How's this for a WOW

Uncle Sam got the New Zealand Sevens team to all sign Joshua's rugby ball - and in consideration of our 'English' Daddy, Mummy happened to be lucky enough to get England's captain and 2 of their team to also sign it.

Josh ... one day you will realise just how special that ball is !

The NZI SEVENS Tournament comes to Wellington

Wellington is pumping ... it is alive! Not only is it Waitangi Day (our national day when we celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840) but this weekend we are also hosting the NZI Rugby Sevens Tournament and 15 teams have jetted into Wellington. It all starts on Thursday with a street parade when all teams parade through the city on various floats and in their 7s gear giving out lots of promotional giveaways amongst hoots of cheering and music.

And then the games are played on Friday and Saturday. Everyone gets in on the act to try and outdo each other with their costumes whilst others also 'try' and watch some seven-a-side rugby (when they can fit it in!).

The result? PARTY CENTRAL! And that is what the Sevens Tournament is all about.

This weekend Wellington has turned on a magnificent one - a huge blue dome of endless clear skies and sunshine. Every cafe and bar is open and spilling out onto the streets and there is music everywhere. We all feel proud to be Wellingtonians.

After T-ball this morning, Josh and I decided to head into town for breakfast and to soak up some of the fun atmosphere. We had so much fun and Josh was gifted with so many promo giveaways - beach balls, rugby balls, frisbees - and, as you will see, had the chance to pose with some crazily attired spectators! Go Wellington !

These guys were keen for Josh to join their 'team' as he was wearing orange. However, Mummy thought he was a little too young to be promoting a German liqueur !

These 4 were promoting "Where's Wally" children's picture books

Josh thought these girls looked 'pretty'


Josh offered to hold the feather duster for this 'little French maid'


Josh quite liked Miss Hawaii !!


These 2 guys were a 'pack of cards'


Josh thinks these girls work for Air New Zealand - I think he may be a tad disappointed when we next travel somewhere by plane !

PS : NZ sadly got knocked out in the semi-finals (so did England, Daddy!) and the final showdown was between Fiji & Samoa - gosh those lads can play sport and are probably just as good barefoot as they are with their boots on!). An amazing game with Fiji winning. But watch this space .... NZ will be back next year!

Our Second Day

White shirts today .... Mummy must remember - grey shirts 4 days a week and then a white shirt on day 5 for assembly and chapel but this week they confused us with having 2 white-shirt days! With Daddy currently away, Mummy is also having to have a quick lesson on how to tie a tie !! Don't you think the white skirt looks even nicer than the grey one ?

Anyway, day 2 over ... and a great day. I even glimpsed a smile on Joshua's face as he was leaving the classroom! He also came home with a merit sticker on his collar that said Writing Whizz and told me that he got it because Mrs Bell was very pleased with the story he had written.

Homework tonight was a book to read and then Joshua had to draw a picture of his family - Picasso, move over for Joshua Turnbull .... not a bad picture at all

A crisp white shirt day

Yes, Joshua is smiling as he leaves the classroom at the end of the day!

Writing Whizz merit sticker on his collar

Our family .... as drawn by Joshua. Well, c'mon he has got Daddy's hairstyle perfectly and just look at the very long body Daddy has; Mummy thinks her hairstyle is very swish and I love the way that Josh has drawn himself almost as a little mini-Daddy (but with hair!). As for Huddy, well he has changed breeds obviously !!

Thank you for your support

Thank you to everyone who has taken such an interest in Joshua and his first day at Scots Prep School. It has been a huge decision for us and to have your support has been simply fantastic. Special thanks to Grandma & Grandad for their card, and also Sarah A and the personally addressed email to Josh from Malcolm & Jill - and all the phone calls, text messages and emails (thank goodness for technology!) from, to name a few ... Rose, Sarah, Georgia & Loulou, Aunty Karen & Uncle Terry, Donna, Sandy, Claire, Sara, Uncle Sam, Grandma (and would you believe she ended up sewing ALL the name labels on Joshua's uniform), Jennine, Jules, Carol, Uncle Apples & Aunty Margaret, Jeannie & Dragan - and the very funny phone call from Joshie's buddy from school, Freddie, who sang a good luck song to him! and I am sure there are others I have forgotten to mention - thankyou!!

Our very first day at Scots Prep School

The day arrived ... mmm, it is going to take a little while getting used to how long it takes to put the uniform ensemble together let alone teaching Josh how to tie a tie and remind him to make sure his socks are pulled up ! However, we packed his school bag (which is almost as big as him) and his PE bag along with his lunch (he had especially asked for cupcakes so Mummy stayed up extra late to make and decorate them).

Josh was a little apprehensive and nervous about going but both Mummy & Daddy went with Josh for the first morning. Mrs Bell could not have been more welcoming and made all 12 boys in the class feel very special. All the boys looked just wonderful in their school uniforms - mmm, what is it that they say about men in uniform?

There is no other way to describe it but .... it just felt really good ... everything about the Prep School and the staff felt structured and disciplined but in a most nurtured and caring way. We are very hopeful that Josh will flourish in this environment.

Our gorgeous boy in his Scot's uniform

Mrs Trudi Bell, our teacher for the year - we have a good feeling about Mrs Bell!

The Scot's campus - such beautiful grounds

Mrs Bell took a photo of Mummy & Daddy with Josh in his classroom - oh so proud

When Mummy picked up Josh after school, he looked a tad tired but happy and said the day had been good. He has already been invited to a little boy's house on Sunday (Chester) and Mummy was also invited to a morning tea this morning with a dozen mothers which was a lovely way to get to know a few people. So already we are getting a very strong sense of belonging to 'something' really quite special.

The last day before School goes back

Our last day before school returns so we decided to go into town and surprise Daddy and take him out for lunch - on the way we stopped to have a crazy balloon hat made to make Daddy laugh.

And then onto the park to join Malcolm and Jill - thanks Malcolm for trying to tire Josh out ... sadly it didn't work as he was still bursting with energy when we got home. So Mummy packed up Josh, Huddy and Daddy and sent them down to the park, armed with water guns and a never-ending supply of water by hanging the hose over the fence. Suffice to say .... everyone got VERY wet and you could hear the shrieks and laughter across the park (note the 'small' gun that Josh there are times when Daddy is re-living his childhood through Joshua ... afterall, don't all parents ?

Sleep-Over with Tomo

What a boysie day ... it started off with a romp on the trampoline in the morning, followed by a playdate with Sebastian and then in the afternoon we picked up Tomo and went to see "Astro Boy" (an animated movie about a young robot-boy with incredible powers created by a scientist - this boy could do almost anything!); we then went bike riding & scootering in the afternoon, more jumping on the trampoline; blew up screaming sausage balloons and let them off across the park and chased them; some time on the computer playing children's shooting games .... both Mummy and Daddy were quite relieved when they finally fell asleep - and Mummy felt very 'boy-ed out' and seriously needed to soak in a girlie bath !!