Who let the Tong's out?!

Mount Bruce Wildlife Park Jan 2008

2008-03-24T09:48:00.011+13:00

The kids posing!

2008-03-10T20:43:00.006+13:00

A few photo's of the kids taken one summer night that don't really fit in with any 'happening'- they just wanted their photo's taken!

And if there was ever a photo that captured Kayla's personality - Then this is it!!

Christmas Carol night at Kids School - Trentham Primary

2008-03-07T18:30:00.013+13:00

December 2007
Simon and Stu being Simon and Stu

Kayla, Monique and Emily keeping us entertained while we waited for the carols to begin

Fa la la la la....

la la la la

And the kids did well too! Naomi ....

Cody....

Reuben....

and Kendal

Kayla, Monique and Emily just kept on twirling, dancing, laughing and having a fab time!

More pics

2008-02-27T22:53:00.007+13:00

DECEMBER 2007

When was the last time you played in the rain?? Cody, Kendal & Nay living and loving life!

Yip Cody - you are officially wet!!

Do you think we could get our clothes dry while we stand in the rain? Let's try ay?

Look at me - I'm a fountain!

Long overdue update - Part 2 (the photos!)

2008-02-25T10:44:00.009+13:00

NOVEMBER 2007

Luke Deans came and spent a weekend with us - very cool to have him stay!!

We went on the cable car ...

And enjoyed a beautiful sunny Wellington day. As they say - "You can't beat Wellington on a good day"

More to come .... check back soon!

Long overdue update - Part 1

2008-02-25T10:32:00.002+13:00

In the last few weeks and months there has been some comment on our severe lack of updates on this blog! And fair enough too!!

So we are now living in Masterton and it's a great place to live so far. The weather has been spectacular, the two big kids are settled into a great little country school and Kayla into 5 mornings at a very lovely kindy.

Our role here in Masterton is to oversee the work of the Salvation Army here which is currently a Family Store and an Early Childhood Education Centre. Our role is also to look at re-starting the Salvation Army church here. At this stage our emphasis is on what is already established and getting into the community.

It's still early days but we are pretty excited about everything that lies ahead of us and are taking one day at a time and asking God to reveal what His plan is for us here and the Salvation Army in Masterton!

Over the next few days I will download a wide variety of photos of our life since early November!

Watch this space .....

Never a dull moment!!

2007-11-03T13:26:00.000+13:00

It's been a while since we last updated our blog, but not because of lack of exciting events going on in our lives!

At the beginning of October John and Andrea (Kylie's sister) and their kids Josh, Siena, Maddy and Caitlin arrived home from the States after being there for 20 months. It has been great having them around again! Their first night back in New Zealand our kids were very excited to have the three girls sleep over at our place.

The next exciting event in our month was finding out that we have been appointed to re-establish the Salvation Army church in Masterton (about an hour from Upper Hutt).
We are starting to get our heads around all that this entails and are feeling a little daunted but also excited about what lies ahead.
We will still be in training as part time students next year as well so it will be a great training year for us. The plan is for us to stay in Masterton after we are commissioned in December 2008.

The weekend after the announcement came out, we headed up to Masterton to have a look around. We had heard about the very cool park with a train so we packed a picnic lunch and had a great day exploring and playing at the park!

In other news this month, Kylie's Aunty Frances was diagnosed with cancer as well as kidney failure. She was given days to live and so all the family made their way to Levin. At this stage, she is still being cared for by her siblings and their spouses at home. It was special to be able to have Dean (Kylie's brother) and cousins Nicola and Stephen and Laura, Stephens wife come and spend an evening with us before heading back to Australia.

Last week Stu took Cody on a hike after school that Cody had been anticipating for a long time. He packed his rope, put on his hiking boots and went armed with a lunch box full of afternoon tea and had a GREAT time with his Daddy!!

On Wednesday night we went to a Saints and Angel party that was put on by three big churches in Upper Hutt. The kids had a great time dressing up, having dinner there, doing craft activities and playing - it was a really good night!

Then just last night we celebrated Guy Fawkes here at College with a BBQ, sparklers and the all important fire works display. It was a bit cold but a great night down at the College park!

(Above is Nay, Corryn and Kendal)

(Monique doing her thing with a sparkler)

(The kids crowding around Simon for their sparklers)

(Sparkly Kendal)

(Naomi had a great time writing her name and making patterns)

So that's our month in a nutshell. The month ahead involves assignments, exams, preaching and packing! This time next month we will be right into our family tradition of the countdown to Christmas! I'm sure there will be plenty of photos to post on our blog from that!!

All I want for Cwithmith

2007-09-13T19:24:00.000+12:00

Up until this morning, Naomi had only lost her 2 front bottom teeth. Tonight she went to bed with 3 brand new gaps - it was a busy day!

We were fairly sure that she would come home from school today with one gap, as one of her bottom teeth was hanging in by a thread and sure enough - she came out of class and presented us with a carefully tissue-wrapped baby tooth!

About an hour after getting home from school there was an accident involving a swinging 7 year old and a bunk bed - Naomi being the 7 year old in question!

When the blood cleared away and we managed to get a good look, the discovery was made, 2 top front baby teeth - out for the count!

Thankfully Naomi is fine now and there appears to me no damage to her gums and lips and all other teeth are still in tact.

The tooth fairy is planning a trip to the atm tonight to get some cash!

The new look Naomi before going to bed tonight - the smile took a while to return but it did come!

Straight and Stylie!

2007-09-03T21:37:00.000+12:00

So I was a bit spoiled on my birthday and got a ghd hair straightener! It has already had a good workout straightening not only my hair but Naomi and Kayla's also (twice!)
Thought I would put some pics of them taken before school and kindy this morning - and Cody with his short as haircut.

This photo was too hilarious to keep to ourselves!

Chilly Saturday Mornings

2007-08-13T14:25:00.000+12:00

Armed with jackets, hats, gloves, scarfes and bike helmets, the kids braved the cold to enjoy a beautiful sunny Saturday morning!

Naomi

Cody

Kendal

Monique

Kayla

Emily

The three year olds!

Cody overcomes his fear of dogs!!

2007-08-08T13:56:00.000+12:00

These photos were taken some months ago when Cody suprised us all by asking Janine if he could take Hugo for a walk - this is the same Cody who used to cry when he saw a dog in the distance!

He had such a fun time and what's more, the next day he got his own packet of chocolate bisuits from Janine for being so brave! Talk about 'win-win'!

He was very cute!!

Takara

2007-07-27T09:55:00.001+12:00

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

2007-07-21T21:05:00.000+12:00

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!

2007-07-17T18:46:00.000+12:00

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!

2007-07-12T19:15:00.000+12:00

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!

2007-07-12T18:42:00.000+12:00

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

2007-07-11T09:50:00.000+12:00

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!

2007-07-09T16:54:00.001+12:00

In a nutshell

2007-07-09T16:40:00.000+12:00

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

2007-07-08T20:25:00.000+12:00

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!