Summer has gone on and on this year...

We have enjoyed the wonderful weather this summer and been out and about as much as we can. This summer has been the summer of 'the holiday home' and we've rented out the flat over the holiday season. We've really appreciated our great friends who have had us to stay or to camp in their gardens. THANK YOU!

You can click on each individual photo to get a bigger (and more scary!) size if you'd like! :)

I started the summer with a wee triathlon in Mission Bay...just because it was on our doorstep!

 Both Max and Phil were there for the whole thing - good support boys!

Phil and Stoksey (our friend from Hong Kong) went down to the NZ Kayak School in Murchison and did some cool kayaking - there are some good vids, but I haven't got a clue how to upload them..sorry!

Looking yummy boys! On the right you can see Phil ON or is he IN the wave?

Catching the rays above the Buller River

Stoksey back in Auckland

We had a lovely weekend away up at Matakana - just one hour north of Auck. This is Pakiri Beach - it is long, very empty and very beautiful

Max tried out the back pack and seemed to approve

Still throwing himself into his food.. .

Back in Mission Bay, and Max hangs out after school with 5 year old Rachael....she cracks him up!

Max's other friend that I look after two days a week is 7 month old Jay....

Daddy and Maxi enjoying the water at Mission Bay - with Rangitoto in the background

Gotta love those naked baby shots!.

Mr Giggler

Sheer delight!

Gangsta Baby in his hoodie

More swimming...it is a hard life.

We had a great day up at Muriwai beach on the West Coast two weekends ago and Phil (and I) had a go at skim boarding....not as easy as it looks...

Max meanwhile just got involved in the sand again.....and the sand at Muriwai is notoriously sticky AND BLACK..

Back in Mission Bay, Max has the run of the whole beach as his sand pit.

Boo-aka-sha.

Max's latest adventure has been taking Mum and Dad cycling....here he is being farewelled on a trip by his friend Emma

Looking pleased as punch ..

Favourite trolley

...and puzzle.