There are an ever-increasing number of vehicles and mechanisms with which to transport ones child. Buggies, prams, back-packs, slings, ‘front-packs’, hip-seats, bicycle carriers, car seats and so the list goes on. Each method has its merits, but it is hard to determine, from the baffling array of products, what will really suit ones needs (and…
Author: BritMumInNZ
Girls in the Garden
We’ve been undertaking a lot of landscaping to the garden of our new home this summer and it’s all finally coming into place. The girls are enjoying the flowers, the fruits of our labours (Cape Gooseberries, Strawberries and Parsley being top on their list) and we are enjoying a bountiful supply of coriander for our…
Friday Morning Dip
Oriental Bay was like a mill-pond. Not a ripple stirred on the water, apart from those made by the fascinated explorations of children. Sophie was in raptures at the crystal clear water and focused on retrieving pebbles from the seabed and returning them to the water with a satisfying splash. Charlotte is not one to…
Simba Loves the Garden
Our garden is getting better by the day (though of course there is always plenty of ongoing work!). We are now putting all our grass clippings, food wastes and paper waste in our compost bin (which takes a bit of work, but is worth it). Simba loves to watch the action and play in the…
Charli the Climber and Nature Lover
Charlotte says: The weather is still beautiful and I am enjoy reaching new heights at climbing. I can’t wait to show Aunty Claire my favourite climbing spots, when she visits me later in the year. Here I am at Princess Bay (a 15 minute walk from my house) and hugging Blacky. The last photograph is…
Sophie Talk: 15 Month Update
Sophie says: ‘More!’ The first time I said, ‘More’ was when I wanted to feed our cats. Pouring the cat biscuits out in the morning is so much fun. I also love pouring water and filling up bottles in the bath to make lots of bubbles. Blowing bubbles in the bath and at the swimming…
Sleep vs Party
The summer evenings have been tempting the unstoppable Lee girls to frequently stay up past their bedtimes. Last weekend Mummy and Daddy gave up all hope… Daddy went out for a jog and Mummy painted some pebbles. Finally Sophie crashed, but Charlotte took a little longer to wind down!
Looking for Peace
Simba says: At times my life is very peaceful… such as when Charli tucks me up in bed and reads me a story. Though I have to be watchful of my ‘mistress’, since she also has a sharp tongue on her and doesn’t always favour my presence in the bedrooms of the house. She often…
Starting Kindergarten!
Charlotte says: I’ve finally started Kindergarten! Here in New Zealand children can start Kindergarten at 3 year’s of age. Three afternoon’s a week I go and play, learn and have fun. I have only just started (at 3 years and 7 month’s old) as I used to be very tired in the afternoon and needed…
The ‘Real’ Sophie Emerges: 14 Month Update
Sophie says: I spend most of my time taking lessons in the art of ‘winding up ones sibling’ from the expert, my big sister. I love to draw and paint, but it’s going to take me a long time to understand the message, ‘Draw only on paper, please!’. I am in favour of body art…
Sisters are Hanging Out
When the girls are not hanging out at the kitchen bar, consuming ever increasing proportions of food to fuel their ‘pukus’ (Maori word for tummy), they love to play together at the playground. Sophie has mastered climbing up a ladder and delights in sliding down on her tummy. We recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to…
‘Me-Time’: Bringing out the Best
Friends often ask, “Do you get much time to yourself?” And I smile contentedly and reply, “Not really, but that is fine with me.” But this answer is not strictly true. It is not that I don’t get ‘me time’, it’s just that the definition I have for it has changed and yet my friends…
Playing with Friends
Charli ‘says’: I love to play with friends and now ask Mummy to organise play-dates for me. When my friends are busy then I love to go down to the playground or beach and play with whoever is there. I’m getting so good at sharing now and today I even let a little boy have…
Around the Clock
Charlotte: Mummy and Daddy have got a little fed up of New Year’s Eve being a non-event, since my arrival, so this year we decided to do things a little differently: We celebrated at midday with our own little countdown! We popped balloons filled with home-made confetti, rice and jelly-beans, played ‘Around the Clock’ (a…