Waiting and praying

Another evening of sitting in front of the news feeling horrified as images of destruction flash across the screen.
Yesterday afternoon I watched as a young husband looked for his wife - continual prayer all day hoping that Kelly Maynard will go home to her honey and 2 young daughters. Is she ok? This evening a man spoke to his wife trapped in the CCTV building - excitement to know she was ok. Hours later they shut down that rescue site saying there is no hope. Heart breaking.
And now looters arrested. Time wasters.

Fellow kiwis we stand with you in prayer, knowing the reality of grief and pain and also the comfort of Him who knows.

And so we continue to pray and wait.

Birthday fun

Birthday fun!

A few extra's

The bonnet was a hit Dee!

A sweet girl doing her math

7 tomorrow

Tomorrow our baby will be seven. It sounds corny - but I can't believe it!! It seems like only yesterday that we lay her on our bed 10 hours after she was born and looked at each other in horror - as neither of us knew how to change her nappy!! What a joy this sweet and tender hearted girl is to us. She loves to laugh, to serve others and is very compassionate.

How proud we are of you sweet girl.

How humbled we are to be your parents.

xx

one day old

Having a belly laugh!

An English rose

2nd birthday

Big sister

So thrilled with Cinderella that she couldn't bear to look at her at Disneyland!

Proud big sister

First catch......

the cake...

Dah da ta dah...

Our church had a very special occasion this past weekend - the first wedding!

A beautiful and special day.

And of course the minister looked dashing in his suit ;)

Birthday treats

In a weeks time it's my honey's birthday - his 40th in fact. This year for his gift he decided he wanted kite surfing lessons. Cool! Today was meant to be his first lesson but as we were driving to the beach the instructor called and told us there was not enough wind.... so we could have his paddle board for a couple of hours for free instead. 

This is the life....

There's my hottie - ahem - I mean honey

First class travel for the maidens

(the water was knee deep)

The guy behind Jack is not actually doing a highland jig!

He is skateboarding :)

Doing his 'cheeeeeese' face.....

Historic Village field trip....

One of the cool things about homeschooling is that school is what you make it.

I find it very easy to get 'book focused' and sometimes school work becomes another thing for me to cross of my list of things to do that day.... but I homeschool so I can spend time with my kids. Time to just be together and laugh and play and grow and love. So sometimes I need remember that, put the books away and just BE with my kids.

Today we left the books on the shelves, the girls donned bonnets and we joined friends on a visit to a historic village (complete with costume dress). 

In school! 

The cheesiest grins ever!

Some of these rules are hilarious!

(double click to get the bigger picture)

I could never have been a teacher - I would have to stop "loitering downtown in the ice cream shops"!

The cutest little praire girls around!

happy days

2 years old

12 Feb 2009

'Jack Jack' as he is fondly known

Sweet little boy

(Christmas wrap - terrible!)

 This Feb/March is full of events so we had a combined birthday 

celebration for Jack and Georgia today. 

A picnic lunch with friends and family,

with cakes and excessive amounts of sugar for the kids.....

Opening some lovely gifts

Forgot to take the photo till they were in the car...

but you get the idea

Thanks to the lovely CHD for the ideas!

These are what I give at the end of the party instead of party bags.

They are full of lollies so when you shake them it's all a bit exciting!

Lovely friends to celebrate with

(and thinking of those who we wish were here!)

And family too

Jack how blessed we are to have you as a part of our family.

We love you so! 

xx

New socks from nana

Nana knows her three girls up north love socks 

(even in the middle of a very hot summer!)

Sadly there was a small pair of feet that felt left out....

(he isn't really left out - the socks came with his birthday gifts which he 

get's on Saturday.....)

9 years ago today...

8 years ago today.... Paris

7 years ago.... Lion King at The West End, London (very pregnant!)

6 years ago.... morning sick!

5 years ago... Curry from the village take-aways! 

4 years ago... out for dinner at 'Sound of music', The West End

3 years ago... home made dinner, in New Zealand!

2 years ago... heavily pregnant (again!) - dinner at Nando's!

1 year ago... Narrow's landing, Tamahere

today.... Nando's again!

Sneak peek...

Our big girl will be 7 in a few short weeks...

Of course she has asked for a quilt.

Of course I have only just started it.....

Cute huh!

Pre-bed activities

Back to school

While I love love love the school hols, there is something about the routine of 

a normal week that I find to be comforting.

It felt good to be back at the school table with my girls.

We started off with a cup of tea together and time to reflect on the holidays as well

as think about the coming year. 

It was put to us recently that maybe we should have the girls in school this year to ease up our schedule.

It probably would have eased things up.

But I am so glad we didn't.

Life is so good the way it is - for now at least.

One day at a time.

art class!