January 2012
The first week or so in January was all about the grandkids with Nick and Mel having an awesome time in New York! We had an awesome time too with the kids, Liz and Alton. The following are lots of photos of our time together.
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| Breakfast time and lots of mess with the weetbix! |
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| Need my "glasses" to watch Angelina |
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| Look Nanna! I can lift the protective covering on the coffee table! |
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| Grandad's boy |
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| Mum and Dad skyping from New York |
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| Me too! Kisses for Mum and Dad |
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| Helping Nanna with the vacuuming (it needed doing every day!) |
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| Me too - I want to help! |
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| The nanny! |
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| Hiding - playing with the toilet from the Barbie house! |
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| Peace reigns - watching the Ipod! |
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| Kaisha got a real thing about wearing glasses - we punched out the lenses! |
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| Grandad fixing the bike so we can go off to the park |
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| At the playground |
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| I can drive - but see Kaisha coming! |
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| And look who is in the driving seat! |
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| The cup |
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| Sunday morning - off to the meeting |
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| Need my glasses Nanna |
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| Photo with the "grandies" |
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| Love Pooh bear who sings and tells stories |
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| Liz and Alton came to stay for their last weekend - Friday night chillout |
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| We went to the Gold Coast for the day - picnic lunch |
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| Fascinating birds |
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| Poor Grandad - kids climbing all over him! |
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| Two bathing beauties at the beach building sandcastles |
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| Coen loves his push chair |
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| Kaisha loved the merry go round! |
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| Grandad's new purchase from Cash Converters |
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| One evening we met the Condons, the Bassetts and the Knowlers at Woody's point - Andrea's silhouette |
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| David, Beth, Beau and Delta |
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| Gorgeous sky |
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| Earlier in the day we went for a walk on the beach at Broadbeach |
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| Another bathing beauty - we both lost our glasses in the surf however luckily got them back |
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| a shell |
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| more scenes from Woody's Point |
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| Delta and Kaisha |
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| and on the swings |
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Grandpa enjoying cuddles with Coen
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Liz and Alton went back on Saturday and Nick and Mel arrived home on Sunday, 8th January.
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| BIG smiles |
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| Group hug!! |
Nick and Mel came back to our place and after lunch we took the kids back to the park to let them have a sleep!
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| Last cuddles |
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| What's in the box |
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| Off to the park - Kaisha in a new dress and bag from New York |
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| Hot day! |
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| Nanna's always have food handy! |
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| So sweet |
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| Coen in the driving seat! |
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| On the swing with Nanna |
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| Lots of fun |
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| See my shadow! |
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| Coen loved it up high! |
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| Oh so beautiful! |
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| Coen just loves wheels |
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| The boys with the new toys! |
The next event in January was taking Kaisha to the ballet. Angelina was being played. Geoff looked after Coen while Laura, Mel, Kaisha and I went.
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| Angelina |
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| The girls |
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| An excited face?! |
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| A happy face! |
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| At the ballet! |
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| Waiting, waiting! |
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| Whoops no photos allowed! |
Then we met Geoff and Coen at the park, and after work Nick joined us for a casual dinner at Southbank.
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| Our happy boy! |
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| Every woman's bag has a lip gloss! |
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| Wonder who she has seen like this - glasses on nose and on phone!! |
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| Gorgeous |
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| also gorgeous |
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| our little ballerina |
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| Don't I love the playground! |
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| Oh yes, this is good |
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| Big sister helping |
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And Nanna doing her bit!
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Then it was time for a quick trip to Christchurch. Princess Mary Hospital had asked for a family meeting so Jane and Mark also came to Christchurch. It was great to have Sunday evening with my dear friend Caroline - although so tired forgot to take photos which was a shame because the lounge was beautiful.
On Monday night it was Dad's 85th birthday. We had a pot luck dinner at his house. Fabulous food but we did miss our Mum being there.
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| Main course |
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| Alister and Andrew |
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| Bruce, Ken, Andrew, Dad, Gillian and Alister |
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| John chatting to Rosemary |
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| Karyn and I |
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| Desserts - yum |
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Karyn, Helena, Marilyn, Connie, Gillian Ruby and Bruce
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It was time to get Mum ready for the "family" meeting where all Mum's carers told us about her progress over the weeks since her stroke.
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| Jane - Mum's personal hairdresser |
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| All ready |
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| Family photo - even a smile from Mum |
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| After the meeting |
The hospital have decided that they cannot do any more for Mum and she needs to go to private hospital care. We have chosen a lovely facility just 3kms from Aunty Ruby & Uncle Alf and about the same from Uncle John and Aunty Connie. Also only about 8kms for Dad. It also looks like Mum - her colours etc.
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| The foyer in Aidanfield Rest Home |
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| foyer |
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| Mum arriving in taxi |
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| First look at her new home |
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| View out her door |
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| Dad has a comfortable chair |
Then it was home to Brisbane as it was Australia Day - Nick's 30th birthday. They had a breakfast with their friends and we slept in to catch up on my jet lag!
Firstly on Australia Day we went to a lovely pm tea for Valda Simm's 50th.
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| Valda cutting her cake |
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| Beautiful cupcakes |
We then headed to Nick and Mel's and went to their favourite Wagamama's for dinner!
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| the menu |
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| Dinner time |
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| The Woods |
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| blue eyes |
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| sample of the food |
The next Sunday we decided to invite the family for lunch - and Laura's ex flatmate Jody.
Geoff managed to get Kaisha and Coen's name hung up on the wall!
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| Kaisha's side |
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Coen's side
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Ready for lunch!
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| Christmas flowers still lasting!!! |
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| Table all ready - cake on the bench |
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| Beautiful dress and pink sparkly shoes from New York |
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| No show without Coen! |
And so ends the first month of 2012 and seems just as actioned packed as last year!
