Sophie says: ‘Shoes!’ and is VERY excited. Here she is trying on shoes at her favourite store: The Number 1 Shoe Warehouse (Grandma Lee will be jealous!). Sophie likes to try on all the shoes in our house and is already asserting her independence by trying to put shoes on without help (and then getting […]
Month: April 2007
Family Time
Weekends are so precious. This weekend started out with atrocious weather on Saturday morning, but didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves. It was great to tuck up and enjoy music and puzzles together. Dan had a game of soccer to ‘look forward to’ (!) at midday, but beforehand we had some fun at ‘Junglerama’. After […]
Saying Goodbye?
She’s 92, she’s had an amazing life, a life of independence and mental vitality. She’s my Grandma. She is in Wales, I am in New Zealand. We’ve written to each other frequently these past ten years that I’ve been away. We’ve enjoyed brief encounters. She’s commented, in wonder, how lucky she is to have seen […]
Creations by Charli
Charlotte reports on her creations: ‘Don’t destroy my creation Sophie!’ ‘Mummy take a picture! No, not yet, when I have finished. Now, take it now, before Sophie destroys it!’ ‘Welcome to my art gallery, what would you like today?’ ‘Mummy, I want to Knight you, bend down!’
Airport Fun
Charlotte (Age 3) reports: Daddy had to Christchurch for the day on business so we dropped him off at the airport (Mummy said it was to see the airplanes, but we know it was an excuse for a latte). We sat at the window watching the planes, drinking our fluffies and listening to Mummy trying […]
Wellington Zoo: 100 Year’s Old and Evolving with the Times
Wellington Zoo, the first Zoo in New Zealand, has just celebrated it’s 100th Birthday. Gone are the Chimp’s tea parties and elephant rides, steel cages are slowly being replaced with ‘open enclosures’ and the welfare of the animals and their psychological well-being is put ahead of all else. In the past ten years Family Lee […]
Slowly, but surely, progress at Kindi
A term at afternoon ‘Kindi‘ and Charlotte isn’t yet ready for Mummy to leave the gates, but is almost oblivious to my presence whilst there. The teachers are incredibly supportive and do an amazing job of nurturing the development of so many three year olds (and assuring me that Charlotte will eventually feel confident enough […]
Charli’s Photography
Not many parents let their three year old loose with a $700 camera, but Charlotte has earned our trust in this respect and the pleasure we get from seeing her take on the world makes it worthwhile. The other day we took a break from hanging around (I managed to capture a couple of Charli’s […]
Sunday Fun on Wellington’s Waterfront
A beautiful sunny Sunday in Wellington and the girls were pushing us out the door as soon as our teeth were brushed. First stop, Frank Kitts Park playground (and ice-cream and coffee – the latter for the adults – at 9.00am!). The BIG slide is always a hit with Charlotte (and is as thrilling as […]
Wellington Playgrounds
It wasn’t till I became a parent that I started to hang out, religiously, at all the playgrounds of Wellington (of which there are 102). Every suburb has one and, thanks to awesome renovations by the City Council, the standard is exceptionally high. What’s more the folk at the playgrounds are all so friendly and […]
Birthday Blessings
I just celebrated turning 33 and it was the most wonderful Birthday. No big party or big presents necessary. The biggest gifts, those of love, friendship, kindness and laughter were all bestowed upon me (and a good dose of sunshine). Having my two daughters to celebrate brought back all the memories of my own childhood. […]
Friendships: Old and New
Keeping friendships alive and being open to new ones is something I’ve learned much about since living in New Zealand. Over the past ten years I have had a series of valued and beloved friends. I have a habit of being drawn to people who are destined to be life-time travelers and so, after a […]
Easy Tiger, Easter Sunday
Brunch at the Southern Cross on Easter Sunday turned out to be a little more than we expected when Dan got his face painted like a tiger! The day started off fairly standard, with an Easter Egg hunt in the garden (not too much chocolate) and some non-edible Easter gifts of the cuddly and educational […]
Ready for a Harness?
Charlotte says: The playground is getting too easy for this 3 year old! When I am 4 year’s old I will be visiting my Aunty Claire in the UK and she is a really good climber. I’m hoping she’ll find a climbing harness small enough for me as I really want to check out her […]