Lissy and Ellie get in the Christmas spirit!!

Today was a bit of a slower start with a bit of a sleep in and then down to the Club for a $7 breakfast. Very nice. Then home and into the garden and realising it was such a beautiful day decided that the girls needed a bath so in they went - and came out smelling like roses and acting like spring lambs.

Thought Liv and Adam might like to see the girls with a bit of Christmas in the background, it took a while and a few "stay!" s but we did it in the end.

They are both really well and enjoying life, Lissy is getting whiter by the month but still races around the yard like a mad thing! barking and carrying on while Ellie gallops along in front.

And here's one of Liss by herself, sitting on her pretty pink mat. She's such a girl!

As promised, here is the heavy laden branch on the Christmas tree that Ethan really enjoyed decorating, there's 3 balls, 2 snowmen, 3 gold stars, a yellow felt star, a pine cone, a silver bell and morethat i can't quite make out.

It is so lovely to see the tree and see all the lower branches obviously decorated by one small boy! One of our best trees ever!!

Time to put up the Christmas tree

Today Nan and Garg had a very busy day with an early start to the Fire Station and The Club respectively. Then it was out to the Farm to catch up with Carly and Russell while they were in town briefly before flying back to Auckland. Ethan then came home with us with the promise of Christmas tree decorating in store!
He really got in to it, he was very patient while Nan put up the lights and then we got into the fun part. He just loved it and chose all his own decorations and needed the story behind each one! Mummy made this one, Aunty Vie did this, Carly and Nahoko made these stars!!! It was a very special time for both of us....

As it turns out (and I didn't realise at the time) Ethan had a special penchant for one particular spot on the Christmas tree and I later realised and took a photo of one little branch with about 10 different decorations on it - here he is in the act of putting yet another one on! See tomorrow's update for the photo....

Had to take a photo of the pair of us to prove we did it!

Ta Da!!! The finished article - now we just have to hang the santa lights and set up the train and we're done... So we popped down to the Club to see Garg and have a lemonade. Then it was off to the Warehouse to buy the hooks for the Santa lights and while we were there Ethan spotted a Christmas hat that has red flashing lights - at $1.99 it was a must have!

So time for a bit of macaroni cheese for dinner and wait till mummy and daddy come to pick me up and survey our handy work.

Here's Mummy and Daddy in front of the tree, they think it looks great and daddy has said I can do the one at home next weekend ... yay, I'm quite the expert.

Wellington Rural Fire goes to Pauatahanui pre-school

Well, having a firefighting Nana has to mean some exciting treats for a 4 year old. Nan has been promising to take a fire engine to pre-school for a while and so last week on Thursday 27th Nov it was a lovely day and Colin (The Controller) and Les (Nan) rolled up.....
The kids were pretty excited and seated themselves (with the teachers instructions) under a beautiful big tree! Ethan was very keen to show the kids how it is done - he was so proud to know what to do and even had his fire uniform on to prove it!
Of course being the man of the day Ethan got to go first and expertly hit the cones with the water .....

and over they went! Just like that....

Very soon the numbers had swelled to include several of the younger classes and even a few older ones..... Never mind with 3,000 litres of water on board there was plenty for all to have a turn!

In fact there was even enough for one small boy to have a second turn - a bit naughty of Nana but we wanted some front-on photos!

And he did so enjoy it. It's so neat to be able to spend time doing fun stuff with your grandchild! Every grandparent should be so lucky - and every grandchild as well!

I can't quite believe how many children ended up watching and having a turn - it's great to be able to go to your community and do this sort of thing. And the kids and teachers were so appreciative. A great day!

Of course no trip from the fire trucks is any good without a chance to climb on board and have a drive!! Doesn't he look the part!

Then a final fire safety talk, stop, drop and roll! And remember if you get caught in a fire get down on your knees and crawl to the door!

It was a fantastic day - and a bit of fun for all concerned.....

Staying Over at Nan and Gargs!

Well tonight might just be the night. Ethan has been trying to stay at Nan and Gargs for quite a long time and he is very sure that he's going to do it tonight. So the night started off with Hot Dog and chips....
Then it was time to get out the Christmas decorations, Ethan just loves going to Yoka's house to see all the amazing Christmas lights and toys, Nan's doesn't quite measure up for variety, but he is a very easy wee chap to please and he sat for ages watching the train going around...

Last time he was at Nan's we went on line and ordered a musical Christmas Tree and two windowsill Santas so we are gradually building up the supply!

Well.... we made it through the night!! Can't say we SLEPT through the night, it was a rather restless one, but we got there with no tears and no asking to go to the farm YAY!!! So after sunny yellow eggs for breakfast it was a few games with Garg. Every boy needs a Garg like Ethan has, patient and kind and willing to crawl around the floor playing..... While the boys were playing Nan was asked to make some piklets for when Mummy came for the pick up! Nan learnt a few lessons from "Old Nana" which is what Ethan calls Nana Belcher in Auckland. Old Nana made really good piklets and used to always make special ones for the children - I have become my mother!

A visit to Nan and Gargs

After an email warning on Friday night that we might get an early morning phone call from Ethan we were prepared. About 8.15am it came... Hi Garg, I'm coming to your place, I'm coming for pancakes and I'll bring the lemons!!! So a quick shower and get dressed and we were ready.

After breakfast it was outside to do some pruning and after a wee bit of instruction ...

And a few directions.....

He's got the idea! A good few branches got trimmed and the boys enjoyed their time outside. Nan was also doing a bit of gardening and then it was time to go inside for some food. one of the things that Nan and garg have to have in the cupboard is noodles... hardly nutritious but a bit of a favourite and nice and easy so noodles it is!

Then after all that hard work it's time to sit and watch a DVD and eat my noodles. We had a lovely few hours and Mum and Dad had a chance to do a few things while Ethan was out and about.

An afternoon in the Dark Forest

Well after being at Nan and Garg's for an hour or so, Ethan declared that he'd like to go in the Dark Forest! Our term for the walk up Mt KauKau at the back of Johnsonville. Nan thought we might have a nice wee picnic afternoon tea in the park about 100 metres up the track and duly packed up some goodies. NO! Nan we need to go to the tunnel - a good keen climb of 186 steps and then some... so off we go. Ethan walking under his own steam with a few hand ups on the larger steps!
We sucessfully arrived at the tunnel and did a bit of an explore then off we go up to the top....

Well what we (loosley) term the top! One day I'll be brave enough to actually take him to the top but that might add somewhat to any future climbs..

Of course at the top we stop for a look at the scenery and our afternoon tea.

Creamed rice, grapes, banana, twisties, chocky biscuit, water and juice... yum! You can see that we are quite a way up, a good climb for a wee man, he's been climbing this since he was two, and Nan carried him up well before that - so a favourite outing of ours.

Smile for the camera ... CHEESE! Ethan is more than happy to oblige with a grin.

After a well deserved break it's time for the return journey, slightly easier and Ethan is happy to negotiate most of it without too much help from Nan.It's also a good chance to take in the view. Ellie loves this trip as much as Ethan and Nan. Lissie had to stay home, it's just too much to keep an eye on the two dogs and the lad all together. What... another photo? C-H-E-E-E-S-E!

C'mon Nan lets get down these steps... A man with a real mission heading down to see Garg. Hopefully he'll come and meet us on the way down.....

Yay, we're getting there, and I'm coming first!

YES! Here's my Garg, he did come to meet us. The wee legs had decided they were a bit tired and Nan had done a bit of a carry so Garg was a very welcome sight indeed.

So it was off back to Nan and Garg's where we dug out the scooter and start scooting around.

Rhys from next door called out and the boys spent a good hour and a half have very friendly races and winning the imaginary Piston Cup! Nan wasn't sure where this came from but Aunty Carly tells me it comes from CARS the movie! Anyway, they both had a ball and the Piston Cup was awarded many times.

A great afternoon, though at 5pm when Mum and Dad arrived Ethan was very happy to jump in the car and head home... And Nan and Garg sat down and had a rest!!! How lucky we are to have such an adorable young man in the family.

Pauatahanui Lamb and Calf Day

After fighting with the 1000's of other drivers to find a car park, we arrived at the Pauatahanui School with half of Wellington. I can see why it is such a fantastic fundraiser - it was packed. Nan and Garg managed to find Dee quite easily, at the Pre-School's cookbook stall looking very countrified!
Having been told that Ethan was off having his face painted with his Dad off we went in search of the lads.... Finally after another visit to Mum to determine what outfit we might be looking for we located the boys at the bouncy castle!
Ethan was very keen to exit the bouncy castle to see his Nan and Garg but we managed to convince him to show us a few tricks to get his $2 worth.

Then it was off to the 1/2 hour queue to have a Merry-go-round, talk about popular with every child at the fair. But Ethan was very patient and stood watching as all the other kids in line had their turn. Luckily his choice of the light coloured pony was available when it came his turn!

In just about every group of kids that had their turn one of the poor wee darlings decided all the excitement was too much and the rides had to be stopped to avoid a fast exit onto the ground by one go-rounder who wasn't as brave as they thought. No so Ethan has was smiles all around!

Then it was back to Mum to inform her that "I'm going to Nan and Gargs, I'll see you later".
As the major fundraiser for the schooll and pre-school it is a fantastic event, with everything from jumble sales, cakestall, pet lamb judging and sheep shearing. There was also a coconut shy and pop the balloon with a dart.

For some stupid reason Nan decided Ethan might like to try his hand at dart throwing! ..... NOT a good idea, first we had to queue for about 20 minutes and then it was .... arm this child with a deadly weapon and let him loose!!! Well not quite, but at 4 years old the technique was to grab the dart by the shaft and chuck it at full force forward! No thought about which direction forward might be... so after 3 shots Nan said "thanks heaps" to the man managing the stall and made for a quick exit... OH NO!! have another shot young man, you get 4 for $1 so we can't let him miss out.

I have to say, I was just glad we didn't injure ourselves or any other unsuspecting fair goer! But as we walked away Ethan said "That was good fun Nan! I really liked that!" So I guess we have to let our littlies experience some things even if it scares the living daylight out of us!