More singing

Thomas is at such a cute stage I try to video all the cute things he does. I hope you enjoy this video as much as the last.
Helene

Thomas Singing

This is just a quick video of Thomas. He loves to sing all the time now. His favorites are happy birthday and twinkle twinkle. I love listening to him sing.

26 March 2008

It has been a while since I have had a chance to update my blog so here I am again. The in-laws are on the plane back to Australia. As much as I like being around them, living with them is very hard. We had a good break with them. We went out a bit, did some shopping and sat around reading the newspaper. That was always a hi-lite. Over the Easter weekend we took a trip to Rotorua. That is a place that is a contradiction of words. There are so many beautiful things to see but the smell from the bubbling mud is the most foul thing ever. The smell is indescribable. It makes your toes curl.

We saw a pool that was just bubbling just like champagne but the smell was horrible. In the same sense it was one of the most beautiful things you could ever see. The picture on the left is Lady Knox Geyser. We had a heck of a time trying to figure out how the geyser went off everyday at the same time. He drops a special soap in and it makes it spout it was amazing. It was a great holiday but of course the place we stayed in was probably the worst place in NZ. Two days of no hot showers. That was gross. The beds were lumpy the food was ordinary. So all in all I can now tell you where not to stay. Other than how expensive everything was we had a great weekend. On our way home we went to Waitomo Caves. That is one of the most beautiful places. At the end of the tour you get in a little boat and float through caves with thousands of little glow worms on the ceiling. It looks like a really dark starry night. It was incredible. I would highly recommend doing that if you ever come to NZ.

Well now we are back to the normal every day life. It's ok. I still get my nails done and my natural colour is fixed every four weeks. That is my adult conversation. Hope everyone is keeping well and you all had a great Easter. Talk soon.

2 March 2008

Already March. Can you believe it? Maybe this year will go fast? To me the days seem to drag along. I am settleing into everyday life but I have not met anyone yet. The boys like it.

We took a drive up to the Bay of Islands. It is suppose to be a beautiful spot north of here. If it didn't rain the whole weekend it probably would be. It was nice what we saw of it but it was to wet and windy to go out to the Hole in the Rock. I would have liked to see it. We went on a small ferry across the bay to a little town and that was very nice. It was a very bumpy ride. We also went to where they signed the Treaty of Waitangi. You will have to check your history books to find out what it was all about.

It would have been a really nice trip except the boys fight while sitting in the back seat. It is no fun. They love each other but they were confined for to long. The picture I have added is of my husbands new toy. He loves his truck. We can now go on gravel roads and he doesn't whinge at me. Mind you there are not that many dirt roads in Auckland. I think it sucks up alot of petrol (gas) and is really hard to park. I want something little to get around in.

Well I guess that is all.

Love,

Helene

18 February 2008

Hello everyone out there in tv land. We have been in the land of the long white cloud now for three weeks. It should be the land of the sometimes white most of the time gray clouds. Auckland weather is very strange. One minute it is sunny and beautiful and the next it is pouring down with rain. I always judge a good day by weather I can get the laundry dry. Some days have been a bit iffy.

So the boys have settled into school pretty good. They are starting to meet people which is very good. Thomas loves going to preschool, and frankly I love him going. He likes it there because they have a turtle and some fish and even a pet bird. All good fun.

We have been spending many long hours trying to find a car. I want something that can fit 7, he wants a truck. We'll see. We like to go on long drives but petrol is a killer. 1.70 a litre. Crazy.

We took a drive up the Coramandel Peninsula yesterday. It is so beautiful up there. The road is very narrow and windy but you drive right along the coast and the veiw is spectacular. We are going to drive up the other coast next time. There are all these little coves to explore. You just have to be careful of crazy truck drivers driving to fast and old people driving really slow.

Well I hope everyone is happy and doing well.

Love

Helene

7 February 2008

Well we finally made it, the first day of school. The boys were so excited they were ready an hour early and in hindsight we should have left then. Traffic was terrible. We know for tomorrow. I will leave early this afternoon to pick them up. Well public school is an eye opener. We were very surprised with the variations of the uniform. Well the shirts were the same but there were varying shades of navy shorts and the shoes (if the children were wearing them) were anyhting from thongs to sandles and of course my children. Yes I bought them what I would consider proper school shoes. They got new sneakers before we left Sydney. I could have saved some money and just sent them barefoot. David and I had a good chuckle.

Of course I cried. They have been driving me crazy for weeks now but I think they were very nervouse being the new kids. I felt for them.

Thomas will start preschool next week. We called in there today to sign him up and he seemed to love it. I have to go a couple of mornings next week to just see how he goes. I am looking forward to having a few days off. He will go Wednesday and Thursday. I think I may take myself to the movies or something. Well that is all for today.

Helene

1 February 2008

It's been 5 days since we arrived off the plane. I can't believe it. It took so long to get here and now we just wait. I wait for the millions of boxes to start unpacking themselves. I wait for the kids to start school. I wait for David to tell me to get out of the house and go shopping.

We have registered the boys at there new school. It is quite cute.

The new Westfield Albany is very nice, very up market. Very expensive. I went to find out about having my hair done and the whole job would cost about 265 $nz. I nearly died. I don't have everything done each time but I was amazed. I will definitly be trying to find somewhere much cheaper. I have not told David yet.

We went to the beach here yesterday. It was beautiful. The water is lovely and blue. The sand is terrible. I am used to white sand that is terrible to walk in. This stuff is black and sticks to you.

I went to the grocery store again today. I am still amazed about what is on the shelves. I am learning all new products and some of the stuff is so strange. I had to start over in Sydney and I learned to like what I could buy now the selection is so much less. It will take ten years to get back to where I was. i am finding that it is much more Americanized than Sydney. So far we have found a Denny's and a Wendy's hamburgers. It is so cool.

Well signing off for now.
Love,
me