Splash Pad Fun

Some time in February we were having fish n chips in the park on a Saturday night with some friends, when we stumbled across the new Splash Pad in Scarborough park (Christchurch).

Graeme and I had seen it previously on a late night date-night walk. Then we joked about how our oldest, Milla, would probably hate the splash pad. Too much unpredictable crazy water we thought.

It turns out, when our girls were let loose at 5pm in their dresses, our oldest had the time of her life! She loved it, there was no hesitation and no stopping her! 

Milla loves to run through the rain bow, shoot people with the swinging red pole thing, stand on the jets and spray unsuspecting people nearby, and to wade into the paddling pool at the other end of the pad.

Our littlest, Katie, will dip her fingers and toes in, and thats about as far as she's willing to go.

It was so funny to me to see how I had their reactions summed up in my head, and to see that play out completely differently in real life. My girls are always surprising me!

Milla loved it so much we've since been back a few more times with friends and grandparents, and as the weather cools down I'm sure it'll be our favourite spot next summer too!

The Best Christmas Lights In Christchurch

It is SO much fun to rug the kids up on a summers nights and take them to see the Christmas Lights around Christchurch. No matter what age your kids are, I guarantee they will be in awe. Especially for the kids who are usually in bed before the sun goes down! (Or go without kids! You wont regret it!)

If you've seen the "most famous light show in town" that everyone goes to, and you're looking for something much more christmas'ey and lovely, dare to be different and head in the opposite direction to Parklands instead!

There are so many lights to see in Parklands, you won't regret it!

In Christchurch in December the sun sets around 9.30-10pm. We feed the kids a late dinner and start to head out about 9pm. By the time we are in Parklands the sun is already starting to set and the lights are on full show! They are stunning!

I've made a wee map below of the hot spots to check out, let me know if you have any favourites that we can add to our "must see" list next Christmas!

PARKLANDS Must See Christmas Lights (2014 - but I'm sure these will be applicable in the future! Go for a drive and find out! :))

For a nice drive

Mairehau Road - There is a great drive by home that has so much to look at! If you have young children, ask them what they can see! See if they can spot the things you can see.

Royal Park Drive - WOW! So many lights!! Up and down the street people are in the Christmas spirit! They save the best till last though, right at the end of the street you'll find a fabulous house that you can walk through the property of. Make sure you get out your car and go for a stroll, they have done their home up so well. You'll know it when you see it.

Tamarisk Place - The owners of this home are certainly enthusiastic! They are out every night to talk to the light tourists and often dress up as Santa!

Donnington Street - Nearly the whole street is done up in lights! This is worth a verrrry slow drive down.

Leave me a comment if you end up visiting any of these places, or if you have any must sees in the area we can check out ourselves!

Have fun, with or without your kids! And Enjoy celebrating Christmas! xx

Love, Sophie x

Family Outings:: Inflatable World

We're enjoying family outings lately. Everyone is at such a fun age right now! Last week we went to Inflatable World, it was incredible. I'm sure it would have been AWESOME for a teenager, but was equally so much fun for my little nearly 3 year old in their under 5's area (and for us parents too).

As usual, Milla took a while to warm up to being in such a loud, stimulating and strange environment. Once she felt comfortable, we all had a blast. Myself, MrMoo, Milla and Katie all bounced, slid down slides and rolled around! MrMoo particularly loved stretching Milla physically and testing her down slides and on blow up obstacles. She got pummeled, but of course wasn't hurt, and ended up in fits of giggles at being thrown around and bounced off her feet! Such fun.

We'll go back some other time! :)

[[Milla, if you ever read this, just for the record: You specifically asked for "a pony tail here, here and here". You only have yourself to blame ;) But girl, you so cute!]]

Spencer Park Animal Farm

Spencer Park Animal Farm

This was a great find within Christchurch, suggested to us by a friend as part of our Stay-Cation agenda!

Spencer Park is in Brooklands, just on the outskirts of North Christchurch. The entrance to the Animal Farm is directly opposite the main entrance to Spencer Park. It isn't sign posted, you wouldn't even know its there.

There's a little driveway, a few carparks and a sign on an inconspicuious gate that says "Open 9-5. Please shut the gate" and that is the only clue (that and all the roosters crowing). There is no one there to collect money or supervise you. Each time we have been there has always been at least one other family there. 

Inside is a small area of land - chickens and roosters roam free, bunnys are in huge hutches, peacocks (my fav!) wander around and do what peacocks do, there's about 6 aiveries filled with birds and 3 or 4 Kune Kune pigs inside a very large pen.

Our little girl loves anything that moves and has something other than human skin (dreading the day she realises some people actually collect animals as pets!). She loved this animal park and we went back multiple times over the summer! 

Each time was different, with different weather and times of the day some animals preferred to sleep than hang out with us! 

Do you have any hidden secrets in your town? If you live in Christchurch please share yours in the comments, we're always on the look out for fun (cheap) things we can do as a family! 

[This week I'm reminiscing in my 2013 Summer Series. I had a great summer but most of it wasn't blogged about due to morning sickness. Here's my record!]

Summer Berry Picking

Berry picking at Sweethearts

One of the ideas for our Stay-Cation list was to go raspberry picking at Sweethearts at Berryfields.

I worked as a waitress at Sweethearts for a few years as a teenager, and during each summer would run their Berry Shop. We eventually got married there a few years later, it was the perfect location for my  summer outdoor wedding dream, amongst the berry vines and under the big trees. 

Despite working in the Berry Shop for years, I never actually tried any berries while I was there so I was excited to go back and try out their pick-your-own service.

From memory it worked out to be about $10-$13 a KG, which was about half a buckets worth.

At the time Milla was 16 months old and handled berry picking like a pro. I was SO surprised (and thrilled) to discover that we could take her some where, quickly teach her something new and she could grasp it straight away.

We taught her to pick the RED raspberries, how to hold and pull them and put them in the bucket. She went along the vine picking all the red ones. Some got squished in her fingers, a few green ones ended up in the bucket, but overall I was thoroughly impressed!

(the perfect task for a transporter)

MrMoo and I had a good time too, we even went back with out of town friends a few weeks later to do the same again.

The second time around we had afternoon tea in their gardens, right where we were married. 

Its such a lovely atmosphere there, I really do love the whole complete business, it is great for locals and tourists. Think devonshire teas, raspberry dacquris, berry punnets, frank sinatra and all the waitresses in pinnies. 

I am loving finding all these new things that our family enjoys that could become traditions one day. I think berry picking at Sweethearts will be on our yearly summer to-do!

[This week I'm reminiscing in my 2013 Summer Series. I had a great summer but most of it wasn't blogged about due to morning sickness. Here's my record!]

[Sweethearts At Berryfields are not a sponsor or partner of Sophie Slim.]

Burlesque!

Channelling my newly found Chicago Sexy I went to this hens party full steam ahead! We were going burlesque dancing, the bridesmaids (of which I am) had hired corsets, and the brides sister (maid of honour) had bought the bride a delicious white ensemble to keep... ;)

When we were going to the burlesque dancing I was getting quite nervous, thinking we were about to learn some sort of strip tease - not quite! Our burlesque was to a Sophie Ellis Bexter song and was a mix of burlesque and hip hop, we were taught about a 30 second routine in 1 hour. So. Much. Fun.

Afterwards, we went to a bar/club. A real live place with flashing lights and music. Sorry. Being a Mum and a resident of Christchurch this is quite un heard of. All of us were saying "this feels so weird, what do we do here again?" We flashed the business card of our dance instructor and got 2 for 1 bubbles. Oppsies. Sorry. Wasn't supposed to tell anyone that! ;)

We stayed at the one place and went home when the clock hit midnight.

Living in Christchurch you need to get quiet creative with your social times, not having a CBD really limits your options, it was great to have something awesome like a burlesque dance class to go to together. I can definitely recommend it if you're organising a girly event! And get dressed up! So much more fun!

Our bride had a lot of fun :) Weddings coming up soon! Can't wait!

I tried to re-enact the dance routine for Mr Moo the next night and failed miserably. 

For the Christchurch ladies this one's done at the Salsa Latina studio on Bath Street with Monique.