Phone pics from Jan-March 2017

These guys were lucky enough to get a parcel in the mail from Toshi & Kayo just before school started - a new pair of Nikes each!! How spoilt were they! Talk about perfect timing cause it was just before I was about to buy them a new pair of Warehouse shoes lol

Then instead of a back to school dinner this year we opted for an end of holidays/back to school beach day so the cuzzies could have one last day in the sunshine together before it was back to reality. Those summer holidays were definitely over way too soon! I think the back to school beach day is gonna have to stay the tradition from now on cause it's so much fun & you can't beat the ease (& taste) of fish 'n' chips at the beach!

Bayview actually started back pretty late in the week so we also got another couple of days to check out the new Albany Leisure centre pools without the crowds which the boys loved!

This was another one of those cool activities where the bros play like the best of friends which is always so awesome to watch! Nothing makes a mum's heart happier! If only it could last forever.....

Back to school blessings from Grandie. So special xxx

The bros back at Bayview for the 1st day 2017. 

Spencer Year 1, Mac Year 5 :)

The biggest flop chocolate chip cookies for our milk & cookies afternoon tea on their 1st day back. 

They tasted so bad, but the boys both said they loved them lol

Nadia Lim's vegetarian nachos. Me & Mac love us a nacho dinner but Dad always refuses it & Spence whinges his head off every time until he starts eating it & realises it's not that bad!

Summer Sunday afternoon walks around the rocks from Takapuna - Milford. A definite Leone favourite activity x

These guys are gonna have so many nice photos together over their lifetime. I know they hate how often I make them stop for pics but I also know they won't stay this cute forever & I never ever want to forget these precious moments

Spence had a random spew one Friday night (apparently there was a tummy bug going around his class). Thank goodness it was only the once for him cause apparently some of his classmates got it pretty bad :(

Then the next day we braved the crowds over at the Lantern festival. Our next door neighbour even talked Grandie into coming (which was actually kind've annoying cause I knew he was gonna hate it lol)

But we managed to stick around long enough to get some yummy spring rolls & heavenly Churros with peanut butter & chocolate sauce (actually they were probably more evil than heavenly in terms of calories, but so, so good!)

The morning after the lantern festival was stake conference & I got to wake up next to this beautiful face. I just lay there for awhile staring at him, thinking about how blessed I am to be his mum & then panicked that one day I would forget this handsome little 5 year old face so of course I had to take a pic x

Then since it was Valentines Day coming up on the Tuesday we headed up to Bastion Point for our annual Valentine's Day picnic

My first attempt at cheese scones in awhile were really good if I do say so myself!

Really hoping & praying that Stan will be here to celebrate his birthday & do this picnic with us again next year!

My amazing birthday dessert at the Chocolate Shop with Mell, Tui & Nix...how rude that I have a photo on my phone of the amazing dessert but none of my amazing company!! Always LOVE those nights out with my besties x

Before the dessert out with the girls it was Burger Fuel for my birthday dins with Mell & my two fave boys x

Then last but not least some super cute cupcakes I made for the school community disco. I've finally got a recipe that gives me the perfect consistency for getting the icing right so I was really happy with how these turned out

Spencer's 1st day at school!!!

On Monday the 19th of September, the day that Spence had been waiting for for the LONGEST time finally arrived. His first day at school!!!! He was so super excited - I don't think there were actually any nerves AT ALL so when we went & dropped him off to Room 1 with Ms Craddock & all his new classmates there was no looking back! He's settled in amazingly well & is always excited to head out the door each & every day so that's really all you could wish for as a parent. 

We love Bayview School so it was super cute to see Spence all kitted out in his little uniform & ready to head off with his cuzzy Shy & big bro!

This kid was lucky enough to know half the school coz of Mac already having been there for 4 years! Here were some of Mac's crew ready to welcome him in :) I'm actually not sure that this was such a good thing as Spence never plays with anyone his age - in fact he just lost his new bestie from the last 11 weeks, Rico, coz he was a year 6 & so is off to Intermediate next year. Apparently he has big kids giving him piggy backs all lunchtime long & when we leave school in the afternoon there are always big kids saying 'bye Spence' & stopping to give him hugs lol

Pic from 1st day of school back in Feb 2016 when Spence was desperate to start school with Mac.....

And then with his big bro again in September 2017 on his actual first day...

There was a lot of photo taking this morning & Spence finds it hard to pull off a good camera smile at the best of times, so he was really starting to lose it by now - not that I can talk, I've got lipstick on my teeth lol

With his old kindy mate Tai

Spence & his teacher, Ms Craddock

After we dropped him off to his classroom, we waited a few minutes while they marked the roll & then headed off to a whole school assembly where Spence & his family were welcomed into the hall like royalty & as though we were coming onto a marae. They had a whole welcome ceremony for us & made us feel so incredibly special! I was honestly holding back the tears the sprit was so strong. I feel so blessed to be such of an awesome school community where my kids are so happy & cared for. It will be a really hard thing to leave Bayview School when that day finally comes :( What an awesome 1st day all around!