WHO IS STILL OUT THERE

Hi Everybody who still visits us.  I am just checking in as I know we still get a few visitors.  Are there any visitors on here who don't see my pics on Facebook that think it is worth keeping this blog alive??  I am getting a bit slack at this blog but will keep it up if people are still visiting and still keen to keep up with what the Hilliards out West are up to.

Please leave a comment over the next couple of weeks if you are keen for me to keep going??  Otherwise I might just update my Facebook with pics etc...

Avanti Farm Day

Deans boss had us out to his Farm for the day.  It was great weather and nice to catch up with Dean's workmates.  

The Countdown Begins

The kids and I have had good school holidays away - part of the plan being that we would be distracted from the normal routine and time would seem to go a bit faster and that we would get back to Auckland and the countdown until we are in our new house would be a matter of one week away.  

So now the countdown begins, our settlement date is next Thursday 30th April.  We don't have access to the house until lunchtime, so the plan is to go in then and assess the amount of cleaning etc to be done (I suspect a lot).  We will get the carpets cleaned as the previous owner had a dog, and well you know it would just be nice ay.  So hopefully the house will be all nice and sparkly ready for moving in on Friday.  Being a weekday and helping hands will be a bit low, we have decided to just get removal guys to do it - a treat for Dean to not have to lug all the big stuff up the stairs.  

We have now been out of our own home for four months,  which has been a long time - but we are grateful to have Dean's parents who have taken us in for most of that time and put up with us :)  Although there is some work to be done in the new house I am looking forward to having my own home again.  We will plod along on the renovations and will do it a bit at a time.   Any renovation tips out there, pass them on!!!  

Easter 2009

We've had a busy Easter this year.  While Dean had to go North for a funeral the kids and I headed South as planned for Easter and the school holidays.  We got to the Mount on Thursday afternoon missing any Easter traffic.  

Good Friday we headed to Ohope to join Aunty Louie and 6 of her mokopuna.  When we pulled up Ruka came out and said "Nan!!  Where's my cousin?"  Nathan rushed to take his belt off and they were off.  Saturday morning we jumped in the car again to venture around the Coast for a day trip to Te Kaha picking Aunty Sharon up on the way.  We spent a beautiful day up there having lunch and just relaxing while the kids ran around and had heaps of fun.  Until Nathan got nipped by a big spider.  He was playing up the hill in the Manuka with his cousins when he got a bit stuck.  I went and helped him down and we were walking back to everyone else when all of a sudden he screamed in pain, I thought a wasp might have been down his top but out fell a massive spider, he freaked even more when he saw it as it was HUGE!!  He was a bit shaken up after that and it was getting on so we headed for home.  We got home and Jamie, Ngawiki and four more of Aunty Louie's moko were there so we had 12 Grandkids all up, 10 of hers and 2 of mums.  WOW.  It was pretty hectic, but heaps of fun.  We fed them and put on a DVD so we could have some peace and quiet :)

Easter Sunday was Ruka's 4th birthday so we had a few more of the whanau head over for the day.  We did a big feed in the hangi steamer and enjoyed another sunny day together.  The kids were pretty exhausted when we headed back to the Mount later that day.

Maia and Jaylyn

Ethan, Jaylyn and Ruka on Papa Trev's horns

Some of the Mokopuna and the Nan's - At Te Kaha

The spider that turned Nathan into Spiderman

THE KIDS

Maia and Nanny

Breakfast time with the masses

Maia is always the last one standing at the table, finishing off what others don't appreciate :)

Park Time - Ethan, Jaylyn and Rongo

Jaylyn Memory Rolleston

Caleb Tupaea Rolleston

The boys with Jamie

Haki Reweti Rolleston

Nathan Tumarae Hilliard

Ruka's birthday, kids waiting for their kai

Latest

Dean has been getting up early and going for a run, this day he took the camera and snapped the view

Monday 6th April - Kael's 2nd Birthday

Nathan and Maia's newest Cousin, Creedence Hilliard

Nathans prize for attending Mainly Music every week

Daylight Savings changes catching up with Maia

Matiu and Jamie's Wedding

The whole Fam cruised down to Napier for my cousin Matiu's wedding.  It was a nice break for Dean and I as we left the kids with their Aunty and Nana for the weekend.  Friday night we all went to Lonestar for dinner and braved the massive meals.  

We checked out the sights of Napier on Saturday and much to Dean's frustration, the shops.  

The wedding was great.  We had such a fun time all together.  It was neat to see one of our younger cuzzies tie the know with such a lovely girl.  

Sunday was breakfast at the local Farmers Market as well as buying some yummy goodies.  Then it was the long haul back to Auckland with a tea and scone break at Nana's in Taupo.