Fun on the 4th of July

The 4th of July is always a highlight of our trip - we love celebrating America's birthday! We had a great day going to Carlouel and then over to Mama and Papa's with all the cousins.

Thank you Mimi and Big Daddy, we had a great time!

Cute patriotic lifeguard. There was a really cute boy the girls were interested in but I couldn't sneak a picture - I should check on Katie's phone :).

The lunch buffet was delicious.

And the Bloody Mary bar was lots of fun.

Standing for the National Anthem.

Watching Josie race.

Meggie, Katie, Josie and I had the team winning relay - go Morrisons!!

Being goofy in Papa's spa.

Beach day!!

We had a lovely day at Carlouel with the Martins and Mari - we swam at the beach and in the pool, kayaked, sunbathed and just enjoyed each other's company. That night we went to Family Night with the extended Crown clan and it was good to see and catch up with everyone. 

Another night we got our Mexican food fix with Ali and Stacy - so good!!

E getting kisses from Uncle Stacy.

Yummy Mexican guacamole and sangria.

Heading to Florida!!

So we actually ended June in Florida - we left New Zealand on the last day of term, June 26, and arrived in Tampa on the 27th after a short night in LA, just in time to celebrate Papa's birthday with him.

Leaving Wellington - what a motley crew.

Our travel is never without some sort of complication no matter how hard we try - this time our taxi didn't show up in LA at 3:30 am even though we had ordered and confirmed it the night before. The desk clerk at the hotel was very helpful but given that it was so early and that we needed a van it took awhile to find a replacement. At 4:15 (our flight was leaving at 5am) a van showed up and the driver drove like a maniac to get us to the airport. The American Airlines clerk who checked us in told us it was too late and that there was a 30 minute cut-off, but finally after I pleaded with her to let us try to make it she gave us our boarding passes. Two things worked in our favor- the early hour and the fact that we were in First Class. We raced through security and ran to the gate and made it just in time.

Flying over Florida, we are almost there!!

We had a wonderful greeting crew.

We went straight from the airport to the mall for a drink and to buy the Morrison girls some flip-flops, you can't be in Florida without them.

Then Aunt Ali and Uncle Stacy took us to Papa and Mama's where we borrowed the FJ to drive while we are here. Meggie LOVES it.

The very next day we celebrated Papa's birthday at his house.

Josie does the cool hair flip in the pool.

We always get to Frenchys' as soon as we can.

These two picked up right where they left off.

Katie dancing on the beach.

And Josie.

Happy and warm while it snows at home in Wellington.

To finish out June

Katie celebrated her 14th birthday - instead of a big party this year she got a big present! She did have three friends spend the night to help her celebrate. I made her favourite cherry-chip cupcakes and Meggie helped decorate the playroom for them. Her big present was to have her room updated so I spent the week re-painting it and getting her a new bed and bedding, we think it looks great now and she is thrilled to be out of her bunk bed. 

The playroom all set up for the girls.

Juliet, Emily and Saro with Katie.

Dinner on her actual birthday - she requested roast lamb and potatoes.

Her updated room.

Meanwhile Josie had two good friends leaving this term to move overseas which is very sad. Tamina is moving to London and Darby is moving back to the USA. Here are some pictures from their going-away party at the pool.

Meggie worked very hard this term rehearsing for the school production of High School Musical. She said it was a lot of fun and it was a great show. 

Meggie in yellow shirt behind Maddie who is playing Sharpay.

Lovely friends who came out to support Meggie.