How time flies

We just bought an electric car. Read all about it here. http://kiwiev.blogspot.co.nz/

Kato now lives in Christchurch and works at the Lincoln university library 3 days a week and somewhere in town 2 days a week. I have the best sister in the world who had Kato to stay while she was undertaking work experience, and organised said work experience and was influential in getting work experience to turn into paid work and then an actual job. Susan is awesome.

Janine is still in Dunedin. We had the privilege of seeing her graduate last month and celebrate her 21st early. She has been a breakfast hostess at a B&B, and is doing bits and pieces for K Mart while applying for other jobs.

Zach passed NCEA Level 1 with a Merit endorsement.

Hannah took out Year 9 last year with being top Year 9 student at Timaru Girls High School.

I am working at Roncalli College this year. It has been a bit of a drama but I teach English and ESOL at the moment.

Chris remains a minster at TPP.

God is good.

Christmas letter 2013

Hannah

Age 12, Year 7 at Gleniti School  
Best thing about this year Doing the Pantomime

·         Favourite books

Reboot by Amy Tintera

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (series)

·         Looking forward to  

being a year 8, senior camp

·         Achievements

Rep team South Canterbury Football, Music Distinction Grade 3 Flute, Pass in Grade 2 Piano, Girls Brigade, leading part in a School Production,  Jump Jam Christchurch south Island Finals,3^rd place in School Lip Synch, started a Knitting club this year, participation in science fair and wearable arts

Zach 
Age 14, Year 9 at Timaru Boys High School

 Best thing about this year: Electives

·         Favourite books:The Gone series by Micheal Grant (Gone, Hunger, Lies)

·         Looking forward to - 

               being taller than people (ie family), learning more German

·         Achievements

Passed Grade 3 Piano, Football/ Futsal, Top in Science in his year, is learning Guitar and was given the one Opa made, Australasian Test Distinction in Science, represented his school in Cantamaths

Janine

Age 18, First year at Otago University, Bsc in Psychology

·          Best thing about this year

Learning about new things, meeting new people, trips to see family

·         Favourite book

Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers

·         Looking forward to

Flatting next year, studying more Psychology, learning to drive

·         Achievements

Passed first year of University, survived first year away from home, meeting some fabulous people

Katarina

Age 20, Second Year at Otago University, Bsc in Computer Science and Media Studies

·         Best thing about this year

mid semester trip to Tekapo with some friends, hanging out with friends, new and old, seeing mum and dad when they were down

●     Favourite books:The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner

●     Looking forward to:  some very interesting papers, new flatmates

●     Achievements: Survived flatting, passed all my papers

M-J

Missed her elder Girls, wanted a replacement dog

·         Best thing about this year

Celebrating all the children’s achievements, and our 25^th wedding anniversary

·         Looking forward to

Going to Thailand next year for my cousin’s wedding

·         Achievements

Joined the Gym, ran a couple of Holiday Programs, helped Hannah with knitting club, learned to crochet,

Chris     

Looking forward to a new year, work was very busy this year

·         Best thing about this year: survived the year at work

·         Favourite bookTalon of the Silver Hawk by Raymond E. Feist

·         Looking forward to

Going to Thailand, less meetings at work, more fun,cycling from the Alps to Ocean, Gardening, the kids achieving

·         Achievements

                Going to the Russian Ballet with MJ, Proud of our children - they have all done well in their respective activities and studies. Enjoyed taking Ben +Katja’s wedding

Shadow

Occupation, house dog, Age 7

·          Best thing about this year

Going for bike runs with the Alpha Male, its embarrassing when I have to walk home because I am sooooo tired, but it was sooo Gooood

·         Looking forward to: more runs, more food, more cuddle’s, more bones, more pats

·         Achievements

Catching a hedgehog, playing what’s the time Mr Wolf with Alpha Female,

Did not run away and avoided those mangy cats.

Mid semester break

Janine is home for five days and Katarina swanned in last night with a couple of friends for a night before heading up to Tekapo for some rest and relaxation. We saw them two weekends ago in Hamilton when we were up for the combined 80th birthday celebrations for Bill and Annie, Chris' parents. They've just left for five weeks in Holland, catching up with family.
Bill has just finished making his first guitar, from NZ native timbers. It sounds stunning, and he has given it to Zach. You can imagine the upsurge in enthusiasm and practice! We used it for some of the entertainment at the birthday lunch, and to be honest I have also been sneaking the odd go on it.
Hannah and Zach are busy Sunday mornings with rep practice, they are both in their respective South Canterbury teams for football. This is another level of commitment for them, and they are working on their time management skills as they are also both doing a piano exam this year and Hannah will sit Grade 3 flute.
We went to Magnificent Mozart on Friday night, wonderful music, and Hannah enjoyed meeting Bridget Douglas, the NZSO flautist. She was most encouraging, a really good exprience for Hannah.
The next lot of holidays are going to be full on with football tournament in Dunedin for Zach and Blenheim for Hannah.

Milestones

Zach walked to the dentist yesterday, which was a milestone for both of us. I'm still working on training him to use his cell phone to keep in touch, and he is learning to take more notice of landmarks for when he is on his own.

Hannah has started a knitting club which meets in our house on Monday afternoons. There is more talk than knitting but the group is growing and enjoying their time together.

Chris spent three days in Dunedin last week at the Pastors' Conference.We saw Janine and Katarina on Thursday as I went down for supervision

Holidays

We are running another Holiday Program and while I am missing the help of Janine and Katarina, I am enjoying the contribution of many of our senior members, talking about war memories. Several have come in with bits and pieces, and a couple of retired teachers have read excellent books to us. Perhaps the highlight was a couple of grandads singing 'Nursy, nursy' unaccompanied, acapella, impromptu - classic!

Holidays are swiftly changing as the children are more independent, there is less organizing to do, which is great as Chris and I are still working this week. There are also friends now who either come over or have them over.

Chris has been busy with room tidy ups and clear outs, so things are looking more organised in some corners. 

Term One

Oh dear, there is a bit of a gap in the record here...
Janine is happily ensconced in Cumberland Hall in Dunedin, studying Chemistry and Psychology. She has met lots of people including a number of other 17 (non drinking) year olds, and having a wonderful time. She starts at 8am every day, which wouldn't suit many people but she is cool with it.
Katarina is getting her head around the realities of flatting, she is living with a couple of girls she knew from Columba College and learning about shopping etc.
Zach was in Dunedin in the weekend for a football "Gathering of the Clans" event, which he enjoyed. He is still suffering with a cold he picked up after school camp at John Scott lodge. He is struggling a bit with getting away to school on time.
Hannah went to a learn to sail event through school yesterday and really enjoyed it - she wants to go after school now! They saw Hector's dolphins which was jolly cool. She signed up for football in the  weekend. We enjoyed having Uncle Tim stay for a few days as he pays us another flying visit.

Back to work

Over the summer, all sorts of routines go out the window - bed times, breakfast times, and blogs! We've had a relaxed and cruisy summer, one without the lengthy travel that usually characterizes our holiday breaks. We've spent a few days relaxing at Kakanui and Omaru between Christmas and New Years, and Chris and I took Zach and Hannah to Wanaka for a few days, but the rest of the time has been at home.
We've enjoyed having Janine and Katarina both home for the holidays. I took Janine to Christchurch yesterday and she is spending the rest of this week in Hamilton before heading off to Parachute (whoop, whoop!)
Katarina is on child minding duties as Chris and I are both back at work.
Zach has been playing a lot of "Minecraft", but we've managed to drag them away from technology to go swimming, kayaking, and visit friends.
Last week was busy with lots of extras, including Katarina's friend Imogen from Dunedin, our niece Katherine, back from London for a bit, and our niece Bridget visiting from Christchurch.