All Hallows Eve...

This year was the first that K really "got" Halloween. We discussed costumes 6 weeks out and settled on a Pirate theme - very exciting. C was a little more problematic but we eventually settled on Pirate's Monkey theme. I scoured the op shops hoping to find items in navy red and white that I could cannibalise for the costume. I managed to score a black sash for 20c but that was it! However the local $ shop came to our aid with a hat, bandanna (useless!) and eyepatch for a total of $5. On the day K was supper excited. I got the boys dressed after dinner - a dinner interrupted by Trick or Treaters - and we headed out around the Circle. We met up with Esteban dressed as Superman and did the rounds of the houses, knocking on doors and thanking people as we left. K had an absolute blast. Isabelle and Maddie were also out - Isabelle made a great cat lol. The amount of lollies in the bag was eye boggling - probably because a door would open and the home owner went "Oh LOOK at the little baby MONKEY!!" C became very deft at hiding the hand with the lollipop in order to beg more treats. K ran the whole way, and I got to carry the fat little monkey. Afterwards Chris got to bath the sugar hopped boys and I fled across the road to go to Zumba with Isabelle :) It was a great night.

Snip Snap

At last the day has dawned.... the day that Kieran got his first big boy haircut!!! We headed down to the hairdressers at 9, planning to get the mopchop just prior to Playcentre. K bounded in the door and practically flung himself onto the chair. He has been very excited about getting his first Big Boy Haircut. He was such a champ too, sitting very still, while keeping up a lovely conversation with the hairdresser. It came out a bit shorter than I was expecting but he was thrilled. It was amazing how he turned into a big boy in under 20 minutes.... where did that sweet little boy go. We then walked to Playcentre where he showed off his new haircut and everyone was very impressed.

And I will walk 100 miles....

Sadly my car resembles a slug at the moment, acceleration is lacking and lets saying getting onto the main road requires a gap worthy of a mac truck so I have time to get enough acceleration going. Having got the contact deets of an awesome local mechanic off Ruth I booked it in to be fixed. This is somewhat more exciting than one might suppose. the mechanic lives by Parrs Park - a decent walk away. I drove K to kindy then headed to Mechanic's. I then walked back to the kindy as C was doing Mainly Music in the centre. It was a good session. It ended at 10:30, 2 hours before K was due to be collected so i walked over to Nakita's and visted baby Dylan. I then hurried back to collect K, having lost track of time and then we walked home. It took 40 minutes. Collapsing at home I got C into bed, feeling very jealous then made K's lunch before tricking him into a nap....Once all were awake we walked back to the mechanic as the fuel line thingy had been repaired. The car took off like a racehorse!! So pleased, and only cost $50. Needless to say I was knackered by the time I got home and Chris wa told to get takeaways for dinner lol, which he dutifully did.

dropped off car

Splish Splash

One of K's kindy teachers is English. Upon hearing K carolling his delight that he had home made gingerbread in his lunchbox she asked for the recipe. K instantly said that he would make her some. Lol. Anyway my swedish gingerbread recipe needs two days to sit in the fridge so dashed home and mixed up a batch. There are swedish gingerbread recipes that call for butter and cream - not mine. Anyway 2 days had passed and we were all up early thanks to "Fang" Seal. I whipped the gingerbread out, K cut the stars and we popped it into the oven. Shortly afterwards K grabbed his crotch and screamed "Poo! POO!" In the course of dashing upstairs and partially averting disaster - another occurred.... I burnt the gingerbread. Luckily we were up at such an ungodly hour that we could get another batch rolled out, cut intp star and train shapes and baked... to perfection. The weather has been pretty good this week too, lovely and sunny. K has started requesting sunblock and we walk as much as possible :) After all, feet are cheaper than petrol! On friday we went to the pools with Kym and Isabelle. K and C ADORED the pools and only tried to drown themselves several times apiece. It did remind me why I don't take 2 small boys swimming when neither can swim. Afterwards we had a picnic behind the falls restauarant and then headed back to the train station. We had some time to wait so I showed Isabelle the Zen garden by the train station. She liked it so much she came back on the weekend with Pascal :)

You say contact course, I say family camping trip

Had a look at the dates for the contact course in January and it runs Tues-Thurs. Seriously, what is wrong with a Monday start people? Chris, when presented with the option to stay in Auckland with the boys or to accompany me to Palmy, discovered a fervent desire to view Palmerston North hidden deep within his soul. Have been looking at motels ($160 a night for 3 nights - yikes!) and am trying to find a campground as a cheaper alternative. Look boys - our first family camping trip! A cheaper camping venue was found and booked for a mere $75 per night for kitchen/toilet cabin. Right next to pools, miniature railway and the campground has a playground - win!!

Flapping flags

Kieran, aided by me, has discovered the excitement of flags. We bought a special scrapbook to stick flag pictures in, and used the laptop to do a flag alphabet. His favourite flag however, id the magnificent Cymru Dragon. Yup, it's the Welsh dragon all the way for K. We even bought a welsh flag to go on the car. After it blew off and was retrieved I mended it and hung it on the boys bedroom wall. This morning much excitement ensued as a parcel arrived from England. K was especially excited by the flag placemat, and we looked at the English flag, and about a zillion others lol. K was so excited he insisted on taking it in to Kindy for show and tell. Being quite multicultural they were very pleased to have it, and all the children happily pointed out their national flag. K's is apparently the Welsh flag lol. I prepped Swedish Gingerbread the other day, and we shall bake it tomorrow morning, before K heads into kindy. After a week of hideous nappies, and awful nappy rash C's bottom has cleared up and a tooth has emerged. The nightly awakenings during this period have ended also. Now if only K would stay in his bed! My new swimsuit looks very nice, I shall have to buy another that is 2 sizes smaller for after Xmas!

Bunnikins and Chairs

My boys are growing up so fast! Kieran helped Chris make pickled onions this weekend, helping to peel the onions, stirring the vinegar and chatting away to his dad the entire time. Heartwarming :) I opened up Kieran's christening presents and he is now using his Bunnikins bowl and plate, as well as his christening cutlery set. We bought a table second hand a week ago - cheap at $80 - and needed some more chairs. Scored two on TradeMe again, 2 for $11.50. I feel positively thrifty!! I also went to Spotlight looking for plastic tablecloths - big mistake. Could not find the tablecloths, and the rolls that you cut lengths off were $16 a metre... a metre!!! I went to local dollar shop and got 2.5 metres for the princely sum of $12.50 instead. Also went to the local OpShop looking for scarves etc for K and C's pirate costumes. Not too much there sadly. I fear I will have to check out the Salvation Army Opshop for bright scarves, and head into the Warehouse for some plain white tee's and a black fabric pen. Then all can marvel and my mighty rending of Ye Olde Skull 'n Crossbones lol.