about bloody time !

I know, I know, it's been over 3 months since my last blog but hey, life's busy here in Whangarei.

With working full time now (doing really well & loving it), trying to run a house (not very successfully), having a 3 1/2 (going on 13) year old and lots of friends with weddings, birthdays and bbqs - there's very little time for much of anything else.

Winter has also arrived after a very long, dry summer - we, in fact, were in drought and had water restrictions up until last week but they have since been lifted after good, very heavy downpours.

David is absolutely delightful (full of shit) but delightful - he loves the childcare he is in - it is called PORSE home based childcare and basically he is looked after by two friends of ours, who have their own kids but look after our kid too ! He spends Monday's, Wednesday's & Friday's with Karyn & Casey (2) and Tuesday's & Thursday's with Nicci, Lucas (4), & Alex (2). He goes to Kindy 3 times a week, Mon, Tues & Thurs from 1.30-3.30. He will start kindy 5 days a week 8.30-12.45 when he turns 4. He has blossomed so much since he started kindy & childcare, getting the stimulation and attention the educators give him. Every day he comes home with stories and paintings and creations. The educators also write in a book everyday - what they did that day, david's mood, his favourite thing of the day etc. It is a really wonderful programme and we are so grateful that he happy and settled. Every morning, he says "Mom, where am I going today?" and when i tell him (be it Tues to Nicci, or Friday to Karyn) he throws his little arms in the air and shouts "YAH !, i love going to Nicci (or Karyn)" !!!

Deon is also very happy and settled ;) his job is going really well, he has been working on big projects - the local rugby stadium being upgraded for RWC 2011 NEC, a water purification & clarifying works at the huge diary farm Fonterra and is really being recognised for his ability and work ethic.

Unbelievably I am good at sales, who knew ? After only 3 months I have had a promotion - they are moving me from the features dept (telesales) to a ROP (run of paper) rep - with the sole responsibility of breathing life into and making a success of a special rural publication called The Rural Advocate - it has been losing money for a while now and they believe I can turn it around - I'm not so sure, what the hell do I know about cows but they see something in me and reckon i can do it !!! I am petrified but there is an increase, company phone and use of company car so a-rural I will go :))

will end with some photos ....

much love to you all from us all



at Bayley's Beach (Easter) KD the dog

i
At Kelly Tarlton Marine World with Ted in Auckland





At Andrew & Sherri's Wedding Mother's Day Bfast 1st Day of Kindy

Fabulous February

WOW - we have had quite a month so far !

On the 2nd David started Kindy - Kindergarten - he goes on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1.30-3.30 - he enjoys it a lot and was quite happy for me to leave him there and come back and fetch him - well most days, sometimes we had some tears but all in all he settled in really well and even has a few friends there from our time at Playcentre

AND

also on the 2nd WE GOT OUR PERMANENT RESIDENCY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had an email to tell us to check our status online and it said APPROVED - it was a spectacular moment and our joy was beyond explanation ! Our passports have been sent to Immigration and we expect them back any day now with those wonderful blue stickers in them - which says we are HERE TO STAY !
And in 5 years we will be Citizens and be getting our very own KIWI passports !!

AND

I got a JOB !!!!! ok, ok, to all you who said i would be bored as a stay-at-home mom (you all know who you are), you were right - i do need to do something, don't get me wrong, i loved being home with David for the past 20 odd months but it was TIME - so i did it !!

i applied for a LOT of jobs but in the end i got the one i WANTED !! I am officially a Features Sales Consultant at Northern Publishing - you can check out the ad i responded to here

i am thrilled and feeling extremely motivated and excited - i start tomorrow, Wed the 17th !
David will be going to home based childcare at our friend Karyn for 3 days a week and to another friend, Nicki (who has 2 boys) for the other days - we have had a couple "dry runs" and he seems quite happy and settled with them both - does nothing for my Jewish guilt about abandoning our child but i am sure i will get over it ;)

well, that's it for now - will let you know how we all get on in our new routine and will also catch up after Ted upcoming visit (again) and our friend's andrew & sherri's wedding

love and miss you all

quick catchup

seems as if it's been years since i last blogged and suppose it was.
so a quick catch up of things of (i)relevance
school holidays are STILL on - 7 weeks - the powers that be have completely lost their marbles and as my friend Renette said "bet they don't have kids" but it has brought in a little bit more income as i have been looking after some friend's kids - some days having 5 of them !!

we had a lovely xmas/new year - david loved xmas morning, when he woke up and saw his gifts under the tree and said, with wide eyed wonder : "i nearly had a heart attack because look, santa was here"
we spent lots of time on the beach,boating, deon diving and fishing - i even went out one day on the Froggatt's boat and loved it !! I caught the first and biggest fish - what fun !!
had an impromtu new years party at our place - was great fun and everybody was out of here by 12.30 :))
david has reached some important milestones - he does not wear a nappy at all - not even at night - he wees before going to bed and most nights we hear the pitter patter of little feet to the bathroom and then a very loud waterfall of little boys' ablutions around 5am and then gets back into bed for another hour so... AND he put his dummy in the recycle bin a week ago and has only had one night of asking for it but has finally accepted it has gone - HOORAY !!!
otherwise, hope you all well and happy
much love to you all



xmas morning


Boxing Day - with Marnitz & Hirst Families





evening fishing with the Froggatt's - deon had to fight this stingray for over 15 minutes


i am officially a fish wife - loved it !


New Years at our place - Andrew, Duane, Steven & Deon and Lisa, me, Karyn & Sherri - good friends, good times !




a lovely day spent with the Froggatt's at Limestone Island

Photo Evidence

so here goes, a photographic journey of the last 3 months - starting with Nat, Stix & Zoe's visit to NZ, The Noodle's 3rd Birthday, our trip to SA and then home again - ENJOY !

David spent alot of time with "my cousin" Zoe and his Aunty Natalie including a wonderful trip to the Bay Of Islands and Pahia http://www.paihia.co.nz/
lots of fun was had with Ashlee & Logan too !

David's 3rd Birthday Party was held at The Froggatt's - very generous of Kathryn to host it - as our house was a complete shambles as we moved the next day - Kathryn also made the wonderful racing car cake - which david DID NOT want to cut, he just wanted to ride the cars on the track !

It was an exhausting day for boys & their dad's :)

the next day (moving day) was his actual birthday and he opened more presents, sitting in a packed box, whilst talking to Granny Patsi, Grampa Moi, Sue & Aunty Sal on Skype - gotta love technology !!

Deon and Stix got on like a house on fire (first time they had met) - they went fishing and caught a great snapper and then came home and made a BBQ in our new house - which we absolutely love !!

David & I at the hotel in Auckland before leaving for SA

JOHANNESBURG

With Granny Patsi and with a little girl he befriended at a playground (can you tell we are now in SA)

David with his Great Granny Joyce and his 2nd cousin Liora (my cousin, Daniel's new born daughter)

with Grampa Moi & Sue - having a ball - as usual !!

CAPE TOWN

With Aunty Gene, With Granny Deanna and With Granny Jane

With Shanti and "My Friend Jacqui"

With Aunty Tammy & Cousin Maya on Halloween - David was dressed as the Tokilosh - we spent a lot of time in Kommetjie - we really enjoyed being there - it was just like home - no high walls, no burglar bars ;)


David was intrigued with the 2010 Soccer World Cup Mascot at Cape Town Int.

BACK HOME IN WHANGAREI

With Casey - who I look after 1 day a week while his mom Karyn, is at work - in the Mulberry Bush and having lunch (KD the dog in the background)


Super Cool Noodle and all dressed up as a pirate in a life jacket for Logan's 8th Pirate Birthday Party - we all went over to Limestone Island http://www.limestoneisland.org.nz/ for a picnic - it was a great day !

yes, that is me ironing and me behind dave's boat on a biscuit - no Photoshop, i know, hard to believe but I did do both !!

david with some scallops Deon got last weekend diving and showing off our annual christmas/channukah decor

merry merry and happy new year to you all
much love
robyn, deon & david