Offically October

Last weekend was offically Samstock - Chris worked really hard, with a group of 31 young folk from Mosgiel to look after. The weekend even had some media coverage! I made it out for half a day with the two younger children. I had a lovely weekend with Hannah at Clearwaters and Zach at Anton's so I could make Blair's 40th party on Friday night, and then Dad came and babysit on Saturday so I could be at Helen's 50th. Mind you, I did preach twice on Sunday and attend a commissioning service in Herbert, so it wasn't all beer and skittles. And of course the daylight saving change made everything an hour earlier.

Chris put the tent up to clean on Sunday and Hannah decided that she would like to sleep in it. She did well, lasting until 11:20 but it became a little windy and she decided she wanted to spend the rest of the night inside.

We are having a very quiet school holidays. I have spent most of today lost in academia, and the cleanup from the weekend goes on and on. Zach has been having sleepovers and friends over, swimming at the pool and we all went to the Early Settlers museum last week.

There have been a real mix of warm days and cold days which keeps us on our toes.

Major developments

The big news this week is we've bought a house, the one we've been renting in fact, so no need to move at the end of the year. The children are pretty happy about the propect of staying put for the next while and Chris is full of plans for insulating and installing at least one, if not two heat pumps. Yay. The vege garden is expanding and we are planning on making one or two changes to the backyard as well, with some plants to come out and I'd really like to get some sunflowers in somewhere!

We've just spent a weekend at Pounawea, a Christian camp on the coast near Owaka. The occasion was the annual Family camp run by Mosgiel, very laid back. Our speaker was Nigel Winder, the Scripture Union rep from down south who was just superb.

The children are pretty shattered as we had a late night before camp with going to the Dunedin City Baptist production of Prince Caspian. The children loved the play however, and it is now school holidays so we will take it easy for the next few days and have some early nights.

Hannah is getting a big sick of the rugby as Zack is up early to watch the games and she would rather watch cartoons. She is also getting a bit sick of providing opposition for scrum practise! Coming up next weekend is Samstock - we are praying for warm weather!!!

Dunedin daze

Yesterday Hannah and Zak were part of the Saturday morning music class demonstration concert, which starts with Hannah's "Let's Make Music" class singing and dancing. Hannah played the glockenspiel for one item and the class had a wonderful time. The concert is a bit of a marathon as there are lots of classes and they all play two or three pieces. But the finale was worth waiting for. Zak's class of recorders started "Hymn to Joy" and by the time a Dunedin Town Hall full of musicians all join in, the result is spectacular. And they did an encore! Wow!!! As Hannah said "When lots of people all play together, it sounds really good". This would have to be the quote of the week.
Janine had a sleepover in Mosgiel on Friday with Rebecca Clearwater, one of her new church friends and we enjoyed Saturday night with Tania and Phillip Roxborogh, who now live just down the road, and we've had Chris Purdie to stay, down from Linton to present a paper at a Conference.
Zachary has spent most of last week on roller blades - this is now officially a two week fad.
We are all looking forward to the end of term, and Family Camp at Pounawea, down south.

Spring flowers

There are seven tulips blooming in the garden today. Slight frost but the promise of a glorious Dunedin day. Yes!
Hannah had her friend Rikki over to play last week. I noticed later the remnants of a blue balloon in the garden, streched between some geranium stems. We were walking back from a trip to the Gardens when she stopped and adjusted it. 'What's that?' I asked. "It's a trampoline for the fairies' she replied. 'Fair enough' I thought.
Last night, as I was putting her to bed, she tucked in dolly and a bear at the end of the bed. 'They are bad parents' she told me solemnly. 'I have to look after their baby' she added, pulling out the tiny orange teddy from underneath her pillow and snuggling up in bed.
We went ice skating with the Opoho school fund raiser. The younger two haven't been on skates but Zachary, after taking it slowly at first, really enjoyed himself. His friend Anton plays ice hockey and is a gun skater as you would expect, and now Zach is very keen to improve his skills, to the point where the roller blades have been dusted off again.
Janine and Katarina also came; they are much more accomplished on ice, having been with friends and youth group trips.
Chris and I had a rare night out together on Saturday with the Mosgiel Brass Band; this was a fundraiser for the building project and the music was well tailored for the audience, lots of fun and the MC did a marvellous job.

First days of spring

Daffodils are out, the first tulip is blooming in the garden, ah yes, the signs of spring are here. Although today is back to a wintry blast with snow on the hills, yesterday was balmy albeit breezy, a gentle hint of the good times to come.

Katarina had an awesome week ski-ing with the Year 9 Columba College ski trip. It is amazing how much quieter the house is with one less teenager! Chris is slowly coming right although this flu has really knocked him. And we enjoyed my mum and dad dropping in briefly on Wednesday after their Wednesday "walk", which happened to be at Doctor's Point this week.

We had the second ever "Messy Church"at North Taieri, with play dough this time, some theological content and learnt about second chances with God. It was a busy weekend. Zach spent most of it at one party or another, which is his idea of a good weekend.

The whole family helped Tania Roxborogh celebrate a birthday, the publication of another book (this one is about bullying, called NO! It's not OK) and a house warming. They have bought a house just around the corner from us and because Tania teaches at Columba College, she is able to take and bring home Katarina most days, which has saved us a lot of running around.

I took the girl's study group on Tuesday for Leith, which was a wonderful chance to do some drawing with them. We also managed to catch the eclipse, getting the younger two up to see it, although Hannah doesn't remember. We had a great view around 10:15 between the clouds.

No further details on next year yet, although we are in the process of negotiating to purchase a house in Dunedin, which I am hoping means we will be here next year. However, we have to remain open to what God has for us, wherever that may be.