Festive season and summer dresses

Scarily three weeks today its India and my birthday and December is so close! We decided to get in the festive spirit, not easy when you are used to associating Christmas with cold dark evening. 25 degrees plus and light till gone 9pm is somewhat difficult to get your head around, even though this is our third Christmas here.

We have also been birthday shopping and India has chosen some new togs and towel for her birthday and a new pair of puppy summer PJ's. Also a new school bag and dress ring. The girls have got new summer dresses, I have had the sewing machine out and got some great material from Spotlight to make them some light summer dresses. Great for camping in January. We have a practice camp next weekend - just over in Wainuiomata at the scout campsite with Catherine, family and friends. Should be fun, fingers crossed for a dry weekend!

India ha got over the disappointment of having a new pet for her birthday. 7 is enough pets for this family, she wanted a white rabbit who can live inside! Failing that a horse!! I think she may grow up to be a vet, it will at least address her Dr Doolittle tendancies!

Josh has been busy doing art at school and making panarama - looks like Mt Doom! Plus causing trouble at school, well a few tall tails that havn't gone down well!

Kapa Haka at Silverstream School

India was very proud to be involved with Kapa Haka this year and the final performance was amazing. They sung and danced three lovely Maori songs. Fingers crossed the school will let me have a copy of the video at some point.

Maori blessing at Kindy

Today the Mayor and Maori elders came to kindy to officially open the new Maori whare (house) and settlers house at kindy. They have had 2 wooden play houses specially built for the children. Mr Wayne Guppy the Upper hutt mayor offically opened the houses and then they were blessed by the elders from the upper hutt Orongomai Marae. Also present was the local MP Chris Hipkins (without his Ducati motorbike!) and Silverstream school principle Mary Ely.

First Flax Flower

After planting flax around the garden, the first one has flowered, plus a few other flowers and a dog spotted around the yard!

TT comes to GNS!

I havn't seen anything like this since the TT and Queen's prom!!! Today over 3000 bikers rode to Parliament to protest about 200% increases in bike road tax ACC levies. Some of the other GNS girls took these awesome photos! And yes even Andy's old Tiger was spotted!!!

More Mo and bunches

Not only is the Mo growing but Saffron's hair is growing too.... We can now get bunches in!
Andy has had a couple of donations at work and one from his mum en-route! Payday tomorrow, so I expect his total to rise a little more....

Wet dog and summer is here

Summer must have arrived, the kids were in the water having fun and Molly got her first beach experience and swimming in the sea!!!

Magic Mushrooms and Movember

Well the knitting has moved away from socks for the start of my Mushroom stash! James who runs the sunday knit club I attend has been asked to display his garden in the Greytown Anniversary weekend Arts festival. He is transforming his garden to a knitted fairy garden grotto, and has asked all friends of Joy sock shop to knit mushrooms. Here is a picture of my first one. Right back to the socks, I am sure I will knit up plenty more before the January deadline as they are very quick.

As for the Movember thing.......
Andy is doing the NZ Mo for Movember, click here for the link. You can watch his progress and sponsor him, as donations can be made from around the world! It is all to help raise money and support mens health. So please help support Andy and his brizzly attempt! I will post some more pictures later once we have shaped the Mo!!!

Josh had his second cricket game and is improving well, opportunity for the next Daniel Vettori yet!!!! He didn't loose his wicket, made around 7 runs, took a wicket, got a run out when bowling!!! His bowling and batting is coming on nicely.

Hairdresser again!

India decided to be a self taught hairdresser AGAIN!!! arghhhhh

This is after I trimmed the rest to match!!! MINX

puppy playdate

Today Molly had a playdate with her half brother Riley. Riley also lives here in upper hutt and is about 5.5/6 weeks older. Same dad - chocolate miniature poodle, but different mum. We think Molly's mum is a black and white English cocker spaniel. They are very similar, their mums may have been litter mates. They both have the same colouring, similar markings and very cute!
I expect more playdates will happen! They had nearly 1.5 hours of fun and I don't know about Riley, but Molly is cream crackered!