Gramma can you read me a story?

These are some precious moments. Both our kids love to be read to, and given the cuddling it's hard to resist when they ask to be read a story. I'm happy Gramma (and Grampa, I just didn't get any pics) could read to them so much during their visit, the kids loved it!

Hanging Out

These are pics of some of the fun had by all just hanging out in Wanganui, playing games, reading, chowing down in the sunshine. I hope Gramma and Grampa had as much fun as we did!

I did catch Grampa reading!


All the sunsets look like this in NZ, every night.

Gramma Martha and Pinecones

For as long as I can remember, my mom has had a fascination with pinecones. Imagine the excitement seeing this tree, having nearly as many pinecones as needles!

Virginia Lake

Near to Lazlo's school is Virginia Lake, a man made lake with both native and introduced birds. It's a pretty spot and fun for the kids, too, so after school the kids get to play there a lot, and this day Gramma Martha and Grampa Paul got to come along too!

A Pukeko
Weird feet!

Movie Night and fush and chups

We have a tradition of "Movie Night" where the kids (and sometimes mom and dad too) watch a movie and have some candy or popcorn. This may have been that night, or it may have been some very patient grandparents watching a camcorder recording of Lazlo's school operetta "Hone the Kiwi". The kids are getting big enough that this is often the only cuddle time we get!

Gramma Martha was a thumb sucker too!

My personal favorite Kiwi tradition, Fish and Chips! Or as the Kiwi's say, "Fush and Chups." It's served with tomato sauce, which is distinctly different than ketchup. I'm a convert on the fish and chips, fried in rendered beef fat, but I'm not 100% behind the tomato sauce, hence the Heinz Ketchup on the table (made in Australia by the same Heinz, and it's very close, but not exactly as I remember real ketchup, must be the Australian dirt)

First Day of Year 2

I didn't get to see the start of Lazlo's first day of Year 2, but everyone else did.

I should put this up on the bathroom mirror to read every morning: "Smile! We will enjoy today"

An after school treat!

Lazlo and Liska both ready for school

Grampa Paul in Lazlo's classroom

Sleep? I don't need sleep!

The girl next to Lazlo is now his best friend. Her name is Tayla (It might be Taylor, but no one says "r" here, which would sound like Taylah). She is Lazlo's year one teachers' daughter, she's a year older than Lazlo, as his class is a mix of 2nd and 3rd year students.

Since they have to wear a uniform, I'm glad he looks good in red.

The Skatepark

One of Lazlo's favorite activities is to ride his bike in the local skatepark, up and down, trying to get air and jump like his fool old man. The main difference between Lazlo and I when riding is I prefer no one be watching, while for Lazlo it's all about having someone watch and praise his skilz. Thanks to the Grandparents, he got a good dose of that!

Gramma Martha and Grampa Paul in New Zealand

In a change from previous posts, this is Brad (not Michelle) writing...
I've been wanting my mom and dad to visit New Zealand since we moved here. After a year and a half of living here, staying longer than we said we would, my dad finally retired from nearly 40 years at GE and he and Gramma Martha had the time to come half way around the world. They wisely wanted to spend time with us in our normal lives and sightsee on their own. For the first part of their visit we stayed around Wanganui, I think the kid's favorite activity was Grampa Paul acting as a wave machine in the pool in our yard. You can't tell from the sunshine, but that water is cold even in the height of summer, thanks for your enthusiasm Grampa Paul!

Coach Brad

When Lazlo's soccer coach said he would be gone for three weeks and needed a substitute coach I told him we could do it. I played soccer in high school so I figured it would be fine, although Lazlo's games are surprisingly competitive. But when Lazlo heard the discussion he mistakenly thought I was telling Coach Julian that Brad would be the substitute and got really excited. I do a lot at school with Lazlo but Brad misses out because of work. The problem is that Brad doesn't like team sports nor does he know anything about soccer. Of course Brad didn't want to let Lazlo down, so he stepped up to the plate and did a great job coaching, despite his stomach hurting before the first game!

Meridian Bike Jam

We're pretty excited Liska is riding a two-wheeler now. Brad took the training wheels and pedals off her bike and she scooted around on it for a few weeks. It seemed to help her find her balance better than the training wheels did. One afternoon I looked outside and Lazlo gave her a starting push and she was off riding, by herself.

We had a great morning at the Meridian Bike Jam in Palmerston North. It's a "fun ride" for all ages although Lazlo and Liska will tell you it is a race. Liska can ride Lazlo's bigger bike better so we made them switch for the bike jam. It worked out well because her little pink bike can't go very fast, which allowed us some control over Lazlo, who is normally a maniac on his bike.

Mother's Day 2010

I had a great Mother's Day. I slept in, then we went to The Mothered Goose Cafe in Bulls for lunch and then for a hike in the country. The kids were very sweet trying to be quiet so I could sleep in, giving me homemade cards and trying to be extra helpful. I missed my mom a lot but was happy to know that I'll be closer to her and the other important mothers in my life next Mother's Day!

Liska is Scrappy

Liska is playing on one of Lazlo's school soccer teams. Kids begin school when they are 5 here, so 4 1/2 year olds are allowed to play. She is the only preschool aged kid I know of playing this year, but she wanted to after spending last year on the sidelines watching Laz.

She isn't one of the best players on her team, but she is aggressive and will plow anyone over for the ball. My girl is scrappy, which means "a person who is little but who can really kick some ass". I am so proud of her.

Printmaking Class

Here are some photos from a printmaking class for kids at the local museum. One thing I like about Wanganui is that there isn't an overwhelming selection of structured things for kids to do. But I have to admit it was really fun for them to get to try something different!

What Lazlo really thinks of me

At dinner the subject of royalty came up last night. Lazlo said "Daddy is the king of our family". When I asked him if I was the queen he said "No, you're just a parrot who squawks around saying 'Do this!", 'Don't do that!", "Hurry up!'".

I would be more offended if I didn't agree with him...

Beaches

I've never been much of a beach person. I've only spent time at them as an adult and used to get bored of them pretty quickly. However, seeing beaches through the eyes of Lazlo and Liska has changed my mind. I never realized that, among other things,they are for hunting treasures in the form of shells, sea glass and rubbish; splashing in the surf, rock climbing, building things with drift wood, rolling down sand dunes, watching people fish, engineering bridges, drawing in the sand, having races and making sand angels.

South Beach

We took the kids to South Beach for the afternoon. It was a spectacular day. The sun was sparkling on the water and the kids found an enormous sand dune which they zipped around, jumped into and rolled down.

As she stood at the top of the dune, ready to jump into the pit, Liska said "This is the place I used to dream of before we came to New Zealand".

Mt Doom

We had a great day hike at Mt Ngauruhoe this weekend. It is next to Mt Ruapehu and was featured as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings. It was pretty relaxing because the trail was well maintained without steep drop offs (or ladders, or high up one sided bridges, or narrow ledges that have crumbled away...) so the kids could run ahead. The hike took two hours and towards the end Brad and I were discussing how well the kids had done and maybe we should think about backpacking with them soon. As if on cue, Lazlo had a complete meltdown. Seems as if we should hold off on the backpacking idea a little longer.

Lazlo's Easter Note

When Brad and I got into bed Easter night we found candy sprinkled on our pillows and this note from Lazlo:




I have to admit I fell asleep feeling like I was the luckiest mom in the world.