Ice Skating

The ice skating rink is back, so of course we had to go in the school holidays.  Tighe and Quinn are so much more confident this year.  My foot still hurts from the swollen tendon, so I used the Zima Frames, and that made it a little more comfortable for me.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

Look how fast now Mama!

Merit Award

Found out I won a merit award at the Taupo Fibre Art Festival - Super Excited

Gina's birthday

The eldest, (and most expensive) is 18 today.  "A rainbow cake please Mama!"
I considered getting her 18 bars of chocolate, but the boys said 9 would be enough.
Happy Birthday Gina!  May this year be filled with lots of fun and adventures.

Quinn's Birthday

When I asked Quinn what he wanted for his 10th birthday, "A Limo Ride Thanks Mama!"
He also wanted a Nerf gun battle with his school friends.  It was great that Carenza came down from Hamilton.  She told her teachers on Monday, that she went to her cousin's birthday, and played with guns.  An unforgetable time for everyone.

Yellow and Orange theme

Happy birthday Quinn!

The best part - opening the presents!

Table pedistal

Now the interesting bit.  Erik is going to steam and bend each segment of the core, for the pedistal.  It is going to take at least a month to bend all the segments.

The mold for bending the steamed timber

Temporary supports for the rings

The first one!

The Table

Erik has decided to make a round table for the dining room.  I found him some recycled Rimu timber, and there is no holding him back.  The thing is, he needs to bend the wood.

Measuring the circumference

Glue Love Note

Urchins' initials

A dream...

Cutting edge

Bending the side cap

1.8m wide

Mokoia Island

School trip to Mokoia Island, a bird scantury in Lake Rotorua.  I have been in Rotorua 20 years, and never had the opportunity to visit.  Quinn and Anneke's classes(Year 5) are going, and Erik and I are tagging along. 

We got to see Saddlebacks and Robins, NZ endangered species. 

Saddleback, in the centre of the photo - look harder!

 The Robins were so friendly, and kept us company during the bush walk.

 I also had a supernatural experience with Matua Tonga, the island's guardian.  Legend is that she was on the canoe from Hawaiiki, and she watches over the kumera fields, and is a fertility symbol for the island. 

Finished the trip with a splash in Hinemoa's pool, and the story of Tutanekai and Hinemoa, the peace bringers to Rotorua.

Hinemoa's pool, hot and steamy

Quinn

Rotorua in the distance