Hookie Day

We played hookie yesterday and for good reasons.....dad leaves for a job and we wanted to spend the day all together! It is a beautiful thing when you tell the teachers and they agree with you that the family time is very special.  

We started our day sleeping in!  We turned off all alarm clocks and then daddy cooked an amazing breakfast and smoothies for everyone then we loaded all the bikes into the van and off we went to Avalon Park. This park has just been renovated and is just stunning!  So much to do and play on. It was awesome because we were the only people there for quite some time (until school let out)! The kids had a blast as did momma and daddy!  

Me and all of my loves enjoying the day!  

Mabel and Ivy having some deep belly laughs!  

Daddy getting his swing on! 

Gus doing some climbing! 

Everyone worked together to get the water flowing!  

Gus suggested we go to this little pizza place for our last dinner before daddy heads off. We had been once before and knew we needed to bring our own wine, so we did!  So glad we did as the first 5 minutes went really well then the wheels were slowly starting to fall off. Ivy wanted to sit in the same places we did the last time, Mabel did not want to comply.  Daddy started to get red and Gus became the awesome big brother and wiggled over to make room for Mabel.  I may or may not have given in to a can a apple juice for each of them for working together to make the situation better!  

Our food came, it was delicious and we devoured it!  Were we that hungry? 

Then we came home for baths and cookies n cream milkshakes!  

I think it is almost time for Emmett to have his own?!  

Staglands

About an hour and fifteen from our house is a place called Staglands. On our first visit we fell in love and bought season passes. It is just a very peaceful, beautiful piece of property with animals big and small and lots of birds and fish as well. 

During the last term break we packed a picnic, loaded up and headed out. It was sunny in the city, but overcast, cold and misty out there, but we made the best of it and had a fantastic time!  

We had not one, not two but three peacocks join our picnic! 

Feeding the ducks and swans. 

The Wiggles

We are all about The Wiggles in this house!  When we heard they would be performing here in New Zealand, Jake immediately purchased tickets.  This was back in April, I think!  Anyway, we did not tell the kids - what a hard surprise to keep secret, but we did it. Mabel told us when we first moved country that she would just love to see The Wiggles "alive".  To her that was live!  For her birthday, we gave her an Emma costume and told her that we had heard on the radio there was going to be a costume contest to win tickets to the upcoming concert!  

Here they are all ready for the costume contest. Gus never questioned any of it - just declined to dress up!  

Here is everyone in our seats just after daddy told them what we were doing!  

So much fun!  Gusley got to meet Anthony, his favorite Wiggle and Mabel got to give Emma a bow!  Everyone left with a smile and a nice souvenir and finished off the afternoon with some yummy ice cream! 

Kindy Wheelie Disco

Friday night Mabel and Ivy's Kindy hosted a Wheelie Disco fundraiser!  It was lots of fun and such an awesome turn out!  There was a costume contest and sweet little Mabel won!  She was delighted to say the least!  She has held her prize very close and still tells us she can't believe she won! 

Mabel, you have really found confidence in yourself and have really outdone yourself on learning to rollerblade.  You put them on for the first time in January and here we are beginning of July and you can skate with no assistance and you have been since about your third go at it!  Way to go sweet girl! 

Ivy is pretty impressive on the ramps and still likes to wrap one leg around the post of his scooter!  Dude has skills! 

And this guy, WOW is all I can say!  He put blades on for the first time in January as well and now he is able to go up and down the larger ramp with no assistance!  Gusley, be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You are a very determined guy and you can do whatever you set your mind to!  Keep being who you are and you will persevere!  

And this little ray of sunshine!  This is pretty much his expression for the evening!  All the glow lights had him in a trance - but then had him spilling! 

What's your name?

Last Wednesday when I brought Ivy to crèche, there was a male substitute teacher named Ben. He was so into the kids and came to introduce himself to Ivy and I. He asked Ivy what was his little brothers name and the following is Ivy's reply!  "My name is Ivy Daniel Tiger, my little brother is Emmett Wheels on the Bus and this is my mom, Lauren Lollipop!" Ben cracked up and told him what a funny little fella he was!  

Ivy in the evening when all is said and done, I sometimes like to take a look at my photos and I always have interesting pictures courtesy of you!  Here are a few from this week.

Emmett was napping in my room and you set all of this up just for him!  

Ivy Reed, you are indeed the witty one of the bunch!  You keep the little jokes coming my friend!  One that you have up your sleeve and like to pull is when you say something in a baby voice and then tell us that Emmett said that!  At least once a day you remind me of Uncle Donnie and I am so grateful for that reminder.  If I have to be reminded of one person everyday, you have chosen a good sort.  Thank you! 

Go Karts

What do you do when it is a rainy day and everyone wants to play?  Go swimming at the community pool (totally did not get any pics) and follow it up with a little go karting extravaganza!  

The kids chose the pool that we have been to a few times.  It is about a 25 minute drive but has an awesome kiddie area and a hydro slide (waterslide) that they are all able to ride!  Emmett had quite a lot to take in and was content to just sit and chill!  Gusley is doing very well with his confidence in the water and took on the wave pool today!  School swimming lessons are paying off.  Over here, swimming lessons are incorporated into their school day once a week for an entire term. How awesome is that?  Mabel showed lots more confidence as well and Ivy, that guy has no fear as long as he has his ear plugs in!  Sadly I did not get any photos, but did get a little video at the hydro slide.  

Jake has been itching to try out the go karts here and there is a place 3 minutes from the pool so we headed over as the kids were all old enough to drive/ride them. Why not?  They all had a blast!  Gusley drove his own and Mabel and Ivy took turns riding with Jake.  Ivy he a major meltdown when he realized his turn was over, but soon started cracking up at a kart on blocks with no wheels!  The owners were impressed with Gusley's driving ability and gave him a print out of his fastest lap!  

Jake and I had to laugh - the regulations here vs. the regulations in America!  Sometimes the simplicity that this country offers is pretty damn amazing!  

We came home exhausted, but content!  The rain doesn't have to be so bad!  

Movie nights

When we moved country we decided not to bring our sofas and we would purchase one once we were here!  Best decision we made!  Now don't get me wrong, we loved our old sofas, but it was time for an upgrade! 

Once we were here we went out furniture shopping.  The first store we walked in and the first sofa we saw would soon become our very own!  At the store, we all sat on the sofa in a different spot and it just felt cozy. Jake and I said this is the one and it has served us well thus far!  However, we decided on the sofa in early September and we did not get it until Halloween.  It literally came on a slow boat from China!  Well worth the wait as we all have our favorite spot and we have enjoyed lots of movies!  

This weekend we have enjoyed Indiana Jones, Bedtime Stories, Gremlins and The Neverending Story!  It has been a nice and relaxing, movie watching weekend!  

Here are the kids getting ready for the movie on "the sofa"!  Xx