Babe in the manger

Adam was six days old when the girls created this wonderful "manger" for him to lie in. Though I initially refused to put him in there, I was convinced at last to let him sample its comforts. He loved it! He stared at the ropes of beads placed artfully around the edges and felt warm and snug.

Baby

Adam is great baby. As my midwife says, "he's read the manual." He eats well, settles well, sleeps well. A couple of times he's managed six hours at night. He has a worried little face, and every so often I look up to see him giving me a penetrating gaze. By the time I grab the camera, though, he is staring blankly at my ear again. I love the smell of a new baby - pink and warm.

Jude

Jude flew over from Adelaide to look after the children while Adam was being born. She also managed to take care of the house, meals and my sanity as we waited and waited and waited...
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jude!

Adam's first bath

I can't say Adam enjoyed his first bath. There were four of us all cleaning him at once, poor darling. Thankfully the interest in bathing little brothers has quickly waned.

Adam comes home

On Wednesday 15th June, Rich and Jude came to pick us up from the hospital. We drove to Josie's kindergarten to pick her up too. She was so thrilled to be driving in the car with her new brother! It was great to be home again.

Adam is born!

Adam Andrew Hunter was born at 1.57pm on June 13 2011. He weighed 3.875g or 8 pounds 8. He has blue eyes and soft brown hair.

Charlie's New Glasses

Helping Hands Project

Yesterday we went to help paint a local school for a church service project. Charlie did some great work under the eaves while the girls painted a wall below, with Rich going along behind them and doing a little more than what could be called "touching up."
The kids also had a great time in the playground.
Josephine's headware was very striking that morning...

Dogs that sit like humans

Recently we all had a good laugh at this website, Cats that sit like humans. Luckily Ted didn't mind being propped up in like manner.

photographic evidence

Several people have mentioned that they haven't seen any photos of the baby bump. Here are a couple. Only 3 or so weeks to go, and getting very excited!

Picnicking in Hamilton

The Lien and the Unicorn, a romance, by Jane

Once apon a time there was a unicorn her name is melody oun day she met a Lien his name is michael he saw melody the Lien roared as loudly! as he cud and he did that roar because he loved melody he seid I love you meanwhile there was a army of tigers that wantid to mary melody so the tigers and the lien was going to have a batule. the Lien won! Melody was prowd! "You wun! You wun! I love you too." Then thay got maryd and that was the story of the unicorn and the Lien the end.

Darlings

Whenever Josephine is playing families, she says something along these lines, "You be the mum, and we'll be the darlings." The person who is going to be the naughty one is "the teenager."

Disco Girl

On Friday night there was a disco at school. Gracie came home looking like this!

Bastion Point, Auckland

After the aquarium the kindy kids went to a nearby war memorial park for lunch. It was a glorious day, and everyone (nearly) took the opportunity to roll down the grassy hill.

Kindy field trip

Josie went on a trip with her kindergarten to Keely Tarlton's Aquarium. I went along as a helper. It was great - they have an excellent antarctic experience with a big penguin colony and lots of giant stingrays. We saw the stingrays being fed, which was a little startling, as they launched themslves on to the woman who was feeding them, and they were twice her size! When Josephine saw that she announced she had "had enough!"

Playtime

Jane at Assembly

Here is Jane with the rest of the Junior School, singing "Reach for the Stars" at assembly. She did a great job when she spoke her line, too. See if you can spot her.

Josephine in the Park

DIY Dog Grooming

Given that Ted's haircuts cost more than my own, I decided that I would invest in some dog clippers and learn the art of dog grooming. My first time was extremely nerve wracking, but I drew no blood. Though at the end he still looked a little wild, he was definitely shorter. Here are the results.