Better Late Than Never Wisconsin Photos

So Andrew Pearlman is a terrific photographer and dad and economist.  When we were in Wisconsin this summer he took some great shots of everybody.  As I new mother I've unabashedly pinched all the ones of Simone from his website and am posting them here.  He said it was ok. Thanks Andrew.

School Holidays

It is that time of year in New Zealand - Spring Break. We've had a wonderful couple weeks.  Waiheke bound for the first half.

We had a fabulous time with MaMa TeTe and Saba.  Highlights included morning snuggles in bed, finding/talking to Betty Blue, endless hours of playing and the dancing chicken.

Zev and Sam came for dinner and Simone met her first batch of veggie salad rolls and rice noodles.  Which left MaMa Te Te and Saba's kitchen a little worse for wear.  Just when we thought it couldn't get any messier - Simone found the tissues...

more waiheke - simone with her afternoon snack and her trusty companion watching on

refusing to wear sun hat leads to sunscreen mohawk

From Waiheke we headed to Christchurch for a visit with Granny Mary - we took in all sorts of good treats.  Including hiking in the port hills, lyttleton farmers marker (eating too many gourmet savory pies), willowbank wildlife refuge, simone's first bike ride and some retail therapy.  Granny Mary and Simone became fast morning pals - starting off the day with a morning story in bed with an audience of stuffed animals.

We then followed the sun to Kaikoura - a stunning east facing peninsula with fantastic wildlife.  Seals galore.  Best bit was the baby seals playing in a fresh water pool at the base of a waterfall - although Simone made have voted for watching the noisey seagulls just outside the hotel sliding glass door.

Seals on Kaikoura

Willowbank

All I can say is Grandparents are absolutely the greatest thing since white slice bread!!! 

Father's Day

For Josh's first Father's Day in New Zealand we headed up to Arthur's Pass and spent a night in the West Coast Alpine Club Hut.  The next morning we walked up to Temple Basin Ski Field to let Simone actually check out the little bit of snow that was there.  Gloriously sunny day and great fun.

Life of a One Year Old

 One year olds are very busy!  Simone has had some great fun in the past month.

For starters, we got a new oven.  Which of course means a giant cardboard box.  Daddy dutifully cut out some doors and presto new toy. 

 Ski holiday.  Josh was really hoping that Simone would be walking this winter because he heard that if a kid can walk, they can ski.  Simone is getting close to walking - cruising about furniture. Sadly, for Josh there probably won't be enough snow around by the time Simone is moving upright. 

We did however have a lovely weekend with Granny Mary and some friends in the hills.  Unfortunately, no snow - just rain.  We stuffed Simone in the backpack and went tramping instead.  Here is what she thinks of that.

 We've also been up to Mama TeTe and Saba's for some digging in the dirt and playing with Betty Blue.  Simone is definitely firmly in control of what she wants and doesn't want.  Betty Blue got many shoves when she moved in too close.  Here are some shots of Waiheke fun.

keep you distance Betty Blue

one arm push up - daddy's girl

Pop and Nanna gave Simone a trike for Christmas.  She is just nearly tall enough to use it.  We gave it a trial run with the chooks.