New Zealand 2013

It was time to head to New Zealand for a couple weeks!

We were so lucky that Nick was able to take us to the airport and help us check in.  Thank you to all the people at the hospital that covered for him so that he could come.  It meant the world to me ... mostly bc of all the stuff we had with us!  

Our flight from PDX to SFO was on a teeny weeny plane.  I was just glad it didn't have propellers.

When we got to San Francisco, there was a Japanese toy display.  Maddie fell in love with the Hello Kitty wedding dress.  Wow.

The gate area was pretty empty so I let the girls run off some steam.  They threw stuffed animals, played chase, ran all over the place ... but I figured people would prefer them to play now and sleep on the flight.  Nobody seemed to mind.

We had the bulk head.  For weeks leading up to the flight, the two seats next to us (in a row of 4) were empty.  I was so excited to have so much space.  On the day of our flight, they were still empty!  When I checked in in SFO, I asked if they were both still empty and they said that the aisle seat was now taken.  Ugh.  We boarded first and I started unpacking into 3 seats.  Evelyn bumped her head on Maddie's TV and started crying pretty loudly.  I stood up to let everyone know where the screaming was coming from so they could all celebrate our presence on their flight.  The flight was almost full and the aisle seat was still empty.  Then they announced that they were waiting for the last person to board the flight and then we would be on our way.  I was certain that last person was coming to our aisle seat.  In the end, it was just us!  Way to go Evelyn!  Your crying bought us 2 extra seats!

Maddie settled in like an old pro.  She took her shoes and socks off and put on her comfy socks.  She wanted to learn about her TV and I was doing something with Evelyn so she turned to me and said "I'll go ask."  She got up and found a flight attendant and learned all about how to work her TV and her tray and everything.  It was really funny.

Evelyn was not really into the TV because it was basically an iPad that didn't work.

They knew we had an infant meal but they booked it as baby food not as real food.  Evelyn was not pleased with their selection of baby food and ate most of my dinner instead.

Maddie's meal was one of the first out.  When they brought it to her she said "I want the crackers and the Jello" really fast like she was calling dibs.  When I told her the WHOLE tray of food was hers ... well ... we pretty much had Christmas number 2 right then and there.  She was THRILLED!  She watched Despicable Me 2 and ate her dinner.  She was one happy camper. 

Maddie watched two full movies and by 11:30PM PDX time, I told her it was time for some sleep.  The only problem with the bulk head is that the arm rests don't raise because they hold the TV and the trays.  I was worried about how Maddie was going to sleep.  Then I realized the middle two seats had an arm rest that raised enough for her to sleep across the seats (hooray!).  She fell fast asleep and snored the whole way! 

 

Evelyn was a little tricky to get to sleep, but, long story short, I got her to sleep.  She slept half way down my lap but got some good rest (and so did I!).  Overall, the sleeping part of the trip went WAY better than I had expected!

The girls woke up refreshed and ready for another movie and breakfast.

Our flight landed at 5:45AM and was the first flight in.  This meant we just buzzed right through customs!  Our bags were there and we were off!  Simon and Terry woke up SUPER early and came to pick us up.  Maddie and Simon had this sweet slow mo movie run to each other.  Maddie was just so happy to see him (I think he was pretty happy to see her too).

We got to Nana Mae's house and started eating and playing right away.

When Simon visited us in PDX a few months ago, he and Maddie discovered they share quite the sweet tooth.  I made the mistake of letting my child go to the store alone with Simon that morning.  They were gone for 45 minutes and I was worried ... not about Maddie's safety but about what was coming home with them.  They arrived with several bags filled with a pile of sweets.  They both looked very pleased with themselves.  It think it is a supermarket trip Maddie will never forget (and may be repeated in years to come, I am afraid).

We always like to walk up to the very top of Mt. Eden on our first day in NZ.  We put Evelyn in the stroller, put on our walking shoes and up we went!  It turns out I am getting older and more out of shape.

Maddie took a picture of the crater (it is actually a volcano not a mountain).  When I was little, we used to be able to go down inside the crater and play with all the lava rocks.  There also used to be cows everywhere.  Now there are no cows and you can't go down the crater!  Very sad.

At the top!

(note the Sky Tower in the background - we go to the top of it later in the trip - I just want you to see how high it is!)

We put Evelyn down for a nap and Maddie showed Nana Mae how some of her games work on her iPad.

That night we went to Jan's for dinner.  It was a beautiful day and we were so excited to see everyone!

There were some cute presents for the girls

Christie and Maddie made snow globes using her new kit.

Just hanging out

Evelyn was super excited to get in the pool.  It was a little chilly but I put her in anyway ... and she didn't want to get out!

It wouldn't be a party at Aunty Janny's house without some dancing on the dance table!






 
That night we all went home and had a good night sleep.  What a wonderful first day!

The next day was full of fun.  Nana Mae pulled out some SUPER old toys and we all played on the driveway.  Nana's neighbor has a cat named Lulu.  She reminded me of Little Man.  They had very similar coloring but VERY similar personalities.  Lulu could handle a little rough play because she loved the attention.  EVELYN LOVED LULU!!!  At one point, Lulu's tail brushed my arm and it was wet.  I was so grossed out.  Then I looked up at Evelyn and there was cat hair all over her mouth.  At least I knew why Lulu's tail was wet, I guess.  So.  Gross.

A little hop scotch

A little dancing

Maddie picked and ate green beans every day.  She just LOVED them.  She would eat handfuls of them.

We decided to go down to the park.  It has changed a lot since I was little ...

... but one thing has stayed the same ... THE FLYING FOX!!!  This used to scare me to death when I was little.  It was a lot less advanced back then but it seems just as fast.  Maddie rode it a bunch ... but Simon and I couldn't resit!

Evelyn had a great time running around - especially chasing the birds!

 

The girls had a dance party with Aunty Margy after their bath.  Too funny

Ice cream (Jelly Tips to be exact) with Simon.  Shocking.

A little relaxing with Sam.

I am not sure who had more fun with the 30 year old toys ... my children or their mother!

We quickly discovered that the old school wind up toys lasted much longer than the battery powered ones.

Evelyn learned a lot of new things in NZ.  In this video you will see four new things she learned. 

1. What a cat says ... only problem is that she thinks a cat makes fish noises (smacking her lips together).  She would not meow.  We always knew when Lulu was outside ... Evelyn would stand at the door and make fish sounds.

2. She learned how to quack.  She reserves this sound for all birds, though ... not just ducks.

3. How to shake her head no.  At first she didn't know what it meant.  Then she learned that she could say no and she loved the power that came with it.

4.  How to play Peek-A-Boo as the leader (although in this video she is asking for her milk ("bah-bah") at the fridge too so she is a little distracted).

Natalie and Sam brought over some bubbles for Maddie to play with.  She had a great time and Evelyn loved running after the bubbles!

We decided a picnic in the park sounded like a wonderful idea.  We packed up some goodies and headed to the Domain on a beautiful summer day (New Year's Eve).

When we were little we used to go feed the ducks at the Domain (a large park in the middle of Auckland - think Central Park).  The ducks and geese are larger than I remember them.  Maddie loved feeding them and Evelyn loved quacking at them.  She tried desperately to go swimming with them in the pond but was told no ... which she did not like.

We have a million photos of us all covered in pigeons as children.  We would put bread on our arms and heads and let them crawl all over us.  We had much cooler (and less germaphobic) mothers, though.  Maddie was allowed to feed them - not hold them.  They all went bananas when she fed them and I missed the shot of Maddie surrounded by them all.  Instead I got the shot of her running far far away.

Evelyn found them all hysterical!  She would run after them quacking and screaming.  She just loved it!

Maddie, Simon and Sam found a great climbing tree.  It grew sideways so you can't fall too far and there are lots of branches to climb on.  So much fun!

Running to the pond for a swim!

 

Too cute!

Take a second to read the sign and see if you can find the funny in this photo.  If you are having trouble your clue is back left.

It wouldn't be a summer day without a Mr. Whippy ice cream.  Maddie thought she was getting her own.

Evelyn Mae and Nana Mae reading a book.

Evelyn would stand at the door and make fish noises at Lulu.  No matter how many times we tried to get her to meow, it just wouldn't take.  It was pretty funny.

 

Happy New Year!  What a wonderful day!

 

Maddie and Natalie got out the paints and started painting the sea shells from Nana's garden.  They were just beautiful!

 

Christie helped Maddie water the roses. 

 

They decided to water Terry instead!  They all found it hysterical. 

 

 

I zoomed in so you could see just how funny Evelyn found this.  We all decided she is a little young to find spraying someone with water so funny.  She is bad news!

We headed down to the beach for a little fun in the sand.  The tide was out so there was a lot of sand (when you are that far south, the tides are huge).

  Evelyn put a fistful of sand in her mouth.  I assumed that would be it ... yuck, right?!  Apparently the beach was covered in delicious cookie crumbs, not sand.

 

Yes - eventually I stopped her.

Then she decided just to leave.  Time to explore some sand over here instead.

It started to sprinkle a little so we went to get ice cream.  Yum! (yes ... in case you are keeping count, we pretty much ate ice cream every day ... vacation diet!)

Silly sisters

Christie and Ed took Maddie, Evelyn and me to the zoo one day.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time seeing all the animals.  Maddie really wanted to see a kiwi.  I was worried because sometimes when you go, they are all hiding/sleeping and you can't see any.  On our visit, she got to see 3 or 4 kiwis walking around!  It was great!

 

We went to visit Aunty Isabel (Nana Mae's big sister).  They found another 30 year old toy (the garage) to bring back to Nana Mae's house.  It was my favorite toy, I think.

Sitting in a chair many many many children have used before her.

Then we headed back to Janny and Terry's house for another delicious dinner and some more fun in the sun.  Evelyn ate well ... of course.  :)

Terry entertained the girls in the sprinkler.  They were giggling so much it was really cute!

Then another swim

 

That night we got some very exciting news ... baby Alice Maple was born!  She wasn't due until the 12th of January but decided to come early (on Katie's first day of maternity leave!) on January 2nd.
We now have two cousins (Alec and Maddie) born on the 20th (both late) and two (Peter and Alice) on the 2nd (both early).  Katie is now in charge of having a boy born on the 17th of any month to round out the Lazarides side cousins.  :)  Congratulations Katie and Aaron!

 

Maddie made Alice a beautiful birth-day cake.

 

Alice quickly made Nana Mae's wall of fame (top center!)

 Maddie was invited to a fancy tea just up the road at Lady Margaret's home.  She had a great time having big girl time (I kept Evelyn with me so Maddie could enjoy some time by herself ... it is hard being a big sister ALL the time!).

 

We headed to the park again for some more fun in the sun.

 

 

    

That afternoon we went to Jan's and Terry's house again for dinner.  Maddie made a special dessert - Pavlova.  It is like a really soft, very large meringue.  It is delicious!

 

 

Hanging out in the grass.

  

A little fun with Simon

Ready for the pool!

Fun fun fun!

 

Evelyn threw a fit about something.  Janny joined her on the floor and E thought that was the funniest thing she had ever seen.  Fit over.  Thanks Jan!

 

After a swim and some play time, it was time to eat!  Evelyn ate up her dinner ...

... then moved on to dessert!  Pavlova.  Yum!! It was to her liking.

 

 

Maddie decided it was her turn to host a little get together.  She decided to have an "Opposite Day Tea Party."  Everything must be said the opposite of what it really is.  So ... if you are having a nice time, you say you are having a terrible time.  If you think something is delicious, you say it is disgusting.  It was a lot of fun ... and very difficult all at the same time.  Everyone was given a formal invitation (written with the help of Aunty Margy) and were instructed to wear a hat.  Maddie and I went up to the bakery to get some gross things to eat (get it?) and the tea party was on!  

I tried taking the drinks orders but it was just too confusing (no juice and no tea, no milk and 3 sugars in my tea, yes milk no sugar etc ... in the end I gave everyone tea with milk).

 

Tea party portrait on the stairs

It was a great tea party!

Evelyn loved playing with the pegs (to put the washing out).  She would dump the basket out and then put them all back.  Repeat.

 

 

After a little nap, Maddie, Simon, Evelyn and I got ready to go to the Sky Tower (you can see it in the background on the Mt. Eden shots).    

 

That night we went and had fish and chips at Margy's house.  YUM YUM YUM!!!

 

 

The next day Amy, Manish, Alec and Peter all arrived!  It was so much fun having our cousins there!

Maddie and Alec enjoyed a picnic of chocolate yogurt.

I started packing for our trip to Waiheke and Evelyn decided she needed to wear her shades.  She had a lot of fun putting them on.

Had to admire herself in the mirror.

Maddie and Peter

A little quiet time together in Poppa's chair.  I think this photo would have made him smile.  Two of his great grandchildren relaxing in his chair watching the Muppets. 

Alec was sick when they first arrived so they decided to stay home one extra day.  We went ahead and hopped on the ferry the next day and headed to Waiheke. 

We stood out on the deck looking at Waiheke and got lots of wind and sea spray in our faces!  We loved it!

 

We got to the beach house and starting play right away.  There were so many toys just for the girls!  It was wonderful!!

 

We decided to take walk on the beach that afternoon.  Silly me didn't put the girls in their swim suits because we were just walking ... right?  Yeah.  They both ended up soaked and covered in sand ... but oh well!  We were at the beach!

ATTACK!!!!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Evelyn is a very project oriented child.  She noticed that some of the sand on the beach had been dug up.  She did not like it that way so she was set on returning all disorganized sand to the ocean.  Maybe she got a little touch of the OCD from her mother.  This is only about a 30 second video.  She was doing this for a good 10 minutes at least.

We said goodbye to Elizabeth and Sophie (cousins who were letting us use their batch - kiwi for beach house). 

 

We had a wonderful dinner right on the beach that night.  The view doesn't get much better than this!    

The seagulls decided to join our dinner.  Once Evelyn was out of her high chair, they all jumped on it and ate her left overs.  Yuck ... but the girls found it REALLY funny!  There was a lot of quacking from Evelyn and laughing from Maddie.

The next day Amy and the boys joined us for a day at the beach.  We had so much fun in the water and on the beach. 

Nothing better than a snooze on the beach!

Maddie spent most of her time playing in the waves.  Look at how clear that water is!

Lauren of Arabia

 

Girls relaxing ...

Evelyn and Peter decided to hang out on the front lawn.

These kids are 9 months apart!  Peter is a big boy (and Evelyn is a little girl, I guess)!!

 

They headed home that afternoon but I got some cute shots of them on the lawn.

The plums were just ripe enough so we picked a few.  They were so good right off the tree.

 

We walked them to the bus (with their bag of plums!) and said goodbye.

 

Simon came over on the same ferry as them and stayed the night.

Doesn't he look handsome in Evelyn's glasses? 

Marg took this shot as proof that Mommy relaxed.  Simon and Maddie went for a walk and Evelyn was taking a nap.  I read a whole magazine from front to back.  Then I was done and had no idea what to do.  I snuck inside and got another one!  Wild times for mommy!!

Relaxing in the hammock. 

 

Christie came to the beach and watched my girls with Margy so I could go into town and watch the Black Caps (NZ cricket team).  It was so fun getting together with my girlfriends Anik and Steph for another cricket match.  We first met about 12 years ago at the cricket and have been friends since!  How fun is this?!

 

We went back home the next day and got right back into playing.  Evelyn is just starting to see the fun in pretend play.  The phones were a big hit!

Maddie spent a lot of time in Nana's front garden.  She loved climbing the orange tree.

Amy was going to make some yummy treats and of course Chef Madeleine stepped right in to help. 

 

 We were leaving the next day and I realized that I had not had a sausage roll or a meat pie.  The only fresh cream doughnut I had had was a bite at the opposite day tea party.  I decided that needed to be fixed and fixed now.  Up to the bakery we went and I ate this whole plate of food.  That is a dinner plate people.  I am pretty sure I met my 2014 caloric intake with this one meal.  It was worth it though.

We headed over the Jan and Terry's again for another wonderful dinner together.

Love.  We took a bunch of love filled shots that day.

Margretta and her kidos came over for some more play time.  Maddie and Antonia (age 7) had so much fun swimming together.  Here they are eating an icy slicy in the hot tub.  Too cute!

 

It was our last day.  It was hard to believe it had been 16 days!  We had such a wonderful trip.  Our flight didn't leave until 7:30 that night so we had lots of play time still.  Maddie decided to mop the driveway.  Who knows.

Maddie took a picture of Lulu so she could remember her.  Maddie was so happy to have a cat around.  She would sit outside and pet Lulu and talk to her and just spend all day loving all over her.  It was very sweet. 

Reading Dogger with Janny.

The dudes.

Simon drove us to the airport (thank you Simon!).  The running joke is that Melissa starts crying a week before we actually have to leave.  I managed to leave it to the night before we left this year.  With hugs and kisses (and a few more tears from me) we said goodbye to New Zealand for now.  At the airport, I needed to use the restroom.  I decided to go into the family restroom - which is usually just a larger stall space with a changing table.  Not at the Auckland Airport!  This place was beautiful (yes - I am blogging about a bathroom ... I realize this is odd)!  It has a regular size and a small size toilet, 5 changing stations, a microwave, 2 nursing areas with really comfy chairs and then this little play area.

Maddie asked if we could stay and play a little longer.  We played for a little bit (yes - I know ... we were technically in a restroom but what are you going to do?) then hopped on our flight.

Both girls did great on the flight home.  We looked out the window and we could see we were almost home. 

Thank you to everyone for such an amazing trip.  It was one of the best ever.  The weather was good and we spent every day with family.  It was just wonderful.  I hope we can make it back again next year.