TAUPO TODAY

Today we are off to Taupo!

My darling girlfriends from Palmerston North decided to come up to visit me... so we are meeting half way for lunch and a catch up.

I. AM. SO. LOOKING. FORWARD. TO. IT.

I still miss them so, so much... it's now been over 8 years since we left Palmerston North!

Of course, we miss our youngest son Mike dreadfully too.  We live in hope he will come north one day permanently.

So... we will be heading off fairly early, so I better get moving.


ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Gorgeous boys, taken last night after we had a video chat.  

Today has been WONDERFUL!
We met up with the girlfriends and had an early-ish lunch at The Coffee Club in Taupo.

While there, Sandra put Jamberry wraps on my nails!  I love them.

After lunch we had a wander around the shops, then went down to the lake front to get some nice photos.

I will now show you the photos I took...

 LEARNING HOW TO PUT ON JAMBERRY WRAPS

KEERA PLAYING WITH CHRIS, SANDRA AND ANNE

WE WENT TO THE LOCAL MARKET WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED IN TAUPO

APRIL WAS WITH US ALL DAY

DON'T YOU THINK THAT THING IN THE WATER LOOKS LIKE.... A GIRAFFE?  LOL

 STUNNING LAKE TAUPO

WE HAD THE MOST EXCELLENT DAY.  The weather was amazing!  It was bloody cold to begin with, but got nice and warm as the day progressed.

Keera got nice and tired running around and playing with my girlfriends, she slept half the way home.

Time to wrap up for the day... Coronation Street is on!

A TOTAL MISH MASH OF SHIT TODAY!

FIRST:  We are totally OVER being rung at night by kids who are 'at war' with each other (or other people for that matter too)!

As a girlfriend said to me last night, they are adults and should sort their own shit out, instead of expecting us to come running.  We will NOT take sides, we will not intervene, YOU TWO get your own shit sorted.
Don't drag us into your war.  YES Lacy, I know you didn't ring us this time, but we still got dragged into it.  

And while I'm on the subject... don't speak to me with NO RESPECT, demanding I listen to you, not giving me the benefit of reply, and being downright rude.  I'm your MOTHER, not one of your lackeys.  (I'm NOT talking about LACY)

Taking a deep breath and moving on from that fiasco.

 ABOVE:  The dining table getting used again.  Keera has two plates... one for her vegetables, which she must eat FIRST, before she gets her meat.  She LOVES her meat, not so much the veges.  This works really well!  

 ABOVE:  I took that wooden shelf off the lounge wall... and now want it in that corner of the family room.  Someone can do it this weekend.  'hint hint' ...
Toying with the idea of getting covers for the lounge furniture in here... cos they are so dark.  They make the room look small.  We will see.

 ABOVE:  This table was in the laundry area of the garage.  I've put it outside, it actually looks quite neat there.... only it probably needs a timber top instead of what it's got right now.
Another job for this weekend maybe?

ABOVE:  Stew woke up on Monday morning with what looked like a burn on his chest, above his arm pit.  Then it got blisters all over it, then more areas appeared over the course of the next few days.  We have NO idea what has caused it!

It's not something he's eaten, cos it's not hives.
The only thing I can think of is that he's touched/rubbed against something that he's had a reaction to?  But we just can't think what.

Weird.  Hopefully he doesn't get any more areas flaring up.

Today?  I'm going into Hamilton (again)... cos I forgot to enrol for next term at Donna's Quilt Studio.  So I'll do that, then go have a nice wander around The Base.  

ONWARD...   

I did wonder if Stew's rash was shingles, we were just talking about that last night.  So, he's got a Doctor's appointment this afternoon to get it checked out.
I hope it's NOT shingles.

APRIL WATCH:  OMG that tardy tart is just so happy right now... not a sign of going into labour.  She's doing my bloody head in.. I can't even sleep cos of her!  I want to see a baby!!!

4.45 pm:  And the doctor thinks it's NOT shingles... most likely something toxic he's been in contact with.
He's got antihistamines and ointments, and if it keeps spreading, an anti viral medication just in case it is something viral.

We love our Doctor, she's just so LOVELY.  Down to earth, totally approachable, friendly and just a normal chick.  It's worth it to get sick just to see her!  lol

Now... it's time to think about what to feed them for dinner.  Silly bugger type dinner tonight... something on toast I reckon.

Stew made home made pizzas for dinner, they were excellent!

It's been a quiet evening here, as per usual, I'm watching Coronation Street right now... then I'm off to bed.  I can hardly keep my eyes open!

SHOPPING

Stew has put an idea in my head... and once my mind latches onto an idea... I have to act on it.

No idea why I'm like that!

Anyway.  I'm off into Hamilton today on a 'window shopping' trip.  JUST window shopping for now.

I might also pop into Donna's Quilt Studio in Dinsdale and book into next term's Tuesday class.

Time I went back... I really enjoyed going there last year.  After thinking going to the local one would be all I needed, I find myself wanting to go back.  I can get lots more help and advice there, and there is fabric and so on 'on the spot'.

After moving the exercise equipment (heaps of times!) yesterday, I ache all over!  Particularly my shins for some reason.  So... taking it easy today, will just wander around a few shops.

And that is all I have for now... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

12.52 pm:  Well... a bit of a miracle happened today!
I was in Harvey Norman's for almost TWO HOURS this morning... looking... looking... and bought NOTHING.
I actually changed my mind and left the shop knowing I was NOT going to buy anything.

Stew is proud of me I reckon!  *smiles*

Since then I've picked up Keera from Kindy and soon I shall be making some lunch for myself... and dispatching the pre-schooler off for a nap.

I am LOVING being able to drive into the garage again!  It feels so RIGHT.  And it's not at all cramped in there, even with the exercise equipment.

ABOVE:  Bex sent me this adorable pic of Archer today.  He's very happy with himself... cos he took his pants off.  Cute little bugger.

SAD FACE.... today's blog has been boring as batshit by the look of it!

I must admit to feeling down when no one leaves me a comment!  Sad git I am.

Might just sign off for the day now.

SUPER WET TODAY

We are supposed to get masses of rain today... like we didn't get enough yesterday?
Pfffft.

I don't mind that much, except for the fact our cars are OUTSIDE, so we have to get wet getting into and out of them.

We have far too much exercise equipment!
I'm going to have to have a serious think about what I want more... lots of exercise equipment (that I don't use, but Stew does), or a useable garage?

Hmmm.... thinking... thinking.

I've got quite a bit of housework to get done today... mostly washing.  Once that it done I shall try and get some sewing done.  I still haven't even thought about finishing that little giraffe!

TALKING about giraffes... I better check in on April and see what she is doing.  Probably NOTHING.

She reminds me of myself when I was pregnant with Steve!

I had a scan with him, and was told he was 'due' around mid February.
February came and went, so did March, and I finally had him on April the 24th... 30 years ago almost!  Do ya reckon Miss April is going to hang out like that too???

PROBABLY.

Right, I'm off to get the kids to school/kindy and get on with my day.

ONWARD...

9.45 AM:  And the weather forecast might be wrong.  The sun is actually trying to peek through the clouds!  Maybe we will get all that rain later?

The live stream from Animal Adventure Park of April has gone down again, it's been down for over an hour now.  What ya bet she bloody has her baby NOW?  So crabby when it goes down.

And to add to my crabbiness, the giraffe pattern is beyond me!  I've got this far:

 ABOVE: Yeah, it looks like some dead, deflated thing.  I am HOPELESS at following more complicated pattern instructions!  They are like double dutch to me.  I shall have to wait till I go back to the patchwork class in Hamilton to finish it... Donna will be able to help me with it.

ABOVE:  At least I got the ears/horns/mane on!

Not sure what I will get up to now...  maybe looking at the garage and seeing what I can do in there?

OH YEAH!!!!  I just flicked back to April, and the live feed is up again.  Panic over.

2.12 pm:  And I'm knackered!  I got things moved around in the garage so I could get my car back in!
It meant putting the exercycle in the lounge, but that's OK.

 ABOVE:  Before I moved stuff...

  ABOVE:  After moving stuff.  Now it can piss down and we won't get wet getting in and out of the car.  YES!

10.01 pm:  Well the rain finally arrived here!  We've had some pretty heavy showers this evening.  There's heaps of flooding all over the North Island.

Time to sign off for the day.  I'm once again knackered!

RELAX... I NEED IT!

After yesterday's efforts, moving furniture around AGAIN.. I am knackered!
I really shouldn't have done it, my back was already sore. 
Oh well... I get something in my head, and I just have to do it.
It's done now, so I can sit back and relax today.

I am trying a new groomer for Coco today.  A local lady who comes recommended by our vet clinic.

She is just up the road near the kid's college, and she is $14 cheaper, so if you factor in not having to drive into Hamilton and the cost at Animates, it's a win/win if she does a good job.

Time will tell.

I've got some housework to do, but apart from that, I'm just going to take it easy today.
It's been a busy few days around here.

 ABOVE:  A bit funny!

ABOVE:  Keera comforting Brylee while she had the injection prior to her CAT scan yesterday.  Keera was so cute, stroking Brylee's hand and telling her it would be alright, to be brave and so on.  She used her 'talking to a baby voice' too, so doubly cute.

ONWARD...

Well... I am very happy with the new groomer.  She has done a lovely job of Coco.  I will be using her form now on for grooming.

I a having a lovely, quiet day.  The weather outside is dreadful... masses of rain.  But the temperature has dropped so I'm that much more comfortable.

April is still hanging in there, lots of false hope when she 'seems' to be going into labor.  *sigh*

Winding down for the day.. which has been long and uneventful.
April is doing my head in!  How much longer can she last?????

BAKING... AND SCAN

Last night I spent some time scooping the pulp out of all the feijoas from our tree, and today I am going to back a feijoa cake or two.

Kelly has made us some before, and they are delicious.  You just use a banana cake recipe, and replace the banana with feijoa apparently.
Simple.

So that will take care of this morning.

After lunch I shall be picking Keera up early from Kindy, then Brylee from School, and we will be heading into Hamilton.
Brylee has her cat scan today!  I doubt she's looking forward to it, they have to inject a dye into her shoulder to see if the dislocation(s) have done any damage to her shoulder/ligaments/bones.

If there is no damage, all will be left as is, and we will hope that as she matures her ligaments will firm up enough to stop any more dislocations.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.  

And that's it, I'll be back later with more of my day.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Baking with... APRIL.
lol

Hey, I have about a cup full of feijoa pulp leftover, who reckons I can use it in the icing?  Anyone have any idea how to make a 'feijoa icing'???

Well... everything went well with Brylee's scan.  The injection into her shoulder hurt like hell, but she was a real trooper about it.
We now wait for the follow up appointment.

Home now, and I've got chicken in the oven and I just iced one of the feijoa cakes.

I used a Orange Butter icing recipe, and just replaced the orange and peel with the feijoa pulp.  It looks ok:

ABOVE:  I feel like a real housewife!  I baked cakes.  hee hee.
The 2nd one is going in the freezer.

Apart from baking today, and taking the kid into Hamilton for her scan, I spent 4 hours SOLID, moving furniture!

I decided to put the dining table back in the family room!  I know, I know, I just put it in the lounge!

But it felt wrong there.  So I moved all the furniture forward in the family room so I could put the table back.

And I had to unload the Britto cabinet and move it all into the lounge.  Bloody hell... why do I do this to myself?

I hope I don't change my mind in 3 months! 

It's now 10.45 pm and I think I've finished fluffing around with the lounge and family rooms!
There will always be something I want to change of course, which makes life interesting  *smiles*
Stew is happy with the 'changes', even though things are actually just back the way they were a few months ago.  Derrr.

Personally, I think he's just bloody relieved he didn't have to do it all himself.  

I'm off to bed shortly.  April is just waking up over in New York State... the tart is STILL pregnant!  I tell ya, I am so over watching her!
I bet I wake up every hour on the hour to check on her tonight, just like every night for the past 5 BLOODY WEEKS!

OUT FOR LUNCH

Today, for the first time since we moved here, a member of our FAMILY has invited us to their home for lunch!

Took long enough!  But, THANK YOU Russell and Ange, we can't wait to come over and hang out with you guys for a while.

There's nothing else on our agenda today... so an easy day.

And that's all I have for now!  

ONWARD...

I went to bed last night without seeing the live feed come back on of April.  I stressed over it all night... then checked on her at around 3am and the live feed was back.
And thankfully, no baby giraffe yet.  I didn't miss it.  
There was a lot of angst all over the world while the live feed was down, it was even on the news in the USA!  LOL, this giraffe has a HUGE following!

I'm just hoping she has it NOW, before they lose the feed for longer!  (they had snow and an internet/power outage apparently). 

My head is pounding and my back is killing me ... so taking it easy today.

 ABOVE:  I dragged Stew outside this morning... there was a huge flax like plant too close to that little tree, so I got him to dig it out and break it up... so now instead of one big plant, we got 6 !  Arrow pointing at the moved, propagated plant.

 ABOVE:  Everything is growing like crazy.

 ABOVE:  Griffin 'hanging' out in the garden.

 ABOVE: When our friend Martyn was here last, he declared the blue fantail pole was in the wrong place, and 'helped' me find it a better place.  Now it's there, and we have to admit, it does look better there.

ABOVE:  Coco hanging out in the garden too.

Nearly time to head off to Hamilton for lunch.   Catch ya later.
Keep an eye on April for me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTYzfoO9sDs

Lunch was just so lovely!  Ange had made mini pizza buns and hot dogs AND blueberry muffins!  A veritable feast, which we all enjoyed.
Lots of happy yakking, and we even played some pool.

ABOVE:  I hadn't played pool in over 40 years!  It was fun.  The kids would LOVE us to get a pool table... but two problems with that.
Room for one, and the cost.   Really can't justify it right now...and once we can, the kids will probably have left home. 

IF. THAT. EVER. HAPPENS.  *smiles*

End of Day:  it's been a nice day ... and evening.  Enjoying Broadchurch, even though it seems to be a bit slow, with lots of 'red herrings'.  Par for the course.  Still watching April, though she's being a REALLY tardy tart now.

GEEKS

The past few days we have not had wireless internet access at all.
My laptop is plugged directly into the modem, so I can't sit in my comfy lazyboy chair in the lounge.
It's a pain in the neck.

So, I've got 'Geeks on Wheels' coming to try and sort it out for us this morning.  
Fingers crossed they can get us up and running again.

Apart from that, there are no plans for the day.
I think I'd like us to go out somewhere nice, just get out of the house for a while.
We need it.  Blow some cobwebs away, get some smiles on the kids faces again.

It's APRIL the first.  Funny ha ha.  I bet that bloody giraffe April has her baby today.  

ONWARD...

"Keera, what do you want for breakfast today?  Cereal or toast?"

"Grandma... how about you squash a banana on my toast... and put nutella on the top?"

ABOVE:  where did she get THAT idea from?  I've no idea!

Sorry I've been 'absent' all day.  Busy.
The 'geek' arrived and fixed out internet issues, I can now use the PC in my bedroom again, and sit in my own chair in the lounge with the laptop connected to wireless again.  Thank God, my neck and back were killing me from having to twist to see the TV.

After the internet guy left, we piled in the car and went into Hamilton for a nice lunch.

We ended up at The Foundation, at The Base. We have been there once before and found the food and service excellent.

After lunch Griffin got a haircut, then we went out to Wairere Nursery at Gordonton, where we got some hydrangea plants.

They are going to go where the lone fig tree is, which is getting cut down in... oh about an hour!
We hate figs.  End of story.  *smiles*

Much to the consternation of a few of our neighbours, this is what I did this afternoon:

ABOVE:  Before I attacked it...

ABOVE:  Now I shall have a blue and white Hydrangea corner.  

 ABOVE:  A very noisy Tui in my neighbour's tree.  Probably right pissed off with me for chopping down it's dinner.

So, a good job done this afternoon.  No more ikky figs.  NO one liked them.

Looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the tv and computer screen.  Watching April as often as possible now... she's due VERY SOON.

The live feed of April the Giraffe has gone down... and it's SO FRUSTRATING AND ANNOYING!  What if she has the baby and we don't get to see it live after ALL THIS TIME WATCHING ???  OMG I will be so pissed!!!

Have to go to bed soon... but can't till the feed is up again!  Grrrrrrr.