NIWA'S FIRST RIPPER RUGBY DAY.

Keith and I went over to Waiheke Island today for an event and my mum watched the kids.  The only problem was that it was Niwa's first Ripper Rugby game.  Mum took him and Des emailed me this cute as photo of him and Nicole (his BFF in fact he says she is his future wife to be flippen heck thats a bit young).  Nicoles mum looks after Niwa when I work etc and she is amazing!  We love you for eva Des and love this photo you sent of our angels together.  Wish I was there!  They looked like they were having such fun in the rain together!

Last Saturday, Chris (Nicoles Dad)  had a friend who came and took photos of their rugby game.  Look at some of the amazing photos below.  For those of you who don't know.  Nicole is Niwa's best mate and the one he says he is gonna marry,  its so funny because he is so serious!
She is the girl in the photos running with the ball,  she is always scoring tries.

NICOLE AND JOELS WEDDING

On Friday our Niece Nicole Horsford was sealed for time and all eternity in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.  It was a lovely ceremony in the Temple it was simple, sacred and very spiritual.  It felt so right!  There were  lots of tears of joy in the sealing room and it was so lovely to see a young ambitious but most importantly Faithful  couple starting their life together hand in hand with the lord! 

Nicole is a little bit special to me and I will list a few reasons why below.

Before Keith and I were married she called me 'Aunty' and even asked me to speak at her baptism,  on the program it said ‘Aunty Becky’.  I remember giving that talk at her baptism on the Holy Ghost and remember giving her a Journal to write her special feelings of that day into.

My first Baby (Arama)  was born on her birthday and I remember her placing bids that he would be born on that day.  I hoped he wouldn’t be as I didn’t want to wait that long.  I remember her and her sisters pouring into my hospital room just after I had given birth to say their CONGRATULATIONS.

When Terina was born we lived Rural in Taumarunui,  my mum had had to rush back to Auckland on the day Terina was born as her sister (Aunty Lesley)  was dying.  We wanted someone to be there for us as we had no family down there. We called Nicole and she jumped on the next train and rushed on down.  She missed Terina’s entry into the world by about 5 hours but she spent the first week of Terina’s life with us helping and making life a lot easier for us.  She and her sisters have always been so good with our kids and they love them all dearly, so Arama was stoked to have her there with us.

She is the best baby sitter eva!  Our kids are so gutted to have to say goodbye to here.  

She leaves to live in Perth next Saturday.

She has supported us through many hard times and good times too.  Her and Arama have spent many birthday occasions together.  I must scan some of Aramas first birthday party photos so you can see her there beside him.  They made him a train cake on his first birhday and she had a lovely

 flower cake beside his.

She was also one of my special ‘flower girls’ on our wedding day and that only seems like yesterday but on Friday she changed from a girl into a lady and was a special and beautiful bride herself.  We love you so so much Nicole and  will miss you dearly but we know you have a very special man Joel now to share your exciting life  ahead with.  The thought of not being able to just stop in at your house to see your smiling face whenever I want to makes me so sad but to know Joel is such a great guy who will look after you dearly throughout your life is much more important for your future progression.  

LOVE YOU COLEY XX

What a beautiful Bride!

 Coming out of the temple and down the steps.  Joels parents are in the background in the photo below.

Nicole her Mum and Dad and all her siblings (except Benson) on the left 

and Joels Mum and Dad and his sisters on the right.

The Horsfords with the Bridal couple and Nanny Hall there too.

Nicole with her Siblings from Right to left

Klyee, Jessica, Nicole and Joel, Lucas, Alana (Benson missing)

The man below who married them.

Above beautiful little Baby Hana (Alana's bubba)  Alana is Nicoles lovely older  sister.

A few photos below of the reception (only i phone photos so not too clear.

Above Terina and Delta at the reception.  All the little kids were up on the floor dancing it was so cute.

Cutting of the cake Below,  It was such a yum cake too!

NIWA THE LITTLE 'POLKADOT!'

Niwa has been doing a little 'Polkadot' class this term called 'Kid's Lab'.  I took him and Nicole to this class every Thursday.  Nicole's mum Des, looks after Niwa from her home when I work etc and she is my all time amazing angel!  So taking Nicole for an hour a week is so nice and I think it kinda makes Niwa feel special because for once it is the other way around as it is him mum for once doing things with them both.   See below for what it is all about along with photos of him enjoying the classes. He was actually a little shy at these classes he is a funny little thing when it comes to big group situations and other times like when we are in the supermarket he speaks so loudly at the top of his lungs to everyone.  (??)

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PRESERVING FRUIT MARATHON

A few weeks ago, Keith bought home a huge amount of Golden Peaches and Granny Smith Apples from one of his jobs.  I have had great desires to learn how to preserve fruit for ages.  I think it is great to prepare for tough times and what better way to preserve than to preserve fruit that is free!  I was blessed by a family in the ward who gave me one dozen large never used agee jars.  

The Horsfords (our inlaws) came over to help with the process of peeling, cutting, stewing and  bottling one million Grannie Smith apples.  It still took us collectively about 4 hours so I hate to think how long it would have taken if I was alone!  Bless them all,  they always come to our rescue and help us with so many things.  They are so a family who gives of their time!  Thanks so much Horsfords!

Below"  Me, Lucas, Morgan and Nicole Horsford in my kitchen.

This was my Preserving shelf prior to our Apple day.  Golden Peaches

and My Plum Jam from Christmas.  (Plums from our tree).  We call

them Christmas Plums because they only come out once a  year and

you need to make jam like mad if you want to make the most of them

before they rot and go to waste.

See the factory line below!  Thats a lot of apples!

Nicole going for it peeling!  Thanks Nicole!

My Delicious girl, eating the peeled apples  LOL!

Look at me  'Home making Queen'  HE HE!

Terina with Nicole,  she loved this day as

she got to spend the day with one of her favourite cousins!

This sounds real weird but I love looking up at my shelf with my preserves on it.

Either I am strange or just the satisfaction of knowing it  is there to  grab whenever

you want after all your hard work is something very satisfying.

Tonight for example when Keith came in at 7.30 after a very long day at work,

I thought I will make him apple crumble for a treat tonight as it is his favourite.

So I grabbed a small bottle of apple and shoved a quick topping on it and 

he asked, "Why are you being so nice to me tonight dear?"  (SAD)

But I thought about that question and usually I can't be bothered peeling

apples and stewing them etc at the end of a long day because it takes ages but now that all the hard

work is done,  I can whip up Apple Crumbles or Peach Crumble too with a swirl of 

plum Jam in the middle perhaps in just 5 mins.  How exciting and it makes Keith think

I am going the extra  mile but actually it is so so easy and fast.

Nicole now calls me a...

'DOMESTICATED GODDESS'. 

GOING TO THE TEMPLE WITH NICOLE

Nicole, Our Niece, went through the temple for the first time yesterday. 

(3rd Feb 2012)

Nicole is a very special person to all of us,  the kids absolutely adore her 

and always ask for her as a babysitter as she does such cool things 

with them and shows such interest in them.  

I love Nicole as she is so thoughtful, caring and very Intelligent too!

I spoke at her baptism when she was eight and will never forget that special day.

When Terina was born in Taumarunui, my mum, who was there waiting for 

Terina to be born, had to rush home as her sister was very sick and she was

told she had a matter of hours to live.  So we called Nicole and asked her to

come down.  She jumped on the over night train but she missed Terina's  

home birth by 4 hours,  however she was with us helping out for the first

week of Terina's life and was the first extended whanau member Terina met.

To this day, Terina loves her to bits and so do we all!

We only go to the temple when we are mature enough to understand the sacred

nature of the temple.  You usually only go into the temple for the first time 

before  you get married or go on a mission.

We are so excited for Nicole as she is going on a mission to the Philippines in April.

I went on a mission so I am totally all for it,  I know she will have the most

spiritually uplifting time she has ever had as she serves others and her god!

Kia Kaha our special Niece, we love you!

Nicole and Ava Roding outside the temple

Nanny Hall and Nicole outside the temple.

Here are a few of the special friends and family who went through the temple with 

Nicole yesterday. What a special day it was!