Thursday

The guys from Fulton Hogan arrived outside our place at about 8.30am and started digging up the pavement. I guess it was in pretty bad nick and so they are replacing it. It was great entertainment for the boys (and great baby sitting for me!) to watch the digger digging up the concrete and the man busy with his axe etc..

I volunteered to look after a friend's son this morning, and we were all going to go to Mainly Music. But at 9.20am I looked at the state of things and changed my mind. So Connor came to our place instead. I cleared the kitchen and put laundry on and got ready for my orthodontist appointment at 11am!

I had my braces tightened. He is pleased with how things are coming along. My teeth are feeling pretty sore now. I ate dinner fine because it was quite mushy. Hopefully they will feel better soon. I don't mind it too much because I know my teeth are moving 'to a better place' in my mouth!

Aren't my boys cute?

Here is Fletcher, tonight, wanting to brush his teeth. He found the yellow hat and put that on, and of course his gumboots. He went to Sarah G's this afternoon and refused to take them off. On a positive note, he had a nap today! Hurray. I think he is starting to feel better.

It feels like the end of the week already. But no, that would be tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the first before and after pictures of the section/house over the weekend...

Need an early night tonight. I went to work today until about 2pm. Everyone here is a bit on the sniffly side. And the boys are coughing (mainly at night time) as well as sniffly. I hope it all clears up soon.

House Update #6

Popped out to the section this afternoon after work!!!! Its all dug out ready for the foundations to be poured tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

Its so exciting. I will go out again on the weekend and take a photo. Lucky I took a photo of it last weekend, so you can see a 'before' and 'after' picture.

Well I ain't got nothing to post about, but I'll post anyway!

Just had the usual Monday...groceries...cleaned the fridge...a bit of laundry...

I went for a walk with Fletcher this afternoon and we walked to town. I am trying to decide what appliances to buy for our new kitchen, so I called in to Meikles and got a Fisher & Paykel brochure. I went to Harvey Norman this morning and there was so much choice I was overwhelmed and had to leave!

Cold night tonight! Better go and stoke up my fire.

Today

We had Chelsea here again today. Jamie worked a late shift so he was home all morning with us. Actually, he and Lachie went out to our section to the meeting with the builder, P.M and bobcat man. So yes, weather permitting I guess, footings (I think that means 'foundations') will be done next week and the floor the week after that. Then the plan is for the man who is going to polish our concrete to come 14 days after that and do his first 'cut' or 'grind'. How exciting!

So apart from a short walk just after lunch with the kiddies, I've been at home all day.

I was looking at my mouth in the mirror tonight, and realize with great excitement that my bite is changing. I no longer have such a cross bite, my teeth are starting to come together correctly. Seeing Alan the Orthodontist next week so I guess he will tighten things up again.

No real plans for the weekend. Have a good one!

Firstly, can I say how sorry I am that it has been a whole week since my last post!! I meant to post on Friday night, after these pictures were taken.

Obviously, I didn't get around to it. Oh yeah, we went round to a mate of Jamie's from work for a couple of hours. Do you remember how we fostered a police puppy? Well, another foster dog has arrived in town and is staying with a family at Otakiri. Here is Fletcher meeting him - he looks a little unsure, doesn't he? Which is funny because he really enjoys playing with Cruz.

The puppy's name is Faris. Yes, he is all black, and yes, he is a German Shepherd. He is even cuter in real life! Jamie took him for a ride in the dog van on Friday and called in so we could meet Faris. Lachie was having a nap at the time, which is why he does not feature.

Here is a picture of Fletcher toodling around the house on his wee bike last week. Fletcher seems to love hats (well, sometimes - maybe its just sun hats?) and his red gumboots. He came out of the bedroom and he had plopped this hat on his head. I can't remember whether he put the gumboots on himself or not.
I can't believe the week is nearly over again! This week I had Lynley's baby shower, work & music practice on.

I should really get an early night! Bye (be sure to read my house update below).

House Update #5

I wonder...how many house updates I will have posted by the time the house is finished!

Tonight we met with Michelle from HRV. We have paid a deposit to have an HRV system installed in our new house. Basically the HRV system works by pulling the heat out of your roof cavity and into your house. So our house will be a nice consistent temperature. It isn't a central heating system but it does keep your house a fraction warmer, and it gets rid of condensation, odours, pollens, dust, dampness etc. . We have decided not to get a heat pump installed. I know, shocking isn't it. We just decided that a heat pump was not going to heat the entire house....so really what was the point in spending thousands on one?? We have bought a convection heater in a package with the HRV.

The other exciting thing is that our builder and project manager and the bobcat man are meeting at our section tomorrow! Chris has suggested that we get the floor down shortly. Then, when he is available to start building he can just get straight into it. He thought this might be an idea as we are not in a tearing hurry to get started. I will let you know how that goes.

The end of the week is near..

We are convinced we have a new house with the insulation! The bedrooms at the end of the house feel soooo much better. Yay! And again I am not wearing my warm furry slippers.

I tidied up the kids play room this afternoon. It was just a hideous disaster zone with toys strewn everywhere, and the kids never played in there! Lachie enjoyed going through all his books again this afternoon in there. I guess its something I will have to continually keep on top of. Or rather, get the kids to keep on top of! And I guess rotating a few more toys might get them in there.

My cherubs have had a late night after having Sarah and Connor here for dinner. The three boys had fun running around together.

Chelsea here tomorrow!

All Insulated!

The guys from Energy Options arrived at 8.30am today. It was so cold at our place I was glad to be going to work.

They put stuff in the ceilings, under the floor, wrapped the hot water cylinder, put seals around the doors, cut the power and wrecked a water pipe!! Fortunately the power was back on about 10 minutes after I got home. I had to wait 'til just after 4pm for the plumber to come and repair the damage!!

Anyway....it is a warmer evening out tonight - a bit of rain. So its hard to tell how much of the warmth I'm feeling is the insulation or whether its just a warmer night. But I'm sure the boys' bedroom seems warmer. And I have no slippers on or warm sweater.

I need an early night - had some weird head / nose issue today. Hopefully better tomorrow!

House Update #4

Sunday afternoon we drove out to Omega Place. We had a look around Lance's new place and also drove up to our section. It is sooo lovely out there - sunny & peaceful.

Lance has been getting a few quotes in - plumber, electrician, windows etc. Hopefully he will have them all in this week and we can go over them.

Its going to be so great when we can drive out there to look at our own place!!

Tooosday

Hello on Day 2 of the week. Its another cold night here - but I am wearing jandals. The reason is that I went and got a pedicure this morning.

I know, silly to be getting a pedicure at this time of year when the feet are tucked away. But I love them so much. And I have to use up my Body & Soul voucher by the end of the week. I think I will go back on Saturday and get a manicure. My toenails are a lovely dusky pink colour. Unfortunately, at coffee group - two kids (one was Fletcher) stood on my big toe and mucked up all the paint on that one!!


Speaking of cold - tomorrow our house is getting insulated!! It is a real answer to prayer. Though
the house is a real blessing (cos of the cheap rent) - it is in a very bad state - check out my posts
from December 2007. So I hope I will notice it being a lot warmer in here tomorrow after work!

Anatomy Lessons with Fletcher

Me: Fletcher, where is your nose?

Fletcher points to nose.


Me: Fletcher, where are your ears?

Fletcher points to nose.


Me: Fletcher, where are your eyes?

Fletcher points to nose.


Me: Fletcher, where is your mouth?

Fletcher points to nose.....

Another Friday with Chelsea. And again I had it easy as Lachie went to play at Zac's for the afternoon. Masses of rain here today so we have not really got out. Chelsea just off home now.

We are very fortunate to live next door to Graham, who got himself a fancy pants new boat late last year. Jamie's been out fishing with Graham a couple of times now. Here's a snap of the bounty from Wednesday's trip! (caught with his own rod)

A "Braces" pic at last!

Well I have now got the knack of taking "self portraits" - I might try it again more often!

Nothing much to see, is there? I have these clear things on the top teeth. From far away you can't see any difference. And of course you don't normally see my bottom teeth anyway. They are feeling much better - eating is still not so great - but they are not irritating the insides of my mouth now. I am determined to keep flossing - which is very a time consuming exercise - and you use way more floss! And it is a bit sore brushing too.

Got the fire going tonight, so cosy! Decided not to go to Shirley Carpenter meeting at church. Have justhad a quiet Saturday around home.

Just a few pictures of my cuties ..

Paraire!

Its our first day looking after Chelsea today. Its going great so far - she arrived just before 8am, watched me and the boys eat our breakfast, and then went to sleep for two and half hours! The boys played outside while I sat on the back door step and watched them. They don't really like to play outside unless one of us 'parentals' is close by.

Around 11am, Lachlan left to spend the weekend with his Nana and Great Poppa. I am sure they will all have a great time at Lake Rotoma!

Me Fletcher & Chelsea went for a quick walk after lunch and then home so both of them could have naps.

In other news....

We've run out of broadband for the month - too much watching TV on the net!! And oh my Lordie dial up speed is SOOOOO SLOW! And I don't get broadband speeds back til the 11th of May!

Omega Place update....the people on our eastern boundary have started to build! They are on a sloping section so they are digging in - presumably a basement garage and a house on top of that. Its kind of a shame really, I was hoping we wouldn't have neighbours for a while. It will be interesting to see what kind of house they put up.

Braces update...sorry Steph, I still haven't posted a photo. Jamie took one last night, but I didn't feel it was flattering enough to post on the www. Besides, you could hardly see the braces anyway. My teeth are sore I guess - just mainly when I eat though.

Righty, I've put some meat into the slow cooker, I'd better go and add some vegetables. Ciao!