New Zealand 2010/2011

We went to New Zealand for over a month to visit the Willson side of the family.  We had a great time.  Here are some of the highlights.

Airplane Adventure

First, we traveled on planes, trains, buses, and cars for 27 hrs. to get there.  Eli loved it.  He talked to everyone in the airports and loved doing activities with me or watching movies.  Cori on the other hand was kind of a beating.  She slept pretty well in her bassinet, but when she was awake she wallowed all over me.  Poor thing just wanted to move.  As you can see, I slept better than Derek as usual.

Green Christmas

It was nice and warm in New Zealand, so we ate Christmas dinner outside on Christmas Eve.  Derek made the Ham and the Turkey Jamie Oliver style and they were really good.  Everything else was good too, especially Nana’s stuffing.

Christmas morning before…

and after.

Santa brought Eli a Diego rescue jeep & trailer.

Eli and Cori each got a new ball from Santa.  Cori also got new swimming togs from Nana and Poppy.

The Willson traditions for Christmas are water pistols and chocolate.  So, the guys each got a water pistol and of course there was lots of chocolate for everyone including Crunchies, Picnics, and Turkish Delight.

Cori loves her maracas and her dolls.

Relaxation

Red Beach was within walking distance, so we spent lots of time there.  Both kids loved playing in the sand and shells.  Cori mostly wanted to eat them.

Conor was with us a lot, so he and Derek had fun riding waves.  Most of the time Eli didn’t want any part of it, but after he rode one wave he thought he was big stuff.

There was also a cool park within walking distance, so we spent lots of time there too.  The sit-n-stand stroller came in handy because we could fit all three kids on there.  The shot on the right is Eli getting ready to take off on the Flying Fox, which is a big zip line.  It made me a little nervous when he was flying through the air, but he loved it.  Keep in mind this is the same kid who will still barely go down a regular slide.  We all enjoyed the Flying Fox though.

Cori loves to swing and Eli learned to pump his legs.

We spent one relaxing day by the pool at Amanda and Greg’s temporary house. 

 

At Nana & Poppy’s house Eli’s favorite things were playing with Conor and helping pick food from the garden.  Cori cruised around the furniture, tried to eat anything she could find on the floor, and loved climbing the carpeted stairs.  She also loved trying to get Nana & Poppy’s glasses.

Derek & I went on a date to a restaurant at the top of the sky tower.  I walked on the glass floor, but Derek was chicken.

Harbor Cruise

Derek’s parent’s took us all on a lunch cruise around Auckland Harbor.  It was really cool.

Rotorua & Taupo

Just the four of us went to Rotorua and Taupo, which is an area with lots of geothermal activity.  We saw a geyser, lots of colorful mineral water, and boiling mud.

Amanda got us a cruise on lake Taupo that took us to see Maori rock carvings.

This is at the park in Taupo.  They had lots of cool stuff including a huge basket swing.

Huka Falls

Last, but not least, we went to a lumberjack competition.  We got to see them saw and chop and climb.  It was pretty cool.