Winter has arrived

Jeff and Mark kayaking at Paihia Haruru Falls


Sailing at Paihia
sledding on sand dunes, Cape Reianga
Caleb and Mark at top of Sand Dune







Wow its been a while since I have added to this so sorry about that.
We had a great time having Jeff's parents Gene and Linnea us with for a month and Mark and Kristy for 2 weeks. We did lots of traveling, and had a blast.
Since then we have had loads of rain and winter has set in, and once again we are asking ourselves what are we doing still living in this ice box of a house. for the past 2 winters we have said never again are we going to be in this house for another winter and yet here we are. It is a great big house and perfect the rest of the year but it is just not suitable for the winter, and since it has got cold the kids have been sick, so making it even more miserable. In the morning the kids put on there super warm robes, and slippers and jump onto the couch and cover themselves with more blankets and refuse to get changed till midday, so they don't get cold.

Two - three weeks ago Hayley was using her rocking moose to climb onto the chair I was on, well she didn't quite make it and instead hit her head on the window sill, giving her a nasty gash to the head. So we made a trip to work to have it fixed. It needed stitching, but Hayley put on such a performance that all we could do was glue , strip it and hope for the best. Well Hayley being Hayley it didn't take long for her to knock it again and again. Thus making it split more and continue to bleed. So now 2.5 weeks on when it should be healing nicely, and barely visable, it still looks huge and nasty, but at least it is healing now.

As for Jeff and I we leave for Canada on May 28th so not long at all now. We are traveling over with friends for a wedding, then we are going to travel thru Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Edmonton and back to Calgary. From there Jeff and I are going to make a speedy trip to the states, for some shopping and good buys. We are hoping to get to Seattle but depends on how much time we have. So we are very excited about this venture if only it would stop snowing in Banff that would be a huge help as we are camping.

So yeah life has been busy with work, checking out schools for Caleb, trying to stop Hayley hitting her head and preparing for Canada.
I will try and update again before out adventure

Cheers
Hassmans in NZ

Cuddles on the bed, both kids are very cuddly in the morning

Hayley all kitted out in her beads and glasses, making me some lunch


Grandpa reading to Hayley

Hayley with her signature grin sitting with Grandma.

Grandma reading to Caleb, the kids love their stories.

Caleb painting the house ( box) using the paints and brushes and containers that we brought the kids courtesy of Paul Hassman


Hayley painting the house (box)

Fun time with grandkids

It seems this blog is not allowing me to download any more pictures, so I will continue to do so when it decided to comply again. Below is the kids playing with the box that Gene and Linnea brought over filled with gifts, its now the kids painting project and playhouse.


Hayley looking out the window
Grandma helping the kids paint their playhouse
Caleb and Hayley playing in the newly painted house ( box)

Grandma and Grandpa Gene Arrive

At the airport, both kids very comfortable with their grandparents.
Caleb with his headlamp on
Hayley think that her headlamp takes pictures. She makes everyone stand or sit where she wants, turns the light on and says cheese.
Caleb investing everything with his new headlamp and touch( Flashlight ) from Grandpa Gene
Grandma and Grandpa Gene reading to the Kids at Kindy
Hayley playing in the box that all the presents came in
Hayley playing on her swing
Grandma, Grandpa Gene and Caleb
Grandma, with Hayley and a sneaky Jeff

Well the kids did everything right upon the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa Gene. Caleb saw them and recognized them straight away and proceeded to run up to them and give them both great big hugs. Yeah well taught by us. All the bribes paid off.
Caleb has become very attached quite quickly, and gets upset about going anywhere without them or even going to bed in fear that when he returns they will be gone. Hayley is loving all the attention, and i think Gene and Linnea are finding out rather quick how much energy she has and how much work she is. So far so good. This week we are just staying around Hamilton, allowing Gene and Linnea to adjust to NZ time and see what it is the kids get up to each day, and then next week we will do some traveling, till Mark and krsty arrive.
I will try and update this every couple of days so you can see our adventures together.

New Camera fun

My little swimmer and his cool goggles.

I just love the eyes
Aren't they just adorable, I was having fun playing with our new camera today and these are some of the shots I was able to get, that I thought were quite good.

Thanks Great Gandpa Paul

With the money that great grandpa Paul gave the kids at christmas, we purchased art supplies, and the minute we got home they kids got painting, drawing, cutting and pasting. Our house got trashed but we had a blast. So thanks alot.

Our little pirate

Caleb had a birthday to go to and it was a pirate theme, so I put together this outfit for him. The party was on sunday and so far he had worn it everyday, even into town while shopping.