Monday, 30 August 2010

Happy 7th Birthday Joe!

He really is growing up fast!  Literally sprouting and growing out of clothes at a rate of knots (well usually wearing them out).  We've been counting down the days and nights for some time now so the excitement was palpable!
The actual birthday was a Friday so we all had to get up early for present opening before school.  He took in some cakes for break time and had a great day as the centre of attention.  We were even blessed????? with the class rabbit to entertain for the weekend.  This is a soft toy that comes home with each child.  They then have to write and put pictures in it's diary and present an oral report too.  Hope this explains the rabbit in some of these pictures!
On Saturday the family came over for lunch so Joe added even further to his pile of presents.  He had enough Lego to build our new house, a scooter and a Top Trumps special edition Star Wars game.  
Sunday was the big day and luckily the forecast was for fine weather.  A relief because his last 2 birthdays here have been wet.  We had taken the risk of booking an outdoor activity and were hoping we could confine the boys to the garden when we got back!!!!

7 boys loaded into our truck and we headed out to 'Tanks for Everything'.  As the pictures show we all had a great time!
Primed and ready for action

Attention!

Just call me Commander Joe

Happy in his job

Heavy!

Glorious mud

Beautiful day

Opening a can of worms?

Just before the off

I'm a big boy - really!

That rabbit!

Concentrating...

No windows & no eyes !
 When we got home, the boys ate chicken nuggets and chips.  Then we had a massive water bomb fight. The boys absolutely loved it and made the most of the barricades we had camo painted and erected in the garden.  After the water fight the plastic guns came out and they ran around like mad things.


sound effects needed

Water bomb fight - kids LOVED it!

Put out that fire!
Last - was the tank cake with its flaming gun!  What a great party!!!!!!!

Monday, 23 August 2010

Magic Carpet ride / Help me! Help Me!

Unfortunately didn't catch the moment when Joe fell off the magic carpet and ended up upside down in a bank of snow, with skis in the air waggling!  No funniest videos payout for us!

Ski Joe Ski!

What a natural!

Friday, 20 August 2010

Ski Wednesday

Joe & Annissa

A couple of weeks ago Joe and Ben had a day off school/kindy so I could take them up to Porter's ski field for our first ever ski lesson!  Louise had chivvied a group of us to have a go so we went up en masse - 5 adults and 6 children.  Unfortunately Matt had to work as he has recently changed jobs within the council.
We were promptly booked into our lessons and kitted out with the gear.  The children had a group lesson, while Carole and I had a lesson together.  Just walking up the track to the nursery slope was pretty tiring and we weren't all that confident.  However, the instructor was pretty patient and we soon were 'zooming ????' down the slope and using the magic carpet to get back up.  We even managed a bit of turning before the end of the lesson.  The boys took to it pretty quickly, as did Annissa and Josh too.  Joe was whizzing along and even stopping effectively.  Ben sits down when he feels he is going too fast - works a treat!
Looking the part
We had lunch after our lessons and the wind got up so it got really cold and the bacon almost refused to cook!  The children weren't up for a repeat ski so we tempted them back out of the cars with the sledges.  Once back at the slope the sun came out and their enthusiasm returned!  We got another couple of hours skiing in and the boys had a hoot!  Tracy took me up to the next slope and I spent a lot of time making snow angels and carving out tracks with my back!  Luckily there is no photographic evidence!
None of us can wait until we can have another go!  Saving those pennies!



Ben, Josh and Joe
Last Sunday we went back to the mountains but stuck to sledging - not a great deal of snow off the slopes so we built a snowman!


Blogger is now having a spazzy fit and I can't upload the other video of Joe, despite 4 attempts over 24 hours.  Will try again another day!




Monday, 2 August 2010

Painting the town BLACK!

Joe and Jordan painting it black
Our 'nearly 7 year old' Rugby Fiend was excited today as the All Blacks rolled into town in the run up to Saturday's Bledisloe Cup game.  I took Joe and his friend Jordan (and Nana) to the roadshow to meet the players.

Kicking with Malili Muliaina

WOW!  The boys got to try on Dan Carter's boots, kicked balls with Malili Muliaina, tackled with Richie McCaw and raced with Ma'a Nonu.  The whole squad were present and the boys saw them all!
Just like Dan

Sprinting with Ma'a Nonu
Impressing Captain Richie with their tackling skills
They collected a wad of autographs and had their photos taken next to the stars!


Joe & Malili

Mutual admiration?  Joe (no. 1 fan) & Richie McCaw

Joe, Ma'a and Jordan
Jimmy Cowan, Joe, Keven Mealamu, Jordan, Tom Donnelly, The Bledisloe cup & The Tri Nations trophy.
Liam Messam?  Correct me if I'm wrong!  & Joe


Richard Kahui
I think it is safe to say that they had a great time!


Now we are really looking forward to Saturday's big game - we have tickets!!!!!!