Back to the grindstone

I've just spent the weekend at the Mangawhai Walking Weekend with friends for my birthday. Thankyou so much to all the people who sent cards, and birthday money. I'm planning to use it to indulge my mania for vintage kitchenalia and carltonware to add to the collection.

The girls had a great weekend with their Dad, going to the farmers market, visiting various playgrounds and spending lots of time at the beach. Ali got some new goggles to help her eyes while she learns to swim (Thanks Granddad). It seems that she really likes them!

Sunday arvo we all had haircuts so we're not so scruffy looking now.

Second day at school

Ali had as great time at school yesterday, and today she liked it even better because she got to join in the swimming lessons and catch the bus in the morning...
Lily however did not have such a great day, I think she was missing Ali a bit.

This is Ali and our neighbour Jack waiting for the bus.
Here comes the bus! you might need to click on the picture to blow it up so you can spot the bus.

First Day at School

Ali was excited to see her friend Asher when I dropped her off to Mrs McKay's class this morning. Unfortunately someone had been playing with the settings on the camera so we didn't get a great first day at school picture but I've fixed it now (I think!) so we'll get some good second day at school piccys tomorrow.


It must have been a big morning for Lily as well, she made herself a nest on the floor after lunch and dropped off to sleep.

Ali's Birthday

Ali had a lovely day today, she started by watching Andre Rieu in Wonderland while Mum and Dad got things ready for her party.

When her friends arrived we played musical statues, balloon stomp and other games. There was hotdogs, cupcakes, too many sweets, fruit kebabs and of course birthday cake.

For the aunts and unkys, monkeys and dunkeys...

The countdown to school is getting hectic, and Ali is very excited to be joining her best friend, Asher, at school every day. Today was supposed to be a full day school visit for Ali with her catching the bus home in the afternoon, but she woke up this morning with a cough halfway between a dog barking and a donkey braying so I kept her home. Her lip has healed up nicely after she came off her bike last Saturday, at the time we tried to explain that Angelina Jolie pays thousands of dollars to get fat lips, but it didn't stop Ali from bursting into tears every time she looked in the mirror.


Lily is her usual self, charming and then a complete tyrant by turns in the general manner of 2 year olds. She is turning into a real chatterbox, greeting everyone we meet in the street or supermarket who accidentally makes eye-contact with her!

Slackers

I guess it's time to get the camera out and get snapping after a noticeable gap in the Cottleston files.... so what have we been up to? we've been visiting Opa Noel in Auckland, and receiving a visit from Oma Ali and Opa John, birthday partying with our neighbours Samantha (Manpha) and Jessica.

And grieving with our friend Pauline who lost her husband, Scotty, last week in a hang-gliding accident.

It's so easy to take it for granted that all the people we love will be there tomorrow. Arohanui to all our friends and family.