Our Book of Life

I have been told it gets cold in the winter here. I remember the fog that didn't lift until lunchtime, and wearing a couple o layers of clothes when I lived here about 20 years ago, but I must say, it's way colder. I am still getting used to the grass crunching under my feet early mornings when I go to get light for our run. I keep thinking I use get the treadmill going again. Then there is the defrosting your car to drive to work. It takes me longer to  clear the ice and frost off the car than it does to drive to the office. This morning I heard the creaking sound when I opened the car door as it was starting to freeze shut. I had to take a couple of shots.    Arama's car usually a dark green.  The side of my van. The view (or lack of) from the inside of my van.  Brrrrrrr, so great fun for heat pumps and hot water bottles. 

Yes, we did it! We climbed the Hakarimata's again. Still hard, still so rewarding!! 

Teancum really enjoys playing volleyball. He jumped right into the teams at boys high, and within a couple of weeks, he was in the 'A' team. They came runner up this season to a solid Hillcrest school team. An awesome group of boys. 

We were so excited to find out Uncle Mark was coming to town!  I was able to meet up with him for dinner and a movie in Manukau on the Thursday, then dad drive him down on Sunday to come to our ward and spend the day with us.  We all loved having him around and enjoyed hearing about his adventures. He showered us with cool gifts and it was just awesome to have my brother around again. The kids were so excited it was hard to get a serious shot of us all!

Karleen and I (my sister in law) have been fitness buddies since we have moved down here. We motivate each other to get up at 6am and run or do a fitness workout.  There is a summit called the Hakarimata's. A gruelling 1500 stairs up a continuous climb  for about 1.5-2kms. I does not sound like much of a distance but it is if you are stairing it 99% of the way.  Early Saturday morning, Karleen and I set out to conquer the mountain!! It was a lovely bush walk till the stairs hit. Yes they suck you into it.. Lol It was painful, and amazing. All walks of life, all shapes and sizea and all abilities.  Those coming down have big smiles on their faces. One lady coming down was trying to encourage us, she said keep going, your nearly there. We thought phew! Then she added, half way is just up there!! I tell you if I was not with Karleen I would have turned around half way. A bonus though at half way, our first bench seat on the trail!!  Needless to say, we made it to the top. And my what

Our new home is literally a 2 min drive to the huge Waikato hospital. All around us are medical specialists and sorts. Knowing our family, it's a great location.  I was talking to a sister missionary from Fiji as Kawea walked up to me I thought cool, I can show her how much he had grown in the last 4 years.... Until he said "mum we need to go, rakai's hurt himself". I look down and his hands were covered in blood!  Well, as it turns out Rakai had managed to run into the alluminium corner of a window that was open and the corner punctured his head. Off the the a&e.  Luckily Kawea and Arama are great in emergencies like that- seriously they could be emergency doctors or ambulance medics as thy are so cool, calm and collected- and know how to clam the patient down. He is all fine and well now. And thank you to whoever invented nappy San and spray on stain remover!