Christmas

The extended family on Dad's side travelled from around the country for something of an annual reunion in Eltham for Christmas. 

My picture supply is a little short I'm afraid but we had a good time catching up with everyone again.

Eltham Trip {Day 4 ~ Saturday}

Saturday started early -- about 4:30am for me!! Jarrod and I went with Uncle Mike to his 4 Square to help with the baking and such that has to be done before the shop even opens. Several hours later the family arrived to get Jarrod (they couldn't get everything into the trailer without him apparently . . . ) and Danielle joined us at the shop. We all met at Uncle Mike and Aunty Sonia's for lunch before hitting the road. We had a pretty good trip, stopping for dinner in Te Kuiti and arriving home around 8pm.

: : Laura with everything before it gets loaded up! : :

: : The queen of faces! : :

Eltham Trip {Day 3 ~ Friday || Part 2}

We spent most of Friday at Uncle Mike and Aunty Sonia's place taking it easy, enjoying the slow pace of holiday life! :) 

: : Isaac and Laura : :
Guess who's older?

: : This hallway became a playroom while we were there! : :

Eltham Trip {Day 3 ~ Friday || Part 1}

On Friday morning the others all explored the camp. Enjoy the pictures they captured!

Eltham Trip {Day 2 ~ Thursday}

Our first full day in Eltham was pretty relaxing; I read for a while, some of the others explored the camp and saw the manager's family's animals, Nana come for the afternoon, Lucus arrived after school, and finally Uncle Mike joined us for a barbecue dinner. Enjoy the shots below that I captured of {mainly} Bryce and Lucus playing with the rugby ball!

: : I was just trying to get a photo of Bryce holding the ball . . . but then I got this and I love it! Excuse the lens flare :( : :

: : Which is your favourite version? : :

: : Lol his face! : :

: : These two cousins were inseparable! : :

: : Lol seriously? This is just after he's kicked the ball : :

: : Because we live with only the basic necessities when we're on holiday *cough* : :

Eltham Trip {Day 1 ~ Wednesday}

Recently, Nana spent a couple weeks in the Taranaki region staying with my uncle and aunty, and since that's closer than Wellington we took the opportunity to spend a few days with her -- without the 9-hour drive each way!

Ultimately we started organising for our trip (leaving Wednesday) on Monday, but I'll not bore you with all that, and we'll go straight to Wednesday! :) Dad intended to spend a few hours at work, so headed off first thing as usual. At home, we packed clothing, made pizza (for dinner on the road) and biscuits. Mum took someone to the dental nurse and did a few jobs around the place. Finally we hooked the trailer up, and loaded both van and trailer. Around 4:30 (lol . . . and we were going to leave early afternoon!) we left to get Dad from work and be on our way. After a loose tyre, traffic, and who knows what else :P, we left again around 5:30 . . . this time for real! 

We had dinner en route and otherwise entertained ourselves in various ways. And people, Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) is good. haha ;) We arrived in Eltham 10:30ish and Uncle Mike showed us to the camp. We set up in a 12-bed, 4-bedroom (more than home lol) lodge and finally made it to bed around 12. (Notice I said "bed". Or maybe don't notice. Anyway.)

Following are a few images of the camp taken throughout our stay.

: : Some bikes arrived in one piece, others were dismantled to fit in the trailer lol : :

: : Kitchenette : :

: : Monique and Danielle's room : :

: : Lounge : :

: : Jarrod and Bryce's room : :

Eltham - Day 1 - Friday 23rd December

Written 23rd December

On Friday, 23rd December I attempted to get an early start to the day, but apparently I was too tired from previous days of preparation! Anyway the rest of my family did get up early (for them lol! =)), and organised the rest of our belongings that we hadn’t been able to pack the day before. We managed to leave home about 9:15am, after a slight delay as Dad didn’t like the fact that the back window was entirely blocked!

I passed the time by reading Courageous, a very interesting book! Can't wait for the movie to come out.... Hmm I was wishing I understood Spanish though! =)

Not too far into the trip Diana (6) asked: “Are we nearly there yet?” Wow was I glad it was only a six-hour trip to Eltham, not far from New Plymouth, rather than the the nine-hour trip to Wellington which we have done nearly ever year for as long as I can remember!

Around 1pm we had a 1-hour lunch stop in Mokau. Then back on the road, and I let Diana have my camera to take photos and videos. Need I say that the batteries were dead when she’d finished? Lol!

Here are a couple of pics from the drive:



A tunnel we drove through...

Mount Taranaki (aka. Mount Egmont)

 

Uncle Mike's number plate!

We took a slightly round-about trip, through New Plymouth, to pick up some boxes of Favourites my uncle needed for his shop (Eltham Four Square). About 4pm we delivered the Favourites, and followed my uncle, with his awesome number plate, to the campground we and our extended family were staying at – Eltham Presbyterian Campground. After inspecting much of the complex, we finally chose a cabin, brought our many bags and suitcases in, and readied our beds for when we would come in late and tired.

Soon Nana and Aunty Sonia arrived, and we just sat and talked for a while, apart from an all-out search for Maria (21-months) when no one new where she was; and Dad was worried because there is a stream not far away. We continued talking until Uncle Mike had not only come back(he’d gone home for a little while), but also barbequed the sausages and prepared the rest of dinner. All of us then went down to the hall, complete with kitchen, tables and chairs.

After dinner Uncle Mike brought out all the Christmas decorations which we helped put up, then readied tressle tables and chairs for the expected 35 people.

When it got a bit later Uncle Mike, Aunty Sonia, Nana, and Lucus (my 3-year-old cousin) left for Uncle Mike and Aunty Sonia’s house, and we began our long routine in preparation for bed! It is now 11:19 and, obviously I guess (seeing as I’m writing this!), we havn’t finished the routine yet!

So I’m typing this on my new laptop (picked it up on Wednesday lol!), listening to the Manna Worship Album #3(?) I think. Jarrod has just climbed into his top-bunk bed (he was sitting next to me watching me type), Mum is trying to put Maria to sleep, and everyone else is in bed. I’m also about to head there, as yes I’m VERY tired!

Tomorrow we’re expecting Uncle Bill, Aunty Melissa, Olivia (12) and Harrison (8) to arrive sometime in the afternoon, and Uncle Marty, Aunty Denise, Mitch (18) and Kurt (16) around 9pm. Uncle Mike, Aunty Sonia, Lucus, Nana, and some of Aunty Sonia’s family are also coming to stay at this campground.

Well I’m going to bed now (11:29) so,

G’night everyone!

Love Bee =)

December 25 --Christmas Day!--

We got up and organised, then left for my uncle's shop - Eltham 4 Square. He has a massive room, with ajoining kitchen, etc above the shop's storeroom.



The side of another building out the back of Uncle Mike's shop.



A view of the front of the shop

Mum got the vegies cooking, and the rest of us talked a little bit, and waited for the food to be ready =).

Eventually(!) the food was ready and we all sat down to a late lunch of roast pork and chicken, bread rolls, carrots, peas & corn, broccoli, various salads and roast potatoes. Unfortunately some of the little ones' appetites had been kinda ruined from all the snacks they had eaten before lunch!
During lunch wasn't exactly quiet with lots of talking, party poppers and christmas crackers.

A while after lunch we did pressents - the giver wore a pair of 'Santa' pants and hat - this wasn't exactly quiet either, with shouts of delight, etc....!
I recieved

• A necklace with a heart pendant - Uncle Mike and Aunty Sonia
• Gold bracelet with ruby and hankies - Nana
• Cool Charm body spray, handbag and hand cream & mini emery board travel pack - Uncle Marty and Aunty Denise
• Uncle Bill and Aunty Melissa did one pressent for our whole family - a family pass to Wellington Zoo.

And I have a funny feeling I might have missed one or two..so if I remember I'll edit this.



In this photo, Nana is giving out pressents.
Recieving the pressent is Maria, held by Jarrod.
 Behind them is Aunty Sonia with Lucus - her son-  (just turned 2).
Continuing from left to right, Danielle, Dad, Diana, Mitch
 (17), Kurt (15), and at the front - Uncle Mike.



Lucus' new car, Harry (7) with his new boxing gloves



Diana's new stroller



Okay, I'm pretty sure dessert was next, and I got roped into helping prepare it (no, Aunty Melissa, I didn't mind =)).

Pavlova, trifle, chocolate brownies, christmas pudding, custard....dessert was a hit same as usual! 

We sat around talking for a while longer, then most of us went for a walk... Uncle Bill started randomly waving at all the cars that went past! We got lots of weird looks! At one point there was guy sitting in the drivers seat of a car on the opposite side of the road, facing us. Well, we waved at him, but he continued to stare straight ahead with a straight face, like "I  am NOT going to look!" Uncle Bill yelled "Oy!" Still nothing. Unfortunately it is no where near as funny here as it was at the time, we all started laughing!

After the walk we started to clean up, and Uncle Mike gave Christmas stockings to everyone 12 or younger (well, 11 I guess).
After we left there, we drove around Eltham a bit, and as they had filmed a movie or something there, heaps of shops were done up to look really old, etc... here's a photo of one, although I think this one was more for the name:

So then we went back to the backpacker hostel, and everyone played with their new toys, had supper and went to bed.


Bee