First stop, Kelly Tarltons. We'd been on the internet to look over their website, so the kids were right at home from the start! 
And we all know how much Lily loves penguins! They've got a whole lot of babies at varying stages too!
My little sharks 
Airy photo, had camera on the wrong setting, cool though...
Lachie checking out the baby sharks and baby stingrays (can I call them cute? They really are!) 
Not too many photos of the wave pool but Lachie loved it (Mike was trying not to get sick so was left in charge of the camera while I had 4 kids in and out of 4 pools!), Lily got right into it too and started diving under the waves. 
Next day Butterfly Creek. With crocs, baby gators and bugs now too.
The keeper thought the croc was unusually unpredictable today, gave us a feeling like something more exciting might happen (but maybe they say that everyday!)
Lily waiting very patiently in the butterfly house, hoping to be landed on
Surprisingly patient! 
Pretty worth it though! Lachie playing it cool! 
Chilling out in the beautiful Auckland sun...
Eden liked the bunnies best, she told anyone that would listen all about Hunter, Adrianne at kindy's rabbit! 
Cute baby gators, about 60cm long - probably not dangerous at all, right Lily?! 
Then we headed to the airport to meet John and Joan and who should we meet as we walk in the door? And I wasn't even surprised! With broken ribs and no credit cards, Nath was pretty happy to see us too! 
Eden posing in the super-styly motel (think there was a reason their website had no interior photos!) but the owner lady was sweet and really helpful.
Was great to visit Joan (a different Joan than we met off the plane) and Brooklyn and Atlanta. Lily took charge of the camera... 
Think Lily liked Brooky's t-shirt?
Atlanta's a sweety
Then a trip to Hamilton to drop the kids off at Lindsay and Marks for a good babysitting ratio (5 babysitters:4kids!) then back to Auckland for one of the best nights of my life...ever ever ever!
Surprisingly patient! Fingers ready!
Pretty worth it though! Lachie playing it cool! 
Chilling out in the beautiful Auckland sun...
Eden liked the bunnies best, she told anyone that would listen all about Hunter, Adrianne at kindy's rabbit! 
Cute baby gators, about 60cm long - probably not dangerous at all, right Lily?! 
Then we headed to the airport to meet John and Joan and who should we meet as we walk in the door? And I wasn't even surprised! With broken ribs and no credit cards, Nath was pretty happy to see us too! Eden posing in the super-styly motel (think there was a reason their website had no interior photos!) but the owner lady was sweet and really helpful.
When lily says smile...you smile!
Was great to visit Joan (a different Joan than we met off the plane) and Brooklyn and Atlanta. Lily took charge of the camera... Think Lily liked Brooky's t-shirt?
Atlanta's a sweety
Then a trip to Hamilton to drop the kids off at Lindsay and Marks for a good babysitting ratio (5 babysitters:4kids!) then back to Auckland for one of the best nights of my life...ever ever ever!
Zoomed back first thing Saturday morning for a wander down Abbey Road! Just to top off a great week with a great weekend!
Happy birthday Dad, love you heaps! XXX
Phew, what a week...just give me a week to recover (and do the washing!) and I'll be ready to do it all again!!! I suppose the silly-season starts now, so that will feel quite similar!
First of the Chirstmas parties, by the river at Clive. 
Eden got the biggest present of the lot fromt he Santa in the gold porsche (a "doctoring" set that has proven really popular since!)
Cooper's gonna love this Christmas thing!
The magician was great value. Lachie was Simon the Shark in his balloon animal story
