Shananigans (how do you spell that?)

Have you ever read the blog and thought afterwards, 'Who actually wrote that?' Here's a clue...

They know more than you think. They are wise beyond their years these fellas. Alex and Frank back in Tauranga around Xmas time (photo courtesy of Gav and Kendra).

Before he was shorn... And this picture might also hold the clue as to why Erina is clutching every cushion in the house in the next photo. Or maybe we should be worried about her?

Ohhhh, very sweet. Erina is fantastic with the boys (they look like a mirror image, almost!) and has them vying for her attention.

Hare hare, hare hare! The boys join in at The Organic River Festival and were given a shaker and danced around like, well, hare krishnas.

Enlightened.

Funnily enough these two photos are about the only ones we took on our camping excursion last weekend. We had a wonderful time to start with, setting up camp and meeting up with friends at the festival. That night....it rained. Heavily. Honestly, it was like a monsoon. Yes, we read the weather report beforehand. No, we didn't think it would be that bad. The boys didn't deign to sleep. We had to get out of Levin. We came home and slept but still woke up grumpy in the afternoon so went to play with the Eagle-Annans and had a great evening!

The next day (Wellington Anniversary) we went walkabout with G'Marg and Pappy despite the rain.

Who's that walking on my bridge?

Before that we went to see some fairies at The Botanical Gardens. Lots of fairy wings and two monkeys...

Just like their Dads...

Speaking of Dads, Libby is working this week so Dougal is playing Mum. He whipped up a match of banana-blueberry muffins today, has been cooking up a storm, getting washing out, playing in the garden, running errands, you name it!

Yay for holidays

First of all, HAPPY 2009!!! We hope your year has started off as well as ours has and that you had a chance to relax and chat over Christmas. We did - lots of chatting. Secondly, a big thank you to Ro for having us to stay and for the babysitting, meals and love. Thank you also to G'Marg and Pappy for all your help and love. This is starting to sound like an award speech! Another huge thanks to every one who sent cards and gifts and shared their toys with us.

The following photos are a bit scrambled and go back to the start of December but we may as well post them in one chunk and we know it's the photos you all like anyway...

No ordinary ornaments...

A debate about who won the hat from the cracker.

No arguments here, Frank gets the hat.And the magnifying glass, thanks Dad.

Cheers! Pappy, Dougal, Frank, Kate, Emily, Ro, G'Marg and Arfalarfa ('I want the hat.')

Emily and Ro xxx

Arf and Lily.

Arf: She's pretty. I want to be like her.
Lily: Oh honey, you look so much better in that than me...

Mattais: Was that you, Frank?!!

Mattais and Arf: What? We're not doing nothin'.

Frank: I'm Ro-Ro.

Leona's back! Hanging out at Waihi Beach before Shapeshifter.

Frank showing Grandad Macbrayne how he drove Peter's tractor.

Sisters catching up - yep, Milz is wearing a hoodie! She's been sick with glandular fever :(

Arf: Was that you, Frank?

Arf tells Stu what's what.

Finn turned two and Frank really wanted to keep the present we gave him.

Yeeha, what a cake!

Arf: I want to be a big boy.

Canoe trip down the Whanganui for Ginny's 40th.

The Bridge to Nowhere Lodge we stayed at (go there!)