Monique's Birthday || Presents

: : Mum didn't manage to get Laura a book in time for her birthday, so she gave it when we did Monique's presents : :

: : Laura knows her colours really well : :

: : Monique's gift collection : :
{Sorry, I got the photos out of order somehow :P}

: : Cutie : :

: : Delivering Jarrod's present : :

Walking in the Karangahake Gorge || Part 2

 : : Old mining tunnel : :
{Saw lots of these!}

: : So there's room to walk upright, but yeah . . . doesn't look particularly inviting! : :

: : This view is a whole lot better ;) : :

: : Uncle Paul + Aunty Yvonne with overhanging cliff : :

: : Woohoo, another swing bridge! : :

: : Not sure who these people are?! : :

: : The walkways look small in comparison to the huge cliffs! : :

: : Stairway leading up to the tunnels : :

At this point, the camera gave up altogether, declaring all the backup batteries were completely flat. {Grace -- this is when you send me some :P}

Dusk was well on its way when we finished walking and headed back to the vehicles. A stop was made at Paeroa for dinner, and then Grace and I attempted to hold a conversation between the erm, rather loud, noises coming from the back seat. lol

Walking in the Karangahake Gorge || Part 1

In April of this year, my Mum's youngest brother tied the knot, causing the first family reunion in about 19 years. My Uncle Richard and cousin Grace came from Aussie a couple weeks prior so we would have time to catch up aside from wedding bustle. The last (actually, only) time Grace and I have met was 10(!) years ago, when my family visited Aussie. Uncle Richard was in NZ only (haha) about eight years ago. So yeah, it had been a while but it was great to catch up again. {Miss ya Gracie, come back soon!!! :'( <3}

Easter Monday obliged us by appearing on the calendar only a couple of days after their arrival, so we all headed down to explore the Karangahake Gorge.

: : Checking the map + getting ready to walk : :
Lots of cousins. Plenty more missing too :P

: : Crossing the first swing bridge : :

: : Danielle : :

: : Loving all the ferns + tree ferns : :

: : Hey, look Kayger, a photo of me :P haha : :
{Thanks Aunty Yvonne!}

: : Uncle Paul + Aunty Yvonne : :

Scale Practice Starts Young In Our House! (JK)

D Major on the recorder:

B Major on the piano. 5 sharps anyone?!

Maria & Laura: Birthday Cakes

{Due to her excema, Maria is on a fairly restricted diet for now; Mum made up her own recipe for cake and hasn't done one for icing (at this stage anyway. lol)}

: : Laura's cake : :
{Yeah, she's not on a diet. lol}

: : Yum : :

#WordsofWisdom

"Knowledge is the key that unlocks all doors. You can be green-skinned with yellow polka dots and come from Mars, but if you have knowledge that people need, instead of beating you, they'll beat a path to your door." ~Dr. Ben Carson

Maria & Laura: Birthday Gifts || Part 2

So now that I've gone and put my logo on all these photos, I realise that Jarrod probably took most of them. Oops :P

: : Gift from the photographer : :

: : Busily unwrapping : :

: : Her first car!! : :

: : A new scarf : :
{I made it}

: : Cardstock : :

: : Containers to store their stationery : :

: : Exchanging gifts : :

: : Laura's collection : :

: : Maria's collection : :