The year in pictures and things

Skylar and Corbin are  having some lunch on our old deck at the house that we rented before moving to our own place, just a couple of blocks away.  Looks like they are trying to catch flys with their tongues out.  This is a traditional Maori pose (for American family.)
That look's like a yummy treat! At our new house, we have a forest.  We have also got a couple of chickens and a rooster---a really loud rooster!  -comment added by the children-


Corbin looking cool in his stylish hat an stuff!
(S) This is Corbin in his  spider man shirt and cowboy hat.

 Picture
Here goes Skylar in the dinosaur costume, I think that this is actually Corbin's. This is also in the previous year not 2014 but 2013.  (In the old rented tiny house two blocks away.)

Mariah and Machen with Luke, Chilli and Gina in Lake Hawea.
Mariah is my sister.  by Skylar Ross
Skylar is reaching high in gym class on the trampoline.  Gymnastics has been a great outlet for her.  She's quite good at it.  She has an overly adventurous spirit, her parents are just glad that she's learned to fall without hurting herself.  Her first year at school landed her with the principal calling home for trips to the hospital that ended in two broken arms (at different times) and a concussion (also a different event.)  Since enrolling in gymnastics, she is much more aware of her reach and we have not had subsequent trips to the hospital, thank goodness.  
(S) I can do forward flips  and backwards now.
Skylar and Corbin out crab hunting (catch, torture, release) on the beach in Papanui Inlet on the Otago Peninsula. The kids like to play in the sand and make a moat for the crabs to live in.  It's never dull to watch them at play.  The rustling is the wind, there was quite a breeze this day.  We also go there to hunt for (clams) cockles, as the water is pristine.  Scrub them up, put them in a wok with white wine (or broth) and garlic--yum.  This is the easiest wild harvested nutritious meal and it's better than any restaurant can serve!