Gosh its been a couple of months since I have updated this blog. Sop Happy New Year everyone. Here are a few photos from our holidays in January.

Took Night Fever out for an overnight stay off the Islands round Tauranga. Had a lovely day fishing just before putting it back on the mooring in Te Puna. The kids are quite confident with steering the boat now and are very relaxed while on board. It actually lulls Ryan to sleep!



Went to Ohope Beach in search of "Moko the Dolphin" who moved up from Gisborne area to reside in the waters near Whakatane. We hired a couple of Kayaks from the beach as we didnt bring Grants one with us and paddled the kids out over the surf until we found him along with other people in their boats and on the surfboards. It was great fun and we enjoying having him swim under our kayaks and toy with the surfers on their boards.



Kids are back to school now and they seem fairly happy with their teachers and new classes.

Mercy

So just when you think your angel wings can be hung up for another year, they are straight back out again ready for another walk. This time for Mercy Ministries which is a wonderful organisation who house young women with eating disorders and other issues. There was a fabulous turn out of ladies at the Mount Beach and thanks Ang for warming us up at the start. Those muscle really got a good stretching... mainly my laughter muscles.

Pink Walks

October was a great month for sponsored walks. Once again we adorned ourselves in Pink tutus and feathers to walk the streets of Tauranga for 2009's Breast Cancer Walk. over 5000 girls (and some guys!) turned up to parade the streets. We had our resident photographer on the rooftop once again to capture the starting moments.

There are more photos as the night goes on, but I think they got conveniently lost....

New Editions

We have two new editions to Ardern Farm: Bubble and Squeak. Two female guinea pigs.

Happy Birthday Mouse

Our little Mouse turned 7. Yay. Birthdays in our house always seems to last a week, the kids always get there moneys worth out of it! Started with a couple of girlfriends around after school last Thursday (day of actual birthday), to get pavalova and icecream for afternoon tea (they couldnt believe their eyes when I brought it out!) and then movies to see "UP" which was surprisingly good. Having seen the trailer for it, I wasnt really that interested, but the movie itself was so lovely. I have to say I have never cried in a childrens movie before, but I had several occasions when little tears trickled down my face (of course quickly disguised as something else "oh a fly landed on my face"). Then dropped girls off and picked up Daddy and went to McD's for tea. On Saturday Emily got picked up by G's parents to go shopping with birthday money and then a treat at a cafe. On Sunday we had the oldies (Grandp's) around for afternoon tea and Emily made a desert for us all.

It was quite funny because we had talked all week about this desert and all the ingredients needed to make it and had to make meringues the night before and then shop for more ingredients the next day, by the time it was made and ready to serve, she had completely gone off it, and didnt even want to see it getting served! You can lead a horse to water.....

We also cooked our dinner down the back one night, with sausages on sticks and bun at the ready! Great fun!

Tarnished Divas

Ok, Ok, its been a long time since I blogged... I get the picture everyone....

Its been a cool month, we have had lovely snippets of time together with family and friends. The most recent being the Tarnished Frocks and Divas show at Baycourt which was a breathtaking experience. The ladies who put that show together deserve an award. Its was classy and very professional. Will be booking in for the next one in 2 years. Thanks to Dad who join us on the Roof top carpark for our photoshoot.

When the show had finished, all the young chicks piked out and rang their hubbys to come and get them, but Mum and I hit the town and joined the other Divas at Bravo who were stopping in their to wet the whistle before attending the evening show. We glided in the door and recieved comments from the other ladies. Oh man we looked good! Special time was had with me and my Marmie as we shared a Bravo desert platter. You cant put a price on that. She has the most sparkly eyes, and even though she has had her share of unhappiness, her eyes tell the story that it doesnt matter anymore and each day is a gift. I like that.

I was blessed twice in the same month to share time with my other Parent too. Dad invited me to go and see the Bethlehem Art Exhibition, which consisted of lunch at Decor first and a nice time in the sunshine talking. Another invaluable moment.

Took the family on Sunday to the Exhibition as well, which was a challenge in itself. I usually take the kids each year, but first time hubby had come with us. Will leave him at home next time. Since the eldest has turned 9, he thinks hes an adult now and doesnt have to do what I say. He had a melt down about going to the Exhibt so I wrote a 30 paged questioneer for them to answer relating to paintings they had to find. This proved popular and a reward was had at the cafe afterwards.

Spring is here, yay and life is good.

Winter Holidays

Ok so the bin lids were rubbish (ha get it?) but well worth trying. The lid part was too grippy and it didn't slide very well. But guess what did work well: Grants 1988 garage sale snowboard hes never used. Yep that slid the slopes like a 1960's ford prefect car bonnet. Ryan actually got quite good at it, and lots of Hollywood tumbles were had! Our camera packed a sad in the cold, hence I have a few photos taken on the handy cam (what a great little device). Snowman/women made by the kiddies.

Went right up into Whakapapa via the shuttle and joined the cues of people waiting at the chairlifts to get into Happy Valley (sounds likes a mental institution) which was fun as I had never been on a chairlift before. Gosh you have to be prepared as they file you into place and whoop, it swoops you up and before you know it you are dangling down a very step cliff. We all had smiles on our faces. Its serious business though up at the ski fields. Everyone has all the right gears and man, it was busy. We stood around with our mouths open for a while like stunned mullets feeling quite outta place but enjoying the atmosphere. It certainly was a complete change of scene to what we would normally do on holidays. Grant needed a break and it proved to be just the thing. The beauty of the snow mountains was just breathtaking.

So mid afternoon came around and it was time to head down the mountain for a hot drink at the Chateau and a game of pool. Ryan eyed that table up last year and this year, we put it into action.

RYANS BIRTHDAY

After 1000kms of driving in 4 days, we arrived home to get ready for Ryans 9th birthday. Decided on an afternoon at the Rock House with a friend. Have to say, I think Emily enjoyed it more, she was up and down those walls like a spider monkey. Ryan was a little more hesitant but got the hang of it at the end. They have this great glow in the dark minigolf area as well, which is sooo much fun for the kids. Would recommend it.

We celebrated with family that weekend as well, with a Star Wars Chocolate Log cake. Yum yum.

Love your smile Ryan, you are so comfortable in front of the camera. xxx