TEENAGERS TIME

Today Stew is going to take the teenagers to the movies.

I'm going to stay home with Bex and the 3 smaller kids.

If I can, I hope to start sewing the blocks together that I cut out a couple of days ago.

This time I hope the fabric seams are not too thick and stitch together easier.  I will be mega pissed if it still doesn't work.

So, it's going to be a fairly quiet day.

The only photo I have for today (so far) is of April and her baby boy (as yet un-named):

ABOVE:  They are both doing so well.. it's lovely to see.  I will be sad when the live feed stops and I can no longer watch them.

Sheesh, I might have to go out to the Hamilton Zoo more often just to look at OUR giraffes... and of course the Rhinos.

Cos I really love rhinos too.

ONWARD...

Oh wow, forgot to come back and update till now.
So.. I have managed to sew up one and a half rows of the rag quilt, and ... the thick seams can be sewn together!  I'm so relieved.
Now I can get on with joining all the blocks and get it done.  I'm hoping to have it finished by the end of the weekend!

THEN I have to get on with making the photo boards for my Mum's party.

Stew and the kids really enjoyed the movie they went to see, The Fate of the Furious.
They got home just in time for dinner.
Sausaged on the BBQ with onions 'n' cheese on bread.  Nice and simple tonight.

LEAVE IT IN THE PAST

I choose to live in the NOW... not to dwell on the past if I can help it.  I choose to no longer get involved in other people's arguments.  I refuse to get dragged into them either.  So LEAVE ME ALONE UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO BE NICE.  Cos I like NICE.  I like happy.  

CHOOSING HAPPINESS.

I just found out Steve is coming down to do a job in Hamilton for two days... so he and his family are going to be here for the next few days!  

That is not FAVORING him, it's being a good mother/grandmother.  We have an OPEN DOOR to all our kids, and those that CHOOSE to visit, keep in touch and care about us, use that door!

Just saying... in light of recent conversations.

THE GATE:  
It took me 3 hours last night to paint it.
Stew thinks it's pretty cool... so I must have done an OK job of it.

Here it is:

ABOVE:  Because it was taken at night (the photo), you can't really compare the colours of the gate to the painting accurately.  It is actually a pretty good match.
I like it, it makes me smile.  edit:  I've taken a new photo of the gate (above) in the daylight.  It shows the colours better now.

Right... not sure what our plans are for the morning yet.  I'm sure we will come up with something!

ONWARD...

Thank you so much for all the lovely positive comments about my gate!


I did the gate 'free hand', I just kept looking at the painting on the wall for guidance.  The fact that Stew was impressed made the effort worth it!  He is fairly hard to impress!

ABOVE:  a bit of the detail.  Not flash!  But it still looks great in my opinion.

WORTH NOTING:  There is NO BLUE !!! Brylee kept saying put some blue in it... but nope.  There ain't no blue in the painting... so no blue on the gate. 

4.35 pm:  And we went into Hamilton for lunch then did some shopping.  I'm not going to say what we bought till it arrives!  That will take 4 months!
Something we didn't actually NEED, but something we wanted.  Will make life easier for me if nothing else.

Home now and Bex and the boys have arrived.  The gate has been slammed a few times already... so I've had to yell at Archer!  Little bugger.

Well... it's been a nice evening.  Dinner was yum, chicken steaks and veges.  I'm now watching Coronation Street so am quite happy!  *smiles*

PAINTING... VISITORS... KEERA

This morning I will be working on painting the lounge 'gate', and then the walls that have been fixed.

Knowing my luck, I will get carried away and end up painting way, way more than I anticipated.  Cos sure as eggs you will be able to tell what has and hasn't been painted.  

ABOVE:  This will be the first thing to get painted.  I'm going to put a top coat on, the same colour as our walls, then add some colour details.  No idea what sort of details yet.

Lunchtime today we are expecting my friend Tracy and her daughter Siobhan from Auckland for a visit.  That's going to be lovely!  

After lunch Keera has a dental appointment.  I don't know if she has ever been to the dental clinic before?  Hopefully she gets a clean bill of health.

Then, later on this afternoon she is going to the Dr for her arm to be checked.  She is using it again, but does not have a full range of use.  So, better to get it checked out for peace of mind.

And that is all I have for now! Fairly dull post today sorry, couldn't even find an interesting photo!

ONWARD...

12.00 midday:  we have had a mini working bee in the house this morning.  Everyone got on with a job or two, and I finished spray painting the gate, and the back wall of the garage.

Later on today I will roll paint on the walls.  Then I will do some hand painting on the gate.

Now waiting for our visitors to arrive for lunch.

ABOVE: Stew got me some lovely flowers (left) then Tracy arrived with some more! (right).
I feel right spoilt.
So, we had a lovely visit with Tracy and her daughter, lunch was nice too.

After lunch the girls took off to Tirau for a look around the shops, and I took Keera to the Dental Clinic.

She got a clean bill of health, and also at the Doctors.  She is using her arm more and more, so I'm relieved.

I also went to Resene and got some test paint pots to paint the gate.  Fingers crossed my idea works and it doesn't look yuk once finished.
I shall be waiting till Miss 4 has gone to bed before painting it though... she's a 'touch it' sorta kid.

The gate is done.  It took me 3 hours, and we are all rather pleased with it.
Of course, you will have to wait till tomorrow to see it!
Off to bed very soon.

DENTIST... ARM... PAINTING... AND STUFF

Today Griffin sees a new dentist here in Cambridge for his sore tooth.
Hopefully they can sort it out, and ACC still covers the costs!

I'm picking he will need another root canal, but as he has pain?  Maybe not?  Fingers crossed.

Because Keera started using her arm a bit yesterday afternoon, I'm hoping she wakes up today and it's on the improve, thereby meaning we don't have to take another trip to the hospital.  Time will tell on that score.

I'm going to make a start on this job:

ABOVE:  Painting that gate... and once the gibstop stuff is 100% dry, I will put on the primer, then paint those areas too.
I'm SO tempted to paint that gate multi colours!  LOL... to match the cushions and paintings.  DARE I?  Or would it be too much?
LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHAT I DO!

Stew watched me struggling to shut the kitchen windows recently.  In order to reach the latches to pull them closed, I have to literally get on the kitchen bench, or go outside and push them in from outside.

So he went out yesterday and came home with this:

 ABOVE:  I don't know what it's 'correct' name is, but it is a 'picker upper thingee'!  lol

 ABOVE:  I can use it to close those windows AND...

 ABOVE:  AND... open and close the curtains without having to climb on the sofas to reach them!  I love that!!!

Oh, and I can use it to pick crap up off the floor without having to bend down too... which will be awesome for my back.   

I think that thingee is going to be one of my best friends. *smiles*

Best thing?  It was bloody cheap... so if I kill it in 3 months, it can be easily replaced. 
I probably won't kill it though.

ABOVE: The darling, darling little baby boy giraffe.  He's now 2 and a half days old, and doing very well.  I'm NOT watching the live feed as often now he's here, but I still keep half an eye on them.
He's too cute to ignore!

As it's school holidays, the kids are home from school and kindy for the next two weeks.  Stew has taken this week off work too... so lots of family time for us. 

ONWARD...

2.00 pm:  Well.. Griffin has an infected tooth... the one beside the one that's had a root canal already.
So, he's on anitbiotics for 5 days, then he goes goes back next Monday for clearing out the gunk, then in 4 weeks he will have another root canal done.

I went out and bought some primer and have put in to the walls, and I've sprayed it on the gate.  Well... it's half done, waiting for one side to dry before doing the other side.
It's a process.

I also sprayed the back garage wall where there were filled in holes too.  Spraying is so friggin easy!

Pity I can't do that inside on the walls.

The rest of the afternoon/evening has been spent getting dinner (chicken/bacon/mushroom casserole) and falling sleep in front of the TV!

I'm freakin' tired!  Could be cos I stayed up till almost 2.30 am last night eh?  Derrrr.
Sometimes I just don't realise the time.

Not so tonight, I'm going to bed 'early', like no later than 11 pm.

ODD JOBS AROUND THE HOUSE

Today we are going to be doing a few odd jobs around the house.

Well.. Steve is!

He's going to repair a few minor holes in walls, caused by taking down existing shelves, gates and so on.

He's also hanging a gate back at the lounge doorway, to keep dogs out of there.

Once the gibstop stuff is set we will sand it and then I can paint.

I've not done any painting in this house!  Novel thought... painting!

Gawd I seem to end up re-painting every house we have ever owned!

At least this house doesn't need the outside to be painted!  It's brick.  Thank god.

I shall apologise in advance for the next photo collage...but I just couldn't help myself:

ABOVE:  It's Steve to a 'T'...he's always being grubby to poor Bex!

ABOVE:  One way to get the ball off the roof I suppose.

 ABOVE:  I made Keera a pretty pink, velvet sling last night.  She's still not using her arm.  I think we will have to take her back to the Dr for a full arm x-ray... the hospital only x-ray'd her forearm on Saturday night.

 ABOVE:  Bex baked us Banana/Feijoa cakes yesterday.  There's only one left now.  Of course.  *smiles*

Time to get moving...

ONWARD...

It's a lovely, busy family day here. People are playing, yakking, baking, fixing walls, dodging showers, frizbee throwing, sewing!, and much more. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE days like this.

Russell and Ange popped out again too. So yep... nice ... no stress or tension.  

AND THAT WAS IN REFERENCE to no drama happening today like Keera ending up in hospital.  Don't read my blog and jump to conclusions, or try and twist shit around to suit yourself, because THAT causes stress and tension.

ABOVE:  I have spent most of today cutting out fabric for the back of this quilt/throw.  I'm hoping it will now be reversible... cos the fabric on the back is really nice too!

Now I have to start sewing it all ... OMG I hope the seams are not too thick this time.  There will be screams of frustration if they are!

Archie got hit in the head with the frizbee, so I held him and rocked him... and he went to sleep!  Awwwww ... so precious.  Now he's in his cot asleep.

Bex and Dante have gone to visit a friend in the area, so it's fairly quiet here right now!

Steve has finished putting gibstop on the walls... yaaa.  Tomorrow I will be able to prim and paint them all going well.

KEERA'S ARM:  We have observed some use of the arm this afternoon.  No massive movement, but movement that suggests maybe nothing is broken.  Time will tell... it's another day tomorrow.

Winding down for the day now.  Steve, Bex and the boys are heading home shortly, hopefully they don't hit too much traffic!  But they probably will.  

BABY! BABY! BABY!

3.30 am, Easter Sunday morning:

April had her baby at 1.50 am Easter Sunday NEW ZEALAND TIME!!!

It was 9.50 am Easter Saturday morning in Harpursville, New York State, USA.

I was so lucky to get to watch it from the very start to the very finish.

I was lucky because at 7 pm last night Keera fell over and landed on her right arm akwardly, and she screamed and cried so bad I took her to hospital!

We were there for only 3 hours, which was amazing for a Saturday night.  They took her in straight away, she had an x-ray after about an hour and they said nothing was broken, so we got to come home again... JUST in time for me to see the whole baby birth.

LUCKY!!!!

It was awesome to watch... April did an amazing job.  Baby was born and up and walking around within an hour.  So special.

 ABOVE: I watched the birth 'live' on YouTube, and also on their Facebook video feed... which was actually about 30 seconds ahead of the YouTube feed.

 ABOVE:  Baby standing up for the FIRST TIME EVER.  It was so magical to watch.

ABOVE:  Baby having his/her first feed, after only an hour and 20 minutes from being born.  So cute, baby even wagged it's tail, just like a baby lamb when it feeds!

So, after watching the birth, and the first couple of hours of baby's life, I decided it was time for me to get to bed.

It's almost 3.30 am here on Sunday morning.

Keera woke up about an hour ago crying about her arm, so I'm thinking it's going to be a trying day once she gets up in the morning.  She will have to be careful of her arm as it's most likely quite sore and bruised.

Poor kid, but accidents happen all the time.

When I get up later on this morning, I will share more photos I took of yesterday (here).

But for now... off to bed for ME!

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  From Animal Adventure Park's Facebook page, around 3.40 am our time.  
And NOW I will go to bed!

10.11 am:  And I'm up!  Bex has done the kid thing and looked after Keera for us while we slept in.
Awesome. 

Keera is not a happy kid.  I have to wonder if they x-rayed the right area of her arm, cos she's miserable.  If she doesn't start using her arm by tomorrow I'm taking her back.  

Difficult to know with kids... she could just be milking it... or being a drama queen.  That's been known to happen! lol

We will just keep an eye on her and see what eventuates.
Meantime, I might just have some brunch then cut out that sheet.

Photos from yesterday:

 NOT SURE ABOUT YOU UNCLE RUSSELL

YEP, MIGHT JUST CRY NOW

LATER ON... THEY GOT ON JUST FINE *SMILES*

 EGGS, EGGS, EGGS...

 BEAUTIFUL BOY

 GIRLS PLAYING UNDER THE TABLE

 THERE IS A RUSSELL UNDER THERE SOMEWHERE!

 THE EGG HUNT WORKED WELL IN THE HALLWAY!  

 PLAYING IN BETWEEN THE SHOWERS... AT DUSK

 RUSSELL WENT OVER THE FENCE TO RETRIEVE THE BALL... AND FELL BACK OVER.

HOPE THE HEDGE SURVIVES!

BOYS... BEING QUIET!

Well... yesterday was very busy... lots going on.  Drama and tension... which is par for the course around here.

I think family gatherings will be off the 'menu' for a very long time now.

Juggling personalities/attitudes and grudges, jealousies and so on is just too bloody hard, and I'm no longer prepared to be piggy in the bloody middle.

Leaving all that in the past now... and going to move on and not allow it to get under my skin any more.

Lunchtime here... Keera's over tired and overwrought... gone to bed.  Quiet time.

Steve is nearly finished his job up the road and will be home soon.

No idea what they all want to do this afternoon.  I'm tired and will probably just blob out on my chair... or cut out that sheet!

Yep, that's an idea.

6.35 pm:  Spent a good couple of hours cutting out fabric this afternoon, before exiting ... stage right.
Done enough for today.

We had Pizza for dinner, no one felt like cooking, certainly not me.
I only got a few hours sleep last night and am knackered... Broadchurch is on tonight, hope I can keep my eyes open to watch it.

Signing off now.  Hoping nothing else happens for the day!

EGG HUNT... FAMILY TIME

Today we have more family arriving for lunch, and after that the little kids will be having an Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard.

Should be fun.

But, before that, I'm dashing into Spotlight to buy some flannelet for my polar fleece rag rug.
I've decided not to use 'proper' cotton patchwork fabric.  It would be a bit of a waste using expensive fabric for the middle of the rug!

APRIL: That bloody giraffe is STILL pregnant!  Archer sits on my knee and says "April... Baby... Yum yum"... cos she chews her cud and he thinks she's eating.  He's so bloody cute.
I can't believe she has still not had her baby.  Imagine if she's still pregnant in another month!!!     

I think that's all for now... off to start the day.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  The egg hunt will have to be inside today!  It's been raining steadily most of the morning.  
But that's fine.. I have an extra long hallway, so will be hiding eggs there instead.

ABOVE:  Griffin getting rudely urged to get out of bed.  It was either the little kids got him up, or I used a cup of cold water over his head.  He wisely chose the little kids.  *smiles*
Shit it's been AGES since I tipped water over a kid's head!

I was going into Spotlight for flanelette, until Bex suggested I use an old sheet!  Score!  No wasted time going into Hamilton, and no expense.  Rather happy she thought of that for me.

Steve is working today.. even though it's raining.

APRIL:  Is acting different.   Just saying.  She might be joking.  But ya never know....

The kids are mocking me about April.  I don't care. No really, I don't.  I want to see her have her baby.  If that is today, or in another month.  I will be watching.

Stew is cooking dinner tonight. Sausages, mashed potatoes and coleslaw.
We have a full house for dinner.

Us. Steve and his family.  Kelly and Rena and Russ and Ange.

Evening is winding down... not quite as expected. Will fill you in tomorrow.

NITE NITE

APRIL IS IN LABOR!!!!! Her bag of waters is protruding out.... 11.15 pm here... 15th April.

STORM

Well, we were very lucky and the storm bypassed us on a whole.
Yes, we got some rain, but nothing unusual for the time of year.

Other parts of the country got a battering, but no massive damage done.  Slips, some flooding and trees down, few roofs off... the usual sort of stuff.

We have no definite plans for the day.  All the shops are closed, so I will probably start sewing all the blocks together for my rag throw.

Bex helped me get all the layers sorted out last night, after I'd cut out all the blocks.

So much prep involved.  Now the sewing starts.
I'm really excited to see the end result, I've not made a rag quilt before.

HAPPY EASTER to everyone!

ONWARD...

2.00 pm:  it's been a busy family day.  Lots of noise!  I made a start on the rag quilt... but have run into a BIG SNAG.

Sewing three layers of polar fleece is OK, but when it comes to joining all the layers together.. NIGHTMARE.

The thread keeps snapping, the only way to do it is to slow INCREDIBLY slowly, stitch by stitch... and even then the thread kept snapping.  I  got this far:

ABOVE:  I joined two rows together.. and now?  I'm unpicking it all!
The next step will be using 'normal' fabric for two of the layers, and just have the polar fleece on the top.  Fingers crossed that works.

But right now... I'm unpicking.  That is going to take me bloody hours.  

Steve and Bex and the boys have gone into Hamilton to visit friends, so it's a bit quieter in the house right now.
Keera is tagging along with Stew while he does a few odd jobs around the house.

I made chicken burgers for everyone's dinner tonight... with wedges.  They went down very well.
There has been a Coronation Street Marathon on the TV tonight!  6 episodes in a row!!!
I'm in my sewing room watching it.  BLISS.

Signing off now... going to bed soon.

AHHH TECHNOLOGY

Technology and me are not friends.

I got a 'new' Fitbit from my girlfriend Chris D the other day, and for a couple of days it worked just fine.
Then yesterday, although the Fitbit itself was working, it wasn't syncing with my computer.  So, I couldn't check my numbers, steps, sleep and so on.

After mucking around with it for HOURS, I got it working and syncing on my phone, so at least I could check my numbers.

But it's still not working on my computer.  Grrrr.

Steve and Bex are due down sometime today, they are staying for Easter.  He reckons he can check it out and maybe get it working again.

I hope he can.  But. I have done everything the help line suggested?  *sigh*

Bloody technology!

The reason I really wanted to be able to check the numbers was because I wanted to work out if I could get it to 'track' my 'steps' while I was on my bike or exercycle.

And it does... as long as I secure it to my ankle!
I cut one of Keera's socks in half, and I use it to hold the Fitbit on my leg!  Works a treat, and is 100% accurate too.
Bang on the steps, and distance.  I'm rather chuffed with that.  Now it will track that exercise too.

The exercycle is in the lounge, so I can ride and watch the telly at the same time, that makes it less boring.  
It's too wet to get out on my 'real' bike right now sadly.

Today... well not much on really.  Kids have school, Keera is at kindy for the morning, and I'm expecting Bex and the boys sometime during the day.  Steve is coming after work... THAT will probably take him ten times longer than usual, knowing Auckland traffic!  Rather him than me.

Well... that's all for now... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

BE CLEAR WHO YOU ARE HAVING A GO AT ON FACEBOOK... that's how misunderstandings happen.  
I've been mega upset for ages this morning, thanks to a post on facebook which I was CERTAIN was directed at me.  

Almost had a knee jerk reaction.. ALMOST.



ABOVE:  Kelly posted this cute photo of Rena today. She's saving butterflies from their dog ... I'd be saving them from the weather!

We have Cyclone Cook about to  hit... expecting massive amounts of rain.

Which is dreadful, cos the country has already been inundated with rain and floods the past week.

There is talk that if the winds get too strong our Auckland Harbour Bridge will have to be closed!  I don't think that has ever happened before!  Talk is, this storm will be the worst in 50 years!

And this is JUST BEFORE Easter!  Thousands of people will be on the roads heading away for the holiday.  

I worry about Steve and Bex coming down from Auckland!  Or them getting BACK on Monday!

Sadly, Mother Nature will do what it wants.

Well... it's been busy here this morning/afternoon.  Russell arrived for morning tea, then Bex and the boys arrived just before lunch, and Steve arrived at afternoon tea time.

Everyone got here safely, and in good time.
Steve took the afternoon off, so he got here before all the traffic built up coming out of Auckland.  Lucky!

I've got Chicken Tikka Masala for dinner tonight... not used this mix before so I hope it's nice. 

 ABOVE:  The latest soft toy Dante has to lug around the country... he has quite a collection!  Bex made it for him, a Spiderman Sheep.

 ABOVE:  The kids 'helping' me layout the polar fleece blocks.

 ABOVE:  Even Archer gave it a go...

 ABOVE:  Then his Dad got silly... and started throwing them all up in the air.   *sigh*

ABOVE:  lots of fun.  Yep. 

Right I better go and sort out dinner.... even though Steve is actually doing a very good job of cooking it himself.

Dinner was awesome, the evening has been neat.  Coronation Street has just finished and I'm going to bed.