Beach Babe

Only 20 months old and he'll put up with this indignity! In fact he laid still for so long that we thought he would nod off!

Kindy, Kites and Buskers

Joe has now started at a local Kindergarten. Almost as highly anticipated as Christmas! He is thrilled to be making friends and has a chance to play with loads of new toys. He is particularly impressed with the "real saws, real wood, real hammers and real nails!!". No problems in the morning, Ben and I are usually dismissed with a "you can go now". He was a little upset first day when he described how some of the boys had told him that he had a 'silly voice', but I'm sure he'll be talking Kiwi before we know it.
The World Buskers Festival has just finished and we took in as many shows as we could. Joe and Ben loved the 'Amazing Drumming Monkeys' and we are now subjected to the soundtrack every time we get in the car. Ben and I were targeted by the 'Blackstreet Boyz' at one show when Ben decided to shout and blow raspberries! - very embarrassing - especially when he was lunging toward them and they said 'look she can't wait to get away'. Must be time for that first haircut!
Last weekend was the Tip Top Kite Festival taking place on the beach at the end of our road. A really impressive turnout of all sorts of kites, big and small. Ben and Joe took turns flying their kite and we were amazed to still have it by the end of the afternoon!
We are now into our last few days in the retro house. Everyone is looking forward to our furniture etc arriving on the 11th. Keys are handed over on the 8th so we have a couple of days to get organised and transfer our ever growing pile of stuff. There is no way its going to fit into the suitcases we arrived with!

Summer Fun

January has been busy and a real novelty too. Matt celebrated his birthday with a scorching hot day, boogie boarding, sandcastle building and barbeque! We attended the local 'beach blast' and Joe and Matt got some serious boarding done. Then came the sandcastle competition with a Wincott inspired F1 racing car - we came second !!!! (out of 28) ably assisted by Nana, Kate, Ash and Indy. We won a frisbee and a voucher for the flumes at the local pool. The nor-wester brought with it a really hot afternoon and we all retreated into the shade for a barbeque at Annie's.
Everyone back at work so the weekends have become busier. We went to a second beach blast and this time blew away the competition in the sandcastle stakes. This time we beat 41 other entries with 'The Black Pearl'. The kids dressed up as pirates and collected a prize from 'Alvin and The Chipmunks'! - this time a frisbee, 2 cinema passes and an electronic mat keyboard (to be kept at Nana's so they can share????).
The World Buskers Festival is in full swing and we have enjoyed some great entertainment. Joe joined in enthusistically with the drumming monkeys and can't wait to see them (and others) again when they come to Brighton next weekend.
We have visited the Antarctic Centre and experienced icy blasts at -18 deg C in their storm room. Ben was not keen and hunkered down inside his coat and in my arms until it was all over. Joe, Ash and Indy loved it and enjoyed sliding down a real ice slide! I liked the penguins!
More soon - and a pic of the Wincott racing car once I'm sorted, meanwhile frequency advertising have some on their website (pics 101-105)- Indy was even pictured in it in the local paper!
We've also visited a local wildlife centre and seen some real live kiwis! - of the feathered variety! It was really dark and the kids had to be quiet - bribed with chocolate. Also saw Tuatara and other native wildlife.