Family BBQ

It isn't often that we have family from out of town and out of the country all here at once! When that did happen for Mum's birthday we made sure to look for plenty of opportunities to spend time together. The day after the party we all met for a BBQ (food is always good, right?).

Coromandel Camping Trip

For a few days over Christmas I had the house to myself while the others were camping down in the Coromandel with some other families from church. Thought I'd share a few pics from their trip. :)

: : Bryce turned 7 on the trip so had plenty of people to celebrate with lol :) : :

: : Lots of bushwalking : :

: : Gorgeous : :

: : Dishes . . . yeah I preferred having plenty of hot water lol : :

Church Picnic || Cornwall Park

March 1st saw a number of people from church gather at Cornwall Park for the day. Hooray for having too much gear to fit in one vehicle; a good drive by oneself is always good. ;)

We enjoyed a picnic lunch of filled rolls and bacon and egg pie (someone remind me to put curry or something in the pies next time, okay?) and set up volleyball and swingball.

Don't you just love our net? Initially they'd tried slinging blankets over the rope between the trees, but found it was difficult to play when the ball kept disappearing on the other side of the blanket. [smile] Occasionally the ball got caught in the tree but for the most part this was a great makeshift net!

Lunch. And the barbies are ready for dinner :)

Swingball: Amelia, Keith, Megan

During the arvo more sports were played and many of us walked up the hill (some more directly than others lol). While we were walking up we found a really steep patch (the path was next to it but hey . . .) so think: "Run up, slip, slide down." Haha.

People often use these rocks to write things. Here our group made F.P.C. (Free Presbyterian Church)

We finished the day with a barbecue dinner and group worship, by which time it certainly didn't feel like summer any more. :P 

Glenbrook Vintage Railway

: : Uncle Paul, Aunty Yvonne, and granddaughter Madisyn : :

One Saturday last month we went to Glenbrook Vintage Railway's "Thomas the Tank Engine Day."

I drove the car, with Mum following us in the van; she stayed close for a while, then not long after getting on the motorway I lost sight of her, but noticed a vehicle had pulled to the left. Sure enough (just as we passed the Papakura off-ramp) Dad's phone rung. She had a flat tyre and we needed to turn around. Off at Drury, back on in the opposite direction, turn around again at Manurewa, then found Mum. Not so great for getting somewhere asap, but the extra driving time looks quite nice on my driving log. haha 

: : Danielle, Abby, Megan : :

In the words of Bryce (4 years):

"We had a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. We went to Glenbrook Vintage Railway. We had afternoon tea with the de Bruins and lunch on our own. 

I wanted to go on the tiny [train] that couldn't go anywhere - almost like Thomas the Tank Engine. We were standing up outside in the carriage and the train went back and forwards, and make noise.

: : Rita and Monique : :

In the big train where w were sitting down, there was a girl crying because she wanted to go to sleep but she didn't want to, that's why she started crying. I was sitting with Bianca one way, and with Mum and Dad and Megan on the other way (and Maria and Laura) - I think Laura.

We went to the trains shed we saw trains, and Dad took me on the train and I have got a photo of that. You [Mum] took it. And one way, there was a step thing and I got up myself and choosed a seat with Bianca. And Aunty Yvonne helped me down, she was being very kind. I got a ticket, but the man didn't clip it - he skipped me.

: : Bryce : :

I saw the Fat Controller and we took photos, but I didnt sit with him. I played on the playground, but the de Bruins had to leave. I like that day, I would like to go back again."

: : Phone box : :

: : Laura : :

Day After New Years Day ~ Part 2

Hey again everyone =)

So to get straight into it...We arrived home late in the afternoon, and a bit tired. Instead of relaxing, however, we began preparations for a New-Year-barbeque at my cousins' place.



Playing a game - I know there must be a name for this, but I forget
what it is. (Sorry!) So basically we picked the name of a book, movie, etc,
drew a dash for each letter of the title, and began drawing a picture on the chalk
board, which helped everyone guess the title. Hope that makes some sense...I'm really tired!




Here is Monique's (10yrs) picture, sorry I don't remember what the title was.




Diana (6yrs), Megan (5yrs), and Bryce (4yrs) enjoying their desserts. =)




My cousin Megan

 Okay so this isn't exactly a massive long report like I would have liked, but hey, you got to see some pics anyway =) lol