Busy, busy, busy

I've been really busy since school went back - my hours have increased so I have four classes now (last year I had three). The increase in time is more than 25% though - seems like 200%! I am doing a digital camera course at the local Community Education; hopefully I'll be able to use my camera with all its functions at the end.

At Intermediate, the pupils earn "Merits" for example, when they get 99/100 on Basic facts, they get a Basic Facts Merit. Well, Ross got his within a week of being there.

Colin loves his new teacher - Mark Kyne - and I am pleased as I asked for Colin to be in his class.

Adrian is very busy at work but loving it. He is doing a Web Page design course at Com Ed and is enjoying that too.

I had some news from my sister-in-law this week: she and my niece are going on a three day scrapping cruise!! That sounds so wonderful and I am envious of the two of them

Painting Update

Well, the decks are done, as is the gate next to the garage and the shed outside. Adrian and Colin also sanded back the garage doors and put new oil onto them. I have now bought the third 10 litre bucket of paint and hopefully this weekend will be fine so we can waterblast and paint the fence.

February!

First of February today and I had a department meeting at school while the boys went to the pool with Gay-Gay and Pa. School starts next week and not a moment too soon for the boys - seven weeks is waaaay too long for me to have them at home! I was really pleased to go scrapping on Saturday and managed to get quite a few l/os done (two above).

On Friday night, Adrian and I went to see Memoirs of a Geisha, which was very good. We saw it at the Lighthouse cinema, where one sits in couches to watch the movie. The is also a cafe where one can get food and drinks to have in the movies. After the movie we had dinner at a little Thai place in Petone - a very pleasant evening indeed!

Kapiti Island (or the day I nearly stayed!)

On Sunday we went to Kapiti Island for our annual Christmas present from my mom and dad. We set off early and were soon on the boatfor the twenty minute trip from Paraparaumu. After listening to the guide's talk, Adrian and the boys were off up the Trig Track (straight up the mointain) while I took the more leisurely (!) Wilkinson Path. Ross ran up and would have been first up had Adrian not called him back for a photo (video) shoot. I plodded my way up and by the time I got to the "twenty minutes from the top" point, the mist had come down and there was just enough time for us to eat our lunch and start heading back.

We had to eat our lunch quickly not only because of time restraints, but the kakas were incredibly quick at pinching food out of one's hand or mouth. In the photos, each of us has a kaka on our shoulder.

On the "walk" back, I realised that there was no way I'd be doing this little jaunt again! (I've been suffering since then.) There were times when I would have been quite happy just to stay right where I was, I was so tired.

The two boys enjoyed themselves immensely, but I think Adrian and I wouldn't choose to do the trip again.

Painting the House

After five years living here and debating what colours we like, we finally got a colour consultant in. best $75 we have ever spent! All we've done so far is paint all the decking which up until now has been boring brown. Both Adrian and I really like the colour the consultant suggested and now that it's on the decking we're even happier; it is easier on the eye and blends into the trees better. In the photo you can see the older yucky brown and the lovely new green which is Resene Xanadu. We also have colour suggestions for the rest of the house with which we were happy. (Sorry you have to lie down to see the photo, but I can't work out how to turn it!)

My Present

I got the best Christmas/birthday present: a cheetah encounter at Wellington Zoo. The zoo does animal encounters where people are able to interact with amongst others,the otter, red pandas, giraffes and of course the two cheetahs. I have said on numerous occasions that I would love to do a cheetah encounter but at $195 it was a bit beyond me. But my darling husband organised one for me! What an event! There was a whole parade consisting of me and the cheetahs through the zoo from their enclosure to another area where the encounter happens. Inside this enclosure it was just me, the cheetahs, a few zoo staff and Adrian taking photos. The cheetahs are lovely: they purr just like a domestic cat! Their fur is not as soft as a cat's but still quite soft. They just love the interaction and Charlie statrs purring from the moment his halter is put on. It was a wonderful magical afternoon.

January

I can't believe that it's January in the new year already! We started painting our deck in a lovely green colour; we will be pleased to get rid of the yukky brown. We also have plans for the rest of the house, but all in good time!

Nelson

What a wonderful week we spent in Nelson! At least three days at Rabbit Island, which we love. We also went down to the Nelson Lakes (Rotoiti in particular) where the boys swam (very cold) and then had a lovely lunch at Top House, an old hotel. The photo is of the three boys walking along the beach at Rabbit Island towards Mapua.

What a Day!

Today was the end-of-year gym display and as we didn’t go last year we didn’t know what the format was. Anyway, the pre-schoolers all did their display and then there some certificates and one trophy for them. Then the others in the club did their displays. Just before the senior girls did their display, certificates of excellence were awarded. After the senior girls display, trophies were handed out. Ross got a trophy for the Male Incentive Award i.e. for achieving and improving so well during the year! I was so pleased unfortunately my camera battery took it upon itself to die at that moment! Anyway, he also got a drink bottle that the head coach had bought for all the trophy recipients at the World Champs. Ross was so pleased with himself

And then on top of all that, Ross brought home an excellent report! He is achieving well above his age level in every area and loves school. This is his last year of Primary School and he is off to Intermediate next year.

Colin's Present

It is often very difficult to buy a present for Colin as he wants so little in the way of material goods. Last year we gave him a Red Panda encounter at the Zoo and this year, the Zoo arranged a special bird encounter for him. He met a sulphur-crested cockatoo and a blue-and-yellow macaw. The cockatoo smooched up to Colin and he just loved that, but was a little afraid of the macaw's beak! Colin so enjoys the interaction with the animals which means far more to him than any "thing" does. We spent some time wandering round the zoo which the boys treat as a big park. They know their way round the zoo so well and also know a number of the keepers there. Elton, one of the employees there, told me that there are people that go to the zoo once every five years or so, and then there are people like us who are part of the "zoo family"!

First weekend in December

Yesterday I took the boys down to the
Christmas parade in Tawa and last night was Adrian's work children's party at Lollipops. The boys had a great time and both were hot and tired at the end.

Saturday afternoon, the boys and Adrian put up the outside Christmas lights as did most of the others in our circle. Here is the house opposite ours; the photo is not great.

Today was Adrian's birthday and we had breakfast at Fidels in Cuba Street and curry for supper.

Welcome to us in December!

Well, it's the first of December and the start of what is always a busy month. Exams are finished (thank goodness) as are my reports. I have worked out that we have at least one event every day except for 6th December!
The boys wanted an advent calendar ("event" according to Colin) but decided they don't like the chocolate that is in them!