Wednesday

We headed off to Auckland for a couple of days, hopeful that the weather forecast we saw a few days before was not entirely correct.

We had to get the company car serviced on our way up to Auckland, so we a bit later getting there, but headed straight to Butterfly Creek. I'd seen and heard lots about it, what a neat place. We didn't get many butterflies land on us, or the few that did had gone again by the time I got the camera on. We also enjoyed Buttermilk Farm, and the Red Admiral Express.












































































After that we headed to Manukau and had an early dinner, and then to the movies (Night at the Museum, which as I said, is a great movies for kids and adults)

We checked into our hotel, and then went on a late night trek to the supermarket to get supplies for the next day. This is Cameron, mucking around in the shower It was very, very late by the time the kids went to sleep, as we only had a 1 room unit, which I swear is the last time we do that.






Thursday

Up nice and early, breakfast, and Rainbows End. Unfortunately Cameron was very reluctant to try many of the rides, although we managed to 'trick' him into getting on the log flume, and the gold rush, but he held that against us for the rest of the day.

While I watched Braden finish his turn on something, Jon and Cameron went and got us a seat to watch the magic show. This was amazing, a little loud, but I guess it got everyone in the mood. He did the usual come out in the crowd and pick someone, and stopped to ask me a question, and I freaked, but he was having me on, and chose a kid. Jon was laughing at me, only for the magician to come and pick him for an assistant. In the next trick he came back out to the audience, and yep, got me this time. Then for his last trick he chose Braden to go help him. The crowd was absolutely packed, so it wasn't like there was anyone else to choose, but I think he chose us because we were participating earlier.
We eventually got Cameron to try the kids rocket ride, and then we couldn't get him off it. I sent Jon off to have a turn on the roller coaster, while the kids had a few more turns, and before we knew it we were being shuffled out the door, it had been just after 10am, and it was now 5.50pm.

Looking for a good movie, especially for kids.......... a must see


NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM!

Camerons birthday /Rotorua

Saturday was Cameron's birthday, so, as his birthday 'party' won't be till later in the holidays, we decided to go to Rotorua for the day. It started out a bit miserable, and we braved a bit of rain for a game of mini-putt, and the boys went in the racing car simulator.

Then we went into town, and bought some bedroom furniture, during which time, the weather had cleared to be an absolutely beautiful afternoon, so we braved the crowds and went up the gondola. We were very fortunate to have arrived just as some guys were leaving, and they gave us their passes (the queue at this stage was about 20 minutes, and they had had enough), so we got a total of 9 free rides, wahoo! Last time Cameron had riden the luges with us, as we didn't feel he was capable of operating it himself. That time we were on the luge with him, and obviously it was heavier than if it was just him, so this time we let him try it by himself. That was the end of him. Had a ball. We finally used our passes up, (the queues got quite short after our second turn) and left about 7.30, very tired, but having had a great day.

We had planned to go to the Hamilton Zoo with my Dad on Friday after Christmas, but we woke on Thursday, everyone was awake early (well, early for us) and the weather was absolutely beautiful, so we went then instead (which was lucky, as it was wet on Friday)

Nothing too exciting happened, we got to see most of the animals, but the best thing was the chimpanzees, which have a new area. It has a bridge over their area, and after you walk across the bridge you can go check out their sleeping quarters. While we were standing at the bridge we noticed one of the animals was clutching something, which we later figured out to be a little girls hat. He then got up, and headed inside so we followed him, and we lucky to have a bit of an encounter at the viewing window.

Yaaaaaaaaay, it's done!

After many problems, trying to get my computer from hubby and the kids, running out of ink, then having to retrieve the software from the old computer so I could print my photos in the sizes I wanted.......... never mind, it's done.

I've done the pages, will work on the cover tonight, while I laze around awaiting the New Year

Challenge 1 - Tree


















Challenge 2 - Food


















Challenge 3 - Gifts


















Challenge 4 - Events


















Challenge 5 - The meaning of Christmas


















Challenge 6 - Music


















Challenge 7 - Summer


















Challenge 8 - Family


















Challenge 9 - Family photo


















Challenge 10 - After lunch


















Challenge 11 - Christmas Eve


















Challenge 12 - Boxing Day


















Now my pages don't appear in this order, and therefore will not make much sense, there are also other halves missing, which is why some of the titles are only half there, but I wanted to get these pages posted for now.

ETA I've just noticed the 'd' has gone awol on the parade page, will have to find it or make another!

This time 8 years ago, I would have headed off to bed, completely unaware of how my life was about to change.

As it was the holidays, Jon had been up till about 2am watching movies, I had gone to bed quite a bit earlier, however, about 3am I woke to the start of my labour. Being a first baby I wasn't sure what to expect, so I ran a bath, but couldn't lie in it, I then paced the hall for a while, until 4, when I woke Jon to tell him we better go to the hospital, fortunately only 5 minutes down the road.

They had to break my waters, as I was ready to deliver, and Cameron arrived at 6.15am. I was very lucky to have such a short labour, although most of it would have been happening while I was asleep, and for baby to be such a happy little chappy (not that it lasted long).

And that is how my life changed so dramatically all those years ago.

'Twas the night before Christmas........ the kids enjoyed watching a Christmas movie, Home Alone, and then we went for a walk down our street to see the lights (we'd been for a drive around town the night before)

Then on the big day, the kids opened their stockings at home ...........and we went to Hamilton, to Jon's family for lunch. After lunch we just chilled, played Mousetrap, pulled Grandmas special crackers, kids played outside with their new 'ball' thingy, We then went home, and picked up FIL for dinner (he lives in a resthome)

Then......... Boxing Day, we did it all over again with my family. Lunch was somewhere around 1.30, and continued on till about 4, nice and simple, BBQ, salads, and we just sat round, enjoying each others company..... till everyone left about 7.
My Dad enjoying the kids toys..........
My neice was so fascinated with the Bubble Generator

Further proof that I am working my way through my list.