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.