Katie's Disco

 It's that time of year again - the Marsden Year 5/6 Disco!! Some of you may remember that I was on the committee last year as well and unfortunately our DJ didn't show up so I ended up doing my best with a sound system and my iphone. Well, thankfully, this year things ran much more smoothly! Our theme was "Flouro" (or "Neon" for my American friends) and I was in charge of the decorations. It was such an easy theme - the girls looked so cute and there were plenty of things to choose from for decorating the room. Even the food was easy! Dugald was in town this year to participate in the "Dance of the Dads" so pictures of that (and video) are near the end of this post.

We bought these flouro hats and strung them around the room. When the girls arrived they were allowed to choose one to wear and take home.

The girls go to an afternoon tea after school where they get dressed and ready. This is their snack table.

Katie getting her nails done - with her friend Anna.

Katie and her best buddies, Lottie, Juliet, Anna, Isabella and Emily.

The girls waiting for a turn with the photographer.

Katie and Winnie showing off their cool eyelashes.

Our sweet neighbors Jen and Maddie.

Mila, Emily, Katie, Lottie, Juliet and Emily.

Back: Molly, Rhianne, Mila and Vita. Front - Katie, Emily and Winnie.

The dads getting prepared for their big dance at the pub across the street.

Nick, Dugald, Tony and Grant,

Now some video highlights:

Here's a short clip of Katie dancing:



And here's one of all the girls with their glow sticks and hats:


And, finally, the Dance of the Dads - very poor quality, sorry. Dugald is in the back on the left.

Ballet Exams 2012

It's that time of year again - ballet exams!! Katie and Josie both had their exams earlier this month, Josie for Grade 3 and Katie for Grade 5. This year Meggie did something called Medals but I don't have any pictures as she went with a friend. All the girls enjoyed doing the exams again - I love how Dierdre encourages them not to stress and to just have fun. Dierdre Tarrant, their teacher, received an award last night from the Wellington City Council for her positive contributions to the city, I'm really grateful for the influence she is in the girls' lives.

Katie

Katie and Dierdre

Katie, Scarlett and Cosette

Josie

Josie and Sophie

Josie, Sophie, Isabel and Celia.

November Catch - Up

Happy Thanksgiving to my American family and friends!!! It's hard not to be homesick thinking of you all together and celebrating, but I am very thankful for all of you - and especially thankful for you continuing to check in with us here despite a month without posts. I did lose my computer for a wee while to the "Geeks on Wheels" - but really I have no excuse other than we were just too busy living life for me to write anything about it or share photos. I've just downloaded all our pictures, to date, for November from my phone, so expect a few catch-up posts over the next few days.

Some of you may have seen this photo on Facebook. Chloe has discovered the joy of digging. I'm not so overjoyed with how it leaves the garden nor how it leaves the white comforter cover on our bed. Time I could have spent blogging has been spent washing her majesty. Tell me she doesn't look guilty.

We had the pleasure of celebrating Wills' birthday with him here at casa Morrison! Thankfully Wills is happy to eat just about anything put before him as I would rate the dinner I conjured up about a 6 out of 10 - and look at that cake! Ugh. But we were thrilled to get to see him and he left home with a big doggie bag of mac-n-cheese which will hopefully have fed him for another meal or two.

Next up are just some random photos taken over the last few weeks. We are really enjoying the longer days, and even some warm ones! Summer is almost here at last. 

Some of our homeschool friends that we never get to see anymore came over for lunch one Saturday afternoon and we had a lovely catch up. Meggie and Katie spent the day in town as these were special friends of Josie and Ellie (and me).

Meggie singing at church again - she's become a regular and we love listening.

This girl has shot up but she is still crazy. Crazy. We love her.

Clean dog. We love her too.

Stay tuned for an update on the ballet exams, Katie's speech competition, Katie's disco and much more.

Lots of love from all of us. Dxx

Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween to my American friends and family!! We hosted a fun Halloween get together with some neighborhood friends and the girls had a ball. We all gathered at our house, then the kids followed a map to several houses in the 'hood to "Trick or Treat", and we ended up here again for nibbles and drinks afterwards. I didn't get nearly as many photos as I would have liked because it was crazy, but hope to get some more from friends later. There are plenty for this post anyway! 

Our decorations

Nicky and her girls came over early to get ready and have dinner with us. Ellie wanted to be a vampire and since she is a girl Meggie named her "Draculoola".

Girls having dinner on the patio - very thankful for lovely weather!!

Sweet neighbor and friend Jen.

Meg becoming Elphaba.

Prince Charming of course.

My only costume! Nicky didn't dress up but she is responsible for the fabulous face painting.

Meggie and Katie - Katie was Medusa.

Josie becoming a dead princess.

Anna the bunny, and Meggie.

Sam - such a cute parrot!

Lily Jane is something dead.

Devils Emma and Isabella.

The dead princesses Tessa and Josie. 

Anna and Isabella.

Lottie, Emily and Lizzie.

The boys -they were clearly outnumbered.

Group pic at the beginning and the only shot I have of Katie :(. She was a Barbie and looked stunning. She also tried to wear high heels but ended up taking them off half-way through the evening.

The older girls - Sophie, Aimee, Meggie, Claudia, Katie and Zoe. Zoe just arrived from swimming so didn't have time to get into costume. 

Red, the neighbor's dog, came in and took a nap amidst all the chaos. Chloe was very good and loved the party but spent most of the night being cuddled.

Ben - the birthday boy!!