
2008.11.09 09:18
Our first stop: Clevedon A&P Show

2008.11.09 10:42
Nancy takes the kids on a train ride

2008.11.09 10:43
Such happy kids.

2008.11.09 10:45
Madeleine says 'hi' to her daddy.

2008.11.09 11:13
Madeleine goes for a bounce in the bouncy castle.

2008.11.16 02:32
We had a delicious dinner of pea and asparagus cream soup that Graham sadly ate all of Nancy's, an awesome child's meal with a bit of everything, and a yummy steak with tasty sides for Nancy.

2008.11.10 08:58
After a restful night at the Kauri Croft B&B (a great place for kids), we go for a walk in the Goat Island Marine Reserve.

2008.11.10 08:58
Madeleine's enjoys walking around in the big bath.

2008.11.10 09:00
Hmm...why are the shells moving?

2008.11.10 09:04
That's it! No more walking in the water with all those little critters!

2008.11.10 09:07
Bryan goes way out for a walk.

2008.11.10 10:17
We stop at Matakana Country Park and Madeleine plays in the huge and really awesome playground.

2008.11.10 11:26
Madeleine drives her new tractor. There's the Country Kitchen Cafe in the background where we had a delicious lunch.

2008.11.10 16:33
We stay at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Hokianga in Omapere. Check out the nice view of the Hokianga Harbour.

2008.11.10 16:34
Bryan thinks he's enjoying a quiet meal alone at the beach.

2008.11.11 04:59
Graham's getting so close to crawling.

2008.11.11 04:59
He's got his eye on that remote.

2008.11.11 04:59
Isn't he a handsome boy?

2008.11.11 07:17
Look what we have to do with the chairs because we have a little climbing toddler.

2008.11.11 07:59
We go for a walk in the Waipoua Forest, famous for its collection of Kauri trees.

2008.11.11 07:59
Madeleine enjoys riding her 'packpack.'

2008.11.11 08:08
Here's a family photo.

2008.11.11 08:10
This tree is called, The Four Sisters, as there are four tree trunks stemming from one trunk.

2008.11.11 08:11
More pics of Daddy and our big girl.

2008.11.11 08:12
More tree pictures.

2008.11.11 08:26
This is the second largest Kauri tree in New Zealand, Te Matua Ngahere.

2008.11.11 08:51
A nice plant on a tree.

2008.11.11 09:04
They call this bunch of Kauris Cathedral Grove.

2008.11.11 09:10
Madeleine has a little water from her 'cup.'

2008.11.11 09:10
Ah, "It tastes so good."

2008.11.11 09:11
So refreshing.

2008.11.11 09:15
Oop, I didn't quite get the strap under Graham's chin.

2008.11.11 09:44
Madeleine gets out of the backpack for a walk.

2008.11.11 09:44
She quite enjoyed the walk until the loud birds scared her back into mommy's arms.

2008.11.11 10:09
Here's the biggest kauri tree in New Zealand, Tana Mahuta.

2008.11.11 10:11
Everybody's awake, happy and looking at the camera.

2008.11.11 11:31
We stop at Labyrinth Woodworks near Hokianga and pick up some wooden things and find a pretty peacock.

2008.11.11 17:14
Next stop, the trampoline at the Loredo Motel in Kaitaia.

2008.11.11 17:15
By the next morning she was a champ at jumping on it.

2008.11.12 09:02
We made a stop at 90 mile beach, which is actually 90 km, or about 56 miles. At any rate, it's a long beach. You can drive the whole thing but we didn't.

2008.11.12 09:02
Madeleine and Bryan took a walk up the dunes.

2008.11.12 09:07
The dunes were very picturesque on this beautiful day.

2008.11.12 09:07
Madeleine was a little afraid of falling down the side of this dune.

2008.11.12 09:07
Even if she had it would have been a soft fall.

2008.11.12 09:07
What breathtaking beauty! And the view isn't bad either!

2008.11.12 09:07
Looking north.

2008.11.12 09:15
90 mile beach is super wide. This is the part that people drive on. While we waited we saw a couple of cars and trucks go by.

2008.11.12 13:54
Next stop, the beach a Tauranga bay (not related to the city of Tauranga on the Bay of Plenty).

2008.11.12 13:58
New Zealand beaches very often have beautiful islands scattered just off shore.

2008.11.12 13:59
Mommy gets her feet wet while baby enjoys the brisk ocean air.

2008.11.12 14:12
Building a sandcastle.

2008.11.12 14:21
The watering can was Madeleine's greatest fascination of the day.

2008.11.12 14:21
What could be more fun than pouring water out of a watering can onto your sandcastle?

2008.11.12 14:22
Say cheese.

2008.11.12 14:22

2008.11.12 14:23

2008.11.12 14:24

2008.11.12 14:41
Madeleine's lips were turning blue so a warm robe was in order.

2008.11.12 14:44

2008.11.12 14:44
Daddy spent alot of time hauling water from the ocean to her watering can.

2008.11.12 14:45
Breastfeeding on the beach.

2008.11.12 14:54
Time to clean the sand off your feet ... here, stand in this bucket!

2008.11.12 14:54

2008.11.12 15:58
While Bryan made the 40 minute (round trip) drive to pick up some dinner (at the closest cafe to our motel on the beach), the kids had some snacks.

2008.11.12 16:00

2008.11.12 16:01
Graham is quite adept at eating arrowroot biscuits all by himself.

2008.11.12 16:01

2008.11.13 06:15
No cameras, please! I'm trying to eat ...

2008.11.13 08:04
Another day, another beach. The weather was a bit misty as we drove down the coast on route 1.

2008.11.13 08:14
Madeleine was cold and needed a towel but enjoyed the large collection of shells.

2008.11.13 08:16

2008.11.13 08:32

2008.11.13 08:33
Show us those pearly whites.

2008.11.15 01:55
In Kerikeri. Delicious! Seared lamb on mesclun salad, seafood chowder - phenomenal, chicken breast salad with pesto, macaroni and cheese for the kids.

2008.11.13 15:51
In Paihia we stayed at a very posh hotel with small heated swimming pools for all to enjoy.

2008.11.13 15:52
Enjoying the heavenly spa that was exactly the right temperature.

2008.11.13 15:52
Kids love water.

2008.11.13 15:53
Graham kind of liked being floated around on his back.

2008.11.13 15:53
Unfortunately, just after this picture was taken, Madeleine fell in the pool, and Bryan in a panic dropped Graham in the water too. During the rescue operation the camera was unfortunately dropped in the pool as well and that was the end of it. Both kids were fine after a few seconds of coughing and didn't seem to realize that anything had even happened. There was much more to our trip but with no camera, that's the end of the pictures ...
Unfortunately, just after this picture was taken, Madeleine fell in the pool, and Bryan in a panic dropped Graham in the water too. During the rescue operation the camera was unfortunately dropped in the pool as well and that was the end of it. Both kid

2008.11.15 13:48
The delicious restaurant at the hotel where we stayed.

2008.11.16 02:32
We had a lovely day out in Whangerei.