Sleep in? Yeah, right.

It's Spring break this week.  A time to relax and hang around the house in our pj's right?  Wrong.  Everyday this week Ansen has been up before 6:15am.  On a regular day he can't be pulled out of bed at 7 am.  Yesterday I was sooo over my early morning wake up call so I put him in bed with me and told him to count to 200.  I figured that would keep him busy enough until he got bored and and went to play in his room.

He started counting and I immediately tuned him out.  What I am assuming was a few minutes later I was shaken awake by little man asking,

"Mama, what comes after 10,113?"

I don't think that he made it that far but I was ignoring him and trying to catch some extra shut eye so who knows?  

NZ randoms

 Just a few pics that didn't make it into posts.

1. My ticket on my way to surprise Jamie.

2. Taking a break hiking Whagarei Falls.  I am not as tired as I look.

 3.  Nothing but grace when it comes to me.

 4.  Me on a beach.  Just build me a hut.

 5. Stan's and Zander's office.

 6. SOMEone hating heights...not gonna say who.

 7. Oh hey! A latrine.

8. Possibly breakfast.

 9. Me and an increasingly flattering (insert MAJOR sarcasm) pic of my backside.

NZ day 11: Goodbye's are no fun

 Back into Auckland.  This time to the airport.  At lease the sun made an appearance.  It was really a beautiful morning.

 I said goodbye to Rocco and in response he said "Come back sooooOOooooon."

I said goodbye to the cows.  They just stared at me.

 I said goodbye to Zander and look how grumpy he was that I was leaving.  I mean I know I am fun and exciting to have around but really, I do have a family to get back to.  I can't be the life of the party on 2 continents at once.  It's just not possible.

 I said goodbye to the green and the blue.

 I said Hello to the most expensive Dunkin Donuts ever.

 And I said goodbye to Jamjam. Thanks for the fun visit Jamie.  I am so glad we got some time together.  Like, so, So glad.  Next time let's do it on my side of the world.

Peace out New Zealand!

NZ day 10: Food, naps, dindin

 It was wet and cold.  We couldn't play outside because the rain that we had been having for the past few days had caused floolding everywhere.  So we hopped in the car and decided to eat our day away.

First, we had donuts.

Then, fried pineapple rings.

Then, candy...Pineapple lumps to be exact.

 Then we napped.  A nice long snozzy nap.

It was my last night and Stan and Kim (Zander's parent's) wanted to go to dinner at the local Mongolian Grill.  It was very good and very filling.

 This nice little Korean lady that worked at the Grill and I did our best to have a conversation about what it's like to live in America and Korea compared to living in New Zealand.  For her limited English and my non-exsistant Korean I think we did pretty good.  She even had this made for me!

 Not my birthday but I will blow out a candle any day if it means I get to eat ice cream.

 I was also given the honor of "the flame".  They do this next song thing followed by fire up to the ceiling.  Very dangerous but very cool.  Stan and Kim sure know how to treat a girl.

 A little last minute snuggling with my sister. This is the peaceful point before the pinching, elbowing and slapping started.

NZ day 9: Home sweet home

 This is Jamie's cute house.  She and Zander live in a apartment/house/shed thing on Zander's parents property and it's perfect for them.  Plenty of room and lots of sunshine coming through the windows.

 Girlfriend keeps this place spick and span and she is becoming quite the little cook.

I wouldn't hate it if I had to wake up here every morning.

This day we did some shopping for the kids and Jason and then possibly eat a whole lotta junk.  Well, not possibly, we did.  The whole time I was there.  Without feeling too guilty.  I probably shouldn't eat again til May.

 And who's that?  It's Rocco!  He is a super fun dog and loves to talk to you.

NZ days 7 & 8: Auckland

 Sunday after church we drove down to Auckland for a concert. Auckland reminds me a little of Portland in that it's on the water and the first to times I saw it (day I arrived and Sunday and Monday), it was grey and drizzly.  Seriously just like Portland.

 For Christmas Zander got Jamie tickets to a concert that he refused to attended so I got to be her lucky date.  And I always have ice cream on a date.  The concert was excellent....beyond excellent.  I'll tell you more about it later.

 That night we bunked with Zander's cousin Harry and his wife Emma. They live in a cute little apartment in the back of the company they own so we as there guests got some deluxe accommodations.   We got to sleep in their camper van!  I was so fun.

The next  morning we went to the Auckland Mesuem.  Best comparison would be like a Natural history museum.  Really, really, great exhibits and fun stuff to ride.

For example:

 I found the sign. She did the rest on her own.

 Auckland 1864:

 Great few days in Auckland, great concert, great to meet Harry and Emma, great museum!