Ammon's 2nd Birthday

It is officially Ammon's birthday tomorrow, but I decided to have the party yesterday while it was still daytime and people didn't have to rush home from work.

Ammon's cake was easy - a banana one that I copied off my friend Renee. I was pleased with it and he seemed to like it which is the main thing. Although I forgot about it in the oven so it was a bit drier than I wanted. Oh well.

Ammon loved his presents. A plate set from Brooke/Elisa, a basketball set and book from Nanny/Papa, bubble machine from Leah, transformers sleeping bag from Emerson, a helicopter from Mummy, a fire engine from Daddy, a Thomas book from Aston and a helicopter & driver set from Ryan/Logan (I think he way prefers their helicopter to Mummy's!).

On Saturday we moved him into a big bed and he is enjoying that - sleeping fabulously in it. In the next few days we will put the top bunk on it, and Leah will be moving in with him. For now Emerson will sleep with the baby in her room, but if it doesn't work out we'll look at swapping her.

Ammon and I have had a wonderfully lazy day today, recovering from a very busy weekend. Saturday we got Ammon's new bed, printed off handouts for church, dropped the kids at Mum's to play with Elisa and Brooke, watched Nate play (and win) rugby, cleaned my work, picked up Kirtland to stay the night, organised the anzac devotional, shopped for the devotional supper and cleaned the house, oh and nursed Leah after she started vomiting. Sunday Nate took Emerson and Kirtland to the dawn service then went to church, I stayed home with the two sick kids and cleaned a bit more of the house, decorated his cake, prepared his party, had his party, then went to the anzac devotional at church that we organised. We were so tired when we got home! So today definitely called for a day off! Poor Nate - he had to go to work.

It is not often that Ammon tells you that he loves you. Today I was singing him the Barney song: I love you, you love me, we're a happy family, with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me too?

Whenever I sing that to him he gives me a hug and a kiss in time with the song. At the end I ask him if he loves me. Normally Ammon's yes is a "mmm". This time he looked at me and said "I love Daddy". As clear as that. It made my heart squeeze.

Then he carried on "I love Nanny, I love Leah, I love Emmy, I love Elisa, I love Nanny, I love Papa". No mention of Mummy still, but oh so wonderful to hear him say it all so clearly and so uninvited.

I'm having a good day.

ANZAC is coming...

Next Sunday (25 April) is a big day in our house. Not only will we celebrate Ammon's 2nd Birthday a couple days early, but it is also ANZAC Day.

Over the past few years Nate and I have developed a love and a deep respect for the day and what it stands for. For those of you unfamiliar with ANZAC Day it is "a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC)who fought at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries."

Due to having small children at home, Nate has gone to the dawn services without me, but takes the kids as they get old enough. They enjoy it and look forward to going.

As I do more and more family history, I have discovered ancestors who have served in the military, which in turn makes the day more and more meaningful. One of these is my Great-Grandmother's brother: Ngaope Hoia Te Rauhiri Karawhata (aka Soldier Crawford) as Hoia in Maori means soldier and Karawhata in English is Crawford. A fitting name though.

He was born in 1916 and lived in Waihau Bay on the East Coast of NZ. He served in World War II in 1943 in the 28th (Maori) Battalion in Egypt and Italy. His brother Tui also served with him. They served with Nepia Mahuika from Ngaruawahia and his Son-in-law is who Ammon is named after.

The book "Nga Tama Toa" has made for interesting reading and I was really glad that Emerson gave it to me for Christmas. It has Hoia's picture in there, and I found this one of his brother in the 1943 Battalion Tug-of-war team (he is left bottom row):








Hoia died in 1980.

Painting

We've wanted to paint the inside of our house for a while now, but didn't really get around to picking colours. We finally got some motivation on Sunday and have already started on the kids bedrooms. So far, one down, one to go. Pictures will be up when they're done (and it's daylight to take the photo!).
The kids rooms took priority with baby on the way. We've decided to paint them both the same colour, then it doesn't matter who sleeps in which room. We've picked a colour for the lounge, debating one for the hallway and kitchen and yet to agree on the colour for our bedroom. Ah well, it's further along then we have been....