Sunday...

As you know this week has seen more visitors enjoying the delights of the Swannanoa Retreat lol. We've been super busy, out and about, keeping these two gorgeous girls tuckered out by their adventures. We've been to the Antarctic Centre - where like most kids they enjoyed throwing snow at each other and pushing all the buttons on the interactive boards etc. We went the museum, which they loved. The loved it all except for the talking mannequins. Amy, whose six, was pretty adamant that she wouldn't be going back into 'that bit' again. This is the same child who when she got off the plane in Christchurch exclaimed 'oh man, it's morning here, that's amazing!! It was morning when we left!!" And when she noticed a chap with a metal prothesis (leg) said...'boy, it must be cold in bed with that leg' LOL.

We walked around town a bit. We ate Burger King more times than I care to remember. We went to Orana Park, where the playground was much more of a hit than the animals were. So the next day we went to the dog park and the playground. That was a hit. Now Amy thinks she might be a dog trainer as well as an artist when she grows up. Good choice Ame's. Where else did we go? Oh the Christchurch Art Gallery, a shopping centre for Mum's benefit (and of course to visit the two dollar shop so the girls could spend the money that they'd saved for the trip), Jo Seagars for a now famous hot chocolate. And to buy fudge. They even offered their mother and I some fudge. About quarter the size of the white bit of the nail on your pinkie finger lol. The movies, we went to the movies as well - I've now seen Nanny McPhee. Last time I went the movies it was to see Narnia.

On Friday I dropped them back to the airport, came home, hung out a load of washing, and popped another one on, then shot down the road just as the movers were finishing emptying the truck. I helped unpack boxes and sort out some rooms. I did this again on Saturday but with my sister and hubby helping. We took down scones and bacon and egg pie and sat in the sun having a picnic, with very good friends. It was bliss. Mike and the kids came down home and had a spa, while us girls went and got all the groceries so that they now have a full pantry and fridge again, and then we came home and all had a barbie for dinner. I asked Johnny what his favourite part of his new house was - and at six years old he said 'that you're here'. I love that their Mum says 'go ask Aunty Trace'. Now if only I could get her into scrapbooking LOL.

This afternoon I'm heading off to get lots of photos developed as my poor Project Life album has been neglected over the last week. Only two more weeks of staying home before I'm back to work full time - for a while at least. I'm looking forward to getting back into that scrap room of mine.

I keep forgetting...a lot of you have asked about us moving back to Auckland/not moving back. Lyall is now happy to stay for another year and then re look at the situation. He is becoming more involved in life outside of home and being back to his normal chirpy, cheeky self. Barbz and her family very kindly took us four wheel driving with them a couple of weekends ago and he loved it. He has a few projects on around the house - building a chook house, sorting out getting a garage and a carport built - so I think it's starting to feel a bit more like home for him now. He has a brother and sister in law keen to move down here, and I think if that happens then you won't see us moving in a hurry. Still who knows what life holds? Anyway enjoy your week, and think of my wee dog, she's off to be speyed tomorrow... Poor baby. Worried mother lol. Or maybe I'll cancel it - postpone it till she's older...Hmmm what to do, what to do!