Winter Wonderland

Neets and Libby

I wonder what the boys are doing?

Waitonga Falls

What's my name, Frank? Haha, your secret is safe (for now), Neets!Frank leaping from the couch with no encouragement whatsoever from Neets.

Dougal and Frank planting the trees. Arf is helping, honest.
And cleaning his teeth.
And cleaning his nose?
Dougal, Frank and Frankstar's tree.
Dougal, Arthur and Arfalarfa's tree.

Neets came to visit from Perth. It's hot there so we decided she needed a dose of the cold stuff - a weekend skiing up at Turoa with a group of happy friends. We had a great time - although Libby fell over a lot and Neets didn't and Dougal managed to break his snowboard, he was going so fast - and also went for a walk to the Waitonga Falls which was truely splendid and we're still catching our breaths, it was so beautiful.

The boys had a great time with Neets but we've promised not to publish the nickname Frank came up with for her! She spoilt us all rotten and we were sad to see her go - but we will visit Perth someday (hear that Trevor?!)

Granny Ro came for a few days too and it was another whirlwind visit for her, catching up with all the nieces she has living in Wellington these days. Frank was very sad to come home from 'Work' to find her gone.

We FINALLY planted the trees - pohutakawa - and placentas up on Mt Vic. It was a beautiful experience and we'll be visiting that spot often. It confirmed to us that this really is home.

Hands full

We're home from our week-and-a-bit in Tauranga and those Taurangians are probably secrectly pleased to see the back of us for a while. We spread a nasty up-chucking bug to pretty much everyone we came across, got out every toy anybody had ever owned, wrestled their coveted toys from them, threw tantrums when it was time to leave, chased cats and dogs, threw more tantrums when it was time to leave a shop without THAT car, refused to eat even icecream, bought badbad weather with us from Wellington (not) and then, luckily, Dougal came and rescued us all...

What are you talking about? They're angels! Even this one...(Mattais Njissen - he's about two months younger than Arf)

Hi, nice to meet you!

Pink ball... I WANT it.

Mine.
Mum!
Maturity: have it back, I've got a green one, a blue one, a yellow one, AND a digger.

Aunty Emily - has the potential to be ANTM (and the only one looking at the camera)


Pauline came up with a novel idea for getting Frank out of the toy shop. Haha!!!

Lily Nijssen, Frank, The Digger.


Quick, the sun's out. Let's have a picnic. Somebody grab some raisins and a few slices of bread. Boys, look pretty.



Yay, The Mount.

Funny - until Frank whimpered, "Stuck. Stuck, stuck,stuck. STUCK!"


Some photos from Grandad Macbrayne:

So, thanks so much to Granny Ro for all your help and patience. We're sorry you got sick. Thank you so much to Pappy for making the road trip more enjoyable. We're sorry you got sick. Thank you so much to Aunty Emily for taking Libby out for dinner and a drink (or two). We're sorry you got sick.

We had a great time really! See you all again sooooooooooooooooon xxxxx