Waikanae

We spent a lovely few days of the school holidays in Waikanae at the beach. We also spent a day with Hugh and Margaret in Palmerston North which is always a treat. Margaret's knees are still not great so Ellie and I helped her with some planting she wanted to do before Hugh's big 90th  celebration at their house at the end of the month. Because gardening is an activity that rarely if ever takes place at our house Dugald thought it was photo-worthy. 

We had a very low-key few days at the beach - Dugald could only be with us one night before heading back into the city for  work and rugby games - but the girls and I loved just hanging out reading, playing games, taking walks on the beach and watching rugby for our evening entertainment. I've loved watching the World Cup games and can honestly say I'm a big All Blacks fan. They've made it to the finals and play France for the cup on Sunday night!

Enjoy the photos - there are plenty!! We stayed at Dugald's Aunt Elisabeth's house (she died a few years ago) and it was great fun to look at all the family photos. I saw a picture of Hugh's mother that I've never seen before and I thought it looked very much like Katie. I should have taken a photo of it!

J dancing - always

M running

M & K looking like mermaids

E dancing too

A day at the gardens

It's officially spring here - though some days the weather would have you believe otherwise! The little girls and I took advantage of one of the prettiest days we've had so far this year to head to the Botanical Gardens and spend the morning admiring the flowers and foliage and playing on the playground. This was all before the big girls got out of school for the October school holidays, it was tempting to go sign them out for the day and take them with us but I restrained myself.