Well, it's starting to feel more like fall here. We've had more rain which means everything is green, flowers are starting to bloom and, well, it really doesn't look like fall back in the States at all (besides the few Northern Hemisphere trees that are changing color). The days are rapidly getting shorter, which means fewer daylight hours for Brad to surf, but he is coping amazingly well!
As of today, we officially have only 52 days left until we bid farewell to Gisborne. There are definitely mixed feelings...It will be so good to see all of our family and friends back home, but we will miss Gisborne and our friends here. We're already planning to come back in about six years for a six-month stint (Brad can't wait to get the boys out surfing...He is truly addicted!).
Otherwise, not much out of the ordinary has been happening here, no exciting pictures to post, just doing our day-to-day thing. Hopefully we'll get a few more pictures up before we head home!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Catching Up...
Okay, well, I have officially failed at keeping this blog up to date. So, I'm just going to post some pictures with captions of the past few months. We've had a lot of visitors, so I'll try and show a bit of what we've been up to, starting with a few more pictures from Dave & Jean's visit in January.
Dave & Jean at the local golf course. Brad took them golfing one day while they were here.
Jonathan hanging out in the hot tub in Rotorua. We spent a few days there with Dave & Jean, and the boys' favorite part was our own private hot tub.
Dave cruising down the luge course in Rotorua.
Brad & I figured we'd try this swing out since we had someone to watch the kids...It was a blast!
Brad surfing at Tolaga Bay.
Jean and Harrison hanging out on the beach at Tolaga Bay.
On Dave & Jean's last evening we went out to eat on the wharf. The restaurant had a bunch of fish hanging on the walls and from the ceiling. Jonathan was quite impressed by it all.
Dave & Harrison on Wainui Beach, getting in a few more hugs before it was time for Grandpa & Grandma to leave.
Dave & Jean left January 16th. Then my dad, Fred, and my sister, Shana, arrived on February 14th. They were here for two weeks and we had a great time showing them around Gisborne, and including them in our day to day activities.
Dad & Shana reading to the boys. The boys were so excited for all the new attention!
We didn't waste any time...We gave Shana one day to recover from the jet lag and then we signed her up for surf lessons. She did a great job, and she and Brad had fun heading out for a couple of surf sessions during the week. Here she is during her lesson with Frank, her surf instructor, cheering her on in the background.
Shana reading to Harrison at the Library.
Harrison really enjoyed making bread with Shana.
Shana, Dad & Kim at the end of the wharf at Tolaga Bay.
We went to Mahia Peninsula to go snorkeling and see Moko the dolphin. Luckily, we were able to see Moko (Dad & Shana actually got fairly close to him), but we didn't get any good pictures.
Shana & Brad out snorkeling.
Dad & Harrison playing on the beach at Mahia.
On Sunday, Dad, Shana & I headed about an hour and a half northwest of Gisborne to hike at the Whinray Scenic Reserve. Here Dad and Shana are on the swing bridge that spans the falls at the beginning of the track.
Shana and the Falls at the Whinray Scenic Reserve.
Brad took the day off from work on his birthday and we went to a beach we had never been to before. It was about 40 minutes north of Gisborne and it was beautiful. There were even some sheep that came down to check out the action...Here Shana is herding them over to where Brad and the boys were sitting.
Besides some people camping, we were the only people on this beach. It was incredible and the water was so clear!
Brad pulling the boys around on the boogie board.
On our way back from the beach we stopped at the village where the movie The Whale Rider was filmed. This is a picture of the Maori meeting house that is in the film.
We were also able to visit a small farm and tour their grounds. The gentleman in the picture below is the owner, and he and his wife have a small vineyard, where they produce grapes for their own Chardonnay. They also have a variety of olive trees for pressing their own olive oil and a variety of fruit and nut trees. It was really interesting to talk with him and have him tell us a bit about their place.
We are so glad that our families were able to visit us and share a bit in our experience over here in New Zealand. Thanks for making the trip!
Dave & Jean at the local golf course. Brad took them golfing one day while they were here.
Jonathan hanging out in the hot tub in Rotorua. We spent a few days there with Dave & Jean, and the boys' favorite part was our own private hot tub.
Dave cruising down the luge course in Rotorua.
Brad & I figured we'd try this swing out since we had someone to watch the kids...It was a blast!
Brad surfing at Tolaga Bay.
Jean and Harrison hanging out on the beach at Tolaga Bay.
On Dave & Jean's last evening we went out to eat on the wharf. The restaurant had a bunch of fish hanging on the walls and from the ceiling. Jonathan was quite impressed by it all.
Dave & Harrison on Wainui Beach, getting in a few more hugs before it was time for Grandpa & Grandma to leave.
Dave & Jean left January 16th. Then my dad, Fred, and my sister, Shana, arrived on February 14th. They were here for two weeks and we had a great time showing them around Gisborne, and including them in our day to day activities.
Dad & Shana reading to the boys. The boys were so excited for all the new attention!
We didn't waste any time...We gave Shana one day to recover from the jet lag and then we signed her up for surf lessons. She did a great job, and she and Brad had fun heading out for a couple of surf sessions during the week. Here she is during her lesson with Frank, her surf instructor, cheering her on in the background.
Shana reading to Harrison at the Library.
Harrison really enjoyed making bread with Shana.
Shana, Dad & Kim at the end of the wharf at Tolaga Bay.
We went to Mahia Peninsula to go snorkeling and see Moko the dolphin. Luckily, we were able to see Moko (Dad & Shana actually got fairly close to him), but we didn't get any good pictures.
Shana & Brad out snorkeling.
Dad & Harrison playing on the beach at Mahia.
On Sunday, Dad, Shana & I headed about an hour and a half northwest of Gisborne to hike at the Whinray Scenic Reserve. Here Dad and Shana are on the swing bridge that spans the falls at the beginning of the track.
Shana and the Falls at the Whinray Scenic Reserve.
Brad took the day off from work on his birthday and we went to a beach we had never been to before. It was about 40 minutes north of Gisborne and it was beautiful. There were even some sheep that came down to check out the action...Here Shana is herding them over to where Brad and the boys were sitting.
Besides some people camping, we were the only people on this beach. It was incredible and the water was so clear!
Brad pulling the boys around on the boogie board.
On our way back from the beach we stopped at the village where the movie The Whale Rider was filmed. This is a picture of the Maori meeting house that is in the film.
We were also able to visit a small farm and tour their grounds. The gentleman in the picture below is the owner, and he and his wife have a small vineyard, where they produce grapes for their own Chardonnay. They also have a variety of olive trees for pressing their own olive oil and a variety of fruit and nut trees. It was really interesting to talk with him and have him tell us a bit about their place.
We are so glad that our families were able to visit us and share a bit in our experience over here in New Zealand. Thanks for making the trip!
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