Easter

We spent another glorious Easter with our good friends, picnicking and hunting for eggs in Hagley Park.

My parents were visiting last week and brought some Paas egg dye (coloring eggs isn't part of the kiwi Easter experience apparently), so The Squidd also had his first experience dying eggs.

As far as we can tell, all eggs sold in NZ are brown, so we weren't sure if the dye would show. Turns out it was not bad. For The Squidd's part, I think he was actually more excited about mixing the dye colors together. "I'm doing chemistry," he proclaimed.

 

 

 

   

 

Oxford...not the one you think

We went out to Oxford this past weekend to see our friends the Swiss Family Robinsons.  After perusing the local farmers market and taking a wrong turn that took us through a cattle farm, we finally made it to their place to check out their amazing place: alpacas, sheep, horses, vineyard, orchard, weaving studio, outdoor pizza oven, and veggie patch.

Camping

Over the weekend, Rocky took The Squidd camping for the first time. They went to a campground in Christchurch, so the return home would be quick and easy in case something went very wrong. We need not have worried. The Squidd had a ball playing with his friends (they met up with 3 other families we know) until late at night, roasting marshmallows, sleeping in the tent, etc. The campsite itself made the whole event very easy: full kitchen facilities, bathrooms with hot running water and showers, a cafe, an amazing kids' playground, and a beach around the corner.

When he came home, The Squidd said he wants to go camping again "for months and months."

Here he is running down the beach at the campground with his friend E. Clothing optional.

While the wintertime is still a little challenging here with so many facilities still closed or torn down due to earthquake damage, our first full summer here has been incredible. Nowhere else we can think of would we be able to visit beautiful ocean beaches, hike in the mountains, camp, and pick berries/stone fruits/apples within 20 minutes of our house.

Peas

Road Trip

I think I mentioned before that the classic New Zealander summer vacation consists of an extended camping or road trip that often begins the day after Christmas and lasts for several weeks. I have never been much of a road-tripper, preferring to fly whenever possible, but in a country where many of the best sights are accessible only by car, road trips are inevitable.

We embarked on this summer's road trip (The Minnow's first) with my sister in tow and spent a week driving around New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato region. Like the best summer days, we spent a lot of time doing nothing in particular, just poking around beaches, eating ice cream, hiking, and lounging around in shorts and tees. We also got to see New Zealand's famed cave glow worms, which are just as amazing as they sound and only second in coolness (in my estimation) to fireflies. We returned home yesterday tired, happy to sleep in our own beds, yet eager to revisit some new favorite places we found.

Ruakuri Cave

Ruakuri Cave trail

Passionfruit cheesecake at Coroglen farmers' market

Sunset in Thames

Whitianga Marina, just steps from the apartment we rented

The cutest little starfish ever

Culture

My sister is visiting. Among other hats she wears is the hat of Family Sushi-Making Expert. So today she introduced her favorite nephew to the art. I think it was a success.

My Auntie Is Here . . .

 . . . and it's hair raising!