We have just come back from having a lovely weekend at Peter and Brendas Lodge. Mark went with the mission to fix the pc and I went with a mission to shop......... (for xmas presents of course!! What else were you thinking?)

After a late night rush hour friday drive we woke up to a glorious sunrise the next morning and when I turned around there was a rainbow arching over their house!! How cool is that I knew it would be a good day once I'd seen that! It took 3 landscape photos to fit it all in, but I'd have to blend and do fancy things in photoshop so you'll just have to use your imagination.

I found this little pumpkin in the woods and thought he was good enough to eat!!

Saturday we shopped and shopped and shopped or should I say window shopped. Brenda had already collected Georgias pink DS but we pretended to her that they are impossible to get, until she walked up to a shop assistant and asked her if they had any!! Typical the only shop in the whole country that had them and Georgia had to go and ask!

The one time I didn't have my camera on me and this guy painted Georgias face for free and he normally works at Harrods and had just done their Christmas parade. he was amazing so I used my phone camera but haven't figured the technology out on that either!!

I discovered Dunholme Mill which still sells fabric by the metre a rarity in this part of the country. I was in heaven but the kids were bored and the sandwhich shop was too posh for Georgia who just wanted a cheese sandwhich. So we moved on....to Toys r us and Brenda bought Ben a high chair for Xmas. I wasn't going to get one but he is so inquisitive and sticks his hands in the dishwasher and turns off the washing machine and sometimes I need him up and at my height when I am cooking. So that solved that problem.

We squeezed in a trip to The Range and I added a few goodies to my Xmas list and a couple for Helena. Then it was off to see Ruth and Graham and the boys as Ruth hasn't met Ben yet and she is so good with babies. Then home for a lovely Chinese takeaway. Phew we were all worn out!! The boys had nearly finished but they'd been at it for 12 hours so it was an early night for all.

Sunday...we set off early to get to Build-a-bear for Georgias present from Granny and Grandad. Linda if you read this take out a loan and buy a franchise...Auckland needs one of these and it's easy money!! (see how long the que is)

First you choose your bear and then wait in line for the girl who operates the machine. Then you choose your sound and a heart to put into it. Georgia chose a Hannah Montana Bear, clothes and voice box. There is rack after rack of clothes and shoes and accessories to choose from. And yes lots of grown ups have these teddies too! I thought the Harley Davidson Jackets would sell well in NZ.
First the girl had to stuff the bear, then Georgia had to make a promise to look after her bear and she had to touch the bears heart to her heart and ears and knees and jump up and do star jumps. It was so cute and so believable...Georgia took it so seriously that last night she thought she had hurt her bear when it fell out of the box!!

From my heart to yours I promise to good care of you forever.....

After she was all stitched up.The trolley that had the extra stuffing for the machine had this printed on top of it. It was like something out of Santas workshop.

Mark helped guide Georgia through the computer registration system in case your bear gets lost. It was so sweet watching them and she concentrated so hard because at the end the information you put in produces the birth certificate for your bear!!
Ben just went with the flow because that's the kind of cool guy he is!!!

The finished product kicked Ben out of the high chair at lunch time so she didn't get dirty!! I can tell she is going to be a prima donna already!!

Georgia had a surprise birthday cake at lunch time thanks to Grandad and Mark, she wasn't expecting it and took a while to compose herself enough to blow out all of the candles. We had lunch with the Hullites who are now a premier league team by the way Dad! The footballers that is not the children.

I'm still not sure who had the most fun this weekend? But these 4 enjoyed themselves!!
Time to start tidying the lounge for tomorrow...it's the Grimsby crowds turn this time!!

Love Ruth xxx