Family ties

We recently had the honour of a visit from Sarah's cousins Emily and Libby and Libby's son Frank. It was the first time Emily had met Phoebe - when we stayed with her in Napier in July, Phoebe was a very visible bump being lugger around by Sarah!Definitely related - from an extended family of readers!
Frank is crawling and is now working hard on walking - watch out Libby and Dougal!
Emily and Phoebe both refusing to look at the camera - as they did for every photo;)
Frank, the tool man, got very excited when Josh and Alastair got out the tool box to do manly tool-wielding things on the deck.

Kathrine's birthday party

We helped our friend Kathrine celebrate her birthday recently. Her very small one bedroom flat was full to bursting with adults, children, babies, food and lethally strong Bacardi-based cocktails. We liked her idea of asking for donations for a local foodbank instead of gifts - initially we thought it showed her generous giving nature but realised it was so she could take the huge boxes of stuff her self and look really good! Either way, hopefully it helps out some families at Christmas.

Another Catherine (not sure how she spells it), seated next to Phoebe and I, had left her 18month old son, Bruno, but had a wonderful time playing with Iris and Phoebe and entertaining Thomas and Lucas, the "big" (i.e. 3 and 5 yr olds) boys in attendance.Iris was quite taken with this wee fella (whose name has gone right out of my head!)

Santa Claus is a scary man...

Iris and her friends Brianna (3) and Hayley (22 months) have fun in the sun with a COOL bubble gun. We had to buy our own after seeing this one in action - it blows hundreds of bubbles at a time.

A few pics of the NZ Post Christmas party for kids which we went to a couple of weekends ago...We didn't manage to get a shot of Iris with Santa (probably just as well as she freaked out and hid in my legs!)

Little monkeys

The Campbell girls visited an indoor playground with Libby and Frank last week. Iris and Frank had a lovely time in the rather scary looking caterpillar/tunnel you can see below, as well as with the cars, balls and slides. Phoebe had a good old kick in the floor, protected from the big kids by a picket fence (until one of said big kids nicked off with it!) More Phoebe photos on their way soon...

Frank, a real little monkey! I hear he is now crawling - check out more Frank photos at www.endbump.blogspot.com

BBQ time

Granmarg and Grandad came out for afternoon tea and stayed for an impromptu BBQ yesterday. The bath and bedtime routine was ably taken over by Granmarg, with Mum only stepping in for the last story...


The last of Margaret's birthday cake was finally consumed (despite the way it looks from this photo, not all by Josh!)

Little Miss Marcos

Iris has reached the grand old age of 17 months. Words are coming thick and fast and her favourites include: duck (anthing with wings, although she has said bird a couple of times now), shoe (surprise, surprise), door (all doors MUST be closed!) , dog and cat. Car is code for "I'd like to go out now".


Evidence of the shoe (and bag) fetish...More evidence...
She knows just what to do when you pull the camera out...
As well as sitting up at the big table, Iris is now sleeping in her bed, kindly allowing Phoebe to "borrow" her cot.

3 months

Time flies when you're having fun - Phoebe Rose is now three months old. She weighs in at a healthy 6.44 kilos and is 61 cm long/tall! Obviously we're biased but she just gets cuter every day!

Fireworks and family

We braved the crowds on Guy Fawkes night to check the Wellington fireworks display. Iris was bundled up in the backpack, Phoebe in the frontpack and off we went. After a few seconds of uncertainty, Iris decided the fireworks were really cool. Phoebe was mesmerised from the start and neither of them seemed phased by the loud bangs or the crowds of people.
The following day, we headed back into town to catch up with Marie and Eileen, Sarah's aunts and Iris and Phoebe's great [fantastic!] aunts. Iris had a wonderful time walking from Civic Square to Cuba Mall, despite having to be dragged out of the shoe shop. We spent a pleasant afternoon in Murphy's Bar, having a good old catch up

Eileen and Phoebe get acquainted...

...as do Marie and Phoebe.

















Eileen and Iris share a secret.


Phoebe has been loving her cousin Frank's swing (thanks for the loan, Frank!) Here you can see her sunbathing on one of the few fine days November has given us so far.

Iris is turning into quite a little Imelda Marcos, with a penchant for shoes, shoes and more shoes! Here, she models the latest in breakfast fashion in Titahi Bay.

Party animals

Last weekend was a busy one, with two birthday parties to attend. Iris was in her element and lapped up all the attention. Phoebe slept through much of both parties but managed to charm a few more people when she was awake.

We had a family afternoon tea with Granmarg and Grandad so we could give Grandmarg her birthday presents on the day of her (21st!) birthday. Phoebe chatted with Grandad while Iris read Granmarg stories.

Granmarg's mystery birthday party was on Sunday. She's kept us all in suspense for months, only telling us the date and time. All was revealed when we arrived at the Time Cinema in Melrose. It's in the garage of a film buff's house and, as well as a 30 seat cinema, John also has a huge collection of movie memorabilia, pinball machines and other miscellaneous stuff (lucky he's got a big garage!). We were treated to a selection of films chosen by Margaret, including some great stuff from the New Zealand Film Unit and some great, very un-PC cartoons. Amanda came through yet again with a fantastic cake - 0ne way we could surprise Margaret!

The cake was adorned with the Arc de Triomphe (due to Margaret's love of Paris) and the words "What a triomphe!" The age was a bit blurred - I think it said 40...

Auntie Fleur, Pheobe and Iris. (Fleur is Josh's cousin).

Uncle Dean with Phoebe (yet another Knowsley cousin!)

Josh's "little" cousin Jared with Fleur - from memory Fleur had on HIGH heels, or maybe she was standing on a chair;)Post-party, a small group of family went out for a meal.

Not a plug for the restaurant but a chance for Iris to show off yet another new word - dog!

Iris' pal, Ivan, hangs out with the boys - Alastair, Margaret's brother Trevor and Fleur's partner, Barnaby.

Fleur and Barns practising - they're "getting" (her choice of word, not mine!) a kid this week, a god-daughter.

Iris showed of her love of bling as she checked out Granmarg's jewellery.

Labouring away

We hit the road over Labour Weekend and visited Josh's rellies at their farm in Rongotea (aunt Audrey, uncle Ian and cousin Hamish) and Sarah's brother Greg and his family at Turakina, near Wanganui. Both girls lapped up the attention and it was great to catch up with family. Sarah and the girls also spent time catching up with Sarah's aunt, Rosaleen, who was down from Tauranga (minus camera so unfortunately no photos). Iris had a wonderful time and we think Phoebe's made another admirer!

On a more general note, Iris is talking more and more. Her repertoire includes "cat", "dog", "duck" (she's obsessed with them!), "shoe", "sock", "foot" and "toe". Scarily, I think she also attempted "TV"! "Mummy" and "Daddy" are now used in context which is quite a buzz for us both. Phoebe continues to grow and grow! You can't stop her smiling and she's also a very chatty wee thing (trying to outdo Iris already).
Phoebe hanging out in Rongotea (literally - she's chilling in the fantastic seventies swinging chair!)

Phoebe posing in the cute outfit kindly sent by her great-grandmother, Rana.

Phoebe gets to know her cousins, Ben and Emma and their Nana, Maxine.

Iris enjoyed dinner and a beer with Dad on the deck on one of the few nice days we've had recently.