Bye Gracie!

We waved my baby sister off at the airport today, she's off to Germany for a year to be an au pair and experience the big wide world. I still sometimes think of her as this age (below) so it seems like such a big, scary thing for her to be doing.



But in reality she is (almost) all grown up, and will have a fantastic experience. I am a little sad she won't get to meet her new niece until she's almost 8mths old, but hopefully we will be able to skype. (Photo below to prove she really is grown up - this is us, taken almost a year ago at our brothers wedding)


If you want to follow her adventures she's started a blog at http://www.graciegrowsup.blogspot.com/
Miss you baby sister!

Mrs and Mrs May (2nd Gen)

I think Facebook is sucking the will to live out of my blog. I'm tending to just put my photos up there.
We went up to Blenheim in the weekend for Frank and Em's wedding, which was an awesome day. The ceremony was really sweet, plenty of tears (eh Frank!), and the reception was great fun. Phil and I were the MC's, and I was a bit nervous, but once we got going it was fine. I quite liked the microphone by the end of the night! Afterwards the groomsmen and a few of us continued the party in town. Everyone had a great night it seems, and Frank and Em were really happy with how the day went.
We bought Gracie back with us, so she's with us in Chch for a few days.
Heres a few pics.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season. Heres some snaps from our hols. Yep I know I'm getting lazy in my posts, less words and more pics etc but lets be honest, you really just come here to look at the pictures don't you?

Weekend in Wellington

Some pics from our trip to wellington for Gordons retirement dinner after being at SU for 27 years! We also caught up with Kathryn, Wilf and Maggie Robinson.

its been a while!

We've been back for just over a week now. Its Monday morning and I took the day off cos I was supposed to have surgery (biopsy of a lump in my jaw + removal of 3 wisdom teeth) but it was canceled. So here I am with no excuses as to why I can't update the blog.
We had 4 nights in Singapore after leaving London, which was fairly enjoyable but we kinda just wanted to get home, we were pretty travel weary by that stage. Here are some shots of the Zoo, which was definitely worth the visit.




Also a few pics from our last few days in London with Tim and Celia:



Its been a pretty full on last week or so, got back from Singapore last Saturday, then straight to work 8am Monday morning for both of us! luckily it was short week - thanks Canterbury - but, in keeping with our never-ending busyness we traveled up to Blenheim on Thursday night and got back yesterday. whew! its actually just as well I'm not working this morning..still got unpacking from the last 2 months to do.
Here are some pics from Blenheim:

London

St Pauls

Cute Squirell

Celias bump trying on its new bodysuit

Ale

Having Lunch

Tower Bridge

We've had 3 full days in London now and feel like we've seen a bit of it. Im pretty tired so here's a quick overview of what we've been doing..


Day 1 (Tues) - arrived at Heathrow at 8am and tried to stay awake all day. Celia met us at the airport and escorted us on the tube/bus to thier flat. Went to Battersea park which was really nice, and saw squirrels for the first time.





Day 2 (Wed) - Navigated the London transport system and made our way to Oxford Street where I went nuts in all the shops. LOVED Top Shop, tried on heaps of fabulous stuff but didn't buy anything cos its pretty expensive. If we have $$ left when we come back ill def get some stuff though! picked up a few cheaps dresses (2 for 12 pounds) from a trashy shop. Walked around Soho, just generally taking in the atmosphere etc. Phil got a bit sick of all the shopping but when he found it unbearable I sent him off to Borders to read a National Geographic. Loved looking in the supermarkets, esp Marks & Spencers - every kind of pre-packaged meals/sammies/salads you could imagine.





Day 3 (Thurs - today) - Met up with Rob (my Uncle) and looked at heaps of sights. Walked along the Thames and saw the Parliament buildings, Tate Museum, London Eye etc, had lunch in a pub, fish n chips n mushy peas! Walked along the Tower Bridge, looked at the Tower of London. Went to St Pauls Cathedral which was BEAUTIFUL.





So all in all having a fantastic time! I'm off to Paris to see Sophie tomorrow, and Phil is staying here and going to lots of Museums.

Recent happenings in pictorial form

These first five pics are from homegroup camp at Hanmer, this is Phil and I after hoofing it up conical hill.

Formal dinner. Phil was the one who pushed the self timer button and didn't plan it very well (hidden behind Laura)

The homegroup baby (AKA Maggie Robinson) asleep after an exhausting "walk". Do these things
come in adult sizes??

Hamish holding a child. Such a rare sight it had to be captured. Note the worried look on Maggies face!

Jenn, Ness, Laura, Kathryn up Conical Hill

Looking back towards Lyttelton

The Dewars

We went to Diamond Harbour on the ferry when Phils parents came down from wellington. This is at the Godley Heads Cafe. Check out the flowers Phil grew outta his head!!

Hammy and Ness...

....have just been round to our place for tea. Ness chastised me for not updating my blog, so this post is dedicated to you. And this photo is for Hamish, so he can understand the domestic bliss that is a mother at home with her kids. (subliminal message = hamish - kids are cool, have a couple!)
The pic is of my Mummy, me and Frank. Ain't my mumma a hottie??

Queens Birthday Weekend

Phil with the gorgeous Maisie Mitchell

Me, the Bro and Nearly-Sister-in-Law

Stormy St Clair

this is how much of a geek ive become....ive got some photos from the weekend and I can't decide whether to put them on ringo, flickr, facebook, bebo or my blog. yes, this is what ive been reduced to folks. I seriously need another hobby (and preferably one that doesn't include hairdressers - ask me if you don't know my sorry story).

As you can see, the blog won out!

Happy birthday the queen - to celebrate we went down to dunners to catch up with all our 'couple friends' including my bro Frank who's just moved down there to be closer to his darling Emily. It was a good weekend overall. Was cool to see how much Re and Jase's wee girl Maisie had grown.. and her amazing talent for covering stuff in snot and spit. You didn't hear it from me but babies are so gross!!