Lets Go Inside

Now that the house is wrapped up lets have a look inside.  The plumber has been and we have the pipes etc installed. All ceiling battons are completed and Dave is currently waiting for the internal doors so he can install them.

The Bathroom

Nicholas's Room

Kitchen to be

Entrance and spare room

Food Storage Room

Lounge/dinning/Kitchen

Tomorrow the windows and external doors are being installed and then on Monday the electrician will come and wire the house up.  All is going to plan and all is very exciting.

A Blast from the Past

Jackie & Me

My dearest friend Jackie turned 40 and she celebrated the only way she knew "Party Party Party"  Dave and I attended and it was like a blast from the past.  All our old friends that we use to party hard with were there. Many of them we hadn't seen for years due to family commitments or just of the circumstances everyone is in now a days.  It was so cool seeing them all again.

The Leans

The party was held at the Leviathan Hotel this has very fond memories for Dave and I as we were married there and I also worked there for 2 years.  There has been changes in the hotel which are amazing. Peter (the owner) was there he's still the same friendly awesome gentleman, although he has lost the mow which makes him look younger.

The Leans were there and we reminisced about the past and the great time we all had at the Mill.  We all came to the same conclusion that we all missed the mill days. The Leans all asked me if I missed drinking alcohol as its been 7 years since my last drink.  I must admit I honestly could say no. I can have a great time without getting drunk.

Dancing Queens

We danced and sang and had a great time. Talking about time it seemed to go so fast. Time sure does fly when you are having fun. Dave and I arrived home at 2.30am.  It felt like the past especially the time we got home the only exception was we were both sober :)

Yummy Cake

Singing together I think?

First Day A Success

Nicholas and I approached Elmgrove and we sat in the car for a few moments. 

Me: Are you sure Nicholas?

Nicholas: Yep I'm ready

Me: Shall we have a prayer

Nicholas: Yes please mum

Once the prayer was over he jumped out of the car and we made our way to the office.  Nicholas went up to the desk and the receptionist looks up......

Nicholas: I'm back

Receptionist: Welcome back

Teacher: I know you

Nicholas: Yep I'm back

I was so proud of him. His teacher told him they had a surprise in the classroom and he went off with her without even looking back.

Whilst I filled in the enrolment form I could hear him talking to his buddy they were laughing and I felt a sense of relief.  I went into his classroom and he was happy playing with the hand puppets. The bell rang and he waved bye and sat on the mat.

After school he caught the school bus with the Mendy boys and I picked him up he was still smiling and he had had a great day YEAH!

The House

Wow seems awhile since I last blogged and I know you all have missed me mwhahaha.  However I am still alive and the house is still in progress can you guess what's new???

Before

After

Thats right its all go at the Finnie building site.  Dave has been working like a man on a mission.  His efforts has paid off and the house will be closed in before winter.  The house is on track the budgets in tack and moving in around August is still on the cards so very excited can't wait. Here are some more shots of the house.

Before

The lounge/dinning and sunnyside

The Garage

The doors and windows will go in next week and the brickies will be able to start  on the cladding. Meanwhile on the inside the electrician and plumbers will do their bit and Dave will put up the gib. Stay posted..........

It's back to Elmgrove

So last term Nicholas started at a new school Elmgrove and alas only lasted 1 week at which time he really wanted to go back to his old school in Mornington.  At that time it really didn't seem that big of a deal.  I'd organised a ride into school everyday (thanks Mandy) and all that meant was for me to pick him up after school how hard could that be?  Well after having the school holidays I realised it means a big deal on my time and my wallet.  Admittedly I have been on holiday too thus travelling into town has not been on a regular basis.  Amazingly I have only had to fill my car with fuel once whereas before I was filling up twice a week thats $160 on gas only.  It has also meant I had to get up earlier so I can get into town to pick him up by 3pm and then scoot back by 3.15pm to get Kate from Montessorri its been somewhat crazy. However, I feel its really important that a child is happy at their school no matter what and so if thats what makes Nicholas happy then thats what you do.

Over the school holidays Nicholas has been hanging out alot with the Mendy boys and consequently has decided to return back to Elmgrove.  When I asked him why? Its cost you alot of money mum taking me to school everyday (I didn't even realised that I talked about the cost).  I told him that he didn't have to worry about the money that he needed to be happy at school. Nicholas said he would be happy back at Elmgrove (he calls it Almagrove funny). I also told him that he really needed to be sure about his decision because this would be the final change of schools. 

Well after two weeks he has assurred me that he is ready to give Elmgrove another go. Part of me is relieved but I am also very very nervous that it could all blow up in my face, fingers crossed.

Elmgrove here we come again!!

Movie Time

Hoyts has 3D now so cool.  The Mendys, Nicholas and myself went to see this and although it cost $75 did you see that price thats right $75 for two adults and 3 boys, the movie was awesome.  Nicholas and myself both jumped at certain parts of the movie. 3D is fantastic.

Dave and I watched this and of course it made me cry.  I must admit I would hate to have my husband here one minute and gone for days or months.

I have always been a huge fan of Michael and watching this movie made me feel happy and sad.  Happy because I loved his music and his dance moves are awesome and for a 50 year old he still got the moves. Sad because its the last time to see him perform. Sad for all the hard work that all those people did to prepare for the tour.

To be honest this looked like an interesting movie. Dave and I were poised to watch and for the first half hour it seemed weird but I can't tell you how it ended as Dave and I fell asleep.

The Trusses Are In Place

I climbed the ladder to get this shot YIKES

Easter for Dave has been putting up the trusses, perlings & hips.  What an amazing husband I have so grateful for all his hard work. I have been doing my little bit providing food and today I had a hammer and put up some bracing brackets which was fun.  Bradley who has been helping Dave has only half a pointer finger which makes holding little nails very hard for him so Dave thought it would be a perfect little job for me.  Now we wait for the roofers to come and do their job and then its wrapping the house and windows will be next to go in. GREAT EFFORT DAVE!!!

 

Bradley screwing down the perlings

My Awesome boys!!!

Musical Fireside

Easter Sunday at church our district music leader organised a musical fireside. The theme was Women at the Well.  When I first joined the church we were going to do this theme but due to unforseen circumstances it never eventuated.  The culprit who was helping to organise it left the country for a holiday  and forgot to come back from the holiday.  Five years later the culprit returns becomes the district music leader and redeems herself by  completing the task she started 5 years ago.

Readers: Ange, Sarai, Teressa, Ata

Pianist: Awesome Joyce

Song:

Women at the Well           Singer: Annemarie

Close Enough to Touch               Anna

Daughter, Arise                            Emily

If Thou Had Been Here                Stacey & Me

Go In Peace                                  Deanna

Foolish Or Wise                           St Clair YW

Daughter                                       Everyone

Day Of Tears                                Me

Miracle From Heaven                  Ite

He Came For Me                          Kate & Mekyja

Greater Love                                 Annemarie

What a beautiful fireside everyone sang like angels and I must admit I felt my song Day of Tears went really good (I managed to keep the emotions under control). Stacey and I for the first time duet stayed on our own notes.  A huge admiration for our pianist,  Joyce,  she is amazing, learning all those songs a fantastic effort.  I love musical firesides and I especially love performing in them too.

Thanks Kate for organising such a special evening

Bath time

Kate and Nicholas love having a bath. They play for ages and its always a war trying to get them out. Kate see me coming and starts screaming no not ready whilst Nicholas submerges and tries to hold his breathe so funny.

Water Rats

Building Update

The house is taking shape its looking awesome. Dave has been working very  hard from morining til dark.  Now that daylight saving is over Im sure he'll be setting up some lighting. 

Driving to the house and in front of me was our trusses arriving.

Now to get those beauties on top of the wall frames

Lucky the crane was on hand

Hope the wall hold up?

What is this??

Every rent day I give George a jar of my preserving and he gives me vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, silverbeet) Today when I looked in the letter box I discovered this

What is it?

How do you cook it and do I trust it?

Osh Kosh

My buddy Bec who recently got married spent her honeymoon skiing in Utah and Tahoe. They were there for 5 weeks lucky them.  Anyway whilst there I asked Bec if she could bring back a pretty dress for Kate 08. Well not only did Kate get one Osh Kosh dress but she got 3.  Here in NZ they can cost up to $60 they are expensive but Bec got them for $12 US amazing.  I took them home and showed Kate and she was very excited.  Its funny even at 2yrs she has her own taste in clothes.  I really liked one particular dress but Kate liked the poka dot one.

Kate's Favourite

April Fools

Every April fools day I can never think of something to do or I get fooled.  Today I finally got no only one person but two.

 

April Fool No1:  Dave is building our house and yesterday the trusses arrived and was laided on top of the house. Dave spent 3hours laying  them into position and getting ready to stand them up on Friday.  It involved alot of work.  Anyway I text him "Hi honey John from Carters just called they have sent us the wrong trusses and so they need to collect them and drop off the new ones at lunchtime today"  I was at Amee's at the time thinking well he wont fall for that.......................... 15 min later my phone starts to ring its Dave.

Me: Hello
Dave: I've just been talking to Carters they have no idea what I'm talking about and suggested I ring the place where the trusses are made
Me: Really
Dave: I just rang them and they don't know who rang. Who were you talking too again?
Me: John from Carters couldn't hold it burst out laughing
Me: Big April Fool

Funny thing was he was teaching a class at the time and told his class he needed to take an urgent phone call.

April Fool No2

When Stacey joined the church we had a great relationship with a particular missionary Mike Jaggi. He baptised Stacey and we have had this on going thing that one day Mike would come back to NZ and marry her. Today I texted her:

Me: Hi Stace guess who arrives in NZ at lunchtime today?????? Jaggi!!!!

I herd nothing from her and then whilst I was in the supermarket she must have rung me 3 times and text me heaps all excited and stuttering.

I texted her back saying look at the calendar honey.

later that day I called into see her at work and she was not impressed she told me all I could think of was my hair ok what will I say etc etc.

Finally I get some satisfaction