They caught a lot more lollies than me that day, but I caught a vision - a vision to fly.
The first time I flew was when one of my uncles shouted me a trip from Auckland to Rotorua on a small passenger plane.
About 30 minutes into the trip we started slowing down and circling a paddock.
I knew we were nowhere near Rotorua as I had not seen the lake and started getting a bit nervous.
My nervousness turned to anxiety as we shaped up to land in this paddock.
I could see the pilot (as you could in pre 9/11 days) and he seemed to be calm so that helped.
There were a couple of bumps in the paddock before we turned towards a building which turned out to be the Matamata airport building. I remember the take off from that paddock being just as exciting as the landing.
As a university student I used to fly home from Palmerston North occasionally on a student standby discount system and the plane was usually a small one-engined Cessna.
I would often sit next to the pilot where I watched his every move and asked lots of questions..
We would often take detours to look at Mount Ruapehu and other scenic spots.
My professional speaking business has lead to many more flying hours to various countries.
On one of my trips I was down the very back of a 747 sitting next to three young guys.
Just after take-off the young guy next to me pulled out a big bag of cooked marinated chicken wings.
He gave the other two guys a pair of plastic gloves and they all got stuck in to their meal. I can still see the look of disgust on the air hostesses face as they handed her the bag of bones and plastic gloves.
A few years ago my wife bought me a flying lesson for a birthday present. I flew a small Cessna around Rotorua and after a bumpy landing the pilot asked me if I enjoyed myself. I replied "yep I sure did".
He asked if I would be doing another lesson and I replied: "Nah, I definitely will not be."
He was a bit puzzled and asked why not. I replied: "If I take another lesson then I am afraid that I may never be able to stop".
More recently I have developed a VIP hosting business with Volcanic Air Safaris where I will occasionally jump in a helicopter to host visitors to our beautiful region.
I am still convinced that I enjoy the flights more than the people we are hosting.
So here I am many years after that kids' Christmas function in Hamurana writing this article as I sit in an ATR72-500 aircraft flying over the Remarkables Mountain range enroute to Queenstown where I will speak to a group of Australian financial advisers.
The scenery is magnificent and I am continuing to fulfil my vision of flying.
So what are your childhood visions? What did you dream of doing?
If an MBA (Maori Boy from Awahou) can do it than I know you can too.
When it comes to visions the sky's the limit.
Ngahihi o te ra is from Te Arawa and is an international speaker, author and consultant. His book is available at Mcleods Booksellers and the Lakeside cafe in Rotorua. His website can be viewed at www.ngahibidois.com.