No Zoning!

Well we've been here almost a full month now and I am finally sitting down to blog somthing!

We are pretty much settled in at our house now. The major things are taken care of now. We have been so blessed! Now we are just waiting for the things that we shipped...which apparently haven't left American soil yet! Oh well, the Lord knows what we really need and we have those things already. The stuff in the boxes just make some things a bit easier...like cooking. But we are not going hungry, so I guess I'm doing alright without it!

I finally drove for the first time this week! That was fun! In thinking about driving on the left side I was concerned with keeping in the left lane...what never occured to me was that not only is the driver on the other side of the car but everything is reversed. My automatic reaction is to look up and to the right to see what's behind me, well the first time behind the wheel here when I wanted to see what was back there I panicked! I couldn't see anything!!! Well, anyone who's ever driven on the left is going "Duh!"...the mirror is up and to the left! So I am getting accustomed to it, and enjoying it! We got a car today so I will be driving a bit more now. I am thankful though for having the first few weeks to walk about town. I was able to get a feel for the flow of traffic, and be more comfortable with it.

We took a drive tonight with the kids to 'practice' a bit. It was the first time we've driven all together in one car. We came to the conclusion that we are not yet to the point where we can 'zone out' while driving. You all know you do it, thinking about other things while driving...I used to get to work in San Diego and not remember how I got there! (Scary I know) Well, rest assured, I'm FAR from that relaxed here when driving! I am at least comfortable though, not scared to death!

So enough about that...(those of you who know me know I love to drive so of course...) I am really thankful to be here. I know that this is right where God has put us and that is always exciting! I love the fellowship here, they are an awesome group of brothers and sisters and I look forward to getting to know everyone. God is so good!!

No Zoning!

Well we've been here almost a full month now and I am finally sitting down to blog somthing!

We are pretty much settled in at our house now. The major things are taken care of now. We have been so blessed! Now we are just waiting for the things that we shipped...which apparently haven't left American soil yet! Oh well, the Lord knows what we really need and we have those things already. The stuff in the boxes just make some things a bit easier...like cooking. But we are not going hungry, so I guess I'm doing alright without it!

I finally drove for the first time this week! That was fun! In thinking about driving on the left side I was concerned with keeping in the left lane...what never occured to me was that not only is the driver on the other side of the car but everything is reversed. My automatic reaction is to look up and to the right to see what's behind me, well the first time behind the wheel here when I wanted to see what was back there I panicked! I couldn't see anything!!! Well, anyone who's ever driven on the left is going "Duh!"...the mirror is up and to the left! So I am getting accustomed to it, and enjoying it! We got a car today so I will be driving a bit more now. I am thankful though for having the first few weeks to walk about town. I was able to get a feel for the flow of traffic, and be more comfortable with it.

We took a drive tonight with the kids to 'practice' a bit. It was the first time we've driven all together in one car. We came to the conclusion that we are not yet to the point where we can 'zone out' while driving. You all know you do it, thinking about other things while driving...I used to get to work in San Diego and not remember how I got there! (Scary I know) Well, rest assured, I'm FAR from that relaxed here when driving! I am at least comfortable though, not scared to death!

So enough about that...(those of you who know me know I love to drive so of course...) I am really thankful to be here. I know that this is right where God has put us and that is always exciting! I love the fellowship here, they are an awesome group of brothers and sisters and I look forward to getting to know everyone. God is so good!!

Life is Never Dull w/ Kids...

I guess it has something to do with curiosity. We as adults don't think about some of the things that kids think about (thank God!). Like what would happen if you stick your finger where it shouldn't go?! Like the nose, ears, etc. In this case it was neither.

We finally were able to get bunk beds for the kids - up to now they had been sleeping on mattresses on the floor. And the first day that we had them, our 5-year old goes and does this...

He got his finger stuck in the metal support bar under one of the bunk beds, and was panicking because he couldn't get his finger out. And the harder he pulled, the more his finger swelled up and the more stuck it got! It's like those Chinese finger traps / tricks where you stick your index fingers from both hands into opposite ends of a cylinder and then try to get them back out again - the harder you pull, the more the cylinder tightens around your fingers!

After trying to twist his finger out (not off!) of the tubular bar, I finally had to get some liquid soap. After making him calm down and stop pulling, I put a drop on his finger and waited. Then we twisted his finger and it slid out easily. I think he learned his lesson and won't be sticking his finger where it doesn't belong...at least for this week!

Life is Never Dull w/ Kids...

I guess it has something to do with curiosity. We as adults don't think about some of the things that kids think about (thank God!). Like what would happen if you stick your finger where it shouldn't go?! Like the nose, ears, etc. In this case it was neither.

We finally were able to get bunk beds for the kids - up to now they had been sleeping on mattresses on the floor. And the first day that we had them, our 5-year old goes and does this...

He got his finger stuck in the metal support bar under one of the bunk beds, and was panicking because he couldn't get his finger out. And the harder he pulled, the more his finger swelled up and the more stuck it got! It's like those Chinese finger traps / tricks where you stick your index fingers from both hands into opposite ends of a cylinder and then try to get them back out again - the harder you pull, the more the cylinder tightens around your fingers!

After trying to twist his finger out (not off!) of the tubular bar, I finally had to get some liquid soap. After making him calm down and stop pulling, I put a drop on his finger and waited. Then we twisted his finger and it slid out easily. I think he learned his lesson and won't be sticking his finger where it doesn't belong...at least for this week!

Weet-Bix - YUM!

I now have a new favorite food - I can't seem to eat enough of this stuff. It's called Weet-Bix (or WeetaBix in the USA & UK, I think) and was first made by an Aussie and a Kiwi. For those of you who don't know what it is (shame on you) it looks a lot like raw particle board. My wife says it tastes like it too! I totally disagree! It has a great taste.

I don't like sugary cereals, so this is perfect - it's 97% whole wheat, with a pinch of sugar. It comes in palm-sized 'biscuits' and you eat it with hot or cold milk, plain or you can add fruit, more sugar, etc. There are now even bite-sized versions, which our kids like because it comes with dry fruit mixed in already. If you haven't had any, you gotta go out and get some! Now! It's the bomb! ;-)

Particle board (finished)

Close-up of raw particle board (or is it Weet-Bix?!?)

Yummy!

Weet-Bix - YUM!

I now have a new favorite food - I can't seem to eat enough of this stuff. It's called Weet-Bix (or WeetaBix in the USA & UK, I think) and was first made by an Aussie and a Kiwi. For those of you who don't know what it is (shame on you) it looks a lot like raw particle board. My wife says it tastes like it too! I totally disagree! It has a great taste.

I don't like sugary cereals, so this is perfect - it's 97% whole wheat, with a pinch of sugar. It comes in palm-sized 'biscuits' and you eat it with hot or cold milk, plain or you can add fruit, more sugar, etc. There are now even bite-sized versions, which our kids like because it comes with dry fruit mixed in already. If you haven't had any, you gotta go out and get some! Now! It's the bomb! ;-)

Particle board (finished)

Close-up of raw particle board (or is it Weet-Bix?!?)

Yummy!

Happy 8th, Taliah

Here are some more random fotos. Some are of Taliah's 8th birthday - we had already done something in SoCal right before we left, but we also wanted to celebrate on her actual birthday too. So it was just a small quiet little breakfast for her, with a couple presents from the the Phamily.

Random 'ham'iness

Ham #2

Ham #3

Happy BD!

Happy 8th, Taliah

Here are some more random fotos. Some are of Taliah's 8th birthday - we had already done something in SoCal right before we left, but we also wanted to celebrate on her actual birthday too. So it was just a small quiet little breakfast for her, with a couple presents from the the Phamily.

Random 'ham'iness

Ham #2

Ham #3

Happy BD!

Our First Outing...

Here are some fotos of our first outing in NZ. A family from the church took us to a model train park where the kids got to ride scale models of steam trains. This was next to the harbor, so since it was a hot day, the kids decided to go jump in the water for a bit. They loved it!




All Aboard!











Please keep your hands and legs in at all times!











Joe Cool in his sun hat.













Please no feeding the monkeys.














Daddy, I can't seeeeee.....













Like my white legs?!












Can't get these pants rolled any higher!










Hello? Can someone hold my hand?










I'd rather collect shells.

Our First Outing...

Here are some fotos of our first outing in NZ. A family from the church took us to a model train park where the kids got to ride scale models of steam trains. This was next to the harbor, so since it was a hot day, the kids decided to go jump in the water for a bit. They loved it!




All Aboard!











Please keep your hands and legs in at all times!











Joe Cool in his sun hat.













Please no feeding the monkeys.














Daddy, I can't seeeeee.....













Like my white legs?!












Can't get these pants rolled any higher!










Hello? Can someone hold my hand?










I'd rather collect shells.

Video Tour - NZ Home

Ok, as promised, here is the video tour of our new Kiwi style home here in Lower Hutt / Wellington. Enjoy the short vid. Oh, by the way, the rustling and whistling you hear in the background isn't because of the video. It was really windy outside - normal for this area. They compare Wellington to Chicago as the windy city. Notice the trees wavin' in the wind. ;-)

Fotos: Arrival in NZ

As promised here are some fotos from the last 2 weeks. Enjoy...






Last day in SoCal - monkeys on a fence.










Landing in Fiji at 5 AM.
Huge answer to prayer - we had seats on the upper deck and could spread out. The upper level seats about 60 and there were only 20 of us!









Soooo happy to be off the plane!















Also happy to be home, in NZ.













Home, Sweet, Home (Kiwi-style).
We'll give ya a tour of the house in the next post...