gingerbread

we can't wait to eat it! hands off santa....

christmas is coming....

We had our annual trip into Wellington to have lunch with Nanna Fran today. We did the usual, visit the christmas shop and got some new decorations (red birds this year, they look great on the REAL christmas tree) and then it was a quick visit to santa. Dylan and I had a good chat with santa :)
Then it was off for lunch, whew and that is just the first day of the holidays.

Love J and DJ

off tramping

On the weekend we went camping, but this time we had to carry everything. It took 2 hours to get to the campsite - a long way for little boys for even they had 6kg each in their backpacks. We got the tents set up beside the river and then it was off exploring. J came back to excitedly tell us he had found a fossil, well close, the boys had found a boars head (skull only) and were very proudly displaying the v large teeth. The river proved popular with the boys clambering to get the best position, luckily only feet got wet. DJ created his own little hut in the bush. And after all that excercise they were glad to tuck into dinner, Nate's dinner proved especially popular with DJ and Sefton! We finished the night with marshmellows cooked on the fire (yes we had a proper campfire, nice and warm it kept us too) and even had a birthday cake with candles to celebrate Sefton's birthday (the reason for the camp trip). And everyone slept soundly that night......

ab s parade

despite the pouring rain and crowds (100K people in wellington today)we watched the victorious Ab's show off the cup. J got to see his fav AB Richie McCaw. The boys held on in the wind and rain, standing precarioulsy on the ledges (don't worry it was only a metre off the ground) they managed to glimpse the cup.....if you look carefully you can just see the glitter of the cup.

the dowse

Not only DJ enjoys the Dowse (Lower Hutt Art museum). Regan and I had fun during the holidays making shrinky dinks (badges on plastic that you decorate then shrink in an oven) and then we explored the 100 bike exhibition. 100 renovated (ie saved from the tip) bikes, trikes and scooters) for us to ride around on, inside in the art display areas. And we got to have fluffies at the cafe :)

swimmer boy

mum fluked this photo of me diving into the pool, what a great shot!

school holidays

During the holidays we had fun visiting friends and local attractions. We also got the chance to participate in a bike day at Avalon park with the police helping us to learn to ride safely.
Later that weekend Dj and I had a band with Aisling on the front lawn!

rugby boys

The boys stayed up to watch the AB's play the french.....but after the excitement of the Haka they only lasted til half way through the first half :)

crocodiles beware

Thanks Grandma and Grandad for the new shirts. We love them and have already worn them to school!

Love J and DJ

and the snow came down

We got to come early from school on monday due to the cold front arriving. It was getting darker and colder and then the snow came......and kept coming! It filled up our street. We had snowball fights and made snowmen. Lucky our car was inside the garage as the others in the street were coated. Much more and we were going to have to ski to school.

Love J and DJ

snow...in maungaraki?

Here are some more photos from last night at the rugby with dad. I got my face painted and I was a really cool wellington lion....raaahhhh. Unfortunately it wasn't enough for our team to win :( maybe next time.
Today it was snowing right outside our place! Lots and lots of it, floating down from the sky and coating the cars, houses and roads. The cold snap has hit.

Love J and DJ

rugby boy

The world cup is coming and I have been getting v. excited.
Dad took me to the stadium for my first ever Wellington Lions game tonight. (J decided he would rather wait for the Phoenix to play and go with Dad)

So here I am in the stadium, already to start.....I made a sign so watch out for me on the tv.

Love DJ

coromandel extra pics

Extra pics, of Sawmill Bay...gorgeous and this is the middle of winter in NZ! It even had a rope swing in a Puhutakawa tree out over the bay.
The train was great fun for the boys. They got to sit right at the front and loved yelling in the tunnels and looking down the valley on the gully crossings.

Coromandel part 2

Whilst in Whitianga we got to go on the Driving Creek Railway which went all the way up in the hills and had a view over the Hauraki Gulf. Then we got to have dinner with DJ's friend Toby - Toby moved up north last year. Then the next day we went to Hot water beach. DJ and I had to dig a hole in the sand and we found hot water! A winters day and we were in the water at the beach! Nice and warm too, Mum, Nicola, Dad and Leicester all soaked their feet in the water. Dj and I laid in it. Mum said the water was about 40oC not bad for an air temp around 15oC.

The on the way home we stopped in Rotorua. J and DJ were suffering from the weather cahnge so just Dad went out for a mountain bike ride this time. And he managed to get back in one piece....depsite trying out the rough grades and going for a 'ride' over his handle bars.
We relaxed in the hot pools morning, noon and night before our drive back to wellington. What a great trip.

winter holidays

We were off to Whitianga and sunshine....or so we hoped. After an early start on saturday we arrived in Waiouru to find ice on the ground, in fact I broke some. It looked just like pieces of glass. And there was heaps of snow on the mountains.
We stopped to have a look at the war museum. It was a great place to explore. We got to dress up and check out the big army tanks (just like the one I made at school).

Then it was onto Hamilton to stay the night with Ashlee and her little sisters Jesse and Stephanie. With 5 kids in the house it was a noisy night!

Then onto Whitianga the next day. Leicester and Nicola met us and stayed with us for a couple of nights. We caught the ferry across the harbour to Sawmill (?) Bay. The weather was lovely, for the middle of winter 16oC was great (and t shirt weather).

swim and survive

for the last week of lessons this term we had to swim in our clothes! it was a bit weird but we both survived, even swimming through the 'waves'.

visitors

Liecester and Nicola came down to visit us last weekend. We got to go out for lunch after soccer. It was chilly though....brrrr

jakob is 8

I am now 8!
To celebrate we went to Hangdog to do some climbing. Even dad and Grandad had a turn at scrambling up the walls! It was great fun and I hope we can go back again soon.
I decorated my own cake, it was rock climbing lego men....and my favourite lots of chocolate. Mmmmmm.

Love J

first day at school

It has finally arrived and this morning I was off to school. Jakob was keen to take me himself but my pleaded her case and wanted to go with me for the first day.
I am happy to start, I have already met heaps of new friends and I know J will look after me if I need help. Mum heard me say this morning "see you at school today Jakob".

Watch this space for more activities this week.....

Love J and DJ

School Holidays

The holidays are here again and in between the new bathroom going in we have managed to get out and about.
We have already been swimming with Jared and Liam (and then went to check out their new house). Then yesterday it was new shoe day....Mum says our feet never seem to stop growing! Dj got some bright orange soccer boots....we'll never loose him in the mud now!

And also included is an action shot from my soccer training. Lucky we can use indoors on the rainy days.

Love J and DJ