Weekend Away

It's nearly 10 years since we were married - how crazy is that! Kate very kindly agreed to look after our boys and we had a night in the city.

We had a gorgeous room overlooking the viaduct:

A fair bit revolved around food!  We had dinner at Ostro which was awesome - sitting at what they call the raw bar which overlooks their kitchen - fascinating to watch!

Delicious steak

Great views

They Sky Tower is gorgeous this weekend:

Dessert was from Milse which we took back to our room - yum yum yum

The hotel also gave us cake!

Next morning after a sleep in!! Breakfast arrived:

Followed by a stroll through Victoria Park Markets and coffee in the park

Then a look at the markets also at Silo Park and saw dads new boat!!

Then a walk up to Depot which had awesome flavours 

Back at the Viaduct, time to pack up

We had an awesome not quite 24 hours 'away'!! Massive thanks to Kate😘

Christmas 2015

Wow - it's a year since I posted here!  Lucky the kids blogs are a little more up to date.

For the second time we were in Auckland for Christmas and for first time ever in our own house!

Sylvia Park does Christmas really well - James had an awesome time on the carousel and then we even got a picture with Santa

 

Grandma and Grandad came up and Aunty Kate came to stay

The night before, the boys Santa sacks were ready

 Furniture assembled for James and George's present

 Presents under the tree

 Decorations for the lunch table ready

 Then it was Christmas morning!
 Aunty Kate had morning snuggles with George while we waited for James to wake

 Finally James woke up to his first Santa sack at home

 Then Christmas lunch was prepped, champagne lamb leg with apricot and rosemary, honeyed kumara, pancetta wrapped baby carrots, turkey roulade with cranberry stuffing, duck fat potatoes and baby garden peas

Dessert was finished beautifully by Kate - a lemon and raspberry trifle

 Some bubbles for morning tea and present opening

 A pretty excited little boy

 Santa hats

 James and George got water guns from Isaac and Jake

 Some mickey mouse slippers from Fred and Ju

 The ears wiggle when you walk!

 A 'special' visitor!

 Matt stoked with his present of little water guns

 Bubbles!

 And then a water fight..

 George had a nap

 And the older boys got into crosswords

 Lunch

 James got a few Teds for presents - perfect!

 James loves his new little Lego - it has a 'Truck and Digger'

And the tables and chairs work well

Over the weekend Dad and Grandad were busy digging the drain down the back

And we went on an adventure to Devonport to check out the awesome new library

The ferry was lots of fun

And the Library was awesome

It was an amazing hot day and called for an ice cream

We had a fabulous Christmas - thank you for sharing it with us!