It's been a very busy 4 month; both sets of parents have visited, we've celebrated our first Southern Hemisphere summer Christmas and we've been making the most of the long days and summer sun.
On our tour of Wellington with M&D C we headed back up the Wellington Cable Car and Max took the opportunity to combine 2 of his favourite things; eating ice cream and roaring like a lion!
We had some pretty amazing sunsets and hoped that this was a good sign for calmer weather to come - October and early November had been pretty rubbish so we had fingers crossed for M&D's time with us in the hope they might see some sun...
In true British style, whatever the weather, we headed up the Kapiti coast to the beach!
Dad had brought a long list of local geocaches with him so took the opportunity whenever we stopped to check his GPS to see if there were any nearby for him to go a rifle...
Meanwhile, learning from Max, Kate's sandcastle skills continue to improve.
Granny & Grandad bought Max a new truck which proved invaluable for excavating the beach for sand and pebbles.
Very happy on the beach at all times of the year, whatever the weather.
Max, being a typical boy, is beginning to climb every tree that he comes across...and often adds climbing with loud shouts for HELP!
When the weather does improve, the views up the Kapiti coast towards Paraparaumu are stunning.
We found these strays at the view point so had to take a picture...
In preparation for our holiday to Abel Tasman National Park we bought Max a shorty wetsuit and some crocs. It was pretty difficult getting him out of these once he had them on.
We did a lot of local walks with Mum & Dad - this is the whale sculpture on the south coast near Red Rocks.
Finally we set off on the Bluebridge Ferry to South Island, getting good views of Wellington on the way out of the harbour.
The entrance into Marlborough Sounds is quite tight...
I think they've only had one major accident!
Picton is at the end of a stunning hours cruising through the Sounds.
We hired a bach at Kaiteriteri on the Southern edge of the Abel Tasman National Park. It was quite simply stunning.
Max put his new wet gear to good use...
...and Oakley had a great time, getting wet every day.
We had lots of local visitors into the garden. Although the pigeons look good enough to eat, that would get you 12 months in gaol - they are a protected species.
Paradise!
We took a boat trip up the coast...Max couldn't wait to board...
Split Apple Rock - a tourist highlight, whatever the vessel.
Split Apple Rock
Mum taking in the view from the back of the boat
The New Zealand Christmas Tree - the Pohutukowa tree
Our soggy, sandy, salty dog.
Pupu Springs - the largest natural spring in Australasia and the cleanest water in the world. It's a heritage site so you can't get in for a quick dip, or bring any home in a bottle. Shame!
Synchronised hat holding...
Max on an adventure
We popped up the road to Anatoki Salmon for a spot of fishing...
...and some lunch! Fresh, hot-smoked Salmon. Delicious.
We also visited the local wildlife park. They were famous for their 'tame' eels. Max fed them steak on a stick!
They're pretty horrible!
Another good sunset.
More time of the beach building giant sandcastles which were strong enough to withstand a Max attack!
We popped over the hill to the Ngarua caves, which also happened to have some Moa bones that you were able to pick up. Max thought that is was very exciting to hold the large chicken bones!
Max's bedroom in the bach had 4 bunk beds - thankfully we did manage to contain Max to one!
Our little traveller on the ferry on the way home!
Our evening ferry trip home made for some stunning views of the Sounds. Perfect sailing conditions.
Dad enjoyed watching the sea bird life including spotting a couple of albatross.
More sunsets!
Mum and Dad were here for Christmas and in the run up to the 25th Max managed to meet Santa 3 times! By the 2nd time he was even brave enough to go and stand by him!
The desensitisation worked so well that he even wanted to dress up like Santa for the nursery party! OK - so it's 'tiger' Santa, but that's just fine!
And he wasn't the only one! Max and Devante, double the trouble!
Santa no. 3 = present no. 3!
We had Christmas Eve eating fish and chips on the beach in the sunshine.
Max was very happy to finally have the Christmas tree up!
The beer and mince pie for Santa and carrot for Rudolf were obviously enjoyed by our late night visitor!
Max had the biggest stash of us all - the majority of which had travelled half the way around the world to get here!
Oakley's new bee lasted less than 30 seconds - that is his personal best!
Dogs love Christmas too.
After New Year we all headed North to see Bob and Di in Auckland. As we hadn't been further north than Napier in the car, we decided to drive taking a couple of days to drive up through the interior. It was a great trip with some fantastic scenary. This is Mount Ruapehu - good skiing to be had in the winter!
We also made sure that we had local adventures, so one Saturday morning we headed out for a paddle to Mana Island from Plimmerton with our friends David and Sarah. This was Kate's first sea kayak experience, but hopefully not the last! Our plan to move to Plimmerton will make quick paddling trips like this a more regular occurance...
Sarah and David paddling through the light swell.
Katie enjoying the view back towards Plimmerton (that's my new Speargun strapped to the front of the boat - you just never know when a 'tea' opportunity will present itself!)
Kate and Max had another weekend trip to Auckland to see Bob and Di. Max donned gumboots and helped Dave on the farm. I was supposed to be involved with the North Island Spearfishing Competition (cancelled due to the weather) and had a Dive Club Boat trip (very choppy - didn't catch anything!).
Kate's Mum and Dad arrived in mid-February and thankfully brough good weather with them! Whilst they were here we only had 1 day of rain in 4 weeks. Very welcome relief to have some settled weather.
At Lindale Grandpa helped Max to build a proper tower using the large bricks.
Of course another trip up the Cable Car was compulsory. Great weather and great views.
One Saturday afternoon we headed over the hill into the Wairarapa to a vintage steam rally. Max and Colin were in their element...
...riding on the traction engines...
...twice!
One highlight for Max was being able to stand on a 'low-loader'!
Back at home, Max kept Grandma very busy indeed - building railways and doing gymnastics.
Given how impressed we were with the ferry journey to South Island, Kate, Max, Colin and Barbara headed off to Picton for an overnight trip. As if the Interislander wasn't enough a trip on a steam boat was also required to achieve the required boat fix.
Kate found these 2 tourists looking lost and took them under her wing!
Another regular visitor trip is heading out to the Karori Sanctuary. I took my parents on a nocturnal kiwi tour at Christmas as if luck would have it, another once in a lifetime opportunity came up when Colin and Barbara were here. The Santuary were releasing 50 Cook Straight Giant Wetas into the park and people were invited to go and help...so we did!
My Giant Weta off to its new home in the Karori bush.
The Giant Weta is the largets insect in the world - it weighs up to 60g. The Cook Straight Giant Weta isn't the largest of the Giant Wetas. Yes - they do get larger than this! Unlike tree weta, the giant weta doesn't bite - thankfully.
Colin was in his element checking out the engineering of the Karori dam.
Life returned to something approaching normal in mid-March and we celebrated by getting Max a haircut!
Nursery had a dress up Easter Party last week. Max wanted to go as an Easter Shark! We didn't really have enough time to grant that wish, so instead Kate made Max an Easter Egg tabard and Max decorated this with various shark stickers. Nursery are having an Aquarium Day soon so I am going to create a Shark costume for that!
Max's scary Shark Easter Egg..
Today is Easter Sunday so we all headed out for a local walk. Max is becoming quite the adventurer and is always hunting for sticks and climbing whatever he can.
The best sticks are the ones that are bigger than he is!
Super Max!
Our clocks went back last night so we are now 11 hours ahead of the UK...our days are getting shorter and the temperature is definitely dropping.
We hope that you all had a lovely Easter break. More photos to come in the very near future. Until then, take care and please stay in touch.
Love from us all.
