The Fay Family 4: June 2014

Yet another busy month here on the Coast. I can't believe that it is the middle of the year already!! It feels like the days have just flown by and we haven't really been up to much, then I look at our photos and wonder when we managed to fit everything in :)

Since I last posted we have been away to Oamaru for the weekend which was really lovely. Herself enjoyed it so much, even in the snow flurries or maybe because of, that she wanted us to move there. Well, I can't blame her really as I've always had a soft spot for Oamaru myself. Liam was working down in Dunedin for the Sunday so the kids and I just explored and enjoyed. The highlights would have to be the train ride down to the wharf , finding 2 Enid Blyton books (their current favourite author) for $1 and the kids finding an adapted rocking horse bike.

"Horsey, horsey don't you stop"

We wandered around for quite a few hours before the kids, well ..... actually ...... maybe it was me more, had had enough. Despite the freezing winds there was so much to see and do for them that the day went quickly. The playground behind the precinct is a must if you have little ones! The kids loved climbing up a 5 story slide with a near vertical drop at the start, needless to say I didn't venture up. We also found a wee walk, hidden away, along the stream which the kids thought was great. I did too until we had a near miss of us all ending up in the stream!

The stepping stones where the kids collided belly to belly. I only just caught them and balanced us all!

We still have our Fluffy cat albeit a 3 legged version now. She went in for an amputation of her rear leg last week and is doing really well. The kids absolutely love her, as do I. Rex on the other hand is not so fussed with a hoppity, fluffy intruder in his home - aside from sneaking in for left overs where he can. Though we have decided we are not the home for her to be able to settle in we are hoping to adopt her this week. We have been buying supplies and then the plan is to then take her to the wonderful woman who has agreed to care for her. Thanks Mum :)

Jasmine's story on Fluffy for the local home-schooling magazine

Both Jasmine and Daniel had a Sunday session for their Brownies and Keas the other week in aid of Arbour Day, World Oceans Day and World Environment Day. Nothing like combining events to get the most out of it! Anyway they spent the afternoon potting up plants and then heading to the beach to plant more harakeke so that the local penguin had a sheltered spot to nest. They both loved getting in and helping with everyone. It is really great seeing how much they are growing in confidence and experience when working in a team like this. I loved seeing Jasmine include others and go over to ask a new girl to work with her. The reward for Daniel was that he got to have his picture in the local paper! He was feeling very proud although a bit concerned that he wasn't in coloured. :)

Daniel's starring moment and his second time in the paper.

We have had a few lovely days, thankfully on the weekends, in between all our rain lately so it was good to be able to finally go to Lake Ianthe. None of us really how to pronounce it correctly (we have heard so many variations) and ended up calling it all sorts of things however it really is a beautiful wee spot to stop at. There isn't much there aside from the boat ramp and a wee track to a where we had a picnic yet it offers such wonderful views on a nice, clear day it is worth the time to veer in. Armed with a picnic lunch the five of us (Rex included of course) had a lovely time there.