rakaia and her fairy song

Snaps of RR and friends taken over last 6 months set to Kate's 1st composition on her snazzy new computer software (resulting from Rakaia's request for some "fairy music to dance to"). I'm still learning but hopefully more music (fairy and otherwise) to come soon!

the year of the renovation... (part two)

(mid april)

we put on a whole new roof

(when i say we i actually mean erm...

joel and the various building dudes... but i like to feel included)

(end of april)

(mid may)

Once the extension had been added things got really messy inside the house: walls and cupboards were knocked out... new walls and cupboards put in and a new hallway to the bathroom. We also installed a new woodheater (with a wetback which heats our hot water when the new solar panels on the roof aren't doing it!). Joel also put down, sanded and sealed a beautiful hardwood floor... We were wiping wood dust out of every nook and cranny for weeks!

Painting and dancing of course... probably just from excitement that we're about to move back in.

By now it's the end of June: what a mission!!!!

mummy's little helper

(mid july)

We had some great weather in the middle of winter and got most of the railings around the deck painted. There is still a lot to do... the builder has been back this week finishing up outside the house and as of next week we'll be playing musical bedrooms when we comes back inside to finish all those bits and pieces that never quite got done. We've still got to repaint the bedrooms too (every room got one new wall... and they are all still stylish grey plaster board)

So its been quite a journey and all i can say is that i'm glad we resisted temptation to redo the kitchen/bathroom! (next time?? ha ha)

We haven't taken many shots inside yet but here's one of the floor and our new table and chairs. Notice stylish drying rack in the background.

at our housewarming!!

theme: extreme makeover.

i'll actually wear leopard print whenever the get the excuse.

the year of the renovation... (part one)

this is what we've been doing all year!!!!

(late february) first we pulled the old sunroom and strange downstairs bathroom off...

joel and mate chris in their radiation suits packing up some asbestos...

peekaboo! after pulling down the chimney and removing the old woodheater...

living in a shanty

(Rakaia and i went to NZ for a month while things got messier. When we got back we all stayed with friends for another couple of months until the house was habitable again)

digging stump holes...

the wasteland...

Joel and Rob the builder putting down the floor

(mid march) the frame goes up.

Starting to look like a house again! but still a long way to go...

(3 weeks later)

Joel loved getting his hands (and everything else) dirty!

He took 5 weeks off work to help Rob and learnt HEAPS.

in her blood (for the americans...)

MILK

and

COOKIES

retreat from it all

We went on a 6day Yoga retreat in Healesville straight after Christmas.

Joel was number one Daddy while Kate did the classes (-this was such a treat for all of us as it turned out - I loved getting some time 'off' and Joel loved having some time 'on').

check out the setting!

walkies

RAAAAAAAAkkkkaaaaaiiiiiaaaaaRRRRRRRHHHHHH!

(fashion note: check out RR's trendy new xmas hoodie from mum)

Meet Rakaia's new best friend: Darshan. His Mummy Anahata was teaching the retreat so he was hanging out with his Daddy too!

Over the week these two became as thick as thieves... very funny to be around!!!

spontaneous DOG POSE (RR's new fave word) sessions abounded!!!

Bath time was shared every evening.
The bub on the left is Jimmy, whose Mumma Jo was also doing the retreat.

SUPER DADDIES
L-R Steve, Jimmy, Darshan, RR, Joel, Aruna

Kate didn't completely miss out on all the fun...
helping out in the kitchen with Tania the cook and Wirria from Alice Springs

ceremonial tree planting

RR received a lovely macadamia tree from grandpa herbert as her first birthday pressie....

We planted it right before a big storm (whoopsie) but it weathered the wind well and is thriving at the back of the garden. We might even get some nuts one day!

hangin' with baba (granpa)

at ramrod... our local creek

(currently a raging torrent after all the fabulous rain)

its all about the ablutions...

did somebody say 'CHEEEEEEEEESE'?

SPRUNG!!! toilet training is going well.

RR likes to sit down with a good read - just like her mummy.

"with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes"

a pre-bath rock on our latest toy library treat... pretty specky huh?

a perfect spring day at the river

(ermm... what's daddy got in his hands?)

don't worry... if there'd been any fish he would have let them go

(or so he says!!!)

nana's in town

Walkie Talkie

outside grandpa's in melbourne with 'dolly-doe'

kissykissy

In latest breaking news - Rakaia Rose is talking!

Here are some of her favorite words:

Daddy
Mummy
Nana
(Ba)nana
Boobie (still a firm favorite around here!)
More (very impt)
No (equally impt) Taaaaah (thanks)
Dolly (see pic above with kate's childhood favorite)
Ball (developing a good throwing arm ...and looking like being a left hander after mummy!)
Boo(k) (LOVES reading)
Ha(t) (always accompanied by brisk taps of the head)
Shoe (loves putting them on AND taking them off)
Various attempts at animal noises...whooo whooo and woof woof
Fishfishfishfishfish

our very own fishy: bath time is still a daily highlight!

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right folks: Rakaia Rose is officially a 'toddler'...

she's been toddling at least a dozen steps in any direction for a couple of weeks now and getting more and more confident by the day.

Pictured here at ACCA in melbourne last weekend, sampling a bit of installation art.

tourists

We took the Staten island ferry and checked out Ye Olde Statue of Liberty.... 

Paul and Joel couldn't resist the cheap on board beers...