Adventurous Adventurers!

Today we took a family trip to Adventure Forest here in Whangarei - it's a huge complex out in the forest with several different ropes courses complete with flying foxes (zip lines) and tricky rope obstacles for all age levels.  The top level course is 12m (40ft) high while the 'junior' level course is never more than about a meter (3 ft) off the ground.  Even Dariah got in on the fun and did the 'junior' course - complete with ropes, harness, carabiners and helmet.  Here are a few fotos - we'll have to edit the videos and get them uploaded once we get back to Wellington.

Thanks to Mama for staying on the ground and videoing and taking photos!  And being ready to catch any of us who fall!  ;-)

[caption id="attachment_1446" align="aligncenter" width="517" caption="Videographer & photographer - the many roles of a mom!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1394" align="aligncenter" width="655" caption="Goofballs or Adventurers?"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1405" align="aligncenter" width="502" caption="Ballerina"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1406" align="aligncenter" width="502" caption="Hanging on for dear life"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1422" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Zachy - one step at a time..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1424" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Zachy - not so adventurous..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1427" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Taliah - monkey"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1423" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Taliah - speedy gonzalez..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1426" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Jesaiah - I'm ready to go!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1425" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Jesaiah - spiderman!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Daddy - dum-de-dum-de-dum. Bring up the rear...."][/caption]

Phamily Road-Trip - pt.2

Here are a few more fotos from the road-trip. We took a little day trip to the Kauri Forest and then the Whangarei Falls...

(again, just click on the foto to see it full size)

Phamily Road-Trip - pt.2

Here are a few more fotos from the road-trip. We took a little day trip to the Kauri Forest and then the Whangarei Falls...

(again, just click on the foto to see it full size)

Phamily Road-Trip - July 2010

Here are a few pics from our road trip to Northern NZ a couple weeks ago. This was at a local beach in the Whangarei area. The kids had sooo much fun collecting seashells and just running up and down the beach. It was pretty cold (remember it's winter here) but they did go in the water - at least up to their thighs. (I think you can click on the foto below to see it full-size).

 

Phamily Road-Trip - July 2010

Here are a few pics from our road trip to Northern NZ a couple weeks ago. This was at a local beach in the Whangarei area. The kids had sooo much fun collecting seashells and just running up and down the beach. It was pretty cold (remember it's winter here) but they did go in the water - at least up to their thighs. (I think you can click on the foto below to see it full-size).

 

The Mother of All Road-trips!

Hey sorry we haven't posted much in the last few weeks. We have been on a couple of major road-trips. First, we drove to northern Cali to go camping with friends. One day after that, we piled the kids in the van and drove to Oklahoma to visit Becks' family. That was already almost 4,000 miles (6400 km) for both trips. Then two weeks after the Oklahoma trip, we climbed into the car again and are doing another 3,500 mile (5600 km) round-trip excursion! I think the kids are really tired of sitting in the car - I know I am! Anyways, we'll get more posts and fotos about the trips up when we get back. We're still on the last road-trip, but are on our last leg of it.

The Mother of All Road-trips!

Hey sorry we haven't posted much in the last few weeks. We have been on a couple of major road-trips. First, we drove to northern Cali to go camping with friends. One day after that, we piled the kids in the van and drove to Oklahoma to visit Becks' family. That was already almost 4,000 miles (6400 km) for both trips. Then two weeks after the Oklahoma trip, we climbed into the car again and are doing another 3,500 mile (5600 km) round-trip excursion! I think the kids are really tired of sitting in the car - I know I am! Anyways, we'll get more posts and fotos about the trips up when we get back. We're still on the last road-trip, but are on our last leg of it.

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

To Be Continued...

We are in Oklahoma (since last week) to visit becks' parents and family. Unfortunately we don't have much time to post a lot during our trip. So we promise to post more when we return to SoCal. And we have a few photos to put up when we have more time.

To Be Continued...

We are in Oklahoma (since last week) to visit becks' parents and family. Unfortunately we don't have much time to post a lot during our trip. So we promise to post more when we return to SoCal. And we have a few photos to put up when we have more time.

Have an Awesome 4th - We Did!!!

We wish you have as great a 4th as we did. It was a special day for us as we decided to make a Phamily day out of it. We bbq'ed hamburgers, had watermelon and ice cream for dessert, went for a Phamily walk around the neighborhood, played tag with a stroller, 2 scooters and a training bike (you figure that one out) and then finally had a mini 'fireworks' show!

Well, since fireworks are not sold here in summer (only for New Years eve) we improvised with sparklers. The kids had fun watching them light up and sparkle and we did a 'show' for them by lighting the number 4 with sparklers (see last foto). Okay, it is nothing compared to what we have in the USA for the 4th, but hey, you gotta make do with what you can get on the mission field!

(click on foto collage below to view it in full size)

Have an Awesome 4th - We Did!!!

We wish you have as great a 4th as we did. It was a special day for us as we decided to make a Phamily day out of it. We bbq'ed hamburgers, had watermelon and ice cream for dessert, went for a Phamily walk around the neighborhood, played tag with a stroller, 2 scooters and a training bike (you figure that one out) and then finally had a mini 'fireworks' show!

Well, since fireworks are not sold here in summer (only for New Years eve) we improvised with sparklers. The kids had fun watching them light up and sparkle and we did a 'show' for them by lighting the number 4 with sparklers (see last foto). Okay, it is nothing compared to what we have in the USA for the 4th, but hey, you gotta make do with what you can get on the mission field!

(click on foto collage below to view it in full size)

Hamburg

David already said a little about our trip to Hamburg, so I will just a little more. :)
We had a great time with Zachy's auntie. We were able to stay with her in her flat which was a lot of fun! We sat up and played games and ate junk food after the kids were in bed, it was great!
She also showed us lots of fun stuff in Hamburg, which I have to say is a very beautiful city. We went on the ferry and saw the harbor with the HUGE contianer ships (very cool!). Then we went to a tropical aquarium. It looked like disneyland with animals the design was great! Of course the kids loved that. We saw turtles, fish, lizards, snakes, sharks and many more!
So that was the first day...
The second day we went the mini wunderland (see the last post) then to the North Sea, about an hour and a half away. The North Sea is very unique in that when the tide goes out it leaves 'dry' (mud) ground. The tide goes so far out that you can't see the water any more, there is just a big mud field. There is actually a sport/hobby called watte wanderung, which is simply taking walks in the mudfield while the tide is out. (But beware the tide comes in quickly!) It's pretty cool to walk out a ways when the tide is out, it really is more like mud than sand. The kids found clam shells, and jelly fish and even a few dead crabs. The had a blast playing in the sand on the beach too.
For our last full day in Hamburg, we took it easy. Eva had to work so we went into town on our own and just walked around a bit, had lunch and headed home. Eva and I cooked stir fry for dinner (her request) and we had a nice meal together before putting the kids to bed and playing phase 10 again (which I lost).
So it was a very good trip and we wish we had had more time, I think we could have spent a month there and still not have seen everything. But we got to see the most important person there! And best of all spend time with her! Thanks Auntie Eva!
(Now we just need to round up the aunties here in Freiburg and coup them up in small quarters with all 6 of us for 4 days so it'll be fair! ;) )

Hamburg

David already said a little about our trip to Hamburg, so I will just a little more. :)
We had a great time with Zachy's auntie. We were able to stay with her in her flat which was a lot of fun! We sat up and played games and ate junk food after the kids were in bed, it was great!
She also showed us lots of fun stuff in Hamburg, which I have to say is a very beautiful city. We went on the ferry and saw the harbor with the HUGE contianer ships (very cool!). Then we went to a tropical aquarium. It looked like disneyland with animals the design was great! Of course the kids loved that. We saw turtles, fish, lizards, snakes, sharks and many more!
So that was the first day...
The second day we went the mini wunderland (see the last post) then to the North Sea, about an hour and a half away. The North Sea is very unique in that when the tide goes out it leaves 'dry' (mud) ground. The tide goes so far out that you can't see the water any more, there is just a big mud field. There is actually a sport/hobby called watte wanderung, which is simply taking walks in the mudfield while the tide is out. (But beware the tide comes in quickly!) It's pretty cool to walk out a ways when the tide is out, it really is more like mud than sand. The kids found clam shells, and jelly fish and even a few dead crabs. The had a blast playing in the sand on the beach too.
For our last full day in Hamburg, we took it easy. Eva had to work so we went into town on our own and just walked around a bit, had lunch and headed home. Eva and I cooked stir fry for dinner (her request) and we had a nice meal together before putting the kids to bed and playing phase 10 again (which I lost).
So it was a very good trip and we wish we had had more time, I think we could have spent a month there and still not have seen everything. But we got to see the most important person there! And best of all spend time with her! Thanks Auntie Eva!
(Now we just need to round up the aunties here in Freiburg and coup them up in small quarters with all 6 of us for 4 days so it'll be fair! ;) )

Road Trip!

We are in Hamburg in northern Germany this weekend (after a nine hour drive from Freiburg to Hamburg with 4 small kids in the car!). Never been to the north part of the country so here we are to visit Zachie's godmother who moved here last summer. We are having a blast - will post some more fotos after we get back to Freiburg next week. but here are a couple to tide you over until then...

Here we are in Hamburg in the Speicherstadt (customs warehouses?? - don't know the English word, but it's the place where all the freight is unloaded, inspected, logged and stored until pickup/delivery).

2nd foto of me in Buxtehude is kinda an inside thing, I think only the Germans would understand. ;-)

Road Trip!

We are in Hamburg in northern Germany this weekend (after a nine hour drive from Freiburg to Hamburg with 4 small kids in the car!). Never been to the north part of the country so here we are to visit Zachie's godmother who moved here last summer. We are having a blast - will post some more fotos after we get back to Freiburg next week. but here are a couple to tide you over until then...

Here we are in Hamburg in the Speicherstadt (customs warehouses?? - don't know the English word, but it's the place where all the freight is unloaded, inspected, logged and stored until pickup/delivery).

2nd foto of me in Buxtehude is kinda an inside thing, I think only the Germans would understand. ;-)

Jesaiah's pictures

Jesaiah got a camera from Ong (grandpa in vietnemese) when we were in the U.S. in January. He loves to take pictures. I wanted to share a few of the ones he's taken since he got it.
We went to the zoo in Basel, Switzerland today and the battery in our camera was dead, so Jesaiah got to take all the pictures today. Well until his batteries died that is...at least we got a few to remember the day. So without further ado....



I don't know if you noticed in some of those pictures from the zoo, but it snowed on us there today! It was cold! At least there are several indoor exhibits to go in and look and get warmed up!