Katie's prizegiving

We had Katie's prizegiving last night. No photo I'm afraid, as I forgot the camera. (Not sure Kate would stand still for a photo in her school uniform, actually, and highly unlikely that she would put it on one last time as a record for posterity!)

It was done a bit differently to Rowena's school. We were only allowed to clap after every 5 names. (Very unsatisfying, as I wanted to yahoo - as did other parents in the audience, I could tell), but this did make the evening go faster.

Also, they gave each girl all her prizes (which were mainly certificates) at one go.

Katie did not find out what her prize was for until it was read out as she waited at the side of the stage. She made some guesses before, but it really was a surprise.

She got high distinction (that means first in year) for Visual Arts Design.

We are very stoked, and so is she. It is probably the subject she cares most about, and certainly the one that she puts most work into, as far as I can tell - though practical art subjects are notorious for being high work-load.

So - well done Katie!

guitar

Katie is now the proud owner of a guitar!

We bought it today on Trade Me. We have been looking out for one for a week or two, and placed a bit on this one earlier in the week.

It was due to close at about 5.30, but the last 5 minutes were very exciting. We had been leading the bidding, and then someone passed us, with 20 minutes to go. We upped our bid by $1. In the last 5 minutes the bids were raised about 10 times - including a persistent bidder who had not made any bids up until that time!

Must have been very exciting for the seller.

Anyway, counting down the last few minutes was very nervous. If a bid is placed with less than two minutes to go, the clock reverts to two more minutes. That is, the auction won't finish until there have been no new bids for two minutes. We kept refreshing the screen, watching the time left go down - and the other sod would have placed another bid!In the end they gave up (obviously). The guitar cost us $72, which we were happy enough with. Here she is playing a chord.

Sewing dress ups

I'm miles behind in blogging - I keep thinking of things to blog about, but 'thinking' is not the same as 'doing'. And you can't cheat and backdate (or at least, I haven't figured out how to fiddle with the dates).

One notable event last weekend was the "Trucks and Cars Ball" for the youth group at church. Katie and her friend decided to go as road cones (see picture). (You'd think you get past sewing dress ups.)

So, on the Thursday before, we had about 1 1/2 hours to turn 4m of bright orange parka nylon (which the girls had bought) into some approximation. This was after work, and while also making Bern's birthday cake.

The hoop dresses are held out with hula hoops tacked into the bottom. Kate looks pretty solemn in the photo, but it's the best one for showing the dress.

And the final result? They won the prize for best costume!

Katie's Party

We have had a busy, fun afternoon/evening having Katie's birthday party. It was a pot luck dinner, held at church, for her and two friends who also have birthdays this month. In the end there were about 30 girls (and one brother), plus the 3 sets of parents.

There were a few games (like stomping on balloons which are tied to peoples ankles - the last one with a 'live' balloon on their ankle wins), and a movie on the big screen. The movie was Stranger than Fiction and was very good. The parents watched it too.

The food worked out well - plenty without having miles left over. Bern made a meat curry and I did a vego one, and we have enough left for our lunches on Monday (ha ha). There were three cakes too and lots of candles. I had made a Bonnie's Chocolate (and banana) Cake (some of you will know who Bonnie is) in a 12" tin. Half was left over so that will do for our church lunch contribution tomorrow.

Nice to meet some of the parents of Katie's friends. This doesn't happen so often nowadays as teenages don't seem to 'come over to play after school' so much!

Above are Katie and her friend Susan.

Church Camp at Waikanae

We spent the weekend at El Rancho in Waikanae - and what a beautiful weekend it was. Lovely weather, good friends, and the kids reliably disappearing for stretches at a time. (Katie and Rowena didn't even sleep in our cabin.) I was carrying round (and even read some of) a book by John Holt "How Children Fail", which sounds like a depressing title, but is actually a classic book with some telling insights into things that make school hard for kids, and ways to overcome them. (He makes some points which I personally agree with - which is always a good way to know that an author is writing sense!!!)

Bit of a slow start to the weekend though. We spent over an hour in s--l--o--w m--o--v--i--n--g traffic up the coast, due to road resealing. We had an unprecedented chance to check out people's gardens. Then, when we arrived, we couldn't go into the campground because about a dozen police cars were there before us - an armed offenders squad call-out. We went off to the beach/cafe, and by the time my latte had arrived someone had had a text that it was all over and we could get in. I didn't see anything in yesterday's paper about it, so will have to keep a look out.

(Later)
Reading the above, it sounds like I am pleased to not see my kids for large chunks of the weekend - which is not the case. However, there is a huge contrast with what going to camp was like 8 or 10 years ago with little kids. In fact, I felt like we had all the advantages of being a childless couple hanging out with friends, plus all the advantages of having children - with none of the disadvantages of either.

Another gorgeous day here, and plenty of reasons to get out in it. We had a picnic in the Dell arranged with a Sunday School group, but in the end only a small number turned out for it. They were probably all at the Cuba St Carnival - which is where Sophie, Katie and I went afterwards. Saw some clever, funny, outrageous, courageous (by turns) street performers, and checked out the stalls. A good range of music too, but too hot to stand around in the sun. (And lucky if you could get a seat in the shade.)