A brand new year, and brand new school

We hummed and haa-d a bit last year about moving the kids to the brand new school that opened today, but after their reactions this arvo, I think we have definately done the right thing! And as Foundation Students, I saw two really motivated kids at the end of the school day today, and even though it's only the first day... well, start as you mean to go on is my motto!

Nostalgia

I was on Facebook and Joanna from Applique Today, put up some pictures of herself way back in the big hair days. It got me thinking and then rifling through the I-don't-know-how-many boxes of photos. (I mean there are a LOT!)

Amongst many others going back to when photos all came out orange, I have put up an album on Facebook entitled, Fun Ways to Discipline your Children. I thought you might like these ideas, with it being the school holidays and everything in NZ.

...and if you continue being cheeky we will keep going down the Log Flume until you learn not to be!

Island Life

In our endeavour to do stuff these holidays, here is our wee trip to Rangitoto today. It was a bit of a climb, and I did think my heart would give out. So even though I don't do resolutions, I must try and get fitter this year! I now sport a definite lump and bruise on my thigh, from the fool I made of myself going end over kite on the loose volcanic stones. Owwwww!

The view at the top is well worth the trek!

That so familiar shape that is Rangitoto.

Auckland

Junior Busy looking a little exhausted, and we are not even half way!

Auckland in the background

One of the cute baches on the island.

Exploring the lava caves....

And all this only half an hour from home!

Busy being Monkeys!

We are really trying to get out and about these holidays with the kids. It's so easy when you don't go away somewhere to just hang around the house "doing stuff that needs to be done". So with that in mind we headed out to the Woodhill Forest past Kumeu and Waimauku to Tree Adventures. My feet started tingling before we even got there because I really don't like heights, but if the kids were willing and able then I could hardly pike out could I? Incidentally, Woodhill Forest is where the Film Company making the new Yogi Bear movie have recreated Yellowstone Park. Didn't catch sight of Yogi or Boo Boo, but that was okay because we had more than enough thrills on the obstacle course through the trees. So, hook your Caribeeners on and we'll show you how its done!

Happy Monkey's!

Count your blessings ...

its the little things in life that count. Like running through the sprinkler on a hot New Years day...

Happy New Year from the Busy's!

A good day indeed

Mr Busy and I have been together for quite some time, however it was all made official 3 years ago.

I do like being Mrs Busy....

Happy Anniversary Mr Busy. With love from Mrs Busy.

This Holiday Stinks!

I have been a bit absent lately, due to my broken computer, which is still awaiting urgent medical assistance, but having a "family computer" has helped a bit. Although its a bit like taking a ticket and having to wait for your number to be called out. I would like to say that the lack of computer has had me sewing away like a cyber deprived maniac, but alas I don't have much to show, except a very small silk pouch. (More about that in another post).

Jellybelly Jellybrain, has posted her holiday snaps, and I have to say there wasn't a moment where I was thinking "oh hurry up" because she took some very nice shots of things at the very hot and summery beach. However as we are in the middle of a very cold winter here in New Zealand, the only place for a holiday, in my opinion is Rotorua, or one of our stunning mountains for skiing, but I have an aversion to snow (probably from living in the UK for 12 years.)

So on Friday we gave the kids the last day of term off and we hit the road early for our 3 hour trip to Rottonrua. Nicknamed aptly because it smells of eggs. Its all the sulphur and thermal activity I assume, and not that the town lives on Baked Beans and Cabbage.

Between you and me, I don't think a weekend counts as a "holiday", but Mr Busy has done a spreadsheet and budget forecast and it looks like that could be it...
... so I will show you a few of our "holiday" snaps.



There was quite a bit of this

And a lot of this...



A trip up the Gondola



and a hair raising ride down the luge .

Please note: Picture is not indicative of actual terror shown.

Then off for some thermal activity...

Where things got steamy at Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters)

This sign means....


Don't stick your fingers in the hot water Mr Busy!!

I conveniently wore a top to match The Devils Bath.

and not forgetting the bubbling mud pools, which I could have stood and watched all day!

And now for a small pictorial interlude ...

before I bid you Ka kite ano ...

The Cat that got the ... er Cake

Yesterday was Mr Busy's birthday. We have a little tradition in our family, that you can pick whatever you want for dinner on your birthday. Roast Chicken was ordered, and being the dutiful wife, I thought I would make a lovely choclate cake as well. Its becoming quite famous this chocolate cake, and I have made about a thousand of them to date.

The following events took place at 2.45pm ...

Bake Cake and leave on the bench to cool.
Muck about, go upstairs, answer phone, and have rather long conversation with my sister in law. Cat (Cleo) ambles past, giving a bit of a stretch in a sunny spot after spending all day curled up on my bed, which at this point is still unmade, due to not wanting to "disturb" the said cat.
As I wander downstairs the cat is nowhere in sight, but a quarter of the cake is missing! Yes you heard. A QUARTER of the cake!

No she didn't cut herself a piece. This was after I tried to rescue it, by cutting out offending mauled area. My sister in law asked me what sort of cat eats cake? I told her a hungry one.


And here we have the suspect, wondering what the heck all the fuss is about. What can I say? She was an orphaned stray that we got at 6 weeks old, and who the Busy family thinks is the cleverest, cutest, and most loving cat to walk the earth. And what did she have for dinner. Roast chicken like the rest of the family of course!

MARMOT

It's a group I have started on FB. Its stands for Mothers Against Rejected Mothers Of Teenagers.
I told you a couple of posts back how I was hanging around at FB for a bit hence my lack of posting? I even made friends with my two oldest children. Busy Daughter 21 in August, and Busy Son 18 in June. (To be honest he is not that busy, mainly just lies around, or goes out socialising). This whole face book thing was going quite well for a while and everyone was rubbing along together in a very jolly fashion, with lots of nice comments and everything. And then it happened. Here is how...

Matt comments: Finished work early. (He's a builders apprentice, and its pouring rain today)
Mum comments: Well you can tidy your room then! (in a lets have a laugh kind of way)
Friend of Matt comments: ha ha
Matt comments: Mum don't comment me you loser.
Friend of Matt comments: tidy your room.
Mum comments: something about not being so mean, and I can embarrass you more than you can embarrass me.
Matt comments: I can delete you.

And guess what? He did. Just like that!
On my status bar I had written: KIDS! Just when you think they have pushed you to the edge they grab a heart string and pull so hard it makes your eyes water.
My son had just ripped my heart out.
He doesn't wanna be my friend anymore. Where did I go wrong I ask myself? Was it spoiling him too much, by buying him that Swimming Action Man when he was five? Could it have been the trip to Disneyland when he as six? Or did it happen later in High School when I insisted on dropping him right at the school gate, whilst blasting Easy Listening music from the car, while I waited until he was safely in the school gate? I just don't know how he could have turned like that.

I'm sure there are distraught parents out there all over the place, aimlessly wondering why their kids have deleted them. Word might get out, they may need MARMOT. And for all you parents of 7 year olds, don't think it won't happen to you. Get your support networks in place NOW! I tell you you are gonna need them! One day they will change, and instead of laughing at your corny joke, it will be met with silence and a curled lip...

Remember you have been warned! Please leave a comment if you are in need of a friendly message from team MARMOT.

A teenage Marmot shortly before it's parents spent $20,000 in Orthodontist treatment