Holiday Update #6 ... Christchurch and back home ...

In the afternoon of Monday 23rd July we flew back to Christchurch.  We had made plans to catch up with a couple of lots of friends that afternoon and evening since our time left in NZ was short!  So we went back to mini golf and met one lot of friends there.  Lyndon got to see how the kids actually play golf (their version of it anyway heehe).  Maddison actually got a hole in one on this part!  Couldn't believe my eyes and I don't think she could either :-)

 After golf we went to another friends place for dinner.  Kids had a blast playing together.

Tuesday we woke to a lovely frost!

 Later in the day Aaron went with Lyndon and Grandad to check the cattle and shift a break fence.

 He got a little sidetracked by a worm or two :-)

 Helping tighten up the fence.

For the city slickers ... a break fence is a temporary one to ration feed for the stock.  It usually gets moved every day or so to give them a bit more so they don't trample the entire paddock and waste it.

That night we were out again for dinner at friends :-)  The girls had fun playing dress-ups (and at the end of our visit the bedroom looked like it had been trashed!)

Wednesday a little princess turned 5.  She opened her presents from Nana and Grandad.  Aaron read her the card :-)

 Not sure who was most excited about her present hehee

 She got a playdoh ice-cream maker!

 Lots of fun (and major mess) was had by Aaron and Maddison :-)

In the afternoon I baked a cake for her birthday ... got to use my new dolly varden cake tin :-)  I filled it a bit full though, so we had a little eruption going on on one side!

Thursday morning the kids got it in their minds to make a house for worms :-)  So Grandad was very kind and went out worm hunting with them and then they made a house for them hehee

 I iced her cake ... the jubes were supposed to be a mermaid tail hehee

 Maddison was pleased with it so that's the main thing.  I put some choc fish around the edge too :-)

As soon as she had blown out the candle and licked the icing of that, she whipped out the dolls head and dealt with all the icing and sprinkles decorating that as well!!!

Friday morning was an early start to get to the airport on time.  I had packed a new toy each for Aaron and Maddison (lego and a polly pocket doll) so that kept them busy until they could use the entertainment system :-)

 Samuel played with his leapfrog toy he got for his birthday from Nana and Grandad.

During the flight there was a little boy sitting behind us about 5 months older than Samuel and he had a toy car, which of course when Samuel saw it he wanted it!  Luckily the bag of hotwheels cars Aaron and Samuel got as gifts didn't fit into a suitcase and were in the carry-on luggage, so I got it out and sat with them in the space by the exit and toilets :-)  Loved that they had the same colour hair :-)

 Samuel had a good sleep, so did Aaron.

About 3 hours before we landed Samuel threw up ... unfortunately he'd had some Kapiti ice-cream that was black doris plum flavour, so you can imagine the colour!!!  About an hour after he was sick, Maddison was too, then she went to sleep pretty much straight away!  A while later Aaron was sitting by me and he gave a cough.  So I asked "are you going to be sick too?"  No ... I got a sick bag ready though just in case.  Sure enough, he coughed again then was sick (in the bag ... phew).  So that kept Lyndon and busy for a while!!  :-}

When we landed in Singapore we walked to the next terminal and were able to board the plane to KL straight away.  Coming home in the taxi Aaron and Maddison fell asleep.  Samuel was asleep in my arms before we even left!

They seemed to get a second wind though we when we got home and were dashing about everywhere checking things out that they hadn't seen for a few weeks!

I left the unpacking till Saturday!  :-)

So that was our holiday - thoroughly enjoyed it, but it is good to be back home.  Although I could do without the drilling and jack hammering that's been going on all day today over the road!

Thanks for visiting.  

Holiday Update #5 - Invercargill

Flash back to last Tuesday ... watching Daddy's plane land at the airport :-)

Oh the excitement ... 3 of them jabbering non-stop at once :-)  Aaron is telling Lyndon all about his missing tooth when this pic was taken!  :-)

He hadn't been home long and he was looking exhausted, so I suggested he go to bed for a snooze and take Samuel with him.  I checked them 10 minutes later and found them like this!  :-)

Thursday Mum, my sister and I had lunch out together and Grandad and Dad had the kids.  They did sack rides and had a great time. :-)

On Friday 20th, we headed to Queenstown for the day. My sister and her family came up as well.  First of all we went up the gondola.

 We were lucky it was a lovely day - cold, but clear skies and great views.

 We had a few goes on the luge which the kids absolutely loved :-)

 Aaron went down with me once (so I could explain and show him how to use the brake and corner the thing!)  Then he went on his own!!  hahahaa  he did pretty good, but was so funny to watch!

 Knees Up Father Brown!  ;-)

Mum was taking photos of us and she called out to Aaron "how are you doing", and he replied "Great".  Next minute he went straight up the wall on a bend hehehee

Lyndon and Samuel sat and watched while Aaron, Maddison and I had the last two luge rides.

After lunch we headed up Coronet Peak so the kids could play in some snow.  Unfortunately there wasn't a lot about, and the stuff on the side of the road was pretty hard and very icey, but they were happy and had fun.

 Samuel even had a taste hehee

Even after pulling such a face he had to have another go :-)

 I couldn't find where I put the little kids gloves, so he ended up with great big "chicken wings" on his fingers heheee  He liked stomping on the ice!

 Again - great views.

 6 little cousins :-)

Reflections in Lake Hayes.

Saturday was pretty busy - an early start to get things done for a early birthday party for a couple of kids.  Maddison helped me ice her cake.

 She was pretty stoked with it.

 Mum made a farm one for cousin D who turned 3.

After we had done as much as we could to get ready for the party, Mum, Maddison and I headed to the craft show.  Maddison and I found the lady who made clothes for Barbie and Baby Born dolls :-)  She chose 6 Barbie dresses and 4 outfits for her Baby Born doll.  At another stall we found a beautiful dolls cot blanket for $5!  A dear old lady was obviously just doing it for pleasure, I couldn't believe she was only charging $5.  Another stall had little knitted handbags for 50cents each.  :-)

We came home and then Dad, Lyndon and Aaron went to see the model show. 

Soon after lunch my sister and her family arrived for the party :-)  7 layers of rainbow cake is very high!  only just fitted on the plates hehee

 Samuel shows off his cake eating skills!

She got lots of lovely presents.  We gave her some baking things and I found her doing imaginary baking later on ... the cake is in the oven (Samuel's baby chair) hehehe

 Grandma and Grandad gave her a pair of elastics ... anyone remember playing that when they were in school?  ;-)  My sister and I had to teach the kids how to play :-) 

After cake and presents we got tided up and went and had family photos done ... what a laugh ... will be interesting to see the results!  :-) 

So our 3 weeks at Grandma and Grandads are nearly over ... tomorrow we head back to Grandad and Nana's for a few days before flying back to KL.  

Last holiday update will be when we are back home.

Thanks for visiting.