7 April 2008

Happy 10th birthday Harrison!

I can't believe it Harrison is 10. How the years seem to have just passed by in a blink. He is growing up so fast. So far in 10 years he has had 2 hospitalizations, one near drowning and he has moved to a whole new country. He has become a kind and polite boy. The other children accept him for who he is. He has become a wonderful big brother. Jonathan and Thomas look up to him to show them the way. Usually the way through a game the boys are playing. He has become a really nice boy and I hope the next ten years don't go as fast but he is still the wonderful boy that I know and love.

The days seem to be just moving along quietly right now. I like it when it is quiet. The boys have one more week of school until the school holidays. They are very much looking forward to it. So am I. We took Harrison and a couple of kids from school to play mini golf for his birthday this year. The boys had a really good time so we are hopefully going to do that over the holidays. The boys are also looking forward to going to see Horton Hears a Who. I am too. I love Dr. Suess. I don't think David has any days off yet so we won't be going away. Maybe on day trips. It is to cold to go to the beach but that is one of their favorite things to do. We will see what is on around the area.

Well hope everyone is well and happy.

Helene

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