Rowing on the Boat


Visiting Puhoi


Kayaking at the Bach

   
December 2011

It is now five years since Sonia passed away and we are all doing great. Lydia is now 10, and Emily is now 8. But at this time of year it still feels like yesterday, especially after following the tragic story of Natalie Murphy. Another young women who died after a similar battle with breast cancer.

This was Lydia's last year at primary school and next year she will be starting Northcote Intermediate, so new challenges for her. It was quite sad thinking that this will be the last times with her good friends before they head off to new schools.

Over the summer holidays we spent time on the Boat and at the Bach, enjoying the fabulous weather, spending time on the beach and in the sea. Lydia really enjoys snorkling, and they both love swimming.

As a Year 6 Lydia went on her second school camp. Which I went along on as parent help for part of the time, as it was during Emily's birthday. This year the camp was at Hunua. Lydia enjoyed her time at school camp, except for the challenging part with meals.

During the year I try to go on as many school trips as I can fit in. As it is a good way for me to see how the girls are getting on with their teachers and friends. Emily's class was investigating water, so one trip was to the Waitakere Ranges to measure water quality.

This year the girls had a joint birthday party. We took them and their friends to Clip n Climb on Dominion Road.They all had heaps of fun, but it was a busy time for the adults clipping on children. Then we brought them all home for food, cake and playtime.

    




At the Beach


Class Trip Investigating Water


School Camp at Hunua



Lydia with Jessica

 



Lydia with Miranna

 



A Cake for Two

 



Emily's Birthday

 



Emily and Ruby Showing Art



Mothers Day Lunch

 



First Concert...

 



Katy Perry Tour 2011

 



An Amazing Show

 



Emily Pupil of the Week




Lydia Ready for Jazz Exam


Coffee Group 10 Years


Lydia and Emily after the Dolphins

   

Mothers Day was extremely busy this year. First we visited Sonia's grave, next we had a family lunch, and then we went to the Katy Perry concert.

This was the girl's first rock concert. I got special T-shirts made for the girls and passes to hang around their necks. It was a truly amazing show, so much more than just a concert. Katy Perry was a brilliant performer and really engaged with the crowd. The girls loved it. Emily found it a bit loud, so I had ear muffs for her to wear.

After missing out on an auction for a signed Katy Perry guitar on Trade Me. I managed to acquire a couple of others signed by INXS, Adele and Bono to add to my collection. With the idea of keeping the girls interested in music.

We had a Coffee Group 10 year re-union party, as it was about 5 years since we have seen everyone together. Some had travelled from up North and others from down South to attend. It was good to catch up, and discuss what had been happening. All the kids had grown up and changed so much, including new siblings.

The girls are busy after school with activities. Emily does Gymnastics, and received a few gymnast of the day awards. They are now both doing Jazz and Ballet, and are beautiful little dancers. Over winter they both did Netball, this was Emily's first year, so some of the games were one-sided as they played some more experienced players. While Lydia's team did very well and placed second in their grade. This summer the girls have started tennis again, much to their Nanna's delight. Emily is just doing practice, but Lydia has started interclub.

In late August our entire family headed down to Ruapheu to stay at the Chateau. We took the kids skiing at Happy Valley for the first couple of days, but on the last day we took them up to the top of the mountain for some runs. They were a bit tentative at first, but we managed to coax them along.

    




Emily Ready for Jazz Exam


Emily Starts Netball


Signed Guitars: Miley, Adele and Bono



Dolphins at the Bach

 



Ready for the mountain...

 



Emily, ta da...

 



Lydia under there

 



Rugby World Cup Parade



View from our room

 



Movie World

 



Wet & Wild

 



Sea World

 



Smile for the camera..



Dance Show Cheerleader


Bookweek: Red Riding Hood and Card Solider


Nanny Veronique

   
During the first part of the October holidays, while the girls were at the Bach, some dolphins came into the bay. Lydia and Emily were straight into the water to swim with them, while the others were a little bit hesitant.

Then I took girls to the Gold Coast, where we did Sea World, Movie World and Wet & Wild. I hired a car so we had fun navigating around. While we were finishing Movie World a severe storm stuck, with thunder and amazing lightning. It was the first time the girls had seen fork lightning. We got drenched making it back to the car, as this was the evening of the RWC semi-final I was keen to get back to the hotel in time. The girls favourite park was Wet & Wild as there was a lot of the slides we could do together. Heaps of fun.

Our nanny Veronique took the girls into town to watch the RWC parade, they managed to get a position by the road so they could see the All Blacks and the RWC Cup go by.

This year for the school book parade Emily wanted to go as Red Riding Hood and Lydia wanted to be a card soldier from Alice in Wonderland. So I had a busy time sewing the outfits, and making the giant card and staff. The girls are still doing well at school, and continue to excel with reading. Lydia is quite a bookworm. Emily received a Certificate for Effort at the school prize giving.

In December it was the dance schools show. Show is a bit of an understatement. This is a full on production, as good as any other professional show. The girls had their dances over three nights, so I got to see it three times. But the teachers and students are all so good, and an enjoyment to watch.

This December the girls Nanny Veronique had to resign, so it was quite a sad time for the girls as they came to grips with this. We have been so fortunate to have had Veronique looking after us for the past five and a half years.

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



Merry Christmas to you all,

Brent, Emily and Lydia. 		   



Dance Show Flower Fairy


School Prize Giving


By the Christmas Tree