Te Mata Peak

It was such a stunner of a day, as we drove to church this morning I suggested we drive up to the top of Te Mata peak after the service and take it in.  The girls couldn't remember ever going up to the top, and I don't even think we have taken Luke up at all.  Today was perfect for creating those new memories.

 

 
The girls are still quite into their writing, so they sat up there furiously writing away, while mummy encouraged them to consider what they were feeling and to describe what they saw.  I know, any teachable moment eh!  My heart was pretty full with happy vibes as my family marvelled over the amazing beauty we could see.  The kids were all full of awestruck gasps as they took it all in and recognised the tui calling on the way up.   We really do live in a gorgeous place here.  Next time we agree that we will take our hiking shoes and do it properly, but for today, it was a lovely way to end our worship after church.

Kate wrote:
On Sunday my family went up Te Mata Peak.  When we went on the road it was bumpy and curvy roads. When we were at the top I saw a beautiful view.  Dad showed us the race course.  I said we could not see our house way up here.  Jaimee said I think we could, but dad said we could not.  Jaimee, dad and I saw smoke!  Jaimee and I found a really big one.  I thought it was a really big fire!  Dad said it was time to go.   I said OK daddy.   Mum and Jaimee were looking at something and then we all hopped in the car and mum said that the smoke was coming from bonfires.  Jaimee said thats good.  So we all went home and had lunch.

Jaimee wrote:
When we went up Te Mata Peak I felt nervous because the road was curvy and high, and it was scary.  But when we reached the top I felt excited and glad because we had made it up!  We looked at the map at the highest point, and I saw some mountains that looked like waves crashing into each other.  I also saw a hill with what looked to me like a castle with a turret on top.  When I am up Te Mata Peak I feel good, because it is a long time since we went up here.  Some mountains had huge bumps.  There were also lots of trees together, probably it was a dark forest.  There was an amazing view, and I could see smoke that looked like clouds waving up into the air.  There were lots of people walking and driving up Te Mata peak.  Kate, dad and Luke were playing.  Luke was trying to go down the mountain (mum edit - the cheeky monkey kept inching closer and closer down the steep hill the monkey!) and Kate jumped into dads arms.  We saw the Tuki Tuki River and the bridge that leads to Chiara's house.  You can't see any rubbish from up here.  The best thing was hearing the Tui calls on the way up.  Now its time to go home.

The fairies by Kate

The fairies 

A story by Kate 

Once upon a time in a magical world there lived three fairies, who were friends.  Their names were Milly, Lilly and Molly.  They lived without any parents, but they were always good.  But sometimes the bad fairy cast a spell on them.  And then a prince came along and fought the bad fairy, and the bad fairy died.  So the three fairy friends could be good all the time.  And the prince stayed with them, so if another bad fairy comes he could fight it.  

One day, a happy frog was jumping on the Lilly pads.  Molly and her friends came to the pond.  The frog jumped up to them.  Another frog jumped up too!  It was starting to rain, so the friends went home.  The frogs followed them.  When the friends were home and they shut the door, the frogs were with them inside! They put them In a glass cage with water in it and some stuff to hide in.  The frogs were so happy that they had somewhere to live and then the frogs had babies.  The prince thought it was so cute and so did the fairies.  Milly said "shall we go get some food for them?".  Molly and Lilly replied "yes".  So they all went to get some food for the frogs and their babies. 

The end 

ANZAC day

My cousins and auntys and uncles come 

by Jaimee

Today my cousins came for the afternoon and we went to Frimley Park and had an Easter egg hunt in the trees.  (Edit later by Jaimee: aunty Cheryl hid the eggs for us)

After that we played on the rope pole swing and played in the fountain that was flossed with water.  Kate, Brianna and me were drinking from the fountain.  Then we played in the trees.  

The game was called witches and fairies.  Then we found a tree that had a soft ground so we made it the tree house for the game.  Then Kate found a Forrest that she wanted to play in.  We both replied "yes!" In a loud voice.  So we all ran to the forest with Kate in the lead so that we knew where to go.  Finally we were there and started to play when Alijah came along and we started to play with him.  We played on the playground and had cuddles with Aedyn.  

After, we went to the car park to go home.  We got a treat with Carls Jnr.  I had a hamburger with chips.  My drink was L&P.  Then we went home and had ice cream and watched Planes.  Dusty was afraid of heights.  Luke kept asking me to draw him a duck. So I did.  I don't know why, he kept asking through the whole movie.  When I went to bed I dreamed about my day.  The next morning I asked mum to do our nails - she was playing Zoo Tycoon 2!

Added to her log later.......

My nails were painted red, purple and pink.  I got my toes done as well.  After, I asked dad if I could have chocolate and he replied yes so I got my chocolate and ate it up.  When I went outside I got the flubber (that's goo stuff) - and played with it.  When Kate came, she got the flubber out of the bowl and she filled it up with water. Soon she told me it was lunchtime. I had 4 sandwiches, cheese and yoghurt.  Then Kate said let's play some games. First we played operation, then Dora bi-jingo then memory. Then we went to Hastings Central school to ride our bikes. We played in the playground most of the time.  Dad told Kate "did you want to bike home?" We replied "yes!!!" In a soft voice.  When we got home we sat and watched full house and grandad stopped by to tell us they were on a bike ride too.  While mum went to granny's house to feed her cats, I did the dusting and fed the cats, fish and rabbits.  For tea we had baked potato and feijoa pudding.  Then we read in bed until 7:10pm.  

(It finished there, as that was lights out time!).

Farm day!

 We are surrounded by people who love and have access to horses, but it's only now that I have finally gotten around to organising a trip out to ride horses in the holidays! 

Eleysha, her sister Hannah and her friend all came along to introduce us to the horses they help look after at our friend Ted and Alison's farm. The kids loved racing around the farm, helping to brush down the horses and were fascinated as they watched Eleysha clean their shoes. Jaimee asked her "does it hurt them?" Curious about this new thing. 

All the kids got a ride around the paddock, grinning away happily. Luke wasn't shy at all, making me giggle as his little body swayed heavily with each step!

 

 We were very lucky to be joined by Alison and her grand kids, who had bread for the ducks (Luke almost fell in!) and iceblocks for the kids. 

After their ride, the excited kids galloped around the paddock themselves, neighing and pretending to be horses, making the teenagers laugh. Nutters. 

Then we walked over the hills to see all the new and noisy calves, who had the girls in hysterical giggles as they sucked strongly on their fingers (or entire hand!). Luke didn't like that feeling at all, pulling his hand away quickly and declaring "I need a wet wipe!" With a grimace. 

It was heaps of fun, what a cool school holiday treat. It's cool that we are blessed to have people like this in our lives who open these experiences up to us, and give us the added bonus of the opportunity to get to know our church family better at the same time. Thanks Eleysha, thanks Ted and Alison, we can't wait till next time! Xx 

Messy Church....and the beach

On Sunday night, we launched my latest "baby" - a new church service called "Messy church".  It is a service that is interactive, family focused and informal.  It's goals are about community outreach, connecting generations together and making 'church' accessible to those who struggle with a traditional service.    It begins with craft and art, giving those who come along a chance to talk, connect and interact over hands on projects with a common biblical theme.  I love the way another church leader put it to me today: "the craft side of things is really the "background music" - it is really about bringing people together around a table to talk and connect" (thanks Tim!).

I love that Kate had time to connect with our  'family' members she didn't know well.

A room full of people connecting and enjoying

My dad gets me messy too!

 

 It was awesome to look around and see the older members of our church reaching out to the younger ones.  All ages were represented at messy church.  I LOVED it.

 ..After the craft time, we all made our way into the auditorium, greeted by the video clip blasting of the song "Happy", which got everyone bopping along with a smile as they came in and found a seat.  We sung a couple of songs together - the kids came up the front and danced with scarves as they sung, and then the adults at the tables joined in as the children led them in an action song - roles reversed from our traditional services!  

  After the song time, we had a skit presented to us - the Easter Bunny showed up, declaring that Easter was all about him!  The kid disagreed with him, and soon put him in his place!  Doesn't Marty make a cute bunny?

 Next I called the children to come and sit up close for the easter story.  Adults (and those kids who weren't keen) were able to sit back at their tables and listen in as I opened up eggs - each one contained a different element of the Easter story.  The kids had so much fun opening up the eggs and seeing what was inside...and everyone gasped as the last egg was opened ..and nothing was inside.  An empty tomb, an empty egg.  :)

 We finished off our 'service' time with a last quiet song and then grace was said.  We enjoyed a meal passed on the passover meal - lamb patties served in pita pockets with salad.  Discussion starters on each table encouraged people to continue the Easter talk as they ate.

 It was an awesome time, and the feedback we got was awesome.  Those that came along from our community told me that it was "just brilliant - highlight of our weekend" and another community mum later told me that her child had been asking her to read to her about Jesus every night since! Our youth group fed back that they had a blast, parents came up to me grinning and excited.  I can't wait until our next service (which will be the third Sunday of May).

The next day it was definitely time to chill out - I always get a bit consumed by these big events when I am in charge, so after farewelling Poppa and Oma as they headed home to Auckland, we were just trying to work out what to do with our day.  It was beautiful, and I wanted to get out in that sun.  Next thing you know, the phone rings and Granny is telling us they are going to the beach.  "Excellent idea, just the thing!" I said, not realising she was about to offer to take just the girls out with them!  So all 7 of us crammed in our car and headed out to Ocean Beach for a walk.  It was beautiful.  Here are some photos from our walk.....

Flying a kite.  Such fun!!!!

Luke and Kate join Grampa Muz for a paddle.  Soon a wave swept Kate off her feet and she fell in....

...so she was left to wear daddy's sweatshirt for the rest of our walk!

Always time for a handstand.

Giddyup horsie!

Kate and Luke climbed the cliffs.  Luke clutched Kate and yelped "help, help" when he realised how high they were.  Climbing down he managed to get caught with bushes between his legs....and he wasn't wearing anything.  Ouch?!

Let's go fly a kite!

Granny and the girls found huge huhu bugs in the driftwood.  The girls loved holding them! Kate pretends to eat one for the camera.

Our eco warrior collects rubbish to take home. She LOVES this.  

 

....had to leave you with this cheeky finish photo!