Whilst on Tahunanui Beach on holiday, Sophie found some driftwood sticks and a log which she drummed away on for a while. Joining her, I marveled at how wonderful nature is and how it provides for us in so many ways. Man by nature is a rhythmic being. He walks, breathes, and sings, rhythmically; his […]
Sophie
Being more Zen
Dearest Charli, she is so sensitive (as was I as a child). Off we went for a hair-cut this morning. Sophie went first and let the hairdresser tease out her dreadlocks for an eternity (whilst watching a DVD of Maisy). Charli’s turn. She sat up in the chair – clipped in for safety – it […]
Capital E Puppet Expo
Capital E has grown so much in recent years, now filling the school holidays with wonderful entertainment for parents and children alike. This Easter hols there is a wonderful ‘Puppet Expo‘ on. For only $5 per person there are famous puppets (Yoda!), shadow puppetry, a fabulous show (with plenty of belly laughs for all) and […]
Crystal Clear
The brightness of colour in Autumn here isn’t one of blazing autumnal leaves in fall (unless you journey to the South Island). Most of the native trees are evergreen. But the sun sitting lower in the sky brings about an incredible clarity to the light reflecting off every surface. Morning and evening the temperatures are […]
Domestic Bliss
Sometimes it feels good to lay low and simply chill out at home. Sophie and I have had a great couple of days milling round the house. We’ve been getting creative with paint, sticky tape and all things messy; engrossed in puzzles; playing horse games on the computer and reading copious books (it’s a wonder […]
Chugga, chugga, choo, choo!
A few week’s back Sophie was being a little testing so Charli created a sticker chart, laminated it, pinned it up in the kitchen and ensured every measure of good behaviour was rightly rewarded. When the sticker chart was completed Sophie got to choose a treat and, being into Thomas (brings back memories to when […]
Yoga workout with Sophie Jade
On location at Lyall Bay… Sophie Jade’s yoga workout (not for the faint hearted!). Thankfully, the superb Maranui Surf Cafe was close at hand. With every deep inhalation I was greeted to the delightful aroma of freshly ground coffee filtering from the windows, mmmmm, ommmmmm…. She’s still at it in the cafe… can’t sit still […]
Remember the days of tying your shoe laces for the first time…
Do you remember those simple days? Tying your shoe laces for the first time felt like such a huge accomplishment. Charli brought home her first ever ‘homework’ book last week. She had a week to complete various tasks and one of them was to learn and practice tying shoe laces! Beautiful! She’s been quite good […]
Hot, hot, hot!
The past two day’s I’ve actually been thankful for the wind! It’s been hot and I’m not complaining! Friday was cooler but, with it being Waitangi Day (yah! Three day weekend!), we were determined to enjoy a good family day out. We met up with Kathy and Mark in Eastbourne for lots of ice-cream (basically!). […]
Sophie starts Kindi
Okay, it’s only 7.5 hour’s a week, but it’s still a milestone for Sophie. Up until now she’s been tagging along with me and watching her big sister run off to Kindi and now school. Now it’s her turn! From 9pm on Thursday morning she was asking me every five minutes, ‘Is it time for […]
Feeding Eels…
One sunny Sunday over these marvelously, long summer hols (which, sigh, are soon coming to a close… term starts back 4 February), we went to one of our favourite places, The Saddleback Cafe. Nestled in the rural Ohairu Valley, it is such a tranquil place to escape Wellington City (not that it’s really the kind […]
Family fun at Staglands
The other week we stopped in at Staglands for a wonderful afternoon of family fun. Sophie delighted in riding the donkey. Charli was really taken with the rabbits. The black swan didn’t make a bee-line for Dan’s ankles on this occasion. I managed to avoid getting my bag nibbled by a goat. We had a […]
Twinkle, twinkle in the night
Lights glittered through the trees and music throbbed in the warm, night air. Small hands fumbled with car-seat buckles. They couldn’t wait to escape the confines of the car and be amongst the music and lights. As soon as their feet touched the ground their bodies started moving to the music. Running down the fern […]
Medieval Knights and Jousting
On Sunday we stepped back in time at Harcourt Park, in Upper Hutt for the 2009 World Invitational Jousting Tournament. Watching the sword fighting we felt transported into the medieval world (apart from the sea of cameras and modern day attire of the onlookers). The swords were sharp and the fighting real enough to cause […]