LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE.....Just when we thought summer was over, mother nature squeezed a bit more out for us after easter and we've had amazing warm summer days and we've been making the most of it.

We've got two weeks worth this week so sorry for keeping you all waiting. Last week Adrian had a boys night out on the Friday night and I had a baby shower on Saturday morning for Anna so we spent the afternoon at a park we hadn't been to before which Jack was very pleased to find had 3 flying foxes, he has definately inherited his father's dare devil attitude to life and scares the hell out of me regularly by jumping, climbing and swinging off anything possible. Saturday night we had our official anniversary dinner at our favourite italian restaurant Maria Pia's which was brilliant as usual, lots of gorgeous italian food with lots of gorgeous italian wine. Sunday we had a million jobs to do but woke up to such a lovely sunny day we ditched all our plans and headed to the beach at Lyall Bay for the morning. The boys had a great time being diggers and building sandcastles before we decided to have fish and chips for lunch on the beach (they always seem to taste better on the beach).

This weekend I took the boys on a bear hunt to a new "forest" we found in Karori, it's part of the reserve that surrounds Karori and with some girlfriends and their children we hunted bears, tigers and kiwis but I think there was too much noise for us to hunt anything! (pic left is checking under the bridge for trolls). After an afternoon nap it was still brilliantly warm so I took the boys to the beach for the afternoon culminating in that special treat of Gellato Icecream al fresco....mmmmmm

Sunday was a day of chores while Adrian helped Jeremy and Anna with the last of their building work on their house in preparation for the arrival of their baby which is now officially overdue so might have more news on that next week.

Cute stories for the week, Tom had a bit of a bug after easter and when I asked him what it felt like he said he had "twinkles" on his hands and feet - he meant pins and needles but it's a much nicer description.

Both boys are facinated at the moment with the differences between boys and girls and so we have tried to tell them the facts as openly as possible but it is embarrassing when they declare to their teachers, check out operators or random old ladies in the street that they have a "vigina" but they have a "penis"....... mummy spends a lot of time apologising to old ladies and being very red faced!

They love "helping" at the moment and are actually really helpful these days, below is washing the windows (first time that's been done for a while!) and our first attempt at them shopping without being locked in the trolley.....they loved it but it was a bit like hearding clouds getting them to the checkout!

Happy Anzac Day this week X

Happy Easter and Happy Anniversary Baby

It's been a magical easter with lots of family fun and also our 11th (can you believe it!) wedding anniversary. We managed a nice night out in town with far too many drinks and had a great time just the two of us.

Adrian had the whole of easter off work which was brilliant, Friday we kicked started off the holiday by having a picnic in the gardens and the big playground with a picnic, climbing trees and a big walk around the gardens.

Saturday was spent food shopping followed by a lovely afternoon at Macra beach were it was so hot that the boys stripped off completely to take a dip. We spent a lovely peaceful afternoon mucking around with the great boats that Adrian had made them of course all the boys tried throwing stones at to try to sink them too!

Sunday the boys and I made a huge banana cake to take to a bbq at Jeremy and Anna's as my other cousin was here from Australia with her new baby who was absolutely gorgeous. The boys had a great morning running around madly with all the other children while the adults relaxed in the sun with their lovely cold beers and gorgeous food and it was really lovely to catch up with all the family. We headed home for the afternoon for the boys first easter egg hunt which they loved, it was lovely seeing them running around shouting "thanks easter bunny" before tucking into all that chocolate!

Monday we took the boys to the "Songs of the Sea" show at the local children's theatre which was absolutely brilliant and the boys have been singing the songs and telling the stories ever since. After the show we had a real treat of fish and chips lunch at the pub (JJ's for those of you who know it) before heading home for a nap. I had some jobs to do in the afternoon while Adrian took the boys on a picnic and bear hunt at Otari in the afternoon.

Cute story for the week: I had an afternoon meeting this week and dropped the boys to Adrian. As he was walking Tom asked "where are we going daddy", "I don't know", Jack then replied "yes you do daddy, we're going to the pub" (someone knows his daddy well!)

Thanks so much to "aunty lizzy" who sent the boys their now most prized possessions - spider man pj's

A week full of surprises.... Thursday afternoon this week and I went to pick up the boys from Creche and Adrian arrived unexpectedly as I thought he was going to be busy. He'd decided to surprise the family and taken the afternoon off so he could take us to Staglands out in the Hutt Valley.
















It was brilliant it took around an hour to drive there down a whindy single lane road but it was well worth the effort. It had different animals (mainly birds and farm animals) all roaming around that the boys could pet and chase (poor things) an old village, beautiful rivers and bridges and a huge trout pond all brilliant for curious little boys. We had a picnic next to the trout pond and had a great time wandering around looking at everything followed by a coffee in their cafe. It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon unexpectedly.

I had a leaving function for a good friend on Friday night which was a great night out but I did pay for it on Saturday morning feeling a little worse for wear and so didn't do anything exciting with the boys while Adrian and Alistair finished more in the garden - truely it's nearly done!! In the afternoon we had a little surprise chocholate cake treat as it was Olga's last day with us, the boys have been a bit confused about where she's gone and it was really wonderful to have her staying with us "chow" for now Olga.

Sunday was spent hosting lots of visitors after Adrian had taken the boys to Fidels and Te Papa in the morning the boys and I baked and decorated ginger bread men ready for lots of visitors one after the other which was great but nice to relax at the end of it all.

Cute story for the week, Tom and Jack were drawing this week and Jack handed Tom a picture and said "it's for you Tom", Tom looked at it, smiled and said "thanks Jack, it's lovely but what is it?" (very diplomatic!).


Bring on Easter :)