This is Elanor's construction.
It is made from Magnetix sticks and is hollow inside.

You can push it down from the top and each layer goes into the one below. I think only three times.

what to do in the holidays

We don't have any trouble finding things to do in the holidays. Apart from reading, Sophie and Elanor do a lot of baking - and we get to eat the results!

One day they just decided to make lemon meringue pie! No help required, but the pastry got a little brown round the edges. Not that I could have helped them anyway, as baking 'blind' is not something I've mastered.

It looked impressive, and tasted delicious!

Sophie and Elanor Ice Skating

Sophie and Elanor have spent a few days in Christchurch with Nana and Poppa.

They don't get to go ice skating very often (we don't often go down there in Winter), but it's always good fun.


It was their first time flying without a parent (and our first time sending an unaccompanied minor on the plane). Note to self: arrive early (there's paperwork) and make sure the person picking them up has photo ID.

We have been having a lot of fun with Magnetix (TM) lately. Uncle Michael has collected this construction material for years and always brings his collection to play with with the girls when he visits. Now, Elanor has started collecting it herself. She just had her birthday and got three sets, so has a reasonable amount.

Magnetix started off as Stix'n'balls - plastic sticks about 3cm long with a magnet at each end, and steel ball bearings to join between. Having the balls (especially the largish balls) means you can join many sticks at one point, extending the number of geometric shapes you can construct with them. We used to have some cheap ones which are not as strong and have smaller ball bearings.

As the toy developed they put out other shapes, not just sticks. Started with longer lengths, shapes such as triangles (with magnets at several points around them), squares, diamonds, etc.

One of Elanor's sets has curved and bendy sticks in 2 lengths, and circle shapes with 4 magets around the edge. Also 2 lights, which work unreliably.

Anyway, we have all been having quite a lot of fun with these, though not so much the little kids as the pieces are small. But when Grace was the last child here on Wednesday, she and Elanor played with them, and she seemed to find them very entrancing. Magnets and very cool in any case, but it's nice to be able to play with a special toy with one of the big girls.

Photos off Google Images.

(haha - just worked out I can drag images around the post! Haven't tried that before.)

Elanor's First Communion

Elanor's first communion was this morning, and was lovely. Here she is at the morning tea afterward, and it also gives an idea of the crowd. Church was packed, but not too surprising as three parishes came together for a joint celebration. There were 26 first communicants in all.

First Communion dress

I have just finished Elanor's First Communion outfit. The dress was finished yesterday, and I have just made the head-dress. She looks lovely (you will agree), and is very pleased. So am I.

The first communion is tomorrow morning.

(ps, I got a better photo, so replaced the dark one.)

Elanor's Confirmation

Elanor's confirmation was held yesterday at St Joseph's church, a culmination of weeks of preperation. It was a really lovely service, with both a joyful and family/chatty feel. I didn't do very well on the photos though - too far back I suppose and the lighting too general. This is a group shot as they waited for the bishop to come (from the R) and bless the children.

Annie, Jonnie and Rae came, as well as El's godmother (who was the sponsor). The confirmation was for the combined parishes of St Mary's, St Joe's and St Bernard's. St Joe's is a modern church with a really big community room for the after match function, so a good pick for the venue.

First Communion is the 3rd sacrement, and that's coming up at the end of August.

Elanor's First Reconciliation

Yesterday was Elanor's First Reconciliation. We celebrated the service at St Joseph's church, as St Joe's and St Mary's parishes joined together for the programme. We have been going to St Mary of the Angles this year as the timing fits in better for us.

It was a lovely service. Very joyful. There were about 17 children involved in all. Lots of the children looked younger than Elanor (who is 9) - but Katie just commented that this could be because El has about 2 years worth of height on most kids her age! Anyway, they do Confirmation in the same year as First Reconciliation and First Communion these days, and I think 9 is young enough.

Despite being in a different parish there were lots of people I knew, including folk from playcentre many years ago, from our school and from my MEd course.

And here are Sophie and Elanor cooling off in the paddling pool this afternoon.

Painting was magic for G.

Today was the first day for G (aged 20 months) at my house. She was a little unhappy with mum leaving at first, but easily distracted, and she 'warmed up' to us over an hour or so, until I would say she had an excellent first day. After her sleep she was singing, dancing, jumping and clapping with us, and with Sophie and Elanor after they got home from school.

I took the Little Kids to our local playcentre for a visit. At first they were both a bit shy, and I led G around by the hand, looking at different activities, for a while. Then she saw the painting! This must have really struck a chord with her because she painted several pictures, and kept coming back to this area. After that she was away, exploring and playing in a number of areas, both inside and out.

Meanwhile, I(child) had become very independant, exploring and generally getting 'stuck in'. Lots of time with the playdough for her, squeezing, patting, poking - and checking out what the other children were doing.

Sandpit of the week

Here is another sandpit where we have spent quite a lot of time. This is the new (as in, 5 years new) sandpit at our local Playcentre. It was built while Elanor was four. It replaced a smaller one in a low corner of the ourdoor area.

The sunshade pulls across on two cords, so that it is folded up zig-zag fashion when against the shed wall. It is secured with a bungy cord. The sandpit cover is canvas of some kind, fitted, and secured by a bungy around the edge which hooks onto small hooks about 40cm apart around the lip. Some major work was done after installation to improve drainage (which had previously been going into the carpart adjacent to the centre). Very handy having the shed right by the sandpit.

Your basic home sandpit

I couldn't have this blog title without a sandpit! We built this one for the Big Kids over five years ago and it still gets plenty of use. There were days when Elanor would only come inside for food! I'll be looking for other interesting sandpits to feature on the blog from time to time.