Hatching

The beautiful blufflies (Lily's word not mine) hatched today. Predictably they waited til we were all out for the morning and then hatched quickly so we wouldn't get to watch. Luckily they were very obliging for photos before we released them. Hope you enjoy these.

Back on yer bike!

Ali had a bit of a fall off her bike 'Rainbow' and hurt herself on the handlebars last month so it's been a while since we went to the school for a ride. This weekend she was keen again so we got back on that bike. She was a bit nervous but she did really well.

Lily found a ramp to ride 'Rocket' down, she did this about a dozen times, laughing and shrieking as she went

Just like a doll...

Lily spends lots of time playing with her dollies at the moment, we seem unable to leave the house without an armful of them. The one in the picture is call Baby Aslyn, it was named by Ali some time ago after Opa Noel's sister Alison.

Last night when I went to check on the girls they were fast asleep and they looked just like dolls themselves (except for the snot and dirt on Lily's face).

Wonders of Nature

Whilst some of our relatives are enjoying themselves in Europe we are having our own fun right here in Aotearoa, marvelling at the wonders of nature and our dear girls. On Saturday Ali had her ears pierced, after asking for about a year. We also bought some tights and boots for her to wear to school now that the cooler weather has finally arrived. She's very happy with herself right now but it hasn't stopped her asking for more, just to find our financial and emotional limits I suppose. well she found em'. Lily meanwhile is content to be her jolly little self. She'd just as soon as pick up a wee snail and keep it as her pet for a day as have anything new in the way of footwear or jewellery. Good thing too or we'd be in receivership by now. We had to go to Auckland yesterday while Ali was at school for a fleeting visit and managed to drop in to see Opa Noel and Granny Rosie. Whilst Noel was giving one of his premier clown performances Lily grasped my leg and said to me "Daddy, I don't understand him". Her vocabulary is coming along. Photos this week show Ali's new earring and our Monarch caterpillar/chrysallis. Three weeks today until we leave for OZ.

Beautiful Photos

Once again the camera was not in my hands when I needed it most. Here are the photos I would have taken when we went camping at Parakai this weekend:
- Lily looking angelic as she floated in the thermal pool with steam rising all around her as rain fell from grey skies above.
- Ali proud and joyful as she practised duck diving, floating like a starfish and holding her breath under water. She looked so bright and shiny with her yellow bathing cap, pink goggles, pink and yellow togs and beaming smile.
- Opa Theo's face when he woke up
- Ali and Lily playing on the playground as the first golden light filtered through the mist
- gorgeous scenery on the way home especially the view from the top of the Brynderwyns when we were nearly home.