Our Book of Life

It has only been a year since I have posted a blog.. time to get back into it. Life is busy, very busy. In the last year I have traded in my gumboots for heels, back to the corporate life.. and the kids are growing like weeds.. Arama (Dad) now travels to PNG every 3 weeks for 2 weeks at a time. Hopefully I can catch you up with what has been happening or at least share what we are now doing. I must say, It is good to be back.. :)

No, I haven’t had another baby – although I have been asked as of late- Being the only ones on our property means our own pets. Teancum has been looking since his birthday in June, and finally we were able to buy 2 brother pups. Labrador X Huntaway. We picked them up from Whakatane – a 5 hour drive from our home. They are adorable and everyone loves them. Introducing Rocky and Light.                                 Rock                Light with his new 'master'

Christmas eve saw opened our first ever chance to live in our main house on our farm. Jacque and family moved out, and we were able to move in. Very exciting, even if it was on Christmas eve. The beds were moved in, the kitchen items placed in and the Christmas tree brought over from our old place. The rest we can do in the days following. 

For us car travel is part of an every day routine. 5 min drive to the bus stop, 10 to the school and kkk town ship, ½hour to bigger town and church… our kids are no stranger to traveling no matter the mode of transport. I have been asked by several people how do we handle it. Well for us a good way is to simply.... go to sleep and wake up ready to go when we get there. It is sometimes amusing and entertaining the positions they can get in to while being harnessed in their seatbelts….So that is how we do it..

I can’t remember why – perhaps this was renata’s cup cakes for his class for his birthday or something, but Hik and Ren baking up a storm and making their own lunches. Not bad for 5 and 6 year olds.. Their lunch made by them selves

I haven’t been to a Santa Parade for YEARS, so this year I wanted to take my kids to one. The Helensville Parade is only 20 min away (it’s the next town from ours). So with the 411 on where to sit to get all the candy (yes free candy goes a long way) all those that wanted to go headed off. We had a perfect seat. "The Spot" about 10 minutes to go for the parade... You see what I mean about the masses!! At 10 to 12 noon I was wondering where all the people were. In my head I had the image of the big city parades or the ones when I grew up there were loads of people. I think because of where we were situated   - at the beginning of the parade route – we did not see the masses (well as mass as Helensville can get I suppose hehe) Truth my neice came with me which I always love having her around.  The Spectators waiting for the Parade Truth, Rakaipaka, Nauvoo & Hikawera The spot my friend told me to go was the Jackpot, they kept loading up ou

Touch Rugby has started for the 2012/13 season. This year there were 3 games for the kids to play starting 3:30pm on the Friday afternoon. From there we head across to another field where there is another game for Kawea, a game for Arama and then a game for Arama (dad) and I. By the time our Fridays are finished we are home about 8:30-9pm. Daylight savings makes it a lovely afternoon. While the adults play all the kids are playing around the fields, it is safe and everyone looks out for everyone elses kids. We do feel it the next morning though. Takes a while for the old body to get moving again… hehehehe. Rakai is our little spectator!

      This is what happens in my car when they get a hold of my phone un-anttended for even seconds.

Kawea has been performing in the Auckland Boys Chior this year,   and his final concert arrived. It was in a beautiful cathedral in a prominent part of Auckland City. The singing was lovely and acoustics were fantastic. I mentally noted that one good thing about Christmas is that so many people actually acknowledge that there is a Savior Jesus Christ. At the last wind up night for choir Kawea was badged and given his progressional Certificate.   Well done Kawea. Singing final farewell song Receiving Certificate      Final concert in Parnell Cathedral.  Proud Kawea, well done.   

This entry has no photo's but as you read on you will see why. I did however need to be recorded for posterity!!! and to say We survived. Renata had been at school only 2 days, He went to his Last Montessori   Class on a Thursday. Friday morning Came and he began to throw up. Within the next 3 days 5 of my 6 children were down with the nastiest vomiting/diarrhea bug I have ever encountered. Arama was away on business, so I was on my own. This bug has had a reputation in our community, taking no prisoners and not missing any members of the family. Yes that bad. I was grateful Arama was away, but my big boy was due to go on his Pinacle Camp for a week with school on the Monday. I prayed that he would not get it. It was Fast Sunday the Sunday before so we both fasted he would not get sick before or ON his camp. (his first 2 days was a 2 day treck in the bush and the only way out was via rescue helecopter – not an option thanks) Just the thought of him possibly gett

We have been blessed so much in our lives, I would be very ungrateful and undeserving if I did not acknowledge this. This blessing came when we won a huge pile of the lovely white stones for our gardens. It was about 2 tonnes worth and the lady wouldn’t even take the $1 from us that we won it for (trade me). I did give her something for her little girl though as a thank you.   It took us 2 trailer loads – Big trailer loads to get it home. It   covered the area next to the path perfectly and looks so awesome. It was great to see our family working together to unload. Even Rakai managed to find a small shovel from somewhere and insisted on helping shovel it out of the trailer.   They are not the best photo's but they catch the moment so well.             

They are just leaving soo quickly… Renata turned 5 on the 2 nd of December. He was really excited to leave his old school behind (Montessori) and go to BIG school. He was so fast on the bus the first morning I didn’t even get a chance to take a photo!! His teacher’s name is Mrs Knocker. She has been the new entrants teacher for as long as I can remember. Hikawera had her before Renata.   He loved it and his teacher was impressed with him. Thank you Montessori and well done Renata. Only one musketeer left at home now…..                                    

I am often amazed at the timing we have, if either for sales or for things to happen in places we are. This day Nauvoo and I had just walked into a store where they announced that Valarie Adams – the Gold medalist Shot Put Athlete – was going to be in store shortly to sign her book. Nauvoo snapped up the opportunity to take a photo.

         I have been really fortunate to be able to take Rakai to work with me on the days that he is not in daycare and I need to be in the office. You would think being in an office with a tonne of toys literally around you that it would be like a child in a candy store. Rakai was always so good. He had a couple of toys to keep him happy, or the movies but if he needed to burn off some energy he would just jump on this treadmill exercise bike thingy and go running for a while.. he was so cute, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this one..

 It was (Arama’s)Mums birthday in November. Jacque (arama's sister) thought it would be a good Idea to go and do some tidy up at her grave. So jacque’s family began the project and we finished it. The concreting around her stone was painted white. Two coats. Everyone that was with us had a turn at painting and such. It was a good family activity and it reminded us of the wonderful times we had with mum while she was alive.  Arama  rakaipaka Renata John Kawea, Mum, Dad and Arama Hikawera Nauvoo entertaining the boys between 'turns' My beautiful baby girl. She did paint but I like this photo better. The finished product!

For the first time that I can remember in my married life I finally decided to have a little Time out. My mum offered for me to go to her place in Perth and spend some time there. Now who doesn't like to go and see their momma's ! I haven't been to perth, so it was a great opportunity. As preparations were made, things seemed to fall in place which was great. We planned it over NZ's Labour weekend so that Arama could take care of the kids. It turned out he took the kids for a road trip to Hastings for his Dad's birthday and were able to catch up with cousins they hadn't seen for a long time. You really get to appreciate how big Australia is when you have to travel 10 hours to get from New Zealand to Perth. Perth was a lovely hot place. Dry in places but the Australia kind of beautiful. From the moment I arrived I was spoilt. Steward is such Old School Gentleman. The kind you would hope that your sons would learn and use. I loved watching him dote on mum. It

I had to go to South Auckland to get our generator fixed and to get through peek traffic, we left pretty early. I love the bakery's down south as they are affordable and have yummy food. Today the two boys were able to choose one treat each from the bakery for being so good getting up early. THey each chose a Gingerbread man. It was so fun to see them choosing which part to eat. And not too shy to show them off for the camera.

13/10/12 Wearing shoes on our farm, although constantly reminded, is so often not done. I sound like my mum when I call out "get some shoes on".. This day Rakai had particularly muddy feet, so I sent him to wash his feet in the bucket. He did, and this photo explains the rest.