Government, more or less

I've always fancied myself a less-government kind of girl but a few things I've run into here have annoyed the whooey out of me, until I realized that those things in fact are evidence of less government and what I was wanting was more. . .

Let me explain. . . the library here drives me bonkers because you pretty much pay for just about everything and anything! New releases cost a few dollars to check out, same with videos and magazines. Yesterday I found out that reserving a book costs $2. I mean, seriously? I was annoyed. Then Dugald pointed out that it is a user-pays system, and if I wanted all those things for free (like I was used to at home) it would mean more government money. Another example, I went to the post office today (a little late since we moved two months ago) to file a change of address so our mail would be forwarded. Guess what? Yep, you have to pay for that too. It would cost $20 for two months, $40 for four, etc. Once again I wanted that service to be free, but that too points toward wanting more government.

It's not that they have less government here than at home, in general there is more. We pay a lot more taxes here than we did in Texas - for starters we can't file jointly as a married couple and split Dugald's income between us, but also they just have higher taxes to subsidize healthcare and this interesting thing they call the ACC - Accident Compensation Commission - among other things. The ACC means that pretty much nobody sues anyone else because ACC pays for any injury you might get, anywhere - work, car accident,whatever. I have a friend, who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent, who injured himself because he was drunk and they paid for his injury! They even cover criminals who hurt themselves when breaking into a home, or so I'm told. I find that crazy, but I'm not saying that America is a shining example of a system that 's perfect either. . . I'm just noticing things.

I don't really have a point here, and I still say that in the end I'm for a lot less government, but it did make me think this week so I thought I'd share it. There's not too much else to talk about anyway, Dugald is still in Seattle and we are grinning and bearing it until he gets back. Actually the girls have been pretty good - I am just tired because I tend to not sleep well while he is away. Maybe we'll camp out in my room tonight just for fun and then I'll sleep better because I won't be worried about not hearing them in the night.

Before I sign off and go do something like school my children, or fix a meal, or vacuum, or whatever, I wanted to share some fantastic news. . . quite unexpectedly immigration in America extended Dugald's green card for another year! Not sure how it all went down since it's been more than a year since he's been in the country and last time he flew through they put him in "time out" or whatever, but we are thankful. It will certainly make things go much more smoothly when we fly over with all the munchkins in June, and hopefully it will mean he can keep it for longer as long as he flys to America once a year. Yay!

Safe Arrival

Dugald has arrived safely in Seattle and says he's found Lloyd in good spirits. He was a dear and called friends of mine to let them know of his unexpected early departure and so I have received supportive phone calls and emails and tonight we had a lovely dinner with Alison and Matt and family. . .

Here is a picture of our new house from the front. I am still planning on interior photos, but it may take awhile and it's really not that impressive. I am excited that tomorrow they will be delivering the couches I ordered for the family room back in early February and, more importantly, my new desk so I can set up my computer!!!
This is just a sweet pic of my thumb-suckers down in our office where they were watching a dvd on the computer. So sweet.

That's all for this evening. . . xoxo

Weekend Update

As I write this Dugald is on a plane to Seattle to visit Lloyd. It's been a crazy afternoon as when he left for work today we didn't think he'd be going to Seattle for another few weeks. . . but circumstances changed and so he rushed home at 3 pm to pack a bag and catch a 5pm flight. Crazy! The girls and I took him to the airport, ate, then rushed home to clean up the house because Dugald and I have been hosting a parenting course at our house for the past few weeks on Monday night and we had guests arriving at 7 pm. All that to say, I am exhausted! But, I uploaded these photos a few days ago and so I wanted to finally write something here.

I am reading a book at the moment called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" that has inspired me to once again pay the extra money and make the extra effort to eat locally grown, organic food. To that end I have produce delivered to our house every Friday from a local farmer. It's been fun to get a crate full of surprises once a week, and I have to say it's inspired us to eat more veggies and try things we may not try on our own (silverbeet anyone?). Here is a picture of some of the loot in my most recent delivery:

Last weekend the girls got to have friends over for a "Girls Night In". . . they planned the menu, which included popcorn, kitkats, soda, pizza and ice cream, and invited one friend each over for dinner and a movie on Friday.

I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all!! Everyone left by 8pm and Dugald and I went out for the evening, perfect!

Saturday we headed down to Te Papa for the Monet exhibit - amazing to see and the girls even enjoyed it! Hopefully they learned something too . . .

Saturday night we had the cousins over for dinner - Hamish and Wills. It's always fun when they come hang out with us and I'm slowly but surely learning how to cook enough to feed an army.

That's all for now - Dugald will be away for a week so we will hopefully reschedule our trip to Taupo that we were planning for this weekend. The girls have been promised special treats from America if they are good for me while he is away, so here's hoping! I've got to get myself organized as I thought I had at least another week to shop on the internet and have things sent to Seattle for Dugs to bring home. . . we have some little girls with birthdays coming up, not to mention all the things mommy wants!!!

Lots of love to all!!

A Life Well Lived

Someone very dear to me died today. . . I almost don't know how to label her. Techically speaking she was my step-grandmother, but that name hardly defines who she was to me. She came into my life and became "family" when I was only six-years-old. In what was the most difficult and trying time of my life she accepted me and set a standard for the rest of my new family. I think they would have accepted me anyway, but here was a lady that could have let disappointment or unhappiness with the sad situation of divorce taint her affection for me, but she never did.

I think part of the reason I now have what is considered a large family by today's standards is because of the joy of being a part of her large family. I have seen modeled from them what it means to support one another, love one another, go through a crisis together, celebrate together. I am so grateful that she chose to never make a distinction between me and her true grandchildren. I am so grateful for the legacy she leaves behind of valuing family. She will be very missed, I'm thankful she died peacefully.
This picture is one of my favorites, on the left is my grandmother Lou Oliver, and on the right is Hazel Crown who went to be with the Lord today.

Super Sunday

Today was one of those days that make me think I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world! It was sunny, clear and warm with enough wind to feel good but not too much. Oh how I wish winter wasn't coming soon!!

The girls had big fun today with their cousin Hamish and his girlfriend Delaney who took them to the marine center here in Wellington. It's only open once a month or so and it was on our list of things to do, so we were all excited for them to go. Delaney took a bunch of pictures for me! Thanks so much H & D !!

Dugald and I had a wonderful day - we probably should have been doing things around the house but it was just too beautiful so we headed into town for a great date!! We had lunch on Oriental Parade, shopped a bit on Lambton Quay and then had a coffee before heading home. Hamish and Delaney and the girls arrived back about a half an hour after us and they had picked up Wills along the way so we got to play our favorite game - adults only- before dinner. I made a very easy meal and after eating the grown-ups played again. Delaney won the first game and I won the second so I'd say the girls pretty much wiped the floor with the boys. Sorry guys, maybe next time!

Zoo Sleepover

Last night the oldest three girls and Dugald went to the Wellington Zoo for a sleepover with a group of other homeschooling families. They had dinner here then headed on over for their night of adventure.

Here they are with their friend Rachel. Rachel's mom Anna and I hit it off immediately when we met last year at Cats. She is Canadian but lived in the U.S. for a long time and is married to a Kiwi. We've enjoyed getting to know each other better this year and have a lot in common.
I really should have Dugald do a "guest blog" about the evening, but my entire family is currently asleep - I hear it was a rough night!

Becky is one of Rachel's sisters, she is next to Josie. That's Rachel again sandwiched between Meggie and Katie. They are also a family with four children, only their fourth is a boy.

This is Peter (Anna's Kiwi husband) with the girls. Anna is also my friend who looks after Josie and Ellie on Fridays so I can go horseback riding with Meggie and Katie. Their family also loves Settlers of Catan as much as we do, so we have game nights together as well.

Anyone remember Meggie's obsession with "The Lion King" back in the day? She still loves all animals but particularly lions like Simba or Aslan.

Of course there were kangaroos. . .

and dingoes. Dingoes are wild dogs from Australia.

This dingo better not eat my baby (sorry for all of you who don't know the reference here).

Ellie and I had a slumber party of our own - she got to sleep in our bed with me for the evening. To say that she was disappointed to not get to go with her sisters would be a major understatement. I tried to make it up to her with lots of treats, tv and whatnot.

I have given up sugar for lent. I probably should just go about it quietly but I need the accountability of telling people because I'm finding it terribly difficult. I guess that is the point. You would think that given how much sugar I eat in a day I would lose weight giving it up - but I may in fact end up gaining pounds because I'm constantly eating to try and fill the void in my palate left by the lack of sugar!!

We're off to a big 40th birthday party this afternoon so I better finish the laundry and finally get dressed. Have a great weekend!

Busting my Gut and Losing teeth. . .

This weekend I got a wild hair and decided to do the Meridian Energy "Gutbuster". The Gutbuster is an 11.8 Kilometer walk or run, depending on what you signed up for, that starts off in the park behind our house. Some of my girlfriends from swimming had signed up to do it and were encouraging me to participate. I let the thought simmer in my mind until the morning of the race, no pre-registering for this girl, I like to keep my options open. At the VERY last minute (8:20 am, registration was meant to be by 8:30 at the latest) Katie and I headed to the park to sign up - she for the kids 1K race and me for the big walk. It was drizzly as we headed out and I think I secretely harbored hopes that they would cancel but my friends would still be impressed that I was there. Silly me. This is Karori - they walk places rain or shine my friends, there wasn't a thought for canceling!!

Here we are on the back porch with our numbers ready to go. We had time to go home for a few minutes after registering because the race didn't actually start until 9:20 am. We also managed to recruit Meggie to come and cheer for us while daddy stayed home with the sickies.
I hear Katie did well at her race - and she enjoyed it very much. I can't say the same for me on either count. It doesn't make a lot of sense to attempt something of this magnitude without training but that is exactly what I did. I have not been walking for exercise. I have not been stair climbing. I have had very little cardio training of late, just when we do time trials at swimming. This event was KILLER! We took off UP Campbell Street, and when I say up I mean the road was on an upward incline. But, at least it was a road. And a fairly gentle incline. Because after the first kilometer we were climbing a very narrow, muddy pseudo-path up to the top of Wrights Hill. It was steep. It went on and on for an entire kilometer. I was breathing hard and we were only two kilometers into it. And did I mention the mud?

After that steep kilometer the path evened out a wee bit, we were still heading upwards and onwards to the wind turbine though. Let me tell you, they have that turbine in the right place. When I finally got there, huffing and puffing, I thought I was going to be blown right over. It felt good though since I was dripping with sweat. Oops, I mean I was glistening in a very ladylike fashion.

So, after the wind turbine we got to head down. This is the part where I fell. I had so been looking forward to going down. Little did I know how steep and muddy it would be and what a challenge it would be to stay upright. Oh my.

Next we came to the part Fleur called the roller coaster. Picture a roller coaster and you've got the terrain - up, down, around, up, down, around. I found it quite pleasant.

Near the end we had another killer climb and I truly thought I might just sit down and let Fleur send someone for me. The problem is sitting there would have been a challenge - the path was again narrow and muddy and steep and I'd probably have just slid on down to where I started on it. At last we were back to Campbell Street and heading back to the finish at the park. As we approached there were our children yelling and screaming and joining us to cross the finish - here we are (thanks Alison for sending these pics):

All in all I'm really glad I did it, I do have a sense of accomplishment, but I did have to get immediate sustenance in the form of a coffee and I headed straight home and into the bathtub where I would have liked to stay for the rest of the afternoon. I am still sore today.

In other Morrison news, Josie has lost her first tooth!! She came downstairs this morning and just handed it to me. She said it was completely painless and there wasn't even blood. Tonight she will be expecting a visit from the tooth fairy. Here's hoping the tooth fairy has been taking her fish oil. . .