Child labour

Well I'm all for it...hahaha

I've had Mum and Dad over a few times last week as Dave was away. Ara just loves getting comet out (vaccum cleaner) she batts our hands away and she wants to do all by her self. She also wants to sweep the floor and put the washing on the line as well as get it out of the machine and unload the dishwasher...and if you don't re-load it when there is stuff to get clean look out otherwise she'll throw a paddy until you do your job.

We've got Pat and Selwyn here for a little while and we've had a lovely catch up with Nana and Grandpa this afternoon while I've managed to get near the lawn mower.

Pheww...I've not mowed much with Victor the petrol mower for ages and I was just about shaken too bits and Ara burst into tears when Dave started it becasue it is SOOO loud. I think I'll stick with Ivan the eletric mower.

We drove down to Craig and Edwine's yesterday to celebrate Anja's 1st birthday. Was really great to see how well everyone is doing. Dave was just comenting on how we have all got very different names for our children. Ara was the oldest but Anja was keeping her own when playing a game of share...I'll hold on to this toy but I want what you've got so we'll swap... only thing is they forget to let go or count.

Sorry no photos...but just imagin about 8 really cute bubbas and lots of happy parents.

1st birthdays are all about the parents....happy that their child is still alive and they are still alive and sort of sane.

We've all got the cold

After our Queenstown holiday with extreme temperature changes I came down with a cold! So I've been very foggy in the head and moving very slowly. Now that I'm almost better I've passed on the joy to David and Ara. So my poor darlings are now feeling a bit under the weather.

We've decided to keep the house really warm and not go out all that much. Ara just loves getting the fire wood in with me and will ride in the wheelbarrow to the wood bin or the bucket to collect the wood from the door...so a paint tin of baby anyone? While she may nearly be 10kg she's a lot easier to carry than a sack of spuds.

We had a lovely evening with Jeff, Mat and Kate a few nights ago. Eating curry again ;-) Jeff now has a boat which we are all eager to get out on this summer. I was laughing telling them about Laurence and Janice (Uncle and Aunt) when Tessa was a baby and they were living on the boat and washing Tessa's nappy's hanging them to dry in the rigging. I thank goodness for my washing machine again!

Well I hope you are all well and happy and look forward to catching up with you all soon since we have lots of birthdays coming up as well as house warmings....good on ya's Sue and Arryn can't wait to see your new house.

Warren and Leisha VERY exciting to of sold your place and moved on to a new place. We had some great times at your old place but I'm sure we'll have many more at the new. Some photos of new years (before baby's) at W&A's. Swimming at the waterfall and the dinner is just about ready...Thanks so much Willy, Elsa, Waz and Leisha.

Home again

What a totally wonderful holiday!
All our fears about flying with Ara are gone...she was wonderful and I don't think I want to drive to Auckland ever again we'll just fly. Ha haha.

We managed to pack in a lot round our little family. We decided not even to take a backpack and just use a sling for Ara which I think was the best call out. We had very little baggage. Attachment Parenting is just great when on holiday! We didn't have a car on the first or second days and we walked everywhere.

Our first night we managed to get out to "Little India" for a meal. I was totally boggled by the amount of people in Queenstown (poor little country bumpkin) and we were not even there on the weekend or late at night.

That night we totally roasted in our room - southlanders trying to be northland temperatures - we slept with the ranch slider open just about all night along with sleeping on top of the bed....underfloor heating on total over load!

Next day we went for a ride up the gondola. I was very scared about the heights and with Dave and Ara walking around and leaning on glass handrails I was a bit of a bundle of nerves....But the view is just amazing!!!! And an up to date and very rare family photo!!! Which we all like.

We then booked our selves onto the Earnslaw (big old boat) and enjoyed the views from there as well as reminiscing about our tramping days of doing the Dart. I spent a while thinking about Grandpa and when he used to work on the Greenstone tracks the story he told me of running from the last hut when the Earnslaw would toot its horn as it left town and made its way down to the other end of the lake to pick up him and the other crazy conservation guys. The other end of the lake is where the sun is....sorry Queenstown you'll have to up lift and move down the other end of the lake...no sun for the whole day....very hard for a little northlander to handle. BUT the views! The moutains the water...oh its just soooooo lovely!!

Dave booked a car for the next day so we could take Ara too the snow. As we were driving up she looked very confused. We parked the car and caught a bus up the last little bit, while we waited Dave gave her a few bits of snow to hold. Once we really got there all she wanted to do is hold it and eat it. I think we have a snow bunny in the makings and we'll have to try next year.

We also made it to Arrowtown. Now that was VERY relaxing! So quiet and lovely. I would love to spend some more time there.

Our flight home was good too...I bumped into Anna from school...she's living down there now with her family...little bub 10.5 months old he handled the flight well too.

I've heaps of photos and lot more to tell but...well you'll just have to see us.

Love ya all

m