scribbles for scribbles sake

hey long time no look-see.

I have finally found some motivation, I quickly reached for the nearest bit if paper, but knew that I would end up just typing it out later on. So why not transcribe via the medium of the keyboard and screen huh???

Well, it has been a long anticipated week, with so many things happening all at the same time, both Bo and I have hardly had anytime to really take a breathe and it only gets busier as the silly season progresses.

We are trying to sell our house, I am not so sure on how it is going… but we are hopeful. The closed tender was supposed to have closed on my daddy's birthday (November, 25) but our real estate agent has stated that the "market" has been really slow to respond. A sharp contrast to what she was telling us in the beginning - hmmm. However, it is a dynamic position to be in, and it is not like we held out hope that we would get a TRILLION dollars for our house. In the end, we were persuaded to host one more open home last Sunday… with one potential buyer out of it… to later put in a proposal this week. Its Thursday (as I am typing this) and still not heard a peep. Watch this space!

Picture of Oriental Beach, Wellington

Agnes (Bo's elder sister) arrived last Saturday with Wellington putting on the MOST stunning weather I have seen all year. No wind, beautiful sun as we wind down the later ends of Spring. We picked her up from the airport, arriving (me, typically barefoot) and Bo without his wallet.

A little background - you have to understand, it is a great tradition of mine to go missing on the weekend. I am a strong believer that the weekends are mine, so only in extreme cases of EMERGENCY - I am completely uncontactable. I don’t know where my mobile is, don’t reply to emails, NEVER answer the landline and barely hear any knocks at the door. I have just done this routine, since always, I figure that I am around the people that NEED my immediate attention - so there is no need to be distracted by anything else. If you really need to get a hold of me, Bo is always glued to his phone… who knows huh?

So, with my bare foots in toe (all pun intended) Bo, kindly reminded me that I, YES I, had forgotten HIS wallet. With frowning subtilties - "hmmph… sorry of course I did darling". So we parked the car, closest to the terminal gates, which was perfect (as I am known to show my upsidedown frown at the carpark selection of my better half - another story, another time). I quickly realise that, we do not have any money between us to pay for the carpark and that we would probably have to "beg, borrow or steal" to get out of the airport. Alas, Agnes will be here soon and we can borrow money from her… great, welcome to New Zealand, I trust you enjoyed your 27 hours in the air… can we borrow $5 cos Iritana left my wallet at home???

We were about 30mins early, so decided to head to the gate and greet Agnes on her arrival… hey did, I mention that she was flying over from The Netherlands? Oh well, she left Holland, a few days ago and spent a little while in Shanghai before flying into beautiful Aotearoa. Agnes arrived, and she looked stunning as I last remembered her… with the exception of her well pregnant form. With Daddy holding bubba, and amazed that his sister was in country, it wasn’t long before the Dutch supremacy took over. Which is terrific, as Bo speaks very little Dutch and I have to constantly remind to him to keep up bubba's Dutch.

Bo & Iritana with the human on Oriental Parade

We collected Agnes' bags and headed off home, with a quick stop off to Oriental Parade for kaffe.

Sunday arrives, and the open home is on, so we are in a mad dash to get the house to a presentable state, only to return to the kitchen bay window wide open for any cunning begger (quietly think the real estate agent is a MORON) but she did put the alarm on, clap clap! Monday arrives and only one day until the human is ONE.

Birthday Morning

After, baking strawberry and vanilla cupcakes, and one chocolate mudcake… decorating the house with balloons and streamers - our darling human woke up a little earlier. Born at 6:58am, I wanted to wait until then - that is when the REAL celebrations would start. Can I keep that a trend or household tradition to give his presents or BIG mama kisses at 6:58am every 30 November that I am around my human?

Our Human & Mama!!!

Our first SMS is from Aunty Kataraina (my elder sister, also with child and due the same time as Agnes)… we start to take pictures of the human waking up and crawling around on mama and papi's bed. Woohoo 6:58am and I take the first picture and quickly upload to twitter, so the whole world knows that Tuwhakairiora Daniel Engels turned 1 Year TODAY!

We proceed into the lounge with all the balloons, and bubba goes nutts seeing all the balloons. After a quick nappy change, we put dress him in Aunty Babs "Helaas Pindakaas" t-shirt which literally translates into "Unfortunately Peanutbutter" - have to love the Dutch sayings, with a slant!

Helaas PINDAKAAS

Daddy gives bubba, his first present of a push car, which on the box reads "for 1 - 3 year olds" not GIANTS huh? He squeezes into the bike, LOVES it, really does. Then a round of presents from the Engels familia in Holland… he is sooo lucky.

Bubba's toy car from Mama & Papi

Running out of time, we manage to fit in a phonecall from Caylani and Patricia, skype call from them also and a wonderful call from Opa in Gambia. Dishes done, cakes sorted we head out the door to Kohanga for breakfast and karakia. We arrive at Kohanga, spread out the fruit for breakfast to compliment the marmite sandwiches and then bring out the Chocolate Mud Cake with candle. Sounds of "Ra Whanau kia koe" ring out amoungst the small high pitched voices… and then the perfect announciation of Tuwhakairiora, always greets me with warm fuzzies.

Cake shoved into his mouth, nose and hair, yes hair! We clean up bubba, ready for karakia. Typically Ngaati, karakia is quick and effortless with beautiful singing - Agnes is taken aback with emotion, as she watches her nephew engage in waiata-a-ringa. I am struck again, with another round of Happy Birthday filling the halls and marae. We take plenty of photos and videos, prepared to upload them to our anticipated audience!

Our CUTEness eating his muffin!!!

We pack the human up, and head out for the rest of birthday awesomeness, a quick fill up at the petrol station, conveniently located next to Rosalie. We indulge in the "Kiosk" Chicken and Bacon pie… and if you havent had one yet, you are truly missing out. I unfortunately have to head back into work, but a big day planned with Daddy and Agnes.

Human, takes a nap on the motorway to work… and I bid my farewells and join in via twitter on their celebrations. A trip to the Zoo, feeding the giraffes, meeting "Tahi" the one legged Kiwi and then a quick dip in Island Bay before lunch at the Bach. After such a long day, my working day had ended and Daddy agrees to pick me up on their way home - the human is as we I had previously left him, exhausted and asleep. I believe it was a wonderful day to celebrate his birthday!

We are now heading into the weekend, where we have my family (and friends) birthday and our Antenatal birthday! Good times ahead, I best not forget to pick up the cake on Friday!