In Sydney!!!

He is *too* cute!  Smaller than small, which surprises me because of my own little piglets, but ADORABLE and so, low-maintenance.  Considering Jessica's personality, how did this happen????  I've been here for 3 hours and he has done nothing but sleep and feed (with his eyes shut).  I have no idea why I am here because he is no work whatsoever. 
I've staged one photo shoot, he was a total professional and broke into action for me... sucked his thumb for about 20 seconds and then went back to sleep. 

We had Kokolof for breakfast (devine) and now we are sitting here marvelling at the fact Jessica is back to her old body already like a show-biz-mega-star... Her belts are on the same hole!!!  UNFAIR!

This smile is because I will be in Australia tomorrow!

What a gorgeous sweet-love xxxx

He is more than just a head!

Ha ha ha ha ha, full body Akiiki!  It is a tiny body, but oh so precious  :)  And check out that chin, Colt will be so proud they share a body feature!
PS - he is for-sure dreaming of me, look at that pout... 

Day 2

These eyes are talking to me and they are saying "Really?  You aren't coming to see me till Tuesday?  Fine, but I'm going to be mega cute in the meantime...."

The baby darling...

Day 1

The Best Thing EVER happened on Christmas Day!

I am in total shock.
I cannot believe it, the most wonderful thing has happened.
Jessica had her baby today!

At lunchtime I heard she was in hospital and was at 2-3cm, and then by 3pm he was born!  And he is soooooo beautiful!  Just look at him - I *need* to kiss these wee cheeks off.

Welcome to the family, Akiiki xxxx

Family

 At Prizegiving we were lucky enough to see the girls from St Michaels School, Maddie, Karenia, Saskia and Megane

And J, this is Dad trying to teach the Christmas tree selling man how to tie a decent knot.

Bonne fete Sebastien et Grace!

Megane made this cake (of course).  If she had let me cut it open for the photo you would see that iti s a rainbow cake of many colours.  Quite gorgeous...  But no, it was all "hands off Mum", humph.

And the car, well I just want the car.  I found it (in front of the empty section) next to Dad's house.  He says it is a gas-guzzler but I don't care.  Dear Santa, I want this for Christmas and I've been ever so good...

PS don't you love the road repaired after the earthquakes?  It really inspires confidence...

Chalk and cheese (and kidney stones)

Why would anyone want to look pained in a photo, when you can look as happy as this?

 And a mere 3 days later we had Prizegiving, where Seb was made a Prefect for 2013, Tennis Captain and Orchestra Leader...

This wonderful picture was taken right as the kapahaka performance finished.  I was TRYING to get an action shot but somehow the camera just wasn't interested in playing along...

Ballet Recital 2012

There is nothing my sister Jessica loves more than photos of the kids.  Blurry, she loves them.  Posted, she loves them.  Candid, she loves them.  So, here are the not-so-great shots I got today in all their glory.  I'll let you work out where Megane and Lucy are in the photos...

My cool friend, Super Lesley!!!

Fabulous picture!
Fabulous pounamu!
Fabulous result!!
We love you Lesley xxx

Candid shots

Well well, I had my camera in class the other day and while I was teaching one of the wee darlings took a picture of me teaching.  It is odd looking at pictures of youself - I wonder if that is really what I look like.  Anyway that's me.  And below is Dad and Lucy.  He came over after work and was sending a text to someone...  I turned around and there was Lucy sitting on his lap just loving being with him.  I love this photo of them both. 

Honesty online

Well you know the old saying "there is no praise like self praise"?  In this instance it is true.  Right after the 2/22 earthquakes I worked in Latimer Square with this group of awesome people.  For reasons we can probably all guess at, it was never talked about in the media.  RUDE!  (well, except by me here on my blog)  So please, take a look and appreciate the good that is in the world. xx Suzy
https://www.theplymouthbrethren.org/community/plymouth-brethren-assist-in-christchurch-earthquake/

Our Lucy got baptised on Saturday

yes yes, we are sqinting (and sneezing) in the super bright sunlight, but don't just look at that!  Lizzie, William and Shannon came down from Auckland and Dad and Gaye were there.  It was very special, thanks to everyone that came
xx

Happy

Seb has the most awesome guitar teaching on the planet - and then... he brought this to the lesson!

Friends

 CHRIS!!!

 Oh but wait, I lied.  There were 3 pictures of me, and my elbow...

 My darling Taunja... and her look alike SWEET AS CAN BE daughter, Sofia

 And the nicest teenage boys I've ever met - please, someone clone then...  Gideon and Nathaniel

Oh and look how lucky, Chuck even made it into a photo!  Note to self: tell Megane to WARN people before she takes photos, and AIM the camera at them occasionally.

Chloe and Meg

I warned you girls...  :)  Anyone that can live in THIS can live with the shame of it being exposed!

I'm so loved...

So, a couple of months ago Megane and I went to America for a couple of weeks.  I am just now working on printing out the photos from her camera, and guess what - she has THOUSANDS of photos - and 2 of me.  Two, and an elbow.  This is how I know I am so deeply loved...  she takes pictures of me when I am contemplating death by heat exhaustion...  THERE ARE MORE PICTURES OF HER NEW CONVERSE SHOES THAN OF ME!  And they are POSED!  I guess it just goes to prove my theroy - when you are weak they sense it and go for the jugular.

Geotech drilling - they are doing it NOW

So, some pegs appeared on the neighbours front lawn a few days ago, and today they turned up, spent an hour making loud noises and then packed up.  I went and had a chat with them (not that they wanted to tell me anything at all), and it turns out that they could "only drill down 12 metres because it is too soft."  Too soft for what?  How far did they want to drill?  What does this mean?  They told me they need to go 20 metres, but they have other places they can drill in the area.  THAT tells me nothing.  Bugger.                                                                                                                                             

They turned up with this big silver truck, unloaded the machinery, drilled, packed up and left.  Here's the photographic evidence.  I dare say this is the last we will hear of it for MONTHS.

9/11 2012

As usual Dad was the MC at the 9/11 Commemoration down at the Fire Fighter Reserve.  If you have been to Christchurch then I will probably have dragged you by the memorial statue made from Twin Towers steel and told you all about how it came to be here.  it is in front of Central Fire Station on Kilmore Street (however, watch this space, in The Rebuild the fire station is going to be over by the brewery on Moorehouse Ave I think).  In any case, we attend every year.  Out of respect for fire fighters all over the world, and also for those whose lives have been lost in the line of duty.  This year I had to get the kids out of school, as you can see.  They had announced hail and rain for late in the morning so we were all prepared to be wet and miserable by the end of it, but the weather held out thankfully.  

And we all thought of Patricia Thornton and all she had contributed over the years...

 The two Murray's before school.

 Dad speaking...

Nana Chris was there!  We love Nana Chris and hardly ever see her.  Jack and Tom we were thinking of you and wanted you to have this picture xxx