WWI Air Show

This past weekend we went to an air show of World War I planes, just outside Masterton in the Wairarapa. It was put on by a company called 'The Vintage Aviator Ltd', which restores and manufactures WWI aircraft. The company is actually owned by Peter Jackson and the craftsmanship of the airplanes is really impressive. They had at least 20 planes - both German and British - on display and more than half of them were flown as well. The day started off grey and rainy, but by the time the air show started, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. 

Madeleine loves to point these day - at anything or nothing, or simply when she is making a very important speech. At the air show, she did a lot of pointing upwards, but that didn't necessarily mean she was looking upwards.

We were a bit worried about the noise level for Madeleine, but it wasn't that loud; WWI planes have more of a putt-putt-putt sound and don't go very fast. The loudest moment was when the one and only WWII plane on display, a P-40, did several impressive flybys.

When the WWI planes were in the air they sometimes did some mock dogfights and loop-de-loops.

First Steps!

Last night Madeleine took her first few steps! She hasn't been eager to try it again today, but maybe she's just waiting for Daddy to come home this evening.

Happy Easter!

It has been a beautiful sunny Easter weekend here. We stayed around home and enjoyed having four whole days together. Steve worked on his thesis a bit every day and we went for walks, played with Madeleine at the beach, went out for dinner, read, and watched a couple movies. Here is Madeleine after church on Sunday, in a cute dress from Grandma Georgia.

She loves playing in the sand, but is still at the stage of wanting to put everything in her mouth...

She's becoming more and more of a little climber, and quickly made her way over this piece of driftwood.

One of the things we really like about our new house is that this beach is just a few minutes walk from us. There is also a paved walkway along the waterfront that has been great for walks and runs with the buggy.

A New Toy

Yesterday we gave Madeleine an empty vitamin bottle filled with dry split peas, and it quickly became her new favourite toy. In fact, she carried it around with her all day, everywhere she went in the house, and I started to worry it was going to be her chosen toy - you know, like the blanky or cute little stuffed animal that some kids cling to for comfort. But thankfully, she was able to go to sleep without it. 

Despite wanting to hold onto it at all times, she was willing to play the "give and take" game with it - where she offers it to you, and then promptly expects you to offer it back.

And I couldn't resist posting a picture of her sleeping pose - she often starts out this way and then ends up on her tummy, bum in the air.