Bubbles!!! Ollie notices the boats engines makes BUBBLES!!

Sunshine, a big boat, cold beer (ginger beer in Ollies case) and relaxing in the sun - perfect way to spend an afternoon!!

And that is the end of Movember.......

I am still not sure how I felt about Vic with a moustache...... sometimes I liked it sometimes I wasn't so fussed..... you be the judge!

We are getting very excited.....

As I am going back to work in January :o) We are preparing a room for our Swedish Au Pair who arrives in December. As you can see Ollie is very excited about her arrival and also helping redecorate the spare room!

Fish and Chips on the beach - it must be Summer!

I love it when Noah comes to stay!!!!

Story time before the boys get put to bed :o)

Checking earthworks..... again.....

Ollie and me doing our routine check on the progress of Earthworks - thankfully they are now complete - YAH!!!!!! Although not without its stress!!

Riding with training wheels....?

After my neighbours pony, Chocolate, starting bucking on their little girl I offered to ride him to try and make him understand that bucking was something that was not desirable behaviour...... so far it seems to have worked. Although I look seriously silly riding him - it was seriously good fun too :o)

No interesting water toys could distract Oliver from washing his beloved little cars....!

As the weather has been terrible over the school holidays I set Oliver up at the kitchen sink with cups, water wheels and other interesting water toys. He ignored all of these - went and found his plastic cars and lovingly washed and dried them - priorities!!!! He may be taking after his late Uncle Bernard who also had an obsession with cars!!

What fun!!!

Ollie demonstrates why it is never wise to turn your back on a two year old........

Oliver has a morning conversation with Gabe........

And this was how I found out Ollie may be ready to be toilet trained....

Oliver has just started taking off his nappy and taking himself to the toilet...... he refuses to sit on the toilet, instead prefering to use his god given right as a man - his ability to pee standing up... as you can see he has gotten around the lack of height by standing on the rim of the toilet so he can get it in the bowl!! The whole toilet thing is a bit hit and miss. Fear not we are trying to find a wee set of stairs for him that will make life easier and safer for him..... seat lids can be pretty slippery if stood on in socks... as he found out this week!

Oliver explains the birds and the bees to us...

We are at the Bee Factory in Taupo...

The best looking bees I have ever seen :o)

Smile nicely for the camera.....

and now scream for the camera!!!!

Ollie gets chased by the Huka Falls Monster!!

The things you find yourself doing as parents!!

Walking the track at Huka Falls..... or stomping if you are Ollie

Some woman buy shoes and handbags..... I buy scruffy wee horses

This is Alabama (paddock name Acorn).... and I found her hiding in the back Terawhiti Station in Makara wanting a new home. The trial ride I had on her consisited of jumping on her with no helmet and riding accross a paddock filled with Motorcross bikes whizzing around, 4WD vechicles revving thier engines and a paddock full of Captain Cook pigs. She didn't flinch, get spooked or falter once. But what made me absolutely want her - was the fact that she was as cruisy as all this when she hadn't been ridden for five months, and she is only four! She impressed me even more when I went to collect her loading onto my horse float like she was twenty and had been doing it for years! And at home she continues to be an absolute cruiser - my horsey friends cannot get over how totally laid back she is - falling asleep in situations where other horses would be spooking or shaking from head to toe!

My wee unpolished diamond :o)

Trina and Ollie playing "dress ups"!!

My dear friend Trina often visits us on the farm. Ollie adores her and follows her around demanding that "Treacle" (his name for Trina) play with him. Trina has made such an impression on Ollie that he often goes looking for Trina when she isn't here - calling "Trrreeaaccle" and looking under his bed and in the cupboards - just in case he can find her in there!

Cool Dudes!

"Did they leave you in the rain without your cover on? You have shrunk!

Tyler meets his new neighbour - Chocolate!

Oliver helps me get Zoey ready for riding lessons!

You can imagine how proud I was when I turned around to find Oliver helping me brush Zoey before I gave a riding lesson. I have never shown him how to brush a horse - he simply observed and decided he wanted to help!!

Time to saddle up!!

Oliver finally convinces me to let him have a 'ride' on Zoey

Zoey is the calmest most trustworthy pony in the world - hence the lack of lead rope and helmet :o)

Ollie is not only at home but happy riding Zoey :o)

Hanging with his cousies, Jake and Paige!

I can't hear you!!!!!! Ollie puts his "ear muffs" on again when told off for not leaving his peas on the plate...

Ollie on his way to bed.......

Good night story......

Ollie trying to fill my shoes........

WOW...... look at what Nana got me for my second birthday - FISH!!!

Birthday games country style - duck feeding!

Paige shows me how to unwrap presents!

Big TRUCK!

Happy birthday tooooo mee! Two today!

"Yes, I promise not to chase the pigeons.... blah... blah.... mummy"

this little pigeon likes being chased!

I get the feeling I am being followed.......

Oliver on his first day of preschool.... he loved it!

Oliver tests our patience and adjusts the volume on the stereo - as you see he thinks it is hilarious!

Oliver makes a new friend.....

Contrary to a recent film...Oliver shows that not all sheep are "baaaad"

Ollie attempts to outstare a sheep...

Ollie in the spa..... half asleep already!

Chugga Chugga big red car!

Ear Muffs!

This is what Oliver does if he dosn't like what he hears! I.e. if he is getting told off, or asked to stop playing etc

Finally an UPDATE :o)

Well it has been months since I put an update on here of us all because I have been busy setting up my horse fencing business and it has been flat stick. My product has had two full page write ups in the Organic Equine magazine – the most recent one with some rather unflattering photos of me putting the fence up! I have advertising in the Horse and Pony magazine and several other horsey publications. I must confess I LOVE what I do – I don’t feel like I am working at all, I get to talk to people who have horses and sometimes tragic stories to tell. I am a total soft touch and often find myself shedding a tear or two as I hear how someone has had to put a horse down after it has been caught in a fence…. if it was only as well paid as ‘real’ employment I would never have to think about going back to work. However in the meantime I get to enjoy raising my beautiful wee boy, talk to other crazy horse people and make a wee bit of money!

Ollie has grown up quite a lot – he is growing in and out of clothes – his wardrobe should have a revolving door on it because it seems that no sooner have I purchased something he has outgrown it!

And all this growing up hasn't been without its dramas. I was incredibly worried for a few weeks when Oliver developed this condition that meant he would sometimes run around with his hands over his ears…. I was concerned –was it an ear infection? Why did he only ever seem to do it when he was running away and usually up or downhills – did he have a balance problem linked to his inner ear? Then the answer came the other evening while we were eating dinner! Oliver threw a pea off his plate and because we are trying to raise a child and not a piglet we growled at him to let him know that such behaviour was unacceptable – his response? He put his hands over his ears – and the penny dropped - everytime Oliver dosen’t like what you are saying he just puts his hand over his ears so he can’t hear you. Why does he do it when he is running? He only does it when he is running and does not want to be interrupted and told to go in the different direction by his bossy mother!

He has also learnt the art of “shhhhhhh” and requests for my silence with a finger raised to his lips and a very earnest look. The most recent and laughable shushing came when Vic and my neighbour had the task of tracking and ‘expiring’ a rather pesky Moonshine goat…. Oliver was quite keen to join in the fun so after the goat went down we went up to help find the felled creature…. I got told to “shhhhhh” on several occasions while Ollie tramped out in front of me in just a nappy, bright green t’shirt and spiderman gumboots…. After sometime he must have felt we were lost in the bush so he was then allowed to call out “DDAAAADDDDYYY” however any word from me and I would get a “Shhhhhhh”!!!!

He continues to be car and truck mad. Anytime he sees a car I get told (crossing a carpark to get to the supermarket is a nightmare!). I have just joined a toy library and Oliver got to pick his toys out this week – first choice – a bright red ride in car... which I will have to take a picture of him in because he is so cute!

I have not given up all hope of him being the next Mark Todd as he LOVES the horses – he will often pack a paddy until I lift him up onto the nearest horse back for a walk around, he loves patting them and feeding them carrots. I just wish it was politically correct to plop him on the saddle in front of me when I go out riding..... although then I could ride a lot more and probably not a lot else would get done.

I hope you enjoy the new pictures of Ollie and I promise to dust off the camera to try and ensure Ollies fan club receive more regular updates!

Oliver watching his favourite movie... Shrek 2!

We are uncertain if Oliver enjoys watching the movie or eating the popcorn more......!

Corn glorious corn!

"and when my nappy needs changing from this rest assured Mummy will be nowhere to be found.......just as well Daddy is so good at changing nappies too!"