Mucking around

"So, everyone's been making a fuss of my curls lately, y'know..."

"Arf's decided to grow some, too. I think I might go for spikes next season."

"Give me the curls!"

Once again, the t-shirt says it all!

An exciting day : TWO concrete trucks visit us.

And so does Muck (the Melbourne-ite who lives in the UK).

Frank's foray into photography (of his own curls, of course).

Frank's self-portrait.

Arf wants a turn. Surprise.

Isla and Edie turn the concrete slab into their stage. They can really dance!!!

Just a quick update for our couple of loyal followers (we think there might be a few out there but no one leaves comments. Boo hoo!)...

1. Frank has started Big Kindy. It's a Big Deal. Three long days and having to leave a few friends behind. He didn't understand it was the same kindy, just different days until he arrived this morning: "Ooh, it's the same toys. Ooh, it's the same teachers. Ooh, it's the same PLACE!"
2. The building is going along nicely (although Pappy had a work-out-and-a-half today) with the concrete down now. The framing is the next step.
3. We've had Muck to stay and had a fantastic weekend, catching up with friends and rellies. Thanks Ro for babysitting.
4. Girl babies galore - a big welcome to Vesper, Niamh and Julia. Yay!
5. Arf's favourite words at the moment are: 'Naughty", "Bad," and "Away" - usually aimed at Mum.
6. Go away numbers
7. I don't want any more - 5 was enough
8. This is getting silly
9. Oh well
10. Done!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Newness

Frank (3 years and 7 months)

Arthur (2 years and almost 1 month)

Frank sang to a visiting stick insect and it danced and danced.

Arf's new best friend, Bruiser.

Bruiser: "Arf!"

Arf hiding in Bruiser's kennel.

Frank cuddles Brooke Baker (9 months already)

Frank and Bruiser hide from Arf.

New rock-chick Mum.

The back yard as it stands. Waterlogged. Big changes afoot....

Three weeks into the 'monsoon' and we automatically don our gumboots to go outside, all have super-curly hair, and the poor backyard is more of a swamp. Sigh. Big changes ahead though with the building of a sleep-out where the shed currently floats. Dougal, Pappy and various buddies are chomping at the bit to get started so fingers crossed the rain stops by Wednesday. Lani, we may be calling on you for another Sun Dance.

As you can see, Bruiser arrived, Aunty Emily! Both the boys love Arthur's birthday present from you and Jeremy and he's now part of the family. Frank wrestles and tackles him; Arfa cuddles and kisses him. The box has been fantastic too, as boxes always are.

More cousins...

For anyone who isn't family in the related sense, it must get a bit confusing with all these photos and mentions of cousins etc. It's a big family to keep track of - but don't worry, there's no exam at the end of all this.

It's been two weeks of miserable weather, school/kindy holidays, chesty coughs, runny noses and nightmares about 'Mum watching Thomas the Tank Engine.' In saying that, we've had some good catch ups with friends (at their places, crafty huh?) and then the sun finally came out today for our reunion with cousin Catherine and Ed who are over from Cape Cod. Delicious vegan food, kids let loose with the hose, crazy photo line ups, and lots of beautiful smiles. Family, yay!!!!

Two attempts at the photo - is Lily trying to moon us?

Catherine!

Arf, Phoebe and Frank planning something.

In the bambushes...

So that's what 2's like.

The BIRTHDAY BOY. Arf can't hear the word 'baby' in any context whatsoever without yelling out, "BOY!"

The theme of his party was 'Dog-Dog-Hat'. We were so busy having fun that we barely took any photos at the actual party. They liked being dressed up as puppies, honestly!

See? Haha. I feel like a mean Mum, now.

Beautiful ladies (Emily and Miss Elizabeth with Lani and Miss Mae).

Only Murray remembered the hat part of the theme.

The Stayers (that yellow light again). Arf sat on the table so the next step was probably to dance on it before he got whisked off to bed. That's Mr Sweeney beaming away there.


So, not many pictures of the party but here are a few from his actual birthday. We went over to G'Marg and Pappy's, and Granny Ro came too. A delicious brunch, some opening of presents, and a quick stroll/bike ride along the river before the rain came.

G'marg, Granny Ro, and the star of the show: Mr Arthur.

Cheers!

Like the cropping? Creepy...

Pappy and Arf having a larf as always.

Frank on the phone to Uncle Hamish and Aunty Priscilla in LA. later he talked to Aunty Emily from a hole in the back yard!

What a BIG BOY.

Go G'Marg!

A huge thank you to all of you who helped make Arthur's 2nd birthday such a success. Thank you letters will be in the mail soon for the gifts.

So what's ahead for Arf as a 2 year old? Exciting adventures, the odd tantrum or thirty, lots of learning, plenty of playing. Two's pretty cool, eh?

Down on the farm

We hit the road for the Naki to visit Libby's cousin Karen, just south of Eltham on a dairy farm with her two boys about F+A's age (plus one on the way), dog, 850 cows, calves, lambs, tractors and cool toys.

The boys were in heaven...

Dog wrestling

Tractor driving...

More tractors...

Feeding the calves...

More tractors...

Frank hanging with his new best mate, Flynn

Building dams, or in Arf's case, smashing them...

Being cool...(and in Frank's case, avoiding the poos)

Fluffy's in W(h)anganui

the hangover.
Big thanks to the O'Sullivan clan of the Naki for a great time!!

Gold

The Macbrayne-Platt-Freeman-Smylie side

I'm sad to say that my twinkly Aunty Alison died recently. I can't believe how strong she was. I miss her but appreciated the time to catch up with my lovely family, including Nana.

Dougal and I escaped for a few days to the Gold Coast. Sun (mostly) and warmth and the first time we've left the country since we landed in Wellington going on five years ago. Granny Ro, G'Marg and Pappy kindly looked after the boys who had a whale of a time. I bet the Grandies are appreciating sleep and quiet time though!

Speaking of whales, we lost count of how many we saw. I spent some time with the lovely Isaac and we saw whales off Burleigh Beach, then Dougal and I saw more the following day at Byron Bay. Magical creatures. A huge ocean and they made themselves known.

The Gold Coast was fun. We'd been expecting lots of beach time but the weather didn't comply so we hired a car and went exploring. We also caught up with Ian, Sharon and their crew which was great. Cute kids!!!

That's the moon, believe it or not. D managed to write me an E - styly.


The view from where we were staying.

So big thank you's to The Grandies, Isaac, Ian and Sharon, and our love and thoughts are with Alison's family xxx

A spring in your step

The weather has been warmer and we've been making the most of time outside whenever we can get it.

This weekend just been, we headed to Waikanae Beach for two nights with G'Marg and Pappy. Tonic. Dougal???


Arf gets into the swing of things.

A wall we saw along the way (hundreds of these quirky birds). I reckon it'd make a good Christmas card...When the road (beach) feels too long...

The Serenity...

The start of the white baiting season.

On your marks...

Back behind the line, Arf...Get set...

GO!!!

Arf puts his feet up/Toe jam sand-wiches, haha!

A visit from Grandad Macbrayne (note the tight grip on the cars even at dinner time).

Tramping with Murray and Ginny. And a leaf.

Haha!

Arf helps Ginny get into the swing of it now.

?

Joyous kite-flying face.

Pensive train-playing face.

Frank: I'll let you drive my Formula One racing car one day, Arf. Can't you just picture yourself behind the wheel?

Time

Our gorgeous and inspiring Nance passed away on Friday. She was 94 and was Pappy's Mum, Dougal's Grandmother, Frank and Arthur's Great Grandmother. Her funeral is tomorrow (Tuesday, 28 July) and I'm sure her family will do her proud. I (Libby - Dougal is in Auckland for the funeral) will always remember her as a lovelyloveableloving lady, always giggling away...

Nance - taken by Dougal in 2005.

Nance and Arthur marvel at each other in Dec 2007.

To take our minds off things a little we headed to the beach one evening recently for a bonfire and greasy fish 'n chips.

Not too close now, Dad.

Can we cook our dinner on the campfire next time? Please.

There has been some hideous winter weather but also some stunning days. Amanda had a brain wave - a picnic at the beach with her and Finn, BYO diggers, dumptrucks, spades (other kids!)

I've always said there's a little sand in every sandwich.

Amanda, Finn and Frank.

Another lovely winter's day at the playground.

Arf.

Frankie.

Holding up a wall.

A typical evening running aroundandaroundandaround the lounge.

Teacher Frank (don't know where he gets that from) making sure Arf knows his kiwi from his kakapo - they're all 'dirds' to Arfalarf.

Cake face (just like last year!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, G'MARG!!!

Yes, so lots of nice happenings as well as some sadness. It goes like that.

Frank said tonight as I tucked him in bed, "We miss Nana Nance." We do, indeed.

F - ran - K

Dad: If you take F away from Frank, and then take K away, you get RAN. Frank ran.
Frank: No. If you take F away and K away you get FRANK WADDLED.

Haha, this conversation happened on the way home from the marathon today. What marathon? Dougal was keeping it pretty quiet, but Libby was telling everyone that two of her boys were in a race today. Dougal completed his first marathon - yeeha! - and Frank and G'Marg did the Kids' Mile. Very impressive effort by all three. Frank even got a medal.

Pappy was support crew and thanks to Tony, Jane and Leona for the extra encouragement. G'Marg says she's in training for next year already!

Despite wondering whether Frankie was too young and worrying how he'd feel about it all, G'Marg made sure he had a ball. Apparently he demanded a two second sit down along the way, but getting to pat a competing dog - who also got a medal - spurred him on. One of the highlights was seeing parents/grandies running with their kids and giving them encouragement.

Pre race nerves - Arthur looks like he's saying a quiet prayer or two.


Can you see them? Spot the F on Frank's back and G'Marg's cute red hat.

You gotta pace yourself; remind yourself to relax ya arms...

A little quiet time after the race - then he was zooming around again, fresh as a daisy.

Mr Arfasaurus.

It's been quite a week, what with preparing for the marathon and Arf being sick with roseola... There has never been a grumpier child than Arthur Donald List in the days before the rash broke out. Luckily, he is absolutely fine now and up to his usual mischief. It wasn't swine 'flu, phew!

Frank had a Kindy disco on Friday night to celebrate Matariki. No way was he interested in the dancing though. "Elliot and I ran and ran and chased and chased each other in the dark." Yep, and luckily Mum was smart enough to buy glo sticks at the end to entice him to leave.

Other than that, all is good in the List household. We had Sweeney-next-door's 3rd birthday party and it was Grandad Macbrayne's birthday yesterday too.

Frank (3 1/4) is all about "WHY?", while Arfalarfa (1 3/4) is all about "MINE!"

Mischief 1 and Mischief 2

Get them trained up early, I say.

A bonfire at the beach with Fireman Murray.

Murray and Arf.

Frank gazes out to sea - then, moments later, wades on in.

Friends some of the time.

There are only about a million cars but it all comes down to wanting what the other one has...

Sweeties.

Cheese.

It's a space ship.

3...2...1...Blast off....

Check out the funky knitwear being modelled at the zoo.

Checking out the monkey.

Lalalalalaaaaaaaaa! Sorry, Ro, I couldn't resist.

Hi there. Not much to report, but I happen to think the boys are looking particularly gorgeous these days so wanted to post a blog - and also because I have essays to mark and am procrastinating...

Granny Ro takes possession of her house today so we're really excited for her and hoping to visit her this afternoon. That now makes her officially a Wellingtonian!

The boys have been up to all sorts lately and need to be watched constantly (one in particular who has taken to climbing). To keep them busy is the key, so we've been to the zoo, music class, a playgroup, the playground, story time at the library, walks around the block, scootering around The Basin... you name it. The house is a disaster zone but we're all happy!

Brrrrrrr

Yahoo, the new Fat Freddy album is out!

Listening to the beats.

I reckon that's a $2 coin. Madeleine (who turned one recently) and Arf.



Mattais, Arf's 'nemeis' - haha.

The praying mantis was way more interesting than the wine tasting (but Mum enjoyed both...)

Lily and Frank hang out. No photos of her face!!!

An oldie but a goodie. We've got one of Ro wearing this too - how much will you/she pay me???

We have had a super-busy past month and have been told off for not updating the blog (and this is with three 'grandies' living in Wellington and seeing the boys pretty regularly). Humble apologies, devoted fans.

So, what's news?

• Dougal started his new job this week - and heads off to work with a tie! I never thought I'd see the day.
• Arf had a few days of barfing and is a grumpier version of himself at the moment. Pappy commiserated and got sick too.
• We had a long weekend in Napier and caught up with Helen, Mark, Lily, Mattais, Scott, Sarah, Madeleine, Tanny, Mike and Heidi. We also managed a trip to the Aquarium, wine tasting, playground adventures, the Sunday market, and other stuff I can't remember. We would happily have stayed longer but headed home on the Sunday, braving the sleet and snow.
• Frank is loving wearing gloves inside, spotting dragons and setting up the good old train set.
• Arf can't get enough of the book Goodnight Gorilla. Every dog-dog on the planet gets pointed at. He turns the t.v on as if he's The Boss. Hmmm.
• Libby has a break from teaching for a month or so - but, alas, not from marking.
• Ro moves in to her house in two weeks!
  
  That's enough from us. Good night (gorilla) and sleep tight.
  
  
  
  
  

Catching up

Aunty Priscilla takes a moment.

Arf and Uncle Hamish - eat your greens!

Dean gets tackled - take that, and that!

Mother and son. Penny and Harvey (Isn't he just the cutest little fella!)

Mother and son 2.

Marg, Dougal, Kerry and Arthur.

Aaaaarrrggghhh, put it away, Pappy!

Oops, pardon me, Pappy!

When nobody was watching, somebody takes the cake.

Well have it back then, Pappy.

Cake, oh yeah!

19 months.

Dad's birfday, too.

Our boys!

i must have some hair up my nose...

Handsome haircuts, fellas.

Lucia runs off with Frank at the library cafe.

Pooh, Aunty Emily!!!!


Emily and Arf having a larf.

Arf and Aunty Milz.

The Mexicans.

The Mexican D.Js

Hollar-days!

We're back from TWO WEEKS holiday! Two whole weeks of family, friends, loads of sunshine time, hail fights, a party, wine, games and down right fun.

We headed to Auckland to begin with to meet up with Uncle Hamish and Aunty Priscilla (over from LA). Great Aunty Pam kindly lent us her home and we had a wonderful time catching up with family and exploring Auckland.

One of the highlights was the party to celebrate G'Marg and Pappy's 4oth wedding anniversary. It was beautiful and we'd like to say congratulations again. Hopefully we will nick some of H and P's photos from the party to post next time.

After that we had a few days in Matarangi. It was completely deserted so we had the entire beach to ourselves. The Roses came to play too and the little boys ran around with their hoodies pulled up, getting up to all sorts of mischief.

Once we left the stylish bach, it was off on a Boys Fissshing Mission for Dougal and Hamish and their entourage, while the rest of us headed to Tauranga. Granny Ro moves to Wellington in a week so the house was full of boxes - how exciting!!!

Sorry this is a bit rushed. There are a million things I could write but I just wanted to get some photos up as the next few days are going to be really busy.
Hope you're all well!

Aunty Priscilla and Uncle Hamish.

Great Grandma Nance looking as gorgeous as ever.

Pappy and Arf have everything under control.

Matthew took the boys to check out his trucks - yeeha!

Map Boy and his Mum at the Zoo.

Uncle Hamish gets inaugurated into the world of the Cars movie.

Deciding which way to go...

Frank and G'Marg.

G'Marg racing down the beach with Arf . Hang on, Arf!

Beach boys.

Kendra makes dinner time look easy peasy.

I can't hear you...

Either can I...

Alex and Frank on the train.

Hail, Hamish!

It had to be done! Hamish, Kendra, Isaac, Alex and Frank playing in the hail.

Isaac and Arf.

Boys. Slingshot. Hail. The roof of Pappy's car....

Kendra and Arf.

The Line Up.

Fishing trip - Gav, Stu and Geoff.

Photographic evidence.

Okay, so you were fishing.

Arf, Dougal and... HARVEY! (Penny and Dean's gorgeous bub).

All better

It's been a strange old week - not just for us but for lots of friends, with dramas in every direction - but the sun was out today and a pure blue sky just made everything feel so much better! Frank was really sick with a tummy bug until last night and has been a brave wee fella. John, our lovely Greek neighbour was out and about again today after a big operation, checking that everything on the street was in order. It was just one of those everything's-as-it-should-be days. No need for captions, I don't reckon.

PS Thank you letters are ready to post tomorrow! Anybody want to see more photos of the party?

THRRRREEEEEEEEE!!

Yup - thats right he is well and truly a three year old now. Too big for the trainer toilet seat, too big for nappies, too big for being to what to do sometimes and sometimes a bit big for his boots!

But what a cutie - so he gets away with it. Was Frank's birthday last week - we celebrated by Libby being sick and me taking most of the day off work to look after the boys before heading out to Island Bay for a play on th big slide and fish and chips for dinner with G'Marg and Pappy.

Frank had a great day and thanks to everyone for the cards and presents.

Then yesterdayhe had his party proper - a dinosaur one. He had been talking about it all week and a bit confused I think about why he had already had a birthday, yet no party or had to wait for the party, or where were his friends??? Very confusing in any case. Was well worth the wait though as Wellington weather got one out of the box for us and everyone came and PLAYED (oh - and ate, and had a couple of beers too...)

Libby made a magic Dino cake - which narrowly made it to the party aoinding being eaten along the way by young Arthur.

mmmmm....

Peeps having fun in the sun

Lets take a closer look...Isla really was the BOSS - herding a small tribe of children into game after game - according to her rules.
Evidence of a good time
So - thanks, no THANKS!! To everyone for making Frank's birthday so special - he really had a great time. Personally, my head was a bit sore today, o I was trying to forget about the party but Frank was still raving about it, all his friends that had come, the games they played and the presents people generously brought.

So, from Frank:

Turning 3

March 2008
March 2007

March 2006

It's hard to believe, and I'm getting slightly emotional here, but our gorgeous Frank turns 3 on Monday. Unbelievable. There's lots I want to say - Libby writing this time - but I'm pretty sure everyone knows how much we adore Frankstar - he definitely does. He's such a happy, chatty, funny, fun, sweet, clever etc etc wee fella and we are just so lucky to have him in our lives. He's a star alright.

Pure cuteness.

More of it.

Nothing beats a good pillow fight.

Locomotion or conga? Getting excited about the party to come...

"Pum pum" (no idea what he's on about - his favourite silly word. Favourite phrase goes to 'Diddlediddlefartfart.' It used to be 'Pappynappy' but he's been coached out of that one with a little more success).

Ya spoon!

Frank reaches for the honey sandwich, hoping no one will notice.

We're looking foward to seeing some of you at Frank's party on the 8th. Thank you for the well wishes, cards and presents which we've received already. Also a BIG thanks to the lovely Erina for calling around today to play with the boys bearing gifts of grapes, tissues, a magazine, chocolate and gingerbread men when she heard Libby has a cold (and a sore throat and a bit of a sore ear and a sore back still and a slight fever and general aches and pains...Haha! I'm fine, honestly but I hope to get rid of my Rudolph nose quick smart).

Double Shananigans!!

Clue No.2 about who really writes this blog.

Some recent snaps of family fun here before I go off to bed and sing to my clown.

Mum and Dad took us for a bike trip. It was cool except Dad doesn't go fast enough and Mum nearly fell off in the tunnel.

And they took us for a 'beer' - it was nice and sweet and me and Frank drank it all and then played chasing - we had lots of energy!
We even shared straws.

Dad went away for a few days while RoRo came to stay and play with us. He took this photo on top of Mt Hobson - he said he must be an Angel

He went with these funny men. We stayed at home and played with RoRo cos Mum has put her back out. Its nearly better though.

I am cute you know.

And as for my Brother Frank, well - what can I say about the cross dressing rugby head bogan? He just loves his cars, even when he is pretending to be Mum.
He is three soon - I hope you have your dinasour outfit ready!

Shananigans (how do you spell that?)

Have you ever read the blog and thought afterwards, 'Who actually wrote that?' Here's a clue...

They know more than you think. They are wise beyond their years these fellas. Alex and Frank back in Tauranga around Xmas time (photo courtesy of Gav and Kendra).

Before he was shorn... And this picture might also hold the clue as to why Erina is clutching every cushion in the house in the next photo. Or maybe we should be worried about her?

Ohhhh, very sweet. Erina is fantastic with the boys (they look like a mirror image, almost!) and has them vying for her attention.

Hare hare, hare hare! The boys join in at The Organic River Festival and were given a shaker and danced around like, well, hare krishnas.

Enlightened.

Funnily enough these two photos are about the only ones we took on our camping excursion last weekend. We had a wonderful time to start with, setting up camp and meeting up with friends at the festival. That night....it rained. Heavily. Honestly, it was like a monsoon. Yes, we read the weather report beforehand. No, we didn't think it would be that bad. The boys didn't deign to sleep. We had to get out of Levin. We came home and slept but still woke up grumpy in the afternoon so went to play with the Eagle-Annans and had a great evening!

The next day (Wellington Anniversary) we went walkabout with G'Marg and Pappy despite the rain.

Who's that walking on my bridge?

Before that we went to see some fairies at The Botanical Gardens. Lots of fairy wings and two monkeys...

Just like their Dads...

Speaking of Dads, Libby is working this week so Dougal is playing Mum. He whipped up a match of banana-blueberry muffins today, has been cooking up a storm, getting washing out, playing in the garden, running errands, you name it!

Yay for holidays

First of all, HAPPY 2009!!! We hope your year has started off as well as ours has and that you had a chance to relax and chat over Christmas. We did - lots of chatting. Secondly, a big thank you to Ro for having us to stay and for the babysitting, meals and love. Thank you also to G'Marg and Pappy for all your help and love. This is starting to sound like an award speech! Another huge thanks to every one who sent cards and gifts and shared their toys with us.

The following photos are a bit scrambled and go back to the start of December but we may as well post them in one chunk and we know it's the photos you all like anyway...

No ordinary ornaments...

A debate about who won the hat from the cracker.

No arguments here, Frank gets the hat.And the magnifying glass, thanks Dad.

Cheers! Pappy, Dougal, Frank, Kate, Emily, Ro, G'Marg and Arfalarfa ('I want the hat.')

Emily and Ro xxx

Arf and Lily.

Arf: She's pretty. I want to be like her.
Lily: Oh honey, you look so much better in that than me...

Mattais: Was that you, Frank?!!

Mattais and Arf: What? We're not doing nothin'.

Frank: I'm Ro-Ro.

Leona's back! Hanging out at Waihi Beach before Shapeshifter.

Frank showing Grandad Macbrayne how he drove Peter's tractor.

Sisters catching up - yep, Milz is wearing a hoodie! She's been sick with glandular fever :(

Arf: Was that you, Frank?

Arf tells Stu what's what.

Finn turned two and Frank really wanted to keep the present we gave him.

Yeeha, what a cake!

Arf: I want to be a big boy.

Canoe trip down the Whanganui for Ginny's 40th.

The Bridge to Nowhere Lodge we stayed at (go there!)

Campin!

Summer and camping is come.

The weekend just gone we headed up the coast with a group of mates for some summer camping fun in Paekakariki. Was all grand with loads of sun and a great spot to pitch the tent. The days were spent chilling and playing - with a few walks and the local school fair, plus swims in the very warm sea.

The nights were made cool with Jupiter and Mars very bright in the sky, bbq dinners, a few beers and good company.

This will be one of many such trips this summer!

Boys and BBQ
Story time

A running Arf - was in great form

A riding Arf - Libby in great form

Awwwww....

Awwww......

Frank Loved the trampoline, but tips for new Dads - do NOT double bounce your toddler...

Monkeying around

The monkeys hit the streets of Mt. Vic.

Monkeys love working in tandem (Phoebe and Frank).

Haha! No idea who the lady is but that monkey is telling her who's boss.

Ooohoohahhahh

The little girl in white was playing on her own until the monkey crew paid a visit.

Apparently you're allowed to take photos of monkeys, just not of Frank being Frank!

Lily watches on, bemusedly? Amusedly? Amazedly?

Iris Monkey and Frank Monkey get into the swing of it.

It's been an awesome weekend away camping so Dougal will post another blog sometime this week but I just wanted to put up some cute photos of the boys and the Campbell girls up at the Mt. Vic. playground the other day. I was tempted to write some corny captions but think I'll hit the hay instead - the pictures say it all, anyway! Oh and that reminded me of these monkey pictures we took in India (FOUR YEARS ago!!!)

Aunty Priscilla - moments after being screamed at by those two 'cute' monkeys. Hehe!