Santa Clause is Coming to Town

Christmas Eve - putting out food for the reindeer

 

Putting the visitors to good use - John over from England

Merry Christmas Everyone

Kaiapoi Santa Parade - waiting for the main man

Pre-school Christmas Party

Visit to Nana October/November

Nana's Birthday

Sharing with Kyoka - Japanese Student

November

September 2015 - Weekend in Wanaka

 After months of training, it was finally time for Donna's latest adventure race, in Wanaka, one of our favourite places in New Zealand. Here we are waiting for the start of the race on the shore of Lake Hawea. It's a ( o'clock start so still quite cool.

 Here we are many hours later waiting at the finish. Someone had thoughtfully dumped a big pile of snow by the finish line, probably trucked in from one of the nearby ski fields which are still open this time of year. It's the most snow Amy had ever seen in one place and thankfully kept her amused for quite some time. And yes Ian or Tracy, if you're looking, that is the dress you bought her just over a year ago - she loves it.

 Brenda Cathy and Donna - the team, at the finish line after a 2km run, 12km raft down the Hawea river, 33km mountain bike ride over undulating terrain, 12km orienteering over seriously undulating terrain, another similar 21km bike ride followed by a final short uphill dash to the finish line, and just shy of nine hours on the go. Get those girls a drink.

Sunday was daddy's time to go and explore some walking and mountain bike tracks whilst Donna and Amy had a more relaxing day, at the beach, at the world-famous (in Wanaka) Puzzling World, and the park.

 

September 2015

Amy with her sometimes best friend Lily the cat from across the road. She's never scratched or bitten her - she has both of us, despite the abuse she gets. Indoor shot again as winter drags on. Looking forward to some warmer weather this month.

Winter

What do you do on a cold winter's day? You go to the toddlers' big day in, get your face painted, get lots of free stuff like balloons, decorate a cookie on a stick and hang on to it just long enough to get a photo before devouring it.

Then it's time to shake it all down on the bouncy castle.

Making muffins with mum. Well, decorating them at least.

Amy's first experience of snow. Last time we had any she was only four months old. This is what we woke up to this morning. We weren't exactly snowed in. Still there was enough for a few icy snowballs and a tiny snowman (do you want to build a snowman?) And we discovered that snow is quite cold and wet!

July 2015

Dressed for the cold in her onesie and ear muffs.

Learning about native Americans and face painting for the Heart Foundation at pre-school.

Autumn Leaves

May 2015

It's mostly indoor shots this month, although the weather has been pretty warm. Cinderella shopping or being shopkeeper, she gets a bit confused.

Making mum's birthday cake.

Relaxing with friends.

And finally.... Donna and Brenda at the end of the Mt Isobel Challenge - an 8km run to the top of Mt Isobel from Hanmer Springs and half way back (1000 metre ascent,) then 22km cycle round it.

Indian Summer

After a couple of cooler weeks with snow down to low levels even on the local mountains, it's warmed up again. Here we are on 29th April on possibly our last visit to the beach of the summer/autumn. We've had temperatures in the twenties during the last week, but the howling nor'wester that pushes the mercury up blows that sand around too.

Hanmer Springs April 2015

Beautiful autumn day in Hanmer, with Kyoka, Nana's Japanese student, whilst they were here on holiday for a week.

Happy Birthday

Decorating the cake - Amy's own design!