Things I miss...

Taking walks in DC with my sisters

Being able to absorb creative juices from Ali- she finds an artistic way to do everything.

Carolyn's style tips:)

Kasey's love for shooting guns whenever the sun is shining, and sometimes even when it isn't.

Mi familia

Ter Ter and Berto

The Matthews clan.

We just sent Thomas's mom and dad back home to the farm.  Safe travels Sam and Melba- we miss you already!

In our backyard...

Where do you find beauty?  Sometime we think one must search far and wide to see new and amazing things.  Other times you see that you don't have to go to far, just open your eyes to what lies in your own backyard.

A view of the southern night sky looking back at our house and beyond. Incredible. (thanks Justin Michau!)

Ter Ter and Berto come to New Zealand

They finally made it, mom and dad were here in NZ for 2 weeks with us in January!  We had such a wonderful time showing them around this little island we call home.  It was so fun to see their reaction to all the cultural differences, lingo and scenery.  When we came here last February to visit with our friends Marla and Justin, mom heard all about the magnificent "flat whites" and "meat pies" they have here so she got off the plane determined to try all the things we had raved about the year before.  Here we are at the Sheffield Pie shop for a piece of hot heaven in your mouth:)  Mom loved it, but for dad the jury was still out, he didn't get the best flavor meat pie.

 

First major stop along the way was castle rock.  Its set up along the hillside where all these boulders just decided to hang out, not sure how they got there, but they are amazing to look at.  You can hike along here or even go rock climbing up these if you dare.  (Thomas and I will prob come back and do some of that soon).
Next stop was Pancake rocks.  Along the coast on your way up to Greymouth you will see them, cliff edges that look like big piles of pancakes stacked as high as they can go.  The waves rosh in and out and have carved caves deep underneath the edge of the island, so between these pancake rocks you have big blow holes where the water shoots up through the air at high tide.  Truly amazing.

As we made out way back down the coast mom decided she needed to touch every body of water that surrounded NZ- most important was the Tasman Sea.  As our trip went on, we didn't have the best weather (there was major road flooding to be exact), but we had the best time just enjoying hanging out together.

Lupins covered the field on the way to Milford Sound, we just had to stop off for a little photo shoot.

Thomas came back to join us at the end of the South Island adventure road trip, he had to work while I played tour guide.  Above you'll see us at the Moreaki Boulders....again rocks that formed out of no where, it's a trend here in NZ.

Can you tell we had fun!

And We're Back...

Well this post is WAY overdue... We have had quite a few busy busy weeks lately.  Thomas and I have been traveling all around the South Island visiting with friends for the holidays..

Christmas morning with the Eastons

Christmas afternoon on the beach.  A once in a lifetime story.

 ... then my mom and dad later in January for my birthday!  What an amazing gift that was to have them here for two whole weeks!  The first week I took off to show them around the island, a whirl wind trip covering only a few thousand kilometers.

Starting at Castle Rocks, huge boulders on the side of the hills sitting like sleeping giants.  So amazing!

One of the hundreds of waterfalls we stopped to see along the way.  Thanks to mom we knew how many we passed as she would point them all out along the way:)  (love you ter ter)

Lupins in full bloom coming in and out of Milford Sound.  We only scratched the surface of the breathtaking scenery here.  Everywhere you turn there is something new to see and explore.  It's so new here that I think it keeps our minds and curiosity peaked at all times.  So much to take in. I guess you all will just have to come visit to see more!

Twinkle twinkle little worm

Yesterday my parents arrived to our little island all the way from snowy Rochester.   Words don't describe how excited we were for them to come, or how wonderful it has been having them here.  My dad is loving the kiwi phrases and has claimed "no worries mate" as his own, and my mom swears the coffee is better and stronger here than in the states.  It's a running joke that everything is different here b/c technically those of us who come from the northern hemisphere are really standing on our heads down here on the other side of the world.  Thomas and I have had time to acclimate, mom says they'll come around:)

Tonight we ventured back into a glow worm dell after a late night dinner.  It's set just off the road 50 metres, and as you walk back into a rain forest type area  in the dark you suddenly see all these little glowing dots all surrounding you.  It was like looking into the starry night sky right next to where you are standing.  So we decided to sing them a little song to them...

Twinkle twinkle little worm,
How I wonder how you squirm,
Nestled in the dirt so deep,
As you twinkle while you sleep,
Twinkle twinkle little worm,
How I wonder how you squirm.

Little wormies with glowing bums:)

happy happy holidays

Merry Christmas and happy new year!  Our holiday time has been a wonderfully busy one.  It's been a bit since we've updated on what's happening in the lives of these New Zealanders, but I'm happy to report we're still loving this crazy life of ours.

Christmas was spent with the fabulous Easton family (also known as our bestest buddies over here)

We spent Christmas morning opening prezzies with Morgan, Hayley, David and two of the boys that work with Morg on the farm.  Thomas spoiled me with Canterbury rugby gear and a new (1979) singer sewing machine.  I had to be a bit more stealth with his gift- flown all the way in from the Apple store in Aussie- an FM transmitter for his IPhone- yay!After breakfast we headed out to Dunedin to spend the rest of Christmas day with Joy and Lockee Easton (Grandma and Govenor), and the rest of the aunts, uncles and cousins.  The whole time we felt so welcome and happy which is what you would hope to feel at Christmas time.  However, when you're not near family, it's a rarity to feel so at home.  Joy pulled me aside as soon as we arrived at her house and said- please feel like this is just like your Christmas too, not just our family Christmas.  She is quite a spunky and amazing woman.

The rest of Christmas afternoon was spent on the beach soaking up the 30 deg./ 75 deg. sun and dipping our toes in the icy cold southern ocean.  Not typically something you would do on Christmas day in the northeast- Pa or NY.

Even though we were so far away from the ones we love, all in all it was a wonderfully memorable Christmas.

Twas the night before Christmas

A tribute poem to the Child Life Staff of Golisano Children's Hospital, written by Jennifer Schaefer-

‘Twas the night before Christmas

When all through Strong Memorial

Not a small child was crying

Not even Julio

The wagons were lined up

In the hallway with care

In hopes that the families

Wouldn’t steal them from there

The children were nestled

All snug in their beds

While visions of needles

Danced in their heads

And Jessie in her sweater

And Jen with her keys

Had just settled down

To cough and to sneeze

When out on the play deck

There arose such a clatter

Wendy burst through the door

To see what was the matter

Away to the window

She flew in a flash

Knocking the Christmas tree

Down in a crash

The moon shining down

Through the windows in the ceiling

Made the dirt left by housekeeping

Now quite revealing

When what to her wondering eyes

Looked so big

But a miniature sleigh

And eight tiny pigs

With a loud sloppy driver

Pushing his way through

Wendy knew in a moment

It must be Swine Flu

Faster than cheetahs

Onto the play deck they ran

Wendy clicked the web paging

For help from her clan

“Now Mary, now Eva

Now Rachel and Chris!

Come Patty, come Jessie

Colleen, Geri, Melissa!”

“Come up to the play deck!

Come up here right now!

We must get rid of

This sickening sow!”

From all over the hospital

The specialists they sprang

Armed with their bubbles

And the VCUG bag

And then in an instant

They heard on the roof

The stomping and clomping

Of each ugly hoof

Wendy lifted her head

And was turning around

When onto the hockey table

Swine Flu jumped with a bound

He was covered in germs

From his head to his toes

His sweaty hoof wiping

His runny nose

His eyes how they drooped

His cheeks how rose

The oxygen running

Through a tube to his nose

He was chubby and plump

A horrible pig

And we cringed when we saw him

And knew this was big

A bundle of piglets

He had flung on his back

All ready to run

And make the attack

One cough from his mouth

Would spread sickness with ease

Wendy said “My child lifers,

We must kill this disease!”

“You’ve stolen our siblings

And family visitation

The Tuesday picnic

And Halloween celebration.”

“But you won’t take our Christmas”

Wendy said to the flu

Then she turned to her staff saying

“You know what to do! “

With a nod of their heads

And a quick steady hand

They pulled all the Cavi wipes

Out of the can

They went straight to work

Wiping up that darn flu

They sent that pig packing

And his little pigs, too

Then they heard flu exclaim

As he left for vacation

“I’ll get you next year

Before your inoculation!”

Wendy turned to her team

As she waved to the swine,

“Merry Christmas to all,

Now, who’s got the wine?”

Merry Christmas my wonderful friends-

Thomas is 27!!!

We just finished celebrating Thomas' 27th birthday this weekend...yay!  We started with Morgan and Hayley up for dinner- our fabulous friends who also fixed our fireplace (bonus).  Sunday morning was a french toast breakfast party filled with a day of more friends.

Highlights from Thomas-

Peanut buttter sent all the way from Chester Springs Pa.  Big kids love JIF

Peanut butter on french toast

Eating peanut butter- you get the idea...

Touching the world's fastest Indian (a motorbike).

Skyping with family

Prezzies from his wonderful wifey (me)

Going to a farm machinery museum owned by Ken's Auntie Joan.

We celebrated the big birthday weekend a bit early in Nelson with friends.  Such a beautiful area of the country, we were so lucky to have a whole weekend off to explore.  We love exploring!

Thomas' prize catch- the kahawai fish.  We saw a guy- Rob fishing on the beach.  He had already caught about 3 in the 10 min. we were watching him so Thomas went to say hi and see what he was catching and Rob told him to grab a pole and start fishing.  I think within about 5 minutes he got this!  He is quite a guy that Thomas.  They offered to let us bring it home, but we both agreed 4 hours in a hot hot car isn't the best situation with a dead fish, Thomas needed some convincing about that, but we managed in the end.  

Happy Birthday to a wonderful man!

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

Merry Christmas time.  We have finally started our Christmas decorating.  We have been picking bits and pieces up along throughout the travels and have a little collection started. Our little silvery Christmas balls are my favorite, and they fit so daintily on the little lemon and mandarin trees Thomas picked to be our Christmas trees.

With a little Michael Buble playing in the background, the perfect start to a special season.

 

the thanksgiving marathon

SO being Americans here in a distant land we felt that it was only our obligation to share our favorite American holidays with our new New Zealand friends.  At first it started out as just having a few people over for Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday Nov. 28th, but as we began spreading the good news we found more and more of the people we wanted to be there were busy that night.  Thus began our venture of 2 Thanksgiving dinner with all of our friends here- I believe there was about 40 over Thursday and Saturday's feast!

Mashed potato central.

Yummy rolls!

Our livingroom soon turned into the kids playroom on Saturday afternoon.- Hayley and Faith were coloring,  Jules, Ava and Lucas were loving the little toy farm.

Our dear friends- 1st the Oamaru clan -Morgan not looking at the camera, Hayley Gareth and Lauren (the other American) all rounding off the corner of the table.  Morgan and Hayley are so awesome, Thomas knew morgan through Cornell, once we moved here Hayley (Morgan's finace) and I became fast friends.  They have been such a blessing to us.  Then there's Pam and Lucas, Dave, Ava and Jules and Rox and Charlie on the other end- Pam, Jules and Rox are all part of our Yummy mummy sports team- they let Thomas and I join even though we don't have toddlers.

Up the other side is- Fleur on the far end, Hannah and Ross, Ken and finally Craig (who goes with Pam and Lucas).  We met Ken and Fleur at church, Ken and Thomas have a common IPhone bond that is unbreakable- and Fleur and I just really enjoy spending time together, so it works out:)  Ross and Hannah also go to our church, they are an awesome couple and she recently opened a stunning clothing store in town.

Boys and their toys- we sent them off outside while we finished getting dinner ready.  The amount of treasures they returned with every 5 minutes were incredible.

It was truly a memorable thanksgiving, being surrounded by all the people that have befriended us and spending time together was a huge blessing.  We could not have asked for a more wonderful day, there is so much to be thankful for.

Our New Zealand home

I know you've been on pins and needles waiting for this day to arrive, finally pictures of our house!

Our dining room table ready for Thanksgiving dinner- looking into the kitchen.

Livingroom-

The doorway straight ahead goes into our on suite bedroom (with walk in closet!). And the doorway on the right goes to the downstairs apt. and guest bedroom.

Skyping with the family while they were in Florida.

Our bed- the throw pillows are my favorite.

Looking into the kitchen, there will be more to come later!