Anzac day gave us an extra long weekend so we did a little bit more exploring after all the chores were done! With Nana, we took the ferry from Lyttleton over to Diamond Harbour. Once there we climbed the hill up to the Godley Hotel and had some light refreshments (jug of beer for 2!!!!) and a hot chocolate for Sarah. Joe and Ben made friends and played in the hotel garden climbing over logs and making dens. Ben managed the walk both up and down the hill by himself - little Mister Independent!
On Sunday we took a drive out to Mount Hutt and climbed up towards the ski fields. We couldn't get all the way as the gate was closed but got up to 1740metres (according to the altimeter in the truck). Needless to say it was quite chilly and blowing pretty hard. There was still some snow lying in patches from last weeks fall, so we managed to get in a snowball fight. Both boys are crack shots! After a short walk and a windswept picnic the weather started to obscure the view and we beat a retreat onto the plains. We stopped at Rakaia Gorge and decided to treat ourselves to a jet boat trip! It was pretty amazing - the sun came out so we could take in the beautiful scenery and the ride was thrilling. Joe yelled with excitement and Ben smiled for the whole trip, his hair blown back off his face for the first time ever! Our guide spun the boat round 360 degrees and we got a little wet. Joe couldn't wipe the grin off his face for hours! After the trip we spent an hour or so by the river skimming stones and the boys tried to alter the course of the river with as many stones as they could splosh.
April has seen some serious spending. We have now fully paid for the house and are finally mortgage free!!!!!!!!. The mortgage company in the UK has finally sorted out its mistakes and the new owners of Wood House have the deeds at last! We parted company with Big ED as we couldn't get 3 people on the back seats! A very tight squeeze and a third car seat was just impossible! Therefore he has been replaced by 2 (new to us) cars - a 10 year old Toyota Landcruiser (12000Km !!) and a 10 year old (56000km) Toyota Granvia aka 'the bus' in a fetching shade of 'lavender'? Seats 8! - so plenty of room for all our visitors!!! The boys (all of them) are excited about the new motors and can't wait to put them to the test. I'm sure it wont be long before 'the bus' is full of hoards of noisy boys! and Matt is looking forward to off-roading in the truck. No names for this beast yet - suggestions welcome!
They've spent more time on the driveway than first anticipated as Joe has become a keen cyclist with his 'new wheels' after outgrowing the starter bike. He has taken a few dives but clambers back on and has another go. Ben loves riding on the back of Sarah's bike, although he is starting to rock from side to side and thinks it is very funny! (Sarah doesn't). We have cycled home from kindy on a couple of occasions - a good lengthy trip for Joe. Luckily there are wide pavements on most of our routes which allows for the odd wobble. Ben likes to wave at passers by and is especially animated by dogs, shouting excitedly at them as loudly as he can, then waving bye bye as we pass.
We are still able to get to the beach a couple of times a week. The lovely weather is holding and the high summer winds have dropped making it pretty nice. We are planning a weekend away soon so I'm sure it will change by then! Sarah's birthday was lovely with a lunch in town, watching some street performers and then a walk through the botanic gardens to the childrens play area.
Joe has succumbed to the Chicken Pox this week, after avoiding it all term. His best friend had been off kindy for 2 weeks and the day he returned Joe developed the spots. Luckily it is now school holidays so he isn't missing much. We are on day 6 now and he seems to be recovering quickly so we are hoping to be out and about soon. Ben had the vaccination a month ago, but we thought Joe had already had CP in the UK! oooops! More soon!
Mummy is writing this but I am telling her what to write.
We did lots of things at Easter so I will tell you. We went to Hanmer Springs with Nana for the day. It was colder than at Christmas so the hot pools were the nicest. Afterwards I persuaded Mummy and Daddy and Nana to hire a big bicycle. Ben and I had a special seat on the front where we could wave to everyone as we pedalled past. It was good fun and hard work (for the grown-ups) up the hills! I chose the blue bike.
We went for dinner at Robbie's and Ben fell asleep
in the high chair!
On Easter Sunday we went to Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch. They had a special day with all the trams and steam trains running. Ben kept shouting woo woo! and we all jumped when the whistles blew. We also saw a magician, clowns and a 'lollie cannon' that blasted sweets into the air. All the children had to search for them. I found 2 but I gave one to Ben (without being asked!!!!).
We have been to the beach and done some boogie boarding. I am getting better at swimming and we go every week to the QEII pool. I had my face painted at the mall. Ben and I chose to be tigers and I frightened Uncle Malc.
Today I went to a farm with kindy. We saw cows being milked and a museum too. Afterwards my friend Alex came to play. We jumped on the trampoline and rode scooters. Tomorrow I am going to play at Josh's house after kindy.
Hope you have good fun. Love from Joe XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Joe took part in a wheelathon to raise funds for kindy, he has obvious Tour de France potential and I'm sure it won't be long before he is waiting for Daddy on bike rides. Obviously Ben had to join in too and they raised a few dollars!
The Easter Bunny made a pre-Easter appearance to Ben and Joe who received some Bubble guns. Clean, soapy fun was the order of the day - I'm sure the Easter Bunny would approve.
Also, one last piece of news, we finally completed the sale of Wood House. After nearly a year and 2 buyers messing us around, it was all done and dusted on Thursday 20th March. Hooo-bloody-ray is all I can say (that's not libelous).
I don't think this really counts, but annoying none the less. We purchased a hard drive whatsit for the TV a few months before the big move as our old DVD player died. Matt checked this would be OK for NZ region and was assured it was suitable. Would you believe that the darned thing won't play NZ DVDs!!? A stern letter to SONY will be required. Meanwhile: - We have had the boxes collected from the garage - hooray! room for our stuff now. - NZ Van lines have located our missing box - located down south at another delivery address - should be with us soon! - We've exchanged contracts on Wood House and should complete on 20 March! Still outstanding issues with the damage to the shipment, with lots of photos and descriptions sent - what did they do before email? We are looking forward to a couple of days off over Easter. Matt gets the stat 2 days and Joe has 3. End of term is some time in April. We are not sure what we are going to be doing, but it is sure to involve the assembly of the boy's trampoline which was delivered today!
As predicted another electrical whatsit gives up the ghost. This time the fridge (so carefully transported across the Pacific) - the door has fallen off. Luckily today is Friday so we may be able to go in search of a replacement tomorrow! What's next??????
We HAVE unpacked all the boxes, but many things still need to be found a home. This last weekend was a bit of a chance to do some sorting and the weather helped us along by being pretty awful! Autumn has arrived and accordingly the temperature has dropped and the rain has begun. We are hoping that the shipping company will come and collect all the empty boxes as they are filling the garage, taking up room that should rightly be filled with our junk. We also have had to put in a complaint about the packing as so many bits were broken/damaged. An insurance claim will hopefully cover the bigger items. Enough! and on to brighter things. We spent a weekend visiting Lake Tekapo (SW of Chch) and it was as stunningly beautiful as the guide books describe. A fantastic turquoise, that the photo really doesn't do justice.The brave and foolhardy braved the cold, snow fed water. Thankfully we all warmed up in the hot springs that overlook the lake that afternoon. We also went up Mount John to the observatory, making do with a spectacular daytime view of the Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook. The boys paddled at Lake Alexandrina and thoroughly enjoyed being outside all weekend. Luckily the sun shone so we saw it at its best. Joe can't wait to revisit the area in winter, he is excited about being able to sledge and learn to ski! We've (hopefully only temporarily) lost recent photos including Tekapo as our PC has decided to give up the ghost and take all our files with it. Hopefully we can recover some and they'll be included in the next viewable album. We did our first tentative off-roading in 'Ed - the beast' and of course the boys loved it. It handled the bumps beautifully and we didn't get wet crossing the river at Rakaia Gorge. - Just when it will get a proper wash now is anyones guess!
While Matt sorted the study, Mum and I took Joe and Ben into the city for the Chinese Lantern Festival. The bus was late so we were wet when we arrived and then it just got worse! We ate in the rain and watched the show in the rain - however it was fantastic. The lanterns were beautiful, the food delicious and the show was great! Joe watched a KungFu demonstration and came over to tell us that it was 'totally awesome!', how Kiwi is that? We all loved the 'mask changer' so I've included a clip. Not sure what is next on the agenda. We are busy with everyday life. Matt is busy at work. Joe attends Kindy everyday and is starting to have play dates with his friends. Ben is now a 'Jumping Bean' (kiddy gym class) and has developed an obsession with trampolines. He also goes to toddler group once a week and I've joined the committee. We also swim every week and are trying to get out on our bikes as much as possible (luckily it is very flat and the pavements are wide - although the gutters are huge as Joe will tell you after landing in them on a couple of occasions). Ben is increasing his vocabulary, albeit reluctantly. He is a stubborn little soul and refuses to perform for us, let alone the camera. Some secret recording may be necessary soon! Love to all, from all of us!
Needless to say it was quite chilly and blowing pretty hard. There was still some snow lying in patches from last weeks fall, so we managed to get in a snowball fight. Both boys are crack shots! After a short walk and a windswept picnic the weather started to obscure the view and we beat a retreat onto the plains.
and decided to treat ourselves to a jet boat trip! It was pretty amazing - the sun came out so we could take in the beautiful scenery and the ride was thrilling. Joe yelled with excitement and Ben smiled for the whole trip, his hair blown back off his face for the first time ever! Our guide spun the boat round 360 degrees and we got a little wet. Joe couldn't wipe the grin off his face for hours! 
After the trip we spent an hour or so by the river skimming stones and the boys tried to alter the course of the river with as many stones as they could splosh.
