Nelson....Dec 27 - Jan 5

We had such a nice time in Nelson. The kids LOVED seeing Grandma, Dada, Rachel Mummy, Carlo Bob, Jade, Emma and Kayla and haven't stopped talking about them since we have been back in Sydney.

Mum and Dad ahve now booked to come and see us April 25 - May 7 and we are soooo excited....but sad we won't see the Goodwin/Haycock clan til October :(

Cuddles with Dada

DAD'S BIRTHDAY

Dad had his birthday while we were there too...Jan 4.

We gave him such much needed new clothes that actually fit him now he has lost so much weight!

Jared wrote in his card :)

MUM TURNS 50!!

Mum turned 50 on Dec 30! A few people special to her days on the farm went to Tui for a picnic lunch, followed by a party at Mum and Dad's for tea. We all had a great day and it was so nice to be back in Nelson to share it with her.

I don't have most of the photos from Nelson on my computer yet so I'll add some more another day...if you want to see some look at Rach and Carlos blog...www.goodwinhaycock.blogspot.com

Carlo, Jade, Emma and Kayla didn'y come to the party on Sat night so the next day Jade had to come and blow out the candles with Grandma :)

We tried so many time using the timer to get a half decent shot of all of us!!!

Auckland....Dec 19 - 27

BOXING DAY

We spent Boxing Day in Warkworth with GiGi and Graham. Graham made a slide down the bank with cardboard for the kids but I don't know who had the most fun!!

CHRISTMAS DAY

We woke up on Christmas Day at the Coopers house and the kids had their presents from Santa on the end of their bed. Jared got a train set and Dani a glow worm.

Cuddles with Aunty Somer

Jared was big on thank you's

The extended Bensley Clan

Christmas Eve...story time

ONEMANA BEACH

We went to spend a few days at the beach with the family soaking up the sun...but it rained...and rained...and rained.

Watching movies was a good way to pass the time while we waited for the weather to clear slightly

When it did we hit the courts

The rain didn't stop the fishermen though!

At Corwall Park with Aunty Melody

Bed time!

Dani wanted to sleep with Jared last night but he wouldn't let her cause she was being a pain. She waited for him to go to sleep and snuck in with him anyway!

Carols in the park

Sunday night we went to a carols night out Castle Hill way with Simon and Tamara and some other kiwi friends of theirs. There were sideshows, a train, singing and dancing performances by local kids, a visit from Santa and a fireworks finale., It was a lovely evening

Jared getting stuck in to his tea!

Simon, Tamara, Sophie and Zac

David Jones Christmas

On Saturday we headed into the City with Simon (an Action coach), Tamara and their kids Sophie and Zac. We were on a Christmas mission to check out the Christmas displays.

David Jones, a department store, had Displays with puppets singing and playing music in different scenes/carols in all their windows. The kids all loved them and they were so well done.
Inside they had Santa's cave with a talking tree (that actually heard you and answered your questions), a carousel, weird mirrors, lucky dips, a movie den with Cars playing, and, of course, Santa. We never actually saw Santa cause the lines were too long =(

We were then going to have fish'n'chips at Darling Harbour but it got too windy so we all came back to our place instead.

This train was in Santaland at Myer (another department store). It pretty much just had the train and Santa but the kids loved it. Dani and Sophie were a bit unsure but wanted to go again as soon as the ride was over

Dani exercising

Dani likes to keep fit!

The aquarium

Ben had a day shmoozing on the harbour for work so I thought I'd take the kids into the aquarium at Darling Harbour and meet up with Ben afterwards. It took so long for us to get there on the train (a mega mission with the buggy when 3 lifts were out of order and I had to lug the buggy and try not to lose the kids on massive flights of stairs! Rediculous) that Ben was nearly finished. We dicided to wait for him and he joined us too. Both of the kids absolutely loved the fish. I think a fish tank at home might be in order one of these days.

Sorry about the lack of photos, it was really bad light in there.

Jared was very excited when he saw Nemo and Marlin!

The new pool

We have been looking at these pools for ages and, much to Jared's delight, finally got one! It is a very welcome addition to the back yard, and I don't think a day has gone by that Jared hasn't been it, snorkel and all. Dani isn't so keen. She prefers it to be only knee deep so she can run and splash. I guess we'll have to get a wee one for her next!

I like it because I get to work on my tan while they are out there :-)

Berowra Waters

We went and had fish and chips with Mandy, Dominic and Charlotte at Berowra Waters. It was such a nice evening but we were sad we arrived too late to hire a little boat to look at all the flash houses up the river.

As usual Jared never left Dom's side.

The kids

Hanging out in the new house....What's with the socks?!

Deep in concentration with his spray gun. Grandma gave it to him for his birthday.

This was HILARIOUS. We walked down to the mall and it was a really hot day. On the way back the kids wanted to see the fountain...all of a sudden a leg dangle became a full-on swim!

Exploring Sydney

While Mum was here we spent a few days looking around. We had to see the Opera House and wander around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour like tourists. It was great fun.

Playing in the purple Jacaranda petals - they are EVERYWHERE and are so pretty.

The train trips are always a highlight for the kids