Smiles

In her posh new leggins - thanks Grandma and Gramps

Update - finally!

 

Sick of not having blog updates... or sick to death of gorgeous pictures of the Kiwi Land? If you'd like more I've started a new blog not aimed at family and friends but to satisfy my own creative spirit! It is www.aphotoadaychristchurch.blogspot.com - I'm trying to upload a picture every day....

Personal pics and updates will continue here on this blog too for the medium interested....!!

Ok here are some pics from our last few weeks... We were in Taranaki and stayed with gorgeous friends Karen and Nathan (yes another Nathan) and their three children - Jesse (1), Georgia (5) and Dylan (4).

They love Elly and she adores them. Jesse especially they are always hugging, kissing and squaling with delight! It is super cute. Not so cute was the fact that Jesse, then Dylan then Elly got a tummy bug - Karen and I ran around like vomit cleaner-uppers for a week.... was great to have company and live in their house for the 2 weeks. I didn't even want to kill them once - ha ha!!! (although they may have wanted to kill us a few times...!!)

This sunset is a picture from the last day - From Karen's sink. Yes not everyone in NZ has such great views - plese note we are not all living the Kiwi dream here, looking out on fantastic nature - but I will admit Karen's view rivals mine!

One day the girls decided my car needed a wash - thanks girls! Super cute light too!

Nathan proposed! This is the sunset which we went and saw that evening. First of all though we had a drink in his finished building to celebrate him finishing it! It is a shipping container building and it is AWESOME!

Here is the building...I'll dedicate a whole post on this once I have sorted the 1000 pictures I have of it...

 

 

 

 

 

Elly and Nathan have container fun!

 

 

                        The temporary ring (burger flavour - yum especially as I missed lunch)

These hanging things are part of the light display in the park - didn't get to go at night due to the puking kids but had a nice walk there one day!

 

 

Here are some pics from home taken before we went away

 

Elly started using the phone - nah ok not really but she did start to WALK!!!! wooop Elly!!!

 

Boat watching...

 Elly and all her birthday pressies...

 

 

 Yum!

 

The cake is presented....

 

De-lish

 

 

Elly went to a party in fancy dress (snake)

 

 

 

Oh yes Elly and I met the Royal Ones - Elly shook Camilla's hand I shook Charles's ... No barriers just a few cops... so relaxed NZ!!!  This pic was just after he had shook my hand - Nice to meet you HRH!

 

 Elly gets to grips with Camera use as I got a new one...

 

and had her first Fluffy (frothed milk in a cafe for kids)

 

PHEW!!!

 

Merry Christmas

 

 

 

 

cute!

Super cute!

too cute...

Cot antics...

 

 

 

 

 

I think I will climb on this printer to get on the chair to get a better view of the TV....

 

I can clap now on demand!

 

cheeky!

 

 

 

 

Elly's first birthday party

Elly is turning one soon and so to celebrate with our North Island friends and family we had a little party to celebrate.

 

Here is the invite - It was a Mad Hatter theme but with a kiwi twist - the Mad Hatter was going to have his BBQ on....

 

I baked like a slave for several days

 

I perfected the jam tart - thin pastry is a must, bite sized...

 

 

 

Thankfully the sun was out and Elly got to wear her party tutu...

 

The food was delightful....if I do say so myself....

 

English Scones...

Fancy HOMEMADE biccies and apple tarts (also made by my fair hand) 

Little cup cakes....

 

 

The banner went up outside

 

 

 

I'll try one of those tart things...

 

I prefer uncle Barry's beer....

 

 

 

Dig in kids... Elly had lots of wee friends

 

and family....

 

 

Great Aunt Sandi

Cousin Claudia

 

Great Auntie Gail and her grand daughter Macy

 

Jesse - Elly's New Plymouth boyfriend

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cousin Milla

 

Hey Ian!

 

This steak is yum

 

And then the moment of brilliance - My Mad Hatter Hat cake....

Dad presents the Master Piece...

Wow! a Pink hat covered in 1.5kgs of butter cream icing!

 

 

three layers chocolate and banana cake - I excelled myself!!!

 

 

quick family pose

 

 

prepare the babies for bed... now just for the clean up...

 

 

More photos on Elly's real birthday of more birthday fun!  That will be taking place in the south island as on saturday I am off home!!! Christchurch here we come...