Long weekend

My Mom and Dad on Christmas Day

The boys cuddling on Christmas Day

Here in NZ we have had a four day weekend - it's been lovely even though the weather hasn't been great. A storm started during the night and early this morning I was constantly aware of rain against the windows. The wind was so strong - at times was gusting up to 120 km/h. Finally the rain stopped about 2pm and the sun came out around 4pm

I have spent much of the weekend crafting - I completed 12 UFOs (unfinished objects - l/os); completed a new one which is a lot of journalling to my sons about nothing ever being that bad and that parents will always love them. Then I started my BasicGrey calendar. it took me about 6 hours all up and we had to go out today so that I could get some photos for it.

We went out about 1.30pm after the rain abated and I also got photos to finish my Project 12 l/os .... which sadly are only up to May! We also bought new sheets and a towel at 25% off.

I love relaxed weekends like this - we eat when we are hungry and go out if we want to - in fact, today was the first time that we went to the shops since Christmas Eve!

My Dad is still about the same, but the decline is faster now. My Mom is taking strain as she virtually has to do everything for him. I'm pleased that we have Hospice involved so that the support is there. I hope that tomorrow is a nice day so that I can take them out for a drive and some tea/coffee somewhere.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas everyone! Here's our tree with our presents underneath. We all got iPads so there isn't much under the tree this year. In previous years, I would wrap the presents at night when the boys went to bed; this year I wrapped them in the morning before they woke up!
Last night we had "Christmas in the cul-de-sac": our current very enterprising Head Boy asked me if he could organise a choir, a sausage sizzle and a raffle to happen in our cul-de-sac to raise money for the Salvation Army. The other residents were happy so he went ahead and organised everything. What a great evening it was! He had the help of quite a few other prefects, the Head of Music and the choir and they raised $707.30 for the Sallies! he was so pleased and rightfully so. Here are some members of the choir singing in our driveway. I have already told him if he wants a reference for anything to give my name - I will sing his praises!

My Dad is declining and we have Hospice nursing help now. My Mom is going to get home help and will also get some respite care early in the New Year. We are taking Christmas lunch to their house tomorrow as my Dad will not be able to walk from our driveway to the rumpus where we were planning on setting up the dining room. And if I'm carrying everything downstairs, I might as well put it in my car.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow and hug your family close.

This Weekend

Colin's birthday today - he's 15! Where did that time go? He had a party on Friday and went to Paint Ball. here they are getting ready In the tower looking for "the enemy"

All over


We came home and they played PS3, PS2 and watched movies. Homemade mini-pizza for dinner and this was the second round - the first round was twice as much as this! 22 mini-pizzas between five boys!!

Today they have gone to see Tron and getting Noodle Canteen for dinner. I made Christmas crackers following the design we were taught at Creative Wonderland by Rachel Tucker. I made six for us all and another four for our friends the Matthews.

I have now finished all my work and I am so glad! Yesterday I went scrapping and was in no mood to scrap at all. After one l/o, which is not stunning, I decided to do some 6x6 pages fro the Southern Cross Kids Camps - more details here. I have made 16 and hopefully I'll be able to make some more. It was quite satisfying doing something for someone else just before Christmas

It's the final countdown now and we have decided to take Christmas lunch to my parent's house as my Dad won't manage any of the stairs now. He is so depressed about his foot and my Mom and I are seriously considering having the half leg amputation in January. It's so hard - I just had to get up and give him a hug today

Nearly Christmas

Well, my parents had their 59th wedding anniversary on Wednesday! We celebrated by picking up a wheelchair for my Dad and then went to Palmer's Garden Centre for a light lunch. In the evening we got Chines takeaways and had sparkly wine with it.

Thursday my Dad had his 87th birthday. In the morning a few friends went round for tea and cake and in the evening we went to The Fisherman's Table for dinner. he enjoyed it but I thought that the service was very poor. In fact, I started clearing the table at one point as the staff were standing around holding up the walls. He asked me a couple of times how old he was. His mind is fading fast. It's just so sad - from such a powerful man responsible for so many people and so much to what he is today. He spoke to some friends from South Africa and a few minutes later couldn't remember it.

Both my doctor and his doctor have been fantastic in their support for him. My doctor made a house call and has phoned me to see how things are going. Don't get many doctors like that nowadays. Their doctor has also been great, but has been on extended sick leave. Both doctors are from the same mould, I think, kind, compassionate and caring.

Colin is 15 on Sunday - where have those 15 years gone? I remember just yesterday the discussion as to what Adrian and toddler Ross would do on Christmas Day as it was possible I would still be in hospital. I remember asking the doctor to discharge me on Christmas Eve and going straight to the baby shop to buy a double pram!

So today he and four friends went to PaintBall and are now playing PS etc downstairs. They finished off 22 mini pizzas for dinner!

Adrian has his office party tonight and I will fetch him and drop the friends off at the same time.

Hopefully I will be going scrapping tomorrow - not that I have anything prepared to actually scrapped. Well, I'll go for a couple of hours and then come back to finish working.

Negleted

And no photos either

So my five year "blog-aversary" came and went and I forgot!

School is busier than ever and you'd think with the seniors gone it would be a cruisey time - NO. So much to get ready for next year, not to mention I'm moving classrooms so all my junk has to move. One would think it would be a good time to go through all my resources and recycle what I'll never use again; however, that is not the case - I've just sent the boxes across as they are. At the moment I have no cupboards or shelves there either so everything is just on the floor. Then there's end-of-year reports etc and I can't wait to come home to do my part-time NZQA work!

Colin went to the Marlborough Sounds last week for a three day camp: tramping, kayaking and cycling and he had a wonderful time ........ until he came off his bike and grazed one elbow badly and sprained and strained bones and ligaments in the other. At least he didn't have to go back to school for the rest of the week so has been able to rest/ice/stretch his arm.

Adrian's birthday today and we went to Monsoon Poon for dinner - always a treat!

My Dad continues to slowly decline. I arranged to have the District nurses come in to dress his foot. Today's one talked him into having an amputation ... next week! She only sees his foot and knows nothing about his heart, lungs, kidneys, state of mind etc. I'm going to say No as I'm not prepared to send him for such a big op and an anaesthetic 12 or fewer days before his 87th birthday. He is so looking forward to turning 87 as he will then be the "oldest Woods".

We also put up the Christmas lights today along with most of the neighbourhood and already we have "tourists" driving around. I love to hear the children's voice and the wonder and excitement that they get.

Summer has arrived here and the weather for the past week has been simply glorious - long may it last!

I will get around to a family letter this year .... I hope!