Trying out the new bike


Don't you just love the look on his face....

...eyeing up the presents.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope."

Martin Luther King

Forgot to post this one from a couple of months ago. Alexander's first school sports day.

Alexander wanted to know how many sleeps till Santa this morning.....someone is looking forward to Xmas all ready, we will put the tree up on the weekend, I enjoy that bit... :-)

Alexander has his news day on Tuesday morning and they can get up and talk about whatever they want and or show off their news, this morning he took the dead cat (Bobo) in her cremation box!!!!
He was adamant he was going to, and the teacher, bless her said it was just fine and that she had never had that sort of news before and perhaps they could have a class talk about death.

Yes we are all still alive and breathing....just been busy, but doing not a lot, you know how it is.

No new photos as such, trying to get Alexander back into the studio is like pulling teeth, but I will get my way and get this years Santa hat photos, its just going to take some bribery!

I will post some photos of the office and studio next week, we have our signs up etc and its looking all very professional i must say. I have to pinch myself often as for me it is a dream come true.

Photo from yesterday.
I was trying out a new lighting set up in the studio, just using the one light.
I was under strict instructions from Alexander that id "better be quick" as he wasn't in the MOOD for all this!
Lovely!!!!!

Alexander asked me the other day on the way home from school.
A: Milk comes from cow's eh Mum?
K: yes that's right.
-silence for a moment-
A: Do they poop it out!!!!!

the delights of 5 year olds huh!

You know what….im going to be filthy rich one day……!!!!!

And you know how I’m going to do it; I’m going to design/invent a machine/thing that picks up logo bits off the floor and only Lego bits!

That is my full time job now days or worse still emptying the vacuum cleaner contents into a bag looking for that bit you just sucked up…AGAIN!

Ive been so lax with updating i know.....so here is a quick rundown.

- had an eye test last week and now I'm a reading/computer etc glasses wearer, to be honest at least I'm not getting the killer headaches i was getting.

- Happy belated Birthday wishes to my sister in law Sharon, card late, but on the way.

- have my first 6 week old baby in the studio tomorrow for some photos, excited and nervous at the same time, never work with children and animals they say.

- My little boy is into Star Wars toys now, funny how you just get used to their favourites and know all the names and then they go and change fads, actually I'm a closet Star Wars fan from way back, so I have stunned Alexander by knowing more than a handful of character names much to his delight.

- Married life is treating me well...hehe!

- Will update again soon, Coronation Street and a glass of wine are calling.

What do you get when you cross an old camera, with a new camera, add some gaffer tape, and cardboard!

You get TTV photography - through the viewfinder....

so that is my plan with my old Kodak brownie camera, my Canon s3, tape and cat biscuit cardboard boxes.....

Happy Birthday Mum/Nan

Up, Up and away....
After saying good bye to my sister, brother in law and the children, we headed back to wellington city to have some lunch before heading home. Alexander, Dave, Mum and myself went for a flight around Wellington city on the Helipro Helicopter - Alexander was in ore the whole time as you can see!

Got loads of photos to post over the next few days from when my sister and family were here from Australia. Miss you guys all ready!

Ohhh boy back home to wind, rain and cold.....had a lovely few days with family in the sun.

It's the quintessential seaside holiday for the average Kiwi Family, jandals sunhats, buckets and spades!!!!




Alexander and I are off tomorrow for a 2 day road trip.....we are heading off up to Waitarere Beach, (an hour and a half's drive up the coast) to stay with Mum, Lesa, Kevin and the kids, before they head back to Australia on the weekend. I'm not a huge beach fan, but I know Alexander will love the water, waves and sand not to mention sleeping in his new sleeping bag. He did ask this afternoon if i tie him into it....lol



David will be holding the fort here at home (feeding the cats and dog) plus he will get to have what he calls his "Pink Floyd night", and that means a few drinks, loud music and probably falling asleep on the couch :-)

Some photos from the service.

so sorry no photos today, promise tomorrow.... :-)

It's official you can now call me Mrs Ballett.
There are only a select few who have the honour of that title, and I'm proud to be one of them. Got soooo many photos to show you all, had a total blast.
So tired today, grumpy kids are ours and Mum's place. My sister and her family are here with us for the next few weeks from Australia.
I'll pop into the office tomorrow and upload photos then.
Alexander is back at school tomorrow for a few days then he is off for two weeks of school holidays.

Got Alexander home sick with me today, 101 things left to do! Wahhhhh!

It's all go here now!
1 nearly trip to the after hours doctors last Friday
1 kids jumping on the couch equals 1 crash onto the coffee table,
1 head wound and 1 bloody tea towel.
1 parent teacher interview attended by 2 parents, 1 teacher, and 1 child.
2 School shows this week for Alexander.
1 mountain costume made.
2 cats to the vet to have their baby making bits removed.
1 week, 4 days till the wedding.
1 wedding cake still to make.
1 hens night to be had!

Some photos from Saturday....

Just got back from buying our wedding rings this morning... :-) Posting out invitations this afternoon.

Wedding plans are moving along nicely....
I spent a few days at home last week with bronchitis, not a fun thing to have I tell you. Feeling much better this week and back to normal. Got a few photos to post tomorrow from the office for you.

The School called me at 12.30 to come and collect Alexander he had fallen off the slide at lunch time and got a bit of a bump on his eyebrow! No broken skin so that's all good!

Ive had a rotten cold all week and a stink'in sore throat for the last few days, I was hoping it was going to go, but kinda feels like I had with Tonsillitis.....ohhh please don't let it be that again!

Alexander is tucked up in our bed......i have to sleep in his, so he says. lol
Daddy and he came up with a plan...I was not to breath my germs onto them...hehe!

Still its only a few hours earlier than he would have snuck in to our bed anyway. He has been joining us for months now....sometimes he can get in without waking either Dave or I and we find him there in the morning.

Alexander likes to look and play with (under supervision) my old camera's....

My Boys!

Above is the working end of the studio, will have nice big photos on this wall, cupboards to keep my gear, backgrounds, props in etc.
We still need another coat of paint on the white walls, hence the painting stuff still in here.



Above is the "white area" when there is nothing in it, it plays tricks on your eyes, as there is no right angle to the back wall. Can't wait to get my lighting and get Alexander into the studio.. :-)


Above is the reception area, looking into Dave's office, the studio is behind the black wall behind reception. We are getting new seating for reception area and a few photos etc up on the walls, just not got that far as yet!

Ok.....check back later today for some photos from the office and studio :-)

Dum Dum de Dum.....
I brought my wedding dress this morning! Yep I did!

Blogging while I'm at work now....oh boy, better not let the boss catch me eh!!!! (looks round) oh that's right I'm the boss...lol

Been into the office all this week, Dave loves having me here he said, that's because I make a great tea lady as well.

Alexander has settled into school life pretty well, and seems to be enjoying it.

Last weekend while at the pub for our Sunday afternoon break while Alexander is with his Nan, I had the opportunity to play Wii, that game thing with the wireless remote, obviously from that you can tell I've never been anywhere near the thing before and to tell you the truth I didn't really even know what it was! Monday morning i was suffering from "Wii strain" man its so much fun!

Totally random...but it made me laugh!

- How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said?

- Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

Alexander is back at school on Monday, and I start work on Monday!
The finishing touches are being completed at the office/studio, thank goodness, it has been a bit of a long drawn out process, kinda like building a house I guess, as we did start with an empty shell. I will sort out some photos soon i promise.

Mum and I are off to see Swan Lake on Ice this afternoon, I'm so excited! We were lucky enough to be given tickets to see it!

I know, I know...its been a week or so. Ive got studio/office photos to show you too.
We are right in the middle of two weeks school holidays here, the weather is cold and yucky, so no outside play. Sarah and Jayme took Alexander off to lunch and a movie last week so I could go into the office.

Dave is taking Alexander off to the swimming pool next week, and id like to see Toy Story3 if we can.

Woe is me...lol
I'm still feeling under the weather, and Dave isn't fairing much better, extreme tiredness isn't helping, what with the office move still progressing, a nightly bedtime visitor, not to mention 1 dog and two kitties sleeping with us.

Alexander's first two weeks of School have gone really well, he is enjoying it now, I think the first week was quite hard for him though. He loves to bring home his book to read every night and I've made him some cardboard flash cards with the common words like is, the, in etc

We have a few things planned for the holidays, a movie or two, a couple of play dates and a visit to Nan's work for a hot chocolate is a must on Wednesdays.

We are all sick now...well Dave and I....Alexander is all better and back at school now happily I might add!

I won't go into any details but lets just say Mummy and Daddy are feeling "blahhhhhhh" we have had to soldier on though, we are just about done shifting the office and work commences tonight with my studio....will upload photos tomorrow.

Pooh & Vomit talk to follow, so if that isn't you scene, i recommend you miss this post!

You know one of the perks of being a mum is shearing your bed with a vomiting child.

Well last night I had the pleasure of that, well from both ends, poor thing! One of the consequences I guess of being round new kids and germs.

I must say he is very good and puking right into a bowl now, we even have a dedicated "sick bowl"

In one of our many trips to the bathroom last night (Thank god for en-suite ones) Alexander said he was doing a "watery wee poo"

So he is home with me today, feeling slightly sorry for himself. I had planned on hanging the wallpaper in reception of the new office this morning, I'm now still doing the washing....

Hope you feel better soon little man... :-)

Alexander's 4 week old photo and then once a year till now....

Wahh it's heartbreaking! ...more tears this morning :-(
I'm sure he is just fine now...but its just awful walking away when he is so sad, Mrs Samuel's gave him a hug and took him off for a walk while I made my exit.

He said he had a great day when I collected him yesterday and showed me all that he had done, he had his first little book to read yesterday as well.

Happy Birthday to our Big Boy!




I think first day at school to a just turned 5 year old is something like going for your 4 year old booster injections, you know it’s coming, and it will make you sad and cry and you just want to cling to your Mummy for reassurance!

Alexander put on a brave face this morning but I knew he was feeling tense and apprehensive about his first day at school. Luckily he has a very good friend who has just started as well (last week) and he has taken Alexander his wing this morning. Funnily it was Alexander who always comforted Jayden at kindy when he was sad or his Mum was leaving.

I’ve got his soggy wet tissues in my pocket from this morning’s tears; it was gut wrenching I tell you! I’ve had my little cry too!
I’m sure he will have a wonderful day, all be it rather long, they are making robots today out of cardboard etc. His teacher is lovely and she said she would call me at morning tea time to let me know how he is going.

Some photos from Alexander's Birthday Party yesterday, the children were even able to play outside for a while. Alexander has another party to go to today for one of his other friends who he is starting School with tomorrow, I think an early night tonight will be called for.

Oh so worn out from Birthday Party excitement...I'm about to fall into bed now at 8.30pm, will post photos tomorrow......

My fingers are stained yellow, from what you ask?

Well I'm part way through the Sponge Bob cake for Alexander's party on Saturday, thought id make a start in case I really mucked it up and then at least id have another day to sort something out! All going well I should be able to post a photo later tonight.
I had to chuckle to myself as well, I went into a bit of a tailspin because I don't have a rolling pin and what on earth was I going to roll out the icing with!!!! A-Ha 1 tall long bottle of 42 below vodka will do just nicely, thank you! So ladies if you ever find yourself without a rolling pin, use a vodka bottle :-)

The finished cake


The mess and the trusty vodka bottle aka the rolling pin!



Alexander had his last school visit today, he was a bit tearful Mrs Samuel's said, he didn't want to do colouring in apparently, he was full of beans when I got there though and colouring in again this time they were all making a square for the quilt.

Ohh my goodness gracious me! 5 years ago!

I heard this quote last night while watching TV.....I like it so much I might paint it onto a canvas for the house somewhere.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson



I've had another change around as you can see :-)

Busy week to come, another School visit on Thursday, Happy Last Day at kindy on Friday, his birthday party on Saturday, his little friend's birthday party on Sunday, and last but not least his first day at School on Monday!
I'm gonna be a wreck by then end of the week, we wont even mention I have to make a SpongeBob birthday cake before Saturday as well!

Plus we have the big office/studio move planned in between all this.

Ohhh and less then 3 months till the Wedding...lol

Alexander is at School again for the morning, he has one more visit next week and then he starts School the week after! (it feels so odd just to type those words) He is ready and can't wait to start.

The next few weeks/months are crazy busy, with a happy last day at kindy, his birthday party, then starting School - then we have a Wedding coming up fast, and I'll be honest we have not done much planning for that at all, but it will be happening on the 18th of October...this year!!!!

OK...its official I'm 40!!!!

Or as Dave reminded me I'm actually into my forty first year now! GREAT!

Will post photos etc from my party later on... :-)

Can you feel my pain!!!!! I'm going to be 40 in less than 48 hours now!

Yesterday I was enjoying a coffee and a new magazine from the library; it was spoilt by someone else’s cake/biscuit crumbs falling out all over me! How gross is that, I tell you!

A very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Albert/Grandad we will give you a call later. All our love and best wishes.

Photos from your school visit yesterday!
You did wonderfully well, I was so proud of you for joining in and having a go at everything the teacher Mrs Samuel's asked!

Alexander has his FIRST school visit on Thursday morning!

SpongeBob SquarePants is the theme for this year's Birthday he has decided!

I'm sick with a yucky cold (thanks Dave)!

and its exactly a month till my baby turns 5 and starts school!

Oh and on a funny note....
I said to Alexander: “Please help me pick up the toys we need to have a tidy up”
He said to me: “No, I can’t! And you’re not coming to my Party”
I said back: Well “I’m the one that gives you the party and makes all the stuff for it”
He must have known I meant business: “OK then, I’ll pick them all up for you Mummy”

Alexander is sleeping over at his Nan's tonight, along with Scrufty of course. We are off out to Alexander's God Mum's/my good friends 40th Birthday Party at the local pub. Poor old Dave is pretty blocked up and snotty with a cold though, nothing a few pints wont fix he reckons.

And also he is into his 8th week of not smoking, this time he feels confident he is going to stay that way, he KNOWS that he just can't have a puff or a sneaky one here and there and stay not smoking. Of course we are all very proud of him.. :-)

The little kitties are doing great, Perky is the full on one, she bounces all over the place and Scrufty doesn't even faze her, Pinky is timid, but she is coming out of her shell a little bit more every day.

Maungaraki School - link to school site

Last night David and I went to Alexander’s school for a parent’s information evening, and today we have his school visits sorted out with his start date 21st June (his birthday) He will be having a “Happy Last Day at his kindy on the 18th June. I just can’t believe it’s time for him to go to school!


He is very ready mind you. I’m not the only Mum who feels like this I know, It’s the getting used to that “someone else” will be educating them, shaping their future, moulding them, and heading them off in the right direction for adult life, still the teachers have the skills to do this and that was evident from last night and I feel better about the whole process now.

The kittens have been named Pinky and Perky - Alexander and Dave's favourite tv show on in the mornings.

Wanna know what's cute, small, fury, and 8 weeks old...?????

Well do ya?

Go on I know you wanna know!

Well.....

We have not 1 but 2 new little fur babies!

No not Mice

No not Rats

No not Guinea Pigs

No not Rabbits

No not Puppies


Oh well, have to wait till tomorrow to find out!

You know you’re a Mum when.....

You have a small pile of children’s odd socks.

Your bedside table has half a cup of milk, a used tissue, and a selection of small toys.

Your car CD player plays Hi5, The Wiggles and Crazy Frog tunes.

Your kid calls out “come look at my Poo”

You hear “I’m hungry” all the time from small people.

You never get a full night’s sleep.

You have a nice collection of abstract creations on the kitchen windowsill from the small ones.

You actually enjoy films like Finding Nemo, Power Rangers unleashed and rerun after rerun of Cars.

You never get tired of hearing “Where are you Mum” – well actually you do, I lie.

You look forward to sitting down when the little ones are asleep finally.

You hear the pitter patter of small feet in the night or a tap on the nose to wake you.

You never get tired of hearing “I love you Mummy”

These are just a few of my Mummy observations....none of which I’d be without mind you.

photos from today...
I'm really feeling my age, mostly in a good way, although not so happy about being 40 next month - 40 Wahhhhhh!

My little boy is growing up and will be off at school next month, can you believe it. Only feels like yesterday I was 42 weeks pregnant, 12 hours into labour walking round the streets to hurry things along - not that it helped much mind you, but id walk to the ends of the earth and back again to have my little boy. :-) OK I'll stop being all mushy!

Rather than just upload a photo of the "RING" in it's box or on my finger, I thought I'd do it, it's own little photo shoot!

Now yes you are right, and I do already have an engagement ring from quite a few years ago! But when you keep a girl waiting this long to marry (8 years) Dave brought me a new one while we were away! :-)

Dave and Alexander had a blast on the jolly scooter!

and here is a photo I liked of Alexander from while we were away, and then the finished picture - thought you might like to see the before and after.

The original photo was not something id want to frame or have on the wall like it was, but after a little work/transformation it's fit for a frame and some wall space don't you think!

I'm trying, trying, trying to catch up on photos, but it's very hard when both Dave and I are falling asleep on the couch at 8pm, and Alexander is waking up between 3am and 6am ready to start the day. It's very clear we all have been effected badly by jet lag this time. I'm jolly well over it!!!

I'm going to be updating each of my entries with photos from while we were away.

Rather than just add a wad of photos now, check back over the last month, as I'll be adding new photos to the entries as and when I get time over the next few days. Hope that makes sense :-).

Did I mention I have a pile of washing and 3 huge suitcases of things to put away, I feel like I have been making piles and moving them round the house all day.

Alexander wanted with all his heart to go off to kindy this morning, I guess he is not suffering with jet lag as much as I am to day.

We are back safe and sound, I'm the only one up at the moment, its 7:48am and Dave, Alexander and Scrufty are tucked up in bed snoring.

Will post more and some photos later today, I've got to get some unpacking done.

Just finished our departing meal of real fish and chips, we have done that every time we have left the UK, Mark is on his way to collect us for the airport. I don't like the leaving day :-( Goodbyes are never fun.

Will post again when we get back home probably on Monday sometime.

The packing has started...oh boy! Dave brought 2 pairs of shoes this morning to add to the packing.
Nan organised to collect us at the other end. Ive got one last day for shopping tomorrow morning with Sharon, while Dave has the boys, Adam and Alexander.

Alexander has ordered Nan to bring his Scrufty in the car to collect us from the airport.

Ive been very spoilt over the last few weeks I think ive cooked once the whole time and that was just bacon sandwiches, we have either eaten out or been cooked for, now that for me is a real holiday, thank you everyone especially Mum and Dad.

Wish us luck for the 36 hour trip door to door.

Looks like we will be leaving as planned on Friday according to our airlines website and the airspace is fully open and there were planes in the sky's today, a strange sight after 5 days of silence.

Alexander is asking when he will see his Scrufts again and he is asking about kindy all the time now.

I was thrilled to find 2 more character jugs by Royal Dalton today in the local charity shop, just 7 pound each. I also found a lovely little Next handbag for 3 pound also.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are on their way back from Tenerife as I type, so we will get just two more days to spend with them before we go, I know a shopping trip and lunch is called for and Dave will get a pub night with Mark, and Alexander a play with Adam too.

I'm pretty sure we will need another suitcase to return home with again this time along with the three we came with :-)

2 months or 8 weeks till Alexander is 5 and starts school would you believe!

Alexander crashed out in the car on the way home from a full day out at the fun park, David and I took turns going on the roller coasters and mental upside down over and round rides. Alexander got a bit mad as he really really wanted to go too but he was to small for those kinds of ones. He thoroughly enjoyed Thomas Land as much as he did last time we were here.

It's still crazy here with flights, airports and confused travelers. We will call ours tomorrow, Wednesday and see where we stand for our return to New Zealand.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are still stuck in Tenerife, they have been put up in a hotel with a pool etc so Adam is happy.

Off to Drayton Manor tomorrow, that's the fun park and Thomas World, Alexander is very excited of course.

Today we went into Birmingham city and I reckon half of Britain were shopping there, it was crazy, Dave said there are 1.5 million alone just in the city, that is half of New Zealand's population.

Still no movement for planes today, they do say that airports in Scotland and Northern Ireland, then the British Midlands are opening up tomorrow, I reckon it might be wishful thinking and speculation, still who knows, we will know more in the morning.

Another 24 hours on and still no planes are flying. Really feel for everyone trying to get home, more especially if you have children or sick and elderly.

Home from a wonderful lunch and afternoon with our UK family celebrating our engagement and up coming wedding in September.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are still in Tenerife unable to return home in time due to the volcanic dust cloud.

Alexander thoroughly enjoyed the company of his elder cousins Matt, Rich and Rebecca, absolutely glued to Matt the whole afternoon.

Not sure how likely it will be returning home next Friday due to the volcanic dust over the UK at present, suits me fine! Luckily we have nothing pressing to return home for, so putting it off for another few days or longer won't be a problem. Really the people in the know here in the UK don't really have much of an idea when it is likely to clear. On the upside the sunsets have been beautiful.

It's looking more and more likely Mark, Sharon and Adam will not be able to get back from there holiday in Tenerife in time for our engagement party tomorrow. Planes are still grounded here in the UK and it looks like there will be no change to that till 1am Saturday.

Got your message Lesa, will have to look when I get home, looking forward to watching Dylan's videos, Alexander will love it too!

Been to the Safari Park yesterday, lovely day, and it was so cute to watch Alexander calling to the elephants with his elephant noise, they did take notice and wandered over. Can we stroke it, can we stroke it, he kept on asking :-)

Forgot to mention also poor old Alexander fell out of bed a week ago and added another scratch/bruise to his chin, for a couple of days he looked like he had just stepped out of a boxing ring.

It's been three weeks on Friday that Dave quite smoking, he feels so much better about it this time, the whole change of his usual routine has helped immensely.

While in Wales we saw a real Punch and Judy Show on the beach in Llandudno, the same family have been doing it for over 100 years. Alexander absolutely totally loved it.




On Friday we went to Weston Super Mare to visit Great Grandma's and Granddad's grave and leave flowers. Alexander rode the donkey's on the beach.





Had a fantastic weekend, been to Wales for a couple of days, the highlight for me was our visit to Denbigh Lunatic Asylum and it was even more stunning to see it for myself, I was so excited my hands were shaking for my first few photos... lol



Alexander, Mummy and Daddy had a ball on every ride we could find, Donkey's, The Carousel with Mummy, mini roller coaster, the jumpy trampoline thingie, go carts, trams, and the huge wheel etc.