Steam Scene

This was a family trip to Steam Scene. We spent the morning riding the cute little trains. You get 12 rides for $10. It is a wonderful to way to spend a warm morning (very strange weather for the middle of winter) without spending too much money.

Porters Pass Snow Day

In the July school holidays we took the boys up to Porters Pass for a play in the snow. There is a great spot just before Lake Lyndon with a steep slope for fast sliding, and a long run off so you don't end up on the road. We had 4 fantastic hours of running up the slope to come down in a couple of seconds flat. Joshua and Nicholas discovered that Mum and Dad are big kids too! I discovered that as adults we don't bounce as well as we used to. Thankfully there isn't a photo of my little accident. (Three weeks later and my tail bone is still sore!!!)

The First Winter Snow Storm

Nicholas had his first memorable experience with snow this year.


This is one of Josh's great photos. This is the result of the snow that slid down the boys slide.


This is Nicholas and Joshua in a cave at Sumner after a day driving around looking at the snow. The boys didn't believe us at first when we showed them and told them about Lyttelton being on the rim of an extinct volcano. They were also a little afraid of climbing through a small hole into a pitch black cave after me. I had to keep taking photos with the flash to convince them that it was ok.

James' 35th Birthday

Nick and Josh were on hand to help James blow out heaps of candles on his birthday.

Nanna and Poppa's House Extension

Joshua, Nicholas and Poppa showing off Kiwi Ingenuity. The spouting is to keep water out of the foundation area for their new extension.


Joshua took most of the photos the day we poured the concrete in the boxing. I think he has quite an eye for photography. This is my favourite.

Julia waiting for her first load of heavy cement. I finished the day with arms that were a few inches longer!!

James and I poured the concrete, while Poppa Bruce did his thing with the trowel, and Nanna Jan had the pleasure of taking Josh to his swimming lesson and keeping two intrigued boys out of the wet cement and mud.

Touch Rugby 2007/08 Season

The Dragon's Touch Rugby Team. In Year 2 Josh was lucky enough to have Mr A (Simon Adkins) as his teacher. His dedication, energy and enthusiasm puts me to shame. In his spare time he coached two touch teams (as all of the children wanted to take part) and spent many of his lunch hours playing "scrag" with the children (rugby without rules from what Josh described). The photo above is after a game in 40+ deg heat. Below shows that even the best can loose control of our little darlings. The opportunity to take a group photo lasted about 10 seconds, if that.

Ferrymead Historic Park

Caught!! Nicholas fiddling again.

Nicholas with Nana and Grandad from Nelson.

Joshua, Nicholas and James had a lovely day with Nana and Grandad at Ferrymead Historic Park in the Term 1 school holidays (April/May 2008). Joshua was excited to have the opportunity to show Nana and Grandad everything that he had learnt about the "olden days" from a field trip earlier in the term.