All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Second to last in her class, but she finally lost her two front teeth! Drama central getting them out, but proud as punch once it happened. Two nights in a row the poor tooth fairy had to visit and both were special (extra money earning teeth). The first because it was the first, the second because she pulled it herself.

I have two wonderful little girls. Really thought we must've been pretty good parents to have ended up with such good girls (sure they have their moments, but they really are few and far between).
Then along comes a willful, tantrumming, rough and tumble, testosterone filled two year old boy, who challenges all the great parenting skills you thought you had.
Not so sure now if my great girls are a result of good parenting or if we just got super lucky to end up with naturally occurring really good girls!

Family shot for 2009

Happy Valley

We got to go up to the skywire at Happy Valley, where we had a lovely bbq celebrating our good friend Julz birthday. We all had a blast, even though the weather wasn't great. The kids had a load of fun dancing too (hee hee, to Rod Stewart!)



The trio. Would've been a great back drop if it wasn't cloudy/raining!

Daddy and daughter moment. Dancing!

Hugging a Matai tree over 2000 years old!

Jester House and Grape Escape

For Daryl's birthday we went to Jester house and fed the tame eels, then to Grape Escape for Llama kisses! A lovely day, but it is days like this where i feel for Charlotte who misses out due to being a big school girl now!

Ryan turns two!

My baby is growing up (sob!). Loads of fun watching him grow though. He is a typical boy, but full of love and cuddles. Mummy's boy!
We had his party at the ride on trains, which is always fun and had an 'airpane' cake, which is his latest obsession! He got a battery operated ride on bike for his birthday, which is the next best thing to an airpane!


Ryan aged two....wearing the SINGLE most PERFECT tee-shirt you could EVER possibly get him!

Party fun!

Guy Fawkes

Dad put on a lovely fun evening of Guy Fawkes for us. Charlotte had fun picking out all the big fireworks to let off, Maggie just loved the whole show, Ryan liked the pretty stuff, but not so keen on the noise and kept running inside to watch!
Watching from the safety of inside.

Sparkler fun!


Ryan and Alina.

Sharing the last sparkler.

A few fun photos.

As you might have noticed, i'm not so good good at the verbal blogging (in fact i think i'm kinda dull), so my blog tends to be more a pictorial one documenting our fun-filled days! Here are a few more piccys!!
Only a face a mother could love.... and i do!

Charlotte getting a sled ride at the Saints and Angels fair! She loooooooved it.... bit of a dare-devil girl this one!

Fun at home and RATBAG boy!


Farm kids

And then it was Goodbye to our Hamilton Whanau

Holiday - chapter 8

Our last full day was another wet one, with a tribe of kids to entertain, so we caught the bus into town (which Ryan thought was fabulous!), and then went to play ten pin bowling. An awesome set up, where for the little kids rails come up alongside the gutter, so they can't get gutterballs. With this in mind Charlotte won the ten pin bowling and Maggie came second (with a little help from Aunty Yvette!)

Holiday - chapter 7

Today we had a few extra bigger kids for the day, so while i stayed home with a sleeping Ryan the rest all went for a game of minigolf and a playground play.

Holiday - chapter 6.1

After the beach we called into The Chocolate shop where Charlotte managed to tag along on the back of a school holiday programme. She got to see how Chocolate was made and then got to fill a plate with chocolate and add her own sprinkles. Needless to say we left with one very happy girl!

Holiday - chapter 6

Our only sunny day (although still a bit chilly) was spent at Raglan on the beach. Much fun was had getting muddy in the black sand and really what kid doesn't like the beach!?




Little monster was chasing me with his muddy, wet everything saying "cuggle, cuggle!"

Holiday - chapter 5

Our next day saw another wet day, so off to the pools. Loads of fun and Charlotte went on the hydroslide for the first time, which she absolutely loved. She even went back for more after donking her head and getting a nice egg on it.

Holiday - Chapter 4

It was also great spending time in Hamilton. Charlotte was especially looking forward to catching up with Shae again and they had a load of fun together.
Sadly the weather wasn't the greatest so we had to find some inside activities on many of the days. This was great anyway as the kids got to experience some first and had a blast no matter what we got up to.
Our first day was rather wet, so off to Lollypops playland. Now what kid wouldn't like that!!?

Holida - Chapter 3

Our final day in Auckland saw us visiting the museum and then on to the sky tower.
The museum was mostly above the kids heads, but they found a few exciting things while there. Charlotte again fascinated with a dead bat (maybe she's gonna inherit her Daddy's vampire fascination).
The sky tower was lovely. We enjoyed going up in the elevator and once up there the view was lovely. It was a bit cloudy, so couldn't see as far as usual, but still the kids got the concept. We stood on the glass floor, although Charlotte was a little nervous about this. Surprisingly it didn't bother Maggie at all.



Then finally a goodbye to Jeremy and Alana and onwards to Hamilton.