Spa Day

We had a lovely afternoon relaxing in Grace's spa yesterday. She concocted some potions - a Berry Smoothie Face Cooler (this is on one of the coldest days of the year), some Pink Peppermint Foot Glow and cucumbers drenched in cranberry juice for our eyes. Then we lay back with some soothing music and relaxed.

Torin comes to stay

We had a lovely time with Torin this week, and were lucky to be able to celebrate his birthday with him. Adam and Torin had a blast playing pirates, battling balloons with their swords and jumping on the trampoline.

Auckland museum

During the school holidays we dropped in the museum one morning. They had a fantastic display of the Gallipoli battlefield built in Minecraft. It was really well done, and here you can see Jane trying out the virtual reality side of the exhibit. Wearing that thingy, it felt to here as if she were walking around inside the Minecraft world. Pretty amazing, but both Jane and Charlie didn't really enjoy the sensation. Grace enjoyed it very much, though.

On the golf course

15 years old!

Charlie is now 15. Note that it is quite hard to get a photo of him in focus. I hope that he had a lovely day. Feels like yesterday that Alice and Hannah came down to Sydney for his first birthday, and we had the big birthday bash in the back yard with Joshua Egan, complete with homemade pinata! Charlie at 15 is funny and smart and caring and full of integrity. He makes life quirky and sweet. Happy Birthday, Charles!

Saturday morning at Campbell's Bay

Skipping at dawn

Happy Birthday Jane!!!!

Jane has been a part of our family for 10 years now. She is kind, thoughtful, witty, quirky, crazy, serious, warm-hearted, empathetic, hard-working and smart. How we love you, Jane!

Look After All Creatures!

Ted the Incredible

Ted wearing Adam's super suit. 

Adam is 4!

The big day FINALLY arrived! We have been counting sleeps for 42 days! Adam has been telling me for many months that he would have a 'sword and shield' birthday. That was no problem. Then a few weeks ago he brought me a picture of a shield that the hero on one of Charlie's video games has, and solemnly informed me that he was hoping for a shield just like that for his birthday. Hmm. Not easy to find, so I was eventually forced to the conclusion that I would need to make it. As you may know, this is not even close to being within my comfort zone. However, it was pretty easy really, and I actually had a great time doing it. And he loves it!
Adam also told me that the cake was "exactly what I was hoping for." We had the Dunlops over for lunch and cake, and we all had a lovely afternoon. It was a happy day indeed.

Concert!

Grace performed in a concert with 13 other schools from our area. Jane and I went to watch. Her school gave a band and choir performance of The Cup Song and Paradise. This is a bad photo, but Grace was second from the end on the left. The choir was brilliant, with beautiful harmonies, and the band was excellent. Grace has always had a great stage presence. Jane and I couldn't take our eyes of her.

Wellington at dawn

I had the great opportunity to go down to Wellington for a workshop related to the School Board of Trustees. I had a fantastic time down there, and learned lots. After the workshop was finished I was able to make it over to Te Papa, the national museum, where I saw an absolutely brilliant exhibition about the Anzacs at Gallipoli. Absolutely the most artistic, informative, interesting and moving exhibition I have ever seen. The next day I took a walk through the city as the sun rose. It is a gorgeous place!

Cross country

Jane had another great cross country result this year - 2nd place behind Logan once again!

At the park in Hamilton

We had a wonderful weekend down in Hamilton with the Hunters and Scotts.

Out to dinner

We had a lovely time going out to a Japanese restaurant to celebrate Mother's Day. The kids loved watching the chef cook everything in front of us.

Out for a walk

Book Week

The White Rabbit and Fancy Nancy

100th Anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli

We commemorated ANZAC Day this year by going to our first ever dawn service as a family. It was a great experience. The children also participated in services at school. This is Jane's class. They created clay poppies which they placed at the foot of these crosses, which carried the names of WW1 soldiers from the Albany area.