Birthday, Xmas, New Year, Birthday

The Armstrong’s dragging the chain again. Now we have the last major event out of the way for the Xmas holidays we can update you all on the rollercoaster ride that was.

As Maria (Julie Andrew’s) said ‘let’s start at the very beginning…’

We were demob happy on the 21st. I snuck out of the office early while the boss was dishing out the Larry Lindauer (New Zealand Fizz) and made the 3.20 train. Beth packed the girls full of food and I packed the car full of stuff. Amazingly there was no traffic heading north of Wellington (Saturday saw an hour delay) and we made good time to Hawera. Molly crashed out after 20 minutes of the trip. Maddie kept us company until 10pm wee lamb. She was very cherry except when Beth and I were eating and she was not.

The schedule of events was….
Stay at Dad’s 21st – 24th. Stay at Mum’s 25th – 27th. The Management reserved the right to change the schedule without notice.

So we chilled out with Dad on the 22nd and did not very much except eat. We had a nice lasagne over a bottle of Pinot Gris sitting out in Dad’s courtyard for lunch while the girls slept. A very nice start to the festivities. Not much else happened after this as you can imagine. Maddie started to mucsle in on Molly's territory (Grandad). Fret not the girls were bathed and fed as per usual.

The 23rd was Maddie’s birthday. Dad and Trish got her what every Kiwi one year old needs to have with the burgeoning summer at their doorstep. An all in one swim/sun suit. She was quickly in her birthday suit and into this garb to check the fit. Nicely skin tight. She was a little unsure about it as you can see. She warmed to it soon enough during the first outing as you will see in the photos later.

We then went to Mum’s for cake and bubbles (again at lunch) and a spot of theft. Maddie decided that the usual lunch was not adequate considering it was her birthday and after conspiring with Dad she went for the berry mother load. Peggy (Neil’s Mum) was none the wiser. It had to be cut down into Maddie size pieces for quick disposal. Maddie also got a duck as a gift that Molly loves. It quacks nursery rhymes. Magic.

Maddy: That strawberry is ripe for the taking.

Nick: You'll have to be quick. Jo is almost finished telling Peg about the shade of nail polish she has picked out for her wedding day.

Huey, Dewey and Louie...

After the cake was eaten and the kids wound down we headed across to Simon Rangiwahia’s for a get together. Simon is the older brother of Matthew who spoke at our wedding. A good number of my contemporaries from university had come back to Hawera for Xmas. It was an opportunity too good to be missed. Much chat, a boogie etc. Beth was going strong until 1.30am. Dad came to collect her and I headed back into the fray…..

Then it was Christmas (if only – the 24th was a long old day I can tell you).

So Christmas, we had moved into Mum’s and Vaughan had arrived with his Family the night before. The Kiddo’s surprised us all and slept until after 7am. Clearly we hadn’t impressed upon them the importance of the day – perhaps something to do with the 24th?

Anyhow Molly and Maddie ripped into their Santa stockings. Ballet pumps were fitted, books were read, mini Frisbees were thrown and chocolate was consumed all before 8am.

We had breakfast at Mum’s (Fizz before lunch this time – thank goodness this Christmas happens once a year). Beth made some Muesli, Vaughan made pancakes, Mum cooked Bacon and Kranskeys (like polish sausages). There were sweets and fruit and just plain toast if you fancied it.

Coffee, coffee and more coffee.

Then to Dad’s.

Molly crashed out and Maddie went down for a nap. Suddenly we had an hour to eat (again), drink (again) and socialise. Very nice. Trish had her brood and their families over so we were vastly out numbered however we gave as good as we got what! Jolly good show.

The girls woke up and we had some screaming about time which was a treat. Maddie was just breaking into a crawl. A crowd slowly gathered. She was just teasing.

Back to Mum’s at about 7. In bed late.

The 26th brought more than Santa could ever deliver. I went and had a round of golf (Laughton - I shot a 93. Personal highlight was chipping in on the 17th to win the match). No photos sorry sports fans. Vaughan and I took the kids swimming in the afternoon. There was some late afternoon football on Mum’s back lawn. Everyone mostly avoided eating.

The 27th? Vaughan and I took the girls to the park to feed the ducks and have a swing. Beth took off for the middle part of the day to have a bit of time for Beth (like golf for girls I guess). Vaughan and family heading back to Palmerston North that afternoon. We were going to head back home that night but we heard that Steven Rangiwahia was back in town for 2 days only (from London). Steven always put us up when we went to London to go to Moorfields eye hospital with Molly. We managed to meet up with him that afternoon and get some of his chat. Great for him to see how well Molly is doing. He is a big softy (like I’m not).

Beth and I got the girls down at Mum’s and went out for a quiet drink in one of Hawera’s most exclusive Restaurants (I think there are 2). In retrospect expecting a quiet drink in the small town where you grew up is a little too much to ask, especially in New Zealand.

It turns out a guy I went to school with owns the place; my old employer arrived with a group of people and stopped by for a chat and a couple of random ‘are you Nick Armstrong’? You know what, it was actually quite nice and we still got our quiet drink together.

On the 28th we came home. It is always nice coming home.

29th - A bit of food shopping.

30th. Nada.

31st and we had Jamie and Helen with Dorothy coming for tea. Made bread, a salad, got out the Barbie, Beth went to the gym.

We had mussels, chicken, a pesto salad, ice cream. The girls went to sleep and then Dorothy gave us a scrabble lesson in vocabulary. It was looking rosy for the Man of the House until Helen read the rules. House of cards. Interestingly the rules are open to interpretation although we only had the entire paragraph read to us after the win was awarded to Dorothy. I point this out not because I am bitter more to display the generous nature of Helen who only did herself out a win. You are an example to us all.

Bread and Mussels

New years day was spectacular. A cooling South easterly breeze and a blazing 26 degrees. We packed a picnic and headed to the Paekakariki Beach. Arrived by 9.30 and beat the masses. A walk through the park. Got a good spot on the sand. A snack and a swim. Beautiful day. Home for the afternoon and I headed out on my bike for a wee ride.

Betty's birthday. Beth went out for a walk and I kid wrangled. We met briefly at the park for a coffee and to give the girls a swing. Beth headed to the Movies and Molly and I went home to bake a cake.

We made a carrot cake. I can safely say that this is a fail-safe way to get your kids to eat vegetables. Molly mixed the batter then licked the spatula not even pausing to avoid random pieces of orange goodness.

We had cake for desert with the girls. It was excellent. Great recipe off the net however 'down sweeten' the frosting and add the zest of one lemon.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Carrot-Cake-III/Detail.aspx

Now it is time for bed. Work in the Morning.

Love to you all. We miss you very much especially at this time of year.

Nick, Beth, Molly and Maddie xxxxx

We will upload a video of Maddie crawling as soon as work out how. Jamie….