Owen turns 5!

We again celebrated Owen's birthday when Jett got home.  Owen turned 5 this year and I attempted to make a special "Car" cake!

 He liked it, and he did a very good job of blowing out most of the candles this year...which is an improvement from last year.  He also started to sing for himself but we had to stop in the middle as he didn't like it anymore...we were okay with that. :)

 Here we are getting Owen's b-day present out of the plastic packaging...

 And here it is all laid out for him!

 

Here is Amelia waving her American flag.  So nice having Daddy home again!

 

The Zoo

Yes, I'm overdue with this post.  But hey I'm a busy Mama!

I'm a full time mess-cleaner-upper, referee, playmate, therapist, cook, baker and sandwich maker, school teacher, taxi driver, doctor and nurse, book reader, singer, piano player and piano teacher, and....well everything else in between!  So if I don't post every month I have every good reason.  This blog was never meant as something I had to do every week maybe when I had one or two children...but no longer.  :)

So, back to the Zoo pictures...

Auckland Zoo of course, will specialize in Down Under versus another country...only natural. So NO snakes whatsoever which is fine by me.

Here is the very up close Emu!

 And his or her friends...

 Before my American's start saying "it's a kangaroo"...it actually isn't!  It is a wallaby. Which looks like a smaller version of a kangaroo.

 The giraffe we got to feed. Amelia said his tongue tickled her.

 Giraffes!

 Flamingoes

 Asian Elephant

 Our very cheeky and very Kiwi mountain bird the Kea!!  This bird was hilarious to watch.

And probably my new favourite animal...the Red Panda too cute!

 Me and Keith

 The gigantic Galapagos Tortoise

 The spider monkeys and Keithie loved!

 Keithie...he kept calling out monkey in his little two-year-old voice.

 Trying to watch the monkeys.

And now I must referee again... :) Bye for now!

Jett's Holidays

Jett had almost two weeks off (or maybe it is two...I'm not sure how you figure that out when it is a minister) so we've been getting out and enjoying the lovely weather!  If this is Autumn...wow! 

We've been to several beaches in the past 3 weeks!  Beaches are just so common you see, no really they are!  The following photos are first from Kawakawa Bay...

 My silly Keith!

 He has a good appetite and likes condiments very much (except mustard).

 Yes, I wear that hat almost every single time I'm out walking. The sun is very powerful here!

 My two older sillies.  :)

I have more pictures when we were at the zoo and such but those will have to wait until another time.  Here we are at another beach on the dangerous west coast.  Muriwai Beach.  Beautiful!

It is impossible keeping children out of the sand.  This is not the usual light coloured sand.  No, this is what Kiwi's call black sand.  Stickier stuff! :) 

 We would be looking towards Australia here, over the Tasman sea.  The tide was coming in at this point.

Our current news: We have my cousin currently living with us (he is also working here).  We are nearing the end of the first school term - two more weeks to go.  Kids are enjoying swimming lessons (A&A).  I'm still teaching piano, and may be adding another student we'll see.  Hmm, that's really it I guess! :) No news is good news they say!  Hopefully I'll update again soon with more pictures. Until then! :)

Communion Season and more

Like I have already said, it is our busy season.  We had the Youth Conference beginning of this year, and with it brought a few guests.  Then I needed to prepare for the communion season and that also was busy!  But we enjoyed it, as I hope the congregation did too.  Here is a picture of the Macdonalds and ourselves.

Amelia knows how to make "Crazy Cake" all by herself.  It is the first recipe that she is able to do without any help, that is until it needs to be poured into the pan and baked.  The Macdonalds and Mr. Vermuelen got to try Amelia's cake, and it was approved.

 DVD's are better watched with guests...

Owen is here playing at the little play park near us.

 Haha, I really like his expression here. He wasn't afraid, in case you thought it was!

Mr. Aaron

 A male relative...who is good at washing dishes...

 ...and cleaning couches and chairs...and all sorts of stuff!  

It's nice having Randy here in NZ; at the moment he is in the South Island for a bit.

Here is a family picture of us before the Macdonalds left for Aussie.

 After the communion, on Tuesday (I think it was) we went to Omana Beach with Randy...so peaceful and sunny!

 This beach has lots of shells...I'm guessing it isn't as popular as those in the North Shore.

 We found someones kite who left it at the beach. We decided to try it out (Jett did and had fun too).  Of course it was the wrong string and it eventually snapped.

 After Amelia made a cake, she was busy looking at a cake magazine...she is definitely copying somebody here, I just won't say who!

 And today we started the new school year!  

Aaron is in Grade...

And Amelia is in Grade...

Don't ask what level that is here, because I'm still trying to figure that out. :)

And now to get some much needed ironing done.