We were fortunate enough to have my dad visit again this year, and best of all he stayed for almost a month. The visit was a little last minute so Brad hadn't taken any time off of work and the kids were in school, but my dad seemed happy to be part of our regular routine. We did get away a couple of times. We went to Napier for my birthday weekend, up Te Mata Peak and to the beach.
We also hiked at Mt. Taranaki. It was a typical New Zealand hike, no information posted on the length or difficulty of the trail, which ended up including steep ladders and narrow bridges with a railing only on one side. You can't tell in the photo, but the bridge is up pretty high. We managed to get lost and had the sense to turn around instead of guessing at the trail, Brad and I having read about lost trampers dying in New Zealand one too many times in the paper. It's a good thing, too, because we had all missed the trail sign and were headed up the mountain. But it was a beautiful hike and Lazlo and Liska did a good job.
Mostly we stayed in Wanganui, though, and my dad accompanied me on school/kindy pick ups and drop offs, swim lessons and touch rugby. He was an enormous help with the kids- putting them to bed, reading to them, singing with them and playing tickle bug, checkers, hide and seek and whatever else they requested. On top of that, he cleaned every chance he got. He also babysat so Brad and I could go out, and gave us an early Christmas gift of dinner at a great local restaurant.
He also had a little time alone with each of the kids, and took Lazlo to the movie theater (Lazlo's first time) and walked downtown with Liska for gelato at a cafe.
We miss him a ton, but feel lucky he got to come again and to stay for so long and can't wait to see him (and Grandma Molly!) again.
