Monday, May 26, 2008

AGGGHHH!

Today I do not feel well. I am tired and have a sore throat and cough. I decided to go my boot camp workout anyway, bad idea. It made me even more tired and probably made my cough worse. So the rest of the morning seemed never ending. I had to run a bunch of errands with the kids which is tiring under normal circumstances but today everything felt magnified.
Every time Bella or Charlie said anything it felt like they were yelling it so I was constantly shhhhshing them which just isn't pleasant for anybody. I had to go grocery shopping and the store we go to puts about two things in each bag so I leave the store with about 17 bags when honestly everything could fit into about 8or 9. Bella and Charlie both have their ideas about everything now so it seems as if simple activities take forever!
By the time we got home and I got my million bags from the car to the kitchen, I had the wonderful job of trying to fit it all into the refrigerator. Our fridge here is about half the size of a normal fridge and it is almost impossible to fit everything in when you shop once a week. Usually I am in the mood for puzzle solving but today I just wasn't having it.
Finally, I got everything in, kids fed. Now Charlie is napping and Bella is quietly playing in her room so I have about 30 more min to crash on the couch and then I have to make muffins with Bella....a mom's responsibilities never end.....

Monday, May 12, 2008

Charlie and some light reading!






I am not going to write too much here because the pictures really speak for themselves....


The first picture was not a set-up but we actually caught him "reading" that book, so now he should be the perfect child, right?
I guess you can't really see the title, but he is reading a book called Positive Discipline!



The next set of pictures were in Queenstown while eating breakfast. It really does look like he is reading it! What a silly boy!!!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Bill's Big Jump...









On the way the Queenstown we saw a bridge where people bungee jump and I recognized it from an episode of the amazing race, which I am obsessed with! On the way home we saw it again and saw people out there jumping and decided to watch.


It is a huge operation and was fun to check out. I was watching with Bella and Bill was off with Charlie. He came over to me and said, "I checked it out and I could jump in 20min, is that o.k.?" I didn't know what to say, no was the first response that popped into my head but not the one out of my mouth and the next thing I knew, Bill was standing in a line on a bridge waiting to jump off!!!!


The kids really loved watching people jump, which scares me a little thinking of the future! I was praying and getting the camera ready waiting for Bill to go. I noticed that everyone stood there for a minute, looked over at everyone watching, stood for awhile longer and then jumped. So, I thought I had enough time to take still pictures of Bill then change my camera to video mode and take video of the big jump. Well apparently Bill is not like most people and didn't hesitate at all before doing a beautiful swan dive off of the bridge! (I did manage to get pictures and video, though)


After he dangled a while they lowered him into a boat and brought him back to shore. He said that it was really fun and it helped to have faith, doing something like that. I know it sure helped me watching him!!! Enjoy the video!


Mother's Day





Sunday morning Charlie woke me up at about 7am. Bill and Bella were still sleeping so Charlie and I got about 40min together, which never happens. It was really special, he kept telling me that everything was beautiful!

When Bella woke up, she came running out with a big "Happy Mother's day!", which just put a huge smile on my face. Bill went out and got us breakfast and then I was given a beautiful jade cross and my first and probably only mum's day card! After breakfast we got packed up, did a little shopping and one more walk around the lake before heading home. It was hard to leave but I think we will be back again before we head home to the U.S., probably when my mom comes.

Gondola and Luge





On Saturday, we woke up and walked to a restaurant for breakfast. We were able to find a place that had gluten free waffles and they were shaped like hearts...Bella was in breakfast heaven!!!


Oh, did I mention that we were able to park our car and walk everywhere, so relaxing not to have to lug the kids in and out of the car!


After breakfast, we walked up a hill to the Skyline Gondola and Luge. We rode the gondola way up the mountain and saw some of the most breathtaking views. We also saw sheep grazing on the mountain on the way up...Charlie is becoming obsessed with sheep and kiwi birds!


At the top of the mountain there is a luge track, what a blast!


First, we had to find helmets for the family and then ride a chairlift further up the mountain. I had so much fear about the chairlift because it is out in the open, so needless to say there were many prayers being said on top of that mountain!


The kids did well though. I rode with Bella and we held hands the whole time, I'm not sure who was wanting that more! Bill rode with Charlie and held him on his lap the whole way and was very still which cooled my nerves a little.


At the top of chairlift we were given our luge cart and given a few rules and sent on our way. The first ride I rode with Bella and Bill with Charlie. It was so much fun! Bella loved it and ended up riding two more times. Charlie tolerated it and did go on another ride but with me the second time. There were two tracks, one more advanced than the other and Bill did the faster track once on his own which he said was really fun.


After we luged, we rode the gondola back down the mountain and headed back to our apartment.


While Charlie was napping, Bella and I did a little shopping together which was really fun. She bought a pair of earmuffs which she never wanted to take off and I bought a ring that was handmade out of a 1951 New Zealand coin (Bill got one too). It is really pretty.

We finished the day with another walk around the lake and dinner at a yummy pizza place.

It was a wonderfully relaxing day!

Weekend in Queenstown





We went to Queenstown this past weekend and had the best time. It was really nice to have a relaxing weekend. We left Friday morning and had a four hour drive ahead of us. The kids did really well in the car and we made it there about 3pm. It rained for the entire car ride but as soon as we got there the rain stopped and it was clear and beautiful for our whole trip!

The drive was gorgeous...it is winter here but the trees still have some color on them and it was just wonderful to see.

We stayed in an two bedroom apartment that overlooks Lake Wakatipu. The lake is surrounded by trees and then beyond that are mountains topped with snow, what a site. I found myself just staring out the window from time to time. Charlie loved the view too. He would look out the window and say"water, beautiful!" What a sweetie!

The first day we walked around the lake, had dinner and some of the best hot chocolate that I ever had! The kids loved walking around the lake and looking at the ducks. I am going to do a few separate postings so I can put in the most pictures that I can! so, stay tuned......