Little Red Trike

Lucy unwinding at the kindy party...

2011-12-16T22:17:00.001+13:00

This is after eating a few 'cherios' and some lolly cake and strawberries...

maybe some ice skates for christmas???

last few weekends.

2011-12-04T14:56:00.001+13:00

Sunset from McHardy St 25/11/11

Lucy and friends at Music.

George, Lucy, Florence, & Sally.

Chip, following paint ball mission for Kris stag do...


Kris, post the 'stag run' at paint ball

Kris completing a lap or 2 with the elite boys at the crit in Hamilton. (who says you need lycra and cycling shoes....)

Stayed at Scott and Debbies... thanks again guys...


Lucy trying to get Ang to dance at the jam in the redwoods. 27/11/11

2011-12-03T07:23:00.001+13:00


Ella had a good week last week... got a mention in the celebration book, and a certificate... Happy Girl.

november

2011-12-02T12:48:00.001+13:00

November

Yay, metal work out...

2011-12-02T10:04:00.001+13:00

Nice to get the metal work out of my shoulder, as it has now been 7months since they put it in. So far it looks like it has done the trick. Held my AC joint down for 7 months, while scar tissue got on with its job of binding it all back in place. Hard to tell 100% just yet as the shoulder is covered in dressings and tape, but once all that comes off then I will see if the AC joint is going to slowly sublux again or not. (hopefully not...)

Lucy November

2011-11-13T20:37:00.001+13:00

nothing like a cardboard box!

Any excuse to get out the umbrella...

flowers and butterflies

2011-09-25T19:38:00.002+13:00

Lucy by the big knitting

the girls on a toktok at the rugby in Napier


Lucy Dani and Ella

Grandma and the girls

Ella Dani and Lucy on the tyre swing at Taniwha

another toktok but this time at Taniwha

Butterfly at Porangahau Fair.

weekend at the beach

2011-08-31T21:57:00.000+12:00

had a great weekend at the beach, catching up with Roger and Sam.

2011-07-31T22:48:00.000+12:00

Long walks sure make you hungry!

Tarawera Falls

Lucy learning to Kayak on her own!

Ella the green frog, after her dance recital at end of term.

Ellas school mug shot

2011-06-28T22:38:00.000+12:00

School shot. taken in term 1.

Lucy on some spinning thing at the playground

2011-06-27T21:28:00.000+12:00

fairy broccoli

2011-06-27T19:47:00.000+12:00

This has got to be the cutest broccoli I have seen...
The girls decided it really did come from a fairy garden.
Who am I to let them believe anything else...

Lucys new scarf

2011-06-19T08:53:00.000+12:00

Lucy made a new scarf today

cafe lunch

enjoying fluffy

sewing her new scarf

finished product

bike vs car!

2011-06-16T16:00:00.000+12:00

Lucy in the big pool

2011-06-10T22:13:00.002+12:00

Lucy progressed to the big pool this week. She loves it!

Our tui and wood pidgeon

2011-06-06T09:40:00.000+12:00

Lucy breadmaking

2011-06-05T19:45:00.002+12:00

not sure if you can call it help...

Visit the Aquarium

2011-06-05T19:44:00.000+12:00

watching soccer

2011-06-04T22:09:00.000+12:00

Girls and I went to watch Soccer today, Ang is away at conference so we just mucked around in Napier most of the day.


Ella's idea of clothes to wear on a winters day while watching Soccer.	(yes I made her change before we left the house...)

marine parade

2011-05-29T18:57:00.000+12:00

Took the kids for a ride along marine parade today and finished at the pools for a soak!

got to soak in the sunshine, and the hot pools!

Royal wedding

2011-05-14T11:41:00.000+12:00

The girls had a royal wedding evening, including dressups while they watched prince William and Kate tie the knot.

Finn at Soccer

2011-05-14T11:39:00.000+12:00


Finn's team post match.

ella on the same slide

2011-05-08T12:53:00.000+12:00

lucys kindy try-athalon

2011-05-08T12:43:00.000+12:00

bike leg

run leg

slide leg!

mothers day

2011-05-08T10:12:00.000+12:00

bike riding

2011-03-27T15:22:00.000+13:00

Lucy having fun on the driveway today.

march Auckland and the zoo etc

2011-03-26T13:28:00.000+13:00

Stayed overnight in Taupo, breakfast with a view (not that you can make it out...)


Cafe lunch at the museum

Where have I seen one of these? (this one is in the national museum...)

outrageous!

The next day we spent all day at the Zoo. This guy was quite tame for his size.

lucky they are standing under the front end....

lunch anyone?

Big turtle from Galapagos

Lucy feeding Zubulu

Ella feeding Zubulu

the girls being fed to the dragon

Mr Elephant

Off to Scott Base

Ella's 6th Birthday

2011-02-26T22:06:00.001+13:00

Ella's party, bit of Freeze game going on here

Make and do, the girls had to make their own mermaid tails for the pin the tail on the mermaid game...

Party food under the sea

miss mermaid sitting on a chocolate rock.

who wants some mermaid fish fillets?

Anaru bay

2011-02-19T09:25:00.000+13:00

anaru bay

view from front room

anaru bay camp site


the rock pools

from top of the hill

tologa bay wharf

Lucy the birthday girl

2011-01-22T22:07:00.000+13:00

Party girl at kindy

Party girl at home

Charades on the stage (coffee table)

Cake time

Lambert. (the edible version)

2011-01-09T21:55:00.000+13:00

Christmas strawberry picking

yeah sure you didn't eat any Lucy...

off for icecream now!

swimming and butterflies

2010-11-24T21:22:00.000+13:00

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

2010-11-05T18:29:00.001+13:00

Both Ella and Joe got certificates today.

2010-10-31T22:24:00.000+13:00

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

2010-10-13T12:04:00.001+13:00

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

2010-09-25T21:01:00.000+12:00

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!

2010-09-23T22:10:00.000+12:00

Ella's class after the dress up ball!

In the class room afterwards.

Lucy at daycare.

2010-09-08T12:19:00.000+12:00

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

2010-09-08T10:57:00.000+12:00

Some Ella artwork

2010-08-14T22:41:00.001+12:00

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

2010-08-14T22:15:00.001+12:00

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...

Tiger

2010-07-29T20:30:00.000+12:00

Guess who came home disguised as a Tiger today?

Lucy and Meg

2010-07-29T20:29:00.000+12:00

Lucy and Meg are good mates now. Meg is happy that her family have finally returned from the UK.

2010-07-26T15:40:00.000+12:00

off to the beach?

2010-07-16T21:28:00.001+12:00

Lucy and Rose had decided they were off to the beach. (the pretend beach in the lounge...) and I'm not sure why they needed the torch, maybe they were planning on staying the night at the beach...

Lucy's snugly place

Lucy loves helping out (if you can call it that)

She does a good job of rinsing all the dishes... (train her up early I say)

Birthday treat

2010-07-16T21:20:00.002+12:00

How much can you cram into 40hrs when you finally get to cash in your birthday 'ticket to ride'??? well Finn and Nat had a good go at fitting loads in, while they came to the city for the weekend as a birthday treat, (from last year!!! left any longer and it would have to double up on their birthdays this year!)

This is not Ella and Lucy yelling at the top of their voices for breakfast, (honest) just their surprised faces while the dancing face song was on the stereo.

First up, Rock climbing. Both Finn and Nat proved that they are indeed part spider.

Nat up the rope

Nat up the shaft

Finn walking the tight rope

Nat on a ledge, (and reluctant to come back off the ledge, took some coaxing to get him back down!!)

Bikes along the parade

Play ground

Mini putt (Nat achieving the only hole in one!)

back to the car (via the pools)

Knock'em down Finn,

Just like a rugby pass, but the ball is a little heavier...

start of the school holidays

2010-07-04T21:08:00.000+12:00

Last day of term, and Ella was excited about bringing home all her art and craft work from this term. She moves to another class room next term (with the teacher that has been team teaching in her new entrant class for this term anyway, so no drastic change, just a new room)
They also did a great item in Assembly, I'll attempt to upload the video at some point.

took Meg to the country this weekend, she had a ball mixing it up with the working dogs, and then meeting the cattle...

Girls had a big day, helping Sophie celebrate her 5th.

rainy days and kids with colds

2010-06-30T21:32:00.001+12:00

Ella had a day off school this week, and I assume Ang and Ella had a great day, parked on the couch, watching DVD's all day and just chilling out.

that was a few days ago, today Ella is back to normal (apart from a bit of a cough) and her and Lucy had a ball after school making huts on the couches. (partly to have fun, and partly to keep warm.) Ella was like a caterpillar in a cocoon in her little hut.

the girls have been playing really well together these last few weeks, Lucy made me and Ella coffees (pretend ones of course) before bed, and then Lucy has to kiss Ella good-night every night these days. Don't know if it is that Lucy has worked out cuddles with big sister delays bed time another few minutes, or if she genuinely enjoys giving her big sister a cuddle before bedtime...

mr wood pigeon, (Kererū)

2010-06-14T19:23:00.002+12:00

Mr Wood Pigeon (Kererū) has just discovered our Guava berries are ripe. Maybe he has been checking, but today I noticed him for the first time, come to have a good old feast. He ate at least 15 while I was watching, and no juice spilled, just get em down whole...

that is not an adam's apple, its the berry bulge in his throat!

the phone hug

2010-06-10T19:16:00.000+12:00

there is this thing at our house, that when you are talking on the phone, you can apparently give the person at the other end a hug, by hugging the handset.
Both girls, in particular Lucy, (who started the idea off) love giving phone hugs.
Lucy showing her phone hug technique, note in this one that Lambert is also by default getting a hug, as the handset is partly hidden behind Lambert.
I'm not sure why Lucy is only in her nickers, given that it is about 3 degrees outside, sometimes telling a 2 year old that she has to wear clothes is like talking to a brick wall.

Ella on her way to class this morning

2010-06-09T20:38:00.000+12:00

Lucy playing Humpty Dumpty

2010-06-08T20:42:00.000+12:00

Lucy playing Humpty Dumpty on Theresa's Piano

Lucy and the Hokitoki

2010-06-08T19:58:00.001+12:00

Lucy has really caught on with the whole dancing with actions thing. ok so it is only the Hokitoki but she loves it.

swimming?

2010-05-26T16:54:00.002+12:00

Lucy decided it was swimming time thisafternoon, (given that it is raining outside, who would'nt want to go swimming...) anyway, togs on over top of clothes, and a beanie for good measure.

part super hero, part tragic.

this is our fake indoor pool...

called in and had lunch with mum today too, which was nice.

nationals

2010-05-26T13:26:00.000+12:00

a few weeks ago I competed in the NZ cycling nationals, for the first time as a Vet 1. (far prefer the 140km distance we did v's the 180km the senior men did!)
anyway, with the bare minimum training that I mangage to squeeze in, I managed to stay with the main part of the peleton, and finished 7th. I did try a few little escapes off the front in the first 1/2 of the race, and then thought better of it when my body started complaining about the lack of training... eventually a break of 2 went up the road by about 3mins, and then one other chase group got away in the last 1/2 of the last lap and got about 45sec up the road. I sprinted what was left of the peleton (about 12 of us) for 3rd in the bunch, and 7th overall.
pretty chuffed with that, considering the lead up.
here are some photos from the day.

someone in our race decided to have a rest so he hung his bike up on the fence. (may not have been intentional...)

fish and chips, walks and bugs.

2010-05-18T22:27:00.001+12:00

Ellas choice of things to do on the weekend (after such a good week at school) was to hit the hot pools in Napier, followed by a seafood meal by the sea. Fish and chips. (in the rain, in the car, in the dark.)

Sunday while Ang was off riding, me and the girls went for a walk down one of the walkways in the village. Ella was a bit annoyed she couldn't scoot on her scooter all the way, but it was one of those, "well Daddy did try to tell you that it might not be a good place for a scooter, but you insisted on bringing it anyway...." moments.

This morning while I was having a shower, and Ang had already left for work, Ella and Lucy were busy catching Cocroaches.... well Ella was anyway, Lucy is not so keen on the creepy crawlies. Ella turns up in the bathroom with the Cocroach all bagged up ready to take down to feed to the kindy turtle. (Neville likes cocroaches for breakfast) so we had to call in there on the way to school this morning. Ella still misses Kindy. Not too sure how she caught it or where for that matter, but somewhere inside the house, and I think the plastic spatula out of the kitchen drawer was used somehow, to trap or daze the thing into submission. It had to still be alive for Nevile to eat it though, he won't eat dead bugs, (esp if they have had a dose of fly spray, not good for his health.)

the words say: for 'turtle' at temata 'kindy' - cocroach

first school certificate!

2010-05-14T19:34:00.000+12:00

Ella was pretty excited today, as she got to stand at the front of Assembly and get a certificate.
She has been asking after each assembly, "Dad, when will I get to go up the front and get a certificate?" to which I usually reply, " when the teacher thinks you have been a good enough girl to deserve one!"

bike ride on the weekend

2010-05-03T19:20:00.001+12:00

Thought we better get out and have a family bike ride,
before the weather gets too cold which will limit the enthusiasm.
We all headed down the river path that travels alongside the Tuki Tuki River.
Not too far, probably only 2km. Ella rode pretty much all the way, with just a few pushes towards the end

Also on Sunday Ella went to a friend's Birthday Party at a playground in Napier, which she enjoyed.
Lucy just made her own fun by hiding in the cupboard. (Who needs a flash playground when the kitchen cupboard is so much fun?)

school holidays

2010-04-21T10:20:00.001+12:00

First school holidays!. what to do.
well you would think there would be more time for updating the blog! ha ha.
here are a few pics of what we did get up to over the break.

Good Friday and sat with nine kids! breakfast anyone? Easter was great

Lucy hitching a ride with Libby

Walk on the beach, great weather!!!

a little exploring in the rock pools

Easter sunday and just a few eggs to find in the garden

then of course you have to sit on the deck and eat them!

Lucy helping dad with a batch of scones

this is Lucy's idea of a grin

Lucy just getting where she wants to go by dragging the step around, able to get up high to the shelf with the left over easter eggs!!

see Daddy, I can get the eggs by my self. Great.

a bit of dancing and dress up of course (with Ella L who was here for a play date.)

several sessions at the play ground of course

then up to Grandma and Barry's beach for a few days too.

Mum and girls on a little walk, check out the lack of swell, there was no big waves, and everone enjoyed a swim on more than one occasion! not tooooooo cold once you get in...

there was a cool area at low tide that left a shallow pool that was a few degrees warmer than the ocean. that was nice to lay in the sun! and good for skimming along on the body board too

A bit of Lego building (we found Roger and Michaels stash of old childhood lego and both girls were quite into it!)

Lucy is always up for a little cuddle with the neighbours! Tom and Lucy are soooo good together.

Joe's african creation. this is obviously the water hole.

Ella went with more flowers and butterflies and a horse scene, (must be in Australia, thanks to the Koala in the corner)

this was yesterday, back into the school routeen and Lucy and I went down to the village for music and Dancing, followed by coffee. nice.

today we dropped Ella at school and then came home for a bit of painting!

Happy Birthday Narly

2010-04-12T19:03:00.000+12:00

Happy Birthday Big Fella.
You turned 21 in our house-hold today.

No body helped me make the cake, (they were all too busy playing games) but Lucy helped me with the icing.

First she chose the colour, Pink! then she helped me lick the bowl....

Lucy also insisted on having a pretty flower, no matter how much I tried to convince her otherwise.

Sorry Narly but a pink cake with a flower is better than no cake!

first assembly

2010-03-08T21:50:00.000+13:00

Ella being introduced to the school on Friday, (far right) and Mr Bain gave her a birthday sticker.

mmmm coffee makes everything great

2010-03-03T21:14:00.000+13:00

Lucy enjoying the spoils of a special coffee (fluffy) this morning.

first day at school

2010-03-03T06:38:00.001+13:00

first day at school was great fun. (well for Ella at least) There was no leg hugging or tears (not from Ella). It was probably a little harder on Ang, seeing her little girl tear off to the class room when the bell rang, without even looking back.

Art Deco weekend

2010-02-24T14:56:00.002+13:00

last weekend was busy, Ella went off on friday afternoon to spend the weekend with Grandma and Poppa, then at 5pm Ang Lucy and I joined the neighbours and other friends at the More FM winery tour. Black Barn was packed and we all had a great time listening to Boh Runga and Che Fu, followed by Tim Finn, Dave Dobbin and Bic Runga. All the music that you know enough to sing along to, (if you choose to obviously)

Then saturday I managed to get in some racing with the cycle club (it was pretty hot!) and then later that afternoon we went over to Napier and wandered around the waterfront/soundshell, listened to Jazz, watched the vintage cars putt up and down the street, sat on the beach, and generally chilled out.

Ang doing her Pania of the reef impersonation here... Lucy just being vocal...

Sunday we drifted back over to Napier mid morning and watched the soap box derby races. Some folk have spare time to make very impressive box cars...

icecreams and then back home to greet Phil and Michelle with Jasmine and Amber who are over from Adelaide. The girls had a great afternoon playing dress ups and in the cubby house, then we all sat down to a big sunday roast dinner! Yum.

Grandma and Poppa joined us for dinner too, Happy Birthday Poppa!

Amber on the see-saw Jasmine the fairy flying down the lawn...

Next on the calender is a certain little girls 5th birthday...

Lucy yesterday

2010-02-16T16:44:00.003+13:00

thankfully Lucy is feeling a bit better today.
This was last night at dinner, and she just wasn't in the mood for much.

2010-02-15T11:37:00.003+13:00

Ella and her fruit rocket from yesterday, this was for breakfast while I was out riding...

home day

2010-02-15T11:32:00.002+13:00

Girls both at home today, Lucy had the sick bug sat/sunday and is still recovering, and Ella started this morning!
They were both chilling out on the couches this morning after breakfast. Thankfully Ella has bounced back quickly and seems to be feeling ok for now.

anyone for a snooze?

2010-02-10T14:47:00.006+13:00

A conversation Ella and Ang had yesterday.

Ella: "mummy why are adults not allowed to drink alcohol and then drive a car?"

Mummy: "Because it makes them sleepy and thats dangerous when you are driving"

Ella: "So you mean alcohol is like lettuce..."

Mummy: "huh? what do you mean Ella?"

Ella: "you know, alcohol makes you adults soporific like the flopsy bunnies."

Mummy: "yes, I guess so Ella."

For those who have not (or cannot remeber) reading the story this references...

The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies

FOR ALL LITTLE FRIENDS OF

MR. McGREGOR & PETER & BENJAMIN

IT is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is "soporific."

I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit.

They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!

WHEN Benjamin Bunny grew up, he married his Cousin Flopsy. They had a large family, and they were very improvident and cheerful.

I do not remember the separate names of their children; they were generally called the "Flopsy Bunnies."

AS there was not always quite enough to eat,-- Benjamin used to borrow cabbages from Flopsy's brother, Peter Rabbit, who kept a nursery garden.

SOMETIMES Peter Rabbit had no cabbages to spare.

WHEN this happened, the Flopsy Bunnies went across the field to a rubbish heap, in the ditch outside Mr. McGregor's garden.

MR. McGREGOR'S rubbish heap was a mixture. There were jam pots and paper bags, and mountains of chopped grass from the mowing machine

(which always tasted oily), and some rotten vegetable marrows and an old boot or two. One day--oh joy!--there were a quantity of overgrown lettuces, which had "shot" into flower.

THE Flopsy Bunnies simply stuffed lettuces. By degrees, one after another, they were overcome with slumber, and lay down in the mown grass.

Benjamin was not so much overcome as his children. Before going to sleep he was sufficiently wide awake to put a paper bag over his head to keep off the flies.

THE little Flopsy Bunnies slept delightfully in the warm sun. From the lawn beyond the garden came the distant clacketty sound of the mowing machine. The blue- bottles buzzed about the wall, and a little old mouse picked over the rubbish among the jam pots.

(I can tell you her name, she was called Thomasina Tittlemouse, a woodmouse with a long tail.)

SHE rustled across the paper bag, and awakened Benjamin Bunny.

The mouse apologized profusely, and said that she knew Peter Rabbit.

WHILE she and Benjamin were talking, close under the wall, they heard a heavy tread above their heads; and suddenly Mr. McGregor emptied out a sackful of lawn mowings right upon the top of the sleeping Flopsy Bunnies! Benjamin shrank down under his paper bag. The mouse hid in a jam pot.

THE little rabbits smiled sweetly in their sleep under the shower of grass; they did not awake because the lettuces had been so soporific.

They dreamt that their mother Flopsy was tucking them up in a hay bed.

Mr. McGregor looked down after emptying his sack. He saw some funny little brown tips of ears sticking up through the lawn mowings. He stared at them for some time.

PRESENTLY a fly settled on one of them and it moved.

Mr. McGregor climbed down on to the rubbish heap--

"One, two, three, four! five! six leetle rabbits!" said he as he dropped them into his sack. The Flopsy Bunnies dreamt that their mother was turning them over in bed. They stirred a little in their sleep, but still they did not wake up.

MR. McGREGOR tied up the sack and left it on the wall.

He went to put away the mowing machine.

WHILE he was gone, Mrs. Flopsy Bunny (who had remained at home) came across the field.

She looked suspiciously at the sack and wondered where everybody was?

THEN the mouse came out of her jam pot, and Benjamin took the paper bag off his head, and they told the doleful tale.

Benjamin and Flopsy were in despair, they could not undo the string.

But Mrs. Tittlemouse was a resourceful person. She nibbled a hole in the bottom corner of the sack.

THE little rabbits were pulled out and pinched to wake them.

Their parents stuffed the empty sack with three rotten vegetable marrows, an old blacking-brush and two decayed turnips.

THEN they all hid under a bush and watched for Mr. McGregor.

MR. McGREGOR came back and picked up the sack, and carried it off.

He carried it hanging down, as if it were rather heavy.

The Flopsy Bunnies followed at a safe distance.

THEY watched him go into his house.

And then they crept up to the window to listen.

MR. McGREGOR threw down the sack on the stone floor in a way that would have been extremely painful to the Flopsy Bunnies, if they had happened to have been inside it.

They could hear him drag his chair on the flags, and chuckle--

"One, two, three, four, five, six leetle rabbits!" said Mr. McGregor.

"EH? What's that? What have they been spoiling now?" enquired Mrs. McGregor.

"One, two, three, four, five, six leetle fat rabbits!" repeated Mr. McGregor, counting on his fingers--"one, two, three--"

"Don't you be silly; what do you mean, you silly old man?"

"In the sack! one, two, three, four, five, six!" replied Mr. McGregor.

(The youngest Flopsy Bunny got upon the window-sill.)

MRS. McGREGOR took hold of the sack and felt it. She said she could feel six, but they must be OLD rabbits, because they were so hard and all different shapes.

"Not fit to eat; but the skins will do fine to line my old cloak."

"Line your old cloak?" shouted Mr. McGregor--"I shall sell them and buy myself baccy!"

"Rabbit tobacco! I shall skin them and cut off their heads."

MRS. McGREGOR untied the sack and put her hand inside.

When she felt the vegetables she became very very angry. She said that Mr. McGregor had "done it a purpose."

AND Mr. McGregor was very angry too. One of the rotten marrows came flying through the kitchen window, and hit the youngest Flopsy Bunny.

It was rather hurt.

THEN Benjamin and Flopsy thought that it was time to go home.

SO Mr. McGregor did not get his tobacco, and Mrs. McGregor did not get her rabbit skins.

But next Christmas Thomasina Tittlemouse got a present of enough rabbit-wool to make herself a cloak and a hood, and a handsome muff and a pair of warm mittens.

THE END

dress ups

2010-02-08T21:04:00.002+13:00

Lucy the ballet fairy, on point...

Ella, aahhhhh not sure what she was supposed to be in this get up, but yes that is a skirt at the top and a tee shirt at the bottom and a pair of trowsers on her head...

dress ups from last week, Lucy is in on the game now too, and loves getting in the dress up box just as much as Ella. I loose count of the number of changes of clothes Ella go's through every day...

2010-02-08T20:33:00.004+13:00

Great weekend, topped off with a bike ride out to the beach for me, and meeting up with Ang and the girls out there, having a BBQ lunch and then a swim and play on the beach.

thought it had got quiet

2010-02-02T10:48:00.004+13:00

The walk to kindy and back must have been a little taxing on Lucy this morning, we had been home an hour, she had a snack and then fell asleep on the couch. nice for some...

January

2010-01-31T20:17:00.008+13:00

Has come and gone like it was only 2 weeks long...
perhaps partly to do with the fact that I was only home for 12 days in January.
The first week of January, we farewelled Barry and Margaret, welcomed Narly and Rachel.
Packed the tent and kayak, (Both loaned from the neighbours, thanks heaps for that by the way)
and headed up to the Coromandel. Camped in a DOC camp site with friends Deb and Terry, and their kids. Cold shower and flush loo's, what more do you need.

Kids all had a ball on the beach every day, and enjoyed sleeping in the tent. Weather was a bit windy on one of the final days of the week, but not too bad, no drastic downpour of rain, or endless hours laying awake listening to rain on the tent.(yes Lucy did fall off, Ella managed to save herself and let go of her sister...)

I managed to catch one fish while away, (so not completely empty handed) but the 1.10hour paddle across the bay and back to set the crayfish pot was fruitless. Unless you count one big ugly black octopus and a starfish as a good catch??? maybe next time.Lucy the starfish

The girls managed well with the drive up and back, and we were fortunate to be able to drop Ella off with Barry and Margaret on the way back so she could spend a few days there.
Ang Lucy and I arrived home at 4pm on the 14th, and after a quick unpack, reshuffle, and finish packing my bike into a box, I was out the door again at 6pm to catch a flight to Auckland, and then a connection the following morning to Adelaide.
The next 10 days were spent mostly riding my bike... following the Tour Down Under.

managed to get 1000km in (good training miles!) and came home with good tan lines...Menglers hill, overlooking the Barossa valley.

Checker hill in the chain of ponds region. Adelaide hills. (bit like Bluff hill but not quite as long...)
The friendly Koala that was in the tree directly opposite Craigs house. Well inside the city boundary of Adelaide.

Ang managed to juggle the girls and work with the help of Margaret and Barry, and then allowed me back in the house when I got back! (but I guess I have some work cut out to recoop the brownie points!!!)
The last few days of January were spent catching up on work, and spending a bit of time with Lucy (who turned 2 while I was away.)
Tomorrow we are into Febuary, and that is going to be just as exciting, with Ella starting school towards the end of the month!

catching up again

2010-01-31T19:30:00.005+13:00

seems I've been a bit slack over the Christmas new year period...
ok ok, a lot slack...
anyway, lets start with Christmas.
The cubby house progressed ok, and I got the roof on and walls/windows/door finished before the big day. then Lucy helped me with the deck over new years.

hammering takes such concentration...
the annual Christmas strawberry picking outing, (as always the girls ate more than they picked... but who is counting.)

Fun days in the sun at the farmers market.
Barry and Margaret visited for a week and the girls had a ball. The latest addition to our collection of push chairs, is on its 3rd generation! (and the favourite too!)
And as a result of a special request to Santa, George came to visit for a few days, all the way from Hong Kong...

Also during the last term Ella managed to swim full lengths of the Clive pool, thanks to Marlene. Lucy enjoyed time with friends at day care, and has more or less mastered the art of talking... Lucy is also refining her technique for getting her own way with her sister, by dissolving into tears at the slightest disagreement. Lucy's favourite word in December: Delicious!

that is about it for December, now on to Jan!

christmas tree fun

2009-12-15T20:56:00.002+13:00

we went and got our christmas tree on the weekend, girls had a ball running around the trees, hunting for a good tree that wasn't already tagged.

see-saw action

2009-12-12T07:38:00.003+13:00

Lucy taking baby for a see-saw. Baby couldn't hold on very well and kept falling off.
slide action
Ella mid flight, you just have to imagine the squeal of delight when she hit the cold water at the bottom...
Lucy being her cheeky self

silly dressup

2009-12-12T07:31:00.005+13:00

Ella doing a Battle star Galactica dress up...
Lucy and her latest hat
Makes a good hat, don't think it will fit you though Lucy...

cubby MK II

2009-12-12T07:26:00.002+13:00

Progress on cubby house MK-II
So far we have a Dance floor.

lipstick and highlighter...

2009-11-30T20:00:00.003+13:00

Lucy doing a little highlights on the makeup front today. I think she has lost some of the meaning of highlights though, I don't think they acutally involve a highlighter...
She also found a lipstick today and had a go at that too. so bit of a theme going on today...
Grumpy face, is because she had just been told off...

kindy artwork

2009-11-27T15:00:00.003+13:00

some screen printing from kindy this week.
Enjoying having Grandma and Barry here this week, going for walks and showing Grandma all our artwork.
Daddy is enjoying having a bit more flexability with extra help on the child care front. (have done a few more hours on the bike this week than normal!)

chb show

2009-11-17T14:07:00.005+13:00

Sophie & Ella ride-em-cowgirl
Lucy prefers fast cars
Rose to the rescue in the rocket ship
burger Lucy?
picnic under a tree
boys got their fix of quad bike riding, Tom in the lead, followed by a girl then Finn then Nat
Finn in the lead followed by Nat
Lucy getting her bounce fix with Rose and Ella and Joe

Happy Birthday Rachel

2009-11-13T19:36:00.003+13:00

In order to celebrate Rachels birthday Ella and I decided it was a good excuse to bake a little chocolate cake... (which the neighbours boys then helped us devour.) sorry Rachel, you will just have to have one in Jan when you come visit!!!

snow white

2009-11-06T05:53:00.002+13:00

Ella had already been snow white all afternoon, so when she decided to change into a fairy post lady, Lucy snapped up the opportunity to be snow white...

If I could just find the arm holes

what are you laughing at Dad, it's hard work getting dressed up.

Ahhhh there finally. and once she did get her arms in and had done a few laps of the lounge and bedroom she wanted out, as it was about 15cm too long and she kept tripping over the dress...

Roar like a lion

2009-11-04T15:18:00.003+13:00

Ella got busy with the yellow and orange paper a few days ago and created a Lion outfit. complete with tail and mane.
very scary....

the long weekend

2009-11-03T21:46:00.004+13:00

yeah I know that was over a week ago, but here are some good shots of the boys all going for a ride together, and Rose of course, I think she was in Triathalon mode, first was a risky plod through some deep puddles, (lucky she had her swimsuit and gumboots...) followed by a quick lap of the driveway on the Yellow Plastic Flyer, and lastly ditching those beautiful purple and pink boots for a lap of the lawn to get to the finish line...

time for a facial darling

2009-10-29T22:14:00.003+13:00

need I say any more.
where does Rose get this from???

I can hear again!

2009-10-26T22:17:00.002+13:00

Post a swim with the girls last Thursday my Left ear blocked, I then helpfully pushed a cotton bud in the ear to try to unblock it, and proceeded to really block it...
anyway finally 4 days later, I got the plug out after trying ear candles, poking other things in there, lots of olive oil, and eventually jetting warm water up the canal with a syringe did the trick.
lesson learned, don't jam cotton buds up your ear hole... (well not if you have a big load of wax up there just waiting to be log jammed against the ear drum...)
downside: I'll be able to hear Lucy tonight when she wakes up...

not preforming for you dad

2009-10-23T21:09:00.004+13:00

It just gos to show you can't get kids to repeat the cute stuff on cue... Lucy was tearing around thismorning on the hobby horse that Ella made at kindy this week, only when you ask her to do it on camera... no, ditch that toy and go do something else..

and yum chops for dinner... the neighbours happened to be within smelling distance at dinner time so joined us for some finger licking chewing on chops...

cancelled swim lessons and barbie

2009-10-22T21:16:00.003+13:00

a busy day today which involved me getting to work at 7.30, shuffling kids around to allow Ang to get to work at 8, and then me back to take Ella to kindy at just after 8, then a ride over to the hospital to get the car back, time at the playground with Lucy and the neighbours boys, (everyone got at least one bruise) then pick up Ella from Kindy.
From there to swim lessons, only to arrive and find out they had been cancelled due to the pools being too cold. That couldn't stop us, Ella had her mind set on a swim, regardless of how cold, so in we went Ella me and Lucy, till Lucy's chin-o-meter started shivering so much the others in the pool were looking at me sideways... time to get out!!!
Lucy had a sleep, Ella played with vet Barbie for a while.
Then we set up the tent play house outside, and moved the play oven and tea set in, and Ella set up a lovely tea party for me and Lucy.
Bath time was cut short by Lucy and a certain bodily function that should be reserved for on the loo! (no photos required...) and now they are both in bed asleep.
Rain forecast for tomorrow, so may not get out to the A& P show, unless the sun comes out...

Ella's Zoo

2009-10-21T15:11:00.004+13:00

Ella has just been busy using all the blocks to make a zoo. check out how tall the Giraffe is!!!

some more from the trip home

2009-10-20T13:32:00.003+13:00

Whale watching at Victor Harbour, south of Adelaide.
the right whales come right in close to shore in the spring, and usually with calves. great viewing right from the beach, or the nearest rocks.

Cant whale watch without some fish and chips on the beach...

Me Lucy, Ella Isaac Annelise and Sally-anne, after I had been playing Golf on a course where you had to 'shoo' the kangaroos off the fairway as you went round!!!
The lake at Mt Gambia. there is also a great garden set in a sink hole (limestone)

Lucy the adventurer

slack

2009-10-19T22:24:00.004+13:00

yeah I know.
So what has been on in the last week.
Well it was a busy weekend up north for us, I've been to conference in Tauranga Fri/sat/sun, and Ang and the girls took the opportunity to head on up to see Grandma and Barry.

The Girls had a ball playing on the beach...

The weekend before that we went cycling down the Tuki Tuki, Ella tried using her face as the brakes...
Not a happy girl at the time, but has recovered, and since been back on the bike...

Last Tuesday, the girls had a fun day on the farm while I went docking.

there you go, an update at last....

ok ok, time to update

2009-09-09T20:40:00.002+12:00

finally have the computer on line and all sorted (and the time to get on it and organise some posts!)
It has been a busy month getting from Adelaide back to NZ and having some time of in between.

These are our good friends Prudence and Alan from around the corner, the girls loved visiting and swimming in their pool, and playing with the toys out of Prudence's toy cupboard!!!

Last Day at kindy, Ella was quite sad about leaving all her friends and Teachers at kindy, and will miss them all.

our first few nights away from Adelaide, we didn't get far, just down to Victor Harbour. (see link here) and had a great day watching the whales (just from the beach and rocks) and spending hours in the Whale info center looking at all the impressive displays.
lots of Whale bones, this one just the head/jaw bone!
a cool collection of Shark stuff too. (part of Rodney Fox's collection...) the coast off Adelaide being famous for the great white shark... (see link to Swim with the Sharks here.)

movers here today

2009-08-06T11:11:00.001+12:00

last post probably for a few weeks
see you all back in NZ soon.

I think we have been here long enough

2009-08-03T23:22:00.001+12:00

Zoo trip in the holidays

2009-07-21T15:32:00.002+12:00

Something else we did in the holdiays, was go to the Zoo. Shame we are going to miss the pandas when they arrive in october. There is a lot of building work going on at the moment, getting ready for their arrival and developing a whole new entrance and education centre.... Adelaide Zoo

Ella found the face painting! and is a fairy (of course) checking out the old flamingos...

And Lucy was interested in this snake. don't worry its actually carved out of the rock and pretty sure it's harmless...

Ella's Dance show

2009-07-20T16:30:00.004+12:00

Ella all excited before the show, practicing her 'starting position'

Then at the show, if you can make her out, thats Ella 3rd in from the left. She had fun and enjoyed watching the older kids do their dances.

That was the first weekend of the holidays, now what else did we get up to over the holidays?
that will be in the next post...

Lucy's table antics

2009-07-20T16:08:00.002+12:00

Lucy expressing her opinion at breakfast time...

then Dinner time!

some catching up to do

2009-07-20T15:39:00.002+12:00

Lucy has to run to catch up these days, but she's doing pretty well, not too many face plants!
And speaking of running to catch up, I have been a little slack on the blogging...

look Dad just like you

2009-07-06T01:40:00.003+12:00

Ella after a week or so of no trainer wheels, and no pedals, (just pushing with her feet, learning to balance) Ella can now ride her bike, just like Dad...

afternoon at the Zoo

2009-06-22T23:51:00.003+12:00

Ella and one big jigsaw

Ella and the Hippo, (their pool had just been cleaned out...)