Wednesday, 9 July 2014

While you were sleeping...

...your creepy mother came and took some photos of you. Why? Because I can and because you look so cute, peaceful and innocent and I can forgive you anything that transpired during these long, wet winter days.



Won't sleep without her zebra pillow - best party favour ever.



Sleeping sideways on your bed. No slumber session is complete without your squirrel, wombat, Peppa Pig and a solar system book.




While I write the kids are currently playing and enjoying a late morning tea in the playhouse. It is cold, wet and windy outside but they don't care.  We are all enjoying the school holidays, staying in pyjamas and not rushing anywhere in the mornings.The last few months have been a whirlwind of birthday parties and busyness.

Poor Grandad Rick has had some heart problems and so we've been having hospital visits and worrying a lot. Although he is getting back to normal (or what will be a new normal) it's been scary realising that my big, strong, invincible Dad is getting older.

We have a few family birthdays coming up so we are looking forward to lots of cake, candles and especially a 5-day trip to Rotorua and the snow at the end of the month. Here are some notes about where the kidlets are at right now:

Lachy, you are the sweetest little buddy a mum could wish for. Most nights are broken at the moment with you creeping down to our room and climbing into our bed. We should get up and put you back into your room. We should be firmer with you and tell you no, but when you snuggle up to us with an arm firmly around our necks and snuggle in we just cannot resist you. Bad sleep training? Yes. Do we care right now? No.

Your favorite word is "Butt". You use it a lot. Enough said.

You are so generous with your affection - if anyone asks you for a kiss you very seldom deny and always suggest "And a cuddle." or vice versa. Heart. Melts.

Peppa Pig is an ongoing obsession. Nana and Grandad got you a tiny wee Peppa a week ago and so far it has gone everywhere and done everything with you. Several times a day we hear, in your perfect, staccato speech "Can. We. Watch. Peppa. Pig".

You are beginning to assert your authority and no longer just go along with everything your big sister (or mum and dad for that matter) wants. This is a good thing. I will keep telling myself that.

Your imagination is growing in leaps and bounds and you pick up things like the most enormously absorbent sponge - parroting Isla is helping you to learn things so quickly and yesterday you came out with "R for rainbow", "W for white" and "B for bed" at several different times during the day. We haven't tried to teach you this, you just learn and learn without trying and amaze us all the time.

Isla, you seem to be growing up more in each and every day. You are so lovely to watch with your brother, teaching him and playing such imaginative games with him. Your patience is growing.

Barbies seem to be your thing at the moment, at kindy drop off the other day you shouted over your shoulder "Look after Barbie and Ken for me Mum." Making up your own games is definitely what you want to do most of.

You are so, so, so ready for school. The last month or so has seen several of your buddies leave kindy for school and you have been a tiny bit glum. Big changes are coming for you and you will take it in your stride. Each day you stun me with how fast you learn and i love how you love to learn. The other day you went into your room with your etch-a-sketch and came out with several words you have written, all on your own. Dog, log, fog. Obviously your wonderful kindy teachers are helping you out but i was still impressed. And you were delighted when i showed you how adding an "r" to "fog" made "frog". It seems to all be coming together for you now and you will lap up the learning at school.

Most of all you just love to play with your friends, almost daily you are signing through your bedroom window to Emily next door to come and play, you are wonderful at making new friends wherever we go be it the zoo or the local playground.

Plans are coming into place for your "Frozen, Fairy, Arts & Craft" birthday party. You couldn't decide on a theme so we agreed on all three. Can't wait.

xxx

Saturday, 14 June 2014

The Emu Tree

The recent unexpected storm left our tree-covered property with surprisingly little damage. Sadly though, a 300-400 year old Rimu tree didn't fare so well at the grandparents house.

The kidlets visited to see this sad but awesome sight. On their return Isla was full of stories about the Emu tree that fell down at Nana and Grandads. Lachy was there too, however no shutter speed seems fast enough these days to capture any decent photos.


Friday, 13 June 2014

These two...



We spent Queen's birthday weekend plus and extra two days at Whitianga with Nana and Grandad and Aunty Kim. The weather turned out to be better than we could have hoped for and as per usual the littles had a ball.

I didn't take the camera, so only have a few phone shots. So here's the weekend in a nutshell.
- scooting and lots and lots of it
- SWIMMING, yes, SWIMMING in June. Every day. When do we start to be wimpy adults and feel the cold so badly?
- beachcombing
- horse riding (So proud of Isla who took a tumble over Shiloh's head when the greedy pony stopped dead from a canter to eat grass, she was literally and figuratively straight back in the saddle)
- drawing and lots of it
- sandpit, treehouse, playground play
and finally topped off with a little more scooting.

Poor Francis was left at home to half renovate the kitchen to install the new oven that i may or may not have consulted him on before buying. It may have caused a few headaches initially, but i love, love, love my new oven!


That one...




Ever the parrot, his sister's shadow - the other night over dinner:

Isla commenting on something (already sounding like a teenager, complete with eye roll) "Oh my god"
Lachlan, quick as a flash, utterly serious "Oh my dog".


This one...



While driving to a party today:
Isla "Mum, Billie said 'Let's save the world' but i didn't because i was too tired".

Guess the world can wait.

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

The joys of winter...

I'm at home today with two poor sick, feverish and snotty kids. So the fun season begins. Luckily it seems Isla's immune system kicks butt faster these days, she doesn't get sick as often, as bad or for as long as poor Lachy.

We ventured out to soccer this morning as i didn't want him to miss out. Not such a good idea, he kept asking "Is it finished Mum, is it finished?". So today i am grateful for TV, storybooks, craft and the ipad!

So, as the leaves have turned (and keep turning up and on and all over our deck, driveway, roof and backyard) a few things about the little people:

The boy:
  • Calls me "Mummy" less and less, "Mum" more and more.
  • Favourite saying "Go away silly poopy (insert name here)".
  • Has started soccer to tire him out over these wet winter months
  • Absolutely stunned me by counting to 13 the other day. We haven't tried teaching him numbers yet, just did it out of the blue. 
  • Told me, when i jokingly said "Max wants to play lego with us", "Max can't play lego, hasn't got hands". I'm certain he'd have rolled his eyes if he knew how.
  • Loves drawing us pictures and saying "For you Mum/Dad/Nan". Then he insists we put them on the fridge. Think i could wallpaper the house several times over with the pictures we've amassed over the last few weeks.
  • Randomly came up to me in the kitchen and told me "I love Etienne Mum".
  • Lego obsessed.

Lachy and Dave the coach




The girl:
  • Is very excited about starting school, we've chosen and visited a few times so she can familiarise herself with the play areas and layout. I'm so excited for her, she will take it in her stride. I, however...
  • Has been adorably sweet to her brother of late. She loves to teach him and guide him and we often hear "Come on darling", "Here you go darling". 
  • Is already planning her birthday party to which her teachers and i think just about everyone she has ever met is going to be invited.
  • Is super excited about starting gymnastics the minute she turns 5. She even offered to teach me to do a cartwheel, good luck sweetie, if i couldn't do it as a kid i sure as heck wouldn't place money on me now!
  •  Made me the most adorable mother's day card "I love mummy because she plays with me a lot and gives me lovely dresses", ha, the important things in life!



Grandad Tom


A few weeks ago, the sun shone gloriously and we headed to Cornwall Park for a gorgeous day out for Tom's 65th birthday.

We scootered, we BBQ'd, we snacked on a gourmet spread followed by a delicious lunch, we climbed hills and rolled down the other side, we lounged in the sun, we climbed trees, patted cows, dug in the dirt and finished up with hot tea and a superb rhubarb cake.

Then we headed home, full tummies, tired bodies smelling of woodsmoke and fresh air. All except Lachy who had rolled in sheep poo and had it in his hair and all over his clothes.

A very happy birthday outing for a very young senior citizen!


Nana Verna, looking stylish while cooking up a storm.
Isla helping Grandad climb the trees.
Adventurers.
Like a pig in mud.