Go Karts

What do you do when it is a rainy day and everyone wants to play?  Go swimming at the community pool (totally did not get any pics) and follow it up with a little go karting extravaganza!  

The kids chose the pool that we have been to a few times.  It is about a 25 minute drive but has an awesome kiddie area and a hydro slide (waterslide) that they are all able to ride!  Emmett had quite a lot to take in and was content to just sit and chill!  Gusley is doing very well with his confidence in the water and took on the wave pool today!  School swimming lessons are paying off.  Over here, swimming lessons are incorporated into their school day once a week for an entire term. How awesome is that?  Mabel showed lots more confidence as well and Ivy, that guy has no fear as long as he has his ear plugs in!  Sadly I did not get any photos, but did get a little video at the hydro slide.  

Jake has been itching to try out the go karts here and there is a place 3 minutes from the pool so we headed over as the kids were all old enough to drive/ride them. Why not?  They all had a blast!  Gusley drove his own and Mabel and Ivy took turns riding with Jake.  Ivy he a major meltdown when he realized his turn was over, but soon started cracking up at a kart on blocks with no wheels!  The owners were impressed with Gusley's driving ability and gave him a print out of his fastest lap!  

Jake and I had to laugh - the regulations here vs. the regulations in America!  Sometimes the simplicity that this country offers is pretty damn amazing!  

We came home exhausted, but content!  The rain doesn't have to be so bad!  

Movie nights

When we moved country we decided not to bring our sofas and we would purchase one once we were here!  Best decision we made!  Now don't get me wrong, we loved our old sofas, but it was time for an upgrade! 

Once we were here we went out furniture shopping.  The first store we walked in and the first sofa we saw would soon become our very own!  At the store, we all sat on the sofa in a different spot and it just felt cozy. Jake and I said this is the one and it has served us well thus far!  However, we decided on the sofa in early September and we did not get it until Halloween.  It literally came on a slow boat from China!  Well worth the wait as we all have our favorite spot and we have enjoyed lots of movies!  

This weekend we have enjoyed Indiana Jones, Bedtime Stories, Gremlins and The Neverending Story!  It has been a nice and relaxing, movie watching weekend!  

Here are the kids getting ready for the movie on "the sofa"!  Xx

Washateria fun

So with sick children comes washing, loads and loads of washing.  I do become a little obsessive I must admit - as in I strip every bed, wash every blanket/throw that any little sick person *may have touched and all the small throw rugs, in an attempt to eliminate the bug/germs.  It is a terrible nervous habit I have, but then all is clean and soon all are well!  That being said, I create work for myself when Jake and I are both exhausted from the sleepless nights of a newborn and sick littles the last thing I want to do is extra laundry, but alas my pile grows and then slowly dwindles. Today, however, I called in the big dogs for Mabel's comforter. I am not sure if my build up of the washateria/laundry mat had them excited or if it was just this crazy place with oodles of washers and gigantic dryers that had them in an overwhelmed state, but they could not get over the joint!  Except Emmett, he was not impressed. 

Ivy took his job of Carey the detergent very serious and Mabel was insistent that she carry her comforter. Fair enough! 

Making sure it all gets washed. 

Slept thru the entire cycle!  

A little climb on the folding tables?  Just this once!  

I have to say that 10kg washer and dryer (can hold 3 large loads) was rather lovely. And that it can all be done in an hour is even better!  I should remember this after we take a camping trip as it would be so much easier as far as washing goes!  Xx

Down and out

Wow what a week!  Two words - stomach bug. I do believe we are on the mend now, but man it sure did a number on the middles.  They were wonderful little patients for as yucky as they felt.  These pics are on their second day home from Kindy - it took everything out of them.  

Thursday this week was rainy and they were already going to be home and Gusley was not up to par with a sore tummy so we all stayed home in our pj's watching movies and building a 300 piece puzzle!  I think we all needed a day of rest, at least Mum did!  

What was THAT?

Tonight Jake was working late.  Gusley was in the lounge reading, Emmett was fast asleep, the two middles were each in their beds and I was laying with Ivy, and we were just finishing telling our whole body goodnight when we heard a loud roar and felt the house shake from under us. Gus yelled out immediately "what was THAT?" Followed by, "was that what I think it was? An EARTHQUAKE?" Ivy was nearly asleep and did not make a peep. Mabel freaked a wee bit and was ready to jump her bunk and come down.  

Luckily it wasn't anything to shake the shelves over here, but others say they felt a pretty good jolt. It did not last long at all. Made me a little nervous and I had to do a quick evaluation of who to grab first and make some sort of plan. I think Gusley was nervous but excited as this is the first one he really felt!  I have flet one other one right after we moved out here, but none ever since. I am quite sure it will be the talk of the town tomorrow at school! 

Tarakena Bay hike

Incredible!

On Saturday we decided to take the children on a hike to access everyone's stamina!  This one was suggested by a friend and it was perfect. About a 10 minute drive from the house, not too steep a climb and the downhill was paved and fun for the kids!  The views were spectacular. This place truly amazes me and has me in awe atleast once a day, if not twice or three times!  At the summit (so to speak) there is the Ataturk Memorial which is a unique design with a well written inscription.  

As you can see on a clear day, you can see the South Island and today we could see some snow on the peaks!  

Poppa Bear and 3/4ths of his cubs.

Ataturk Memorial

The South Island out in the distance.

3pm

On Tuesdays, we spend a wee bit of time in the car after school as Mabel has ballet lessons.  It works out quite nice though//routine is something like this-meet Jake for a coffee around 2pm, grab the middles, then head up to wait for Gusley and nurse the baby then we boogie to ballet and the boys and I go to the playground across the street!  Sometimes we meet our friends, sometimes we chill in the car. 

This was the scene today while waiting for Gusley!  Emmett, you are loved more than you can imagine. Ivy asked to "pwease hold baby Emmett while we wait for Gussie!" Who could refuse? ***

Mother Hen is in the house

Mabel meets and holds Emmett for the first time.

We have been allowing Mabel to hold Emmett in the tub (while one of us is right next to them).  The other night she said the sweetest words.  She looked up at me with a smile as big as can be and said, "He is soooooooo cute, Mummy!"  "I never thought I would get to do this."  "I just love him so much!" and she gave her baby brother a big hug and soft kiss on his head.  Such a special conversation.  I do believe if Mabel could nurse the baby she would!  She is most attentive to his every need. He will never go without as long as she is around him!  

Can you feel the love?

She is just smitten!

100 months

Today, the 14th of June 2016, marks Gusley's 100th month of life!  He is all about numbers and timelines and all things Mathmatics so this is only fitting to document this day.   

He conquered a large fear and created a milestone today as well.  During this term at school, they go to swimming lessons every Tuesday and tonight he was so proud when he told me that he went underwater without holding his nose!  I could see the pride in his eyes and in his smile!  He has been working on this for quite sometime and he said that his swim instructor was so excited for him as well!  Well done, Gusley, well done!  

Why Elgrand Adventures?

So this has been in the works in my head for quite sometime. I could never think of the appropriate name for this blog.  I have been racking my brain daily.  This evening I was telling Gusley what I wanted to do and a few of the names I had thought of and he disagreed with all of them!  I said what about "Elgrand" and he came back with "Elgrand Adventures".  He won.  We own a Nissan Elgrand van and we all love it - it has already taken us on some great adventures, so here's to many more.

This is to document our life here in New Zealand and where ever else we may land.  Sure there is Facebook and Instagram, but I wanted to write some stories of what we have experienced in moving country, living in a new country, and all that we have seen and done and will see and do along the way.  Not to mention all those special moments in between.  My aim is to write a few times a week about the goings on around here and to incorporate some of the past into this blog so that the last 10 months don't get forgotten about.  I mean I have to write about how we flew over with 15 suitcases, 5 carry-on's, 5 backpacks, 3 carseats, a double stroller, 3 children, a pregnant woman and a husband that had been removed from all of the flights so we had to check in at every.single.gate - and we went through 5 gates!  How we missed all of our original flights, but managed to always make the next one!  Memories, we are making them and I don't want to forget them!  Happy reading!  xx