Takara

While on our holiday in Auckland earlier this month, we visited the kid's very good friend Takara (and her Mum Rosanna and 'auntie' Shannon!)

The kids had a blast dressing up and covering the floor with every toy they could find in Takara's room!

It was one of the highlights of the holiday for Naomi who misses her friends in Auckland. Seeing Luke and Jake and Callum, Breana and Sienna was a bit special too!

Thanks Rosanna for sending these pics through!

Puddles and Frogs

Is there such a thing as a bargain when it comes to cheap shoes?

My simple answer is YES!

About 18 months ago, I 'invested' a massive $12 in the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.

Slip on, brown - always a good colour for shoes, soft, light - good for packing in a suitcase, and all round good shoes.

Today my 'frog's' (warehouse brand of croc's) encountered puddles.

Now one would think this would be a good experience for both the frogs and the puddles, but the reality of this encounter, I'm sad to report, was wet socks, cold feet, and the need for another $12 investment at the Warehouse.

The name revisited!

Friends are wonderful things!!

We have some friends who have obviously been 'pondering' on the subject of the name of this blog. Although they made no comment earlier, they have now come up with some suggestions of their own!

It could be that they have not been pondering at all, perhaps a sudden brainwave during the day at the desk in the office, or during the day looking after a gorgeous baby girl!

But whatever the process, nicely done!

In honour of your thoughtfulness, our blog now bears one of your suggestions as it's name!

Ahh the contrast!

So today was the trip back home, the end of the 'holiday', and I am pleased to report that there was no terrible, no horrible, lots of good and a very good day!

It was a chilly, early start to the day (Sorry to wake you up and get you out in the cold Andrew, Siobhan and boys! - just think of it as our birthday present to you Andrew!) but we were on the road by 6am, determined to beat the Auckland traffic!

We made great time, there was no sickness, no hospital visits, we had great weather, a play in the snow on the side of the desert road and Shelley and Tiko even had dinner ready for us when we got home!

Here's some pics of the journey!

Some days are like that!

As a child, my all time favourite story has to be
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!"

It starts out "I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

Sunday July 1st was one of those days for our family! There was no gum involved,nor was there a skateboard in the mix. Instead, the day started remarkably well with a well packed vehicle, 3 warmly dressed and excited children and well organised and semi-relaxed adults. This fabulous start to the day lasted about two hours. It was at the point that we sucessfully caught the first lot of Kayla's breakfast in the ice cream container!

It was good that we were well prepared, and once cleaned up and on the road again, it was not too long before the second, and later the third, were also caught and cleaned up.

Thankful that only one of our children feels the effects of travelling, we were a little suprised when we successfully caught Naomi's lunch due to a tummy bug. Once again we repeated the cleaning and consoling process and evenutally arrived in Hamilton, a little tired but pleased to be on holiday and ready to relax.

Our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day was not complete however!

Stu,not wanting to be outdone by his two daughters, was feeling a little uncomfortable in the stomach area in the early evening. Thinking it was just wind, he suffered through some pains until 9pm when he wisely decided (after some words of wisdom from his wife) that a trip to A&E might be in order. And sure enough, by midnight, he was admitted to Waikato Hospital and booked in for surgery the very next morning to remove his appendix (we're still not sure what important role the appendix plays anyway!)

We were having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

As the second last page of my favourite story says...

"When I went to bed Nick took back the pillow he said I could keep and the Mickey Mouse night light burned out and I bit my tongue.
The cat wants to sleep with Anthony, not with me. It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
My Mom says some days are like that."

Voting lines now closed

Decision made!

No doubt it will change as time goes on, but for now it's
Won Tong, Two Tong, Five Tong!

The new look!

In a nutshell

Six months ago our family made the big move from Auckland to Wellington, to begin a new adventure at Booth College of Mission.

There has been a new school for Naomi, and Cody as a new entrant. A new kindy for Kayla. A completely new routine for Stu and I. New friends. New insights of God and ourselves. Lots and lots of new!!
In all of the newness, there has been an awesome amount of being sure that this is right!

It's great to be able to say after the first six months of this part of our lives, we are enjoying life and experiencing Gods blessings in every way.
In a nutshell, that's us!

Stay tuned for photos as they come to hand, and the voting lines are still open for the name of this blog!

What's in a name

So... This blog has finally happened.

The most difficult part of getting this blog going has been the past hour, spent in discussions with all those present, on the name of this blog.

I think a vote may be in order to confirm the best name of this soon to be regularly used blog!

Here are the options;

Tong Time

Tongs & Tweezers

Five Tongalofa, sitting on a sofa

The Tongie Tubbies

The weekly updates from Tinky Winky

Pass da Tongs

Ground control to Major Tong

Wong Tong Fooeys

Won Tong, Two Tong, Five Tong

Ying Tong Ying Tong Yiddily I Po

Who let the Tongs out?

We await your comments with great anticipation!