Kids At Work Day

Tony had only been at work for a couple of weeks before the annual "Kids At Work Day" rolled around... YAHOO!!! We all got up and out the door to make it on baba's bus on time... it was the noisiest, most interactive bus ride he's ever had... but fun for the kids! And our first bus ride since leaving Taiwan... kinda strange really... considering we took a bus several times a week for most of the kids' lives!

The 12th floor of the building had been rearranged and overtaken by young folk... infants, toddlers, tweens... it was an all ages event. Tony went up to work and so did I... only I was in an unfamiliar 'office'. Hunter, of course, went straight over to the train sets and Helena set about to find as many things she could get herself involved in...

C'mon sweetie... why can't you sit this still when we're eating a meal or I'm trying to have a conversation with a friend?

She loves getting her face painted... is this all girls or just her... everytime she sees face-painting she wants it... and she'll sit through it! Amazing. Maybe I should get my own supplies and use it as incentive... hmmm.

Hunter left the trains long enough to find this table with the radio control racecars... he was pretty much a fixed item there til the facilitator had to give him the ole boot (tears were shed). But wait... what's that little brown bear in the background???

Oh... she's gone from brown bear to ice princess... she is a girl afterall... I guess she can do what she wishes! The big kids were in groups creating Wearable Art displays so Helena found some scraps and pulled this ensemble together. The funny thing was that even though she wasn't in a group, when the kids got up to model there stuff, Helena tried to join in a few groups... our kids are NOT shy... at least not this one right now.

Story time was a chance to just chill out... Hunter was right at the readers knee in the photo before this, but must've decided moving a train around her feet was more interesting than that particular story!

Oh... and here's daddy!!! Well, we did have morning tea up on his floor where we got to meet his teammates and our friend Jacinta from Taiwan came over to catch up as well... that was cool to see her back here. After lunch it was time for Tony to do more real work and these guys were tired... but I had promised Hunter we'd get home via his favorite thing...

TRAIN!!!

So far our only train trip (it's not cheap) but he keeps asking to go again... just you wait, Hunter, just you wait! You'll get your train ride!

Most Recently...

As behind as I am in this blog, I thought I should just start with what's happened most recently... and there are some pretty big things - well, not that big, but let's just say that getting back into a regular routine after 3 months off  and all the prep for the move seems big to me...

On Wednesday the 15th of September Tony finally started back to work... but 3 months off makes for a rude awakening to getting out of the house on time to catch a bus that only comes every 20 minutes... thankfully the kids got to say good-bye at the door...

before he took off running around the house for the bus!!! This may be a familiar morning ritual!

Then on Monday the 20th of September our little boy started "kindy"... it's really just a pre-school programme for kids under 5 to prepare them for going to school. This is the last week of the term so he'll go for 3 days then have 2 weeks off then start into his real term which will still just be 3 days a week.

I made it back for "mat time" when the teacher called him up to the front to introduce him as a "new friend" to the rest of the class... he went up there so confidently (doesn't really look it here) and I was so proud of my little boy (until the next day when I happened to be walking past the playground just in time to see him push a classmate, get pushed, then push the next kid so hard he fell over into the slide - yeah, not my proudest moment).

And to celebrate Hunter's first day of kindy, I took him for an ice cream at McDonald's - he got to eat the whole thing himself (with the cookie flake) while mei mei had to share with mom... the funny part was he then complained about a tummy ache that night - maybe that "YUMMY YUCKY" book we had was right about ice cream being yummy and too much ice cream being yucky... I never seem to feel that way about it... but maybe there's some merit to it!

This past weekend we went to visit our friends at the hospital to see their new baby girl - Liberty Burrows... she's adorable and mum is well too... certainly you'll see some of them posted eventually too... but on the way home Tony decided to take us for a real Kiwi experience - fish and chips at the beach...

so here we are at Petone waterfront in the back of our new car enjoying some shelter from the wind before the BIG STORM that blew across NZ.

And the week before we met up with some extended family at Te Papa to say hello/good-bye to Nanni Bev who was in town for a Princess Party. How fun to have some family time...

and yes, she's got tights on... oh she's just so adorable in her little turtleneck and tights!!! What a doll!!!

TOOWOOMBA... ba da boomba!!!

Okay... this is going back a ways, but hey, the kids are napping and it's warm inside so here we go...

July 30...After about 48 hours in Taipei we were finally on our way in the direction of home. Well, we were heading in the same hemisphere at least... We had a fantastic flight from Taipei to Brisbane on Business Class!!!! OH YEAH!!! Actually, there was a bit of frustration at the Taipei side because we were on a codeshare flight and they said there were only 2 seats for us in Business Class... you can imagine - after that long haul from LA just hours before we were both ready for our rightly earned places in BC (this was Tony's official return to NZ flight so we get business tickets) then to be told we only had two spots!?! What were those poor kids going to do with themselves in Economy?!? Of course I said I'd take Hunter in Economy with me and leave Helena with baba if that were the case. Well, praise be to the God who cares about the little things - when we got to the gate they walked us right in to 4 seats in Business Class!!! YAHOO!!! And oh what a difference that made!

Pajama princess - the cutest little thing on the plane - hands down!!!

It was after 10pm when we got going so thankfully Hunter and Helena drifted right off into la la land and we parents got to enjoy a delicious meal and some uninterrupted entertainment (good priorities, eh... should've gone for uninterrupted sleep, but how often do I get to fly stretched out with my own movie and actually finish it?!?) And I really have to gloat a bit - the food is actually really yummy! I've only ever flown Business Class two times - on our way to Taiwan and now 5 years later on our way back - and oh, it was a nice trip!!!

Both kids slept for a good solid 6+ hours of the 9 hour flight so it was wonderful and restful! Hunter enjoyed his breakfast (as did Helena) and he even got to watch his own movie before we arrived in Australia!!!

So... Toowoomba!!! For those of you who have no idea where or what it is (like me before this trip) - it's a town located about 2 hours inland from Brisbane near the Gold Coast of Australia. Our dear friends Lucas and Justine Anstiss transplanted their family to this fine town about two years ago so this was a perfect chance for us to catch up and see their new life.

The four big kids would meet at the breakfast bar in the mornings and challenge each other to eat more or different foods... next visit they'll have to sit somewhere else though because I think baby Zander won't want to miss out on the action again - this time he was none the wiser!

Antonio is just about 6 months younger than Hunter and the two of them got on pretty well... we brought him a Lightning McQueen shirt from Taiwan so the boys shared their love of Cars!

Now this is the funny part... we thought we'd have a relaxing week catching up with old friends, exploring the region, basking in the Anstiss hospitality we've come to know and love... and of course we did get to experience all those things and more - much more! But Lucas had 'other plans' for his time off work to create a bonding experience with one of his closest friends... take a look at this...

When we arrived Lucas informed Tony that he wanted to build a shed in his backyard... yep - it was a kitset so it would probably only take a day or two right... yeah, right!!! Of course these guys couldn't just pop up a shed - they had to do it properly... so here we go... they first dug out a plot (after buying Tony some coveralls and gum boots)...

(they found a few treats in the process)

Then filled in the plot so it would be even...

then built a foundation from planks to insure proper ventilation.

They did start to get weary at times so they hired a few other workers, but most of the time it was just the two of them (or one of the two of them depending on what the day's activities held).

It was cold most days - but in the sun it was pleasant... yet with any household project we've ever encountered it always takes more time than you expect. This project took pretty much the week (well, admittedly they did have a bit of time off the shed intermittently)... but finally on Friday, August 6 they had something to show for their time together...

A NEW SHED!!!

Well done, guys! And though we laughed about it, you know, isn't it what friendship is about!?! It's not always about what I want or how I can be entertained. True friendship is living life together in community, helping each other - emotionally, spiritually and practically. We appreciate a rich relationship with this family because over the years we've visited them in their home, cooked and eaten meals together, sat around the source of warmth discussing work, marriage, parenting and how Jesus wants to help us in all those areas of our lives. And after this week in Toowoomba, Tony and Lucas now have a tangible memorial to the friendship they have been building for over 15 years! That's a pretty good week if you ask me. (then again, I wasn't outside hammering...)

And while the men were working on the shed or taking breaks from working on the shed there were plenty of other things going on during our week. This was hilarious! Keep in mind it was winter there, so although Tony and I did each get out for a couple of runs, it was much more appealing to do a workout video. So the first time I fired up my Jillian Michael's dvd Liberty came to join me before heading off to kindy... honestly, she did most of the workout in her school clothes while I sweated alongside her... then for the rest of the week she kept asking "Jen, when are we going to exercise" Talk about accountability!!! One day she even dressed up in her gear with pigtails and everything... we had a blast!

And on August 4, thus said Miss Liberty turned 5!!!
I made her some pink pancakes for breakfast then she went to kindy in the morning and the Anstiss's did a 'normal' day - while we headed back toward Brisbane to hit an outlet mall to update my winter wardrobe...  Now anyone who knows me knows that I really am not that good at shopping for clothes - Tony pretty much has to drag me out (unless I'm with my mom or sister)... but I was determined (and desperate - really, I did not have much in the way of winter clothes since our 5 years in the subtropics)... and I struck gold at a shop where I got some nice things for just $29 each!!! What a bargain!!! Then anyone knows that feeling when you have tasted success you just want more... Anyway, we stopped the spree and made it back to Toowoomba to join Liberty's birthday celebration at the restaurant of her choice - Sizzler!!! I haven't eaten at a Sizzler in years... but there was plenty of food for the kids to eat and plenty of healthy options (why was I just drawn to the bread pudding at the dessert bar???)!

Happy 5th Birthday!!!

On August 5, I got a special treat... Justine helped Tony look after the kids (well, he was on shed duty) while I got away for almost 4 hours by myself... I came back with a new hairstyle after a wonderfully relaxing trip to the hairdresser!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

And then on August 6... we got to celebrate my actual birthday with a lovely day at a women's Bible study Justine goes to and a delicious chocolate cake (my new favorite made with beetroot) before a fun dinner out with Tony... spoiled!!! (notice the hair...highlights, color... best 'do I've had in years!!!)

We went to a place called "Chutney Mary's" and absolutely stuffed ourselves on the Royal Feast!!! Good thing we had our cake before we went out!!! We thought about going to the movies too but hey, you gotta remember those kids don't sleep in!

For our last full day together, we had originally thought about a day trip, but then the reality of driving for hours in separate cars caused us to come up with a more creative solution: A PARK CRAWL!!! For anyone who's ever heard of a "Pub Crawl" or a "Cafe Crawl" (you go from place to place to place enjoying the specialities of each) this is where I got the idea (though I've never participated in either before)... Toowoomba has lots of lovely parks but we hadn't been to too many so we decided to hit three of their favorites... The kids had a blast and we got more quality time together. It was really a fun way to spend a Saturday morning!

And of course the traditional pancake meal with the Anstiss' took went to a whole new level with Lucas and Justine preparing them on an outdoor grill... way to go!!! Aren't you just drooling thinking about it!?!

The kids loved them so much that they in fact ate most of them leaving the dads a bit unfulfilled, but I think the overall experience served them well!

We had to get the tourist shot at Picnic Point overlooking the land to the east of the town... it was such a beautiful day that we shed a few layers and enjoyed the sunshine!

Justine and Liberty just hanging out while the boys were climbing around (I think Helena must've been climbing around too... or stuck in her stroller for running off).

This was Hunter's first 'slumber party' week - he slept on Antonio's trundle bed... what a great deal! The two really ended up working well together... it was fun. Thanks, again, Anstiss family for your amazing hospitality... we're looking forward to seeing you in NZ next time!!!

And then, like all good things, on Sunday, August 8 it was time to leave the comforts of the familiar and get back on another airplane... after these hugs and kisses we were actually going to arrive on home soil...

(oh but let me say, travelling Business Class for only 3 hours on a smaller plane is totally different from the big international flight - but at least the food was still so yum!!! We even got ice cream!!! YAHOO!)

California Vacation... Within The First 10 Days (or so)...

I think I've ordered these inaccurately, but heck... here we are! The first weekend in CA was FATHER'S DAY!!! When was the last time I was home for that??? Must've been when we got married EIGHT years ago!!! While Tony headed to the Grand Canyon, we went to celebrate my dad after church. Amber and Jason had set up camp in Newport Dunes so a few of us met up there for some good ole father's day fun.

 Grandpa's doing the right thing with the water but all Helena wants are those chips in front of her... you can see it in her glance!

 While we were in Taiwan Tony read/heard some stuff about ground beef so as a family we made a decision to stop eating it unless we ground it ourselves... so no meatballs, meatloaf or HAMBURGERS!!! Honestly, I think it had been 6 months since I'd sunk my teeth into a meat burger but I decided that on Father's Day I was going to go for gold... and boy was I delighted!!!

 I don't know where the kids come up with these ideas... they're not role-modeled at home... honest!

 Happy Father's Day DAD!

A couple of days later mom and I took the kids to the Beachner home for a bit of personal sprucing up...

 this was Helena's first haircut (well, technically I did cut off a tiny curl that had gone awry... but nothing noticeable)... you'll see in future photos that you can actually see her (besides when she's wearing the bucket of course)!

 and this guy... usually only gets the clippers! Boy did he need a bit of something though! Thanks Denise... we all looked much tidier when Tony returned.

 Being mom's chauffeur has some benefits... we got to enjoy her cousins Linda and John Clemente in an intimate setting with just one other aunt... when does that happen in a family this size??? Super special!

 Three Cousins

Let's Go Fishin'

 Most afternoons in Southern California are beautiful - sunny and warm with very little breeze (much unlike Wellington)... when Grandpa came home from work we decided to take advantage of the summer's eve. Hunter got the hang of fishing, for the most part, though unfortunately they didn't catch anything (don't even think they had many nibbles)... but boy were they cute together!

 Helena made a friend who shared some duck food so she was happy as could be... well, she would've been happier had she been unrestrained but goodness knows what could've happened then!! She is little miss independent... not a good characteristic around water and rocks.

And no trip to OC would be complete without a visit to our favorite Newport Beach Fire Fighter - UNCLE MATT!!! This time we did it earlier in our visit than the last day (like last year)... Matt was awesome... he took us for a ride in the engine. Hey, even if it was just out the door, into the parking lot and back into the garage - it was still a ride in an engine!!! I even got to wear the headgear so we could talk to each other... I was impressed!!!

Woo-ooo-woo-ooo-woo-oooo

 It's always a pleasure to see my Grandpa again... and they always make such an effort to come see us right when we get in... I love that about my grandparents!

 Yes, Helena's drinking milk from a shot glass... she thought that was such fun! It'd be tempting to get some for the kids but really that's what communion cups are for, right? (this photo is pre-haircut).

 One night when Tony returned we thought we'd get a little crazy, so we ordered Lil' Caesar's pizza and took it to Matt and Tori's park for dinner. Notice I did take along Helena's chair... that thing is seriously my favorite item of kiddie gear ever!!! Anyway - we enjoyed our fun unbalanced meal together... living it up!

And no trip to California would be complete without - wait, haven't I said that somewhere before??? Well... as often as possible we try to make it out for an afternoon/evening in Homeland with the Provost family... It's usually one of our most relaxed days and this year was no different. After some pool time, rest time (no electric blankets this year) and snack time, we headed out for a bit of a walk before dinner time...

 Homeland is not the bustling big city of Fountain Valley or Huntington Beach... this is "inland"! Even though I'm not sure I could live rurally like this, I love coming out here to visit Uncle Ron and Aunt JoAnn - it's a refreshing change of pace.

 The kids were a bit freaked out by the rather large ants wandering off with carcasses - just kidding... there were no carcasses that we saw... the ants were just rather large.

It's beautiful in a deserty, dusty way. And oddly enough, I didn't get any photos of the family.. what was I thinking!?! Thanks ProFam for always welcoming us in and making us feel so special. We are thankful for time spent with you.