February with the Fay Family

Only a day late!  Here we are in the first day of Autumn with another month of sunshine gone by and the cooler nights coming as a welcome relief.  We are back into the swing of routine now - work, Brownies, Keas, swimming and home-schooling - which just seems to make everything and every day go all the faster!

Himself at the Beach with the South Island visible

Visiting the local Deer Museum and feeding the tame deer.

 We have been making the most of the great weather getting out and about along with Liam bang whacking downstairs into shape.  The plums have been harvested, the apples are in the process and the swaps of pears means that a chutney mission will soon be on hand.  The kids have also been baking and cooking up a storm with Chinese New Year testing their skills in fortune cookie making (I know they are not really for the New Year but hey they were fun for the kids to make and create fortunes), making Chinese style meals and using chopsticks :)  They have got into cake making and decorating a lot lately ... with some interesting results it has to be said!

One the better cake decorations themselves have produced all ready for the tea party.

Making fortune cookies for Chinese New Year

Daniel has finally lost another tooth in the front which he was very happy about while Jasmine is loving being back at Brownies, going to camp and being able to sell her biscuits around the neighbourhood.  I'm doing a bit more study (surprise, surprise... seems I just love it so much I can't help myself) in reflexology to become registered in NZ and Liam is busy with Lions (gearing up for taking over as President), renovating our place and work - that man never stops!!

His third tooth.... at this rate he may be 21 and still have baby teeth!

We have also had some Flat travellers (a kind of pen-pal exchange with home-school kids in other countries) with us from Canada and USA which has made us have the camera at the ready so that we can record our days.  The kids have to write a journal for them while they are here, explaining what we have got up to, sharing information about NZ and the odd brochure or two.  At the same time the kids have their Flat Travellers ( a pirate in the US and a penguin in Canada) visiting over in Canada and USA so it is very exciting to get the journals back and read about everything.  Such a great way for the kids to learn about other countries and most importantly cultures :)

Daniel and his USA Flat Traveller at the pool.

Jasmine's Canadian Flat Traveller watching the Brownie Camp beginning.

That's us for another month. Hope this finds you enjoying life.

Arohanui

Y

Into 2016

Wow! The end of January 2016 already.  This month has been a really busy one with Jamboree, retaining walls and Birthdays along with lots of sunshine, outside play and water fun.

Jasmine's Jamboree was the first big event of the year with herself and I along with one other guiding friend heading down to Christchurch for a week of wind, adventure and excitement.  I actually didn't see Jasmine that much as she was so busy putting up tents, kayaking, rock climbing, archery, jewellery making, exploring Christchurch, swimming, community service, wood-working, stone carving and lots of fun the the rest of her unit of 30 girls.  There were 1400 girls on the camp and 400 adults helping so it was a big event!

Herself making leather bracelets on Jamboree. Only got this shot because that is where I was working!

While we were away Liam and Daniel stayed around home and looked after the animals along with having Pizza or Fish & chips every night while we were gone!  I thought Liam was joking when he said it but..... apparently not :)  The biggest mission though was Liam getting the retaining wall completed and the vinyl professionally laid - the house is really taking to take shape now with all his hard work and effort. They did however manage a few adventures including chasing a run away tent in Rimataka Forest Park when the wind picked up and decided the tent looked like a nice friend as well as returning trucks, exploring Plimmerton and Makara.  No worries about Daniel feeling like he had missed out on any fun that is for sure.

Plants removed and getting ready for the work to begin

After the digger had been and gone...... such a difference

Retaining wall in thanks to himself and concrete poured in an early morning mission.

The other big event was Jasmine turning 9.  She had a fantastic day with her friend as we took the train into Wellington to go Rock Climbing then a princess pool party along with fish and chips to round it all off.  She had her cake planned out from about August last year so when it came to making and decorating it she had it all sorted and told me she would organize things.  All I had to do was the baking and she did the rest!  Maybe next year I will be made redundant in the cake making department all together - fingers crossed :)

The decorated cake all by herself.

Miss 9 at her Princess Rock Climbing and Pool Party 

 

 Rock Climbing

The Pool Party!

Aside from that we have been making the most of the sunshine to get down to the river and the beach to enjoy the water.  It is great having them so close that we can just walk or bike down easily.  Nothing like a splash in nature to cool you down.

Family Fun in the Waikanae River

Hope this finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying the year so far.

Arohanui

Y

Final Fay Update for 2015

Well it is the last day of 2015!! It is hard to believe that we have now been back up in the North Island for over a year.  We have had a wonderful, adventurous and eventful 2015 that is for sure.  December seems to mark the biggest changes of all to the house though.... nothing like the new year coming to make you realise you need to finish those goals from the current year!

So hopefully in order here are the main highlights of our December:

After having a wiggly tooth for months and then discovering that his new tooth was actually growing up on angle behind Daniel was given a time limit to wiggle his loose tooth out. The Dental Nurse (who he doesn't really like) told him that if he didn't have it out by the 1st Dec that she would have to pull it out.  Well the 1st Dec came and still that little baby tooth was determined to hang in there.  I let him know that I'd have to ring and make an appointment - which I did - when he very quietly came to me and asked 'guess what?'........  It seems that he really didn't like the dental nurse and the thought of going was so daunting that he 'accidentally' knocked a rock (one of many that he collects) off his window still and into his face making his tooth get knocked out!!

Finally his second tooth has fallen out.  Goodness knows when the rest are coming!

December was also the month of rain here, well at least it felt that way.  It began on the 1st and didn't really clear up until Christmas Eve! Just in time for us going camping though thankfully.  We headed away on Christmas Day (after present opening at 0030 hours by excited kids who thought it was morning and then more at 0630) over to the Wairarapa with the mice, kids and dog in tow.  It was a full car I can tell you :)  We camped at Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite which allows dogs and we were lucky enough to arrive to a fairly empty campsite.  It meant we had a primo spot with early morning sun to warm us up, all day shade (to keep the mice cool) and sun in the evening to warm us up again as the night arrived.  It was a full moon too so the the fact that we had completely forgotten things like torches didn't matter too much :) The kids loved swimming in the lagoon as did the dog and we enjoyed using our family sized tent for the first time and having space! The weather couldn't have been better - calm, clear and hot!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Swimming in the lagoon

Daniel enjoying his camping breakfast

Walking up to see the Pinnacles

Liam has also been making lots of changes around the house and he's been busy every weekend bang whacking something.  So far we have our new front door in place (this is my favourite even though it isn't functional yet as before everyone was searching for where to enter or knocking on my reflexology room door),  enclosed the porch downstairs, put a new floor on downstairs, insulated downstairs and begun to clear out the side of our property to make room for car-parking space.  It is all starting to come together now after years of wishing and dreaming.

Our new front door in place

Liam downstairs. It used to be a wood porch, now it has a proper floor, insulation and door.

 
This month we also finally booked to go and visit Kápiti Island.  It did take us a while to get there though after our initial 5th December booking as they cancelled due to bad weather twice then we had to change dates due to the kids being unwell!  Finally, fourth time lucky,  we got there just after Christmas and enjoyed a bright and sunny day to explore. The view from the top was awsome with the South Island and Taranaki visible.  We were seranaded by Hihi (stitchbirds), Korimako (Bellbirds), Tieke (Saddlebacks), Túí and Kokako all the way walking up to the top along with some noisy Kaka.  The kids even managed to see 2 of the 4 Takahe on the island.  So worth the wait :)

Up on the top of Kapiti Island

Hope this finds you all happy, healthy and warm, rearing to get into the new year

Arohanui

Y

November Update from the Fay Family

Here we are again at the end of another month and yet again I feel like it has sneaked up on me!! This month feels like it has been all about renovations and work.  However we have actually managed to get out and about, in and around Kàpiti to view a few things. So because there weren't many events outside of home-educating and daily routines I thought I'd just post a few photos :)

Themselves at Otaki Beach enjoying the waves and sun.

The view of the South Island I get every Monday while giving a home reflexology session.

Exploring the Paraparaumu Heritage trail. Themselves at 'Mary'.

Themselves making the most of a bit of sunshine out in the Cul-de-sac

Front of our place ready for work to begin.

We have a hole!

A step further towards getting our Front door.

Finally a Front door that visitors will be able to find!

From the inside.  Needed a bit of re-arranging but a good chance to de-clutter and so good having the door.

Hope this finds you all well and ready for the Silly season to begin. Until next month.


Arohanui
Y

October Update from the Fays

Well yet another busy month here in Kapiti.  The days just seem to fly past, they really do.... and yes I know I say that all the time :)

Jasmine is still on the go with fund-raising for her big trip south to the Girl Guide Jamboree.  So far she has raised half the money with a raffle and a sausage sizzle.  She is very willing it is just her parents that are trying to find the time and energy to keep up the fundraising efforts with her :)  The sausage sizzle we held on the first weekend of October went so well and so fast that I forgot to take photos so sorry you'll just have to imagine Liam serving up sausages and herself in her little pink Brownies top sorting out the change.

Our local Mitre 10 (hardware shop) had a great free workshop for the kids on the day after our sausage sizzle.  The kids loved making a birdhouse which they could bring home.  They now have them mounted in the garden and we are all watching the comings and goings of birds.  So far it looks like some starlings have nested in Jasmine's as we saw them taking things in and out while over at Daniel's it has been a half-way home for visiting sparrows and starlings :)  It has peaked Jasmine's interest to find out more about birds so we are waiting for a contact from the local ornithologist society.

Themselves building the birdhouses.

The weather was actually pretty kind to us in October (unlike it has been for these few days of November) and we have really enjoyed getting out and about along with BBQ's with friends.  Themselves all had a go at white-baiting and, despite others collecting 120 pounds of the stuff, managed to get 3.  No, not 3 pounds that is 3 actual white-bait :)  The kids love the experience of going down with Liam even though they don't help much in the catching stakes once there.

Themselves out trying their luck

This month also saw us finally get into Wellington for some rock climbing for Jasmine.  She has been hooked on it since she had a go on a friend's wall 3 years ago.  I have to say too that she seems a bit of a natural at it and loves the challenge of finding holds and working out a path to the top.  While in Wellington she scaled a climb that even adults were struggling with!  The look on her face when she got to the top and we (the adults that couldn't make it up and me) all cheered was priceless.

Jasmine just about to push up to another hold.

Finally our month of October ended with a fantastic Halloween BBQ and fire-pit party.  Not being ones for Trick or Treating we chose to celebrate the Jack o Lantern side of it and invited the neighbours and the kids invited one friend (plus family) each so that we could toast a few marshmallows along with carving a few pumpkins.  The people who rented this place from us created an awesome space down in the wilderness with a wee fire-pit and seats around.  It has taken us a year to use it however it was well worth the wait and such a great evening for it!

Count Daniel Dracula - who saves lives :)

Well that is about it for now.  Hope this finds you all enjoying the change of season and rhythm - albeit inconsistent in NZ.

Arohanui

Y

Where did the month go???

Well here we are in October already and I'm just realising that I still need to do my September update!  Man that month went by fast :)

Themselves and Me on the train up to Auckland

We started September with a long weekend up to Auckland.  It was fantastic getting to go up and back by train, long as it was, and the kids were great.  I think a large supply of food, games and activities helped.  Daniel was still on crutches, however that didn't stop us getting into town to see family and the Sky Tower. We decided to make the most of our Sky Tower trip though, as he wasn't really up to mile of walking, staying up there 2 hours so we could see look all over Auckland from a height.

Making the most of our time in the Sky Tower

The day before we left for Auckland we did have a bit of sad news as we found out that one of herself's mice had cancer.  It made leaving a little hard for the kids, harder still for our lovely neighbour who was feeding them, as they were so worried Fern would die while we were gone.  Thankfully Fern was still in the land of the living when we arrived home and for another week.  She passed away having snuggles with the kids and we said good-bye to another loved pet -giving her a memorial plant over top of her burial site.  It has be interesting seeing the way the kids are dealing with their pets dying and with each passing there is a new level of grieving and questioning about the whole life / death process.

Fern in better days doing 'tricks' with Jasmine

From the low of saying goodbye to Fern the mouse we went to the highs of Daniel turning 7.  After much talk of parties he decided to have a fun day with just the family - relaxing at home with his presents in the morning followed by lunch out, chipmunks (indoor play area) and tea out.  In the end he actually felt too unwell for tea out (may have been the getting up at 4.44am to open presents!) so we postponed our meal out until Friday.  He had a great week though and I think he actually liked having his birthday 'treats' spread over a few days. :)

Birthday breakfast smoothies with twisty straws

Spring has definitely sprung here and we have had some glorious days to get out and about.  Liam has also got into the garden with the kids and planted all our veggies ready for Summer as well as raiding our grapefruit and orange trees for making marmalade.  We have also used some of this fruit for Jasmine's fundraising to go to Jamboree next January and it has been very popular - nothing like fruit straight from the tree to tempt people :)

Themselves exploring the estuary creatures while the tide is out after riding along Cambourne Walkway.

Well I'll leave it there otherwise it will be time to begin writing the Oct update!!

Hope this finds you all happy and healthy.

Arohanui'
Y

August update Already!!

Almost Spring and here is another update from us. It has been a very eventful month filled with renovations, birthdays, badges, crafts and hospital visits.

After 2 months of hard work and Liam working every weekend, or close to it, our upstairs bathroom/laundry is complete!! It is so nice having everything upstairs.  Daniel was his task-master on this job and kept reminding Liam that he had said the job would be completed by my birthday at the end of August.  Great to have someone else doing that job and great to have no showers in a different climate downstairs.  Now he is downstairs tidying things up so that we can have that as a wee self contained flat and dreaming of building retaining walls!

Only the floor to go in our fully functioning bathroom/laundry

After Daniel hurt his knee in late July we have had a full month of pain and many days of not walking.  It seems that when he breaks bones our boy doesn't do the usual line of bruising and swelling.  After a reluctance by the Dr to x-ray we finally got some and found that he has in fact fractured his growth plate (or very close to it).  A cast was put on only to be removed a week later to investigate the pain in Daniel's heel.  Once off it was clear what the pain was as his foot was all blistered!! Poor wee thing has had a hell of a month!

Getting a cast on finally! This enabled him to walk without the pain.

Waiting for more x-rays after the cast has come off.

In between not walking and pain though he and Jasmine managed to work on some Kea and Brownie badges.  They are both loving the groups, especially when all their efforts are rewards with badges to sew on.  Daniel finished his Healthy Kea badge and Jasmine completed her Animal Fun and Creative Arts Fun.  Jasmine is also fundraising at the moment for her Jamboree camp down in Christchurch next year.  She has created a raffle - with first prize kindly donated by a resident reflexologist :) - and made soap, bath bombs and hard lotion bars as 2nd prize. She has sold a few and next month we will try the sitting in front of the shops trick - fingers crossed for good weather :)

Daniel being supported - literally - while talking about his Healthy Kea with sore leg up.

Creating a path for us to follow as part of her badge work

We have also been going along to 'Yarn time' at the local library once a month.  The kids are loving it just as much as I am, though it has to be said probably more for the biscuits and adoring attention they get from the other older ladies :)  So nice to have at least one time in the month were I can craft in the daylight hours with others.  Jasmine has really taking a shine to crochet lately and has crafted her own slippers which she loves.  So nice to see her being creative and making things.  Daniel has gone for the French knitting reel instead and has made a collection of coasters (sewn in a round), necklaces and scarves :)

Jasmine's green slipper she made while I made a blue one for her.

Jasmine's self designed slippers

Well I'll sign off there for now and leave you for another month.  Hope all is well with you lot as it is with us.

Arohanui
Y