Norn Island just got lucky!

Can you believe the cuteness??!!!  (and the incredibly relaxed looking mother?  She had a 4 hour birth or something insane like that!  I'd still be weeping, wailing and gnashing my teeth!!)  Alan gets another baby to steal chocolate from and NI gets this darling cutie, in addition to the angel Kaia.
xxx

Little bit windy....

We had some high winds the other night...  which blew the 18ft trampoline over the driveway and into the raised garden beds... and then it kept pushing the trampoline until it buckled like this.

Cute cakes

Meg does "holiday day care" and as part of the programme they made some unicorn cupcakes!  You know how I love unicorns, butter and sugar!  One of the little girls she was taking care of made this, but you have to admit, it is pretty darn cute.

 And then or Radhika's birthday she made this gorgeous "50s swimming cap" cake.  Sure, she doesn't like to call it that but *I do*! 

BK is back BABY!!!

My darling niece Nellia FBs me on chat all the time (there might be a name for that but I'm not all techno like a teenager).  Because of the time difference, I'm often at school.  During lunch hour.  Last week when I was talking to her I had to go out and find Meg (to scrounge some lunch off her) and I told Nellia she would be found sitting by the river, feeding the ducks.  And she was...  I bet our campus is the most beautiful in the world...  from this angle.

 Meg, Rubs and Gracie

 This is the view of our school from the street.  We recently put up these huge art installations to distract from the fact that the auditorium is looking a bit rough...

 Just to the left of the auditorium is the river where the girls like to relax and eat lunch...

 That heavily tree-ed island is where we have the music department, staff room and careers advisor block.  Yes, we have an island on campus :)  (in my day it was the Art Department)

 This shipping container has been turned into a locker room for the junior students.  It has been painted all pretty by the girls so each one represents one of the school houses.
 Because the connection between these two buildings is EQed, we have to cut thru the PE block/pool to get to the other classrooms.... ordinarily this area is totally out of bounds.

And there are signs like this at school.  We are used to them though, they are all over the city.
 I LOVE this school.  I think we are doing an amazing job still using it for a school and no one complains about it or anything.  Who cares if the lunchroom/cantine is now in the art history room?  And the drama department is trying to work out of a pre-fab classroom? 
I am so proud of the people of Christchurch for just getting on with life since the earthquakes...

Babies in the park

Look at this gorgeous picture!!!  Sam, Keeks and Colt at the park.  I love them xxx

Farewell to a wonderful man

We love this family so much.  They are fun, and caring, and just great to be around.  Today I attended the funeral of Mike, the Dad.  He died while on a hunting trip on Queen's Birthday.  Everyone that met him quickly knew that he loved his family more than anything else in his life, and he loved living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm also sure he never doubted that he was *adored* by his wife and children.  He will be deeply missed by many people and it really feels like life will never quite be the same again. 
We love you Mike, and all the Becks xxx

Mothers Day 2013

 Lucy and Dom have been hiding this box of chocolates under her bed for WEEKS!!!  The kids were really happy to finally see inside it  :)

 Beautiful Yadu, and Monica

 The Dhakal girls - Sam, I took this photo for you...

 

 10 minutes ago - Lucy and Monica rollerblading while waiting for dinner to be cooked

 They  have been playing roller hockey in the road (we live on a dead-end) for the last 2 hours)

 Sebastien...  found in the garage making something.  When I found him he said "Mum, I really need a candle and some matches."  Uh huh.  Yer.

Megane swinging in our back garden. The red tree is my favourite this year.  It is magnificent.