love, adoption, photography, kids, me, friends, family

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Happy Waitangi Day

New Zelanders celebrate Waitangi Day each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.
So really its a day off - if it wasn't a Sunday, and a chance for politicians to get up try and convince you all to vote for them!
So I decided to do a post on some things that scream classic Kiwi to me! (Did you know us New Zealanders call ourselves Kiwis)



The Kiwi - small bird that only come out at night and does not fly






The Buzzy Bee - our most well known toy - even Prince William has one!





Tomato Sauce bottle





Pineapple lumps





Pavalova





Jandals





And I couldn't leave out the BBQ

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The house list



So this the plan. Right a list so that its there in writing so I can tick it off! (Love to tick things off)
We have lived in our house for 2 years and the plan was to get in and fix it up and live happily every after - after being 2-3 years so we can then buy some land. We have have done Zippo to the house. Well not exactly zippo but pretty much. So here is my list. One day I will work out how to put lines through to cross things out and then it will be super fancy!
We have painted the exterior to even out all the colours Not sure why anyone would use so many different shades of yucky brown and green on a house! And removed most of the palm fronds on the palm tree too let in so much light!

So here goes my list:

  1. new glass in broken window in kitchen $100
  2. 3x wooden blinds in lounge $844.20
  3. 1x ranch slider curtain in lounge
  4. 1x curtain for master bedroom
  5. 1x wooden blind for master bedroom $172
  6. 1x wooden blind kitchen $380
  7. 1x wooden blind dining $522
  8. Gib for hole in the wall in the lounge
  9. carpet in the lounge repaired $115
  10. carpet in the lounge cleaned $75
  11. Net curtain for lounge
  12. rod for shower curtain
  13. NEW KITCHEN
  14. wallpaper for all the house
  15. Roof paint
  16. fence paint

Black and White Wednesday


So I decided to jump in and join a few more link parties as I love to look and comment on them but have not joined many.
So this is one that I have enjoyed looking at and so I am going to jump on in there too!!
I came across this blog while reading up on International adoptions. With both our two darling children adopted, international adoption is something I have also been interested in. Not to extend our family - more out of interest.

the long road

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Communal Global!


I have loved seeing all your photos over the past year! How wonderful to be apart of other families lives in such a great way!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Photoshop attempt




So in the previous thread I talked about the little caravan and how the colours were hard to get right due to the red fabric. I thought I would show you an example of my poor attempt at photoshopping it to get a somewhat good image. I really must go to a class on photoshop!

And my next attempt - my sweet nephew Levi.




Wednesday, January 26, 2011

We are back!

Hello Trelise!!!


Back from camping because we got rained out! Such a shame but we were over it. Dry in the tent but what do you do when it rains all day! Never mind.
Found a super cute little caravan that was there raising money for Breast Cancer. It had been kitted out by Trelise Cooper (Hello!! Trelise Cooper people!!!)so it was amazing. Perfect place for a photo shoot right?? Wrong. I got in there and couldn't get the right settings. Too much red fabric reflecting onto faces etc. I blew it.....
Check out how cute it is here: http://www.breastcancercure.org.nz/GETINVOLVED/CaravanRestoration/tabid/38831/Default.aspx

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Relaxing in the Shade


Its so warm here right now that the kids just love laying around in the shade!
Packing today for summer holiday - so can't wait!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

I love my garden


There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler



I just love it. Love being able to go out and collect my ingredients for tea from it! I can't wait for those tomatoes to ripen! Hopefully I will have so many that I can make sauce and pickle with the soft ones!

Do you have a vege garden? I saw on the 'Biggest Loser' they went to the white house garden...now that would be fun!
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Friday, January 7, 2011

Its open again!

In 2006, Adoptions between New Zealand and Russia were suspended. Russia had concerns due to uncertainties with the process. Finally, yesterday they came to an agreement and now New Zealanders can start the process of inter country adoption with Russia. And although Russia is not part of the Hague Convention on inter country adoptions the arrangement they have decided on meets the Hague standards.



This is music to many couples ears!
My husbands cousin is adopted from Russia. It was a very long and tedious process but the result is so worth it. We were lucky enough to have been able to adopt easily enough within New Zealand. I am unsure if we would have gone done the Russian road if we had too.

So many wrong decisions in my past, I'm not quite sure
If I can ever hope to trust my judgment anymore.
But lately I've been thinking,
Cause it's all I've had to do.
And in my heart I feel that I
Should give this child to you.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before, By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.


If you choose to tell him,
If he wants to know,
How the one who gave him life
Could bear to let him go.
Just tell him there were sleepless nights,
I prayed and paced the floors,
And knew the only peace I'd find,
Was if this child was yours.



And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.


This may not be the answer,
For another girl like me.
But I'm not on a soapbox,
Saying how we all should be.
I'm just trusting in my feelings,
And I'm trusting God above,
And I'm trusting you can give this baby
Both his mothers' love.


And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.



Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Welcome 2011!!

So I welcomed 2011 in asleep in bed with Tonsillitis! I know. Who gets tonsillitis at my age. I do that's who as I never had them removed despite countless bouts of it when I was younger. I am on day 8 and can swallow today so that's a bonus!
I decided to do a post with a few pics from the year
Hope you enjoy......


One of my photos was selected for "Manawatu Wildlife Photographer of the Year" I didn't win - but it was on display at Te Manawa for months!

Amalie gave herself a haircut

Oliver lost his first tooth!

We lost our Scotty
Photographed my first wedding (I am now calling it my first as it was the first on my DSLR)
A wonderful trip to Rarotonga to see our good friends get married.
We lost our sweet little Milly
Beautiful "Recycled" Christmas Fairy in the Christmas Parade

Happy New Year to you all!!