Poppy Memphis Ford, Adrienne’s wee girl

Poppy’s first time in the snow was lots of fun. We drove 40 minutes out of Nelson to Clark Valley rest area and played in the snow. We built a snowman then had a picnic lunch while sledding down the hill.

: Poppy starts her snowman

: Catching snowballs

: Shaping the body

: Throwing snowballs

: Wow.... Poppy's first time at the snow

: Placing his carrot nose

: Working on the final touches with GranJan & Yogi

: My Snowman!

: Tastes cold!

: Sledding

: Another run down the hill!

: GranJan, Mummy & Poppy with Mr Snowman

Add comment August 21st, 2008

olympics

Poppy has enjoyed the Olympic activity going on during the week. Her favourite sports are any of the gymnastics - although she gets a little concerned for the men up on the rings - and she loves the soccer. The synchronized swimming holds her attention too - she laughs and laughs at the legs coming out of the water! I’ll have to record some of the synchronized swimming for her watch again.

Add comment August 19th, 2008

home in richmond, nelson

After an awesome trip away, it’s fun being back home too. We’ve caught up with friends and Steve came over for the weekend. Poppy has had lots of play time with GranJan and Yogi and had a sleepover at the Farm. Bouncing on the tramp has been a favourite actitity - although ocassionally Poppy will ask if she can make pancakes with Jonna or ride a roller coaster. When she sees a plane in the sky she will say “Let’s go to the AIRPORT!”

: Making a fluffy with GranJan

: Playing with Anya

: Poppy's rocking horse, Rocky!

: At our local park

: Taking Anya for a walk

: Sharing morning tea at music with Ayla

: Bouncing on moon hoppers with Ayla

: Row, Row, Row Your Boat

: Meeting Trixie

: Yogi took this photo as we walked off the plane at Nelson Airport

: Colouring at the Farm

: Sleepover at the Farm

Add comment August 14th, 2008

flying home

Our last day in the USA was amazing with wonderful fun at LegoLand. After a quick shower and pack we were in the car again on the freeway to the airport where we checked in and said goodbye to Anthony & Jonna. Poppy had such an amazing time with her Aunty Jonna that she cried when she had to say goodbye.

Our flight from LA to Auckland was PERFECT! In front of me was a young girl who didn’t recline her seat and there was no-one seated behind me. Poppy had two seats on which to stretch out and she went straight to sleep about half an hour into the 13 hour flight and woke 2 hours before landing in time to have breakfast and watch Charlotte’s Web on her personal TV screen. We then went through customs after meeting the fruit-sniffing beagle named Poppy!

A brisk walk over to domestic saw us on our final plane ride to Nelson where Yogi and GranJan were waiting for us with delicious chicken sandwiches and a good old kiwi cuppa for lunch. Happy to be home and in familiar surroundings, Poppy asked to go to PreSchool so we went for a visit to catch up with her friends and teachers who have been reading this blog while we were away.

We relaxed and rediscovered old toys to play with & caught up with phone calls before Poppy went to bed around 6pm and Adrienne followed at 8pm - I think we beat the jetlag by getting some sleep on the plane.

: PLaying with Jonna whilst waiting in line at checkin

: Please remove your shoes!

: Poppy on our 13 hour flight back to NZ

: Meeting Poppy the fruit-sniffing beagle at Auckland customs

: Jumping play while waiting for our domestic transfer

: Finally home with GranJan & Yogi!

: A visit to PreSchool to say We're Home!

Add comment August 7th, 2008

legoland

We were so lucky to have Anthony & Jonna take us to LegoLand! It was a fantastic place for kids under 12 and we were all very impressed with the park and all the lego creations. Poppy loved everything she experienced and often cried when we wanted to take her from one ride to the next! She had lots of fun at the water play and looked cute in her new cherries swimsuit.

: Star Wars lego

: Thomas the Tank Engine lego

: Bob the Builder lego

: Miniland Lego dispay

: Las Vegas lego town

: The firefighters show

: Eating lunch whilst watching the show

: With one of the firefighter actors after the show

: Watching the 4D movie

: On a roller coaster

: Waiting in line and playing lego with other kids waiting

: Driving the safari jeep

: Safari Tour

: Anthony on the Safari Tour

: Storybook Land boat trip

: Water play & random sprinklers

: Poppy was squealing with delight

: Pirate water play area

: Wet swings

: Stopping for some Granny Fried Apples!

: A lego witch at the wishing well

: On the Enchanted Walk

: Having a chat with Jonna

: Adventure Playground

: The Adventure Playground

: Walking through Miniland again

: Aunty Jonna & Uncle Anthony

: Poppy having so much fun at LegoLand!

: Pushing the button to make the elephant squirt water

: What a fantastic day!

Add comment August 7th, 2008

monday in los angeles

Although we have no clean clothes, we’ve had a wonderful day with Anthony & Jonna. After making pancakes with Jonna for breakfast, we had lots of fun playtime with the cats and doing things around the house. Watched some Word World on TV that Anthony recorded for us then went for a lovely picnic at a playground in the park. Sitting in the shade and watching Poppy play was really relaxing. After shopping for some shoes for Adrienne, we came home and chilled out again while cooking and eating dinner together.

When our bags hadn’t arrived as promised, Adrienne activated her travel insurance and went out to buy toothbrushes, pullups, jammies, shampoo etc so we could get through tonight and tomorrow morning - hopefully our bags will arrive before we leave for NZ tomorrow evening! Tomorrow will be fun as on our last day in the USA we are all going to LegoLand!

: Making pancakes

: Pouring the batter

: Yummy!

: Art time with Aunty Jonna

: Checking out the cupcakes in the Whole Foods Market

: Contemplating the eating of her Gingerbread Man

: Swinging with Jonna at the park

Add comment August 5th, 2008

nightmare airport

Unfortunately, we had long delays today whilst travelling from Lafayette, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California. Not only did we have to wait forever for our flights, then the airline lost our bags! At 1am in the morning we are waiting in the lost luggage office to give address details to have the bags couriered as soon as they arrive from San Antonio (or wherever they ended up!) tomorrow morning. Subsequently, we’ve been informed it will be between 8 - 11pm the next day for delivery!!! You’ve got to be joking, Continental!

Aside from that, we had a fun last day with Fred shopping, having lunch and more shopping! He said goodbye to Poppy at the Lafayette airport and we appreciate the really cool activities he shared with us during our trip and the little red clothes he bought Poppy.

: Blowing bubbles in the bath

: Poppy writing her name at lunch time

: Thomas train set at Toys R Us

: Playing with some lego before our boarding call

: Saying goodbye to Daddy at the airport

: Trying out the loaner carseat at the Lost Baggage Office

: Back at Anthony's house playing with Zola

Add comment August 4th, 2008

saturday in lafayette

This is our last full day in Lafayette and it was jam-packed with animal entertainment! The ZOO and the CIRCUS! We got so hot walking around the zoo in the heat that we needed a cold bath and a sleep before preparing for the circus at 5pm. After eating dinner when the circus was finished, we went back to the hotel for a swim along with several other kids under 10 & their parents staying here as well.