Craaaaazy

Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas!

depending on whether you are in the US or NZ!!

She's here!!!!!!!!!

yes i am a baby - I cried when Hannah got here!!   It has been so long!!

We had a great day today although H is beginning to droop a bit now.    Won't be having a late night tonight as we are off to Christchurch tomorrow.

Then just 2 more sleeps and Mike and Cait are here WOOO HOOOO

Pics as promised

Flying to Auckland today

leave in 2 hours - so I better get a move on.

Have had a busy couple of days in Christchurch - so sorry for the lack of posts.    Been great catching up with family and friends and old haunts here and there.

Went to my brothers for dinner last Monday and caught up with his new place and saw my niece and nephew.. my nephew Alex arrived from Oz on Thursday night... so as soon as Mike and the kids are here from the US - we will all be together for the first time in 5 years!

Been swimming a couple of times, on the exercycle a couple of times, walking and walking around the shops and have managed to shed 4kg since I have been here which I am pleased about.

Bought some new goldfish for  M&D's outdoor pond - as one had died - leaving just one lonely one.   So we got him/her 4 new friends.   Now we just need to clean out the pond which has got a bit murky with the hot weather.

Took Mum and Dad out for the day on Thursday - we headed into town and had lunch at a fun cafe overlooking the river then headed to a couple of shops to look at the christmas displays then to a garden centre then home.

Hannah flies in to Auckland on Wednesday and she has 24 hours there - and then her and I fly back down to Christchurch on Thursday.   Mike and Cait arrive on Friday.   I can't wait to see them - its been too long since 30 November!!

Will post some photos from the last few days later!

Speights

My dad's 75th birthday

was on Saturday - 2 days ago here now - yesterday for those in the US!   We went out to Speights Brewery for lunch with his brothers and sister and respective better half's.   Photos of the cool place coming in a bit -

but the Brewery was right next door to Mike's and mine very first flat!!   We had all of the bottom floor for a whole $19.00 a week!

Looks a bit different than when we had it.   We always said it would be beautiful if it was done up! 

... I'm .... going home

.................tonight I am New Zealand bound

 Christchurch here I come

I am so looking forward to this trip, I have not been home since 2007.   I am away a long time - 6 weeks - but I hope to blog from the road, and will be checking email, running the store, and generally keeping in touch!! 

Next post from me might be hard to understand cos my kiwi accent will be back in full force *LOL*

No matter how long I live overseas - I will always be   

Happy Thanksgiving All!

May you and yours have a wonderful day - and stuff yourself silly!

 

Enjoy the madness of the sales!!... some start today!!

26 years today!

Happy Anniversary Mike

Love you!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!

Yes I can hear the gasps of horror from you all *lol* - but I am SUPER DUPER excited.   Because we are going home this Christmas!!!  

WOO HOOO - for the first time in FOREVER - a  proper SUMMER christmas with all our family in New Zealand!    Going to be so much fun seeing all our aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

The last time we were all together was 2000 - much much too long.   Yes we had a big bunch of us together in 2006 when they came here - but my brother Mike and his kids could not make it that time - and although we had everyone else here which was fantastic - it still was not all of us.

This could well be the last time we can even do this - as we all get older.   All the kids are getting to the ages now where they are going to university, getting jobs, moving on and out.   So not that easy to all get together - not even counting the fact that we live in the US, my nephew is in Australia, and the rest are in NZ.

The getting there and back this time is a little wonky - all over the place really - because of the kids university schedules - and trying to get a somewhat decent airfare without totally being bent over and @#@$%#$ on price.  

I am flying over first, then Hannah - then Mike and Cait.    Hannah is back first because she is going to New York this year for NY Eve in Times Square.   Then Mike, Cait and I are all coming back together in January. 

I will even be in NZ for my Dad's birthday!!    Because of that - I am going to be gone a LONG time.   5 -nearly 6 weeks in fact as I leave the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

I am gone all of December!!!  and do not get back until the end of the first week of January.

But there is no bah humbug going on here cos.....