Snow Day 2013

Now usually a snow day means that it's snowed on your house so you have to stay home.  Well for us a snow day means we pack up and go to the snow and spend the day. (I like our version much better.)  I always went to the snow as a kid and can't imagine not taking my kids, so despite Tui's lack of enthusiasm for it, we were off to the snow again.  We just made it a day trip this year, and although it was a full on day, it was so worth it.  The weather was beautiful, the conditions perfect, and we just had the best time.

 

The boys had been talking about this trip for weeks, telling everyone that would listen.  Vili made us sing the snowman song at least twice a day in preparation. 

  

All the kido's ready to go!

There was a 2 hours wait for the sleds, so luckily we had brought our own little bum sliders to use.  Although the kids just prefered sliding on their own.  After a little while they had carved a nice little track in the side of the mountain.

 

 
 

 


We were a little worried about Lani.  We really weren't sure how she'd react to being there, if she'd hate it or get sick of it really fast.  But she LOVED it.  She wasn't happy to sit and play, she wanted to be up on the mountain sliding with her brothers, or else she was just sliding herself down the hill.

  

Daddy was by far the best slider.  Although he got a litle confused and thought we were playing human bowling - sorry to the families he took out at the bottom.

 
I think Tui is slowly becoming a snow convert.

The boys found this little snow cave in the mountain and set up camp in there for a bit. 

Snow angels, of course.

 

After a few hours at the snow we went for a soak in the thermal pools, grabbed some dinner, and then headed home.  And no doubt about it, we will be back again next year!

Brunton Family Photos

This past weekend a rare thing occured; all my family was in the same place at the same time.  Other then last year for a few hours for my Pop's funeral, this hasn't happened for about 3 years.  I know that might not seem long for some people who go years and years without seeing their families, but for me it's seemed like forever.  I love my family beyond words and being away from them affects me in ways it doesn't seem to for other people.  I feel it keenly.  So this weekend was blissful for me.  And how do I celebrate blissful times? With photos!!!!!


My baby brother and his partner Nikita came from Wellington.  They're the ones that are usually missing from family gatherings, being that their students.  I have a special relationship with Andrew, growing up I refered to him as my baby, or my little man.  So it pains me to live so far from him.  I think I hugged him ever 30 minutes over the weekend. And Nikita is just awesome, I just love her.

Malachi and Hannah are the best of buds, and time and distance don't seem to diminish their friendship, and he was rapt to have her here.


I got to meet the newest member of our Brunton bunch, my little niece Lily.

I remember seeing a quote once that said "Family is like fudge; nice and sweet with a few nuts."  Well. Meet our nuts.

 
And our newest nut, my brothers new wife Celine.

(These poses were not requested, infact, the opposite is true.  They came up with these beauties all on their own.  Our family calendar next year will be a cracker!!)

Getting these pictures done was not an easy task, especially since the weather was NOT working in our favor.  Our locaiton was changed at the last minute and brought inside.  But we suceeded.  Everyone is in the frame, and that's estentially what we were going for. And even though they're going to be out of date early next year when two new babies join us, they were worth all the drama.

These are not the best ones, infact they're ones I would have deleted, but they show just how hard it was to get the perfect picture.

The kids looked here, there, and everywhere, they moved forward and backward, slouched up and down....

People close their eyes, babies slip down from their pearches....

 
How did we get them to at least sit in the right spot? Mini marshmellows.

My sister, brothers and I.

8ofus

I had a friend today tell me she wished she was a Brunton.  I'm so glad to be a Brunton.  I feel so blessed to come from such a great family.  None of us are perfect, (some a little closer then others though......lol), but I could not ask for a better group of people to call my family.
Oxo

 

Sunday walks

We are really lucky in Hamilton to have all these amazing walkways up and down the river.  And we take advantage of them every chance we get.  Summer time, we're there 3+ times a week, riding bikes and scooters etc.  During winter not so much because we have so few daylight hours.  Except for Sunday.  We're done with church by 12pm so after nap time, we are at the river.  It's no wonder our boys are so thin, the amount of walking we do.  But it's so nice, we pick a different spot every time and the kids just love it.  It's one of my favourite parts about living in this city.

 

Photography by Malachi, good job son.

 

Recently we discovered a walking bridge and it's become one of our favourite spots.

  

  

Fun Run

Malachi's school did a Fun Run Fundraiser (the kids get sponsors and then participate in a run with their school).  Malachi had worked really hard to get as many sponsors as he could and was super excited to run.  He even practiced a few times running down our street.  He was super pumped to run fast and do his best.

 
His cheerleaders

 
Running on the streets around school block.

 

Check out that concentration.

 
The finish line!

  

 

With his little friends.

He did so well. I know it was just about participation, but he SMOKED all the other kids.  He bet everyone in his class by miles (which he bragged about to one of his friends and made him cry. Lol. So then we had a lesson in humility and being a good winner).  He had been so disapointed after his school cross country to find out later that it was actually a race and he was really meant to run fast, so this time he was determined to do better. 
Good on you Malachi.  Lucky you inherited Mummy's running genes and not Daddy's. :)