Weekend in Hawkes Bay

We went to Hawkes Bay for a long weekend to visit Campbell's parents and some good friends.  We had a good drive that brought back many memories of past visits as well as the New Zealand landscape.  The kids enjoyed seeing the different landscapes and the smell of sulfur near the thermal hot springs.  It still feels like we are visiting and on some long extended vacation.

Before we left, we moved into our rental home that we will be at for the next 18 months.  There is plenty of space and a spare room for all the visitors we hope take the big trip our way.  There is a small yard for the kids to run around as well as a driveway that Archie has determined is a great runway for a scooter.

While away, Campbell and I enjoyed going to the downtown of Havelock North.  We had a flat white as well as ran into a high school friend along the way.  The kids were enjoying time with their Grandparents while we just relaxed.  All were happy.

And then we all met up back at the playground.  It was a pretty day and the kids were super happy.  We found the rope log (like many we had in Holland) and this time Sylvie could use it all by herself.

 Then we headed off to another shop that had a big green area in the back, a pond, duck, sculpture, and a dog named Archie.  He is in the photo below shortly before he jumped in to chase the ducks (or pretend he was a duck?).  And it was Archie the dog that jumped in, not Archie the child (luckily).

Back at the house Jim took the kids and Margaret for some rides in the tractor.  They even went to the neighbor's canal and watched the eels being fed.  The kids thought this was awesome.

Campbell and I did a hike up Te Mata Peak.  It was a great hike and reaffirmed the fact that I want and need to be more active.  The last part of the hike is switchbacks and steep.  It was so beautiful and the photos don't do it justice.

Start of the hike thru the redwood trees

Sylvie turned 6 and we celebrated with her grandparents.  We have never really been home for her birthday her entire life.  We are usually traveling to the Lake Cabin around that time and celebrate them.  So it was special to get to celebrate with Nana and JimBob.

We also made it to the hot thermal pools in Napier.  The weather was cold and windy.  The pools are outside next to the ocean and it was too cold for the adults to get in.  Archie and Sylvie enjoyed trying out all the different temperature pools.  It was odd to be swimming outdoors in the middle of winter but it was super fun.

We arrived in NZ

Relaxing in Auckland

But before we arrived, we had to leave Seattle.

Last Drive on 99 - elevated highway in Seattle to be demolished in the fall.

So after a few little bumps in the road, we finally made it to Auckland, New Zealand.  Our flights were a bit of a mess to get out of Seattle.  We worked so hard to get to the airport on a sunny Friday thru rush hour traffic.  Auntie Mary and Uncle Jimmy gave us a ride and helped us get there.  It all went smoothly so we had about 2 hours to burn at the airport.  The kids went thru their backpacks and all their surprises to keep them busy.  They were great going thru all the lines we waited in.  All was going well until our flight to Vancouver kept getting delayed allegedly from poor weather there (but my phone showed none).  

Archie with his new haircut and going thru his goodie bag from good friends at the airport

Being entertained at the airport waiting for our flights

So with a two hour delay to departure, we missed our Air New Zealand flight to Auckland (thanks Air Canada for messing that up).  Upon our arrive to Vancouver, we were told we had a new flight that evening to.....Sydney, Australia with a connection to Auckland.  That flight was supposed to take off at 11:35pm....but left at 12:30am.  The kids had been up since 6:30am and I had to keep them up so that I could physically get them to walk on the flight.  So they wearily watched the iPad (thank goodness for technology) until we were finally able to take off.  

Waiting it out in Vancouver

Once on the plane, we tried to go straight to sleep.  Anyone who has ever tried to get 2 tall children to sleep in 3 seats while yourself exhausted on an airplane can understand the joy that is.  We spent a few hours with them asleep but continually moving around to get comfortable and stay asleep.  Archie kept sticking his legs into the aisle.  Sylvie kept kicking Archie (I was in the middle).  I keep jerking my head up every time I nodded off.  We eventually settled with Archie sleeping on the floor, Sylvie stretched out over the seats, and me sitting up with Sylvie's legs over me.  But we slept.

And then we arrived in Sydney sometime on Sunday morning after 14 hours of flying.  The kids watched a bunch of movies.  Once at Sydney we waited several more hours for our 4 hours last flight to Auckland.  I look forward to going to Sydney for fun in the future but I was very happy to leave it quickly on that day.

And after a lost car seat and quick trip thru customs, we met Campbell in our new city, Auckland.

 Our good friends let us stay in their house for the first week here.  They were away and we were able to just settle in while at their house.  It was such a nice treat and made the transition easy.  The kids had lots of room to play and jump on the trampoline.  

And we were happy to all be back together and Campbell.

And now we are in Auckland for winter.  It is a really warm winter compared to Seattle so I think we will be just fine.  The beach is a 15 minute or so walk from our house.  And only being here a short time, it seems life has slowed down and is more relaxing.  We didn't have much jet lag and it was just easy once we were here.  Having a couple weeks off before school started helped us just get used to our new home country and city.  It is even more pretty that the pictures show and people are very friendly.  So far so good!

Last week at The Lake with Gigi

We went to the Lake Cabin in northern Idaho to visit my Grandmother, Gigi, my parents, Auntie Susie, my brother Josh, and the Darlings.  We were also there for the 4th of July for fireworks.  I don't have photos of that evening but we walked down to a neighbor's dock and sat there while the fire works went off above the lake.  The kids kept oohing and ahh-ing.  And they were allowed to stay up super late (10:30)!  Archie and Sylvie loved it.  It was a great treat and something that I remember doing as a kid.  So glad they are old enough to make and remember these moments.

The lake was beautiful and the weather improved while we were there.  There have been a lot of great improvements to the cabin in the last few years including the deck and railings being completely replaced plus wifi!!!  The weather and water was warm enough that the kids braved a swim.  Sylvie was in the water the most.  

On the wall at the cabin are some old photos of lots of family and cousins.  This is one of my favorite.  I remember sitting under the table laughing.  The three of us were having a great time by ourselves and giggling.  I am on the right, Traci in the middle, and my older brother Ben on the left.

And here is a great one of lots of cousins on the steps of the Strobels cabin (Grandma's brother's cabin).  Lots of cousins and loads of fun.

And the kids spent hours on the water in these blue kayaks.  They love these and can paddle around easily.  This was the start of lots of fun for these three.  They played super well and had some many adventures.  If they weren't on the water, they were up in the woods behind the cabin in their fort (that they all built over the past few summers).

Archie and Ruby going fishing.  They didn't have as much luck this year but enjoyed trying.

Grandpa putting some more worms on the hooks.

Finally the sun came out and they enjoyed the swimming.

We went to the nearby town of Harrison to visit the ice cream shop.  It was a good treat.  This air balloon thing was dancing and Archie was having a great time trying to catch it.  

Down on the beach for some more fun with all the cousins.

We perfected our dual selfie!!  Wish we would take more of these.  You can see the kids messing around in the reflection of our glasses.  We were totally ignoring them to get the best angle and have a good laugh trying to do so.

Kids Table for dinner not the beach.  They were having loads of fun and laughing the entire time.  Funny how Traci and I had many dinners laughing with our brothers at that exact table as well.   The kids' table is always the best table to be at.

Obligatory cousin line up photo.

And these two!  Best buddies!  Sylvie and Archie miss Ruby the most of anyone and everything from our move.  They want to go back to the lake and spend time with Ruby.  Archie is already asking when we can go back.  Now, Mom?  Why not now?

Can't wait to get these kids together again and hopefully at The Lake.  I don't know how I didn't manage to get photos with Gigi.  We were having a lot of fun and I tried to take photos but never seem to take enough.  I guess that is a good thing because it means we are having fun together.

Up next, our trip to New Zealand and getting settled in.