Adventures on Tuesday

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It didn't seem like I was all that productive, especially since I wasn't feeling great on Monday and so went home early and foaled into work instead. I just couldn't sit there at my desk feeling the way I did. The constant interruptions and having to look normal when all I wanted to do was crawl under my desk and moan. I was better off horizontal, which was exactly what I did when I got home.

Tuesday was much better. I had a nice time not rushing getting out of bed and a gentle ease into the day. Kien and I both slept in. I needed that; no pressure for doing anything. When I finally got up I went out to the garden and tended to my worms. Bliss! I love my worm farms. Yes, that's plural. I have 2 types - a Hungry Bin and one of those standard multi tray farms. They are doing so well.

After visiting my folks Kien really wanted to climb a volcano. Actually, he specifically wanted to climb Rangitoto. We made a compromise and I took him to Mt St John instead. This is my old stomping ground. Whenever we did cross country in PE class we'd run around this place. It's so beautiful here, especially when the sun is shining.

We found honeysuckle and sucked the nectar out of the ends. We also sniffed a lot of different types of flowers that were rambling along the footpath heading to the car. Good times.

After going home for a little rest we decided to go to the beach. I checked the tides and it was on its way in - perfect for our local beach. Off we went to Sentinel beach.

He said he didn't want to swim, but as soon as I got into the water he wanted to come too, and even after I got out he still wanted to stay in.

Quintessential must do

Like I said on my Facebook post, this is the quintessential must do when the sun is shining. Ah, yes. I am lucky for my Tuesdays off, and particularly lucky that last Tuesday we had the most fabulous weather (which so far our summer has been rather sad). I was also looking after my friend from work's kids; luckily the kids and Kien are quite fond of each other. I wanted to go somewhere different so decided to take them to Coatsville to the Troost Family Strawberry Fields. This place is amazing. The family live on the premises, and the farm is pretty spectacular, with acres of strawberry fields dripping with big, red, juicy fruit. The kids each had their own container, and away they went.

Did someone say fast?

Fast. Wow, its gone fast. Time escapes me. Thats all I can say. It really does. How. Why. When. What? We are already towards the end of January already? Over Christmas and the new year break we've all been so sick so didn't manage to go anywhere. The one thing we did do though is go to the Demolition Derby at Waikaraka Speedway at the end of last year. A school friend of mine is here with her family all the way from Galway, Ireland, and she invited us out. Being a Demolition Derby virgin I had no idea what to expect. It was fun! Fun with a capital F. Far exceeded my expectations.

They had a jet car demonstration which was really cool, and really loud.

They also did one of the most amazing fireworks extravaganza; amazing possibly because we were so close and could feel the explosions going off.

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I've searched for one since I was his age. Kien didn't even look hard to spot one on January 2nd. Well since Kien belongs to me I'm claiming it to be mine, and the good luck that's supposed to come with finding one.

Seven

My baby boy is now SEVEN. His little face with his missing front tooth peered out at me from under the covers yesterday morning, smiling, excitedly asking, "is it really my birthday, today?". I nodded, and he was like, "SEVEN, I'm now seven!", as if it was the best age to be, ever! Then I looked at my Fitbit and told him that this time 7 years ago I was waiting for him to sleep, that his daddy had just driven us from the hospital to Birthcare, and he was lying in his cot looking at me with those enormous eyes, blinking, staring, not sleeping. The nurses checked in on us, one at a time, hour after hour, exclaiming how he should be asleep by now. Little did I realise this was going to be my life for the next few years! He giggled after I told my story, telling me it was very funny. Then he threw his arms around my neck and pulled my face close, squeezed tightly and gave me a kiss, and asked for the iPad.

He was a palaeontologist after breakfast, slowly chipping away with his hammer and chisel to dig out the bones buried in the clay brick. This kid has been interested in dinosaurs for as long as I can remember. He even wants to go London so he can visit the Natural History Museum - the one that David Attenborough's "Alive" documentary was filmed in, which uses CGI imagery to bring to life several of the extinct animal skeletons in the museum. He loves that doco.

We had his friend, Naotaka, (who shared their birthday party together a couple of weeks ago) over for the day. Both boys had such a good time. We broke out the water balloons.

After all the birthday gifts at their birthday party and Christmas presents I can safely say Kien was present-ed out, to the point where he didn't even expect/ask if we had got him something. We had, but I think I'll save that for another time.

Last night I asked him if he enjoyed his birthday. He said he did, very much. He loved the balloons, playing with his friend, and our house. He's said a few times that he loves living here, and that he doesn't miss the apartment anymore. He also told me that his favourite daddy is Daddy, I'm his favourite mummy, and Koala is his favourite best friend. And then he continued talking about all sorts of things (like he does every night) and asks me to explain why we dream, how our eyes work, why our heart is so important...and then I tell him to be quiet and go to sleep...and then he yabbers on under his breathe thinking I can't hear him until he passes out, eventually.

A merry little Christmas

I haven't been well, and if you asked Jef he would say he wore the brunt of all my frustrations over the last few days. But anyway, on Christmas eve we spent the day at home trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. Kien got into the stash of water balloons, and a lot of merriment was had with throwing them out windows and smashing them all over the place. Between Kien and Jef they blew up a heck of a lot of them too!

At nightfall we ventured up the street to see the Franklin Rd lights. After all, t'was the night before Christmas...

I was feeling so poorly by the time we got home but I had all of "Santa's" presents to wrap. I sent Jef off to put Kien to bed and got to it (after a couple more Aspirins). I've come to a conclusion that I could never be a professional parcel wrapper upperer! But finally I had everything set and done.

Christmas morning there was one very lucky, and very surprised little boy.

We try to keep reminding him of how very lucky he is. Especially after a second round of gifts at my folks place, and then a third round of gifts at Rod, Grandma Gun, and Karen's. Wow, I'm overwhelmed by how generous everyone is. I am so grateful, and feel very fortunate indeed. Merry Christmas.

It rained and we laughed

All week I was hoping for sunshine, or at least no rain for the previous Saturday (not last weekend). Birthday party preparations for the last 3 weeks with the other mother who was also helping me organise our boys' shared occasion together. We were expecting the sun to be out and all the kids to be running around out the back. But no, the weather forecast all week told us it was going to rain, and no matter how much hoping and wishing and praying we did it was no use. No matter, the party had to go ahead, so we texted all the parents on Thursday night to tell them to bring swimming gear.

The people from Bouncy Fun arrived at lunchtime on Saturday to put up the bouncy castle, and we hoped it would fit out the front. He said it wouldn't fit, and I was like, "please make it fit!". And guess what?

Our friends Anna and Joe came over early from Waiheke to help out with preparations. I talked them with balloons and house decorations while I decorated the cupcakes. The roses were supposed to be bright red, but I just couldn't get it red enough so I settled on bright pink instead. The night before I had spent the better part of my Friday evening making little eatable bees. 2 hours later I had completed 20 of them. It was my first time so I didn't have a system, but if I ever decide to make bees again I'll be so much faster.

When the kids started arriving I was wondering how we were going to survive 3 hours of kids being cooped up in our little house. But it was fairly obvious from the get go that they are at the age where they can pretty much entertain themselves. Some of them immediately got into their togs and bounced in the castle and got completely soaked. Jef opened up the spa pool and everyone was more than happy to get wet...except the 2 birthday boys. But that's okay, everyone had their own little group to play with and they were all happy, which made me happy. Jef was the bouncer at the gate to make sure we didn't have any escapees and everyone was safe.

We had a face painter organised to come over. Most of the kids got theirs painted.

Kien's teacher, Amandine, popped in to say hello. The kids were so excited to see her.

After the kids refuelled with party food we hung the piñata up for them to bash down. It was so funny when they were all chanting "SMASH IT, SMASH IT".

The triceratops piñata was so cute. Pity it had to be destroyed.

The kids all overdosed on lollies and piled into Kien's room to chill out, and that's how the parents found them when they came to pick their child up 3 hours after drop off. Before long the only 2 kids left were the two (pre)birthday boys.

I feel completely satisfied that we were able to pull it off and everyone enjoyed themselves (well I hope they did!). Naotaka's mum said she was very happy. It was his first birthday party ever where he's been able to have his friends celebrate with him. Like Kien, Naotaka's actual birthday is during the school holidays. I've promised Kien for almost 2 years now I'd organise a birthday party for him. Tick, I've delivered.