Te Papa

It has been raining like it's never rained before this last week.  Lots of NZ is flooded, its crazy.  And it's cold.  So playing outside hasn't really been an option (except for the one day that we went to the park anyway and Malachi played in puddles while his daddy and uncle played tennis, in the pouring rain.).  So we've been looking for indoor activities to entertain us, and this week we went to the museum.

It was really cool, so much stuff to see, and if you took the time to actually read the signs, there was alot of interesting stuff to learn.  For example, 1000 years ago, the only animals in NZ were birds and bats.  That's crazy.  We went in an earthquake house that shook, saw a giant squid that was like 10 meters long (gross), and enjoyed being warm.

Anyway, Malachi had a blast running around going crazy, especially when the exhibits had animals in them.  They have a rule that you can't take pictures, but of course I snuck a couple, only for the best things.

Like when Malachi went CRAZY at the dinosaurs. "MUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAA, see, see, see, ohhhhhhh so big dinosaur!!!!"

And when I dressed him up in a little Maori cloak.  This picture was for Grandad, who has been teaching Malachi to say "I'm a kiwi".

And they had some great views outside of the Wellington harbor, which, to Malachi delight, was full of boats.

It's been really nice to have Tui at home so we can go and do stuff.  No school, no work, no nothing.  I almost don't want him to get a job so he can just stay home with us forever.  But I guess life will kick in eventually and we'll have to let Daddy go to work.  But for now, we LOVE having him home with us.

Mmmmmm Chocolate Cake

Ok so I've never posted a recipe before.  But this one is DEFINATELY worth sharing.

I've been going through my Mum's box of recipes, in an effort to make electronic copies of all our family classics.  And I came across this one, a chocolate cake recipe from my great-nana thats (wait for it) eggless and butterless.  Which to me is perfect, because those are the two ingredients I usually find I'm out of and have to borrow from my TVA neighbors.  Well, I don't have any TVA neighbors anymore, so I gotta rough it on my own in the kitchen.  The best part about this cake is, it tastes AMAZING!!  It's super simple (so simple that Tui made it by himself last night).  You will love love love it, I promise.


Eggless Chocolate Cake

2 c Sugar
3 c Flour
5 Tbsp Cocoa
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2/3 c Cooking Oil
1 Tbsp Vanilla
2 Tbsp Vinegar
2 c Cold Water

 Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl.
Add together and stir well with a fork.
Bake in ungreased pan for 25-30 minutes at 180°C.

Malachi's Jetski Adventure

So my family is obsessed with water sports - skiiing, wakeboarding, tubing, jetskiiing, fishing, if it has something to do with the water, we're in.  So while my brother John and his family were visiting, we took Dad's Jetski out. It wasn't the warmest of days, but it was as good as we were going to get in Wellington during Autumn.

I wasn't allowed to go on it, something about being pregnant, Tui was to scared to go on it, and so it was left up to Malachi to represent the Tafuna's.  He went out with Grandad and had a blast.  He had a real adventure.

So out he went, having a fantastic time, telling Grandad, "faster faster!".  Then he pushed a button.  And the Jetski died.  Yes died.  While they were way out there.....'

So they called Uncle Richard to swim out and pull them back in.

Uncle Richard didn't like that idea very much.  Luckily a fellow boater came to the rescue.

Malachi thought it was great, he got pulled along by a boat, he got to pat their dog that they had.  He couldn't have been happier being stranded out at sea.

So he went off for a ride on his own......

Well, not really. Maybe when he's older, like next year.

But ever since then, when he walks past the Jetski he tells us "Malachi Jetski Grandad go fast water!"  So I'd say he had fun.

Welcome Home Elder Brunton

Ok so this is like a month (or more) late, but I'm trying to get caught up before my life gets thrown into a whirlwind and I suffer from insomnia (aka, I have my baby).

So a week or so after Malachi and I returned home to New Zealand, my little brother finished his mission in the Denver Colorado South Mission and made his way back home too.   My sister Jessie flew in a hour before he did to help welcome him home.  I made him a sign the night before, and I have to be honest and say that the purpose was mostly to embarass him.  Although it seemed to embarrass the rest of my family who had to hold it more then it did Richard.

Gate 11, where all the action took place.

Here he comes!

Hugs with his mumma.

Malachi meeting uncle Richard for the first time.  Richard left for his mission a month or so before Malachi was born, so they had never met.

We're missing the two older brothers and me, behind the camera.

Ok, so we don't usually look this cheesey, but we were laughing at Mum who yells out "Wait, I'll hold the sign up behind you!!!"

Home at last.

And then last week our ward had a combined welcome home party for Richard and another Elder who returned a week after him.  It was really touching because Richard didn't leave from this ward, infact he'd never been to this ward, they didn't know him, but they still wanted to make him feel welcome.  It was really nice.

His sign, HAND SEWEN by a lady in our ward who'd never met him.

His cake, made by the Bishop's wife.

Sitting up on his throne, feeling stupid.

The food - Tongan, Samoan, Maori, KFC, I was in heaven!!

Cutting the cake.

Malachi sneaking a bit of the cake.

Brotherly Love.....

Welcome home Elder Brunton.

Baby # 2

So, a little update on baby # 2.  He's been head down, nice and low for the last 7 weeks.  My midwife (who I love to death by the way, so much more relaxed and personal, I LOVE IT!) said if this was my first baby she would have put me on bedrest because of how low he was, she was worried I could blow any time.  However, on Wednesday at my 37 week appointment we discovered that the baby was no longer head down, he was now transverse (lying sideways).  The problem is that little Malachi streched things out so much that this baby has so much more extra space to float around in.  So then we set up an ultrasound for Friday.  Thursday he flipped back down and things were looking good, but then today, he's breach (but down, legs up in the air by his head).  Next week I'll be going to an OB who'll try to flip him so that I can avoid the chance of a C-section, my worst fear.

In the mean time, we got to get some pictures of the little dude.  It's so cool here in NZ, they don't print you out any pictures, but they put them all on a cd for you so you can take them home, email them, blog them, it's great.  According to the scan he'sweighing about 6lbs already.  I'm trying to keep him in single didgits, but who knows.  We could be in for another 10 lber. 
So here's a little look at the little trouble maker.

Little big foot.

Side profile of his face, little hand coming up to suck his thumb.

This one's looking straight on, you can see his Tongan nose and fatty lips.  He looks like his daddy.

Our little Malachi

Usually I have a journel that I write in for Malachi every week or so, so that in 10 years I can look back and remember just how he was at 16 months, or 8 weeks.  I love it, and I'm really glad I started it when he was a baby (thanks for the idea Mum).  However, his journel is in a box, along with the rest of our stuff, still waiting to depart the US of A, but I don't want to miss out on recording his little life so for now, I'll do it on our blog, so you get to read too :).

In the past month, lots has happened for this little boy.  First, Grandma Mele and Uncle Sione came from Tonga, and Aunty Nana and Kingston came from Washington for Daddy's graduation.  Malachi had so much fun with his cousin, "kintin".  He marked out his territory early on, picking on Kingston as if Malachi was the one a year older.  He loved waking up his Aunty nice and early, and getting treats from Grandma.  It was lots of fun.  Then, Daddy graduated.  Malachi slept through the lei part of it, which Mummy was secretly grateful for.  Then we checked out of TVA, and Malachi got to sleep at Annika's house for our last couple of nights in Hawaii, which he LOVED!  He really does love that little girl.  Every night when I put him to bed and I ask him what song he wants me to sing, he always picks first "Mummy, Daddy, Ma'akai, Annika" ("I love.....she loves me, we love......yes siree...").  So it was nice for him to spend some time with her too before we left.  Then it was off to the airport, saying goodbye to our family, and on to the plane.  Malachi thought it was FANTASTIC, watching all the planes coming and going, and then finally getting on one himself.  He did so well, slept 30min into the flight and then woke up probably an hour before landing.  He kept pointing all around him and saying "whoa mummy look! Big airplane!".  Then, sadly, he had to say goodbye to Daddy, who took another flight off to Tonga to get a visa, and Malachi came with Mummy on a "baby airplane" down to wellington.  He was lucky that the seat next to me was empty and he got his own seat (Mummy lied and said he was 2 so he could sit there).  He was asleep before the plane left and Mummy had to wake him up once we landed. 

And then it was off to see Grandma and Grandad Brunton.  We've been staying here at their house for the last 3 weeks and you'd think Malachi had lived here all his life.  He just blended right in.  He looooooves being with his grandparents, runs to meet them when they come home from work, always calling up and down the stairs "dama, dadad, where are you?"  He wasted no time locating all the trucks, diggers, airplanes, tanks etc (he is still OBSESSED with vehicles) and claiming them for his own.  He still lines them up in long lines, then drives  He's done really well sleeping in his new room, although he's usually in waking Mummy up by about 7am saying "Oh, hi Mummy, I miss you."  Last week Uncle Jessie came to visit and Uncle Richard came back from his mission, so there have been lots of people to show off to.  Nana and Pop have been down too, as well as Uncle Mike and Johanah, and he's been so good with them, giving everyone kisses and hug and high fives. 

Malachi's favourite thing to say at the moment is, "Um, I know! A different song/book/movie/snack!" (when asked, what does he want).  He likes standing in the middle of a crowded room and yelling "Hi guys!".  He's a great little helper for Mummy, cleans up his toys no problem, puts his dirty clothes in the laundry, passes me the pegs when I'm hanging out the laundry, puts his plates and cups in the sink when he's done.  He just loves to help.  He has really good manners, always saying please, thank you, bless you, excuse me.  He's figured out that if he uses manners, Grandad will give him anything he wants, and he uses it to his best ability.  He loves to play soccer with Grandma.  This kid has AMAZING coordination, better then most 3 or 4 year olds, and he's not even 2 yet.  He can catch a ball, drop kick, dribble, hit a tennis ball with a raquet.  It's crazy to watch.  He's super determined.  He'll sit there forever trying to get it right.  His vocab is booming, which I'm sure is helped by having so many people to talk to all the time.  He loves to pray and has to make sure that everyone else has their arms folded before he starts.  He's discovered that he has muscles, and loves to show them to you.  He's very much into routines.  He likes knowing what's coming, and being able to anticpate it.  He does things in order, almost a little OCD.  There are certain songs that Mummy sings him while he's brushing his teeth, getting him dressed etc, and if the songs aren't sung, he stops and says "No mummy, song!" and won't let us get started until the song is sung.  If I try to brush his hair before I brush his teeth, he tells me no and makes me do it in order.  He definately likes things a certain way.

But this kid just continues to be a  little ball of sunshine, no matter where he is.  He makes me happy everyday, makes me smile, fills me with love.  I'm so blessed to be his mother.  I'm excited for him to become a big brother in the next couple of weeks, I know he's going to make a great brother.  He loves to talk to my stomach, if he accidently bumps it, he says "oh, sorry brudah".  It's exciting.  But until then, I'm totally content to have just Malachi, he's a great little kid.