swimming and butterflies

Ella's class having group swimming lessons at Clive pools last week and this week.

the boys and Yasmin waiting at the side

the whole class in week 2 of the lessons, they are getting pretty good now!

Ella and Lucy on Saturday, it was a wet day so we did some art work (on our clothes!!) Ella chose to draw a butterfly, Lucy chose a banana. ??

the finished work

one of the many butterflies currently hatching out around our garden, we have about a dozen, dotted around the swan plants this year.  Today Ella took a chrysalis to school for show and tell, left it on the window sill while we went to swimming, and when we returned it had hatched out!!! what great timing.

Lucy helped with the live release

look Daddy, he likes sitting on my hand...

certificate at junior assembly today

Both Ella and Joe got certificates today. 

 

Swim time in Rotorua

 

Halloween !

 Little Mr Pumpkin Head...       hoooooohhhahhhhhhahhhhahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Lucy wrapped up her bottle today, and left it in the garden for the fairy.

Lucy and her new cup, from the fairy

School holidays update

First week of the holidays we went up to the beach. Don't know who was having more fun here, me or the girls...

 Lucy and Dani at Grandma Jenny's

 Lucy at Grandma Jenny's house

 Hunting in the rock pools with Grandma Margaret

 Ella came fishing with me and Barry

 Captain Ella

 Ella had a go at holding the fishing rod

 Daddy caught this one but Ella helped wind him in...  (only little snapper out today...)

 School Holiday fun, Lucy having fun in the sand, with the Bennet family, who came and stayed in the sunny HB for a weekend.

 Island Bennet

 Abbey digging the in the river

 7 kids for dinner! fun

 how to top and tail...

 sightseeing at Napier

 Lauren and Lucy

 Ella enjoying some quiet time with a new toy

 Finn with his new Meccano set

 Nat with his new toothy smile!

Check out the fish Finn caught for his own birthday dinner... sometimes you just have to go out and get it yourself huh Finn.

celebration book

Ella got a mention in the Principal's celebration book this week. This involves getting up for a special mention in front of the whole school! Ella was dressed in Japanese theme on friday as all the kids were allowed to dress up in whatever nationality they wanted.

Looks like Mr Bain the principal went Japanese too.

As for celebration I had a little of that today, I managed to place 5th in the Taupo to Napier bike race (in the B-grade, so not with the elite boys!) Had a great time riding down, as I have always wanted to ride that bit of road, and now I have.

It took 3.30 hours to cover the 140km from the Taupo fire station to Pandora pond in Napier.  average speed 38km/hour top speed 90km/hr. Quite a good tail wind (hence the good time, it typically takes about 4 hours) Loved the long decents down into the Mohaka, and then down from the Titiokuras to Te Pohue.
see the profile...

first school ball!

 

Ella's class after the dress up ball!

 

In the class room afterwards.

Lucy at daycare.

Great weekend over in Ohakune...
snow on Friday night just the ticket for a snowman on sat morning, followed by some sled action sat afternoon.
I got a MTB ride in on sat morning, and rode for 2 hours in the mud!!!
great

bike

Some Ella artwork

Dad and I are having a ball.I am inviting Ella L. We are going to dress up, it is going to be magnificent. We will play good games, I will like it. Then we are going to have a drink. I like dressing up and playing games.

saturday 6 oclock, To Lambert Harry and Teddy's Birthday. Mum can come, Dad can come, Lucy can come too.  They will be turning 4. Ella will be at the birthday.

the last photo before the camera met its demise

the last two images taken before Lucy and Ella managed to drop the camera, causing damage to the internal lens. Hence the lack of blog entrys!

  initially blame landed with Lucy, but video evidence suggested otherwise... a team effort I think...