Mothers Day for Donne 2008

Here's a pic of the painting Mak'w and I made for Donne for this past mothers day in April - it's sposed to read " I Love My Mum "
I went down to the stationary warehouse and bought some A4 sticker sheets and used them to print off the words before setting about cutting each individual word out. I'd then apply one set of words and then let Maks go nuts with the paint then after its dried I'd stick down more words and let her again go nuts. Then once more and then peal off all the stickers to reveal the words as they appear on the picture below. It's a good cheap trick if you wish to try it, kids love it and it looks nice too.

Watching Barbie - Fairytopia

I got two Barbie movies for Makayla, and she just loves them to death. She'll watch them over and over and over again and her cousin Danika is just as much into it as she is so they just sit livid pixated onto the screen, so I'd wrap them both up in a blanket on the single seater and let them enjoy it. Maks even wanted to watch it during her dinner. As noted in a previous post Maks would sometimes get scared and crawl up and snuggle into my shoulder even if i'm in the kitchen cooking their dinners.

They just grow so fast

One moment your wiping the dribble from their chins, the next your chasing after them in the shopping mall. Where does the time go?

Federal to Tangihua

A few days after moving into the new premesis we have probably one of the better function meals ever held, not a single pizza in site. Instead they were replaced with salads, roast chicken, pork and lamb. Think I must've eaten a full lamb and it went down a treat it certainly did. There were a few fun activities put on as well as we all easily crammed into the 6 floor still yet un-utilised so was nice and open for the festivities.

So the final days of GE Money located at Federal Street co-incided with a Mexicali fiesta dinner for the crew. Each team decorated their area's and some funny prize givings were announced. Finished the evening off with some Sumo Wrestling pic's below.

The Sunday Drive

In past we always felt that a good drive could help us relax and free the mind whereas in present days that it all but a thing of the past. Rising fuel costs have changed the economic climate hugely that all are now watching their pennies more tightly. Matched with growing costs of food also, the trip to the supermarket could be drawn on how much fuel will be burnt on the trip making the assumption that we are indeed pushing on hard times for the average New Zealander.
The NZ Herald reports increasing debt levels and many NZers now struggling to make their standardised repayments.
Also noted is the reduction of day trips NZers are now taking due to the high petrol pricing making a 12.5% drop and the NZ tourism board has stated that it results to $400m loss in tourism sales. Nationally there is a decline in people taking holidays and even fewer business trips. All this is in response to rising petrol prices resulting in a weaker economy and may see smaller businesses struggle to stay a float.
The decisions faced to our government and the choices they make are now crucial and with elections approaching, only time will tell.

Update

Yes, it has been some time since my last post. Struggle to keep things updated as after spending long days in front of a computer flat tack at work the last thing I feel like doing is typing something out on the computer once home. Finally working a late shift at work which is quiet enough to actually put a things down.

To recap, my cousin Joanne came home for a visit to surprise her dad on his birthday and was great to see her again. The last time I saw her was for Makayla's christening two years ago January 06' which she was not only able to see how much she had grown but to see her nephew for the first time also.

The weather in Auckland for the past two to three months has been diabolical. Due to my rostered work we get every fortnight off full a full weekend which is the only time I get to spend with Maks. The weather has always pourer down on those particular weekends which means not only do I not get to go outside with Maks, being an avid golfer the weather has mostly forced me indoors and I'm sick of it. Sure I could play a wet round of golf but the courses with this down pourer just wouldn't be worth the trouble as they'd play like swamps. Maks and I still have our fun, I got her two Barbie movies which she loves to pieces wanting to watch it time and time again. I think she watched Fairytopia about 6-7 times over the weekend and I'm sick of the dang thing. She didn't like the bad fairy and would climb ontop me and snuggle her face into my shoulder as she was scared until that scene ended and she'd contently watch until the bad fairy came on again.
Mom and I did get a small break in the weather to get the kids outside and down to mission bay for a very short time in between the torrents of rain.

As for work, well we're now in a new building for the last month. Took a while to get used to the rather extended walk to work but it wakes me up in the morning whereas prior I'd do that whilst sitting at my desk sipping my coffee.
The new building is located at 8 Tangihua street in auckland's city. The walk to work from home is about 1.1k's (one-way) and quite enjoyable when the rain isn't a factor.
The interior building is much larger than the previous at Federal street and we all now have room to breath and not cramped in like sardines. Felt strange for the first week as we all settled in but is so much handier having everyone in the one building rather than in two seperate buildings.
The new office is located just across from Foodtown so I always point out to maks where my office is "that's where daddy works", her reply is "me too" which i think is precious.