Our New Whare

Let go back in time to about this time last year (has it really been so long since I have blogged??!)... 

Once again, our Landlord told us "Im selling", why do they always do that?!

And so we were pushed off the plank into finding a new home. 

We had spent years in the rental market, assuming that buying our own home was impossible.

Instead, we saved our pennies, week by week, we increased our Kiwi Savers and made voluntary contributions in to them... And over the years it started to add up. 

We couldn't believe it when we started to house hunt for our own home and that it might just be possible!

I found this little gem while Graeme was visiting family out of the country. I called him and said "We're putting in an offer". We did, we got it, and we love it. 

When I visited the open home I walked up the driveway underneath these sunlit trees, the sun was peaking over the house and I was sold already before I even went inside.

When I saw that little red stain glass window I fell in love (even more!) with this 1929 bungalow.

Sure, it's got its limits. A tiny section mostly, which makes me a little sad on somedays, and happy on others (we came from a rental with a great yard). We're hoping we can make it useable for the girls for this summer so there will be lots of things to draw them outside to play and explore.

But for now, it's home for the next hopefully many years. I'm so glad to be paying our own mortgage. Just today I paid the next rate installation and I felt so relieved by it. No more landlords, house inspections, unmet expectations, surprise visits, and stresssss.

What seemed impossible 6 years ago became possible!  

I'm so glad to be here and feel so grateful for our home. It suits us so well and we are doing little things to make it more ours.

Queenstown Adventures - Graemes 30th

In May we were lucky enough to spend 4 nights in Queenstown, without the kids! Just us!! The kids were happy as can be with their grandparents, and we were living it up large with Hilton Hotel Life.

So, I never realised that hotel people do all your dishes. That was such a surprise to me. I need to get out more! haha! / become so wealthy I never need to do dishes again. It was like living in a dream! 

Anyway, 5 nights away, what a dream come true. We had been squirreling away money for the last year for this trip, as a big Happy 30th Birthday to the man of our house, so we could have some time away from our house! Graeme was also blessed by a lot of his friends for his birthday, with cash towards adventures in Queenstown. 

We planned to live up large, eat out and buy desserts, drink coffee and wander the streets and do as many adventurey things as we could. It turns out, we ticked all of those boxes.

The highlight for me was definitely Milford Sound. It's about 3.5 hours drive from Queenstown, so it really does take up a whole day; leaving in the morning, going on a cruise around lunch time, then returning home after dinner. It was a big day and we were shattered by the end of it. I think that was the one night we got takeaways and crashed in bed. 

But Milford sound, what a beautiful, stunning part of the world. Breathtaking. Even the drive there, I wish we had spent more time stopping off to take in the views. So much beauty and goodness that is so refreshing for the soul.

We went on a Jucy Cruise which was, I assume, just as good as all of the other cruises on offer. All up about 2 hours on the boat. 

I was lucky enough to end up at the front of the boat and was doused in water from a waterfall. It was a happy accident, and from then on we stayed at the front of the boat and loved our cruise. Much better to be out in the fresh air, although it was FREEZING cold. Wind chill felt like it was in the minus'! Still, I sipped my red wine, bathed in the sunlight and thanked God for all of these moments. 

Those last 2 photos above were from a video we took. We tried to get a photo of us and the waterfall, except the wind was all up in thurrr. You can see the video on my Instagram here.

Following that we spent our time in Queenstown on the shot over river (above). I had been on it as a kid, in which I had thought for sure we were certain for death, but it wasn't nearly as scary as I had remembered. Still, thrilling none the less. Graeme "woohoo"'d his way down the river, and it was a joy for me to see him having fun (while I held on for dear life).

We ate Fergburger, Winnies Pizza, drank lunch time beers and wines, sat by fire sides, talked about silly things from my "conversation starters" (which were a great idea to take, when you're wanting to talk about things other than kids, but your life only consists of kids). 

Speaking of kids, we almost forgot they existed. And when we phoned them they said "we need to make you a card, can we hurry up and say goodbye now?" So never mind them.

On our departing eve, we found the local c3 Church and treated ourselves to a couple massage which was divine. We finished off the day by eating a ridiculously expensive meal which was a ridiculously huge hunk of steak, and drank from a ridiculously large wine glass. Ridiculous. All of it. 

What is this life?

*Sigh* Last day and time to go home. 6 hours later in the car and we were ready for our own beds. But I definitely could have stayed in that dream bubble for a little longer.

Thank you to Nannie & Poppa, Grandad Jimmy & Colly for all of the Baby Sitting hours you racked up! And to all of our friends who put in for our adventures!

Lots of memories made. Thank you. 

Happy Birthday Graeme! xx

Katie Turns Three

Sweet little Katie. Cheeky, mischievous, giggly, snugly, loud Katie. 

She turned 3 last week. Our little BIG girl! Who also started Kindy on the same day. There's too much growing up happening around here. 

Look at these Kindy girls!

We celebrated Katie's birthday with Kindy in the morning, a very little picnic in the botanic gardens with a few of her little friends, and a trip to the discovery room in the Museum next to the gardens. Followed by lots and lots of cake and candles. Katie blowing out candles is hilarious - she's too busy trying to sing "happy birthday" to herself at the same time!

Her Daddy surprised us at the gardens by turning up unexpectedly. He had tracked my phone to sneakily find out where we were and had taken the afternoon off work. What a (creepy) sweet thing to do!  Hehe. 

At three years old Katie loves:: Snuggling with soft blankets and fluffy toys. Animals. Anything "cute". Cheesy Dibbles (Twisties - the chip). Reading books with Dad. Ice cream. Minions. Her Big Sister. Bath time. My new scarf. Sleeping. Lots of Sleeping. 

Party hard Katie! xxx

Motherhood 2016

My FB memories just reminded me that 2 years ago I wrote about what stage of motherhood I was in 2 years ago (Motherhood 2014). I enjoyed looking back and revisiting that season, so thought I will record an update for future trips down memory lane...

What my season of motherhood looks like right now:

Morning "Ata Marie" greetings, with kisses and cuddles in bed.

The distant sound of phone games being played with in the dark while I doze.

Breakfast requests; cornies, weetbix, muesli or honey poppas.

Spilt milk and coconut scattered throughout the house.

Outfits chosen, constant reminders, and screaming in the car.

Scratched hands, sincere apologies and hurt feelings.

Mat time joy. 

"Mum can I come in", a little girl itching to start kindy.

Coffee and cake with friends, my life savers and support system.

Little friends for little children, who play happily throughout the day, only stopping for food and drinks.

Despicable me, Penguins, Cinderella, Cars & Planes, Dinosaurs & Bible stories on rotation.

Camilla the cupcake fairy, over and over and over again.

Endless art works, inspiration and ideas.

Tears over ruined art, rampaging sisters and hurt feelings.

Constant lessons on kindness, integrity, responsibility and joy. Raising up women who believe in themselves.

Leading our family in prayer and passing on my faith to my children. Unending lessons on faith, the miraculous, and a Father who loves and creates. 

Taylor Swift dance parties.

Dinners gobbled, or left uneaten. Pleas for ice cream and treats.

Surprising Daddy after work.

Insufferably long whispered conversations.

Fluffy PJs and warm beds with snuggly toys.

Big girl beds side by side, with the cot packed up and stowed underneath. Mixed feelings, but mostly relief at a new stage.

Goodnight kisses, "Pō Marie" and songs.

Hushed whispers and giggles of joy.

Long nights for dishes, vacuuming and straightening our home for another day.

TV programmes, chips or toast, and The Mans hand to hold.

Noho Marae 2016

Last weekend we took the 2 kids to our classroom where we are learning Te Reo Māori this year on Monday nights for a sleep over and learning time.

They had a ball, although drove me slightly crazy on the Saturday afternoon when we had just arrived. We went straight into learning, into a 2 hour class on comprehension where we actually had to listen and pay attention. Meanwhile, two girls were fighting over felt colours, banging each other on the head with pool noodles and sporadically screaming. Do you ever just think "why did I even bother?"

I'm glad we pushed through because we all ended up have a great time. The kids found their grove, they loved being around Te Reo (Camilla is a keen learner, and Katie has her own confident unknown (but to her its Māori) language she likes to sing in) and on day two we remembered to plug in the tablet during learning times!

It was great to get to know our class mates better, share kai and stories during the Pō Whakangāhau (Evening entertainment). We found the "Māori only" immersion morning really beneficial. Graeme swam through it like a champ - and it made me realise how much harder I need to work than him. We have since thought it would be great to do a Māori only night once a week when Graeme gets home from work. Its just so easy to default into English. We will see how this goes. 

Its a journey that we are all on.



Camilla: "Your Māori Kaiako said "Kei te pehea koe?" to me." ("How are you?")
Me: "And what did you say back to him?"
Camilla: "Kei te wera au" ("I am hot")
Me: "Awesome Milla! Were you feeling hot?"
Camilla: "No, but it was all I could think of saying"

Easter 2016

2016, another Easter.

This one feels more like Autumn, after a cold windy few weeks yellow leaves are on the ground.

Milla was contagiously excited about Easter. From all the talks at Kindy she knew it was a holiday weekend with chocolate. Whats not exciting about that!?

So we started our Easter celebrations early on Thursday night with some surprise winter PJs. Now a tradition (of 2 years! haha) the kids were very excited to receive them. Milla preferred Katies (she had sunshines and clouds), but the next day after realising Milla had bunnies on hers AND it was easter weekend (easter bunnies) she firmly told me that hers were now her favourites.

We put on our new PJs, tucked up with Daddy and read from our bibles.

Milla has started praying this week, which is something she has been apprehensive about in the past so we haven't pushed it but have tried to lead by example. Something clicked in her this week and she has been praying on her own accord to God. And man, when she prays... It feels like Heaven is in the room. Although she insists that the only way to pray is with her hands together, funny considering we never do this.

This coincides nicely with a weekend that is all about our families faith. We are enjoying learning together!

Today we made a stuffed bunny with flower fabric. Milla did most of the work on the bunny and I enjoyed sitting with her and sharing in special time together. All of this whilst Katie ran wild and tipped the cocoa container on the floor and spread it around the kitchen and down the hallway with little chocolate footprints. It's not all pretty Instagram moments, real life happens here too!

Peace to you this weekend,

x

Dinners Ready - A moment in time.

"Dinners ready" I announce. Or breakfast, lunch, snacks, or anything really.

Two little humans drop what they are doing and run past me, under my legs, they sprint to the kitchen shouting in celebration down the hallway where I am standing.

I follow as they navigate their way past me.

The big one is faster.

The little one runs with her hands in the air. There's side stepping and confusion as she passes. She's not sure how to get around my legs, but she pushes through anyway. Her feet making a gentle, but firm stomp on the ground with each running step.

My view is like a computer game. I can see it all from above, looking down on my little character running towards the dining table.

This may be one of my favourite parts of motherhood, and stay at home mum life; the view from above, the excited side stepping in the hall way, the running in front of me, hands in the air and the patter of feet. Yes, it's one of my favourites.

Ages 4.5 & 2.5