Waiheke Island for 3 Days

Another adventure in New Zealand. This time with Nana and Papa.

"We boarded the Ferry to Waiheke Island on Monday. I was so excited about my first boat ride that I didn't sleep too well the night before and I couldn't stay awake - I slept almost the whole way. I guess the rocking of the boat made me sleepy, maybe that is what Mom and Dad need to do to get me to sleep more, take more boat rides. I am not sure Mommy and Daddy think that is a good idea though because they both of us get sea sick.

" Look my new room for the next couple of days - I think it is great!!"

"I can look over the edge and see Nana reading and doing her puzzles, she doesn't even know I am watching her, very sneaky!"

"The second day we checked out the shops and had lunch in a cafe, I slept for a little while but then I needed to get up to see all the action, I heard Daddy was getting a brownie with his lunch and thought I might like to try it"

"See there is the brownie - No he didn't share it with me at all, not very nice"

"Then we took a tour to some of the wineries, I didn't get anything to eat or drink there either - not fair. The sun was shining but it was a little windy"

"This winery, Mudbrick, I didn't get to see, Mommy made Daddy drive me around in the car, I hate it when she does that - she makes me fall asleep, I didn't get to try the wine or see the nice view from the top, Poor Daddy had to drive me around while I cried and cried until I finally gave up and slept for a little while."

"Mommy took a nice picture of the view so that I could see it after my nap. If you look really closely you can see the city in the back and rangitoto as well - what a beautiful country I live in"

The next day was another beautiful sunny day - windy again - so we decided to go on a hike. Started out through a farmers field, very muddy. I don't know what everyone was complaining about, I didn't get dirty at all."

"Daddy does a good job of carrying me on hikes - so good I fell asleep AGAIN! Daddy said this picture was taken at the bottom of a really big hill that was muddy and slippery and here the ground was so wet from all the rain we were having that Mommy complained about having wet feet. I didn't get my feet wet - sometimes I think she complains for no reason, don't tell her I said that though"

"Mommy is walking on the 'perilous bridge' No one knows why it is called that, doesn't look too dangerous to me"

"Daddy and I are leading the way - following the trail markers, good thing daddy isn't sleeping too or we would get lost"

"Back through the cow fields - sooooo muddy Nana had to lift up her pants"

"Back home for some lunch and a rest - Nana and I get to spend some time together, I think she likes me a lot"

"Later that day we went out AGAIN - I hate riding in cars, have I said that before. I keep telling Mommy and Daddy that but they keep straping me into the silly things - one day they will get the picture, I hope. This time we went for a walk to an old battery that was never used because no one ever invaded New Zealand. There were lots of rock that they aren't sure where they came from. It was thrown here by one of the volcanoes, Daddy said it looks like the rock they saw all the way up north. I wouldn't have wanted to be standing here when all this rock came flying out of the sky. If you look really carefully you can see some sheep hiding behind the rocks"

"Nana and Papa coming down from a big hill. There was a nice view from the top"

"I had such a long afternoon nap that we got to the battery too late and it was closed. Papa really wanted to see the gun turret so he climbed the hill to have a look. Daddy and I climbed up after him but Mommy and Nana decided to stay on the level ground - they had enough hill climbing for one day I guess."

"Mommy is short enough to work in the tunnels"

"I told you it was pretty late, it was dark on our drive back to the bach. This is the car that came with the bach that Mommy rented. It was a nice car Honda CRV Mommy thinks that her and Daddy should buy one."

"All right I have had enough pictures for one day - give me that camera!"

"Today is the day we go home! I get to sleep in my own bed and no more car driving!!!"

"It is such a happy day, one more diaper change and I am off home, can't wait to get back on that ferry again"

"This seahorse has been so helpful it calms me down when I am sad and I can give it cuddles when I am not able to cuddle Mommy in the car."

"Nana and Papa and I on the ferry. It took a long time to get this picture right. I got tired of smiling, Nana and Papa just couldn't get it right - they kept looking at me instead of the camera."

"Yummy My hand tastes so good lately, you should give it a try"

"What a great trip - two boat rides, two hikes, lots of wineries, so much beautiful scenery and good weather. Can't wait for our next adventure maybe Nana and Papa will want to go bungy jumping next"

What have we been up to?

Shots by the duck pond


Some of the family


"Hey how come you aren't posting any photos of me?"


"Yes I do like my new tent, when am I going to be able to sleep in it?"


Looking out at low tide, on a walk around the corner from our house.








Aren't they a cute couple






A family photo - Lucas never seems to like family photos






A pukeko, they were looking for food in Dad's camera bag.






A great place for a photo


Fish hook!!!

The Adventure Continues

Lots of inside activities - Mom is teaching me how to crochet!!!

We have been having some crazy weather done on this side of the world. We have had 3 crazy storms hit NZ. Trees have come down, slips all over the country and boats washed up on shore. So unfortunately it hasn't really been tourist weather. We are slowly coming out of the craziness though. Today the rain has held off and yesterday the sun even came out so hopefully we are on the other side of all the bad weather.

Lucas has been a little worse for wear and has had his first cold. Runny nose and generally grumpy all round. Today has been so much better, a few smiles and laughs.

Today Lucas had a babysitter for the first time - Nana and Papa stayed at home while Peter and I went to take a look at the photos we had taken of Lucas. He was really good, he was sleeping when we left, when he woke up my Mom gave him a bottle, which he took with no problem of course - he is such a hungry little guy. Then he played until we got home. Mom said he was looking around and knew that something was not quite right. Lots of smiles when we got home. We are hoping to actually go out for dinner while Nana and Papa are here. We will see if Lucas cooperates or not.

Elissa and Sean came over for dinner last night. lucas made sure to wake up to say hello. It was nice because Sean hasn't seen him since before he left for Canada. He says he has grown a lot I guess after a month kids do that.

Peter and my Dad have been busy fixing up the house - lots of stuff to be done around here. It will be nice to have all the things fixed up and back in working order - the latest project was to put up plastic sheeting to cover our back porch to give us a little bit of shelter outside from the rain.

Nana thinks it is very cold here. She even bought Lucas a fleece vest not to wear outside but for in the house!

He is getting more used to his exersaucer and actually it able to play for a little while on his own. Of course it is farm themed - seems to be what we always choose, maybe we are secretly hoping he will be a farmer one day, either that or it easy for me to make the animal noises and keep him entertained.

We have had some disasters while the folks have been here. Back home the house is leaking and Mom and dad have had to have Cory go over to the house to make sure everything is ok, looks like most damage is going to be covered by insurance so that is good at least.

Here we have had had 2 floods from the washing machine - both operator error - once me and once peter - oops while the fridge and washing machine have now been pulled out twice to clean behind so maybe it is a good thing to have a water fall every so often in the laundry closet

Lucas has been eating apples this week - he loves them, he actually ate his whole breakfast this morning. I couldn't get it into his mouth fast enough, he was lunging forward at the spoon.

Rain, Rain and More Rain!!!

We are experiencing rain and gale force winds here in Auckland - great time to be visiting, bad luck I would say!!!

We are getting through it though, lots of jobs are getting accomplished. Peter has put my Dad to work, fixing gutters and down spouts and planting trees. Lots of work to be done and there are more plans in the works. My Dad is probably not going to visit again knowing how much work we put him to when he is here. It has been great though, helps Peter to have someone around who knows what he is doing and Peter likes working with someone.

Peter and Papa babysat Lucas tonight and My Mom and I got to take a some time to see Mamma Mia. It was great, a nice break and good to spend some time out like an adult after dark. A life I barely remember anymore.

My Mom and I have bought some materials to crochet a blanket - my first attempt so we will see how it goes.

Lucas is doing pretty good. Today was a tough day he didn't want to sleep today which makes him a bit grumpy so lots of crying but I hope it was just a one day thing and tomorrow will be a better day.

He has been eating carrots the last couple of days but I didnt do a very good job pureeing them so they were a bit to chunky. he is doing ok with them but I think I will give them a break for a little while until he is able to eat a bit better.

Lucky Lucas got his very own tent the other day - Can't wait for him to use it. We are also anxiously awaiting the arrive of the exersaucer that Nana and Papa bought for him.

Look at my new jammies, thanks Uncle Colin, Aunt Amy - Tyson, Dawson and Hayden!! Tyson you did a great job picking them out, they made Lucas sleep ALL night through.

My skinny new Mom!!! She has been to the gym twice since they have been here - a new Mom it is great!!! Looking good

A Break in the Rain

Cuddles!!

Today turned out to be a nice day for most of the day. The rain held off for most of the day and we were able to get out for a bit of a walk, it was quite windy though. We took a treck up Mount Wellington which isn't too far from our house so made for a quick car ride which makes Lucas happy - not too much crying.

Lucas is getting more used to his Nana and Papa and giving lots of smiles and giggles

He has started playing with the bigger blue ball. Peter makes him think he is kicking it and it makes him smile. Soccer player??