Hello to everyone

We have had some busy times, I don't know where our time goes sometimes.

The boys are busy at school. Last week they had helicopter rides at school. They were very excited and I think nearly the whole school had a turn on it. It was only a 10 minute ride but a really good opportunity for a lot of kids to ride in one.

Dominic's reading is improving a lot. It seemed for a while he wasn't really getting it, but something has suddenly made sense to him and he is reading wonderfully. It will make a lot of things much easier for him, especially playing on the computer, his favourite thing. He has always had to ask Jacob to read everything for him.

His swimming has also improved a lot in the last few weeks. He can stroke and breath for about 15 meters now without stopping.

Soccer season starts soon, the school has put them into teams. So it is back to the very early, freezing cold Saturday mornings!! The boys enjoy it so much though it is all worth it in the end.
So there will be some great action photo's for you soon.

Bernd came up for the weekend, so the boys had a great time. Although the weather wasn't great it seems as though summer might be over, there is a chill in the air and even some snow on our mountain.

I have been getting out walking on our mountain here. There is the main cone and then a series of ranges coming from it out towards the sea. This photo is looking at the cone from the ranges. It is so often cloudy over the top of it, so I was very lucky on this day, it is a beautiful place to be.

And this photo is from the main cone looking over the ranges to the sea and New Plymouth is to the right of the picture by the chimney.

Well that is all I have to report at the moment. I will take some more photo's soon.

I hope everyone is well and happy.
Love the Lippmanns from New Zealand

Here are some photos, these are off the 3 meter diving board at the pools. Dominic is the top one and Jacob is the other 3.

March already!

Wow the time is flying by, I can't believe it is March already.

Bernd was up last weekend so the boys were busy with him, they went to the rock pools and caught some shrimp and collected drift wood from the beach. They made lollies at home, and played on the computer. There was an Americana show in town so about a hundred old America cars were in town. They closed the middle of town and had all the cars parked there for everyone to see. Then on Sunday morning we all went out for Breakfast for my mothers birthday.

On Monday Jacob went on a school camp for 3 days. They drove about one hour from New Plymouth, they slept in cabins in their sleeping bags. Jacob had a great time having a go at archery, building huts in the bush, confidence course with rock climbing wall, rope climb and bridge, a cargo net to climb up and down, and pools to slide down, huge flying fox and games. On the first day they disturbed a wasp nest and were chased by hundreds of angry wasps. Luckily Jacob didn't get stung but he did have to run fast. A couple of kids got stung 12 times and others just a couple. But it doesn't seem to have been too traumatic for them everyone is telling their great adventure story.

It was strange with just the two of us left at home, so Dominic and I planned things to do after school, going to the movies and bike riding and eating chocolate pudding for dinner. It was nice to spend time with just one child, the house was quiet there was no arguing to break up, that was nice for 3 days!

Dominic had his swimming sports at school, he is very competitive and wants to win and will even cheat slightly to do it!

Yesterday Dominic and I were my mothers support crew while she walked a marathon. We were in the car and would meet her every few kilometres with supplies for her. It was fantastic to watch her do it. Poor old Dominic had to come with me because he was recovering from a vomiting bug. He had been up the night before being sick, but he gets better very quickly so after a couple of ice blocks he was good. Having a portable DVD player for the car really helps too, he watched a couple of hours of the Simpsons and I didn't hear a word from him.

Last night I took the boys to the ballet. I had to promise to take them out for a hot chocolate afterwards. They were very aware there weren't many other boys their age there but it was good. They got restless about 2/3 of the way through so we left abut early, but that was OK at lest they came with me. So we enjoyed a hot chocolate afterwards in a nice cafe and they even talked me into an ice cream.

Today has been a lovely hot summer's day so we headed for the pools. They love the water and could stay in all day. But I wasn't swimming so i take a book and read, 2 hours is usually about my limit.

Tomorrow when I go to school I will put some photos from today's swimming on.

I hope everyone in Austria is well, we would love to have some photos from everyone there and to hear what you are all up to.

Lots of love and bye for now from us in New Zealand