I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and did not get stuck in the snow!  It looked like a white season for all of Canada.  Our NZ friends loved the pickies of my sister's skating rink in her backyard.  I think I could miss snow- just not yet.   

 Our Christmas in NZ was truly different than a Canadian holiday, but great all the same.  We managed to NOT get homesick and NOT cry when we chatted with family.  I was impressed and surprised!  We spent time with Brad's family, Mr. G's family and some good friends from Whakatane.  The kids had plenty of prezzies and good food.  We did manage to have turkey (chook) dinner (tea) from Grandma G.  There were even a few kids to play with along the way.  The only snow we encountered was the icing sugar sprinkled on the dessert!  Boysenberries are in season right now so we have had a good dose of those as well!   I think we'll enjoy the snow more next year, that will depend on how much is waiting for us in February.....

After spending 4 months here we do not sound like Kiwis yet and we are still surprised by a few of their "traditions."  Like a "chippy sammy"- this would be a white bread with butter sandwich with french fries inside and lots of ketchup!  Not the healthiest thing I've ever tried- nor the yummiest.   And we northern folk have a few things that amaze the NZ folk here- the idea of a cookie exchange is totally foreign- who would bake that many cookies and then trade them?  Why wouldn't you just buy them?  (it is a good question really!)

Well I reckon this will be the last note from Ohope and Whakatane!  We are down to the last week here and are preparing to head for the South Island!  We will be sad to say good-bye to wonderful friends and a great place to live.  The past few days have been RAIN RAIN RAIN, but Christmas was sunny and nice.  Now all the plants are getting a good water and the Kiwis in tents are getting soggy!!  I'm amazed at how the NZ people love to camp and go to the beach.  Those Kiwi kids can catch a wave and boogie board/ surf.  Our 3 are getting better at the waves.  Now their mother is a different story- I quit before I totally gave all observers a good laugh!  Maybe I'll try again on the south island!

Missing all at home.  We are grateful for every day we have-  God is good!  

Merry Christmas 2008!

Hello all!  I feel like I should put a disclaimer at the beginning of this note:  "Beware there are people in these photos who are not wearing snow suits!"  I chatted with my parents the other day and they wanted to know exactly how warm it is here!  Poor old frosty Canada is getting a blast of BRRR!  So I apologize if we look too warm and sunny- really!  

We are on the countdown until the kids can open their prezzies!  Luke asks everyday- just in case we have changed our minds!  It is a challenge to shop for gifts- I can't stand packing up more stuff- the idea is to travel with LESS!  

We are also counting down the days until we leave Ohope and head for the South Island!  It has been nice to have a "home."  This Christmas we will be with Mr. G's family at the "mount."  Will be fun!  I do not plan to be too homesick, but I have already had a few moments!  Family is precious.

Have a wonderful Christmas and make a snowman for us!  We'll take a walk in the ocean for you!  I know- not a fair swap!  

Hello all and happy December!  What a funny thought- December with no snow and frost!  Just down the street- across from the ocean- there is a house with a huge snowman on the front lawn!  All I can say is "where are the sunglasses for the poor guy?"   Christmas here is low key compared to home.  Kind of nice really!  The most beautiful thing around here are the POHUTUKAWA trees ( poe- who- too- cow- ah)- good luck saying that one!  These trees are blossoming right now- with huge red flowers!  Some of the hill sides by the ocean are all red and green- COOL!  

As we get more familiar with life down here I have finally been brave enough to drive!  Poor Keith had been the chauffeur for long enough and I had Christmas shopping to do.  I like to drive with one child, not in traffic, no radio and I sing a little diddi to myself to remember that "I'm on the wrong side of the road...."  So far I've done fine- but I still prefer gasping at Keith as we negotiate these roads!  I am a professional back seat driver!

Keith had the amazing privilege of going on a day trip to White Island- an active volcano!  He was thrilled!  A neighbour's visiting brother had an extra ticket and invited Keith!  He saw and smelled all the sights there!  Hard to describe- google it!  As a huge bonus he saw Orca Whales on the way home- a whole pod with two young calves!  Keith did his best to take photos!

The kids all loved the Christmas play at the church!  The performance went well and after they finished they all ran around in bare feet outside!  

Last week we travelled around the east cape of the north island to Gisborne and area.  The ocean views with all the pohutukawa trees in full bloom was stunning!  I took so many pictures as we stopped many times along the way.  We stayed at a B&B in Anaura Bay- very quiet and secluded.  The kids had fun looking for paua shells and dead crabs.  By the time we got to Gisborne it was HOT!  We stayed long enough for lunch and a quick look around.  The drive home to Ohope was through a huge gorge and some amazing sheep covered farm land.  NZ is so green and lush in this area.

The weather has turned rainy again this week, but not very cold.  It is nice to have God water the garden for a few days!  We have one month left in Ohope and we plan to enjoy as much as possible.  The friends here are wonderful and like family!  BUT that's not to say that we don't miss all at home!  Poor Luke couldn't say hi his to Grandma Ruth the other day on Skype- just too sad for the lad!  On Monday when he was out on his scooter for a schooling break, our neighbour called to him- she had a package from Canada for him.  While she was looking through her mail box she found another one!  Two grandma care packages in one day!  So COOL!  We opened one full of wrapped gifts!  Keith just happened to still be on the volcano tour so the kids and I brought in a "tree" that I had saved from the garden (I had it in a bucket) and we decorated our Christmas tree!  We played festive tunes on the computer and made our decorations.  Ellie even set out to make us an angel!  It was a fun way to celebrate and the kids certainly were proud of their "tree."  I was amazed at how relaxed I could be about the decorating- usually we have to anchor the tree to the wall and get on all the lights before we let a person under the age of 20 near it!   Maybe we need to try this in Canada- less stress is always a good thing.

I have booked several places for our trip down to the south island and we are looking forward to seeing the rest of NZ in January.   Hugs and love to all at home!  Enjoy all those Christmas lights for us!