So little time to reflect and review, and so freeing to not have to either! We really have been living and loving in the moment for most of this year, what with new adventures in horse riding, skiing and an early summer making us yearn for sea dips and boogie boarding, but as it draws […]
horse-riding
The biggest surprise for Sophie
She moved so smoothly, like her body was one with Charm’s. She’d waited all day with great excitement, saying, ‘Oooooo, I can’t WAIT! When is it time? When is it time? I just want to go now!’. ‘I’m only a quarter nervous this time,’ she said. ‘I have proper stirrups now, metal ones and they […]
Things I’m Loving
Friendships near and far, always in my heart and often in my thoughts. Living in a city that feels more like a village, because of the nature of the people that live there. Winter sunshine and early signs of spring with ducklings and daffodils already seen! Beautiful scenery and clean air. Wellington, its hills, bays […]
First lessons in horse riding & confidence building
From the age of two she showed an interest in horses. Whenever an opportunity to ride a pony arose she would plead for a go. She happily waited for an hour at some summer fairs for just a 10 minute walk on a pony. At the age of three, Sophie had a few favourite horse […]
Sunshine Sunday Surprise
Sunday morning and Charlotte had a mock jazz exam. By the time it had finished there was an unexpected colour in the sky – BLUE! Sophie hadn’t been pony riding for a while so we piled in the car to the wonderful Country Club Riding Academy in Ohariu Valley. Sophie ran in to greet the […]
Bubbles, horses & fun on the farm
I read in the newspaper last week that when there’s lots of moisture in the air it’s perfect for making bubbles, as Alan McKay demonstrated in Wellington on Friday. On Sunday morning the girls raced out the kitchen door into the garden and delighted in bubbles sticking to plants, the walls of the house and […]
Eels!
Cripes! So many eels hungry for a feed on Saturday ‘avo in the country. We stopped by the Saddleback Cafe at the Country Club Riding Academy to finalise details for Sophie’s 4th Birthday party celebrations and spent a good half hour baiting sticks and feeding the eels. It was a glorious day of sunshine, after […]
Remember the days of tying your shoe laces for the first time…
Do you remember those simple days? Tying your shoe laces for the first time felt like such a huge accomplishment. Charli brought home her first ever ‘homework’ book last week. She had a week to complete various tasks and one of them was to learn and practice tying shoe laces! Beautiful! She’s been quite good […]
Active Weekend – We CAN do it!
Last weekend was a whirl-wind of action and sunshine. Saturday was filled with the school fair and voting, but still left time for some fun at the local ‘Spray Pool‘. Sunday morning was full on at the Recreation Centre’s family time, with Charli adamant she would roller blade. She has the most incredible persistence, strong […]
Top Family Time and an All Black’s Victory!
Settling into school life is not without emotion at Chez Lee and this weekend couldn’t have come fast enough. Charli was so tired and weepy on Friday pick-up; but she’s definitely enjoying 85% of school-life and on the whole she’s thriving. Nevertheless, I take the rough bits to heart and my health is suffering with […]
Maxing it out on a Sunday – and the rest!
Last Sunday was a ‘beaut! The temperatures reached 19 degrees and this is the middle of winter! Days like this are sent to us in Welly to keep us sane in the midst of frequent southerly blasts from the Antarctic. Within a day we managed horse riding, vertical bungy (see earlier posts – here and […]
Charli loves to dance
I sat outside Petite Ballet today chatting with the other Mums and feeling very reminiscent of my own dancing days. It felt strange to now be ‘the Mum on the bench’. The last time I was in a dance studio was when I was a young lass and it was me on the dance floor […]
Kapiti Coast Sunday ‘On the Farm’
A few Sunday’s ago we visited Stables on the Park again so that Sophie could indulge in her love of horses. Charlotte braved a 5 minute ride but decided, having tried a few times now, that horses are definitely not her cup of tea and that she would much rather stick to dancing. Meanwhile, Sophie […]
Horsey crazy in the heart of the Ohariu Valley
This long, Queen’s Birthday Weekend, has been one of hobbies. On Saturday morning Charlotte went to her first ‘Petite Ballet‘ lesson at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre and LOVED it! I didn’t get any photographs; but will take one of her in the beautiful ballet ‘uniform’ soon. Sunday morning was Sophie’s turn. She has ridden […]