Arrest Shock!

Photographed as it occurred -
3 boys arrested at New Brighton Fire Service anniversary parade.
After setting off the police car sirens and stealing a policeman's hat!


And just for those that like that sort of thing.....

Halloween

Bizarre! Halloween festivities in the sunshine and 'trick or treaters' in the light! (they were all really polite too!).
Ben spent the 2 days in the run up to Halloween dressed in a frog hat - lots of laughs from passers by. It was apt on the morning of the 31st because we had a 'green day' at playgroup.

The early evening was taken up by the twilight fair at Joe's school and then home for our first daylight Halloween!
Next stop - a late night Guy Fawkes ! A light show at the pier in New Brighton, followed by fireworks, which we plan on watching from our local beach.

Dolphins

Wow- we headed to Akaroa on Labour Day. Blazing hot and beautiful calm waters and got our best views of Hector's Dolphins yet!. (the world's smallest and rarest oceanic dolphin) It was just gorgeous!!!!! Both boys had a fab time running around the boat and were excited by the wildlife spotting. Just a few pics follow XXXXXXXX

Boing and the boy is....... still here

Kindy pictures

Many thanks to Malc and Annie who sent us the pictures of Joe's Kindy 'graduation'. In all the excitement I didn't use my own camera!

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.