Dad

Dad, Kim and I, waaaay back.

 Dad recently turned 60.  A few things happened....
 

Auntie Denise, Hodo, Chloe and Raff visited from to celebrate with us Australia and Lachy fell in love with Raffert.

There was a party and a great speech from Aunty Dee.

There was an AMAZING cake from Beth.

There were these thoughts I had about my Dad.

People haven't always believed in my Dad. They didn't think he'd come to much. One thing you can say for my Dad is he knows how to prove people wrong. He is hardworking, very successful and an extremely smart man. He is one of those rare people who haven't been taught much, but just somehow know how to do everything, and do it well.

Throughout my life, and I am sure some extremely trying situations he has always been kind and patient.

He is generous to a fault, he has a heart of gold and will do just about anything he can to help anybody.

He has given all of himself to make a great life for his family and still works tirelessly.  He's the kind of man who would run 10kms on a Sunday morning alongside me on my horse so I didn't have to go to Pony Club on my own. He's the kind of man who gives up his weekends to work on projects on our house and only asks for scones and cups of tea in payment. He's the kind of man who would drive 25kms to the city in the wee hours (often!) to pick me up when I didn't have money for a taxi. He's the kind of man who lets his grandkids crawl all over him, swing on his legs and jump on him when I know that he has a bad back and damaged knees and that it hurts him. He's the kind of man I am proud to have as my Dad, who cares so so deeply for his family, who loves his grandchildren to distraction and wants to give them the world.

He's a good man, a great Dad and a fantastic Grandad and we are so grateful to have him in our lives.

Isla Rose

Off to the disco.

Isla Rose is 6. I do not know how we got here, but I do know that we are so proud of our independent, headstrong, charismatic, bright, clever, sunny, funny girl.

It's been a year now since she started school and I am still surprised at her willingness and determination to learn and try new things. She's like a dog with a bone when she wants to figure something out and tries and tries (all day, all week long if need be!) til she gets it.

She has the capacity to be incredibly kind and caring. She loves to create, draw, write, read. To my joy, she still lloves to be in the elements, climbing trees and bouncing on the tramp with bare feet in the rain. She still loves bugs. LOVES bugs.

It also sometimes feels like she is so much older - since she started school her knowledge of the wider world, pop culture etc that we had obviously sheltered her from a little is really starting to emerge.

She absolutely loved her first disco at school a few weeks ago and before then had decided to have a disco party for her 6th birthday. She had such a great time with her classmates, loved having some children over that had not yet been to our house and got thoroughly spoiled. She absolutely loved her party and says she wishes it was her disco birthday every day.

Oh I love this kid with her big, big heart and her passion for life that I hope never fades, Happy Birthday kiddo xxx

Discovering pressies

Can 't forget Maxi turning 7 too!

Cake #1

Joy!

Mastered in less than 24 hours.

Cake #2 Inside Out.

Lachlan Gray

This champ is one of the most caring, sweet and loving children you are likely to come across. I'm not biased, people tell me this all the time. Some have even been non-family members!

He feels things so deeply, he is sometimes anxious and he is a worrier. BUT, without this side to his personality, he wouldn't be the sensitive, empathetic, sweet, sweet dude that he is.

At dinner the other night, out of the blue he pipes up with "Isla, I'm going to care about you forever". He makes my heart swell with these little outpourings of emotions.

We are so, so proud of the leaps and bounds he has taken lately in overcoming his fears. He's worked through his anxiety at starting pre-school and is settling into a Montessori school that seems to be the exact right fit for his personality. He has surprised me with the enthusiasm he has for kindy (not kindy mum, pre-school), given the struggles we have had previously, and although we still have a few tears he is already growing in leaps and bounds in independence.

Can I be so happy for him that he has reached this level of independence but also incredibly sad that he's taken his first large step away from me?!

Pre-school trip to Motat

One cool cat

 Monkey miss is growing up so quickly. Getting more and more headstrong (by the day it sometimes seems).

She loves Katy Perry, sings and whistles all the time. Tonight she made her a card which i am to send to Miss Perry, which tells her how much Isla and Lachy love her songs and her hair.

For almost a week she has shared a bedroom with her little brother and they are both loving the companionship and we are loving the undisturbed nights of sleep. She tells her brother to come into her bed if he wakes and she will take care of him.

Obsessed with sushi.

She is reading and writing like crazy. She told me she had three "sparkle" words (big/new ones) in her writing today, one of which was "especially".

The other day driving to school she said when she was a grown up she didn't want to have children (a new development as she used to want 5, until she found out a bit more about the process), just two cats. Then she asked Lachy if he wanted to come and live with her and her cats. He said he would and he'd bring his two cats as well. Love our crazy cat children xxx

Mother's Day 2015

Breakfast in bed, sleep in, lazy day and a walk on Piha and the best hot chips in the west with my favorite people in the world. Blessed.

Knowledge is power. And Kelly Tarltons.

While driving along on the weekend the topic of religion came up. Isla wanted to know about Church, why some people go, why we don't etc.

We had a bit of a chat about people believing different things, what we believe and why, ultimately ending with something along the lines of "no one really knows for sure".

Isla piped up with "Well, I know because I know everything".

Quick as a flash Lachy replied "I only know two things".

I asked him what he knew.

"I know Kelly Tarltons and I know birthdays".

On top of the world

                                       "I'm the kind of the Rascals". Yes, you are.

Just because

Angry Birds

Isla has been learning about ANZAC Day and the First World War at school, her great-great-Grandads involvement etc and so inevitably there has also been a lot of talk about it at home, piquing Lachy's interest.

When he likes a story he asks to be told about it again and again or will just ask "tell more more about (fill in the blank)".

After playgroup we went to the library and there was still a table set up featuring ANZAC books and poppies etc. which obviously reminded him of the topic. We got back in the car and he said "Mum, can you tell me again about the soldiers and the turkeys who killed them?".

Three

Our sweet, boisterous, hilarious, clever and caring little boy has turned three. He constantly cracks us up and challenges us with his intellect and charm as he shows glimpses of the special boy he is becoming.

A few of his recent musings and sayings:

Isla loves playing "I Spy" during long car trips and Lachy tries to join in. He almost has the hang of it...
"I spy with my little eye something beginning with... water/cow/tree."

During a recent sleepover at Nana and Grandads:

"Oh my gosh, I've never seen anything like that in my whole born life." Sometimes it is so hard to remember he is still so little!

Playing "What's the time Mr Wolf" at Easter whenever it was his turn each and every time he would declare "Dinner Clock". Then when he wanted to play again "Can we play 'What's the time Mr Fox'".

Today i got "Mum, will i be three forever now, or just for five minutes"?

He had his first solo swimming lesson today and managed to get over his fear and anxiety - I hate to see the internal battles our little man has but it makes me fiercely proud when he fights to be brave and wins.

Little buddy, we love your kind, kind soul, your love of silliness, word play and laughter. The way you can be felled by a gentle tickle to your neck and the way you complete our family. Happy Birthday sweet child x

Allowing his sister to help with present opening, especially card reading duties.

Opted for Kelly Tarlton's for his birthday outing.

Disastrous cake but covered in icing, sugar animals and candles he couldn't care less.

The day of Lachy's farm party dawned miserable and wet, wet, wet.

Yet the downpour and puddles were the highlight for some!

So teeny, he was just about doing the splits sitting on this pony.

Tractor ride

Miss Isla

Isla's current pet which had to be taken to school for news. Sorry Miss Petersen, but better in your classroom than my letterbox.

Ever impatient to grow up Isla can't wait to be able to drink coffee and drive a car, things she obviously views as quintessential grown-up activities. This just makes me cherish even more the times she comes out with sweet and innocent comments that remind you she still has a huge amount to discover in life.

The other day driving past a golf course a golfer was getting increasingly frustrated trying to hit his ball out of a sand trap.
Isla "Mum, what is that man doing".
Me "Playing golf".
Isla (disappointed) "Oh. So he's not digging for dinosaur bones then?"

Back in my day, we used to run the cross country because we were told to. At Isla's school the children get sponsors for their "Fun run" and they get to choose prizes based on how much money they earn from their sponsors. As much as I completely disagree with the philosophy of prizes for the kids, money must be raised for school. So, the fun run went ahead and Lachy and I went to watch. Year 1 girls were second and it was such fun to watch.  It was obvious that Isla had no idea that it was a race and the objective was to run to win. But as she skipped around the course, with a gorgeous smile on her face enjoying every second of it as the parents clapped and cheered she showed me that nothing mattered except her delight in the moment.

Once the fun run was completed Isla got to choose her prizes, depending on how much money she raised. After much deliberation she decided on a friendship bracelet kit and a squishy ball. At this point Lachy came over and asked which toy he could choose. I started to explain to him that it was Isla's reward for the fun run etc and Isla said "It's ok mum, I will just get the friendship bracelet kit and Lachy can choose another toy for himself". Kindness is a huge part of this kids makeup and we are so proud of her.


Much of the school holidays was spent writing and drawing and writing and writing and writing! I think Nana Linda and Lachy whose birthdays both fell during the holidays got about 8 birthday cards each.

Our social wee girl was so excited to get back to school and her friends. She had her first jazz ballet lesson at lunch time yesterday and spent all evening dancing around showing us what she learned and how to "skirtsy". Growing up yes, but thankfully not too quickly.

First ever solo ride on Shilo (view through Buddy's ears).

Easter holidays

It's almost halfway through the holidays and we arrived back in Auckland yesterday to rain and very cold weather.

We were extremely lucky over Easter to have such lovely, sunny weather and there was a lot of swimming, boating and general outside activity.

We get to end the holidays on a high note, our wee guy turned 3 yesterday, we had a wonderful day and tomorrow a small celebration with friends and family - we have two very excited children on our hands!

Climbing to the top is no longer enough of a challenge for Isla

Egg hunt

Checking out the loot from the Easter Bunny (Isla - "I think it's just a person dressed up as a bunny")

Downtime with their new headphones

Ferry ride, bush walk, hot chips and milkshake day

This guy raided the biscuit tin, stole off to the top bunk and munched away.

Mr Magoo the Macaw