Jonathan turns 10

As is the ongoing family tradition for turning ten - Jonathan had a significant birthday party. Along with fourteen friends he hit Laserstrike Petone for a full on afternoon. He chose to have an ice cream cake (which given the chaos of decorating was great for me) Then after Laserstrike five of his friends came home for a sleepover. They watched Get Smart on Nick's big screen with popcorn and chips. Then they actually slept until a reasonable hour of the morning before everyone headed home after a pancake breakfast.

Granddad's new car

We had a surprise visit from Dad in the middle of the carpet laying - he had bought and a new car in Auckland and stayed overnight on his way driving it back to Christchurch. It was pretty cool. He also bought along a tent for Jon which they had fun assembling.

Tash's birthday

Oh dear - I loaded this photo weeks ago with the plan of finishing the post later and then with my laptop out of commission haven't had a chance to do the text.

Tash decided to have her 25th birthday at Vintage. Her hair was done earlier that day to bring it back closer to blonde and she had altered her sixth form formal dress to a long skirt which looked fantastic.

There was a great blend of old and new friends and they pretty much had the place to themselves. This photo is one Jon took earlier in the night.

The decorating update

The painters have started and Jon's room and the TV room only need the trim finished. The big lounge has had one coat on the walls and isn't quite what I wanted but we'll see how it is after the second coat. The new carpet gets laid over three days this coming week which is a bit of a worry as everything has to be off the carpeted floor and all the book shelves emptied. The living areas have already been done for the painting but the bedrooms will be a total mission.

Nick is heading off to Sydney on Tuesday so we'll be missing his pair of hands as well. It's my long weekend which will help although I'm thinking of negotiating half days for the three days the carpet is being laid for sanity's sake. The new curtains have arrived for our bedroom - once Jon's furniture is back in his room I'll take some photos. They look really beautiful.

In between times I was relaxed enough last long weekend to help Jon and two of his friends make advent wreaths. A whole week early!!!! I had been planning to get an Oasis wreath and am not too happy with my alternative of tied blocks in for live flowers but the boys had a wonderful time. I'm planning on replacing the test flowers with lilies this week. I've also put some more photos from the Egypt part of David's trip up on his web page if you want to check it out

And a David one

In the meantime David and Lauren have been swanning around Japan, Egypt and Europe including spending some time in Volendam with his Granny's family and friends.

A Natasha story....

I'm trying to get back in the habit of keeping the family blog reasonably up to date with any items of significance. Tash sent me this photo at work a few weeks back and I have only just got it saved onto my own laptop in a reasonable upload size.

For those of you who weren't aware she has been pretty busy as the election campaign went into full swing. While most of her electorate work was with Trevor Mallard in this case she was with the now MP - then candidate - for Rimutuka electorate, Chris Hipkins and the Prime Minister. Normally it is Natasha's role to stand behind the camaraman holding everyone's stuff while the photo is taken so this photo of her just to the left and behind Chris is a rare event.

At the moment she is busy helping with the pack-up at the Beehive after which she will be looking for a new job (the parliamentary ministerial staff are automatically made redundant at the election)

Jonathan and Tash at the Beehive

The second Monday of the school holidays Jon got to visit Tash at the Beehive - security pass to the executive wing and all! There are a couple more pictures on his phone I have to save to computer including one of him sitting at Trevor Mallard's desk. He was very impressed with the size of a ministerial office. This photo is of him having lunch with Tash at Copperfields - the Bellamy's cafe.
It is one of the rooms in the Beehive with about a three story high ceiling which is quite impressive.

Jon on the Vampire