Ashley Gorge

For Labour Day weekend, we decided to attempt our first family trip to Ashley Gorge. We rented a small…very small cabin for two nights and had a good time. Saturday it rained all day so we had to find ways to keep a 16 month old entertained in the cabin; finding things to do in a small space with a rambunctious toddler is quite challenging. Sunday was beautiful. We let Porter run and play on everything outside. I was constantly trying to get him to wear a hat that he refused to wear. So…I decided to smother him in sunblock. He played and played, found every puddle, and took two naps!

Monday morning, he was a bit cranky but slept for most of the way home. When we got home, he was super cranky! Jason had the good idea to look for new teeth, and YES…Porter has his canine teeth coming in on the bottom. Poor guy is having a rough time with it but will look really awesome when they come in. He’ll have his center two teeth and his canines…I think he’ll look like a troll! Hahahahaha! I’ll have to get tons of pictures.

Porter trying out the baby swings

At the top of the slide - he learned the word "up" during this time

Letting everyone at camp know he was there!

View of the Ashley River

View from our cabin

Castle Hill

I bet you can guess where we went last Saturday??? Yep, Willowbank. Not much new to report there. It was, however, our first time going so late in the day and all the animals were sleeping.

Porter chasing chickens

Hello, Mr. Duck

Maori Hut

Shooing the Kea away!

Kunekune pigs

On Sunday, we ventured out over Porter’s Pass. On the way, we passed Porter’s ski area and got a picture of the entrance. We weren’t looking for anything in particular; it was just a trip to get out of the city. But, to our surprise, we found Castle Hill. This was such a cool place filled with funky limestone boulders. In 2002, it was named the Spiritual Center of the Universe by the Dalai Lama. This area was even part of some scenes of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Porter got out of his buggy and hiked around; this was his first time “hiking” on uneven landscape. He was a bit unsure of himself at first but then gained confidence and made sure we saw all the flowers. Every once in a while, he would pluck a flower from the ground and say, “uh oh”!

Arch in the limestone

Castle Hill Boulders

The Arch from the other side

Porter at Castle Hill

Porter's Ski Area

Entrance to Porter's

Out and About

So, we’re finally starting to see the countryside! One weekend, we went to Oxford, which is up next to the mountains. It was a gorgeous day but I didn’t take many pictures because we had our hands full with a little guy who was going non-stop!

Last weekend, we made the trip to Akaroa. This was a longer drive so we timed our drives according to Porter’s nap schedule. Not realizing that the drive in the hills was going to be so curvy, I could see Porter’s head rolling around in his car seat. Still, nothing woke him up!

We had lunch at the Hilltop Tavern. AMAZING! The views were great and the food was excellent. Couldn’t ask for a better place to take people when they come and visit us…hint…hint.

Once we got to Akaroa, we enjoyed some time on the pier, some Mr. Whippy ice cream, and sea gull watching. When Porter turns 3, we will be able to go whale watching from there.   

War Memorial in Oxford...Porter lost a shoe.

At the Cafe 51 in Oxford.

View from Hilltop Tavern

Daddy and Porter

Was so beautiful, had to take multiple pictures!

Porter and the friendly goat at Hilltop Tavern

Me and P on the Pier in Akaroa - I was a bit nervous of the wobbly boards!

Daddy and P on the Pier in Akaroa

Fish Hook - Akaroa

Dinghies

Akaroa

Dad and P shopping in Akaroa

Looking down a side street in Akaroa. Pictures don't do it justice!

Mr. Whippy Ice Cream!

Akaroa

Akaroa

Shopping and eating ice cream!

Porter's favorite = BIRDS!

Checking things out.

Birds lined up for food