Back to the grindstone

Over the holidays, Otterboy is in the 6-week break between school years and Hubby took 2 weeks off work. Since I don't really get a day off (...a woman's work is never done, you know!) I requested a week of no dishes and got it! That was a heavenly week, let me tell ya. And the dishes were done without complaining or reminding each night. I have the best guys!

Otterboy and Maniac (his best bud) are pretty much inseparable these days and it's good they have each other to help with the entertainment since we stayed in Taranaki for the holidays.

The two of them went swimming while Hubby relaxed in the spa pool and I wandered about outside taking pictures a few times.

At one point, the three of them went up Paritutu (<- click for photos) for some fresh air and exercise. I don't do climbing, thank you. We were in New Plymouth again later, just Hubby, Otterboy and me, and the two decided to go up again. Apparently, Hubby met somebody to chat with half way up while Otterboy went up and down twice!

We also had plans to go to Kai Iwi, near Wanganui (that's barely outside Taranaki) because they have this huge flying fox that they kids love to ride. But the weather was not great and the two boys ended up swimming there, which they didn't seem to mind at all, while we went to find a cup of coffee and then to the winter garden (<- click for photos) at the local park. After that, Hubby found us a picnic shelter where we had our late, leisurely picnic lunch. But, I think the boys liked driving through huge puddles the best :)

Of course, between little trips and the rain, there was the PS3 for the boys and a bit of gardening for us all, which made for a very laid-back two weeks. I think Hubby got rested before he had to go back to work today.

And to think that we entertained ourselves as kids without huge water slides and interactive machines. I'm not sure if those were better times or not.

Home, sweet home!

Hubby makes moving easy. He and Otterboy got all the furniture and big stuff done in record time and I am so happy and proud of them.

Apparently, this house hasn't been occupied in at least a month but somebody tried to grow a veggie garden somewhere along the way. After a long mowing session and quite a while with the weed-eater, Hubby brought in a huge handful of carrots! They were quite tasty and I thank the mysterious planter of carrots. There are also broccoli and cabbage plants that have gone to seed among other things that I don't recognize. Hay, I'm from Chicago. Give me a break. I'm learning about plants as I go.

The back of the property borders a small cemetery that I haven't visited yet. There are many years of grown of an ivy and a jasmine vine climbing the 30-foot trees that separate the properties. At our 'garden' house (almost 2 years ago) there was a brick planter on the back porch with some of the same jasmine. I loved seeing it and smelling it and was impressed that it was so hardy but seeing a whole wall of it is a bit intimidating.

Otterboy bought another TV for his playstation this weekend It's older but huge! Since our flatscreen needs an aerial and his older TV doesn't, we have traded him until we can get an aerial up. So he's playing playstation on our flatscreen  and we have rabbit ears on his in the living room lounge. It works for me since Hubby and Otterboy don't watch much tv and I usually have it on for noise. 

With the cable company spending lots of money on promoting the Rugby World Cup--did you even know that NZ is hosting it even now as I type?!--and not much else, we had decided months ago to forgo cable for a while. The movies that they bill as 'premier movies' are many that I watched for $1 before I moved 5 years ago! Occasionally, we get  a movie or series that is less than 5 years old but the series usually gets cut off without notice. Knight Rider and Charles in Charge are making the rounds again. Go on. Laugh. I'll wait ;). Sometimes I miss US tv, but it's a small price to pay for NZ and my new family.

So we are officially settled into our new house. I am so loving the peaceful weekends here. Apparently, our house is the only concern on the block for noisy neighbors. OK, it's a very small block with only 4 of the 7 houses actually facing our street,  but, still, I think we will be good for the neighborhood.

A great night out for dinner

Otterboy has been selling his model trains and accessories on trademe (NZ ebay-type place) because he has outgrown them. He got quite a bit of money for them and the first thing he wanted to do is take Hubby and me out to dinner at Marbles Restaurant (the only real buffet-style restaurant around). It was a fun night out for an occasional change of pace.

Thank you Otterboy for being so responsible and charitable!

I forgot to take my camera and can't find photos on the internet, but it's decorated with Roman gladiators with big noses on the walls and as huge statues. There's a HUGE dining area with big round tables placed throughout about a third of the space. Each one has a different cold food, bread, salad, seafood, dessert. There is also a hot bar along one wall  and a guy slicing roast beef and pork along another.

The food is pretty good, but I still have problems with the prices, but maybe I'm just cheap.

They are also advertising for Christmas. Yes, it says $35 for children under 5!

It's good to know that we have raised our son to be such a caring kid. He will do well in life.