Skydiving at sea

This lucky little boy got a chance to fly while we were on our way toward Nagasaki.


By "fly" I mean he got to go into the skydiving simulator tube and get blown about. It was awesome watching him have such a good time.





Here's a little movie clip I made and posted to my youtube channel.

Snippet of our summer holidays

Straight after Christmas we went and stayed at our ngahere for just under a week. It's the longest stretch we've managed to achieve up there so far, and it was fun.







Jef put together our composting area using pellets. This then gives us the ability to use a composting toilet system.











I made this little video for a holidays snaps competition so it makes sense to put it up here as well.

Kien's keyboard recital

All the hard work and hours of practice he has put in - I'm so proud of him. This is his first year learning to play the keyboard. Although its been hard at times when he just does not want to practice and I think its a total waste of money to pay for these lessons - I know that he will be thankful for the perseverance. It's important to me to teach him commitment, and today was a very proud mummy moment for me watching him up on the stage and pushing through his nervousness. He told me he was scared; that he has stage fright. I told him its okay to be scared, that he can do it. He did it.

Here's a link to the video on youtube in the event you can't see it through whichever method you have received this post :)

Vietnam adventure in motion

A year flies by fast, doesn't it? This time last year we were in my birthplace; the bustling coastal city, Nha Trang, Vietnam. What an adventure we had, and how much Kien has grown and developed in 1 year is crazy!

Finally, one year later, here is a short film I made of our Vietnam experience.

Vietnam Experience from Lien on Vimeo. Music by Beach House, "Myth".

Here are my postcards from last year.

Blogging is a wonderful thing. It's my virtual scrapbook that I get to share with all my family and friends close by and abroad. Interwebs is cool, Man.

On the farm - in motion

There were some classic moments at the family farm on new years day, and what better way to preserve those memories than through a movie.

This movie makes me smile.

Here is a link to the HD version: On the farm at Te Kopuru Jan 2013 by Lien on Vimeo.

Our holiday - in motion

As I try to do with all our holiday videos I've made a movie - a snap shot of our experiences wrapped up in a 5 minute short film. Not only is it a good way to reminisc without having to go through hundreds of unsorted photos and video clips, but Kien loves to watch them - over and over and over again. This is how he remembers what he has experienced in his life, and I love that am creating and sharing those memories.



If you are having issues viewing the movie, here is the link to it on youtube

~~~~~

My third mother's day - in motion

My third mother's day experience - ever.

For as long as I can remember I've either not acknowledged it or spent the day feeling sorry for myself for not having a mother to celebrate. I never realised how fulfilled I could feel until I became a mother, and how much I would love the experience.

Here's a little movie I put together of my third mother's day.

If you are receiving this post via e-mail please see the movie by clicking here to go online and view, or if all else fails here is the link to it on youtube.

I've yet to sort through the photos I took on Sunday so I'll probably have an addendum.

Reminiscing in motion

I've finally finished editing the movie of our trip away. Finding the time to do these things is hard, especially when there are work pressures combined with sleep deprivation and a child that thinks 9pm is a reasonable hour to hit the hay (only to take another 30-60 minutes to actually fall asleep and in the process making his Mummy come in and out of the room to reassure him she is just outside the door). So the only time I actually have for "me" time is between 10pm and whenever I decide is a reasonable hour to get to bed and still be able to function the following that day.

When I first started making movies a year ago I had not anticipated that my son would love them so much, and so soon. I had hoped he would be interested in them when he was older, but it turns out he is a narcissist by nature and loves seeing himself in motion. He has already seen this latest movie perhaps a dozen times this morning - over and over. He usually asks for "watch Kien" and then "more Kien" but today it was "more Ethan". It's funny how he sub-names the movies. He calls the Xmas one "Jingle Bells" or "Thomas", and he calls the zoo one "Away", or the beach one with all his little friends "Catch". The rest of them fall under the generalised bucket of "Kien" movies. I like that "watch Kien" rates the same as "watch heli hey-tee-tas" or "watch diggers", and he gets just as excited with turning on the TV or iPad or iPhone to watch any one of them.

So without further ado herewith the movie - L.A. 2012.

Hey, if you are receiving this post as an e-mail you will not see the movie I've just embedded above. So you need to come to the actual blog post online, or if all else fails, here is the link to it on youtube.

Whangarei roadtrip in motion

A couple of nights ago I sat down to finish editing the movie - after this scenario played out multiple times prior:

[small human] "Mummy, mummy, mummy, MUMMY!"
Walk-in
[me] "Kien, lie down!"
[small human] "I lie down. Mummy lie down?"
[me] "I've already laid down with you. You're a good boy. I'll be back soon."
Walk-out

9pm, and finally there is silence. I looked out the window to witness one of the most amazing sunsets.

The only words that springs to mind are that of U2's - under a blood red sky.

I've finally finished editing the movie, and I have really enjoyed putting it together.

If you are receiving this post via e-mail or cannot view the movie here is a link to it on youtube: http://youtu.be/2BHlI_Y2TMQ

Christmas in the southern hemisphere

It is summer, and this is what our Christmas looks like.

Christmas was a joyous affair; totally low key, just the way I like it to be. Having kids around at Xmas certainly make it alot of fun.

If you are receiving this post via e-mail and/or cannot view or play the movie here it is on YouTube.

It is lovely watching the cousins interacting now that they are both toddlers.

Being young

Do you remember what it was like when you couldn't even count your age to cover all the fingers on a single hand? When an outing was an event that seemed to stretch out indefinately *the WHOLE day*, and so long as you were having fun then it was a delightful never ending thrill? No one was keeping track of time. Time? What’s does that mean? It’s merely something that exists in adult-land. So on Tuesday afternoon it must have felt like an endless party for these children.

I left work on Monday with everyone teasing me about going to the beach (as the rain and wind was relentlessly attacking people and umbrellas outside). I was adamant on going, but reserved the right to change my mind if the gray clouds dominated the sky and the sun was a no show.

Sentinel Beach

When the tide is in this place is awesome.

We had a gathering at the beach with some of my coffee group buddies and all of our kids, 2 a piece (except for me). We came baring beach balls and sand toys. It seemed like there were a lot of kids with shrill voices occupying the entire stretch, and it was fabulous.

They sat on picnic blankets and munched on corn chips and popcorn for fuel before scattering with buckets of energy to burn. One kid found a slide to play on.

Others built campfires and helped rub sticks together to try and light it. I think some of those sticks ended up at Nic's place.

These two followed each other around like they were a married couple, with bosiness and bickering to match.

That's when she's not striking a pose for the camera.

Olivia demonstrating being "fierce". You go, girl! (in my best Tyra Banks impersonation).

These two couldn't stop shoveling popcorn into their mouths. I was pretty impressed how well they were able to share that bag of popcorn.

Happiness at the beach is a sure winner.

As the wind picked up and the gray skies hid the setting sun we decided to move on.

Kid's dinner (plus alcohol & nibbles for grownups)

Ahh, lovely glass of Pinot Gris and a fine selection of delectable nibbles as we watched the kiddos chowing down on fish and chips.

Following on from dinner they ran around inside and out, climbed furniture, played with water, ran around some more, and sat down for desert.

It was such a ridiculously fun afternoon and evening, but as always all good things must come to an end. We bid our farewells, and headed home for a quick bath and a prompt bedtime soon after. Kien was exhausted, and so was I too, actually. You know the type of tired I mean, and with the satisfaction of knowing that I gave my son another adventure in his repertoire of memories in being young.

A wrap of our day in the form of a little movie...

For those who are seeing this post via e-mail and/or cannot view the movie here is the link to it on youtube: Children's Gathering.

If you wish to see more photos I've added an addendum for this post.

Good times at the zoo

Last month Kien's daycare had an outing to the Auckland zoo.

My two guys got to spend the morning together. It looks like Kien had a heck of a lot of fun!

His little friends

On Tuesday Kien met up with his little friends from our coffee group. It was my turn to provide the venue and refreshments, so since it was such fabulous weather I decided to hold it at Salisbury Park in Herne Bay. I baked some ginger crunch and blueberry muffins and chopped up some fruit for the kiddies.

I had a really good time, and it would seem Kien enjoyed it as well. *Note* this movie is not all about Kien, so if you are not interested in seeing other peoples' children then don't bother watching it as it will be 2:26 minutes of your life you will not get back :-)

We have just finished Kien's course of antibiotics - hooray! The night before last we had another rough one with him waking up at 2am and screaming. I had to rock him to sleep and he stayed with me on the mattress in his room again. But last night Jef had a successful time whereby Kien only woke up once at 3am for a feed and slept through until 7:30am. So hopefully tonight will turn out well for me since it is my shift.

I've been on a 2 day course learning all about "Agile methodology" for project management. It was all common sense stuff that I knew and practiced anyway (except they put some "interesting" names and terminology to things), and my company paid $2500 for me to attend the course. Good for my CV; now I have another certification under my belt.

We are looking forward to Sunday as we will be attending Air New Zealand Technical Operations open day. This is where we wander around the hangers at the airport and look at planes and engines up close and personal. It will be so much fun!

Playing at Western Park

We have been making the most of summer. We've been going to the park practically every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times even. Kien loves playing there, and is growing his confidence and "no fear" attitude! This was on Tuesday evening in between dinner and bedtime.

Baby Steps

It's been a week where Kien has been trying to walk a lot more than previously. From just a few steps only a couple of weeks ago he is now walking so much more confidently. Check it out!

Standing, bathing, and stepping

On Friday 7th evening Jef was outside on the lawn with Kien at Amy's place. He stood up independently from squat, and as standing for a few seconds. Then on Sunday 9th January Kien took his first step without hanging on to anything. He did this first on the couch, then from holding onto the chair transitioning to the walker. Since then he has continued to build his confidence, and he has often stood and let go of what he was holding on to for support. He has done this a lot in the bath - which is quite scary because it is slippery in there!

Speaking of baths Kien went through a stage of about a week around Xmas/NY period where he did not want to get into the bath and would screech and cling on to me tightly at the sight of the bath. It was so sad to see him petrified of the bath because he loved it so much and would spend so much time in there. I had to slowly coax him back into the bath by getting in with him and having him sit on my knees playing with his toys until he dropped them and wanted to get down to pick them up. Once he was in the water everything is back to normal again...go figure :-) So now we no longer bath him in the little plastic baby bath because of this episode.

We went to the beach on Saturday afternoon - the sunshine was glorious.



And on 13th January I stopped filling out my spreadsheet. That is a milestone!