Grandchildren and holidays

**awa355** · 13th January 2015, 16:28

Keeping the grandchildren occupied is proving a lot of fun. We have both here for a week. After only two days they have both learnt to say 'Please and Thank You'.

Outside, Last 2 afternoons spent in the inflatable swimming pool. Its only about 4mx2.5m but we've had hours of fun. Water pistols, balls, water fights.

Inside, One is playing a game on a borrowed xbox while the 4yr old loves the old cartoons that Grandad used to watch at the saturday morning pictures. Over 50 years later they still are being enjoyed.

Might take them through to Waterworld in Hamilton tomorrow, or better still, out to the Mangatutu stream.

Anyone else got rugrats over the holidays?

**unstuck** · 13th January 2015, 16:43

Grandson was supposed to be down for a couple of weeks this holidays, but due to domestic issues with my son and his ex she canned that.

We have a pre school across the road from us now, and it has been nice having them on holiday. Tis amazing how much noise a bunch of rugrats can make when in a group.

**Blackbird** · 13th January 2015, 16:56

We have 5 of 'em, mercifully not all at once

They're all great kids and there's plenty to keep them occupied on the Coromandel but who else finds their energy and constant chatter totally draining? By 7 in the evening, we're completely stuffed

**unstuck** · 13th January 2015, 17:01

Originally Posted by Blackbird

who else finds their energy and constant chatter totally draining?

Oh yes.

**slofox** · 13th January 2015, 17:41

Originally Posted by awa355

Keeping the grandchildren occupied is proving a lot of fun. We have both here for a week. After only two days they have both learnt to say 'Please and Thank You'.

Outside, Last 2 afternoons spent in the inflatable swimming pool. Its only about 4mx2.5m but we've had hours of fun. Water pistols, balls, water fights.

Inside, One is playing a game on a borrowed xbox while the 4yr old loves the old cartoons that Grandad used to watch at the saturday morning pictures. Over 50 years later they still are being enjoyed.

Might take them through to Waterworld in Hamilton tomorrow, or better still, out to the Mangatutu stream.

Anyone else got rugrats over the holidays?

Yeah but I'm taking them to Papamoa tomorrow...

**Moi** · 13th January 2015, 17:41

Got a park playground or primary school nearby with an adventure playground... could be quite a good place to spend a few hours, especially if they have bikes to ride as well...

plus granddad can sit in a shady spot with the thermos of tea and sammies...

Any bush areas worth exploring? - sure you know of one or two...

A number of years ago had a friend and his young fella stay one January - we soon knew where every playground was within walking distance...

**awa355** · 13th January 2015, 17:47

Originally Posted by Blackbird

We have 5 of 'em, mercifully not all at once

They're all great kids and there's plenty to keep them occupied on the Coromandel but who else finds their energy and constant chatter totally draining? By 7 in the evening, we're completely stuffed

They are hard going at times. They were told by nan to help grandad with the dishes tonight. Grandad would really have prefered to do the dishes by himself.

.

**Moi** · 14th January 2015, 17:03

So what did you do today?

**jellywrestler** · 14th January 2015, 17:27

Originally Posted by awa355

Keeping the grandchildren occupied is proving a lot of fun. We have both here for a week. After only two days they have both learnt to say 'Please and Thank You'.

Outside, Last 2 afternoons spent in the inflatable swimming pool. Its only about 4mx2.5m but we've had hours of fun. Water pistols, balls, water fights.

Inside, One is playing a game on a borrowed xbox while the 4yr old loves the old cartoons that Grandad used to watch at the saturday morning pictures. Over 50 years later they still are being enjoyed.

Might take them through to Waterworld in Hamilton tomorrow, or better still, out to the Mangatutu stream.

Anyone else got rugrats over the holidays?

sounds like you need one of these

**awa355** · 14th January 2015, 20:41

Originally Posted by Moi

So what did you do today?

Went to the playground, Kids watched grandad play on the flying fox, Then to Macca's. Cold slushies, grandad finished his first so got to help the 4yr old to finish hers.

. Paid for it later tho, had to sit and watch 'working with Play Dough' clips on you tube for ever.

Ice cream and ' potato chips???? for desert. Thats worse than peanut butter and vegimite on the same slice of toast. Geez, I hope I'm dead before this generation is old enough to be cooking for me.

All worth it tonight though, to see both kids in bed with grandads little dog curled up between them. Now, if only they would shut up and go to sleep.

I have to admit, they are pretty good at putting all the toys away before bedtime. Kinda neat to see the wooden toys grandad has made being played with. The bathroom is still a mess. Half the plastic ware from the kitchen still in the bath tub.

**nzspokes** · 14th January 2015, 20:50

Originally Posted by awa355

Half the plastic ware from the kitchen still in the bath tub.

I guess feeding them in the bath makes the clean up easier.

**Moi** · 14th January 2015, 21:47

Any pics of grandad on the flying fox? Or it didn't happen

Sounds like another grand day at grandad and nan's place...

**Grubber** · 15th January 2015, 07:12

All mine away this week but last week the 8 year old helped me take race bike to bits and his 3 year old sister help take the bits outside onto the lawn for the dog to play with.
Thank god the youngest one (1 year old) is only crawling. Who knows where the bits would be otherwise.
looking forward to next week now when they are all back home so i can do some weekend stuff with them again.
Oh and yes they can be tiring!

Not unlike playing with Madness or Axle to be fair, about the same intellect level too i believe.

**nzspokes** · 15th January 2015, 07:19

Originally Posted by Grubber

All mine away this week but last week the 8 year old helped me take race bike to bits and his 3 year old sister help take the bits outside onto the lawn for the dog to play with.
Thank god the youngest one (1 year old) is only crawling. Who knows where the bits would be otherwise.
looking forward to next week now when they are all back home so i can do some weekend stuff with them again.
Oh and yes they can be tiring!

Not unlike playing with Madness or Axle to be fair, about the same intellect level too i believe.

My 8 year old can strip the plastics off my trail bike by himself. And both helped strip my partners CBR.

I see it as good parenting.