Happy Diwali!

Today is Diwali - the Indian Festival of Light. Diwali celebrates the beginning of the Indian New Year. Last night we put out some divas by our front door. This is to welcome Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) into our home and bring us good luck for the coming year.

Tomorrow, it will be the Hindu New Year and we can say "Saal Mubaarak" (Happy New Year) to our family and friends. HAPPY DIWALI to all our family and friends, wherever you are in the world!

All Blacks are the World Champions!

On Sunday we watched the Grand Final of Rugby World Cup 2011 (All Blacks vs France) with our friends (Zaydenbhai, Yashani, Raju Kaka and Beena Masi). Before the game, we walked to the Fan Trail up the road. We got face paint, ice cream. Raneel got one half of his face black and a half white on his face. I had a silver fern and AB's on my facepaint. We also saw the All Blacks bus go past and we cheered for them.

 Then we walked back home. We watched the game and at half-time we decorated some gingerbread silver ferns, kiwis and rugby men! After the All Blacks won by 8 to 7, I felt very proud because we won the Rugby World Cup and the gold medal! I was waving my flag and cheering to our neighbours across the road and people were tooting their car horns when they came down our street. It was so much fun!

On Monday, we went into town to the All Blacks parade. There were SO many people! I saw lots of players - my favourites were Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Richie McCaw, Victor Vito, Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Conrad Smith, Mils Muliaina, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock and Hosea Gear. Sonny Bill wasn't there because he was visiting some sick people in the hospital. I felt REALLY proud when the All Blacks became the World Champions again after 24 years!

All Blacks vs Wallabies 2nd Semi-Final and a name for my new cousin!

On Sunday we watched All Blacks vs Wallabies. Before the game, we did face painting and sang the National Anthem! The game was so much fun! Aaron Cruden scored the drop goal in the 1st half of the game. And another drop goal for the Wallabies from Quade Cooper. We also scored a try from Ma'a Nonu. Piri Weepu scored 4 penalties and James O'Connor from the Wallabies scored one penalty. Sonny Bill Williams got a yellow card because he was Sin Binned. We won 20-6. This Sunday, we will play France in the 2011 RWC Final. We are so happy that we are playing France in the 2011 Final of RUGBY WORLD CUP!

Before the game, we went to visit our new little cousin. She has a name now...its Nyah and I helped name her! She was sleeping AGAIN when we went to visit! Hopefully we can see her awake soon. Here is a picture that Nana sent when she was awake.

Our walk on the Fan Trail!

Today we went to visit our new cousin again and she was having a big sleep! She woke up just before we were ready to go and I got to have a hold! She is very cute!

After our dinner, we went for a walk up the road to see the Wales and France fans on the Fan Trail on their way to Eden Park. We got some face painting done. I had 2 French flags on my cheeks and Raneel had 2 Welsh flags on his cheeks. We also won a red Coca Cola beanie each, which the man said were made from recycled bottles! We also saw some big smiley face balloon people and we saw the big Rugby World Cup bus!

Our trip to Queen's Wharf & Wynyard Quarter!

On Friday 14 October, we all went on a bus trip into town with Raju Kaka, Beena Masi, Zaydenbhai and Yashani.

We went to see the Rugby World Cup area on Queen's Wharf. We saw some really big ships that had lots of flags on them.

My favourite thing I saw was the big Webb Ellis Cup! We also got to play on iPads in the ANZ tent. Then we walked down to Wynyard Quarter and we walked across the big bridge that opened up to let the boats through.

At Wynyard Quarter, we played on the cool playground and then we had fish and chips and then we went for a ride on the tram.

We had a great time. We did so much walking and we were very tired afterwards! Afterwards, we went to visit our new baby cousin, but she didn't wake up!

Our new baby cousin was born today!

Today we got a new baby cousin from Nani and Nana (my aunt and uncle - Dad's brother). She was born at 8:45 this morning and weighed 3.4 kilos, was 52 centimetres long, and she has lots of hair. We went to St Lukes and bought the baby a present. Then we went to the hospital and we all held the baby. I held her 4 times! I felt so happy. The baby was smiling, sleeping, crying, and had a few hiccups. We are excited that we are going to play with our new baby cousin.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Thank you to all of the people who have read my blog and written comments. I love reading the comments. It makes me so proud.

From Shaan

RWC 2011 All Blacks vs Argentina (quarter final)

On Sunday 9th October we watched All Blacks vs Argentina. Before the game, we baked a chocolate cake and we did the haka.

Mils Muliaina came out first because it was his 100th Test Match for the All Blacks. Dad and my uncle (Raju Kaka) went to the game at Eden Park. Mum, Raneel and me watched the game at home in our All Blacks tops and pyjamas!

Brad Thorn and Kieran Read scored the two tries. Piri Weepu was the Man of the Match because he was good at kicking the 7 penalties. There's a new All Black called Aaron Cruden. He got 1 conversion. At half-time, we Skyped Nee Masi and Kisu Mama in England. In the semi-finals we are playing against Wallabies. It could be a hard game. We don't know who's going to win the game.

RWC 2011 - All Blacks vs Canada

On the 2nd of October the All Blacks played Canada. Mahinmama, Sairamasi, Phil, Aja, Mikemasa, Ani Masi, G Masi, Jayanmama, Jiya, Hareesh Aja, Dad, Raneel, Mum and Prakash Aja were there. The best player was Zac Guildford he got 4 tries in a match Wow! All Blacks won 79 to 15. We were proud that we won. The game was really fun. The tries were from Zac Guildford, Sonny Bill Williams, Mils Muliaina, Jerome Kaino, Victor Vito, Israel Dagg and Jimmy Cowan. My favourite players are Victor Vito, Ali Williams, Zac Guildford and Sonny Bill Williams.

Our cheer for the All Blacks!

RWC 2011 - Samoa vs South Africa + England vs Scotland

This week, we cheered for Samoa and South Africa on Friday, and Raneel and I made signs for both teams. The score was 13-5 to South Africa.

On Saturday, Mum and G Masi went to England vs Scotland at Eden Park. The score was 16-12 for England. Raneel and I put red facepaint on Mum and G Masi - we did a red cross for England. Mum painted a red cross on our faces as well.

Mum also bought some Car Flags for us too.

Here are some pictures that Mum took at Eden Park.