Every Tuesday Nuno has soccer practice at his school. Since my husband coaches & I help get the boys out of their uniforms and into mufti, neither one of us is available to pick up Lana. However since the schools are affiliated there is a taxi that brings girls over to attend the after school program and Lana just hops on that.

When soccer is done, we more often that not load our car up with kids to drop off. One of those kids is a friend of Lana’s, let’s call her Thalia. She comes over to our house and hangs out so that her mom who works at the boys’ school can attend a weekly staff meeting and get some work done. Thalia is a pretty cool kid and she and Lana normally busy themselves with all sorts of fun activities. Even still both my husband and I were quite surprised when this week the girls decided to practice their violins. Which they proceeded to do for an hour. I think I may have heard my husband mumble ‘geek’ under his breath. But the fact of the matter is I know he is very proud of his little girl.

If you have not picked up on the fact that I LOVE Nuno’s teacher, then you have not been listening. She is wonderful. If I had my way, I would sit in her class just to learn how to be a better teacher. Honestly, observing her would become better than any University class. She is that good.

The other day Nuno came home with a completed writing book. The fact is that he has done more writing in half a year of Year 1 (Kindergarten to you) than Lana did in Years 1 & 2 in Australia! This is no fault of hers. She would have loved to have written in school, but that’s not what they did there. Instead, it’s what she and her friends would do for fun, at recess. Can you understand my frustration with her old school and them not tapping into her innate enthusiasm for learning?!?!?

Looking through the book I could not help but smile that my little boy has become a writer. He may not be the best writer, yet. But man, I am a proud mama.

Thank you Ti Ze for giving him the thrill of his life and letting him drive the boat. He loved it so much, he mentioned it again in his book!

I also though this one was cute.

Saturday mornings are usually pretty crazy. As the coach of Nuno’s team, my husband is responsible to get to the soccer field early and set up our goal. As manager-mom, I have to make sure we have everything else we need: Bibs, lollies, certificates, pen, balls and oh yes, two children, one in full soccer gear.  Our team is made up of boys from Nuno’s class, so even though we have not had the most ‘winningest’ season, we do always manage to have a nice time catching up with a lovely group of kids and their families.

Today was our second to last game and I’m not sure exactly what happened, but everything seemed to have connected for Nuno. Right at the start of the game he scored a goal. His first of the season. I was rather chuffed and walked over to the club house to sort out the medals for end of season picnic next week. I came back about 10 minutes later and one of the dads very casually said, “Oh you didn’t miss much, except that your son scored another 3 goals!” What the what? My son? I couldn’t believe it. He was engaged and was following the ball. It was amazing to see.

The second game went pretty much the same way. He and his buddy scored 9 goals. It was really wonderful to see. We ended up cheering when the other team scored two goals. Today was just a nice day on the soccer pitch with a nice group of 5 year old boys. A day I hope my family remembers. Of course I did not bring a camera, so all I could get was this shot of player of the day with my phone.

But the magic of the day did not end there. After soccer we a few of the kids’ friends met us at the house. I had offered to drive my niece home, Lana and a few of her friends to a party out in the country and to take the boys mini-golfing. As we drove out of the city I thought how lucky I am. I mean really. I have two good kids, they have friends, we have family AND we live a life where we can afford a nice truck to drive these gorgeous beings around. I know we often take these things for granted. But I did later call me husband and thank him for providing for us so nicely.

After dropping the girls off we headed over to mini-golf. It’s great spot, way out of town, but not too far from the party. The boys, who are poor golfers, but great cheaters, had a blast. Nuno’s pal even scored a hole in one!

After golf, there was ice cream, then lunch. Yes, in that order;) We then headed back into town and went to the park.

After a good time playing at the park, the boys went exploring. They met this really cool girl who was with her dad and they all played together for quite some time.

Making friends is a funny thing. It’s hard to explain the chemistry, the science that causes two people, sometimes of similar temperament, sometimes not, to get along. But as I sat there watching my son, I could not, but thank God that he is able to sort that magic out.

One concept that still makes me grin is Mufti Day. I had NO idea what that was when I first saw it on Lana’s school calendar back in OZ. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but for those of you who missed it, mufti day is a day when kids are allowed to go in regular clothes to school. Remember, even public schools have uniforms here and in Australia. Typically it’s a fundraising day and the children pay a gold coin ($1 or $2) for the privilege to dress in their ‘street clothes’.

Today, both kids have a Daffodil Day Mufti Day. All monies raised go towards cancer research. The kids were to wear yellow and green. get it, they’ll look like daffodils.

To say that we arrived home and hit the ground running is putting it mildly. Because of my having booked our family holiday so in advanced it meant that my kids missed the first week back after a three week winter holiday. I know, I’m bad. Due to this poor planning, I was on a mission to get my kids back to school as soon as possible. Soooo, on the morning we arrived, yes after a gazillion hour journey, I sent them to school. Yep, we arrived at 5am, were picked up by my in-laws, had breakfast, showered, and off my cherubs went. Please do not tell the authorities, but I came home a took a nap! STOP! Do not call the authorities I said. To be fair, the two of them slept on the plane, whereas I did not. I spent most of the flight being kicked by them so they could get comfortable on the sky couch. Also, I left my phone on in case the school called to tell me either of my children had fallen asleep. See I am a responsible mother!

This being our first year in NZ we have been met with a few surprises. The school system is somewhat similar to that in Australia, but there are a few differences. One of them is the School Cross Country Races. In Australia the kids had a fun sports carnival starting in Year 3. No scores were kept and the distances were just across part of the cricket field.  But here, Year 1 students and up are expected to race cross country. Year 1 ran 1.5K and Year 4 ran 2K. All students are mandated unless there is a doctor’s note.

We had an idea this was coming because on the day we left for our holiday there was a homework assignment for Lana to run 10 times for 10 minutes at a time while on holiday. Unfortunately, I got the note while we were on our way to the airport and her running shoes were at school. Although she did log about 150 hours swimming in the pool, we only did about 3 workouts. Okay, so maybe I am a bad mother.

So day two of being home I go to pick Nuno up from school and he says, “Mom, can we go on a trip again?” To which I respond that we are going to Portugal next year. He then replies, “No mom, I want to go away not this Friday, but next Friday. I want to leave the country.” The date he was requesting we not be in town coincided with the date of the upcoming Cross Country meet! So I respond, “Training didn’t go so well.” And he says, “No mom, it didn’t. I hated it. It was horrible.”

Lana was not so excited either. On the day of the race she was all good to go until we headed out the door and she broke down. And let me tell you it ain’t pretty when that girl gets upset. She doesn’t just cry. Nope, she argues. So every sympathetic, sweet, supportive thing you say is met with an argument. People, we have a lawyer on our hands.

So it was with great pleasure that we arrived at the school and saw Lana looking like this.

She was in among her friends and actually looked excited.

The course was not an easy one. And it was a cold day. One of the coldest on record. Oh, and did I mention the mud? The mud where kids where losing their shoes before having to run up the hill?

So it was about this point where we caught up with her. This point where we were being dutiful parents attending a Cross Country Race cheering our daughter on. It was this point where she laid into me telling me off. Yep, that’s her walking up the hill, telling me I lied. That this is NOT fun, that this is horrible….

How do you answer to that? You don’t. You just clap, smile and continue to cheer. And she kept going and finished the race. She was 13th out of 13, but I think deep down she was still proud of herself. It is her sweet friends and teachers cheering her on that pushed her through the end of the race. Well done Lana!

Nuno spoke to his vovo the morning of the race and informed him that he expected to win because in his words, “I am speedier.” Not wanting to discourage my son, but still prepare him for what was sure not to happen, I just reminded him that the purpose of the day was to work on one’s fitness level not necessarily win the race. Well he went out there and gave it his all.

The woman in green is my friend Joss who was cheering Nuno on. It was actually very cute seeing the parents shouting out every boy’s name not just their son’s. And the boys all ran their little hearts out. Especially Nuno….

So I have this niece who’s gorgeous (they all are to tell you the truth), smart and to top it off, she can cook! She kindly shared a recipe with the family this holiday that I became addicted to. Yup, I’ll admit it. That night I made sure I got my fair share of that yummy goodness.

The next morning, there was none left, and I was desperate for more so I was left to try and replicate it for breakfast. Yes, it’s that delicious.

Since getting ‘home’ I have substituted the pasta with buckwheat pasta as well as whole wheat pasta and it’s still so good.

Thanks again for sharing Ali!

Kale and Sesame Spaghetti

• 12 Cups Kale, cut in thin strips across the spine, tough stem discarded
• 13 oz (375 grams) spaghetti or other pasta
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup tamari
• 3 Tablespoons dark sesame oil (or regular sesame oil)
• 1 teaspoon salt (if necessary)

1. Bring a large pot of water to boiling.
2. Add spaghetti and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add the kale to the same pot and stir carefully so that it’s all
combined.
4. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente (just cooked)
5. Meanwhile, place sesame seeds in a single layer in a frying pan, and
cook over low heat, stirring occasionally,  until the seeds are toasted.
Watch very carefully that the seeds don’t burn. Stop cooking as soon as
they start to turn brown.
6. Drain the kale/spaghetti and transfer it to a large bowl.
7. Add the sesame seeds, tamari, sesame oil (and salt if you’re using
it) and mix well.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

I am sharing these because each time I have made them they have been a hit. Funny, everyone BUT my oldest vegetarian friend likes them. But that’s the way it goes.

I will warn you, this recipe yields a ton of burgers. I just share them with friends and family and store the rest in the fridge. They keep for a few days. I just eat them on bread with ketchup/tomato sauce, but my husband crumples a cooked burger on salad.  My sister-in-law mixed it in with some pasta as if it was ground beef and she said it tasted great.

So for Jen, my most carnivorous friend, because her daughter LOVED these.

You know Jen, she just might turn out to be a conservative vegan. Wouldn’t that be a hoot!!!

It’s official. I’ve decided to eat vegan. Does that make me a vegan? No. You see I know once in a blue moon I will eat meat. And once in a blue moon I will eat a delicious ice cream and cheese. I know myself. I know I love meat and dairy. So I will allow myself these when I REALLY want them. But you know what? I have decided that living a long life without disease and feeling healthy is my priority. So I will do my best to live a vegan lifestyle.

It ain’t always easy. Like when you’re on vacation with all your friends and they order pizza and your daughter talks about how delicious it is. Or when your friends wear shirts like this…

But that’s okay, I still love them. They are forgiven.

Hey y’all! We’re home.

It’s all sorts of awesome to be here. I am feeling absolutely spoiled. Not with gifts, but rather with love, which happens to be my favorite kind of spoiled. My kids are also at the center of so much love. Hugs and kisses 10 million times a day. Nuno has become a kissing monster. No joke. He was on the attack yesterday with his Auntie Diane and it’s to the point I hope he doesn’t drive her crazy. But something tells me she loves his love.

When we were little I never understood why my mother insisted that the house be immaculate before we would head off on a trip. She would always be running around making sure every last thing was put away as we were all ready to head out the door. I always assumed it was a matter of what people would think should we all die and then perhaps after our funerals our friends would be for some reason be traipsing through our house. I always thought it was ridiculous on her part. Really, who cares?

Now 30 years later, days before heading off on a big trip, with a million things to do, I find myself cleaning out the pantry, the fridge and all my office files. I have officially become my mother. I don’t think I am doing it for the aforementioned reason. For me it’s the joy of returning to a house that is in order. It makes sense to me, but I think it makes my husband and kids wonder (and comment). Mom, I think I now know how you felt.