Winter Snow At Last

This weekend the family was packed up to get the first snow break of the season at Ohakune.


On Friday I spent the morning teaching Amelia on the Alpine Meadow beginners slope. Amelia jumped ahead in leaps for her first day of the season. She picked right up from where she left last year and then was confidently snow ploughing her way un-aided from top to bottom. No more clutching hold of Dad's poles. She also managed to clip into her bindings and exit the magic carpet by herself.  


Dad was pretty pleased with progress so the hot chocolate at the end of the morning was well earned. I caught these shots of her on my phone while I was packing up the car to go home.

Amelia was having a great time exploring the snow and view in the car park.

On the Saturday the weather was poor and not worth the trip, so we amused ourselves with a trip to the Waiouru War Museum and general odd jobs around the house.


On Sunday I had the morning to myself. It dawned bluebird clear and calm so I was up the mountain first thing and on the second chair up in the morning.  Good morning on the groomed making the most of a light overnight dusting of a few cm.  Firm and icy underneath.  Clays Leap had caught a fun dusting on the steep westerly face that just caught the morning sun. 


As it softened during the middle of the day I got stuck into a pair of brilliant runs out in the western backcountry in Solitude. The shots say it all really.

Autumn Leaves

Up the back of the lawn a particular tree drops its autumn leaves about this time each year.  The leaves produce great colours so this year I shot some pictures of the girls playing in the coloured leaves.

Of course a rack had to be introduced in the hope some lawn work might get done. Lucy, interested in the rake and leaves, not so interested in racking however.

Colours

Managed to get some work out of Amelia with the rake. The master plan worked.

Until, of course, Lucy found the urge to run through the attractively coloured piles.

More shots of the action are here.

Amelia Turns Six

On the weekend we threw Amelia her sixth birthday party. It was a brave move as she had decided to invite her whole classroom and a few extra's which brought it to 18 kids.

Holding out for fine weather so they could run around the back lawn proved futile. The rain descended on the day making us take up the challenge of entertaining the 18 six year olds indoors.

Lucky there was a great homemade cake.

And also a clown.

The clown was a hit with the kids. He certainly made them laugh and kept them almost in control for the better part of an hour.

Once the clown with his shoes, duck and trusty rabbit departed with the rest of his tricks we where left to our own devices to entertain.  After fulling them up on cake, cheerios and fizzy drink they turned Amelia's bedroom into a impromptu and completely unplanned rave. They pulled the curtains, pumped up the stereo and raided some toys with flashing lights to complete the scene. 18 six years olds in a mosh pit, hammering it out to pre-teen pop. Quite a sight.

Eventually they burned off their energy, just in time for their parents to collect them and marvel at the chaos. Next year I think we shall outsource this business process.

Bedtime Reading

Amelia's reading is improving well, to an extent that she now reads to Lucy. 

While Amelia was reading her book of the day, Lucy snuggled in to take enjoy the bed time story also.

Two and Trouble

Lucy turned two on Saturday, so we had the kids of the neighborhood around for a two year old party.  Lucy had a ball opening all her two year old presents, but the bike helmet seemed to spark the imagination. She was quite attached to it.

Seems Lucy was rather proud of turning two, if this shot is anything to go by.

She had fun hanging out with her two year old little buddy from the local neighborhood.

Like the Bike

The girls enjoying some late autumn sunshine out on the back lawn. They have really started to enjoying using their bikes. Lucy as always is never wants to miss  out on the action.

Kid and a Kite

On Saturday the wind was gusty and the sun was out before an oncoming storm. Perfect autumn weather for a kite. I got Amelia out to the park nearby to fly her kite.  


Didn't get any pictures of the kite, I was more interested in the expression on her face as she held onto the kite in a stiff Wellington breeze as it darted and dived over the sky.

More photo's here.