Christmas - Aussie Style

Today we had Ian's work Christmas Party.  One of the advantages to having Christmas during the summer is we get to have a pool party for the kids.  Unfortunately, there are only two of us and three kids. So someone was usually out of the water, but all had a great time.

This is what I got when I asked him to smile for the camera.

Blowing bubbles.

Whee!!!!!!!!!!

11.11.11

There seem to be quite a few "mothers of multiples" here in Alice Springs, enough so that we have formed a little Twins Club.  We got together on November 11 to celebrate and lots of fun playing with all the kids.  There were about 10 families there (about half the number of the club) and we had lots of fun playing.  We even got a page in the local paper.

Christmas came early

Jamie wrote a letter (drew pictures) to Santa asking for a new red bike, a purple dump truck and a red excavator.  Since Santa has so much on his plate trying to get ready for Christmas, he asked Gran and Grump to help out.

Today when Jamie woke up from his nap there was a shiny red bike waiting outside his door.  He was so excited!

I think his brothers were having just as much fun watching and playing outside...

Halloween 2011

Once again, my amazing friend Jane, created these spectacular costumes for my boys.  We were able to go to the JDFPG Halloween Party on Saturday.  Unfortunately Ian was TDY, so I wasn't able to get too many pictures.  I'll try and get some from other folks who were there, but it was still a great time.

Halloween was a crazy day that included a drive out to Ayers Rock to pick up Ian from the airport there due to the Qantas shutdown.  However, our good friends made sure we were all fed and kids dressed up, so we were able to start handing out candy right away.  (Excuse me, lollies.)  Unfortunately, it was POURING down rain and I couldn't convince ANYONE to go trick or treating.  Instead, they all hung out in the garage with me and passed out candy.  They were still super cute!

New Zealand

During the first week of August, the last week of Jennifer's visit, we left the kids with Ian and flew off to Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.  It was a whirlwind tour, but we had an amazing time.  We arrived late at night, so we headed out first thing in the morning to drive to our first "destination" Rotorua.    We took the "scenic" route (in quotes, because I'm sure everything there would've been scenic) and really just followed signs and used a map and didn't have a set plan.

Along the way, one of the first places we saw was Karangahake.

The views here were positively breathtaking.  Unfortunately, it was getting late, so we couldn't do as long a walk as we would've liked.  We had a Maori experience to get to ...  For dinner, we went to a Maori village that has a replica of how early Maori tribes would've lived.  We got to walk through and ask questions, watch dancing and have a traditional meal, a Hangi.  

The traditional greeting at the entry to the village.

Bringing the Hangi out of the ground.

Traditional dancing.

Part of a Haka - the intimidating face.

On our way to our next destination (Lake Taupo), we detoured to Orakei Korako.  http://www.orakeikorako.co.nz/

Lake Ohakuri

Rainbow Terrace

 I thought the ferns mixed in with the pine trees, the hot springs and the cold temperatures was such a juxtaposition.  You can really see them in the picture of Jennifer.

Jennifer

Rainbow Valley

 At the Huka Falls, the Waikato River which is normally 100m wide, is squeezed through a 20 metre wide gorge and over a 20m drop. Every second up to 220,000 litres of water gushes through the gorge and shoots out over 8 metres beyond to create a beautiful blue/green pool.

The name Huka is the Maori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles foam, especially under flooding conditions.

Huka Falls

Craters of the Moon ('karapiti') is an active geothermal field. The terrain is filled with exposed steam vents and is constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming, giving an uninhabited appearance. Thermal mud pools bubble away and plants not normally native to the area thrive in this hot and partly noxious environment.

Craters of the Moon

Lake Taupo with Tongariro and Ngauruhoe Mountains in the background.

Our B&B - note the last statement :)

The B&B was gorgeous and it was at the highest point in Waitomo.  Hence the steep driveway.  We had one of our best meals at restaurant called HuHu, if you're ever in Waitomo do the caves and have dinner at HuHu and sleep at Abseil Inn. 

We spent our last full day in Auckland doing some Genealogy on Bidlakes and sightseeing with my friend, Ed.  (Another American living over on this side of the world for a few years.)  

Looking down into Mt. Eden (old volcano)  

 View of Auckland from the top of Mt Eden.