Monday, June 14, 2010

June Long weekend...

We've known for a few weeks but we (Ingrid really) decided we should have a little celebration gourmet dinner for this lovely couple...who, as you can see, are very excited to be expecting their first baby at the end of December, DV!!!! YAY, I'm going to be an Aunty again :-) And now we can give Annette some child-rearing tips for a change, seeing as she's always quick to give them to us!

the happy grandparents-to-be

our lovely hosts - Ingrid and Paul

mmm, a delicious omelet in the making


and the beautiful Renee

The photo of Marcel was not suitable for posting and no pic of Charlene seeing as she is off gallivanting in South Africa at the moment, trying to win over Willem's heart...they met and started going out when he came over here, but the romance sort of sizzled out soon after he went back...from his side...they're still friends, so we'll see what happens :-)

it's all a bit too much for the old man


Sunday's are always good for building all sorts
of wonderful things out of the Duplo
(guess who doesn't want to be on the photo)

Monday
Late Monday afternoon we decided to go for a drive down to Dwellingup, a little town in the bush, along a river, about an hours drive south of us. There are lots of 4WD tracks down that way so we did a bit of exploring both in and out of the car. We'll definitely be heading back there one day, it's such a nice spot!

guess who doesn't want to be on the photo again!

At the Park...

Here's some photos I took of Olivia playing at the park down the road the other day.







It's Monday
It's raining - YAY!!!
Olivia is sleeping - YAY to that too
I chopped all my hair off on Saturday...eeek!
Daylight saving is finished! It was dark at 7pm last night; weird!
It's wintry...I love it, I might head for my bed too. Olivia was awake at 5 this morning, snoozed for a bit till 6, didn't take her Dad's advice on going back to sleep, so got to go in bed with Mum till it was a sane time to get up (only b/c her Mum was sick of listening to her whinge and whine). So I'm feeling a bit sleepy...
Anyway, here's some pics from Saturday night. The van der Veen tribe had a BBQ at Paul and Heidi's place for Renee's b'day. (They might be put on one per day b/c the connection is soooo slow.)

The boys looking at Dad and Mum's Melbourne photos

the Girly Whirlys -- Heidi, Charlene, me, Annette, Renee and Ingrid

checking out some funny video clips

Akaroa

Akaroa
This is the awesome view you get as you drive down into Akaroa, a little town about 1.5 hous from Christchurch

On the beach at Long Bay, Akaroa

A shop with character

Morning tea in Timaru

Christchurch

Christchurch
Our 'Kozy Kiwi' - accomodation while in Christchurch

Rod, Kathryn and Rose on the cool blow up trampoline thing

Sunday night BBQ at the caravan park where we all stayed: Darryl, Rose, Rod and Glenn

Travelling...

Travelling...
more beautiful scenery

Mt Cook - NZ's highest mountain


river near Lake Wanaka

Cadbury's Chocolate Factory!!!

Aren't I strong!

Christchurch Botanical Gardens

all a bit bleary eyed at 5am @ the airport

sunrise above the clouds - beautiful!

Zachary

mmm, Olivia gets to lick the beater!

Tastes good Mum!


my little gardener

A busy bee