Teddy

Quilt

Look, Grandma - she's still using it.

Jane

Jane and I went out last Saturday for her to take a free trial music lesson. Afterwards, we did a spot of shopping and stopped for a hot choc.

Harvest

This has been a great week for produce. The tomatoes are plentiful, the leeks are starting to resemble leeks, and we had our first crops of corn and potatoes. As you may have noted, the corn is somewhat stunted. I guess Cathy from next door knew what she was talking about when she told me that corn needs a lot of plant food. We'll do better next time.

Staying Cheerful

On Friday Rich left for 10 days in the USA. I am missing him terribly, and so are all the kids. He is also missing us, though he tells me that Wal-Mart helps him feel better. Nice.
It's not unusual for Rich to travel - he's been doing it for years. What makes this time so much harder is that Ted has surrendered himself to doggy depression. He mopes around the house, looking up apathetically if someone calls his name and offers to play. He gazes at the chew toy waved hopefully before his face and then turns away and settles his chin back between his paws with a gusty sigh. When he is not curled up in a woeful ball he is sitting at the front door, gazing sadly down the street. At night time, when he is usually cuddled up on the couch, he chooses instead to go upstairs and lie in the dark with his head under Rich's side of the bed. I am trying hard to stay upbeat, but it's tough with all these mournful vibes. Hurry home, Richie.

Joesphine is 3!

Josephine had a wonderful birthday. We started with balloons and presents, and then had some friends over for a bbq and cake. Josie was keen to have the same cake as last year, which I dutifully created. Gracie watched me place the single m&m on the cake, a blue dot for the duck's eye. "Is that it?" she said.

"Yes, my dear. This is the finished product."

Noticing that she was looking very crestfallen at the lack of decoration, I passed it over to her and suggested she improve upon it. As you can see, she figured out a very logical excuse for putting way more m&m's on. Much better.

Josie had a lovely time. For some reason she insisted on wearing her dressing gown to the cake cutting ceremony, but it was otherwise a very traditional celebration. We love you, Josie!

Waiau Falls

Cricket on Whangapoua Beach

Water park

We went to this lovely water park while on holiday. It was filled with very quaint water machines made from all sorts of bits and pieces, and with a wonderful disregard for any workplace health and safety regulations.

Coromandel Town

We stayed for 4 nights in this renovated shed - it was very quaintly done up inside and a great place for the kids. In these photos you can see the shed, the tramp, the sandpit (a big white boat), the covered bbq area, and the rope climb.

Miranda Hot Springs

On our way to Coromandel town we stopped for a picnic at Miranda and took a dip in their hot springs pool. It was very warm, just like a hot bath. Afterwards we treated ourselves to an obscenely large serving of the best hot chips ever. Really.

Muriwai Beach

We had an explore around Muriwai Beach, a lovely black sand beach with lots of rock pools and a huge gannet colony. The gannets were amazing, but a bit whiffy.

A conversation with Josephine

L: Here are your undies. Can you put them on?
J: No. I want to wear a nappy.
L: You are too big to wear a nappy. Here are your lovely pink undies.
J: What about a pull-up?
L: Don't you think undies are better?
J: (voice quavering and getting higher) Pull-up! Pleeease!
L: Okay, here's your pull-up.
J: I want the one from the car.
L: This one is exactly the same. But if you want the one from the car, go and get it.
J: No thanks, I'll wear undies.
L: Right. Here they are. Can you put them on?
J: Can you help me?
L: Sure. I'll hold them, you put your legs in.
J: No. I'll hold them and you put my legs in.
L: Actually it will be easier if I hold them and you put your legs in.
J: No! You put my legs in!
L: (after a brief struggle) Okay. Your legs are in. Pull them up now.
J: NO! I want to put them on all by myself! (Pulls undies off)
L: I'll leave you to it.

Charlie

Christmas Pudding

It has been a Christmas tradition in our family for ever to have a pudding made from an old recipe, perhaps originating with Grandma Fletcher, my great, great grandmother. I have never made the pudding before, but was gently encouraged by some of my nearest and dearest to "stop being wimpy, and MAKE THE PUDDING!"

I am all for keeping traditions alive and so made a big deal of it with the kids - described how old the recipe was, and how special it is to do things that connect us to our ancestors, and so on and so on. So it was with great enthusiasm that the girls and I tied on our aprons and proceeded to make what Charlie was by now calling "that ancient cake." See how diligent we were? How precise?

Finished product. Blah!

This shot actually shows the pudding at it's best. Still cradled in its wrapping, the pudding's propensity to fall apart and ooze brown water is not clearly demonstrated here. It was...hmm, I'm searching for a word...disgusting? sodden? slimy? Let's just say it was inedible.

Christmas day pics

Duck in the Manger

Our nativity play on Christmas eve this year was hijacked by a large yellow duck.

Christmas performance

Before Christmas the girls put on a spectacular performance - Grace was the director and dressed the girls in their best dresses and decorated their faces with unique and ah, attractive magic marker designs. Then they were off to practice their dance to "Jingle Bells." Josephine was proving to be a difficult cast member, and there were some raised voices and eventually tears. When Grace came to me to insist that Josie could no longer be in the show, I told her there would be no show unless they could find some way for Josie to be a part of it. "And make it age appropriate," were my last words.

That evening the show opened. There were seats for the audience, and Ted's bed thoughtfully placed where he could observe in comfort. Josephine's part was to continuously circle the dancing Jane. She performed her role with grace and gravitas. Bravo, Gracie!

Summer is here!

Well, summer has been gorgeous so far - paddling in the pool, cubby houses, gardening (note Josephine is wearing my gumboots here), sandcastles at the beach, picnics in the park, painting stones in the backyard and light sabre fights on the deck. And lots (and lots) of reading! I love the break from routine. Four lovely weeks still to go!