Tiri Trip

Ali at the Tiri lighthouse
Ali had a school trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island, a bird sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf. We left early this morning and drove down to catch the ferry with our neighbour Mel, and two of her girls, Asher and Willow. The 20 min ferry ride was a highlight for the kids, and then we were there. One of the volunteer guides showed us around, telling us about some of the rare and endangered birds that we saw along the way, and showing us the blue penguins nesting under the steps of the path.

Ali's favourite was Gregg the Takahe who she remebered from 2 years ago when we last visited. The Takahe were thought to be extinct until 1948 when someone found some in Fiordland. Now with intensive breeding programs there are about 150 Takahe so it's a real privilege to have lunch with one. Gregg was hand-reared as a chick 16 years ago so he is very friendly with people.

Teach a girl to fish

This afternoon it was high tide and high time Ali learned a thing or two about fishing from that old master, her Dad! We drove down to our local park where the river runs by. Right on cue, Ali landed her first fish ( a whopping baby Mullet) and after I showed her how to catch two at a time, she went and out did me by catching three!! A new record for this family that may stand for some time. We took our bounty to the beach after picking up Karen and Lily to try for something more meal sized. Ali and Lily took great delight in carrying their dead fish everywhere, much to our amusement but alas, our time and tide had run out, not to mention the heaven's opening and soaking us all. Lily told us at dinner she was "thankful for you letting me hold your dead fish Daddy". So it looks like we have a family of fine fisher-people and maybe one day soon we'll be bringing home a feed.

They say if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you get rid of him for a whole weekend. Does this apply to little girls as well?
The "Whopper".I'll swap you your Mullet for my Mullet and this handful of sand................somewhere, this Mullet is needed.Where's the meal-sized one Dad?Oh, it got away? and it was this big you say?

Labour Day Weekend

It's been a busy weekend for us with painting the ceiling of our kitchen whilst keeping the girls amused enough to keep out of the way and not get painted themselves. We also took a walk around the property and moved our electric fence to give Sausage more grass to eat. Whilst I was giving Ali a piggy back she made me laugh with her understanding of the Kiwi accent. She asked me why the cow in the neighbouring paddock was looking at us. I said "Well Ali, It's just curious and it isn't a cow, it's a Steer." She thought about this for a moment and said " Is that why they call them Steers, because they just look at people?"

Back to school

Yesterday was a Teachers Only Day at Ali's school to make up for Saturday being a school day. We took the opportunity to go into town to the pools while all the other kids in the district were in class - haha. Phil was able to come and so we had a great time racing one another down the waterslides.

Today Ali was back at school and Lily went to playcentre with Mum. I snapped this one early this morning so the light wasn't great but she just looked so adorable reading her Superman comic I had to get it.

Look at the size of this little darling!

It's a bit blowy outside but not raining so we went to explore the neighbour's paddock and collect some pine needles to mulch our strawberry patch. At some point in the past someone has chopped down some trees there and made a little seat out of a tree stump with their chainsaw. Ali and Lily enjoy playing amongst the stumps and looking for creatures in the leaf litter. Phil did his one of his best Steve Irwin impressions when we found this giant centipede.

The rest of Calf Club

The forecast for today was for thunderstorms, so we were lucky that it was warm and sunny all day, then five minutes after we got home the heavens opened and it poured down.
Lily liked the candyfloss
Ali's flower saucer.
All the decorated eggs, Ali's is in the green egg-cup near the sign.

Lily pats Angel the kid.

There are 3 posts today so scroll on down to older posts to see the others

Calf Club at last

This is our neighbour Grace with her lamb Tissue who won first prize in her section.




Today was Ali's school calf club day. Ali brought Friendly Pat and the judge remarked on how friendly she was, and Ali received a certificate.Ali's dish garden was a beach with a sunbathing dolly.
Her flower arrangement was in a thermos.

Great hair!

Ali woke up this morning with particularly fabulous hair.

Happy Birthday Dear Oma

Spinner

Ali was out the door just in time to get the bus this morning, she had a good day yesterday catching up with all her friends. She won a Principals award for good story writing, not bad for her first day back.

Lily and I are just about to head off for Playcentre. We are having a calf club day today, decorating eggs, sand saucers, paper plates etc. We are also supposed to bring a lamb or calf if we have one but our cow, Sausage, is a bit big to fit in the car. (She might be getting a bit big to fit in the freezer even:-)

Here are some photos of Lily from the weekend. She was turning the swing round and round to twist up the rope then climbing on and hauling herself upside down as it untwisted and spun her around really fast. You can see Ali in the corner of the picture planting sunflowers outside the playhouse. They spend a great amount of time playing house in there, cooking, playing schools, doctors, babies, puppies and other games beloved of little girls everywhere.

Saturday

We didn't get a chance to get the camera out today. Ali had her friend Karli over to play for the day - you really need eyes in the back of your head to watch three mischievous children and keep damage to life, limb and property to a minimum! Phil was working hard to finish off a big job and got home a bit late so we're gonna relax with a TVDV now... ahhhh

Kiwi-fruit

ever wondered what a kiwifruit's bottom looks like?


Lily helped out making Guacamole at daycare today, meticulously peeling the garlic. Ali and Mum went to school for Ali to practice riding her bike on the concrete since we have none at home. Then we came home for a spot of gardening and baking ahhhh it's good to be a stay-home Mum when it's not raining!

This afternoon Phil came home after a round of golf and hooked up the camera for our Skype connection. Please let us know if you have Skype, and email your contact details so we can give you a free video call.

Monday morning

When does school start again?

After our last entry some other neighbours kids popped over with their lamb (Tissue) so we had a very busy afternoon.

Yesterday we popped out for groceries, somehow it always seems to take the whole day, by the time we get back and unpack everything. We had a lovely dinner with our friends, Craig and Gina, in their flash new house down the road. Ali and Lily especially liked it because they have TV :-)

Today Ali decided that she was missing school so much that she would put her uniform on and pretend she was there. Phil and I had to take turns being the teacher all day, giving her maths reading and writing assignments.

Eggheads

Last night while waiting for Dad to come home from work we got busy with some hard boiled eggs. The girls were so excited when we put them in the fridge with the other eggs to surprise Dad. This morning we ate the egg heads for breakfast with great gusto.

Lily was feeling a lot better so we packed her off to daycare, and Ali went to the beach with Mum. When we picked Lily up she had made a bit of wood with a bottle top and piece of seaweed nailed on. She was very proud of it and when I asked if we could take it home she said " Yes, it's fantastic isn't it!". Right now she is having a nap, no doubt there will be more artistic creations later this avo. Ali's friend Asher from next-door has come to play for the afternoon so it should be cruisy for me:-)