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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A Room with a View


This is the view from Kim's bedroom window. Nice!

Sausage!


A favorite here, and a favorite of Zach's. Sausage in a slice of bread. They are often sold like this outside of stores as a fund raiser for a dollar.

ELEVEN SCOOPS!!!


Because it just had to be done.
After the picture we dumped it in the big bowl and all dug in. Yummm!

Kiwi Meal


L&P and a meat pie - eating kiwi style.

A Hobbits View


Looking out at the Shire and Party Tree from inside Bag End.

Bag End


The most famous of hobbit holes. Soon they will be getting it

ready for the filming of The Hobbit.

Under the Party Tree


Kaelie about to put on "the ring" and disappear under Bilbo's birthday party tree. Standing just about exactly where he stood. Notice the lovely Shire hills in the backround.

Hobbiton


Five hobbits in Bilbo's dining room window (the one Gandolf pulls Sam in through).

Cathedral Cove


Another beautiful spot in NZed.
When the children return to Narnia in Prince Caspian, this is where they enter.

Still smiling


After the ride, they still look happy. That's what I call sisterly bonding!

Three girls in a Zorb!


Kaelie, Kimberly, and Kelsie rolling down in the zorb, having a ball ;) and SCREAMING with laughter.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Watch out!


Driving on the left side of the road. Just to give you a taste of what is second nature to us now.


The large white machine near the middle is moving the cement barriers. It moves them to the west in the morning to allow one extra lane going into the city, and to the east in the afternoon to give an extra lane to the commuters going home! Pretty smart.

Hamilton Temple Christmas Lights




The first picture shows the visitor center with the Christus statue framed beautifully by the sparkling lights. The second is the temple itself, also beautiful, with the surrounding trees lit, and a large screen where Christmas carols were being played. It was a perfect way to end one year and begin the next.

Volunteering at Long Bay Regional Park











We spent a fun morning volunteering at a local beach park. We weeded a wide area of newly planted NZ lillies, "ringa ringa", and afterwards they fed us milk and biscuits (cookies) :D

Some friendly mailboxes :D


We passed these on a rural road and just had to turn around to get a pic!

Our friend Moa


The Moa statue behind the ice cream eaters is a giant moa. A flightless bird which is now extict, but which used to roam the forests of New Zealand.


Apparently in 1914 tepid salt water baths were all the rage!!

Just another day in downtown Auckland







Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Photos By Kelsie











Just some of our now quite extensive collection!

All I want for Christmas...


The Tooth Fairy came along with Santa on Christmas Eve. (Her tooth was knocked out in the bishop's backyard by a playmate during a game :D )

Christmas Eve Elders


Our ward now has two sets of elders. They, along with us, were invited for Christmas Eve at our bishop's home. They are wearing the crowns from their Christmas "crackers" (an English custom that is very popular here). The crackers are what you see in Christmas wrap on the table, and have the crowns in them along with a small toy and a joke.
*Note the summer weather!

Christmas Day at the beach!


Swimming in the sea on Christmas made it a truly special day for us.

L&P


A soda made here in NZ.
The slogan...
World Famous in New Zealand.
Can't describe what it tastes like. Good, but very -

unique.

Rangitoto


This is a distant view of Rangitoto volcano which is in Auckland harbor. We hiked up it a few weeks ago, and were so proud of Zach for making it all the way to the top - way to go Zach!

A hiking trail bridge


There were a few of these on the trail we hiked. Also possum traps for those pesky possums once brought over from Australia and which are now a problem for native NZ wildlife!

Winderholm Regional Park


There is a beautiful nature walk/hike at Winderholm. We went up on a trail through the native bush and came out on a gorgeous lookout, then walked out over a meadow where we stopped for a picnic before heading back down.