Rounding up January

I am taking a leaf from Katie The Scrapbook Lady and am going to round up at the end of each month. I have not yet refined what I am going to round up but thought that I would use the list in the link from this blog as a prompt to start me off.

Books

I have taken  up a reading challenge.  It is something I have been meaning to do for some time and now that the children are at school I will be able to dedicate some time to this activity.  I love drama style books so watch out for my review in the next couple of weeks as I will be finished the book I am reading.  So I am currently finishing Hot Blood by Stephen Leather.

What fun things did we do as a family?

It is the summer holidays here.  That means 6 weeks break from school for the children and a time to rest, recover and enjoy each others company.  I booked Hayden into Wilson Home for Respite care and we packed to go camping at Hahei on the Coromandel Penisular.

Our site has no electricity and we make use of the flushing toilets and short hot showers (the bare minimum I require) provided by the camping ground.  barbeque  and gas cooker for heating food, a chilli bin for providing coolness and one fantastic solar powered lantern for night time light.  Our best camping finds for this year of course were the memory sponge for on top of our air bed and the tent we bought the children which they still need to learn how to assemble.

Of course our days were filled with

Visiting Hot Water Beach ...hear is a photo of the very hot water bubbling out of the sand at the waters edge.

Kayaking on the esturay at Cooks Beach

Of course the time in the water.

Playing volleyball with friends



Rock Pooling

and generally having a fabulous time.

Giving Gifts

This month was Andres 7th birthday.  We were camping for this and he had a fantastic day.  He was very spoilt and got gifts from all family members who had remember to send them away with us as well a few special things from us.  He shared his day with our friends.  We had party food from the shop and an icecream cake... You know the sort when you buy one block of icecream in cardboard place candles on the top.  Then sing happy birthday and serve to all children in a cone with sprinkles and chocolate.  Finally the children got to light sparklers on the beach.

Here is McKenzie and her friend.

Accomplishments for the Month.

This month I achieved a goal of being healthier and fitter.  I have been working at my diet and exercise habits.  I am so pleased with what I have achieved in the last 8 weeks I now am focusing on doing this while working and rushing everyone around everywhere.

Monthly Tasks

I wish to be able to say they are done but no so plant to work on this tomorrow where I will report back.  So the backing up etc etc will be done.  It is diariesed (if there is such a word)