Tuesday, December 17, 2013

fiji

We took a magical week long trip to Fiji on our way back to the US.  We arrived in the evening and stayed at a hotel near the airport. We swam in the pool and tried to unwind from the stress of moving.

The next morning we were picked up by a tour bus and drove through Nadi.  Several hours later we reached a river landing where we jumped onto a launch and followed the river out of the estuary to Robison Crusoe Island resort.   The resort was the only thing on the small island.  It wasn't a fancy hotel but was perfect for a relaxed family vacation.
Our room/house was just feet from the water on either side.  The island was only 16 acres and half of it was covered with mangroves.  The kids quickly learned their way around and had their run of the place.
The waters surrounding the island were shallow which helped me feel safe about our wandering Max.  
We spent lots of time sitting in lounge chairs and watching beautiful sunsets.
We enjoyed learning about Fijian culture and meeting the kind and happy people. 
We ate all our meals communally which made the kids happy.  They quickly made lots of new friends.
Lonnie and I went out kayaking while the kids were watched by the island staff.  Trent feel asleep and slept for a couple hours on the floor of the hut were the workers rested.
While were were only a few people staying overnight at the resort several people arrived daily for the shows.  We enjoyed the fire walking.
And loved the fire dancing...
The kids loved the shows and still talk about all that we did there.  The keeping hoping we can go back one day.  
Even though we have now been in Utah for six months the kids keep asking to go to the beach and where the palm trees are.  


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

one last trip

The Dimayas were basically our family in New Zealand.  They came over for Sunday dinners, celebrated holidays and birthdays.  We miss you!

Our last weekend in New Zealand we convinced the Dimayas to come on one last trip with us.  We finished packing up the house and spent our last few days in Rotoua.    We walked thought the Government Gardens, walked through thermal areas and then bathed in the hot pools.  

 
We wore out our little Trent.


Wednesday, November 13, 2013

kate, paul and gus

Kate, Paul and Gus were our first friends in New Zealand.  We were lucky enough to move in next door to them after weeks of looking for a place to live.  (more posts about Kate, Paul and Gus)  They taught us how to live in New Zealand and were often our cultural interpreters.  We couldn't have asked for kinder and more genuine friends.  

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

pippies


On one of our last nights in New Zealand our friend Leah took us and the Kelly family out to Orewa to dig for pippies.  When the tide was low but starting to come in we went out into the shallow tides and dug with our toes down into the sand until we felt shells.  We then dug down with our hands and pulled up little shelled animals.  The kids were thrilled to get wet and feel the water splashing around.  They were up past bed time in the late Summer sun.  It was a perfect New Zealand moment and it hurts my heart a little thinking about it.
 
The next day I cooked them up in a little sweet and sour sauce and the kids actually ate them!  They were a bit too sandy for me.  I still need to prefect my pippi cooking skills, but Max, who regularly eats sand anyways, loved them.


Sunday, August 25, 2013

little kindy monkeys

Don't try telling Trent that he isn't able to do anything his brother and sister can do.  He loves going to kindy drop off and