15 AND ROYAL

Our Royal Princess, Claire, turned 15 this last week.  It is hard to believe that we have 3 years left before she heads into the BIG WORLD.  We love her so much and enjoy the fun spark that she adds to our lives.  She is such a blessing and for the most part a very pleasant 15 year-old teenage girl.  We feel very fortunate that she remains so even in temperament and girly drama.  



One of the things that we love to give our kids on their birthdays is a list of the reasons why we love them.  Tom produces one and so do I.  The list of reasons corresponds with their birthday age.  Here is the list that I made for Claire this year.

15 - REASONS WHY I LOVE MY ROYAL CLAIRE

15 - She is a "SPEEDY" reader.
14 - She is a technology wizard - Ladybug phones will not be necessary when Tom and I are old with her help.
13 - She is valiant even when life is hard.
12 - She is a great example and playmate to "YOUNG" children.
11 - She has pure thoughts and language in a WORLD that does not.
10 - She is respectful of her elders.  She loves and honors them even when their requests seem weird.
9 - She is a FANTASTIC artist.  We have discovered that a great talent lies beneath the surface.
8 - She is "wicked" funny.  Life is never dull.
7 - She has beautiful eyes.  They sparkle with light.
6 - She has a lovely smile.  She is happy and positive no matter what trial is waiting for her.
5 - She is musical.  I think that no matter the instrument, she could play it with a little practice and lessons - quick learner!
4 - She is a hugger.  At 15, she still loves cuddles from her 4 BFF's - her family.
3 - She is so responsible.  Not everyone can study independently at 14/15 and be successful - you go girl.
2 - She is a stunner - beautiful inside and out.
1 - She is such a blessing in my life.  She makes me strive to become a better person by following her example.  I love you MISS Claire - Happy 15th!

Last year, we celebrated her birthday by going to the zoo.  This year, we decided that we would celebrate her 15 years of life by attending the ROYAL EASTER SHOW.  The Royal Easter Show is very similar to a county country fair in the USA.  It is an opportunity for the rural parts of Australia to come to the BIG SMOKE (the city).  There is a huge display of agriculture and livestock.  There happens to be a very commercial side to the Royal Easter Show where they have rides, carnival games, and showbags.  But, I wanted to take the girls to the Royal Easter Show to learn all they could about this beautiful country and what it has to offer in-terms of produce and livestock.  Our hairdresser told us that it is a great opportunity to show your kids what it takes to sustain life.  

The Royal Easter Show did not disappoint.  We had a fantastic day and saw tons of cute small and large animals.  We learned so much about sheep -- what they eat, how many stomachs they have (4), how to shear them, the different breeds, wool, and spinning wool.  It was FANTASTIC!  The girls have a completely different perspective about what it takes to make a gorgeous merino wool sweater.  We finished off the day with about 6 carnival rides (the classics) and came home feeling very fulfilled!  SUCCESS!

PRECISION DRIVING - UNBELIEVABLE

MOTOR-CROSS - THESE GUYS WERE NUTS!

Artwork make of seeds, lentils and produce.

LITTLE WILBUR - WE LOVE YOU!

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RIDES - WE MISS YOU AUNTIE Z.

KIWI

The girls are out of school for Term 1 holiday.  So it is travel time….our favorite thing about living abroad.  This holiday we decided we would head to New Zealand.  We wanted to visit the South Island because we have been told by many local New Zealanders we have met (the Kiwi’s) that it is the most scenic of the islands.  We were also told that many of the places to visit are scattered across the island so one of the best ways to experience it is in a Campervan (motorhome).  

Tom and I don’t love to camp.  Our idea of camping is a Marriott Courtyard so this was going to be a new adventure given that we were going to be gone for a total of 10 days.  Someone once told me that camping under the stars is GREAT as long as there are 5 of them.  Ten days is a LONG time traveling with a campervan.  The only thing that gave me any sense of comfort was the fact that when I was young I took a similar trip with my family along the Eastern Seaboard in the United States.  When I think of that trip, it still brings a smile to my face; GREAT memories.

Our itinerary before the trip began was to start off in ChristChurch, New Zealand and head South.  We wanted to see Mt. Cook, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Queenstown and Milford Sound.  However, we adjusted the trip plan as we drove.  Plans always seem to change when your are in a camper van   You can go anywhere and see everything.  We ended up experiencing a HUGE part of New Zealand's South Island adding points of interest as we went.

I can honestly say that it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  There is a saying that says that “God took His time when He created New Zealand.”  I could not agree more.  You can see His hand in every little detail and it is AMAZING.  The people are SO friendly and just lovely.  It has stunning vistas around every corner.  We learned to really love sheep, each other and we longed for a luxurious ensuite.  Beautiful, clean, functional bathrooms are a HUGE blessing in my life.

We picked up the Campervan on Saturday and headed out of ChristChurch.  Our plans of touring ChristChurch were going to be on the end of the trip.  We stocked the tiny mini-fridge with groceries and headed towards Mt. Cook, the tallest peak in New Zealand. 

On our way to Mt. Cook, there are many gorgeous glacial blue lakes.  Skipping rocks became one of the girls favorite things of the trip.  We skipped rocks and played near the shores whenever we came in contact with a body of water, lake, sound, ocean, river, etc.  They have decided that they would not mind living on or very near a body of water.  Apparently living 20 minutes from the beach today is not close enough for them.  We need to get closer.

Now I will post a little photo journal of the trip.  It might be a little long but, I love to see photos of travel, if you don't concur, feel free to stop here.  :)  This post is a long one.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Pukaki

Mt. Cook - Highest Peak in New Zealand

Wanaka 

We LOVE sheep!

We found many things in New Zealand made out of fur and leather.
Jane thought these were "handcuffs" but, I explained that they are used as cuffs for blouses and sweaters.  

Growing a beard....not our favorite look.  :)

The Gondola in Queenstown, it is a stunner!

A view of Queenstown

We went on a 6-line Zipline in Queenstown.
The last leg is the longest and steepest Zipline in the WORLD!
We loved it.....we even went upside down on some of the lines.

Eating at the "Fergburger" - legend in Queenstown.
Their burgers are about the size of a salad plate --- Crazy Large.
We just needed two with chips to fill us up.

We went to a night of Maori Culture.  The girls really enjoyed the show and learning about HAKA.

View on our way to Glenorchy

We went on a 12 kilometer horse ride on Queen Elizabeth's Land.
It is where many of the scenes from the Lord of the Rings was filmed.
Jane is now wanting a HORSE.
She fell in love with beautiful "Harry" the Horse.

Camping north of Te Anau - It was unbelievable to my girls what kinds of delicious meals I could COOK up in my TINY kitchen.
They are truly impressed....not the best photo of me but, I was making it work.

Sunsets we saw!

Milford Sound

Two Rock Turtles kissing

Shag Point, North of Dunedin, has New Zealand Seals and Yellow-Eyed Penguins in the wild.

Moeraki Boulders - they were formed by small particles that deposited on each other.  
They are the only perfect spheres in the world formed naturally.

Who will move this ROCK?

They crack and break over time due to continual erosion.

Akaroa - little village that was settled by the FRENCH.

We had an amazing time.  It was incredible to see the Hand of God in creating this beautiful world.  It will be a trip we will remember forever and one that is definitely out of our comfort zone.