Introducing...

...police dog CRUZ:

OK, so we have just been totally blessed with this. Basically trainee police dog UDOLF was not quite working out. I think there is some hope for him yet, but he needs more time. However, I think 'they' (the bosses) just want Jamie on the street working. So there was a 'spare' police dog - Cruz - floating around and he has been given to Jamie. They will do one final course together and be operational. This is going to save us the stress of training another police dog which could take a year. So, praise God!

Cruz is a very cool dog and you can tell he is operational (yes he has been working with other handlers over the country). So lovely and obedient!

AND AT LAST - a decent name for our dog!!

Back to Normal

Its sort of back to normal around here, back in routine. Jamie went to work on Monday and Lachie went back to Starlights for his Monday morning.

Then today I went back to work and Fletcher went to Starlights too.

I found out that I got an awesome Christmas present from the partners at work - a very generous gift voucher from Body & Soul ("Advanced Skin & body therapy") - so there will be a few pedicures in the pipeline for me! Yippee! (I wasn't at work the last day before Christmas when they gave them out, so I got it today).

Work was good and I have plenty more to do at home.

Introducing...

Our shiny new jet ski!
Its been a busy day! We decided Thursday afternoon to go ahead with the purchase of a jet ski. So Friday night we drove up to Lake Rotoma and left the children with Grandad & Nana. We zipped up to Auckland, arriving at about 10pm, and stayed with the lovely Stephanie!

This morning we went and picked up the jet ski from Bryce & Debbie in Greenhithe. It was a long trip back to the Lake, but we got there with plenty of time to go and give it a blast!

We are looking forward to lots of summer fun with family & friends!


The ski is a 1998 Seadoo GSX.

Its just been a quiet couple of days around here really.

I got up this morning at 6.30am and went for an hour long walk. It was a great way to start the day! Especially as it is already quite warm at that hour.

We've been looking at jet skis on Trade Me over the last few days....we'll see what comes of that!

My lovely boys enjoy their breakfast this morning. Fletcher had a haircut from Auntie Sarah yesterday, mainly around the ears, and doesn't he look lovely?

Dolf and Lachie enjoy a bit of time on the trampoline together.

Happy New Year

We have had a great run of weather ever since Boxing Day. Jamie got home just before 5am from work. Then at about 11am we went over to the beach, where a whole bunch of others from church also were.

These pictures were taken late this afternoon, we went back to the beach for an icecream.

New Year's Eve..

...and I am at home blogging! Tragic.

Jamie is at work - we have never, as far as I can recall, had a New Year's Eve together in all the time we've been together. Oh actually, he was home by 8pm last year, but we just went to bed early.

After dinner the boys spent an hour outside playing on the trampoline and the slide and the water table while I hovered close by. I just put them to bed - haven't heard a peep so they must be whacked - and then ate too much chocolate icecream!

And now to tidy up my kitchen.

Happy New Year everyone

At the Lake..

Yes, the two in one day. Martin & Jamie ran from Whakatane over to Ohope today, through that bushwalk. So me and the boys and Sarah and her boys drove over to the beach to pick them up. We spent a bit of time at the playground there.

In the afternoon us Kerrs drove up to Lake Rotoiti to catch up with some friends Jamie used to work with. Lachie had a spin in the boat!

At the Beach..

Our Boxing Day was pretty quiet, but the fun began at 5.30pm when we went around to 126 James Street for a BBQ (also with Dean & Gaynoll).

We had a great time over dinner and a game of Trivial Pursuit. Lachie was still awake at 10pm, so both he and Fletcher are now having an afternoon sleep.

This morning I've been to get a haircut (God Bless my hairdresser, I always seem to get an appointment about half an hour after I phone up) and then some friends from Auckland called in to visit this morning.

And the weather is at last lovely blue sky!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Lachlan opens his new airplanes & helicopters. He took them to Christmas Service this morning and he didn't want them opened for ages. He's in bed now, tired out from a very busy day!

Zac opens his new Veggie Tales DVD. The boys then watched it!

Ben opens his new Nike shin guards for soccer next year....

and models them.

Fletcher received (from Wintersons) a Fisher Price toy called "Roberto" and his tractor and associated construction stuff. He & Lachie have already enjoyed playing with it on Christmas morning.

Lachie opens his Christmas gift from the Wintersons. Everyone looks pretty excited, don't they?! Its great, Ben & Zac have taught Lachie to be excited about presents! He received a great "Thomas Build Me" game.

One great thing about our house is that it has a great back yard and a lovely big silk tree for shade. So today after church we had Sarah & Andy, Abby & Grant around for lunch. We sat outside all afternoon at our picnic table, it was great.

We have people around for dinner shortly. I should go and make a salad or something.

Busy day tomorrow getting what we need for Christmas Day!

Home Again

We decided to try driving home from Havelock North in the morning, rather than the evening. So we left Mum & Dad's at 9.30am this morning. We managed to do the whole trip without any stops, and were safely home by 1pm. The boys ate on the way and slept for an hour or so. They were pleased to be home to their own toys.

Both me and Jamie went out and did jobs this afternoon and Lachie enjoyed playing with his cousins.

Last night of course, we got to enjoy the 6.8 richter scale earthquake that was mainly focused on Gisborne. Of course Napier isn't too far away from Gisborne and so we felt it a treat. It was rolling and just went on and on and on and on!

A Saturday with jobs like laundry and lawnmowing is ahead!

Unfortunately, the rain has been coming down for the last few days. So that dashed my hopes of going swimming or getting out and about much.

Went for a drive with Mum and the boys this morning looking at all the new housess in the neighborhood.

Picking up Jamie from the airport this afternoon!

H a v e l o c k

We arrived at Mum & Dad's at 10pm last night. We find night is the best time to travel for the boys and we don't have to make any stops. I imagine though they will be pretty whacked today. Fletcher has already gone down for his morning sleep and it is only 9am!

Taking Jamie to the airport soon, he is going to spend a few days in Wellington with friends he went to Police College with.

More later!

ps. It is such a hot day here already!