Swim bike and run

Nice day for a big swim on Thursday, nice to have Mum to swim with for a change.
then later on Thursday after a sleep, (Swimming makes you tired!!) we all went for a bike ride.
and got to stop for a snack...
Today Ella and I went for a walk up the peak, (well some of the way up anyway.) this is Ella power walking up hill, and then
Running down hill!!!!!!!!


We also went out and did some orienteering today, exploring our way up and down the banks of the Tuki Tuki. Ella eventually got too tired and opted for the back pack...

Farm day for the Cox's

Last Sunday while Ang was at work (she was sad to miss the trip) I took our UK friends Glen, Kate and their boys Tom and Joe out to the farm for a taste of farm life (uncle Cole style) .
Of course the day had to start with a drive on the tractor, which both the boys just loved.
then things stepped up a level with a ride on Uncle Cole's motorbike, I hope Tom remembered to hold on tight! Glen and Kate were surprisingly calm sitting on the step watching Tom tear off across the paddock...
Ella was quite happy with a cruise on the quad bike with me. (she turned Uncle Cole down on the fast bike ride? although I am sure that wont last long.)
Kate took to the Quad bike like a fish to water, and is seen here doing hot laps of the nearest paddock...
Glen got in on the game and had to take Kate for a joy ride too. Too hard to call who went the fastest, Glen would have risked bruised ribs had he opened it right up...
then all the kids were treated to a ride on Avenger, and much to my surprise Ella managed a ride all on her own (well with me holding her trousers at least) she had been a bit gun shy of the dogs and animals all morning and then rocked up front and center for first ride on Avenger so that was great.
I think Joe preferred the quad bike, but still had fun
Tom took it quite seriously and insisted on doing two laps!
Alex and Billy happened to turn up at the right time as well so Billy got in on the act and had a ride too.

Then the compulsary trip out to see the one eyed eel, (swimming variety, missing one eye) Both boys were keen to get in there and hand feed the farm pet,
Joe even tempted to stroke it on the nose.

Ella however, once faced with that big black eel appearing up out of the water to greet her was not so keen, and decided that on the bank was the better place to see the action and that right up close was for the boys...
these two eels have the good life here, hand fed every now and then, why migrate out to sea, when you have it all here!!!

Thanks Cole and Tania.

Then we all went into town and had meat balls for dinner at Grandma and Poppa's, and the kids all had a group bath! I then came home alone, and left Ella for a few nights sleep over at Grandma's due to me having to do some extra work this week to cover for other staff that are away during the school holidays. Ella had a ball and kept Grandma on her toes for a few days...
Wednesday was Sophie's Birthday, and Ang was off work, so Ang went to OngaOnga, and Grandma dropped Ella off, and the girls went to a girls party for Sophie's 2nd, finally getting home after 7pm (long party!!)
This weekend Ang is on nights, so Dad and Ella are hanging out, trying to keep warm (temp dropped again to low single digits) and generally keeping away from the house or else keeping very quiet.

Just had a great call from Mike and Yvoine, who are currently singing at the top of their voices at the Sydney installment of the live earth concert (on 7/7/7) singing to Crowded House 'Don't dream its over' with thousands of others!!! very jealous...

Blue Moon

Ella and I were talking on the way home from the hospital cafe tonight (after having dinner with Mummy) and I pointed out the Blue moon to her, only to be rather brashly corrected that the moon was infact white. Thank you Ella, yes the moon is white but it is called a Blue moon when there is two full moons in one calendar month. (it is also a blue moon if there are 4 full moons in one season, but that is not the case in this instance.)
I stand corrected.

Winter Solstice

Ella wrapping up warm, including Daddies Ugg boots. terribly fasionable.
Mummy is up early for breakfast all the time.... Wink wink...
Winter solstice festival in Napier, fire dancers on the stage at the sound shell on the waterfront.
this is a diabolo or glorified yoyo, with neon lights attached.
Milly, Ella, Tom, and Jakie on the wall. It was verrrrrry cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. far too exciting to be bothered about the cold.
Ella wasn't too happy about the fire works, it was all a bit daunting i think, once the big bangs started going off... she didn't want to look... but it was very pretty never the less.

walking up the peak, collecting pine cones for the Cox's fire. I think Tom found the biggest pine cone. We all enjoyed the picnic morning tea that Glen carried up the hill for us... Joe and Ella expended the most energy, (all part of the plan...) and both slept well that day...

COLD!

Photo does not do it justice, but this is the view over Hastings towards the hills, and Taupo, and there is a considerable amount of snow on those hills, which perhaps explains why it has been so cold here this week!
Ella decided that it was a bit windy, and cold, and that she would rather just hop back in the car thanks very much dad.
This is much more like it... snuggling in bed with Mummy, (or is that the other way around, Mummy snuggling in bed with Ella, trying to avoid getting up and facing the cold day...)

visit from the Hutchinson's

Kerin and Barry thought that they would just get to catch up, and have a coffee with us as they went through Napier, but little did they know we had other plans, and that they were on babysitting!!!

Queens Birthday weekend

How slack am I, no updates for 3 weeks! finally here is one with what we did for the long weekend.
The Simmons family all scrubbed up ready to go to a party!
yay!!! any excuse to wear my party dress said Ella

Johnny Ben Annabell Ella & Ang at the Elm’s chapel in Tauranga.

Alex and Gary, getting married, good excuse for a party!

Cool wedding car and fitting with the French theme to the wedding!

Sunrise Sunday morning, mount Maunganui

Ella doing her teenage mutant ninja turtle act

Ang and Ella on the beach in Tauranga

Monday, and back in the Hawkes bay, (Ang had to work a long day) Ella and I went to the park for a bike ride with Lachie and Lily. Michael and Sarah were up in Taradale so Me and Ella hooked up for a bike ride in Anderson park. Eden slept in the buggy, and then joined us for a slide! Lachie pushed the girls on the roundabout

And encouraged Ella to climb to the top of the rope net

Ella and Lily comparing handle bar tassels!

Lachie just wanted to race!