MORE PHOTOS OF UP NORTH

We did lots of things when we were up north so I will just include a few photos below. 

Daddy and Niwa at the Park at Badleys Beach.

The kids on the swings at Badleys.

Below was our family trip to Goat Island.  I 

was a bit bummed because as soon as I had taken this photo my camera

went flat so this is the only photo of us there that day.

It was such an amazing day (Easter Monday)

Terina and Niwa ended up swimming in the rock pools in their

clothes and we saw some amazing snapper swimming 

in between the rocks.  I love Goat Island,  I often think that

If I were a tourist overseas and discovered this place,  I would

remember it forever,  it really is a little bit of Paradise right

here on our back door step!

The kids having a sausage on a stick.  Poppa was tired of waiting for the dinner and more

tired of the kids moaning etc, so he quickly hopped up and made them hot dogs etc so they

would perhaps go to bed early but his plan didn't work and they thought this was just an entree 

and then had a second course when dinner was ready  LOL!

AUNTY NIKKI ARRIVES!

On Tuesday Keith went back to Auckland to work and 

Nix, Carl, Ash and Nikau came up to join us for a few days.

Nix and I couldn't believe how fast and efficient life

can be when you have two women in the house.  

Both nights we had the kids fed, bathed and in Bed by 

7pm no problem and then we got to hang and have a 

good Koorero for the rest of the night together.  What a treat!

These 3 photos below are of Aunty Nix reading Hairy

Maclary to the kids,  I love their faces as they watch and 

listen to the story together.

He he,  we went to Goat Island for a little picnic this day. Nix stopped at the shop and bought 

these cashew nuts for a lot of money so her and I could hold out on them. Then a seagull came and 

grabbed the packet in his beak and took off with them.  Nix chased the Seagull and grabbed the packet

but it was too late he had bitten a huge hole in the packet. I guess our intentions got the better of us.
 We were not happy foodies!

The next few photos are of the kids playing at Matakana Country Park.

I have a confession to make!

Every time we go up North, we have to make regular

stops to 'BLUE'.   'BLUE' is an ice cream shop in Matakana

which has the most yummy Berry blend ice creams as well

as organic ice creams and many other amazing treats.

Below, Ash and Terina enjoying their icecream.

TOTALLY IN HEAVEN!

 Not a bad photo this one considering 

Nix stretched out her hand in front of us both

and took it herself.

THE COOLEST WEEK IN AGES!

PIPI DIGGING

Keith took Terina and Niwa way out at the Beach when the tide was out to get Pipis/Cockles as he usually does when we are there.  They love the feel of their feet sinking into the sand and getting all dirty.  Arama however hates all that dirty stuff and always has!  He wouldn’t even touch grass until he was about two LOL!

If you look hard enough you can see Keith, Terina and Niwa way out to the right of the Boat.

They came home then dad and Terina shelled the cockles.  It was so lovely to see dad and Terina working on a task like this together, they yacked as they went and Terina couldn’t wait to tell her Daddy all about it,  she was so proud of herself!  The kids all love Dad (Poppa)  so much!  He seems to have magic powers or something he can draw any one of them to him at any time.  WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU POPPA,  BUT AS NIWA SAID TO ME TODAY "I CALL MY POPPA POPS!" (Cute he has decided on his own special version for his only special POPS)!

MATAKANA COUNTRY MARKET

Every time we go up North during a weekend, on Saturday morning we head to Matakana Country Markets.  There are lots of things for the kids to do there.  There is a cool park,  Animal rides, train rides, Food etc.  Here are a few photos of us at the 

Market last Weekend. 

Above - Terina driving the Fire Engine at the Park.

The old man Driving the 'Country Park Express' Has been here for years.

We hope someone as cool takes it over when he finishes up!

Niwa on an old Tractor goofing as usual.

Below, Arama goofing as usual too!

Niwa on an old Tractor or two.

Below - Keith and his New found friend.  All the kids were a bit scared to feed him but 

Keith had no fear.  ( they look like friends from way back)

Finally this lovely Horse, tried to get the apple out of Keith's hand and silly

Keith  gave it to him as well as many more treats.  Do you think they

look related?  The horse and Keith I mean.

BACK YARD CRICKET!

When we were up north last week we had lots of fun.  Mum and Dad came and stayed with us for a few nights too.  We had lots of fun together and we really enjoyed spending quality time together.  I especially enjoyed attempting to complete a Wasgij puzzle together,  the great food, the walks, the time at the beach, but Arama and I especially enjoyed  the ‘Back Yard’ cricket games we played together.   Arama asked me lots of questions as I played a lot of cricket as a young girl and he thought that was pretty cool.   Here are some photos of our fun together playing Cricket on the front lawn of mum and dads beach house.  It is such a cool lawn I would love to have a lawn like that at my home!

THE EASTER BUNNY DELIVERS!

Sunday Morning the Easter Bunny had arrived!  It was kinda funny this year as he left the kids chocolate under their beds this time and so when they woke up they didn’t think they he had left them anything.  Then Terina decided to check the Back door in the box that she left for the Easter Bunny and realized that he had taken his Easter Eggs in the box and had taken bites out of the carrot.  THEN… leading form that box was a trail of little eggs that led to their beds,  which Niwa sussed out pretty fast.  He quickly checked under his bed and yippee there was sufficient chocolate to last a while, well at least one day  LOL!  (I don’t know if it made it that far)!  

It is so cool seeing your kids so excited!  In fact it makes you wish you were a kid again too.  Terina told me about one of her friends at school  and how she had told her that the Easter Bunny and Santa  were not real.  Terina said to me she is just trying to get me to not believe and I don’t believe her, cause I still think the Easter Bunny is real!  Bless them all for such faith,  its so magical!

The empty box and half eaten carrot.

Niwa observing the egg trail

The Egg trail close up.

Niwa discovering his eggs under the bet.

Niwa in Heaven he has never experienced anything like it

He has such a 'Sweet tooth'.

Terina getting hers from under her bed now.

Arama finally getting up for the day,   looks a little tired still!

EASTER TREASURE HUNT

This Easter we were up at the Beach for Christmas (Campbells Beach) at mum and dads holiday house.  I had very limited resources up there but managed to pull something together at the last minute.  On the Saturday Eve of Easter Sunday,  I managed to put together a little Christ centered Easter hunt.  I got some little gift boxes that just happened to be left over from the year before and put little things in each box symbolising the different parts of the Easter Story form the Bible.  In each box on the outside there was a scripture and a little question relating to the scripture to spark some discussion around the topic.  Then when the topic was discussed the kids open the box.  There were little things in the boxes such as a miniature cross made from tooth picks, or a nail, or some white cloth that they wrapped Jesus’ body in etc.  There was also a little Easter treat in each box and another piece of paper which gave them a clue about where the next box was.  It was neat to do it up North and also really cool to have mum join us for the little activity.  I thought it was good to do this activity prior to the day of getting heaps of chocolate etc,  so they knew why we get eggs etc and what they represent.  They had lots of fun and lots of laughs and lots of pushing and shoving to get to the treasure boxes first!

An Example of one of the treasure boxes.

Niwa finding the cross.

Terina showing where the Nails were put in Jesus' palms.

Niwa's Bottom looking under the bed.

Kids sitting while we discussed the Easter Story

Mum Joining us.

I love this one of Terina cause it really emphasises her missing teeth and 

she won't look like this ever again!   You're so Yummy Terina!

Arama finding the scriptures on his I Pad and reading them to us.

Niwa looking in the fire place for a box.

The kids zooming down stairs to look for a box

Niwa looking in the bathroom cupboard for a box.

Arama finds the final box under the stairs!

When the Treasure hunt was all over Terina decides to fill the last box with lots of spare 

Easter Eggs and Carrots for The Easter Bunny and put it at the back door.  How Cute,  

Oh a special note for him too of course!

GRAN HORSFORDS FUNERAL

About a month ago Morgan's Mum died.  The Hall Children all travelled up to Maromaku to be with Morgan and their whanau to tautoko them and pay their final good buys to Gran.  It was really lovely I thought that Keith and his mum (Nanny Hall), and all of his siblings got to travel up there together,  minus their spouses, just them!  They had such a lovely trip and Keith said it was so neat sharing 'old war stories' together as they travelled.  This photo below includes Morgan and Marisa and all of their children,  then Keith behind his mum and all of his Brothers and sisters.  This is a very small portion of the extended whanau.  


Out of Keith and his 5 siblings comes:


31 Grand Children 
14 Great Grand Children ( and they are only just getting started)


A lovely Whanau filled with lots of love, Faith and children.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this Eternal Family!




This photo above is pretty special as I don't think Mum Hall and JUST her children get together very often like this.  It is such a lovely photo of Mum,  she just looks so happy.  What lovely looking Girls!  As for the boys well yes ummm????