HOME AND BACK TO NORMAL

So sometime today Bex and the boys are heading home.

We can't thank Bex enough for taking such good care of the kids and our home for us.  She has just had a taste of things to come (more kids)! lol

I was so impressed to arrive home to an immaculate home, well fed kids, dinner on the table, and no washing to be done!  *smiles*

Not to forget Steve, who drove down and attended a special meeting he had called at Griffin's school.  Griffin was being bullied, and Steve sorted it out for us in our absence.

We hope that issue will die down now and Griffin can carry on at his school without any more problems.

I will be spending this morning getting our personal washing done, then just relaxing probably.  We have had some really tiring days away... but we thoroughly enjoyed our time away.

Here's a few photos of the stuff we got while away, not much this trip away!

 ABOVE:  We got Brylee her first make up... just the basics but a good start for her.  She SQUEALED with delight!  That made me smile.  Now I have to show her how to apply it.

 ABOVE:  we got Griffin an 'adult' watch, something he wanted.

Both big kids got a special gift as a 'Thank You' for helping Bex with the little kids and doing jobs for her too.

AND they are just lovely kids, 'almost' all the time. *smiles*

 ABOVE: Poor Bex just got some wool!  lol

 ABOVE:  I found these wooden things in a random shop in Wellsford.  Perfect for holding almost empty bottles upside down, so you can drain the last of the contents out.  Rather nifty!

 ABOVE: I fell in love with this pottery Tuatara in a shop in Paihia.  

 ABOVE: Some cute fabric, to make a bag... from Whangarei.  The only fabric I bought the entire trip away!

 ABOVE:  I ummmm.... added to my melamine tray collection!  I think these four make my total over 40?  I really must add them up... later.

ABOVE:  This was the first thing I bought on our trip up north.  It's already in the garden.

OK... I'm off to get my washing on and make a start on our day.

ONWARD...

Awesome!  Bex kept the little kids down the other end of the house this morning, so Stew and I got to lie in bed late again.  Love it.

I took a wander outside:

 ABOVE:  Stew adjusting the wind whirlygig... it was a bit twisted up.

 ABOVE:  The new flower feature... isn't it pretty?

 ABOVE:  Seriously???  Still got strawberries growing!

I counted my melamine trays...

 ABOVE:  I have.... 48 PLUS one in the garage that Coco uses.    
I also have over half a dozen larger ones, but let's only count these ones eh?  *smiles*

ABOVE:  These two new ones are my new favourites.  The shell one... *drool*.
  
This lot has taken about 10 years to collect, I don't buy every one I have ever seen, just ones that I like ... or are dead cheap in an op shop.
edit:  feeling cheeky... if ya ever see one ya know I'd love... feel free to send it to me!  

 ABOVE:  Apparently I missed including the lipstick in the photo!  So... a new photo was insisted upon by Miss Brylee!

ABOVE:  Not much.. but OMG it sure added up!  She can buy her own from now on  *smiles*

So.... looking at my trays and Oops!  I see we now have two Cape Reinga trays, don't know how that happened.  I bought one in Paihia the other day without realising we already had one obviously.
I've got a few other double ups, but that's OK.

I've spent the afternoon tidying up paperwork, trying to get a system going where I don't end up with papers here, there and bloody everywhere!  I'm sick of it piling up on me coffee tables and computer desk in the family room.  *sigh*

Apart from that, I have been trying to catch up on some of my taped TV programmes.  
Bex and the boys left after lunch, so the noise levels have gone down, *smiles*.

Stew had to pop into Hamilton to do some business for a family member, then he took Griffin out to a local business, with the hope they will give him a part time job on the weekends.

He is looking for work experience in the building sector... so fingers crossed he gets a job soon.

Time to sign off for the day... it's been a nice day at home.