Some sweet loves.....

Celebrating a special ladies' (my mum-in-law) milestone birthday - filled with LOTS of very unexpected treats & surprises (and sneaky texts between me and my father in law!) ;-)

Wooly hats and fun times with my girl (after being apart for nearly a month!)

Getting my mop chopped (after about 9 months of no cuts) - and in quite a different style to what I normally would.  I love it!  Thanks mum for minding the TWO kiddies!

Very gorgeous and hand-crafted wee pressies coming in the post, from beautiful and clever friends - check her out here

I'm also loving.....

• YUMMO meals friends are cooking us while we're busy with bub
• Some VERY encouraging words in cards from some thoughtful friends who know my loves!
• being at HOME!  it's amazing how long ago everything seems now that I'm back
• That my once "only" child has taken becoming one of two AMAZINGLY well!
• Being a family again!

Ahhh, (insert giant sigh here) life is feeling pretty good again.

Out with the old....

In with the....... new!!!!!

Anyone need a good condition but old tv?

We've had our eye on one of these babies for a wee while.

We don't watch much tv - Princess Adelaide gets to watch Blues Clues and other such kiddie shows in the morning, but that's about the scope of tv watching in our house. 

Unless, of course, the All Blacks are playing, or there is a good movie on.

Plus all the antics of possessions not at all being our focus (or at least we try hard) and living on one income etc - long story short, we didn't feel very justified in paying over a grand for a new tv.

We need our office for the baby so it was a toss up between a lap-top or a tv.  Until we discovered our couple of year old computer can be plugged into a tv.

The hubster was due a bonus from his boss. Accountants like to do things that save them tax - so purchasing "something" rather than just giving us cash is far better.  The bonus wasn't that much - so we had settled for a 32" so to not have to pay extra money.

But on the weekend, there was a clear-out sale - and we got the exact 42" of tv we had originally wanted - for the very amount of the bonus!

Even better is when your parent's paid nearly triple what you did a couple of years ago! haha.

LOVE IT!

I've gone and done it now....

Life will never be the same.......

Miss "almost 2" now knows the sound of that truck, whirling its greensleeves tune all over the suburb.



she took the bottom off the cone and ate that first....



 Then promptly told me she was "all done now" leaving what is above remaining...



I put the rest in the sink - and hot water wouldn't even dissolve it.... oh dear!

Festival of Lights

So, if you want a holiday in an amazing city - where over summer they run a 6 week long festival - with family friendly entertainment EVERY NIGHT, activities for kids, an amazing park, friendly people and nearly everything is FREE - FREE - I kid not.... I do recommend New Plymouth. 

[caption id="attachment_231" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="the girls danced to the excellent singers...."][/caption]

My brother and his family relocated there a year ago - and to sum it up - apart from being away from their family (her's are in Ireland, his are north NZ), they LOVE it!  I was told of free sausage sizzles, free entertainment, free parties for kids with face painting, the free zoo...... lots to do!

[caption id="attachment_232" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="the beautiful changing colours waterfall - amazing"][/caption]

Each summer from mid December to end of Jan, they host a 'Festival of Lights' - where the features of their main Pukekura park are lit up. 

[caption id="attachment_233" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="dragonflies on the bridge..."][/caption]

It means a late night, because it's only dark enough around 9.20pm, but it's definitely worth it.  Even miss 1 and miss 2 got a good time out of it.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="punga tree..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="this had these pirate birds, making a heck of a noise, good times..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_236" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="wow"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_237" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="this is the reflection in the lake of the actual feature - hanging above"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_238" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="palms and ferns..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_239" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="and my favourite - the 3D balls and ultra violet lights"][/caption]