Wardini, Graduation, Smoke Alarms, Legos
As usual it's been two weeks since I last wrote in my diary and lots has been going on so I better try to remember it all! First of all on Friday it was Theo's last day in Vita, he's now in Amichi full time, the big kids room at Kindy. They had a little ceremony for him and he got a certificate.
The ceremony was pretty funny, they gave him a little cupcake with a candle in it and instead of blowing the candle out he nearly burnt his nose with it! Poor Karen, she was mortified that she'd hurt him but he was fine, he just got a little bit of a fright because the really hot air went up his nose. There were a few tears but then he was back on track and everyone got a cupcuke. It was very cute, of course he didn't really have any idea what was going on but the fact that everyone was focused on him (and Mummy, Daddy and Grandma were there) was a big deal for him. So that was nice. I'm a bit sad for him leaving Vita really, the teachers there have just been so lovely and kind to him, they're everything you could hope for when you're handing your child over into care 3 days a week. He'll enjoy Amichi though, now he can play with Beth all the time. Beth too will be a bit sad because it was her best friend Gwen's last day on Friday. She's going on a cruise to China and then when she gets back she's off to school! And she's going to a different school to Beth. So that's a bit sad really, they're such good friends.
Thursday night (19th) I took Beth into Wardini Books (right next door to work) for their Bedtime stories. We've been once before and Beth loved it, so I knew she'd like to go this time too. Theo really wanted to go too, but he was so shattered from another big day being in Vita that we opted not to take him. A big room full of kids and parents, it would be too hard to get up and drag him out of there if he did decide he didn't like it. So I took Beth in her Jammies, we got a McDinner before we headed into the bookstore. There were lots of other people there, as expected, but we got a good seat and sat down to listen. They read 4 stories which was great, with some magic tricks by the Great Wardini himself between stories. Beth was SO KEEN to be the assistant, last time she was so sad she didn't get a turn. This time she would throw her hand up in the air before he'd even requested an assistant. Sadly she didn't get a go this time either, I think Wardini is after slightly older children but that's a bit hard to explain to a 4yo. At the end when we were all leaving I said her she could go up and talk to Wardini and say thank you etc. So she marched up confidently and said "I didn't get a turn!". Pretty funny, I thought she was going to say thanks but no, it was all about the lack of a turn. Maybe next time Bethy, maybe next time.
What else has been happening... Last Friday I finally made it up to Auckland after my flight had been cancelled on the Wednesday. Got lots of work done, talking to Tony, working through designs etc. When I got home on Friday night everyone was already tucked up in their beddies alseep, though Beth woke up a bit later so I went to give her a kiss. What'd we do that weekend... I'll see if I can remember.... I know we didn't sell any Feijoa's because it was quite a wet weekend and it's not much fun picking them up when it's pouring with rain. I didn't do any gardening either... Oh I do remember I took them for a walk on Sunday around Jervoistown in the rain, splashing in muddy puddles. Oh and that's right, Saturday was Beth's friends Emily's Birthday party out at Funky Farm. They had a great time out there, it was partly about feeding and seeing the animals but mostly about playing with the Bubbles Emily's Dad was making, or driving the cars/today that were available.
While I remember, he's an unrelated video of Dr Harman.
So this Saturday just gone I was going to sell Feijoa's, but when I went out half of them were already going mouldy and it too hard to examine every single one before you put it in the wheelbarrow. I should have collected some during the week and put them in the fridge but of course I didn't, there's just always something else to do! So we didn't do that, instead we DID have the Fire Service come over and install two brand new smoke alarms for us, for free! And they're 10 year battery ones too, which is awesome, so we don't have to change those until 2028. The two lovely people who turned up were very nice, Beth asked lots of questions while the nice man Graham installed the alarms for us. Just as they were leaving Grandma and Grandad arrived, bring some breakfast, a book about knitting and some fluffies. Poor Theo obviously had a bit of a cold but was still doing a great job regardless.
Once they left I went and cleaned out all the sheds, cleaned up around the garden, Theo helped me to clean out the Garage with his "Earmuffers" on. Then Sarah and Beth went in to watch the Peter Rabbit movie while I put one very tried Theodore to bed and kept cleaning out the sheds and cleaning up around the garden.
Beth had a great time at the Peter Rabbit movie. Then it was time for a bit of a blob in the lounge and playing legos with Sarah. Once that was done it was time for bed.
Sunday we were going to go for a Muddy Puddles walk, but Max from next door came over and said his grandma had accidentally driven into a ditch and needed some help. So we went over there and Theo and Beth watched on as we piled up some bricks and wood to support the cars dangling tire, then slowly but surely it drove out and the day was saved!
Sarah took Beth into town to do some shopping while I tried to get Theo, who was still suffering a cold and crabby, to sleep. In the end I lay down in bed with him for 30 minutes or so and he finally drifted off to sleep just as Sarah and Beth arrived back. Beth had bought a lego Elsa set and Sarah and her put it together. Then we filmed her talking about it because she was very excited.
Then we headed over to Grandma and Grandad's house for a lovely bit of Pork that'd been in the oven for 3+ hours, it was super tasty. Everyone had a good time though it was a bit hectic. Came home, looked at the stars for a few minutes and then it was bedtime!
And now here I am at work. Oh yes on Saturday a huge piece of work that's been ~2 years in the making finally happened at my customer in New Plymouth's site. Sam and Damian worked all day Saturday doing an amazing job, I had to help a few times. So today we are just cleaning up any remaining issues from that.
Tim