Our Book of Life

I have been told it gets cold in the winter here. I remember the fog that didn't lift until lunchtime, and wearing a couple o layers of clothes when I lived here about 20 years ago, but I must say, it's way colder. I am still getting used to the grass crunching under my feet early mornings when I go to get light for our run. I keep thinking I use get the treadmill going again. Then there is the defrosting your car to drive to work. It takes me longer to  clear the ice and frost off the car than it does to drive to the office. This morning I heard the creaking sound when I opened the car door as it was starting to freeze shut. I had to take a couple of shots.    Arama's car usually a dark green.  The side of my van. The view (or lack of) from the inside of my van.  Brrrrrrr, so great fun for heat pumps and hot water bottles. 

Yes, we did it! We climbed the Hakarimata's again. Still hard, still so rewarding!! 

Teancum really enjoys playing volleyball. He jumped right into the teams at boys high, and within a couple of weeks, he was in the 'A' team. They came runner up this season to a solid Hillcrest school team. An awesome group of boys. 

We were so excited to find out Uncle Mark was coming to town!  I was able to meet up with him for dinner and a movie in Manukau on the Thursday, then dad drive him down on Sunday to come to our ward and spend the day with us.  We all loved having him around and enjoyed hearing about his adventures. He showered us with cool gifts and it was just awesome to have my brother around again. The kids were so excited it was hard to get a serious shot of us all!

Karleen and I (my sister in law) have been fitness buddies since we have moved down here. We motivate each other to get up at 6am and run or do a fitness workout.  There is a summit called the Hakarimata's. A gruelling 1500 stairs up a continuous climb  for about 1.5-2kms. I does not sound like much of a distance but it is if you are stairing it 99% of the way.  Early Saturday morning, Karleen and I set out to conquer the mountain!! It was a lovely bush walk till the stairs hit. Yes they suck you into it.. Lol It was painful, and amazing. All walks of life, all shapes and sizea and all abilities.  Those coming down have big smiles on their faces. One lady coming down was trying to encourage us, she said keep going, your nearly there. We thought phew! Then she added, half way is just up there!! I tell you if I was not with Karleen I would have turned around half way. A bonus though at half way, our first bench seat on the trail!!  Needless to say, we made it to the top. And my what

Our new home is literally a 2 min drive to the huge Waikato hospital. All around us are medical specialists and sorts. Knowing our family, it's a great location.  I was talking to a sister missionary from Fiji as Kawea walked up to me I thought cool, I can show her how much he had grown in the last 4 years.... Until he said "mum we need to go, rakai's hurt himself". I look down and his hands were covered in blood!  Well, as it turns out Rakai had managed to run into the alluminium corner of a window that was open and the corner punctured his head. Off the the a&e.  Luckily Kawea and Arama are great in emergencies like that- seriously they could be emergency doctors or ambulance medics as thy are so cool, calm and collected- and know how to clam the patient down. He is all fine and well now. And thank you to whoever invented nappy San and spray on stain remover! 

As the farm is on the market, we have to take trips up to maintain it.  We finished a lot of work, and decided to head to the waterfall for a dip. I love seeing the boys swimming in such beauty. We will miss this. 

Today is the junior cross country. Rakai and renata are runnin in this. Rakai is very excited and has high expectations for himself. As he said the prayers for breakfast he asked that he could finish first in the cross country. When we said prayers after scripture reading, he asked if he could cross the finish line first I his cross country, then as an after thought he remembered to bless others too. He was soo cute. My baby may be small but he has the biggest competitive streak!! 

Arama and Kawea are heading off to Hamilton Boys High school. It has a high standard and reputation to uphold, I was quietly impressed that they have a merit and demerit system. They have detentions on a Saturday even!! You can get a detention for having your hair too long, eating in class and well heaps of things. It is about a 15-20min walk to school from our house. Seminary is about 5 min walk the other way and is not until 7am! Like, yay..  The younger 4 are going to Hamilton West Primary School. A whole 5-10min walk from home (about 3 blocks away).  I can't resist taking some new school shots and as you can see Kawea is 'loving' it. Hehe. 

It is an exciting time for us in Hamilton. Our new home is a couple of blocks from the centre of town. We have had to get used to street lights, and neighbours and electricity 24/7. It is great to be 3 doors down and across the road from cousins, the kids LOVE that. We are also a block away from the lake. It has a beauty of a playground and the kids can spend hours there. For those that like running or a walk, you can go around the lake and will take you between 1/2 to an hour to go right round. It's so pretty! (There is even Zumba but that's another story lol) We have also ventures to the pools on those hot sunny afternoons. The kids played and swam with their cousins and Karleen and I enjoyed just relaxing, lounging around an then going for a dip to cool down. It was so nice to just sit still and enjoy.  Hamilton has certainly made a first good impression on us! 

My dear friend and boss Looie, I will miss you gorgeous! Thank you T for taking the photo's

To make a long story short, we are moving! Arama has accepted a position in Hamilton. We finished the year out in kaukapakapa and start living in Hamilton in January. Everyone has new jobs, new school, and the farm is up for sale! A new adventure! 

T hurt his ankle at rugby the other week. After staying home Friday because he could not walk, and not being able to finish training on Monday, he asked to go to the doctors. I took him in first thing Tuesday morning. We are getting used to the doctors here, so my son had a bit of a laugh.. Here's why.  T hobbled into the doctors. The doctor says "hmm no swelling but a little tender here, so I think we will do an exray." T and I look at each other and I say, "does he really need an exray? He walked in here." The doctor then proceeded to tell me that sometimes people can walk on a broken ankle - I'm guessing he means hairline fracture or something.. And he ordered the X-ray.  X-ray was taken, and big surprise.. doctor said,"good news it's not broken" no, really (ok so pretend to be shocked!) He then says but he needs a moon boot. I associate moon boots with broken legs so I was again questioning him about the moon boot.. He insists, disappears t

Being in Hamilton and so close to everything is great. The boys expressed interest in playing basketball this year which I was quietly stoked about. So, sent through the forms and thy wee placed in teams. With a hortage of coaches, Arama is coaching hikawera's team and I am coaching Renata's team and helping out rakai's team. It is really fun and so good we can walk to the YMCA courts (a whole one block over) play the game and walk home! Way cool!! Nauvoo and her friend Carmel come along to socialise. So, with 3 boys in teams we are now playing basket ball or watching basket ball 4 days a week. Yay! 

Standing outside Nauvoo's classroom today, I marvelled at this scooter rack for the kids scooters they ride to school. I had to chuckle to myself, cause there is no way in kaukapakapa you could ride your scooter to school, yet here thee are sturdy racks to lock, yes lock your scooter to for the day, outside your classroom. Welcome back to the city!!!!

Ripper Rugby is a great sport. It teaches the kids to run, step and tag (or rip). In theory it should be easy right? Well try playing it. Not so easy. Renata played really well this year with his team. He was a great asset. He was so funny,.. as Ren is. Not shy to express his emotions when he gets a try. He puffs his chest out like he is "da man" and struts back to half way.. lol Rakai was a great supporter this year as always. He would make lots of friends on the side line and was very helpful with eating the half time oranges. Even rolling in the grass! A great season with player of the day certificates and rewards. One of which was a $10 voucher to pita pit.. mmmmm well done son!

In the school holidays, the kids come home with this family newspaper from school. This issue it had a page full of Movie coupons. Being the school holidays, we decided to take advantage of these specials.  How to train a dragon was such a great movie, so we had to go and watch How to train a dragon 2. We drove down to the shore to catch the session. We liked it just as much as the first.  After the movie, the kids had great fun posing in front of the displays. I tell you my kids are sooo not shy.. for the camera anyway!

Who doesn't love Ninja Turtles. Rakaipaka loves them. He was spoilt to get some really cool Ninja Turtle slippers with a matching mask. Check him out!! He loved them!!

Mum was blessed to be able to go to Australia for a week.  The trip started in Melbourne with Elissa and some friends and family to see 'Wicked' the musical. It was great to see the musical with an Australian cast and touch.  It was great to see Melbourne. The trams were hard case, with the stops in the middle of the street.  Next stop was Newcastle to catch up with Naomi and Jenny. It is wonderful to see them after sooo long, and after meeting the kids, a girls night out brings out the youth in us again. Just like old times. Lots of laughter and conversations.  Finally up to brisbane to spend another night with Elissa and catch up with my Dad, brother Mark and his family. It was so great to spend time with them in Brisbane. 

Hibiscus Young Mens is an awesome program.  One of the leaders loves science, which is great as your boys love science that is alive! For an activity Matt showed the boys how to make a rocket from scratch and fire it across the rec hall.  Great fun to watch and the boys loved it. Thanks Matt!!

Number 4, our Hikawera turned 8. When drawing up the invitations it was awesome to see that Hikawera invited his best mates. These boys are from school, and rugby. We call them the musketeers.  5 of Hiks friends from school were there, along with Family and friends from church.  Really proud of our family today, everyone participated. Rakaipaka Conducting Renata and some of Hiks Friends, Carlos, Beau, Matt and Waimana Hik and Dad.

What do you do when you live on a farm and they boys are dressed ready for church in their number ones? How do you keep them clean?? March them one by one!!  (actually they did this on their own) Soo cute!

As you know New Zealanders LOVE rugby. In our house it is no different.. especially with 6 boys. Arama coachd 2nd XV and 7's rugby. Arama T played both of these as well as Rangikawea. Here are some photo's of the teams and boys in action.  Under 16 7's team Teancum kicking Aeama and Kapi. Player of the Day. 2nd XV Rugby team. Winners of second division. Prizegiving Kawea Grade 7 Handsome Kawea Prizegiving