Back to Reality

Last week Noah and I arrived home into the loving arms of our family and friends. While excited to be home, we were very sad to leave our wonderful NZ family and friends, not to mention the sunshine. However, since coming home, I have had a few moments to reflect on what an amazing journey we had been on. I mean, when I walked out of Aunty Pam's house the last time I visited in 2003, I had no idea it would be 8 years until I would return. I also had no idea that the next time I would walk into that house I would have a husband and 2 children in tow. God has blessed me beyond belief in those 8 years. My goal is that it will not be another 8 years before we step on New Zealand soil again. It is really important to me that the boys all know where a portion of my heart lies and I want them to be able to remember what a special place New Zealand is. We all had a wonderful time and we are excited at the prospect of returning someday to have more adventures with our amazing family and friends who live there.

With our lovely friends Pixie and Bill Gourley who so graciously allowed us to spend a day on their farm.

Our last day with Aunty Pam

Noah's 2 favorite NZ friends. Tania Slinn and Shan Gourley. Hopefully they will come visit us soon!!!

Me with some of my friends, Shan, Tania, Kath, and Nadia

Us with Jeanne and Peter Slinn. They might as well be family.

Noah and I had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the time change once we returned but we are back on schedule now. He is having a harder time adjusting to the cold weather than I am. He even hesitates to sit in his car seat these days because he says "it's too cold in there." The most exciting change in Noah's schedule is that today marks his first day of preschool!! He is going to go to preschool at our church two times a week from 9-12. He is such a Momma's boy and he may cry everyday when I drop him off but I know it's going to be so good for him. I am probably more excited than anyone because that means I get 3 full hours of peace and quiet every Tuesday and Thursday.

Noah's first day of school!!!

Those quiet hours are needed considering the hectic schedule we tend to keep these days. I kept telling myself that once we returned home from this big trip, our lives would slow down and things would return to normal. I think I just have to accept the fact that normal means a full calendar. Stuart and Cam are busier than ever with boy scouts and before we know it soccer season will be upon us. I have been out and about selling Thirty-One (which has been amazingly fun) and that means I will be making several trips to Indy and Washington before the month is out. On top of that, we are waiting on the arrival of another niece or nephew any day now (hurry up Stacey and Mo!!!).

So, that is what is happening in our lives right now. Among our many goals for 2012 lies the desire to resurrect this blog and keep everyone updated on what's happening. May God bless all of you in 2012. He is good all the time!!!

Man on the move

It's Noah again!!! Mommy has been too tired to keep this updated because she says I wear her out so I thought I'd use some of my ENDLESS energy to update you on all the fun things I've done in the past few days.
First, there was Nature Land in Tahuna. I got to see monkeys and mere cats. I promise you that the monkeys touched me but Mommy told me I shouldn't worry because they were behind the glass. The mere cats were so funny. I also got to touch a deer, well actually it touched me and I didn't like it very much!!! Mommy says the only time I'll see them at home is dead on the side of the road or hanging up in Uncle Paul's house. I'm actually kind of thankful for that.


I promise that monkey touched me!!!

After Nature Land, I took my favorite NZ Aunt and my best NZ friend (Tani) out for lunch at this place where they grow grapes and make some kind of grown up juice. I don't know much about that but I do know that they gave me ice cream and that made me very happy.
Ice cream for lunch!!!




Today was a really sunny day and it ranks up there with one of the happiest days EVER!!! We started off by going down and getting on this big red bus. It even had an upstairs!!! I got to sit in the upstairs with Mommy and Aunty Pam and we rode all around Nelson. It was so fun.

I can hardly contain my excitement!!!

Please Mr. Bus Driver, Let me in!!!!

The bus was so fun!!!
I do love my Aunty Pam!!!

Once the bus dropped us off, we came back to Aunty Pam's to pack a lunch because we were going to a Teddy Bear picnic. Tani even got to come with us. We drove to this park and brought our teddy bears and our picnic lunch. We ate our lunch and then I got to ride on the Ferris wheel and the Chair-o-plane. I wasn't supposed to ride on the chair-o-plane but mommy was prepared to tell them that I was, in fact, 3 years old so I could ride. It was so fun!!! I could hardly wipe the smile off my face. Come to think of it, my cheeks still hurt. After that, I took my teddy bear for a walk around the picnic and even took him to teddy bear school where he learned to dance and act. What a day!!! Mommy didn't even make me take a nap and Aunty Pam is making me an ice cream cone right now. Gotta go, only one more week of sunny weather. I hope we go back to the beach... I am one cool guy taking my friend Tani to the Teddy Bear Picnic!!!



I even took my Teddy Bear on the Chair-O-Plane:-)

I wasn't sure about the ferris wheel at first but I soon managed to take a hand off and wave to Mommy and Tani.
And just to complete my day, I got to throw rocks in the water. I love NZ!!!

It's Noah's World...We're Just Passing Through

Hi Everyone!!

It's Noah here. Just wanted to fill you in on what I've been up to the past few days. My Daddy and Cam left on Friday and had a very smooth trip home. I miss them terribly but love it that I can see them on the computer most afternoons. I have been keeping busy helping Aunty Pam. I helped her to plant a passionfruit plant in her garden the other night. I also helped her make bacon and egg pies for our supper and I love showing her how to play games on my Mommy's Nook.
On Saturday night, Aunty Pam and Mommy took me to my first Jazz concert down in the park (Washbourn Gardens) and then on Monday they took me to my first ever movie in a big movie theater. It was about these crazy penguins (Happy Feet 2). My favorite part was the Tweety Bird cartoon at the beginning but I also loved that I got to eat M&Ms and popcorn. Yesterday we got to go to the beach again. I could get used to this beach thing. I mean the sun was shining and the water was all the way up on the beach so Mommy and I could swim all morning. Won't all my friends be jealous when I tell them about this!!! I also have my own swimming pool in Aunty Pam's back yard. I love playing in it and have so far had to have the water cleaned 3 times because I keep dumping things like sand and dirt from the garden in it.
I have made a couple of buddies while I've been here and now think that Shan and Tani should accompany us wherever we go.
I have learned some really cool ways to say things since I've been here too. Did you know they call french fries "chips" and cookies "biscuits"? I also love to say "okie dokie", "woopsie daisy", and "oh dear". I am a little confused because Aunty Pam loves to drink hot tea but when she asks me what I want for tea, I think she means supper. Who knows? Anyway, I have to go. Mommy and Aunty Pam are going to take me to Nature Land today in Tahuna so I can see some monkeys. I love monkeys!!! Hmm...I wonder if Tani wants to come with us?

Helping Aunty Pam play games on Mommy's Nook
I love to help Aunty Pam hang out the washing.

My first movie was a big hit!!!
Planting a passionfruit in Aunty Pam's garden.
This is what January looks like at Aunty Pam's house.
Check out my new sun hat!!!
Love swimming in the ocean!!!

Helping Aunty Pam make bacon and egg pies for "tea."

New Zealand Travel Adventure Days 19 & 20 - Going out with a BANG!!!

Yesterday morning, Megan and I got to have a date day. We started off taking the 11am tour of the McCashin Brewery. But, don't worry, we didn't start drinking until after noon (and it was 6pm in the States) so it's all above board.


Shouldn't more places combine BEER and NURSERY? I think that would make child care much more palatable.Here are the barley and hops we got to try. Well, we tried the barley, but the woman advised against actually tasting the hops. No need for a green tongue at 11am.
After our brewery tour, where we got to sample about 18 different things brewed onsite, including 3 vodkas, 3 frutes and about a dozen beers, we walked back to town to watch my beloved Michigan Wolverines defeat the VA Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl. Because the game started at 2:30pm local time, the bar was fairly empty. That made it easier to convince the bartender to let us watch the game. As a side note, the name of the establishment was The Star and Garter. And, no, people do NOT get paid to take their clothes off there, but the food was about as good as I would imagine it being at a place like that.
Today, Cameron and I went to the local mall to grab breakfast. I've been dying to try a Mega McMuffin for two weeks. You'd think that two patties of sausage, bacon, egg and cheese on a mcmuffin would be a can't miss breakfast sandwich, but it's really nothing to celebrate. I was very let down.

After breakfast, Cam and I went to the grocery store to get some things for him to take back and share with his class. He got loads and loads of New Zealand candies that I'm sure the kids will love.

For lunch, we headed over to Mapua. The boys met a dog named Oscar that they took turns throwing a stick in the water for. I think the boys would still be there if the owner hadn't taken the dog away after about 20 minutes.

For lunch, we enjoyed fish and chips on the beach one last time before we leave tomorrow.

Here's an idea of the views from the beach where we enjoyed lunch.
After lunch, Megan and I stopped by the Golden Bear Brewery and Tavern to pick up a rigger for dinner while the boys got ice cream with Auntie Pam.
On the way home, there's no way we were driving past a place called The Naked Bun without stopping for some dinner dessert.
On our last full day in NZ, we decided that one meal on the beach wasn't enough. So, we bought meat pies and took those to Tahuna Beach where we swam in the ocean one last time before heading home tomorrow.
It's been a great trip for me and Cameron. Megan and Noah still get to enjoy a couple more weeks, but I'm sure it won't be the same. I mean, seriously, nothing is as much fun if I'm not there.

New Zealand Travel Adventure Days 16 - 18 - Isn't this how everyone spends the first few days of the year?

Doesn't everyone spend the first few days of the New Year on the beach? That's what we did for New Year's Day. I have to admit, if given the choice between a day of football and a day of sitting on the beach, I'll take sitting on the beach for New Year's every time.On January 2nd, we went to Founders Heritage Park. It's a brewery and historical area where they've relocated a bunch of old buildings.
The boys really enjoyed seeing the old fire engines.
They had an old plance that the boys could walk through.
In the maritime center, they had lots of models of old ships.
And Noah got to "fire a cannon."
Megan and I couldn't walk past a brewery without picking up our dessert for that night.

After exploring Founders Heritage Park, we went to Nelson for a little shopping. For lunch, I had my first ever crepe and thought I needed to document this historic occassion with a picture. I mean, seriously, how many times will an American eat a French specialty (with meat in the middle and tomato sauce on top, so it had a very Italian flavor) in New Zealand.
Today, we headed over to our friends, the Slinns, beach house. Noah got to throw rocks in the water, which made him a very happy boy.
The boys got to go for a ride in the boat.
Here's an idea of the view from the boat. Not too bad.
Megan celebrated as the fishing champion on the day.
Cameron finished strong though, by pulling in two flounders, even though he wouldn't really touch them.
All in all, just another great couple of days. I can't believe it's almost over for me and Cameron though.