Home from home & snow fun

Last weekend we headed off to Porters Pass to take advantage of the snow. We stopped off in Sheffield for a photo op -
Very different to Matt's place of birth! It's a bit of a one horse town, but does have spectacular views of the Southern Alps! It is nicely located between Oxford and Springfield so our geography is having to be re-learned.
Porters pass was really busy! With hoards of tobogganers at suitable stopping places on the road.
We spent a couple of hours joining in the fun. Joe hurtled down the slopes and even Ben had
half a dozen goes before getting fed up and cold (honestly he was laughing for most of the runs he completed - typically he wouldn't 'perform' for the camera). We picnicked in the car and then headed up to Porters ski field for some 'proper snow'. The ski field was also heaving as it was the first clear weekend since the ski season began. We were lucky to get the last parking space! Joe has never seen so much snow and threw himself in (literally). Ben was fascinated by the ski lift and got rather upset when told he couldn't ride on it. Matt and Joe spent an hour or so sledging and planting themselves up to their necks. Ben was far more interested in the Kea (alpine parrots) that were scouring the car parks and when he got too cold he was happy in front of the in-car DVD.
Both boys napped a little on the way home after a thoroughly exhausting day!

Matt has been up in Wellington for a few days this week, attending a course run by Oracle. He really enjoyed all the new restaurants they took him too. Next time I think I will try and go too!
We are now busy with final preparations for Joe's birthday, party and first day at school. I'm sure the next installment will be full of all the details!

All quiet........Except.......

Winter has reduced our outings so more going on at home. Matt has knuckled down to some decorating and we've re-organised a little. He is busy as ever at work, but enjoying it and isn't phased by the cycling at each end of the day. However today he went by car as we are suffering the tail end of tropical storms that have hit Auckland and the north island. It is blowing a hoolie! I took the boys to the library in New Brighton today. It is attached to the pier and the waves were crashing up to the dunes.

The boys are back into a routine of kindy and their various clubs. Joe has had 2 visit mornings at his school and will start there the day after he turns five! We went to buy his uniform this afternoon and Joe wore it for the rest of the day. Ben borrowed some too and kept shouting 'I go school with Joe!' he looked really sweet with the 'skivvy' (a polo necked top) down past his knees.
Joe is busy planning his birthday and issued invitations at kindy today - gender divisions becoming apparent now as there are no girls on the guest list!

Matt and I went to see Lenny Henry last week. We met friends in town and had a Teppan-Yaki meal before the show (a new but very impressive experience). Lenny Henry was very funny and we are looking forward to seeing Bill Bailey in September!

Next installment will probably be dominated by Joe's birthday, So I will leave the final word with Joe and Ben.........

School Hols

Three quarters of the way through and we have been seriously busy bees. Joe had daily swimming lessons during week 1 and has come on leaps and bounds. He can now swim several strokes AND BREATHE!!!!!. Without breathing he is up to about 10 metres and he is very proud of himself for graduating 3 classes in the space of 10 weeks. We then had another hour or so swimming in the leisure pool with Ben. He throws himself into the water and is now thrilled by the wave machine. They are a right pair of water babies!

We visited Orana Wildlife park with a bunch of Ben's friends. Below is Annissa and Josh with Ben and Joe. The children adored the animals, but the highlight for the small ones was definitely the safari train pulled by a big blue tractor!


We rode the tram in the city and took part in their treasure hunt accompanied by Joe's friend Josh. Tomorrow we meet up again at The Groynes (a local park/reserve) to try and wear them out on their bikes.

Today was a trip to Willowbank. The boys enjoyed hand feeding some Wallabies

and they laughed like mad as the Kea tried to land on their heads. the picture shows (little) Josh, Ben , Joe, Kelly and Quinn + hungry inquisitive Kea!

Matt took a couple of days off and knuckled down to some redecorating and moving of furniture. We may be selling up and moving to the country? Will keep you posted.

Matariki and Rugby Rivalry

Matariki - The Maori New Year marks the time when the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters reappears in the morning sky and the sign that the days are getting longer. Kindy was invited to join in the celebrations at the local Marae and the children sang a song for the elders. (Joe is centre of picture in the red cap)




It was a really interesting visit and The Marae is beautiful, full of intricate carvings and decorated brightly. The children enjoyed some lovely stories and a singing and dancing session.




Then!!!!! Yesterday was the big day for rivalry in the Simmerson house. England vs the All Blacks playing in Christchurch. Joe was even more excited than is usual because we were taking along his buddy Josh to see the game. The Ralphs came too and we had a block of seats together. Now follows some footage of Josh and Joe - maybe my questions need to be a bit more specific in future!



The boys screamed during the intros, thoroughly enjoyed the Hakka and fidgeted the whole way through 80 minutes of play. A resounding triumph for the All Blacks 44-12! Joe, Josh and I were really enjoying every try, but it was an altogether more painful experience for some. Chris and Matt were very brave from the first few minutes when they went behind, stoic at half time (20-0) and magnanimous (just) by the end.

Two tired boys went to sleep pretty easily but this morning was an excruciating 5.30 wake up! And there was no way they were going back to sleep!

Boys will be Superheroes

Spiderman and the Katipo Kid taking a well earned rest!

2 seasons in one day

Saturday morning found us on the beach in shirt sleeves enjoying the sunshine and balmy temperatures. We took part in an organised planting on the dunes and were treated to a sausage sizzle by the park rangers.
Lunchtime brought torrential downpours and falling temperatures.
By tea-time it was snowing heavily! Hooray!

Sunday was fun filled as we took off to the nearby foothills to partake in a little sledging with the Jacob family. We found a lovely spot called Glentui and crept up the access road feeling grateful for the 4WD (not as grateful as on the way down!). We must have got in a good three hours of sledging as well as a walk to the waterfall and squeezing in a picnic. The sun shone and the bell birds sang all day. The videos show Joe and I on the 'nursery' slope.
Joe was fine and got up laughing!!!!
Later on and farther up the hill we found the 'black-run'. Unfortunately the camera had run out of batteries by this time and the spares didn't work. Otherwise we may have caught some even more spectacular wipe outs!

Rugby Fanatic

Joe has gone completely rugby mad. He has been collecting cards from packs of chippies (crisps) for a couple of months and now has 30 out of the 50 available. Thanks to all those who have been supplying him! They represent the players in the NZ teams of the Super 14. Matt took him to a game at the AMI stadium to see the local Crusaders play the Higlanders (based in Dunedin). Unfortunately the Crusaders lost but Joe's enthusiasm did not fade. He was desperate to go again, but missed the semi-final match because we were at Brunner.

Luckily Matt got tickets for the final - Crusaders vs Waratahs (Sydney). Match day was red and black day here in Christchurch and kindy added to the hype by having a rugby themed day. The children played with a rugby ball for the whole session and they made flags etc.
Joe was beside himself all day and couldn't eat his tea as he was so concerned about being late for the game. They headed off with Joe wearing his colours in the form of a new Crusaders cap. Crusaders won 20-12 and the pair of them returned home exhausted. Joe had very little voice left after shouting himself hoarse.

The whole set-up is lovely and child friendly. They receive a pack with chippies, drink, vouchers and a cardboard helmet to assemble. There are fireworks, flame throwers when the Crusaders score and Knights in armour circle the pitch on horseback. Joe is completely addicted - he knows the names of players from all the teams and even some of the statistics. He can't wait for the All-Blacks vs England in a couple of weeks time. Divided loyalties will be tested as Joe is convinced he will play for the All-Blacks one day and is cheering for them, Matt says 40 years of hurt supporting England have ingrained a certain loyalty!