This will be a casual post of some of the everyday stuff of living here in NZ.
1. We borrow toys from the toy library every 2 weeks or so and resist the urge to buy the boys anything that they might want to bring back to Canada with us. There will not be room. Dave wants to bring our tent back with us.
2. Birthdays are becoming a frequent celebration here, always with family, plenty of desserts and sometimes plenty of Canadians to balance the Kiwis. Dave's 37th - love Jackson's expression as he lights the candles!
3. The boys are obsessed with these comic books. Asterix, Tintin and Lucky Luke. Seriously, I just wanted them to go to bed! I grabbed the Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls the other day from the library . . . do you think I stand a chance or reading it aloud to them? :-)
4. The boys: I'm sure many of you expect the kids to come back to Canada much taller than they left. Grandma was pretty sure they were growing and looked older etc. Don't be so sure. Can you pick out our Jackson? Yep. Shortest one out of both cricket teams, blue shirt and blue hat, back towards me, in the middle of the photo.
And it's called bowling in cricket, not pitching.
And while we're on the topic of kiwi phrases, Jackson accused me crossly the other day "How come you didn't tell me that in NZ they call a period a full-stop?!?!"
"As in the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence??" I asked incredulously.
"YES."
I quickly pointed at Dave and said "That's his job!"
5. Scenery and in particular, the beach. Another visit to Kaiteriteri with the cousins.
HEY! Who's that coming off of the boat?? Uncle Wayne, Aunt Val and Nana and Poppa treated themselves to a boat cruise and bush walk in the Abel Tasman National Park.
Reflection on the estuary.
6. The Unusual is actually part of our new normal. This is usually the fun part of living in a new country!
For example: Tame Eels at The Jester House - hand feeding them fresh meat on a stick - they do have teeth by the way and we lost one stick in the process). Brave Jackson even touched them!
A rare moment of peace and quiet; at a restaurant none the less! The boys were happily engaged in their own game of chess and we enjoyed the dining al fresco in the lovely garden.
7. Family: Backyard bash at Nana and Poppa's for Wayne's birthday.
How cute is Dougal?? It's great having a niece and nephew here.
8. Our living space is feeling quite normal now. Even the odd metal pukeko in the corner of the hallway steps . . .
In the kitchen: I buy fresh farm eggs here and they sit on my counter, not in the fridge. This has been working quite well, until the thought dawned on me that decorating Easter Eggs in the traditional way may work better with store bought white eggs. If I can find an egg dyeing kit, that is.
And our ketchup - luckily some things are the same! But I can't buy it in a larger size bottle aka Costco style.
Pottery is a big thing here and there were several different pieces that were in the mix of things supplied with the house. This is my special mug (and water bottle I carry everywhere since my Costco ones broke)
YES, I still have your Christmas cards posted up on the wall! It reminds me of lots of lovely people. I know many of you are simply not old fashioned enough for pen and paper, but mail is hard to come by here and anything is appreciated (51 Paremata St. Atawhai, Nelson, New Zealand 7010).
Moving on to . . . Laundry. This is what happens when we don't start the load early enough in the day. If the clothing gets hung up outside after lunch or so, it's still damp and ends up in our living room for the evening. That's correct, we do not have a dryer. Also correct, Dave does most of the laundry. Actually, that's not so new, he did a lot of it in Canada too. :-)
On the other hand, my sandals (called jandals here) are still perfectly fine . . . Thanks Aunt Jean!
9. Normal: Easter is coming! Except it's autumn instead of spring. Although we are still wearing sandals and I even got a bit of a sunburn yesterday afternoon . . . Easter candy is safely hidden in the closet . . . but I haven't found any baskets or plastic fillable eggs here yet . . . argh.
10. Theology discussions. Dave has enrolled for two terms of classes at Annesbrook Leadership College at our church here and is receiving about 8 hours of teaching a week on theology, Biblical Interpretation, Leadership, Spiritual Growth, OT and NT introductions etc. Very, very cool. The church has a vast depth on the ministry team and he is gaining some great insights and enjoying having time to ponder and reflect on what he is learning. There was also a series of lectures on mental and emotional well-being in February. We are pressing in. God is good.
Yes, it's good here. It's been an amazing time of growth and change and stripping away the ordinary and letting go of what was hindering. It's a work in progress. We're taking the scenic route. We're raising kiwis.
(Stop panicking everyone. We'll still be *home* to St. Catharines in July. One step at a time. There's just enough light for the stair we're standing on. )
