Brocco-flower!

Recently found this in the supermarket and had to buy it. Not too sure what we are going to do with it, so if you can give us any suggestions? brocco-flower cheese maybe? As you can see W is quite amazed by it too. I used him so that you can gauge the size of it.

Chicken Pox

W has had chicken pox for the past week with 25 spots at the last count. He's still been very lively although his sleeping has gone completely upside down and now even that he has recovered he now has a cold.
Spring is in the air and with it we have enjoyed temps up to 27! what a change. W is picking the new flowers as fast as they are growing, it's nice, but wearing thin; fast. I spent the day sorting out the garden yesterday and even managed to get a bit of a tan. The veg plot is coming on nicely with all of the mustard seed turned over and miniature horse poo has been mixed in. We have some seedlings ready for the summer and seeds ready to plant - go us! We are definitely having a go at 'the goodlife' here in timaru!
The little man has been a great help to me in the kitchen this week - he has his own ideas about using all the pans for putting bottles tops and potatoes in and stirring them about, then sorting them all out again in different pots/pans/boxes - very busy! We have also done every park, duck pond and farm animal cafe going this week - in an effort to keep chickenpox boy away from other kids and have actually had a really fun week with lots of fresh air! Back to music and movement, then daycare today though and very busy straight away, so am sure he's pleased to be with his friends again ACE! Click for pictures.

There is only one!

We went to Timaru Hospital today to have our first scan. And I am very pleased to announce that there is only one! This is our first scan of 3. The next scan is at 20 weeks when they will be able to determine the gender. The hospital was a pleasant experience with no teenage expectants, a 2 minute wait and we didn't have to load a machine with £1 coins for the images. They were free.
W's response has been good. He said 'Biby' when it came on the screen and this evening we have been able to sit him down and break the news. He's taking it well so far.
The date that they gave us was March 5th, but if N keeps growing at this rate she'll be as big as a Roly Poly - possibly even bigger.

Spring?

William has been a gem this week. He has been practicing new skills like; turning around, funky dancing to the beat, stamping, sitting on chairs and getting everything out of every cupboard. Pictures
The chores of the garden had finally come to a head and after buying a new lawnmower (last years mower was dropped off at the tip RIP) it managed to not start. Not much luck with lawnmowers. A few hours weeding have left me feeling that this garden is going to take up lots of my time over the warmer months. But homegrown potatoes, courgettes and lettuces will make it all worthwhile!
William has been a brave soldier and fought off a fever over the weekend - he has still been busy and smiling through most of it and is completely fresh-aired out now after helping his daddy in the garden and a mess about on the beach with new wellie boots! Fingers crossed he will have a good night's sleep - and then be up for a different kind of day coming into work with me! TTFN

Visitor

Andrew was down last weekend and brought a welcomed Macunian outlook on Timaru and our lifestyle. He reminded me of the things that I had started to take for granted and also of good friends that are still at home. It was good to catch up and we went out in Timaru. I do remember cringing when he chatted up the barmaid, whilst my only though was 'I hope she's not a Girls' High student!!'. He stayed in Timaru for 48 hours and then went on to Q'town for a seasons skiing. I'm hoping to get down there for the weekend in a few weeks.
It has been the Perseid meteor shower this week and I was looking forward to a dazzling display only to find that Timaru was covered in cloud and now rain for the last 3 days for the first time in about 3 months........... typical!

Still bloody cold.....

July has been good. I've had 2 weeks off to chill (literally), re-charge and spend time with the whanau.
We have generally spent time keeping warm. Coal, wood and the fan have been the hot topics around the household for the past few months. The situation is much better now and we are wiser for next year. The coldest May for 35 years and coldest June for 50 years gave us a real baptism of ice. I'm reassured by the locals that it's never normally this cold.
You'll see from the pictures though it's still beautiful during the day getting up into double figures and shades are still a must.

There was an earthquake!!!! 7.8 on the Richter scale and we didn't feel a thing. I remember I felt the rumbles from Beswick a few years ago, but nothing here?!?

William is now a fully fledged member of Creative Corner daycare centre - as I am running the After School sports and crafts programme in Temuka (about 20 mins away) - its good fun for me and william has really settled in now and wows everyone with his animal noises, sand pit skills and bopping along to Old Macdonald - he is definitely more independent these days, a real little toddler into everything - but still ridiculously giddy about sticks and the beach - today's new word was 'clam'!

www.flickr.com pageypotter's July 2009 photoset

TekapoTastic

We ventured out to Tekapo today just an hour from here and a place that we have been many times, although never with as much snow! The drive there was fantastic with each summit and bend opening a new unbelievable vista. WG loved it! firstly just the word 'snow' had him in fits of giggles. We dragged him around and sat with him on some of the slopes in the sledge. He doesn't seem to enjoy the fast slopes too much, but we do.
The cloud came in a little and we went for a cuppa in the Mount John Observatory. It was beautiful up there. We could see 360 degrees of snow covered mountains and to the East there was a blanket of cloud below us. WG took full advantage of the busy cafe and introduced himself to everyone and decided to try out a ladies walking poles.
I hope that you enjoy the pictures.....