Merry Christmas!

We couldn't let today finish without saying to all our family and friends "Merry Christmas" and we hope you are all happy and enjoying it together with family and/or friends!
Promise to add photos in the next few days of Thomas (especially) perfecting the art of unwrapping presents.
Love from us xoxoxo

Xmas excitement!

We are really excited and looking forward to xmas. Every day the presents under the tree are growing, and Thomas has started making presents for us and wrapping them and storing them under the tree. It is amazing how he hasn't touched one of them or tried to unwrap any, as he has been told we have to wait until xmas day. Having an advent calendar has helped and because he is so good with numbers he understands the sequence of them.

We took this photo of Thomas by the tree once he/we put it up on Sunday, and then he wanted to take one of us - it turned out really great!

Check us out!

Banana Cake

The other day Thomas and I made a banana cake and added some chocolate icing ready for eating. As you can see he loves it, and enjoys helping me read the recipe so we know what to put in the mixture.

His most favourite part is "licking the legs" of the beater, and the bowl - just as I did when I helped my mum in the kitchen.

Just the very sight of it ...

"Just the very sight of it
Brings back the taste delight of it
I'll savour every bite of it
But later ... secretly"
(taken from The Big Block of Chocolate by Jane Slater Redhead)

Thomas loves this book that he got from Nannan and Morfar for his 4th birthday. Definitely suits his love of jelly tip ice-creams.

Fun in the Sun

This weekend has been beautiful, sunny and very hot! We dug out the swimming pool and waterslide and had some fun.

We love watermelon!

Roll on summer! The summer fruit is in the shops and we have been enjoying strawberries galore over the past few weeks. I do need to ration them otherwise Thomas would eat a large punnet in one sitting!
He enjoyed watermelon for dessert tonight - dribbling down his chin and giggling with the excitement of it all.

A friend to play

Thomas and I picked Emma (Emmy) up from kindy yesterday lunchtime and they came home for lunch and a play together. Thomas was very excited about Emmy coming to play, having lunch at our house, going to her swimming lesson, and more play at home.
Here they are making me lots of lunch/dinner/pudding/birthday cake with the play doh. Of course I had to try it all!

Painting fun at kindy!

Last week I picked Thomas up from kindy - but I had to look twice before I recognised him. He had been having so much fun with the screen printing and painting.

Our gorgeous boy!

Check out our gorgeous boy (taken as a fundraiser for kindy)! Great family one too!

Thomas's 4th Birthday

Thomas had a wonderful 4th birthday and we made a green number 4 cake for the afternoon tea with his friend Daniel.
Thomas helped me ice the cake and put the green lollies on, and even asked (at 5pm at night) if he could lick the bowl with the leftover icing in it - I don't think so!
Here are some photos of Thomas on his birthday.

The famous green number 4 birthday cake that we made together

"Happy Birthday to me"

Blowing out my candles

My new, cool Thomas clock from my aunties and uncles in Belgium

"Look, I got some Kids K'nex!"

My friend Daniel

First Swim for the Summer

Just so you know, we had a beautiful day here - so great we got the little paddling pool out and Thomas happily filled it to the top and spent the afternoon playing in it!


Here he is in his new wetsuit from Nannan and Morfar.

First Day at Morning Kindy

Thomas started morning kindy yesterday, and was very excited about being there this morning to see all his new friends.

Here are a couple of photos taken yesterday.

All hands to the hammers

Yesterday, Steve and Thomas set to work building us a planter box for us to grow our vegetables in for summer. There was lots of discussion about how to put it together, and then the boys set to hammering in all those nails! Thomas was keen to be just like Dad and made sure he had his hard hat, safety goggles and hammer - suffice to say the fireman's hat was the hard hat and the swimming goggles became safety googles.
We'll be filling it tomorrow and planting our beans and broccoli. We already have lettuce and tomatoes in our old planter box. Needless to say it is my job to figure out what plants will make sure the bugs stay away - so it is off to the internet I go, beats the old library.

Here is the end result with our broccoli and beans planted in it!

Photo taken by Thomas

Thomas

A photo of our little man taken a few months ago - love the pose!

I Finished!

Yip - there will be an indepth analysis tomorrow, but I made it round in 2 hours and 35minutes! Phew! Body tired and off out for a roast dinner now.

1 more sleep!

Can you believe there is only one more sleep to go! I can't! The nerves are creeping in, so hopefully all my early nights during the week will make up for lack of sleep tonight!
Picked up my race pack (number 28) and t-shirt (gotta have the been there, done that t-shirt) this afternoon and got very excited seeing some of the others I run with.
Amazingly enough, this morning I woke at 4am and sat upright and said to Steve "If I was doing the marathon I'd be getting up now" - what a crazy thought and not one I am contemplating. Although I have said I would run the Mountain to Surf Marathon in the beginning of March next year with someone else, and do a 1/2 marathon each. Strange what the mind will say when the body is tired.
Next time we speak I'll be bubbling with adrenaline and excitement - no drugs needed for this sort of high! Will fill you in on my achievements at the beginning of the week! Let's hope it's "I finished!"

Happy Birthday Uncle Carl!

Hey Uncle Carl - hope you have a great birthday and enjoy lots of pampering from Isaac! Another year to add to the number, great to see you are catching up to the rest of us. Thomas sends hugs and love to his special and favourite uncle (see photo - Uncle Carl just kept on lighting those candles for Thomas to blow out, many times over).

Love from Jo, Steve and Thomas xoxoxo

Only 3 more sleeps!

Not too long to go now - and have just spent the night at the hairdressers making sure I'll look doubly gorgeous when I complete the 1/2 marathon, even though I'll be wearing a hat! Tomorrow, it is my last physio before the run and a wax - got to make sure all those final things are taken care of!
Will keep you posted of my progress.

My First 1/2 Marathon - 6 days to go!

For those of you interested I've been given the all clear by the physio to tackle my major goal for this year. I've been seriously training for 12 weeks now, with the Joggers and Walkers club who meet every Sunday morning, and by this time in one weeks time I will have completed the New Plymouth 1/2 marathon. For those of you who ask (how long is that?) it is 21.1km. I'm hoping to run it in 2 1/2 hours.
We have been having lots of fun every Sunday morning, starting at the beginning at 9am and in the past month we have been meeting at 8am and running for anywhere from 1 hour up to 2 1/4hrs two weeks ago. That Sunday we headed out from Pukekura Park in the centre of New Plymouth to Burgess Park and Meeting of the Waters, and then returned home to Pukekura Park after a mammoth 18km run! My only problem was at about the 7km mark I rolled my foot on a "bloody" tree root, without taking my shoe off I ran the rest of the way and made it back home. Steve, Thomas and I then proceeded to spend that afternoon at the doctors and picking up crutches for the next few days. Luckily I was already with a great physio for my back and knee (all thanks to the hours running) and she was able to get to work on my foot straight away. Having not run for 2 weeks (you can imagine the walls I was climbing at home, and how nice I would have been to Steve and Thomas) I finally went back out yesterday for my first run. We ran for just over an hour, and tonight I went out for 1/2 hour and feel brilliant!!
So now I'm on countdown! All the gear and the food preparation has been tested over the past 3 months and now I just can't wait to start the run.
For those who know New Plymouth, we head out of Pukekura Park now Liardet Street and turn left onto the one way system to Morley Street, turn left and up the hill and turn right into Barrett Street, then left onto Cutfield Street and then right onto Tukapa Street. All the way up Tukapa Street (past our street where Steve and Thomas will see me for the first time) and past Thomas's kindy and on to Frankley Road. 4km up Frankley Road is Hurworth Road, turning left we head along Hurworth Road and then turn left into Carrington Road and onto Carrington Street once you hit the outskirts of town again. Turning left at the roundabout by the BP service station, head down Carrington Street and turn right into George Street and then left on to Victoria Road and then right into Gilbert Street and then right turn into Liardet Street and left onto Fillis Street and then right into the park via the side gates. A little under a lap around the sports field and the end is definitely in sight!!
As you can probably tell I've run it many times in my head, and also have spent a few times out on the course completing small distances (10kms being small) at a time.
Will keep you updated and let you all know how I go! You can always check it out on http://www.mapmyrun.com/ if you are interested - what a magnificent way to track your training runs!

Forever Young - Youth Group

Steve celebrates turning 44 tomorrow - Happy Birthday gorgeous boy!
Don't we all want to be "forever young" - I love this song and the video reminds me of the things we can do whenever we want too - no helmets, barefeet, ...
Love Jo and Thomas xoxo

Night Out for the Old Folks

Steve and I enjoyed a rare night out with lots of socialising, dancing and generally having a great time! Theme for the night was 80's so we dusted off some glad rags and joined lots of other staff from Steve's work for a night to remember. All the great 80's music, who can turn down a spin on the dance floor to Icehouse or Def Leppard! Not this chick that is for sure!
The caterers did a fabulous job of replicating all the great food that was in vogue in the 80's including the old favourites - Mac and Cheese, Apricot Chicken, Meatballs, Pizza and even food from the local Texacana!
We managed to make it home just after 1am and with Thomas waking at 6am for the day, there were no sleep ins for either of us. Although, Steve managed an extra couple of hours while I took Thomas to the park for a run around, and I got in a couple of hours while the boys played outside and had lunch. Great tag teaming on our behalf!!
Here we are in our glad rags (borrowed from the local Operatic Society, just in case you thought we had dragged them out of the back of the wardrobe).

Busy Boys

Steve and Thomas had great fun on Saturday afternoon making the lawns look respectable with a mow. Here are my two boys busy at work!

Spring has definitely arrived, our rhodo is out and has the most amazing ruby red flowers. Photo to follow...

My Poppa died today

I am very sad, but know that he is in a better place no doubt having a great reunion with Nana. I will miss him lots but will remember the great things we got to do together when he was alive. He is now where he wants to be and that is with my wonderful Nana who I know he missed lots and lots - a great love for both of them. They were both very special people and I have the fondest of memories holidaying with them at Maungatepere and Algies Bay. Nana's cooking was always the best and I'm sure that is where my love of baking and keeping people happy has come from. Thomas (our son) will also remember him as he has wonderful memories of time spent celebrating Poppa Jack's 90th birthday last year, with lots of cake and balloons!

We remember them as the wonderful grandparents they were, and know that they are keeping an eye on us and making sure we are safe (as they have always done).

I love you Poppa.

Just made it to bed!

I've just been in to check on Thomas as he was absolutely tuckered out tonight. Look who I found fast asleep! It looks like he has only just made it from the bath to bed!

T-Rex named Sue

On Saturday morning we went to visit Puke Ariki here in New Plymouth (our local museum). A new exhibition opened up last week called "T-Rex named Sue".
Of course Thomas thought we were going to visit Aunty Sue, until we got there and he saw the old dinosaur bones.
The T-Rex bones were found in North Dakota, USA back in 1990 by Sue Hendrickson and they have taken a cast of them all and put them together and sent them to New Plymouth - first place in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere to display them.
They have included lots of facts and information about T-Rex's and dinosaurs (in general) to add to the exhibition. Thomas had great fun looking through the binoculars of the Triceratops, trying to find the T-Rex right in front of him! Interestingly enough, Triceratops look outwards and cannot see anything directly in front of them.
Here are a couple of photos of the 'big boy' himself at the exhibition.

New pyjamas for Thomas

Over the weekend I went and checked out the Postie + sale as we had been told there were some great deals on kids clothes (great for kindy!). Anyway, I picked up some clothes for Thomas for next winter - anticipating he would grow a bit over the next year. These pyjamas were meant for next year, but when we tried them on they fitted already!! Size 5!!! Here is our gorgeous boy in his new pjs!

Holiday Entertainment

In the second week of the holidays we went to the Dora, Deigo and Boots the monkey pirate adventure. Thomas had a wonderful time and is still talking about it now! He wore his pirate hat and got really involved with the show and the characters on stage, shouting out and singing along.
Now every morning he dresses up as Deigo and wears his 'video' watch and his rescue pack (kindy bag) and even has to wear a sleeveless jacket the same as Deigo.
Here are some photos from the show.

"Ahoy me hearties!"
Deigo, Dora and Boots the monkey
Snack time with Deigo doll

Thomas and his doll, Deigo with Rachel and Daniel in the background

A Milestone!

Another reached today! I have completed my first 10km run (without walking) and feel amazing. The legs are now rather tired, but with a small run tomorrow they should be right again soon. Every Sunday morning I now join the Runners Club that meets at Pukekura Park and we head out and run together - nice to have company and someone else to lead the way. I've found some neat little paths/trails through the city, and amazingly today we ran a half of the 1/2 marathon.

The 1/2 marathon is being held on October 5th - so only 10 weeks to go now! This is a goal I set for myself only about a month ago, and what better way to celebrate being 40!
I've also managed to drop a size in my clothes and it is neat to be able to fit most of my wardrobe again! Haven't even looked at these clothes since before Thomas was born! So, a long time coming!

Can it really be?!!!

We can't let this day go by without letting all our friends out there know that today marks the 5th anniversary of my surgery for breast cancer.
I know, I can't believe it either!! The medical professionals say it is from your date of completion of all the post surgery paths you need to take, so for us we will be celebrating again on the 20th of December. Isn't it great to be able to celebrate this all over again in a few months time. I think we will be doing it forever!
This time 5 years ago I had finally been convinced not to come into work and so Steve and I took the day and went to look around the DIY and home shops to find some nice light fixtures for our new conservatory that was due to be started within the month. We were standing in Lighting Direct when I got a call from the surgeons office to say they could fit me in earlier, could I get there by 1pm. Suffice to say that was the end of the nice shopping day and we raced home and picked up my bag and headed to the hospital. I was greeted there by my dad and my best friend Kerry and to say that everything that happened then happened in a blur is an understatement. Next thing I knew I was waking up post surgery to ask them when it was my turn to go in. They explained that it had already taken place and I was in the post-op care room (I wonder how many times they had to tell people that?).
Once back in my room I was foolishly allowed to administer my own pain medicine, somewhere along the way I think I just wanted it all to be over and to be back home that I must have pressed the button too many times and found myself vomiting all over the bed, nurses and anyone within a 2metre radius. I spent the rest of the stay in hospital being very cautious about the magic button on the end of the cord.
We made it home after another 2 nights in the hospital and I don't know when it sunk in, but it took a long time to put all that had happened into perspective, and understand and deal with what had/was happening.
Well it is 5 years down that path of understanding and learning to cope with a breast cancer diagnosis, and as you all know we are truly blessed to have Thomas, our beautiful boy, in our life - and who could ask for anything more!
Every day we wake up (early thanks to Thomas!) and remember the very trying and difficult times, and are very thankful that we are together.
"To get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with" Mark Twain
A massive thank you to all our friends and family for their support and friendship. How can we ever say the words to express this - we hope we show you how important you are to us in the time we spend together.

Last day of Kindy for the term

I am very excited today because it is the last day of kindy for this term. We are going to do lots of fun things during the holidays and I will keep you all posted with what we do.

Mummy is going to take me swimming at the aquatic centre in my new wetsuit that Nannan and Morfar sent me, and I am also getting to see Dora, Diego and Boots the monkey in their pirate adventure on stage in New Plymouth. My mummy is making me a pirate costume to wear to the show, I am very excited!

Thomas and George the Bear

When Nannan and Morfar came up for mummy's 40th birthday they let me keep George the bear until we came down for Nannan's 60th. I decided this morning that George needed some sleep and so I tucked him up in bed on the couch underneath his baby blanket. I then played him some sleeping music on the xylophone, and then read him some stories from my Curious George book. George the bear got to choose his favourite story for me to read to him.

Playing music to George the bear

Reading the table of contents to George the bear so he could choose his story

Reading George the bear his story