Fishing on the Boat


Visiting Puhoi


Shortland St Experience

It is now seven years since Sonia passed away and we are all doing great. Lydia is now 12, and Emily is now 10. But at this time of year Sonia is still with us in our hearts and minds.

This was Emily's last year at primary and she moves to intermediate next year, and Lydia finished her 2 years at intermediate and moves onto Northcote College. It was sad to think this was the last time at primary. After 8 years there I've gotten to know the teachers and other parents very well.

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 and Emily enjoy fishing and snorkling, and they both love swimming.

In January this year we visited the set of Shortland Street, where we got shown around the sets and got to meet some of the actors. We even ended up with two walk on roles. The girls really enjoyed it, especially seeing how a show is made. There was a lot of anticipation while we waited for the episodes to air and to see that our scenes made the final cut.

For Auckland Anniversary weekend the girls and I went to Matakana with my girlfriend Barbara and her daughter Jorjia and stayed at the Riverside Matakana which was nice and relaxing. We went to the Brick Bay sculpture trail which was really interesting exploring the contemporary art works on display. It is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

For Emily's birthday we took a group of her friends to inflatable world. They had heaps of fun bouncing around and getting quite hot.

Emily and I went off to the school camp at Hunua. We took the kids on a walk up to the Kauri trees; to a real dairy farm where they got to milk some cows; and spookers corn maze. On the last night kids got to play spot light, where they hide in the dark trying not to be discovered while spotters tried to find them. Its amazing the effort that the teachers put in to ensure all the kids enjoy themselves.

Catching Crayfish


Ready to Snorkle


Emily Pupil of the Week

Lydia on TV

Matakana Trail

What can you hear...

Emily's Birthday

Emily's Party

Emily and Danika at Camp

Off for our tramp at Camp

Lydia's Party: Eden, Joanna and Miriana

Which pedal do I press?

Lydia Racing

Leis at the ABC Store


Hilton Luau Dancers


Posing by the pool

For Lydia's birthday we went to Action Speedway where the girls got to drive go-carts and bumper boats followed by dinner at Gengis in Takapuna and a sleepover.

In the April school holidays Barbara and I took the girls and Jorjia to Honolulu. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Waikiki. The hotel was great, and had a wonderful pool that we spent time in. The hotel was nice and close to the shops and the beach. We could walk to most places or catch the Waikiki Trolley.

Our first big excursion was to the premium oulet stores and the Ala Moana shopping center, where we shopped up a storm.

We also went out to Wet & Wild water park which wasn't very busy so we got in plenty of rides. At night we went to the Startlight Luau at the Hilton and got entertained with the great food, dancing and performances.

We visited Pearl Harbour and got the ferry out to the USS Arizona Memorial. The final resting place for the ship's 1,177 crewmen. There was a great film before the ferry ride which explained the events that unfolded on the 7th Dec 1941 using actual footage.

I took Lydia and Emily to Hanauma Bay, which was a great spot for snorkling with lots of tropical fish to see close to shore. We caught the Waikiki trolley around daimond head crater and went to the Waikiki Aquarium which had some great exhibits.

Before we left we took the girls to the Honolulu Zoo, which was amazing there were some really creative spaces for the animals, especially the African Savanna area.

We have been been down to visit Harry and his family in Hamilton, with Mary and Brooke giving the girls horse rides.

Wet & Wild


USS Arizona Memorial


Honolulu Zoo

Hanauma Bay

Amazing fish life

Waikiki Beach

Motat

Horse riding with Brooke

Trash2Fashion: High Flyer


Sponge Bob for target

Lydia entered the Trash to Fashion competition for schools with her friend Eden. They designed and created a dress out of scrap newspaper and materials. Even incorporating parts of a toy stroller. Lydia paraded the dress at the semi-finals held at the Mangere Arts Centre.

Lydia also represented the school in the Kids' Lit Quiz. A contest when school teams are asked rounds of questions about books, films and comics; much like a pub quiz. Lydia's team received a prize for winning the first round of questions about beverages.

A school project for Lydia was inventing. Lydia came up with the design concept for a lockable pencil case call the Pencil Passlock. So I helped her turn her design into a working prototype. We used a programable Arduino electronics kit, by combining three Arduino example to make a keypad controlled solenoid which moved to open a lock. Lydia's project won three awards. The Arduino kits are great as they help kids learn how to write basic programs that interact with objects in the physical world.

Lydia also made it into the school speech finals this year, which was an excellent achievement.

For daffodil day this year Emily's class wanted to have a Sponge Bob wet sponge throwing stall. So I built and painted a Sponge Bob board they could stick their heads through; so other kids could pay to throw wet sponges at them.

I helped on school trips to Motat for Lydia and the Museum for Emily. Its great to see them learning and having fun with their friends. I even got a certificate at the end of the year from the primary school for all the help I had given over the years.

In September I took the girls out of school and with the rest of our family we headed down to Mt Ruapheu for a few days skiing. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great, but we still managed to have lots of fun.

Horse Riding at Harry's


Brent's Cake

Pencil PassLock

Pencil PassLock: Arduino board

Museum trip

Lessons at SnowPlanet

Emily's a bit cold

Heading away for Mum's 70th

First helicopter ride

Riding a zip line

Rihanna Concert

Rihanna make an entrance

Nana, Grandad and Grandchildren


Boyz Weekend


Visual Arts Cup


Lydia's Mask

For Mum's 70th birthday we were only told about a mystery weekend. On the day we found out we were flying by helicopter to Waiheke to stay at Delamore Lodge. There was so much great food and drinks. We went on a trip around the island and even had fun zip lining.

In the October holidays I took the girls to Rihanna's Diamonds concert. We had a great view and a wonderful time. For the rest of the holidays Nana and Grandad took the girls up to the bach. Where Emily and Lydia got the oppertunity to swim with some dolphins.

In the last term Lydia's school was putting on a musical Suessical Jr. So a lot of time was devoted to practicing for the show and Lydia helped with costumes and art work. Lydia was the lead in the chorus playing Judge Yertle the Turtle. We were amazed at how well the show turned out, with very professional scenery, costumes and performances. But at the end after six shows Lydia was pretty tired.

The girls are still quite busy after school with activities. Emily does Gymnastics, and received quite a few gymnast of the day awards. They are still busy dancing with both girls doing Jazz and Ballet. Lydia is starting to learn pointe. They are beautiful dancers. Over summer they both play tennis.

The girls are still doing very well at school, and continue to excel with reading. Lydia received the Visual Arts Cup at the school prize giving, and Emily received a Certificate for Effort at hers.

In December it was the dance schools show. Lydia was in all five shows and Emily just the one. #StreamingLife was another incredible show put on by the school.

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

Suessical Jr: Judge Yertle


Graduation Ball


School Prize Giving


By the Christmas Tree