Yet Another Day at the Beach

Today was a beautiful, but cold, day at the beach. We found some cool shells and starfish. Kal was admired by many-both people and dogs. Everyone comments about the size of his paws...

Kip 'n Kal

Kal is growing up!  His paws are enormous and he has a big muscular chest.  We're not really sure what to expect when he's full grown, but we think he's going to be massive.  I had hoped to get a horse when we moved to New Zealand, but I wasn't thinking of the canine kind.

Watch Out for the Cow Patties!

We took Reid and Quinn hiking the other day. At first they were a bit nervous about the cows, but then so was I! They are really big animals when you are eye ball to eye ball with them, no fence in between. We all survived, however and came away with nothing worse then poop in our shoes. Of course, we ended the adventure with the obligatory swim in the ocean.

A Winter's Day at the Beach

Last weekend, we went exploring out to the West Coast, down a road called Journey's End to a place called Tapora. It's on the Kaipara Harbour, which is supposedly one of the largest harbours in the world and has an huge estuary which is great for windsurfing. Anyway......it was a reasonably warm day and the water turned out to be really warm. So warm, that one by one, Reid and Quinn shed their layers until they were exposed for the little nudists that they really are. We spend so much time and energy helping Reid and Quinn to behave in socially acceptable ways, that once in a while, we just let them go for it. The smiles and giggles were so worth it. And the photos....Well, I won't share with you all of the wonderful photos. We'll just archive them until the boys are older and can truly appreciate them.

Hockey, Soccer and Squash. Oh My!

Back in February when we told Kip he had to choose a sport to participate in, we didn't know he'd choose three! He has joined the local squash and tennis club and plays there every Wednesday after school. He joined the school hockey team (we'd call if field hockey in the States to differentiate from ice hockey, but there is only one hockey in New Zealand). His hockey team plays at 8:30 on Saturday mornings. Then Kip joined the local soccer league and his soccer games start 10 minutes after his hockey game ends. This morning (Saturday), it's a balmy 40 degrees Fahrenheit out there and I'm just glad that Richard is the "soccer dad". He's actually helping to coach the team. I think that one of Kip's favorite parts about his hockey/soccer Saturdays is the sausage sizzle afterward. Yum. (Photos of squash to come)

I Throw Really Lousey Parties (Just Ask My Sons)

I remember back when I was about 12, there was a head lice "scare" at school and the nurse went through our heads one by one searching for the culprits. Here, in New Zealand, nits are a way of lice. I mean life. Working in the school office means that I get to send out the "nit notices" to the classrooms when yet another case of lice is exposed. This happens at least weekly. It was only a matter of time before my boys fell victim. They don't mind because every week we get to have a "Hair Party" or, as I like to call it, a "lousey party". Haha. Here they are enjoying the experience! You can't tell in the photo, but they are actually sitting in the dark bathroom, watching a movie while the Electric Blue lice lotion does it job.