The Ma visit and more...

What a delightful past few weeks we have been having. The sun has been shining (naturally the farmers are wanting rain!) and we have been cracking out shorts and t-shirts - YAY!!! Ma arrived at Weelington airport last Monday night and we have had a sensational time. Before she got in we had chinese takeaway dinner with the Whitfields in Welly, which was lovely to catch up with them again (unfortunately resulting in a little too much "shop talk", but this is life!). Ma was very excited to see us and us her! Imogen wasn't quite sure, but after all she was quite young at last visit. It didn't take her long to warm up though; cuddles and learning to say 'Ma' and finger pulling - needing Ma to play dollies, blow bubbles and water the garden with her.
We had a super busy week last week with church committments: Tuesday Holiday club meeting and cell group, Wednesday Senior lunch, Thursday PLT and Friday a youth BBQ for Guy Fawkes night. Ma and Owen loved the fireworks, although Owen is still a little scared of the bangs: he prefers to watch from inside a window. We had a quieter day Saturday trying to catch up from the week, and Sunday Lee and I played in church. Music is going really well at the moment and we are enjoying putting together a different group each month using different musicians and their gifts. We are currently encouraging a young man who has just started learning drums to play with us and other groups occasionally. He will get there in time - he is not even 12 just yet I don't think! He is doing really well for a new musician. And he is very passionate so that helps.
Monday we tried to take Ma to see a kiwi but all we managed were stuffed toys and stuffed animals and a giant statue - unfortunately Mt Bruce is redeveloping the Kiwi Nocturnal House and the Kiwi's are only available for viewing on weekends. Unfortunately we didn't know this last Saturday or we would have gone then!!! Owen was very very dissapointed, HOWEVER, he loved the visit to Paua World at Carterton and wants to go back very soon - all the way to Wellington today he kept asking about it. And then lamenting that the Kiwi's are getting a new house that will only be finished at Christmas... He rabbits on and on and on these days in the car. Singing songs and talking about nonsense (he gets that from Nanna and Daddy!).
Lee left for Adelaide on Tuesday morning and Ginny was very sad. Didn't understand why she couldn't go on the plane with him. She has been talking about Daddy lots too - points to his toothbrush when she brushes her teeth and says Dadda Dadda??, Says "Daddy Daddy" when we drive up McGiffert St toward the church... she thinks he should be there! We will all be glad when he gets home Saturday afternoon. Hopefully he wont be COMPLETELY wrecked!
We had a nice time with Ma, just me and the kids the last few days - did some gardening, finished all the hand stitching on my Christmas quilt - just borders and backing and quilting to do now - and went to the Esplanade. Ma and Imogen had a great time looking at the ducks and birds and some very beautiful tropical plants in the observatory and gardens. Today we took Ma on the cable car in Wellington before the airport - it was the most beautiful day and I'm so glad she could see the view from the Botanic Gardens and a bit of Wellington before she left. It was a very scenic drive today with the good weather and the kids slept most of the way home (to Shannon) so I got a good hour and half of peace - not to be under rated!
Will post some photos tomorrow. I have Wendy and Amanda staying with me tonight and tomorrow for company - they graduated from Yr 12 tonight, so have no more school for the rest of the year now until they start Yr 13 next year. It will be nice to celebrate a bit with them tomorrow - Owen has big plans for a trip to the Esplanade and the Lido Pool if this stella weather keeps up! I certainly hope so :)