Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

So I know I said that I would have post coming out soon, but life just gets so busy and I just don't know how people manage to keep their blogs updated. My intention for this year is to update my blog at least once a week. Lets see if I can do this. 

Maybe I could join in with Jenny from her Mend+MakeNew blog and take 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014". 

So to sum up the last couple of weeks. 

Christmas was chaotic but good. The kids loved every minute of it, and I was so proud of them as they were so well behaved the whole day. I think Christmas can be very overwhelming but they coped so well!

Here is a Family pic from the day.

As far as new years goes, I didn't even make it to midnight. We went for a family walk on news years day though. I used the self timer on my camera and managed to get a half decent shot.

Happy New Year. I'm hoping this year is a good one! Last year was a hard one, but onwards and upwards!

Jo

xo

Post in progress, Watch this space…...

Curls, Curls and more curls!

Well as the photos below show, my two little ones both have inherited curly hair from their Dad. I wondered if they both would, and if the curls would stay. Emily's definitely have even as her hair gets longer. Declan is definitely growing some curls they are just of the Bright RED variety. Aren't my kids just the cutest!

The kids and I are off to Waiheke Island on monday. Claire and Ian (Gran and Grandad) are up there so it will be a fun time and it also means I can get out for a few runs on the island. I hope we have some good weather!

Beautiful Girl and Handsome Boy

Just because I think my little girl is beautiful and my little boy is cute I thought I would share a few photos! They just grow up so fast.... I can't believe Declan will be 2 in December and then a month later Emily will be 5 and off to school. Some days I want them to stay little forever

Declan gets grommets

On the 7th of August 2012 our little boy had surgery and got his grommets inserted. We had to be at the hospital at 7.30am and Declan had to be nil by mouth from Midnight. He surprised us and handled it all very well! We must admit, we have had some experience with both kids having to be nil by mouth a few times so we were prepared.

We got to the hospital on time and Declan was first on the list and was in surgery by 8.30am. He came out of the anesthetic terribly (lots of screaming) but after some pain relief and about 20 minutes he was much happier. We were sent home pretty quickly and were back at home by 10am. He was rather grumpy that day (which is understandable) but the the results of surgery were amazing! Declan slept right through for the first 6 nights. He even had a few new words within 3 days of surgery. The hospital said there was so much compacted wax in his right ear - we even wonder if he could hear out of that ear before surgery. 

Then Declan got a cold and hasn't slept through the night since. 

Less than 2 weeks after surgery he started having lots of wax etc ooze out of his ears. I took him to the doctor a few days later and he had an ear infection which is stink. So back on antibiotics he went. The good thing is that he hasn't been in as much pain and is a much happier boy!

He only finished his antibiotics last week and wax has been oozing out his ear again for a few days and he has been coughing a lot. Today he has been very grumpy. Back to the doctor tomorrow.

All and all though the grommets are fantastic. Declan is a much happier boy and is trying to communicate so much more! He is a very cute little boy!

Declan at the hospital a little while after surgery

Declan and Emily in the bath. Declan wasn't allowed water in his ears for 2 weeks so Emily wore a cap a few times with him - so cute!

On a different note. Here are a few more photos of the kids. 

Making forts on the couch - fun times

Emily is in timeout and Declan is telling her off - haha

 Our 4 babies in front of the fire

Declan at Battle Hill Farm - A bit Muddy

Ready for a day at Kindy - Say Cheese!

That is all for now!

Jo

xox

Jo goes to Queenstown

In July I had a trip to Queenstown to visit my brother Brad and his girlfriend Ange for about 4 days. I had booked the tickets 3 months before and was such an exciting time going away by myself for 4 whole days! 

I had such a fantastic time doing some skiing, which I haven't done for a long time - didn't forget anything though and it was so much fun! 

We also went on the Shotover Jet which was fun. Most people thought it was pretty cold but my puffer jacket kept me nice and toasty. 

We took a trip out to Skippers Canyon. The trip out there was scary to say the least, Brad is a really good driver but the road is pretty rugged, one way the you wouldn't want to come off the road because it is a LONG way down.

We did some general sightseeing, a spot of shopping and I did some running - Queenstown is such a beautiful place! I want to go back. 

It was also just really great to spend some time with Brad and Ange. I miss them lots.

One thing I didn't realise before I went was how much I would miss Matt and the kids! I missed them so much it was crazy! I suppose they have been such a big part of my life for the last few years that it is understandable.

Here are a few Pictures from my time in Queenstown.

The first day I got there I took Marley for a run. Such a beautiful place to run.

Me (yes that is me!), Brad and Ange before going on the Shotover Jet

 Us on the Jet!

On the way to Skippers Point - Long way down!

 The Restored School House

Not many people live out Skippers Canyon, in the winter it is pretty hard to get out there due to snow on the road (no snow when I went). There are a few houses the whole drive out to the Skippers Point. You can find some more info about this area here

 Mount Aurum Homestead at Skippers Point

 Brad

Ange, Brad and Mike

 Glad to be off the Skippers Canyon Road

 View from my morning run on the last day I was there.

View from Brad and Ange's Lounge Window

Last day there at Wilsons Bay with the dogs.

And while I was away Emily started her swimming lessons. She really enjoyed it and Matt said she was definitely the loudest and most confident in the class!

So there you go, my trip to Queenstown was great! Hope to visit again sometime soon!

Jo

xox

It has been way too long

Well it has been way too long since I last updated my blog. Not even sure that anyone reads it but really I should update so I can keep a record of what has been happening in our lives. Time goes so quickly and I realise it has been well over half a year since I last did a blog entry. Life gets so busy and time goes so quickly.
So, what has happened since I last updated my blog... (This may be a long post)

Emily turns 4!

Our little girl is growing so fast. As I'm writing this it is less than 6 months and she will be at school! Not our little baby anymore

 New Bike from all the grandparents

 Birthday girl at her party at Aotea Lagoon

 Declan and Uncle Andrew

 Cousin Josh

 Cousin Ollie

Renovation Time

We have had some amazing plumbing work done at our house! We have renovated our bathrooms. My wonderful brother Brad Finished them off before he sadly moved to Queenstown. Declan loved having all the tradesmen here and loved the tools and the ear muffs!

13 Months and Walking

Yes our little boy walked at 13 months! Since he has been able to walk he has only had one speed -RUN

Summer Holiday on Waiheke Island - Feb 2012

We had a holiday on Waiheke Island this year. The weather was pretty good, the kids had a ball! The one thing we did remember from the holiday is that Declan did NOT sleep very well at all!

 Fun times with Daddy

 Beautiful Girl

 Serious Boy

 View from the deck

 

 Tree Fairy

 Bath Time

 Declans Transport to the beach

 In the garden

 Swing Time

 Love the curl in the middle of her forehead!

 The dogs loved it too!

March 2012

 Yes We still had lots of unhappy times with our little boy! Ear infections suck!

 Fun Hockey times

April 2012

 Trouble!

 Cheese!

 Another Serious Face!

Our Two Monkeys!

May 2012

 Beautiful Emily and Declan reading in his cot

 Pictures with Mummy!

 The Beach in May! Fun times with the sand

 Mr Fix it

 Our Little Climber

 Ready for the Snow! - June 2012

Emily and Declan got new winter hats! Emily wanted me to take a picture and send it to Uncle Brad. She wanted me to say that she is ready for the snow too! She knew that I was going to visit him in July and she wanted to come too!

So that is half a year summed up in one post. There are more posts to come soon! I promise I will update the blog regularly from now on!

Jo

xox