Aaliyah's Dedication - May 27th 2012

Wow - what a busy few weeks it has been.  With the lead up to Aaliyah's Dedication, there has been a lot to do and organise.  Guest list to put together, invitations to design, order and post, Dedication dress to find and buy (thanks Jodie) lunch to organise, buy for and prepare as well as houseguests to accomodate - but in spite of the chaos, it was wonderful and the day was absolutely perfect.  Blue skies and sun despite the cool breeze and everyone (seemed to) enjoy themselves.  One thing I didnt have to stress about was the cake - Dimi organised that and it was absolutely beautiful.  The ceremony was lovely and although some people couldn't end up making it on the day the love and support from them, and those that did make it was so special.  We had yummy mud cake at the church and then just a simple BBQ lunch at home after - sausages, chicken and lamb Souvlaki's, a big toss salad, potato bake, fresh rolls and trifle and then cake for dessert.  Aaliyah was spoilt rotten, incredibly well behaved (as usual) despite being tired and Patrick was also exceptionally well behaved on the day.  Someone asked us if he was jealous of all the attention Aaliyah was getting - our answer?  NOT AT ALL.  We have been so lucky with him, he has never shown any sign of jealousy or resentment to his baby sister and the bond they share is incredible.  Her gorgeous face lights up whenever he is around and he just melts every time he seems her.  Cameron and I are so blessed to have each other, such beautiful children, loving friends and families and a wonderful life together.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Cupcakes!

Anyone who knows me well, knows I just love cooking and baking.  I don't get a chance to do it as often as I would like, but I enjoy it when I do and it seems I am passing on that love to Patrick, who always enjoys helping out in the kitchen.  His favourite things to help with include stirring, peeling, pouring and measuring, which also helps his math skills!

I have included one of my favourite cupcake recipes here :-)  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do, these are really yummy!! 

INGREDIENTS:

100g softened unsalted butter,

3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar,

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups (200g) self-raising flour, sifted,

1/2 cup (125ml) milk

ICING:

125g unsalted butter, softened,

2 cups (300g) icing sugar mixture

1 1/2 tblsp milk

METHOD:

1.  Preheat oven to 180C.  Line a 12-hole medium muffin pan with paper cases.  Using electric beaters, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and creamy.

2.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg.  Gently fold through the flour and milk in two alternate batches.  Divide the mixture evenly among the paper cases.

3.  Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and springy when touched.  Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.  

4.  To make the icing, use electric beaters to beat the butter until light and creamy.  Add the icing sugar a little at a time, beating constantly.  Add half the milk and beat well until combined.  Add the remaining milk a little at a time, and tint with food colouring if you like.  Using a 1cm fluted nozzle, pipe the icing onto the cooled cupcakes.

I'm back again!

I've said this before, and I am sure I will say it again, but where does the time go???  The last post was over 18 months ago and I wasn't even pregnant, let alone a mum to a seven month old baby girl!  Aaliyah Kate McKay was born on the 22nd September 2011 and is such a little ray of sunshine.  She has blessed and completed our family in so many ways.  I never thought that I could, let alone would, love another child the way I love my gorgeous firstborn (Patrick, aged 4.5) but amazingly enough - I DO!  It really is true that you can love more than one child.  Patrick has adjusted amazingly well to having a sister and truly is the most loving, adoring and protective big brother.  He idolises her and her gorgeous little face lights up every time he is around.  They share an amazing bond and I hope that it just grows even stronger in years to come.

Here is a pic of my two little angels :)

My Challenge

My cousin Cherie set me a challenge today and that was to write a blog - she went easy on me and said I could blog about anything, my favourite movie, a favourite thing or something, an object that means something to me and my life..... Hmmmm what to write, what to write........

So many things come to mind - my family, my friends, people who have inspired me, 5 celebrities I'd love to have for dinner but I'm going to write about something that I am slowly learning.... ACCEPTANCE.  Not acceptance of others, but acceptance of me.  This is a hard one because for so many years I have believed what I want, deep down, is not understood by others but then I wonder why everyone else's opinion means more to me that what I want for myself and my life, and while I still do seek and crave acceptance from others, there is one specific thing that I have come to accept, and that's the fact that I LOVE being a stay at home mum and that's what I am happy doing.  People ask me "don't you get bored?" (NO!) "don't you crave adult conversation?" (That's what playdates and telephones are for) and "what do you do all day?" (interact with my son, cleaning, baking, playing, playdates, music, swimming, park play, painting, playdough, collage etc etc....)  Life is never boring and I am so rewarded by what I do.  I adore my little boy and love being home with him, educating him, playing with him and while I know that there are others out there that couldn't do what I do, but please know that I understand and accept that - but please accept for what I want for my life..... Because I do!

One year on...

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be,

So he put his arms around you and whispered "come with me"

With tearful eyes we watched and saw you pass away,

Although we loved you oh so much, we couldnt make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.

One year ago today, my wonderful Grandpa passed away and Heaven received another Angel.  It's been a sad day today - something just didn't feel right and I realised I am still struggling with the fact that he isn't around on earth anymore.  I can't call him, can't hug him, can't play cards with him or his beloved 8-ball, although I am proud to say I can remember him fondly with the most wonderful memories a girl can ever have.  Memories of sitting on Grandpa's lap doing puzzles, helping him water the many plants, flowers and trees at their house in Trennary Avenue, Ingle Farm, and going for walks to the park or to get an ice cream.  If I close my ears, I can still hear him talking to me... "it'll soon be Christmas Chickadee" and me laughing because it was March and Christmas was still 9 months away but my dear wise Grandpa would always chuckle and say "it'll be here before you know it" and he was right, as he was about oh so many things.  

While I am sad that he isn't around anymore, and that Patrick will never remember him or have his own memories of his Great Grandpa, I am glad we had many photos taken of them together and Patrick shares his middle name, which he will always know where it came from as he grows older. 

We love you Grandpa, I was so lucky to be your granddaughter and I know you're always with me, watching over me

Till we meet again someday, you'll always be in my heart

xx

My condensed life story....

It occured to me the other day that I am not the same person to everyone. To some people, I am a friend, to others, a member of their family. To my parents I am a daughter and to 2 very special people, I am a wife and a mother. I think this, honestly, is the "me" I love being the most, probably because as far back as I can remember I have wanted to grow up, get married and have a baby (or two) and work with children. Well, I have done the work with children which I loved, however once we moved overseas and had our own child, I realised there was more to life than looking after other people's children and now feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be a stay at home Mum to Patrick (3).

For those who are interested, here is some of my history – grab a drink you might need it!

I was born in the Quorn hospital at 3:17am on the 30^th September to my wonderful parents, Jan & Trevor Usher. They gave me a wonderful childhood and I am truly grateful to them for the lessons they instilled in me. We moved around a lot when I was a child, we left Quorn when I was 4 and moved to Melbourne for 18 months or so before returning to South Australia and settling in Whyalla, where I started school. After a few years Dad was offered a wonderful job opportunity in Port Augusta, so we relocated there.

Sadly, Mum and Dad split up in 1994 and Mum and I left Port Augusta and moved back to Whyalla where I started at Whyalla High School. I saw Dad every weekend, either I caught a bus to stay with him for the weekend, or he would come see me, but it never seemed to be enough. I loved both my parents so much and then to be separated from Dad was so hard, I went off the rails a little and rebelled. I never got mixed up with drugs or alcohol or on the wrong side of the law, but I had a massive attitude and was a total cow to Mum, who was trying so hard to make a good life for us. I left home at 16, got my own house and I think due to all the stress, my asthma flared up quite severely and I had to leave school and finish year 11 and 12 by distance education via the Open Access College in Adelaide. Things started getting better between Mum and I after I left home and now I am relieved to say we are as close as ever. We still argue and have our little issues but nothing major.

I have always been bought up with Christian beliefs and belong to the Salvation Army and even though Dad only ever went to Church for special occasions, Mum and I went each week no matter where we lived. I went to Sunday School when I was little, then was involved with Junior soldiers and corps cadets and then Youth Group, as well as helping out with the Kids Club in Whyalla. I made some very close friends and coincidentally, that's where Cameron & I initially met although despite being such close friends didn't get together for some years after!!!

During 1998 Mum & I both left Whyalla and moved to Adelaide. I was so excited to be finally living in Adelaide for the first time and as an added bonus it was right around the corner from my beautiful Grandparents and Aunty and Uncle (who all lived together). I visited them often and spent a lot of time with them. Having always lived in the country, it was such a novelty to be able to go and visit whenever I wanted and I would often ring Aunty Vaerie and ask her what was for dinner, knowing I never needed an invitation. I was enrolled at TAFE to do my Diploma of Children's Services and although I missed Dad heaps (he was still in Port Augusta and I was only seeing him roughly once a month then) having Mum close by was amazing and her never-ending support and help with everything was greatly appreciated. Mum was back in contact with her Uncle & Aunty by then, her Dad's brother and his wife, after having little contact with any of her family for so many years so we spent a lot of time supporting Aunty Betty who was nursing Uncle Tom, who had Parkinsons Disease and Dimentia, at home until it eventually got too much for her and she finally agreed to put him into a nice nursing home.

While I was living in Adelaide I spent quite a few TAFE Holidays in Sydney with Cameron who had also left Whyalla in 1998 when he was offered a great job and he is still working with the same company now, despite name changes and mergers over the years. He was living in a 2 bedroom apartment for a few years until 2001 when I moved to Sydney and we moved a 2 minute walk away to another 2 bedroom apartment that was in a nicer building, a little bigger (balcony and courtyard) , more modern and a lot brighter. I was working full time at a Long Day Care Centre run by local government and absolutely loved it. It was a great purpose built, 4-5 year old centre, great resources, awesome staff and all the training we wanted and was sad to leave 3 and a half years later, however the opportunity to move overseas was too good to pass up.

We decided we would get married before moving to the Middle East and while we only had 9 weeks to plan and arrange everything, we had an absolutely unforgettable day that we will cherish forever followed by a stunning honeymoon at Ayers Rock.

We spent about 9 months in Perth, in a gorgeous serviced apartment in the city before moving to Dubai. We had a good friend in Perth (Kim) and thanks to her met some of her great friends but I also met and became very close to one of my (now) best friends, Kalee and her husband Ben and leaving Perth was harder than I thought it would be. Dad flew over to Perth to see us off at the airport, along with Ben and Kalee and anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not good with good-bye's - never have been, never will be. I hate them, but do realise the upside of having great friends spread out all over Australia (and after our time in Dubai) all over the world is that no matter where I go, I have friends :-)

On our way to Dubai we planned a 15 hour stop over in Singapore therefore landed at 2am (ish) local time in Dubai on THE HOTTEST DAY in 2006..... We were put up in the Winchester Grand but let me reassure you, there wasn't anything grand about it! It was dark, dingy and none of the facilities were working.... pool was shut down for maintenance – in the middle of summer, mind you – and as we put our luggage down, and looked around, I burst into tears and said I wanted to go home. Cameron told me to go to bed (2 singles pushed together) and that things would look better in the morning.

Things did and we very quickly started looking for places to live. We found a lovely 1 bedroom apartment in an area called The Greens and moved in about 2 weeks later. I had a ball buying new furniture and unpacking and settling in to our new home. Best thing – the pool was awesome and working, which was great as it was still very hot. I fell pregnant in November so we spent Christmas day ringing our family and friends and sharing the news. I had a pretty shocking few months with morning sickness, however managed a trip home in February to see everyone and was thrilled to have a baby shower even though I was only 3-4 months pregnant. When I arrived back in Dubai I become involved with some mums and bubs groups now that I was pregnant as I still hadn't met many people or made any friends in Dubai and I met some really awesome people which made our time in Dubai fly. They were all so supportive and considering we had no family around when Patrick was born, they became like adopted Aunties to him. Shannon, Leonie, Natalie, Eva, Lana, Kelly, Mary, Sema, Jackie – you guys were angels and I greatly appreciated all the support you gave us!!

We managed to do some travelling during our time there, as well as have some visitors – we saw Oman, just after it was hit by the cyclone, we drove there when I was about 7 months pregnant and half the building and roads had been destroyed and the city had no running water and was on food rations so for a 7 month pregnant woman it was interesting to say the least!! Our friend Kim came to stay for a night or 2 and was the first person to stay in out apartment at The Greens. Our friends, Dennis, Stef & Lauren had a 3 day stopover in Dubai in October when Patrick was 6 weeks old and then Jodie and Jasmine came in November. We came back to Australia for Christmas 2007 to introduce Patrick (4 months) to our family and friends and then Dad and Patricia came to Dubai in the January 2008 for a holiday and we had a great time. We visited Bahrain with friends in March 2008 and Germany in December. The last trip we did was Lebanon and once again, we went with friends for a 4 day weekend and stayed in Beirut down near the Corniche.

Life in a one bedroom apartment with a newborn baby was not easy and when Patrick was 10 months old we moved into an apartment on The Palm Jumeirah. It was a massive 2 bedroom apartment, with a maid's room (even though we didn't have a maid, this is where Cameron's model plans were kept) and 2 balconies. Living there was a dream came true and we met some amazing people there who made it very hard to leave! I reckon because of them, I could of spent another year there! Michelle, Tara, Nuala, Paula, Noreen, Julie & Linda – I still miss you guys terribly and think of you always.

We loved Dubai, our friends and the lifestyle, however we decided 3 years was enough for us and in September 2009 we moved back to Sydney. We were fortunate to find a beautiful home to buy and we moved in at the end of October. It is 4 bedroom, 2 story home with an ensuite and main bathroom upstairs, a toilet downstairs, a garage that also has a separate section for Cameron's plans and amateur (HAM) Radio equipment and a paved patio area leading into a nice, compact backyard. The yard isn't huge but it is perfect for us. It fits Patrick's swing set with slide & trampoline and there is still plenty of room to run around, even after he gets his cubby house next year :-)

Well, I think that's a pretty good start..... It isn't quite all of my life but it is a lot of it.

Till next time,

Keep Smiling!

=)

Welcome to the World Baby Girls

I love hearing about people falling pregnant and having babies.  I used to think this was because I absolutely love children, but since having Patrick, I actually think it is because of the never-ending love, joy and happiness that they bring on a daily basis.  Oh sure, there are certainly "undesirable" times, trouble with feeding/eating, sleeping and tantrums, but these are made seem so small and insignificant when that precious little darling looks at you and smiles with eyes full of unconditional love, trust and adoration.  Two very special people, close to me, have had beautiful baby girls within the last 3 weeks. 

Our dear friends, Kalee and Ben (Patrick's God-parents) were blessed by the safe and long awaited arrival of Alice June on the 6th of August and although we live on the other side of the coutry to them, we cannot wait to see them and meet Alice when they come to stay with us in December for a week.  "Aunty Kathryn" even gets to babysit while they go to a wedding - YAY!!!  Coincidentally, we will meet Alice at the same age as Patrick was when he met Kalee and Ben - 4 months :-)  They were almost the same birth weight and for a few days it looked as if they were even going to be born on the same day!!!

Andrea Isabelle arrived on the 25th of August, a gorgeous little girl to Lisa and Scott and the somewhat amusing story here is that Lisa and I have not yet met!  We became friends through an online facebook game and chatted almost every day on MSN, although toward the end of Lisa's pregnancy she wasn't able to sit for as long so we didnt catch up quite as much although she certainly made sure I knew when she was going into hospital.  I was touched to receive a picture MMS (to Cameron's phone as I can't receive MMS's) and text announcing Andreas arrival the same day that she delivered. Can't wait to meet them one of these days...

Congratulations Kale and Ben, Lisa and Scotty on your adorable baby girls and I wish you all a lifetime of happiness

-xx-

Introduction to my blog...

Where does the time go?  We have been back in Australia almost 12 months and it has been 11 months since I last blogged.  McKays in Dubai is obviously no longer current so I have created "Kathryn McKay - Me and My Life", which will cover almost every aspect, my childhood, my family, my day to day life, recipes I try, thoughts I have and photos I wish to share.....

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it :-)

-xx-