We have been here with the family over two weeks. We have helped (I hope) with some packing, organising and cooking. Rowan’s automatic job whenever we stay somewhere. We have op shopped and found some goodies that are needed. Aunty Deb needed a new desk, we got rid of her old one on the marketplace and picked up the new one on the same day. Rowan found us a few more bits of gold to add to our collection. We went back to a Hospice Op Shop where we had found a gold bangle 6 months ago and gave them a $50 donation.

The kids had a teacher only day. Rowan and I took all 4 out to Raglan. We fossicked on the beach, found a crab and lots of mussels. The boys want to eat them so we took them all home. Preston found a fish stuck on the end of a hook. It looked okay, but not knowing how old it is we took it home for bait.

I built a sandcastle complete with a moat. Then had fun destroying it. Before heading home we got fish and chips for lunch. The kids played on the playground. Then we headed to Bridal Falls on the way back. The walk was longer than I remembered. Especially with 3 boys with no shoes. Karstan in particular moaned the whole way there and back.

We got some new smoke detectors for the house and got some screws to fix up an electrical fitting. It was taken off to paint some time ago and was never done up again.

I found Anita a brand new Mathew’s at the Sallies for $250. She just needs a king base now.

Aunty Deb told us about a Lions Club op shop only open twice a week. This place is my favourite shop in the North Island. Really well run, super cheap. It makes me want to live near Cambridge. Rowan got a bunch of fishing rods from them. Which he sold 1 for $60 to help pay for them. He also got a $10 tent that was new and I sold it for $100.

Rowan ended up with a really bad staph infection on his finger. It got so bad that he started a course of antibiotics. It is too sore to cycle with.

Nellie has gotten a year older. Rowan cooked her burgers for dinner as per her request. I made two cheesecakes. Nellie and I went to Okoroire Hot Pools for a dip. It was really relaxing, I did wish it was a little warmer. It is a bit of a hike to get there, nice bush scenery and the river is next to the pools.

Nellie had a soccer game in Papamoa on Sunday. We headed there with two boys and took them fishing in Tauranga. No luck there so we headed to Maketu where we ended up beach combing.

My mum lives in Papamoa, we got invited to have lunch. Which was perfect timing. It all happened very fast as she had other friends arrive too. On our way back from Papamoa, we stopped at McLaren Falls. Rowan convinced Preston and Karstan to get in with him. On the way home, the car in front of us chucked some kids toys out the window. We turned around and picked them up. Kiah, the middle child loves soft toys.

Two weeks went rather fast. There are a lot of bugs going around with 50% of the house hold sick. So far, we have avoided it. I did get a sore throat, but that was it.