Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The end of January already!


I just can't believe we're nearly at the end of January. Where does the time go?

At the beginning of the month I have all these ideas and improvements that I'd like to get stuck into, but before you know it we're counting down towards February and have I done anything I planned?...................a bit fat NO.

Oh well, I guess there's always this month.


Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Tree-felling


We were out on a bike ride yesterday when we saw some trees getting chopped down. Luckily I had the trusty camera and snapped a few pics.


They were lopping about a metre off at a time and then letting it fall which was quite exciting for the kids.

In this one you can just see the cut bit of log falling under the cherry picker.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

2 yr olds are lovely but so tiring!!

Tonight we babysat for a friend/neighbour while they went to a fancy-dress party. They have an 8 yr old girl and a 2 yr old boy. I look after the wee one most Wednesday mornings to give his Mum a break and I am very fond of him.

The kids and I went up to their place to make it easier and so their kids can go to sleep in their own beds.
I'm definitely not used to putting a crying 2yr old to bed.
He did finally go to sleep and I was able to sit and read my book for hours while my two played Shrek2 on the Xbox. : )

It was quite a late night for us all but it is really nice to be able to help out a friend and I know that she'll do the same for me.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Friday

Someone's been baking...............in bare feet..............with smallish toes!



We've got quite a lot of small kitchen appliances and lately I've been making an effort to use more of them.

Here is my breadmaker (with loaf in) and the crock pot with the remaining rice pudding (hey...who's been eating it?!).


Here is a closer view - I'm trying to show how creamy it is.



Darcy and his friend having breakfast under the trampoline.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Baking bread



Pillow bashing


....and so the two small boys bashed each other with pillows until they were red in the face and puffing.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Google maps/street view

My Dad and I have been looking at Google Maps a bit lately and also StreetView and after a bit of research I found this site which has these photos (in case you can't be bothered going there). This vehicle was seen and photographed in NZ but as far as I can tell there isn't any footage available........yet!











Did I just learn to add a link?

For ages I've been trying to figure out how to add a link to a post and I think I've finally done it.

Here goes.....

Check out this very cool maternity wear site.

A new playstation chair.

We moved the armchair into Darcy's little PS2 corner so he could be more comfortable. It wasn't really getting used much (for sitting anyway) and he was very pleased.







Tuesday, January 22, 2008


On Saturday I had to move all these plants from around the corner because they were getting bashed by the wind. I decided I would stake them at the same time. Lots of the tomatoes have fruit on them and Hannah's capsicum is covered in flowers and small fruit as well.







Baby tomato with the flower still attached. Isn't it pretty?









A bit bigger but still pretty. More toddler cute than baby cute! lol



Monday, January 21, 2008

Monday mornings!

DH is able to drive now and so today was the first day he's driven himself to work. I'm sure it must be great for him after 3 months to be truly independent.
He's only doing 4 hrs a day this week and that increases by 1 hr a day each week until he's back up to 9hrs.

This morning I was up when he left and so I got his breakfast things out and made some lunch/snacks for him to take. Standing on the front step saying goodbye and then waving from the bedroom window are special little rituals that we haven't done in a long time. It was nice : )





Hannah had a friend over for the night and they spent ages making balloon creations. They tried to follow the instructions that came with them but they were pretty vague and yet, at the same time, quite complex!!
After some practising they were doing pretty good.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Saturday, January 19, 2008

A bad day turned good.

Today started kinda bad due to tired kids and a planned trip into town.

After a few phone calls and some careful organising I managed to get both kids sorted to stay with close to home. Hannah went next door to our fantastic neighbour and Darcy went to my sisters.



It was always gonna be a rush to get everything done and be back on time (I hate having deadlines), but fate was against me and I ended up being a whole hour late to pick up the kids. For some reason this really bugs me.

Plus it was incredibly hot in town and all I wanted to do was get back home where I knew it would be cool.



Anyway, we got back home and it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. No one was half as stressed as I was. Funny that!!

Later in the afternoon DH and kids put up a gazebo we had been given and the kids were playing shops under it for ages and having heaps of fun.

Hannah wanted to cook so we had an early dinner and ate outside which was really nice. We don't often all eat together so that was a treat.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Kittens

Cute kittens playing in a Christmas tree.




Cute kitten sitting on my bag.


Thursday, January 17, 2008

Space station photos

These are my space station photos. I couldn't really use the zoom as it wouldn't focus, but I know they are the real deal!!



Just going down behind the trees.


Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Broccoli for dinner

Today was the day....my biggest broccoli was ready to pick.
I only used half of it for three of us (I had lots) and it was really yummy.
Hannah said "that's the first time I've actually really liked broccoli".
Darcy liked it too which is great cos he's real particular (fussy).

There are 5 more plants in the garden but this was definitely the biggest.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Capsicum comparison









Birthday party

Today we had a 1st birthday party to go to. It was rather short notice so we had to stop to get a present beforehand but the trusty old Warehouse cam through as it nearly always does. We bought books as usual....I just LUV buying books, especially kid's books.



The party was lovely, my sister, BIL and their 23 mth old were there and all the kids had a great time.

We took the camera but there don't seem to be any photos!! This must be a first.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Maintaining a small house.

Trying to get the house and us back into some sort of order since we got back is proving to be quite a mission.
I usually try not to worry too much about housework as there's only so much time in the day and I have other things I would much rather be doing.
But, when we have been away for a week there is obviously HEAPS of laundry to do as well as the usual daily stuff and it takes me a while to get it back under control.
I must admit to dreaming of a house that is SO sorted that it just about takes care of itself, but I feel that I might have to wait for a few more years for that. Our house is really tiny (just 2 bedrooms and one bath for 4 people) and we have quite a bit of stuff. My sister says to have a big purge and get rid of heaps but I like our stuff and I want to keep it. I just want some more space for it.
We are waiting for a double garage that will be half playroom for us and this will be an enormous help. We will be able to have all the play things, art & craft supplies - in fact everything that clutters up the house will be out there......leaving a beautiful roomy, easy-to-tidy house.
IN MY DREAMS!!!!!!!! : )

Friday, January 11, 2008

HTML - no problem!!!

In my last post the title (What Stacey Barnett means) was impossible to read as it was too light compared to the background. So being the clever clogs that I think I am, I had a quick look at the HTML code and changed it to a darker colour.....and it worked!!

Now of course, I won't be able to stop fiddling with it! lol
Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Hannah and neighbour friend made a chocolate self-saucing pudding. Yummy....they doubled the recipe so there was extra!!!!








Friday

Today we met up with my cousin and her 3 kids at a local park. They live in Christchurch and we don't see them very often but there are two girls -the older is 6 mths younger than Hannah and they write to each other sporadically.

My sister and her two girls plus my Mum were there as well so it was extra nice.

It was really hot and I only wanted the kids to be out in the sun for 20 minutes max. As it was I got a bit of colour on my shoulders but they were good as they had t-shirts and hats.

We didn't stay long at the park but we did meet up with my sis at our favourite ice cream parlour.

My two are top right and second from the left on the bottom. DS did have a hat on seconds prior but decided it was a bit girly for a photo.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

These things are so silly.....but I love them!!!

What Stacey Barnett Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.
You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.
Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.



You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

Summer photos





Monday, January 07, 2008

While I was away.........

....my garden grew!!!!!

We have peas!!

My Mum grew this from a cutting she took from the first flowers my DH gave to me.



Beetroot just starting to swell.

The tomatoes have just gone crazy. I counted about a dozen tiny ones today.


Hannah got her ears pierced a few days ago while we were away and is very happy.


This is our first salad from the garden. Lettuce leaves, radish and some tiny celery stalks. I addded some shop bought tomatoes, mushrooms and grated parmesan and it was just gorgeous.


The kids were playing "bars", serving each other drinks and paying for them. We got a picnic set with plastice wineglasses for Christmas and the kids love using them. They fill them with milk and call it white wine! lol