We start 'em on the chores young around here...

...and they do them with a smile

Jamie came home on Tuesday night, but was off back to work early Wednesday morning. So it was just a flying visit but great to see him.

We've been to Mainly Music this morning, Lachie wasn't overly happy to be there at first but eventually settled in. Matilda the Gorilla, who we haven't seen for aaages, made an appearance.

I just put the boys down for a nap so I had better check that they are all sleeping as they should be!

Hi Grandma and Aunties!

Lachie on the go-kart John & Mo gave us. He loves the steering wheel. I hope it keeps him out of our car and cranking up the stereo and turning on the hazard lights, and the wipers.....

Monday Monday

Jamie headed off to Rotorua on Friday night for work. He has been working around Putaruru and as far down as Turangi. Sounds like he is working pretty hard.

We had a good day on Sunday - church in the morning with Shirley Carpenter speaking and then in the evening we went to Sarah & Martin's for dinner. Then I brought the kids home for a bath and bed.

Lachlan went to Starlights this morning. I really must learn not to tell him too early on that he is going, he gets very impatient to get there. This morning I was running around getting ready, running a bit late so I was washing Fletcher's face in the car. Lachlan, waiting in his car seat, said "just leave him Mum"!

Then I went and zipped around the supermarket and three hours was up in a flash. Sorry, no pictures lately, very boring.

A Pinch & a Punch for the First of the Month

Jamie has the day off today and tomorrow, he starts work on Saturday morning for seven straight days. So we went for a walk down at The Heads this morning, Lachie on his bike and Fletcher in the buggy.

I have kept Lachie & Fletcher at home all week. Lachie had a cold on the weekend but he seemed fine on Monday, so I sent him to Starlights. But Tuesday he was all snotty again so we missed coffee group, Wednesday we missed Starlights again and today Mainly Music.

Jamie has been going over to Tauranga this week to do dog training, which seems to be progressing well. Essex is scheduled for an operation on his OCD on 19 March.

We had a busy weekend with Ben staying while Martin & Sarah were at youth camp. Lachie thought it was quite fantastic. Nicole and Chris popped in on Saturday afternoon, they were in town for a wedding. It was great to see them and for Nic to have a cuddle with Fletcher.

On Sunday night Lachlan & Fletcher both moved in to new beds! Lachie moved into a proper bed, and Fletchie took over the cot. No drama thru' the night so that was good.

Was supposed to have coffee group today but Lachie has a rather revolting looking snotty nose. So I thought I'd better not pass it on.

Home Again

It is a stinkin' hot Friday here. Ben is staying the night while Martin & Sarah are at youth camp at Papamoa. Zac is staying with his friend Caleb B. We've just a whole day at home today (it was a long one!).

Last night all of us went up to Grant & Abby's for cell group. The boys did great sleeping in strange beds for a couple of hours!!

Wednesday Lachie went to Starlights - his first day - and it seems he enjoyed it. Yesterday we went to Mainly Music.

We had a lovely time staying with Grandma & Poppa in Havelock North and look forward to our next trip!

Does this look familiar?

The Kopuriki Store is still going strong, and I think Mr & Mrs Wright still own it. Although I remember seeing it "for sale" in the Beacon (www.whakatanebeacon.co.nz) a while ago.

Stopping in Taupo

We stopped in Taupo for a bit of late lunch, on our way home Tuesday. It seems such a long drive from Napier to Whakatane! Although it is just under 300km. We took advantage of the beautiful day and the beautiful lake. Lachie sat obediently on the blanket eating his plum and drinking his juice. Hewas great company, pointing out the boats and the airplanes and the trucks and buses, and shooing away the ducks.

Poppa, Grandma & the boys

Taken on Tuesday the 20th, the day we came home.

More...Havelock Happenings

A nice sunny Monday morning here. Has been a quiet weekend, not doing terribly much, just working around the boys' sleep times.

I went in to Hastings on Saturday afternoon by myself and did some shopping, well, actually I didn't buy hardly anything (I was in an indecisive mood). Yesterday morning we went to church with Mum and Dad which was great. Lachie had a lovely time playing with the other kids.

Last night I went to the movies by myself! It was alright, the trick is to go late, so you're not standing in line for a ticket for ages. Just a lite & fluffy number called Music & Lyrics.

There is still a bit of building going on in Mum and Dad's street, so Lachie is having a great morning watching the digger next door in action, and a mini-crane across the street picking up some timber.

Happenings in Havelock!

Yes yes, hello to you all from lovely Havelock North. I drove here this afternoon with my lovely wee boys, leaving Jamie at home to go to work and go fishing and watch rugby.

I came through Galatea/Broadlands rather than through Rotorua. Galatea was lovely and I was thinking of stopping to take some photos. Perhaps on the way back. However, it is quite a drive here and I was glad to pull up at Bourke Place at 4.30pm!

Lachie is asleep in his very own queen size bed (he was very tired and I think fell asleep straight away) and I think Fletcher is asleep in his portacot.

Lachie also went for another visit to Starlights this morning, before he starts going next Wednesday. It was a real shame to say goodbye to Millsy and his friend Jamieson yesterday.

Here is Lachie having some spaghetti for dinner and also sitting with Poppa.

Toooesday

We have some made further progress on the "dog" front. Essex saw the orthopedic vet (?) this morning and had x-rays. He has diagnosed Essex with OCD. No, that's not Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but rather Osteochondritis Dissecans...it is a disease of the cartilage that affects the joints in a dog's body. Sometimes it just goes away, sometimes it requires surgery. However, as of right now I am still not sure (a) what will happen to the dog or (b) what Jamie will be doing workwise until the next initial course.

We have had a good week so far. We have enrolled Lachlan at Starlights Childcare Centre. He will be going for 3 hours on Monday mornings and 3 hours on Wednesday mornings. This is because his carer that he has been going to for 6 hours on Wednesdays, has quit. I think I have mentioned that already. So we are very pleased to get him in somewhere so quickly. It is quite a small centre. Morning tea and lunch is provided for him. And those days are really ideal - I can still take him to coffee group on Tuesday and Mainly Music on Thursday. It is also ideal should I decide to go in to work - I share an office and it is free on Mon/Wed.

We went for a visit at Starlights this morning - Lachie went straight to the sandpit and seemed pretty reluctant to leave it.

Lachie's last day with Millsy his carer tomorrow and I plan on going in to work. Not quite sure what to do about the work thing, I never seem to have time to do it at home. And I don't even watch tv!! Or am I just not interested (about work, that is) ? I guess we'll see how things progress with Lachie at Starlights....

An Abrupt End..

Jamie started his initial dog training course at Trentham on Monday the 5th. Unfortunately, he was home yesterday, Friday. His early arrival home was a combination of a dog with a sore leg and that is too young. Jamie is very very disappointed. He takes the dog to the vet on Monday for x-rays (they think it is just growing pains, but want to rule anything else out). We are not sure yet what will happen next. Will keep you updated!

here's Fletcher just 'chillin' in his bassinet...I've got my fingers, who could ask for anything more?

Waitangi Day

The end of a nice sunny hot day here. We have had a great day. We spent the morning with the cousins - Lachie with Zac in the sandpit and with the cars - I played a bit of Cluedo with Martin & Ben. Fletcher slept on a bed most of the morning. Then we were home for Lachie's nap and half the day was gone. This afternoon Nathan & Jas came around to see the boys. So all in all much better than yesterday, we stayed home all day and I think Lachie found it a bit of a grind. As did I!

Jamie headed off yesterday to Trentham, he left home at 5.20am, to get to Tauranga for his 7am flight down. Sounds like they have a pretty nice setup down there - I think I've mentioned that they live in a big house, which has everything that whizzes and ticks (including plasma TVs and playstations). One of the guys on his course lives in Havelock North (but not the one around the corner from you Mum, a bit further away) so he will catch a ride with him not this weekend but next, when me and the boys are there. As for the actual dog training course, I think Jamie is going to find it reasonably hard work - he says there is more to it than he ever imagined! Apparently he was even holding the dog lead the wrong way! And the dog is finding it hard work too - lots of physical & mental work for him. He's used to chasing flies around the garden.

Catch ya again soon!

Happy (early) Birthday Jamie!

Jamie's 30th birthday is on 18 February, but as he will be away then, we had a birthday brunch for him today.

The weather was fantastic and we had about 25 guests around. Jamie had to do the cooking - but we borrowed John T's fancy new BBQ - to do all the eggs & bacon, while I was inside with the pancakes.

We had a really cool time and Jamie got some neat prezzies. Just on the clean up now - lucky we at least had paper plates! And the only thing we forgot was to fry up the tomatoes we had all nicely prepared in the fridge!

Just been for a walk on a cool summer evening. Its been a quiet day. Jamie went to the dentist this morning, and I went yesterday morning. So our yearly check ups are over - its been a while since we both went!

Lachie got a few more birthday presents today, one on the courier from Grandma and one from Auntie Mel. Her & Paul were over this afternoon and Paul was putting some new flashing on our roof.

I think its time for an early night.

Happy Birthday Lachie!

Tonight we have tried to teach Lachie to say "I am 2"! It has been a pretty normal day however. I'm not sure that he has yet completely grasped the whole birthday/present thing. Here is a picture of him on his new bike. We bought him a trike from The Warehouse, but surprise, surprise, it broke during construction! So we returned it and decided we needed to spend a bit more money. We ended up getting a proper bike with trainer wheels. It also has a thing on the back that we can push him along and steer. Its pretty cool.

We had a nice Auckland Anniversary weekend. Jamie finished night shift at 7am Friday morning. At about 3.30pm we drove up to Lake Rotoma to stay with Jamie's parents. Me, Jamie & Fletcher went in to Rotorua to do some shopping on Saturday. We had a swim in the lake on Saturday afternoon! It was lovely. Sunday was pretty uneventful, the weather wasn't that great - apparently it was fabulous at home.. We decided to stay Sunday night too. We went back in to Rotorua on Monday and went out for lunch.

Let's see...oh, we think Lachie might be left handed. We finally noticed that he has been holding his spoon to eat with his left hand. Bye for now.

Up with the Birds

I've had an early start today and yesterday. Fletcher has been waking to be fed at 5.30am so by the time that is finished I figure I may as well start the day. Jamie is at work and I expect he will be home in half an hour.

Lachie is going to Millsy's this morning, from 9-12. Me and Fletcher are going to visit Megan.

I guess we've had a busy week with Jamie coming & going at different hours while I do the usual things like coffee group. We got Lachie under the sprinkler on Tuesday which was great - he had a little help from cousin Ben, who came to play Tuesday morning.

Here is another photo of Lachie & Fletchie. Lachie often asks for a cuddle and then says "have a photo?". So here is his latest shoot.

Greetings on a very warm Monday evening. I am so thankful to have two wonderful boys who go to bed without a fuss around 7pm!!! Jamie is at work so I have done the bath-dinner-bed routine by myself.

Jamie also worked all weekend. I took the boys to town on Saturday morning and did a spot of shopping. I bought myself a cheap little MP3 player so that will be cool for when I am out walking.

On Sunday morning I was on a mission to get the boys ready & over to Ohope to visit a friend before church started, which we did, although we were a bit late to church. I spent a good while on Sunday afternoon picking yummy plums off one of our plum trees. So that is two trees down and one left.

Last Thursday night, Jamie was again, working, so rather than sitting at home me and the boys went up to Grant & Abby's for cell group BBQ. Both of them went to sleep in the spare rooms without a fuss so I was able to enjoy the evening! It was just a bummer having to get them up and take them home - although Fletcher hardly stirred.

The other main event of last week was that we tried to buy a new house! We saw a house around the corner in Riverside Dr that we had liked for a while, and then a 'For Sale' sign appeared. We looked at it Monday and made an offer Wednesday. However two other people made an offer the same day so we missed out. The people who bought it paid just over asking price (which is pretty rare around here). But we are pleased that we gave it a shot.

Jamie is home tomorrow until 2pm so I have made an appointment at the optometrist for the morning. I will try a bit harder to post more this week and add some photos!

Comet McNaught

I wish I could say that I took this picture but I didn't. I just copied it from an article on the net. However, that was the sight we saw last night about 9.30pm, we got a fantastic view from the end of the driveway. We kept checking back and it just got brighter and brighter. I have never seen anything like it! It was so awesome. I was expecting something that zipped across the sky but of course, that would be a shooting star... I think we will keep an eye out for it tonight too!

Sayoonara, Senator

The Senator purred out the garage door to its new home in New Plymouth today. Our stint of V8 glory is over.... Jamie is glad is has gone out of town so that he doesn't have to see it driving around and say "why did I sell it?!"

Well, lets see, damp and muggy day number 8. We haven't seen the sun properly for a whole week! However I think it is set to improve. The clothes dryer has been getting a real work out.

Jamie has the day off today before he works 10 days straight. This Saturday he is going to 'general duties' so back to the blue uniform and on the street.

Yesterday at church Angie O from youth group days was there with her husband. They have been travelling around Central America and are settling back here for a while. I filled her in on what you, dear readers (those who know her), are up to.

The sun is poking through the clouds. I am going to put some laundry on. It always seems like you have so much more when it rains.

Wednesday

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning we had 'coffee group' - or should that be 'tea group'? at my place. Everyone is back from their Christmas holidays. Lots of fun. In the afternoon and well into the night it rained so that kept us inside. Although it didn't keep Jamie from going go-karting with Mark V over at the lagoon. He came home a muddy mess.

This morning I went in to town with Fletcher & Lachie. I was a bit nervous as Lachie was going to have to hold my hand and walk the whole time. Apart from one episode where he tried to escape in the midst of the lingerie section at Farmers, he did great! We also went to the library and got him some Thomas the Tank Engine books and one other from a series about a silly Duck that he likes. He also found an annual report for Plunket Society - it had lots of neat pictures on the cover so he wanted me to read it! Unfortunately only boring pie graphs etc on the inside!

I just zipped up to the maternity annexe to see Karen P and baby Daniel, but they had already gone home. Silly me should have checked before I left!

Here is Fletcher, taken this afternoon. He is even laughing already!! Jamie can get a good giggle out of him. Plunket came today and weighed him, 12lb 80z.

Here is Lachie, on Monday, playing in our freshly weeded vegetable garden. (Maybe one day soon there'll be vegetables in it). He made a delightful mess and this morning asked if he could go and play in the 'sandpit'.

Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad! I think you've notched up 36 years?

love from us.

I was able to spend the morning doing the grocery shopping at my leisure today. I dropped Lachie at Zac and Ben's where he had a great time. It was just me and Fletcher, who was very well behaved in his car seat.

Church was very busy yesterday, lots of visitors, after a couple of quiet services around Christmas/New Year. I guess everyone decided to take their holiday a bit later this year! It was a really hot day so in the afternoon we put the sprinkler on for Lachie. However he decided he didn't like the water. He hasn't liked the beach much this year either. Don't know what has happened - he loved it last year.

Well I'm lacking inspiration at present so I'll say goodbye.

Friday

Let's see what we have been up to..

Yesterday morning (Thursday) Zac came and played at our place for a couple of hours. Lachie enjoyed having a buddy to play with. Zac mostly wanted to play inside with the cars though, and Lachie wanted to zip around on the trikes! However later in the morning they started getting a bit crazy jumping on the bed so I sent them outside to play.

In the afternoon me and the boys went for a long walk - Lachie enjoys his little spot on the toddler seat in front.

Jamie brought home some information on his course next month. He flies out of Tauranga at 7.05am so it will be an early start that day! He also has to organise getting the dog on the plane. He doesn't stay in barracks, him and the other 3/4 guys stay in a house. They go down the road to have their meals with the Army. The course info also says they need to be conversant with saluting! He hasn't done that since Police College I don't think.

This morning Lachie went out with his Grandad & Nana Kerr, I think they took him to the playground at The Heads. When he arrived home he was thoroughly exhausted and went straight to bed. They also looked after him while I took Fletcher to the doctors - and when we got home I think Grandad was thoroughly exhausted!

I took Fletcher to the doctors today for his 6 week immunisations :( He was pretty upset the whole affair. As you would expect.

Uncle Nathan came over from Tauranga on Wednesday on his cool new motorbike. Here is Lachie going for a ride!

At last we have bought a decent sized sun umbrella for our outdoor furniture (yesterday, from Bunnings). I think it is a 3.3metre one. Its great because it gets rid of the glare - we can now sit outside in the heat of the day in a bit more comfort.

I went for a long walk with the boys this morning - there was lots of traffic up and down Landing Road and Kopeo was pretty busy too. Jamie popped home today with all the guys from his office to help him move the dog kennel from the side of the house to around the back by the woodshed. It will be a bit warmer for the dog around there.

New Years Day

Ffffffffa freezing. An average morning has given way to a rainy chilly afternoon. On a happier note however, we were visited this afternoon by Lane, Sarah & baby Ambrose. Oh, and Jamie went water skiing this morning from 8-11.

I briefly woke from my sleep to hear the neighbours welcoming in the New Year - lots of fireworks too. However I was in bed by 9.30pm!! and welcomed in the New Year around 2am feeding Fletcher. ..

Happy New Year all, and as Nicole texted me at 0042 hours, "The Best is Yet to Come"!! Yehoo!

The boys yesterday after we had been for a morning walk. Lachie's latest unfortunate phrase is "I don't want to".

On Wednesday Jamie & Lachie went with the Greys for a practice ride out at Manawahe. Jamie did an 8km trail ride and reckons its the hardest thing he's ever done! They arrived home at 8.30pm and to my surprise Lachie was still a box of birds.

Lachie opens a present - his new Hot Wheels Transporter is in front of him. I think Jamie was more excited about that!

Fletchie says hello. He has started sucking two fingers on his right hand....he slept from 9pm til 5.30am last night.

Our plum trees are pretty much ready to go (if only the plums were a big bigger). Here's Lachie sampling the fruit.

Happy Christmas and all that...

Its been a busy week, as you can imagine. Its Saturday morning and Jamie has taken Lachie to the Awakaponga Motorcross to watch his cousins ride. Jamie went back to work on Thursday which was a little strange. Fortunately he has two short weeks to get him back into the swing of it. For New Year's Eve he finishes work at 8pm (he will be working over in Opotiki)! Nice & early.

Christmas Day was a bit of a quiet one really. We went to John & Moana's for breakfast, then popped around to Paul & Mel's. I brought the boys home for bed and Jamie went back and had Christmas lunch at their place. In the afternoon the Wintersons and Poppa & Grandma came down - Mum and Dad had driven from Havelock on Christmas morning.

I'll leave it there for now and just post some pictures. Don't they tell a thousand words or something?

White Christmas?

here are pix from a big hailstorm at our place tonight.

Today I visited some of my coffee group friends at Manawahe, so Jamie decided to take me up there and then drive on to Lake Rotoma to see Steve & Ann. I had a great time, and then he picked me up, and we went back to Rotoma and spent the afternoon there.

Here are some lovely photos of my boys. Fletcher is smiling more and talking a wee bit. Lachie is as cheerful as ever.

I went to the last cell group of the year last Thursday night. It was good fun and nice to get out. Its great that both Fletcher and Lachie are in bed by 7.30pm!

Our weekend was pretty uneventful. Jamie helped some friends move on Saturday morning, Sunday was church. Nana popped in on Sunday afternoon. Auntie Freda was in the draw to win the Meikles car so Nana drove her over. After she visited we went out to the berry farm for a bit of afternoon tea (sushi and frozen yoghurt, oh so delicious) and stopped in at the Wintersons on the way home.

Zac came over yesterday morning as Martin had something on at James Street School (as he is on the Board of Trustees). He was very good - I think Lachie wanted to have a bit of a rowdy time but Zac was more interested in reading.

Me and Lachie went to our last Mainly Music of the year this morning. I haven't been for a couple of weeks so I'm glad we went to the last one. It was great to sing Christmas Carols and songs talking about Christmas being about Jesus (as opposed to Santa). If only I had taken Fletcher, he could have been the baby Jesus they put in the manger!! However there was another wee baby boy who did the job instead....

Lachie also went to his last playgroup of the year yesterday and Santa visited. Unfortunately Lachie found Santa scary and didn't want a bar of him! I think quite a few kids felt that way.

We went to the osteopath with Fletcher yesterday. It went fine I guess. Just need to keep Fletcher looking to the left instead of the right. (Did I need to pay an osteopath to tell me that?)

I went out this afternoon and did some more Christmas shopping. It has been so much fun shopping this year! And the great thing is I have bought a few things for Lachie's birthday as well. I have learned a valuable lesson: when you see something that you think will make a great Christmas present, but its only September, buy it anyway! It won't be there when you go back for it. Another thing I have learned is that 'play-doh sets' sell out in a flash. I bumped into Sarah in Whitcoulls (she has tonsilitis!) and we went to The Warehouse together so she could point out the appropriate toy to buy for Ben.

Here are some pix of Lachie as a wee babe & Fletcher. They are both suffering from male pattern baldness.

A fantastic summery day here. I wore shorts all day long! Had the girls around for coffee group today which was lots of fun. Lachie & Riley had a great time playing in the back yard, and then chasing each other around the house.

We won a Wiggles DVD today too! Treasures is running a competition so we have been busy texting in all the codes from our packets of nappies.

Plunket visited today but Fletcher was asleep and I did not want to wake him up.

Also we started wrapping Christmas pressies! We are so looking forward to Christmas this year. OK, will leave it there for now.

An Unauthorised Excursion

Zac and Sarah called around on Friday afternoon. Zac and Lachie were playing outside on their trikes while me and Sarah were inside. And then we noticed the eerie silence....never mind our securely fenced section, Zac had managed to open the gate and he and Lachie and ridden off down the road on their trikes!!!! Sarah went in one direction and me in the other (don't worry, Fletcher was out with Jamie) when they duly appeared from the direction of the dairy with a lady who had found them. What a 'mare! Anyway thank God they turned up safe and sound and quickly, we'll just be keeping an eye out despite the gate.

Saturday Lachie got a lovely new haircut courtesy of Auntie Sarah and in the afternoon we had Riley's 2nd birthday party which was great fun. Sunday I sang with Moana & co, I think it went well....

Today was grocery day. I took Lachie with me today while Fletcher was at home with Jamie, sleeping. He was great company around the supermarket. At one stage he saw some random lady and started saying "Hello Mavis". At least that's what I think he was saying- and he is pretty clear these days! I can only presume he was referring to Mavis from the Thomas the Tank Engine stories. He has had a great afternoon playing in the back yard in the lovely sunshine.

Fletcher isn't enjoying sleeping in the day terribly much. Tomorrow Plunket is coming to visit. He received some looovely gifts in the mail today from Stephanie and Bev.

All the childies are in bed so we shall go and enjoy the evening.

Christmas Comes Early to 224 James St

Me and Jamie got an early Christmas present today - a new Dyson vacuum cleaner (the DC08 model)!! Meikles had a rather outstanding deal on it. The pipe on our old vacuum had split so it wasn't functioning all that well. Jamie has vacuumed the whole house and oh my gosh, I think he filled up at least 3 bags (of our old vacuum) full of dust.

We also bought a new stereo, which I have decreed is not to come out until Christmas Day. It is very cool. Our existing stereo has not played CDs for well over a year and we have just now gotten around to replacing it!

This afternoon I went in to town while the boys were asleep - I was out for two whole hours! It was great. I would never have the left the house for that long when Lachie was the age that Fletcher is at! Got a few Christmas presents. There were big sales at Meikles and Farmers today so the stores were chocka. I wonder, where does one Christmas shop in Sulawesi?

Paul & Mel got a new driveway laid last Friday night, which they still can't drive on. So Mel has been leaving her car on our front lawn. She has been popping in every morning and evening to leave the key (in case the alarm goes off). It has been nice catching up with her at the end of each day! Anyway, today they had a meeting confirming that the HQ of Environment Bay of Plenty (the Regional Council, where she works) is moving to Tauranga. I think about 50 staff will remain here and maybe about 140 going over to Tauranga. She finds out in March whether her job will stay here or go. I gather if they don't want to move they get redundancy. So that is SOOOO bad for Whakatane! I think The Bean especially will be gutted! (FYI The Bean is the coffee place where all the staff at EBOP go for their morning coffee)

Last night I went down to the church to music practice. This Sunday is an "Arts" Sunday so Moana asked me to sing a song with her and a few others. So we rehearsed that.

My boys are good - Lachie is such a chatterbox, his talking is coming along so quickly! Also its been great to see him playing outside. Fletcher, well, he doesn't do too much but he is great. We are taking him to the osteopath next Wednesday on Twink's recommendation - after I pointed out that his right ear appears to be a bit.....munched. He seems to be favouring turning his head to the right. I shall report on how that goes.

It was my last appointment with Twink my midwife today. Fletcher is going great and weighed in at 10lb 13oz. Nearly out of those newborn nappies! Monday & Tuesday he was very unsettled and feeding often and not sleeping. Maybe a growth spurt? But today I got tough! and he is back on track.

Lachie had playgroup and Millsy's house today. She reported that he was very chirpy today.

Yesterday (Tuesday) Jamie & Lachie went over to Lake Rotoma to see Nana & Grandad Kerr. Jamie popped in to Rotorua and did a bit of Christmas shopping. I had my coffee group so me and Fletcher stayed here.

As I wasn't feeling that great over the weekend going to church was about the only thing we did.
Auntie Jan visited on Monday (bearing some lovely gifts). Also on Sunday, Karen Fahey gave Fletcher a lovely blanket that I believe she hand knitted herself. I must take a photo and post it.

I can't remember when I last posted so I won't risk repeating myself. Let me see what I can find in my photo archives...

Here is Lachie who decided to make his bed on the floor sometime after midnight the other night. We have taken the side off his cot so he now has a "toddler bed". For the most part he has adjusted well.

ps. Have you seen my "site meter" and Christmas countdown ticker at the bottom of the page?

Saturday

I haven't been up to much today (or indeed, the last 3 days). If I didn't have a cold, I would feel on top of the world. I went to bed at 8pm last night and Fletcher only woke twice - 11pm and 3.30am. I should be right by tomorrow. Jamie has got me taking his vitamins and I bought an awful spirulina drink yesterday which supposedly contains 180% of the vitamin C one requires per day. I also dashed out to Julians Berry Farm and got a boysenberry frozen yoghurt to go, yummmmmm.

This morning Jamie and Lachie went to the Christmas Parade while I got a bit of rest.

On Thursday K-Mart opened out at the new Hub shopping centre so we joined the throngs to have a look. Well, it was never going to be as good as the one at St Lukes or Bayfair, was it? But it was disappointingly small. The range is really limited - NO TOY SECTION! Masses of clothes and TWO fitting rooms. Puhleeze. Still, that didn't stop me from spending money there.

Twink came on Wednesday and weighed Fletcher. 10 lb 2 oz. He has nearly gained a kilogram. And he is one month old on Monday!