progress

Atarangi kindly had a two hour nap this morning, brilliant timing for me and Kikiwa to lay the new grass where the hideous stones used to be. hooray! we will eventually lay some pavers along between the garden and the grass and under the clothes line.

rolling it out

almost done!

finishing touches

the inspector - bean in mouth of course

hmmmmm
 

a tickle under the chiny chin chin

unfortunately the old grass is dry and crusty in comparison
 but the garden looks green!

nothing like a bit of water play

my other little helper..

the other night I was cutting out a skirt, puppy decided I needed her assistance. She LOVES sewing..

 

Mama's little helper

 

Today was a bit of a funny day, rainy and for Atarangi, very very sleepy! In fact she didn't even make it out of her jarmies until bath time.. Beans for dinner and Atarangi helped me to pod them, usually we do this outside either for dinner, or just to eat them straight off the stalk...

I'll have another...

one for the mouth and one for each hand

better taste test this one too

where'd it go?

oh in my mouth!

must. eat. beans. 

I'll just turn the handle so its safe

LOOK two at once!

hmmm did I miss any?

the taste tested beans...ready for cooking.

SPAGHETTI

Gluten free so it was a bit odd but Atarangi loved it. and beans of course..

 

 

Time for a wash after all that as we had the other babies coming round for coffee group!

Our first outing together without Atarangi

Well, not quite our first, there was that time back in February when Kikiwa and I went to the doctor in Stratford together about my hideous rash (possibly due to my thyroid) and left Atarangi asleep at Nana and Pop Pop's house... but our first night out together for sure.

We headed up to Wellington on Thursday on the ferry and caught up with Lawrence along Oriental Parade before heading out to Paekakariki. Oriental beach was awesome, sunny - and apparently warm enough for topless sunbathing....

Showing Dad how to drive

Checking out the imported sand along Oriental

With Dad and Uncle Lawrence

 

On Friday Atarangi and I went to Baby Sensory with Donna, Brendon and Abigail, it was great! After that the babies had lunch and a nap and the oldies had lunch and a laze in the sun :) Nana and PopPop came in the afternoon too for dancing, more eating and cuddles.

There must be some more food around here somewhere

making music and practicing their bar leaning skills for the future

We were staying at Nanny's house but Nanny was in Aussie having a fabulous holiday. Nana, PopPop, Donna, Brendon and Abigail all came up to the house on Saturday and brought a delicious lunch with them. Then late afternoon Anita and her clan came up to the house too.

Anyway the wedding was beautiful, it didn't rain too hard and Atarangi went to sleep without us no problem (apparently!) we didn't quite make it home by our self imposed curfew, and Atarangi woke up while we were away but didn't seem at all bothered when I got home! So it was a good night all round.

While Dad's Away

 

the girls will play.. well, Puppy stayed at home but after a crazy morning of no sleep for Atarangi we went to the A&P Show. It has been a few years since I've been to one and the Tasman one is pretty awesome! Atarangi loved it even on her 10 minute nap that she had in the car, I thought she might go back to sleep in the pram but there was no chance.

 

 

a bit dazed and confused



chickens!
 

checking out the goats

first hotdog!

Borris was very interested in Atarangi's hotdoggy fingers..

A wee picnic before home

a tasty nose


 and look what we found for Dad!

 

 

Just Beachy

We've been having some mint weather. hopefully its a sign of things to come. I am trying to make the most of every day with work looming just around the corner in January. Must admit I am feeling a little robbed when I think of how much I wanted to get done this year and what little of that I have actually achieved. never mind, it feels like the energy levels are getting up to normal again and I am definitely able to achieve much more in a day then I was not so long ago - now I can vaccuum AND mop AND we still have time to go to the beach as well! or wherever! I cannot wait until the berry fields are open for business, Atarangi might still be a little little for berry picking but hopefully she will still enjoy eating them!

and some more visitors...

Kikiwa's awesome friends Matt and Marianne were over from Wellington on Labour Weekend as well, they spent most of it doing the Tour de Tasman, but we were lucky enough to have them stay with us for a bit too.  They even baby sat on the sidelines of our touch run around which was great, poor Atarangi usualy has to either hang around in the pram or in the sling while its all going on. Matt also kindly put some boxing up for our new path. legend :) 

 

 

 

Party with the Aunties

Kikiwa's friend Erina had a play in the Arts Festival called Party with the Aunties, and while she was in town another friend, Rina, came down from Auckland to have a catch up with them both. Kirsty and I went to the play one night and loved it. Atarangi just loved all the attention!

 

 

the pointy fingers

showing off the new standing skills

 

while we had all the visitors Atarangi was perfecting her pulling up and standing, and sitting skills! Saturday morning nap time was actually standing in the cot time, and the first day she sat herself up. very cool!