Kindy has 2 guinea pigs, Honey and Spice, and we looked after them for a weekend. Both kids adored them - they were regularly fed (overfed is probably more accurate!), watered, cuddled and read to.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Kindy
Jack has started at the local kindy and loves it. Lucy and I stayed for one session and Lucy's favourite part of the day was morning tea...
Kindy has 2 guinea pigs, Honey and Spice, and we looked after them for a weekend. Both kids adored them - they were regularly fed (overfed is probably more accurate!), watered, cuddled and read to.
Kindy has 2 guinea pigs, Honey and Spice, and we looked after them for a weekend. Both kids adored them - they were regularly fed (overfed is probably more accurate!), watered, cuddled and read to.
Kane dinners
Jack and Lucy loved Kidzone - the kids tv channel - especially Kane the presenter. Kane often makes snacks and we have started making "Kane dinners"...
1 - 16 July - homeward bound
We had a couple of weeks in Taupo and while we were there, Ryan and Jemma came down to visit. We had lots of fun riding on the Lion Express...
and playing in the snow...
Blizzard was a speed machine...
Thanks for visiting!
Jack started practising his alphabet - we think pretty good for a second attempt!
Then we headed north to Hamilton and stayed with Connie and Graham...
and played with Nicholas. You have a great home Nicholas and we're looking forward to playing with you lots now that you are home!
We finally arrived home back home on 16 July. What a great adventure it was. Jack says he loves being home as much as he loved living in D but Lucy says she loves home better "because it has more books"!
and playing in the snow...
Blizzard was a speed machine...
Thanks for visiting!
Jack started practising his alphabet - we think pretty good for a second attempt!
Then we headed north to Hamilton and stayed with Connie and Graham...
and played with Nicholas. You have a great home Nicholas and we're looking forward to playing with you lots now that you are home!
We finally arrived home back home on 16 July. What a great adventure it was. Jack says he loves being home as much as he loved living in D but Lucy says she loves home better "because it has more books"!
Sunday, July 04, 2010
22 - 30 June
We had a pretty speedy trip from Hanmer to Picton. We stopped in Kaikoura for some fun on the beach and to see some gorgeous seal pups frollicking in a waterfall.
We spent the night at a great wee seaside spot at Paparoa Point which we shared with a colony sealions.
We have visited so many libraries on this holiday but this one is our favourite...
Mirror Mirror on the wall...
Then we headed up to Picton and boarded our ferry – see how nicely “B” (yes that is the boats name – our kids have fabulous imaginations!) fits on top.
The ferry was great as it had a big playground area and Jack and Lucy spent a couple of hours climbing up and sliding down.
We then spent a long weekend in Wellington with Steve and Roshanna (thanks again guys) where, apart from a visit to Te Papa, we just chilled out.
Then we had another pretty speedy trip up to Ohakune via Palmerston North to visit the museum and Ashhurst to pick up a sled! We had a fun few hours at the sledding slope at Turoa and then the next day a couple of more hours doing the same at Whakapapa. Jack loved the sledding (and hiking back up the slope has kickstarted Mike’s get fit programme!). Lucy had a few turns on the sled but was happy to make snowmen, snow castles and, of course, eat the snow.
Four months after leaving on this fabulous adventure, we have arrived back in Taupo. We’re enjoying having space to do nothing in and a full kitchen to cook in – pity there is no cook though...
We spent the night at a great wee seaside spot at Paparoa Point which we shared with a colony sealions.
We have visited so many libraries on this holiday but this one is our favourite...
Mirror Mirror on the wall...
Then we headed up to Picton and boarded our ferry – see how nicely “B” (yes that is the boats name – our kids have fabulous imaginations!) fits on top.
The ferry was great as it had a big playground area and Jack and Lucy spent a couple of hours climbing up and sliding down.
We then spent a long weekend in Wellington with Steve and Roshanna (thanks again guys) where, apart from a visit to Te Papa, we just chilled out.
Then we had another pretty speedy trip up to Ohakune via Palmerston North to visit the museum and Ashhurst to pick up a sled! We had a fun few hours at the sledding slope at Turoa and then the next day a couple of more hours doing the same at Whakapapa. Jack loved the sledding (and hiking back up the slope has kickstarted Mike’s get fit programme!). Lucy had a few turns on the sled but was happy to make snowmen, snow castles and, of course, eat the snow.
Four months after leaving on this fabulous adventure, we have arrived back in Taupo. We’re enjoying having space to do nothing in and a full kitchen to cook in – pity there is no cook though...
Thursday, July 01, 2010
10-21 June
After a night in Fairlie where the highlights were the chooks and geese (and the lowlight was our coldest morning temperature of -6 º); a night in Geraldine where the highlights were Tui the dog…
…and the local playground; a couple of nights in Ashburton where the highlights were the swimming pool, the library and the hairy coos; and a beautiful sunny day in Akaroa where the highlight was the playground, we finally arrived in Christchurch. The first afternoon was spent at the International Antarctic Centre. In the “cold” room we donned jackets and foot covers and braved temps of -16º. The blue penguins were very cute…especially those in their little blue booties (worn to prevent sore feet for those penguins not keen on swimming) but the kids preferred the informative pretend penguins with interactive flaps and buttons. But the big hit of the day was a ride in the Hagglund – an amphibious as-used-in-Antarctica all terrain vehicle.
Next we headed to our Christchurch base – Michelle and Gerard’s driveway! We had a great week with the Grant family, including trips to Wildlife Park, Science Alive, and walks around the Botanical Gardens and Sumner. But best of all was simply hanging out. Lucy loved playing with Bella, having baths with Bella and sleeping in Bella’s bed with seal – even duckling was relegated to the pillow! Jack loved playing with Connor and Lachlan and introducing them to the world of trains (sorry boys!!). And I loved playing with little Fraser. Oh and course Mike and I both enjoyed your company, Michelle and Gerard! The adult conversation and “heated discussions” in the evenings were much better with 4 rather than 2! Thanks so much for having us all and know we now how easy it is to invade your family we’ll hopefully do it more often!!
From Christchurch we drove to Waipara and Jack, Lucy and I enjoyed a steam train ride through Weka Pass to Waikari, while Mike took the road option. It was a gorgeous day and we rode most of the way in the open carriage, particularly entertaining as the railway was alongside the road for most of the trip and the kids loved seeing “D” and Mike driving alongside the train.
"Now if this was my railway, I'd..."
Watching the men work the turntable
From Waikari we headed to Hanmer Springs where we spent most of the day bathing in the therapeutic thermal waters – most relaxing after such a stressful few months!!
…and the local playground; a couple of nights in Ashburton where the highlights were the swimming pool, the library and the hairy coos; and a beautiful sunny day in Akaroa where the highlight was the playground, we finally arrived in Christchurch. The first afternoon was spent at the International Antarctic Centre. In the “cold” room we donned jackets and foot covers and braved temps of -16º. The blue penguins were very cute…especially those in their little blue booties (worn to prevent sore feet for those penguins not keen on swimming) but the kids preferred the informative pretend penguins with interactive flaps and buttons. But the big hit of the day was a ride in the Hagglund – an amphibious as-used-in-Antarctica all terrain vehicle.
Next we headed to our Christchurch base – Michelle and Gerard’s driveway! We had a great week with the Grant family, including trips to Wildlife Park, Science Alive, and walks around the Botanical Gardens and Sumner. But best of all was simply hanging out. Lucy loved playing with Bella, having baths with Bella and sleeping in Bella’s bed with seal – even duckling was relegated to the pillow! Jack loved playing with Connor and Lachlan and introducing them to the world of trains (sorry boys!!). And I loved playing with little Fraser. Oh and course Mike and I both enjoyed your company, Michelle and Gerard! The adult conversation and “heated discussions” in the evenings were much better with 4 rather than 2! Thanks so much for having us all and know we now how easy it is to invade your family we’ll hopefully do it more often!!
From Christchurch we drove to Waipara and Jack, Lucy and I enjoyed a steam train ride through Weka Pass to Waikari, while Mike took the road option. It was a gorgeous day and we rode most of the way in the open carriage, particularly entertaining as the railway was alongside the road for most of the trip and the kids loved seeing “D” and Mike driving alongside the train.
"Now if this was my railway, I'd..."
Watching the men work the turntable
From Waikari we headed to Hanmer Springs where we spent most of the day bathing in the therapeutic thermal waters – most relaxing after such a stressful few months!!
