Ali in her new frock

Ali is posing in her new frock - thanks Aunty Sarah!

Today we plan to have a picnic by the river.

Here are the girls up the mountain in front of a waterfall yesterday. We spent a delightful hour exploring the little stream below, it was surrounded by mountain buttercups and fascinating wee alpine plants.  

Sunrise

One week ago we went outside to see this wonderful sunrise.Sorry we didn't send any videos we couldn't find out how.

Ops Noel's Bithday

Happy Bithday Opa Noel

it was lovely to celebrate your 80th with our family on Sunday😃

School holidays continue......

and the school holidays roll on!  The girls have been to visit both sets of NZ grandparents in the last fortnight, and we have enjoyed assorted trips to the pools, beach, movies and malls!  Their friends have been here for various days to play as well.  The weather continues to smile on us, it has been a truly wonderful summer so far.

Dress ups

                                                                                                                  

First day at High School

how exciting,  first day at high school!

mmmmmmm watermelon

lovely hot day today, perfect for watermelon

more camping

Lily found a weta and posed for photos on our walk

A big long walk across the bridge to get an ice-cream!

The great big flying fox across the valley was loads of fun

The beach was lovely, nice clear water and just the right size waves for Mum to have her first go on  a boogy board.  Squee!

There were some bitey crabs though!

Now we are home and catching up with the laundry as we unpack all our sandy salty gear and do battle with the giant weeds that are swallowing the gardens and engulfing the house!

Lazy home day

Ali's friend Ruby came to play today

The cat slept through everything

Tea party

Quiet day at home today so the girls made a lovely tea party

Home again

We all survived our adventures at the caves and now we are home safe.  The kids spent a lot of time at the waterhole swinging off the giant rope swing into the deep pool below.  Mum and Dad spent more time underground exploring the cave systems. 

Now there is a giant pile of muddy gear and washing to do before our next triip

Just woke up in the morning amd enjoying lying in the tent

Ali abseiling - she is controlling her own descent

Going camping

Lily is all ready to go camping (Ali is still asleep) 

Camping at the caves

We have finally arrived at the caves.   The girls enjoyed a trip to the waterhole for rope swings and swimming.  Mum practised abseiling in preparation for caving tomorrow and lily did her first ever abseil down a fifteen metre cliff.   She was very brave!😅

After a feast of lamb on the spitt we toasted marshmallows on the campfire. Everyone is all tucked up cosy in bed now.