Christmas …

I was reminded today that Christmas is just around the corner by my eldest granddaughter, Natalie.  She’s just 3 and a half, but she sure knows what Christmas is and what it’s all about this year.  And that is … presents, of course!  What else to a child?

She announced that all the apps on my iPad were DUMB and that she wanted me to download some more.  Yep, download.  Is that a term that you were using when you were not even 4?

Then she proceeded to tap to the App Store.  Once I had dutifully entered the search term she scrolled down to find what she wanted.  Some we already had and she knew those.  Others weren’t free, so she scrolled past those with a ‘they cost money’.  When she found one she liked, she clicked on the Free button and then again on Install.  I dutifully entered my password and very soon we had a pretty good selection of new apps.

They can take a while to download with our annoying internet speed, but she knew which ones were close to finishing and patiently waited until they were done, then clicked on them to try them out.  She then let me know which ones she wanted to keep and which ones were dumb and could be deleted.

What will 3 year olds be doing with technology in 5 years’ time I wonder?  It’s a rather scary thought!

So, back to Christmas.  I was reminded because a few of the apps Naty downloaded were Santa games and she was playing Xmas songs including Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.  I love Xmas songs (Boyd thinks I’m nutty as he hates them).  But there’s just something magical about going into a shop that is playing Xmas music 🙂

Anyways, did you know there’s only 6 weeks until Christmas?  I’ve bought one present .. 10 to go.  And 8 family birthdays coming up in December too (including my own!).

 

Fun toys cost nothing

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on all those commercial kids’ toys out there!

A few boxes put together make an awesome train and hours of fun. Although Morgan doesn’t look too happy as the back passenger.  Georgie is not quite sure about Naty’s driving skills and looks like she wants to jump off (or can see an obstacle ahead on the tracks!).

I do buy the grandkids toys to have at my place, but nothing expensive and a lot has come cheaply from TradeMe.  The best fun we have is with simple things. A favourite is a blanket over the couches to make a hut.  And going outside with a bowl and spoon, picking dandelions and stirring them up into ‘soup’!  Read my earlier post A Day with the Grandkids to learn about how you can have fun with spoons!

Next time your kids complain about being bored, or you feel like spending money on new toys, have a look around to see what you can do that doesn’t cost money and have FUN!

It’s those moments that create memories.

What activities have you done with your kids/grandkids that doesn’t cost money?

 

Please note: the images of my grandchildren on this blog are copyright and may not be copied and/or used for any purpose.

 

The Hanmer holiday home at 7 Devon Street

Friday, and finally we were on the road! A quick dinner stop in Murchison for homemade bacon ‘n egg pie and and at last, we were winding our way in to Hanmer.

The holiday home at 7 Devon Street is $160 a night and sleeps 8. When there’s a big group of you, there’s nothing better than a holiday home. Fully furnished (just take your own linen and towels) and you have all the comforts of home. This one has three bedrooms, is fully fenced and allows kids and dogs. A bonus being able to take Jess, who had a wonderful time on holiday, chewing sticks, eating, sleeping and occasionally chasing a ball (and saved us $100 at the kennels).

It has all the required baby/child paraphernalia including highchair (Georgie), portacot (Morgan) and a see-saw (Naty). Even stair safety gates. And plenty of videos for the kids (with a TV in their bedroom) as well as books and games and SkyTV (great for the older kids – the 20 year olds!).

Naty loved the see-saw!

The magic cupboard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A spacious two storey Fraemohs home with that lovely log house feel, very alpine and typically Hanmer. None too clean, but I’ve come to expect that from holiday homes. I’m sure they are always cleaner when we leave. With a holiday home you clean on departure, check out is 11am to allow for this or we could pay an extra $80 to have it done for us.

There are two bedrooms upstairs. Nana & Gramps in one and Mummy, Daddy, Morgan, Georgie and Naty in the other (an absolutely huge room). This bedroom has a wonderful treat for kids, a cupboard that runs the width of the room in the A-frame and has two mattresses. A magical sleeping space where Naty did sleep one night, and an imaginative play area which they loved. Downstairs was the 3rd bedroom for Danielle & Nathan.

Mummy and the kids arrived Saturday lunchtime. Daddy was biking the Rainbow from St Arnaud to Hanmer. The car trip was uneventful until Mummy arrived into Hanmer and Georgie was sick. What followed was a whirwind of several hours as we changed Georgie, cleaned the car seat and her clothes, dealt with a hungry crying Morgan along with an excited Naty who was telling us a dozen stories all at once. Followed by lunch.

Then we waited for Daddy. And waited. And waited. Finally, 9 hours after starting the track he arrived, tired and hungry but safe.

Check out the range of holiday houses at Hanmer Holiday Homes

 

Please note: the images of my grandchildren on this blog are copyright and may not be copied and/or used for any purpose.

Gramps bought Naty & Georgia special suitcases for their Hanmer trip!

 

Hanmer hot pools

Tonight Boyd and I spent three hours soaking in the Hot Pools. Ahhhh, total bliss, and so relaxing!

The complex has changed a lot since I first visited as a child. There’s now 3 hexagonal pools and 3 large round spa pools, one with a hydrotherapy pool with massaging waterfalls, as well as several more intimate rock pools.

The kids’ area has been upgraded with a drain type slide, there’s still the hydroslide and the freshwater pool has been moved and enlarged. There’s a really neat lazy river that flows around a circular pool. You can ride it on boogie boards or just let it take you around. Danielle and Nathan arrived and we had a blast floating around together.

The last pool we went in was one of three sulphur pools, very hot at 41 degrees and smelly, but it makes your skin feel so nice. A quick dip into one of the large pools and it was closing time.

We are heading home tomorrow. It’s been a really relaxing three days, spending time with family.

Photo credit – Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

 

Hanmer, here we come!

Packing to head to Hanmer Springs for the weekend, a little surprise in the food box!

Why on earth do cats love boxes so much!?

We almost had a cat disaster before we left. Danielle went to the vets to get a copy of Tobi’s vaccination certificate to give to the cattery. Seems they didn’t have one. That could have something to do with the fact she went to Halifax Vets to pick it up when he was actually vacc’d at Stoke Vets. Hmmm.

To cut a long story short, because she didn’t have a vacc cert he couldn’t go into the cattery so the SPCA took him back for the weekend. ‘Basil Basil!’ they all screamed in delight as he was delivered. Poor cat’s gonna be confused over what his real name is! And the SPCA Manager said we might not get him back on Monday when we return lol

I’m really looking forward to a long weekend in Hanmer with Boyd, the kids and the grandkids. It’ll be a relaxing (and well deserved) break as things have been so busy. Just gonna chill …

Read my other posts about Hanmer including the Hot Pools and the Holiday Home.