joe was the problem in my own head. It was time to take him home and keep getting more confident with him or sell him, which would still require me to ride him until he sold so that he could be shown to anyone who wanted to look at him. I brought him home and started on him the next day. He was so quiet and lovely that I rode him down our driveway. The next day I headed down the road! I'd had him home for a few weeks and had been riding him 2-3 times a week. I had ridden him more in the last few weeks than I'd ridden him in the previous two years I've had him! I've ridden him on the farm and up the road alone and with my neighbors. I never thought I'd be riding him confidently, let alone confidently on the road! So nearly two weeks ago I was thrilled to be taking him to ride on the beach with my neighbors, Shona and Stewart. We got to the beach, tacked up and headed off. Joe was great! He looked at things but was great. I got more and more comfortable as we went along. We were even met by some dirt bikes which had me a nervous wreck but Joe was okay. I was relaxed and enjoying an amazing beach ride on an absolutely beautiful, sunny day. Until… Well I don't really know what happened. I guess something scared Joe and he suddenly spun so fast that I was immediately put off balance and knew I'd not recover. I knew I was going so I just let myself drop into the soft sand. That would have been just fine but Joe skittered around landing a rear hoof right on the inside of my left ankle. OUUUUCCCHHHH! Stew set off to collect Joe who was now tangled in his reigns and spazzing out. Shona hopped down from her horse to check on me as I was groaning, "He stepped on my ankle." My boot seam was ripped and I quickly eased it off my foot in case swelling made it difficult to get off. The bruising set in right away, it hurt like crazy and my pants were full of sand! Once Stewart got Joe settled he carried me to the adjacent cow pasture where Billy could drive right up to get me, then he and Shona rode back to the horse floats (trailers) leading Joe. They took our truck, trailer and Joe home for me. Meanwhile, I sat in the cow pasture waiting for Billy to collect me. I made him stop at home before taking me to the hospital because as I was getting dressed to go ride that morning I'd told Nani who was in my room at the time, "I'm going to throw these undies away after today because they are all stretched out and have a hole in them." My grandmother would have a fit if I went to the hospital with old underpants on!!! After he got me checked in at the ED, he left with Nani and her two friends not wanting to sit there with 3 bored little girls. After a couple of hours and a few x-rays, I was told nothing was broken (much to the surprise of the doctor), was wrapped, given crutches, a prescription and instructed to stay off of it. So it's been nearly two weeks and I can't wait to get back on Joe! He hadn't been naughty or dirty. He just got a fright and I was caught off guard. I should have never come off and am furious with myself for it. I need to get back in the saddle!!!
Today we had Nani's 10th birthday party. Fourteen 9-12 year olds, a treasure hunt, a craft project and a Minion cake. Great fun!!! Check out the pics...
16 February 2014
Loving NZ Summer!!!
What a fabulous weekend!!! Family Indian dinner for Valentines' Day. Two days at the beach: Saturday with Nani and the dogs and Sunday with the kids and our church family, AND I gave surfing a go!!! Definitely plan to do that again! Managed to ride both days, once on Joe who's just returned from trainer.
This summer has been a first for a couple things for me. Besides the surfing, I also participated in my first and second open water swims. The first was a practice with a group that swims every Tuesday and the second was an event, Masters 1.2k, in which I placed 21st of 25. I was very pleased with that as my main objective was to merely complete the race AND I had an awful cold. I swam it in a surfing wetsuit which is thicker and more drag so now I'm looking forward to buying a proper swimming wetsuit and do more open water swimming. The 1.2k was held before the main event of the day called the Flannigan Cup. It is 3.4k and I'm hoping by next year I'll be ready for it. I've been swimming 2.5k twice a week in a pool but swimming in open water is a whole other animal. Who knows? Maybe I'll even do a mini triathlon someday!
Also this month was the now annual horse trek I go on. Charlie is still on the mend but thanks to a wonderful, kind soul, I was able to go on a lovely borrowed horse. Even though the trek was during the worst of my cold, I had an amazing time!
Today marks the 3rd anniversary of our move to New Zealand and with the activities of the last couple of week, I'm still in awe and immensely grateful for the blessing of our life here.
This summer has been a first for a couple things for me. Besides the surfing, I also participated in my first and second open water swims. The first was a practice with a group that swims every Tuesday and the second was an event, Masters 1.2k, in which I placed 21st of 25. I was very pleased with that as my main objective was to merely complete the race AND I had an awful cold. I swam it in a surfing wetsuit which is thicker and more drag so now I'm looking forward to buying a proper swimming wetsuit and do more open water swimming. The 1.2k was held before the main event of the day called the Flannigan Cup. It is 3.4k and I'm hoping by next year I'll be ready for it. I've been swimming 2.5k twice a week in a pool but swimming in open water is a whole other animal. Who knows? Maybe I'll even do a mini triathlon someday!
Also this month was the now annual horse trek I go on. Charlie is still on the mend but thanks to a wonderful, kind soul, I was able to go on a lovely borrowed horse. Even though the trek was during the worst of my cold, I had an amazing time!
Today marks the 3rd anniversary of our move to New Zealand and with the activities of the last couple of week, I'm still in awe and immensely grateful for the blessing of our life here.
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