Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Hilliards

2008

Well what a blessed year we've had.  There has been a lot of doom and gloom in the world but thankfully the Lord has continued to bless us with love, good health, family and friends (the most important things ay) .  The kids have brought us heaps of joy... and frustration!  Boy they like to test your patience!!  But it has been awesome seeing them grow over the year with Nathan turning 3 and Maia turning 1.  They have a neat little relationship with their moments of tension but plenty of moments of tenderness with each other.

Dean and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary in February and our 33rd birthdays in November.  

In amongst the joy there have been some sad times with the losses of two family members, the shock drowning of my Uncle and losing my grandfather to Cancer.  Both times the family came together and supported each other with strength, love and in the day to day stuff.

We look forward to the New Year and the change ahead, the new house when we find it, the new neighbourhood and new community as we head to Te Atatu, Dean's old stomping ground.  We like the community feel there but I think I will still be involved in the Massey community by continuing to attend Mainly Music with our friends there and I will also continue to attend church in that area.

We are off on Boxing Day for our camping holiday to Te Kaha, so unless I have some energy Christmas evening to blog our day, we'll catch you all in the New Year.

We wish all of you who check in to our little piece of blogland a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!

Bits and Bobs

A bit of waterplay on a hot day

Nana came around with early Christmas presents as the kids will be away on Christmas Day.  Nathan was stoked with his T.Rex that growls and moves around.

Rutherford Preschool Christmas show and a visit from Santa

We gave Kael and Ayla their presents early too as we won't be with them on Christmas Day

Erickson Whanau Christmas

Luke preparing his yummy Prawn dish

Uncle John always does a mean ham!!

Having a kanikani(dance)

Maia getting some help with Lunch

Lollie scramble time

Arvo nap time

Off for a swim

No Pic Update

Hi Ya'll

Well my camera has died again - taking photos in the rain no go!!  But thought I would do a quick update even though no pics attached.

Last Thursday we moved out of 10 Sherpa Place.  We moved all of our things into storage for now and have gone roaming for 3-4 weeks.  It was a little sad leaving the house for good, the home we brought both our babies home to, our first home, it has been good to us.

Friday night we had a bit of a Christmas Dinner with the Hilliards as we won't be with them Christmas day.  

Saturday morning we picked Reid up and headed down to Taupo for the Erickson whanau Christmas.  First stop was to the cemetary to take some flowers to my Pa who was sadly missed at this years gathering.  Then off to Nana's house to meet up with all the Aunties, Uncles and Cuzzies.  After a big feed the Cousins ventured off to a hot (really hot) thermal pool we know of for an afternoon swim.  

The kids and I have been in Mt Maunganui since Saturday evening and Dean and my brother will be driving down from Auckland for Christmas then we are off camping in Te Kaha for two weeks from Boxing Day.

I have just got home from Pak n Save to do all the Camping food shopping and last minute present shopping, so I'm nearly sorted... Hmm nearly, I think.  Will I brave the shops tomorrow?

I will try and post the pics if my camera revives.

Dinosaurs

Nathan loves Dinosaurs - He knows all about them, their names etc.  I'm glad he is still interested in them as I bought his Christmas present a while back (on special) a Magnetix T.Rex and wondered if the interest would have worn off by Chrismas.  But it hasn't, yay!

One of his Preschool teachers came up to me yesterday to tell me she had put and entry into his portfolio talking about when he told her all about his museum trip, I thought I would share it...

2 Dec 2008

Nathan came up to me today and told me that he knows all about dinosaurs.  I then asked him what he had learnt.  Nathan told me that all the dinosaurs died but got fixed by the museum (this must be from when we went to see the T.Rex Skeleton at the museum)  He told me that the volcano killed all the dinosaurs and that he was scared of volcanos. (One of the books from the library has a picture of a big scary volcano erupting)  I was amazed at his interest and asked if he knew anymore information.  Nathan then told me that the "T-Rex is a carnivore and my cat is a carnivore too because he eats cat food and birds."

Nathan really amazed me with all of his information.  I can tell that he really enjoyed his museum visit

Jemima

Sunday

Sunday afternoon we went for a second look at a house we really liked.  Afterwards we went to the beach at the end of the little cul de sac that the house is on and had Fish and Chips for dinner, it was so nice down there.  The house was up for Tender (such a horrible way to try and buy a house!!!) and our offer went in Monday night along with two others and unfortunatey ours didn't make it, the difference between our offer and the one that got it was not much.  We were pretty disapointed as we liked heaps about it, but hey there must be something out there for us just waiting :)  We'll keep looking...

Te Atatu Santa Parade

Saturday morning we headed off to the Santa Parade.  This year we were able to park at Lisa's new house and walk up.  The kids enjoyed themselves especially all the lollies they were given.  Maia loved it, she was pointing at everything and waving her Merry Christmas Flag.  We waved extra hard when the kids PreSchool float went by and of course when the Big Red Guy went past on a fire Engine to finish off the parade.

My brave friend Jan

Last Friday evening we went along to support my friend Jan who was taking part in Shave for a cure.  www.shaveforacure.co.nz  She raised an awesome $2400.  You may still be able to donate on the website if you want.  I was happy to support her having lost my Grandfather earlier this year to Cancer.  Isn't she a brave woman and doesn't she still look great with her new hairdo!

SOLD

Well there you go, we have sold our house after 5 weeks on the market which is probably a great run in this slow market.  Not exactly the price we were originally after but again in this market probably a realistic sale price.  Soooo...  Where to next???  Te Atatu Peninsula is the plan, so we have to go serious house hunting or rent until we find something suitable.  We have to be out of here on the 19th December but we plan to be homeless until the end of January though as we'll be away on holiday for a fair chunk, so will be cruising round different family members spare rooms in between camping trips ;)

I have enjoyed my little house it has been a blessing.  I hope it will bless the woman who has bought it as it has our little family.  But on to the next phase, we'll keep ya'll posted.

Our Mainly Music Moves

Christmas came to Mainly Music

My Santa Babies

Boogying on down

Kael in on the parachute action

No Santa this year, apparantly too many kids were scared of him last year?!?

Tired Fairy

Maia with her beloved Moo Cow all bathed and ready for bed.

Slurping up a Storm

Here's someone who knows how to enjoy an iceblock!!!

Visiting Cadence and Rico

Today we ventured out to Mangere to Visit Talei, Cadence and Rico.  The boys had a great time as always, they have lots in common i.e cars, cars and cars!!  The girls played good too, although the picture below looks like they're having a little wrestle I think they were more gearing up for a hug.  It will be good when the new motorway out west is finished we could visit more often and be there in a flash!!

The camera has revived

Our camera has decided to stop making that ridiculous noise and start working again, Yay!!  Here are some snaps it's taken to celebrate it's comeback...

Saturday we went to Breeze's 3rd Birthday Party, Maia is a fairy and Nathan was a T.Rex (although not dressed as one he said he was one, so he was one? :)

Later in the afternoon we had to get out of our house for the open home and found ourselves in Te Atatu at Lisa's and Troy's where the kids got to have a play and we ended up staying for a bbq.

Baking Day

After a big day out yesterday and a bit of rain it was a stay home and chill day.  We decided to try out the Christmas tree and Angel cutters I bought last week.  I found a cool painted biscuit recipe and I'm not much of a baker but they turned out ok?  Anyway I'll trial a few recipes with them before Christmas...  Thanks to having Nana's camera on hand we could get some pics...

Maia was asleep during the baking process but did get to taste test