Little Chipmonks

Jess and Sam in the ballpool, sorry about the poor quality. I forgot the camera so was using my phone.

Up early this morning. I am on morning tea duty at playcafe today. Which entails taking something scrummy in to share. For those who aren't familiar with our Friday morning ritual I will explain.........

10am is when music and movement starts. Kerry does an awesome job of music and actions for the kids for 30mins. Then we all go through to another room where there are toys set up for the kids. Morning tea on the table for the kids. The best part is that for the mums there is toastie pies (toasted sandwiches for the pommes) and hot chocolate with marshmallows. A chance to chill out and chat while the kids play. All for a gold coin donation.

So I have made a dozen carrot and sultana muffins and a choc fudge slice. Just waiting for them to cool enough to ice. The kids (well the girls) have just got up and Charlie who got up with me is making some I am a little bit tired and wouldn't say no to a boob noises!

Yesterday we popped into Winton for playgroup and left the truck at the garage to get a WOF (MOT for the pommes) then realised that playgroup had a trip into town! The garage very kindly bumped us up the list and did the truck first so we could follow on and not be too late. We were supposed to be going to Anderson Park where there is a lovely playground for the kids but it was raining. (not that I am complaining as we have been declared in drought it is very welcome). So we went to Chipmonks which is an indoor playcentre.

Sam has never been before and I think Jess would have been a baby the last time we went so they had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the way home we popped in to see Nana who has had something similar to Sammy. The kids went to bed so I nipped out and got the kids from school and took them to swimming club. It was nice to be able to watch them both and see how they are doing. (without the distraction of two energetic little people trying to leap into the pool or shoot out of the door!)

For those interested in the farming side of things it has been very dry this year. We never got the spring flush that we usually get and still haven't seen much growth in the grass really. We have got by with enough for the stock but only because we have leased a few acres from neighbouring blocks. (about 8 more acres I think all together) We have been really lucky that the swedes we have put in for winter grazing have grown quite well. Although some of the bulbs will be small I think. Others have not been so lucky and crops have not struck well or grown. I guess we hit the small showers of rain at the right time when planting. Our new grass paddock did not fair so well and pretty much all that has grown has been weeds. Peter topped it for us and Jase is going to resew it, but we will be down some area later on because of it.

We have been declared in drought for Southland as have other areas in New Zealand.

I have never seen it so dry here in all time I have been here. I would expect that karma with return with a totally wet winter!

Well one rather hungry little boy is calling for mummy so I will sign off for today!

Sam's trip to A&E

We took these pictures on my phone while we were waiting for the bed in the childrens ward. Trying to keep Sammy busy (and stop him leaping off the bed to play with all those interesting packets and instruments that A&E seem to have at 2yr old boy height!)

5am Tuesday morning I got up to a crying, sad little boy who was struggling to breath. I decided to take him into A&E so we quickly packed a few nappies and got Charlie up and headed into town.

Two hours on a nebuliser and several doses of drugs and steriods later he was feeling better but still very wheezy. The wanted him to go 4hours without ventolin and at this stage he was bearly managing one hour. So they admitted us to the childrens ward overnight. Poor wee man was so tired because he had been waking on and off all night and had several nights before that were unsettled due to a cold. So he was fluctuating from tired and sick to ventolin induced high. Part of the time he was lieing on the bed and part of the time he was bouncing round the room. That only served to make him more breathless.

We were also confined to an isolation room as they thought his respiriatory distress was due to an infectious virus.

However he had a great nights sleep and woke this morning much better. Which was what the nurses were hoping as while he was asleep he was relaxed!

He was allowed to the playroom this morning, which he thought was great. Infact he didnt was to leave!

The doctor gave us the all clear this morning. He is still a little weezy but much better. So we have to give him ventolin 4hourly for the next couple of days.

Unfortunately the prognosis is that it is highly likely to happen again so I have information about how to check him and when to take him into the hospital. We were warned that with his allergies he had a higher likelihood of developing asthma but I was hoping he would be one of the lucky ones.

Sams' new moo moo nappy

Here is Sam's Moo Moo nappy that I made yesterday. Proudly modelled by the moo moo mad boy himself. He has also gone to bed with his moomoo jammies on.

Just a random picture of Jessa, as I realised that I havnt got one on here of her yet!!!

Nothing new has happened today so I have decided it is your turn - please feel free to write a message in the comments area at the bottom of each post, then I know who is looking in on us!!!

Charlie 'talking'

Isnt he just gorgeous!! (not that I am biased!)

Dont know where the weekend went but it seemed to disappear. Jase got home at about 7am and crawled into bed. The kids were up about 8am so I left him snoozing.

Was another hot, hot day here so the kids were in the sandpit and outside for most of the morning. Jase got up at about 11am and took Sam outside with him. They came back in for lunch and Sam was chuffed because they saw a 'big' tractor. The grass was being sown in the lease paddock at the neighbours.



After lunch I made some muffins. Used a recipe out of a little book mum got me when she was here. It says you can leave the mixture in the fridge for up to a month. So you can just get it out and make muffins when you want some. I made some with apple and cinnamon. They are really yummy but maybe a little too much bran for me so I might change that next time. We will see how the mixture in the fridge goes.

While they were in the oven I fixed Jases trousers that have been in the cupboard for a couple of months waiting for me! Also a couple of Sams nappies that needed a bit of repair.
Then I made Sam a cowprint nappy. I will add a photo tomorrow sometime when I get him to model it.

After the kids woke up we had a visit from Aimee, Dylan and Stacey. The kids were very excited to see Stacey again, particularly Jessa!


Then we popped around to Armagh to tag the calves and have tea with Nana and Gegen.

So just enough time to quickly update the blog and then off to bed!



After lunch Jase and Charlie had a little chat!

A new use for felt tip pens!!!!!!!

Last night it was hot so I had stripped Charlie off to singlet and was laying on the floor talking to him while he smiled and gooed at me.

Sam was happy drawing with the pens that Jess had left on the table, or so I thought! When I looked up from my position I see this adorable little smile and a slightly blue boy!!!!

Apparently they tasted quite nice. (thank goodness for non toxic pens!)

Today we went into Invercargill for the Relay for Life. PGGWrightson Winton store were taking part and Jason had put himself on the roster for an afternoon stint.

For those that dont know about the Relay for Life it is a 24hour walk. Invercargill has thiers every second year in Rugby Park. Different businesses have tents set up and take it in turns, as a team, to walk around the field with the baton. There is a good amount of fundraising that goes on prior to the event and I think the total was upto $140,000 when we left this afternoon. All of the money goes to cancer research. Jason has gone back into town for the night shift. (and a beer or two no doubt, I hear the evening gets quite 'social' after 10pm!)

After walking the hot and tired kids around rugby park and filling them up with the lollies (for energy apparently!) we went into Brodie and Antons for BBQ tea. Delicious and we got to try out thier new table - one that can comfortably fit four adults and four kids - its fantastic!

I somehow managed to kick the edge of the hearth near thier fire. So now I am sitting here with an icepack on my rapidly swelling toe. I think I might have smushed it - it is a little tender and apparently isnt too keen on bending right now without sending a sharp shot of pain up my foot.

Touch Rugby, Heat and Paint!!!

Daniel refusing to touch the ball (well all the kids that had it got chased by those other big kids!)

Laura engrossed in her game.

Touch

Well today was the first game of touch rugby for the kids. I relented and agreed to them playing for the first time this year, so long as they both had games within cooe of each other so I didnt have to drag the three littlies out all afternoon!
Laura had a good run around and enjoyed it. She did very well considering she has never played before and most of the people in her team have been playing for the last three years. She is a pretty fast sprinter so I guess that helps. As for the rules of the game - you have me beat. I have no idea what is going on apart from they run one way and try and 'touch' the other team when they have the ball!!!


Daniel on the other hand was not so enthusiastic. He got on the field but refused to touch the ball at all!! He ran along behind the others and then decided he didnt want to do team talk at the end. Prefering to cling to my leg!!!
As there was several extra children they were being subbed on and off. The action of a tap from a team mate indicating a release from the field. Jake duelly runs onto the field and taps Daniel on the arm. Daniel turns round and taps him back with a growly look on his face. He thought Jake was just hitting him!!!!


Heat
30degrees and muggy - nough said!!


Paint
No picture for this one so you will have to imagine!
Yesterday, Thursday, was playgroup day. Being warm the kids were playing outside and all the activities were also out in the garden.
I was in the toilet helping Jessa when I got a knock at the door from Aimee who had Sam. First look had me about to panic as all I could see was red dripping off his face and in his hair. But no not blood, just paint and lots of it - red and blue.
All wiped up and clean enough not to contaminate everything he touched, I let him loose again.
Apparently Aimee asked Dylan what he was painting and he replied 'Sammy!'
It was quite funny once I realised he wasnt actually bleeding!
His hair has a nice salmony pink tinge to it now as it didnt quite all wash out of the blonde curls in the shower last night! I think he might have a stained patch for a while!

70's and 80's

80's Chick and Hippy Daniel

Well, all excitement in our house this morning. The kids had to dress up for school in a decade pre 90's. They are doing a history project this term and this is the start activity. It took us a while to work out how we were going to do it. But a bit of crafty sewing with shorts and left over denim made Daniel some flares for his hippy outfit and a pair of Jasons old rugby socks became leg warmers for Laura. I trip to the op shop found us a couple of tops and some hairstlyes later we have two excited children!!


Apparently house points are on offer at school for the outfits so fingers crossed they will earn some!!!

Charlie

Well Charlie is now 6weeks old. He had his first visit from plunket (like a health visitor) yesterday and weighed in at 6.061kg or 13lb 5.5oz. He is still packing on weight at twice the speed of the average baby!

He has been stretching his night sleeps out and last night had a feed and went to bed at about 7-7.30pm. He woke again at 4am. So we got nearly 9hrs. He didnt wake agian till 7am so I am pretty pleased with his efforts!

He is smiling lots more now and sooo gorgeous. Here is a picture Laura managed to get last night of his smiling at me while Daniel was doing his homework.

Peter in the trail section - a course of interesting tasks, including filling beer glasses, walking under ribbons and through tyres and hanging washing out.
Laura leading Becky back to the paddock after the harness class.

Well I have managed to remember to update today! Thought I would tell you a little about our weekend. We went to Timaru for the Morgan Horse Show. Peter took four horses. Becky, Brittney, Jesse and Billy. Jason was showing Jesse and Billy. We took them in the harness class with the Swiss Pleasure Wagon and all the children in the back. I didnt take many photos because the weather was pretty average. Rain, wind and chilly.
We took the tent up and the kids tried out thier new bunks, which were a hit! The only down side was the 5hrs it took to drive there and back. Going on a Friday afternoon and returning on Sunday night meant we were all a bit tired! However a good weekend was had and a few ribbons won, which the kids duely snaffled up. Laura fell in love with a little welsh pony residing at the farm where the show was held. She was trying to convince Gegen (grandad/Peter/Jasons dad - for those who dont know our family) to take him home with us! She also did some of the showing leading the horses around and really enjoyed it.

Well today is Tuesday and Jessa is just about off to kindy, Sam will be having a sleep and Charlie appears to not want a sleep so that might put paid to all those little childfree jobs that I was going to do this afternoon - what a shame, I will have to sit and cuddle a baby!

First Post

So I have finally got around to creating a blog for family and friends to see what we are up to in the Land of the long white cloud. Hopefully I will find time to update regularly with news on how we are getting on and what we have been up to. What the kids are doing and everything else! I will try and add pictures too. But bear in mind that life is a whirlwind of busyness (is that even a word??) around here so I might not be a regular writer!! Infact if judging by my diaries of childhood are anything to go by prepared to be updated once a month!!!