Wenderholm

Opa Noel's Birthday was last weekend so we caught up for a family picnic at Wenderholm. Aunty Jane brought sons Jordy and Lachlan along for a beautiful day at the beach. The kids enjoyed climbing the big pohutukawa tree next to our picnic spot. Ali has blue lips in this picture because she and Jordy had just been boogie boarding in the waves for ages before this shot was taken.
Opa Noel said he didn't want to have a birthday because he's not going to get any older from now on, so we made him a special T-shirt that he can wear all year round.


After everyone else left we stayed on since it was such a lovely day and we weren't worried about getting stuck in the new motorway tunnel traffic jam. We had a wander around the park, Ali and Lily hunted little crabs as girls do, and then we all had a swim before it was time to go..

The pomegaranate is a strange animal

We have been flat out amusing the children with plenty of visits to the beach and to hang out with their friends since the summer holidays are nearly finished.

Ali and Lily had never seen a pomegranate before, so we got one when we spotted it at the local supermarket last Saturday. I don't think it was quite ripe yet when we cut it open to see what was inside. Ali pronounced that the pomegranate is a strange animal, and Lily said it was yummy, but as you can see they didn't eat much of it.



This is Ali and Asher from next-door with Lily inside the playhouse. Ali has tennis balls stuffed down the top of her dress, when I asked about her boobies she told me they weren't boobies, they were babies :-) The girls have been spending lots of time in the playhouse playing mummies, schools, horsies and puppies.

Renee's photos

These are the ones that Aunty Renee took over New Years

It's been a hard days night

Oh dear, with all the "I need a glass of water" and "I need to go toilet" until 9 o'clock each night the kids aren't getting enough sleep. So now we just take them for a drive in the country every day.

9th Jan

How much fun can you have with a couple of duty free bags on a trampoline on a windy day?

Hamilton Gardens

Here in the entrance to the Maori food garden

And a giant pumpkin

7th Jan 09

In the morning the girls found a huhu beetle (deceased) and then a second one that was alive. While we sorted out brekkie and packed up the tent they amused themselves making homes for the beetles.


We stopped off at Hamilton gardens on the way home where we had a lovely wander through the fantasy gardens and took pictures of Ali's favourite fountain.

Okoroire

Ali, Lily, Rilee and Ari
Setting up the shot
Rilee is fascinated by Gabriel (held by Nicky)
Ali and Ari play petanque
Kent and Rilee go for a walk

Family get together at Okoroire

Lily, Ali, Ari and Rilee give Opa John a big wave at Tirau
Lily, Ari and Ali played in the dappled shade of these huge trees all afternoon

Rilee and Lily share a quiet moment.

New Years

Uncle Chris and Aunty Renee came to stay for a couple of days with our newest cousin, Gabriel. He's such a lovely contented baby that we asked if we could swap for one of our kids.

New House for Opa John (doer upper)