coming to america

We just got back from spending almost a month in the US.  It was our first trip home since moving to New Zealand almost three years ago.  While nothing compares to the amazing scenery of New Zealand we were able to see something even more beautiful, family.

The main motivation for the trip was my grandmother, Norma Height Allred's 90th birthday.  Here are some photos from the party.  I am lucky to have such a happy, smart, friendly, beautiful, loving and story telling grandmother.
Some of the best things about my grandma, Norma Hight Allred....
She makes friends everywhere she goes.   I went to the same high school where she had worked 20 year before, and people still remembered her.  
She is smart and she knows it.  She has always known she was smart and she has always been proud of  it.  I love that she is a strong smart and confident woman who isn't afraid of sharing her point of view.
She can tell a story and go off on twenty-plus side notes and still somehow get back to her main story, even hours later.  It really is amazing if you can hold out long enough to hear the end of the original story.  I have sat in a room with her telling a story to more than 15 people and she kept talking while all of them eventually feel asleep before she got the the end of her story and she just kept on talking.
She always has a smile on her face.  She alway makes me feel loved.

Patty Kersee, Carolyn Guzman, Norma Allred, Leslie Gale and John Allred

Awkward Family Photo shot of all of my Allred cousins (and siblings) standing in age order- Aimee, Dennis Kersee, me, Gina Gardner, Andrew, Heidi Thompson, Loretta Monareng, Laura, Mike, Chris Calzada, Mary Young, Jordan Guzman, Leah Guzman

We even managed to get a family photo after Trent was nearly dragged to his death my Maya excitedly running away with a ballon tied to her brother's wist.

Trent fell in love with his Auntie Aimee....and her iphone.

My cousin Suzie even came.  Maya was trilled to see her other ginger cousin.

Happy Birthday Grandma!  

feeding the giraffes

mercer bay loop

We took a fun family hike with our friend Saryah on the Mercer Bay Loop in Waitakere Regional Park out to the west of Auckland.  Saryah is from Texas and came to stay with us a couple times while she was spending 7 months on a working holiday in New Zealand.  We enjoyed hearing about Saryah's adventures of travelling around NZ and working at organic farms during her 7 months here.  We also took advantage of having another adult to help us with the kids on the hike.

The hike is pretty easy for adults and a bit more challenging for kids, which made it just about right for us.  The track follows the coast with stunning views from cliffs overlooking the Tasman Sea.  With the name Mercer Bay, we should have done this hike sooner, but it was well worth it once we got there.  I have commented many times that NZ has enough beautiful bays and beaches that they could almost have one for every family.  So it's nice that we have our name on one!

All of us together...Maya even wanted to bring her doll on her back.

Looking at the photo, it's kind of crazy to think that this is just 30 minutes from downtown Auckland.

Overlooking the Tasman Sea, which is between NZ and Australia.

Trent rode in the baby backpack for most of the track, but he wanted to talk some too.  At 1 year old, he probably walked 300-400 meters (almost a quarter mile).

View of Mercer Bay 

one year

One year ago Trent was born.

I remember when Max and Maya were born people told me to time would go by quickly, but to be honest it didn't.  The first year of their lives seems like an eternity.  Maybe it was because there were two of them.  Maybe it was because, due to staying awake all night long, it actually took two years time to get through just one year.  Maybe it was because I was taking a crash course in motherhood and still grapelling to hold on to a piece of my life before having children.  Whatever it was, the first year of Max and Maya's life felt like forever.

Yet, somehow I find myself one of those people, the ones that say their baby grew up so quickly that before they knew it the first year was gone.   The past year of Trent's life has flown by.  I still can't believe he is one year old.  He still has the delicious cheeks and the chub of an infant, but for as long as he has been able to has tried to keep up with his older brother and sister.  He was born a strong baby.  Started rolling over at three months, crawling at six and walking at nine.  At one year old he runs.  He backs down the long stair case.  He gets into everything.  He climbs on top of chairs.....

I haven't gracefully taken on the role of mother the way I thought I would, especially the infant stage.  I don't do well with lack of sleep.  While Trent has always enjoyed sleeping, he hasn't been very good at staying asleep.  He didn't sleep through the night regularly until he was 9 months old....and even now there are nights that he wakes up in the night.  The only thing that will ever put him back to sleep is breastfeeding.  Thankfully he is quick and I enjoy the snuggle, knowing that this time will pass quickly.

Trent is inquisitive.  He likes to get into cupboards, bags, toys, drawers, an open dishwasher, the toilet, and anything else that seems interesting.  He bolts for any open door, especially when it is one leading outdoors.  He likes to look at books and seems to want to turn the pages himself more than let someone else turn the pages for him.  He loves to laugh and is a great dancer.  I wish I had half of his energy and maybe even a quarter of his determination.  He has this funny little angry streak that pops up when he doesn't get something that he wants (like a closed cupboard)...as if to let you know that he is in charge and you shouldn't get in his way.  More than anything he loves his brother, sister, dad and especially his mom.

Sweet Trent Tane, we are so glad to have you as part of our family.

a little bit of texas in new zealand

We were lucky enough to receive a quick visit from two girls, Natasha and Saryah, we knew in our ward in Katy, Texas.   Max and Maya love visitors, but when they heard that we would have visitors from Texas, knowing that was were they were born, they were thrilled.  

We always enjoy sharing our love of New Zealand with visitors, it never fails to impress.  Here are some photos they took while they spent the day with us.

Thanks for coming to visit!  Thank you for leaving a bit of Texas!  Thanks for the photos!

karekare

Living in New Zealand means that we get the Queen's Birthday as a holiday.  New Zealand was even kind enough to give us a beautiful and  sunny day.  Thank you New Zealand.  Thank you Queen Elizabeth.  Happy Jubilee Year!

We were joined on our adventure by our friends the Dimayas and the Pearsons.  Karekare is not far from Piha, along the rugged west coast, about 45 mins from Auckland.  Karekare is located down a much narrow and windy road.   There weren't as many people at the beach as there are at popular Piha, and the black sandy beach was much wider, allowing the kids to wander around and explore.  

We started out with a picnic on the grass before following the fresh water stream out to the beach.

Bryn and Maya

Bryn making sand angels with Bryn.

Trent exploring the beach. He has switched from walking to running.

another amazing week in new zealand

Found a hedgehog while out on a bike ride.

Trent ate paint and played with clay at Playcentre

Beautiful double full rainbow over the house 

Our beautiful boy discovered Rice Bubbles (Krispies) and loves persimmons as much as I
craved them during his pregnancy.

Used our zoo passes at the Auckland Zoo, where Maya got up close and personal with the emu. 

turning four

I have no doubt that every mother says this, but I can't believe my babies are four years old.  While the past four years have gone by quickly I almost can't remember my life before I was a mother.  

The week before their fourth birthday Max and Maya started afternoon kindergarden.  Kindergarden in New Zealand is more like pre-school in the States.  It is focused on play and is located at a separate location from the school.  For three days a week Max and Maya get dropped for 2 1/2 hours.  I almost don't know what to do with myself and the few times we have been home and not our running errands Trent wanders around the house looking for his brother and sister and squawking.  Max and Maya are loving kindergarden.  Maya is quick to make new friends and Max is thrilled with all the new toys.  

We are still attending Playcentre three days a week.  I have duty once a week, Trent comes with me and he loves it!

 Max and Maya's biggest facination these day is with Lego.  My mom and I both got them some for Christmas.  We added to them for their birthday and they are a constant source of entertainment.

On the Saturday before their birthday we all went to the Auckland Zoo and got Zoo memberships.  Max has already started writing a letter to the zoo keepers asking all sorts of questions.  They are going to have to deal with a very demanding client.  He wants to know why there are no camels and when the snake enclosures will be done with their remodel.

Max and Maya's birthday feel on a Monday.  We went to Playcentre where Trent and I stay for my duty day.  The kids at PC all made muffins for Max and Maya's birthday and everyone sang to them.  It was a nice way to spend the morning together.

In the afternoon we had some of Max and Maya's
favorite friends, Jayde and Luka over for a play. Their mom Diana made it into a little party by brining lollies and chips.

That evening we ordered pizza and made fruit skewers.

Max and Maya requested that that each have their own cake. Max's was a giraffe cake and Maya's a flamingo cake.   To make the dinner extra special we all wore dress ups.

The next day at kindy Max and Maya each received a card and got to sit up in  front of the class.

 Trent thinks he is big enough to start kindy too and tries to get into as much as he can when we go to pick up his big brother and sister.

Max and Maya were featured on a blog today.  Check them out.....

http://designingdawn.com/twin-tuesday-max-maya/

he walks.....9 months old.