Family Fun in the Sandpit

It's been sometime since I have written on this blog, it's amazing how quickly the days pass with a very active two year old and a newborn. Kaeden is already a month old and Grandad got the first smile the day he left to go home. Rather than write a long story abut the events of the last two weeks I'm going to write a bullet point list and hopefully the photos might fill in the gaps.

• After we returned from Sweden we had Nikau's 2nd birthday to look forward to. He loves aeroplanes so his party had a Planes theme as you will see in the photos.
• We had a very scary night a few nights ago when Nikau had a temperature of 39+ and was shaking and vomiting. Joel and I were dressed and ready to take him to the hospital but after a tepid shower and some panadol his temperature started to go down. Tanya and Joel were very glad we didn't end up going to the hospital because apparently over here they always admit the kids and keep them in for a few days. Fortunately Nikau recovered and is back to his mischievous self again.
• We have celebrated UAE fathers day with a BBQ, or as Nikau would say a "bukanoo"
• We have eaten home made fish and chips with a group of kiwi mates while watching the All Blacks play Wales.
• We had some family portraits done in traditional costume, not an easy task with a baby and a toddler, but we were pretty pleased with the end result!
• We sadly had to say a tearful farewell to Grandad on Saturday night. When Nikau came into my bed the next morning he said "Where's Grandad?"
• Tanya and I cheered ourselves up with some retail therapy by going up to Dubai to pick up the rings we had made by Tanya's pet jeweller. They really are quite beautiful.

 Nikau's birthday cake

 Nana and Nikau on the bouncy slide at Nikau's birthday party

 Nikau cutting his birthday cake

 Bath time

 Grandad and Nikau in Nikau's blowup car, a birthday present from Aunty Bunna

 UAE fathers day BBQ

 Grandad and his boys at the airport

 Kaeden and nana

Sick Nikau and Nana

 Our sandpit family photo

Please don't go Grandad

Out and About In Gothenburg

We have had a busy few days since arriving here in Gothenburg. On Saturday we went to Liseberg, which is an amusement park where the Gothenbug Wheel (now called the Liseburg Wheel) is situated. We decided to take a ride on this ferris wheel to enjoy the view of the city from the top. Despite feeling somewhat uncomfortable perched on top of a large wheel, I did enjoy the spectacular views over this beautiful city. We then spent a funfilled few hours watching other people scream as they whizzed over our heads on roller coasters, or got dropped from great heights from the top of a very tall pole. Geoff, Craig and I challenged each other to a few arcade games, I came third on every one!!!!

From the fairground we walked into the city where we had lunch (ironically at a middle eastern cafe) before heading off to Craig's game. Unfortunately a niggly hamstring meant that Craig didn't play. It was a very exciting game to watch, ending in a nil all draw. We spent the evening at fellow Stoke Valley team mate, Dan Keat's apartment, where we met a couple of the team and had a bbq.

Yesterday Craig had the day off so we got the ferry out to the Southern Archipelago where we spent the afternoon exploring the island of Vrango. There are two archipelagos (groups of islands) off the coast of Gothenburg, the Northern Archipelago and the Southern one, which we visited. There are no cars of the islands of the Southern Archipelago, so they are very peaceful and beautiful places to explore.

The transport system here in Gotheburg is very efficient. There are trams all over the place and it is very much like having an underground transport service above ground.

 Walking towards Gothenburg Wheel

 Glass swimming pool 30 floors up, very out of character with the rest of the city

 At the top of the Gothenburg Wheel

 View from the top

 Out and about of Vrango Island

 Looking for the snake I nearly stood on

 Vrango Island

 Vrango Island

Paddling on Vrango Island

Gothenburg

We flew out of Abu Dhabi just after 9.00am and had a 6 1/2 hour flight to Berlin. Most of the flight was over land and it was very interesting to see how the landscape changed as we flew north: sandy deserts, rocky mountains, snowy mountains, farmland and forests. We had a 3 3/4 hour stopover in Berlin, and while we thought we would just transit there, we had to go through immigration as that was out first port in Europe. Once in Europe you can go anywhere without having to go through immigration again, as long as the country you are visiting belongs to the European Union. (26 countries belong to this) Consequently when we arrived in Sweden we just had to collect our bags and go! But back to Berlin, Berlin International Airport was not at all what I expected. Berlin's international airport bears a very close resemblance to what Wellington's old domestic terminal used to look like, rather like a very unappealing corrugated iron hangar.

Craig met us off the airport bus in Gothenburg and we caught one of the many trams to his street. He is house sitting an apartment for someone who is working in Berlin, so its fully furnished and very comfortable.

Craig had training this morning so Geoff and I took the opportunity to explore the city by foot and on the hop on hop off bus. This afternoon we did a canal cruise with Craig. Gothenburg is a very old city, the tallest building here is only 86 metres tall! It is a very picturesque city with cobbled streets and lots of outdoor cafes.

The street Craig lives in

 About to go under one of many bridges on the canal cruise

 Gothenburg from the harbour

 No. 17 1/2

 Canal cruise selfie

Leafy lunch stop

It's Ramadan!!!!

It has been quite a while since I last wrote on this blog. It is surprising how time flies when you have a newborn and a nearly two year old around. Just getting out of the house needs the strategic planning of a military operation. Tanya still can't drive yet, and while there was some talk of Grandad braving the short drive to the nearest mall, that never needed to happen. (fortunately!) Tanya and Joel have a 4WD Kia Sorrento,and the first few family trips to the mall Grandad travelled in the boot with the buggy. While it was relatively comfortable it certainly wasn't a very safe option. Fortunately Tanya and Joel have been able to borrow a Prado from some friends and we are all able to fit in, with Nana between the boys in the back and Grandad in the little backseat, a much safer option.

Last Friday Kaeden had moulds taken of his hands and feet. We had this done for Nikau when he was born and intend for it to be a gift that we give to all our grandchildren, wherever in the world they are born. Kaeden slept right through the procedure, unlike his big brother, who had to have three goes at getting his foot moulded. We will be heading up to Dubai when we get back from Sweden to see the finished result.

Now that we have a safer option of family travel we have been able to venture further afield, and on Saturday went into the city to a 2 year birthday party in a very big penthouse apartment.

We have taken Nikau down to the pool for a few swims when his Daddy gets home from work. He is a real water baby, not in the least bit fazed when he completely submerges. He loves to wear his sunglasses and insists that everyone else wears theirs too, often resulting in the whole family squinting through their sunglasses as they leave the 4th floor apartment.

The other night Joel acquired a good sized gas bbq from a friend wh o is going home to NZ. Nikau obviously sensed his Daddy's enthusiasm and excitement about the bbq and has been talking non stop about the "bucanuu". 

Ramadan started yesterday. It is a very special time for Moslems, it is called the holy month of Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan Moslems are not allowed to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. After the sun has set they share an Iftar meal. During Ramadan most cafes and restaurants are closed during the day, although some, which cater for westerners, have their windows blacked out so the westerners can eat there. Even we cannot eat or drink in public during Ramadan, although Tanya is excused because she is a breastfeeding Mum.

Some of the professional photos we had done

 Bathtime

 Sleeping foot mould

Sleeping hand mould

First proper photo together

Nikau and baby brother

Enjoying Family Time in the Sandpit

Kaeden is now a week old and Nikau is beginning to take a real interest in his little "brulla". On Tuesday we had professional newborn photos taken and the photographer also took family photos and grandparents and grand kids photos, which was a real bonus. The photographer, Jess, is a real baby whisperer. She is so patient and such a perfectionist that the photo shoot took 4 hours. Geoff, Joel and Nikau went home after the first hour and Tanya and I stayed while Kaeden had his photos taken. The photographer has very soft white noise and the sound of a heartbeat playing to soothe the baby. The air con was also off and a heater on because Kaeden was naked in the photos. The combination of the heat and the soothing noises made Tanya and I very sleepy. We are really looking forward to seeing the photos in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday was quite windy by sandpit standards and there was a lot of dust blowing around. The sand here is very fine, almost like talcum powder so it doesn't take much for it to get stirred up.

 Big brother and little brother

 Dusty day in the sandpit (view from our balcony)

 Nana and Nikau time

A little taster of the professional photos 

Nana has been rehired

Nana has been reappointed to grandparenting duties.  At bathtime tonight Nikau asked for a shower with Nana instead of having a bath. Nana was very happy to oblige.

Grandad has Arrived in the Sandpit.

Grandad arrived at 6 o'clock yesterday morning and Nikau has had eyes for only Grandad since his arrival. Nana has been well and truly fired from grandparenting duties (temporarily I hope!)

After one very unsettled night Kaeden is beginning to settle into a routine. He is very alert and loves having eye contact with the person who is holding him. Nikau has been really good with Kaeden, today he pointed to him and said "brother" then pointed to himself and said "brother". We are looking forward to getting a photo of Nikau holding Kaeden, however Nikau hasn't wanted to do this yet.

Nana and Grandad have been enjoying going down to the nursery to pick up Nikau. We were supposed to go to a parent teacher interview last Wednesday but Kaeden's arrival on that day meant that we missed that. Tanya is going to schedule another one. Nikau has a nursery book which is filled in daily, saying what he's been doing, his mood etc. Each term he gets a four page report!!!!!!!

Talking of education, Tanya's friend has a little boy who has special learning needs. To get teacher aide help the family has to pay $6000 dirhams a month, which is nearly NZ$2500!!! 

Today we have booked a short trip over to Sweden to see Craig (and escape the heat!) We fly out next Thursday morning and return the following Wednesday in time to celebrate Nikau's birthday on the 18th June.

 Kaeden chilling in his new little brother chair

 Grandad and Nikau playing and sitting on the big brother chairs

 The front page of Nikau's 4 page termly nursery report

Grandad's first cuddle with Kaeden

At Home with the Pikaris

Nikau and I had a lovely 24 hours together. I must admit I was a little apprehensive about having sole responsibility for a very active nearly two year old, especially during the day when it is too hot to go outside to play. I slept in Nikau's room with him on Thursday night and he woke up at the relatively civilised (by toddler standards) time of 5.45am. We had breakfast together and before it got too hot we walked to the local supermarket to get a few supplies then stopped in at the playground at Nikau's nursery so he could have a run around...and run around he did! Nikau raced around the perimeter of the playground at a rate of knots, expending a lot of pent up energy I think. By 10.30am it was getting too hot to play outside so we came upstairs for a snack and playtime inside. Nikau made a special card for his little brother the we did "rolling, rolling" which translated means played with play dough. (the first time Nikau and I played with the dough I said "rolling, rolling" as I made a ball and the name has now stuck!) After lunch Nikau climbed into his bed and slept for a little over two hours. We didn't have too much more time to fill in before Mummy, Daddy and Kaeden arrived home from the hospital at 4.00pm. 

Last night I slept in Nikau's room again and our day started at the rather uncivilised (by anyone's standards) time of 4.45am. (Might be an early night for Nana tonight!)

Nikau is beginning to take a real interest in his little brother and is learning to to use his gentle hands and his quiet voice. I am sure he is going to adapt to being a big brother really well.

 Kaeden asleep in his own bed at home

 Nikau and Nana having breakfast together

 Daytime rest time for Nikau

Woohoo, I'm going home!