Alexander's first trip to the beach

Not the best day weather wise....still he had a great time

So did I taking these :-)

Well, it is official! For the second year in a row, Kim was the first person up and about on this Christmas morning which has proven my insistance that she is a bigger kid than the kids. Merry Christmas everybody!

The day started off with Alexander dancing to Santa on a motorbike - singing "Santa Claus is coming to town". Another of those cheap $10 toys imported from Indonesia that give kids so much fun. I hope one day the kids understand that there are many people in the world spending their working lives in sweatshop factories for a few dollars a week- just to give us a few minutes fun and enjoyment. It is those people we should be thinking of at Christmas.

Christmas was extra special this year. My parents joined us from the other side of the world for an hour this morning through Skype. They could see the kids unwrapping their presents and I could see the grin on Mums face. Not quite here in the same room, but pretty damn close.

The kids had a ball and Alexander even found my beer while Sarah was unwrapping a present. He is so fast when it comes to a six pack!

Next it was a quick trip to Kim's mums church. Margaret was pleased we went, Alexander behaved and the service went pretty quick. I could not help but think that my brother (a church organist) would have been mortified if he had been there - all those electric guitars and drum kits would have sent him into disbelief.

Back home and it was time to prepare the food for lunch. And what better way to celebrate Christmas in NZ when it is warm, but drizzling rain - than a bbq rump roast. Only cost $40 and we will be eating cold beef sandwiches for the rest of the week.

After lunch it was a family gathering around the TV with Sarah's new PS2 game, "Buzz - The Big Quiz" and what a lot of fun that was, especially when everyone started to gang up on me. But there again, what can you expect when you invite both the ex and the mother in law round for Christmas Day?

Anyhow, it is now 8.15 in the evening and Kim and I are going to sit back and relax ... umm looks like she wants another round of Buzz.

Oh, by the way dad - "Cheers" and thanks for the bottle of "Piddle in the Hole" beer. For those kiwi readers it comes from the Wyre Piddle Brewery and is a very good drop of real ale. I am enjoying it right now .

'Twas the night before Christmas .... and as Alexander blissfully slept, his mum and Sarah were busy stuffing the Christmas stocking(s). I'm not too sure who is the most excited at the moment - Sarah or Kim. Anyhow, Christmas Eve has always been a fun time in our house - even before Alexander was born. Kim is in her element slinking around organising the presents and stocking. I remember how we had to wait for Sarah to fall asleep before we could do anything. Alexander is much easier at the moment - 7pm and he is dead to the world - which means Kim and I can have a little time to ourselves before it all starts again in the morning - at 5am probably!

PS Looking forward to the morning because Mum and Dad are joining us on Skype when the kids get into the presents. Isn't the internet great? The UK is not so far away from NZ at times. Merry Christmas all - Dave B.

Sarah and I took Alexander for a second go at visiting Santa this week, he was dishing out Fredo Frogs much to Alexander's delight this time.
It does look as though Alexander is getting ready for a quick get away don't you think?
Still, I think he was very brave, the little girl before us was sobbing her little heart out.

Merry Christmas

look out for more photos tomorrow :-)

Sleep tight little kiddies

Some family photos taken over November and December 2006.

I took these last night at about 9:10pm, im in my pj's by then usually :-)
Had I have waited another 5 mins the sky turned a deep red....oh well maybe tonight.

Above was taken in April 2005 while we were in the UK.


Im the one who usually takes all the photos so I don't often feature in them unless I take them myself as I did with these (I held the camera with the other hand)

I must make more of an effort to hand the camera over more often.

A year ago today....I took these!!!!!

He never did get his teeth either...well not until he was 7 and a half months old.

Right now as I type he's having a little boggy to Hi5 - he even has this whole leg tappin thing going on.....very cute :-)

For my friend Bernie :-)

(not being a very good when it comes to flowers I think the pink one is a very nice looking weed...lol)

My sister Lesa does these cute pictures using subjects such as our kids etc...... Alexander was 3 and a half months old in this one.

Here is a link to her blog - Under a Mushroom

"Happy 13th Birthday Rah Rah" (sarah)

Sarah had her 13th brithday party last weekend and wanted everyone to dress up, so Alexander went as a pirate.

After a few tears (9 13 year old girls would do that to anyone) he managed to settle into party mode. Even beating his Daddy to the karaoke machine. lol He impressed all the girls with his movin and grovin :-)

He even got in on the present opening action!!!!!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH FOR the 2nd

The jolly old fat man...lol

Well...I took Alexander to the mall to have his photo taken with Santa today...... ive got nothing to show for it though. :-)
He just wasn't going to have a bar of it, unless it involved knocking over the toy soldier props.

Maybe next year eh!!!!!

Some sun ....finally!!!!!

You wouldn't know from the photo that it's blow'n a gail here would you?

Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

My son has this rather funny habit (well it was the first time we saw him do it) of yanking up the crotch of his trousers, not to mention wiping his face on his sleeve. I can assure you neither of these habits are from mummy or daddy. (Although I have seen daddy adjust himself every now and then...lol)
I try not to make to much of a fuss about it, as it only encourages him to do it more......it must be a boy thing and he's only 17 months old.

It must be time for another haircut as the lady in the dairy this morning remarked on my lovely little girl....hummm she must have missed the "crotch yanking" and the blue clothes I suppose.

Little Boy Blue

Alexander's christmas photos for 2006

Mummy has been making me sit still again for more photos........

"Bang, Crash" - OUCH!!!!!!









Poor little guy had a nasty fall 2 weeks ago, and is still sporting the evidence - although much less noticeable now.
I cried more than he did :-( at the time
Its just heart breaking.... Everyone tells me that next kid round you don't worry as much....lol
Still....I dont know

Is it SUMMER time yet?????

Now

and then

One year on.....

I was just looking back through all the photos we have taken since this time last year - today (last year) was the very first time Alexander smiled:-)

I wonder how many nappies i've changed since them?

We were given a book of movie tickets last week, and I asked David to check the expiry date and see how long we have to use them, a year so we might get out before then.

Still I would'nt change things even on the tough days!!!!

We have been out walking most days for the last month - have to wrap the little guy up well sometimes. Well most times really...lol
He really enjoys going down to Petone beach to feed the seagulls, although he likes to eat as much of the bread as he feeds to the birds.

Daddy and Alexander

Getting started....