A Mini Vacation

We are in Golden Bay! Yesterday we left our house in Nelson and drove to Golden Bay. Erin and Matt drove their convertible, and followed us here. First we stopped at the strawberry farm and picked three tubs of strawberries. We also picked some raspberries, and bought some ice cream. The ice cream that they sell there is wonderful! They blend their fruit with vanilla ice cream to make it.

The second place we stopped at was the Ngarua caves. The caves are kind of like a miniature version of Carlsbad Caverns. A tour guide walked us through and told us about the cave's history. There are several holes in the roof of the cave that open up to the outside word, and at one point several Moa and kiwis fell in. A Moa is kind of like an emu. They are extinct now, because the Maori over-hunted them. We got to see several different skeletons of the Moa and kiwis.

At our third stop we had lunch and then went to the salmon farm. We tried using fake bait but that didn't work too well. Then we tried a lure and the salmon were all over it. Matt, Erin, and I each caught some fish. In the end, we had five fish.  Erin caught the biggest one. The grownups decided that they should have four of the fish smoked, and one cut up into sashimi. They ate the fish for dinner and Kylie and I had chicken. We also used the hot tub. Matt pointed out several different constellations and showed us a satellite. The stars are so bright and amazing! We also saw two shooting stars.

Back To Nelson - Feb 26

Yesterday we packed up and left the resort. I wish we could have stayed there longer because I had so much fun! I don't completely regret living in Nelson , because we are in civilization again (and wifi). On the boat ride back mom caught her first Blue Cod. Dad wanted to stay and fish more, but mom had had enough. During the ride back to Nelson (in the car) we stopped and had lunch at a cafe. They have amazing pizzas there that involve mushrooms. When we got home I played my game Clash Of Clans a lot! Mom even made her epic Eton Mess!

This morning I have been doing a bunch of schoolwork. I now know the entire Spanish alphabet, and many Spanish words (and phrases). Kylie and dad went down to the tidepools again, but this time Kylie didn't find many shells. Tonight (after dinner) we are going to watch the movie "Frozen". Mom bought it for Kylie as a Valentines present and Kylie finally got it yesterday. Tomorrow night my dad's cousin Erin (and her soon-to-be husband, Matt) are coming to Nelson to stay several days with us!

Kylie - Feb 24

Kylie - Feb 22

Marlborough Sounds

Four days ago we drove to Picton again because we were going back to Marlborough Sounds! Dad had rented a boat this time so we could go fishing more (and have better luck). We rented a house in Dryden Bay for one night. It took us close to an hour to get there because of choppy seas. The house was pretty small, but the bay was neat. There were about four other houses and the only way you can get there is by boat.

The one night we stayed there, dad and I went gigging (floundering). We walked out on the beach with spears and an underwater flashlight. I waved the beam of light under the water back and forth. When we spotted a flounder, one of us would would spear it. Then, the other one would spear it again, this time in the head. We did this for about forty five minutes and came back to the house with four keepers.

The next morning we moved on to Endeavor bay. We are staying at Punga Resort. It has a small beach, a cafe at the dock, a swimming pool, a store, a fancy restaurant, several lodges, and small houses for the guests. We have rented a lodge for ourselves. Yesterday Kylie went swimming and met a girl her age. Dad and I went fishing with the girl's older brother and her dad. We took them out on our boat and caught about fifteen fish (but only four were keepers). They kept the fish for dinner while we went to the restaurant for dinner. This place is amazing! The only problem is that there is no wifi.

Blue Cod Galore

Yesterday we did schoolwork in the morning. At lunch time, dad, mom, Kylie, and I all went (in the boat) to the Furneaux Lodge that is across the bay. The main reason we went there is because they have wifi. I had a hamburger while I checked my phone, and dad had a chicken burger while he checked his emails. When we finished our lunch, mom hiked backed to the resort and Kylie, dad and I all went fishing

Dad went fishing and figured out how to catch as many blue cod as we want. Instead of using bait (like we tried previously) he used a plastic worm. When the worm hit the bottom, he would pop it up and down. Usually as soon as it hit bottom, a cod takes a bite. When we went fishing we probably caught twenty keepers and another ten small ones. Dad and I each caught a cod too big to be a keeper! We fished for around an hour, then Kylie got off the boat to try to find shells. Dad went with her and waded in the water. While he was wading, he found a huge gernard. He thought it was dead so he poked it with his foot, and it bolted off! He could have speared it! We didn't do much today and tomorrow we are leaving.

Kylie - Feb 18

Bowling Feb 17

The day after Valentines Day I got to play a lot of Roblox. We didn't have to do schoolwork either. Instead mom, Kylie, and I all went to the market while dad went fishing. Dad only caught one fish. He was gone from six thirty am to eight pm! He did get to herd sheep and help save a sheep from a swamp. While we were at the market Kylie got new clothes and mom got weird cooking supplies. Mom also bought presents for friends back home.

Yesterday we did schoolwork all day. Dad and Kylie took mom to her hiking trail and then went to the store. I stayed home and finished my schoolwork. This time mom went on a trail that was miss marked. It was a steep mountain-bike trail! She couldn't turn around because it was so steep, and the dirt was too loose. When she finally made it out she found the right trail and finished her hike. After dinner we all watched another James Bond "The Spy Who Loved Me".

This morning we planned to go to a winery but dad didn't make reservations. Instead we did a little schoolwork then dad, Kylie, and I all went out. After eating at a Thai restaurant, we arrived at a bowling place. Kylie made up her own style and got more points than me. Dad rocked! He got four strikes and four spares! I only got one spare. I still had lots of fun though!

Kylie - Feb 14

Valentines Day

Yesterday mom let us skip schoolwork to make Valentines day cards. We had pizza for lunch, and then Kylie went to a place called Chipmunks. At Chipmunks kids run around and do whatever they want. Kylie won a lot of candy at a candy-crane game. Then at dinner time Kylie, dad, and mom all went out for dinner at a fancy restaurant. I stayed home and played Roblox. They came back moaning because they had so much.

This morning mom made French-toast. Kylie and I did schoolwork until two pm. In social studies I learned about Athens, and Greek Gods. In science I learned about bacteria and germs. Then dad and Kylie drove mom to a hiking trail, while I stayed home. After dinner we had our Valentines Day party. We all had cake and opened our Valentines. Dad and Kylie decorated the living room with streamers and balloons! Kylie got the movie Frozen as a present, and I got five hours of Roblox time. Tomorrow we are going to the market and dad is going fishing. The best part is that I don't have any schoolwork tomorrow!

Kylie - Jan 13

Strawberries

Everyday since we have arrived here in Nelson, we have been doing a full load of schoolwork. In science I have been learning about genetics. In history I have been learning about the Greeks. I also learned about oil. Did you know that scientists predict that if we keep using oil as fast as we are now, we will run out of oil by the end of the century?

Three days ago (after we finished our schoolwork) we drove to the fruit farm. We got to pick lots of strawberries, and then dad got us real fruit ice-cream. Two days ago I bought a remote control helicopter with my Christmas money. It is the Air Hogs one that shoots the foam disks. Sadly I cannot make it go foreword, even though on the box it says it can.

Yesterday (after schoolwork) we went out to a sushi place for dinner. Last year dad went fishing with the sushi chef (Yuki) who works there. Today dad went fishing with Yuki while we did schoolwork. Dad caught a big trout! Yuki did not catch anything. Then dad, Kylie, and mom went back to the strawberry patch and I stayed home. Later tonight we will probably watch James Bond. To top that off my mom is going to make her famous stacked pavlova.

Kylie - Feb 9

Kylie - Feb 5

Kylie - Feb 3