Surprise! We went to New Zealand and surprised Campbell's family and friends with our visit. It was Archie's first visit to New Zealand and it was a a great time. We started our trip with a stop at Campbell's parents' house. Campbell's sister Jane and her family were there for a preplanned trip. From there we all went to a lake house at Lake Taupo.
Archie and Jim Bob
Campbell and Margaret
All the cousins with Paul and Campbell going for a ride on the tractor with Jim Bob
(Eve, Greta, Theodore, Archie)
Lake Taupo
Archie playing with his new best friend Greta
She taught him so many new tricks!
Bonfire on the beach with smores
Family photo at the lake
The Grandparents and grandkids
After our trip up on the North Island the three of us went to the South Island to explore. Our first stop was Arrow Town, an old mining town with lots of charm and Queenstown. Then onto Lake Wanaka and a drive up the west coast.
Mmmm, coffee
Drive to the west coast
We saw a few sheep along the way
West Coast Beach
Our hotel just next to the rain forest on the west coast. Beautiful, hot, and mosquitos. We heard lots of native birds in the trees around us.
Fraz Joseph Glacier and our walk up the river valley to it.
Beach art with driftwood at Hokita
After the drive up the west coast, we drove across the mountains and headed to Campbell's Uncle Doug and Auntie Daph's house. We had a great evening with them and their son Richard, his girlfriend Sarah, and her mother. Even though we didn't stay up until 4am dancing and drinking wine like last time, we had a wonderful time again.
Auntie Daph
Uncle Doug
Our next and last stop was Auckland to visit our good friends Caroline and Alan and their son Joseph. The boys had a great time together!
And then we were home again. Archie is back to his normal routine which includes our fun and messy dinners (note the food on the door behind him). He is now eating sausage, vegies, fruit, and lots more.
He loves eating good all by himself!
\He is too cute!
And our final surprise.....we are having another baby! Our new addition will arrive in late July. It is another fun surprise to our exciting year. All is going well and I am feeling fine. We can't wait for the baby and Archie will love having a little buddy to play with. They will be 15 months apart. We will wait to find out what we are having again.
We love surprises!
