Hawkes Bay Christmas

This year was the first year ever we decided to go away for Christmas - including Christmas day.  We went camping with the Robinson family - although many people have told me that what we do is not really camping - it's more like 'Glamping', as I insist on a powered site and we take the small fridge, the electric wok and many other home comforts.  I don't exactly rough it.  Mike would happily sleep on the ground under a tarp I'm sure, but not me.  I'm too soft.  Anyway, we stayed at Kennedy park in Napier - it was fantastic.  First the Robinson's tent went up, then onto ours.

 At which point, we found the tent my sister lent me had quite a few bent poles - here's a picture of one of them.  I phoned my brother in law immediately to check if he knew, which he did not!  Anyway, it made erecting the tent interesting, but we managed to get the bent poles to have pressure going the opposite way and in fact it slightly straightened some of them by the end of our 10 day stay.  There was also an inner door stuck, as the tent had been folded with the zips closed, but we managed to pop the teeth back in place and open the door.  And everything else was fine.

 Our little present table - In my hurry to pack and leave the day after kids camp, I forgot the little Xmas tree and would you believe it - the kids main Christmas presents!!!!!  Nevermind, we had a blast.

 With gale force winds looming, a windbreak was almost a necessity.  Even though we borrowed the tent, we purchased a windbreak as we loved the tent and have decided we will definitely keep our eyes peeled for one on trademe.

 Mike liked his presents - especially the exotic coffee pack from my sister Michelle and Simon.

 I was making Xmas day pudding and had to crushed biscuits - know how hard that is camping???  Well kiwi  ingenuity -beer bottle worked well.

 Our yummy mid day feast consisted of garlic and rosemary potatoes, maple glazed carrots, pork chops, steamed beans and nice slices of ham.

 And for dessert - my camping masterpiece!  I'm not sure what it is called, but is sort of like lemon curd cheesecake filling with loads of berries on top - Yum!

 On boxing day we started to check out the town of Napier.

 The beaches were quite unusual - not sand - just rocks!

 Taryn altered the picture of her and Jayden on the anchor (from above) and this is the result.  More photo to follow soon.

Vienna's Lollipop

At kids camp, I asked Wendy if I could give Vienna a lollipop and she said yes.  These are the shots I got as she tried it out.  First, checking it over visually.

 Then in the mouth and oh my goodness this is so good I have to close my eyes and really savour it!!!

 Okay, how's about a sticky kiss??? No, why the heck not????

 Candy glazed eyes.  Yes it must have been good? Perhaps day dreaming of her next lollipop?

Playing Hairdressers

Jayden convinced Taryn it would be a good idea to play hairdressers and so armed with a comb and a huge bottle of gel, they went into the bathroom to play.  Taryn gave him all sorts of cool hairstyles.

 This was my favourite.  I didn't manage to catch the others on film, but will aim for more next time.

Look Who's Growing Up!

When Taryn had her graduation dance, the school made it clear they wanted a high standard of dress, so off shopping we went.  I was sure we were going to come home with something I was a bit iffy about, but instead she totally surprised me a chose this outfit - shoes and all!!!  She suddenly looked so grown up!

 A shot with dad

 And one with little brother.

 Then little brother took this shot (we are teaching him about getting heads into the frame now that he has his own camera), and yes...she is taller than me (everyone is aren't they?), even with her shoes off and she never fails to remind me either!

Skinks

One of Jayden's favourite past times up at camp, is searching for skinks.  He often catches some and brings them home, but we have always had to let them go as we just didn't have a suitable place to keep them.  Them my nephew Darren brought around a tank for Jayden and that same day, Mike found 3 skinks at a property he was working on and brought them home.  We researched the environment needed, food etc and set them up a little home in the tank in Jayden's room.  

 A couple of month's later, we noticed these white balls and quickly realised, they were eggs (at first we thought Jayden had dropped in some polystyrene balls).  Nothing seems to be happening, so again I turned to the net and saw it can take up to 55 days for eggs to hatch.  We went away for Christmas and my mum came over and fed them.  Today, to our amazement, we saw a split egg and a tiny new member of the family (photo to follow).  Jayden was so happy, he rang Darren to tell him the good news.

Vegetable Deck

I was determined to get a head start on some veges this summer and so got planting early, filling the pots and planters on the deck.  What quickly arose was a sea of green, followed by a mass of produce.  Sweet, juicy and so tasty, being totally organic and home grown.

New Stamp

I made this swirly tree stamp with my new Teresa Collins Stampmaker the first week in December, with the intention of making my own Christmas cards to send it.  It never happened.  There was just so much going on that a whole bunch of things never happened, but such is life sometimes.

Bling'd out with rhinestones.  Oh well, there's always this year right?

Ukulele Festival - The real deal!

Some pics from the actual festival.  That's my crazy friend Carol in the fluro jacket and Kiwi head gear!

 The crowd!!!

 Ukulele Bartt from California - 1 Awesome dude!

 This amazing young man could play the Ukulele with his teeth!!! Way better than I can play it with my hands!!!!  guess I should keep practicing.

 Bartt & Merenia after the festival.

 Bartt and I after the festival

There was a parent who managed to take some pictures of us playing in the grandstand and I will post those pics once I get my hands on a copy.

Rock on Ukulele Festival 2011 - I can't wait to go again!

Trimming the Overhanging Branch

A few weeks back, Jayden asked if he could trim off the small overhanging branch from the plum tree out the front.  It hung right over the letterbox and he felt it must be annoying for the postie.  I had no problem with him trimming it back.

However, as many parents of ADHD children might tell you, sometimes you have to check on them as they can tend to get carried away with things in their own little world.  As he had been quiet for about 15 minutes, I went to check if he had managed to trim it away.

Yes he had, along with about 1/4 of the other branches from that side of the tree. I suggested he trim up the other side too to even it out, but Mike was not so keen and so it is still a bit lopsided.  I am sure however that the postie no longer has any trouble getting to out letterbox!!!

Ukulele Festival Practice

A couple of years back when Taryn started at Manuka, she decided she wanted to join the Ukulele group with Carol and begged me for a Ukulele, which I bought her.  She turned up for maybe 3 sessions and that was it.  A couple of years later I decided if Carol could pick up a Ukulele and learn it, without having played another instrument previously, then why not me, so at the beginning of this year, Carol gave me my first lesson.

I must admit, I just didn't get it and felt all thumbs.  I couldn't get the hang of the strum at all.  I put the Ukulele down for a couple of months until Carol mentioned it again one time.  I had another hour session with her, but still feeling all thumbs, came home and U-Tubed some lessons and found I was better able to get the hang of it sitting down in the studio late at night at my own pace, where I could play and replay the clip as much as I wanted (translate- needed to....lots).

Once I had this under control, another 1 hour session with Carol and I found I was able to play along to 'some' tunes and really started enjoying myself.  So, with about 3 hours tuition from Carol and at least 20 hours on U-Tube, I was away and looking forward to the Ukulele Festival with the school Uke group.

The below pics are shots I took from the practice day.  We had loads of fun!

 Getting my Ukulele signed by Ukulele Bartt

Vienna's Birthday

A few days after Taryn's birthday, it was Vienna's birthday and we headed off to the botanical gardens to celebrate. My original plan was to give her a cute lamb and a bonus bond.  Little did I know that through the Post Office, you have to apply, then wait for them to be posted out and I only had 24 hours!!! arghhh.  I thought it was an in/out sort of purchase.  Never mind, a money box and 1 of each NZ coin was substituted on this ocassion.  Wendy also then advised Vienna has her own Bonus Bond number and that if you go to the ANZ bank, it's instant, so for future purchases, I am now up to speed.

 Clever Miss Wendy also gave Vienna the most amazing party spread of super cute food...

 including this awesome tiered birthday cake just for Vienna (which she thoroughly enjoyed!!!)

 There was so much going on, but I managed to steal Vienna for a quick cuddle...

 ...before my day ended following this to middlemore hospital.  It's a long story and not mine to tell, but I can say, all was eventually well!