New years eve

Yum yum Keiko prepared us a traditional New Years Day meal

Toshikoshi soba 年越しそば and soup

Tatsukuri たつくり wee fish

Kinpira きんぴら　stir fry

After dinner we sat down to watch "Shek 2" and then the classic "Sound of Music" in may have come out in 1965 ("JUST"before my time) but it didn't take long before it all came back and I found myself (and Keiko humming) along with the songs.

Christmas time

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house.

The only creature that was stirring.... was me getting up to go to work and do a early morning transfer to the airport :(

It wasn't that bad really as I was home by 0830 just in time to unwrap the pressies :)

Pop was down too (which made it all the better) and we had made plans to visit one of Mana's friends for Christmas breakfast and to watch "The Island's" Santa parade.

Lots of fun and laughter and we did finally make it back home to start preparing our own Christmas feast (actually K did all the work before hand)

Mana and I went to our garden and harvested some bits and pieces for our salad which would go together nicely with roast chicken,potatoes,Kumera and pumpkin........Ahhh grazing for the rest of the day.....Moooooooooooo.

This is what Christmas is all about family and whanau.

Mana's 6th Bday

The day has finaly arrived......we have a 6 year old daughter.

Her Pohutukawa tree that Uncle Bullie brought up from "The Cape" has really taken off from what started out 6 years ago as a small seedling the size and length of a chopstick.

Mana is doing her best to keep up thought.

With Mum's awesome home made chocolate cake (of course) the scene was set for our little princess to blow out her candles and make a wish that all 6 year olds make.......bet ya it had something to do with dancing princesses and.......pink!!!.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mana chan.