Our Book of Life

Hi have missed my dear friends in fiji, but have been blessed with a wonderful new friend here in NZ. We organized a girls night out for the two of us. It was the first time to the movies since being back to nz. It was great to 'dress up' and go out. I was so surprised at the cinema when we walked in. They were sooo posh!!! There is a cinema called the circle lounge $15 saw us sitting in HUGE lounge type chairs with a table in the middle for our snacks and drinks and spot lights we controlled. (on/off switches) We watched Mirror Mirror. I love Julia Roberts, and unlike the last Julia Roberts movie I saw, I stayed awake through the whole thing. I tried to take a photo of the chairs cause I was so wrapped with them - yes don't get out much do I - and had to get a photo of the two of us to remember our night out. Every light you see is the middle of 2 seats shining on the table for refreshments. Introducing Looie James!! We also stopped to Hells Pizza on the way h...

Happy Mothers Day to all of you wonderful Mothers out there! This year has been a real treat for me. My darling is really trying to be thoughtful. He had a picnic lunch packed for after church, and then prepared a roast dinner for that evening. I really enjoyed my 'day off' where I did not have to cook or do any dishes, I didn't even fold the clothes. I did however catch up on my blog in my new woolly ugg boots!! Thank you my darling.... (and family)

We had cut a lot of trees down at the beginning of the year with my sisters family and have been slowly working at clearing them and stocking them for fire wood. Cool evenings are now setting in so Arama’s brother (Uncle Ashley) his daughter and brother in law with a truck to collect the wood for their fireplace. They arrived about 1pm on Wednesday afternoon. The kids loved having a ride with their Uncle on the truck (and eating his lolly stash too) It took all about 20 minutes to load the wood into the BIG truck that they had bought. It was great to see Renata and Rakai helping load the wood. I was amazed at how light the wood was now it is dried out. Logs that took 2 people to carry earlier on in the year, one person was throwing like a football. We stopped for scones and a drink before heading up the hill to latch on the boat so they could take that home to use too. Arama rang earlier that day to tell me 1. Where the keys were to unlock the boat and 2. That there were 3 locks...

So, on a Wednesday is my “day off” work and the 2 boys are home from school. I have a music tutor lesson on this day and that is about the only other commitment that I have until after school sports practices begin. It is a great day to catch up on housework and other things around the house, and get ready for the rest of the chaotic week. I had cleaned up inside and decided to get out and clean up the truck so I can advertise it to sell. I was out there for a while and encouraged the two boys to get outside while the sun was shining. They thought otherwise. Renata and Rakaipaka had a WONDERFUL time together. Don’t you love it when siblings get along and play really well together. When I came inside this is what I found. Where is a chain and lock!! This cupboard is getting locked!!!!!

Rakaipaka (2 years young) My little man is growing up so handsomely. Rakaipaka has really been such a great child. He is so cute and clever. He is now at school 2 days a week, which was a real heart string puller for me… but he is growing up so much. This day I was so impressed he was trying to eat like a gentleman with his knife and fork. He held it properly and was intensely trying to use them as they are intended.  The photo does not do it justice , just can’t seem to get the camera out in time on occasions.

Usually my birthday goes pretty much undetected. No drama. This year, my darling surprised me with a HUGE birthday cake he had made at work. When I arrived home from the usual Wednesday practices with the kids there was KFC (yum) and a HUGE chocolate cake waiting for me.. What a treat.. The cake was soo yummy!! I think I made myself sick on it. Hehe Thank you hon for a wonderful cake and thinking of me, and Naomi thank you for helping make my birthday a great day.

am quite lucky now, as Arama does not have to travel so much for work any more. He headed off for Samoa the day before Anzac Day this year. Let me tell you about our week without Daddy. Anzac Day.  Anzac Day began as a relaxing morning. I spent  about an hour and a half in bed, watching a movie, and just chillin’ out. My day plans of getting a bit of work done around the farm was short lived. Distractions of cousins and fun in the sun over ruled. They made for some great photo’s and memories though. I did get the kids to watch the ANZAC ceremony on TV while we folded the washing though. It was quite entertaining to watch the 3 younger boys playing soccer together (check out those cheeky smiles) and I managed to sneak a great photo of the two big boys doing weights. Are they really getting old enough for this!! I must be getting old….. That night, we were preparing for school and bed,  lunches, clothes and teeth. All of a sudden  Hikawera began crying – yes...

We have been building friendships this year with locals in the area. There are some lovely families that live close by to us. Families that have really good morals and are just great people. One of these families Is the owner at the milking farm where the kids get  on/off the bus for school. As past blog has shown, our kids love to go and help muster the cattle up for milking and Mark doesn’t seem to mind either. Hikawera  amazes me the most, and I guess in part it suits his personality. He wonders behind the cows calling out softly to them ,”come on girls” and will give one or two a hand on the rump to move them kindly along. He follows the instructions perfectly that Mark gives, and just LOVES helping out. Hikawera has been the first of the kids to go into the ‘pits’ and help with the milking. Now, we have another.. Arama approached Mark for some holiday work, which to his delight he was given 2 days of work on the Farm. The prep talks from mum and dad were given , and b...

This past Easter Weekend was unlike any other  that we can remember, due to the weather. Usually Easter weekend is tragic weather with rain and wind. Not this year. The weather was beautiful. We decided to venture out for a change. Saturday, we lazily prepared then headed off to Orewa Beach. Here we spent the afternoon swimming, eating, and playing. It was such fun. We had a competitive game of Touch with a little rubbery ball and 2 sand buckets for the goal – kind of Touch Rugby meets Basketball.  I snapped so many good photos of the day, this is just a small handful. I had to take this photo, she was actually stuck like that so I took the photo then helped her up.. priorities. Nauvoo is so Beautiful!! Kawea loving the surf, hik on the right The kids in action. Nauvoo has the ball. My 2 little ones. Hikawera See they can get along... don't tell them though. Arama being a great big brother towing his sister in the surf. He then took Hika...

I love that my children know their first cousins so well. I love to see them spending time together, getting to know each other and enjoying each others company. They are all great kids, each with their own strengths. I love this photo, it is where some of the cousins were 'chillin' in the room together. It really makes for great memories.

Pokeno is a very small, blink and you'll miss it, town on the outskirts of the Auckland region. The main highway from Auckland to Hamilton used to run through this town until the rebuilt a bigger and better Motorway that bypassed the town. There is one thing though it is NZ (possibly world) renowned for is its ICE CREAM!! Although it is a detour now, still many stop to eat their HUGE and YUMMY nz ice creams. On the last weekend of the school holidays we were treated to such a time when we were taking our niece Ratauhinga back to Hamilton. It was a lovely day, and soo yummy! Even Kawea who had been sick an hour ago felt well enough to have one. Fairy Floss, Mango, Maple Walnut, Pecan Fudge to name a few. mmmm. Such a treat!! Rakai Arama, Rakai, Ratau, Arama Rangikawea, mr sick. Could still hold down some pokeno ice ceram The love of my life, ain't he handsome My half eaten (yes half way through) maple walnut, mango and peacan Fudge.

In a perfect world, perhaps in your world, in the morning when you call your child(ren)to get ready for school, they tend to the task straight away. In my world,  This is what happens. I sent Hikawera to brush his teeth before going to school. I turn around to see this: and heard: Right, Left, Upper Cut!   Right Left Uppercut! There was Hikawera, he had discovered his shadow on the fridge and began to spar with it. He was imagining he was fighter from the movie 'Real Steel.' Yes, my world may not be perfect (especially with that mess around him!) but it IS entertaining.