Renovated Bach


Visiting Puhoi


Lydia cheers on the Mystics

  
December 2010

It is now four years since Sonia passed away and we are all doing great. Lydia is now 9 with her big 10th coming up in March next year, and Emily is now 7. When Sonia passed away Lydia had just finished her first year at primary school, now next year she will be in Year 6, her final year.

Last years big project was renovations, this years big adventure was a trip in September to California and Disneyland. This trip couldn't come soon enough for the girls. Over the summer holidays we spent time at the Bach, enjoying the fabulous weather, spending time on the beach and in the sea. In January the girls gained a new cousin, Max Stanley Bowmaker, a healthy baby boy. Sonia would have been ecstatic.

For their birthdays this year Emily took a group of friends to Paint the Earth, while Lydia took her friends to Tree Adventures in Woodhill Forest. They scaled trees, swung like Tarzan and zoomed down flying foxes. They had heaps of fun. Well worth it for a fun time.

As a Year 5 Lydia went on her first school camp. Which I went along on as parent help. Lydia loved being away on the school camp, except for one challenging part, the food. But she got by. Just.

In April after visiting Sonia grave, we headed to Sheep World, just north of Warkworth. We had often driven past it, going to and from the Bach. The girls got to feed the lambs and even had a turn at sharing a sheep.

Lydia's netball team got to cheer on the Mystics at a televised netball game. As Lydia was on the end of the row, she was easy to spot on the TV coverage. It was an exciting game to watch, and made us wish there were more games at the Event Centre to go to.

   




At the Beach


Feeding at Sheep World


Emily lost her first tooth



Emily's Party at Paint the Earth

 



Lydia's Party at Tree Adventures

 



School Camp visiting Waihi Pit

 



Made by Lydia for her #1 Dad

 



Butterfly Creek




L at California Park


Goofy

                

Then September arrived and it was time for the big Adventure. 27 days of holiday. The longest holiday I've had since starting work. We flew over with my Sisters family and met up with Mum and Dad in Los Angeles.

First stop was 6 days in Disneyland. The children could not believe their eyes. Disneyland is a magical place. The rides, the characters, the parades. It is an amazing production. Nana got the kids autograph books, so they were busy getting signatures from as many characters as they could find. It took us 4 days to do most of the rides before we started going on the favourite rides again. The Grizzly River Run was a favourite to cool of on at the end of the day. But you did get wet, so luckily our hotel was close by.

After Disneyland it was on to Las Vegas. This was hot. Over 40C. We were staying at the Mirage, which had a volcano erupting outside. Mum and Donna were eager to hit the Outlet Malls, to see what the shops had to offer. In the evenings we went to a couple of variety and magic shows. At the Rick Thomas show Emily was chosen to help with a magic act, where he made a table float around. Then Mum and Dad, got chosen for an act, where in made Dad's watch disapper and then re-appear inside a sealed tin can, at the specific time that Dad had chosen earlier. We had no idea how he did that one.

Next was San Deigo where we visited Sea World, The Wild Life Park, Legoland, San Deigo Zoo and the USS Midway. All amazing to see, but a lot of walking. We got quite wet at Sea World, after we worked out that the splash zone really does mean soak zone, as the dolphins and whales are trained to deluge water over the crowd with their tails.

Finally is was up to Santa Monica to spend the last few days before out flight back. This is a very cool relaxing area. We went to Universal Studios on the day that LA had a historic heat wave that reached over 46C. That was really, really hot. The last day was Nana's birthday, so we hired a limo to take us around and show us the sites.

                 




A at California Park


Santa Monica Pier



We're here..

 



The White Rabbit

 



Anyone for tea..

 



Just hanging with the fairies

 



Who wanted to cool off..



Tigers at the Rick Thomas Show

 



On the deck of the USS Midway

 



Lydia feeding the Giraffes

 



Emily the Terminator

 



Are you sure it's big enough..



The Dress that Daddy Made


Bookweek: Garland and Alice


Dad's 70th Celebration

  
The second week of Term 4, was Book Parade where the children go to school dressed as their favourite character from a book. Emily was easy, she wanted to wear the costume we got in America. But Lydia really wanted to go as Garland from Maddigan's Quest.

After finding some pictures, it was off to the shops to get some fabric, buttons and zips. Then I had to work out how to sew my first dress. After two nights on the sewing machine, I had created the dress, camisole, arm bands, a necklace and bow. A pretty fine job. It even managed to stay together during the parade.

The girls are doing well at school, especially with their reading. I try to go on as many class trips as I can to help out, and see how well they are getting on with their friends and teachers.

In November it was Dad's/Grandad's 70th birthday. We had a fantastic Rock and Roll evening up at the "shed", which was fully decked out, even with a marquee for his car collection.

The girls are still busy with after school activities. Emily has taken up Gymnatics and they both started singing lessons. Which Lydia is doing really well at. They are still doing their dancing and the show at the end of the year is an incredible experience.

Well I hope that gives you a bit of an insight into our busy year.



Merry Christmas to you all,

Brent, Lydia and Emily. 		  



Emily's School Trip to MOTAT


Dressed Up for Halloween


By the Christmas Tree