Hi,
It's taking a while to recall our exciting activities over Christmas and New Years, so here is the first part I have dredged up from the recesses of my mind. If I wait, you might never hear a thing about it. I know how I work!
We spent Christmas Eve making the lunch items for Christmas Day. It all went very well with Ma going to get many of the fresh items during the morning. Mike and I slept in the lounge as my parents had our bed. I quite like the idea and even if my parents are enjoying a hot Christmas Day somewhere in Australia next year, I might suggest we sleep there again!
Mike's parents had arrived today and were entertained at Vivienne's before retiring to 40WLW for the Christmas festivities. I hope their Christmas Day routine includes a pilgrimage to Wellington from now on to spend the day with their family from now on. Fingers crossed, eh?
Christmas morning was an early start - Toby woke up at 5.30am and was so excited. Santa had left a stocking (Aunty Vivienne's trusty huge stocking) full of presents and he dragged them up to the lounge. He was so excited he was shaking. We placated him with one present but we wanted him to try and wait a little longer for his grandparents to wake up at a more decent hour. Trying to tempt Toby back to sleep did not work at all. Ma and Dad were up at 6am.
The present opening started in fury then. There was no stopping Toby. We must have all been a bit sleepy as several presents were opened by the wrong people. Oops. Santa seemed a little out-of-touch with Toby's wants and desires, but his parents and grandparents seemed to have hit the mark. Toby was gracious in any case. Opening yet another figure of Swampfire from Ben 10 Alien Force Toby merely said "Oh, another Swampfire, good!". Santa will try not to make similar mistakes next Christmas.
The breakfast started in earnest not too long after the present-opening started to slow down. There was loads of food and the prospect looming of more food later on At Sally and Andrew's place. Bring it on! We eventually got sorted, stacked ourselves in the car with the food we had prepared and made it (a little late) to 40WLW. This is where we discovered that the items we made were the first course. Bother. Perhaps we should have got here a little earlier in that case. The weather was lovely and the BBQ was soon roaring cooking the chicken skewers. People tucked into the prawn/watermelon skewers (soaked in juice, fish sauce, chillies and tamarind - fiddly but tasty). Then it was on to bigger things topped off by a dessert extravaganza!
Dad had to work on Boxing Day so we didn't have a very late night. We got home after dropping off Ma and Dad and realised we had copped a bit of sunburn from the ferocious sun. Dad had some colour too. Mike and Toby seemed to have escaped anything.
Boxing Day was a quieter day. This is blog-speak for "I can't recall what I did on that day". If anyone wants to enlighten me, please feel free. I rather suspect the day was spent playing with new toys, for both children and adults. That's my take on the black hole in my memory that signifies Boxing Day. Oh. Wait! The inane babble has meant a thought has bubbled to the top of my mind and something is tugging at my neurons. Mike was told by Dad of a LCD TV special on at work and so Mike drove in super early and bought a new Sharp LCD TV and proceeded to install it in our wardrobe. It worked an absolute treat. Mike was amazed to measure the new TV and find it was way bigger than the one on our lounge. He's seriously contemplating upgrading that one too! Heheheheh.
Sunday passed with me and Toby counting down the hours to the arrival of the Kittos. We went to visit the Sampsons to say a hello and gave them two Camelbaks (different brand, same idea) for their Christmas. They do a lot of orienteering so I think the hydration packs will be well used by them all. And on the Easter Rail Trail too! The Sampsons got a Wii for Christmas so we spent a lot of time playing on there. Great fun!
Monday arrived and we were all excited by the coming arrival of Kittos. Oooooo. I had to deliver Dad's phone to him at work and Mike and Toby drove to the airport to meet and greet. By the time I got there they were all out in the car park with their luggage waiting for the car. We drove to our place and sorted out luggage as the kids were staying with us and Karen and Scott were house-sitting Andy's house near the Wadestown shops.
Tuesday it was a little damp but the kids decided to play at Toby's school. Mike took Toby and Tyler walking and Abby and I hopped in the car and caught them. I dropped off Abby and went on to collect Karen and Scott. Then we collected the kids and went into Te Papa for lunch. Mike and Scott arrived later in the wee green car. Fortunately for me as I had no coins for the parking machine!
Te Papa was great fun. The kids really enjoyed the lunch and the cave. Wee Abby had to pluck up courage to disappear into a black hole but once she did it, she was hooning through the cave with the others. They also enjoyed the 3D colossal squid movie and Abby created some electronic colossal squids (Toby made about his 20th version - he loves it!). The Earthquake House simulation was funny. Abby was nervous after all our hype and wanted to hold my hand. But once it started she let go and said it was scary in a very loud voice.
After Te Papa we visited Ma and Pa and sang Singstar for ages. Abba's Mamma Mia was a huge hit with Tyler and Abby and we heard little else for quite some time. Then it was home to bed. We were off the next day on the ferry.
At 8am the next morning as Mike was driving around sorting out stuff for the trip away, the Interislander people rang him asking where we were for our 8.30am sailing. Oh dear. Someone had said we were on the 6pm sailing and none of us double-checked. I think at one stage that sailing had been considered - hence the confusion. But the Interislander people quickly re-booked us on their 6.30pm sailing that evening. What great service!
So we got ready, filled in the day with stuff and headed to the ferry ready for the next step in our holiday adventures.
To be continued...
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