The King Was In The Counting House.....

Counting Out His Money (so H8 was giving L5 a lesson on just how to do that - she's quite the expert on saving and counting, spending she's not so good at):



The Queen Was In The Parlour, Eating Bread and Honey (or traditional sweet loaves and *yet another* failed attempt at biscotti):

Strange.....

Yay, our first orange mandarin - it's been 'baggsed' already by H8:


A11 and L5 seem to have caught some strange spots:


Obviously from the lesser-spotted-forest-monster they were hunting:

It's Very Quiet All of a Sudden.....

L5 still runs and squishes himself under his bed (along with the mattresses) when he is upset. He's not often upset, apart from having a youngest-child sense of I Can Do It Too, he's usually fairly biddable and happy, except when he's tired. Today he got himself all upset, took off to his room and headed for his usual spot away from the world and promptly went to sleep. Too cute:

Ngatuhoa Lodge, Day Three.....

The last day of camp, and I'm busy snapping all the 'housework' shots: Who would've thought we were sloshing back the vino on these very benches last evening?:


Some of the variety that is evident when each family gathers for their own 'camp specials':


There's time for 'laxin with the newspaper:


Ever noticed how people like to watch other people chop wood? It's odd:


Cathy doing her 'Camp Mum' impersonation:

Ngatuhoa Lodge, Day Two.....

There were far more exciting things happening on camp, like rock climbing and flying foxes, and river tubing, and glow-worm walks, hut building, confidence and ropes course, etc. I was real slack with the camera, but while I was 'on duty' at the kayaks, I did manage to take a whole heap of photos.

L5 in a kayak:


H8 in a kayak:


L5 hooning down the slippery slide:


H8 hooning down it, too:


A11 showing us how not to roll your kayak:



Jordan starting the 'kayak slide' trend:



A11 following suit:


L10 on a kayak:

Ngatuhoa Lodge Camp, Day One.....

I love camping in big groups about as much as I love camping by ourselves (which is a lot). There's always loads of time to spend with the Mama's:


The kids all manage to entertain themselves brilliantly when there's a break in the 'planned' activities:


Finding either common age groups:


Or gender groups:


Or interest groups:

Superheroines.....

First, disguise yourself:


Then look for folk who might need your help:


Know that you're up to helping:


Jump in and actually help them:


Then rest up in a place that you can survey your territory, so you'll know when you'll be needed next and be on to it:

She's Back.....

Uncle Graeme returned our lovely H8 today, complete with the obligatory stash of Easter goodies from Nana and Grandad:


Because, you know, that's what we need around this joint. NOT!:

Jazz Festival '08.....

Sophie and L10 and I cruised along to the Jazz Fest this afternoon. Candyfloss, apparently, was a pre-requisite:


This guy cracked us up (two days in a row, even!), he was very funny:


Some of these guys were on the harbour cruise that L10 and I took last evening, so we stopped for a bit of a boogie:

Too Much Chocolate.....

Uncle Paul turned up today with some Easter eggs from Penny and him, and some from Nana and Poppa:


Because that's what we needed, more chocolatey fingers:


And more chocolatey peeps:


NOT!:

Decorating the Eggs.....

We coloured in our eggs when they were completely set:


L10 made some egg-holding bunnies she made from an idea she had:

The Best Kind of Dinner Guests.....

Have got to be those that arrive bearing culinary treats and then set about hand-making pasta for you from the ridiculous amount of jars of blown-egg in your fridge:


Whip up a quick salad to serve it with while the pasta is batch-cooking:


Then serve it all up for you:


You guys can come back any time! ;o)