Hi. The move went surprisingly well. Let's face it...packing every single item in your household into boxes and moving it all to another destination isn't exactly fun. Not to mention the cleaning part, chuck in a couple of kids and you've got a pretty nasty combination.
This move was pretty sweet, thanks to family members who got stuck in and made it the easiest and smoothest move i've ever done.
My Dad drove up from Palmerston North to help, Aunty MJ & Uncle Rob who organised the truck and helped on the day all day, Maggie & Tessa who cleaned all the windows and skirting boards in the old place then went to the new house and started unpacking, put on a roast for everyone for dinner AND took Kahu off our hands for most of the afternoon. My grandparents who are 86 and 81 took Kiwa out for the day, amazing, and finally cousin Tia who cleaned the kitchen including oven and stayed all day to help where needed.
It truly was an awesome effort, thankyou to all of you.

We're enjoying OUR house and the kids have settled really well, they love running around outside on the decks and having a park two doors up the road doesn't go down too badly either. I'm loving being close to the shops and new Papamoa library which opened a few weeks ago, it's all just a 10 min walk up the road....supermarket, library, the Warehouse!!! and not forgetting Fashion Island, 24 clothing stores and more being built as we speak.......Brendon is pretty happy too, in his element really. His list of ideas and things to do and make grows every day.

No photos this time, but stay tuned....!!!

on the move..........

My boys!!!

Kiwa has discovered climbing-i find him in all sorts of places as you can see. He is very pleased with himself & his achievements but has had some nasty falls.
Boys & their toys.......

hi all! Been busy packing and organising for the big move this Saturday...it's been a mission, i've lost count of how many times i've packed a box only to come back two minutes later to find that Kahu and Kiwa have UN packed it and spread its contents throughout the house. Packing/moving house and children just aren't a good mix. I made them playdough the other morning to play with while i tried to pack, they played with it for about 20 mins maybe before they got bored....so a real success that was. No good old boxes are way more interesting. And of course the fact that Brendon is the hoarder of all hoarders doesn't help matters....bags of old receipts really come in handy if you decide to dispute the bill from that dinner out back in September 85 but apart from that i can't see a use for them. At all.
I am very much the opposite, i can't stand clutter, it drives me mad. Brendon and I have had a few terse discussions this week to say the least........
Anyway we're nearly there, and still excited but will be good to have the moving part over and done with. Our new email address is lisa.brendon@xtra.co.nz- i think that will take effect early next week and our ph number is changing too-will keep you posted on that one.
Hope everyone is well and staying away from all those nasty winter bugs going round. Kiwa and I both have bad coughs but other than that we're all good, touch wood.

Arohanui, lisa

Rotorua holiday

I only have Rayna stay once a month because of the travel but she fits straight in as if she had never been away...her brothers love her and she them, it makes me very happy.
We went to Rotorua and did the lion park thing, fed the fishes, hot pools, dinner out, motel! Awesome. For those of you who haven't been in Aotearoa for awhile - this is a very beautiful country...


Kiwa climbing a tree. The feet to the right are up against the lion enclosure. It was feeding time and they were pacing up and down the cage ready to eat, there was only a standard garden variety wire fence between them and us -you could put your fingers through if you wished.....All the lions LOVED the little children and babies - gave them a good sniffing.
The holidays over now, work, routine and packing will keep us busy till 16 of June when we move to our new house...then I suppose it will be gardening and renovations to keep us going! Can't wait.