Catching the Magic

Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!

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Art

Good Neighbours are a God Send

June 27, 2007May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Baking, Sarah

Returning home from morning Kindi, with Sophie drifting off to sleep, I had thoughts running through my mind of things to organise for Charlotte’s 4th Birthday tomorrow (and the party on Sunday). I was set on decorating boxes, tidying up the house and making sure Sophie got up to bed for a good nap. Charlotte […]

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Getting Ready to Party!

June 25, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte, Sophie

We’re counting down to Charlotte’s 4th Birthday party and over the weekend we started creating some ‘enclosures’ for our Zoo Party (but they might come in handy to contain the multitude of guests Charlotte is inviting!). Fortunately we had a few large boxes left over from our house move last year so we’re going crazy […]

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Wellington City Gallery Celebrating Matariki

June 17, 2007November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte

Wellington City Gallery, set in Civic Square, is celebrating Matariki with a star making activity through till 30 June. Today we took the girls to create their own star for the cosmic galaxy. Charlotte flying her star: There are already some very creative stars on display and this activity is a wonderful opportunity for children […]

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Kite Surfers Getting Close to the Stars this Matariki

June 17, 2007November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Sarah

It was a wild and windy southerly that greeted us this morning. We were all keyed up to participate in the various Matariki celebrations in Wellington City, but the comforts of home kept us from getting out of the door in time. We stayed put and listened to a ‘Celebrating Matariki CD’, which accompanied a […]

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Antarctica Comes to Kindi!

June 8, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte

A recent Antarctica presentation at Kindergarten has fuelled our home activities this week. The wonderful presentation (as I am told by Charlotte) has inspired her to examine wildlife from around the world. I understand the presenter was Australian, as some native animals from that continent have found their way out of the cupboard, along with […]

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Charlotte’s Rediscovered Confidence in Art

June 1, 2007September 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Art, Charlotte

Charlotte was quite handy with any type of art until just before Sophie’s arrival and then she changed her focus to construction, cutting and pasting. Just when we were beginning to worry about her recession to scribbles she has bowled us over this week with a couple of ‘masterpieces’. Every parent must recall the first […]

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Te Papa Learning

May 2, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte

Te Papa Museum in Wellington is one of our favourite weekly haunts. We’ve been going at least once a week since Charlotte was born. In her early months she mostly slept and I enjoyed a chance to peruse the exhibits and make use of the excellent parent facilities and dedicated rooms for feeding bubs (not […]

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Family Time

April 29, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte, Sarah, Sophie

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 […]

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Saying Goodbye?

April 29, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

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 […]

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Creations by Charli

April 27, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte

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!’

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Charli the Climber and Nature Lover

March 31, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte

Charlotte says: The weather is still beautiful and I am enjoy reaching new heights at climbing. I can’t wait to show Aunty Claire my favourite climbing spots, when she visits me later in the year. Here I am at Princess Bay (a 15 minute walk from my house) and hugging Blacky. The last photograph is […]

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Sleep vs Party

March 9, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

The summer evenings have been tempting the unstoppable Lee girls to frequently stay up past their bedtimes. Last weekend Mummy and Daddy gave up all hope… Daddy went out for a jog and Mummy painted some pebbles. Finally Sophie crashed, but Charlotte took a little longer to wind down!

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The ‘Real’ Sophie Emerges: 14 Month Update

March 1, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sophie

Sophie says: I spend most of my time taking lessons in the art of ‘winding up ones sibling’ from the expert, my big sister. I love to draw and paint, but it’s going to take me a long time to understand the message, ‘Draw only on paper, please!’. I am in favour of body art […]

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Creativity of a 3 year old

October 27, 2006November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte, Sarah

Creativity comes in all forms… the more traditional forms of painting and lego construction to plastering ones body in a chain of stickers before bed and covering the cat in glitter.

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