Fresh Start. And No, McBonbon isn't a Legal Change!

We are officially living in our OWN house.  A house that is neither mine, nor Lauriel's - but OURS.  Mine & hers.  Hers & Mine. 

... and of course that quartet of slightly crazy kiddos who call us Mum / Step Mum / 'the Mums'.

Gaby & Aidan in their new room

We moved at the start of February, and already things seem to be a little harmonious between the kidlets, which could be down to them getting used to each other, but I think it's more to do with the fact they aren't all squeezed into one bedroom, one tiny house or one tiny yard.  We have room to breathe people, and that's a beautiful thing!  Gaby and Aidan are sharing a room (they have bunks & thinks they are just the bees knees!), and Eloise and Emmy are sharing a room.  So far Eloise and Emmy are winning the 'first asleep room' award, but I have a feeling that whatever room buddy configuration we use, the room that contains Gaby is going to be the last asleep.  My sweet little chatterbox!

We still have some unpacking to do, but for the most part I think we are settled in... We are no longer on our feet all day, nor are we constantly looking through boxes to find something we NEEEEEED but can't find.  Did I mention our awesome kitchen?  With cupboards that actually close and stay closed?  That's a major novelty for me, and probably a lot of people who lived in (or still live in) post-earthquake Christchurch...  We also have a wall oven, which is something I have always thought is super fancy.. and now... I HAVE A WALL OVEN...  I feel super fancy Nancy!

With that fancy Nancy wall oven, we have been doing a LOT of baking - and I must say, I'm starting to feel like quite the domestic goddess.  Well, goddess may be a bit of an overstatement, but I am feeling like an adult, for the first time in my adult life.  Baking for my family.  Cooking for my family.  Cleaning up after them....  Ahhhhh this really is an awesome life.

As I mentioned, school has started back <insert hallelujah chorus here> OH WAIT I CAN!

Gaby is loving the new school, and loves her teacher - and they have been going swimming everyday, so she is basically in heaven!  Aidan and Eloise are also back into the swing of things at school, but I have to say there is a big difference between having 1 child to get ready for school, and having THREE to get ready!  But we get there, and usually by 8.40am, which I think is pretty damn awesome of us.  But we ARE awesome.

Gaby on her first day at her new school!

The girls and I have been up here for a month now, and Wanganui is really starting to feel like home - which I guess is no surprise when everyone has been so welcoming.  Lauriel's friends have accepted me with open arms (some literally), so there has been no loneliness for me - no sitting there and feeling like I'm on the outer, because I know I'm not.  Of course when everyone is so awesome, there has to be one person to screw it all up.  One person who can't be happy for us, who can't accept the fact that other peoples relationships are better than his own, who can't stand to see the friend who helped him through a horrible time, happy. 

So to him we say sayonara sucker...  Hasta la vista, baby..  Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

We don't need that type of fucked up negativity in our lives, so all contact has been cut.

Oakden?  Masson?  Masson-Oakden? Oakden-Masson?
Oakson?  Masden?
... McBONBON?????????????

Now for the 'McBonbon thing'.  Lauriel is now officially divorced (scroll back up, play the Hallelujah Chorus again, if you so wish) so we were discussing what our surname would be when we get married (yes, I know, technically it's a civil union)... Would she take my surname?  Would we hyphenate?  Would we blend our names to make a new one?  Would we just make a new name altogether?  We then asked on facebook, for name suggestions, and our adopted brother-type-thing suggested we could be the McBonbons.  We laughed about it.  Such a silly name.

The following day we changed our name to McBonbon, on facebook.

THIS IS NOT A LEGAL CHANGE.  We are not 'the McBonbons'.  Well, not yet.  The name IS kind of sticking.  Emma & Lauriel McBonbon.  It doesn't sound awful...

And in other exciting news, today is February 13th, meaning that today there are TWO MONTHS until our wedding!  Plans are well underway, all that we really need to do now is get creating (DIY wedding all the way, baby!) and get paying.  The paying part isn't exactly fun, but it needs to be done!  The creating on the other hand is going to be fun, and we are lucky to have some very creative people who have offered to help us - we all know that EMMA and creativity don't mix, but I can at least sit and watch and boss people around.  Or glue my fingers together. 

And in more exciting, completely unrelated news... THE SUPER XV STARTS SOON!  Rugby boys!!!!  And tomorrow we are getting Sky installed, which means we can watch the rugby LIVE, and not makedo with videos on YouTube and facebook!  Of course because the Super XV is starting soon, there has been coverage of pre-season shenanigans, and lots of headshots.  Lauriel wanted me to share two photos with you all....  So here they are.

Mr Ryan Crotty... one of our faves...
... especially seeing as Zac and Richie aren't playing.

Mr Jarrad Hoeata... aka Hottyata...
H.  O.  T.

While we are at it, big ups to our old buddy Sean Maitland, who is playing in the Six Nations for Scotland!  He scored a try in his first game, so that of course is very awesome.  We are now over our 'you evil traitor!' feelings for him, and are instead embracing the Scotish rugby team...  It IS a little ironic really...  The Crusaders cup of backline talent was overfloweth, so they gave Mr Maitland the boot...  And now Zac Guildford is out of the team for the year and they are insisting on playing Israel Dagg at centre, so they really need the extra talent - and experience in the backline... the ONE man who can provide that is now in Scotland, reaping the rewards of an international rugby career.    Of course we need to add a photo, because there are a couple of our readers who think he is rather easy on the eye...  So I proudly give you Mr Sean Maitland!