Family History, Choosing the Right and a "cheap" Car Service

So Nanny Kaye has gone home, Aarahi is back at work and the kids and I are tying to find our normal again. We are hoping to keep things a bit quiet for a few weeks, lately it feels like we have been haemorrhaging money. Nothing unexpected and all planned for but it's still annoying. We had our car serviced last week. Aarahi had prepared me for the worst so I was pleasantly surprised with only a $600 bill. Apparently it drives a lot better but I can't tell the difference so that shows how much I know.

Yesterday we had a lesson on "Choosing the Right" for Family Home Evening. All day today Auron and Lili have been telling each other off for not "choosing the right" It was a horrible day yesterday so I am a little amused and surprised that they even remembered anything from our lesson. Just goes to show that even when they are hanging upside down on the couches and being unbearably irreverent, that they really are taking it all in.

I caught the Family History bug and started to look into my Family History yesterday. My Mum and I had done a bit when I was younger but nothing since. Turns out someone else had done a lot of it for me and I just a few puzzle pieces to put together which I could easily do from the knowledge I already had written down. What was the most fascinating discovery was that my Mum and I weren't the first members in our family. Way back in the 1800's and many great great grandparents ago some long lost grandma joined the church a long with several of her children. One of which crossed the plains with the pioneers. Who would have guessed?! I thought it was all a bit too good to be true but they more I looked into it the more legitimate it looked. The person who had done all the research had added photos and birth/death/marriage certificates and other really neat journal pages etc. One of the uncles looks just like my cousin Dylan, guess those genes are strong!

The kids have been begging me for more school work. I try to do at least an hour of focused time each day with them but apparently that isn't enough for them. Today we have done two hours and they are already asking to do more after lunch. Maybe I will just rotate the books in the book box so they have something new to read. That should keep them happy for awhile anyway!

Look how much my chunky monkey has grown!

Post-church shenanigans 

This is Auron's favourite part of school time. He tries to race Lili to finish. Lili is more interested in just tracing her hands though

Making graphs. This new activity was a hit, we will probably do it again today and see if we get a different result

Rachel Collard and her Brother Conelius. Does't he look just like Dylan?!

Nanny Kaye is Here!

On Saturday morning we went to pick Nanny Kaye up from the airport. The kids were so excited all week asking if it was the day for Nanny Kaye to come yet. I'm glad she arrived in teh morning so I didn't have to survive them asking all day if it was time for the airport yet. Aarahi also picked  up our hire car, it's a monster of a thing (I really want to buy one!)

After we came home and had breakfast we went out to look at where our house is being built and look at
the display home. There has been so much progress on the houses in our estate since we were there a few weeks ago. We are in the second land release so we haven't started building yet, they're still building the road and sidewalk.

Later on Saturday night we surprised Nanny Kaye with a night on the town. We went into the city for dinner and a show. We were lucky enough to get tickets to the Lion King. Aarahi really wanted to take his mum out somewhere a bit special and the show really fit the bill. It was AMAZING! if you ever get the chance to go, DO IT!!!!

The night however ended on a bit of a low as we parked our car in the only parking building that closed at 7pm! so we had to catch the train home at midnight. That was an experience in itself. Aarahi went back and got the car in the morning and all was well again.

Yesterday we went into the city to take the kids to an indoor play centre. It was a bit underwhelming, but I think they had fun. Nanny Kaye got in with them and went down the crazy slides. I assure you those play grounds are not made for adults!

Today was IKEA for breakfast and to pick up a few things for the new house...tea towels and salt n pepper shakers because it's the small things that really matter! We stopped at a new park on our way home which was amazing. It has so many fun activities for the kids. What I liked most about it was that it wasn't super kid proof like most of the parks you see around these days. There were plenty of opportunities for the kids to climb up high and be adventurous. There was also a wonderful water play area with pumping stations and squirting water fountains. It was a bit cold today (not that, that stopped the kids) but in summer I can imagine it being really spectacular. It's located right next to the children's hospital so if your kid happens to fall from the towering ropes course it's a hop skip and jump away for them to get fixed up.

Nappy Free!

Hurray for us, Lili is toilet trained! We started before Ammon was born but ended up putting her back in nappies because I was lazy. This week Lili told me she didn't want nappies anymore, so we tried again. She spent most of Thursday on the toilet, but mostly like because I told her she was only allowed to use the iPad in the bathroom. On Friday I took the iPad away and she went to the toilet when ever she needed, by Saturday she was able to leave the house without a nappy. Yey for us. We only had one accident when she couldn't get her button undone fast enough, which was really my fault for not putting her in appropriate clothes.

Ammon had he first real food today...a choc chip cookie. Terrible I know, I didn't let him eat the whole thing. It was quickly followed up by some left over pumpkin which he loved. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He is literally going through clothes faster than I can buy them, some of his clothes are size 1 already. I weighed him this week and he was 8.5kg. No wonder my body is exhausted from having to sustain that chunky monkey!

Australia has just gotten Netflix this past week. Oh my goodness, we are loving it. It is so nice to be able to sit down and not have to watch the rubbish that is on TV these days. There are plenty of appropriate shows to watch. that are wholesome and uplifting. Best of all NO AD's

Yesterday Chris and Kim came over. Kim showed me all her wedding photos, I was so upset and gutted that we couldn't make the wedding. It was in January back in NZ, so there was no time to get a passport for Ammon. The photos were absolutely amazing. After lunch Kim and I went to a Thai cooking class. We were so inspired by the delicious curry we made that we all went out for dinner at a Thai place. It was okay but we were disappointed it wasn't as good as what we made. Next time we will go buy all the ingredients and make it ourselves.

The shirt says it all

Crazy Hair

This week a girl was murdered just days before her wedding, people are pulling out their wedding dresses and photos in honour of her .

Easter with the Matthews

The majority of this week is one I would rather forget. Sometimes you think you are winning at this parenting thing...other times not so much. Sick Mummy and Daddy plus sick kids plus teething baby do not make a good combination. Thankfully it looks like we are on the tail end of it now and the weekend has been much more pleasant. 

Last week we booked our family holiday for early next year. We decided to think a bit outside the box and booked a 10 night cruise around the Pacific. What is most appealing is not having to sit on a plane for hours and hours! Although we do still have to fly to Sydney first. We managed to take advantage of a sale they were having and got it for a reasonable price. 

On Good Friday the kids had a activity at church. I went down a bit earlier to help set up. I was in charge of the egg dying station. I was not at all convinced that it was going to go well. I thought for sure that we would end up with dye all over the floor and people. We only had one girl who thought it was a good idea to dye her whole hand multiple times. Our kids had lots of fun too. 

The days are getting colder and when I went to pull out some warmer clothes for the kids I noticed they have grown a LOT since last winter and none of their clothes fit. So yesterday we went winter clothes shopping and spent a few hundred dollars on new clothes and shoes. Although we spent a lot we saved lots too, everything I bought was at least 40% off some even up 70%.

After our shopping expedition we went to drop Lili off at Marcelle's so we could take Auron out for his specail birthday treat. First we went to the toy shop so he could spend some of his birthday money. He bought a Power Rangers gun and a colour changing Oh from the movie Home. Next we went to the movies and even bought stuff from the candy bar (very unlike us). We saw Home, it was really good. After the movie we had burgers for dinner. Auron then wanted to go home because he was missing Lili. 

Lili had a great time with Marcelle. They went to the indoor playground then over to see Pina, Jess, Renee and Emile. She got quite spoilt. When we arrived to pick her up she was fast asleep on the couch with some new Dora dolls. 

I straightened Lili's hair this week. It didn't last long before the the craziness began to show through

Auron also wanted his photo taken with Spidy

We made hot cross buns for Good Friday

The little stinker wouldn't smile for the camera 

All the anticipation was worth it! Auron loved loved loved this movie

 

Auron Turns FOUR!

We have had such a busy weekend. On Friday we had our weekly library trip. It was much more successful than previous trips. Auron is right in to it but Lili still holds back a little and prefers to sit by me for the most part. While the kids were doing their craft activity Ammon was laying down next to us and just started tooting off like a trumpet. Oh my gosh the stench was horrific! I thought for shure we would have some kind of poonami on our hands. So I quickly packed the kids up and headed to the bathroom and Lo and Behold NOTHING not a single thing in that nappy.

Later that night Aarahi went to a meeting a church and I ordered takeaway which was gross. I could slowly feel myself getting sick, by Saturday morning I was losing my voice, by Saturday night it was long gone. I went to a 50th Birthday on Saturday afternoon and did a fair bit of talking/yelling so that didn't help.

Come Sunday I felt like staying in bed all day but I had to Primary at church so off to church we went being careful to try not spread my germs. I was more than happy once 4pm rolled around and I could go home. But not as happy as 7pm when I told everyone to GO TO BED!

Auron woke up today, HIS BIRTHDAY with no voice. He had unfortunately caught my bug, on his birthday no less. He was unfazed, and far to excited about it FINALLY being his birthday to care that he sounded hilarious. I made him pancakes for breakfast then asked him what he wanted to do for the day. He wanted to take a bath....That suited me just fine. He spent a good 2-3 hours in the bath, I heated the water up a few times for him. He only got out when I suggested we go to the shop for an iceblock.

Unfortunately Ammon was being a bit sooky today and was making it impossible for me to get organised for Auron's special afternoon tea. My cousin Sotarah came to the rescue with Mcdonalds in hand to look after the kids while I made a mad rush to make Auron's cake and finish cooking and cleaning.

At 3pm our family and the Missionaries arrived to help us celebrate. We ordered pizza for dinner as per Auron's request, he only ate half a piece but whatever, you can do whatever you like on your birthday!

He received lots of phone calls from his Aunties and cousins and Nana's and felt pretty special all day. He also got the Spiderman Car Racer that he has been wanting since his LAST birthday.

Auron is such an amazing child, we love him so much. He is loving, polite, kind, and helpful. He comes up with some of the most HILARIOUS things to say. He has us laughing uncontrollably on almost a daily basis. He loves his family especially his cousins Izayah and Bronte and Nana and Grand-nana and Grandgraeme. He prays for these 5 people every single day. If you make it into Auron's prayers you know you're winning! Auron has such a sweet spirit and his testimony is growing strong. He loves to sing primary songs, his favourite is "I love to See the Temple" I can't believe we have been blessed to be his Mum and Dad and have the privilege of raising him.

Another Week Done and Dusted

Monday we had our finance appointment in the city. The GPS took us on a completely different route this time which was a million times easier. Ammon was hungry so I made him up a bottle to take in but then forgot to actually bring it from the car, and it was too awkward to nurse him so he complained, like I hadn't feed him for days or something. Lili stood looking out the high rise window singing "Let it Go" and Auron pretended he was Spiderman. Our mortgage broker applauded us for such well behaved children...

Aarahi and I have decided that Ammon is our cutest baby so far. We have concluded that this is simply because he is such an easy baby who sleeps and eats and rarely complains (unlike his siblings!) so we get to enjoy all his cuteness all of the time instead of being sleep deprived and frustrated.

Earlier this week I wrote a blog post on Ammon's blog about how he got his name if you wanted to read it. We usually send them out with a photo but life got too busy this time around. You can read it at www.ammon2015.blogspot.com.au/

On Friday I took the kids to a performance at the library, Auron loved it, but Lili wasn't having a bar of it and just sat next to me the whole time instead of up with Auron and the other kids. She was then upset that she didn''t get a sticker at the end. Later that day we went to do some shopping and get lunch. As soon as we sat down Ammon needed feeding, by the time he had finished Auron and Lili had finished eating too and Auron wanted to go to the toilet. I told him too bad, and I was going to eat my lunch first. That didn't last too long, as Ammon whacked my bowl of Laksa and we both ended up covered in soup. We cleaned up a bit, and went to the bathroom. I was going to go buy Ammon some new clothes because I'm unorganised and never carry a spare set. He fell asleep instead so I just chucked a blanket over him so no one could see my dirty child.  So all in all, it was a pretty normal day in my life.


No new photos this week but I thought we would do a little comparison of the kids at similar ages.

AURON

LILI-MEI

AMMON

Not a Little Baby Anymore

I'm not going to lie but I really don't enjoy the newborn stage much at all. Those first 2 months are tough but thankfully don't last forever! Ammon is now at that cute squidgy stage where he is just so ridiculously yummy and adorable I feel like I could have another dozen more. Just kidding, I think Aarahi would run away. Ammon smiles and babbles away, he's just started giggling too. Gosh I love that kid!

Mum, Nana and Grand-Graeme went home on Saturday, it was sad to see them leave but we had so much fun while they were here. Auron in particular is missing Nana lots. The first thing Lili asked for when she woke up was "when is Grand-Graeme coming?" Hopefully we might all make it back to NZ sometime this year. Lucky for us Nanny Kaye is heading over next month!

We went out on a date last week to the movies. There was nothing we were particularly excited to see but ended up watching Jupiter Ascending. It was pretty average BUT at the last minute we decided to upgrade to the flash cinema. I'm not sure if I can go back to normal now! We had the whole cinema to ourselves and lovely reclining chairs, it was bliss. I'm surprised we didn't fall asleep. After the movie we went out to some steak place for dinner which was pretty delicious. 

Today we are heading back into the city for more house stuff. I think we've been to the city more times in the last few months than we did all of last year! We also have a "colour appointment' next week where you pick all the different colours and components of the house. You can either pick for the pre-planned colour schemes (which we have) or do a custom paint. The thought of having to pick EVERY SINGLE COLOUR makes my head spin, especially since Aarahi and I have very different ideas. We do still have to pick all the door handles and taps and toilet roll holders etc. 

I have a big list of things I want to buy for our new house that I keep on my phone so I can pick things up when they go on sale. So far we have new sheets, pillows, and one of Tuk's paintings and some other cute prints for the kids rooms. We also have a new fridge, and lounge suite on the list but they may have to wait til we move in.