Labour Weekend 2009

It is a holiday in New Zealand today, so everyone is sleeping in, and having a quiet morning. Duncan, Tracy, Abby and Jessie came over for lunch yesterday, which we ate in the garden, warm sunshine, the last of the pink blossoms drifting down, spring flowers around, and roses just coming into bloom, plus one mad dog to keep us entertained.
Janine and Hannah have been ill with a spring cold, but everyone else is fine at the moment. Zach is mowing the lawns; his friend comes over to help but they end up taking more time over the job. Still, it is nice to have freshly cut lawns.
Katarina has finished her art porfolio, and is now able to spend more time on her other subjects, she is currently writing a speech on the evils of Facebook!

Global leadership stuff

The Willow Creek Global Leadership conference was great; good to take a team which really maximizes the effect. Mum and the girls enjoyed the Russian ballet; Hannah had a wee nap but woke up in time for the last third.

Katarina is working hard to finish her folio for art, due in this week. She is staying behind after school and went in on Sunday afternoon. She assures me that she is well on track, and one advantage is the time available afterwards to focus on fewer subjects.

Janine had John Key at her school to open the new Admin Block.

Zach is playing basketball on Tuesday nights, when he remembers to check the draw; didn't happen yesterday but that is a lesson learned.

Back to school Term 4

Lots of comings and goings for the holidays, we had our niece Bridget and nephew Jonathon Monday and Tuesday, and then Hannah went with them to stay with my mum and dad in Oamaru for a 'farm holiday' complete with chickens and horse rides. Hannah and Zach also managed another sleep over each, and have been to the pools (yay for other friends and their accommodating mothers). Janine has done some more baby sitting, and Katarina managed some study in her holiday. The big girls had a great time at Samstock in the middle weekend, although it was wet and cold.
Everyone is pleased to get back to school, everyone except Shadow who mostly enjoyed the extra people around during the day. I can see the last quarter of the year is going to whiz by... and its my birthday this week; have to celebrate tonight as we have meetings or other stuff on this week.

More holiday adventures

Chris took Zach on his first tramp on Thursday and Friday, just an overnighter to Mt Somers, and the Pinnacles. They had a great time, and arrived back very happy, Zach had a wonderful time and they are both keen to go again.
Janine and Katarina went to Samstock in Mosgiel over the weekend; very cold on Sunday with snow on the Dunedin hills. They have had a wonderful time catching up with more Dunedin friends and enjoying the fine Christian music. They went with Geraldine youth group as we have some contacts there, and didn't know of others coming from Timaru.
Hannah had a friend for a sleepover on Friday and they stayed in a tent on the back lawn, a trial run for this Friday and the Girl's Brigade camp. They were awake very early in the morning, so a sleep in the afternoon was necessary! We went to the Trinity Flower Show, the Girls' Brigade had organised lots of entries and Hannah won a couple of sections for her artwork and necklace. There is also a lovely big photo in the Timaru Herald this morning as we were there at the same time as the photographers, who happen to live next door to us! So they grabbed Hannah for a staged photo.