Camryn is walking

Camryn has taken her first steps around 1, and after Wanaka is now proficient at walking like a very drunken reveller with wild changes of direction as she staggers about. She loves being mobile - especially at the school pick ups where she can wander over to the many little dogs that have been walked into the playground. "Doh, doh" she exclaims with excitement.

She isn't really talking much other then mum, dad and hiya - but she can sing! If you have heard the chorus from Taio Cruz & Kylie Minoque's single Higher you should know she can copy this with the same rise in notes. She has yet to master the other pop songs her siblings like - Katy Perry Fireworks, Rihanna or Lady Gaga (OMG where are the positive role models for girls???)

She communicates exceptionally well without her language - which is not surprising given she is 3rd child. She is emphatic in her expression of her desires with a loud 'huh, huh' getting louder and more urgent until her wish is granted (or she has been distracted). Strong minded and willful you wonder - yes sirree.

She is very social and will happily wander up to complete strangers and offer her arms up 'huh huh' indicating they should immediately pick her up. Not surprisingly most do (who could resist!), and in some cases when I come over to take her back she cuddles into the stranger and away from me indicating she would rather stay with them! I'm not sure what this will translate to when she reaches teenagerdom but am a little concerned. Still it is great that she can be easily consoled by others as it is hard to give all 3 kids the attention they want.

Dougal and Emma you may recognise the Tshirt she is wearing - courtesy of Egypt. It is lovely thankyou.

Potential Career?

On the return flight from Chch to AK the girls were asked to hand out the Air NZ lollies. They were stoked! And who wouldn't want a lolly from this princess? The tiara was worn pretty much daily during our holiday and did get many comments.

Wanaka holiday

We had a marvellous week in Wanaka - what a picturesque place. It was a great base to explore the surrounding area from as well as having lots to keep the kids entertained in the town. We visited the playground with dinosaur slide daily as well as the Wanaka A&P show, nearby vineyards and lots of walks around the lake. Camryn loved it as the house we stayed in had lots of couches to practice her steps walking unsteadily from place to place. By the end of the week she had improved out of sight! Here are a few shots from the week.

Wanaka marathon

David completed his first offroad marathon in March this year. The old mens shufflers club - a group of 5 guys signed up to do it and 4 of them completed it (one had a convenient invite to a wedding on same weekend!). They ran from Wanaka to Arrowtown crossing Shania Twain's property. A picturesque route but with a lot of steeply undulating hills to cross. They did it in 5hrs 15 and were welcomed into Arrowtown by a big group of supporters including our whole family and Anne and John who had joined us for part of the holiday. A few days later David and I climbed Mt Roy - near Wanaka perhaps not the best recovery plan but too good an opportunity to miss out on a day together with A&J looking after the kids. It was a stunning morning with fabulous views that quickly clouded over so we got there just in time!