Spring holidays

What a busy fortnight!

We packed in a multitude of activities and I think Joe was glad to go back to school for a rest!
We visited the Antarctic Centre when it ran special days for Christchurch residents. The boys (including Matt) love the Hagglund ride and we saw the cute blue penguins of course. In addition Joe and Ben were fascinated by chainsawing artists creating ice sculptures. We were also able to explore 3 Antarctic heading aircraft, 2 US and One NZ Air Force - Kiwis DO fly!


We took a boat trip out to Quail Island and had a picnic on the beach there. A game of Frisbee and lots of climbing before the boat came to take us back. The harbour was like a millpond!

The children and I took a bus trip into town and visited the museum. We went into the Paua house which has been rebuilt inside the museum, but the highlight for the kids were the dinosaurs and the hands on children's area.
We went swimming on a couple of occasions and took Joe's friend Josh too. He also came with us to Orana Park - along with Ben's friends Josh (little) and Quin (and their Mums of course).What an exhausting day! I was tired - but the boys must have run about 3 times the distance!

We saw Hi-5 'Circus' at the Westpac Arena - 9 of us in total! The kids loved it! Unfortunately they had an interval - not the best idea in an arena full of small people! There was also lots of tacky marketing and we were lucky to escape with our purses intact!

Our other days were filled with a birthday party, catching up with the cousins, a barbecue at friends and outings to the beach. Luckily the weather was wonderful (apart from the afternoon of our Antarctic Centre trip when the howling southerlies were very appropriate).


Back now to the routine of school etc. Joe was excited about going back and has picked up with friends straight away. We have our first playdate with a school friend this week.
Ben is still emotional about going to preschool. He cries as we pull into the car park and has to be held by a carer as I wave goodbye. When I pick him up he is all smiles and takes me around to show me what he has done! He says he has had a lovely time!
He is chatting non-stop now although his pronunciation is not so clear. Joe was in hysterics this evening when he called the barbeque 'bird poo'! He is as active as his brother and they spend a lot of time leaping around. Ben loves his Jumping Bean classes and has now moved up into the 'runner beans'. The pictures show some of the things he was up to this morning,

Another first!

Last Wednesday Ben had his first session at preschool. He disappeared as soon as we arrived and got busy with the building bricks. He was happy to see Joe and I when we picked him up and said he had had fun. Friday went well too, so a really good start! He was thrilled about having his own bag and snack box and these have to be prised out of his hands!
Yesterday he was reluctant about being left and there were a few tears, but by all accounts he settled quickly and joined in well. Just hoping that it's a passing phase and that he will enjoy the whole thing.
I now have a whole 90 minutes (twice a week) without any boys. A luxurious time? in which, so far, I have managed to clean all the floors and go to the supermarket!
Joe's first couple of weeks at school have been good. He can never remember what he has done but according to his teacher he is performing well. No firm friends yet but that will come.

Joe's Party

Finally the much anticipated day arrived and we were relieved to have booked an indoor activity as it rained (all day). We lunched at Nana's and then took off to Clip n Climb at the Roxx!
A little training session and safety talk and they were away up those walls.

Ash and Indy were absolute naturals, reaching the top of lots of walls.

Joe had a fabulous time and was up and down like a yoyo (but lacked the courage to take the birthday boy 'leap of faith' at the end- (they had to stand on top of a tall pole and leap for a trapeze in the distance)).

Video below is of Joe - sorry about the neck twisting required................



Joe had 7 friends joining in the fun and they all had good goes - even the one who was scared of heights and the one who was trembling at the beginning. They all seemed to enjoy themselves and certainly worked those muscles hard.

Upstairs the cafe laid on tea for all the boys (and Indy) and then we did the cake thing - all done and dusted in 2 hours and no clearing up - now thats what I call a party!

Joe is 5 !

Joe turned 5 yesterday so things have been really hectic!
A very early start of course was followed by frantic present unwrapping and squeals of delight (also some very nice hugs!). The lucky lad got lots of lovely clothes sent from the UK - thanks to all. He also got a huge bean bag shaped as a rugby ball, Indiana Jones LEGO, knights and horses for his fort and some books.

Matt took the day off so that he could attend Joe's birthday celebrations at Kindy. At the end of the session the family are invited to join in. Joe had his birthday mat time where he was the centre of attention. He was able to choose the songs and sat on a throne wearing his birthday crown and even had a play-dough cake with real candles. The teacher went through his profile book and Joe talked about the things he had enjoyed, his friends and what he was looking forward to doing at school (learning to read and write and doing the Kapa Haka).
Presents were given to Kindy, his teachers and the children and then it was over! He has really enjoyed his time at Kindy, but is totally ready to start school!
Annie took some photos so I will add them to this post when I get them.

Nana came home for lunch and Joe was thrilled with the skateboard he received. Just a few minutes practise and he is zooming down the drive an jumping on and off - obviously a natural!
Matt took him to the cinema after lunch. They saw Clone Wars and Joe loved it. Then we went out into the city for our tea. He had a great day!


Today was his first day at school and he seemed pretty excited as we left. I managed to get a couple of photos of him tearing around the garden in his uniform. Ben wanted to pose too!

We dropped Ben off at Nana's so that Joe could have all the attention and when we got back in the car Joe said "Mummy, I'm really not quite sure about all this" - (like he had any choice). Anyway he was reassured and settled down with the other children readily.
At pick up time he came running out grinning and announced that he had had a 'fun day'. He headed off to the playground for 10 minutes and told us about the rough and tumble he had played with the other boys!
He is the Olympic reporter for tomorrow so we have had to prepare some information about a sport and a competitor. He chose Tom Ashley who won a gold for NZ in the wind surfing.
He is looking forward to going to see Ash and Indy for tea tomorrow after school. He wants to show them his uniform (and get his present of course).
We are now counting the number of sleeps until his birthday party on Sunday. More news after that!

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.