OK. Well Jamie got home Friday night and we spent a pretty quiet weekend at home. None of us were feeling very well. We went to church on Sunday morning but Jamie ended taking the boys home early. I stayed on but probably should have gone home too!

Tuesday morning we had coffee group here, with all the usuals plus one extra - a girl who has just moved to town. She has two little girls so the kiddie count was 7! It was great that they could play in the back yard.

Tuesday afternoon I went to the hairdresser - I dropped the boys at Moana's, then realised I had left my purse at home, so I had to zoom home and get that. My hair is looking a bit tidier with all the split ends cut off!

Jamie was away again for work yesterday - just over in Tauranga this time. He will definitely be back by Friday night.

Oh, and apparently the dog does now NOT require an operation. He had another x-ray today and it came back clear. I know, it changes so often! But I'm glad of it because otherwise Jamie would have had to spend a couple of days in Palmerston North, and I can do without that!

Much cooler last night which was fantastic - the boys slept all night long. Monday was very hot and sticky. They're saying summer is now over - today there has been lots of heavy showers and very windy - and daylight saving ends this weekend :(

Jamie practises Midwifery.

I flicked some of you a text on Thursday night about this, so here are the further details as promised.

Jamie was working all over the place last week and staying in Rotorua. On Thursday night as him and another guy were heading back to their motel, they saw a van on the wrong side of the road, with the boot up and a lady in the back. So they stopped to see what was wrong. It was very clear that she was having a baby! So Jamie went and called for an ambulance, by the time he got back the baby's head was 'crowning' I guess is the term, and then out she (yes, it was a baby girl) popped. Jamie wrapped the baby in his t-shirt (poor baby, it must have stunk after a day's work!) and then shortly after her midwife arrived and then the ambulance.

I'm not entirely sure he enjoyed the experience terribly much, although he sound pretty excited when he phoned me afterward!

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!