Re-creating Woody

Woody the wall, not Woody the bourbon and cola drink.

Woody the blank wall was crying, just wailing out for some love and colour.  That and I also needed a project with the girls one afternoon when Max was in bed.  I have many photos to share with you today, so sit back and let me tell you a story.




What could Olivia and Sofia be painting? It all looks quite tidy at this stage don't you think?

And what am I painting?  Well, a sun at this stage. This is because we can't see a real one.

This picture is mischief personified.  If you have seen 'The Cat in The Hat' movie and recall Thing 1 and Thing 2, then you will see there is a distinct resemblance (if you discount outfit differences).  Not so tidy after the girls painted hands and feet.

This is actually Sofia and Olivia in costume.

The final artwork.  'Franew Island' is Sofia's name for it.  We are counting the days we are walled in! Note I am optimistic and have not left much room for the count.  This is the wall the kids can draw on, though Max has difficulty understanding that he not allowed to go around willy nilly drawing on other walls and furniture.

 

OK, onto building-type stuff.  The roof hasn't been started yet.  However the plan is for Wednesday now... we are crossing our fingers we don't get the torrential rain forecast for later in the week. 

 

What you will see next is that we have some new weatherboards!  Yippee.  Also some pictures of the kids on the building site, due to lack of other building content. 

 

Look!  Weatherboards.  That sticking out bit is the back of the fireplace.

 

Don't you think he looks a bit thin after his illness? Hee hee.  See his new gumboots?  He is very happy with these.

 

The girls' new game is jumping off the old floor onto the new one.  Look at that technique!

 

Flying pink gumboots

 

Olivia, no.  I won't let you use me as a step to get up to the roof.

Other interested parties include the kindy the girls go to over the road.  The teachers particularly enjoyed Tree Fellas presence, and openly admired the physique of the lead tree fella.  Hopeful of further eye candy, sausages left over from the kindy lunch BBQs were delivered to our builders one afternoon.  These builders have got it made! 

The kids pile outside sometimes to watch when the big trucks come.  The kindy sent me these pictures:

Yes the boy on the left does indeed have a tutu on.  The boys were definitely more interested than the girls.

 Sofia and Olivia watching the goings on at their house from across the road.

 

Keeping an eye on proceedings from the kindy gate.



And today's random picture - here are the girls getting into building mode at kindy. I love that they get to do this.

 

In anticipation of the official roof shout this Friday afternoon, I have purchased sausages, chips, The Original Kiwi Dip (old jobs leave their mark) and Heineken.  Now I just need to get the bourbon and cola.  Bleurrgh.  I am going to have one too, just to prove a point.  I don't know which point.

 

I have lost Steve to Pandora.  Fortunately not a girl, but a music website.  He walked around all day Sunday carrying our laptop listening to music.  I had a play with it today and it is pretty awesome - you go on some really cool musical journeys and get to create your own radio stations.  Have a play if you haven't already:  www.pandora.com

 

There is a purpose:  Steve's trying to figure out what we are going to do audio-wise in the new bit.  Fortunately Steve's Dad is a great help with electrical things and has sent through an email full of good advice.  It's exciting to think we'll have some kind of audio without a) carrying a laptop around or b)listening to radio stations with ads.  I know you're probably like, but why don't you have iTunes or an iPad or any other iThing.   We do, and the problem with it is that you have to buy the content - which works if you know what you like, but if you don't or want to try some new stuff - where do you start?  That is why I think Pandora is so much fun.

In another news bulletin from the technology sector, we bought a new 55 inch TV with internet capability and 3D, so Steve is just about bursting thinking about all the possibilities - especially because he bought a camera for the TV so we can Skype on that rather than on the computer.

 

Have a wonderful few days until I write again.

 

Anna x



Our new apartment

It's been a while since I last wrote, but here it is! It's been really nice to have some time away from our beautiful building site this Easter.  We went to the Coromandel and we were able to step outside the front door onto a lawn peppered with kids toys rather than nails.  We had swims in the ocean and BBQs! 

This entry will be more like a picture book than a written piece, however I will say a few things: the first is that my title about our new apartment is in light of the fact we are now without our main bathroom and laundry (well, we do have outside laundry access underneath a tarpaulin) and without our main peeping windows!  How will I keep an eye on the builders now?  And will we wither and die without natural light?

The second comment is that there have been two dicey moments for us - number one is that the boxing for the fireplace means that there is no room for a flue and number two is that one of the purlins was not evenly spaced at the back of the house.  Cue a meeting between Steve and the main builder guy this morning re the two above issues.  Apparently the fireplace boxing is not structural and you can just whack it out and while Steve and I were not too upset about the uneven purlin, it is now in the correct place.  Breathe out - I know you were holding your breath but it will be OK!

Here is my pictorial essay of the last five days:

Relaxing at the beach with the beautiful people.

Steve and Mike with the BBQ that meant we enjoyed some choice chicken and luscious lamb.

Back at home:  Check out the artwork where the window once was.  They are holding a conference on where to place the next hand print.  Sofia just agrees that she loves hand prints.

 

Why is this big red bin full?

 

Because, says Max, the roof has gone!  Well, some of it.  This view is looking out towards where the old french doors were.

 

Check it out.  No peephole for me.

 

Our gorgeous new wall art instalment.  I call it "Woody".

 

The other side of the wall!  Accessible only from outside.

 

The missing roof above the old french doors/dining area.

 

Just in case it rains the roof is wearing its parka.

 

Sofia and Olivia play their favourite new game: climbing the frames!

 

And Max ponders where he will throw dirt from next.  Down his mothers top was not a good choice.

 

 

A roof shout is planned for 3pm on Friday afternoon!  Woohoo.  Steve wonders which beer the builders will drink and if we should cook some sausages on the BBQ for them.  I think they will drink anything, and eat anything if the rubbish out the back is anything to go by.

 

 

Over and out,

 

Anna x