WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

Less than a month!

Here I am sitting at my laptop when I have so many other things I should be doing! Time is running out and I am beginning to feel the panic! But I wanted to share all the happenings with you…. my reader 🙂

On the 19th of August, Robin and I will be flying over to Wroclaw, Poland. My sister, her partner and her daughter are also coming with us. We are all going to my second son C2 and D2’s wedding! Now isn’t that something to get excited about! Checkout their wedding plans…

And even more exciting news…. Eldest son C1 and grand daughter G3 are coming to the wedding as well… from Sydney! G3 is going to be a little flower girl. And wait… there’s more… Youngest son C4 and daughter in law D3 are also coming from Sydney. Nearly a family reunion! I can’t wait!

After the wedding we will be travelling to Prague for three days and then onto Budapest. We are going on another ‘Insight Vacations’ tour! Yay! I am sooooo spoilt…..and don’t I know it! This time it is the tour called  ‘Treasures of the Balkans’. We travel from Budapest to Bucharest! I will be regularly putting posts on my blog and uploading photos when I can 🙂 Here is the tour…

capture_64
Treasures of the Balkans

and the details a little clearer…

capture_67
The Map!

And the day to day travel and sights to see…

Days 1 to 9
Days 1 to 9
Days 10 to 17
Days 10 to 17

Sorry the printing isn’t that easy to read 🙁 But do you think a wedding and a tour are enough to get excited about? Well there’s more!

At 10.52pm on the 21st of April little 3.3 kg G7 was born. Our third grand child to be born this year. G5 on the 4th of February, G6 on the 18th of March and then G7 on the 21st of April. Look at this gorgeous little girl…

Brand new Baby Sophie
Brand new Baby G7
A very alert little baby girl :-)
A very alert little baby girl 🙂
I love this photo of Sophie having a tub bath!
I love this photo of G7 having a tub bath!
One of my favourite photos. Sophie and her Daddy asleep together <3
One of my favourite photos. G7 and her Daddy asleep together <3

Now isn’t G7 a wonderful addition to our family! We now have seven grand children. Four girls and three boys! I have had quite a few cuddles with G5 and G6 but have yet to cuddle G7. Roll on August the 19th!

Now after the wedding and the tour, Robin, Judy, Len and Teresa are flying back to New Zealand via Hong Kong. I will be doing something very different. I will be flying to London. Yes London. I am going to be G7’s Nanny until Christmas time, when C2, D2, G7 and myself will be flying to Sydney to celebrate Christmas with family there. Robin and C6 will fly from New Zealand to join us (Joanna has to work).

So I am going to get plenty of G7 cuddles. Will be missing the other grand children cuddles and my other children/adults/husband/friends, but what an opportunity! I feel like I am the luckiest person alive…. and I am very thankful.

Watch out people… this blog is going to have so many updates over the next six months.

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

It’s a Pom Pom making day

Another wet day in the Naki! And another day to entertain the grandsons indoors. I taught grandaughter G3 how to make a Pom Pom the last time I was in Sydney, so thought that it was the perfect opportunity to teach the boys as well.

Pom Poms are really easy to make and are a great way of using up all your old balls of wool. Especially if you only have one ball left of a colour, or a batch, or there isn’t enough to make a whole garment.

If you’ve never made a Pom Pom before, here are the instructions…

Cut out two circles of cardboard with another circle cut out of the centre

20140713-172040-62440398.jpg

Put the two circles together and start winding the wool around and around.

20140713-172204-62524387.jpg

Keep adding more and more wool until the centre is full.

20140713-172309-62589951.jpg

Complete filling it up using a darning needle with a super large hole threated with the wool.

20140713-173612-63372021.jpg

Now the tricky part! You have to cut the Wool between the two circles just like the photo below

20140713-174006-63606942.jpg

Wind a piece of wool between the circles and tie it tight so it will hold all the cut wool together

20140713-174225-63745479.jpg

Rip off the cardboard circles and do a little trimming to neaten it up and voila! You now have a Pom Pom!

20140713-185512-68112480.jpg

Our Pom Pom was thrown around as a soft inside ball. Great entertainment for two active boys.

20140713-174614-63974611.jpg

And when the fun of a new Pom Pom had worn off Maisy the dog found it on the lounge floor. She was loving it! Tossing it around like it was made just for her! If I hadn’t rescued it I imagine it would have been destroyed in no time!

20140713-184900-67740634.jpg

All in all our Pom Pom making experience has been quite fun! G2 wanted to make another one straight away. He loved the idea of using a needle but I was happy with just one big Pom Pom for awhile. Perhaps we can make another the next wet day 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

Home Made Playdough

Well the school holidays are here again!

Yesterday I drove to Palmerston North to pick up our Grandsons G2 and G4. I love having these boys to stay! You only have to look through a few of my previous blog posts and you will see photos of previous holidays and details of our adventures. I have made a few plans for these holidays but today, their first day here, it is a cold, wet and windy day. So it’s inside entertainment! G2 also has a cough cold and is probably better off staying indoors and keeping warm. So first thing was a game of minecraft on the Play Station 3, and then it was break time. The boys know that Nana Pam doesn’t like them spending too long in front of the television or a computer screen! So, out came the saucepan and a batch of playdough was made for the next form of entertainment…..and they loved it 🙂 If you haven’t made playdough before I suggest you give it a try. It is so easy!

Here is the the recipe….

Stir all together

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of salt

1 cup water

1 tablespoon of oil

2 teaspoons of cream of tartar

and food colouring (any colour)

Then cook on medium heat, stirring all the time until the dough leaves the side of the pan. Tip it out onto  tray and when it cools a little, knead it all together. And then the fun begins!

Here are some photos of the boys and their playdough creations…

Our lovely new, soft, green playdough
Our lovely new, soft, green playdough
Who would like a slice of pizza?
Who would like a slice of pizza?
Shhhhh it's a bird nest with a bird in it and her eggs
Shhhhh it’s a bird nest with a bird in it and her eggs
Christian cutting up his playdough sausage for Jaydens pizza
G4 cutting up his playdough sausage for G2’s pizza
I can see....a snail!
I can see….a snail!
Our Master Chef!
Our Master Chef!
Preparing and planning the pizza toppings
Preparing and planning the pizza toppings

Lots of fun to be had! Playdough play lasted for about an hour and I think that is a pretty good return for the time invested in making it. And, the best part of all is that if you store your Playdough in an airtight plastic bag or container, it will last for a month or even longer.

The sun has come out to shine this afternoon so maybe we can get out on the trampoline or the bikes! But if it’s wet again in the next few days, I am sure we will be able to get our green playdough out again….even if it’s only for another hour of play 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

More than expected!

I have just had a wonderful eleven day holiday in Sydney compliments of Son C1 and his wife D1. Talk about being spoilt! It has been one of the best Mother’s day and birthday presents EVER!

But the extra special thing about this trip has been the opportunity of taking my 85 year old Mother with me. Mum has been wanting to come to Sydney and see family for ages and this time everything just worked out nicely.

In the eleven days I had many moments that I will treasure in my heart forever. The cuddles with our two month old little grandson, visiting eight year old grand daughter G3 at school and being shown all her school work for the year on display and being extra spoilt with gifts from amazing seventeen year old G1 (our eldest grandchild). I also had very special times with D1, and then C1 when he got home from his work trip to Florida. And in this holiday, we also had two precious evenings with Ben and Chloe. My mother/grandmother soul has been satisfied ….ahhhhhh

Mum sitting at Matthew's work desk
Mum sitting at C1’s work desk
Casey showing me one of her creations
G3 showing me one of her creations
Casey showing her baby brother Luke to her School friends
G3 showing her baby brother G6 to her School friends
Casey and me
G3 and me
Sam, Leeara and Casey
Sam, G1 and C3
Rebecca and Matthew
D1 and C1
Matthew and his Nana
C1 and his Nana
Batbaby!
Batbaby!
All attention on the cutest baby boy :-)
All attention on the cutest baby boy 🙂
Luke at two months old with Great Nana on the chair behind him
G6 at two months old with Great Nana on the chair behind him
Casey, Chloe, Ben Mum and Me
G3, D3, C4 Mum and Me
Out for tea together. Rebecca, Leeara, Luke, Sam and Casey
Out for tea together. D1, G1, G6, Sam and G3
Casey making a Beeswax candle
G3 making a Beeswax candle

I wasn’t sure how Mum was going to cope with the travelling and then all the extra activities we would do while in Sydney, but I was amazed with her. I know she got very tired at times and probably had some pain in her body, but she pushed herself and kept up all the time, determined to not be a bother and to also do everything we were doing. There were a few times that I had to remind her to get her walking stick out for safety reasons. These became cheerful reminders as Mum would say she was waiting for me to ask her where her stick was. But the last thing I wanted was to see Mum hurt herself and one fall could have been very bad!

At the St Ives Showground
At the St Ives Showground
Four Generations
Four Generations
Mum with her 'STICK' walking stick
Mum with her ‘STICK’ walking stick

We did have an extra  special moment on our flight from Auckland to New Plymouth (home). I will never forget it! We were watching a movie on my galaxy, both sharing one set of earplugs to listen. So we had to sit pretty close and listen carefully with one ear. The movie was a real tear jerker, and when the saddest moment came in the film, here was Mum and I, both moping up our tears. Mum commented about how alike we are at being moved emotionally at movies. During the mop up time I looked very closely at Mums hands. I held her hands momenterily and looked at how crooked her little fingers had become. I felt so sad! My mother’s hands had suffered from the years of hard work. Her hands had wrapped around each of her children with love many many times. Oh what stories they could tell. But here they are now all bent and wrinkled. They have served her well but they have aged and they now cause her pain. I realise that this is definitely the winter season of Mum’s life, and also realise that I am now heading into the Autumn season. How quickly life flies by! Am I ready for what happens during this winter season? No I am not! I don’t think I will ever be ready. I love my Mum and Dad so much.

IMG_7808
My Hand wrapped together with Mum’s hand
IMG_7801
Mum’s left hand
IMG_7802
Mum’s right hand. Look at her bent fingers, especially her index finger!

The sweetest thing I ever saw was when we arrived back at New Plymouth. Walking  to the car to go home I turn around and there is my Mum and Dad walking along each holding a handle of Mum’s carrybag. It was only 2.5kgs (I know because I weighed it), but Dad was helping her carry it. I guess he knows Mum’s crooked little fingers, and how painful they can be, way better than I do, after all they have now been married for 66 years. They are amazing!

I will keep that image locked in my brain forever. It was so sweet! This cute little old couple still showing their love for each other, sharing the load and both having wonderful smiles on their faces at the joy of being together again.

Celebrating 66 Years
Celebrating 66 Years

Yes I got way more than I expected from these eleven days!

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

And Grandbaby number two for 2014 arrives!

I am always amazed at pregnancies and birth. It is such a miraclulous event!  I always think of Psalm 139:1-16 when I hear of a new pregnancy. Have a look in the Bible at this scripture and see what you think?

Now I have just had the most amazing 20 days in Sydney! I arrived on the 10th of March and left again on the 30th, and in that time I became a Nana again to grandchild number 6. Master G6 arrived at 3:50 am on the 18th of March, weighing in at 8lb 11 oz, and with a thick crop of black hair!

Baby Luke surrounded by his adoring family, Dad Matthew, Mum Rebecca, and sisters Leeara and Casey
Baby G6 surrounded by his adoring family, Dad C1, Mum D1, and sisters G1 and G3

So I spent 8 days in Sydney waiting for labour to start, and helping D1 with the last minute preparations for having a new baby in the home; and then 12 days having lots of Nana cuddles with G6 and getting to know him a little, and also spending quality time with his two big sisters, and Mum and Dad. I also had my camera out ready to capture all the memory making moments! Here’s a sample of those precious moments…

Rebecca is so tiny...and look how big her tummy is. This photo was taken only a few days before the birth.
D1 is so tiny…and look how big her tummy is. This photo was taken only a few days before the birth.
We thought he was going to be born on the 16th...so we were prepared!
We thought he was going to be born on the 16th…so we were prepared!
And we took another photo of the 17th Just in case!
And we took another photo of the 17th Just in case!
But we didn't think Rebecca would last until the 18th....so we didn't take a photo with the number 18! This one will have to do!
But we didn’t think D1 would last until the 18th….so we didn’t take a photo with the number 18! This one will have to do!
Brand new baby Luke with his very proud Daddy :-)
Brand new baby G6 with his very proud Daddy 🙂
And the first photo of Luke with his Nana Pam....me!!!!
And the first photo of G6 with his Nana Pam….me!!!!

And from that first day of G6’s life after his birth…we managed to take heaps of photos. C1 reckons there are already more photos of G6 than he has of himself in his whole life… haha. But really, how can you not take so many photos of a very cute baby. And….such a good baby as well.

His first change into a night time stretch and grow. His big sisters are amazed by him :-)
His first change into a night time stretch and grow. His big sisters are amazed by him 🙂
And getting his first hairwash and bath by his Daddy, with help from his sisters Leeara and Casey :-)
And getting his first hairwash and bath by his Daddy, with help from his sisters G1 and G3 🙂

Now I tried to be helpful, and not be labeled as an interferring mother-in-law (D1 and I get along really well, so I don’t really fear that label at all….but I treasure our relationship, and certainly want to make sure we remain great friends …always). So I did what I went over to Sydney to do. To be helpful and make life easier for the new Mummy, and the family as a whole. I helped with the cooking, washing and transporting and anything else that needed to be done. I also had many swims and managed to crotchet a whole blanket, and cushion cover and finish a little knitted cardigan….all for G6 🙂 I hope that I was a blessing….I know that I was blessed 🙂

The first time I hung out Lukes clothes....such an emotional moment for me. I even made sure the pegs were all blue! Doesn't that clothes line just melt your heart!
The first time I hung out G6’s clothes….such an emotional moment for me. I even made sure the pegs were all blue! Doesn’t that clothes line just melt your heart!
And here he is laying on his new crocheted blanket that I made for him :-)
And here he is laying on his new crocheted blanket that I made for him 🙂
The look of satisfaction. Tummy full and sleeping peacefully :-)
The look of satisfaction. Tummy full and sleeping peacefully 🙂

And on the last full day of my holiday we went to get some family portraits taken. The photographer allowed me to take some photos from beside her. I imagine her photos are going to be spectacular, because even though my backgrounds aren’t perfect, the photos are amazing! I love them all!

A bare body photo of Luke at 11 days old :-)
A bare body photo of G6 at 11 days old 🙂
A Beautiful family portrait :-)
A Beautiful family portrait 🙂
A special moment between mother and son.
A special moment between mother and son.
Grand daughters Leeara and Casey with me....Nana Pam. The photographer also took a photo with Luke as well, but I have to wait to see that one!
Grand daughters G1 and G3 with me….Nana Pam. The photographer also took a photo with Luke as well, but I have to wait to see that one!

My son C1 has always been at ‘Star Wars’ fan. He has watched all the movies….many times. He has lots of Star Wars memorabilia. He has many collections of Star Wars collectors cards…and he can now say ‘Luke….I am your father’

Yes...One very happy Daddy to have a son after two beautiful daughters. His family is complete...or is it???
Yes…One very happy Daddy to have a son after two beautiful daughters. His family is complete…or is it???

Yes….2014 has been a great year so far. We have two new grand children to add to the fabulous four we already had. We also have another one due to be born in April. A little girl, and she will be born in London. I am guessing that that event will be my next post! And I can’t wait to meet her and share her with my world 🙂

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

The Best thing to Happen so far this year!

On the 4th of February beautiful little G5 joined our family. The most gorgeous little 6lb 15.8oz little baby girl. Born in Palmerston North hospital and sister to G2 andG4. Little daughter of my son C3. And we feel blessed….yes very blessed!

Have a look at this little cutie…

A beautiful moment! Daddy and daughter
A beautiful moment! Daddy and daughter
look at her face! So beautiful :-)
look at her face! So beautiful 🙂
nearly a smile here
nearly a smile here
immediately after birth
immediately after birth
not even an hour old :-)
not even an hour old 🙂
Introducing baby Ella to big brother Christian
Introducing baby G5 to big brother G4
Just looking Mum
Just looking Mum
Yes....she is loved!
Yes….she is loved!
Pretty in pink :-)
Pretty in pink 🙂
The whole family!
The whole family!
So little and loved!
So little and loved!
Introducing baby Ella to biggest brother Jayden :-)
Introducing baby G5 to biggest brother G2 🙂
He's pretty proud of her already
He’s pretty proud of her already
I'm going to keep her!
I’m going to keep her!
What little hands and fingers Ella has!
What little hands and fingers G5 has!

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

Te Manawa Museum

One day last week I picked G2 up after School and decided to give both him and G4 a treat. Now if you haven’t been to the Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North, New Zealand…you MUST go! Especially if you have young children. The museum is filled with interactive displays and it is so much fun watching the children explore and learn while playing.

All the ground floor is free entry so that is also a bonus to visit there. The first area you go to is the interactive house. It has a kitchen, lounge, bedroom/reading/dressing up area, and outdoor area consisting of a clothes line and a tree hut!

But the most favourite area is the scariest. If you walk into the wardrobe and through the hanging clothes a door magically opens at the back….and you enter into a dark secret passage. The door quickly closes behind you and you are left to explore/find your way out, using all the senses minus sight! And believe me it’s a bit creepy. You hear mice scuttling and things are hanging from the ceiling…and you even have to climb a bit! If you are very brave you can feel your way to the very end and find yourself up in the tree hut. If you get a bit worried you can find the escape door and end up in the bedroom and take a rest on one of the beds…or maybe read a book…or try out the dress up clothes.

In one of the rooms you learn how to do some plumbing. If you join the pipes correctly the water will start to run through the pipes. You can also fill up a bath with water and then pull the plug…learning not to waste water!

But my favourite part is the the outdoor area where the children can construct a big wall with the soft bricks that are provided. Talk about great entertainment for boys! They love it….even if we go there every holidays…they still love it.

There are the usual museum features as well and we did explore some of those areas but the real treat is all the interactive components of the place. Have a look at the photos and see what you think…

These are not really part of the interactive area of the museum, but the boys love climbing on them. Great for photos too I think :-)
These are not really part of the interactive area of the museum, but the boys love climbing on them. Great for photos too I think 🙂
Te Manawa - Jayden on W
Te Manawa – G2 on W
Te manawa - Christian in a
Te manawa – G4 on n
A mat and block in the entrance area. These are changed to different things regularly
A mat and block in the entrance area. These are changed to different things regularly
Here the boys are about to pull the wall apart so they can build it again
Here the boys are about to pull the wall apart so they can build it again
The block are loaded onto the ramp and then wound up to the top level
The block are loaded onto the ramp and then wound up to the top level
Or...the blocks can be loaded onto a pully and manouvered up and around to the wall area
Or…the blocks can be loaded onto a pully and manouvered up and around to the wall area
Christian building the wall ever so carefully. You don't want bricks falling down on you!
G4 building the wall ever so carefully. You don’t want bricks falling down on you!
Both boys hard at work!
Both boys hard at work!
Nearly finished Christian!
Nearly finished G4!
Jayden says 'would you like soup or a coffee Nana Pam'? I answer 'both please'
G2 says ‘would you like soup or a coffee Nana Pam’? I answer ‘both please’
He then brings me the cash register to pay for them!
He then brings me the cash register to pay for them!
Christian looking down at me from the tree house
G4 looking down at me from the tree house
You can enter through the tube that comes from the secret passageway, or by the stairs :-)
You can enter through the tube that comes from the secret passageway, or by the stairs 🙂
What do you find at different layers of the ground....look and see...I see bones
What do you find at different layers of the ground….look and see…I see bones
These bricks aren't heavy Nan Pam!
These bricks aren’t heavy Nan Pam!
Reaching up to the top of the wall :-)
Reaching up to the top of the wall 🙂
Boys LOVE using these things...just like big men!
Boys LOVE using these things…just like big men!
It's the last block in the wall! Yay...done :-)
It’s the last block in the wall! Yay…done 🙂
We fill the bath and then empty it...looking at how much water we use at the different levels!
We fill the bath and then empty it…looking at how much water we use at the different levels!
tic tac toe with pillows on the floor! What a cool idea :-)
tic tac toe with pillows on the floor! What a cool idea 🙂
you throw the balls up on the top of the cloud, pull the wire and the balls fall from the cloud like rain! How great is that?
you throw the balls up on the top of the cloud, pull the wire and the balls fall from the cloud like rain! How great is that?
learning about pipes!
learning about pipes!
I LOOOVVVEE this cute little caravan!
I LOOOVVVEE this cute little caravan!
Yes it's an old tractor!
Yes it’s an old tractor!
The Maori history part of the museum :-)
The Maori history part of the museum 🙂
Through the wardrobe and what do you find??????
Through the wardrobe and what do you find??????

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

The A-maize-ing Maze

Today I am suppose to be packing up and driving to Palmerston North. I will! But a bit later. I HAVE to share these photos from our adventures in the Maize Maze.

The boys had been staying with us for the weekend, hence the reason I have to drive to Palmerston North today, I have to take them home….anyway… yesterday, we decided to go to the Maize maze. We had been passed the place a few times, in fact every time I took the boys either to their home or to our place. And because it is well sign posted and Jayden can read, it has been the most asked for location to visit….and it was worth the visit.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky! We started off with a fabulous church service, lunch at home (corn on the cobb would you believe), and then we were off to the Maize Maze.

Two very excited boys!
Two very excited boys!
See Nana Pam...here is a sign behind us!
See Nana Pam…here is a sign behind us!
Yes there we are! We had so much fun :-)
Yes there we are! We had so much fun 🙂
Found a bit of shade to cool down a bit. Luckily Grandad brought a bottle of drink! Phew!
Found a bit of shade to cool down a bit. Luckily Grandad brought a bottle of drink! Phew!
Which way do we go?????
Which way do we go?????
Stop Christian! photo time :-)
Stop G4! photo time 🙂
Looking for the signs which are hidden in the maze. We had a worksheet to fill in and we HAD to find them all!
Looking for the signs which are hidden in the maze. We had a worksheet to fill in and we HAD to find them all!
All smiles at the beginning!
All smiles at the beginning!
The entrance to the Maze...and there are 2 paddocks to explore
The entrance to the Maze…and there are 2 paddocks to explore
Having a swing while Nana and Grandad pay to explore the Maze
Having a swing while Nana and Grandad pay to explore the Maze
Christian at the tyre maze...just beside the maize maze!
G4 at the tyre maze…just beside the maize maze!
Mount Egmont (Taranaki) without any snow! Our view as we travelled to the Maize maze :-)
Mount Egmont (Taranaki) without any snow! Our view as we travelled to the Maize maze 🙂

So as you can see it was a GREAT day. We all had so much fun, and finished the fun off with a swim in our pool as soon as we got home. These kind of days are the days that we will remember forever!

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

Wedding in Whangarei

All I can say is…’How refreshing!’

We have just arrived back home from a lovely weekend away. A weekend that has been planned for approximately six months. One of my best friend’s daughter had fallen in love with a lovely young man, and this weekend was their wedding, and we were invited. We had a little way to travel but it was worth it!

Our trip

Rebecca, the bride had just finished her second year of teachers training and still has one year of study left. Roland, the groom, had just completed his training to become a youth Pastor. So as you can imagine money is tight. But, they are very much in love and could see no reason to delay a wedding…they were committed to each other for life! Just look at the love in their eyes for each other!

IMG_8561

Now the wedding was definitely a wedding made on a tight budget, but in my opinion, it lacked nothing. It was a wedding full of meaning, joy, love and a real delight to experience. A very blessed event!

It was an open ceremony held in a local park. The setting was beautiful. A lovely arch was built as a background to the altar, and a wishing well for gifts to be deposited. Very sweet!

An amazing setting! Simply beautiful :-)

We were all invited to bring along a picnic and blanket for the reception. And everyone did just that. With joy and happiness and lots of laughter, we all sat around and ate our picnic tea together, with the bridal party sitting just along from us. It was perfect! The weather was warm and sunny, the surroundings picturesque, and the atmosphere delightful. You could just feel the support and love for both Rebecca and Roland. Everyone helped to make this day a delight to remember.

IMG_8848

And we had a reason to dress up and have a weekend away! It will certainly be a weekend to remember. I feel very blessed to have shared in the whole experience.

IMG_8821

Rebecca and Roland…I admire your decision to get married, and I also admire the fact that you didn’t waste money on lots of unnecessary trimmings. Your wedding day lacked nothing. It was a fabulous day and a very well thought out meaningful wedding ceremony. We were all able to contribute and help to make your day special, even if it was just by bringing along our own little picnic. Many people contributed one way or another and that’s the way it should be. Why get married and start the marriage with a huge debt that is caused by the wedding day. There was no alcohol, no loud music and no raised voices. The whole experience was simply lovely!

Yes….How refreshing!!

I LOVED it all xoxoxo

WordPress database error: [Table './wordpress/wp_users' is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed]
SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '1'

Cool T Shirts and get togethers!!!

Last school holidays I had the boys here to stay for a week. I met C3 and Stacie in Wanganui on a Tuesday and then a week later did the same thing again, picking the boys up the first week and dropping them off the second. We had a fabulous time at the park in Wanganui including a picnic lunch. The boys loved the playground! Each play area is based on a nursery rhyme or cartoon character and painted in bright colours. Best of all was the train ride!

 

IMG_5413
G4 sliding down Dino the Dinosaurs neck 🙂
IMG_5410
The Family with Fred and Barney
IMG_5367
On top of Jonah’s Whale 🙂
Love this! Dad and son!
Love this! Dad and son!
One happy Christian
One happy G4
Family on the train ride
Family on the train ride
On top of the Mountain
On top of the Mountain
Riding a dolphin
Riding a dolphin
Christian is climbing up the dinosaur steps.
G4 is climbing up the dinosaur steps.
whee down he goes
whee down he goes
So much fun to be had at this park!
So much fun to be had at this park!
We can do it!
We can do it!

The second week in Wanganui we had a big family get together celebrating Keelas 16th Birthday. Keela is my brothers grand daughter, daughter of Melissa. I haven’t seen Keela for years so it was a great opportunity to catch up with her….and what a beautiful young lady she is 🙂 It was also a chance to meet up with the newest addition to the family, baby Nash, Melissa’s baby…and Keela and Alex’s half brother.

Rodney, Joy and their family
Rodney, Joy and their family
Very proud great grand parents.
Very proud great grand parents.
16 Candles!!!
16 Candles!!!
Keela about to blow out her candles
Keela about to blow out her candles
A Happy moment
A Happy moment
Happy 16th Birthday Keela
Happy 16th Birthday Keela
Dad with his son Rodney, and with Rodney's son Jarrod, and with Melissa's son Nash. 4 generations.
Dad with his son Rodney, and with Rodney’s son Jarrod, and with Melissa’s son Nash. 4 generations.
Judy, Kerry and Jayden
Judy, Kerry and G2
Mum and Dad with Simon, Stacie and Christian
Mum and Dad with C3, Stacie and G4

 

Stacie with Jayden and Christian
Stacie with G2 and G4

I love trying to spend as much quality time with the boys while they are staying. This time we went to the beach, down to the river and walked along the walkway. Robin did something even more adventureous with them while I was at work. They climbed Paritutu! I don’t think I would have been game enough to do that with G4. His listening skills are not the best….and it is a very high and dangerous place to be if you don’t follow the rules! But….what an experience for them 🙂

 

The park at East End Beach
The park at East End Beach
The Park at East End
The Park at East End
If there's rocks....Christian has to climb them
If there’s rocks….G4 has to climb them
Building a big castle with wood
Building a big castle with wood
Yay for sand and water
Yay for sand and water
Jayden busy building
G2 busy building
Down at the river by Nana Pam's and Grandad Robin's
Down at the river by Nana Pam’s and Grandad Robin’s
Throwing stones into the river
Throwing stones into the river
The river was flowing faster than we thought it would be
The river was flowing faster than we thought it would be
Taking Maisy for a walk
Taking Maisy for a walk
Under the bridge on the walkway
Under the bridge on the walkway
Walk along Te Henui walkway
Walk along Te Henui walkway
Jayden enjoying the sand
G2 enjoying the sand
Yes....Christian gets wet!
Yes….G4 gets wet!
East end beach after tea
East end beach after tea
At the entrance to Paritutu Rock (Mountain...nearly)
At the entrance to Paritutu Rock (Mountain…nearly)
Christian on the merry go round! A celebration for being such a good boy :-)
G4 on the merry go round! A celebration for being such a good boy 🙂
Look behind!
Look behind!
Happy chappies...at the top!
Happy chappies…at the top!
It's getting very high now!
It’s getting very high now!
Holding on to the inside bank
Holding on to the inside bank
Starting the climb. Christian trying to tell Robin that he is the boss. Now Grandad Robin says 'Get down Christian!'
Starting the climb. G4 trying to tell Robin that he is the boss. Now Grandad Robin says ‘Get down G4!’

While the boys were staying I found some cool T Shirts for them to wear to church on the Sunday. I am amazed at the neat clothing out there for boys nowdays. There was nothing like them when my boys were young! I love them! What do you reckon? Do you think they are pretty cool?

Playing together so nicely!
Playing together so nicely!
Concentration!!!
Concentration!!!
So busy building
So busy building
Do you think Batman can go down the slide?
Do you think Batman can go down the slide?
How much fun to roll the ball down the slide...just need to get it up first!
How much fun to roll the ball down the slide…just need to get it up first!
Down Jayden goes
Down G2 goes
Jayden first and Christian follows
G2 first and G4 follows
So much fun on the trampoline
So much fun on the trampoline
IMG_5744
Just hanging Nana!
IMG_5746
I can hang too Nana!