Jack's School Visit

Jack had a school visit today. The teacher asked the newbies to make someone out of playdough (she suggested a sister or mother etc) and then tell the others who it was. Jack "made" Nana and Grandad and told the others that Nana and Grandad have 3 goldfish in a pond called Blackie, Goldie-Blackie and Fatty-Fat-Fat! Later the teacher read them a story and then asked the children how the story could have ended differently. After some of the replies of "a dinosaur", "a volcano errupting" etc guess what Jack suggested...yep you guessed it, "a train".

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.

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"!

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...