Nearly Spring

There is a posy of flowers from our garden on the bench today -petticoat daffodil, jonquils, sweet peas, hyacinth, snow drops, narcissus, miniature iris and one little crocus. Each year the garden surprises me with bits and pieces that I forget about, and there is something new every day. 
Janine spent most of Saturday at an Interact car wash, raising funds for Orana Park of all places. Katarina was out fare welling the German home stay of one of her school friends. 
Hannah missed football on Saturday as she strained a muscle at the end of school on Friday. She is much better today. Zach played football Saturday and Sunday,  so he's happy. 
We had the second Annual General Meeting of the Timaru Presbyterian parish on Sunday afternoon.

Football fun

Chris took Katarina and Zach to the Phoenix game in the new Dunedin stadium on Saturday - what a great venue! Zach had a rep tournament to play on Sunday, so we released Chris from work for the weekend. Katarina managed to catch up with some friends as well.

Hannah had a lovely time staying with several friends over the weekend for various activities and cousin Abby came over on Sunday afternoon.

The children and I are practicing for a medieval feast this Friday; we are the background entertainment with our recorders!!!

SNOW!

8 am check cancellations
8:30 check cancellations again.
Take children to school.
9:40: School closed - go and pick children up!
Janine was at home anyway as she had a free day from exams, and Katarina went to school as normal. While there have been plenty of flurries, and it certainly was a white sight that greeted us this morning, the snow really isn't settling for us.

It is certainly very cold, and Shadow has enjoyed several walks. I was out and about this morning but the roads were fine, and things were very quiet - memories of the Big Snow four years ago loom large in people's minds and they are a fairly cautious bunch!

Chris is off to Temuka for a football meeting tonight.

It looks like being another snow day for us tomorrow; Janine is due to sit two exams tomorrow so we will see what the morning brings.

It has been a fairly busy week, with the wonderful Bridge Builders team from Caleb Leadership training over fourty people how to build relationships and share what Jesus is doing in our lives. Our next challenge is helping poeple to keep practicing their new skills.

Birthday party - finally

It took a while, but Zach finally had his party on Saturday afternoon; Chris took the boys to Oamaru for bowling, Janine made cup cakes for them to decorate, and Katarina made the actual cake. I did the food, and Hannah went to a friend's house. All good.
Chris and I had a Presbytery meeting in Hanmer Springs for several days and Mum kindly came and watched the munchkins. This is a much easier job than it used to be, but still involves some running around for sports and music lessons.
Zach has been ice skating in Tekapo today.
We have enjoyed having three delightful billets from Columba College for the Craighead Quad Tournament Sunday-Tuesday. They were the debating team and just great. I wish people who mutter darkly about "the youth of today" could have seen them; bright, articulate, polite....

Back but not yet

All but Katarina were back at school today - she had a teacher only day!

Chris and I are heading off to Hanmer Springs tomorrow for a Presbytery event - my mum is up to keep an eye on the children!

Zach had a busy week playing in the Japan Cup in Ashburton; what a lovely week weather wise to be standing outside watching football. Duncan managed to stop in and watch a game on Thursday which turned out to be quite useful. Hannah, who had been staying with McLeods became quite unwell so I caught a lift home with my brother. Chris didn't get home until an hour and a half later.
All the usual stuff still needs to happen work wise, so I'm not quite sure how that is all going to work out. Busy times.