NaNaNaNavember...

With my course done and dusted, we had time for a bit of fun around here...

 Liberty came for a sleepover with Helena - it was the first time that the two of them had their own time... these two adventurous girls chose to sleep outside in the little tent (despite the rain) and played much of the next morning in the same place.

 Super fun - Steph Boyer had a friend passing through Wellington on her way to Queenstown... since I was finished with my course I had plenty of time for taking people around. I met Marnie in town and took her for a walk to Frank's Cafe for a delightful afternoon of chatting and sharing stories. Thanks cousin for the introduction!

 While Hunter was pumping up hills with his WORD mountain bike class, Helena and I took a hike through the trees at Mt Vic. What an adventurous day out!

One Wednesday, Helena and I also managed to squeeze in the WHS International Department's Thank You Party while Hunter was at WORD one evening. They had lots of snacks (yum yum for my tum), but the highlight was Lilith's speech about the joys of homestay families. 

 November was time for school speeches again - Hunter did his on oceans...

and Helena delivered an award winning speech trying to persuade the school to extend morning tea by an extra 5 minutes.

 In November, the kids did their school visits to Holy Cross School. Unfortunately, Hunter wasn't feeling so well the first day of the visits - so Helena went on her own. Afterwards, we stopped by the dairy in Seatoun for a celebratory ice cream cone. Somehow, those cones turned these lovely kids into unicorns... hopefully they'll turn back!

 The Arise Kids were having a cooking competition - so Helena made Emerald Salad. Great Grandma would've been so pleased - though we did make it a bit more palatable by adding marshmallows to the topping rather than the cheddar cheese.

 While Tony was away cycling around Lake Taupo, we had some fun of our own at home... Creative Christmas III! We did two sessions - Jess & her boys came after school for pizza and crafts, then Pearl, Andrea, Anne and Shelley turned up for the evening session where they made cards and paper straw garlands. Anne and Liberty spent the night with us as well - so it was a rich day of friends. 

 The highlight of the weekend was Jeremy & Helen's wedding!!! Tony & I had done their marriage mentoring over September and October - so while Tony was working his way around Lake Taupo, these two were working their way through their vows! Thanks for inviting us into your lives - we are so looking forward to where this couple will go!

 We also celebrated Thanksgiving with our fellow Arise Americans at Chris & Debbie's house in Newlands. Merridith Ng and Rachelle Stanway know how to put on a good party! Then crazy mom decided to have a Back to the Future movie marathon til past midnight... fun at the time, not so fun the next day - OUCH!

 Post Taupo Tony had something to do that kept him home from work for the day... we enjoyed a coffee at Scorch-A-Rama and a wander up through the bush to the old bunkers overlooking the harbour. Wouldn't it be fun to be home together all the time?!?

 "We" FINALLY polyureuthaned the kitchen bench... good thing Tony had a new eager helper. Lilith gave it a good sand before Tony started on the staining. Safety First!

Super fun - Melody was in California for a conference and had breakfast with the family at mom and dad's house, then Amber took her down to San Clemente where she needed to go... what a fun to have family and friends mix it up!