Merry Christmas Eve Everyone

Thought that Christmas Eve would be as good a time as any to write our final update for the year!  We had planned to be off tramping (hiking) tomorrow after a big Christmas breakfast however the plans have changed as the rain has begun to pour down. Now it will be a leisurely day at home, after having made a quick banana cake which the kids decorated Christmas style and a pavlova for dessert.  The tramping can wait until next week over New Years.

Our quickly made Christmas Cake as decorated by themselves.

Liam is still threatening to cancel Christmas - nothing much changes there ;)  This year however the kids, with an additional year of wisdom behind them, have told him that he will need to stay in his room with just water and a book if he is cancelling it and they will open his presents!!  Still not sure who was more serious or excited.

December has seen us travelling quite a bit.  To start the month off we enjoyed our first un-schoolers camp over the hill in Staveley.  It was great to be with other families that although on a different journey still had much in common with us.  The kids loved running around with all the others, climbing trees and going on bush walks.  Only stayed the one night however it was enough for us to know that we would be back again to mix, talk and share with like-minded families.  Think it was great too that Dads were there as often it is the Mama's always getting together and giving information out second-hand ;)

Daniel up yet another tree!  He wanted to climb every one that he could on camp.

After this we headed over to Christchurch for an unveiling of a Kiwirail statue.  It is the 150 year anniversary so a special installation statue was created for all to see at Ferrymead.  Great to get free entry for the event and then get to look around, ride on the trains, sample sherbet and play olden day games.  I hadn't been there for years and years so really lovely to revisit some memories.  Then the following weekend proved to be our only at home for the whole month!  The kids and Liam got out into the garden to check over everything that is growing.  It has been great getting all our own salad bits along with peas and the odd early strawberry.  Still waiting for the tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and beetroot to mature so we can continue our feasting.

Seeing what is coming up in our new front garden veggie beds.

The middle of the month saw us back in Christchurch for a send off to Branston Intermediate (the school I used to teach at which is a casualty of the Christchurch School closures).  It was great to have a night out with friends, even made it past mid-night, and the kids loved being with Nan without parents to turn off the T.V.  You can tell I don't go out much these days though as by Sunday night I was in bed by 7pm!!  Before both kids were even asleep.  Further in our travel feast of December - last weekend we were up in Westport to catch up with friends and family.  The kids were in heaven going out to so many cafes in one weekend and of course getting to watch T.V. again in our holiday accommodation.  Great to be able to go away with the dog too and we (the dog and I that is) had a good long run around the lighthouse track which was my extra treat in a month of holidays!!

During our weeks at home Jasmine has been busy at Art Club creating and making.  She enjoyed all the art however she tells me that she can't wait to get back to Pippins because they have lots of different cool things ;)  Next year she will be stepping up to Brownies which she is looking forward to although I'm not sure if she realises that it will be more work than at Pippins - oh well ignorance it bliss at times ;) 

Liam has been giving the kids lots of Star Wars stories for bedtime lately and it has inspired a whole heap of stories, drawings, Lego play and craft!  The best activity to come out of all the story telling would have to be when the kids made their own C3PO and R2D2 after Liam showed them a YouTube clip of both the robots.  It was amazing to see them go ahead and make what they had visualised in their minds and just make it without any assistance - well apart from handing them cello tape that is ;)

The robot friends.  Herself even managed to create R2D2's wheels with bottle caps!

It certainly has been a busy month for us and yet more adventures to come.  Been so great spending every weekend together having fun and being out and about, think that January may have to be our rest month before we head up North for a holiday in Feb. 

Hope this finds you all warm, merry and ready for a relaxing Christmas and New Year.

Arohanui
Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz

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The wild west

We are still in the land of the living, for all those who were wondering.  Currently the kids and I are at my Mum's (Liam had to come over for a course and we decided to join him to see Nan) and having the first spare moment to write.  We are still waiting for Telstra Clear to grace us with their presence and provide phone and Internet service......in the mean time it is quick trips down to the library.

I wrote this on 12 July, just after we arrived in Hokitika, thinking that I would post it soon after........hmmmm.  Anyway I'll post it now and then update again when we can.  Just after this we had a deluge so maybe my picturesque images were a little premature! 

The clouds hang low and long around the mountains, with varying shades of blue distinguishing each range, as we sit to eat afternoon tea.  Today feels like a real west coast day after being blessed yesterday with sun and blue sky.  It is how it should be.....the scenery dressed in clouds and mist, making the outlook mysterious and magical in one.  See I do love the cost and my wallow is subsiding ;)

Our farewell to Kapiti began at 4am Friday (6th July) as the excitement was too much for Jasmine.  Getting everything prepared, including the goldfish in her travel bag, and packed into the car while Daniel and our friends slept seemed a little surreal. We'd said our goodbyes and now it was just the journey to the South Island to focus on - no house, no packing, just us and a car-ful of belongings. Four am starts and ferry delays don't aid much in driving so it was a V filled trip with rescue remedy for the panic and sadness thrown in.  Pleased to say that neither have been used since! 

The kids on the ferry entering Picton

We arrived late at Mum's and our time in Christchurch was glorious as the ground rested and the sun shone.  Last time I was there (here) I remember being quite fearful to go to town (my Mum lives 40 mins south which is where we stay) however this time so many fond memories of places flooded in that not once did I think anything untoward would occur.  The kids loved catching up with friends and family, seeing places which occurred in Liam and my stories and exploring Nan's trees.

Being in the South Island and not being with Liam only made the longing stronger so on Tuesday (10th July) we packed up again and headed over the hill midst snowy paddocks and icy lakes to arrive late afternoon in Hokitika.

 Testing out the frozen Lake Lyndon

Our place (where we are renting) is a little way out of Hokitika town and though we still lack a connection to the world we aren't feeling too isolated as we have neighbours close and plenty of sheep, cows, chickens and horses (courtesy of the neighbours) to keep us company.

The kids in the back yard.

Hope this finds you all happy, healthy and warm.
Arohanui Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz