Pimps, Avengers and Memories

Tom continues to astound us with his fashion sense and it's terrifying to think what he will look like when he is older.
The boys were blown away with the avengers so much so that everything now involves Marvel.
It's great introducing old movies to the boys, Pink Panther with Peter Sellers was a huge hit.
We found a spiderman outfit downstairs, who is our superhero?
Memories - we had some photos taken before we left Gsy. Seems like a lifetime ago.

Concerts, cakes and contraptions

Fran enjoyed the Lady Gaga concert and produced some vital masks for the show?!
Oli is Marvel mad and is desperate to see every movie.
We are still enjoying our walks from our house particularly the coast walk to Mairangi Bay.
Alex continues to build weird and wonderful things out of anything he can get his hands on. The glue gun is always on!
Tom is loving books and is clearly following his big brothers footsteps.
Celebrating the queens birthday Fran made an awesome cake.

Many faces of the boys!

Tom is the real actor in our family, loves to dress up and takes it very seriously.
Nanna is frequently sending parcels which the boys love because of the magazines and chocolate!
The boys look so grown up in their school uniform and Oli just loves the Lorax.

Arrowtown, Cardrona, QT and Wanaka

During our visit in Queenstown we checked other possibilities to live in. Arrowtown was close to QT but was a little creepy almost Stephen King like but many speak highly of it.
Wanaka was also beautiful but very small. It is about an hour away from QT and not far from the ski fields.

Queenstown mobile shots

Took a photo of the local paper to show off that we were there during the fireworks for Winterfest.
On our way back from Wanaka we stopped in the Cardrona pub, you can't beat a pint and an open fire!
The Winterfest brought many activities including ice-rinks and concerts.
It was beautiful.

Joe Mobile in June

During our visit in Queenstown we checked out the ice-rink and they have ice-hockey league, could be the perfect thing for Tom's anger management.
Nerds a popular sweet in our house and the 'nerds rope' will guarantee complete decay of their teeth!
The iPad continues to be focal point of our life. We could do with five! Brain pop Jr was very popular and hopefully has some educational value.
The candlestick shot is of our view during our early morning coffee, could get used to that view!
On our way to the west coast we stopped in Titrangi for a coffee and the boys had hedgehog biscuits, essential.

Piha

After exploring the sand dunes of Kare Kare we decided to visit Piha for some lunch and quick walk on the beach.  Tom was desperate to find some starfish.  He was disappointed.  We only found one but we did get to explore the new cafe and the coffee was good!

West Coast visit

Susan and Aine stayed for a week and on Saturday we dropped them off at the airport.  On our way back we decided to visit the West Coast in the Waitkeres as we haven't been for so long.  We started the journey Kare Kare as Fran has never been there.  The boys were so excited to climb the sand dunes they, accept Tom, never reached the beach!  Unfortunately, the following day they were covered in bites, they might not do that again!

Queenstown Pt 5

Our time down here coincided with the opening of the Winterfest which started with fireworks and lots of other festive activities.  The Winterfest registers the opening of the mountain and beginning of the ski season.  The night before we watched a concert of top kiwi bands and in the morning there was a jet boat competition.  Shame Oli wasn't with us, he would have loved it.

Queenstown Pt 4

Minutes from the hotel is a walk around a headland where you can take in all the views.  It was a bit of chilly -2 but once we were wrapped up it was fine.  The weather brought out all the wonderful colours surrounding us and it was truly inspiring. The photos do not do any of it justice. The park was also a frisbee golf park which brought a smile to our faces and there was a great looking ice-rink in the middle.