Since this is a blog about LIFE in Upper Hutt I thought some facts or reference to facts about the city might be useful.
The population is about 36,000. It is a suburb of Wellington. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the City in traffic, 25 without. We live in a neighborhood called Moonshine, but really most people call it Riverstone Terraces. It is one of the newest developments in Upper Hutt.
We live up a big bill but go down the hill to run along the river a lot. I will post some pictures of my run route. : )
I do lots of shopping in Lower Hutt which is about 15 minutes away towards the City. This is also where Lucy goes to daycare and where I go to to the Gym (Les Mills).
And while I am on the topic, I still can't get over how expensive gym memberships are here. My gym is like a 24 hour fitness. Not sure what the rates in the US are now but I pay $20 a week for the gym...and I have a great deal. Most people pay $25 a week AND they have to agree to a 1-3 year contract.
http://www.upperhuttcity.com/page/29/AboutOurCity.boss
Friday, February 29, 2008
To the Gym
Here are some photos of Lucy and I at the gym. My mom took the photos. It was nice to have someone else taking photos while she was here because that means I am in some of them! Lucy loves the gym, especially the foam pit!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Goals/Priorities
Right, so....I am not currently training for an Ironman. The idea sounds ridiculous at the moment but I do want to do an Ironman again in the near future. My priorities have shifted over the past two years, for obvious reasons. I am now a mother and along with being a wife, Lucy and Vaughan's well being and happiness are my number one priority.
I have various demands on my time and energy and for the most part I am putting my energy where I want to put it. I am working part-time (18 hours a week) and as a working mother I now understand the strain and stress of all working mothers. You never feel as if you are doing either job very well and yet you give both your all. It is tough going, for sure. I can't imagine working full time at the moment. But I also can't imagine not working.
So, for the most part I am able to juggle work, motherhood, domestic duties, running 2-3 times a week, and lifting 1-2 times a week. That is it, that is what I do! I reckon I get about 6 hours of broken sleep a night. More sleep would help.
My current goals/priorities
1. Spend quality time with Vaughan and Lucy
2. Get pregnant
3. Continue to gain fitness through running and added swimming and cycling
4. Pay off my student loans
5. Continue to gain technical skills at work
There you go! Ironman #6 will have to wait until after bubba #2 arrives.
I have various demands on my time and energy and for the most part I am putting my energy where I want to put it. I am working part-time (18 hours a week) and as a working mother I now understand the strain and stress of all working mothers. You never feel as if you are doing either job very well and yet you give both your all. It is tough going, for sure. I can't imagine working full time at the moment. But I also can't imagine not working.
So, for the most part I am able to juggle work, motherhood, domestic duties, running 2-3 times a week, and lifting 1-2 times a week. That is it, that is what I do! I reckon I get about 6 hours of broken sleep a night. More sleep would help.
My current goals/priorities
1. Spend quality time with Vaughan and Lucy
2. Get pregnant
3. Continue to gain fitness through running and added swimming and cycling
4. Pay off my student loans
5. Continue to gain technical skills at work
There you go! Ironman #6 will have to wait until after bubba #2 arrives.
More Staglands Photos
More photos of our trip to Staglands can been seen by following this link: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=g5c1vpp.9j0q913x&Uy=9ptvp6&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=538156016241_575607842605
Staglands
Today Jen, Lucy and Grandma De Wald went to Staglands for the afternoon. Staglands is a wildlife reserve in the Akatawara's about 20km from our home in Upper Hutt. There were maybe 20 other people at the reserve when we were there. They have heaps of birds, donkeys, rabbits, dear, horses, pigs. We had a great time and Lucy was fearless - she wasn't worried about any of the animals even after a duck bit her when we first entered the reserve.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Grandma Time
My mom has looked after Lucy this week when I have gone to work - 6 hours for three days - no easy task! Lucy had a great time and so has grandma but they wear each other out. Both are fast sleep at the moment.
My mom took this photo on Tuesday morning. Lucy looks like a little girl is this photo, no longer a baby.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Day with Grandma
Right, so...getting Lucy to sleep is not too difficult for Vaughan and I but it is not the easiest job on earth. Today my mom looked after Lucy and had a great day AND managed to get her to sleep THREE times. All parents will appreciate that this is a slap in the face!
At the Park
They are building a wee little park near our house. We took Lucy up and had fun on the swing.
Lucy and the beasts
Lucy loves most critters, especially dogs....but worms not so much. We are headed to a wildlife reserve this week called Staglands with my mom. Lucy should love it.
Our Home...still in progress!
Here is a photo of the Harrison homestead, in case you had no idea what it looked like! Vaughan is screening the piles of dirt by hand in the front yard so we can plant grass in the back yard for Lucy to run around on!
The Fence
Here is a better picture of the fence that Vaughan built. It rocks! We no longer see our neighbors everynight on their back porch!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Lucy LOVES the musical chair!
Lucy's cousins loaned her this chair that sings and counts and does the ABC's.
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day is celebrated every year in New Zealand on 6 February. The date marks marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 in which representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.
For many New Zealander's Waitangi Day is another summer statutory holiday; for others, especially for Maori, it is the occasion for reflecting on the Treaty.
On Waitangi Day we had the day off and headed to the park. It was a beautiful and windy Wellington summer day.
This is a test: Here is a link to some more photos!
Flight of the Conchords
If you haven't seen or heard of Flight of the Conchords - check them out. They are hilarious and they are from Wellies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FArZxLj6DLk
New Zealand...is cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FArZxLj6DLk
New Zealand...is cool!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Young at Heart
Allison joined us at the gym with her son Soren and daughter Ruby. Allison is originally from Texas but now lives in the Hutt. : ) She and I practiced our moves.
Rimataka Gym
We took Lucy to the gym on Saturday to check it out. She loved it - so did we. : ) We will start taking her to gym about once a week for the next 10 weeks or so so she can play, jump and roll around in padded environment.
The fence that Vaughan Built
Vaughan is building our back fence by himself and it looks fantastic! It has only taken him two weekends as well. Next we need to plant some grass so Lucy can play outside with her cousins and friends!
Lucy is one!
Lucy turned one on 26 January 2008. We celebrated her first birthday on 3 February after her Grandma DeWald arrived. We had a fun day and Lucy enjoyed her pink cake decorated by Grandma DeWald. My mom's birthday is also on the 26th so Granny Annie make a nice cake for her as well.
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