RUAKAKA HERE WE COME, EXPLORING AGAIN!

Yay - we have now officially ditched the winter sheets, extra duvets and sweatshirts and socks. Roll on the 3/4 pants and open-toed shoes!
What's more, we organised a long weekend away with the lovely Sharron, Wayne and Jess at Ruakaka - great family times, great weather, great Northland!  I even ended up with a slight bit of sunburn (thank goodness we had the forethought for sunblock before the beach visit, but wasn't quite enough for my fair clavicle!) The season has really turned now.

The trip started off with an awesome photo opportunity on the drive up to Ruakaka - one of the things that makes a huge difference to our family now, that other families would just take for granted as a normal achievement - Daniel being able to have an emergency toilet stop on the side of the road! Well, I had my camera right there - the photo was begging to be taken!!! Don't worry, no unsightly body parts exposed here...

The house we rented at Ruakaka with Sharron, Wayne & daughter Jess was HUGE! A great holiday home for 2 families to share and within walking distance to the beach, with tennis courts at the side of the house.

 From the lounge, you could just see the waves through the blue tinted windows of the neighbours...

There was loads of fun and activities experienced. We enjoyed playing tennis at the courts with Cameron and Nicola. There was cricket played with a softball bat in the street, and a nice leisurely walk around the neighbourhood.

Daniel and Cameron enjoyed watching Mr Bean, the laughter coming from the room was infectious!

The kids enjoyed Singstar whilst the adults socialised, lovely group dining and even a boardgame was played!

A game or two of petanque was played on the lawn which then progressed to the beach.

"Hey dad, we're just chillin', can we go to the beach?"

"Ok son, the beach is close by. Let's go"

"Nooooooo, not the sand down the neck trick!"

Bream Bay is simply gorgeous, miles of golden white, clean and squeaky sand stretching in a wide curve as far as the eye can see, complete with endless blue sea. Dipping our toes in the ocean - what could be more fun?

EVENTFUL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!

Phew, those school holidays were upon us very fast this term, and this time they flew by.

They started with a hiss and a roar, and finished with a huge bang.

Firstly, Daniel had a wee holiday at Lezanne's while Cameron, Nicola and I took a short trip to Wellington to catch up with good friends and relatives.

Lunch with the girls: Suz, Claire, Me and Nikki (Cameron was the great photographer)

Drinks with Julie, Suz and I.

Precious times with the Odens

Dinner with the extended family

and a flying visit to Masterton with Aunty Suz. Lots of fun in a paddle boat (hard work on the legs!)

Surveying the beautiful spring scenery on the banks of the Queen Elizabeth park in Masterton 

The beautiful spring blossoms were out in full force

and in the Masterton town centre too...

We enjoyed the day after a few iced chocolate lattes...

And spent dinner in good company with a nice curry (some hotter than others!) 

Our residence for the night was the Copthorne in Masterton, watching the RWC semifinal, and having a go at the driving range (nearly knocking myself out in the process!)

 Then the next day we moved on to Palmerston North to visit Jenn and my niece-the-great Amelia Mae. I am now officially not a great-Aunt, but Aunt the Great!

Me (Aunt the Great) and Amelia-Mae

The end of the holidays ended with a bit of a shock and wake-up call - Daniel had a prolonged seizure - a whole year to the day when he last had one. The good to come out of it was testing of the red flag system with St Johns ambulance, the tour of the inside of A & E at Starship, and the action plan that we put into place with the neurologist - all worked like clockwork. It really cemented some of the reason why we moved up here, the expertise and experience of the medical staff ( the advanced life support officer from the ambulance , Starship medical staff, and the neurologist backup) was fantastic.

A bittersweet ending to the holidays in parallel with the above, the Rugby World Cup final - Go the All Blacks, you beauties... .- beat France in the nail-biting final by just 1 point
NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS - world rugby champions!