Monday, March 29, 2010
mt cambria
Sunday morning we went exploring the grounds at Mt Cambria (yet another park about a 5 min drive from the house) with our neighbor Gus. We followed the paths, rolled down hills and chased dogs.
Mt Cambria was originally a volcanic cone which was quarried away to provide roads, garden walls and ship ballast. The area has gardens, walkways and also the Devonport Museum (which we have yet to see because it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4pm). It has fabulous hand-crafted steps up and over the bluffs of the old quarry....best of all the small stone walls along the path kept the kids on the walking trails and out of the bush.
Mt Cambria was originally a volcanic cone which was quarried away to provide roads, garden walls and ship ballast. The area has gardens, walkways and also the Devonport Museum (which we have yet to see because it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4pm). It has fabulous hand-crafted steps up and over the bluffs of the old quarry....best of all the small stone walls along the path kept the kids on the walking trails and out of the bush.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
breakfast party
The babies have started insisting that their dolls eat meals with them. When I get them out of bed in the morning they so happy
a few of my favoite things...
Lonnie reading books with the babies.
Lonnie washing dishes with Max's smiling face.
Thankfully I get to see both of these things quite often.
Lonnie washing dishes with Max's smiling face.
Thankfully I get to see both of these things quite often.
Stanley Point
I recently came across this fabulous photo journal of my home town San Pedro, CA. It inspired me to take my camera along with me on a walk through Stanley Point, the small point north of Auckland, where we live. Stanley Point is pretty small. There is only one way in and then several short side roads that all end on ocean cliffs.
Here we are starting out in our back yard.
btw...this is the car we bought to match Maya's hair.
We live down a long drive way behind a beautiful old restored villa...
on a nice quite dead end street. At the end of the street we recently discovered a staircase leading down the cliff to a quite bay.
Our neighborhood has lots of beautiful homes and two apartment buildings.
This is the view from the end of Stanley Point, looking south. It shows just how close we are to the city.
From this spot up on the cliffs you can turn around, look north and see a small bay located on the other side of Stanley Point.
Walk to the end of this street, follow the path down to the water.
We have since found yet another pathway down to the water just a block away from our house.
Here we are starting out in our back yard.
btw...this is the car we bought to match Maya's hair.
We live down a long drive way behind a beautiful old restored villa...
on a nice quite dead end street. At the end of the street we recently discovered a staircase leading down the cliff to a quite bay.
Our neighborhood has lots of beautiful homes and two apartment buildings.
This is the view from the end of Stanley Point, looking south. It shows just how close we are to the city.
From this spot up on the cliffs you can turn around, look north and see a small bay located on the other side of Stanley Point.
Walk to the end of this street, follow the path down to the water.
We have since found yet another pathway down to the water just a block away from our house.
stanley bay park
Stanley Park is located just a five min walk from our house. We got there often to play and wait for Lonnie to meet us after work. The ferry drops him off just across the street.
Max and Maya re getting pretty good at walking along the railroad ties that surround the play area.
Kids and grown-ups in New Zealand often wear rain boots, know as Gum Boots or Wellies, during the rainy seasons. I bought some for the kids this week and they love them....best of all, they can be worn over footy pajamas when the kids want to go outside early in the morning.
They have both also learned how to climb the tall ladder to the top of the big slide.
Max and Maya re getting pretty good at walking along the railroad ties that surround the play area.
Kids and grown-ups in New Zealand often wear rain boots, know as Gum Boots or Wellies, during the rainy seasons. I bought some for the kids this week and they love them....best of all, they can be worn over footy pajamas when the kids want to go outside early in the morning.
They have both also learned how to climb the tall ladder to the top of the big slide.
Monday, March 22, 2010
hedgehog
I mentioned this on facebook....but thought I should also record it on our blog....definatly part of our NZ adventure....
Our laundry room is basically in our entryway, a little like a mudroom, more like a closet before you come into the unit.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, and according to our neighbors they are often found in our yard. We had left the laundry room door open last night and when Lonnie went outside to lock the car door he stepped into the laundry room and almost stepped right on the hedgehog. It rolled... See More up into a ball, I imagine in defense, and just stayed there. We weren't quite sure what to do. It was about the size of a softball and had brown spiky fur. After a few mins we decided we had scared the little fellow enough and we got a broom and pushed him out the door. After a couple mins he got up and ran off.
Max and Maya were asleep but I am sure they would have picked it up and kept him as a pet. I'll have to remember to get a photo next time.
Our laundry room is basically in our entryway, a little like a mudroom, more like a closet before you come into the unit.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, and according to our neighbors they are often found in our yard. We had left the laundry room door open last night and when Lonnie went outside to lock the car door he stepped into the laundry room and almost stepped right on the hedgehog. It rolled... See More up into a ball, I imagine in defense, and just stayed there. We weren't quite sure what to do. It was about the size of a softball and had brown spiky fur. After a few mins we decided we had scared the little fellow enough and we got a broom and pushed him out the door. After a couple mins he got up and ran off.
Max and Maya were asleep but I am sure they would have picked it up and kept him as a pet. I'll have to remember to get a photo next time.
Monday, March 15, 2010
adventerous max
Our sweet little Max is getting more adventurous everyday. He loves to explore and climb. This week it seems his adventures have caught up to him. He has a scraps on his forehead, knees, neck and chin. He also cut open his top lip. But none of this seems to slow him down much. He will cry for just a few minuets and then run off looking for more excitement.
A few days ago I was washing dishes and heard him playing in the laundry room just a few steps away. I went in to find him sitting in the dryer. Thankfully all electricity switches in New Zealand can be turned off, so there is no way it could be turned on while he is inside.
And I forgot to mention, last Thursday we were at the park with our friends Sonna and Ruthie. Max wanted to go on the big-kid belt swing like Ruthie. He did quite well for a while until suddenly he decided to let go when the swing was at its highest point. He flew through the air like superman and landed on his belly in the wood chips. He was quite stunned and I couldn't help but laugh. He cried a just a little while and then ran off to start playing again.
A few days ago I was washing dishes and heard him playing in the laundry room just a few steps away. I went in to find him sitting in the dryer. Thankfully all electricity switches in New Zealand can be turned off, so there is no way it could be turned on while he is inside.
And I forgot to mention, last Thursday we were at the park with our friends Sonna and Ruthie. Max wanted to go on the big-kid belt swing like Ruthie. He did quite well for a while until suddenly he decided to let go when the swing was at its highest point. He flew through the air like superman and landed on his belly in the wood chips. He was quite stunned and I couldn't help but laugh. He cried a just a little while and then ran off to start playing again.
Monday, March 8, 2010
national children's day
Yesterday was national children's day in New Zealand. Devonport celebrated by having a treasure hunt. We decided we didn't have enough time before naps and then church to participate in the hunt but the kids still enjoyed the ride on toys that had also been brought out for the festivities. Maya's favorite ride on toy is a small roller coaster.
Devonport has a several great park areas, our favorite is on Windsor Reserve, located between the library and the ferry. There are lots of trees for shade, an big climbing playground (which is also very safe for little ones) and a see-saw.
If you look in the background of the photos you can also see the ocean on the far side of the grassy areas.
Thankfully the kids are much more interested in the toys than the water. Maya is much easier to photograph at the park, Max runs almost everywhere he goes.
This photo, while not especially pretty give you an idea of how close we are to the city. You can see the SkyCity needle in the distance.
Devonport has a several great park areas, our favorite is on Windsor Reserve, located between the library and the ferry. There are lots of trees for shade, an big climbing playground (which is also very safe for little ones) and a see-saw.
If you look in the background of the photos you can also see the ocean on the far side of the grassy areas.
Thankfully the kids are much more interested in the toys than the water. Maya is much easier to photograph at the park, Max runs almost everywhere he goes.
This photo, while not especially pretty give you an idea of how close we are to the city. You can see the SkyCity needle in the distance.
ferry ride
We took the Devonport Ferry over to Auckland on Saturday. The weather was a little gray in the morning. Lonnie usually takes the Stanley Bay ferry to work every morning but it only runs on weekdays. Devonport is a 5 min drive. It is where we go for most of our play groups, library time and grocery shopping.
The ferry ride from Devonport to Auckland is only about 10 mins long.
The view of Stanley Point from the ferry. We are very close to the ocean, but actually about 60 feet above sea level.
The Auckland Marina, with kids playing in the rain.
The ferry ride from Devonport to Auckland is only about 10 mins long.
The view of Stanley Point from the ferry. We are very close to the ocean, but actually about 60 feet above sea level.
The Auckland Marina, with kids playing in the rain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)