Bits and pieces :)

I haven't posted in awhile so I thought I would take a few moments to update our blog.

We started school 2 or 3 weeks ago so not much is going on in the way of "getting out".  But we did manage to get up to Orewa Beach on Monday.  This is one thing I like about Jett's occupation (if one can call it an occupation?).  He can take off on Mondays!  It was a nice day to go up there, have a picnic and then play in the park area, and look at the water.  

Keith is cutting another couple of teeth, hopefully he will loose this funny look soon! :)

Aaron is reading very well which is exciting for me.  He is different from Amelia though, he would still rather play than read a book.

Another photo of my sweet boy.

A week ago I made something I saw on the internet. Here Amelia is practicing her "sewing" skills!

See the butterfly?  

And I had to make one for Aaron too...

 

I was surprised how easy they are to make!  All you need is a picture coloured or uncoloured printed on copy paper then glue it to a piece of card paper and cut the picture out, take a hole puncher and punch holes all around the edge...then get a long piece of yarn and tie it to one of the holes, and on the other end tie it to a plastic yarn needle!    

Busy times!

We've been busy!  Busy getting ready for the communion, busy during the communion and busy afterwards.

We had a very nice communion season.  Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Campbell came to assist for our communion.  

Uncle Samo taking Aaron and Owen to the nearby dairy.

 After the communion, Jett had some time off, so we did a few things with the family, like going to the zoo!

Aaron was our navigator...er sortof. 

Amelia said her favourite animal was the flamingo.

 

And then I dropped my old camera and broke it.  It still takes photos but parts of each photo remains unfocused. :(

Two new trains for Aaron!

 Aaron had a birthday on Feb 2nd.  He is 5.  Already!  I made him a little train cake, which I photographed with my camera phone.

Jett cleaning up the floor for me. :)

Daddy reading to the kids.

 On Tuesday we went up to the Coromandel peninsula and took a train ride.  It started out all misty, and then cleared up for our drive back home.

During out train ride we stop at the "Eyefull" tower.  Which had some nice views.

On the train

Amy thinking about something!

We live in a gorgeous country!

Gifts and things

Here are some random photos of the past week...  

I bought the children a few toys the other day, but next time if I want to buy Lego, I'll buy the real thing not a cheap imitation.

Happy!

 

A few Dutch things from Ida!  She was very sweet to buy us these!  The kids want Hagelslag for Breakfast, and Lunch and I'm sure Dinner too if I allowed it. :D

 This was a project sitting in my brain for over a year now.  Using my Oma's wedding photo on the Left, and a couple of photos taken of the family during that time on the Right.  Unfortunately they are hanging precariously, I may need to fix that in the future.

I received way too many plums from a friend and I still have no idea what to do with them all.

 Besides making our yearly supply of Jam that is.

Keith's 1st Birthday

Yes that is right my baby boy turned one last week! Hard to believe really, that a year has past!  And so much has happened in one year.

Yes he thoroughly enjoyed his Zucchini Chocolate Cake.

"SO good Mom!!"

And after he was cleaned up (bathed) and changed he gave him a few presents.

 But the bag seemed more entertaining at first.

 Once he finally got the wrapped packages out he started to give them to people, one for Dad etc.  How cute.  We all helped him unwrap them.

 Nice to know the presents were well received and well shared by all the kiddos!

New design and renaming

I should be posting photos of our trip to Tauranga, even though there isn't that many to speak of.  I feel the more children I have the less photos I can take!  Samuel was able to take more with his fancy camera, so I suppose I should snatch some from him. :)

 I've changed the design of the blog, which usually takes too long to do but in this case I found a design right away that I liked.   I am in need of ideas so that is why I'm posting.  I've wanted to rename this blog ever since we arrived in New Zealand.  But I have little creativity when it comes to naming things like a blog.  This page used to be called "Our Scottish Abode" but well, that obviously wouldn't work anymore.  So, your thoughts please?  :)

Little goings

We've been busy since our trip to Welly.   There isn't much new here to speak of.

Unless you count Keithie walking, and his first tooth.  :)

Still getting into spaces he shouldn't.

I was given a brand new breadmaker from some friends.  We've been using it a lot the past week!

When Keith refuses to take a nap he inevitably falls asleep around dinner time. I did not leave him there for long.

 

 This morning I told Amelia to bring Keith into the kitchen so she did :)

"Give my my pacifier I'm so tired!"

Aaron was whinging, rather loudly, that he had sand in his face (and eyes and etc) so right away I took a picture because it looked so neat and then promptly showered him down. :)

Till next time. :)

Adventures of a Smith road trip and etc :)

 Ah, home again there really is no place like home! We had a lovely trip and I think we all enjoyed ourselves very much!  Here are a few pictures of our adventure!

The drive down to the Wairapa was uneventful which is a good thing with 4 little children.  :)

At the Optland's they have a lovely view!

Ready for church.

Oh you can tell Aaron is giddy!

 On the way back we made more stops for photos and etc unfortunately we took all day (8:30am till 7:30pm) to get home mainly because Keith didn't want to be in his car seat.

We just started out driving and found this scene and had to stop and take a photo.  This bay goes into the Tasman sea. :)

Pukerua Bay

 The weather was pretty good to see the mountains along Desert Road (it looks something like a desert which is probably why it is called 'desert road').  I can't believe we couldn't see anything on our way down due to rain and cloud.    Mt. Ruapehu, according to the map, is still considered an active volcano as is Mt. Ngauruhoe which is next to it and Mt. Tongariro is next to that which had some activity today!!! See: Mt Tongariro erupts  Hmm, maybe that explains the sulphur smell we smelt near that area yesterday??...wow. :)

Mt Ruapehu

So, the next place we stopped at was of course, Lake Taupo...oh that place is gorgeous!  Just so my family knows this lake is actually a crater lake meaning at one time this used to be a volcano...and then it blew its top...and eventually became like this.

Lake Taupo

 Not easy taking a photo with one hand while holding baby in the other but we mother's manage some way!

Smile for mom!

 Me with most of the children at Lake Taupo.

Smile for Dad!

 Jett stepped on to this rock and tried to get back but lol...he slipped and ended up getting his shoes all nice and wet.

Hahaha

 Mcdonald's which are well known for their playgrounds.  Sadly all of the M's we were at have loud music which isn't at all kid friendly. 

Yippie fun!!

Anyways, we are home safely and trying to catch up on Mt Laundry...at least we have gorgeous weather for drying!